Vader's Folly
Author's notes: Thank you for all the feedback! I appreciate it all :) Glad everyone enjoyed the last chapter. Hope u enjoy this one as well.
A lot of you will wonder why the delay, for this story and the Raven's Plan, a part of me decided, for some reason that escapes me, that I NEEDED yet another time consuming hobby. I've spent the past months ordering, putting together, and painting Warhammer 40k miniatures, I've got 9 Primaris Ultramarines done and a Primaris Dreadnought finished so far...I also bought the Elite Starter pack...so yeah that happened *shrugs* On the other hand, my stress levels are at an all time low, it's a very relaxing hobby for me, even when painting the really small details :D So that's good! :D
Anyway, as regards the story, a lot- most actually, of the Bakuran setting is made up. In canon, it appears only in the first 3 pages of issue #72 of Star Wars Republic. The first section here is almost completely the same as in the comic. Anyway, As always don't forget to review! :D
Canon: I will be a using a mix of both the Disney and Legends canon. Mainly Legends.
Summary: An ancient site filled with ancient technologies, of course Dr Aphra can't resist playing around. The result, one Sith Lord with a lot of options.
Chapter 7
Of all my miscalculations, this is probably my worse one yet...and my last.
Sora Bulq hit the wall with a resonating sickening thud, electricity arcing over his body. The Weequay Jedi fell to the floor in a still lump of flesh.
Tholme held his green lightsaber up, tip pointed towards Dooku as the Count turned back towards him. Tholme didn't give him a moment to continue boasting and went on the offensive, striking hard and fast.
Dooku parried and struck back and it took all of Tholme ability to keep the hateful red blade away.
Dooku smiled evilly, "I really must compliment you, Master Tholme. You've kept up your dueling skills better than most Jedi," he held Tholme's blade back, the placid expression on his face never wavering as Tholme continued to attack, "Too many Jedi use it merely to reflect back blaster bolts. Inelegant," he spoke as if speaking with a respected colleague, "We share a respect for the Old Ways, you and I—and more. You have seen the corruption, as I have. There must be change. Embrace it! Join me!" Dooku's eyes blazed with power and deceit.
The words were lies. There was no joining him. There was only Dooku and Sidious. That was the way of the Sith. Hiding the lies in half truths, Tholme had seen the corruption, but Dooku's path was not the answer. It was just, yet another path of corruption, of a different type.
Tholme snarled at the fallen Jedi as their blades clashed against one another, over and over again, "No, Count. We do not share the same beliefs- or so many Jedi would not have perished in the arena. You were tested there as well. I can feel your exhaustion. I'll accept your surrender now," he projected more confidence in his voice than he felt.
Dooku's face darkened at the slight, his blows growing stronger and faster. No more words were spoken. Blows rained down on Tholme, even as he tried to go back on the offensive. The fighting went on and on...
"Uhh!" Tholme cried out in pain as Dooku's blade finally made it through his defenses, burning a hole into his right shoulder.
He fell back, trying to open a space between them, but Dooku was relentless, a blow loosened Tholme's grip on his blade and a second cast the lightsaber from his hand, flinging it across the room.
Another blow caught him across the chest, burning his skin and robes. He collapsed to his knees, as the pain momentarily overwhelmed him. He waited for the final blow to come, but Dooku just stood over him, leering down at him, shining in the Force with satisfaction and assured arrogance, "Tell me again, Tholme. Which of us is exhausted? I'm offering you an opportunity again- join me or die."
He didn't hesitate in answering, there was only one answer to the question in Tholme's mind, "I do not fear death. I will not join you." He clutched as his shoulder, it burned with pain. He panted with exhaustion.
"A shame. Still, your choice is made and I will respect it," grudging respect in his voice, "Here. A token of that respect. And of my power."
Jedi Master T'ra Saa's grief stricken face flashed in front of Tholme's eyes for an instant, as Dooku gave him one last glare.
Goodbye T'ra.
Dooku raised his hand and then clenched his fist, Tholme felt the Force swell with power.
Then the roof collapsed on top of him. He tried to raise a force shield around him, but he was too weak. The stones rained down on him uncaring. His head exploded with pain and darkness claimed him...
