Have no fear, Grubkiller is here.

Hey folks, here's part 5 for my Clone Wars story, 'Fallen Jedi'.

Please enjoy.

And please, when you're done, feel free to leave a thought or two down in the review section. I enjoy your feedback. And don't be afraid to favorite/follow this story.

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Nu-class shuttle, Serenno system, CIS fortress world.

The Nu-class shuttle that was stolen by Barriss Offee and her droid rescuers dropped out of hyperspace between the planet Serenno and one of its two moons.

A sizable Separatist fleet was protecting the planet. The dark gray, bug-like hulls of the Confederate warships stood by, and were ready to fight off any potential Republic invasion. The planet was actually the home of Count Dooku, who was a very wealthy, and influential figure, even before the Separatist movement. He a significant amount of land on this planet, which was a separatist core world, one of the planets that seceded from the Republic with Dooku's movement in the Raxus system.

With the onset of the Clone Wars, and its proximity to Raxus, it was now, proudly, a separatist fortress world, which was kept safe from some of the worst battles in the Clone Wars.

Suddenly, the shuttle's com-terminal went off. The high pitched robotic voice of a battle droid spoke.

"Attention Republic shuttle, you have entered territory that belongs to the Separatist Alliance. You will halt your shuttle and...-, What? Yes I know that they're an enemy craft. No I can't just shoot them. It's not proper protocol. Suppose we can capture the shuttle and interrogate anybody on board," The droid said, having a conversation with one its equally moronic comrades. He didn't seem to realize that he was being heard by the CIS crew aboard the captured shuttle.

Barriss rolled her eyes, while one of the commando droids piloting the ship slapped his forehead with his hand in frustration.

"Oh enough of this insane nonsense," Barriss exclaimed as she stabbed the button on the console. "Separatist warships, do not shoot. This shuttle belongs to a CIS strike force that has just escaped from Coruscant".

"Oh, uuuuuuhm. Stand by so that we can verify your story," the droid said.

For a moment nothing happened. Suddenly the voice of the droid came back.

"Shuttle craft, you are clear to proceed. Head for the hanger bay of the Invisible Hand," the droid said.

"Roger roger," droid captain B-260 said as he and the other droid piloting the ship gently brought it in to dock with the separatist flagship. The flagship, Invisible hand, was that of General Grievous, the supreme commander of the CIS armed forces. It was a 2.1 kilometer fortress of turbo lasers and durasteel. The shuttle gently sailed into the hanger, before it touched down on the deck with a thud. Count Dooku was there to greet them.

Barriss walked off the ship with the separatist leaders. Poggle flapped his wings as he floated off of the ground and walked with the sep leaders.

Poggle spoke in a series of clicks and buzzes, pointing an insect finger at the Count.

"I agree Poggle. What-", Wat Tambor started to say before his voice was drowned out by a robotic wheezing sound coming from his suit. He turned a nod on his suit, before he continued speaking. "-took you so long, Count. Why did you leave us to rot?" Wat Tambor asked.

Dooku maintained his usual stoicism, before he explained himself, in an uninterested tone.

"Gentlemen, I assure you that we did everything in our power to bring you here. Now I suggest that you be grateful that you are free. Now, go join the rest of the War councilors on the observation deck," Dooku said, referring to the structure atop the tower located on the aft section of the dreadnought. "We have much to discuss."

The CIS leaders, at a loss for words, shoved off to the observation deck, under a droid escort.

When they were gone, Dooku turned to the young mirilian girl standing before him. She felt chills run up her spine as the dark lord looked at her.

"So, we finally meet in person, young Barriss Offee. Come with me," Dooku said, motioning for Barriss to follow him.

Even though Barriss was no longer a Jedi, and had just broken a bunch of sep leaders out of prison after having been rescued from that same prison on Dooku's orders, she was still nervous to be around Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatist Alliance, and a dark lord of the Sith. They continued walking down the ship's corridors.

Battle droids marched to where they had to be. Other droids performed maintenance on the ships inner workings. Three B1 droids were working on a broken terminal. Two of the droids had disassembled the terminal to assess the damage.

"Go get the tools," one ordered.

"What tools?" the one not working on the terminal asked.

"The tools that we've been using for the last two years," he said to his ignorant counterpart.

"Oh, those tools," the ignorant droid said. (A/N: quick name that show).

Barriss shook her head when she heard them.

'Idiots'.

Dooku and Barriss made it to an inner chamber deep inside the ship. As they walked into the chamber, her heart started to pound faster the deeper she walked into the chamber.

That's when Dooku turned to Barriss, making her stop dead in her tracks.

"Tell me child...you already know who Ahsoka Tano is, correct?" Dooku asked.

Barriss nodded nervously. "She used to be my friend. Until I framed her for the bombings of coarse".

"Then I don't need to tell you about your next target. What can you tell me about the Nexus Route?" he asked.

"It's a secret route that connects Republic and CIS core worlds," Barriss said.

"Then you know the importance of recovering those plans. I want you to find her and get me those plans. In exchange, I will grant you the chance to join our ranks as my new apprentice," Dooku said.

Barriss thought about it for a moment.

'A chance to be an agent working against the Jedi? How can I resist?'

"What are my leads?" Barriss asked.

Dooku pulled out his holo-projector. It showed a hologram of Lux Bonteri.

"A certain senator that has been trouble to me in the past. My spies tell me that he has past relations with Tano, and has recently requested an audience with Shili's governor. We are tracking his movements right now. You will follow him. If my spies are correct, then he will lead you to your prey," Dooku said, before deactivating the hologram.

'Oooohhh, handsome. So Ahsoka has a boy chasing after her? Ahsoka sure knows how to pick 'em. I can't say I blame my old friend for her... expensive tastes.'

Barriss smiled. "It will be my absolute pleasure. But what about Ahsoka?" she asked.

"After her betrayal at the hands of the Order she served without question, she will feel conflicted. We may be able to turn her over to our side. Once she has served her purpose, we will provide her with a new one in the ranks of the Inquisitorius ... whether she likes it or not," Dooku said coldly.

Barriss bowed her head in respect to her knew master. "I shall leave at once, my Lord," she said.

"Not without help. You will be outfitted with a warship to pursue Tano, a company of commando droids, along with a small donation from Grievous' personal army" Dooku said, referring to the Magna-guards that protected the cyborg leader.

Barriss bowed her head in respect, before turning around and walking out the door.

Dooku smiled.

'This mission will determine the outcome of the war'.

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That was part 5 folks, part 6'll be here soon.

Keep an eye out for this story's update.

Until next time as always, this is Grubkiller, over and out.