Rise of the Empire
Chapter 1: Traversing the Fog
How long had it been? Was it ten? Eleven months ago? The movement of time had become vague; the mind no longer desired to keep exact track.
For as easy a decision as it had been, it was one that had plagued Count Dooku for what seemed like ages.One day, after a year of meditation and examining his own heart, he went to the Jedi Council and formally renounced his commission as a Jedi Knight. His Padawan had long since become a fully-capable Jedi, and he felt his time had passed. There were other things he desired to do, and these desires were not in keeping with the strict lifestyle of a Jedi.
The truth was, Count Dooku was an idealist democrat. A Jedi was not to get heavily involved in political struggles, but was instead to keep the peace and serve the greater good and the Force. It was quite difficult to maintain this neutral stance to events outside one's control when the events seemed to be slowly tearing at the fabric of all that was great in the world.
Dooku saw the truth. Corruption was sneaking into the Republic. The poor were being oppressed…the bureaucracy's views were separating from the group they represented. From the bottom up, things were slowly changing for the worse. And – as a Jedi – he could do nothing to stop it, even as it slowly slithered across planetary lines and toward his home planet of Serenno.
As the Count of Serenno, however, he had power and backing to stop the spread of suffering and pain, and he endeavored to use it. The Jedi granted his request reluctantly, for it was such a rare one. How often does a practitioner of some 70 or 80 odd years stand and forsake the ways of the Force? Whatever was on his heart, it would not do well by the Jedi to force him to stay.
Now, Dooku was almost beginning to regret his decision. His actions had indeed kept Serenno pristine, but his efforts to silently assist other planets were failing miserably. It seemed that while he was rooting corrruption out of his homeworld, it had spread throughout the galaxy. He could sense the suffering on the surrounding planets, and it frustrated him greatly to be so limited in helping them.
Each day, he meditated for hours, calming himself, and picking up information from the feelings of the realms around him. He even picked up the rallying of the Trade Federation against Naboo and courting open war against the planet. He felt the prescence of his former paduwan, Qui-Gon Jinn, in the area, and considered leaving Serenno to see him, but thought better of it.
That was when things got odd, however.
The next week established a strange trend. Each and every day, Dooku's meditations were less and less effective. His senses, honed throughout his life by constant awareness of the Force, seemed to dullen heavily. He could no longer use the force like a news program. Beyond that, he found himself more and more disturbed by what little he could feel each day. The light ping of Master Yoda was ever-present, as always. Yet, while probing Yoda, his brow would wrinkle as a cloud of confusion seemed to cover the area. His senses were almost completely blunted, but he could not help but feel a disturbing amount of hidden anger. It was quickly shrouded, but that in itself was a bad sign. Something was going on at Coruscant. Add to that the fact that his own paduwan was lightyears closer and could not be sensed at all, and Count Dooku began to be quite disturbed.
But Dooku was aware enough to know what this meant. While he had remained true to the Light Side of the Force (if a bit dissident), Count Dooku had not been a man to keep his curiosity in check. His youth had taught him enough of the Dark Side to know what could cause this clouding of the Force...he knew now that the Sith were hiding under the Republic's nose. Heck, right under Yoda's nose...what immense power this Sith must have to escape Yoda's senses. Dooku wondered if the ways of the Living Force would have better hopes of finding a Sith than the Unifying Force of Yoda would...and he considered going back to fight the inevitable war that would come.
But...no. Dooku clearly remembered all the reasons he had left. It was more than saving his homeworld...the ideals of the Jedi had decayed. Their service to the Republic, as corrupt as it was becoming behind the scenes -- as Bureaucratic as its members were becoming--was sickening to him. No longer were the people truly represented...the only thing most officeholders served was their office and their own pocketbooks. In such a distasteful Republic, the Jedi Order should remain neutral, serving good and righteousness. Instead, they work within the halls of the government, allowing themselves to be influenced by government greed and corruption. Instead of attaching themselves to political ideas, it seemed they'd attached themselves to the shifty politicians. Dooku hated politicians.
No, he would not return.
Instead he remained home, occassionally making attempts to aid other planets and keep the growing sense of darkness in check, but nevertheless convinced that he was doing little good. When the Republic is corrupt, he reasoned, its people will inevitably be corrupt at some point. The entire system was failing, and Dooku's cynical views began to weigh on him. Months of weakened meditation and clouded visions left him feeling less and less in touch with the Force than ever before, and endless dinks and dents in the steel wall of corruption left him feeling more and more worthless.
It was under these circumstances that an unexpected visitor arrived at the home of Count Dooku. His ship was unmarked, and upon questioning, he revealed that he was on Serenno for official business of the Galactic Republic Senate, and asked for Dooku by name. That was enough to produce the result he desired...a private meeting with the man without too many questions.
