My thought process was that Even Piell didn't appear at all during the Battle of Geonosis, so that was who I could use for a side mission of tracking down and trying to find Tara. Additionally (as you may have noticed), I'll be skipping over a lot of stuff in the movies unless it directly links in to the main focus of this writing, which is about Tara.

Anyways, new chapter for y'all! If you like what you're reading, drop a favorite and leave a review, letting me know what in my work was good and what needs improving. And, not to flex, but the next chapter is already completed, and I've already started working on the following chapter.

For now, enjoy this one!

Chapter 6: Counts

2 days. 2 days of nothing. The only thing that would ever happen is once every morning and evening, a droid would come in carrying some food and water. Disgusting food. Poisonous, really. A plate of nothing but Jesseny worm larvae. Toxic to humans, but considered a delicacy to Geonosians and Nemiodians, among other non-humans. Maybe that's why she got it, they assumed that she wanted delicacies, not knowing that some good things can ultimately be bad. At least the water is drinkable, though not enough. She would want more if she were to be able to properly deal with the heat of the cell. Of the planet.

Tara couldn't speak to anyone. Nobody came down to visit. Perhaps they forgot they had her, whoever it was. Perhaps, they didn't care, like the Mandalorian and his kid. Her mind went back to Count Dooku as she lay facing the door. She had never met him, but had heard about him both from his work as a Jedi and his work for the CIS. She knew that he left the order a little over 10 years ago. That his Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn, who taught Obi-Wan, had been killed by a Sith surrounded in mystery. But that Sith was killed by Obi-Wan. She knew that him being the ruler of Serenno gave him immense wealth. That corporation leaders like Viceroy Gunray of the Trade Federation and Wat Tambor of the Techno Union were allying towards him. That he had attracted smaller, yet still powerful nations like Alderaan to his cause. A coreworld. That was shocking to many. Wasn't Senator Organa still friends with Padmé? Was he involved in this? No, the kid Boba said Dooku was likely working alone on this. But, who was he to be trusted? He, after all, couldn't help her when she needed it most. Except now 'needed it most' could be applied to anywhere over the past 2ish days. She sighs, grabbing the cup and drinking the rest of her water. Setting the cup by the plate of poison, she pushes both towards the previous plates and cups in a corner, not having been taken by the droid who would come with her food.

Food, that's what she needed. The morning meal was about 3 hours ago. Maybe if she got lucky, someone would come by and offer her some edible food and enough water, and they could chat about releasing her. Great, she thought, now she knew she was going crazy. She thought about what it was like before she met her parents, in comparison to right now. She had lived a rough life before her adoption. But none of those seemed as bad as this. Maybe that's because this time she had nobody to be with. Nobody to comfort, or be comforted by. That was different from before. She looked at her left shoulder, then at her right and finally down at her right wrist, where her most hated indication of her previous life lived.

The solar sailer jumps out of hyperspace, looking upon the planet Geonosis. The yacht's sails folded into its storage as the ship flew past the many Federation ships landed on the planet surface. The ship landed at a small hangar, and a man exited. On the taller side, white hair, bearded face, cloak hiding a lightsaber. A droid approached him.

"Sir, do you wish to see the prisoner?"

"Guest. She is a guest here. But, yes. I would like to meet her."

"Yes sir, follow me."

The droid leads Dooku towards the holding cell and turns away from the door off to the side, as if to stand guard.

"Oh, that won't be necessary. You may leave. Back to your usual post."

"Yes, sir," the droid replies before marching away out towards the main hangar.

He opens the door and sees the young girl lying on the floor. She quickly wakes up, and scrambles away from the cell, again opting for moving into the furthest corner from the door.

"Now, my dear, is that any way to greet your host? I thought your parents would've taught you better." The man asks.

"Host? You kidnapped me," she replies, stuttering in fear.

"I'm not kidnapping you. If I was, I would've already stated demands for your return."

"Then, then why am I here? What do you want with me?"

"I just want to have a chat with you. I've always wanted to meet you. I've been with your parents many times over the years, but our paths have never crossed. At least, not until now."

"You're Count Dooku then?"

"You knew, I'm impressed. Did mom and dad mention me at the dinner table?"

