"Do you think there's any chance we run into Dooku while we're on Tythe?"

Luke, Obi-Wan, and Anakin stood together in the hanger of the ship as they approached the planet Tythe. Luke, hearing the black edge in Anakin's voice as he said Dooku's name, turned to look at him curiously. "Who's Dooku?"

Anakin's eyes flashed, though Luke was relieved the brief flare of anger wasn't directed at him. Obi-Wan was the one who answered his question. "He's the Sith Apprentice to this Darth Sidious. We've had a few...run-ins with him, though we haven't been successful in catching him yet."

Luke nodded, processing the information as he studied his father for a moment. "I'm guessing he's also the same one that took your arm."

Anakin nodded, the dark look lingering in his eyes for a moment before he re-gathered himself. "If we come across him it's probably best you don't get involved, Luke."

Luke crossed his arms over his chest, cocking an eyebrow challengingly. "Won't you need help?" he tried to point out.

Anakin shook his head. "Obi-Wan and I can handle him. You might end up getting seriously hurt if you come along. When I was a Padawan, I was lucky I lasted as long as I did against him, and that was with ten years of Jedi training under Obi-Wan. Now it's been three more years of Dooku getting stronger, and with the extent of your training, getting hurt is the best thing that could happen to you in that situation."

Luke didn't argue further; he got the picture. "So what am I going to do?"

Anakin shrugged. "I guess we'll have to see where you're needed."

Luke sighed. "All right."

Obi-Wan looked at him curiously. "So, something I was wondering ...with how little training you had...when did you start your training?"

Luke turned to him. "When I was nineteen."

Both Jedi seemed shocked. "Oh, come on; the Council barely took me in when I was nine, and you're telling me you started your training at nineteen without any questions?" Anakin complained. "What's up with that?"

"Well, first of all, the Order didn't exist anymore, my aunt and uncle had been killed, and the house burned to the ground so I had nowhere to go. Obi-Wan was going to go on a rescue mission on a highly guarded space station and was going to need help at his age, plus Obi-Wan had promised to train me, which only seemed right after he told me my father was also a Jed—" Luke suddenly clamped his mouth shut with an audible click, realizing he'd said too much. "Oh Force," he muttered.

"Your father was a Jedi?" Obi-Wan asked sharply.

Luke looked at them warily. "Yeah, he was."

"What happened to him?" Anakin asked.

"It's a sensitive subject," Luke said simply. He made sure his mental shields were up high and strong, even if they weren't the best.

The other Jedi realized how uncomfortable the current direction of conversation was for Luke and backed off. "Alright, if it bothers you then we'll leave it alone," Obi-Wan said.

"Thank you."

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The ship came out of light speed and the first thing the three Jedi registered were the Separatist ships that plagued the space in front of them, all clogged above the planet Tythe. No one had to give an order; everyone was already rushing to their fighters. As the three made their way to the fighters they would be using—Luke borrowing a clone's fighter while Obi-Wan and Anakin used their Jedi fighters—Anakin turned his head sharply in one direction. "Dooku's here; just as I suspected he might be," he growled.

Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin. "Calm yourself, Anakin. Don't let your emotions get the best of you," he said in a steely tone of voice.

"Sorry, Master," Anakin muttered, taking a few deep breaths as he got in his yellow starfighter. Luke sent yet another worried look Anakin's way, but when it seemed he'd calmed down again Luke turned his attention back to the issue at hand.

As he put on his headset he heard his father's voice crackle to life on the other end. "Do you know how to fly these, Luke?"

Luke nodded before he remembered he couldn't see him. "Yeah, I'm pretty handy at flying," he said with just a hint of smugness. I get it from my father.

"Alright then, just making sure," Anakin said as they all powered up and shot out of the hanger towards Tythe.

"Our goal is on the planet, not up here, Anakin, just remember that," Obi-Wan cautioned.

Luke could practically hear Anakin roll his eyes. "Just don't get yourself into any situations again, Master, and we'll be fine. I'd hate to have to save your life for the tenth time," Anakin said with an amused edge.

"Let's just focus on the task at hand, Anakin," Obi-Wan said in an exasperated voice. Anakin simply chuckled.

