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Chapter 11
To be frank, Geonosis was less than one parsec away from Tatooine. Therefore, it wasn't entirely implausible that Anakin and Padmé would have time for sex.
Ever since he was reborn once more as Anakin Skywalker, all the desires of a standard adolescent were coming back slowly but surely. It increased after Tatooine naturally. Padmé all but flashed him a seductive smile and welcomed him to her quarters. It started with a make-out. And one thing turned into another. It was only then that he realized just how much he missed the sensation of skin without layers of clothing, the abandonment of rational thought, the touch saturated by sweat, to be so intimate with his Padmé and holding her close.
For so long, he just felt incredibly lonely.
The sex was amazing, somewhat embarrassing, but Padmé took what she assumed to be his inexperience in stride as always with her own experience. After Anakin got into the swing of things after the first time, it was all but uphill from there.
None of the sensations, however, came close to Padmé holding his head to her neck, nose brushing against hers, and whispering to his ear, "Krit, I might be in love with you, Skywalker..."
Perhaps it was said in the heat of the moment, yet he felt her sincerity. He wondered what led to Padmé being more accommodating to him joining her in her bed sooner, but this was definitely different from their first time together. For one, his first time with her didn't happen until after Geonosis.
Anakin breathed in and out, hands moving up and down her back, holding her closer from his position on top of her, kissing her neck. The results were as he'd remembered. Weariness came to both of them, naturally, proving that maybe they should have waited. His eyes shut as his face rested against the right side of Padmé's neck, regaining his breath. She didn't fare much better.
"Master Anakin," Threepio's voice broke through the outside of his door, "we are arriving."
"Well, I'm beat," Padmé said with a sigh, her hands still rubbing his hair tenderly. "I don't think this was a good idea."
With a wave of his hand, Anakin washed their exhaustion away with the Force, having been used to staying up for worse during rigorous days as Vader to become a practitioner of such an ability.
"You and your Force tricks..." Padmé grinned shyly.
Anakin returned it with his shy smile. "I'm an adaptive person, Senator."
"But for now, we should focus on duty," she said, pushing him at the same time she kissed him.
Anakin nodded, squashing a twinge of childish disappointment. He wanted to stay with her, but it wouldn't be right. He sighed.
At last, not all things could happen forever.
He grabbed his own pants and pulled them up before walking out, staring below.
To be frank, there weren't many differences between Geonosis and Tatooine. Both were equally harsh environments to live in, harboring hostile populations and harsh desert surfaces. Warships surrounded the planet's atmosphere, housing transports with legions of battle droids; a fairly early sign of what was to come in the soon-to-be Clone Wars.
Anakin would never claim to be a pacifist, yet the sheer death toll of the Clone Wars in the original timeline was not only terrible, but completely horrifying. Blast, that was part of the reason why Anakin was still torn between a reformed Republic, a benevolent Empire, and something else entirely. While the Empire lasted only 23 years, it did, for a time, bring peace, unity, and stability to the galaxy. The cruel fact was that the Empire was a nation, much more than the Republic. The Republic wasn't and hadn't been one for years. Reforming the Republic would, of course, go against the Core Overlords' interest.
The Republic merely celebrated a false era of peace, taking advantage of the colonies in the Outer Rim, giving them a reason to fight back as the Core continued to harass the Rim in many different ways. What use would it be if the kriffing Republic fell back into the same state as it had been for centuries and merely splintered at the masses yet again in another thousand years, having no puppeteers at the head of it?
The knowledge of that bastard's meddling didn't brighten Anakin's spirits. It was legitimately a victory scenario for him, no matter which side won. The Jedi fell in battle, getting a lot of Clones killed, and battles lost, especially while they learned how to adjust to the warfront properly. They were spread all over the galaxy, so there were very few Jedi on Coruscant at the moment he attempted to grab power. The Clone Wars were the perfect trap for them all. It was not really important if they lived or died as GAR enlistees.
Ironically, Palpatine... painted himself as the last hope for the Republic from the moment he was elected, playing so many people who depended on the Senate. The thoughts infuriated him and made him want to just go to Coruscant and kill Palpatine arise, the Sith's contingencies and how killing a legal official would kriff over him and the Jedi be damned! The entire galaxy was just pawns for him and the people who helped his rise to power in the first place.
He breathed in, allowing rationale to win out. First, he had to help at least the Jedi who could be convinced to see outside of the Order, gain some political and military influence in the Republic, perhaps locate CIS agents persuadable, and try to make this as peaceful as possible.
That way, he could deal with Palpatine without the suffering of so many...
