Chapter Ten
"What makes you think that this war is any of your business?" snarled Nute Guneray with his usual evasive charm. You could set your watch by him, Dooku thought wearily, fifteen minutes into the emergency meeting, with Jadrith offering a reasonable solution, and already he was objecting.
Jadrith Magog looked at the Nemoidian calmly. Despite her opinion that she was no good at diplomacy, she was performing admirably. Dooku's senses had been scanning the reactions of the other representatives around the table, and mostly they'd rather liked Jadrith. Except for Guneray, but then he didn't really like anyone. The Count was about to tell the little twit to watch his manners, but Jadrith caught his eye and winked.
"Viceroy, our government wishes to set up diplomatic and trade channels with everyone in this universe. That's going to be tricky if you lot are shooting at each other. And we really don't enjoy watching people tearing each other apart. As I said before, both the Republic and his Grace have been very kind and welcoming. We'd like to help you both. Do you want this war to on indefinitely?"
"Of course we don't," Shu Mai, the Commerce Guild's representative said softly, ignoring the scowl Guneray sent in her direction, "But if, as you've told us your Grace, this war was merely a ploy by Palpatine to become a dictator; how can we stand down? We could be annihilated!"
"I'm not suggesting you stand down, Miss Mai. I'm suggesting that you open up a dialogue with the Republic, with the Voistoki as mediators."
Buzzing and clicking issued from the chair next to Jadrith's as Poggle the Lesser spoke up, "We don't doubt your intentions, Madame; but we need assurance that Palpitine will actually be willing to end this war. He may be using you as much as he's used everyone else."
Jadrith nodded as Dooku quickly translated for her. She looked at Poggle with sympathy. The poor sod had joined the Confederacy in the belief that he could make a better life for his people, and was rewarded by having a galactic scale conflict kicking off in his back yard.
"This isn't Palpatine's idea, Archduke. We haven't even told him yet, my superior Baron Raskovik is going to meet him later today. I don't think he'll be too keen. But we've got a way to bring him round to our point of view."
"And what's that?" Poggle looked at her, intrigued. Jadrith sat back and smiled sweetly.
"We're going to blackmail him."
Tiahn and Obi sat in their speeder and stared up at the gloomy building that rose out of the Industrial district like a nasty splinter. Dark, grim and unwelcoming
"Well, I was going to ask if you were sure this is the right place, but this just screams 'Sith Lord's Lair'," Kenobi commented dryly. Tiahn sniggered.
"They probably need the ambience to cook up all those evil schemes. Right, let's have a look about, then."
A few moments flying later and they found themselves floating a few feet out from a large door, obviously an entrance for a ship or such like. Obi set the speeder hovering and turned to Tiahn.
"That appears to be the only way in. What do you think? Too obvious?"
"Hmmm," She stared at the portal for some minutes, "Well, yeah, it does seem too obvious. It might be heavily guarded. But then, maybe Palpy reckons anyone trying to get in would also find it too obvious, so he guards any less likely entrances and doesn't bother with that one. Or maybe, being the evil minded git that he is, he's got security EVERYWHERE. Or maybe he reckons anyone finding heavy security in what's supposed a deserted building would get suspicious, so he hasn't got any security at all."
"So your decision is.?"
"Sod it, let's just go in that way."
"Ah! Skywalker! Always a pleasure to see you, my boy," Palpatine beamed at Anakin as the young man stepped toward his desk. The boy's face was composed, but anxiety gnawed within him. The Supreme Chancellor tried to discreetly probe deeper, but Skywalker had his mental guards up fully. Palpatine had years of experience, and Skywalker was but a mere Padawan; but the boy's power was astonishing. So much power. Almost within his grasp.
"I take it you haven't found Miss Magog yet?" he gently asked, concern in his every gesture. Skywalker sighed sadly, sitting down on the chair before the desk. He shook his head.
"No, Sir, I'm afraid we haven't. Even Master Yoda can't sense her. It's as if she's disappeared off the face of Coruscant!"
"It's my fault, Skywalker," Palpatine looked genuinely regretful, "I should not have allowed her to go off on her own like that. Especially after her experience with Count Dooku."
