A/N: I do not own the own the characters or ideas of the Harry Potter or Star Wars universes

Chapter 9

Jango Fett gazed approvingly at the vast sea of blackness and stars over Balmorra. With no moon, Balmorra was ideal for night missions; no natural light to spoil an engagement before it started.

His companion nodded when Jango commented on the sky. "Those bastard Jedi have all sorts of benefits anyway. Why do they need one more?"

"What do you think of the Jedi we're facing Cradossk?"

"I don't trust them," the Transhodian answered. He shrugged. "I don't trust the damn Sith either. But they don't pay me to trust. So long as those bastards gets the jump on the Jedi pretty damn quick and we take them out fast, I'm not inclined to judge them."

Jango agreed with him in every particular. "I don't trust Dooku and Krayt either. Still, Kenobi and Potter look to be crafty enough and to spare. I've never heard of some of these Jedi tricks they're using to keep the hutts safe. Most of the Jedi would have moved the hutts off planet as soon as they landed and brooded from afar. These guys want to make a fight of this. If we were actually here to kill the hutts, I don't think we'd have a prayer of stopping the Jedi from getting them off planet."

Before Cradossk could reply, if he planned to, Count Dooku swept into their room. "Gentlemen the time is nearly at hand. Are you ready?"

"Yes sir."

"Excellent. Darth Krayt is already waiting outside Rigorra's mansion. And remember. If you fail me, you fail my master. And he has a particular way of showing his…displeasure."

Obi-Wan patrolled the perimeter around Rigorra's mansion. Several dozen security beacons cast a translucent energy shield around the premises. It wasn't perfect but under normal circumstances it would keep out anyone who wasn't trying hard to break through.

Off to east, on the far side of the mansion Obi-Wan felt a strange echo in the Force. He could trace the source to the capital but couldn't isolate it. He wished Master Gallia were here to sense the source of the disturbance. Of course even if he couldn't pinpoint it exactly, he was sure the echo was an attempt by the Sith to mask the movements of their bounty hunters.

Come in Obi-Wan. How are you doing?

"All good here Harry. I sense an echo in the Force but I cannot trace the source."

Do you think the Sith apprentice is hiding the bounty hunters?

"I was thinking that same thing. I don't know what else it would be. I don't like it though. If I can sense an echo, why can't you by Groodo's manor?"

Harry didn't respond for several seconds. When he spoke again, he sounded unconcerned.

The Sith master may be targeting one manor with the bounty hunters and another with his lapdog. I wouldn't try to divide my forces but they may. That echo could also be a Sith Lord trying to mask his own presence.

"Possible but I don't think so. I cannot trace the source to its origin but I know it is coming from the capital." The shield around the manor wavered and phased out for several seconds. Obi-Wan didn't feel the echo move but he did feel two new people converging on the manor, each trying to move as quietly as possible.

"We may have a situation here Harry. The perimeter shield went down and there are two people approaching the manor. I'm moving to engage."

Closer to the trespasser from the north, Obi-Wan used all the cover he could to close the distance, aided by the Force. As he closed in, he saw dull gray armor with camouflage painting: Jango Fett. He didn't seem aware anyone was in the area. The lightsaber that nearly decapitated him cut across his face, the crackle of energy nearly singing his beard while ozone overwhelmed his nose.

Basking in the crimson glow of his lightsaber stood a man Obi-Wan recognized from old trainings and occasional encounters with Qui-Gon but hadn't seen in years. Shifting his weight to his ready stance, Obi-Wan discreetly pressed a transmitter on his hip as he grabbed his lightsaber . "Good evening Dooku. I didn't expect to see you here this evening."

"Good evening Obi-Wan. It is a pleasure to see you again though I am curious why a Jedi would come all the way out to a planet like Balmorra?" The Sith Lord didn't make move to approach Obi-Wan but he felt the Sith opening himself to the Dark Side. The two bounty hunters hemmed him in from the sides, ready to open fire at a moment's notice.

"I am protecting Rigorra the Hutt from a bounty hunter." He eyed the two assailants speculatively. "Perhaps you've met them Count," he said, his voice dry.

"It is a great pity you and I have never spoken more intimately Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you." Dooku sighed morosely. "I wish I could speak with him again. I could use his help right now."

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you."

