Answers to reviews:

sniperbro1998: Maybe in the future he'll flirt with Ahsoka.

Guest02957: He already knows his connection to Revan.

Guest: Thanks.

EmaCnDf: it's a rivalry. he's got to lose some, but he will win. Plus, he won that fight when he Force pushed Ahsoka into the wall hard enough to knock her out. He even knocked her saber out of her hand before he left with Ventress, so he isn't ALWAYS losing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I only own the OC Jayden Shan.


"What do you mean... Dooku has been captured?" Despite how calmly the question was asked, Jayden was feeling anything but calm internally. What he was feeling was anger, rage, like a fire ready to spring free and consume everything in it's path. The Sith Apprentice stood in the command post of Mygeeto, having won a battle against the Republic not too long ago, successfully managed to put them into retreat which put Jayden into a good mood... only for that good mood to be dampened once he was informed of some recent disturbing news.

The tactical droid Jayden sees on his Master's personal Separatist ship stood before him, in hologram form, relaying the information to him. "It is as I said, sir." The droid said, voice emotionless despite the anger Jayden was feeling. If it had been a normal person speaking to him, they'd most likely tremble a bit at the anger in Jayden's voice. "Master Dooku captured Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. The Republic mounted a rescue mission. Master Dooku attempted to escape, was shot down to Vanqor where he was captured by pirates, who are wanting a ransom."

Information was sent from the droid's end, and Jayden looked at said information on a screen as it was displayed. His eyes darting through the readout, he caught a few telling keywords.

Captured. Ransom. Pirates. Vanqor. Jedi. Florrum.

Jayden felt a myriad of emotions upon reading the information. But underneath the rage and anger was one emotion he didn't let cloud his judgement next to his anger... worry. This was his Master, the man who found him all those years ago, the man who trained him, raised him...

Jayden cut off transmissions between him and the droid, turned swiftly and strode to the Separatist command post's landing pads, where the Rogue Shadow was located.

He will get his Master back, and nothing will stand in his way... be they pirates or Jedi.


How do things go from careful planning so they go the right way... to just not going our way? Anakin wondered to himself as he flew the Twilight to the planet of Florrum in order to meet with the pirates who had Count Dooku captured. Sitting in the co-pilot chair was Obi-Wan.

Florrum was an Outer Rim world found in the eponymous system of the Sertar Sector. An arid world of humid deserts, barren canyons and sulfuric geysers, it was nothing notable, very much out of the way, and perfect for a band of roaving pirate lowlifes to make camp.

Originally, Anakin had planned his capture at the hands of the Separatists after the Republic had finally caught up to Dooku, then Obi-Wan came onboard to meet up with him before they'd take on Dooku together As the Republic cruiser attacked Dooku's frigate, Dooku himself escaped on his solar sailer ship. With Anakin and Obi-Wan pursuing him, they shot at him and sent him crashing down to the world of Vanqor, only for Dooku to be more craft as he stealthily escaped the caves belonging to Gundarks, collapsing the entrance to keep the Jedi trapped with the mother of all Gundarks.

Once dispatching the Gundark mother, and being rescued by Ahsoka and the Clones, they were contacted by Chancellor Palpatine and Mace Windu, who informed them of Dooku's capture at the hands of a band of pirates led by one named Hondo Ohnaka.

The Twilight breached the planet's atmosphere and orbit, soon flying through the thick clouds filling the atmosphere. The old cargo hauler was proving its worth as a capable unmarked and unobtrusive vessel, the best kind to use when not wanting to be noticed as a member of either the Jedi or the Republic.

As the clouds parted, a sizeable installation was revealed below. Dark, dingy, made entirely of durasteel, Anakin could only assume that the pirates had been here long enough to construct a notable shelter for themselves, which had then evolved into a sprawling base to host all types of criminal scum.

"There." Obi-Wan pointed, seeing a open landing pad.

"Well, least we know where to land." Anakin remarked, slowing the rate of descent.

"It would appear these pirates are more put-together than we originally gave them credit for." Obi-Wan said beside him, stroking his beard. "Perhaps that was how they managed to capture Dooku."

