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Joke of Fate: Chapter Four

Jedi Temple, Coruscant, 24 years before the Battle of Geonosis.

Almost 15-year old Padawan Mara Jade walked alone through the corridors of the Jedi Temple. /They're all avoiding me again. Why can't I act normal for once? Why can't I fit in for once./ Even when the Jedi were not avoiding her, she stuck out like a sore thumb. Her red hair was unique among Jedi, as were her emerald-eyes. She was small for her age, and looked to be about ten or eleven. Unlike her fellow Jedi, Mara did not wear the traditional brown, orange, tan, or white. Mara usually wore one of the silky cloaks that Master Dooku had given to her on her thirteenth birthday. They were dark red, dark blue, and black, all odd colors for a Jedi. Underneath the cloak she wore a contrasting tunic, usually blue, red, or green and matching pants. Mara had black knee-high boots that were made out of real nerf-hide and were quite comfortable. Her Master had also given her an odd lightsaber. The hilt looked somewhat like a 'J' and the white blade certainly contrasted from the usual blues, greens, and oranges. This only served to remind others of her different 'birth' and the fact that she biologically had no parents. She couldn't count the times some Jedi had ridiculed her for being different, nor the times she had pummeled them until she was restrained. As soon as she left the corridors, activity once again resumed as Padawans, Knights, and Masters crept out of the rooms they had been hiding in.

/Perhaps I can find some friends in the Dueling Room./ Mara thought as she entered the huge room. All activity ceased as she entered. /Then again maybe not./ she thought as every Jedi stared her /Time to leave./ and she turned around and began to exit just as someone called out.

"Hey Mara! You did great yesterday. Those kicks were really something." shouted her 14-year old Corelian friend Nejaa Halcyon.

She had to smile at this. He always said outrageous things like that.

"The way you blocked his slashes was amazing." commented 14-year old Ranik Solusar.

"And you really looked pretty while you were dueling with him." 11-year old obi-Wan Kenobi added.

"I'm sure you paid close attention Obi-Wan." chuckled Mara.

"Your form however was horrible to say the least, you did not stick to any one style. Instead, you just combined them to make your own. Highly unorthodox." criticized 12-year old Jerec.

"Ah, is that jealousy or is that resentment I detect?" asked 13-year old Ylenic It'kla.

Jerec scowled at both females as he left.

"Well, how did your Master react to what you did yesterday Mara?" Nejaa asked.

"Well, he hasn't gotten back yet from Alderaan yet." Mara answered.

"When does he return?" Ranik queried.

"This afternoon. I'm not looking forward to it. Still, it oughtta surprise him." Mara replied.

"That's not exactly the kind of surprise I would want." Ylenic commented.

"The shuttle from Alderaan arrived about 10 minutes ago" Obi-Wan informed them. "it might be best to greet him before anyone else can inform him."

"Yeah, good idea. Thanks for cheering me up guys. I'll see you later." Mara said as she hurriedly left the room.

****************************

Jedi Master Count Dooku walked through the corridors of the Jedi Temple. He began to notice the dirty looks each Jedi gave him as they walked past. /What have I done this time?/ he wondered. /No escaped carnivores, no destroyed starships, no defiance of the Council. All I've done over the past few months is training Mara. Oh, it's what she's done that's made them angry at me. Well, how bad could it be?/

/Pretty bad, my master./ commented Qui-Gon Jinn. /And pretty humorous as well. Welcome Home, my Master./

Before he could reply, Dooku was knocked to the floor by a padawan running at Jedi Speed in the opposite direction.

"Well, my padawan, I'm glad to see you're alive and well. No bruises, burns, or injuries to be seen. Let's discuss what everyone is angry at me about, in our quarters, shall we?"

"Yes, my Master" Mara said contritely as they walked to their apartment.

As soon as the door closed, Mara began with "Master Yoda started it."

"Perhaps you can tell me what exactly Master Yoda started."

"Well, ok, see I was in the Dueling Room yesterday…."

**************************

Yesterday, Dueling Room, Advanced Lightsaber Techniques Class.

Mara Jade was patiently waiting for her opponent to get up. She had charged him, blocked a slash to her midsection, then ducked and kicked him in his right thigh. He had fallen to his knees, at which she quickly began a barrage of slashes he was not able to block. His saber went cluttering to the sidelines, and he ended up lying on his back motioning his surrender.

