Author's Notes: I want to plug Merrymoll's fic for her, but FF.Net just won't let me put a URL in my text… *growls* So, I'm telling you plainly, go and plug 'Terra Incognito' into the FF.Net search engine, read it and enjoy – it's really good, I'm telling you now! (It's also on my fave stories list if you wanna just pop through my profile to there)
Shadow-Angel: Thanks – Dia'll be glad to know she wasn't the only one!
LPST: (when you get this far!) Welcome to Eclipse! And I know it's twisted, but that's just me for you! ^_^ It's original, though, no?
Strider's Girl: Patience – I'm really going to make Ani & Dooku's next encounter a whopping 'conflagration'! Just for you. ^_~
Merrymoll: Bonjour, ma amis! You didn't freak me out, really – it was just the fact that you and PadawanMage said almost exactly the same thing that made me think! It was such a coincidence! I'm glad you liked Nute's er…'sit down' comedian show; I like Nute, I always have. He's just so pathetic! ^_^ And I'll keep the Leia thing in mind… ^_~ *hint, hint*
Liz: You're back! *waves* Nice to see you again! And Dooku'll come clean some time…you'll see.
Disclaimer: Count Dooku is mine! MINE, I tell you! No one's going to take him away from – *sees lawyers on the horizon* Er…okay, he's not mine…I'm sorry! o_0 Nothing wrong with wishful thinking, is there?
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"ECLIPSE"
Part 16
A chilly breeze whispered its way passed the Count and the Senator as they walked silently, side-by-side, down the sombre halls of the Dooku manor, saying nothing, their motions betraying no sign of their feelings toward one another at that present moment in time. They were pacing down into the lowest, darkest and most secretive depths of the mansion, below the level of ground; it would seem that there were many a secret and hidden passageway in the subterranean parts of the structure, one of these through which they strode now; the revelation of this huge network of concealed corridors only further qualified Padmé's view of the construction being labyrinthine. There were no paintings hung on the walls down here, no tapestries, and very few decorations – the halls were without windows, being below ground, and the synthetic light that illuminated them was incredibly dim.
Padmé rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself, her worn jumpsuit not providing the insulation she currently wanted; she did the best that she could to conceal her attempts at heating herself from the Count, however, for she still held a violent distrust of him, and didn't want his unwelcome arm to loop around her shoulder. He didn't seem to notice at all – infact, his vacant, forward gaze suggested that his mind was elsewhere, his thoughts wandering. Padmé was quite thankful for this 'absence' – he unnerved her greatly, and she had no idea for what reasons he treated her as he did; sometimes he was overly kind, others he was brutally cruel. She was certain that he'd peaked at his most evil the evening before last, though she still had only a gut feeling to go on concerning her suspicions of that most horrific act.
She exhaled deeply, and, whilst Dooku was lost in his thoughts, she allowed herself to fall back into hers…
Her bath last night had not made her feel any cleaner – and it wasn't just because she'd been wearing this same jumpsuit three days running, now. The Count was in denial – she'd never felt so dismally sure about something before in her life; and this was important, serious, critical – she had a right to know what had been done with her own body. And why.
She had hardly stopped thinking about this appalling notion since she'd awoken yesterday, and consequently had suffered reoccurring bouts of nausea in response to these worries. Infact, so bad had they become this morning, that she'd vomited violently after Serenn had left her room – she could still taste the sour bile in her mouth. She had been under the impression, strange and sudden as it had been, that she'd been with Anakin the night prior to last, and had thought that she'd given her love to him. The fact that she had woken back in the Count's large residence had changed this conception for the worse. And now all she could think about was the sole memoir that she had of the first evening here, of entering the bedroom with the persuasive Count before remembering nothing more…
When had she gone from Serenno to Naboo? The manor to the meadow? Serenn to Anakin? And had everything she believed that she'd done with Anakin transferred to Serenn?
She shuddered, swallowing hard, feeling another sudden impulse to throw up; she'd lost something very important, but to the wrong man…
She paused in her thoughts, making sure that she didn't actually heave all over the floor (she was sure, after her little spat with Dooku this morning, that he'd just love that, to top things off). After taking a couple of deep breaths, she was satisfied that she wasn't going to boycott what little there was in her stomach onto the floor, and continued to dwell within her unpleasant and unwanted thoughts:
Could she really accuse Serenn in public of what she believed had happened? Should she? And who would she disclose this to, exactly? It could easily play against her.
