Chapter 55

"To be united by hatred is a... fragile alliance at best."

The words once spoken by Darth Traya continued to resurface in his mind as he waited. It was quite possible his life would end this night if he was wrong to pursue this course of action. He didn't think he was. Something whispered to him that the journey he was about to embark on was nothing short of destiny.

The lights were dim in the upscale Telosian restaurant. Combined with dark, rich colors and small nooks, it made the establishment a perfect place for a secret meeting. His contact had chosen well. All there was to do was sit back and wait, which he did. He sensed his contact come, a mist of darkness and cold settling over the room as Xanatos Marojni neared. A chilling smile curved his lips. What he had heard from the bumbling Neimoidians was true. This Sith did roam the galaxy once again.

As a hostess showed the younger man to a seat opposite him, he checked to make sure his shields were intact. He was not quite ready to reveal all his secrets. Xanatos Marojni, the former senator of Telos, the one he suspected now held the strings of the Telosian governor, stared at him. The cold gaze that searched him sent a chill down his spine.

"Count Dooku of Serenno, I presume?"

"Yes," Dooku said with a respectful nod of his head. "I am sorry if I have taken you away from important matters."

"My time is limited," Xanatos said. "Perhaps you should tell me why you have asked for this meeting."

"We both share a feeling that the Republic is heading in an ill-conceived direction. The corruption is overwhelming. Serenno would like to follow Telos in severing ties." Dooku took a deep breath. "I came to inquire about future plans you may have and, of course, to offer my support."

Xanatos' eyes narrowed, a feral smile thinning his lips. It worried Dooku, and he soon learned he was right to be concerned. He felt a surge like he had never before felt in the mysterious currents of energy he had learned was called the Force. Pain tore through his head. The rudimentary shields he had managed to build around his presence collapsed, peeled away as though the Sith was skinning him alive. He bit down on his lip, feeling the thickness of blood trickling into his beard as he tried to keep from crying out.

"Pathetic," Xanatos spat.

Dooku held his ire in check. He was nobility - a ruler. No one had ever spoken to him with such disrespect. But, if he was truly in the presence of a Sith lord, not even the guards he had strategically placed could help him. Sensing his thoughts, Xanatos glanced around the room.

"I see," the Sith purred. "And where did you learn such inept skills?"

Dooku composed himself, lifting a napkin to wipe his lip and beard. The fact that he still lived was promising. His best course of action was to remain calm and continue, answering all asked of him. His life likely depended on it.

"I am a bit of an archaeologist in my free time," he explained. "I have found scrolls, amulets, and even one Holocron in old Sith ruins. I have studied what little was available to me, but obviously, my training greatly pales in comparison to yours."

"And what have you heard of my training?" Xanatos asked with amusement.

"Are you not Sidious? The one who guided the Neimoidians to blockade Naboo."

"Those fools have never been able to keep their mouths shut. They may need another reminder," Xanatos mumbled to himself before studying Dooku once again.

The Force coiled around the count. What felt like cold fingers stroked across his mind, searching, probing thoughts and feelings that were now laid bare. Dooku dared not raise his shields even though the sensation was more than a little unpleasant.

"Sidious is my master," Xanatos finally said. "And yours as well, if you want anything to do with our plans."

"I am honored …"

"Be aware, Dooku. I may choose to gift you with additional training, but I need no rivals for my master's attention. You will relate only to me and not attempt to seek him out." Xanatos leaned in very closely. "My fellow apprentice recently met his end, and I was glad to see him go. I will not hesitate to destroy you if I must."

"Understood … perfectly," Dooku said in a near whisper before adding, "My Lord," for good measure.

A small group was gathered in one of the hangars of the Jedi training center, each offering farewells, stalling just a few more movements before boarding their ships and scattering to different parts of the galaxy. Bail was focused on Obi-Wan as the he flittered from person to person.

The Jedi senator pulled his aide and friend, Byram, aside no doubt whispering some last-minute instructions. The aide filed onto the waiting ship, ushering his wife and small child on board with him. Then Obi-Wan turned to Siri who was standing to the side. He embraced and kissed her. The small exchange brought a smile to Bail's face. He was glad to have been invited to join in the small wedding ceremony, among their Jedi family and friends, where the couple had exchanged simple vows and pledged their loyalty to the Force.

