Dooku knew that today would be the last day that he would have Obi-Wan on board. And he couldn't help but feel mournful that he would have to let his Grandson go. When he wasn't trying to murder the other man, his affection for him was allowed to grow once more; repairing the crumbling foundation that had been so strong when he was a boy.
"You should really talk with him Master," Qui-Gon said aloud as he followed Dooku through the ship. "Who knows how many problems that could have been avoided in life if we just talked to each other. Though I assume that its only when we are dead we see the wisdom of these words," mused Qui-Gon. "Though as Jedi who knew we would be so bad at communication."
How much pain could have been avoided if had talked to Dooku, talked to Feemor, Obi-Wan, Kara, and with Anakin? What a fool Qui-Gon had been when he was alive, a big blinded fool who had a stubborn streak the size of a galaxy. The Force seemed to be taking great pleasure in showing him that a majority of his Lineage problems lay solely on his feet. Dooku and Yoda had certainly also made mistakes but nothing compared to Qui.
All his children had suffered greatly because he had been an idiot. Feemor has basically exiled himself to the Outer Rim, Obi-Wan learned to mask everything and to project what everyone needed him to be, and Kara had almost went to the Dark Side.
Somehow Feemor and Kara had managed to build a relationship despite Qui keeping them separated, but like always Obi-Wan was left to suffer. He should have listened to Tahl and did what he had promised and introduced Kara and Obi-Wan when she became a Padawan.
But he had hoarded her presence, not wanting to share the last connection to his beloved, even though he knew Obi-Wan greatly missed Tahl. He had also tried to argue that his Code loving son would bring it to the Council's attention, because a part of him never could trust Obi-Wan. His heart hardened by the betrayal of Xanatoas and Qui-Gon's perceived betrayals during Obi-Wan's early apprenticeship, Melida/Daan specifically.
How Qui-Gon wished he could go back and bash some sense into his thick skull. His youngest son bore more sorrow and responsibility then what was meant for his young shoulders, and again most could have been avoided if Qui-Gon hadn't been a stubborn old fool. Obi-Wan had learned much of his bad behavior under Qui-Gon's tutelage. Always striving to be more so he could be accepted, to make him think he had to work for every scrap affection that was given to him, worse to let him think he didn't deserve it to begin with.
It was part of the reason why Qui-Gon believed Obi-Wan was so attached to the clones, they had chosen him. The 212th had chosen Obi-Wan, accepted him and never made him feel like he was a burden or someone else's second choice. He wished he could clue the clones in, why Obi-Wan was so determined to save them all even at the cost of his life. Qui-Gon was certain the clones would haul Obi-Wan into a cuddle pile and never let him leave.
But the Force worked in mysterious ways, and even after being apart of it for so long, Qui-Gon was still surprised by it. The Galaxy has been on its way down a very dark path, now it was slowly growing more bright and the catalyst centered around Obi-Wan.
Anakin was no longer being twisted and tormented by the dark, he was building bonds and healing at the Temple because of trust in Obi-Wan. It rattled the Council out of compliancy, and Yoda was leading the change by going to the Mind Healers.
And only Obi-Wan could make his Old Master reach back to the light, something Qui-Gon believed was no longer possible, not after everything Dooku had done.
His son was extraordinary and the only one that couldn't see it was Obi-Wan himself.
Dooku was mildly surprised to find his grandson practicing his katas instead of using his lightsaber for escape. Obi-Wan was once again practicing the familiar forms of Soresu and not Ataru like he had attacked Dooku with on the field. He resisted the urge to smile when he noticed that he was sparing barefoot, the driods seemingly still holding onto his boots.
"Keeping your skills sharp, I see," Dooku said after a few minutes of watching Obi-Wan go through his forms.
"One must always be prepared," Obi-Wan said sagely as he deactivated his saber and looked up to the walkway Dooku was standing on.
Dooku nodded and spoke one of his favorite sayings, "Si vis pacem, para bellum."
"If you want peace, prepare for war," murmured Obi-Wan the translation turning off his lightsaber.
"I see Qui-Gon passed down some of my teachings," murmured Dooku in return.
Obi-Wan was surprised, he didn't know that Dooku was the one that had taught Qui-Gon the saying. "He would always use that argument when someone asked if the Jedi were peace keepers why do we carry lightsabers."
"Where do you think he learned it from?" Dooku asked with a raised eyebrow.
Obi-Wan's eyes locked with his before they cut to the side, "And yet you started a war. When we had peace," he said as he clipped the lightsaber to his belt.
Yes, Dooku did. Blinded by his desires and twisted by the dark he had helped plunge the galaxy into a civil war. Dooku considered for a moment of telling Obi-Wan the identity of Sideous, but dismissed it. He hadn't believed him on Geonois, and he probably wouldn't now. He gracefully climbed down the stairs so he could be on even ground for this battle.
"We had compliancy and illusion of peace. I know you went on enough missions with Qui-Gon to know the Mid and Outer rim suffer while the Core worlds prosper. How many wars were the Jedi not made aware of because of the inefficiency of the Senate? I know you have personal experience in this department back when you were young."
Obi-Wan made the smallest of flinches at the memory of Melida/Daan.
