Geonosis

by Flamethrower

Geonosis

Author: Flamethrower (flamethrower@deadcatharvest.net)

Archive: MA and my site, the Flamethrower's Archive (Still broken!)

Category: Q/O, AU, Slash, Electric Bondage

Warnings: None

Summary: Fourth part of the tale that started with 'In a Lonely Place'.

Series: Yep.
In a Lonely Place
Defiance
Shades of Grey

Notes: Also published last week. Catchin' up.

Qui-Gon Jinn watched the dark, cloaked form that circled him, offering no comment, no gesture to betray his identity. He didn't have to. Qui-Gon knew that form now, even if he was buried in Darkness.

When Obi-Wan Kenobi pushed back his hood and gazed up at him, his neutral expression was a sharp contrast to the coldness in his amber eyes. "Falling into a gundark's nest always seems to be a literal thing with you," he said at last.

Qui-Gon smiled, feeling his lips crack and bleed from too many days in a dry environment and not enough water. The field he was imprisoned in was playing havoc on his senses, on his ability to sleep - and kept him from drawing on the Force. It wasn't as elegant as the inhibitor Obi-Wan had exposed him to four years ago, but it sure as hell did the job. "My Master was never very good at subtle."

Obi-Wan seemed to sigh. "You have no idea." He started pacing around the enclosure again, and there was a sense of restrained, predatory energy within him that reminded Qui-Gon of Maul, the Sith's first apprentice. Now, the Sith had two more apprentices. One of them Qui-Gon had once considered a father. The other... the other he considered something else.

"I don't suppose you would mind releasing me?" Qui-Gon asked, some part of him still amused by the entire debacle Geonosis had turned into. Finding Dooku here had certainly gone a long way to confirm that the Separatist movement was a front for the Sith. He wasn't supposed to know that, of course. Very few people in the galaxy knew where Dooku's true loyalties were placed.

Obi-Wan looked up at him, and his lips curved in that now-familiar sardonic smile, joined by a smoldering heat in his eyes that made Qui-Gon's breath catch. "But I like you that way," he purred.

"I like it better when I've volunteered for it," Qui-Gon retorted, yanking his arm against the confines of the force field again. The electrical field snagged his wayward limb and pulled it back into place, sending painful shocks up his arm. It did that every time he tried to move. As it was, he'd been stuck in this position so long that he wouldn't be able to walk when the damned field was shut down.

The amusement on Obi-Wan's face vanished as if it had never been. He turned in place, watching as Count Dooku entered the cell. Qui-Gon's former Master gave him a genial smile, but it was marred when he noticed that Obi-Wan was waiting for him. Qui-Gon stared, curious to see how the two would interact. There was certainly the assumption that Obi-Wan would defer to the former Jedi Master, and Qui-Gon saw anger when Obi-Wan did nothing more than stare back. After a moment, Dooku's eyes flickered, dismissing Obi-Wan's presence as inconsequential, before turning his attention to Qui-Gon.

"It is... good to see you again, my Padawan. I wish it were under better circumstances. The Geonosians are a paranoid lot and do not like uninvited guests. If you had announced yourself, it would have saved us a lot of trouble."

"Funny. I was under the impression that they were following your lead," Qui-Gon said.

"This has nothing to do with me, I assure you. I will petition immediately to have you set free." Dooku began walking around the cage, looking up at Qui-Gon. His expression was worried, but Qui-Gon did not see that concern reflected in his Master's eyes.

"I hope it doesn't take too long. I'm busy," Qui-Gon said, and saw Obi-Wan hide a grim smile.

"Why are you here, Qui-Gon? You are a long way from home, especially with a Padawan to tend to. Geonosis is not a good place to be alone."

Qui-Gon decided to play along. It wasn't like he had anything else to do. "I'm looking for a bounty hunter linked to a series of assassination attempts. His name is Jango Fett. I tracked him to this planet but lost sight of him on the approach." That was the truth, but not all of it. He had already seen Jango Fett working at Dooku's side. Surveillance of that meeting was part of the data he'd uploaded to the Council before those damned destroyers had tracked him down.

Dooku frowned. "There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of," he said, and was cut short by Obi-Wan's laughter.

"Lying to him already?" Obi-Wan gave the older man a malicious smile. "Yes, that's certainly going to convince him of your altruistic nature."

Dooku's eyes flashed, and for a moment Qui-Gon thought his Master was going to lash out at Obi-Wan. Then he stilled, under perfect control once more. He inclined his head, turning back to Qui-Gon with a thoughtful expression. "Forgive me. Your former Padawan is blunt, but he is right. I will not convince you with lies, but what if I told you the truth?"

Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes. "What truth, Master? That you are steeped in Darkness?"

Dooku nodded, unconcerned. Damn it all, but he had told Dooku hundreds of times that his curiosity about the Dark side would lead to this! "There is that. It is not the best arrangement, but pertinent to the situation. What if I told you that the Republic was fully under control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?"

Qui-Gon sucked in a surprised breath. "That isn't possible." He glanced at Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan wasn't looking at him. He was gazing to the right. Liars look left. Truth, then, but now was not the time to concede the point. "The Jedi would know."

Dooku shook his head, affecting a sad smile. "The Dark Side of the Force has clouded their minds. Hundreds of Senators are under the sway of a Sith Lord. He is called Darth Sidious."

Dooku was only confirming what Qui-Gon had known for years, but that didn't make it any better to hear. "How do you know?"

"Nute Gunray was once in league with Darth Sidious. He was betrayed by Sidious after his failure over the Naboo Blockade, and came to me for help. He told me everything... with a little persuasion, of course. The Council didn't want to hear it; they believed that with the public knowing full well that a Sith had died on Naboo, the dethroned Viceroy would say anything to save himself. I... tried to warn them, but they would not listen."

