Nineteen

Finally! Dooku thought.

Nute Gunray had grudgingly agreed to sign up the Trade Federation to the Confederacy's peace plan. The Count ran his gaze around the members sitting at the conference table. Each and every one of them, including the stoic Wat Tambor, were trying to roll their eyes without the sullen Nemoidan noticing. And Tambor's eye's, behind the mask of his pressure suit, couldn't even be seen. Sometimes, having the ability to sense other people's emotions could be a problem, especially when one is trying to keep a straight face. His eyes finally rested upon Jadrith. She suddenly seemed to find the ceiling a fascinating study subject. Her shoulders were shaking slightly.

"Splendid. My thanks to you, Viceroy," he finally said, dryly, "Now, to business. You all have a copy of my plans, so before we proceed I'd like to hear your thoughts…"

Shu Mai cleared her throat; "I'm not too keen on your proposal to attend the initial meeting alone, your Grace. On one hand, we need to present a united front. On the other, something may go wrong. While I don't doubt your ability to defend yourself," her narrow mouth broadened in a suprisingly sweet grin, she was well aware of his skills, "But if we lost you…"

"If anything happened to me, you all would still be free and able to proceed in the direction you felt best. I do understand your concern, my dear. But think of it; having all the Separatist leaders together… Palpatine would find that tempting. He would hesitate, however, if there were only one of us present. He would not risk your displeasure by attempting my assassination or capture…"

"And our displeasure," Jadrith broke in, "All the meetings will be on Gatehouse. If he tries anything on our turf, Palpatine will have us to deal with as well as you."

"You've got a point, Madame," said San Hill, grinning, "I wouldn't want to upset your people. I heard two Voistoki females took out fifty Black Sun members in a bar fight." He saw the look on Jadrith's face, "Um, I heard it from some, er, independent haulage workers."

"Smugglers, right? Nobody like those buggers for gossip…" Jadrith groaned and covered her eyes, "Uh, it was ten, actually. That's the official count, anyway, from the two girls that were involved."

According to Baron Raskovik, the story of the Outlander brawl had spread around Coruscant, evolving as it passed from one ear to the next. The other day, Elori had heard a particularly bizarre version involving forty Black Sun members, six clone troopers, two droids and a Wookie amongst the casualties. It had only been a matter of time before it got offplanet…

"Really? Ten? That's still quite impressive," Hill stared at her with a mixture of amazement and respect, "And I thought my wife was bad tempered…"

Shu Mai couldn't help but notice the little look that passed between the Count and Madame Magog. She glanced over at Poggle, who nodded slightly. Aha…

Their concern about Dooku attending the first stages of the talks had been the only point they needed to raise; and the meeting was closed up quickly after that. They all moved into the dining hall for some refreshments. Mai and Poggle stood together and watched the Count as he chatted to Passel Argente. Then they watched Jadrith make her way over to the buffet alone. They looked at each other, then nodded.

Poggle ambled over to Dooku as soon as he'd finished with Passel, watching Shu as she amiably accosted Jadrith. The Count smiled at him.

"Ah, Poggle," Dooku was quite tall for a human, and was one of the few people the lofty Geonosian could talk to without neck ache. Poggle smiled at him, took his arm and gently steered him into the relative privacy of a corner. Dooku rose an eyebrow.

"Something wrong, my friend?"

"Oh no, not really. Shu and I were just wondering if we were going to be invited to the wedding." He grinned, looking into Dooku's eyes. He could practically see the mild panic.

The Count frowned. "Wedding?" he asked, quite calmly.

"Yes. You and Madame Magog. You're in love." Poggle would treasure the sight of the Count's face for quite some time. It wasn't often the Force user was put on the spot like this.

"I… I've no idea what…"

"I'm right, aren't I? You've both done a grand job of covering it. But we Geonosians can detect certain chemicals, you see."

The Count raised his eyebrows, desperately trying to rally himself, "Chemicals?"

"Hormones, my friend. Normally I wouldn't know what a love struck human would smell like, but after seeing that Jedi and the Naboo Senator… Well, I had reports that… before they were taken into the arena, they - what do you people call it, kissed? Kissed each other. And what I smelled from them is pouring out of you and Madame Magog right now."

Dooku, for the first time since Poggle had known him, blushed. Actually blushed. Sabaac!

"I'm really pleased for you, old friend," he said gently, "She's a lovely girl."

Dooku looked towards Jadrith. Shu Mai was grinning and talking softly to her, while she was turning a striking shade of red herself. "Oh, yes. She certainly is." He turned back to Poggle and looked at him sternly, "Do all of you know? Shu Mai certainly seems to…"

Poggle shrugged; "Um, no. Just us two. Shu's had more dealings with humans than I have. She mentioned to me that Madame Magog's body language was what she called "extremely friendly" when she was next to you…"

The Count's mouth twitched and he rose an eyebrow at Poggle, "I see. And you just happened to mention your experience with hormones, hmm?"

Now it was Poggle's turn to look embarrased. "We, um, had a bet."

Dooku Stared at him, "A bet."

"Yes." The Geonosian avoided his gaze.

"On whether Jadrith and I were… Being hormonal?"

"Shu thought it was simply Jadrith who had a crush on you, but I thought you two were attracted to each other. Um. Sorry." Poggle risked a look at the Count's face, and flinched.

"It's been a bit boring for us recently, since everything calmed down…"

"I see." Dooku glanced over at Jadrith and Shu. Jadrith seemed to be taking the fact that their relationship had been discovered a lot better than he was. Both females were chatting animatedly and giggling.