"Provided they actually did just that, and we're not walking into a den of a hundred hologram artists." Anakin countered, cutting power to the sublight thrusters. Easing the Twilight into a stable landing position, he could feel the pulse of the engines in his hands as well as the shudder of the controls as the freighter fought to steady itself. Responding expertly, Anakin countered Twilight's motions until it was seated flat on the pad.

Leaving their vessel behind, Anakin and Obi-Wan strode slowly down the boarding ramp into the waiting arms of a 'welcome party'; a small crew of mixed Nikto and Weequay all armed to the teeth. They watched the Jedi with narrowed eyes and itchy trigger-fingers, needing only the flimsiest of excuses to open fire. Glancing back and forth, the Jedi paused before one Weequay who ran a scanner over their bodies, searching out any concealed weaponry. Given the potential situation, Lightsabers were best eschewed for the time being. Obi-Wan had sagely left his behind on the Twilight. Anakin… well… it was a long story, but his was currently lost.

The two were soon cleared with nothing to be found. "Follow me." The Weequay gruffly ordered with a jerk of his head. The armed escort closed ranks and followed the trio inside the pirate base. Through the bond they shared in the Force, the pair conversed in private.

Not exactly the hospitable sort.

What were you expecting of Outer Rim pirates, Master? Treat us like celebrities and offer a glass of Whyren's Reserve?

Point taken. That said, they clearly aren't leaving anything to chance, they're not partial to us just like they're not partial to Dooku. Best we treat them like a neutral party.

All I know is they push too many buttons, I push back.

Do try to firm up those buttons of yours, Anakin. This is the break we've been looking for and I'd much prefer it if 'aggressive negotiations' did not sully our best shot at capturing Count Dooku early on.

Whatever you say, Master.

Their retinue soon departed and the Jedi were ushered into a large common room, full of other Nikto and Weequay pirates milling around, partaking of food and drink, and generally slacking off. The air was thick with the stench of smoke from cigarras, death sticks, and pipes, laced also with the pungent aroma of mixed fruits and spiced liqueurs. There was a little something for everyone here, no pirate appetite that couldn't be whetted. That said, they weren't so relaxed or preoccupied to miss the Jedi, Anakin and Obi-Wan sensing a significant number of stares as they pushed on towards a broad table at the end of the room. Anakin shuddered as his senses prickled, the amount of eyes on him was revolting in a way. So many estimations of those assessing his worth, his skill, how easily he could be killed, bought or kidnapped. It reminded him of slave markets.

I hate it here.

Their guide stepped aside, revealing dozens of armed Weequay surrounding the long table and one in particular who sat at it. Obi-Wan recalled the holofeed transmitted from Coruscant, recognizing the pirate straightaway as Hondo Ohnaka.

"Gentlemen..." Hondo drawled out as he raised his cup to them in greeting, leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up onto the table between him and the Jedi. Obi-Wan noted he carried himself in a manner of high repute, quickly determining that Hondo had a high opinion of himself. "Can I offer you something to drink?"

"No, thank you." Obi-Wan said in a diplomatic manner, ever the one to play the negotiator. After all, this was a Jedi's main job. Hondo just shrugged, taking another drink. "Congratulations on your capture of Count Dooku. Very impressive."

"Yes, it was." Hondo chuckled. "Even a Sith Lord is no match for my warriors." He raised his cup in a half-drunken self-toast. Obi-Wan made another note of his willingness to share such glory and not hog it all for himself. "He put up quite a fight! Blasters, cannons, that glowy-thingy, pshh voom vooom!" His arm waving back and forth and the attempt sound effects quickly conjured the mental image of the Count's signature curved Lightsaber hilt and its fiery red blade.

"You mean a Lightsaber?" Obi-Wan inquired.

"That's it!" Hondo laughed. "I do not need to tell you that those things can do some damage. Carved up some of my best men pretty good before I could get the jump on him!" As he spoke, a ruby-skinned Kowakian monkey-lizard crawled around his shoulders; Pilf Mukmuk, the local pet. Anakin would've cared little for his appearance if not for what was in his hand.

It's little gremlin hands were curled tight around his own missing lightsaber hilt.