Bail still did not understand this mystical "Force" that seemed so important to the Jedi he had met, but he somehow trusted that it had the galaxy's best interest in mind. He could ally with those he had met. His eyes found Obi-Wan again, still holding his wife as though reluctant to let her go.

Seen the death and destruction of all he loves, he has, if allowed to triumph the Sith are.

The haunting words of the ancient Jedi master came back to him. Bail wondered if Obi-Wan had seen the death of Siri in one of these visions. He wasn't sure if he could survive something like that, seeing Breha, his own wife, die. Would the uncertainty and wondering consume him?

With one last glance back, Siri filed onto the ship with the rest of the delegation. The ship took off, fading into the blue sky. Obi-Wan stood there waiting for a moment. He then turned and started toward the hangar door, obviously knowing something Bail did not. Sure enough, the door opened.

Queen Amidala, not dressed in her royal garments, but in the quiet beauty of Padme, arrived next followed by Qui-Gon Jinn, a woman with long, dark hair, and a small boy. The process of saying goodbye began again. The two Jedi embraced, Qui-Gon reminding his student that he would be back on Coruscant soon. Over the past week, Bail had quickly learned that the pair was more than teacher and student, they were father and son.

As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan continued to speak with one another, Bail's attention drifted to the queen and the small boy who had shyly slipped away. It did not take "Jedi" senses to see the obvious star-struck affection the boy had for the young queen. She ruffled his hair before giving a light peck to his forehead. The boy blushed brilliantly. Offering final words, the queen strode up the landing ramp, followed by Qui-Gon Jinn.

They were the last ship waiting now. Obi-Wan acknowledged him and walked his way, the boy trailing.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Obi-Wan said with a smile.

"You had a lot of good-byes. It was perfectly understandable."

"Obi-Wan turned to the boy, squatting down to eye level. "I suppose you will be even taller the next time I see you?"

"I'm going to be taller than you one of these days," Anakin boasted playfully.

"You are probably right, but never taller than Qui-Gon."

"No, never." The boy laughed, before a somber expression set over his features, one beyond his years. "It's your job to take care of him now that he's moving back to Coruscant."

"I know, and I will."

Anakin's face scrunched up, a question obviously brewing in his mind. "Will I ever get to come to Coruscant again?"

"I count on it, one of these days, when you are better trained," Obi-Wan said. "But now, Coruscant is much too dangerous for you. Listen to Master Yoda, even when he's confusing, even when he frustrates you, even when he makes you eat some dreaded concoction he has cooked up."

The boy's giggle made Bail glad he had not been asked to dinner in the aged master's quarters, though he wished he'd had more time to speak with him.

"Soak up everything he has to teach you," Obi-Wan continued. "In time, you will be a great Jedi Knight."

"Are we going to go any time soon?" Garen's voice called from the cockpit.

The boy's lip trembled almost imperceptibly. He turned and scampered to the safety of his mother's arms. Bail and Obi-Wan boarded the ship and settled into their places, allowing Garen to do what he did best – pilot.

"I think we have a case of hero-worship there," Bail commented as he glanced out at the boy and his mother.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Anakin has adopted me as an older brother … and I will admit that he seems like the younger brother I never had."

"He's also quite taken with Queen Amidala."

"Oh yes … he claims that he will marry her one of these days," Obi-Wan said, chuckling.

Bail laughed heartily. "To be so young and carefree again."

The comment silenced his companion. Obi-Wan's face grew more solemn.

"It is good for him to have this time to just grow up here in peace and safety. I believe a lot will rest on his shoulders in the coming years."

"Something you seem to share," Bail observed, earning a raised eyebrow that hinted Obi-Wan knew of his talk with Master Yoda.

"Anakin is hope - hope that what I see will not come to pass."

"Hope is always a good thing to have when looking ahead," Bail commented as their ship lifted them off, moving them both toward a future filled with uncertainty.