'It won't work,' a more clinical part of Anakin spoke. Deep down, Anakin knew that was the truth. But he wanted to try, at least. There shouldn't have to be a war.
If only more people were like Luke...
The freighter continued to traverse through the blockade, the ships not reacting to their presence. They found a landing platform close to the outskirts, undetectable by the nearby patrols, but clear enough to allow her to fly out of here in case someone detected them.
"Stay here," Anakin ordered. "Tell Padmé I'll be back."
"Oh, yes, Master Ani..."
Upon looking at him, Artoo began to beep once more just as Threepio shrilled "MASTER ANI!".
"What?" Anakin asked.
"Master, you're... you're..." Threepio began.
Artoo teased, [Do you plan to go on the planet half-naked?]
Anakin arched both eyebrows, "No, what do you mean by thaaa..." Anakin looked down and flushed, realizing he didn't even put his shirt on. "Kriff..."
Yeah, a secret relationship definitely won't work out this time around.
"Looking for something?" Padmé teased behind him, using her index finger to toy with the fabric of his shirt before tossing it at him.
Anakin nodded graciously and smiled, placing it on and cursing his oversight. "Thank you, Padmé."
"Learn not to be so forgetful," she reprimanded in the form of a quip.
"You have to stay here, Padmé," Anakin responded, not wanting to risk her safety in the face of many events already happening differently.
"Absolutely not!" Padmé's brows flickered. "I'm coming with you," she declared instantly, her new feelings for him motivating her.
"No," he insisted, "they will not listen to negotiations. They are too deeply involved in this coming war."
"I am accustomed to danger, Anakin," she responded, blocking him from allowing him to leave. "You cannot go in there alone."
Anakin sighed, gripping her palms again with similar tenderness as he did on Tatooine, and kissed her passionately, allowing her to close her eyes and melt against him. Anakin couldn't wait for things to go like this every day. Her kiss was something Anakin missed, and he planned to give her all she could ever want. What would happen now, assuming that they would be able to engage in a public relationship?
"Padmé, you have to understand," he said when he'd released her, "you will only hinder me. I can get Obi-Wan out, but you must remain here and I'll find you after the battle."
"But we can solve this diplom..."
"Maybe, but that's not a certainty. Nute Gunray is likely behind the assassination attempts on your life."
"We-"
"It is what I need you to do," Anakin enforced, allowing a bit of a plea to enter his tone, "there are Dark Jedi lurking about, and if they sense you, they'll be upon us quickly. My abilities at the end of the day do have limitations. If you get injured, I don't know what I will do, and you will make me look incompetent in front of the Chancellor and Jedi Order, thus denying me my chances to help others. Please, stay on this ship. Artoo and Threepio will be with you so you won't be alone. If the Republic and Jedi come here, just join up with them."
There was only a half-truth in that statement. No doubt, the Dark Jedi would be among them if they were ordered to, yet didn't participate much aside from in the tunnels. Grievous was on the Catacombs if he was remembering as well. Part of him wanted to go after that Cyborg, but that would take too long, and it was possible they would be detected by then.
He just didn't want Padmé in the arena, needlessly putting herself in danger.
He spared a glance at the still unfinished protocol and astromech droids lingering behind before staring back into her eyes, his intense blue eyes piercing through hers. Padmé nodded eventually.
"Fine, but promise me you'll be safe. I don't want to go through the same pain that Dormé went through when she lost Cordé." Padmé pleaded.
Anakin tried to offer lightly, "Aren't I always?"
"Promise me, Anakin." Her true emotions about this were clear, and it made him ache.
"I promise," Anakin nodded once. Still, he probed her signature, and sensing her reluctant agreement, he began walking off the ship. She watched him, their eyes meeting and stuck on one another as the ramp raised behind him.
Pulling his hood over his head, Anakin traveled through the desert to the facility, finding an entrance that led to the inside. Air clogged his lungs the moment the door started opening, hot and burning evident through the air, nearly resulting in a cough from him.
The sound of clocking and the hum of triggered weapons greeted him as soon as he'd entered the fortress. Without hesitation, Anakin activated his blue lightsaber.
People would have to learn to shoot first and ask questions later.
Something within him always got a thrill of being a juggernaut, marching through scores of enemy troopers. It happened from time to time as Anakin, though even more frequently as Vader. The Dark Lord had a guilty pleasure in slashing and cutting down any Jedi, Rebel, or traitor to the Empire. Now, while Anakin had sought no enjoyment, he still cut them down with the cold precision and detachment.