Obi-Wan glanced right, then left. It had been years since they had needed to communicate in this fashion, but it still worked well enough. Some of Dooku's words were the truth. The rest were lies. The trouble came in trying to figure out which was which.

"You must join us, Qui-Gon," Dooku said, his voice full of quiet pleading. "Together we can destroy the Sith."

"Us?" Qui-Gon said, looking at Obi-Wan questioningly.

Dooku nodded, that genial smile back in place. "Obi-Wan has allied himself with me, for he has seen the danger the Republic faces." There was a muted flash in Obi-Wan's eyes that told Qui-Gon full well what Obi-Wan thought of being Dooku's ally. "Only from the outside can we hope to loosen the hold the Sith have upon the galaxy."

Qui-Gon smiled, but it was humorless. "You know, maybe in another time, I would be tempted. But I know where you truly stand...Darth Tyrannus."

The response from Dooku was not what he'd expected. The old man whirled upon Obi-Wan, his fist cracking into Obi-Wan's jaw with unbelievable speed. "You fool!" Dooku yelled, no trace of geniality to him now. "He was not to know!"

Obi-Wan stumbled back, his hand going up to wipe away the blood that began to flow. He glanced at the red that stained his fingers and laughed. "Oh, stop acting so shocked, Lord Tyrannus. He already knew that you were not the enemy of the Sith you proclaimed yourself to be."

"Insolent whelp," Dooku hissed. Qui-Gon was forgotten as the Sith focused all of his rage on Obi-Wan. "Your defiance will end! You are nothing more than a pet who kneels at his Master's feet!" he shouted, raising his arms and sending brilliant arcs of blue lightning from his hands.

Qui-Gon watched, his heart in his throat, as Obi-Wan was struck by the Force lightning. No old texts could have ever prepared Qui-Gon for the sight of that Dark power. Obi-Wan stepped back, grimacing in pain. Then he reached out with his hand, collecting the energy in his palm. Dooku's eyes widened in surprise.

"The pet learns at his Master's feet, Tyrannus," Obi-Wan hissed, his eyes alight with inner fury. Then he flung the energy back at Dooku, who was not as quick to defend himself as Obi-Wan had been.

Dooku cried out and dropped to one knee, breathing heavily as the electrical charge dissipated. There were thick tendrils of smoke floating in the room now, along with the sharp scent of burnt cloth and ozone. Dooku snarled at Obi-Wan. "So...you have," he said, and he chuckled. He stood up, and his voice was cruel when he spoke again. "How kind it was to introduce yourself properly to your former Master, Darth Venge."

Obi-Wan's jaw clenched, but his voice was calm when he spoke. "Get out." When Dooku merely looked at him, Obi-Wan gave the fallen Jedi a brittle smile. "We have guests, Lord Tyrannus. Skywalker and Senator Amidala are probably ill at ease with their Geonosian hosts. You are supposed to be the public face of the Separatists. Go try your charm on them. I'm sure it will be just as successful as it was here."

Dooku nodded, giving Obi-Wan a warning look. "I trust I do not have to remind you to remain hospitable?"

Obi-Wan glowered at him. "Blah blah blah, don't kill him, blah blah blah. Don't worry. I have no intention of ruining your little surprise."

Dooku stopped in front of Qui-Gon, looking up at him with something akin to the fondness Qui-Gon had once known. "It...may be difficult to secure your release," he said, and there was a hint of madness in his tone that Qui-Gon had never heard before. With that he left, leaving Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan alone.

Obi-Wan was staring in the direction that Dooku had gone, his mouth open, teeth bared. He was breathing hard, as if the two of them had just battled for hours instead of exchanging a lightning bolt and a few harsh words. "Darth Venge?" Qui-Gon asked, his voice soft, for part of him had just broken at hearing Obi-Wan named so.

Obi-Wan jerked his head and glared up at Qui-Gon. "Do NOT!" he yelled, furious. "Do not call me that!" His voice was harsh, but his eyes were muddied, as though parts of him were fighting for dominance and neither side was winning.

Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "All right," he said. "I will not." I will keep fighting if you will, he sent, not sure if the words would be heard but needing to say them anyway.

Obi-Wan looked away, his eyes overbright and almost - but not quite - blue. "Thank you."

Qui-Gon thought about Obi-Wan's words, almost lost amidst the battle of wills that had played out between the two Sith apprentices. "My Padawan is here?"

Obi-Wan nodded, his expression once more cool and distant as he regained his composure. "He is. I followed them here from Tatooine. I do believe they meant to retrieve you, but it didn't go so well."

Tatooine? What the hell was he doing there? Qui-Gon wondered, but had no further chance for questions as Jango Fett himself stepped into the room. His helmet was off, and he grinned up at Qui-Gon with malice. "Well, hello there, Master Jedi. Fancy meetin' you here."

"I should have hit you harder," Qui-Gon replied, eliciting a laugh from the bounty hunter and a smirk from Obi-Wan.

"My turn now?" the bounty hunter asked Obi-Wan, who nodded.

"Have fun, but do not damage him. And," he paused, giving the bounty hunter a stern glare. "Nothing sexual. Cross me, and anything you've done to him, I'll do to you tenfold with a vibroblade and a lightsaber."

Jango frowned, looking thwarted. "Count Dooku said-"

Obi-Wan crossed his arms and gave the bounty hunter a chilling stare. "I don't give a damn what Dooku told you. Just remember who's paying you, Fett."

Fett sighed and nodded. "Fine. Whatever you say."

"Besides," Obi-Wan added, glancing up at Qui-Gon with that blasted sardonic smile firmly in place. "He likes it too much."