Chapter 6 – A Sith's Aid
Author's Note: Enjoy the brief moment with Custos and Obi-Wan in this chapter. ^-^ I didn't focus on them nearly as much as I should have. Lol.
~ Amina Gila
Custos wipes the blood off his hands as best he can, trying to stop the bleeding in the gash across his right palm, swearing silently. The rebel had pulled a knife on him and attempted to stab him. He had blocked it, but his palm was slashed open in the process. He throws a glare over his shoulder at the dead body lying on the ground, knife jabbed into its chest. Stupid of the man to think he could pull a fast one on a Sith and not face consequences. He paid for it with his life, and now, Custos has the information he needs.
He sets out on foot towards where the man's speeder is stashed. While he could theoretically take his ship, a speeder will not only draw less attention, but it will also make it less likely for him to miss the secret route that leads to Dooku's hidden base. Truly, the ex-Sith must be relatively harmless for Sidious to have not located him already, much less on Serenno. Or perhaps this is only one hideout of many.
That's probably what it is, in fact. He scowls as he stalks across the dirt, keeping his hand clenched into a fist to stop the bleeding. Stupid knives. He hates knives. He especially hates them, because of an incredibly fond memory he has of Sidious sticking him with knives once upon a time just to listen to him scream.
Custos shoves the errant memory aside, reigning in his feelings so he slides back into the controlled calm fury that he usually exudes when drawing on the Dark Side. Next objective: finding Dooku. If it means being able to take out Sidious, he has no idea why the ex-Sith wouldn't be willing to help.
It takes a good twenty-minute walk before he locates the deceased rebel's speeder, and he flies away, following the path which the rebel's mind so helpfully revealed to him. As he flies, he pulls the Force around himself, shielding himself from anyone who might sense him. Even if only Dooku can sense him, there's no reason to give him a forewarning. Or maybe he's just feeling petty because one of Dooku's rebels caused him so much trouble. He dislikes torture, as a general rule, as a result of what he endured at the Siths' hands, but it is very effective at making people talk. Especially people who have been trained to resist mind probes.
The hideout is nestled safely in the mountains, hidden in a system of caves and concealed in such a way so as to make it look natural. It blends in perfectly, and if Custos hadn't known to look for the guard towers, strategically positioned high enough so as to be rendered invisible, since they merely appear to be cracks in the rock formations, he would never have seen them, never have known to slow down so he wouldn't be shot. He stops the speeder at the invisible entry point and waits there for someone to show up.
He probes outwards with the Force, briefly, just to see how many people are around. He senses four, but there are likely more which he isn't sensing as a result of all the wildlife in the area. None of the four seem worried; they're more apprehensive than anything else. Good. They should be. Caution is important if they have any hopes of surviving.
After a few minutes, when he makes no move to leave, one of the rebel guards approaches him. "What are you doing here in the wilderness, traveler?" he questions gruffly. He's dressed to look like a rugged inhabitant of the mountains. He looks like he belongs here. Smart.
"I'm looking for your leader," Custos answers flatly. "I need his help."
The man narrows his eyes suspiciously. "What leader?" he queries, the perfect picture of confusion. "I don't know what you mean? This is the wilderness. Are you lost, perhaps?"
Custos clenches his jaw, trying to resist the urge to kill the man. If he does, it would hardly endear him to the rebel movement here. And he needs Dooku's help. He doesn't know who else to turn to. "We're on the same side. I am a Sith, just as your leader is. Or was, rather. I must speak with Dooku. Where is he?"
The moment he mentions the word 'Sith' the rebel tenses visibly, looking even more on edge than before. "No one is permitted through. I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave." His hand tightens on his blaster as if he's preparing to draw it.
"Either you allow me to pass, or I will force my way past," Custos counters. "The choice is yours. I would suggest choosing wisely. I will not hesitate to kill you."
After a tense pause, the man activates a comm. "He claims to be a Sith, and he wants to speak with Dooku," he reports.
Custos can't quite make out what the man is being told, but he already knows what will happen. He will be allowed to pass because they'll doubt that they can stop him. And sure enough, the man grudgingly gestures for Custos to follow him. They walk on foot up the rocky path, while someone else takes the speeder out of sight. Still, he's careful to keep his senses attuned because he doesn't trust any of these rebels. For all he knows, they could be planning to kill him elsewhere once his guard has been lowered.