It was going to be hard enough as it was to try and explain to everyone back home why she had signed them to the Separatists, but to add to this that she believed that the leader of the Confederacy had abused her…how could she possibly convince people of that, especially when she wasn't even sure herself? And adding further chaos to this incredible dilemma the fact that this Separatist leader happened to be an eighty-year-old, former Jedi…it just was not likely, and seemed impossible.
And even if she plucked up this much courage, there was a ninety percent chance that it wouldn't work to her advantage; people surely would think that, just as Dooku had said to her, she had panicked in her new position and, eager to get out of it, attempted to vie for sympathy and numb the treachery of her move by accusing the Count of this most dreadful act.
And even then, it was both humiliating and terrifying – what would people say? And what would her parents think? Force, what would they think! And the scandal that would undoubtedly follow, too…oh, was it worth it?
It was worth a lot to her…
She inhaled deeply, feeling hot tears threaten to burst forth from her eyes again, something she was just so fed up of, but incapable of halting; her honour and virtue depended on this. She'd like to just brush it all under the carpet and pretend that it hadn't happened, and that the Count was a perfectly amiable and decent man, and that she was on the right side of the war…but life just didn't work that way; she didn't work that way.
And even if she did find out the truth, she knew that she was scarred for life as it was; it would never go away.
She glanced to her side; Serenn was looking at her, but, as soon as he saw her spot his scrutiny, he quickly glanced away again. She frowned a little, before returning her gaze straight-ahead, looking down the ever-darkening corridor. The lights weren't only now getting dimmer, they were getting redder, too. The décor around them changed from slightly warm, intricate and historical, to plain, metallic and industrial. Once they'd passed through the next door that they met across the passageway, one would believe that they had just entered a military base, not the lower levels of a mansion.
As this door hissed closed behind them, Padmé looked around the secretive control room beyond with amazement; the Count, meanwhile, walked on ahead, and sat down on the furthermost seat of a large, circular table, not dissimilar to the one that they'd gathered about on Geonosis.
"Where do I sit?" was the first thing she asked; it was also the first thing she'd said to him since he had left her in her room this morning, after their little 'talk'.
He opened a hand to his left, "Here," he said plainly.
She hesitated before she steadily began to pace round toward him; "Who else is coming?" she asked, looking around at all the empty seats about the table's edge.
Serenn favoured her with one of his gentle yet ominous smiles, "In presence, no one," he said, "But, via hologram, I expect everyone."
"Everyone?"
"From the Confederacy."
"Oh…"
She paced lightly and slowly about the table, running her hand along its smooth surface, her mind still very uneasy. Serenn's eyes followed her all the time, watching her face closely, sensing the severe discomfort and bewilderment that had piled up in the young Nubian's head, of which he was the source; a sickly smirk pulled at the corner of his lips as he savoured this thought; he had power over her, and she, to some reluctant extent, knew it.
Suddenly, Padmé halted, her brow furrowing ever so slightly; she blinked several times, her eyes concentrated, before she lifted her gaze toward the Count. He returned it with thrice the intensity.
"You have the greatest weapon in your possession to use against the Republic," she uttered quietly, frowning all the while, "So why don't you use it? Why haven't you used it already?"
Serenn's eyebrows cocked very slightly, his self-satisfied leer never leaving his visage; he allowed a pause to pass before he leant forward a little and queried, " 'Greatest weapon'?" He ran a finger inattentively along the control panel set in the table before him, his tone startlingly leisurely and impassive.
"Yes," Padmé nodded firmly, irritated by his laconic attitude, and also annoyed at her own lack of foresight at not thinking of it before, "The Sith Lord. You know exactly who he is, yet you haven't even tried to use it against him, or the Republic? Why not use it for your own benefits?"
Dooku steadily slouched back in his seat, studying Padmé with a knowing look, before he silently shook his head and chuckled discreetly to himself, glancing down at the desk.
"What?" Padmé asked loudly, "What's so funny?" She placed her hands to her hips, and shook her head back at him, filled with irritation; "It's a gift! Why not use it?"
Serenn maintained his impassable smile and leant forward once more, asking gently, "What colour did your parents tell you the sky was, back on Naboo, when you were young?"
Padmé blinked, pondering whether he'd just gone mad; "Excuse me?"