"Whatever you say, Master."

The conversation ended abruptly as the Jedi were met with their first obstacle: Vulture Droids.

"I'm going to see if Cody and Rex's men can hold their own up here while we try and get to the LiMerge Headquarters on the planet," Obi-Wan said before he left the connection.

Anakin shot down a vulture droid that had come uncomfortably close to Obi-Wan. "Don't get yourself hurt, old man," Luke heard his father say quietly. Luke couldn't help but laugh a little.

Obi-Wan came back online as Luke shot down some of the droids himself, swerving to avoid the explosion from one of the ones that he'd shot down rather close to his own fighter.

"Careful there, Luke," Anakin cautioned.

"Keep pushing ahead, the men are going to keep them off our tail so we can get in," Obi-Wan told them.

"Alright," Luke said, avoiding another vulture droid. The closer the three Jedi got to the planet, the stronger resistance they were met with.

"Luke, go to the left," Anakin commanded.

Sensing the urgency in his father's tone, Luke did as he was told, and Anakin shot down a vulture droid Luke had been trying to shake off.

"Thanks," Luke told him.

"Don't mention it."

"There's a hole in their defenses we might be able to get through. Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.

"With pleasure," Anakin chuckled in response.

He suddenly broke formation, angling his ship towards a certain spot in the Separatist line. "Luke, follow him; but stay a little ways behind. Just to be safe," Obi-Wan told him.

"Yeah, don't want to get hit by some shrapnel," Anakin chuckled.

With that Anakin plowed ahead without any sign of stopping. Suddenly he opened fire, not even bothering to ease up on his speed. Some of the droids crashed into each other and exploded trying to avoid his fire. However, the fire and ship parts hurtling toward Anakin's ship didn't seem to faze him as Anakin simply continued on wreaking havoc, and Luke even heard his father let loose a wild laugh.

"Is he suicidal?" Luke asked Obi-Wan in shock.

"Sometimes, I wonder," Obi-Wan told him.

That only seemed to make his father laugh more. "Come on, Master, you've known me long enough; have a little faith," Anakin chuckled as he punched through the hole he'd created, Obi-Wan and Luke right behind him. Anakin's ship was a little battered, but he seemed to be perfectly fine despite that small detail.

"That doesn't mean that I approve. One of these days, Anakin, you're going to get yourself killed. You might be a skilled pilot but some of the things you do..." Obi-Wan trailed off, and Luke was sure that he was shaking his head.

"I know, Master," Anakin chuckled a little.

Obi-Wan sighed. "One of these days, Anakin..."

"I'm going to be the death of you, yes, I know, Master; you've said it so many times. You know it's not true though; just as I've told you since I was your Padawan...you're the closest thing to a father I've had," Anakin finished quietly.

Luke shifted uncomfortably in his fighter, frowning. His father and Obi-Wan had been this close? What could have possibly changed?

Anakin sensed Luke's severe unease. "Are you okay over there, Luke?"

Luke sighed, feeling like he had a gigantic weight on his shoulders. "Yeah, I'm fine; just lost in my own thoughts, I guess."

"Well, come back to reality; we're entering Tythe's atmosphere," Anakin said. Was that a twinge of genuine concern he heard in his father's voice?

Obi-Wan pulled his fighter in front of them. "I've got the coordinates, just follow me."

"Not necessary the best idea in my opinion, but alright," Anakin chuckled.

Obi-Wan simply sighed again.

The looming sight of the LiMerge Building came into view, and the Jedi quickly landed their speeders on the west landing pad. There were several droids at the doorway who opened fire before they could even opened their cockpits. Anakin and Obi-Wan, without the slightest hesitation, opened their cockpits and leaped out, quickly engaging the droids. Within minutes they had been subdued, and Luke hopped out of his fighter, slightly in awe from seeing the sight of the two Jedi fighting the decent sized force with such ease. He hurried up to them. "So, what's the plan?"

"Ever broke into a well-guarded facility for information, Luke?" Anakin asked nonchalantly.

Luke grinned. "Many times over."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows at that, but Anakin simply smiled. "Alright then; would you be up to being the one to get the files we're looking for?"