Well, if they try, that will be at their own detriment.
He's led a distance further into the mountain, along a winding path he might never have taken the first time on his own, before being guided through a cleverly concealed entrance. The passageway is dark and damp, and Custos can hear water dripping somewhere, though he doesn't know where, because everything is echoing, even their footsteps. It makes him wonder if this area was intentionally designed that way, especially when the echoing diminishes drastically once they climb a few steps and enter another tunnel.
They walk for what feels like an hour. The passageway network seems more modern and better built the deeper they go, and Custos is finally led into a room with a holotable in the center. The man steps in front of him, entering something into it and establishing a frequency. A hologram of Dooku materializes, and Custos realizes that, of course, he isn't on world. It's safer for him not to be, for him to hidden away elsewhere, constantly on the move.
"Dooku," Custos greets neutrally.
"You are not Obi-Wan Kenobi," Dooku replies, and Custos can't help but think that he looks so old. Naturally. He is in his 90s now, probably. It's a wonder he's even still living.
"No," he answers, "I am not. You have heard of me undoubtedly. I am from another reality. My name is Darth Custos, and I am a Sith."
"Not a true Sith, I think." There's a sharpness in Dooku's eyes, a look of barely hidden curiosity. He wants to know more. He wants details, but Custos isn't really willing to share. This version of Dooku isn't the same as the one he knew. This version of him is a Sith – or was a Sith before Sidious formed his Empire. And Sith training isn't something that simply… fades with time.
"Perhaps not," Custos admits, "But I am a self-taught one. I know the Dark Side. But that is not why I am here. I need your help. My son and his sister have been taken prisoner by the Empire. Sidious has… an interest in him, and I imagine you know as well as I do what their fates may be. They won't be killed. I need to find them, but I know that the only way to get them out and keep them safe will undoubtedly be to kill the Emperor himself."
Dooku is quiet for a moment. "And you want me to help you."
"You are a rebel," Custos says in lieu of reply. "Sidious wants you dead; he'll kill you and destroy your network if he can. It would be in your best interests to help me."
"Are you working alone?"
"Not for long," he answers, shaking his head. "Anakin and Obi-Wan will probably wish to join me." Of that, he has no doubt. They won't let him take on Sidious alone. "I don't know if they'll be alone, however."
Really, Custos should have killed the Sith Master before things got this far. It's just that… after being held prisoner by the Jedi, his first and foremost instinct had been to run, to leave with his son to keep him safe and hidden. Now, he's beginning to regret that. If he had put aside those feelings of protectiveness and stoked his desire for revenge, Sidious might already be dead.
Well, there's no use crying over past mistakes. They can only move forwards.
"Very well," decides Dooku after yet another pause. "I will help you, but do not expect me to die beside you if I see you are failing."
Custos smirks. "I could expect no less."
**w**
Obi-Wan stands next to Sabe, Anakin next to him, as she dials the frequency to her private comm with Custos. It was meant as a backup, in the case of emergencies, and now that they're gathering their own group of allies, they need to know what the status is with him. Things have changed so fast that Custos will have no idea what happened to them. They need to update him, at the very least.
The connection is made, and a hologram of Custos flickers into view in front of them. His expression becomes apprehensive when he sees them all together. "What happened?" he demands, sounding half-panicked. "Why are… Did something happen?"
"We're alright for now," Anakin reassures him, the unofficial spokesman for them all. Of everyone, he has the best chance at keeping Custos calm and preventing him from getting unduly worked up. It's not as if fretting over them will change anything. "The Empire showed up on Tatooine, but we made it out safely; the family is safe. Obi-Wan and I met up with Sabe to get help from her and from the Jedi cell of rebels. We're arranging a strike team which will hopefully be enough to take out Sidious. Also, we got confirmation that Vader and Ahsoka were taken to Coruscant, though we don't know what their destination is. What's your status?"
A myriad of emotions flicker across Custos' face. "I got into contact with Dooku. He's willing to help me. Us," he corrects a moment later.
Obi-Wan can feel Anakin's unease through their bond, though the younger man simply nods. "Are you sure we can trust him?" Obi-Wan asks uncertainly. "He caused so much harm to everyone, and to Anakin, in particular. Are you certain that he won't betray us or try to hurt Anakin again?" He doesn't need to add that Dooku is the one who cut off Anakin's arm; Custos already knows that.
