Chapter 2: Back on Coruscant
Arriving on Coruscant, the pod lands at a landing strip. Exiting the ship, Anakin and Obi-Wan are greeted by several Clone troopers and Jedi Masters.
"Master Kenobi, Skywalker, is the Chancellor safe?" Mace Windu asks.
"Yes, the Chancellor is safe, Master. Though… we have taken a prisoner who wishes to speak to the Jedi Council." Obi-Wan says with an uneasy tone.
"Prisoner?" Windu asks curiously. Leading the Jedi Master to the pod, Anakin shows Windu that they have captured Count Dooku in addition to rescuing the Chancellor.
"Good to see you again, Master Windu." Dooku sarcastically.
"At one point in time those feelings would have been mutual, Dooku." Windu says, holding back anger. He then notices that Dooku's hands are severed. "Why do you have no hands?"
"Young Skywalker did this to me, though he spared my life so I'm merely returning a few favors given to me today." Dooku answers.
"What favors, Dooku?" Windu asks.
"He is only lying. He'll lie to you like he did to the two Jedi you sent to save me. He accuses me of being a Sith Lord." Palpatine answers, with anger in his voice.
"That is a very serious accusation to make, Dooku. One that will need proof beyond words." Windu says, shocked by that revelation. He then senses Palpatine growing increasingly nervous. "Are you okay, Chancellor?"
"I'm glad to be alive thanks to your fellow Jedi, but that is a very serious charge against me. And General Grievous has most likely escaped." Palpatine answers.
"Well the General is known to run and hide like a coward. But the Jedi will make finding Grievous a high priority." Windu reassures.
"Are you sure this is something you should be discussing in front of a prisoner?" Palpatine asks.
"He's not going anywhere. We will have him locked up at the temple. And if he is lying, which I am hoping, then you will have nothing to worry about." Windu says. "In the meantime, we will be your escort back to your office. Anakin, Obi-Wan take Dooku into custody at the temple. We will discuss his fate in a Council meeting."
"Yes, Master." Anakin and Obi-Wan both say. They fly their shuttle off to the Jedi Temple as Windu, Plo Koon and Kit Fisto take the Chancellor back to his office with the Clones.
Arriving at the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan and Anakin are greeted by temple guards who are shocked to see him with Dooku.
"Master Kenobi, what is the meaning of this?" One of the guards asks.
"We have taken a prisoner. My apprentice and I are taking him to the detention center below." Obi-Wan explains, putting the guards at ease.
"Very well then, Master Kenobi." The guard says, letting them pass.
Passing through the halls of the Temple, several Jedi stared in shock as they saw Count Dooku in the custody of the Jedi. This had also been the first time that Dooku had been inside the Temple since he left the Order. As they walk on, they see Master Yoda standing before them.
"Master Yoda." Anakin says as he and Obi-Wan bow to him.
"Sensed a disturbing presence, I did. Expected you to bring Count Dooku back to the Temple, I did not." Yoda, feeling uneasy with having a known Sith standing in the Jedi Temple.
"Master, he is an unarmed prisoner… in more way than one. And he also has something he would like for the Jedi to know." Obi-Wan explains.
"To the Detention Center, we will take him. Curious at what he has to say, I am." Yoda says.
As the Jedi lock Dooku up, he explains to Yoda what happened on the Invisible Hand, and what he told the Jedi about Palpatine. Though he is surprised by the statement, Yoda can't help but feel like a fool.
"If true these statements are, blind we have become." Yoda says, stroking his chin.
"This is why I left the Jedi in the first place. The Force was not meant to be bent for the will of corrupt bureaucrats." Dooku says. "And Jedi are meant to learn all aspects of the Force, not shut out what they are afraid of."
"Right you may be about political corruption within the Republic, but the Dark Side has corrupted even the likes of you. Crave and thirst for power, Jedi are not meant to." Yoda counters. "Unless evidence can be presented for where you instructed us to look, useless this accusation is to us." He then walks away, planning to meditate on the matter. Obi-Wan leaves as well to plan to sweep anywhere Dooku had told them to look. Anakin stays behind.
"Something you'd like to say?" Dooku asks.
"You mentioned corruption within the Senate, yet your whole Sepratist movement is supposedly spearheaded by the very same political system you despise." Anakin says.
"You don't think I intended to stay a Sith apprentice do you?" Dooku asks. Anakin doesn't answer as he knows what the Sith Lord is implying. "Even with good hearted politicians like Senator Amidala, they don't have the same level of power or cunning as the Chancellor. That is how he managed to slip through your radar. Being your confidant, encouraging you to strive, commending you for achievements, even consoling you when your mother was killed by Tusken Raiders."
Dooku's words left Anakin shocked. The only two people who he ever told about what happened with his mother and the Sand People were Padme and Palpatine. He knew that his wife would never reveal something like that to Dooku. Anakin began to wonder if what Dooku had told him was true.
"Something troubling you, Skywalker?" Dooku asks.
Anakin ignores the Count and leaves him in his cell. Deciding to rest in his chambers, he knew he would clear his thoughts to determine the next course of action.
End of the chapter. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter is going to be a mainly Palpatine chapter and how unhinged he is becoming. Until then, happy reading.