STAR WARS TALES
Episode 1: Ambush at Geonosis
This is a Star Wars fan-fiction set during the time of the Clone Wars. Enjoy!
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away….
The two lightsabers clashed and crashed again, sending red and blue sparks flying every which direction. Anakin thwarted a high-swipe strike and struck out himself with a deadly thrust forcing Count Dooku backwards a step or two. This was the climax to a well-timed Republic ambush that had intercepted Dooku's ship just leaving Geonosis. Two Jedi cruisers versus Dooku's one ship was a very uneven battle but the Separatists had put up a real fight. However, Anakin had still successfully infiltrated the ship with a group of Clone troopers and now he was in direct confrontation with the infamous Sith lord.
Dooku recovered from Anakin's onslaught quickly and counterattacked with a vengeance that even Anakin found a challenge to defend. With every cut and thrust his curved handled lightsaber seemed to gather even more speed and force, making Anakin retreat down the corridor where they were dueling. Suddenly, Anakin lost his balance and fell flat on his back, his lightsaber flying out of his hand and down the corridor. Dooku seized the opportunity and brought his lightsaber down in a downward strike straight towards Anakin's torso! Faster than thought Anakin responded. He rolled out of the way and swung his right leg out, tripping Dooku underfoot. With less time than it takes to tell, Anakin was back on his feet and, using the Force to retrieve his lightsaber, back on the offensive. Dooku scrambled backwards like a crab desperately thwarting Anakin's attack, the two lightsabers smashing against each other with terrific force. In one moment, the two blades became locked together. The two combatants stared at each other with anger in their facial features.
"You fight well, Skywalker", Dooku snarled.
"I'm just getting warmed up", Anakin responded, bringing his lightsaber away, somersaulting over Dooku, and landing behind him, his lightsaber poised and ready for action.
"It's a good thing for you that you got me when you did, otherwise, you would find yourself in a much more even battle".
"Maybe", said Anakin, "That's why I figured we get you here, before you rendezvous with your task fleet"
"Your spies did their job", Dooku spat. "I am getting sick of you following my every move. I can't seem to shake you off. You are like a leech"
"Lay down your weapons and surrender, Count, I think your game is run".
"Not a chance". With that, Dooku used the Force to shove Anakin back down the hall and slam him hard against a wall. Then, he turned and made a dash away as fast as he could, down the hall, through a door, and out of sight. Anakin didn't even have a chance to recover from his duel, because the fearful sound of incoming droidekas filled his ears. He scrambled to his feet just as the droids came hurtling into view. There were five of them. They stopped and opened fire. Anakin blocked the shots with his lightsaber and gave ground quickly, just as Captain Rex's voice came over his wrist comm.
"Sir, are you alright? We are looking for you."
"I'm a bit busy Captain, wait for me in the hangar" Anakin said through gritted teeth. The droids were relentless in their attack and worse, battle droids were coming from the opposite direction, from where Dooku had escaped. They too opened fire. Anakin skidded down a side alley and made a leg for safety. If only he could escape these droids, he could reach Rex and get out of here.
"The hangar is swarming with clankers,sir" said Rex, "we have lost 3 troopers, and our ship is surrounded by seperatists".
"I'll find you" said Anakin. "Call Obi-Wan for reinforcements. We will need to escape from here. Dooku certainly is well-defended."
"Will do sir". With that the comm fell silent and Anakin ran as fast as he could to where he figured the hangar was located. Surely the clones would not have gone that far. He found them crouched in a side alley, blasters poised.
"General Kenobi is coming personally, sir" said Rex in a whisper. "With two gunships"
"If we raid the hangar when he comes in we can escape,"said Anakin.
When they reached the hangar Obi-Wan had already arrived via a troop gunship. He and a large group of clones were embroiled in a ferocious battle with the battle droids there.
"Come on!", shouted Anakin, igniting his lightsaber and leading the charge into the fray. The droids, taken from surprise by the attack from behind were no match. They were decimated. Anakin sliced down one droid after another while Rex shot down two at once using his pistols and punched a third immediately after, sending it's pointy nosed head spinning off the torso and away.
"Anakin, come on!" called Obi-Wan, "We don't have all day!"
In a matter of moments, Anakin and his troops were through the droids and safely inside the gunship. Obi-Wan and his clones squeezed in, although one trooper was shot in the back by one droid.
"Go pilot, go go go!" Obi-Wan called. The gunship doors shut and the engines revved up. The ship lifted off the ground, droids firing from below all the while. Suddenly the hangar doors of the separatist ship began to shut rapidly!
"Oh my god, we're going to be sandwiched", screamed the pilot as the gunship hurtled too close to the closing doors for comfort.
"Keep going" ordered Obi-Wan. The ship sped toward escape but the doors were shutting too fast. Closer and closer they got. "Anakin help me. Use the Force to keep the door open!"
Together the two jedies extended their hands toward the hangar doors and used the Force to hold the doors open. It was not easy. Then, they were through, barely. Just as they squeezed through, the doors slammed shut with a crash!
With all speed, they headed back to the closest Jedi cruiser.
"Let's get the hell out of here" said Anakin as soon as they were safe inside the cruiser. "We will have to pull back before the Sith counterattack."
"We still outnumber Dooku two to one" replied Obi-Wan. "We don't want to just let him slip away".
"We will have other chances to catch him", Anakin said, "and besides, I have attached tracking beacons to the wall inside his ship. He's not getting anywhere without us knowing."
Darth Sidious (over hologram in the main bridge of Dooku's ship): "You were lucky to get out of that mess Dooku, but don't go and get ambushed like that again, understood?"
Count Dooku:"Yes, my lord"
Darth Sidious: "Head toward your destination as planned. I will give you further instructions when you get there. The Republic are going to feel the full power of the Sith once we get ourselves completely organized. They haven't slowed us down at all and our response will be much more effective than what they threw at you."
Count Dooku: "Yes, my lord"
The hologram flickered and disappeared. Dooku looked out the window at the dark, empty and endless cavern of outer space. "Yes", he murmered softly, "Don't worry Skywalker, we are about to make your life miserable." With that the Sith ship leaped into hyperspace and away into the outer reaches of the galaxy.
THE END
Written by Nathan O'Toole on 16/05/2024
Copyright 2024
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