"Sure, just tell me what I'm looking for."

Anakin nodded. "It'll probably be in a room in the lower levels..."

********************************************************************************************

Anakin and Obi-Wan had pointed Luke in the direction he needed to go, and now they were making their way through the halls, following the Force Signature they knew was Dooku from past experience.

"Are you sure that he'll be fine on his own?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan for the tenth time. He was painfully aware that Luke hadn't had much training, and he worried how the man would fare on his own. Vaguely, he wondered where this sudden concern came from.

"I'm sure he can handle a simple recovery mission, Anakin. Besides, neither of us can take Dooku alone; and have you forgotten that Luke told us he's survived a Sith?" Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Barely."

Obi-Wan sighed. "He'd said he'd done this before. Besides, I have a feeling he's gone through much worse and survived."

"Still. If he needs help there's no one to come help him; especially if we run into Dooku."

"Anakin. He'll be fine; he's doing his part, and we need to focus on doing ours."

Anakin sighed in frustration. "Alright, Master."

"Calm yourself, Anakin," Obi-Wan cautioned him.

"I'm fine, Master."

The conversation abruptly ended as the door at the end of the hall opened, revealing Count Dooku. Dooku's hand went to his saber, though he didn't draw it. "Well, well; I see you two made it past the defenses. I was just leaving. Ready for another failed attempt to capture me, Jedi?" he said with a smirk.

In response, the Jedi wordlessly activated their lightsabers.

"Apparently so," the Count mused.

The Jedi advanced, and Dooku used a simple Force Push to delay the Jedi long enough for him to get out of the doorway and make a break down the hall. Anakin, already feeling frustrated and annoyed, made chase, Obi-Wan close behind him.

Battle droids appeared in the hall, and Anakin and Obi-Wan had to slow down to deal with the new threat. Anakin's frustration started to boil into anger as he cut his way through the droids. Dooku was right there, just out of reach, running down the expanse of the hall towards a private landing pad as he hurried forward in his escape.

Dooku was too far out of reach; he was going to get away again. That bubble of anger inside Anakin seemed to pop at this revelation. He'd hardly had any sleep last night, and when he had his dreams had been filled with restless darkness and pain, he wanted back home to his wife but this elusive Count was keeping him here in the Outer Rim, and he was about to escape yet again, and way too quickly, too.

His anger swelling to rage and spilling over in a rush; Anakin hardly heard Obi-Wan cry out for him to calm. He slashed through one of the droids and gave a cry of untainted fury, subconsciously reaching out to the Force at the same time. Power rushed out of him, and before he could register what exactly he had just done, the building shook. He felt Obi-Wan's hand on his shoulder, and he finally came back to himself. However, the damage had already been done, and the building suddenly caved in on them from above. As his vision was obscured by falling rubble and he felt the ground giving underneath them, Anakin glimpsed Count Dooku caught in the collapsing of the building as well, and a small part of him hoped the Count was killed as the building crashed down all around.

I don't know if we're going to make it out of this one alive, he thought to himself.

********************************************************************************************

Luke walked cautiously through the hallways, keeping to the shadows as he did his best to keep from raising any alarms. He needed to go deeper; that would be where the records were kept, like his father had told him.

He heard droids approaching again and looked around. This time there wasn't a doorway to hide in. His eyes fell on a vent.

"That'll work, I guess," he mumbled to himself, quickly making his way over to it and slipping into the ventilation shaft at the last moment. He heard the droids go by, but instead of leaving the vent, he peered down the shaft. It looked like it would be a direct route down to where he needed to go. As quietly as he could, he followed where the vent led; looking out the vent grates here and there as he passed rooms, trying to find one that matched what he was looking for.

He had just reached a particularly dark stretch of the vent shaft when he suddenly felt a large tremor of darkness rip through the Force. He reached out to try and locate the source and when he did he felt his stomach drop, and the vent suddenly became unnaturally cold.

"Oh, Father..." he whispered before the building suddenly began to collapse, and Luke felt the building come crashing down all around him. The vent dropped, rubble and large pieces of the building crashing down on top of it, trapping him where he was. The vent broke again, a stray rock struck his head, and everything went black.