"And how exactly did you get the jump on him?" Anakin wondered coyly, hand slowly reaching out. Obi-Wan caught his motions and tried to intervene. "With this?" Using the Force, he ripped the hilt out of Pilf's grip and back into its own.

He couldn't even savor the familiar feel of polished durasteel before the rapid 'click clack' of weapons priming caught his attention. The amount of blasters pointed at his face numbered too high to count at a glance.

"We have no interest in disagreeing with you." Obi-Wan quickly interjected, raising a hand to slowly push a rifle barrel out of his face while Pilf retrieved his prize from a reluctant Anakin. "All we want is to confirm you are holding Dooku and then we'll go." Hondo didn't even seem moved by the display, still sitting passively with drink still in hand.

"I will arrange a meeting." He decided at length, taking a sip. "And you will see with your own eyes, Master Jedi, that the Ohnaka Clan is superior to even a Sith Lord!"


True to his word, Hondo arranged a meeting between the Jedi and Dooku without it being a trap. They were escorted to the compound's extensive holding cell network. Numerous confined spaces were lined up side by side down a particularly long hallway and the Jedi had to briefly ponder the need for such an extensive amount. Obi-Wan briefly considered the possibility that Hondo had put down rebellions from within and Anakin shuddered at the thought of this motley assortment dabbling in slavery.

Led to one specific door, the Jedi felt a moments relief when they spied a familiar old man suspended in a stasis field through the slits. The guards triggered the access panel, allowing the prison door to open.

"Look how the mighty Sith Lord has fallen." Obi-Wan mused with a subtle smirk as he approached.

"This place suits you, Count." Anakin added with a smirk while he circled Dooku, who glanced at him out the corner of his eye, a flat expression on his face.

"It wasn't so long ago that you yourself were in similar surroundings on my ship." Dooku recalled flatly.

"Yeah, but now I'm free and you're not." The Jedi responded dismissively.

"I am confident the situation will be rectified soon." An unfazed Dooku stated. "Even now, I have allies en-route to retrieve me."

Anakin quirked a brow. "I'm pretty youre Khan will have trouble getting to you thanks to these pirates, since they were able to capture you so easily."

At this, Dooku smirked. "What makes you think I was talking about my most faithful Apprentice, Skywalker? I could have meant Ventress, General Grievous, or an army of battle droids. Has my young Apprentice's reputation in killing Jedi clung so tightly to your soul that he is what you equate me with? I wonder, will the next Jedi that falls at his blade... be your Padawan?"

Obi-Wan, sensing Anakin's growing temper at the mention of Khan cutting down Ahsoka, cut in before things could turn violent. "I wouldn't be too confident, Dooku. Soon you'll be brought to trial by the Senate and most likely spend a very long time in a cell just like this one."

Dooku had to shake his head at the two Jedi, and their idiocy in thinking things will simply go the way they want... but then again, the Jedi have always thought like that. "My naive young Jedi, you must be overly optimistic if you think these Weequayans plan to let you leave this planet."

Anakin scoffed at him. "They're planet-hopping thieves looking for a quick score. They have no interest in picking a fight with Jedi."

"They are devious and deceitful." Dooku corrected, then added. "And most importantly, stupid."

"It's a wonder you don't get along with them, Dooku." Obi-Wan remarked with a small grin as he and Anakin turned to leave. "You have so much in common."

"You underestimate them at your own peril, Kenobi." Dooku warned, just before the door to his cell closed, leaving the Sith Lord in silence once again.


Passing through a market sector, neither of the two paid any heed to the various good up grabs. Anakin was quite confident this was the place to get exclusive deals on rather illegal substances and Obi-Wan was confident any decent police department would've had a field day cleaning up this place.

"I don't know about you, but I could still use some rest." Anakin remarked, groaning as he stretched out his arms.

"Remember, Anakin, this could still be a trap." Obi-Wan cautioned

"You're not worried about Dooku, are you?" His friend queried.

"No. I'm worried about these pirates." Kenobi responded, glancing over his shoulder to witness a brawl break out between two Weequay and a Jawa. Their lawless lifestyle had the potential to lead to any number of unsavoury outcomes, and Obi-Wan knew they were straddling the razor's edge when it came to completing a deal that ended happily for all parties.

