Obi-Wan glares, angry at both himself and his captor. He knew that his actions of following that bounty hunter would be risky, but he didn't think it would lead to him in chains spinning around and listening to Dooku's rants. He was only hoping that he could bring back some valuable information about those strange clones and Padmé's attempted assassinations. 

And although Obi-Wan doesn't want to admit it, there's a small bit of awe lurking inside him. When he was Qui-Gon's padawan, he heard many things about Dooku. Though mostly good, there were a few things that made him hesitate about the man. A few years into his apprenticeship, the older Jedi had left the Order without much reason. Obi-Wan wondered for a time what happened to him, but never found the courage to ask Qui-Gon while he was alive. If he wouldn't have become Anakin's master, he probably would have sought Dooku out. He's always been curious what Jedi do when they leave the only place they've ever known.

Apparently, they start working closely with bounty hunters.

"It's a great pity that our paths have not crossed before, Obi-Wan," Dooku says. This is the first he has ever formally met the famous Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had always planned on making acquaintances with him, but with Qui-Gon's untimely passing, he never felt comfortable seeking Obi-Wan out. He didn't want to overstep a line with the boy, especially because he left the Order. Lineage is important to Jedi, but it's not the same when a piece is missing from the middle. It might cause things to get messy, which is the last thing Dooku wants. "Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you."

Just his name out loud makes their hearts heavy and their emotions very present in the Force. Dooku looks down, thinking of his former padawan. Qui-Gon was always someone special to him. "I wish he were still alive." He confesses. He hopes his show of emotions will coax Obi-Wan into listening to what he has to say. But that aside, Dooku does miss Qui-Gon. He was someone who wasn't afraid to take risks. He was so strong with the Living Force, always knowing what it meant. "I could use his help right now."

Obi-Wan furrows his eyebrows. How is this man the teacher Qui-Gon adored? Constantly, he was always hearing about the great Master Dooku. To see him now and know what he has done, Obi-Wan finds himself irritated. This is not a person his master would want to be associated with. "Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you." He spits.

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi," Dooku replies, raising his finger at him. "You forget that he was once my apprentice, just as you were once his." He says. He knew Qui-Gon much better than Obi-Wan could ever dream of. He practically raised him. He watched him grow and learn. He was the one Qui-Gon came to for advice. "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?" Obi-Wan asks, his voice rising and giving away that he's curious. He silently curses to himself, upset with how much he's revealing to his captor. Dooku now knows he can use his want for the truth against him. He's already using their connection with Qui-Gon to coax him to his side. This will make resisting him much harder.

The young Jedi wants to know about the secrets happening right under his nose. Dooku realizes that he can use this to try to get Obi-Wan to join him. "The truth," Dooku smirks pleased that he has caught Obi-Wan's attention. So far, this is going easier than he expected. Perhaps this conversation will end with an ally Dooku never expected. "What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the dark lord of the Sith?" He begins, starting to pace around the captured Jedi.

"No, that's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it."

"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend," Dooku says, arching an eyebrow. Obi-Wan seems taken back, so Dooku presses on. He has him on the ropes. "Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan replies, but his voice wavers. He isn't confident in his response. Is it possible that the Sith have been able to cloud their vision this entire time? Can the Republic really be in their hands? It seems insane, but not impossible. The Jedi believed the Sith were wiped out thousands of years ago yet one killed his master. There is a slim chance that they're wrong again.

"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." Dooku says. He knows that Obi-Wan is taking the bait. Already, he can feel the hesitation in the young Jedi. Now he must deliver the final line. He needs, no, wants Obi-Wan by his side. It would be a missed opportunity for both of them if he refuses this offer. "You must join me, Obi-Wan, and together we will destroy the Sith!" He exclaims, holding his hand out to him.

Obi-Wan gulps. He doesn't know what to do. He wants to find out the truth. All he has ever wanted is for the truth to come out. Is it possible that Dooku is spilling all of their secrets? Maybe all Dooku wants is for the truth to be revealed as well. 

Not wanting to seem too eager or easy to sway, Obi-Wan says, "I will never join you, Dooku."

The older man lowers his head. He feels the conflict inside of the young Jedi. He can still turn him, but not at this moment. Obi-Wan just needs time to think about it and realize that he is being offered a one in a million chance of survival. Dooku walks for the door, turning around before leaving. "It may be difficult to secure your release."

Once Dooku has left, Obi-Wan starts to weigh his options. Qui-Gon did speak highly of Dooku. If he's the man that Qui-Gon admired, then can he really deny him? After all, Qui-Gon is something they have in common. He was taken too soon from both of them. He's the link that joins him with Dooku. Maybe by joining Dooku, they can form a bond they would have had if Qui-Gon was still here.