"Well?" he pressed, latching his fingers together before him and resting them on the table whilst he continued to wait upon her for her reply.
She looked to the side, then back to him, "What are you talking about?" she asked.
His eyebrows rose a little further in response, pushing further for an answer.
She sighed reluctantly before saying, "Blue."
Serenn nodded, "And if I told you that it was red…?"
"I'd say that you'd have grown up on some other planet," she retorted, far from amused by his childish ploy.
He chuckled lightly, "Exactly so," he nodded, with a grin as wide as a nexu's.
"And your point being…?" Padmé sighed in vexation.
"My point being, madam," he replied swiftly, "That telling the Jedi, or indeed the Republic, that they are led by a Sith Lord is something akin to my trying to convince you that the Nubian sky is red."
She swallowed impatiently, taking a seat at where she stood, some distance from him over the table; "Have you even tried telling them?"
" 'Tried'?" he scoffed, shaking his head, " 'Tried', my dear? The Jedi are as good as deaf – the Dark side of the Force is growing, clouding their vision, and they cannot see the light of truth through the fog."
"Nice metaphor," she hissed astringently.
"Thank you," he rejoined equally curtly, "But it's true. You know yourself where the Senate and the Jedi's inaction has gotten them – did the Senate listen to your pleas ten years ago, regarding the Trade Federation's blockade? No. Did the Jedi believe my former Padawan when he concluded that a Sith Lord had attacked him on Tatooine, in your pursuit? Not until it was too late…"
"Hang on!" Padmé interrupted abruptly, giving the table a light slap, "Your 'former Padawan'…?"
Dooku nodded slowly, "Yes, Qui-Gon Jinn, my one-time protégé."
Padmé had to blink hard to make sure that she had heard him right, swallowing firmly; Qui-Gon, the most kind, if not a little reckless Jedi she'd ever met, who'd sacrificed himself on Naboo a decade ago, saved Anakin and trained Obi-Wan, had once been trained by Dooku?
"I was proud of him," the Count went on, "He became a fine Jedi, always thinking for himself, and doing what he knew was right. He kept his feet on the ground, he did…" He sighed, his mind filling with recollection, something of a truly saddened aura coming over his well-defined countenance, "His loss greatly affected me, and it was the last straw. I left the Order promptly after his death…or, should I say 'his murder'?"
"It made you leave the Jedi?" she asked him softly.
"It did in that it was the final catalyst," he replied candidly, "It was the last of many things that made me leave…I wasn't a 'good boy', you must understand, in the Order, but only because I chafed against rules that I found absurd to follow. I understand the Jedi's ignorance and idleness because I was once one of them; I've seen the inner workings of the Councils, and challenged them all countless times, earning myself a reputation and a long, long list of offences in the process – but they never did listen, and they still do not. Trust me, Padmé, when I say that the Jedi and the Republic would just laugh in my face if I pointed to Palpatine and yelled 'Sith'!"
Padmé leant her head onto her hand, sighing unenthusiastically, "Okay…I see your point," not wholly convinced by it all; she was too amazed at finding that she was in the presence of the man who had shaped and moulded the mind of a young Qui-Gon to think about that, though.
She looked across to him again, "When can I go home, then? I've got a lot to try and explain to my people. I'm probably the most hated and cursed person on my home planet by now…"
"We'll come to that," he smiled astutely.
"And can I tell them about Palpatine?" she asked.
He shrugged, his confidence and relaxed manner greatly unnerving her, "Tell them at your own peril, but the Jedi will no doubt be able to sway your people's beliefs otherwise. Palpatine knows that he is safe for the time being."
There was a long pause, by the end of which Padmé's brow creased profoundly once more; "How did you know?" she whispered, seeming to almost be talking to herself.
Serenn swallowed gently, observing her with curiosity, " 'Know', my dear?" he asked in response.
"About Palpatine being a Sith Lord," she went on, glaring hard at him, her mind fluttering with insecurity, "How did you know?"
Serenn looked at her hard, and gradually opened his mouth to reply, when suddenly, he was cut short by the incessant bleeping of the console before him. He inhaled deeply, and looked down to the console, whilst Padmé continued to study his visage vigorously.
Pushing a button, and flicking about a few small levers, his eyes rose to meet Amidala's again, and he ordered her abruptly, "Come here."
