The Love of a Jedi
Chapter Thirteen
After nearly three months of hitting Separatist shipyards and commercial traffic and engaging in hit and run tactics, Naes felt it was time to return to Republic space. The crew needed some down time and the ships needed to spend some time in dock to bring them back up to full capacity. First the fleet stopped at Kuat to be reprovisioned and restocked, then after that they would stop at Naboo for a couple of weeks, show the flag, and patrol the sector. Naes had arranged for Astra and their son to take some time off and travel to Naboo for a vacation. She was due to arrive the next day on a transport from Coruscant to Naboo. As the fleet was entering the system, a chrome starship dropped out of hyperspace a short distance away. Naes knew that for Naboo the chrome starship represented the ruler of the planet, but he also knew that Padme owing to her popularity with the populace and gratitude for her years of public service was also allowed to fly a chrome starship.
Just then a fleet of Trade Federation starships jumped out of hyperspace and began firing on the chrome starship. Naes knew immediately that it had to be Nute Gunray up to his usual tricks again; he had never forgiven Padme for the role she played in his defeat during the Blockade and subsequent Battle of Naboo. In fact it had been his assassination attempts against her that had helped lead to the Battle of Geonosis about three months ago. "Shield's up, flank speed, bring weapons up to full power, we have to protect that skiff against the Trade Federation. Open a comm channel to both the lead Federation ship and the skiff. Federation ship disengage from your attack immediately, this is General Naes Nemelc of the Republic Cruiser Redoubt. The skiff is a Republic vessel and under our protection. If you do not break off immediately you will be fired upon. Republic skiff, please change course towards the Redoubt." Naes made a cut motion with his hand, and the channel was closed. "Is the skiff still being fired upon?"
"Yes sir."
"Weapons target and fire on the Federation ship; show them we mean business. Contact the rest of the fleet, tell them to prepare to fire on the other ships. Send a message to the skiff, telling them to prepare to dock with the Redoubt. Inform the hanger to prepare to receive the skiff." Just then the ship rocked, "That's it weapons destroy that Federation ship. Tell the rest of the fleet to take out the enemy fleet." A few minutes later the Trade Federation fleet was gone. "I am going to the hanger to greet our visitor."
A few minutes later, Naes was walking down the hall, towards the hanger when he saw Padme coming his way. "I was just on my way to say hello", he said; his hand automatically reaching for her when they met about halfway. Her hand reached for his as well and their fingers interlocked around each other as they walked hand in hand back toward the lift. Listening to each other, as each took turns talking; in the lift Naes looked deep into Padme's beautiful brown eyes. She was looking intently at him, as if whatever he had to say was the absolutely most important thing to her at that point in time. For a few brief moments, he got lost in her eyes. Finally he shook himself out of it, "Are you sure you are alright, I can have the ships healer take a look at you?"
"Thank you Naes, I am fine. Just a bit shook up."
"That is understandable; we were headed to Naboo anyway, so I will show you to your quarters and have my men begin repairing your ship. We should arrive in a couple of hours."
As they stepped out of the lift, he walked her to the door to her quarters, as the door opened, they slowly began to pull apart, as if they were both reluctant to let go of the other. Finally Padme stepped through the door enough that it closed behind her. Naes went down the hall to his quarters and called the bridge letting them know that he was in his quarters should he be needed. Then he went over to the mat on the floor and sat down on it and began to meditate. There was just something about Padme that could be soothing and intoxicating. Thankfully he would see Astra and his son tomorrow, if he was fortunate he would not see Padme anymore during this visit.
The week Naes spent with Astra and their son was exactly what he needed; the time also provided the crew with a chance at some much deserved R&R. He then spent the final week overseeing the last of the repairs from the little dust up on the outskirts of the system. Needless to say the Queen and her Councilors were all very thankful to Naes for saving Senator Amidala from the clutches of the Trade Federation. As the two weeks were winding down, Naes got a call from the Council, requesting Rhea and Ezriel to join them in a holoconference.
Once Rhea and Ezriel were online, Yoda began "Intelligence indicates that soon Count Dooku will once more be on his home world of Serrano. You three will head there immediately in unmarked transport. Infiltrate his estate and capture him and return him to Coruscant. It is strongly felt that if we can capture Dooku, swiftly can we end this war. That without Dooku the Separatist movement will fall apart."
"Understood Master Yoda, what of the Seventh Fleet? They were scheduled to patrol the Chommel Sector for the next few months."
"Captain Drallic lead the fleet he will in your place. Once return you have, meet you at Coruscant they will."
"We will find an unmarked small transport and head to Serrano immediately."
"Excellent, May the Force be with you."
