Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I only own Arianna.

New chapter! Whoo!

And I just know you are going to love this one. I mean... look at the chapter title. *wink wink*

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Chapter 18 - Confessions and Executions

Arianna craned her neck to look at the tall building before them. It was in a spiral design. A rock spire, to be precise.

Arianna could not help but feel wary as she followed Obi-Wan into the building.

The inside was hollow so as to allow room to make stairs and chambers. It was dark as well, the only light coming in through the carved windows.

It's like an insect nest…

It wasn't like a typical insect nest though. As the duo made their way down the passageways of the spire, getting higher and higher up, Arianna thought she could hear machinery.

Apparently she wasn't the only one who heard it.

Obi-Wan crept closer to the edge of the path, glancing over the side. Arianna followed his gaze and was horrified by what she saw.

Below them was a factory that was constructing legions of droids. It seemed to go on forever.

So this is what the Separatists have been doing.

Arianna was brought out of her thoughts by Obi-Wan, who led her away from the sight. They continued down a flight of stairs, coming to an abrupt halt when they heard voices headed their direction.

Arianna was thankful that she wore dark clothing. It helped her blend in with the shadows better. All except her bright yellow hair, of course. It could be such a pain at times.

"We must persuade the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty."

"What about the Senator from Naboo? Is she dead yet? I am not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk."

Arianna's eyes narrowed when she saw the Nemoidian, Nute Gunray. She couldn't believe that slimy slug was still Viceroy of the Trade Federation after all those trials in the Senate.

"I am a man of my word, Viceroy." Came the deep voice from before. Arianna looked closely at the man, and recognized him from the bust she saw in the archives.

It was Count Dooku.

"With these new battle droids we've built for you, you'll have the finest army in the galaxy."

When the group had passed, Arianna and Obi-Wan took to the passages once more. They went up a flight of stairs and came to an area situated above a large conference room.

"As I explained to you earlier, I am quite convinced that 10,000 more systems will rally to our cause with your support, gentlemen." Dooku explained.

"The Techno Union army is at your disposal, Count." A metallic voice said.

"The Banking Clan will sign your treaty."

"Good. Very good." Dooku said, sounding pleased. "Our friends from the Trade Federation have pledged their support, and when their battle droids are combined with yours we shall have an army greater than any in the galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed. The Republic will agree to any demands we make."

Arianna found that she could no longer listen to this and silently crept away. Obi-Wan glanced between the conspirators and the handmaiden before following the latter outside.

Once outside, Arianna continued to the ship, taking deep breaths.

The speech Dooku had made disturbed her… but so did something else. She'd felt something while crouching there and listening to them speak.

She'd felt a pain in her heart.

Something… or someone had reached out to her, showing her their grief. The kind of grief a person felt when they lost a loved one.

Arianna leant back against the ship, holding a hand to her chest. Obi-Wan stopped short, glancing unsurely at the handmaiden.

"What's wrong?"

She looked over at the Jedi, unshed tears in her eyes and spoke barely above a whisper. "Shmi is dead…"

Obi-Wan stepped closer to the handmaiden, doing something she'd done for him ten years ago.

He held her.

Arianna clutched at the Jedi, but didn't let any tears fall. He was repaying her for when she'd comforted him after Qui-Gon's death.

But Arianna knew now was not the time. She pulled away from Obi-Wan, heading over to R4.

"We need to contact Coruscant."

Obi-Wan made his way over to the droid, and began attending to the transmitter that sat behind R4. "The transmitter is working, but we're not receiving a return signal. Coruscant's too far. R4, can you boost the power?"

The droid made a series of beeps that made it sound like that was a negative.

"We'll have to try something else. Maybe we can contact Anakin on Naboo. It's much closer."

Arianna glanced over at the Jedi. "Something tells me he's not there."

"Anakin? Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin? He's not on Naboo."

"Told you." Arianna muttered.

"I'm going to try and widen the range." He said, glancing over at Arianna. "I do hope nothing's happened to him."

"I think he may be on Tatooine."

"That's Anakin's tracking signal, all right…" Obi-Wan said, looking at the readouts from the transmitter. "But it is coming from Tatooine. What in the blazes is he doing there?"

Arianna went over to the Jedi as he jumped out of the cockpit. "He's been worried about Shmi. It wouldn't surprise me if he did go to Tatooine. Besides, as long as Padmé is with him, he's not disobeying any orders."

