Author's Notes: Wow! Two reviews! As far as SW stories go, that's good! Especially when it's a Dooku-Jinn story!
Tell me, does Dooku have a first name? I reckon I'm going to christen him until I find out what his name is – if I find out! My friend Arlyss said I could use her name, so I think I will: Master Dooku is now called Serenn. What do you think? OK? I like it – and unless Lucas names the poor guy, that's how he'll stay. It's a pain calling him 'Dooku', 'Dooku', 'Dooku' all the time… ^_^ Thanks for the name, Arlyss!
WDCain: You flatter me! I'm trying to write two fics at once, but this one is secondary to the other ATM. I'll try my best to keep it going… I don't want to leave it unfinished and rotting. I agree about Dooku being fascinating – I think he's a marvellous character, and I can't wait to see more of him in Ep.3.
BekaJWP: Thanx! I love Count Dooku to bits, so naturally, I wanted to think about his earlier Jedi days.
Jedi: Re: this chapter – my mistake is now corrected! ^_~
NB: Again, edited… as you can see, Dooku wasn't christened 'Serenn' till now originally. 5-4-03
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A Test of Faith
Chapter 2
Qui-Gon walked into the Jedi Archives, looking around the blue-illuminated shelves in awe; stacks of files reached to the ceiling and computer terminals lined the room centre. He stood by the wide archway, which was the entrance to the archives, and awaited his Master.
It was only a few moments until Dooku came up behind him; the Jedi Master urged him forward with a slight nudge to his shoulder, and Qui-Gon then slowly began to walk ahead. He heard his Master's gentle yet powerful footsteps ringing out behind him; Dooku had been here to the Jedi Archives many a time, and whilst the Archive chambers were spectacular - as Qui-Gon's awe suggested – Dooku had been here on that many occasions that the novelty of its amazement had worn off. It was nothing special to him anymore.
They walked together - Master and Apprentice - down the central aisle of the room, taking steady, measured steps, with gigantic shelves reaching up high to either side of them. Several other Jedi were studying the files held within the Archives from the workstations central to the room, and glanced up from their work as the two newcomers brushed by; the atmosphere was peaceful - perfect for those who wished to study in serenity.
Golden busts of Jedi who had renounced their Order lined either side of the central avenue; their deeply chiselled eyes looked predominantly down upon all whom past their gazes. Qui-Gon could not help but stare back at them with a deep frown, pondering how any Jedi could renounce their sacred Order; "Why do we honour those who betray us, Master?" he queried sourly, turning back to look up at his tutor; he had never thought to ask the question before.
Dooku did not turn to look at him - he continued to walk on, head held high, replying in his distinguished tone, "They do not 'betray' us, Qui-Gon, they merely recognise that the path placed before them is not the one they were destined to take; they realise that they do not fit into the life of the Jedi. You can therefore not expect them to lead a miserable existence by remaining part of the Order, now, can you, my apprentice?"
"No, Master," Jinn replied quietly. There was a brief silence between the two, before Jinn spoke again, "Why does it take them so long to realise that they're on the wrong path?"
Dooku paused, glancing down passing tributaries of the library, looking for the librarian, "Well, Qui-Gon, I guess people change..."
Qui-Gon nodded slowly, thinking about what his Master had said, until his train of thought was interrupted by a voice from behind; "Master Dooku! What brings you here?"
Dooku immediately halted, and made an elegant turn-about on his feet, to face the person behind him.
"Ah! Greetings, Miss Nu!" he smiled, making a somewhat gallant bow to the archive assistant librarian, "I was just searching for you!"
She smiled back, nodding at the Jedi Master.
Nu was a Jedi herself, but unlike many, had worked partly in the Archives for some time. She had always been thoroughly interested in the information that the Archives held, and had often come to peruse many a file in her spare time. She was slowly learning from the current librarian all she needed to know before the day arrived when she would take over the role herself; she would most likely be here for the rest of her life thereafter. She had a dignified air about her, and was likely around Dooku's age, give or take a few years. Her hair was brown and held back in a bun, and she had keen eyes and a delightful smile; "How may I be of service to you, Master Jedi?" she continued.
"Well, my apprentice and I" - at this point, Dooku placed his hands upon Jinn's shoulders - "Have been assigned to Colla IV."
Jocasta Nu immediately lost her smile, well aware of the dangers of Colla IV, "I see..." she said with a slow nod, trying to remain as polite and serene as possible.
Dooku nodded in acknowledgement, "And I would appreciate it if young Jinn got himself acquainted with the planet and the Colicoids - could you set him off in the right direction?"