"You did very well Padawan Jade." commented her opponent, Jedi Master Siolo Ur Manka. "You may practice against someone else now." he said as he dragged himself out of the room towards the healing ward.

"Wow that was great Mara." commented Nejaa. "You must be one of the best swordsmen in the Order."

"Well, Nejaa, I'm a swordswoman if you hadn't noticed. And actually I'm the best one in the Order."

"Oh, better you are, than Qui-Gon Jinn, Count Dooku, or even I, hhhm?" Master Yoda asked as he came up behind them.

/I'm really in for it this time./ "Well…" Mara began.

"Need to learn humility, you do. Teach you a lesson, I will." he said as pulled out his short green-bladed saber.

/What? No, I can't do this. I just know they'll all make fun of me because of this./ "It's okay Master Yoda. I'll stop bragging, I was just…" Mara began again.

"Enough, begun this match has." Yoda stated with finality.

/I'm going to regret this./ Mara thought as she ignited her ivory-colored saber blade.

Yoda leapt towards her and slashed downwards at her left shoulder. Mara parried and leapt over Yoda, attempting to slash at his back as she landed. He turned around in mid-air to meet her blow and landed crouching on the floor. He leapt towards her again, at which Mara ducked and rolled under him. She rose to her feet and kicked the Master in his back. The ancient Master went flying towards the wall face-first. He spun around and bounced feet-first off the wall back at Mara. She blocked his attack and kicked him straight up into the air. Yoda then turned and began a spin-dive straight down upon her head. Mara force-leapt into the air over Yoda and slashed downwards onto his saber. As the saber was falling out of Yoda's hands, she Force-kicked the Master on the side of his head. The small Jedi went flying into the transparisteel viewing window on the side of the room, and crumbled to the ground after hitting it. She called the tiny saber to her hand, completing her victory.

Everyone of the 250 or so Jedi in the room stared open-mouthed at her. Never before had anyone defeated Master Yoda, let alone in ten moves.

Mara walked over to where Yoda lay. "I think he has a concussion." she announced after inspecting him. Not a Jedi stirred from where they were. "I guess I was a little too rough, huh?" They continued their stares at Mara. "Well, I'll take him to the Healing Ward now." she stated before picking the Master up by his feet. None of the Jedi answered as she slung the Master over her shoulder and proceeded to exit the room.

**************************

"You see it's really not my fault." Mara defended after finishing her tale.

Dooku simply stared at her for a few minutes before he began to smile. "Well, at least someone learned about humility. Have you apologized to him yet?"

"Um, well, the thing is he hasn't come to yet. The Healers said that he'll wake up some time tomorrow afternoon."

/I knew I should have taken her with me to Alderaan./ Dooku thought. "Well, I think you have completed your lightsaber training class now. You've learned all the techniques that are still known to the Jedi Order. We'll substitute in a….Um, what have you passed so far?"

"Well, Advanced Lightsaber Training, Advanced Martial Arts, Teras Kasi, Advanced Piloting, Basic Tailoring, Galactic History, Jedi History, Advanced Survival Skills, Advanced Cooking, Force Energy Techniques, Advanced Basic, Advanced Huttesse, Advanced Wookie, Advanced Chemical Science, Basic Quantum Physics, Advanced Hyperspace Theory, and I think that's it so far." Mara answered.

/I should pay more attention to her studies./ "Mara, don't you think you're over-doing it just a little bit?" Dooku asked.

"Well, there's nothing else to do when I'm not on missions." Mara answered.

"Well, ease up anyway. Why don't you take up art, music, acting, or…"

"Dancing?" Mara asked.

"Yes, why not? Dancing it is. Take some classes in that. I'll also ask the Council to assign us more missions we both can go on. Now then, is there anything else bothering you?" he asked.

"Well…I have been sensing a Disturbance in the Force lately, my Master." she answered.

"What kind of disturbances have you sensed?" Dooku asked suddenly very sober again.

"I've sensed only one Disturbance and it's more than a disturbance. It's like the Force is constantly exploding like a nova. So much power. I feel bonded to it, my Master. A greater bond that I have even with you."

"Hhm. I must bring this up with the Council. I believe the Disturbance you sensed is the sort of one I sensed at your birth." He watched her become slightly pale at the mention of her 'birth', so he decided to change the subject. "Don't you have to be somewhere this time of the afternoon?" he asked

"Yeah, I have to attend Advanced Calamarian Calculus Class. I'll see you at dinner, Master." Mara said as she skipped out of the room.