"Jedi!" Their gaze jerked ahead to an approaching Weequay, one they'd seen before as a member of Hondo's entourage. "Now that your business is completed, we invite you to join us in the great hall for a banquet… and a true Weequay banquet is not to be missed."

The offer was intriguing, echoes of Hondo's earlier hospitality offerings coming to mind. Once again, the two Jedi tapped into the Force to converse privately.

A social setting among likeminded individuals makes it easier to spring a trap.

But let me guess, not going is impolite.

Naturally.

Why do you always have to put us between a rock and a hard place, Master?

Says the man who allowed himself to be kidnapped and forced me to intervene on his behalf.

"We would be honored to accept your invite. Please, permit us to send a brief message of confirmation back to the Republic before we partake of the splendor you put before us." Obi-Wan politely replied in acceptance. The pirate nodded and moved on his way to deliver the affirmation. "Well, time to find out how genuine this Hondo is."

"I'm more concerned about that pirate having understood half the words that came out of your mouth." Anakin remarked.

Returning to the Twilight to truthfully fulfill their pressing need, Obi-Wan quickly queued up a message to Coruscant and was met by renders of Mace Windu, Sheev Palpatine, the Gran Senator of the planet Kinyen Kharrus, and Jar Jar Binks. "No question they have Dooku, send the ransom." Obi-Wan announced. The pirates were demanding a payment of one million credits, in the form of raw spice. A steep price but one deemed worthwhile by the Supreme Chancellor if it meant having the leader-apparent of the Separatists in a Republic prison.

"He's being securely held?" Palpatine queried.

"Yeah, and being very cranky about it." Anakin stated with a mirthful grin. Palpatine also smiled.

"Good. Senator Kharrus and Representative Binks will be dispatched immediately. Do what you must to appease these pirates until then. This is a golden opportunity Master Jedi, I need no remind you that we cannot let this slip by." He instructed.

"Their ringleader has invited us to a banquet tonight in… celebration of good business. We'll attend if it means keeping him happy." Obi-Wan stated.


The pirate had been right. A Weequay banquet was indeed something that can't be missed out on.

While it flew in the face of every courteous social cue and likely broke half a dozen laws regarding domestic civility, the sprawling celebration was certainly a sight the Jedi would not forget any time soon. Pirate stumbled over pirate in half-drunken stupors, Niktos knocked back entire bottles of hard liquor while female Weequay table-danced for the delight of other rapscalions. Not everyone was into such licentiousness, however, Obi-Wan noting how one pirate attempted to get handsy with a waitress only to get slapped off his seat as a result. Massaging his temples with one hand, he still wasn't over the display when Hondo draped an arm over him and Anakin.

Now, can I persuade you to join us for a drink?" Hondo asked. "It's a tradition, in the name of friendship!"

"Alright." Obi-Wan sighed. "But nothing too strong, he's flying." He added, jabbing his thumb towards Anakin. Hondo laughed heartily.

"Bring our guests some refreshments!" He ordered a waitress who promptly skipped over with a pair of full mugs on her tray, sliding one to each Jedi. "To a successful transaction that will make us filthy rich!"

His enthusiastic words were met with cheers from his fellow pirates as they raised their cups. Anakin and Obi-Wan made to take a drink but stopped when their keenly-attuned senses picked up something in their drinks. A quick sniff noted something off compared to the other bitter liquids around them.

Dormien? He theorized.

Maybe Angel's Dust. Anakin countered.

Sharing an exclusive nod, the two acted quickly. Using the Force to execute the most impressive of juggling acts, Anakin and Obi-Wan swapped mugs with the pirates on either side of them while in mid-cheer, neither of them noticing the exchange as they promptly guzzled the contents of their mugs.

"To… powerful pirates and… new friends of the Republic." Obi-Wan also toasted, met with a sparse few consenting murmurs indicating where their truth thoughts lay.

"Laying that last bit on a little thick, aren't you, Master?" Anakin remarked as he knocked back a swig along with Obi-Wan. The two grimaced, their drinks were bitter and harsh and it took enough fortitude in the name of keeping these lowlifes happy for them to actually swallow.