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Dooku stared down at where he had buried Tholme. He could still feel him in the Force. The old Jedi was a hard one to kill...not that he wanted to kill him yet. If he'd wanted him dead, he would have used his lightsaber, but Tholme was still of use to Dooku and his master.
Dooku turned back towards his main quarry. Sora Bulq. The Weequay Jedi was ripe for the picking, it would be child's play to nudge him along to the Dark Side. The Jedi master already had more than a foot across the line.
Dooku only had an instant to react, he froze in confusion before he was suddenly assailed by the Dark Side. He was thrown back and cross the room with no warning. Dooku hit the far wall with a thud, he used the Force to cushion the impact and rebounded off nimbly, raising and igniting his lightsaber with a snap-hiss.
He came to a stop in an en garde position and looked for his attacker, expecting an angry Jedi Master about to attack him. He stopped short when he saw a dark figure standing over Sora Bulq, red lightsaber ignited, but held low at his side, at ease.
The figure wore the Dark Side like a cloak, clad in black armour, with a powerful build, and a flowing black cloak. His outfit was completed with a Death's Head mask that completely hid the man's face; an intimidating figure and the quintessential picture of a Sith Warrior...if not for the harsh breathing of the man's respirator.
Dooku cursed himself for not hearing his attacker approach. How had he missed out on the sound of the man's breathing?
"Who are you?" Dooku demanded angrily, not letting his guard down. He kept his lightsaber held out pointed at the Sith Warrior.
The Sith Warrior- there was no mistaking what the man was, however impossible it seemed, did not respond immediately, Dooku could feel the man's eyes glaring at him from behind the mask.
"Count Dooku." His voice dripped with dark hatred and deep disdain. The man cast a look down at Sora Bulq, "Sora Bulq. You have so much planned for him. A number of plans hinge on him."
With a quick casual stroke, the warrior separated Sora Bulq's head from his body.
Dooku growled angrily as so many plans were suddenly destroyed out of hand by this interloper.
"You will pay for that," he declared angrily. Dooku's connection to the Dark Side grew, fueled by his rage. As everything he'd planned, as so much he'd worked towards, was suddenly made worthless.
"No. I will not." Vader retorted in complete confidence. "Your plan for a Schism is ended," he paused for an indeterminate moment, "Ha. Or rather, Palpatine's plan is over."
Coldness clutched at Dooku as he was caught unaware with the warrior's causal revelation of his master's identity.
"Who are you?!" he demanded again harshly.
"I am Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. I was your replacement," the finally answered, for some reason Dooku heard humour in Vader's tone.
Dooku snorted in derision, understanding finally coming to him, "A failure then." A discarded apprentice then, and a test from Palpatine.
Sinister, arrogant laughter came from Vader now, "You have no idea."
"Enough games," Dooku declared, this farce had gone on long enough, if this Vader was a test from Palpatine, he was a test Dooku would over come. He Force jumped towards Vader, jabbing forward with his lightsaber.
Vader met the blow and reposed, driving Dooku back, and surprising him with the strength of the blow. No matter how damaged Vader's breathing indicated, he was strong.
Dooku met Vader's next blow and was driven backwards again, the sheer strength of it was undeniable.
Vader didn't let up, as blow after blow rained down on Dooku, who suddenly found himself in the fight of his life.
Strike, repose, dodge, the rhythm of the duel was intense. Much more than the fight with Tholme had been.
Back and forth, faster and faster they went, Dooku met one blow on the left and then his head spun as Vader's fist met his nose with a sickening crack as bones broke from the blow.
This Vader was brawler. No finesse in his moves.
He reeled back for a moment, before retreating back, opening up the space between them as warm blood streamed down his lips and he tasted hot metal. The pain in his face angered him more, he channeled it into the Force strengthening himself more.
"You are stupider than I remember," Vader declared with a dismissive tone, "Slower, as well."
Remember?
"You think he will take you back if you kill me?" Dooku snarled casting aside Vader's nonsensical reminiscence, "You are a discarded worthless tool, broken and inelegant. What use would he have for creature like you?"
Vader laughed again, "And what use does he have for a frail old man like you, when he has gone to such lengths to cultivate a younger, much more powerful apprentice?"
Dooku sneered even as he mentally frowned, "Your lies are pathetic. You will not distract me."
"You are nothing more than the placeholder," Vader continued unabated.