"How much did you wager, Poggle?"

"Um, two hundred credits."

"Really? My word. Well, congratulations. You were right." Dooku treated Poggle to an evil little smile, "And as for the wedding… I suggest you spend your winnings on a nice dress. You're going to be the flower girl."

And the look on Poggle's face, he felt as he strolled away, rather made up for his own embarrassment. A broad, wicked grin graced his long face as he approached Jadrith and Shu. Now then, he thought, what should I do with you, Miss Mai …?

Despite their best efforts, the mud on Dagobah tended to get everywhere. Itclung. By the time they got back to the Manta, they all looked like strange creatures that had risen from the depths of the swamp. Fortunately, the Manta had a shower.

In varying stages of drying off, they all sat in the passenger quarters with a nice hot cup of coffee as Master Yoda prepared to tell them the history of the tree. As the ancient Jedi settled into a chair, Raskovik watched Tiahn out of the corner of his eye. She was combing out her long hair, made darker by the shower. She noticed him watching and grinned at him. He smiled wanly and turned back to Yoda, uncomfortably reminded of the little chat he'd had with Dooku before their friendly duel back on Serenno. Raskovik had been quite relieved that Tiahn had not walked in during that conversation. He could still see the Count's insufferably knowing little smile…

Yoda ran his gaze around them all, with a sad smile; "Tiahn, tell the others you will of what you saw, when approach Dagobah we did."

"For a couple of seconds, you looked younger. A lot younger, like you would when you were a teenager, I think."

"A teenager I was, when first I came here, many centuries ago. Intentional my visit was not," he looked down with a mildly embarrassed expression, "Disobeying my master's orders, I was."

"You?" Obi Wan and Anakin chorused.

"This sounds good," Tiahn chuckled, "The dignified Jedi Master has a wild past. So what were you up to?"

"At that time, a cult there was of Dark Jedi. Much havoc they caused, and to apprehend them a team of Jedi was dispatched, among them my master and I were. Tracked them we did to a space station, which lay near here in those times. Killed the followers were, by us or by their own hand; death to them was preferable to capture. But eluded us upon the station the Master did, escaping upon a stolen ship. Pursued him we did…"

"He landed here, right?" asked Anakin. Yoda nodded.

"Decided it was that to attempt to land in our own small craft would be dangerous. Equipped to cope with the turbulent upper of this planet they were not. To wait for the larger ship that was following us we were." Yoda looked up and locked gazes with Anakin.

"Much impatience and anger did I have, when a padawan I was. Smaller than most of the others I was, you see. Many treated me as if a child I was, as if defend myself I could not, nor make decisions of my own."

Anakin nodded slowly, "That would definitely make me frustrated. You decided to follow the Dark Jedi?"

"Yes," Yoda sighed, "Ordered I was to regroup. Ignored it I did. Badly damaged was my craft during the landing, and so trapped I was with a dangerous man."

"He hid in the cave," Tiahn said, beginning to realise what had happened, "But it wasn't a focus for the Dark Side then, was it?"

"Indeed, it was not. Left a powerful impression upon it, my actions did that day… Stayed with my ship and await the other Jedi I did not - wished to prove myself I did. Followed him in I did, and attacked him. Not proper behaviour for a Jedi, hmm? Saw through me, that Master did - saw my anger and impatience. If strike him down I did, he told me, more powerful would he become - understand then I did not that his victory was over my soul..."

Yoda looked out of the window next to him, his eyes focused not on the scenery but upon the past. Tiahn looked over at Obi and Anakin; they both looked completely flabbergasted. Yoda as an angry padawan who disobeyed his Master and made mistakes was hard to imagine.

"Barely defended himself the man did. To kill him was so very easy…" The ancient Jedi closed his eyes, shame flooding his small face, "But even as I stood over him, watching him die, tell me he did that he had defeated me. Given in to the Dark Side I had."

There was perfect silence after this statement.

"From that day, humbled I was, strove did I to curb my anger. Soon I realised that to be underestimated is a good weapon - "

"You can say that again," Anakin looked sheepish, "I used to laugh when people said you were a great warrior. Then I saw your fight with Dooku…"

"I certainly wouldn't spill your pint, old chap," Konni added dryly.

"Better things to fight over there are, Colonel, than a spilled pint!" Yoda grinned, then turned quickly serious again, "But end there, my story does not. When become a Master I did, I felt an urge to return here. Changed the tree had - the soul of the Dark Jedi had fused with it. No physical harm could he do, but his purpose was still the same - to show whoever entered the cave their own Dark Side, as he had shown me mine…"

Teh Humble, Grovelling Note of Apology from Teh Author:

Deepest apologies to you all for being a lazy git and not working on this story for so long - nearly four years now, isn't it? (Egad...) I lost the inspiration for a long while there, and a few things were happening in Evil Darth Reality that made it hard for me to get in the mindset to write. However, I feel the old Muse prodding me now and swearing at me to get the finger out, so by the end of this year the current version of Terra Incognito will be complete! I'd like to do a complete rewrite, to tidy up some bits and add a few ideas I've had (plus add some more drunken barfights). I reckon if Lucas himself can monkey about with the Original Trilogy, then... Some stuff will stay the same, a good bit will be changed, and hopefully we'll all have a lot of fun seeing what those bits will be. And a sequel is taking shape in my head, too, as well as a few daft offshoots the evil plotbunnies are hitting me with (Tiahn and Obi Lad at Hogwarts, anyone?).

Thanks again for reading, reviewing and growling at me to shift my bum, and many apologies again for making you wait so long. All the best!

Moll