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Chapter 5: Desperate measures
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Part 1
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Republic Cruiser Dauntless
Hyperspace
Ahsoka watched with trepidation how several Council members bickered with a group of military officers. She shivered at the cold embrace of the Dark Side clinging to Skywalker like a blanket. The Padawan was afraid that her fallen Master would retaliate against her as soon as she informed the Council about what happened to him. Instead, he only smiled knowingly and summoned her to be present when he talked with them!
Skywalker's anger, frustration, and worry were tangible things. Ahsoka was sure that if she raised her hand in his direction, she would be able to touch them. Despite that, he acted nothing like the Sith were supposed to! Not that she had met a real Sith before… Or well, a Dark Jedi for that matter!
That was big. Anakin Skywalker falling, it was unthinkable really! The Council should have done something about it! Instead, Ahsoka watched with trepidation how both the Chancellor and the Admiral swept the issue away as of no consequence! As if that wasn't weird and scary enough, she had to listen to them all discussing how the Republic was about to lose the war! That was impossible, surely! It was the Republic, and it had the Jedi to guard it!
Ahsoka kept listening with ever-increasing unease. First, Skywalker's idea that they might actually stop the Separatists elated her, only for his second suggestion – to surrender, came as a gut punch, stunning the young Togruta. Ahsoka stared at him as if he just betrayed everything they were supposed to stand for, which he kind of already did when Skywalker unveiled his final option.
The Jedi in the Chancellor's office weren't happy at all. That much was obvious, while the military officers obviously weighed their options. Ahsoka felt torn. Liberating slaves and removing a Hutt crime boss from power sounded like something the Jedi should have done a long time ago. The very idea felt right and just.
And all it took was for a fallen Jedi and a desperate situation for someone to propose it. Ahsoka wanted to scream at how little sense the galaxy made right now. All she got instead was a curious, then worried look from Skywalker and a blast of reassurance through the Force. That was very cold comfort, made freezing by the Dark Side wrapped around him.
"I'm afraid, we'll have to set up the groundwork for your second option, my friend." The Chancellor sadly concluded.
His image appeared positively ancient and so very tired, Ahsoka felt like the man needed a hug. That got her a wave of incredulity followed by grim amusement coming from Skywalker.
"That said, I'm not ready to surrender the Republic to the kinds of the Trade Federation and their cronies if I have any other viable alternative." The Chancellor looked at his Admirals. "Do any of you have a better option?" He demanded.
The three Admirals physically present in his office looked at each other with grim determination, before exchanging silent communication with a few others present through the holonet.
"Not at this time, sir." The old human Admiral finally admitted. "Right now, the strategic situation is painfully
obvious and our viable options are limited."
"General Skywalker, what do you need for your third Option?" The Chancellor inquired.
"Troops. Weapons to arm liberated slaves with. Supplies – water, food, ammunition. At least one large theater shield generator with an appropriate power supply. While you assemble the necessary logistics, I suggest a covert insertion. I'll land on Tatooine with a small team and contact Jabba. If we can't convince him to return to neutrality, we'll take him out, cutting the focal point of resistance and control."
"You're suggesting an assassination." Plo Koon concluded.
The uncharacteristic cold tone of the Jedi Master was like a slap to the face for Ahsoka. She could feel Master Koon's hostility towards Skywalker and anything he suggested.
"I'm outright stated that we're that desperate and more." The Fallen Jedi countered.
"This plan of yours seems good in theory. All I'm seeing is a Desiderata craving power. What will you do, Skywalker, after you seize Tatooine? Will you ever let it go?" Master Windu demanded.
"Why in the name of the Force would I ever want that wretched dust-ball?!" Skywalker exclaimed and Ahsoka was pretty sure he was genuine in his surprise at the accusation.
The meeting only deteriorated from that point on. The military generally supported Skywalker, and the Jedi did their best to cast anything he said or suggested in the darkest light possible.
That was all wrong! The Jedi weren't supposed to act like that! If Ahsoka didn't know better, she would be certain that the Masters were scared, if not terrified.
When the Chancellor bid them to do their best, and the connection cut off, Ahsoka felt abandoned too. She was painfully aware that she was stuck in the same compartment with a Dark Jedi, or whatever Skywalker was, after going against him. She looked warily at him, only to meet a pair of lightly glowing eyes crinkled in amusement.
