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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟗
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓

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The wind blew in Aurora's face as they flew away from the Petranaki Arena. At first she thought they would have no issue getting off the Geonosis, but she was far from wrong. Blasts from the droids below them forced their ship to swerve. Those on board their ship instantly reached for the handles above them as they continued to avoid being blasted from the sky. It wasn't long before they flew toward half a dozen tall egg-shaped objects.

"Aim right above the fuel cells!" Anakin called out. Their gunner instantly followed his orders and fired at the large objects in front of them. That instantly caused the fuel cells to explode and fall toward the surface of Geonosis, taking out a platoon of droids.

"Good call, Anakin," Obi-Wan said with pride in his voice, earning a large smile from his Padawan.

However, the victorious feeling soon faded from Aurora as she looked down at the world below them. What seemed to be a never ending army of droids was quickly approaching the hundreds of clones brought to aid the Jedi. Blaster fire came from both sides, taking out anyone in their path. The Jinn woman knew this was the start of something big, she just wished it could've been prevented. But she knew this was too far out of her control.

"Attack those Federation starships! Quickly!" the Kenobi man ordered, drawing Aurora's attention back to the situation at hand.

The Jinn woman watched in awe as a huge sphere-shaped ship tried to take off, only for their ship to take it down. But to their dismay, more and more Federation starships began ascending into the air. Just as they were about to circle back to take down another ship, multiple beams emitted from below and hit one of their enemies' ships. It wasn't even a second after that when the Federation starship exploded and fell back to the planet's surface. Dust was instantly kicked up into the air, blocking everyone's view of the world surrounding them. Aurora could barely distinguish the light from the blaster fire below them.

An uneasy feeling formed in the pit of the Jinn woman's stomach as they blindly flew through the dust. But as soon as their vision was clear, her attention landed on three figures speeding across Geonosis. Aurora's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as she studied them, only for a wave of realization to wash over her a second later.

"Look over there!" Aurora shouted, drawing everyone's attention to three figures. She just stared at them for another moment before saying two words that sent chills down her spine. "It's Dooku."

"Shoot him down!" the Skywalker boy commanded without even hiding the anger in his voice.

"We're out of rockets, sir," their gunner told them after pressing the buttons on his control panel.

"Follow him!"

"We're gonna need some help," Padmé told them after looking away from Count Dooku and over at her Jedi allies.

"There isn't time," Obi-Wan responded without taking his eyes off the Sith Lord, "Anakin, Aurora, and I can handle this."

The next thing anyone knew, the two droid crafts following Dooku flew straight into the air. Aurora watched as they looped through the air before ending up behind them. Not even a second after that passed when they began firing at the Republic ship. The pilot did his best to avoid the blaster fire, which resulted in their ship grazing the top of a sand dune. The ship tipped to one side, causing Aurora to stumble toward the open door. To her relief, Obi-Wan was able to grab her wrist before she went any further. But not everyone on board was as lucky as the Jinn woman.

Chills ran throughout Aurora's entire body after hearing a scream followed by Anakin shouting Padmé's name. When she looked toward the other side of the ship, she found the Skywalker boy looking out the open door with the Senator, injured clone, and tusk cat nowhere to be found. It wasn't long after that when Anakin turned his attention back to his allies with determination in his eyes. "Put the ship down!"

"Anakin! Don't let your personal feelings get in the way!" Obi-Wan exclaimed after moving to stand in front of his Padawan. He just stared at the Skywalker boy for a moment longer before turning his attention toward the pilot. "Follow that speeder!"

"Lower the ship!"

"We can't take Dooku alone! We need you!" the Kenobi man shouted, drawing Anakin's attention toward him before he continued, "if we catch him, we can end this war right now! We have a job to do!"

"I don't care! Put the ship down!"

"You will be expelled from the Jedi Order!"

"I can't leave her!" Anakin declared before his attention fell on Aurora, who was unusually silent as she watched their conversation unfold, "Padmé's your best friend! How are you okay with leaving her?!"

The Jinn woman hesitated, unsure of how to answer at first. There was a part of her that agreed with Anakin and wanted to go back for her friend. But she knew what was at stake and the impact it could have on the galaxy. So after letting out a long sigh, Aurora opened her mouth to respond. "You know that Padmé would complete her assignment if she was in our position. We have to face Dooku, Anakin. Whether we like it or not."

The Skywalker boy just stared at her for a long moment before sending her a small nod in response. He soon looked down at the floor as they continued to follow Count Dooku in silence. It wasn't long before their ship pulled up to a small landing strip that led into a mountain. The same cave that they watched the Sith Lord go into only moments before. The three Jedi instantly jumped onto the platform and sprinted toward the cave, only for Aurora to stop in her tracks after hearing an explosion.

