Chapter Text
The sun over Geonosis blazed down brutally. It was unbearably hot, and it reminded Anakin too much of Tatooine. Geonosis too was a desert planet in the outer rim. The similarities it had to his homeplanet filled him with bad memories and a bit of nostalgia. As much as he hated Tatooine It still was the place where he and his mother lived for many years. Still the sandy landscape and heat filled him with dread. Last Time they were here, they were almost killed.
Anakin and Padmé had tried to rescue Obi-Wan who had been captured by Count Dooku. These facts did not help his restlessness. The Force was unsettled as well. Anakin couldn’t shake the feeling that this operation wouldn’t end well.
Master? I have a really bad feeling about your plan. Ahsoka send through their bond. She and the 501st Battalion where holding off the Separatists droids with Obi-Wan and the 212th. They were keeping the Separatists Attention on them so Anakin and ten of his men could sneak in through the back and install explosives. This was one of the biggest Droid Factories of the Separatists and would be a huge win.
There was also a rumor about a secret Weapon which plans were kept on Geonosis. If Anakin could steal the plans for it….Maybe they could stop it from being developed…Maybe if they lost their Factory and their plans for that weapon, the Separatists would listen to peace negotiations. Maybe it was just a rumor and it wasn’t even true. Anakin had to try regardless. Remembering that his Padawan was probably waiting for an answer he pushed those thoughts to the side and focused back on the task and on her. She was mostly fine, except for a few scraps.
Her job was definitely harder. Anakin's more dangerous. He could understand her worry. He himself didn’t feel too great about it anymore but it didn’t matter. It had to be done and he wouldn’t allow anyone else to risk their lives like this.
I know Snips, me too. We will be extra careful, promise He tried to sooth her.
Anakin…I can feel your unease. How does it look over there? Obi-Wan nudged him through their bond.
All calm and quiet so far. I just can’t shake this bad feeling. I just can’t decide if the force is warning me or of its because of our last adventure on Geonosis. Either way. It’s our best shot.
I have a bad feeling about this. Anakin could imagine obi-wans frown, eyebrows knit together.
We’ll be fine. Just keep their attention away from us.
Anakin moved at the head of his squad. Their boots barely made a sound on the dry sand. As much as Anakin hated sand, it definitely helped their cause.
“Okay soldiers watch out for any anomalies.” Anakin murmured. “If our source is right, there should be a hidden entrance right here somewhere.”
The men nodded silently. They trusted him. They knew there was no one more caring for their troopers than Anakin Skywalker. Well Commander Ahsoka maybe, she was his apprentice after all.
As Anakin set his foot on a rock, the Force screamed in warning.
“Stop—!” he snapped, dread overtaking his senses—
It was too late.
A web of violet energy snapped to life underfoot, crackling outward like a detonating starburst. The blast of electromagnetic force hit all eleven of them hard, ripping the breath from Anakin’s lungs and sending the troopers crashing to their knees.
“General—!” one shouted, voice breaking through static.
Mechanical footsteps echoed from all directions.
A trap.
Blast, so much for being careful.
Droids emerged from the shadows, Super battle droids stepped forward behind them, fire at the ready.
And then, from the dark shadows a figure dressed in black emerged.
Count Dooku
Sithspit Anakin immediately felt a deep dislike for the older man. Phantom pain erupted in his mechanical arm. He flexed it uncomfortably.
Anakin?… The young Jedi ignored his master and focused back on their delicate situation.
“Young Skywalker,” he greeted Anakin politely as always. As much as hated Dooku, he did have style. “We finally meet again.”
Anakin forced himself upright, every muscle trembling from the effort.
“Let my men go,” he said, voice raw but controlled. “And I’ll surrender.”
Dooku’s eyebrow shot up. “How touching.”
“No! General!” One of his man disagreed. One look from Anakin and every other protest died in their throats.
“You would sacrifice yourself for these clones?”
Anakin didn’t know what the count wanted from him. Wasn’t it obvious? Of course he would. He was a Jedi and protecting others was his priority after all.
“I said,” Anakin growled, “let them go.”
The troopers stirred worried.
Dooku took a thoughtful step closer, cape brushing the ground.
“Very well,” he said. “Come forward and we will not touch them.”
Anakin walked out from the squad, hands raised slowly, keeping his gaze fixed on Dooku’s face. Two super battle droids clamped metal binds around his wrists. Force suppressors.
His stomach twisted the moment the cuffs activated.
His connection to the Force dimmed to a flicker, his breath stuttered like someone had closed a fist around his lungs. He felt weak without the strength of the force and were it not for two droids holding his arms, he might have collapsed.
Master! What is happening?
His men reacted instantly as well.
“General!”
“Sir, no—!”
Anakin turned his head just enough to meet their helmets.
“It’s alright,” he said still weakened. “Don’t worry about me, go, get yourselves to safety:”
Dooku gave a soft click of his tongue.
“Such noble foolishness.”
He lifted a hand.
Droid rifles whined. The shots rang out like a volley fired at dawn.
“No—!” Anakin lunged forward, the suppressors tearing fire through his nerves as he tried to push his men aside with the force.
Eleven bodies dropped. Anakin felt their force signatures go out like candles that were being blown out. With his teary eyes he looked down at the ten dead soldiers. His soldiers. He himself had fallen to the ground.
The Force flickered, unstable, suffocated by the suppressors but still bleeding grief and rage through every crack.
Anakin? Are you alright little one? Talk to me please. Anakin barely heard Obi-Wan. He couldn’t think, couldn’t talk. Even blinking seemed too hard.
Dooku stepped closer, studying him with a horrifying calm.
“Attachments,” he murmured. “It makes you predictable, Skywalker. So very easy to hurt.”
Anakin didn’t look up.
He couldn’t.
His eyes were fixated on the dead bodies of his men. His friends who had trusted him. Never mind they were clones. They were lost lives. He never saw a difference there. No matter how often others had tried to tell him differently. Clones where practically slaves, like he had been one. Not for the first time he wondered, why the republic didn’t use droids. Why they were the ones using humans that could die. While the separatists only send machines that where not a big loss if destroyed. If you looked from the outside you would think the Republic were the “bad guys”. So much unnecessary loss.
His breath shook as the smell of scorched armor and flesh attacked his senses.
He couldn’t stop the single tear that fell to the floor.
Dooku crouched slightly, voice low enough only Anakin could hear.
“This is just the beginning of your suffering young Skywalker.”
Anakin’s stomach twisted.
His hands trembled against the cuffs. He didn’t grant Dooku with an answer.
Dooku gestured for the droids to take him away.
Before they could touch him, Anakin smashed into the droids and ignored the electricity of the suppressors. He fought his way towards Dooku when he was hit by a stun bolt, he continued anyways, more and more stun bolts numbed his body, they forced him to his knees, breathing heavily, he tried to get up again, another wave of stunt bolts hit him and he was downed, his arms holding his weight, shaking. His mind was clouded, his vision swam, his last glare belonged to Dooku. Then he collapsed.
Dooku turned, cape sweeping the ground behind him.
“Bring him,” he ordered.
And Anakin Skywalker, unconscious and bound, was dragged into the darkness of the fortress.