"Don't be so sure my young Jedi friend. You forget that Qui-Gon was once my padawan just as you were once his. He knew about the corruption of the Senate. He sensed it before even myself and other masters. But he would never have gone along with the Senate if he had learned the truth as I have."

"The truth?"

Dooku nodded. "What if I were to tell you that the Senate was right now under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith?" He shoulders sagged just a little as he met Obi-Wan's gaze. And though Obi-Wan still felt the Dark Side surrounding him, his eyes shone with great earnestness. Whatever his angle, it was hard for Obi-Wan to decipher. He could sense no deception but this couldn't possibly be true.

"No. You're wrong. The Jedi would've have sense it."

Now Dooku looked at Obi-Wan as a disappointed grandfather would look on a grandson who said something foolish. "The Dark Side of the Force clouds their vision my friend. Right now hundreds of senators are under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

Obi-Wan decided Dooku was lying. This entire story matched too closely with what he and Harry were just talking about before and after arriving on Balmorra. Whoever this Darth Sidious was he was trying to turn the Senate and Jedi against one another.

"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan said coldly.

"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious. But he was betrayed nearly 10 years ago by the Dark Lord. He came to me for help, told me everything. Please Obi-Wan. You must join me and convince the Jedi Council of Sidious' treachery. Together we can destroy the Sith!"

"I call bullocks to that shit." Out of nowhere Harry suddenly appeared and rammed his shoulder hard into Dooku's chest, sending him tumbling back. Before the bounty hunters could turn on his friend, Obi-Wan had his saber held to the throat of Jango Fett and Ahsoka threatened the Transhodian.

Harry twirled his sabers, the azure and lavender lights playing across his body, as Dooku, eyes flashing dangerously, rose to his feet. "Now I don't suppose there is a chance you'll lay down your weapon and surrender to Obi-Wan and me?"

"This is just the beginning. The hutts will die…as will you."

Obi-Wan suddenly felt the echo fall as a monster dropped from the trees next to Dooku. His skin was cracked and graying. In many places along his body, skin was gone exposing pulsing veins, tendon and muscle. And his face! One socket was a dull gray with streaks of red surrounded by exposed bone where his skin was gone. The other eye looked like Darth Maul's once had: yellow and pitiless.

Harry's stomach did a slow lurch at the sight of the poor soul who leapt from the trees. He heard his masters talk about Dooku's raid on Tatooine and the boy he captured. They turned poor A'Sharad Hett into a monster worse than anything Harry had ever seen, even more terrible than Voldemort. His body screamed pain…shrieked it even. But it somehow made him stronger.

"Do my features frighten you Harry Potter?"

"Frighten no but sicken yes. Whatever power you think you have, the Sith have turned you into an abomination."

"Do not question my master," Krayt screamed madly. All he missed was Bellatrix's screeching falsetto and he would've sounded just like her. "You do not know his power. His teachings have made me invincible…as you will soon discover."

Krayt leapt at him, saber slicing down sharply. Harry parried the blow and lashed out with a quick kick to the side. "Bad move," the Sith Lord chided, catching the leg and twisting hard. Before he could shatter his knee, Harry spun his body and landed a roundhouse kick on Krayt's jaw. The Sith hardly staggered. In the Force, Harry felt the Dark Side congeal like invisible ooze on his fractured jaw, the pain drawing more power into his body.

As the duel progressed, Harry lost sense of his surroundings, all his thoughts and effort focused on the Lord of Pain. Krayt was a decent swordsman but not exceptional. But it didn't matter. Whatever Harry did to him, whatever blows he landed either physically or with magic, Krayt barely staggered. Every new blow seemed to endure him and make him stronger in the Force.

Meanwhile Harry felt the Force abandoning him. He couldn't maintain such a rigorous connection with it as he fought and eventually he felt his body tiring physically. When Krayt swung a mighty blow to Harry's abdomen with his saber, he managed to catch it but Krayt jabbed him twice in the face and flip kicked him onto the ground. As he fought to get to his feet, spitting blood, he felt at least a couple ribs broken.

Looks like a concussion too damn it he thought, his vision fuzzy around the edges and graying. It was due more to luck than skill Harry managed to duck and back away from an aggressive barrage of strikes Krayt tried to throw at him.

"I sense the Light leaving you Harry Potter while the Dark fuels my power. You see now how powerful my master has made me. He has the power to extinguish the stars and destroy whole planets. With your death, another threat to his dominion and the dominion of the Sith will be eliminated."