"I'm not going to bite, you know that, right, Snips?" Skywalker said in an amused voice. He reinforced the sentiment by bombarding her with even more amusement through the Force. That was a stark contrast to the chilling presence of the Dark Side.
"I actually don't know that!" Ahsoka snapped in vexation. A moment later, she covered her mouth with both hands. Where did that come from?! Why was she antagonizing the Fallen Jedi? That was stupid!
"You don't?" If anything, Skywalker's amusement only grew.
He wasn't supposed to feel amused instead of angry or murderous!
Sith, Dark Jedi, Darksiders in general, were evil, without a possibility of redemption! Not like this!
"You seem confused, Snips?" Skywalker stated the obvious and had the gall to smirk too. "Tell you what, let's go to the mess hall, get something warm to drink, and we can talk there. You need to relax a bit."
He was enjoying this, wasn't he, the bastard? Ahsoka glowered at him in indignation.
At that point, the smirk went away, and Skywalker grimaced. "However, first I need to call Padme. Go wait for me in the mess hall, please." He turned back to the holo-projector and began fiddling with it.
Ahsoka decided that discretion was the better part of valor and stormed out, still feeling his amusement.
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House Naberre's residence
Naboo
Neither the lush forest nor the carefully configured villa meant to soothe people resting inside did anything to calm Padme's nerves. She sat on a sinfully comfortable couch, nervously tapping on a datapad. Beside her, a holo-projector built within a tea table showed the latest news. People all over the Republic raved about her Anakin, about his stunning victory above Christophsis. They proclaimed him a hero for saving the planet and rescuing the broken remains of a GAR army all but destroyed on the surface before his arrival.
Now and again, Padme could see images of Anakin, dashing in a form-fitting uniform, or wearing shining armor.
On top of her other worries, now she had to contend with even more of Sola's teasing. In fact, her older sister took a demure sip of her tea and fluttered her eyelashes as the holograms.
"Who knew that your boy-toy could be such a knight in shining armor. Literally at that!" Sola cooed when the news showed a very nice picture of Anakin on the bridge of a warship. "This suits him much better than those dark clothes he used when you brought him home."
"You know it wasn't like that, Sola!" Padme exclaimed scandalized. It wasn't like they did… much when Anakin escorted her back to Naboo… was it just a few short weeks ago?!
"Right." Sola nodded and smiled mischievously. "I'm sure nothing untoward happened. "The thoughts of both of you were pure. I most certainly didn't catch you two all disheveled making out like teenagers in love."
"You're a menace, Sola!"
"I learned from the best." Her sister confided.
"I resent that!"
"You resemble that. I told you I'll pay you with interest for all the teasing you did when I first began dating my Dar!"
Padme huffed at that. Sola might have a point. A very small point! She wasn't anywhere this bad and frustrating a few years ago, was she?
"Now, tell me, how was he? You two spent an awful lot of time together, all stressed out, hot, and bothered…"
"Sola!" Padme exclaimed scandalized only to be met by her sister's mischievous eyes.
"It's all right, sweetie. You're young, in love, these things happen…"
At that point, Padme was mentally discussing the merits of throwing decorum to the wind and throwing a pillow at Sola. Or two. She glanced at a pillow laying innocently at the far end of the couch then at her sister, who was sprawled all over the nearby armchair.
"You're impossible." Padme concluded in vexation.
"Elder sister prerogative." Sola cheekily responded.
Padme pointedly turned her attention to her datapad and ignored Sola. She could feel her sister's gaze on her but kept distracting herself for a few more moments before her communicator beeped.
She was glad for the distraction, no matter how brief it might be, and accepted the call.
"Anakin!" Padme happily exclaimed when she saw a hear-warming rugged face.
"Padme…" Anakin smiled sadly at her, ringing all kinds of alarm bells in her head.
"What happened?" She suddenly became serious, not to mention increasingly worried.
"I shouldn't be telling you this but…" He swallowed thickly. "The war just turned for the worse. The Hutts are siding with the Separatists and cutting off our access to the Outer Rim. Unless something radically changes, we can lose the war over the next few months. Padme, if that happens, you and your family have to go to the ground. The Trade Federation still wants you dead and I won't put it past them to go after your relatives to hurt you."
Sola's gasped, and a moment later, Padme heard the sound of a cup shattering on the floor.
"How?! All the news show is your victory!" Sola exclaimed in distress.
