I'M A DAD!
Chapter 5: The Return
Coquer found himself in orbit of his homeworld of Serenno. He thought the planet of his birth would be greener for some reason. His memories of the planet were fuzzy, having last spent time on it when he was about five, right before his father sent him away to the Horox system.
He pushed the flight stick forward, descending on to the planet. In the back of his mind, the temptation to ignore his father's orders and flee lingered. Now that he was an adult, the lense of naivety and ignorance no longer obscured his vision. His father, and he used that term loosely, was a terrible parent.
He remembered how he used to look up to the man, having heard the tales his droid caretakers boasted. He saved his homeworld from the tyranny of his uncle, Ramil, and exposed the growing corruption of the Senate, making citizens throughout the galaxy demand change and a centralized government. He protected innocents from disasters and more during his time in the Jedi Order. Coquer was taught about these accomplishments during his youth, and he dreamt of being just like his father when he grew up. For all he was a terrible parent, his father was a good person, and as such, Coquer knew he couldn't turn against him.
Coquer landed the spacecraft in the middle of a large courtyard, filled with obsidian pillars. He exited the ship, immediately being towered by the large imposing castle of the House of Serenno.
Including his house, there were a total of seven noble houses. While the other houses offered advice and assisted with the day-to-day running of the planet, it was his house that ruled and passed final judgement on all matters. It had been this way since even before the era of the Old Republic, with the Count or Countess passing along the title to their oldest heir.
A birthright he would never receive due to the fact the galaxy thought he was dead.
Coquer placed a hand on top of his sabre which was holstered on the back of his hip. The simple touch was all he needed to swat away the melancholy feeling that was gripping him since he left Trench. He walked, taking long strides towards the entrance of the castle. With each step he took, he felt the temperature drop. Despite the large sun showering him with heat, he could see his frosted breath as if it were winter.
"Son."
Coquer stopped when he heard a soft voice. The cold that had him shivering was no longer there, and he felt enveloped by a comforting heat. It was not the warmth of the sun he felt, no, it was akin to that of a comforting hug a mother would give to their child.
He shook his head at the thought, trudging through the oddity that occurred. He walked up the flight of stairs, seeing a black servant droid waiting for him.
"Commander Coquer," it greeted with a bow. "I was instructed by Count Dooku to escort you to him."
Coquer raised a brow from the title the droid referred to him as. Why commander? "Lead the way."
Coquer followed the droid through, being guided to his father. His eyes gravitated to the many portraits that littered the steel gray walls. The paintings were of Counts and Countesses of the past, with a few having elected to have portraits of themselves with their family instead of by their lonesome. All wore a menacing scowl with a hint of annoyance of having to be seated still to be painted. A trait it seemed his family carried. He remembered a few times when those under his command turned slightly pale when he scowled at them.
At least he received something from his father.
"We're almost there." The droid informed him.
Coquer hummed a response, tearing his eyes away from the paintings to focus on reaching his father.
The corridors seemed to stretch for miles, and if it weren't for the paintings on the walls, he would've assumed he had been walking in place. He caught something in the corner of his eye, something he couldn't believe. He stopped and turned, giving the painting his full attention, soaking in the details.
The portrait was of him as an infant, being held by the arms of his mother with his father placing a loving hand on her left shoulder. His mother was clothed in a lovely burgundy dress, matching her red lips which were curved in a smile, parallel to the happy twinkle in her eyes. His father, wrapped in the ceremonial garbs of the Count of their noble house, was also grinning and his hair wasn't completely gray, showing his youth when the portrait was painted.
His father was happy. They were happy. How did it all go so wrong?
"Son."
The same soft voice called out to him, louder this time around. He whipped his head around, seeing nothing but the droid that was staring at him with a slight tilt of its head.
"Do you require assistance?"
"No." He quickly said. Coquer shook his head, hoping to get his head on right. "Just take me to my Master."
"As you wish. Follow me."
"Is Grievous in position for the invasion?" The distorted voice asked.
"Yes." Dooku answered with a curt response.
The Sith loathed reporting to the enigma that was Watcher. They appeared out of thin air a few years ago, shortly after leaving his son under the tutelage of the Harch Captain. Though they referred to him as his Sith title, they refused to grant him the respect he deserved.
"Excellent Lord Tyranus." They complimented him, though Dooku knew it was fake. "As our Lord ordered, you shall depart to Geonosis immediately to retrieve the blueprints of the weapon."
"As my Master wishes, Watcher."
The transmission ended, leaving Dooku to seethe in his own anger. How dare Watcher order him around? He took a quick deep breath, dowsing his ire for the enigma. He just needed to bide his time now. The moment would come when he would overtake his Master's mantle.
"Why did you not tell them I was here?"
Dooku turned to the woman that asked the question. The sickly pale woman stared at him with her piercing blue eyes. "I wish not to reveal your existence just yet, Ventress."
Ventress tensed, seeing his hand hovering over his lightsaber, but relaxed once he reached for inside his bronze colored sash instead. The Sith pulled out a small black chip.
"You have proven yourself worthy of my attention in the gladiator pits of where I found you, but you have yet to prove your worth of being my apprentice." He pressed a button on the chip and it fizzled to life, showcasing a human male dressed in the garbs of a Jedi.
"This is Rael Averross, a former padawan of mine during my time as a Jedi. He has a sharp wit, with his skills with his blade even sharper. His mastery of the Force was praised by all of the Order."
He deactivated the device. "You are to travel to Pijal and eliminate him. Once I have his lightsaber in my hand, I shall view you as my apprentice and your training as a Sith begins."
