Author's Note: This just an alternate chapter for Return of Master Dooku.
Red and blue blades clashed and buzzed on contact. Their wielders glared at each other. The wielder of the red blade was a tall, elder man with long silver hair. The wielder of the blue blade was a tall, young man with medium length black hair and a long, thin braid behind his right ear.
Jedi Master Tyln Dooku once again brought his blade against former Padawan Learner Liam Hunter's. His dark brown eyes met his former student's, and his heart broke. The vibrant green was replaced by a sickly yellow outlined with red; eyes of the Darkside.
"Why are you doing this to yourself, Liam?"
"You made me like this, Master!" Liam snarled, saying the title mockingly.
He pushed the older man away.
"How? I wanted to protect you from this!"
They clashed in a flurry of blows.
"Where did I go wrong, Liam? Tell me!" the near stricken Master cried.
The Dark Jedi lunged at his old teacher.
"You left me on Diran!"
Dooku parried the attack.
"Force, Liam, I thought you were dead!"
"It's too late for excuses! I will destroy you!"
The old man glared at the former Padawan.
"You shall try, my old Padawan."
The fight became more vicious, and Dooku had to admit that Liam had gotten better. He surpassed the young man in experience, knowledge, strength, and Form, but Liam made for that with speed, endurance, stamina, and energy. He had the advantage of youth.
"I failed, Liam! I failed to be the Master you needed!" he said as they fought.
Finally, in a last desperate attempt, Dooku managed to cut off Liam's legs just below the knees.
With a cry of pain and agony, the young man fell to the ground.
"You were a Jedi, Liam! You were trained to fight the Darkside, not join it! You were meant to learn from my history and mistakes, not repeat them!" the Master nearly screamed, sorrow filling his voice.
Liam glared up at him.
"I hate you, Dooku!"
Tears began to run down the old Jedi's face and were lost in his beard.
"You were my son! I loved you, Liam!"
Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker came running to Dooku's side. They looked down at Liam sadly.
Mace approached the injured young man, cut off the braid, and went back to the other three Masters. He handed the braid to Dooku.
The elder Jedi's gaze never left his corrupted apprentice.
"Leave him, Dooku. He's lost to the Darkside."
"Can… can we at least end his misery?"
Mace looked at the young man and nodded.
Dooku stood over Liam and activated his crimson 'saber. They locked gazes.
"I'm sorry," he said softly.
He swung his weapon down, thrusting it through the Dark Jedi's heart, killing him instantly.
Dooku went back to the other Masters, pale and shaking slightly. They led him back to their ship and took off for Coruscant.
Once Dooku was settled in his cabin, Mace, Obi-Wan, and Anakin contacted the Jedi Council and told them what happened.
"Master Dooku killed him?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked.
"Killed him out of mercy Dooku did. Killed him to end his suffering," Grand Master Yoda said.
Several Council Members nodded in agreement.
Mace then spoke.
"I do not feel that Master Dooku is emotionally fit for missions any longer."
"Hmm. Have him reassigned you say?"
He nodded.
"To where, Master Windu?" Plo Koon asked.
"He'll not take kindly to staying at the temple all the time. He's too restless for that," Shaak Ti added.
Many others nodded in agreement.
"I suggest he help oversee the Younglings. When at the temple, he had often been found among them," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes. Calm him they do. Good for him they will be."
End note: As I said in the beginning, this is just an alternate chapter for Return of Master Dooku. Please review.