Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, the right of ownership of Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm and I guess Disney too. The only thing I own is the characters you do not notice and the plot.
Universe A year: 13 BBY
Universe B year: 14 BBY
Chapter 10: Meeting with Dooku
In a high security prison on Coruscant, the prison guards and Senate Guards are escorting Supreme Chancellor Padme Amidala Skywalker of the Galactic Republic through a hallway with cells with red Force Fields on them. Through from her relationship through the Jedi she knows that such an escort is unnecessary, because Dooku is not aiming to escape.
Also, she sees the flaw in all this protection. If Dooku really wants to escape and hurt her when she visits, none of the protection would be enough to stop him. Yes, she knows that Dooku's cell has something that helps to break his concentration, because without concentration, he could not do much with the Force. Still if he was truly determined to escape, he would have.
As she walks through the halls she notice that some prisoners within their cells seem to not notice them walking by, it was as if the semi-transparent Force Field was a solid wall. There are others who could see through it, so it makes her think that someone of them have something to prevent the prisoners for seeing what is happening outside of the cells.
When she arrives at the prison, it took her an hour just to get to meet the warden. They had to make sure she is not carrying any weapons or anything that could be used as weapons. After being searched for an hour, she had a conversation with the warden. In her opinion, conversation would not be the right word since it was just him doing most of the talking. In her views, a conversation is when everyone is getting to talk almost the same amount. The conversation was all about the prison and how well protected it was. He went over all the emergency procedures and what to do if something happens.
At first, she thought that the person thought she was some type of prison inspector. Until she realized that the warden knows who she was. Makes her pity any prison inspector who has to set through even longer explanation about the prison. Everything she learned about the prison was for her safety.
With how some of the prisoners look like, it seem to her that they have not seen a female of any type of species for a long time. She swears some of the prisoners were undressing her with their eyes. It is a distributing to her to have people doing this to her. Some of the times, she has to look down to make sure that her clothes leave much to image. The funny part is that she knows that the dress and robe she is wearing leaves much to image. She is not the type of girl that wants to flaunt off her body, unless it was to the person she is madly in love with, which is her husband. Still that was in the private of their own bedroom.
That what leads to her being in a prison. Her husband, Anakin Skywalker, had been captured either before yesterday or on yesterday by Darth Vader. Darth Vader is using him as a bait to bring out one of the best Jedi that ever grace the galaxy, in her opinion and many others. The only problem is that one of the best Jedi that Darth Vader wants to bring out is laying in the Jedi Temple in a coma. Much help he is going to be.
What is worst is the crazy short timeline that Darth Vader gave them. They have exactly 10 days before Anakin Skywalker be killed by Darth Vader. With the information from the Jedi Order, she knows for a fact that Mark, the Jedi that Darth Vader wants to draw out, has not show any signs of improvement or decline in being in a coma.
After about 10 minute walk, they got to a cell where there is a gray haired and bearded men sitting on hard mattress, leaning back on some white pillows reading a Holobook. He is acting as if he did not see them and with what Padme had witness at the prison, she highly doubt the former Jedi and Sith could see through the Force Field.
"Chancellor are you sure you do not want anyone in there with you for protection. Some of these criminals would either try to rape or hurt a lady as yourself." say a jail guard. Padme turn to face the guard who talk to her. "No, even if he wanted to do those things, they are not much help your guards could do against someone who have been trained in the ways of the Jedi and the Sith. Plus, I trust the information for that the Jedi have provided." say Padme looking over at the guard.
"I still think it is unwise to do so. It is against regulations of the prison for a civilian being alone in a cell." say guard. "I have words with the warden. I positive I will be fine." say Padme slightly annoy. "Fine, get hurt, wouldn't be the first time some high and powerful member of the government thought this. Do not come back and apologizing to me over your stupid mistake." mumble a guard.
Padme rolls her eyes slightly at the young guard. She was trained to protect herself when she was the queen of Naboo and she is old enough to trust her own instincts that is telling her that there is nothing wrong.
"Prisoner Dooku, you have a visitor." say the guard after he presses a button near the cell. Dooku looks up at the Force Field. Padme was sure he did not see her. She knows that he regrets all the things he have done during the Clone Wars and as a Sith. He regrets all the trouble he caused the Republic and the Jedi Order. She knows that most likely he regret seeing her knowing what he put her through and Anakin through.
It was on his orders that have gotten her captured on the Malevolence back in 22 BBY. Even through the Jedi found out that it was on Palpatine order to do so. She also knows about it was him who give the go ahead for her, Anakin and Obi-wan's execution on Geonosis back in 22 BBY.
