Part 4: Treachery

Dooku, accompanied by Mara Dendron, stepped inside a small command-room, computers and screens along the walls, holograms floating in the air above a central table, two large windows overlooking the huge mining operation. Waiting for them were two other figures; one was the tattooed creature all clad in black that had greeted Dooku to Kan Tarell together with the mines governor, hood ever pulled over his head. The other was a grey skinned humanoid, whose ears and nose gave him a bat-like appearance; he was void of hair, one eye replaced by a cybernetic version, as was an arm and a leg, his body covered in armor and military clothing, a great cape worn over his shoulders that hid were two cables connected with a small backpack as they extended from the back of his skull.

"All your politicians have left, lord Dooku" the cyborg said, a touch of static to his voice as he had a cybernetic implant in his throat that helped him speak.

"Good" Dooku nodded as he approached the central table and the others joined him. "They need to leave before the Jedi arrive."

The cyborg reacted to this. "You think they survived?"

Dooku allowed for the smallest of smiles. "I have made it a habit to never underestimate a Jedi." He then handed over Valorum's data-disc to the cyborg. "The information provided by the vice-chancellor. It should prove invaluable."

The cyborg took the disc and inserted it into a socket in the table. Within seconds, various holograms appeared above the table, depicting maps, documents and schedules.

"Excellent" the cyborg said, a kaleesh mercenary known for being brutal and efficient and well worth the small fortune required to hire his services. "This is more than we need to plan our attack."

Dooku studied the information as well. "I have provided you with five-thousand elite mercenaries, Captain Grievous. I expect you to succeed."

Grievous, a taken name to intimidate and impress, glanced briefly at his employer, a frown on the kaleesh warriors face, his cybernetic eye glowing red. "Don't worry, lord Dooku. Under my command, your troops will not fail."

Mara Dendron shook her head as she too studied the information that was provided by Valorum's data-disc. "There will be Jedi protecting the chancellor" the pirate-captain pointed out. "How will you overcome such a dangerous enemy?"

Dooku merely smiled. "Simple, my dear. Valorum has provided us with everything we need to know. Including the exact position of the Jedi during the chancellors visit."

Grievous nodded and leaned against the table. "We will blast them from the air with everything we've got.

They were all taken by surprise as the alarm sounded across Kan Tarell, red lights flashing to accompany the wailing klaxon.

Dooku remained calm as he turned to the others. "We continue as planned. Captain Grievous, lord Maul, you have your orders."

Grievous nodded and left with determined strides. The tattooed creature, all dressed in black, hood over his head, offered a slight bow at Dooku before he too left the room. Dooku then turned to Mara.

"Prepare my shuttle for departure."

XXX XXX

Outside, the royal sloop of the queen of Naboo came in for a landing at Kan Tarell, together with six skiff's carrying armed troops, a total of four fighter-craft circling overhead having provided the sloop with escort during their trip from Theed. A type of fighter used by the Jedi Order came in for a landing as well, settling down next to the sloop as the sloops boarding-ramp lowered to settle on the landing-pad. Leaving the sloop was the queen herself, surrounded by her handmaidens and a dozen armed guards, followed by a handful of Naboo nobles and the Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin Skywalker climbed out of his cockpit and jumped down from the hull of the W-wing, leaving T7 in the droid-pit for now.

Governor Haako, together with a handful of Trade Federation officials, emerged from the innards of the facility to greet their unannounced guests, followed by a small company of guards and security-droids.

"Queen Amidala" Governor Haako said with a smile. "What an unexpected pleasure. We were not aware that you had planned to visit our facility here at Kan Tarell."

"I had no plans to do so" the young queen told the governor, inspecting the facility as she did. "Not until a freighter, carrying cargo intended for Kan Tarell, was attacked in orbit." She turned her focus at the Trade Federation governor. "A shuttle escaped the battle and landed here. I need to speak to the people who came here with that shuttle."

"Only simple crewmen" Haako assured the queen. "Fortunate enough to escape the dreadful pirates. I promise your majesty that the Trade Federation will offer its support in securing Naboo from privateers and pirates."

Amidala nodded as she listened. "I would like to speak with these crewmen" she then said.

Haako took a look at the troops that had accompanied the queen to the mine. "Queen Amidala, with so many soldiers in your company, may I ask if you are accusing the Trade Federation of anything?"

