Dooku walked through the city, surveying the destruction and chaos going on. He steeled his heart, reminding himself that, regretfully, he was a Sith Lord.

He saw a little girl, no older than six years old beside the body of a woman, probably her mother. She was trying to get the woman to move, but Dooku knew that she was dead.

The building above her started to collapse. If she didn't move she would be crushed.

The girl started up at the building, paralyzed with fear. She screamed as debris fell towards her.

The Count gave no thought to his actions as he darted forward, calling on the Force for more speed. Summoning his strength to his legs, he leaped forward and grabbed the girl, the momentum of his run and leap carrying them both out of harm's way.

Dooku caught his breath and released the girl, who looking at him with wide, terrified eyes.

The innocence in her eyes stirred something in him, but he ignored it.

The Sith rose to his full height, towering over the girl.

"Run along, child. Keep out of the way of the droids, and you should be safe."

Without another word or a second glance, he turned and walked away, heading towards the transport that would take him away from this place.

It didn't take him long to figure out that he was being followed. He turned to see that it was the girl.

"What do you want?" he asked more harshly than he meant to.

The girl didn't answer, she just kept staring at him.

Her gaze wracked the Count to his very core, and it worried him. No child had been able to do that him since...

He pulled his attention back to the present. The girl was now slowly coming towards him.

"You can't come with me."

He couldn't take his eyes off her. His steeled heart was softening as he looked at her.

Even as he said aloud that she couldn't come with him, Dooku knew that he couldn't leave her behind.

He sighed softly, went over to her, and knelt in front of her.

"What's your name, child?" he asked gently.

"Katie."

Her voice was soft, shy, and a little frightened, though Dooku didn't blame her for being frightened.

"I'm Dooku."

"You saved me, and I have no where to go."

He nodded once.

"You may come with me as long as you do as I say."

She brightened a little.

"Okay."

He stood up and started for the transport with Katie walking beside him.

He hadn't taken ten steps when he felt the girl's tiny hand take hold of his own. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, but then he gently closed his hand over hers.

How was he going to keep her hidden from Lord Sidious?

He was grateful that the trip back would take a few hours, so he had time to think of someway to keep her a secret.