"Have you reconsidered my proposition?" Dooku questioned.
"I'll never join the Sith!" I spat.
"Let's see if you'll continue to think this way after this conversation." Dooku commented as he walked closer towards us.
"Did you ever wonder why your mother knew the most powerful and noblest of the galaxies?" He then inquired.
"Sure, but I figured it's because she's a senator." I shrugged, trying not to show an interest.
"It's because your grandmother comes from one of the noblest families of Eshan, and of course I come from one of the ruling houses from my home planet, Serenno." He explained as he walked around. "One of the many secrets your family has kept from you."
"You keep telling yourself you're my grandfather, but where were you all this time? You betrayed the Jedi and the Republic, you are no grandfather of mine." I rebuked.
"Let's see if you'll say that after I tell you the secrets your family has kept." He said, trying to provoke me.
"Secrets?" I repeated. "What other secrets?"
"Oh there are many secrets your family has kept from you, Storm. They didn't believe you were capable of handling the truth." He elaborated.
"Don't listen to him, Storm." Koltav intervened.
"Quiet!" Dooku warned.
I violently shook my head. "No, you're wrong. My family wouldn't do that."
Dooku chuckled. "Stop defending your family, Storm. They don't deserve it. Especially when I tell you that your mother has two younger half siblings: Raskta Organa and Yusanis Kryze. They are your aunt and uncle, and not to mention that you have cousins as well, Nova and Jeren Organa, and Lorea, Vorlega and Orlamax Kryze."
"No, no, I have no aunts, uncles, or cousins on both my mom's and dad's side of the family. You're lying, Dooku!" I snapped.
"He's not lying, cousin." An unfamiliar voice said at the entrance of the cell.
I glanced over to see a girl a year or so younger than me. She had long platinum hair with streaks of black, silver eyes, and pale skin. The girl had black robes with a lightsaber around her belt along with my lightsaber, Echani vibrosword, and daggers. I narrowed my eyes. "And who are you?"
"I was known as Vorlega Kryze, now I am Darth Xochra." She informed me.
You've got to be kidding me...I have a grandfather who's a Sith Lord and now I have a cousin who's a Sith Lady?! Great...what's next? I better not have another relative who has ties with the dark side.
I snorted. "Yeah alright. It's a funny joke and all, but now it's getting old."
"It's no joke, Storm." Vorlega replied. "What Count Dooku and I say is the truth."
"And that's only the tip of the iceberg." Dooku said.
There are more secrets that my family kept from me?! Dooku's face lit up. "Ah! There it is...your anger. Unleash it, give into the anger. Let it consume you, my granddaughter."
I mentally cursed at myself. How could I forget that we shared a bond through the Force? He could sense all my emotions and there was no way I could hide them from him. I felt my fists clench, confused and angry all at once. I didn't know who to believe anymore...but what if Dooku was telling the truth? He wasn't lying about him being my true grandfather. I continued to argue with myself until Koltav spoke up. "Don't give in, Storm. You know who you are. You are Storm Ca'ana, a Jedi Knight."
"Stay out of this, Corellian!" Vorlega hissed.
"Just imagine what unlimited power you would have if you join us, Storm." Dooku said, trying to convince me. "You can have anything you want."
I shook my head. "I already have everything I want."
Dooku sighed as his shoulders dropped. "I was hoping you'd see it my way...unfortunately you've left me no choice."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"We're turning you over to the Geonosisians who will put you in their Petranaki Arena along with the Diktat's brother." Vorlega explained with a grin.
My face fell. Koltav, Korste, and I are going to die...and it's going to be my fault. Koltav furrowed his brows. "What's the Petranaki Arena?"
"It's known as the Arena of Justice to the Geonosisians, but to outsiders it's known as the Geonosis execution arena." I elaborated.
Koltav's face widened in horror. "...Good to know."
"This is your last chance, Storm." Dooku warned. "Join us or you'll join the arena with the Diktat of Corellia and his brother."
"I'd rather die alongside the good of this galaxy than live alongside with the evil!" I rebuked.
"Then I'm afraid I can't help you." Dooku said before walking out.
Vorlega let out a dark laugh. "Enjoy your last moments together."
With that she left the cell, leaving Koltav and me alone. I wore a guilty look as I faced Koltav. "I'm sorry Koltav, this is all my fault...and now you're going to die because of me."