Harry didn't want to die. He certainly didn't want to be killed by a corpse. Damn it Potter! Try something new. If the bastard is stronger with pain, maybe a healing spell with buy you time.

"Ossa sanare," Harry muttered holding his open palm towards Krayt as he wound up for a killing stroke. The pale yellow spell drained him but the affect was immediate. Krayt clutched his stomach, screaming as the yellow ball of light expanded around his abdomen. Through the fogginess of his concussion, he could feel the spell trying to heal Krayt's countless injuries. It was manifestly fighting out of its weight and failing miserably but the Dark Side raced to fight the spell all the same. Fragments of bones cracked and splintered, dragging down his gray skin. Veins ruptured and blood flowed down his head, arms, and legs. It was a terrifying sight to say the least.

But the Sith still had fight in him. As his body collapsed, he lashed out at Harry with lightening. His aim was wild and, even in his befuddled state, Harry dodged it easily enough. After healing his own injuries, Harry lifted the spell on Krayt. "You need to yield A'Sharad. Please let me help you."

"I..will…never…surrender to…you Jedi!." Every word caused him pain and Harry quickly realized that his body was recovering. He cast three more healing spells and held them until he felt Krayt mercifully passed out. As he looked on his mangled near-death corpse, he was amazed Krayt was still alive somehow.

"Excellent work Harry. I must say I am impressed."

"This is over Dooku. Surrender now or die."

Dooku chuckled darkly. "Ah the impetuosity of youth! You should not be so quick to court death my young friend. Your time will come my young Jedi friend but for now you've served your purpose."

Momentarily lost, Harry realized Dooku was saying he was supposed to defeat Krayt. His stomach lurched again thinking what he had done to the poor lad. "You and Sidious are sick individuals. You turned A'Sharad into a monster and now you set him up to die?"

Dooku's eyes flashed dangerously but he made no move to attack. "You would be wise not to insult my master Potter. He has ordered you be spared but he said nothing of your companions." Stepping back, Dooku held out his arm and levitated Ahsoka. By the way she hung limp, she was unconscious. "All I need to do is clench my fist."

Rage and fear ripped through Harry but his mind was clear. Before Dooku could react, Harry threw his azure saber in the air and levitated Krayt within inches of it. With a twist of his other hand, the blade spun faster than a helicopter blade. "I wonder how your master would feel Dooku if you went back to him without his precious Lord of Pain. I wouldn't imagine he'd be very pleased with you would he?"

"Are you ready to cross the line Jedi? Are you ready to murder a prisoner and turn your back on the Jedi teachings? What would Yoda say if he could see you?"

Harry shrugged indifferently. "I would hardly call this an act of murder Dooku. Besides anything I do to poor A'Sharad would be a mercy to what Sidious has in store for him. Being the good little whore you are, I daresay you won't risk upsetting your pimp anyway so I doubt you'll force my hand."

"What did you say to me," Dooku whispered hoarsely.

Harry's smile was all sharp teeth. "I said you're a little whore who is afraid of upsetting your pimp." Dooku sent several bolts of lightning at Harry then but he deflected them easily with his saber. He jerked his free hand closer to his body and sliced Krayt's left hand off cleanly. The lightning stopped immediately. "Oh dear me I hope the lad wasn't left handed. Now then Dooku. Would you care to try me again or shall we end this on my terms?"

Dooku devoutly hoped none of the fear he felt showed on his face. As much as he wanted to kill Potter, he couldn't risk losing Krayt. His master would not tolerate waiting another 8 years to develop another Lord of Pain nor would he hesitate to kill Dooku for losing him the final piece of the Triumvirate.

"Very well Harry. Set Krayt down and I will release Ahsoka."

"HA! I'm not a fool Dooku. You set Ahsoka down by me—gently—and walk past the security perimeter. Once your past the beacons hold out your arms and I'll give you Krayt. Oh and I don't think you'll need to worry about your bounty hunters." Harry motioned over Dooku's right shoulder. "It looks like Obi-Wan took care of your friends there."

Indeed Obi-Wan was tying Jango Fett's hands behind his back. Cradossk was already fully restrained. Sidious wanted them dead not captured. They did not know enough to be dangerous to Sidious' endgame but they knew enough give the Jedi an idea what was happening. But Sidious would never trade their lives for Krayt's. Of that he was certain.