The young queen decided to not shy away from the situation. "I have received reliable information that the Trade Federation might be hiding a fugitive, on the run from the Republic, here at Kan Tarell. If that is true, it is my duty as regent of this world to personally clear out any misunderstandings there might be between Naboo and the Trade Federation. So, if you are harboring the man known as Dooku Serenno, I would very much appreciate it if you would arrange a meeting."

"There is no misunderstanding, my queen."

The voice was deep, heavy with experience and thick with confidence and demanded attention. Everyone turned to look up at a nearby rooftop overlooking the landing-platform; there, Dooku himself stood in plain sight, his cape moving in the wind. Obi-Wan took a deep breath, but Anakin on the other hand slowly moved his hand to the lightsaber hanging from his belt.

"The Trade Federation has indeed done me a great service" Dooku continued, "helping an aging man who was recently attacked by vile pirates."

Obi-Wan took three steps forward. "It was not pirates that attacked you, Dooku. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, dispatched by the High Council to bring you to Coruscant to answer for your crimes."

Dooku took a moment to study the Jedi Knight that had revealed himself, armor worn beneath the hood and robes. "Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Dooku then said. "Grand Master Yoda's apprentice, if I'm not mistaken."

"An honor we both share, I believe" Obi-Wan said, knowing fully well that the same master had overseen their training to become a Jedi Knight.

"An honor?" It was as if Dooku found it amusing and then shook his head. "To be tricked and deceived to enforce Yoda's rule over the Jedi Order. To further Yoda's influence over the Republic. That, my friend, is not much of an honor if you ask me."

"Such words are fueled by anger, Doou" Obi-Wan said, ever looking up at the old man standing on the rooftop. "I sense that anger in you. Anger and fear."

Dooku sighed. "That anger comes from the fact that Yoda and the Council refuses to fight the injustices in the galaxy. The fear is a result of what the Republic might turn into, if nothing is done to bring order to the galaxy. The Senate has become a nest of vipers and worms that feed of the rotten flesh of our society." Dooku could no longer contain his temper. "And the Jedi do nothing to correct it!" he growled. "Nothing to prevent it! The anger and fear you sense, master Kenobi, is very much real."

Obi-Wan listened, nodded and let out a sigh. "Then you have begun down the Dark path. You are blinded by hate and driven by greed. Dooku Serenno, you will come with me back to Coruscant to be judged by the High Council."

Anakin unhooked his lightsaber from the belt and prepared for the worse. His Jedi intuition told him it was a wise course of action.

"Come with you back to Coruscant?" Dooku said, as if considering it, giving the option a moments thought, as if it perhaps was the best way to end all of this. But in the end, Dooku simply shook his head. "Baron Gelda" he said, addressing one of the nobles that had accompanied the queen to Kan Tarell. "The time has come for you to earn the wealth the Trade Federation has provided you with."

Baron Gelda held up his hand and snapped his fingers. In an instant, the troops under his command pulled out blasters and took aim at the queen and her closest retinue. They were instantly joined by the guards and security-droids of the Trade Federation. The handmaidens immediately closed their ranks around the queen, while Captain Panaka and his trusted troops freed their guns. Obi-Wan and Anakin took a quick look around and realized they were surrounded.

"Surrender, Obi-Wan" Dooku said, almost pleaded. "I can teach you the true nature of the Force. Join with me and fight the corruption that is destroying the Republic."

Anakin took a quick step forward. "We will never abandon the Jedi, Dooku!"

Obi-Wan smiled as he offered his apprentice a glance before turning his attention back at the rogue Jedi up on the roof. "I believe my apprentice has said all that needs to be said."

"So be it" Dooku said, a frown on his face. "Kill them."

Blasters fired all around. Obi-Wan and Anakin ignited their lightsabers, deflecting incoming fire with amazing skill, the incoming blasts bouncing back at the enemy with deadly effect. The queens handmaidens pulled out their own blaster-pistols and fired at the enemy while they dragged Amidala with them towards the safety of the sloop. But a turret defending the facility took aim and fired its heavy cannon, hitting the luxurious sloop with three rounds that tore it apart; the magnificent craft collapsing into a burning wreck.

Panaka, firing his blaster, made his way to the queen and the handmaidens. "Follow me!" he told them and they did not argue.

Panaka took point and guided the handmaidens, who in turn dragged the queen with them, towards a flight of stairs leading down from the platform; their blasters firing time and time again.