"Enjoy your evening, gentlemen." Hondo offered, moving to commingle with some of his kin. Nodding in acceptance, the Jedi lowered their grog.

"I still don't get it." Anakin muttered under his breath, wincing as each word felt bitter on his tongue, the harsh aftertaste scraping the inside of his mouth with a liquor-flavoured razor.

"Get what?" Obi-Wan wondered.

"How a bunch of drunken pirates managed to catch Dooku when we couldn't." Anakin answered. "Look at them. Do any of them look like they're capable of taking down a Sith Lord?" He asked, gesturing to the room.

"Maybe there's a lesson to be learned here-" Obi-Wan mused, swirling his drink.

"I still don't get it." Anakin grumbled.

"It's to remind us to be humble and never too proud to accept a gift when it comes our way. Maybe we did not take down Dooku the way we wished. But we've got him either way, that's something to be thankful for." His friend explained. Taking a moment to allow the lesson to settle in, Anakin relented with a shrug.

"Well, to unexpected gifts then." He determined at length, lifting his mug once more.

"Here here." Obi-Wan agreed, clinking his with his in their own private toast. On either side of them, the pirates groaned and promptly slumped over unconscious, one of them falling loudly to the floor as his empty mug rolled across the ground. The Jedi shared bemused looks. "That was fast. You were right, it was Angel's Dust." Obi-Wan noted, earning a grin from Anakin.

Having witnessed the display, the devious Kowakian monkey-lizard Pilf Mukmuk scampered away from the banquet with a chorus of grumbles and disappeared into a nearby storeroom. The pirates kept a large quantity of supplies in here, both for regular use and illegal use when necessary, but one item in particular had the scarlet gremlin chittering to himself as he began shoving a small barrel towards one of the ventilation hatches…

It was full of a very powerful sedative known as Mortuusom.

Dumping the barrel over with a cackle, the dust-like substance was quickly caught up by the airways moving through the base ducts, slowly filling the room with a potent air as Pilf snickered to himself. One by one the pirates began to feel drowsy as the room was loaded with sedative and not even Anakin and Obi-Wan were immune to its effects…


Meanwhile…

Above Florrum, the Rogue Shadow shot out of Hyperspace and began it's descent towards the planet. In the cockpit, Jayden was looking up information about the pirate leader, Hondo Ohnaka. Born as a Weequay pirate and outlaw, Hondo was self-centred, as all pirates were. Pirates were the lowliest of scum in the galaxy, even more so than Bounty Hunters which was something considering how merciless and remorseless Bounty Hunters can be.

Turning from information about Hondo, Jayden pulled up digital blueprints and layouts of the compound his Master was being held in, the compound that the pirates use as a base. The young Sith put a hand to hic chin, his eyes calculating tactics and strategies to make this trip quick... but with some bodies falling along the way.


Hours later…

His head was pounding, darkness consuming his vision. Anakin came to with a groan, his vision blurred as he struggled to figure out where he was and what was going on. He was lying on the ground, that mush he knew, but the last thing he remembered was that banquet… with all the pirates…

"Master…" he called out hoarsely, answered with a groan from beside him as Obi-Wan also came to. "What… What happened?" He wondered, slowly pushing himself upright. It was then that Anakin discovered energy binders ensured their wrists were bound together and their bodies were kept close thanks to an energy coupler around their waists.

"Well…" Obi-Wan began, coughing briefly to clear his throat, "I guess that pirate brew is stronger than we thought."

"I-I only took a sip!" Anakin protested.

"We were drugged, obviously." Obi-Wan pointed out, giving his head a shake as messy, unkempt hair fell before his eyes. Given his preference for stately cleanliness, the fact he looked so bedraggled was a testament to their situation.

"Why would they risk losing the ransom?" Anakin wondered, pressing his palms into his eyes as he tried to get a clear head.

"The deal appears to have changed. They must be trying to triple their payday." His friend surmised, scratching his beard.

