Star Wars : Chapter 64: Nemesis III

With a sigh, Dooku resealed the wine and put it away, before taking out his holocom. With a few flicks of his fingers he pulled up an old contact and dialed it. It rang for a long time, Dooku slowly losing his patience as it did. After a minute had passed he hung up and put the device away.

...

It seemed that Rael still wasn't prepared to talk to Dooku again. If only Qui-Gon didn't already have a Padawan, then perhaps he could be persuaded… Though from what Dooku had heard, Jinn had only taken on Kenobi with incredible reluctance.

Why were there so few Jedi that Dooku could really trust? If only Asajj was a few years older.

Maybe a few years being trained by Sturn wouldn't be so bad, and when Asajj had passed her own knight trials she could take Tan'ya to be her padawan? The Council on Coruscant would complain, no doubt they would want one of their own to be her teacher, but they wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Not if Dooku was still technically honoring their agreement.

Was Asajj ready to become a knight already? Her skills were more than sufficient, and she had developed much composure under Dooku's tutelage. It was just so hard to know how she would fare under the pressures of real life. Her diplomatic work with Dooku hadn't given her much chance to face real danger out in the field, and there was no telling how she would handle it until she did.

That was it then, really. Dooku would give Asajj a chance to demonstrate her competence in the field, and that would decide if she was ready for knighthood.

His holocom beeped, and Dooku was surprised at the number.

"Rael. I wasn't expecting to hear from you." He answered it, smiling.

It wasn't visible through the blue projection of the hologram, but Rael was dark skinned and dark haired, with brown eyes. Normally he projected a more carefree persona, but now Rael did not smile, his eyes narrowed slightly in distaste. "I wasn't going to, but then I considered what's been happening and decided I owed you that much."

Recent events? Dooku's mind raced, trying to pick up on what he could be referring to, but the only thing he could think of was Sifo's death a little over two months ago. "You were invited to the funeral, but didn't attend."

Rael raised an eyebrow. "No, haven't you heard? About Naboo?"

"The blockade?" Dooku recalled. "I've heard, but that's of no concern to me."

"No one told you?" Rael shook his head. "Qui Gon was on Naboo, Dooku. He was in the Palace when the Federation began its bombardment! He's still missing."

Dooku felt his stomach plummet. If Qui-Gon was on Naboo, that meant Sidious would certainly kill him! Especially if he threatened his bid for the Chancellorship! He was so shocked he almost didn't hear Rael speak again.

"I was sure someone would have told you. I only found out because I was talking with-"

"I'm sorry Rael, I'll have to call you back." Dooku hung up.

He dialed Yoda this time, and was answered quickly.

Yoda opened his mouth, but Dooku interrupted him. "Qui-Gon is on Naboo. Why did you send him there? Why was I not told?!"

"Calm yourself, Master Dooku." Yoda held up a hand. "A great Jedi, Qui-Gon is. If I told you what dangers he faced, no time would there be for anything else. So often it is."

"Damn it, you old fool." Dooku snarled at him. "Was Galidran not enough?! How many more Jedi must you send to their deaths because you won't learn?"

Yoda stared at Dooku for a long moment. "Tried have you, to keep a headstrong Jedi from rushing to battle?"

Oh, what a tripe. Dooku hung up without another word, and was in the process of dialing Sidious' number when he stopped himself. He couldn't call from here, not when the line would go through the New Temple's network. Anyone with administrator access would see his call.

Hastily, Dooku deleted the number then left his office. He hurried through the halls, not paying heed to the Knights who ducked out of his way, or the line of younglings pointing at him with excitement as he rushed past. He took the steps up to landing pad two at a time rather than wait for the elevator. Inside his ship he immediately made sure his onboard communicator wasn't connected to Indinor's network, before dialing Palpatine's number manually.

Of course the slimy old man ignored his first call. Dooku had to dial three more times before Palpatine finally answered. He'd obviously been in the middle of something, because wind ruffled his hair and robes slightly, likely he'd stepped out onto a balcony before taking the call.