The sonic blasters of the Geonosians only proved to fire far more slowly, though Anakin knew not to block them due to the power behind them. He evaded, using the Force at once. He cut through them as if they were nothing, his lightsaber moving in swift slashes and heavy assaults. Those who were adorned with melee weapons couldn't even halt Anakin.
Anakin had only one objective that could possibly prevent the entire war for the time being.
He reached through the still evident bond with Obi-Wan, wishing to find him amidst this crowded base. The time traveler thought back to what he had done before, but couldn't remember. It had been over twenty-two years now. But the presence of his former Master was shrouded with the Dark Side of the Force running strongly here.
'If Dooku had killed him...'
No, Anakin refused to accept the possibility that Dooku had killed Obi-Wan. Despite leaving the Jedi Order, it wasn't due to being entirely personal, at least with Obi-Wan. It was mainly because there was no point in dancing about the subject. Even after the Second Death Star, Anakin just couldn't fit with the Jedi in this period. For years, he'd longed to sate his hatred of the Jedi Master, lumbering in an unending cycle of pain and loss; some that were self-inflicted, others that weren't.
'I've abandoned him to death before. I won't do it again.' Anakin thought remorsefully, recalling Operation Knightfall, Mustafar, when he'd fruitlessly tortured Dama Montalvo in hopes of learning where Obi-Wan was hiding in the Senate Torture Chamber, and slaughtered a small Jedi conclave in one of the abandoned mines of Kessel by Shadday Potkin following the futile deathtrap, and finally the first Death Star where he cut the man down. 'Never again.'
Anakin decided to go to the fortress's security room. When he made it there, he raised a hand in the air. The Geonosian shrilled in alarm, being silenced by his tiny hand shooting to his throat, while the time traveler simply moved toward the security cameras and began to access them.
Manipulating the recording, Anakin viewed each of the cellblocks. He eventually found the time and frowned when he spotted the Magnaguards, accompanied by a familiar blond man. The man was smirking viciously as the captured Jedi was led out of the cell. Spotting the mullet form of his former Jedi Master, Anakin frowned when he spotted another Jedi...
The blonde female who Anakin forgot about yet felt strongly about as a mentor: Siri Tachi...
Just what was she doing here?
Did the Council actually listen to him and give Obi-Wan aid in the form of his old "friend"?
Anakin was feeling the making of a smile crossing his lips. He knew that they had something special. Obi-Wan wasn't himself after her death. Satine's death did cause him grief, but it was nothing compared to the terrible pang that came with Siri's demise. It was understandable. He'd liked Siri too as a person. Her Maverick ways reminded him a bit of Qui-Gon in some ways.
Leaving the thought for later, Anakin turned around, staring back briefly at his prisoner, and tossed him into the console, knocking him out harshly.
He continued his passage through the fortress, encountering little resistance down the halls. The occasional guards were easily dispatched without a second thought.
He made it to a viewport point of the arena, and his lips curled up into a concerned scowl. While the method of execution was different, he noticed that the CIS planned to make this execution more... concerning. More importantly, positions were altered for mysterious reasons.
He'd spotted Obi-Wan and Siri both being dragged by Geonosian Overseers across the sand.
Oh, it was still a public execution, but the handling of it was still different and perhaps less satisfying for the masses than last time...
A plan came to Anakin.
Time for another entrance.
Kenobi's hands were bound behind his back, as were Tachi's; yet Geonosians held them down, prohibiting movement. They were supposed to be executed together: to show that the government wouldn't put up with the interference of the Republic any longer. By all intents and purposes, it was legal, but the knowledge of two Jedi at once disturbed the government, who decided on a speedy execution as they'd finished launching their investigation around the planet.
Thus, Dooku stood in front of them, watching as they were forced to kneel, Magnaguards flanking him. Karoc and Vinoc stood behind Magus silently; the brothers were all for show if anything else. The bounty hunter was particularly delighted to have seen them executed personally and insisted on it. There were some personal feelings for both Jedi; an utter disdain turned to glee.
"Normally, the Geonosians would prefer their own form of executions, but as this is a momentous occasion, they'd decided we must have cherish this beloved moment. The galaxy shall witness the firm consequence for those who breaks into any territory within our movement. At the possibility of two Jedi who could be able to escape with our metaphorical pants down, Magus will be the one who carry out their termination. Let us end this in a setting fitting for traitors to the Confederacy and its laws. Magus, if you will..." Dooku indicated.
"With pleasure," Magus answered sickly, grinning between his teeth. "I have been waiting a long time for my revenge." He withdrew his blaster pistol and aimed down at Tachi first.