Naes immediately went to a small starship dealer and procured an unmarked transport that would take his team to Serrano. He then took the ship to the Redoubt where he began working on the ship's transponder unit, altering it so that it would transmit a CIS identi code. While he was doing that, Rhea went to the Theed Market to find suitable civilian clothing to disguise them. He then told Captain Drallic and the Executive Officer of the Resolute what the plans were, for them to keep up the charade that Naes and Rhea were on the ship, but could not be disturbed. He and his team then left and headed for CIS territory and the planet of Serrano in their new transport which Naes had named "Maverick".
A few days later, Naes and his team landed on Serrano without incident; the three of them wearing the civilian clothes that Rhea had picked out for them. "First thing we need to do is reconnoiter the estate, find any potential weak spots or gaps in security. After that, I will slice into the Records Bureau and pull up the latest blueprints so that we can have an idea of the layout. Considering Dooku's high profile, he probably has a private landing pad at his estate; we will need to tap into the traffic control system to automatically alert us whenever a craft lands at his estate. Let's get to work, and remember we want to blend in and keep a low profile."
A couple days later the three of them were lounging in the Maverick when the traffic alert signal interrupted them, a craft was landing at the estate. Naes sliced into the estate's surveillance system and trained a scanner on the landing pad, sure enough there was Count Dooku striding off his starship. "OK, quick rundown on the plan, when it gets dark, Rhea and I will slip onto the estate, locate and incapacitate Dooku, when we will contact you Ezriel, after we contact you, you will take the Maverick to the estate, land on the pad where we will meet you, we will load Dooku onto the ship and make a beeline for Coruscant. Are there any questions or comments?" Rhea and Ezriel both shook their heads no. "OK, may the Force be with us."
As the sun was setting, Naes and Rhea were making their way through the wooded area to one side of Dooku's estate. One of the trees was close enough for a Jedi to use to jump over the wall and to the other side. Up the tree the two of them went, to the branch that was closest to the wall and big enough to support their weight. Naes went first, using the Force to propel him forward and give him extra balance; he ran across the branch and jumped at the last minute. Rhea followed him a few seconds later. They landed side by side on the other side of the wall. Coming up on the side entrance closest to the master bedroom, Rhea spoofed the sensor and Naes sliced the companel to let them in. They had to be careful, if they used the Force this close to Dooku, it would be like a warning siren going off. Thus, they had to use technology to spoof the sensors as they approached Dooku's suite.
They got to the door and it automatically slid aside, revealing Dooku calmly sitting at his desk flanked by two B2 battle droids. "Ahh, two wayward Jedi Knights, to what do I owe this great pleasure? Surely you know that the two of you combined cannot best me and take me in. I am more powerful than any Jedi. Or have you not heard already, I bested Master Kenobi and the supposed Chosen One Anakin Skywalker; plus fighting Master Yoda to a standstill." With that he let loose a blast of Force Lightening.
Naes calmly activated his saber and caught the lightening on his blade, where it dissipated. "You are under arrest Count Dooku for crimes against the galaxy."
Dooku calmly pressed a button on his desk, "In a few moments another ten battle droids will be coming for the two of you."
"Rhea, you deal with the battle droids, I will handle Dooku." Naes advanced toward Dooku, batting aside the blasts from the two droids flanking him, and when he got close enough he sliced them in half. "Now Dooku, surrender and I promise to go easy on you."
"Oh, I think not, and who might you be, so that I can contact the Jedi Temple and let them know not to be expecting you back."
"I am Naes Nemelc; you have killed enough Jedi and caused enough trouble for the galaxy. You will be brought in to face justice."
"Ahh, Naes Nemelc, I have heard of you, your reputation precedes you. It will be a great pleasure to dispose of you. You have set back the plans of my Master a few too many times." Dooku brought out his lightsaber with its rather unusual curved grip and activated it. He and Naes then engaged.
Naes was astounded at the skill and precision that Count Dooku displayed. He truly was a master of the Makashi form, a form devoted almost exclusively to dueling; a very economical form that consisted of intricate balance and footwork and a minimal expenditure of energy. Naes could see why Kenobi and Skywalker had been bested, even if the two had worked together there was no guarantee that they would have succeeded. Dooku was probably the equal of Mace Windu and Master Yoda in lightsaber combat. Naes fell back; he turned to Rhea and said, "We need to fall back. To the hallway, we will find someplace downstairs to take him." They exited the room and in the hallway came the ten battle droids promised by Count Dooku, Naes and Rhea waded into them and cut them down. Dooku followed them into the hallway; Naes continued to keep him busy while backing down the hallway. "We will make our stand in the Grand Room." When they got to the stairwell, Naes and Rhea jumped down to the first landing, turned and jumped to the first floor.