"I'm worried that he might have succeeded in kidnapping her this time. I know he's got very good agents; maybe they were following her, grabbed her when she left you."
Palpatine had been both aggravated and amused when he'd discovered Miss Magog had escaped. The lock to her cell had been picked, and several of his most well trained troopers, both in combat and in loyalty to himself alone, had been knocked senseless, with no memory of how this had happened. Despite himself, he was impressed. She was strong in the Force, but hadn't seemed to have enough discipline to do all that. There appeared to be more to the quiet, slightly saddened Tiahn Magog than he'd first thought.
"Perhaps. However, if indeed she is in the custody of his Grace, at least she will have been reunited with her mother. I'm quite sure the Count will treat her well."
Anakin nodded and rubbed at his arm, a habit he now had whenever he was worried or agitated. The arm Dooku had amputated.
"How is your arm, Anakin? It is healing well, I hope?"
Anakin looked up at him sharply, and Palpatine sensed anger surging a little. Good.
"It's.healing well," he said finally, "It'll just take me some time to get used to it."
"I'm sure it will," The Chancellor said sympathetically, "I took the liberty of watching the security recordings found on Geonosis," he came round the desk and clasped Skywalker's shoulder, "You acquitted yourself admirably, my boy. Confronting Dooku by yourself was quite courageous."
"It was stupid! I really thought I could go up against someone like Dooku! He's far too powerful."
"From what I could see, you definitely had him worried."
"Worried?" Anakin looked up at Palpatine, who smiled upon him.
"What was it he said? 'You have unusual skills'? You could indeed be the Chosen One the Jedi speak of," the Chancellor watched the young man closely, "You, a padawan, lasted longer than your master against a man who is one of the best swordsmen in the galaxy. If you and Dooku meet again, I feel you shall have the upper hand."
This was hardly putting her "talents" to any great test. She and Kenobi had made a thorough sweep of the building, and there was no security or sensors at all. In fact, it seemed as if this place had lain empty for years; as if it had not seen a single soul within its walls. If you weren't Force sensitive, that is.
"Urgh," Tiahn shivered, wrapping her arms about herself.
"You alright?"
"I feel cold. And threatened. And.slimy."
Kenobi nodded, "The Dark Side. This is the place, all right. Notice how we're the only living organisms in this place? Any other place that's been deserted would have any number of creatures making their homes in it."
This place was utterly empty. Tiahn had learned to detect everything that lived in a certain area, from birds nesting in the eaves of a roof, to rats scurrying behind the walls, to insects in the corners. Despite all the technology employed to discourage these unofficial tenants, nature always found a way to trespass. But not here, there was no life here. There wasn't even moss growing on the walls outside.
"They're smarter than we are," said Tiahn, still shivering, "They know when something's bad news. Let's find the Device and get the hell out."
They moved to opposite sides of the vast chamber, scanning every nook and cranny. Tiahn ran her hand along the wall, here and there pressing or thumping on it; if there was a secret room, it might be hidden by a hologram as in Palpatine's apartment, or by a more old fashioned method. A hidden switch or lever.
"Anything?" she heard Kenobi call.
"Nope, not yet. You?"
"Nothing. No, wait!"
Kenobi was standing with his hand flat against the wall, his eyes huge. She ran over and put her hand next to his. They looked at each other and nodded.
"Yep."
"Not a room."
"A safe, something like that. I think I can see the lock," Tiahn grinned and rolled up her sleeves, "Right then, Obi lad, let's have my stuff."
Kenobi, with a mixture of disapproval and fascination, reached into his robe and pulled out an innocuous looking black bag. Tiahn opened it up and started withdrawing some rather strange looking tools.
"Hair grips are all well and good," she said, smiling evilly, "but it's always good to have the proper equipment."
She set to work, and felt decidedly cheerful. Now this she knew.
"Well, that went very well, don't you think? Although I believe Shu Mai came very close to assaulting Guneray."
"She wasn't the only one. Bloody hell, he really is as bad as everyone says! How did he get so far without someone killing him?"
"Guneray has contacts."
"Ah. Right. Not what you know but who you know," Jadrith turned away from her perusal of the Serenno countryside and crossed over to Dooku's desk, "So how long before they get back to us?"