When Dooku entered the guest room of his estate, he was greeted by a warm and friendly face. This senator seemed to be about 40 years Dooku's junior...young enough to have the spark in his eye...the second wind of middle age. And yet, old enough to be experienced in how the world worked. Despite the warmth and innocence painted on the man's face, part of Dooku wanted to turn and leave the room. Dooku hated politicians.
The statesman stood and approached Dooku, wrapping his hand in a firm handshake and speaking. "Count Dooku, it is an honor to meet you. I am Senator Palpatine of Naboo."
Why was someone representing Naboo approaching the Count of Serenno? Dooku didn't have time to think about it...the man began to speak again.
"I'm blessed to have the opportunity to meet one so reputed...so well-versed in the Jedi Order, and so willing to help the Republic in any way he can."
Being confronted by a politician, Dooku could not stop his mind from second-guessing the man...reading behind every word for the other phrases that Senator Palpatine had inevitably eliminated when he practiced this speech. This man deemed him still a Jedi. "I am nothing more than what the Force made of me, and I am even less of that now." Hopefully, that would be enough to stop the random praise from the senator.
Palpatine waved a hand in front of his face nonchalantly, as if he were deflecting that comment away. "Nonsense, nonsense. Your activities here on Serenno epitomize the Jedi ideals...you are defending the peace the best way you know how."
Dooku sighed. No such luck on ending the political praise. "My activities have been impatient...unbending. I have attacked with a rock what water would have probably ebbed away by now..." Dooku closed his eyes, attempting to hide the frustration from his face and voice.
Palpatine looked at the man in concern, and noted how broken he seemed to be. He held his breath for a moment, cutting off the words that crossed his mind. When he opened his mouth again, his words were spoken carefully...measured and even. "Perhaps. Good will and patience might have brought down the corruption you have seen. Or, it could have only invited further corruption. Often, the corrupt do not see good will...only weakness."
Dooku remained still, though the words of Palpatine carried an amount of truth to his mind. He had often seen things the same way. There was another moment of silence. Dooku began to wonder if perhaps this senator was just having a conversation with him...perhaps he didn't have a larger agenda. But if that were the case, why would he come this far?
"When presented with such corrupt wills, often what is needed is not water, but a bigger rock..."
Dooku's eyes opened. Those words definitely had a larger agenda behind them. This politician definitely had a purpose here. Palpatine was still speaking, and had walked towards a nearby window, seemingly unaware of the change in his host.
"Water may succeed eventually, but how much damage will be done while passive means bring down corruption?"
Dooku walked over to the window and made eye contact with Palpatine once again. The Force was not neccessary to sense the passionate feelings of this senator on this subject. "You speak from experience...but let's stop beating around the bush here. You have a purpose here, I expect..."
Palpatine tilted his head back and looked to Dooku's eyes. The impatience of youth was glowing within them. Amusing, considering the man he was speaking to was well over 80 years old. Apparently, he'd baited the count quite well. "Very well." Palpatine slowly turned to face Dooku, resting a hand on the window sill. "I must confess, I have not been entirely forthcoming with information thus far. Now I will tell you the full depths of the situation I have come to rectify." Palpatine paused for dramatic effect. When Dooku did not respond in any way, the senator continued. "I am in fact carrying not only the title of senator, but also the title of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate."
Dooku was quite surprised. "You mean to say that Chancellor Valorum has been removed."
"I mean to say that Chancellor Valorum was the water approach to corruption. A conflict between the Trade Federation and my home planet was nearing all-out war, and he stood patiently, trying to get the two sides to settle their differences through typical means. Naboo was about to be wiped away by the Trade Federation's droids, and he did not move..."
Dooku's countenance was dark as he heard these words, as well as the frustration apparent in Palpatine's choice of words. So corruption had indeed worked its way through the Senate.
"And so Queen Amidala of Naboo began a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Valorum. In the end, I was elected...I suspect for the sympathy vote. And yet, I have not taken this new responsibility lightly just because it was given lightly." Palpatine paused. Nothing more really needed to be said along those lines, else he'd probably test the patience of his host again.
Dooku waited a moment before acknowledging the silence. "So, then...your purpose here, Chancellor Palpatine?"
Deep within his mind, Palpatine smiled. Dooku had secluded himself quite heavily, apparently. "If you do not know of the events that happened nearly a year ago, then you have indeed secluded yourself in your work here on Serenno." This also meant that his ability to sense things through the Force had been weakened severely, and Palpatine of course knew why..."Perhaps I should tell you more of what has happened in the Republic while you've been away."