Once they got to the Grand Room, Rhea asked "Why are we falling back to here?"
"We need room to maneuver. Makashi is a form that works best in more enclosed spaces; it consists of precision footwork and blade work. Here in a more open area, I have room to put more power behind my attacks."
Just then Dooku appeared again, "Master Nemelc, you disappoint me, I expected better from someone of your reputation. And if you are Naes Nemelc, then your companion must be Rhea Sirgon quite the pair the two of you make."
Naes submerged himself in the Force and replied, "Don't worry Dooku; I am not going anywhere now." Then he and Rhea both advanced.
Dooku locked blades with Naes, and kicked Rhea, pushed Naes back and then picked Rhea up with the Force and threw her across the room. "Now that we have her out of the way, give it your best shot."
Naes let loose with a flurry of rapid strikes from Vaaped, then switched to the defensive form of Soresu. He could tell that Dooku was surprised by the Vaaped move.
"I thought Master Windu was the only one who had mastered Vaaped."
"You will find that I am full of surprises," Naes replied. And then he let loose on Dooku with his trademark Djem So. Naes and Dooku went back and forth like that for several minutes. Naes had trained with an eye towards having the stamina for prolonged duels, and with his ability to switch back and forth from Soresu and Djem So, was throwing Count Dooku off his game. Eventually his advanced age was beginning to tell, he was beginning to slow down. Naes on the other hand was really just beginning to come into his own, plus with his phenomenal midichlorian count, it gave him virtually unheard of Force reserves. Dooku finally found an opening and Force Pushed Naes away.
Naes flew back and dropped his lightsaber, he looked up and saw Dooku raise his hand and fired another shot of Force Lightening. Naes had no time to call his lightsaber to him, rather he raised his arm and absorbed it and directed it in another direction. Dooku saw that and called out, "Impressive, but today is not your day, I must be gone now."
Naes saw him turn to leave and could not quite think of what to do to stop him when suddenly he extended his hand and shot out Force Lightening of his own. Dooku ducked behind a pillar at the last moment, turned and looked at Naes with an astonished look on his face and headed out of the mansion with a parting shot, "How interesting, a Jedi that can fire Force Lightening." Naes went over to check on Rhea, and called Ezriel.
"Be careful, you bumped your head pretty good."
"Where is Dooku? Did you get him?"
"No, we fought to standstill; he found an opening and Force Pushed me away and ran. Ezriel is on his way with the Maverick, it will only be a short period of time and I have a feeling all traffic off the planet will be halted." Naes picked up Rhea and carried her to the landing pad, where he set her down on her feet. A minute later, Ezriel landed the Maverick and lowered the ramp. Naes and Rhea hurried up, he shouting, "Raise the ramp and get us off of the planet." Ezriel was firing thrusters and began to maneuver the ship from the co-pilots seat. Naes slid into the pilot's seat and took over. He turned back to Rhea and told her to strap in, he turned back to facing the front and punched full power. The Maverick took off like a rocket, quickly leaving the planet behind. Right after applying full power, Naes activated the navicomputer and called up the course for Coruscant.
A few days later, they arrived on Coruscant; Naes is in the Council Chamber delivering his report. "Rhea and I snuck onto the estate, using technology we spoofed the sensors and bypassed the locks on the doors not once drawing on the Force so as not to give ourselves away. When we got to his room, he was waiting for us with two B2 battle droids. I disposed of them and advanced towards Dooku, while Rhea stood guard waiting for the other ten battle droids that he summoned. I was forced to fall back, choosing to make a stand in the Grand Room; we disposed of the other battle droids. Dooku disabled Rhea early in the duel, he and I fought to a standstill, he was beginning to show signs of fatigue. He found an opening and Force Pushed me and then used Force Lightening; I absorbed and redirected it away. But Dooku was too far away for me to catch up to and I did not want to lose him, so I used Force Lightening myself. I have examined myself and I had no darkness in me, my only goal was to slow him down long enough for me to catch him. At the last minute, he dodged the Force Lightening and proceeded to escape. I went to Rhea and called Ezriel for pick up. And we proceeded to Coruscant. I apologize for my failure to capture Count Dooku."
"No apology necessary Master Nemelc, a Sith Lord is Count Dooku, powerful in the Dark Side he is; devious he has become. Few Jedi could have fought him to a standstill. As for your use of Force Lightening, meditate upon that you will. Examine yourself further to make sure you harbor no darkness within yourself. Rejoin your fleet in a few days you will and continue your patrol."
"Thank you Master Yoda, I will meditate upon my actions and make a conscious effort to avoid repeating my mistakes." With that, Naes bowed his head and left the Council Chambers. He had a few days on Coruscant and intended to make the most of them; and headed for his and Astra's apartment.