"A good few days, I should think," Dooku was leaning back in his chair, "They shall need to think this over very carefully. You have informed the Baron of how the meeting went, I trust?"
"Yep. He'll be meeting Palpatine later today. A few days, eh? What'll we do till then?"
The Count looked up at Jadrith, then very slowly, got up. She was standing next to his chair and he towered over her. His dark eyes caught her. His eyebrow rose. He smiled. Jadrith stared at him. Her heart started to race.
"Err."
Dooku reached up and leisurely caressed her face with a long hand; "Have you any suggestions, my dear?"
"I.uh," Jadrith's vocal chords seized up. Nothing much else had happened since that kiss a few days before. They'd had too much to do, to arrange; everything had happened so quickly. There hadn't been any opportunities to be alone with him.
She took his hand and squeezed it, "Um, Arkadi, it's not that I don't want to.I mean, it's been thirty years. I'm, er, a bit out of practice. Er."
"As am I." Arkadi gently embraced her and lowered his head next to hers, "But I'm sure we can.jog each others memory," he purred into her ear. His fingers spidered ticklishly up her spine. Jadrith shivered and found she had a grin on her face she couldn't quite wipe off.
"Well, since you put it like that."
Anakin Skywalker staggered into Yoda's apartment in the Jedi Temple. He did not look at all well.
"If you'll excuse me," he croaked, before hurrying into the adjoining fresher. Padme, Mace and Yoda winced as they heard the sounds of violent physical sickness. Padme rushed to comfort her husband; after all, he'd been very kind during her first ever bout of morning sickness that day.
"That was awful," Anakin said when his nausea finally abated, "Just sitting there, listening to that man, knowing what he is."
"Done well you have, young Skywalker. Proud of you we all are," Yoda patted him on the knee. Padme guided him to a seat and he collapsed into it.
"Have Tiahn and Master Obi Wan found the Device?"
"They have. They're on their way back."
Anakin sighed, "Good. I kept my shields up, but I couldn't help worrying about them. Palpatine doesn't seem to suspect anything." He rubbed his arm again.
"Does your arm still hurt, Anakin?"
"Oh no, Padme. I guess it's just a habit I have now. Palpatine definitely picked up on it, though. It seemed he was trying to get me set up for another fight with Dooku."
"Avoid that, you should," Yoda arched an eyebrow.
Anakin grinned at Yoda, "Yeah, I've only got so many arms." he lowered his gaze, looking thoughtful, "You know, I went and looked at the recordings we got from Geonosis. You'll probably think this is nuts."
"First tell us, let you know if nuts it is afterward."
"OK. It's just.after Dooku cut my arm off and threw me next to Master Obi Wan, he looked," Anakin frowned, "Like he.regretted it. He didn't look happy, just as if he was glad it was all over. I know he could have just been acting, but why? Master and I were out of it, you hadn't arrived yet."
"And we weren't aware of any cameras there. I see your point, Anakin," said Mace "If he was acting, then for who's benefit?"
"Noticed this too, have I. Meditated upon it, but no answers as yet have I been given."
They all turned as the doors opened, revealing Obi Wan and Tiahn, looking extremely pleased with themselves.
"Taa - Daaaaahhhh!" Tiahn held aloft the Reality Default Device, "Mission accomplished!"
She bounced forward and placed it on the table, "There you go, folks. This is what got us here."
"Looks like much, it does not. But size matters not."
Padme looked at Tiahn, "I hope Palpatine doesn't find out about this."
Obi Wan grinned, "Oh, don't worry. Tiahn left a. replacement."
They all looked at Tiahn, who was smirking. Yoda cocked his head to one side and fixed her with a suspicious stare.
"Have you now?"
And several hundred miles away, Darth Sidious watched in amazement as the Reality Default Device popped open in his hands and a little toy bird emerged, bobbing merrily on a spring.
"Hellooo!" it chirped, in a little tinny voice, "I'm a fake! Not only that, I'm also wired to self destruct! Here I goooooo.!
The Device came apart with a small bang, such as you would get from a firecracker, and confetti erupted from it; cascading onto the floor and onto the enraged figure of Sidious.
