You know those days where you have plenty to get done but can't seem to do it? Handy for writing, aren't they...

I have a few guest reviewers to thank: jj12; that is a theme I explore fairly often. Another installment based on that idea is coming soon. Guest; I'm glad you liked it! I do have a tendency to weave wry humor into my work, especially when it's short - and even short tragedies need something to lighten them up.

Also, everyone can thank a faithful guest reviewer, Anonymous Rex, for this installment. They suggested a few ideas for me, I'll try and go in the order they posted them: "I have a soft spot for Count Dooku. What if there was a piece where he got wise to Palpatine's plan to replace him with Anakin or something like that?" I too feel that the classy, well-bred and snarky Count deserved a better death than ignoble dismemberment at the hands of a selfish, whiny, rebellious, immature brat.


There could only be two Sith. Darth Tyrannus had known his days were numbered from the time his Master had started speaking of making young Skywalker one of them. Not having a death wish, the devious Count had set about shoring up his defenses in preparation for when Sidious would decide the time was right to switch out his apprentices again. His slicers were the best credits could buy, and the silence of each of them was guaranteed with a red blade. Dooku had enough evidence now to incriminate his master up to the hilt and beyond, now, it was just a matter of when.

When had presented itself with the kidnapping of the Chancellor. The usual team was being sent - Kenobi and Skywalker - and Sidious expected his apprentice to confront the two, dispose of Kenobi, and finish Skywalker's conversion, doubtless getting himself killed in the process. Dooku had no intentions of doing any such thing.

The moment the pair landed on the Invisible Hand, an extremely large transmission was beamed to the Jedi Temple. Mace Windu and Yoda, in the Council chamber, reviewed the transmission with mounting horror - copies of writings by one Darth Sidious, the Chancellor's private journal, holographic recordings between a Sith Master and apprentice. The evidence - the sheer amount of evidence, of so many types - was irrefutable.

Palpatine would know something was up, of course. When only SBDs and droidekas were sent in to guard him and Dooku made no appearance, it would be patently obvious that the Count was planning something. The Serenno count had no intention of letting his displeased Master get anywhere near him to double-cross him, however. It was possibly the easiest hostage extraction Skywalker and Kenobi had ever had to perform, but in a little while, it wouldn't matter.

Grievous made his escape from the burning ship in one direction, Tyrannus went another.

When the tattered remains of a ship landed on Coruscant, a high-security team and as many Jedi Masters as could be quickly assembled were standing by to meet it.


This...did not work out how I was planning it, but I feel this works better (a long, drawn-out and somewhat awkward conversation between Dooku and Yoda was the first draft, along with discussion about galactic domination and whatnot...I figured that Dooku simply not showing up to fight worked much better. This particular storyline may develop further, later - without Palpatine, the Republic might well crumble, but there'd be no one to give Order 66.)