Ventress inclined her head deeply. "I will not fail you, Master. I shall show you that I'm worthy of your teachings."
Ventress had a lot of potential. While her swordsmanship left a lot to be desired, it was still equivalent to that of an average Jedi Knight. Her mastery at the Force was still elementary but he could easily see it improving with time, seeing first hand how her abilities grew during their brief clash of blades they had at the gladiator arena. Dooku was sure the late Ky Naseric had not envisioned this when he took the Dathomirian under his wing.
Ventress raised her head, turned and marched like a woman on a mission to the exit. She reached for the doors and opened them, being welcomed at the sight of his son and a droid. She paid them no mind, obviously not knowing the young man in front of her was Dooku's son and marched past them.
"Count Dooku, I brought Commander Coquer as requested." The droid reported.
"Good. Now, leave us." Dooku ordered. "See to it that we're not disturbed."
"Yes, Count Dooku."
The droid left, closing the doors behind it. Dooku looked at his son with his hardened expression softening and a kind smile. The years have been good to his son. The young man hadn't skipped his physical training judging by the evidence of muscles across his form. He stood at Dooku's eye-level, no longer hardly reaching his waist. His skin was a bit paler from what he remembered, probably from the lack of sun that space travel gave to individuals.
"Son," he greeted, clapping his hands on Coquer's shoulders. "It is good to see you again."
"The feeling is mutual."
Dooku eyed his son curiously from his cold response. Then, he remembered his son was no longer a child but now an eighteen-year-old adult, with his time under Trench no doubt further maturing the once young eager boy. His son has become a warrior, a man worthy of his blood. He should be able to protect himself now.
The Sith released his grip and motioned for his son to follow. With a wave of a hand across a bookcase, it stuttered as it opened, revealing a secret passage. He took the first step down the dark passage with his son following closely behind.
"The time has finally come, my son, for you to utilize what you've learned these past thirteen years."
"What?" Coquer's voice sounded confused. "I'm not being placed under another tutor?"
"No. You are more than ready for what's to come."
"What's to come?" They arrived at a cavern with two golden solar sailers waiting for them. "Father, what do you mean?"
"War." Dooku answered simply.
Coquer stopped in his tracks. "War?"
"Yes." He turned to face his son. "Everything I have done was to prepare you for this moment. To give you the skills to protect yourself."
Coquer just stared at him, unable to formulate a simple response. His tawny eyes yelled betrayal.
"I'm just another tool to you." He shook his head in denial, his trembling hand tightly holding onto the sabre attached to his hip. "Do you even view me as a son? Do you even love me?"
Of course, he did! Everything he had done was because of his love for him. Leaving the Jedi Order, killing his best friend, orchestrating a galaxy-wide war, slaying his own sister, pledging himself to the dark side. All of it was for him!
"I do love you, my son. But you need to understand that they are forces at work that I cannot protect you from. I need you to be strong. I need you to be a warrior. You had to be seen worthy of his plan."
"His plan?" Coquer took a step forward. "Who's he?"
"Someone you need not worry yourself with, at least not yet. I already have a plan in motion to take care of him, I only need you to assist me when it is time to strike." Dooku walked to one of the luxurious spacecraft. "I must go. Your ship already has coordinates inputted in it. You will receive your orders there."
Dooku marched inside his ship, ignoring the words of his son, pleading for answers. Once the Republic fell and he took the mantle of Master, his son would understand his actions.
A wide, toothy smile graced the face of the grayed haired man, showered by the ominous blue fire on the pedestal in front of him. His sinister cackling filled the darkness that surrounded him. His sickly yellow eyes glint in pleasure of his foolish apprentice's action. Every deed that Dooku committed, brought his son one step closer to him. So sad the man could not see the potential like he does.
"My Lord."
"Yes?" He answered, refusing to look away from the alluring fire.
"Lord Tyranus reported all pieces are in position for the invasion. He should be on his way to Geonosis as we speak to pick up the blueprint."
"Good." He flexed his slender bony fingers, unleashing a torrent of lightning from its tips, directed at the fire. The blue flame flared brightly for a moment before it settled into a nice contained fire. "And what of Anakin?" He began whispering words to the fire in a language long forgotten.
"Based on my last report, he should still be on Tatooine with Senator Amidala. Apparently, the Padawan had a worrying vision about his mother."
"I see."
While the son of Dooku needed a guided hand to break the chains that shackled his abilities, Anakin was the exact opposite. Strong in the Force he was, only needing a proper training to tame his powers. Coquer, intellect rivaled by his own obedient slave, with untapped potential that will overshadow the boy's own father and most Masters of the Jedi Council. And Anakin, unrefined power that could show the galaxy the true terrifying might of the Order of Sith Lords.
Both were fine candidates to become his next apprentice. Both he would need to keep a watchful eye on to careful mold them into what he truly desired.
He spared one final look at the fire, seeing a frustrated Coquer traveling to his objective. The elderly man whispered a few more words in the tongue of the Sith, pleased to see the effect it has on the young Serennian. Never hurt to bet on both red and black. After all, the house always won.
"Prepare for the clone army we are about to receive." With a clasped hand, he extinguished the fire. "I have a hearing I need to report to."
Watcher respectfully inclined their head. "As you wish, Lord Sidious."
Author's Note: I wasn't planning on uploading this but seeing my son, I just want to show you the complexity between Dooku and Coquer.
Big thanks to my betas: STARWARZMYLIFE, dieFabuliererin, Cuthalion9
Till Next Time