"Damn!"
"What makes you think that this war is any of your business?" snarled Nute Guneray with his usual evasive charm. You could set your watch by him, Dooku thought wearily, fifteen minutes into the emergency meeting, with Jadrith offering a reasonable solution, and already he was objecting.
Jadrith Magog looked at the Nemoidian calmly. Despite her opinion that she was no good at diplomacy, she was performing admirably. Dooku's senses had been scanning the reactions of the other representatives around the table, and mostly they'd rather liked Jadrith. Except for Guneray, but then he didn't really like anyone. The Count was about to tell the little twit to watch his manners, but Jadrith caught his eye and winked.
"Viceroy, our government wishes to set up diplomatic and trade channels with everyone in this universe. That's going to be tricky if you lot are shooting at each other. And we really don't enjoy watching people tearing each other apart. As I said before, both the Republic and his Grace have been very kind and welcoming. We'd like to help you both. Do you want this war to on indefinitely?"
"Of course we don't," Shu Mai, the Commerce Guild's representative said softly, ignoring the scowl Guneray sent in her direction, "But if, as you've told us your Grace, this war was merely a ploy by Palpatine to become a dictator; how can we stand down? We could be annihilated!"
"I'm not suggesting you stand down, Miss Mai. I'm suggesting that you open up a dialogue with the Republic, with the Voistoki as mediators."
Buzzing and clicking issued from the chair next to Jadrith's as Poggle the Lesser spoke up, "We don't doubt your intentions, Madame; but we need assurance that Palpitine will actually be willing to end this war. He may be using you as much as he's used everyone else."
Jadrith nodded as Dooku quickly translated for her. She looked at Poggle with sympathy. The poor sod had joined the Confederacy in the belief that he could make a better life for his people, and was rewarded by having a galactic scale conflict kicking off in his back yard.
"This isn't Palpatine's idea, Archduke. We haven't even told him yet, my superior Baron Raskovik is going to meet him later today. I don't think he'll be too keen. But we've got a way to bring him round to our point of view."
"And what's that?" Poggle looked at her, intrigued. Jadrith sat back and smiled sweetly.
"We're going to blackmail him."
Tiahn and Obi sat in their speeder and stared up at the gloomy building that rose out of the Industrial district like a nasty splinter. Dark, grim and unwelcoming
"Well, I was going to ask if you were sure this is the right place, but this just screams 'Sith Lord's Lair'," Kenobi commented dryly. Tiahn sniggered.
"They probably need the ambience to cook up all those evil schemes. Right, let's have a look about, then."
A few moments flying later and they found themselves floating a few feet out from a large door, obviously an entrance for a ship or such like. Obi set the speeder hovering and turned to Tiahn.
"That appears to be the only way in. What do you think? Too obvious?"
"Hmmm," She stared at the portal for some minutes, "Well, yeah, it does seem too obvious. It might be heavily guarded. But then, maybe Palpy reckons anyone trying to get in would also find it too obvious, so he guards any less likely entrances and doesn't bother with that one. Or maybe, being the evil minded git that he is, he's got security EVERYWHERE. Or maybe he reckons anyone finding heavy security in what's supposed a deserted building would get suspicious, so he hasn't got any security at all."
"So your decision is.?"
"Sod it, let's just go in that way."
"Ah! Skywalker! Always a pleasure to see you, my boy," Palpatine beamed at Anakin as the young man stepped toward his desk. The boy's face was composed, but anxiety gnawed within him. The Supreme Chancellor tried to discreetly probe deeper, but Skywalker had his mental guards up fully. Palpatine had years of experience, and Skywalker was but a mere Padawan; but the boy's power was astonishing. So much power. Almost within his grasp.
"I take it you haven't found Miss Magog yet?" he gently asked, concern in his every gesture. Skywalker sighed sadly, sitting down on the chair before the desk. He shook his head.
"No, Sir, I'm afraid we haven't. Even Master Yoda can't sense her. It's as if she's disappeared off the face of Coruscant!"
"It's my fault, Skywalker," Palpatine looked genuinely regretful, "I should not have allowed her to go off on her own like that. Especially after her experience with Count Dooku."