"He's disobeying mine. I told him to stay on Naboo."

Arianna sighed. "Now is not the time to be difficult."

"I apologize, but we haven't got much time." He told the handmaiden, moving in front of the holo-projector. "Anakin? Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Arianna whirled around when she heard something screech. Her hands fell to her blasters, ready to fight if necessary.

"Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant. I have tracked the bounty hunter, Jango Fett to the droid foundries on Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here, and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a-" his words were cut short by the arrival of Destroyer droids. "Wait, wait!"

Obi-Wan activated his lightsaber, deflecting several shots from the droids. Arianna shrieked in surprise when a Geonosian grabbed her from behind.

She wasn't one to give up without a fight though.

Arianna brought her elbow back into the Geonosian's gut before slamming her fist into its face. She drew her blasters, firing at the droids as she came to stand next to Obi-Wan.

The Geonosians were sneaky though. Several of them had managed to come up behind the duo.

The one that Arianna had broken away from had gotten back up and was now behind her. She was too preoccupied with the droids and watching as Obi-Wan was captured, that she never noticed it.

A blaster was ripped from her grip and before she could react, she felt the handle connect with her head.

Arianna fell to the ground, instantly succumbing to darkness.

Oh, my head… it feels like I was run over by a herd of Bantha.

The handmaiden slowly peeled her eyes open, taking in her surroundings. She was in a room. A cell, to be precise.

She wasn't alone.

Obi-Wan was in the center of the room, trapped in a stasis field. Arianna sat up, only to find that her wrists felt heavy. A glance down showed that chains bound her wrists and ankles. If she wanted to move, it would be difficult with the added weight. For now, all she could do was sit up.

Obi-Wan noticed the handmaiden's awakening. "Are you all right?"

"Aside from a splitting headache, I've never felt better." She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor."

Arianna returned the smile, looking the Jedi over. "How are you? Are you hurt?"

"No, but I am getting motion-sickness."

The yellow-haired woman giggled. "Glad I'm not you right now."

Their conversation was interrupted when the door opened and Count Dooku stepped in. Arianna glared at the older man, along with Obi-Wan.

"Traitor." He spat.

"Oh, no, my friend. This is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They have gone too far. This is madness."

"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku."

"This has nothing to do with me, I assure you."

Arianna scrunched up against the wall as the Count walked by, her glare still in place.

"I will petition immediately to have you, and your lady friend set free."

"I hope it doesn't take too long. We have work to do." Arianna stated firmly.

"May I ask why a Jedi Knight and handmaiden to a Senator are all the way out here on Geonosis?"

"We've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Do you know him?"

"There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of. The Geonosians don't trust them."

Arianna resisted the urge to snap at the man.

"Who can blame them?" Obi-Wan remarked. "But he is here, I can assure you."

"It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you."

Arianna perked up when she heard the deceased Jedi's name.

What relations does he have with Qui-Gon?

"I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now."

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you." Arianna and Obi-Wan found themselves saying at the same time.

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi and handmaiden. You forget that he was once my apprentice just as you were once his."

Arianna glanced at Obi-Wan, who was silent.

Qui-Gon was this man's apprentice?

"He knew about all the corruption in the Senate, but he would never have gone alone with it if he had learned the truth as I have."

"The truth?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"The truth." There was a pause before Dooku spoke again. "What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the dark lord of the Sith?"

Arianna held in a gasp, her eyes widening. It couldn't be true.

"No, that's not possible. The Jedi would be aware of it." Obi-Wan immediately stated.

"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend. Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith lord called Darth Sidious."

"I don't believe you."

"Neither do I."

"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."

Ten years ago…

That would be around the time of the Battle of Naboo. Arianna knew what it meant. It meant that the Sith Obi-Wan had destroyed was merely an apprentice. This did not bode well.

"You must join me, Obi-Wan… and together we will destroy the Sith!"

Arianna spoke up in a cold voice. "He will never join you, Dooku. No sensible Jedi would."

Obi-Wan silently nodded in agreement with the handmaiden's words. Dooku shrugged, not seeming surprised at all by the answer and turned to leave.

"It may be difficult to secure your release."

With those parting words, he left.

Arianna glanced over at Obi-Wan. "I apologize for speaking for you when you were fully capable of doing so yourself."

"It's fine. I could tell you were having trouble holding back any remarks."