/So much energy in one person. I'm beginning to fall behind./ Dooku mentally sighed. /Mara will be ready for the trials soon. Another Record. Even Qui-Gon wasn't knighted until he reached 22 years. At 16, she already is more capable than most Jedi Masters. She has certainly lived up to and surpassed all my expectations./ He began to smile. /Yoda might even have to call her Master Jade in a few years./ His thoughts then shifted to the new Disturbance Mara had sensed. /Another one? For what purpose? Why would we need two? Perhaps it is another prophecy? Why is she so connected to it? Mara and I have one the strongest Master-Padawan bonds in the Order. How can she be bonded closer to it than I? Perhaps the Council can help me get some answers./

**************************

A Few Weeks Later.

"Padawan, are you ready yet? We're going to be late for the shuttle." Count Dooku asked as he walked out of his room.

"Yes Master, I've been ready for the past half-hour" Mara replied with a smile. "Where has the Council assigned us to now?"

"We are headed to Naboo to investigate a new criminal organization, Red Draigon. It's led by a pirate named Kaerobani. He's fairly young and quite vicious in his dealings. So far Nubian security hasn't been able to deal with it, so their King Veruna asked for Jedi assistance." he answered as they walked out of their quarters and down the hall.

"But Master, Naboo is such a boring planet. No one does drugs, crime is non-existent, there are no weapons for the public, the planetary security force doesn't have even have blasters for their agents. How would a crime organization profit there, my Master?"

"King Veruna's palace security force has determined that the Red Draigons are looking for something. They haven't discovered what it is yet. However the Council believes Theed is the center of the Disturbance you sensed."

"It has been growing very strongly now, over the past few days. It feels amazing, I've never felt this way in my life." Mara commented.

"Well since you feel so strongly about 'it', retrieving 'it' will be your mission, my young padawan." Dooku responded with a smile. They were now in the Temple Hanger and went to their shuttle. They found Jedi Master Siolo Ur Manka waiting for them.

"Sorry about hurting you a few weeks ago, Master Ur Manka." Mara apologized.

"You could have done worse Padawan Jade." Ur Manka replied as he eyed her wearily, thinking about what had happened to Yoda. "At any rate it is time to depart." All three Jedi proceeded to enter the shuttle. Sitting in the lounge they found the legendary Jedi Masters Tyvokka, Qui-Gon Jinn, Jorus C'Baoth, and Sifo-Dyas. Also there were Jedi Masters Oppo Rancisis, Lanius Qel-Bertuk, Even Piell, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Saesee Tiin, Plo Koon, Eeth Koth, Mace Windu, and Thracia Cho Leem.

Master Sifo-Dyas looked right at Mara and seemed to smile. She barely repressed a shudder as he watched her. He had been watching her for many years, and it gave her the creeps. She had told her Master about it, however Dooku had dismissed it as Sifo-Dyas' curiosity. Her Master was good friends with Sifo-Dyas and seemed not be concerned, so she wasn't really scared anymore. But whenever she looked at him, she felt something she could not explain. /Something elusive./ Mara thought to herself.

/Why so many great Jedi for one mission, my Master?/ Mara asked. /We are capable of doing this on our own./

/The Council has dispatched these Jedi to help us bring back the Disturbance from Naboo. I know that we can do this alone, but some extra security would not be detrimental. They sensed great danger on this mission./

Something bothered her about this assignment. Mara always had the feeling Sifo-Dyas was hiding something from them. However it seemed to have amplified this particular time. /I think I'll watch him too, just to be sure./ she thought to herself.

"Are you feeling alright Padawan Jade? I sense your unease. If you wish, you could stay here at the Temple." Master Sifo-Dyas said with a smile.

Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind Mara replied confidently, "No. I'm feeling fine. I'm sure I'll be able to travel to Naboo with you, my Masters."

"Very well. Master Tiin, go to Hyperspace." Master Sifo-Dyas commanded.

**************************

Royal Council Chambers. Theed Palace. Naboo

"Welcome Masters Jedi." King Veruna greeted. "We trust your trip was pleasant."

"Yes, of course you majesty." Master Sifo-Dyas replied. "We have already made a plan of action. Jedi Masters Count Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, Even Piell, and I will investigate the Red Draigon incidents in Theed. Jedi Masters Tyvokka, Saesee Tiin, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and Eeth Koth will interrogate any Red Draigon prisoners you may have captured. Jedi Masters Jorus C'Baoth, Siolo Ur Manka, Lanius Qel-Bertuk, Oppo Rancisis, and Thracia Cho Leem will stay at this Palace to guard you. Is this course of action agreeable to you, your majesty?"