Custos is quiet, undoubtedly weighing their options and the pros and cons of everything. "He wants Sidious dead," he answers at least, "And I doubt that he'll sell us out to the Empire, not with the price on his head. His rebel network is rather extensive and well-concealed. He's caused much damage to the Empire throughout the years. Sidious would never welcome him back."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as the saying goes," Sabe interjects. "I know why the two of you are… apprehensive, and so am I, but I don't think we should reject his aid simply because we are uncertain of his intentions."
"We won't," Anakin states firmly, though the way he shifts betrays his unease. "If Custos thinks he should be involved and can help us… I trust him."
"As do I," Obi-Wan chimes in. And he really truly does. He trusts Custos to do what is in the best interests of their entire family. It's strange that he can say that after how they met and all the trouble which they had at first.
Custos gives them a nod of acknowledgement, though he says nothing further on that topic. Obi-Wan studies him, careful not to let his eyes linger long enough that the younger will notice, but he… is worried about him. Even though Custos is lightyears away, Obi-Wan can feel his inner turmoil humming in the back of his mind. It's stronger now, than it was before, mainly because they're speaking via a holocommunicator, but still.
"What allies do we have?" Custos questions.
"Me, of course," Sabe interjects before Obi-Wan can say anything, "And there are a group of Jedi being collected. They're currently enroute to our location."
"Will that be enough?" the Sith queries.
Obi-Wan shares a look with Anakin. "I don't know." It's a scary truth which they are both well aware of. They don't want to think about the possibility of failure, but it's still… a possibility. If they fail, the galaxy will be doomed.
"Maybe you should consider contacting Mandalore," Custos suggests.
Obi-Wan can't help but tense at the mere thought. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea," he rebuts. "I haven't spoken with Satine recently, and even if she doesn't mind talking to me, I doubt she'll ever want to get involved in a fight against Sidious."
"Even after what the Empire has done to her planet?" Custos queries, raising an eyebrow.
He lets out a slow breath. "I can talk to her," he concedes reluctantly, "But don't expect to get her help. We shouldn't count on any Mandalorians aiding us."
"We won't," Sabe assures him. "You can use this holotable to contact her if you want."
"I will," Obi-Wan replies, not taking his eyes off Custos, "In a moment. But first, may I speak to Custos alone?"
Anakin glances at him before nodding. "Of course." He gestures to Sabe, and together, the two of them leave the room, allowing the door to shut behind them. Obi-Wan waits another few seconds, just to be sure they're far enough away that no one will overhear.
"Are you alright? Actually alright?" he asks Custos. He feels awkward asking; he can't help it. He always feels this way when the two of them interact, but they still – they still care about each other, even if they agree that it's strange to know someone who can see through them so easily.
To his credit, Custos doesn't immediately say yes, though he looks like he wants to. He, like Obi-Wan, knows that both of them can see through each other. "No," he admits finally, shaking his head. "I have not felt this off-balanced since before I Fell. I am… I can control myself and the Dark Side, but it… it always demands so much, and it's worse now that I'm so… scared. Anything could be happening to them, Obi-Wan. Anything. We'll never even know until we find them, and by then… they may not be the same as what we remember."
"Whatever happens to them, we'll deal with it," Obi-Wan vows. He can understand – and feel – the depths of Custos' fear and desperation, and it's something that he himself feels as well. It's hard enough that it's Vader who has been captured. If it had been Anakin? He would have completely lost it. "We'll – we'll take care of them. We just need to get them out of there."
"… what if they're dead?" Custos's voice is barely above a whisper, and he's looking away, off to the side, as if he's unable to look at Obi-Wan while he says it. "What if – I… I don't think I could bear that."
Obi-Wan thinks about it for a second, and he feels the fear, the terror swell up and try to drown him, so he forces it back as best he can. He can't offer platitudes here. Not now. All he can say is the truth. "Me either." Vader might not have been his son from the start, but he practically is now, from all the time that they've spent together. And Ahsoka… She's almost, but not quite, like a daughter to him. If something happens to either of them… if they – if they –
No, he doesn't think he would handle it well, and nor, he knows, will Custos.
"We can only hope it doesn't come to that," he offers grimly, because really, in the end, all they have is hope.
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