Plus, there's the part of the truth. He wants to know what's really going. What is happening back on Kamino? How can there be a whole battalion of clones out there that none of the members of the Council know about? What Jedi went behind everyone's back and erased the planet from the archives? And Obi-Wan followed Jango Fett here. He knows he is here! Clones made from a bounty hunter on Dooku's side can't be safe, can they?

And is the Republic actually under the control of a Sith Lord? If it is, he needs to put a stop to it. A Sith Lord in charge of the galaxy will not end well. They think inwardly, only about themselves. If they are the leader of the Republic, who's to say what will happen to all of the innocent civilians out there. So far, Dooku seems to be the only person willing to destroy the Sith with him.

The Sith took Qui-Gon away from them. After Obi-Wan killed that Sith Lord on Naboo, that left either the master or apprentice of the Sith alive and the Order has done nothing to try and find them. They have not actively gone out to try and search for the missing Sith. They've been out there for ten years, plotting against the Jedi and no one has done anything to stop them.

After weighing these issues, his mind is made up. When Dooku returns, he will give him his answer.

Geonosian guards enter and free him. As they strap the handcuffs on him, Dooku enters the room. "Have you changed your mind, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan gulps. His gut is screaming at him that this is wrong. What he is about to say goes against everything he has ever known. He shouldn't have to go against his morals to discover the truth, but what choice does he have? Dooku is the only person who is willing to do what must be done. Obi-Wan would be a fool to deny this chance at destroying the Sith. Besides, wasn't Qui-Gon always encouraging him to follow what he believes even if it goes against the Council? "I want to join you."

A smile grows on the old man's face and Obi-Wan knows that he should be frightened, but he's not. Dooku's smile reminds him so much of Qui-Gon and he is comforted. This is almost enough to make him wonder why he was even conflicted in the first place. Finally, there's someone out there who cares about him, even if Dooku is no longer part of the Order. "That's good to hear." Dooku nods. He orders the guards to let him go.

Obi-Wan rubs on his wrists where the handcuffs used to be. "What do I need to do to discover the truth?" He asks.

"Patience, Obi-Wan," Dooku responds. He starts to exit the room with Obi-Wan eagerly following him. He speeds up to walk beside Dooku, already feeling at home. They walk in step, just as he and Qui-Gon used to. How he's missed this. He had no one to turn to when Qui-Gon died and now he has someone older and wiser. He is following the man who trained his master. What could really go wrong? "Before we start exploiting the Republic and the corrupt persons who are in charge, there is something the Geonosians have planned for our entertainment."

Entertainment? What could Geonosians possibly do for fun? Obi-Wan believes that everything has a right to live, of course, but the Geonosians are disgusting bugs. They are pretty primitive compared to many of the other species in the galaxy. What the blazes do they consider entertaining?

They walk out onto a balcony, the light blinding Obi-Wan for a few seconds. Once his eyes adjust, sure enough, he sees Jango Fett waiting there. Jango raises his blaster at him, but Dooku gestures for him to put it down. Also waiting on the balcony is the Trade Federation. Obi-Wan would recognize them from anywhere. Naboo was where he had a real encounter with them.

A large roar comes from the crowd, gathering his attention. All around, he sees what must be thousands of Geonosians. Their clicks and buzzes echo around him and he feels like he's trapped in a hive. Nothing feels quite right and he's starting to think that maybe he is hallucinating. He's with Dooku, who has left the Order. He's standing right beside the bounty hunter that has attempted to end Padmé's life. And this very bounty hunter has millions of clones that were requested by the Jedi Council years ago.

Oh, he hopes that Anakin and Padmé got his message and sent it to the Council. 

Dooku lays a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, bringing him out of his stupor. Gently, he leads him to the edge of the balcony. "Here comes our entertainment." He says, waving his hand at the carriage hauling in what looks like a female and a male human.

Wait. Is that?

"What are they going to do to Anakin?" Obi-Wan asks, his head starting to spin. No. He can't let anything happen to him. Losing Anakin is not worth destroying the Sith or discovering the truth. It is not worth the bond that he hopes to revive with Qui-Gon through Dooku. Every single time, Anakin must come first. He is his padawan, his responsibility. More than that, he cares for him as if he's his brother. They've been together for almost ten years. If something were to ever happen to him, Obi-Wan would never forgive himself.

"They were caught inside our droid factory. The Geonosians felt that this should be their punishment." Dooku curtly replies as Anakin and Padmé are chained to the columns in the center of the arena. Soon, two doors lift, revealing two giant monsters. A reek and a nexu.

"They're going to die," Obi-Wan gasps, his eyes wide in shock. 