Dooku levitated Ahsoka over to Harry's side and gently set her on the ground. He held both hands up as he walked backwards until he was past the security markers. Harry yelled out to Obi-Wan to hang on to Fett and Cradossk and portkey away. Kenobi clearly didn't want to let Dooku leave but listened to his friend and disappeared. For a fleeting moment Dooku feared Harry would try to keep Krayt from him but he gently levitated him into his arms. Tempted as he was to kill the Jedi who proved more dangerous than he could ever have expected, the boy and his padawan were gone before Krayt even touched his arms.

"Why would you let Dooku get away Harry? With Krayt!"

Harry closed his eyes, trying to hold his patience in check. "Obi-Wan right then the bastard could've have killed you and I together. I hate to say it but he is that skilled and I wasn't at my best. The only reason you, Ahsoka and I are alive is he got too cocky and threatened her before making sure Krayt was in his power."

"A Jedi's life is a sacrifice my friend. You cannot let your emotions cloud your judgment."

"Who is letting their emotions cloud their judgment? I have no problem laying my life on the line and you know it. But I won't lay it on the line by being stupid. If I tried to fight him, he would've killed Ahsoka and probably would've taken care of you and I before escaping. And those two," Harry pointed at Jango Fett and Craddosk laying unconscious in the cargo hold. "They would've escaped with Dooku too. And what would've the Jedi learned from our sacrifice. Answer me that!"

Obi-Wan visibly considered and reluctantly decided Harry was right. "Fair enough Harry. I don't wish to have engaged Dooku foolishly. But it is disconcerting to see him and Krayt leave."

"Tell me about it! But what else could we have done? Right now, I am going to check on Ahsoka in the medical wing and then swing by Groodo and Rigorra. Plus we still have one more prisoner to pick up on the station. I'll meet you in the cockpit."

He didn't want to think too much about how lucky he had been to save Ahsoka. Dooku must have set the bounty hunters on Obi-Wan and knocked Ahsoka around a bit on his own. Harry's blood boiled, angry with the Sith Lord but angrier with himself. Not even a week into having a padawan and he let her fight a Sith Lord on her own because he lost track of everything going on around him.

"Hello Master Potter," the medical droid droned. "Miss Ahsoka is still asleep on the table. I did not find anything more than minor burns on her arms and a mild concussion. I took the liberty to heal her wounds and administer pain relief for the concussion. Would you like me to revive her?"

"Thank you GM4. I'll revive her myself."

"Yes Master Potter."

"Wh…where am I," she muttered, her eyes fluttering as they adjusted to the light.

"You're back on the ship sprite. GM4 took care of your injuries. How are you feeling?"

"Well enough I guess. My head hurts but not much. Wait! What happened to Dooku?" She groaned miserably and covered her face. "I can't believe he got the better of me like that."

"What happened?"

"When that monster came down, Fett activated his rocket pack and carried Obi off a few meters away. I ran after them and Cradossk must have chased after me. The bounty hunters gave us a good fight. I managed to take down Cradossk and restrain him before Obi took care of Fett. I didn't stick around to help him though. I tore off to help you." She looked at him sheepishly. "You were starting to lose pretty bad to that monster."

Harry smiled. "A'Sharad wasn't much of a swordsman but he had some special gifts I never imagined in my worst nightmares. I managed to get the jump on him but it was more luck than anything else." Harry quickly grew somber. "What did Dooku do to you?"

She scowled. "That cowardly old man didn't even face me. He threw his saber, which I missed." She looked ready to spit rivets, which Harry sensed was out of disappointment with herself. "It caught me in the arms and then he knocked me in the head with the hilt on the return."

He couldn't help sigh with relief. Ahsoka looked at him curiously but he didn't explain. His young firebrand wouldn't appreciate him saying he was glad she didn't have to fight Dooku. Before knocking her unconscious he could've done much worse than a couple burns and a concussion.

"You did a great job Ahsoka. I lost track of you and Obi-Wan after I started dueling Krayt. It is something you and I both need to improve on. I learned long ago that you always need to mind your surroundings but I forgot that when I saw what Dooku and Sidious did to poor A'Sharad. We'll work on it together deal?"