She didn't even think about disobeying him for some reason, and rose steadily to her feet, pacing round the table to his side; "Sit down," he added, occupied with flicking switches on his console. She slid slowly into the seat by his left, sitting as far toward its edge as she could to put some distance between them.
"We have company," he then explained, finally pressing one button, before then sitting back and waiting.
Suddenly, electrical hums burst to life from each of the seats about the table, projecting life-size holograms of all of the Separatist allies, giving the illusion that they were all sat round here together. Padmé looked about each of them as they joined the Count and her via holoproj'; there was Hill, Argente, Mai, Tambor…everyone. And, of course, there was Nute Gunray, his hologram coming forth in the seat right next to hers at the last moment.
She sighed with disgruntlement, certain that the Count had done this on purpose; at least she couldn't smell him, she thought, one good reason to convene via hologram. Nute turned his fuzzing, holographic eyes upon her, and looked likely to start to shout in protest at being practically sat next to Padmé Amidala – but the Count started talking before he could, and forced him to hold his tongue.
"My colleagues and friends, welcome…I must first thank you all for getting in touch with me so swiftly," he eyed Gunray for a brief moment, knowing that the Trade Federation had been far from fleet in their contact of him; "And I also must extend my apologies to you for failing to organise an assembly where we could meet in person again, as I recall I earlier promised; but time is short and the Republic grows strong; we are safer meeting this way.
"We are still recovering from our blow at the Republic's hands and, as I'm sure you will all agree, it is imperative that we now strike a severe blow against them, and hit them hard where they least expect it. We need to prove that we are still in the game."
"So what are your plans for our next move, Count?" Passel Argente queried in his slow, slithering tone, his every syllable hissing mechanically through the holoprojector interface, "As you said yourself, the Republic grows strong. Their army is being spread throughout the galaxy, just waiting to engage us…we are powerless if we do not unite again soon."
"Yes, I agree," Serenn nodded, "And that is exactly what the Republic is expecting us to do – they are certain that we will reconvene."
["But we need to, Count,"] Shu Mai objected, ["Our armies have been devastated by that one recent battle on Geonosis…we cannot each go on alone – they will wipe us out too easily! We must reunite!"]
"Not necessarily…" Dooku went on, rubbing his beard thoughtfully, a flash of brilliance seeming to spark in his eyes, "But we must operate under the pretext that we are strong and reunited…"
["I do not follow you, Count,"] chirped Poggle the Lesser, having the misfortune of being on Gunray's other side – he too was certain that Serenn had decided to place him there on purpose, knowing of his severe dislike for the Neimoidian viceroy.
Padmé gave Dooku a look of discontent – she didn't know exactly what was going on, unable to understand Poggle and Shu, and confounded as to what the Count had up his sleeve, seeing the enthused glow in his eyes.
"The Senate will expect us to reunite and prey on the weak, knowing that we will feel stronger with more numbers behind us. In other words, they believe that we will attempt to align more systems to our cause," Dooku continued, staring over each of the holograms assembled in turn.
"Isn't that what we are going to do?" Senator Tikkes piped, steepling his fingers leisurely, "The more systems in our league, the better."
The Count grinned; "My dear Senator, since when have I followed convention?" he smirked suavely, "Of course, we don't wish to disappoint the Republic, so we will appear to do such…but we will also take them for fools at the same time, and teach them to try and predict our movements."
The entire gathering looked upon Dooku expectantly, leaving no doubts as to why he was the leader.
"Well, come on, old boy, speak up!" San ushered him impatiently, seeing that the Count had much more to say.
Dooku relaxed back into his seat, satisfaction saturating his countenance, "Listen closely, my friends, I believe that I have a plan."
Padmé turned to Serenn swallowing hard, and, with the rest of the gathering, listened closely to the charismatic separatist's scheme…
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"We deprive the Jedi of their Chosen One, then we deprive the galaxy of the Jedi. Their numbers are dwindling, their powers weakening…when the right moment arises, we will make the Republic see the true vanity of their Jedi protectors; we make them lose faith and we move in and conquer. None will survive, and a new Order will finally arise! Oh, it is delicious – don't you agree, Tyranus?"
"…"
"Tyranus?"
"…"
"Tyranus!"
"Master?" Serenn blinked out of his reverie as he finally heard the vicious voice of his Sith mentor tear down his ear canal; he stared at the hologram of his master sheepishly, shaking his head and refocusing himself on what the Sith Lord was saying.