At this statement, the viceroys of the Trade Federation begin to laugh, tossing their heads back. Obi-Wan snaps his head to watch them, disgust washing over his face. "Good. That's what the girl deserves." 

Obi-Wan looks back down below, feeling like he's swaying on the sea. Laughter erupts around him and he thinks he's going to be sick. Are they really that set on revenge for something that happened nearly a decade ago? Have they truly suffered so much that they think that death is acceptable for Padmé? Suddenly, he begins to really regret his choice. If finding out the truth means watching Padmé and Anakin die, it's not worth it. Who knows who else he'll have to watch die at their hands, possibly even at his own hands. He looks at his hands, unable to breathe properly at the thought of possibly killing someone with his own lightsaber.

He looks up at Dooku, slightly shaking his head. "You can't kill them."

A glare appears on the old man's face. "Do you think so little of your padawan?"

"What?" Obi-Wan breathily asks, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

Dooku points back down to the arena. Obi-Wan follows his gaze, watching the creatures make their way to the chained up humans. "If you have trained him well, he should be able to escape. Especially if he's believed to be the Chosen One." He briefly explains. Obi-Wan wants to say that Dooku has no idea how unpredictable Anakin is. He doesn't know the type of power that Anakin holds. Anakin is capable of many great things, things that Obi-Wan could only dream of accomplishing, but he is still young. He still needs guidance to keep out the darkness that seems insistent on possessing him. 

But Obi-Wan keeps his mouth shut for the moment, letting the silence speak for him. 

He closes his eyes, unable to watch as the reek charges at Anakin. Instead of hearing Anakin scream out in pain, the crowd erupts into a loud cheer. He opens his eyes, watching his padawan whip the chains around the beast's horn and free himself. Padmé is standing on top of the column, fighting the nexu.

So far, they are okay. They seem to actually be winning. "Have faith in young Skywalker. You have trained him well." Dooku says, placing a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. He's worried and knows that it might be wrong, but Obi-Wan tentatively smiles at him. Praise from someone he has held to such high esteem feels good. It doesn't help that he can sense how proud Dooku is of him. "You are a greater Jedi than you think. Soon, you will be an even better dark side user."

xxx

Anakin looks around, searching for his master. Obi-Wan sent out that message not that long ago, so he must be somewhere. After "rescuing" Padmé, he closes his eyes and tries to feel for his master. Their connection through the Force is weak, swaying like an unbalanced bridge in a wind storm. One more strong breeze and it'll come tumbling down.

He looks to the balcony, seeing Dooku. His heart drops as he makes eye contact with Obi-Wan. What is he doing? Why is he standing so close to Dooku, a known dark side user? Why does he look to be in pain? What have they done to him?

"There's Master Kenobi!" Padmé shouts, pointing over his shoulder.

"I know." He mumbles, their eyes still locked. What is he thinking?

Somehow through all of this chaos, Obi-Wan is able to get through to Anakin using the Force. His voice travels over the unsteady bridge, carrying a load of sadness and fear. Anakin shivers when it reaches him even though he is sweating from the hot Geonosis heat.

I'm sorry. 

Sorry? What has Obi-Wan done that could possibly warrant an apology? Before Anakin can ask this to his master, he feels their bridge within the Force crash with a loud boom. The Force screams out as he is trapped on the other side, separated from Obi-Wan by the rushing water. The pieces of the bridge are sending large splashes of uncertainty and pain onto Anakin. He finds himself drenched in loneliness and fear. He gasps, clutching at his chest, trying to breathe. He is stunned.

Did his master just cut off their bond? He wouldn't intentionally shut Anakin out, right?

"Master?" Anakin asks just above a whisper. He feels tears welling in his eyes as he watches Obi-Wan scrunch his face in similar pain. Was he pelted with similar emotions too? Without acknowledging what just happened, Obi-Wan turns his back to Anakin and is led away by Dooku.

What is happening? Where is Dooku taking Obi-Wan?

Why is Obi-Wan leaving him in the dark?

Jedi come practically raining from the sky, but Anakin hardly notices. He is numb, trying to process whatever just happened. The rest of the fight is a blur that Anakin doesn't remember. His memory of the battle is patchy, a few of them not even his own. Most of what he can recall is from what Padmé later told him.

The only thing he truly knows is that is the last time he saw his master.

After that day, Obi-Wan just seemed to disappear. No one knows where he is. There are rumors around the Temple that he's joined the dark side. Others are sticking to the idea that he's been captured by Dooku and killed for refusing to share any of his knowledge. All that anyone can seem to agree on is that Obi-Wan will not return to the Jedi Order.

But Anakin knows that his master is still out there, and he is going to do everything to try to bring him back and show everyone that he is still the same Obi-Wan Kenobi.

~~~~~~~~~