"Deal. Now what happened to the old man and Krayt?" Unlike Obi-Wan she seemed to understand right away what he did and why. "I think all three of us could've taken the old bastard though."

"Well maybe you're right. But Obi-Wan was otherwise preoccupied and I wasn't in the best shape. What the three of us at our best could've have done is much different than what we could've done after fighting separate duels while Dooku stood on the sidelines."

"That was probably why he didn't try to help Krayt fight you."

"That makes a lot of sense," he said, pleased with her reasoning. "I don't think that was the only reason though." He explained what Dooku had said about Harry needing to fight and beat Krayt.

Ahsoka looked disgusted. "I can't believe they would do that to someone."

"Remember what I told you before sprite. Evil makes people do terrible things. I've seen other wiz…people use 'dark' spells and magic for good and vice versa. The Dark side of the Force is worse when you give yourself over to evil but you always have a choice. It is up to people to figure out how they choose. And right now Darth Sidious is using the Force to create powerful monsters that can defeat the Jedi."

"So how do we stop them?"

"If someone wants to take the fight to the gutter, sometimes you have to get down there with them. Now that doesn't mean we need to create our own monsters. But we can't be afraid to do what is necessary to win." Harry chuckled ruefully. "I imagine you'll get a different answer if you ask some of the other Jedi masters."

She nodded. "I know. I always thought what they taught was the absolute truth. You and Hermione always seemed different. Now I'm not so sure."

"Well I'm still learning as I go. I'm not old enough to be wise yet. Maybe when I have as many wrinkles as Yoda I'll be wise. Maybe I'll always be dense." Ahsoka laughed at that. "For now we'll learn together."

Admiral Admiral Hollwil waited for the incoming Jedi shuttle from Balmorra, looking over a report from scouts orbiting the planet. Before Obi-Wan contacted her that they were returning, a patrol about 27000km around the western side of the planet tracked a small, quick moving shuttle leaving the planet. Legally they couldn't order it to hold since it wasn't a Republic vessel. They still tried to find out who she was but the shuttle veered away from them, flew into a larger craft, probably a freighter, waiting past the thermosphere and shot off deeper into the Outer Rim.

"Where are the Jedi Manacon?"

"Ma'am they are about a minute from the bay doors."

"Very good. Is Nashtah still unconscious Gretera?"

"She is. I have two master chiefs standing guard outside the door per your orders."

"Very good. I am sure the Jedi can handle Nashtah but better safe than sorry." She walked through the inner bay doors. "It is good to see you master Jedi, and you too Ahsoka. If you have a few moments I would like to debrief you of recent events."

"Thank you admiral," Obi-Wan said with a half bow. He seemed altogether unaware of the scorching and burns on his robes. Ahsoka looked a little worse for wear as well, especially a dark bruising above her right eye. Her eyes settled on Harry for a bit longer than the others. He had nastier and more numerous cuts and bruises on his arms, chest, and legs. She couldn't say how she knew but his eyes were more distant than when they arrived, as if he was still thinking about whatever he faced on the planet.

He caught her looking them over. His eyes brightened and he gave a wane smile. She thought he looked much better then. She was a bit startled by that thought but dismissed it quickly. Who didn't look better happy and at peace than distraught.

She invited them to sit. "All right. Can you tell me what happened after went to the planet? Give me the abridged version if you'd prefer. I am going to have questions from the Balmorran council soon and it would be better if I had some idea what happened so I know what I should and shouldn't say." She listened to Obi-Wan and Harry for about fifteen minutes straight, with Ahsoka chiming about her defeating one of the bounty hunters. What Sidious and Dooku did to that poor boy horrified her, as did his ability to survive and become stronger whenever Harry hurt him.

"I almost wish I had ordered my scouts to shoot their shuttle down before they could flee. Taking out Dooku would've been worth the court martial."

"Do you know in what direction they were bound," Obi-Wan asked.

"They were heading deeper into the Outer Rim. A patrol tried to hail the shuttle as it left the atmosphere with no luck. I suppose I can't say for certain it was the Sith but based on their point of departure and distance from the station, it is a safe bet."

"Thank you for tracking them as much as you could," Harry said. "We should grab Nashtah and head back to the Temple."

"Yes. Thank you again Admiral."

