XIII
Further Developments

Dooku sat up in bed, sweat beading on his forehead. After failing to catch up to the bounty hunter that had kidnapped his apprentice, he had returned to the Temple, and had been ordered to rest and wait for the Force to show him what he needed to do next. He had not felt patient enough to wait around in the Temple his apprentice was out somewhere in the night of Coruscant in the hands of a bounty hunter that meant no good to come to her.

At the Council's reprimand, Dooku had relented and stayed at the Temple. He had gone to his quarters, and attempted to meditate, to no success whatsoever. His mind was directed toward the fate of his Padawan, and he was unable to get his mind off her.

In the few short weeks since he had first chosen her as his apprentice, he had developed stronger feelings for Padmé than he had felt for his previous apprentice.

It was an unspoken rule among the Jedi that when a Master took on an apprentice, they became that child's parent, since all the young initiates that were brought to the Temple had been taken away from their families and had no one else to consider a family member.

Dooku had felt like a father to Gingi Disrik, just as he had felt for his first apprentice, Qui-Gon Jinn. He felt the same way now, only his feelings were stronger, and he knew he had to obey the parental instinct within him. He had to find Padmé. Soon.

His dream had confirmed that.

Sleep had been fitful for him that night – he hadn't even managed to close his eyes until well after the wall chrono signaled midnight. Once sleep came to him, he had had the most disturbing dream, and had awoken screaming.

He had seen Padmé, in the presence of a Sith, as the Sith revealed to her that she was Chosen One – as he had surmised – and the ultimate nemesis of the Sith Order. Dooku had seen the bounty hunter he had fought earlier beat her, and then drag her away and lock her in a cell.

As he brushed the sweat from his temples with the corner of his shirt, he decided that what he had seen in his dream had not been simply a dream – he had seen what was happening to Padmé, and he knew what he had to do next. And he would do it, whether the Council approved of his hastiness or not.

The last image of his dream flashed before his mind's eye once again as he rose from his narrow bed and began dressing.

Seeing the wide yellow orbs staring out of the darkness once again sent a chill down his spine.

Dooku walked through the corridors of the Temple, moving quickly. He had a reason for haste, and he didn't want to waste any time. His mind was focused on one thing, and one thing only, and that thing was the objective of finding his apprentice and rescuing her from the clutches of the bounty hunter, and most likely a Sith Lord.

Since he had already fought a Sith, Dooku knew what to expect. He presumed that the Sith would not fight fair, utilizing accomplices furnished with side arms to augment his fighting. Dooku had already encountered such lackeys of the Sith, and had seen what they damage they could do. He would be ready to face the Sith this time.

Heading to the vehicle bay, he met his former apprentice, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Jinn's late Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Master Dooku," they both greeted respectfully, bowing slightly.

"Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan," he replied in turn. Then speaking to the younger of the two Jedi before him, he said, "I thought you were negotiating to end the trade embargo of Naboo, Obi-Wan. What happened?"

The younger Jedi cleared his throat softly before replying. "As soon as my apprentice and I arrived on Naboo, the Federation suddenly withdrew, before peace talks could begin. The Council called us back as soon as we were certain that the Federation wasn't coming back."

"Hmm…" Dooku mused, "That's interesting. It is obvious that there is more involved in the Federation's blockade of Naboo than what we had originally thought." Addressing them both, he spoke referring to his current task. "If you will excuse me, I must be on my way."

"Master," Qui-Gon said, interrupting him as he turned to leave. "We experienced the dream as well, and we would like to go with you. My apprentice has disappeared as well, and I feel Anakin's disappearance might have something to do with Padmé's kidnapping as well."

"Very well," Dooku said, accepting their aid. "I must warn you though, that we may not know what to expect once we find Padmé and the Sith – we may end up setting off the conflict between the Jedi and Sith that has been brewing for longer than we thought."

"We are aware of the risks," Obi-Wan replied evenly, "and we are prepared to face them."

"And I for one," Qui-Gon said, "am not going to let you face down the Sith alone."

"Nor I," Kenobi concurred.

"Then let us be going," Dooku said, ushering them into the vehicle bay where he had an armored speeder waiting.

"May the Force be with us," Jinn said as they took off into the night.

Darth Sidious sat on his throne regally, waiting. It had angered him much that Darth Maul had been killed by the Jedi on Naboo, and he had been plotting revenge upon the Jedi since then.

Now, with the young Padmé Naberrié in his possession, he was certain that Dooku would be lured to him – as well as other Jedi too, and the he could exact his revenge. And as for the young, incompetent Padawan, she would soon be dead anyway – the nexu in the pit would see to that.

"Master."

His train of thought interrupted, the dark lord turned to his apprentice.

"What is it, Lord Vader?" he asked, snapping at the younger man for interrupting him.

"If my Master comes, what shall I do?"

"Jinn is no longer your master," he hissed, "but if he does come, then kill him, and prove yourself worthy of your Sith name."

"Yes My Lord."

Anakin left him then, leaving him to his thoughts, to wait out the lull before the first clouds of the approaching storm let loose their torrents.