Nu nodded to him, "My pleasure, Master Dooku," she beamed, pleased to be of service to him. Dooku urged Jinn gently toward the librarian, and left him in her hands.
Whilst she guided him to a computer terminal, Dooku went about his own businesses; taking a seat at another computer terminal, he plugged in several codes, and accessed the more exclusive files, accessible only by the higher ranked members of the Jedi. Finding the Colla IV information bank, he slowly began to go through the records:
"Source 32A: Jedi Master Thiosk and her apprentice were sent to Colla IV to negotiate terms of union with the Republic. They were recorded to have arrived, but the Colicoids denied this fact, and the two were not seen since," Dooku read discreetly; it was one of many accounts scrolling down the screen before him.
The Jedi Master frowned, and slowly sat back in his seat, rubbing his beard in thought; "That was a decade ago," he noted to himself. After brooding briefly over the first file, he scrolled down to another:
"Ssy J'uk, Neimoidian Trader, proposed a business deal with Colla IV's Droid fineries. The trader was invited to discuss terms of the proposal on the planet at the capital city of Drykos. He accepted the offer, and left for discussions on the planet," Serenn narrated inconspicuously again to himself; he skipped several lines of the report, until he came to the conclusion, "Never seen again…"
His brow furrowed a little deeper; the Colicoids were notorious for their Xenophobia, never trusting those of a different species to them. If negotiations ever got as far as taking place where this 'Ssy J'uk' was concerned, then, had anything gone the way the Colicoids did not appreciate, this Neimoidian would have been slaughtered.
"Must have been a brave Neimoidian," Dooku remarked to himself; Neimoidians were cowardly creatures – to hear of one avidly making a move toward another species, especially the Colicoids, was something new. But if there was a chance of profit at the end, then what could one expect?
Dooku scrolled a little down the screen again; "The Colicoids denied any knowledge of their 'visitor', claiming not to even be familiar with his name, or the deal that had apparently been proposed," he mumbled. He paused again before noting, "And that was fifteen years ago…"
This wasn't really helping his research; it just told him what he already knew. He flashed through several more reports, regarding problems with the planet, the light from the monitor screen illuminating his chiselled features with a haunting blue glow.
He stopped pretty much at random on one final report; "Kyle Phylan, Jedi Knight, was sent with several representatives of the Republic to investigate unprovoked assaults on freighters in the trade routes surpassing the Colla system. The group was confirmed as to reaching the Colla vicinity, although the sheer distance between Colla and the capital planet rendered communication ineffective. With contact lost, the convoy was never seen again."
Dooku emphasised his last words with something of exasperation – this was getting a bit predictable and tiresome; how could the Council deny that there was no danger in this mission? These records said it all.
Okay, there was no hard evidence for or against the Colicoid mysteries, but Dooku was sure that pure common sense said it all. Obviously, there were several thick-skinned members who sat on the Jedi Council who thought differently.
"That's the last report, eight years ago," Dooku stated solemnly, sensing Jocasta Nu sit beside him at the next terminal, "Until we lost two other Jedi recently," he finished, turning to look at her.
Nu had left Jinn with plenty to look at, and had come to see how the Master was doing now. She smiled faintly at him as his eyes lay upon her; "Please tell me they'll reconsider posting you there, Serenn," she said quietly to him, "I know that I have no right to pry into the business of the Council –"
"You have every right," he swiftly interrupted her, "Besides the fact that you help run our Archives, you are a Jedi, too."
She past over his comment as she continued, "But Colla IV… well, as you can see, it has no pristine reputation."
Dooku nodded knowingly, silent.
"I have faith in your skills, Serenn," Jocasta divulged to him discreetly, looking him hard in the eyes, "But skill isn't always enough."
He smiled gently at her concern, "I agree with you, my friend," he said quietly, "But even I cannot disobey a direct order from the Jedi Council; you seem to feel, alike myself, that this planet is nothing but trouble. Personally, I think we're better off leaving them alone – the more we pry, the more trouble we seem to get into."
He closed the files on the archive terminal, rising from his seat and beginning to pace slowly down the halls of the library as Jocasta walked by his side; "I realise that, if more Jedi have gone missing, then something must be done, but is sending yet more Jedi out to these creatures the way? Not in my opinion," he went on, voicing his concerns unwaveringly, "The Jedi Council try to deny the true hostility of these so-called 'civilised' beetles, even after all that has happened, and they still believe that they can get the Colla systems to join the democracy of the Republic. Their efforts are in vain."