"I'm worried that he might have succeeded in kidnapping her this time. I know he's got very good agents; maybe they were following her, grabbed her when she left you."
Palpatine had been both aggravated and amused when he'd discovered Miss Magog had escaped. The lock to her cell had been picked, and several of his most well trained troopers, both in combat and in loyalty to himself alone, had been knocked senseless, with no memory of how this had happened. Despite himself, he was impressed. She was strong in the Force, but hadn't seemed to have enough discipline to do all that. There appeared to be more to the quiet, slightly saddened Tiahn Magog than he'd first thought.
"Perhaps. However, if indeed she is in the custody of his Grace, at least she will have been reunited with her mother. I'm quite sure the Count will treat her well."
Anakin nodded and rubbed at his arm, a habit he now had whenever he was worried or agitated. The arm Dooku had amputated.
"How is your arm, Anakin? It is healing well, I hope?"
Anakin looked up at him sharply, and Palpatine sensed anger surging a little. Good.
"It's.healing well," he said finally, "It'll just take me some time to get used to it."
"I'm sure it will," The Chancellor said sympathetically, "I took the liberty of watching the security recordings found on Geonosis," he came round the desk and clasped Skywalker's shoulder, "You acquitted yourself admirably, my boy. Confronting Dooku by yourself was quite courageous."
"It was stupid! I really thought I could go up against someone like Dooku! He's far too powerful."
"From what I could see, you definitely had him worried."
"Worried?" Anakin looked up at Palpatine, who smiled upon him.
"What was it he said? 'You have unusual skills'? You could indeed be the Chosen One the Jedi speak of," the Chancellor watched the young man closely, "You, a padawan, lasted longer than your master against a man who is one of the best swordsmen in the galaxy. If you and Dooku meet again, I feel you shall have the upper hand."
This was hardly putting her "talents" to any great test. She and Kenobi had made a thorough sweep of the building, and there was no security or sensors at all. In fact, it seemed as if this place had lain empty for years; as if it had not seen a single soul within its walls. If you weren't Force sensitive, that is.
"Urgh," Tiahn shivered, wrapping her arms about herself.
"You alright?"
"I feel cold. And threatened. And.slimy."
Kenobi nodded, "The Dark Side. This is the place, all right. Notice how we're the only living organisms in this place? Any other place that's been deserted would have any number of creatures making their homes in it."
This place was utterly empty. Tiahn had learned to detect everything that lived in a certain area, from birds nesting in the eaves of a roof, to rats scurrying behind the walls, to insects in the corners. Despite all the technology employed to discourage these unofficial tenants, nature always found a way to trespass. But not here, there was no life here. There wasn't even moss growing on the walls outside.
"They're smarter than we are," said Tiahn, still shivering, "They know when something's bad news. Let's find the Device and get the hell out."
They moved to opposite sides of the vast chamber, scanning every nook and cranny. Tiahn ran her hand along the wall, here and there pressing or thumping on it; if there was a secret room, it might be hidden by a hologram as in Palpatine's apartment, or by a more old fashioned method. A hidden switch or lever.
"Anything?" she heard Kenobi call.
"Nope, not yet. You?"
"Nothing. No, wait!"
Kenobi was standing with his hand flat against the wall, his eyes huge. She ran over and put her hand next to his. They looked at each other and nodded.
"Yep."
"Not a room."
"A safe, something like that. I think I can see the lock," Tiahn grinned and rolled up her sleeves, "Right then, Obi lad, let's have my stuff."
Kenobi, with a mixture of disapproval and fascination, reached into his robe and pulled out an innocuous looking black bag. Tiahn opened it up and started withdrawing some rather strange looking tools.
"Hair grips are all well and good," she said, smiling evilly, "but it's always good to have the proper equipment."
She set to work, and felt decidedly cheerful. Now this she knew.
"Well, that went very well, don't you think? Although I believe Shu Mai came very close to assaulting Guneray."
"She wasn't the only one. Bloody hell, he really is as bad as everyone says! How did he get so far without someone killing him?"
"Guneray has contacts."
"Ah. Right. Not what you know but who you know," Jadrith turned away from her perusal of the Serenno countryside and crossed over to Dooku's desk, "So how long before they get back to us?"