"We defer to your judgment in this matter Master Jedi. However, we would like to know the purpose of this young Jedi woman."

"I will be sent to determine exactly what the Red Draigons are looking for, and if possible prevent them from getting it, your majesty." Mara answered.

"Are you not a tad bit young for this endeavor young Jedi?" the King asked.

"I am more than capable of carrying this mission out, your majesty." Mara responded carefully repressing the anger she felt at the remark.

"I can attest to this, your majesty. She is more than capable of defeating any of the Jedi in this room." Dooku added.

"Very well. We have the utmost confidence that your efforts will succeed Masters Jedi. May the Force be with you." the King stated as he left the room.

**************************

Mara was walking through a poorer part of Theed that seemed to have few people on it's streets. /I guess this is as seedy as Naboo gets./ she thought. Her Master had given her permission to investigate however, wherever, and whenever she wanted as a 15th Birthday gift. /He trusts me./ she thought smiling. /I won't let him down./

Suddenly, the Force stirred around a seemingly abandoned 4-story building. Sensing that this was where she needed to be, Mara Force-leapt onto the building's roof and let herself in through the stairway door.

Mara went down the staircase to find nothing but a long-since abandoned HoloTheater. She went into each of the cavernous rooms and found nothing. Suddenly the Force pulled her towards a ticket counter. Mara went behind it and began to look around. /Hmm. Some kind of computer system./ She pushed the buttons the Force guided her to and suddenly the area behind the ticket counter began to descend. /Found it!/

Mara cloaked herself in the Force and looked around the underground facility. Four Guards entered her lift and began to look around. She mind-tricked them into thinking it was simply a lift malfunction and that they could relax. Mara stealthily made her way down the corridors until she arrived at what seemed to be the Leader's office. It was empty so she went in and hid behind an expensive nerf-hide futon in the corner. Within a few minutes, a tall man with dark hair and pale skin entered the office, followed by two of his assistants.

"Fetch me the HoloTransmitter and get me a Corelian ale." the man commanded.

"Of course Sir Kaerobani." they both responded and went on their tasks.

/So he's Kaerobani. Doesn't look particularly dangerous, perhaps a bit on the tall side, but he looks like a wimp./

Soon both assistants returned with the items their boss had requested and left. As soon they had gone, Kaerobani locked the doors and fell to one knee in front of the HoloTransmitter. He activated it and waited for a response.

"Kaerobani, have you made any progress?" asked the clean-shaven humanoid in dark robes.

"Yes, my Master. We have established a stronghold in the landing zone and are waiting for it's arrival tonight. There will be no problems in obtaining it." Kaerobani answered.

/How do they now about 'it' anyway? Only a Jedi could have sensed 'it'. Perhaps the man in the robes is a Dark Jedi?/

"I would not be so sure Kaerobani. There is a powerful Jedi in the area. She is 1.36 meters tall, has red hair and green eyes. She is an great warrior, so have all your men on guard in the landing circle. I want them armed with the repeaters and concussion rifles I have provided you with. Make sure you get it."

"Of course my Master, it will be yours." The robed man ended the transmission and Kaerobani went back to his desk.

/Sith! That guy might be a member of the King's Court. But I don't remember seeing any Non-Humans there. And one of the Jedi would have sensed his Dark Side presence, right? It might be that one of them is working for the weirdo in the robes./ Mara considered. /It doesn't matter for now. I have to get to whatever they're looking for before they do./ She followed Kaerobani out of his office to the surface and then into his speeder.

A few minutes later they had arrived at the Circle. Mara could sense Snipers on the roofs and civilians within the buildings. /Can't let this get of hand./ She counted 162 guards and snipers in all. /Well, perhaps I could ask for assistance this one time./

Reaching out in the Force she called to her Master, who was currently speaking with Master Jinn.

/Master, I could use some help here./

/What is my Padawan?/

/I've found what we're looking for and need some help to get it. There are quite a few of the Red Draigons here. I've also discovered that a Dark Jedi is involved in the financing and arming of the Draigons./

/I'll gather the King's security force and…/

/No. Someone in the King's Administration has betrayed my presence here to the Dark Jedi and Kaerobani./

/Very well, I will gather the other Masters. Just hold on./

/Yes, my Master. Hurry something's going to happen soon. Meet me in the abandoned Theed HoverTrain Station./ With that Mara closed their mental link.