They moved around each other, eyeing each other, watching for an opening in the others' defenses.
A flicker in the Force was all the warning Dooku received as one of the broken pieces of the ceiling flew at him. He dodged and then cut upwards, bisecting the second piece that was coming towards him.
Dooku whorled around and met Vader's downward strike, it drove him down to a knee but he held it back. Barely.
"Weak and Old," Vader taunted as he beared down with his lightsaber against Dooku's.
Dooku growled and pushed back, expending tremendous effort, he managed to get back onto his feet, "Your words are worthless. You think to distract me?" Perhaps Vader wasn't all brawler, the psychological attacks were weak, but an effective strategy with the weak minded. Dooku had used it before many times.
Vader's resolve didn't waver in the Force, "The new apprentice is right in front of you and yet you fail to see Skywalker for the threat he truly is."
Dooku froze, "Skywalker?" he echoed in disbelief. Impossibly, Vader's words suddenly had an echo of truth to them. The boy's anger was great, his potential beyond impressive.
There was a sudden stinging in his back and the pressure from Vader's blade disappeared. He staggered forward as Vader moved to the side.
Dooku brought his lightsaber around in a wide arc, trying to strike at Vader, but something was wrong. His arm was suddenly weak and shaking. He missed by a wide margin, as Vader just stood there lightsaber up, but for some reason not taking advantage of whatever had happened.
Dooku staggered further away, his arm quivering as he tried to keep his lightsaber up and pointed defensively towards Vader.
He felt his thoughts slowing down...there was a pain in his back. He staggered even further away, reaching back with his other hand towards the pain he felt.
His fingers found the problem- there were darts in his back!
He tried to pull them out, but his fingers were becoming numb, fumbling around the darts, they didn't have the strength to pull them out.
His arm finally gave out and his lightsaber fell out of his grasp. The blade disappeared and the handle hit the group with a resonating metallic thud. Dooku's legs failed him next, as his feet went out from under him as the whole room spun out of control around him. He tried to reach for the Force, but he was too disoriented. Too weak. Suddenly, so very weak. He could feel the drugs burning though his system, overwhelming him. Whatever cocktail they were using was so very potent.
He was on his back now, he tried to crawl away, so very helpless.
He barely saw as Vader deactivated his lightsaber and attached it to his belt. Before striding confidently towards him.
"All too easy," Vader derided confidently.
Dooku's vision was even more blurred as Vader's black boot rose and then descended, the pain in his face rose to extraordinary heights and then overcame him.
Then there was only darkness.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Vader looked down at the bruised and unconscious Dooku. The old man looked weak and feeble now. And it felt good to have crushed the old man down. Today was a good day. He looked up, Triple Zero and Bee Tee were standing there, having played their part in the trap.
"Well done, Bee Tee!" congratulated Triple Zero, as the astromech assassin droid twittered smugly.
"Take him to the ship. And be careful," Vader warned the murderous droids.
"Of course, my Lord, and don't you worry, I have this delightful mix that will keep him out of it!" Triple Zero declared in a happy tone.
Vader nodded, "Keep him alive. I have questions for him."
Triple Zero seemed to deflate a little, "Do I have to?" he asked unhappily.
Vader glared at the droid, "Alive." He paused for a moment, he smiled evilly under his mask, "He does not have to be...undamaged. Just able to talk. Constant pain will help control him."
"Wonderful, my Lord!" the droid's tone was once more perky at the prospect of inflicting pain. "Come along Bee Tee. Let's get him back to the ship!" he finished enthusiastically.
Vader paid them no more attention, as the droids began dragging Dooku away. He could still feel Tholme in the Force. The Jedi was still alive. Vader stepped towards the rock pile that Tholme was buried under.
Vader already knew what he was going to do.
With the Force, it didn't take him long to dig the Jedi out. The man was just as he remembered him, the severe old man with the scar over his eye. The man that ran most of the Jedi Order's covert ops. He was bloodied and bruised, but still alive and breathing.
Vader reached down and threw the unconscious Tholme roughly over his shoulder. Vader walked out of Dooku's hidden Fortress with the unconscious Jedi over his shoulder.
Author's Notes: Anyway, more ripples in the making, or rather crashing waves ;) ;P As always, don't forget to review! :D