A Path Less Taken

Chapter 25 - Lack of Subtlety

"Nothing. As predicted," Obi-Wan thought as he looked around what was once a fully intact moisture farm. "Still, there must be something to find..."

But there was nothing. Any little tech that may have been in the house was gone. The clothes were still here, charred and forgotten.

There were no corpses or any trace of a decayed smell. So they must've gotten out. And Anakin along with Ahsoka with them. Any trace of finding them was likely burned in the fire if there was even one in the first place. Anakin always was the type to do things by ear.

"His decision to leave the temple was certainly one," Obi-Wan thought as he halted in his searching. There was nothing here. But suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck rose up in an alerted fashion; almost as if his neck hairs were an alarm.

"Halt," a familiar nasal voice said, and Obi-Wan's saber was immediately in his hands, ready for a solid defense. But it was but only one battle droid in front of him, and it wasn't even carrying a blaster. The Jedi Master eyes' narrowed.

"Explain this," Obi-Wan said, his voice having an unnatural edge to it.

"I was not part of this unit of attack. The Count wishes to speak with you," the droid said, raising a communicator. Obi-Wan's grip on his lightsaber tightened as Dooku appeared on it.

"Master Kenobi. Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I hoped Skywalker would be foolish enough to try and return. If you're here, I guess not," Dooku said idly.

"You knew Anakin was here?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"Not of my own knowledge, I assure you. Someone else's. And we were promptly informed. Even still, we were long aware of Skywalker's separation from the Order. One of the very few sensible decisions he has ever made, even if his motivations were not completely of his own accord," Dooku said.

"We'll get him back," Obi-Wan told him.

"Are you certain of that?" It was a clear challenge from the Count. One that Obi-Wan would not win. "From what I understand, while he has been avoiding us, he seems to be avoiding the Order just as readily. Tatooine is clear of both Separatist and Republic presence alike. And if his experience with the Jedi was any indication..."

"You've made your point. He'll never join the Sith either way. And I am perfectly fine with that," Obi-Wan said.

"You are many things Master Kenobi. Foolish is not one of them. Resisting the Dark Side has always been taxing for anyone besides my former master. Many Jedi fight their emotions, and it limits them. Makes them weak," Dooku said.

"Those who resist the Dark Side will be more powerful than you'll ever be," Obi-Wan told him, his gaze figuratively burning a hole through the Count's form.

"Your apprentice would disagree. He himself has now learned Force Lightning, and it is among the most unique I have witnessed. The anger within him is no longer restrained, but embraced. The Jedi's hold on him tempered his potential. And he realized that," Dooku said.

"I realize than Anakin has more... edge to him than any other Jedi, but there is one thing you will never be able to take from him. A deep seeded need to do good. In some type of way, no matter in which form. You're foolish to think you can turn him," Obi-Wan explained to him, his tone serious.

"You underestimate the power of the Dark Side. We have ways of getting what we want. There are ways to prey upon the mind. There are ways to use his insecurities and fears against him. One way or another, Skywalker will be one of us," Dooku said. And with that ominous statement left, he ended the transmission.