This one-shot is keeping more with canon Dooku and the man he has become towards the end of his life. He is not the Dooku you may be used to from the rest of my writings that has hints of warmth in him. The only similarity is that he was a Jedi Shadow in his earlier years which I believe is a theory or random burst of inspiration that has come from a few authors on this site (Elfpen is who I'm thinking of). Anyways... hope you enjoy!

His master's work is magnificent. The methodical buildup of countless events that have led to this precise moment is practically invisible to someone who doesn't know what to look for. It's Sith deception at its finest. Subtlety as an exceptionally deadly weapon. Art.

Sidious is painting a masterpiece and it's a shame that there are so few to appreciate it. In fact, Dooku thinks he may be the only one. But no matter. Having an audience isn't necessary to the success of their efforts. It doesn't matter how many appreciate the process, or even how many eventually appreciate the result. In the end the Confederacy will be in power, the Senate will be no more, the Order will be finished (if Dooku has his way) and things will be as they should be: corruption exposed, planets properly represented and respected, and the Jedi and Sith both where they should be.

Privileged individuals should use their gifts responsibly and neither Order has done so.

Dooku can smile at the irony in his thinking. He himself has mastered the art of deception. He's been responsible for corrupting formerly respectable persons and he's indirectly initiated corruption in governments, companies, representatives and impressionable youths. At this point in the war, he has little respect for those who don't see the logic in his ways and Force damn them if they get in his way.

Yes. Yan Dooku has fallen hard. He knows this and he doesn't expect to be rewarded for it or for everything to be okay. He doesn't expect a happy ending. He doesn't even expect to live longer than the duration of this war.

What he does expect is treachery. It is the way of the Sith, after all (logically self-defeating and even more logically idiotic, but nevertheless esteemed). Dooku knows this very well. He isn't sure that Sidious knows just how well he knows this, nor just how often he makes a point to look for signs of it. Not even Sidious with all of his trickery and masks can hide much from Dooku. The former Jedi had begun dabbling in dark relics and hunting for traces of darkness when Sheev Palpatine had been nothing but a harmless infant. Having grown up in an Order Force-bent on mastering emotions and desires, yet in reality mostly becoming experts at hiding both, he is well-practiced in uncovering things not meant to be uncovered.

So with the "Chancellor" shackled and seated behind him and the Jedi Order's darling heroes on their way, Dooku has a few precious moments to admire the view (unfortunately one smeared with ion blasts and exploding ships), briefly appreciate a well-executed plan, and then mull over what the next few minutes might bring.

He is not pleased when he realizes that logically this doesn't make sense. It is no secret that over the course of the war, the Skywalker brat has grown stronger and Dooku has begun to show signs of age. Nothing to be embarrassed about, but it does pose problems. Especially in situations like this. Sidious' plan is to work on the boy, corrupt him, play to his volatile emotions and eventually lure him to their side. On the surface, it makes sense: get Kenobi and Skywalker here, dispose of Kenobi, get Skywalker alone and vulnerable, easy.

One chink. With Kenobi gone, that means an emotionally charged Skywalker will be more than likely trying to kill him.

Dooku suddenly isn't sure if Sidious means to stop that from happening. And it will come to that. Dooku, while confident and proud, is fully aware of his limits. He can't afford to not be aware of them. In a proper duel, he might have a chance. In the type of brawl that he expects might await him in the near future, he knows he doesn't have the power to meet the boy head on. And if he knows this, Sidious surely does as well.

So logically, for their ensured success this makes no sense.

For Sidious? Well. Treachery is the way of the Sith.

This could go either way and Dooku is not pleased about that. He feels a sharp poke at his mind and grits his teeth. In some ways, his master is not subtle at all.

"Tyranus. Do you have doubts?"

"Of course not, master," he intones. "Your plans have not failed thus far and there is no reason for me to think they will fail now." In this he does not lie. He turns, strides around the chair and faces the Sith. He looks into the Chancellor's eyes, sees the snake lurking within, and grants the man a smirk before turning to take his place out of sight of the Jedi who are only seconds away. "You will have your victory, my lord. Skywalker will be ours in but hours."

There is no reply, but Dooku can feel the sickly undercurrent of suspicion begin to wind its way around the room. Soon it will transform into a quick-striking mass of anger that only he will be able to feel (those Jedi fools won't feel a thing), but not yet. There is not time for his master to give words or actions to thought, because the Jedi are in the corridor.

Dooku is glad of that.

***oo***

There is a moment in the duel where he realizes that he has very much been used. It shames him to admit to such a thing, even to himself, but it's so obvious he can't deny it. He'd thought he'd been using Sidious' power to eliminate what needed to be eliminated before eventually separating himself again and initiating the changes that have been needed for the last few decades. Only now does he realize that Sidious has been using him as a semi-productive placeholder for Skywalker. Power seeks more power and Skywalker is certainly that. Dooku had always recommended Kenobi, but to no avail and now he finally sees why.

It is a testament to Kenobi's intelligence and creativity that he manages to outwit Dooku in a duel (the Jedi's level of Soresu mastery had escaped his notice somehow) and the Sith only now understands that this man is too smart for Sidious. The Sith Lord doesn't need an apprentice with intelligence and creativity; he needs one with power who will not question his teachings or his orders.

Not Kenobi.

Also, Dooku realizes with a frown, not himself.

Placeholder indeed.

Kenobi is casually batting his strikes aside before him and he can feel Skywalker lumbering up behind him and he casts a glance at Sidious. His master is smiling (expected), but it's strained. Dooku smiles back and Sidious' expression flattens instantly. He looks back at Kenobi (who now looks confused), withdraws his blade and simultaneously slips to the side to avoid Skywalker's downward killing stroke from behind. He pivots so that he's facing both Jedi, raises his blade to swat aside a frustrated stab from Skywalker and then deactivates it.

Treachery is the way of the Sith. Self-defeating. Idiotic. Let him be an example to his master, then (this is what happens to those who value treachery). He very deliberately shows his master his back as he kneels on the floor, arms wide, hands open and blade falling to rest beside his knee.

"I surrender."