He stopped before a golden bust of the first Jedi of the Lost Nineteen to have left the Order, a frightening-looking fellow, whose name he failed to recall. Jocasta looked at the bust, then back to Dooku; his countenance was deeply set as he thought gravely about the matter of this mission. He slowly turned back to look upon the smaller, female Jedi by his side, "It may take my death on this world to finally sway the Council over their opinions of the Colla system; if I am consumed, then surely they will finally realise the deadliness of the Colicoids," he said quietly, his deep tone hush.
"I should hope you would not be consumed at all," Nu retorted sombrely to him.
He didn't reply – he just stared at her for a moment.
"And, speaking of the matter," he went on after a brief pause, taking up his slow walk again, brushing past a group of infantile Padawans, "I need to find another Jedi to accompany me and young Jinn to Colla; it is a choice I wish not to hold responsibility over, not when the mission poses such risk."
"I do not envy such a choice, Master Dooku," Jocasta admitted herself, "I can only advise that you choose someone whom you trust, who will be willing to accompany you and your apprentice into such danger…"
Serenn listened to her words carefully, staring blankly at the floor as it past beneath his feet.
A Xeto Padawan suddenly appeared from out of an aisle, walking elegantly up to Jocasta Nu. It bowed to her, its four arms hanging loosely by its side, "Jedi Master Nu," she squeaked timidly, "Could I have some help, please?"
Nu smiled at the young Padawan, "Of course," she said. She looked briefly back to the esteemed Jedi Master by her side, "May the Force be with you, Master Dooku," she said discreetly, giving him a nod of farewell.
"Take care, my dear," he added after her softly, watching her attend to the small Padawan, and disappear down an aisle out of his sight.
* * * *
Night came upon Coruscant. Serenn was alone in his chamber, one of many within the Jedi dorms. He sat cross-legged upon a firm, raised seat, like a circular cushion, and was meditating – but not in the expected fashion; he was restlessly thoughtful, unable to get the mission off of his mind.
His chamber was dark about him – lights were of little use for meditation. His long, black hair hung loosely about his neck, and his eyes were unfocused, lost in thought. Master Yoda had always taught him to meditate when he was tense or angry – he had told him that it helped to tame the fire within. And it worked, as long as Dooku put his mind to it.
Jinn was now asleep, having been worn out by the day's studying and training exercises; Dooku knew how excited his Padawan was at the concept of going on a mission – it was such a pity that his first mission had potential to be his last.
But Serenn wasn't just meditating and thinking; he was waiting… waiting for the arrival of a friend, one who he had asked to come with him. Though he himself was reluctant to participate in this mission, he was even more reluctant to be held responsible for two others on this pointless quest. The Colicoids were single-minded barbarians, as far as Dooku was concerned – but to state such an opinion openly could lead to a temporary suspension from the Order. The Jedi failed to face the truth – they couldn't handle everything. Their power was not so great; in fact, Dooku was beginning to feel that slowly the power of the Jedi in the Republic was slipping.
At least if this mission turned out disastrous, then the Jedi would have to face reality over the situation with Colla. If he, Master Dooku, one of the Jedi's highest ranking and most powerful members, was apprehended on Colla, and consumed without a trace, then there would be no question of the iniquitous deeds of the Colicoids then. At least Serenn hoped so. And he prayed that it didn't come to such a horrific ending.
It seemed highly unlikely that he and his two companions would discover the fates of the two Jedi lost on the most recent mission to Colla. As far as he was concerned, getting there, and then back to Coruscant again alive would be a triumph in its own right. And if the Jedi were hoping that he could sway the Colicoids to join the Republic, then he felt that the Council were overconfident in both his ability and their influence; it wasn't as though he wouldn't appreciate the Colla system uniting with the Republic, he just knew that they wouldn't. Besides, the Jedi had enough planets in the Republic causing concern as it was – adding Colla to the list would just encourage more problems, especially with their numbers becoming increasingly limited, and their ability to contain such quandaries strained.
Suddenly, his train of thought was broken as the doors to his apartment slid open; with his back faced to the entrance, he was unable to see the incoming figure, but made no effort to turn and face them, anyway. He listened carefully as the doors hissed back to a close, and gentle footsteps made their way toward him. They stopped infront of him, and the figure took a seat on the floor; "Master Dooku," she greeted him sincerely, looking up to the Jedi through the hazy darkness.
Dooku looked back into his visitor's eyes – it was Allyaah. He stared at her for some time, unmoved by her welcoming smile, his solemnity too deep; he straightened his back, and replied, "Master Jiao," nodding to her briefly.
There was an awkward pause. The Jedi stared at one another.
"So," Dooku said quietly, breaking the silence, "Have you decided?" His mood was understandably solemn due to the implications of the mission. Jiao noted his seriousness, and glanced down at the carpet for a second, whilst Serenn waited, holding his firm gaze upon her. After a moment's pause, Allyaah lifted her head, and looked the Jedi Master straight in the eyes, "I'll come with you," she nodded almost silently, a grim, knowing smile upon her visage.