She nodded at Obi-Wan as he turned to leave with Ahsoka. She grabbed Harry's hand and held him back. He raised an eyebrow but stopped. "Go ahead Obi-Wan. I'll be along in a minute." He nodded and left. When Ahsoka seemed to hold back Harry told her to follow his friend. "All right Admiral. What do you have for me?"

"You need to be careful Harry," she said urgently. "Dooku wants your scalp and so will Krayt. Next time you see them Sidious may not be able to hold them back." He chuckled. "What about this is funny," she demanded, bristling.

"You remind me of someone I know," he said simply. "I am not afraid of the Sith. Even if those bastards want me dead, they can never want it more than Lord Voldemort." As before, his eyes shined. This time though she almost took a step back. It was a terrible, fierce light that showed nothing but pain and anger.

Sensing her discomfort, he blinked and reigned in his anger. "Forgive me Ariel," he said gently, setting a soft, warm hand on her shoulder. "I haven't spoken of Voldemort in many years. As I said, he wanted me dead in a way no one ever could." He looked at her very seriously then looked down and sighed resignedly. "And I'll never give them the same targets I gave Voldemort either. I won't."

"What are you talking about Harry?"

"Never mind. Good luck to you Admiral." He left with another word or backward glance. She thought to follow them but she couldn't make her feet move. She was amazed she stopped Harry to warn him. She didn't know why she did. He was…captivating was the best word she could think to describe him. But beneath the surface there was much more to him than she ever suspected. And the worst part is she would probably never have a chance to learn exactly what ran beneath the surface.

Dooku knelt submissively before the hologram of his master. He could feel the fear coming from his body but he could not help it.

You allowed the Jedi to capture the bounty hunters. I sense now they are about to pick up Sing too. Did I not say I did not want Fett and Cradoosk captured? Did I not say Sing was to be recovered if at all possible? Answer me Tyranus!

"Forgive my master. I did not expect Potter to threaten Darth Krayt. Set against his loss, I assumed the bounty hunters would be—not acceptable—but tolerable losses."

Do not hide your failure behind protecting Krayt. I did not want Potter killed but I did not prohibit you from fighting him. He was near defeat after besting Krayt and would've fallen easily to your sword. I must assume you were either afraid to fight Potter or you were afraid to harm his padawan.

Dooku bristled. "I resent your insinuation my lord. I am your most powerful apprentice. No Jedi can hope to stand against me, or combination. And I do not fear killing any Jedi."

For your sake Tyranus you had better not make me believe otherwise. Obi-Wan Kenobi may have murdered Maul but I would've disposed him myself in time. He was too reckless. But I will not tolerate an apprentice that is too conscientious either.

"My lord why do you not want Potter dead? I do not excuse my failure but had I not assumed you did not want him harmed at all I would have acted differently."

I believe we've already discussed you questioning my plans Tyranus. I trust I do not need to repeat myself.

"Of course not my master," Dooku said hastily, not wishing to upset his master further. But he wasn't content to back down entirely either. "If I understood at least part of your reason for wanting to let Potter live I may be able to serve you better. I daresay I'll encounter Potter in the future." Hopefully you'll let me kill the brat he thought but only to himself.

Do not try to conceal your thoughts from me Tyranus. I assure you that one day soon you will have your opportunity to kill Potter. But dangerous as the boy is and will be in the short term, if he were to die too soon by your sword—or Krayt's—it would be far more dangerous to my future plans.

Jango Fett blinked and tried to figure out where he was. His armor was gone and he was tied to a chair. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he thought he was alone. But he saw the blurred outline of two people in the shadows.

"He's awake Harry," said a young voice.

Out of the shadows stepped one of the two Jedi they were supposed to kill on Balmorra. He looked down at Fett with no expression. He raised his hand and created a chair out of thin air. Fett was impressed but did not show it. "Well Jedi. What do you want with me?"

The Jedi—Harry—stared at him for about fifteen seconds. "Tell me everything you know about Darth Sidious, Count Dooku, and A'Sharad Hett."

"What makes you think I know anything about them? They paid me for a job not to ask questions."

"You have an interesting mind Jango. I should know. I was rummaging through it before you woke up."

"You lie. I've been trained against your Jedi mind tricks."

Harry laughed. "That is true. But I have more tricks up my sleeves than most Jedi do. For instance, I couldn't help but notice that deep in the recesses of your mind certain thoughts and memories are protected by powerful dark magic. Normally when a person is unconscious, their thoughts are a jumbled mess and hard to make sense of but this wall cannot be hidden and I can sense thoughts and memories moving behind it. Yet there are no signs of that magic being forcibly planted in your mind."