"A shrewd observation, Master Kenobi." A familiar voice remarked from the shadows of their cell. Whirling around, both Jedi grimaced as they caught sight of Dooku, seated calmly in a meditative pose with a pair of energy binders around his wrists as well.

"Oh great. It's you." Anakin grumbled. Of all people to be stuck in a cell with...

"I did warn you these pirates were devious. Is it worth reminding you that I was gracious enough to forewarn you about such treachery?" Dooku queried. Receiving only glares from the pair, the Count moved on. "You'll notice our shackles are bound together. I have tried to separate us to no avail."

Obi-Wan glanced at the shackles, seeing the coupler around his waist was connected to Dooku's, as the one on Anakin was connected to Obi-Wan, ensuring all three of them were stuck together.

"It's bad enough we have to be in the same cell, but could you at least spare me the sound of your constant chatter?!" Anakin snapped, Obi-Wan quickly holding him back as he tried to lunge towards Dooku.

"And while I hold my tongue, the two of you will devise a brilliant strategy for getting off this Force-forsaken planet?" The Count inquired calmly.

"Yes!" The Jedi exclaimed in unison, picking themselves up and starting to look around the small room for possible escape routes. Dooku sat back with a chuckle, clearly unimpressed but also mildly entertained.

"This I must see." He mused. However, he wasn't worried. Even now, he sensed his Apprentice's arrival on the planet...


A pair of pirates, one Nikto and one Weequay, milled about outside the compound and were both genuinely surprised by the arrival of a heavily modified ship, the vessel touching down across from them. Approaching with weapons in hand but not raised, they watched the docking ramp descend.

"Landing pad's around back! Move your hunk of junk over there!" The Weequay snapped.

Footsteps were heard inside the ship as a hooded, masked person came down the ramp while holding a certain weapon in his hand that the two pirates recognized instantly.

"A Jedi!" The Weequay shouted.

"Wrong." Jayden replied, activating his Lightsaber. The crossguard blade hummed, Jayden's mask illuminated by the blood-red light as the young Sith held the saber in front of his face and approached the two pirates.

"Stay there!" The Nikto ordered, his legs starting to shaking as he backed up a step every time Jayden took a step.

"Blast him!" The Weequay shouted and the to fired their blasters at him, only for Jayden to block their shots with his Lightsaber, holding it with just one hand and continuing his calm, casual stride towards them which merely made their fear heighten. The Nikto's fear was palpable, but the Weequay was trying his best to hide it.

Growing tired of this farce, Jayden delecting a shot at the Weequay, striking him in the face and he dropped dead. At this, the Nikto yelped in fear, dropping his weapon and falling to his knees.

"P-Pease! Spare me! I'll offer-ACK!" The Niko was cut off as he started to choke on a tight, invisible grip around his windpipe. Jayden deactivated his Lightsaber as he walked past the squirming and choking Nikto, then there was the sound of something crushing and breaking, before the Nikto's body dropped dead a second later.


"You do not want to stand guard."

"I… do not want to stand guard."

"You want to deactivate the cell bars and… go out drinking."

"I want to deactivate the cell bars and go out drinking." Having lured the pirate guarding their cell close enough for Obi-Wan to act, a simple mind trick was all the Jedi needed to overwhelm the Weequay and secure their freedom for the moment. Their second escape attempt was now underway.

"Not bad." Anakin mused.

"Oh yes, most impressive Master Kenobi." An unenthusiastic Dooku agreed. Returning to sneaking through halls, the Jedi were particularly on edge after having been found out the last time. Now they refused to take any measure of risk or allow any weakness the pirates might exploit.

"Oh, hurry it up, Dooku!" Obi-Wan growled as he jerked the Count behind a pile of crates to avoid a passing Weequay. The sat quietly for a moment, ensuring total obscurity before they started moving again.

"You should be more patient, Master. After all, the Count is an elderly gentleman and doesn't move like he used to." Anakin remarked in a teasing tone.

"I suppose you're right. We should allot more time for senior citizens." Obi-Wan concurred lightheartedly. It was a sentiment Dooku did not share.

"I would kill you both right now if I did not have to drag your corpses." He growled.