She was for sure if he could see her face, his face would show a lot of regret. "You know by know, if it is not any member of the Jedi High Council, you would not get anything from me." say Dooku as he look up at the Force Field. The guard looks at Padme.
Padme sighs as she pushes the young guard away and presses the button. "Dooku, it is me. Chancellor Padme Amidala Skywalker, if you please let me have some of your time to talk you. It is an emergency." say Padme. As soon as her name escapes her lips, Dooku eyes rocket back to the Force Field. There was a look of deep regret.
"If it is only you, then you may." say Dooku lowly as memories flow through his head of what he caused for both the Chancellor and her husband during the Clone Wars. The Force field faded away and Padme steps into the room. As soon as she steps into the room, the Force Field was back up.
She turns around and notices she could not see anything but the red Force Field. She walks over to a chair and sits down in it. Dooku put the Holobook down on the other side of the bed and sits up. The 88-year-old former Jedi Master and former Sith looks at Padme. His usually neat looking hair and bead look like it went years of not being cared for.
Besides the unkempt looking of his hair and beard he looks the same as he did back on Geonosis when he told her that the Senate was corrupted and lead by the Sith. The same message she later found out that he had told Obi-wan. At this thought, she smiles lightly. Look like Dooku was right after all. Here she thought he was trying to turn her against the Republic.
"So what brings someone of a high power to a low life area such as this." say Dooku lightly as he looks at the Chancellor. "I got a question, Dooku. If you were released from prison what would you do?" ask Padme, already knowing the answer but figure it will be better to hear from Dooku himself.
Dooku sighs a bit as he rubs his chin with one of his mechanical hands. "I am fully aware that you have talked to the Jedi Order when they talk to me. So, you should already know that answer. What I would do is this, I would rejoin the Jedi Order, if they take me back and try to right the wrong I have caused since becoming a Sith. With me being in here, I have a feeling that they would not be righted with me sitting the rest of my life away." say Dooku.
As she listens to this, Padme eyes were focus on the cybernetic hand. She remembers hearing the story from both Mark and Anakin on how he lost the hands. If it were not for Mark, Dooku would have been dead by Anakin's hands due to be prompted by Palpatine.
"Okay, I figure you will say that. I had talk to the High Council just before I came here. They agreed with what I am about to tell you. The Senate, I have not talked to them yet. There has been a problem that we were made aware of yesterday. Anakin Skywalker was captured by Darth Vader and being held prisoner in your palace on Serenno. We only got 10 days to rescue him. We are aware that there are traps in that place, but how to get past them we do not know." say Padme looking at Dooku.
"I find a very easy way for this to go right. Have you talk to Master Zane. Out of all the Jedi within the Order, I expect that Master Zane and Master Yoda will be able to go through and beat the traps. Send them." say Dooku. Padme winced a bit about when she heard the name Master Zane.
"A month ago, Master Zane crashes his Attack Cruiser into a staging area, due to the impact he went into a coma. As of right now, he is at the Jedi Temple and his condition it not proven nor declining." say Padme. As Dooku hears this, his eyes widen at the news. Since the beginning of the year, he has not watched the news. Hearing that Master Zane is in a coma is hard to take in.
"I am sorry Chancellor, but your husband is doomed. Even Yoda would have a hard time against some of the trap. Without Master Zane's help, you might never see your husband alive again." say Dooku lowly.
"That is why I visit you. Like I say, I do not have permission by the Senate, but I am for sure I could convince them. See I figure you will go along with the Jedi and guide them through your palace." say Padme.
Dooku once again rubs his chin deep in thought. Then he stops. "Good plan, but I do see a snag, and that snag is where I am sitting at. I highly doubt your Senate would leave me off without something in return." say Dooku.
"What do you have to give away?" ask Padme. As far as she knows that Dooku told them everything he knows. "I figure something like this would come up and so did Master Zane. He advises me to keep a secret from him and everyone. I know that the Empire seem to have all the newer ships before the Republic. It was part of Sidious plan. A planet within the Deep Core he has been building advance ships. Well, if you do not know how the Sith are, while you cannot trust them at all. The learner will turn on their master. It is how the Rule of Two is done. Well, I know Sidious would never want to be killed. I had a feeling that one day, he will have me kill. With the knowledge of him building some advance ships. I had some secrets of myself for advance ships." say Dooku with a smile.