Soon, after the primary star had set, the constellations began to rise. Mara could clearly sense and see 'it' now. She watched as it seemingly walked through the sky, circling around them. Mara began to creep closer to the center of the circle. It began to descent right at the center.

Dropping her Force-Cloak, Mara kicked Kaerobani out of the way, and then caught the child. /It's a boy./ She quickly leapt over the stunned guards and ran down the side streets with Jedi-Speed.

"Follow her you idiots!" Kaerobani commanded as he got into a speeder.

/I can't hold them off for long./ Mara thought as she ran into the Theed HoverTrain Station. /Where are they?/ she thought as she hid in a JanitorDroid Closet.

"Look in every nook and cranny of this place. If the child is not found, we are as good as dead." Kaerobani screamed.

Mara sensed them comb through the HoverTrain Station. She sensed them come to her closet. /No where to hide now. Hope they get here soon./ She thought as she ignited her saber. Mara kicked the door open, and rolled out with the babe in her arms. She slashed through the five Draigons that had come to inspect her closet and leapt onto the second level. Mara ran through the place looking for an exit or at the very least a non-transparisteel window. Six more Draigons spotted her and started firing their repeaters. Mara rolled under their line of fire and up to where they were. She Force-Kicked two of them, and slashed through another three. Mara leapt over the sixth and speared him in the back.

Mara ran to the lift and decided to try her luck on the third level. Again, no exits or windows. She took down another four Draigons on her search. /Perhaps I can even out the odds a little bit./ she thought as she went down to the first sub-level. There she sensed the main group of Draigons. /Bad Idea./ A group of five spotted her, and alerted the rest of the floor. /Great. Just what I needed./ She easily took down all five, but then a group of eleven came round the corner with concussion rifles. Mara pulled the weapons towards her before any could fire. She melted the weapons into a single ball of metal and energy, and sent it flying right back at them. It exploded, much like a Thermal detonator, and left no trace of the Draigons. However, all the Draigons knew her location now, and there really wasn't anywhere to escape to.

/Perhaps I can be rid of all of them./ she thought as she went down another two levels. Mara had memorized the layout of Theed on the flight, and knew their was an underground river flowing right around the third sub-level. /If I can start a flood, I could make them leave the building./ She found the right wall and began to slash into it. Water came pouring out and the wall started to fall apart. Mara Force-leapt up the stairs before the river could overtake her. The Draigons she had sensed on the sub-level had been washed away. The water rushed out of the staircase on the first floor as she exited it. She was faced with more of the Draigons. Mara dodged and rolled out of the building as the ground floor was flooded. The Draigons came running out as the building began to collapse.

Here she was unable to run any further. She hadn't realized that there were still snipers on the roofs. "Nowhere left to run, little Jedi. Now hand it over." commanded the soaking wet Kaerobani. However her answer was drowned out by the sound of a shuttle flying dangerously low. It began to pick the off snipers on the roofs as thirteen Jedi leapt from the cargo bay. They landed on the streets and began to hack their way through the Draigons. Mara took the opportunity to kick Kaerobani in the ribs, knocking him to the floor, writhing in pain. The King's Security Force arrived after all was done, to arrest and hospitalize the remaining forty-three Draigons.

**************************

"It likes you quite a bit, Mara." Master Tyvokka stated once they were in the shuttle.

"Huh? Oh." Mara replied as she realized the boy was suckling on her neck. /He seems to be very happy./

"What did you name it?" asked Master Qel-Bertuk.

"Name it? Yeah, I guess I should Um. Dirk?" Mara answered.

"Dirk. You're kidding right?" asked Master Qui-Gon.

"Well, have you got any better ideas?" Mara asked.

"Lucian. Lucian Starkiller." Master Qui-Gon answered.

"That's worse than Dirk. Um. What about Lucifer Starwalker?" suggested Master Koon.

The Jedi began to debate the name of the child, but Mara quietly left to her room.

"How about Luke? Do you like that my little sky-walker? Hhhm. Luke Skywalker. Do you like that?" she asked.

The babe responded with an affirmative cry and began to lick at her neck.

"A little forward aren't you little Lukie?" Mara cooed at the child.