Dooku looked to the chancellor, then invited him back to the table to sit. While Dooku signalled to a housemaid to bring the two of them some tea, Palpatine took a seat at the table and contemplated his words. Soon, they were both seated, and Palpatine spoke again.
"I have held the position of Chancellor for about a year now. During that time, I have worked to eliminate corruption and bring the Republic back to where it rightfully should be. But, there are many people within the government who believe I am a meddler. Some think I'm vying for power through this...and others just think the government should be more laissez-faire...more laid back. Unfortunately, they make my work amazingly difficult."
Dooku awaited the connection to himself, but listened carefully all the same.
"In my time, I've made no headway in this area. You see, as Chancellor I have authority to keep the Republic running as it always did, but no power beyond a senator to improve that running. I am not a president, so to speak...the Republic itself controls all in the end. The problem with this is that the Republic as a whole has become as stubborn and conservative as the few members who stood against reform when I first arrived. And the problem is not the people...it's that the Republic itself has a fatal flaw."
Dooku looked surprised by this. It wasn't often you heard a politician express his anger at the system.
"Because we've run so well for so long, we fail to see the danger in any line of tradition. Our tactics have oppressed the weak...and they've created corruption at the lowest levels. That corruption has swept its way upwards, formed into syndicates, and is now beginning to be seen in much more prominent places like the Trade Federation. If it continues without bound, soon the government will collapse...perhaps not in name, but in action, surely."
Dooku himself had said something very similar to the Jedi Council years ago. When they decided to stand still, he decided to leave and act on his own. But this man was in a much more dire situation. What good would leaving the government do? Especially if the entire Galactic Republic were in danger...
"I fear inaction will lead to further despair and corruption...but I fear that I cannot act any further without endangering my position as Chancellor. And if that is lost, then there may be no stopping the conservativism from taking over, and the Republic will be an endangered species..."
Count Dooku's patriotic strings had been tugged lightly, and he felt a small bit of respect for this senator...Palpatine saw things his way. And yet, something within him feared what the man's plan might be. "What are you intending to do, and what would my part be?"
"I cannot act, but someone must. The corruption within our society must be stopped, not by killing the corrupt, but by giving them less reason to be so. The Republic must be made to see the error of its ways...and the only way I can see to do that is to allow a faltering." Palpatine took a deep breath...the next words would be his doing or undoing. "There are many groups like the Trade Federation, which are on the outskirts of the law at this point, and would consider all-out rebellion if they had the forces. The Trade Federation itself has the forces to do so, but not the motivation. Thus far we have been fortunate in that way...weapons and the anger to use them have remained on different planets."
Dooku nodded.
"But...what if the two sides were to unite? Suddenly, you'd have a dangerous force...possibly the closest thing we've seen to an army marching on the Republic -- though in this case it would be...droids of the Federation. But the picture drawn is still quite fierce and fearful..."
A distinct picture had been drawn in Dooku's mind just then...he connected the dots quickly. "Just what are you trying to say..." Dooku paused and made direct eye contact with Palpatine. "You want me to lead a rebellion against the Republic?" The anger at such a request shined in his wide eyes.
Palpatine shook his head. This wouldn't go well if he continued to think he was being called to take down order. "I want you to become the face of a rebellion that is already mounting...unify it...make it strong in the eyes of the Republic. The only way anything will ever change is if the bureaucrats are scared into a change. You shall bring that change, by shoving what is already in front of their faces...into their face."
"So I am bringing war against the Republic, then?"
Palpatine frowned. "No." It was obvious that Dooku's loyalty was still to the Republic, and that was fine. As long as his loyalty was to the Republic, and not to ideal good, he was a workable resource. "No. This should never come to all-out war. When the Republic realizes how great the threat is, there will be no choice but to succumb to your demands, or run. After all, we have no army to fight against the Trade Federation...especially if they have the resources to build more droids."
Those "resources" were Dooku's own, he realized. Dooku nodded as it sunk in. "Then...a faux-threat."
"You see now why I trust you with this. A lesser man could betray and make a true war out of a ruse like this...I do not think you would do so. And yet, the image of a retired Jedi defending his homeworld is just outside the box enough to breed true fear in men's hearts. Fear is the goal, however...not death."
Dooku nodded again and processed what he'd just been told, and found a level of understanding. As a citizen of an outlying planet who had been fighting against the corruption of his own people, Dooku was a strong political piece. As a former Jedi, he was a powerful and charismatic leader, and a great unifying force for a group that would be fighting against a corrupt Republic. And as a Count, he was a great resource...his reach in respected circles was long and strong, and his pocketbooks were deep enough to assist in financing a large-scale political movement. For this man, Palpatine, to have seen the possibility suggested that he was quite brilliant.
"You may be the first politician whose policy I actually like..."
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Mwahahahaha...