"Hey, stop blaming yourself for all of this. Where's your faith?" Koltav asked me, which shocked me.
"I...I don't know." I replied. "But whatever happens, I'll protect you and your brother...even if it's the last thing I do."
"I believe you, Storm." Koltav assured me. "And before we go into the arena, I need to ask you something."
I raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"If we ever make it out of the arena, I was wondering if we had a chance...you know to give our relationship a try." Koltav commented.
At that moment, I could no longer hold back how I felt for Koltav. He made feel complete, and not to mention he always saw the light...even when I failed to. He was perfect, and I was crazy to let him go when he was willing to give it a try...in secrecy of course.
"If we make it out I'm willing to give this relationship a try." I informed him. "I love you too much to let you go, Koltav."
Koltav's face lit up. "I love you as well, Storm. I'm glad you finally came around. It only took a year."
I chuckled. "I wish I would've come to my senses quicker."
"It doesn't matter as long as we survive this." Koltav reminded me.
I nodded as I felt my faith restore itself. "You're right. We'll get through this."
The Geonosisians then entered our cell and brought us down before transporting us to the arena. Before we entered the arena, I turned towards Koltav and leaned towards him, giving him a kiss. Once we pulled away, he gave me a grin. "We'll get through this."
I nodded. "I know...I have a feeling we will make it out."
Once we were taken into the arena, the Geonosisians chained us up to the pillars. There I saw Obi-Wan and Korste. My pillar stood next to Obi-Wan and Koltav. My eyes widened. "Obi-Wan? What're you doing here?"
"I followed the bounty hunter who tried to kill Senator Amidala." Obi-Wan explained. "...And unfortunately I was caught. What about you?"
"Dooku tricked me...he said if I come to Geonosis that he'd return my grandma who he held as a prisoner, and he told me that we'd both be able to leave in exchange for the Diktat of Corellia along with his brother..." I informed him.
Obi-Wan sighed, causing me to quickly ramble on. "I know, I know...it's stupid. I let my emotions get in the way of my mission."
"It's alright, Storm. It happens to the best of us." Obi-Wan said, trying to cheer me up. "Even the best Jedi Masters were once padawans and Jedi Knights struggling with their emotions."
At that moment Anakin and Padmé entered the arena, and were chained up just like us. Well...this is just great. They were both surprised to see me.
"Storm?!" Anakin and Padmé exclaimed in shock.
"Surprise!" I replied with fake enthusiasm.
"How did you get stuck here?" Padmé inquired.
"It's a long story..." I trailed off, not wanting to tell another person my errors.
"Well, it looks like we've got time." Anakin commented.
"You know, I was beginning to wonder if you'd got my message." Obi-Wan intervened as he kept a nonchalant expression.
"I retransmitted it just as you had requested, Master. Then we decided to come and rescue you." Anakin explained.
"Good job." Obi-Wan rebuked in a sarcastic tone before turning away from him.
I hoped that was the end of the prisoners, however I was wrong. A few guards brought out my grandma. My eyes widened in horror. I pulled on my chains in a vain attempt to free myself to get to my grandma.
"Grandma!" I yelled out.
She immediately turned towards me, and wore a terrified look. "Storm! No! Let go of me!"
She violently fought against the guards, but failed as they brought more guards, forcing her to the chains of an unoccupied pillar. I then turned to see Dooku at the top of the arena in Archduke Poggle the Lesser's seat of power alongside a bounty hunter and his son. Blazvic stood next to Viceroy Gunray, another Separatist, and Vorlega was also there, standing alongside my grandfather. I narrowed my eyes at them, looking at them with such disgust. The crowd's cheers diminished at Poggle's words, who spoke in Geonosian. "Settle down. Settle down. Let the executions begin."
The entire crowd roared, excited to see our deaths. I heard roaring and screeching coming from the gates. This can't be good...
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Anakin commented.
The gates slowly opened, revealing two red reeks with three horns, two red eyed nexuses with sharp quills, two green acklays with six claws and razor sharp teeth, and a massiff with strenuous skin, quite large jaws, mouths filled with sharp teeth, big round dark eyes and a line of hard spikes along their back. I groaned. "You're right...this is bad."