"A good few days, I should think," Dooku was leaning back in his chair, "They shall need to think this over very carefully. You have informed the Baron of how the meeting went, I trust?"
"Yep. He'll be meeting Palpatine later today. A few days, eh? What'll we do till then?"
The Count looked up at Jadrith, then very slowly, got up. She was standing next to his chair and he towered over her. His dark eyes caught her. His eyebrow rose. He smiled. Jadrith stared at him. Her heart started to race.
"Err."
Dooku reached up and leisurely caressed her face with a long hand; "Have you any suggestions, my dear?"
"I.uh," Jadrith's vocal chords seized up. Nothing much else had happened since that kiss a few days before. They'd had too much to do, to arrange; everything had happened so quickly. There hadn't been any opportunities to be alone with him.
She took his hand and squeezed it, "Um, Arkadi, it's not that I don't want to.I mean, it's been thirty years. I'm, er, a bit out of practice. Er."
"As am I." Arkadi gently embraced her and lowered his head next to hers, "But I'm sure we can.jog each others memory," he purred into her ear. His fingers spidered ticklishly up her spine. Jadrith shivered and found she had a grin on her face she couldn't quite wipe off.
"Well, since you put it like that."
Anakin Skywalker staggered into Yoda's apartment in the Jedi Temple. He did not look at all well.
"If you'll excuse me," he croaked, before hurrying into the adjoining fresher. Padme, Mace and Yoda winced as they heard the sounds of violent physical sickness. Padme rushed to comfort her husband; after all, he'd been very kind during her first ever bout of morning sickness that day.
"That was awful," Anakin said when his nausea finally abated, "Just sitting there, listening to that man, knowing what he is."
"Done well you have, young Skywalker. Proud of you we all are," Yoda patted him on the knee. Padme guided him to a seat and he collapsed into it.
"Have Tiahn and Master Obi Wan found the Device?"
"They have. They're on their way back."
Anakin sighed, "Good. I kept my shields up, but I couldn't help worrying about them. Palpatine doesn't seem to suspect anything." He rubbed his arm again.
"Does your arm still hurt, Anakin?"
"Oh no, Padme. I guess it's just a habit I have now. Palpatine definitely picked up on it, though. It seemed he was trying to get me set up for another fight with Dooku."
"Avoid that, you should," Yoda arched an eyebrow.
Anakin grinned at Yoda, "Yeah, I've only got so many arms." he lowered his gaze, looking thoughtful, "You know, I went and looked at the recordings we got from Geonosis. You'll probably think this is nuts."
"First tell us, let you know if nuts it is afterward."
"OK. It's just.after Dooku cut my arm off and threw me next to Master Obi Wan, he looked," Anakin frowned, "Like he.regretted it. He didn't look happy, just as if he was glad it was all over. I know he could have just been acting, but why? Master and I were out of it, you hadn't arrived yet."
"And we weren't aware of any cameras there. I see your point, Anakin," said Mace "If he was acting, then for who's benefit?"
"Noticed this too, have I. Meditated upon it, but no answers as yet have I been given."
They all turned as the doors opened, revealing Obi Wan and Tiahn, looking extremely pleased with themselves.
"Taa - Daaaaahhhh!" Tiahn held aloft the Reality Default Device, "Mission accomplished!"
She bounced forward and placed it on the table, "There you go, folks. This is what got us here."
"Looks like much, it does not. But size matters not."
Padme looked at Tiahn, "I hope Palpatine doesn't find out about this."
Obi Wan grinned, "Oh, don't worry. Tiahn left a. replacement."
They all looked at Tiahn, who was smirking. Yoda cocked his head to one side and fixed her with a suspicious stare.
"Have you now?"
And several hundred miles away, Darth Sidious watched in amazement as the Reality Default Device popped open in his hands and a little toy bird emerged, bobbing merrily on a spring.
"Hellooo!" it chirped, in a little tinny voice, "I'm a fake! Not only that, I'm also wired to self destruct! Here I goooooo.!
The Device came apart with a small bang, such as you would get from a firecracker, and confetti erupted from it; cascading onto the floor and onto the enraged figure of Sidious.
"Damn!"