R2-D2 and C-3PO were the only ones on the Naboo ship when Obi-Wan's message passed through, asking for Anakin to re-transmit the message to Coruscant. The little droid left the ship to look for Anakin, telling Threepio to stay behind and watch the ship.
"I don't know if your circuits are screwed in correctly, but I am not a protector droid." Threepio said.
R2 just told Threepio to quit getting his wires in a twist and simply stay put.
Anakin and Kara both looked at their amulets and were so confused. Why would Qui-Gon Jinn have held magical amulets? Did someone from the kingdom give them to him to protect them? Did he steal them from someone else? Or did he just find them somewhere?
It was then that R2 arrived and beeped.
"R2? What are you doing here?" said Padme.
R2 beeped again.
"It seems that he is carrying a message from Obi-Wan Kenobi." Kara said. Then she gasped.
"Uncle Obi-Wan might be in trouble!" Gabby panicked, running back to the ship.
"Gabby, don't run off!" Padme said, going after her daughter.
Anakin, Padme, Kara, and Gabby returned to the ship to listen to Obi-Wan's message.
"Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant."
So, Padme did just that. The message was sent to Coruscant, where several members of the Jedi, as well as a few senators, were gathered in the Chancellor's office.
"I have tracked the bounty hunter, Jango Fett, to the droid foundries on Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here, and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. And, it appears they are planning to kidnap Princess Gabriella as well, hoping to turn her to their side. The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a- wait. Wait."
The transmission finished with Obi-Wan taking out his lightsaber, and a scary droid of some sort as well as what appeared to be moths entering the picture.
Anakin and Kara's eyes went wide. Moths! Just like in their dreams.
"More happening on Geonosis, I feel, than has been revealed." Yoda said.
"I agree," said Mace. "Anakin, Kara, we will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you is to stay where you are. Protect the senator and the princess at all costs. That is your first priority."
"Understood, Master." Anakin and Kara said.
"They'll never get there in time to save him," said Padme. "They have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look."
Padme hit a button to show the distance from their current location to Geonosis. Enchantra had what were called violet holes, which were like a blackhole, except they acted as portals to various parts of the galaxy. When Enchantra allied with the Republic, they received maps that would direct them between the systems.
"If we take this route, Geonosis is not that far away."
"If he's still alive," said Anakin.
"Ani, are you just gonna sit here and let him die? He's your friend, your mentor. He's-"
"He's like my father!" Anakin exclaimed. "But you heard Master Windu. He gave us strict orders to stay here!"
"He gave you strict orders to protect me and our daughter, and I'm going to help Obi-Wan."
"Me too!" Gabby said, climbing into a chair.
"If you plan to protect us, you'll just have to come along."
Kara looked at Anakin and said, "Technically, those were our orders, Ani. We can't stop the senator from going where she wants to go."
Padme and Kara began to fire up the engines, Anakin picked Gabby up and sat her in his lap as he sat down with a sigh. Gabby smiled and held up her teddy again.
Meanwhile, the senators and Jedi on Coruscant were worried.
"The Commerce Guilds are preparing for war." Senator Bail Organa said. "There can be no doubt of that."
"Count Dooku must have made a treaty with them," said Chancellor Palpatine.
Another alien spoke in a foreign language, saying, "The debate is over. Now we need that clone army."
"Unfortunately," said Bail in Basic. "the debate is not over. The senate will never approve the use of clones before the separatists attack."
"This is a crisis." said Mas Amedda, Palpatine's second-in-command. "The senate must vote for the chancellor emergency powers. He can then approve the creation of an army."
"But what senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?" said Palpatine.
"If only... Senator Amidala were here."
"Mm."
On the Planet Geonosis, Count Dooku walked into a chamber, where inside was Obi-Wan Kenobi imprisoned in some kind of stasis chamber that made it impossible for him to move his arms and legs. And he wasn't alone. Gray was with him.
"Traitor," said Obi-Wan, seeing the Count.
"Oh, no, my friend. This is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They have gone too far. This is madness." said Dooku.
"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku. Or is your friend the leader?"
"I should be," said the woman. "Lady Gray Yolanda Morphina, at your service. You may call me Lady Morpha, but I see you know my husband."
Obi-Wan was shocked by that. He didn't know everything about what made Dooku leave the Jedi Order, but now he was starting to wonder if it was so he could run off and marry this woman.
"What can I say?" Lady Morpha said, rubbing her head against Dooku's shoulder flirtatiously. "I like a powerful man."
Dooku got Lady Morpha off him and he started to walk around Obi-Wan.
"This had nothing to do with me, I assure you. I will petition immediately to have you set free."
"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. I have work to do."
"May I ask why a Jedi knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?"
"I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Do you know him?"
"There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of. The Geonosians don't trust them. Neither do doreshos."
"Who can blame them? But he is here, I can assure you."
"It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you." Dooku looked down for a moment. "I wish he were still here. I could use his help right now."
"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you."
"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice, just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the senate, but he would never have gone along with it if he had learned the truth as I have. The truth? The truth."
Dooku walked around Obi-Wan, having caught the man's interest.
"What if I told you that the Senate was now under control of the dark lord of the Sith?" said Dooku.
"No, that's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it." said Obi-Wan.
"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend." Dooku looked Kenobi in the eyes more seriously. "Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith lord called Darth Sidious."
"I don't believe you."
"I'm afraid it's true," said Gray, flying so she was face-to-face with Obi-Wan, running her manicured fingers across his beard. "Your kind are just too blind to see the truth. All too often, you comfort with lies rather than face the truth."
"The viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious, but he was betrayed ten years ago by the dark lord. He came to me for help. He told me everything. You must join me, Obi-Wan, and together we will destroy the Sith!"
"I will never join you, Dooku."
"Come, my love." Lady Morpha said, making a 'come here' motion with two fingers at Dooku, like he was a cat.
Dooku entered a darker room to leave with his wife, but before he left, he had one more thing to say to Obi-Wan.
"It may be difficult to secure your release."
Meanwhile, on Coruscant...
"It's-a clear desa separatists made a pact," said Jar Jar before the Senate. "wesa desa Federation du Trade. Senators, 'dellow felegates': In response to this direct threat to the Republic, mesa propose that the senate give immediate emergency powers to the supreme chancellor."
The rest of the senators cheered in approval and chanted "Palpatine! Palpatine!"
"Order!" shouted the Senate Chairman. "We shall have order!"
Chancellor Palpatine stood up and said, "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy. I love the Republic. The power you give me, I will lay down when this crisis has abated."
Once again, the crowd cheered.
"And as my first act with this new authority," said the Chancellor. "I will create a grand army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the separatists."
Mace and Yoda watched from high above as all this was going on.
"It is done, then." Mace said.
"Hmm." Yoda thought.
"I will take what Jedi we have left and go to Geonosis and help Obi-Wan."
"Visit, I will, the cloners on Kamino, hmm, and see this army they have created for the Republic."
We're nearing the end of the second installment of Forces of Magic. Hope you've enjoyed it so far. Please review