Chills ran throughout the Jinn woman's entire body as she looked toward the source of the sound. All she could do was stare in shock as she watched the ship they were just on crumble to the ground. All Aurora could think about were the clones and the fate that they had just been sentenced to. But she knew she had to force her feelings away and focus on the situation at hand. So after taking another moment to watch the pieces of their ship fall, Aurora followed Obi-Wan and Anakin.

When she finally caught up to her allies, she found them standing across from Count Dooku. It wasn't long before Aurora was standing on the other side of Obi-Wan before all three of them ignited their lightsabers. No one said a word for what felt like an eternity as they studied their enemy. That was until the silence was finally broken by the youngest among them.

"You're gonna pay for all the Jedi that you killed today, Dooku," Anakin announced without hiding the anger in his voice.

The next thing any of them knew, the Skywalker boy charged at the former Jedi Master. Obi-Wan shouted for his Padawan to stop, just for the Skywalker boy to ignore him. But Anakin only made it halfway across the room when he was hit by lightning that emitted from Dooku's fingers. Not even a second after that passed when the Padawan was lifted into the air and thrown into the cave wall.

Aurora froze as she stared at Anakin, who was groaning in pain on the ground. Then her attention was drawn back to the situation at hand when Obi-Wan began speaking. "We'll take him together. Go in slowly on the left."

All the Jinn woman could do was nod in response before the two of them went their separate ways. They kept their lightsabers aimed at Count Dooku as they circled him. The Sith Lord's eyes bounced between the two of them. His attention lingered on Aurora for a moment with a look in his eyes that she couldn't place. But it wasn't long after that when his gaze settled on the Kenobi man.

"As you see, my Jedi powers are far beyond either of yours. Now back down," Dooku said before sending a bolt of lighting at Obi-Wan.

The Jedi Knight easily used his lightsaber to absorb his opponent's attack before a new wave of determination washed over him. "I don't think so."

Not even a second after that passed when Count Dooku ignited his lightsaber, keeping his eyes glued to Obi-Wan. That was all it took for the Kenobi man to charge. Their lightsabers instantly made contact as they swung at each other. The Kenobi man had to spin in a circle to avoid his opponent's attack before the former swung at Dooku's legs. The former Jedi Master easily dodged Obi-Wan's attack before smirking at his opponent.

"Master Kenobi, you disappoint me," Dooku announced while walking toward the Jedi Knight, who matched his steps backward until he was standing beside Aurora, "Yoda holds you in such high esteem. Surely you can do better."

The Sith Lord lunged at Obi-Wan the second he finished speaking. To all of their surprise, Aurora jumped in front of him and used her lightsaber to block his attack. Only a second after that passed when she used all her strength to push him back. Determination ran through the Jinn woman's veins as she took the offensive. Their lightsabers clashed as she pushed forward until they were back in the center of the room. But it wasn't long before Dooku swung his lightsaber at her chest, causing Aurora to jump back. This gave the former Jedi Master the opportunity to lift her into the air using the Force. The next thing the Jinn woman knew Dooku threw her across the room. She soon slammed into the nearest wall and crumbled to the floor next to Anakin.

Pain covered every inch of Aurora's body as she listened to lightsabers clashing. A shaky breath passed over her lips as she forced herself to sit up, only for her to wish she hadn't. Her blood ran cold after watching Dooku graze Obi-Wan's arm with his lightsaber, earning a painful shout from the latter. The Sith Lord's attack was instantly followed by him grazing the Kenobi man's leg, sending him to the floor. Panic flowed through Aurora's veins as she watched Dooku raise his lightsaber to enact his final blow.

Aurora did her best to get to her feet to help Obi-Wan, but the pain was too much for her to bear. Lucky for the Jedi, they had another ally with them. Despite his own pain, Anakin used the Force to leap across the room toward Dooku. He made it just in time to block the former Jedi Master's attack and save Obi-Wan.

"Brave of you, boy," Dooku said after his attention moved toward the Padawan, giving the Kenobi man time to summon his lightsaber back into his grasp, "but I would have thought you had learned your lesson."

"I am a slow learner," Anakin responded while keeping his eyes glued to the Sith Lord.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called before tossing his lightsaber to his Padawan. Not even a second after that passed when Anakin ignited both lightsabers and swung at Dooku. While the two of them were locked in battle, Aurora forced herself to her feet and limped toward the Kenobi man. She kneeled next to him and studied the burns on his arm and leg. Obi-Wan squirmed under her touch due to the pain but did his best to stay still while she examined him.

A relieved sigh soon passed over the Jinn woman's lips. "It's not as bad as it could've been. But you're gonna need a new set of robes."