With the alarm raised and pirates hot on their tail, the trio were forced to move quickly. Dooku used the Force to erect temporary barricades to keep the pirates off their tail. Anakin led them right to a door where sunlight crept in through grates in the panel, bowling it over with a shove that dragged Obi-Wan and Dooku to the ground with him. The Count muttered in discontent as the Jedi picked themselves up.

"Now we just have to get beyond that wall!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, pointing to the distant perimeter. Spying discarded metal pipes nearby, a thought came to Anakin as her performed some quick mental math.

"Let's go!" He cried, snatching up one of the pipes and breaking into a run with Dooku and Obi-Wan right behind him. The pirates were hot on their heels and Anakin remained steely dedicated amid the hail of laser rounds whizzing past him. Planting the pipe on a raised lip, he used his own momentum combined with the innate flexible properties of the pipe to pole vault all three of them into the air bridging the gap with the wall in seconds.

Although the excess weight ensured his calculations were slightly off, and Anakin alone just barely managed to get a grip on the edge of the perimeter wall. Obi-Wan did his best to maintain an even balance behind him, but Dooku missed entirely and was left dangling down beneath them. "This… isn't… going well!" Anakin grunted, exerting all the arm strength he could muster to keep himself and two full-grown men from plummeting to the ground.

"Try, Anakin!" Obi-Wan encouraged, working to find some means to help his friend.

"Try harder!" Dooku cried from below. On the ground, the pirate cluster grew as dozens of blaster rifles were trained on the trio.

"Hondo's on his way!" One pirate announced.

"Don't let 'em escape!" Another shouted, opening fire with his rifle and prompting the others to follow suit. Scarlet rounds peppered the wall as Obi-Wan started swinging from side to side to avoid getting hit.

"H-Hey! What're you guys doing?" Anakin exclaimed, struggling to keep his foothold. "I-I can't… hold on…!" Even the mechanical advantages of his right hand were wearing thin, he couldn't keep this up.

Suddenly, a stray blaster bolt cut clean through the coupler holding Dooku and Kenobi together, the Count plummeting to the ground as gravity took its toll. Obi-Wan moved to intercept, dangling upside down with both hands reaching to catch him…

Only for a red and silver blur to leap out of nowhere and catch Dooku.

Landing on his feet, Jayden placed Dooku on his as his Master's eyes widened a little before he allowed himself to smile for the first time in days.

"You are a sight for sore eyes, my young Apprentice."

"Better than seeing Jedi or pirate scum." Jayden remarked, activating his Lightsaber to cut Dooku's restraints and allow his arms freedom.

"I guess this means we can't be friends!" The familiar voice of Hondo Ohnaka remarked from above. The pair looked up to find the pirate leader standing atop the wall, over Anakin and Obi-Wan. Jayden raised a brow under his mask. "You! Yes, you! What have you done to my men?" Hondo demanded. "Do you have any idea how long it will take to clean up your mess? There are bodies everywhere! Now, I need to hire more men and I need to train those men. You killed loyal men, Separatist! And that, that is unforgivable! I will deal with the Jedi! Bring me back my Sith Lord!" He then ordered his men. The pirates moved quickly and turned their weapons on the pair,

"Master, I found this while I tore my way through the pirate's compound." Jayden said, showing Dooku his curved Lightsaber. A smile graced the Sith Lord's face as he took his weapon.

"Very good, my Apprentice." He said before activating the blade and assuming the basic Form II stance as Jayden did the same with his own Lightsaber. The pirates opened fire on the two, causing them to start deflecting the shots back. "I trust you have secured our way off this planet?"

"The Rogue Shadow is in en-route." Jayden said, getting a nod from Dooku. The two Sith continued to stall, killing pirate after pirate by deflecting their own shots back at them. But it wasn't long before the Rogue Shadow arrived. The ship's ramp opened, allowing Jayden and Dooku to Force jump onto it and board. The ship's ramp closed and took off into space soon after...


And that's it for this chapter. This was really to show Jayden and Dooku's relationship, seeing as Dooku is the one who found Jayden years ago taught him, raised him, with Jayden seeing him as a father-figure so of course he wasn't going to remain idle while his Master was held prisoner by pirates.