"The enemy just made it moot I'm afraid."
Padme's mind whirled, trying to process what she just learned. Anakin was at Christophsis not too long ago. The Hutts and Separatists were cutting off the Outer Rim…
"Anakin," Padme demanded in a voice she barely recognized. She nearly lost him on Geonosis. They both almost died there along with Kenobi. Now, this… "Please tell me that you're safe. Where are you?"
"You've always been sharp…" A wan smile appeared on Anakin's face. "I won't be coming home anytime soon. We still have one chance to make this right and I'm it."
"Anakin, what are you about to do? I'm familiar enough with your kind of ideas!" Padme demanded.
"What I have to do to keep you safe. I hope you won't hate me for it. I…" He trailed off. "I want you to know that I'm sorry for everything. I love you, my angel…" Anakin looked away, nodded once, and cut off the connection.
For what felt like an eternity, Padme just stood there, staring at where Anakin's image was, only for it to be replaced by his hologram again, courtesy to the news.
"Padme, that can't be right? Right?" Sola stammered. "This is the Republic! It can't lose the war!"
This was the Republic all right, Padme thought bitterly. The same Republic only had an army because it had been built in secret. The same Republic that wasn't better prepared, because she opposed the very idea of a military buildup at every step because it was surely the right thing to do!
Without thinking twice, Padme used her Senator codes to contact Coruscant, seeking a direct connection with the Chancellor. While it might be harder for the average Senator to speak with the leader of the Republic without arranging it in advance, Palpatine was still a Naboo, and she was the Senator representing their homeworld.
Even then, Padme was surprised that she got through almost immediately.
"Senator Amidala." Palpatine smiled at her. His appearance immediately took her by surprise. He looked much older, haggard, and frankly exhausted. That was a far cry from the charismatic and vexing ally, later opponent she was accustomed to dealing with. "I can only assume that our mutual friend called to warn you. If that is the case I must agree. If the worst happens, you need to hide. There are many elements within the Separatist leadership wishing you ill will."
"That's not what I'm calling you about Chancellor. However, thank you for confirming what Anakin told me. It's that bad then?"
"If anything, it's worse, and going downhill from there. The Separatists are unlikely to stop after destroying our forces in the Outer Rim. My military advisers, Jedi friends, and political allies all agree – the calls for Secession are just smoke and mirrors. The Confederacy is fighting for control of the Republic and thus the galaxy. We either fight to the bitter end or surrender everything we believe into the same kind of people who invaded our home a decade ago." Palpatine spoke kindly, yet his sad gaze held a hint of accusation.
While he pointedly didn't say it aloud, the 'told you so' was more than implied. They had been arguing about this, and much more for a long time now. Padme kept insisting that goodwill, and diplomacy could win the day. And Palpatine kept countering that despite his efforts, the Senate, and the Republic as a whole were no different than they were ten years ago. If anything, they were worse because, for most intents and purposes, that incident went unpunished. It made many other factions bolder, and if anything, the Trade Federation resented the fines and restrictions placed on it. Instead of deterrence, they served as fuel for retaliation, or at least that was what Palpatine kept saying.
All the assassination attempts, not to mention the events on Geonosis tended to support his narrative. Yet, that was something Padme could never accept. Or so she thought.
Now, she sat, staring at a Republic defeat as a very real possibility and she would be partly to blame. Anakin might very well die, trying to salvage victory from the jaws of defeat, all because of her. He said so himself.
"I'm sorry, my dear."
Palpatine's soothing words had the opposite effect. Instead of calming Padme down, they angered her.
"What are our options?"
"Few and far between. Not to be discussed over the holonet."
"I'll make my way to Coruscant ASAP."
"I'll need your support, Padme. When the news of our real situation breaks, it will cause a firestorm in the Senate. We need to talk about the future, soon."
"I'll be there." Padme cut off the connection and stood up.
"Padme, what are you about to do?" Sola asked.
"What I have to. Sola, please get the girls and your husband. Then…" She swallowed thickly. "You'll need to hide. Mother and father too."
Her sister flowed over the floor and put Padme in a firm hug, which she desperately returned. How did everything go so wrong so fast?!
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Part 2
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Munificent Frigate Shadow Hand
Hyperspace
Indecision. That was an uncharacteristic state of affairs for Count Dooku. For a Sith, something like this was a sign of weakness, and thus contempt. Yet, ever since Geonosis, Tyranus found himself questioning all Sith teachings he got from his Master.