"Pay attention!" Sidious snarled, "I expect to have to tell a teenager that, but an octogenarian, Tyranus? Honestly…"
Tyranus sighed, "Apologies, my lord."
"Apologies?" Sidious scoffed, "I don't want your 'apologies'! I want your attention!"
Dooku shook his head once more, exhaling steadily to calm himself before Sidious even started to wind him up; it was a couple of hours since the Separatist convention, and Dooku was back in his secret little communications room, informing his Master of exactly what the Separatists were planning to do so that, in turn, Sidious could orchestrate the Republic to his will. They were playing this war game together, each knowing where the other's next move would be, and each putting lives on the line with knowledge of whether or not they would be spared.
The Sith Master went balefully silent for a moment as he studied his apprentice's features exhaustively, peering out from beneath the shadow of his hood; "What is occupying your mind, my apprentice?" he asked Dooku pryingly, his eyes, though only present via the illusion of the hologram, loading a huge weight onto the elder warrior's shoulders, "You are not focused."
Serenn looked into the darkness of Sidious' hood, before replying steadily, "It's nothing, Master."
"I remind you not to lie to me, Tyranus," Sidious ordered him blandly, his subdued tone more frightening than anything he yelled in wrath, "But, seeing as you are not willing to share it, may we continue?"
"Yes, my Master," Tyranus nodded in reply, keeping his intense eyes on his mentor.
"The Confederacy are going for a new tactic then – a two way assault, in essence?"
"Well, I wouldn't call either an 'assault'…just your regular 'distraction', my Lord."
"Excellent…this will finally give you your chance to take that wretched planet…"
"You definitely want me to take it, then?"
"Oh yes…haven't we already decided this?"
"I was just confirming it, my Lord. But I will still meet resistance there…?"
"Yes…but the resistance from the Republic will be belated. We will make sure that your ploy planet-takeover gets the most attention until it is too late. And you can have that planet, too, for all I care – it is of little concern to me. I can always take it back when the New Order is in place, can I not?"
"Yes, my Lord. See my Confederacy's taking it now as a long term lease."
Sidious cackled, "You do have a sense of humour when you wish to reveal it, my friend," he smirked dryly, his hologram flickering out of proportion briefly due to sudden interference, before returning to its normal shape, "And who is taking charge of your 'ruse'?"
"San Hill, my Lord…though I believe Gunray would have appreciated the power; he feels that I owe him something after his Federation lost so many droids on Geonosis."
"Typical old Gunray," Sidious mused snidely, "And you do have enough arms to pull this off, don't you?"
"Yes…security has become surprisingly slack around Geonosis, and Poggle has several batches of new droids already prepared for despatch. I have the Corporate Alliance on their way there now…"
"Ah, yes…I foresaw your need to return to Geonosis, so was…conveniently 'slack' with security around that area, when my forces were sent out recently around the galaxies."
"I thank you for your prudence, my Lord."
Sidious wafted a hand toward him, thinking in the ensuing pause. "I believe that we can bring the Chosen One into this equation, too," he suddenly deduced.
Tyranus' lip curled, "Anakin?" he growled, his eyes burning with a steady fire.
Sidious chuckled dryly at his protégé's rage, "Patience, old friend. Let the boy disgrace the Jedi and pull himself away from their cause. We will orchestrate some trouble for him. He still cares deeply for Miss. Amidala – perhaps we can lure him out to you once more, and you can have that rematch you so much wanted, yes?"
Dooku thought about this for a moment, "Yes…" he mused thoughtfully, "I will see… As long as Padmé –"
"Oh, on first name terms now, are we?" Sidious interrupted with a sinister grin.
Dooku continued, ignoring him, "As long as Padmé remains by my side no matter what the outcome of this 'rematch'; the longer I hold her, the further Anakin will fall. If he comes close to reclaiming her this next time, but narrowly misses, he'll only be further enraged by it all."
"Oh yes, I agree – it's a perfect opportunity to knock him down a few more pegs from the Light side," Sidious nodded grimly, "Keep her, Tyranus; do as you wish with her. By the time Anakin will be able to have her back, it will be too late."
Tyranus nodded, lowering himself to one knee as he felt the approach of his Master's departure, "Or it already is…" he added discreetly.
TBC…