When her eyes moved to meet his gaze, Aurora found him staring at her with concern in his eyes. Not even a second after that passed when he reached up and used his robes to wipe something off her forehead. When he brought his hand back down to his side, the Jinn woman noticed it stained red. Her attention was soon drawn back to Obi-Wan when he began speaking. "You're bleeding pretty badly."

Before the Jinn woman had a chance to respond, the lights began to flicker. They instantly turned their attention back to the battle, but the only thing they could make out was the glow of their lightsabers. Anakin and Dooku began circling each other before the former lunged at the Sith Lord. Their lightsabers clashed together as the opponents tried to land blows, which were either dodged or blocked. Anakin and Dooku seemed to be locked in a dance as they repeatedly spun in circles and swung at each other. But their battle soon ended in a way that the Jedi weren't expecting.

As soon as the lights came back on, the Sith Lord landed a blow to Anakin's arm, taking it clean off. The Skywalker boy stumbled back before Dooku sent him flying through the air until he landed next to Obi-Wan and Aurora. The former Jedi Master stared at the three of them for a long moment before walking toward them. Aurora watched him in silence until a rush of adrenaline flowed through her veins. Despite the pain she felt everywhere in her body, she forced herself to her feet to stand between Dooku and her allies. Her determined gaze met his shocked stare as Aurora ignited her lightsaber.

"You barely stood a chance when you were uninjured," the Sith Lord said while his eyes continued to study the unsteady woman as she swayed on her feet, "what makes you think you can defeat me now?"

Before Aurora had a chance to respond, a familiar presence washed over her. A small smile soon formed on her lips as she tightened her grip around her lightsaber. "I know I can't defeat you alone, Dooku. But my Master can."

Not even a second after she finished speaking passed when they heard someone approaching. Dooku's body stiffened as he turned toward the sound to find Yoda standing in the entrance of the hangar. The sight of her Master sent a wave of relief over Aurora as the adrenaline slowly faded from her veins. It wasn't long before she found herself back on the ground beside Obi-Wan and Anakin when the pain was too much for her to bear. But despite the feeling of wanting to lie down for an eternity, the Jinn woman forced herself to stay in a sitting position to watch the scene play out in front of her.

"Master Yoda," Count Dooku greeted while keeping his eyes glued to the Jedi Grandmaster, "you have interfered with our affairs for the last time."

The next thing anyone knew, the Sith Lord broke two of the power cells off the wall and sent it in Yoda's direction. But to Dooku's dismay, the Jedi Grandmaster was able to easily deflect them. Anger flowed through the former Jedi Master's veins as he raised his hands into the air. Dust instantly fell from the ceiling as it began to crack. Pieces soon began to fall toward Yoda, but he was prepared for it. He held his hands straight up, stopping the rocks right above his head. The Jedi Grandmaster held them there for a moment before tossing them aside like they weighed nothing.

"Powerful you have become, Dooku," Yoda declared as his eyes continued to study the man in front of him, "the dark side I sense in you."

"I've become more powerful than any Jedi," Dooku retaliated without hiding the fury in his voice while slowly raising his hand into the air, "even you."

Aurora's breath got caught in her throat as she watched the Sith Lord send a bolt of lightning in her Master's direction. The world seemed to slow as it traveled through the air, only for Yoda to catch it in the palm of his hand. He waited just for a second before sending it back at Dooku, who easily deflected it. The Sith Lord didn't hesitate to send another bolt of lightning at his former Master. But this time Yoda caught it before making it disappear.

"Much to learn you still have," the Jedi Grandmaster declared, earning an annoyed look from his former Padawan.

"It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force," Dooku responded before reaching for his lightsaber and igniting it, "but by our skills with a lightsaber."

The Jinn woman was always amazed to see how quickly Yoda moved in battle. She had seen him fight many times but would never get used to it. The Jedi Grandmaster bounced off the walls while his lightsaber clashed against the Sith Lord's. Her eyes could barely keep up with his movements as he jumped onto the ship and over Dooku. As soon as Yoda's feet hit the floor, he blocked the former Jedi Master's attack. Their lightsabers pushed against each other for an eternity before Dooku's arm shot out toward the three injured Jedi.

Confusion flowed through Aurora's veins before she heard a faint rumble followed by a crack. Her attention instantly turned toward the source of the sound to find the large tower next to them starting to fall. They tried to move out of the way, but the pain from their injuries proved to be too much. Just as the Jinn woman thought it was too late, the tower froze in midair just a few feet above them. She instantly looked back over at Yoda, who was now focusing all of his attention on saving his allies. But to their dismay, that was enough to provide Dooku with an escape.

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