Dooku slowly nodded, his reaction bland.
Allyaah read his thoughts, his mind open to her; he felt no need to hide his feelings; "You wish not to participate at all?" she asked discreetly.
Dooku shook his head rigidly and leant his cranium upon his hand, fixing his vision on a rivet in the carpet; he was purposely trying to distract himself; "No," he mouthed in response, his voice hardly emerging from his throat, "No one should participate."
Jiao sighed, not whole-heartedly into the prospects of the assignment herself.
"This 'mission' will prove fruitless," Serenn went on, frowning deeply and gesturing about with a flick of his hand out to his left, "Master Yoda knows this, yet the remainder of the Council have pushed forward for this undertaking regardless."
Allyaah considered his opinion, pausing for a moment's thought; she nodded faintly, "Yes, but and order is an order. They haven't sent us on this mission for the fun of it. We have a job to do."
"I know," he replied softly, acknowledging her response.
Another pause.
Jiao broke this next silence, "So, when do we begin?" she asked.
Serenn studied Allyaah's eyes for a moment, before answering, "Dawn, the day after tomorrow, we meet at the Jedi Council. We'll go on from there."
Jiao nodded, and made an attempt to lighten the aura of the situation, "Me, you and Qui-Gon, 'eh? It should be an experience!" she smiled.
Dooku tried a faint smirk in response, but failed miserably, "It will be an experience," he sternly stated, "If we get back alive."
The Jedi Master got suddenly restless, and rose up from his seat, walking over to the window of his room, glaring out through the blinds at the passing traffic of Coruscant. Allyaah cautiously rose to her feet and followed him, standing a little behind him; "We will," she stated positively.
Serenn was not so sure, but he wasn't so arrogant as to scoff at his friend's comments. He monitored a particularly large freighter as it hovered past the temple, overshadowing the multitude of traffic about it in the lanes.
Jiao walked right up to his side, looking out of the window simultaneously, knowing that Dooku was just as uninterested in the passing traffic as she was – he just wanted to occupy himself whilst he felt so frustrated; "You're concerned for Qui-Gon?" she asked him gently, looking up to him; she sensed a certain unease in his poise.
He sighed, looking down, "Yes…" he admitted. He began to fiddle with his belt unknowingly, drifting away with his thoughts, his mind saturated with disquiet and irritation; if he wasn't such a reckless Jedi on occasions, with such controversial points of view, then he could have been up on the Council himself. He wasn't personally bothered about being offered a seat upon the Jedi Council, but at least if he had that privilege, he could voice his concerns more effectively over matters such as this. Though whether just his voice could prevail over all of the others in the council was unlikely.
This mission was just so wrong…
"I worry for you, too," Dooku confessed quietly to his friend in a low, hoarse tone. He turned to face her, "I don't want you or Qui-Gon to get hurt. It was hard enough asking you to take part in this anyway, never mind the fact that you may have to face the further prospects of it all."
Allyaah was suddenly indignant, "You should not 'worry' at all, Serenn!" she said resolutely, "Worrying is fearing – and Jedi know no fear!"
"I can't help it if I care, Allyaah!" he snapped back abruptly.
Jiao took in a sharp breath, and turned about, retreating into the dark chamber. She felt his eyes follow her; he had such a potent gaze, one so strong you could feel it when it trailed you. And he had a potent voice to match.
"We'll all be fine," she obstinately insisted, folding her arms tightly over her chest and looking blankly into a dark corner of the chamber.
There was a long moment's pause between them, and eventually, Allyaah decided to turn back to face him. She looked to him warily, and he continued to stare back, his imposing physique silhouetted by the window; "Yes," he finally and quietly said, "We'll all be fine."
Jiao nodded uncertainly, undecided about the way he had responded. She shook off her hesitancy – this mission was already getting to them, and they hadn't even left the temple!
"Get some sleep, Master Dooku," she said, "And I'll see you in a couple of days."
With that she bowed low to him in respect, and turned to go, leaving the Jedi Master alone with his brooding thoughts. Serenn watched her go, following her until the doors of his chamber closed behind her.
'Worrying is Fearing'
He returned his gaze to the traffic beyond his room's window, Allyaah's words reverberating about his head:
But compassion, which a Jedi should feel, is caring – and if you care about someone, you also worry. But if worrying is fearing, and a Jedi cannot know fear, then what was a Jedi meant to feel?
He slowly exhaled, his thoughts not unravelling the way he would appreciate.
And fear? Well, fear was the path to the Dark side…
To be continued…