Padme eyes widen when she hears this. Even with the advance ships they do have, it barely enough against the Empire. Even if the ships are the same brand, the Empire seems to be much stronger. She has notice over the year since the Empire came known it seems that they already have some of the advance ships that is being made for the Republic. Even through they are the same class of ships, the Empire's ships seem to be much stronger.
"So Sidious was building ahead for the Empire?" ask Padme. "Yes, the ships of the Republic could stand a good chance, but not so great. You heard of TIE Fighters?" ask Dooku. Instantly Padme could visualized a white orb with flat square panels connected to the white orb. She nods at this. "That was one of Sidious plans. Obviously, Darth Vader took all those plans. What I have is, not newer ships, but how to make the ships your… I mean our Republic has could be advance enough in defense and offense." say Dooku.
"So we would not be having TIE Fighters?" ask Padme. "If you want them, I could give you the details to build them. Seriously, they are not as great as you think they are. Our concern should for the bigger ships. That where my advancement comes in, it is such a simple thing that it is normally overlooked." say Dooku.
"So what exactly is it?" ask Padme. "Ah, that I would not tell you. If you want to know that and I for sure the Senate would like to know about it. Let me tell you, it might increase the power of any ships within the Grand Army of the Republic and any nearer ships that might come out by 50 percent. If the Empire ships are still they ones I know about, besides what the Republic version have similar, then our ships should be better off with my advancement." say Dooku.
Padme smiles at this. She knows how the Senate has been trying to find ways to improved there ships, without having to come up with brand new designs. Still even newer designs would not do good against the ships that the Empire has, even if they are exactly the same model. There Victory-class Star Destroyer are the same as the Republics, but there are way much more stronger. Same with their Imperator-class Star Destroyer or as the Empire calls it the Imperial-class Star Destroyer.
Seem like Dooku might hand them the information they might need to get along the same lines as the Empire. This could help him out a lot, and if it could get him out of prison to help save Anakin, that is even better.
"With that information Dooku, I am for sure that the Senate could work out a deal." say Padme. "Really hope they take it, because if not, you might have a hard time against the Empire. Warships are not the only thing they have. I hope the Jedi inform you about what I told them about a weapon that can destroy planets. They did not believe me, but if Vader get his hands on it and it become operational, then we are screwed." say Dooku lightly.
"So you are willing to help us and give us this information?" ask Padme. "If I am release, I will do what I can to save your husband and try to get the Republic out of this position that is in." say Dooku.
"So exactly how powerful our ships be?" ask Padme want clearer explanation. "It should either be on the same power of the ships the Empire has of the same models, or even better. So if the Empire has an Attack Cruiser and it goes against a Republic Attack Cruiser, than they might be on the same line without all the different type of weapons the Empire uses." say Dooku.
Padme stands up. "Well hopefully, the Senate realize how much you are change are they might unwittingly lose more soldiers life. I think you might have backed them up in a corner. Master Zane was right, that was a good idea to keep to yourself until if there is a time that the Republic might need your help." say Padme as she holds out her hand to Dooku.
"I truly hope so. I could help the Republic out a lot. Hopefully Master Zane gets better. Once again, I am sorry to hear about what happen to your husband." say Dooku as he shakes Padme's hand.
After the meeting, Padme walks out of the prison. As much as she hates wars, anything that could help protects the people aboard of the warships of the Republic the better. The Empire ships are much powerful than their Republic counterparts and in the short amount of time that they have been in war, both sides have lost many lives, but it seems like the Republic loses slightly more. She is tired to see all those lives lost and hopefully the Senate is the same way. If Dooku does know a way to advance the ships, the better it is for them.
Okay this chapter made a lot of references on how the Empire seem to have the same ships as the Republic but they are stronger. I also figure the only possible way, that make sense, to let Dooku out if he provides the Republic a need for information that will help them in the war with the Empire.
I also realized once more that I have taken up to much space for the Universe B and could not put Universe A into the chapter. I am working on when to put that into action. Kind of got carried away in Universe B. I do not know, but I am trying to make a part of the next chapter take place in Universe A.
Oh, I would not be going into detail about the upgrade that Dooku is speaking of. No point of doing so. Like he says it will boost up the power of ships by 50 percent, and let just keep it at that.
For those who wants Jedi Master Mark Alan Zane back, do not worry soon he will be back. No it would not be in the next chapter, but it will be there soon. I do not plan on having my main character of the series to be out of a singe story for the entire story. As I see it, I consider it is needed for this story. Do I have a time limit when he might return. I say possible a 3 to five chapters, it depends on what I come up with.
Until next time, enjoy.