"This number is for emergencies, Dooku." He growled dangerously.

"This is an emergency, Palpatine." Dooku replied. "Qui-Gon is on Naboo."

The Sith shook his head, sighing pityingly. "Your former padawan is of no concern to our plan, Count. If he stands in the way of the good of the Galaxy, then there's no helping it."

"The Chancellorship is practically already yours! Recall the Federation fleet."

"The election isn't until next month. I may be likely to win, but until the seat is in my hands the blockade will stay in place." Palpatine said, coolly.

"Damn it, Sidious-"

"Do not call me on my emergency line and do not use that name where it might be overheard, fool!" Sidious hissed, teeth bared with rage. "If you wanted to have control over events, you should have answered my call months ago when I was planning this! Instead you were busy sulking like a craven child over a man that you helped kill!"

Dooku hissed right back. "Do not place the blame for that at my feet! That was your doing, not mine!"

"Oh, please. Now you sound like the Jedi Council, passive, unmoving, desperate not to be blamed for your own inaction. You knew it had to happen and you approved of it! Just as you knew that any Jedi sent to intervene at Naboo would be in danger, too. Enough empty sniveling over weakling Jedi!" He snarled.

Dooku opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. He was right, damn him. A cold shiver ran down Dooku's spine, as in that moment he realized he was trapped, helpless. This was a situation of his own making, each of his actions mounting one after another to lead him to this point.

He wanted to protect his dear student, just as he wanted to save his friend, but interfering here risked their plan. Everything he had built, and everything he was working towards would be undone if his connection to the Sith was ever revealed.

Dooku hung his head, helpless and ashamed.

"Goood." Palpatine droned out breathily. "Remember, this line is for emergencies. Next time you want to discuss our plans-"

"Next time?" Dooku raised his head, feeling cold anger surge through him, an angry voice hissing in his ears. With sudden clarity, he remembered Tan'ya's discovery, and what it meant for her and his whole family. The Dark Side called to him, and fearlessly he seized it. "Who will you demand I sacrifice next time, Sidious? My children? My wife?!"

"Of course not, friend. Of course not-"

"Do not call me friend, Sith!" Dooku spat. "On your lips it means pawn! Tool! You would cast me aside in a heartbeat the second it suited you!"

Through the Dark Side, Dooku felt that thread linking him to Sidious tugging.

"This is just a misunderstanding, Dooku." Sidious murmured, softly. "I can give you everything you ever wanted, no need for sacrifice. With the power I offer you can have friendship everlasting. Knowledge and power, everything you could ever want. Your loved ones need never die."

Dooku found himself calming, his rage and fear giving way. Was Sidious really to blame for this? Wasn't Yoda the one who sent Qui-Gon to his fate? Dooku needn't panic over a trifle, not when there was a much greater enemy to focus on.

"Yes, that's it." Sidious whispered. "Just come to Coruscant, and we can discuss this there. We can redraw our plans if we must. There's no reason at all we can't have everything in-"

Drawing on all the Dark Side he could hold, Dooku focussed every fiber of power he had into that thread. He poured every ounce of his hatred, every bitter thought that ever touched his heart, and every ounce of despair over the future of the Galaxy into what seemed like a ball of foul fire. To that he added every loved one who had died for incompetence, and the regrets over Dooku's own actions influenced by this man. He laid it all at Sidious' feet, channeled from the darkest corner of Dooku's soul into that narrow thread, connecting him to Coruscant.

As Dooku's feelings traveled back to the beating black heart of the corrupt Republic, it burned away that connection with it, forging a new one in its place. Still connected to the Dark Side, all of his hatred, rage and fear were directed to a single narrow point.

A message had been sent, and a name given. Nemesis.

A hundred thousand lightyears away, Darth Sidious received all of it, pausing mid sentence. His holographic image stared up at Dooku's face, and he sneered. "So be it."

Then he hung up.

...

Don't forget to throw some power stones ;)

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