Anakin's W-wing took a direct hit from a turret, effectively splitting in it in two. T7 quickly detached himself from the burning fighter and relied on his three legs and attached wheels to quickly hurry off to safety.

Panaka, Amidala and the handmaidens reached the bottom of the stairs and continued along the wall of the huge structure. The workers and droids of the mine were running for their lives. They came under fire, two handmaidens died almost right away, the rest hurried into cover. Naboo soldiers and Federation security-droids closed in, guns discharging over and over. Panaka and the handmaidens defended their position as best they could. The queen picked up a blaster from a dead handmaiden and joined in, gunning down two security-droids with six shots from her weapon.

In the end, only Panaka was alive to protect the queen. Amidala was on her knees next to one of her handmaidens, holding her hand as the brave woman was slowly dying. The enemy troops closed in and surrounded them on all sides. Stepping through the lines of soldiers and droids, Baron Gelda made himself known with a massive smile on his lips.

"My queen" Gelda said, confident and mockingly. "I am pleased to inform your highness that your incompetent rule has finally come to an end. And you will be replaced by a more suitable monarch."

All hope was lost, both Panaka and Amidala knew it; they could not continue the fight on their own, outnumbered and outgunned. Baron Gelda's smug attitude was like a dagger in Amidala's back.

No one was prepared for what happened next, as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker dropped down from above and immediately put their lightsaber to use; cutting down droids and soldiers with ease, slicing through armor and plating and flesh and wires, filling the air with the stench of molten metal and burned meat. As the lightsabers spun in whirling vortexes of destruction, expertly handled by the two Jedi, Panaka and Amidala did not hesitate to firing their blasters. Obi-Wan and Anakin both relied on the Force to throw several of the enemy away from them; one enemy that was thrown to the side was Baron Gelda himself.

"Come on!" Anakin told Panaka and Amidala and they all headed after Obi-Wan who took the lead, guiding them through the large facility.

T7 came down from the landing-platform with the use of a cargo-lift and as soon as he spotted the two Jedi, he headed after them at full speed, shouting after them in binary.

They left the mining facility behind them and headed as fast as they could into the large town that surrounded the mine; Kan Tarell was a filthy place, with moss and vines covering walls and roofs, water and mud covered every street. Workers spending their hard-earned credits on drugs, alcohol and women at every street-corner. Obi-Wan and the others did not exactly blend in and with blasters still being heard from the mine; they were the focus of attention for a lot of people as they headed down the streets of the mining-town.

XXX XXX

Federation security-droids rounded up the last few surviving loyalists at the mine. Dooku watched as the loyalists were mercilessly gunned down while on their knees by the droids, before he turned to the four Naboo nobles that joined him on the landing-pad, Baron Gelda being one of them.

"Do as you wish with your queen" Dooku told them as his personal shuttle came in for a landing. "But make sure to kill the Jedi."

Baron Gelda and the other nobles watched as Dooku headed for his shuttle, boarded it and then the small spacecraft took off, leaving Kan Tarell behind.

XXX XXX

Anakin pulled some rags from a clothes-line and hurried back to the others, hiding in a narrow and dirty alley. Amidala was washing her make-up from her face in a puddle of mud and Panaka was throwing his uniform to the side.

"I always knew that Baron Gelda was a backstabbing Hutt!" Panaka snarled. "But I never thought he would support a coup!"

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin handed the dirty clothes to Amidala; the queen quickly stripping out of her fancy gown. "Dooku has become a master of lies and deception" Obi-Wan said and turned his attention to Panaka instead. "To him, greed is a powerful ally."

Panaka shook his head as he checked the status of his blaster. "He will hang for this treason!"

"I'm sorry, captain" Anakin said, "but this is not the time for revenge. Our main concern is to get off this planet alive and report back to the High Council, and the Republic."

Obi-Wan nodded. "My apprentice is correct. We should leave as soon as possible and inform the Senate that the Trade Federation is in league with Dooku. It should clarify a great many things."

Amidala adjusted the fit of her newfound robes, those of a lowly tavern-wench. With muddy water on her face, she was not even recognizable as the queen at all. "I agree, master Jedi" Amidala said and was given a blaster by Panaka. "Should I stay, it will cause a civil-war and that I am not prepared to inflict upon my people. But with the support of the Senate, we will force the traitors to face justice."

To be continued…