He didn't know how much of said knowledge was lies and deceptions to turn him into a sacrificial pawn.
It all came back to Skywalker and Geonosis. There was no way Skywalker fell on Geonosis after he came to rescue Obi-Wan. The boy was too powerful, too collected. He was too sane and had too much control over both himself and the Dark Side.
Tyranus intimately knew what meant to fall. He led several Jedi to the Dark Side. Because of that, he had ample experience observing how they handled their passions in the aftermath. It took time and training to reach a state weren't ready to snap at the smallest of provocations.
On top of that, Sidious had been too pleased with what Dooku told him after Geonosis. It was almost like his Master expected it.
Of course, the deceiver expected it! That was the one thing that made sense. Skywalker had fallen months if not years ago, right under the Jedi's noses. Sidious had been training and shaping the boy into the perfect Apprentice, the perfect weapon against the Jedi.
When Tyranus reached that logical conclusion, everything became clear. Dooku, along with the Confederacy, were nothing more than a means to an end. They were to be used and discarded. The plan Dooku knew of was as much a trap, as the Clone Wars and Clone Army were. He could see it clearly – the moment when he was supposed to surrender at the end of the war, and plead that he had seen the light, so to speak. Tyranus could see himself fighting and losing against Skywalker. Now Dooku was certain, he was meant to lose that future confrontation. That duel would be nothing more than a test for Skywalker, no matter if he fought as well as he could or gave up in the end. Then, Sidious would call for Dooku's execution, because he would no longer be useful. Skywalker would be the hero to end the war, kill Tyranus, then kill the rest of the Confederate leadership and shut down their armies. The Jedi would fall at the same time, and in one fell stroke, Sidious would remove all threats to his future reign.
It was an impressive and devious plan. It was just that, Dooku lacked a single shred of solid evidence to back his theory, no matter how plausible it was. As things stood now, he could explain that he merely saw an opportunity to hedge their bets. If Jedi or the Republic somehow discovered the truth, the Sith would be in an even better position to lead the Confederacy to a military victory. However, if he pressed on with his contingency plan, there would be no turning back.
Ever since Dooku got away from Sidious after Geonosis, he had been wondering what to do. He had been planning and plotting. And he had been wondering how many lies Sidious taught him. Dooku would have to secure control over the Confederacy. Then delay a full-scale invasion until they could build enough droids without shut down codes, and only then throw everything he could at the heart of the Republic.
And if he was wrong, he might just doom them all.
Dooku opened his eyes and slowly looked around. He didn't need to see his Apprentice – Ventress stood shrouded in shadows behind his throne-like chair. Severance Tann, his exotic Chiss Acolyte was in the shallow depression in front of him, kneeling and awaiting orders. His remaining Acolytes were either dead, thanks to Skywalker, or busy with missions all over the galaxy.
To be a Sith, meant that you stood alone. You were above everyone else, except your Master, until you learned everything from them, and it was time to replace them. It was a lonely existence. Dooku wondered how much it was because of the Banite Sith teachings, and how much of it was just another deception meant to isolate him. When he was a Jedi, and later, as a Count, he often ran his ideas and plans through his fellow Jedi, Padawan, when he had one, or his advisers. Dooku knew he was far from perfect. He made mistakes just like everyone else.
As a Sith, there was no one to notice them before it was too late. He was supposed to trust no one but his Master after all. What a cruel joke that was!
Betrayal had a bitter taste.
"We were deceived, my friends." Dooku finally spoke. "My Master is using us, and as soon as our usefulness comes to an end, he will discard us. He already has replacements lined up."
Fury and outrage burned through his bond with Ventress. Curiously enough, while Sev'rance was angered by his words, she didn't seem particularly surprised.
"Acolyte, you can speak freely." Dooku allowed and leaned forward.
"Deception and betrayal is the Sith way. Didn't you teach us so, Master?"
"Not between a Master and Apprentice." The very idea would be an anathema for the Jedi. And while they were wrong about a great number of things… At least, in theory, the final confrontation between a Sith Master and their Apprentice wasn't supposed to be a betrayal. It was to be the finest moment of the Master when their Apprentice surpassed them and thus secured their legacy. An Apprentice who defeated their Master proved to the Force itself that they had learned everything their Master could teach them. They were better, more knowledgeable, stronger. That was meant to be a Sith's greatest achievement.