"You did well on this mission, my Padawan." Master Dooku interrupted as entered. "I believe you are ready for your trials."

"What? B-But, I'm only fifteen? I can't be a J-Jedi Knight yet!" Mara stuttered.

"You are more than ready Padawan." Dooku answered. "I foresee you will be a great and wise Jedi."

"Thank you, my Master" said Mara as she kissed him on the cheek.

**************************

One Week Later. Council Chambers. Jedi Temple. Coruscant.

Jedi Knight Mara Jade stood before the Council with little Luke Skywalker in her arms. His head was nuzzled against her chest, and periodically he reached out and squeezed her nose. She couldn't help but smile at the child. /I've never felt so…complete./ she thought to herself.

"Desire to train this child, you do?" inquired Master Yoda.

"Yes Master, I realize I am young, but the connection I feel to this child is … incomprehensible. I feel as if we are one soul in two bodies." Mara answered.

"Do you feel that you can handle the responsibilities of caring for a child?" asked Master Tyvokka.

"Yes, I am certain. I know I can do it." Mara answered honestly.

"Wrong, never her judgment, has been." added Master Yaddle.

"I believe this child has the potential to make a great impact on the future." stated Master Qel-Bertuk.

"As do I. His Midi-Chlorian count of over 40,000 is even greater than my own. An ocean of the Force seems to reside in him. His power overshadows all the other Jedi in this Temple." Mara added. /Except for me, but I don't have to rub that in./

"He could have a negative impact on the future, as well. Who is to say he will not become a Dark Jedi and a destructive force the likes of which this galaxy has never seen?" asked Master Sifo-Dyas.

"Do we really need another potential danger? If he turns, you would be unable to destroy him." Master C'Baoth asked.

"You made that argument against her as well, Master C'Baoth" Master Windu pointed out. "She has turned out to be the greatest Knight in the Order, perhaps even ever. I foresee no problems in his training."

"It is quite odd that you described this child as walking through the sky, Knight Jade," commented Master Ashka Boda. "And even stranger that you named him Luke Skywalker. My grandfather had a prophetic vision of a Light-Bringer, coming a few years after the Chosen One, who would "walk the sky" and "restore the light". What this means, I do not know. However, it seems that you are fated to be together."

"Humph. Great darkness I sense in him, even at this young age. Trained, he should not be." Yoda stated with finality.

"I will train this child, my masters. With or without your permission. It would be helpful if I did not have to leave the Order to do so." responded Mara.

"You would leave the Order voluntarily for this boy?" asked Master Rancisis in horror. A Jedi had never before left the Order voluntarily and losing the most powerful Jedi Knight in history would not be a good thing.

"I would and will do anything for this child." Mara stated.

/It would appear, that we have no other choice but to allow his training./ commented Master Qel-Bertuk to his fellow Councilors.

"Very well. Approve of his training, the Council does. However, great power, this child has. For great evil, it can be used. Attentive and cautious, you must be."

"Of course, Masters." she affirmed before leaving the room with her padawan.

"Well, Lukie, It looks like we're going to spend the next few years together." The boy smiled and started to suckle on her nose. "Yes, I'm happy too." Mara said as she put her face against his.

**************************

"What is it Primarch Sifo-Dyas?" a hooded-man asked over the HoloComm.

"My Master, the Council was forced to allow Knight Jade permission to train the boy."

"Hhhm. If the Master can be turned, then the Knight will follow. If the Knight turns, then the boy will become a Sith Lord. Everything is going according to my plans. What is the condition of Count Dooku?"

"I believe that it will take a significant amount of time before Dooku can be trusted enough to reveal ourselves. However, he does trust me, to a certain point, my Master."

"Have you destroyed his relationship with Jade yet

"No, I have not succeeded yet, my Master. But I am making progress slowly. Jade has prevented any dark feelings from rising in Dooku. She has ruined my mission."

"Jade has ruined your mission? I thought her standing among the Jedi was rather low."

"It was until recently, my Master. Her defeat of Master Yoda, coupled by her dismantling of the Red Draigon Crime Group has elevated her status to the point where the Council caters to her whims." Sifo-Dyas answered.

"Ah. Even better than I had imagined. This will most definitely benefit us. I believe that you have earned the rank of Sith Lord, Darth Hektorus. Continue your mission Lord Hektorus."

"Thank you, my Master." responded Sifo-Dyas gleefully. "I promise you Dooku will turn."

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