"No, but the Senate constantly talks about you. How your Independence movement is gaining support."

"I'm surprised to see you know this, at such young an age that you are. Your parents must be proud of you."

"They are. Now, please let me go so I can be with them again."

Count Dooku chuckles. "Now little one, why would I do that?"

"We've had your chat. Now, please let me go."

"I'll be keeping you around for a little longer than that, Tara."

"For what? If you don't want a ransom, why keep me here?"

"Because- I want," he hesitated before answering, "Your company."

"You want my company?"

"Yes, you seem to be a lovely person to have around, and being able to talk to someone who wants to talk more than trade deals and alliances and what delicacies should be served."

Tara reflects on this. She pushes herself out of the corner and into a seated position on the metal bench to more properly face Dooku, who is still standing in the doorway staring down at her.

"Speaking of delicacies, the food your droids are serving is poisonous."

Dooku laughs. "What? How?"

"Jesseny worm larvae. Toxic to humans."

"Some Togutans can eat it, my dear."

"What?"

"It depends on the blood type, but it's about 85% if I'm correct that it would be safe."

"Well, I don't want to find out."

"I think you'll be safe, despite your parents being pure humans."

"I'm not their biological daughter, I was adopted off of Corellia after I returned back there. I thought that would be obvious, considering I'm half Togrutan and have the genetic defect hair to lekku blend."

"Genetic defect blend?"

"I should be either bald, or not have any montrals or a lekkus, yet I have both naturally. The hair isn't implanted stems that I let grow out to cover a bald head."

"That's quite lucky. You must be thankful that your biological parents gave you this."

"Not really, all I have of them is their DNA and-" she stops herself mid sentence.

"And?"

"N-nothing, it's just the DNA," she says, glancing down at her wrist briefly.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing, I don't have any weapons, any communication devices, nothing that I would like to have."

"Let me see your wrist, my dear."

"No, that's not needed, even if I did have something that could help me get out of here it wouldn't help at all."

Dooku takes a deep breath, then raises out his right hand. Tara feels a whoosh of wind, but is unable to move.

"What are you doing?"

"Not much, simply seeing what's on your wrist."

"Is this a force trick? Why can't I move?"

"The force has many things you can do with it, once you leave the restrictions of the Jedi Order."

He pulls her up so she is standing up. Her arm gets extended out, exposing her right wrist, the tattoo covering much of her wrist showing itself to Dooku, who smirks.

"I recognize that."

"Stop. Please."

"A mark of dishonor. You must be very proud of your father."

"My father is a good man, who would never do something like this."

"I'm not stupid, my dear. The mark of dishonor is only given to children whose fathers committed dishonorable actions, and your mother opted that it should be known."

"Please stop, Dooku, let go of me."

"I'm not done yet. You said you were from Corellia, were you not?"

"I was from there, now please, stop," her voice getting more and more desperate and pleading.

"Your right shoulder. Let's see what you have there."

Tara feels her shoulders towards her left, showing her right shoulder towards Dooku.

"You're hurting me. Stop."

"I see you've been arrested before for working for Lady Proxima before," he says, looking at the burn mark with Aurebesh writing to go with the Corellian police symbol. "You were one of the scrumrats, then?"

"I don't want to talk about it. I didn't have a choice in the matter."

"Everyone has their own choices to make. Lastly, you had one more mark on your left shoulder, a tattoo I already recognized even before I would have to read the writing."

Tara feels herself turn back to face Dooku and then further to the right.

"Crimson Dawn. Slave."

"They offered me sanctuary after I got expelled from the prison for being too young, but not after receiving the burn."

"I must say, I don't know how with this background your parents would ever want to adopt you."

"They didn't care about my past, they thought I was lovely, and so they took me in."

"So you got lucky?"

"I don't want to discuss that. Now please, let me go."

"You know, you can join me and my Alliance at any moment, and we will protect you from any who would wish to do this to someone so young."

"I don't want to join you. I want my parents."

"I cannot do that, my dear. You have shown you know how to survive. If you want to continue in the galaxy, you may want to be smart."

Dooku lowers his hand. Tara collapses to the floor. Dooku leaves the room, closing and locking the door. He leaves Tara starts sobbing uncontrollably.