As a former Jedi, and as a Count, Dooku couldn't help but see both what was right and wrong with the sentiment. The confrontation itself wasn't an issue, neither the defeat, no matter who lost. However, one of them dying, unless that was an accident, was a waste. And in a war for survival, you simply couldn't afford to waste valuable assets like properly trained Apprentices or their Master's. Dooku had wonder how many times the Sith had lost because of betrayal hollowing out their side.
"From where I sit, I see yet another lie. A means of control and to keep us alone, disunited. Weak." He spat. The more Dooku thought about this, the clearer his path became. "Much of what Sidious taught us is a lie. The Sith of old almost always ensured their own downfall. Unless we want to follow in their doomed footsteps, we need to be better. We need to evolve." Tyranus stood up, filled with energy. The Dark Side sang around him, and he took it for approval. "We will forge our path, create our own Sith Order, and in the fullness of time, we will bring low all our enemies."
"I'm with you, My Master. Now and forever." Ventress fell on one knee in a display of allegiance. She had her side of their bond wide open, showing Dooku that she meant it.
Sev'rance had a wide smile on her face, and her solid red eyes shone with all the possibilities opening in front of them.
"Our course of action is clear. First, we need to take full control over the Confederacy. You, Apprentice, and my Acolytes will remove Sidious' creatures when the moment comes. Ventress, recall your fellow disciples. We need to be on the same page on how we'll go forward as Sith. I'll soon have orders for you all. Sev'rance, I need you to ensure the proper defense of our critical industrial centers. If we lose them, we lose the war. Get me a plan and a list of forces to redeploy there."
Dooku sat back and waited for the women to leave. As soon as they did, he activated the communications suite connected to the compartment.
Two holograms flickered to life, showing the radically different images of Admiral Trench and General Grievous.
"Gentlemen, we have a deal with the Hutts in place. They are in the process of closing their hyper-lanes for Republic shipping. General Grievous, you're to use your discretion and annihilate all GAR formations forward deployed in the Outer Rim. Get me a plan of action for approval as soon as possible." With those words, he dismissed the cyborg and focused on the Arachnid.
"That's great news. At this rate, we'll be able to end the war in a few months." Trench happily concluded.
"I'm afraid it won't be that simple, Admiral. We were betrayed. The Sith in control of the Senate has numerous agents among our leadership. He also possesses the codes needed to shut down our military. If we launch an all-out assault on the Core he'll use them. Right now, I believe that various parties had orchestrated this war for their benefit, so they could take control of the Republic no matter which side wins."
"I see." Trench slowly nodded. "It wasn't just propaganda for the masses, was it?"
"No. Just like I'm a former Jedi, I used to be a Sith. I know for a fact that a Sith controls the Senate and the office of the Chancellor. That is why I created the Confederacy in the first place, no matter how… unpleasant some of our colleagues are. My miscalculation was not being diligent enough in seeking out to remove Sidious' agents among our ranks."
"You have a plan, I hope." Trench's eyes bore at Dooku. It was plain to see that the Admiral was carefully judging everything he said.
"Military speaking, we'll neutralize all enemy forces in the Outer Rim. Then we will knock out or blockade Republic loyalist systems beyond the Mid Rim. And finally, consolidate our dispersed territories, ensuring that we have interior lines of communication. Meanwhile, I need your support in making this happen. Further, I need you and your staff to establish the necessary logistics for a prolonged campaign against Republic industrial nodes and critical hyperlane junctions."
"I agree with those strategic goals. However, this still doesn't change the fact that we're a single transmission from losing the war."
"Among our first objectives domestically is ensuring that any new build Droids don't have built-in shut down codes. We'll be expending much of our existing stock against targets in the Outer Rim."
"That's all and good. However, before I throw my lot with you, Count Dooku, I would require proof."
"That Sidious is in charge of the Republic and that he has agents within the Confederacy? We have to meet ASAP. I have ready to show you multiple recordings between members of the Confederate Council and Darth Sidious."
"What about General Grievous?"
"He is a mad dog created by the Sith. I'm afraid, that when I still served my Master, I aided in turning him into the flawed weapon he is."
"I feel compelled to ask, Count, when exactly did you decide to walk away from your so-called Master?"
"When I figured out that I was a mere pawn to be used and discarded, just like you are, Admiral."
=KoF=
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