"Or better yet the wars the Jedi had a hand in creating? I speak from experience now, the Battle of Galidraan. We were sent as assassins and plunged the entire Mandalore system into Clan Wars because of that inefficiency."
Though Dooku was sure that Galidraan was the work of Sideous and his Master. A united Mandalore would have made the Sith's plan more difficult.
"And starting a war and killing millions of innocent bystanders was the answer to that inefficiency?" accused Obi-Wan his eyes turning icy blue in his anger that was directed on Dooku.
"This war would have started with or without you or me," shot back Yan.
"You don't know that."
"You seem to be forgetting that I have unique knowledge that you are not privy to. It was always the plan of the Sith. This war has only made the Jedi weaker, while the Sith sit in the shadows, wait, and grow stronger. How many Jedi have died, how many are close to falling?"
Obi-Wan's silver tongue failed him as he had no response. Because what Dooku said hit to close to home. How close had Anakin been to falling? How many times had Obi-Wan been on the edge of death but the sheer stubbornness of his Padawan prevented him from joining the Force. Obi-Wan turned his face away from his Grandmaster.
Dooku knew he had touched a nerve, but knew he had given him much to think upon and Obi-Wan was the kind to stew and ponder until he got his answer.
"Would you like to spar?" asked Yan, smoothly ending the discussion.
Obi-Wan head jerked in surprise at the offer. Every encounter with Dooku involving lightsabers was a battle and he never had an actual spar with his Grandmaster.
Obi-Wan unclipped his lightsaber and fell into his opening stance.
Dooku gracefully unclipped his cape and grabbed his lightsaber. If he was going to correct his mistake with Grievous he would have to find his new range with balancing the light and dark.
He made the first move using his favored Makashi, using the control movements against Obi-Wan's returned strikes, attempting to draw in both sides of the Force to assist. He soon found a balance, the dark side was perfect for short bursts of energy and the light more suited to sustainability.
Obi-Wan found himself slightly enjoying the spar. Not many in the Temple practiced Makashi, the Count was one of the few true Masters of the form. When Obi-Wan wasn't fighting for his life, it was nice to test the Count defense and attacks.
The spar came to an end quicker than either side wanted, even with the balance he was attempting with the Force, he tired much quicker than before.
"Solah" he said as he lowered his saber, his breathing harder than Obi-Wan had ever heard it. A slight niggle of worry took root in Obi-Wan's heart as he deactivated his saber. But before he could ask anything Dooku's comm chirped loudly three times.
Dooku softly sighed, his time with Obi-Wan was up, the Clones were within reach of sending a rescue team. He masked the movement of reaching into his belt for the hypo by grabbing his cloak. Obi-Wan's back was turned to him, showing Dooku at some level Obi-Wan had stopped seeing him as an immediate threat during his time as Dooku's guest. Dooku had the merest suggestion of guilt as he struck like a viper, plunging the hypo into Obi-Wan's neck.
Obi-Wan stumbled back, hand immediately going to his neck as he rounded on the Count. "What did you give me?" The drug was fast acting and Dooku had fixed the dosage exactly for his stubborn Grandson. Already his knee was buckling as the Force slipped from his grasp.
Dooku stepped forward and firmly grabbed his arm and guided him to the ground. "Something to make you sleep nothing more. I can't have you running around for the next few hours."
Obi-Wan surprised himself by relaxing, the Force confirming that Dooku was telling no lie.
"Why is this different?" Obi-Wan asked the Count softly. Obi-Wan wanted an explanation why Dooku was acting like this, why it felt like everything was about to change. Why Dooku hadn't killed him.
Dooku sighed, how to explain it? Did he want to try to explain it?
"It just is," Dooku said softly. "You men will arrive soon. Sleep well."
Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered shut as the drug took full effect. Using a bit of the Force, Dooku maneuvered Obi-Wan so his head rested on his thigh and allowed Dooku to gently run his fingers through Obi-Wan's hair.
Dooku wanted to soak what might be the last time he might see Obi-Wan. Grievous was a formable opponent, just the way Dooku had trained him to be, it was quite possible he might not survive the outcome.
Dooku lightly meditated beside Obi-Wan until the Force whispered that it was time. Dooku picked the boy up, bolstering himself with the light and carried him to his room. The droids has stripped it bare, making it appear like the jail cell it was supposed to be the only thing left was the boots that had been returned. Dooku laid Obi-Wan on the ground and pulled the boots after making sure the beacon was sending a clear signal. Before Dooku could fully pull away, Obi-Wan lightly began to stir even with the drug in his system, as undoubtedly a nightmare had begun.
"Shhh," he whispered. Tracing a finger against Obi-Wan's forehead, he sent a small tendril of Force to nip the nightmare in the bud. Obi-Wan sighed in his sleep as the dream took a pleasant turn and he relaxed further into Yan's embrace.
Again Dooku used the Force to maneuver Obi-Wan until he could extract himself. He barely hesitated before he leaned down and pressed a small kiss to Obi-Wan's forehead.
"May the Force be with you dear one," he whispered.
Dooku forced himself to turn around and leave the room, the older man was confident that the clone troopers would soon arrive to take him back. He just hoped that the Clones took better care of his grandson this time around or Dooku might have to come and steal Obi-Wan permanently.
Still Alive! May the Fourth be with you...well whats left of it lol.