Obi-Wan stared at Dooku defiantly, and back at Tachi, worried for the woman. Tachi refused to look away in a moment of boldness, not wanting to give him the pleasure. Dooku could almost respect it.
Magus's lips twitched as his finger paused over the trigger.
When suddenly...
A figure punched the ground, and a powerful telekinetic blast erupted in the air...
The Geonosians holding the two, along with Magus, were sent flying, each cut down the next moment by a blue blur. Magus's head rolled off, and the body dropped with it.
Dooku watched as the figure landed right in front of the two Jedi. The surrounding battle droids raised their blasters and began to open fire. Not a single shot made it passed the rescuer's defenses, absorbed into someone. Through the skirmish, the hood over the individual's head fell off, and Anakin Skywalker stood with the glory of true power.
All marveled at his intimidating presence. Dooku could almost imagine that he was a monolith with how much the Force drew off of him. His robes and cloak billowed behind him in the wind. He stared at them silently, his eyes hardened like steel.
Shots came flying at him, and without even giving them a second thought, the droids, Magnaguards included, were crushed by an invisible hold. Their metallic forms were molded up and slammed right into the nearly audience wall's platform, actually stunning some of the Geonosians. A yellow crackling electrostaff went flying at one of the Dark Acolytes. Vinoc. The young Acolyte flexed his hands, guiding the lethal weapon away. The brothers approached the young man menacingly.
Skywalker tilted his head, telepathically severing the ropes of Kenobi and Tachi, allowing them to hop into action.
The two launched themselves after Skywalker, weapons darting in a deadly vortex of crackling energy. Each of the strikes was deadly and fast, attempting to break through Skywalker's sheer defense. The Force Adept effortlessly fended them off with little struggle. He swept between the two, dashing like the speed of light. Skywalker slammed his fist against the second brother, stunning him and causing him to recoil in surprise. Exchanging a few more slashes, finally, Skywalker performed a deathly blow. He slammed his lightsaber through the first one, the blue blade impaling through his chest.
"Karoc!" Vinoc shouted pathetically as his brother collapsed. "You'll pay for that!"
Using his pain of his lost brother to feed even deeper into the Dark Side, the final Dark Acolyte swung at Skywalker with the madness of a brute lost in grief and rage.
The blue blade caught the first strike and knocked him back. In the meantime, the reinforced Magnaguards came forward when it became clear that the young man was going to overpower the Acolyte, leading to Skywalker twisting his lightsaber around to meet their attacks, his lightsaber moving in a speed of light before making short work of the Magnaguards one by one, hammering through their parries. The Dark Jedi helped particularly in that regard. Blinded fool, Dooku felt disapproval. He slashed through the final Magnaguard, slicing it in half. The Dark Jedi hacked away, attempting to cut through all of it.
All of Skywalker.
The former slave countered each assault and retaliated with a series of his own. The Dark Jedi pivoted around, attempting to take advantage of any exposed flank he may have. He didn't follow him in their dance, even as the brother of the fallen continued to stab around like a serpent.
No, Skywalker held him off with only one hand. The Dark Jedi's wild swings just couldn't rival his swordsmanship. He finally put an end to this miserable display when he either through luck or being allowed to go passed, swinging his red lightsaber up to his head. He avoided the overhead slash, catching his hands holding his lightsaber, and stabbed him through the chest. His mouth opened wide, and yellow eyes dimmed as the blue blade eviscerated him with a brutal uppercut.
The entire time, without taking an eye off of Dooku.
The lifeless Dark Jedi's hilts went flying at Obi-Wan and Siri, allowing them to stand at Skywalker's side.
"We'll take him to-" Obi-Wan started.
"Obi-Wan, you're injured," Skywalker reassured. "I can handle this."
'Arrogant boy,' Dooku thought spitefully, 'it's time to see what he has learned.'
Before either Jedi could protest, they were instantly fending off blaster bolts from offending droids through the tunnels, causing them to divert their attention.
No words were exchanged. Skywalker approached slowly. He did something Dooku didn't expect, given his recent slaughter.
Anakin deactivated his lightsaber and lowered his head.
"I only killed them because they weren't able to be reasoned with. I know that the same isn't true for you. We don't have to fight. You can turn away from this path."
Dooku frowned at him, surprised by the lack of aggression from Skywalker. His curved hilt flew into his hand, and the red blade activated, lunging for the boy's head. The azure blade sprang forward, catching the would-be fatal strike seconds before it landed.
In front of the crowds, their lightsabers crisscrossed into an "X"...