"I'm surprised I was able to hold back at all. I don't like that man one bit. It's hard to believe he was once a Jedi. Not to mention Qui-Gon's former master. How could someone like Qui-Gon have a man like that for a master? They're not at all alike."

"It is hard to believe, isn't it?"

Silence ensued the two. Arianna shifted positions, the chains rattling as she did so. She glanced up at Obi-Wan.

"What do you think is going to happen to us now?"

There was a pause before he answered. "I'm not sure."

Arianna's gaze lingered on him before drifting to her bonds. The handmaiden shifted so that she was on her knees, the chains rattling even more. Obi-Wan's back was to her at the moment, so it gave her time to do what she wished.

Arianna grunted in concentration, lifting her bound wrists. Next came the hard part. The handmaiden slowly began to rise from her knees, trying to maintain her balance with shackled feet.

A small scream escaped her when she failed in doing so, landing on the cold ground.

"Arianna, are you all right?"

She could hear the concern in the Jedi's voice. "I'm fine."

The handmaiden didn't give up, trying once more. She slowly began to rise from her kneeling position, making sure to keep her balance. The woman smiled in triumph when she was able to stand.

Now all she had to do was figure out how to move in these stupid things.

The yellow-haired woman blew a strand of hair out of her face, shifting her feet. She took it slow, shuffling along the floor. She had to be careful, lest she wished to fall again.

By the time she reached the stasis field holding him, Obi-Wan was now facing her. He was surprised to see the handmaiden stand before him.

"How did you…" he trailed off, noticing the look in her eyes.

Arianna took a deep breath, looking Obi-Wan in the eyes. "If we don't make it out of this… there's something I have to tell you."

The handmaiden paused, her heart beating wildly against her ribcage. She took another deep breath, her eyes closing as she did. When they reopened, she found Obi-Wan staring down at her in curiosity.

"I-"

She was interrupted when the doors were opened and a group of Geonosian guards came in. They freed Obi-Wan from the stasis field, putting cuffs on his hands. They did the same with Arianna, removing her shackles and placing cuffs on her.

The handmaiden glared at the Geonosians when they shoved her out of the cell. The two were marched swiftly to a large chamber where Dooku, Gunray and their associates were gathered on a balcony high up on the wall.

Obi-Wan and Arianna were made to stand in the center of the room, the latter glaring at the guards that pulled her to stand in place.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, Arianna Skywalker…" Dooku began. "You have been charged and found guilty of espionage and are fit to face the punishment given to you by Archduke Poggle the Lesser."

The Archduke was brief with announcing their fate, but Obi-Wan did not understand what he was saying.

Arianna, on the other hand, did.

Working for a Senator has its quirks, I guess…

As the two were ushered away by guards, Obi-Wan glanced over at the handmaiden.

"Did you understand any of that?"

"We are to be taken to the execution arena."

The two were soon taken to a cart that was being pulled by some type of lizard-creature and bound to opposite sides by their wrist-binders. All but one Geonosian disappeared to the arena outside.

Obi-Wan glanced over at the handmaiden. "What were you about to say back when we were in the cell?"

Arianna looked down at her bound wrists, thinking of a way to respond. "Do you remember when we first met all those years ago? When I introduced myself to you and we shook hands?"

"Yes, of course."

Arianna paused before continuing. "I felt something… pass between us that day. I didn't know what it was… but I found myself wondering if you'd felt it too. And every time I was around you… this warmth filled my body. Then when we kissed in the palace gardens, I felt something pass between us again… only it was stronger that time. It felt like we'd… connected somehow…"

"What are you saying?"

Arianna noticed the Jedi's voice was barely above a whisper. She looked up from her bound wrists, awkwardly turning to face him.

"I love you."

No words were spoken. Silence surrounded the two. Finally, Obi-Wan spoke.

"Attachment is forbidden for a Jedi."

"I know."

"We'd be forced to live a lie."

"I know."

The two slowly began to lean closer to each other, staring directly into each other's eyes.

"I love you, Obi-Wan Kenobi… and before we die, I need you to know."

No more words were spoken. Only action was taken.

Arianna felt her eyes drift shut as their lips met in a passionate kiss. It meant so much more than it had all those years ago on Naboo.

Something tugged at their souls… entwined them…

A connection was made between the two. Much like it had been ten years ago. Only this time… it ran deeper. Arianna and Obi-Wan had become one. Nothing could break the bond they now shared.

The two slowly broke apart when the cart started to move. They shared one last look before they were pulled out into the bright sunlight.

