Count Tyln Dooku sat at his desk looking at the flower in his hand that a little female Geonosian child had given to him. Flowers were rare on Geonosis and extremely beautiful. As he gazed at the icy colored petals of the flower his mind wandered back another rare flower he had once held.
He saw her there in his mind. Her slim figure, 5' 6" height, aburn hair, white bangs, and most of all, her icy blue eyes that pierced him with anger and bitterness.
The Count shook his head. It had been two years since he and Lore had parted. She was out of his life. Yet, unknown to the young woman, she had changed his life.
"Get a grip, Tyln. She's gone. You're never going to see her again," he told himself.
"Still thinking about Lore?"
Dooku jumped at Poggle the Lesser's voice.
"Have you ever heard of knocking, Poggle?"
"I did."
The human looked rather embarrassed now.
"Oh. Um, what did you need?"
"Everyone is ready for the meeting."
Dooku sighed and stood up, towering over the Geonosian Archduke, standing at 6' 4". The two went to the conference room. The other Separatist leaders were there by hologram, not daring to go to the planet where the Clone Wars had begun six months before.
"All right. Lets begin, my friends."
********
When the meeting ended an hour later and holograms disappeared, Dooku let his head fall onto the table in front of him, hitting it with a painful sounding thunk.
"Ow."
He lifted his head, a red mark on his forehead where he hit the table.
"That was less painful than the meeting."
"They are a stressful bunch, especially Gunray."
Only then did Poggle noticed the dark lines under Dooku's eyes and that his eyes were bloodshot.
"Have you been sleeping well, Tyln?" he asked his friend.
The Count ran a large hand through his silver hair and sighed.
"No. I've been seeing her in my dreams. I can't get her out of my head."
********
Dooku was stirred from his light yet restless sleep by a light. He opened his eyes to find the tip of a Light Scythe just under his chin. He looked up and froze.
"Lore?"
Lore sneered at him.
"You've made a fine mess of things as always, Dooku."
"What are you doing here?"
Her icy blue eyes glared daggers at him.
"To settle the score."
The Count sent her back with a Force Push, leaped out of bed, called his lightsaber to his hand, and activated its crimson blade. Lore attacked him swiftly, and he had to admit that her swordsmenship had gotten better.
"When will you understand that the Force Lightning attack wasn't suppose to hit you. I never wanted to hurt you."
"Why should I believe you?"
Dooku waited until they locked blades again to answer.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
She shoved him away.
"Try me."
They locked blades once more, Dooku disarmed them both with a touch of the Force, grabbed her gently but firmly, pulled her close, and planted a soft, hesitant kidd upon her lips. Lore stiffened in shock the slowly relaxed.
Dooku's pulse raced and his heart began to bear madly when he felt Lore kiss him back and wrap her arms around his neck.
No words were needed now. Both knew how the other felt and returned the feeling.