Four large stone pillars stood in the arena where more Geonosians waited for them. Arianna was tugged from the cart first and taken to the pillar farthest away. Her wrist-binders were attached to a chain which was then nailed to the top of the pillar, keeping her hands in place.

Glancing over to the other side, she saw that the same had been done to Obi-Wan, who was at the end opposite her.

The crowd began to grow bigger, and Dooku, along with his followers, stepped out into their viewing box. The two waited several minutes for the execution to begin, but so far… nothing.

What are we waiting for?

Arianna's question was soon answered.

A second cart came forth from the tunnel… and in it was…

"He didn't…"

The handmaiden glanced over at Obi-Wan, who had an incredulous look on his face. Padmé was pulled out of the cart first. Arianna noticed her friend stealthily slip a wire into her mouth before she was chained up. The two shared a secretive look that no one else noticed.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd gotten my message."

"I retransmitted it just as you had requested, Master." Anakin explained. "Then we decided to come and rescue you."

Obi-Wan glanced up at his bound wrists. "Good job." He said with more than a hint of sarcasm.

Archduke Poggle chose that time to speak and the crowd suddenly quieted. Whatever he said was not good for them because then the crowd started to cheer.

The four prisoners watched as three highly dangerous animals were released into the arena. They were a nexu, an acklay, and a reek.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Anakin muttered.

Arianna glanced over at the Senator to see her picking the locks on her binders. When one hand was free, she reached over and picked the locks on Arianna's binders. The two then used the chain as a means of climbing to the top of the pillar.

Down below, Anakin was eyeing the creatures with concern. Obi-Wan turned to his apprentice.

"Just relax. Concentrate."

"What about Padmé and Arianna?"

Obi-Wan glanced over at the Senator and her handmaiden. "They seem to be on top of things."

Anakin followed his gaze to see that the two had managed to get to the top of their pillars.

Arianna watched as the acklay went at Obi-Wan, who took advantage of its stabbing motions. The chain suffered most of the blows, which allowed him to break free, but with his hands still bound. He then had to take to dodging the swift movements of the acklay.

The reek, on the other hand, had charged at Anakin. The boy was smart though and used the Force to jump onto its back, wrapping the chain around its horn and allowing it to break.

Arianna tore her gaze away from the two when the nexu made its way to Padmé's pillar. Knowing something bad was about to happen, the handmaiden ran the short distance atop her pillar and landed behind the Senator.

Padmé was currently trying to knock the nexu off by hitting it with her chain, but it did no good. The nexu went to make a swipe at the Senator… but Arianna got in the way.

The handmaiden cried out in pain when the nexu's claws tore through her back, ripping her bodysuit. Padme stared at her friend in shock, while the nexu fell back down to the ground, glad it had injured at least one of them.

"Arianna!"

Said woman gritted her teeth, fighting off the pain. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not!"

"When I took this job, I took the consequences that came with it. This is one of them."

Their conversation was cut short when the nexu began to climb up the pillar again. Padme stood, swinging down on her chain and kicking the nexu with both feet. The blow knocked the creature off the pillar, where it lay in the sand.

Despite her pain, Arianna reached down and grabbed the chain, pulling Padmé back up. The nexu was whimpering in pain as it got up, but it looked at the two and snarled.

Arianna glanced over to see how Obi-Wan was faring with the acklay. She quickly put a hand over her mouth to block the scream that had escaped. The acklay had run into the pillar Obi-Wan previously occupied, trying to crush the Jedi beneath it. But with his quick reflexes, Obi-Wan had managed to roll out of the way.

Arianna brought her attention back to her problem when she heard the nexu growling below them. Padmé took the wire out of her pouch, picking the remaining lock on her wrist. Arianna reached into her pouch, drawing out a wire as well and picking her lock.

When that was done, she glanced down to see Anakin atop the reek. He had gained control of it and the reek charged at the nexu, killing it once and for all.

Anakin looked up at the two. "Jump!"

The two women glanced unsurely at each other, but did as told. Padmé went first, landing behind Anakin on the reek. Arianna was next, and she landed behind Padmé.

"Hyah! Hyah!"

Obi-Wan came running toward the trio, using the Force to jump onto the reek's back. He landed behind Arianna, his wrists still bound. The woman shifted, turning so she could undo his bindings.

Seven destroyer droids came rolling out into the arena, surrounding the four humans atop the reek.

"Oh, not good."