Fett felt a couple beads of sweat form along his temples. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"No doubt that is somewhat true. While you consented to the Sith planting the magic in your mind, you may not be aware that the spells are designed to kill you if you talk about what is protected. If I tried to counter the Sith magic that could kill you too. It is a very thorough piece of work, better than almost anything I've ever seen. That makes me believe it is the work of Darth Sidious."

"But that is neither here nor there. I don't want those secrets." Harry smirked. "Well I do but I don't want to lose everything else by killing you. You know things about the Sith that isn't protected. I'd like to be optimistic and think the Sidious didn't protect it because he figured it wasn't important enough or maybe he just assumed you could protect it well enough yourself. For your sake, I hope my optimism is justified."

"I know you won't kill me Jedi no matter if I talk or not."

Harry smirked again. "Of course I won't kill you…on purpose. But I am hoping you will tell me what you know without making me to plunder your mind. You see if you tell me I can protect you from the Sith ever finding out. But if you force my hand, I will need to use more drastic measures to mask my raid into your mind. But eventually the Sith would find what I did. Then they would kill you. Do you really want Boba to grow up without a father?"

Fett paled. "How do you know about Boba?" He tried very hard to not think about how Boba was conceived. If what Harry was telling him was true about Sidious—and he had no reason to doubt Sidious would tamper with his mind in such a way—the truth about Boba would no doubt be protected

Harry eyed him very seriously. "What is your choice Jango? Will you tell me what I want to know? Or do you want me to find it myself? And remember if you make me search myself I may stumble across something that is protected by accident and you will die right now. But you know what is protected and what isn't."

"How can you make sure the Sith don't find out I talked," he asked, licking his lips. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so weak and hated it. But he didn't think Harry was lying about trying to plunder his mind and he didn't want to risk him killing him.

"Go ahead and think about the last time you saw Boba. Think about it very clearly."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Do it Jango and I will show you."

"All right I have the memory," he said. Harry stared at him then pulled a stick out of his boot and set it next to his temple. As he pulled the stick away, Jango saw a whispery strand of white cloud come with it. "What magic was that?"

"When was the last time you saw Boba?"

"Five standard days ago when Dooku told me about this mission."

Harry shook his head. "This is the memory I removed from your mind. It shows you saw Boba three days ago before you left for Balmorra." Harry gently guided the wisp of cloud back to his temple and pressed until the end of his stick touched. "Do you see now how I can protect your mind from the Sith if you tell me what I want to know?"

Fett thought about Boba and now recalled seeing him just three days ago. "I can see now why Dooku wants you dead."

"Flattery will get you nowhere. One last time Fett: will you tell me what I want to know or do you want to die? If you make me look you'll either die now or Sidious will kill you later."

"Fair enough Jedi. Ask what you want."

Harry spent nearly an hour with Jango Fett and another hour with the dark Jedi, whose real name is Aurra Sing. Cradossk didn't take as long. He was a last minute addition to the mission and wasn't in the confidence of Sidious or Dooku. Fett and Sing weren't very much in their confidence either but they still told him a great deal. When they returned to the Temple he hoped the other masters could help make sense of it all.

At first, Obi-Wan had been hesitant to support Harry interrogating their prisoners on his own. He argued they should wait and do it in the presence of the Council. "You know some on the Council won't appreciate your techniques Harry."

"No doubt Obi-Wan. But do you honestly believe we're going to have these prisoners very long? Even if we hold them in the Jedi Temple, it isn't a fortress. I don't trust Dooku not to manufacture some political end around either. I've seen politicians cave to powerful people before." Harry remembered how laughably easy Fudge was to coerce. Even Scrimgeour was pliable even if you needed to use subtle pressure versus straight strong-arm techniques.

"What do you think of Dooku's claim that Sidious is controlling the Senate," Ahsoka asked, not necessarily changing the subject but steering to politics on a higher level.

"I want to think it is still bullocks. Manipulation on that scale isn't what you'd call easy."

"There is still the fact that if the Republic military grows stronger, even if the Senate is controlled by the Sith, the Jedi become stronger since we draw the same resources as the military in the event of a war," Obi-Wan said.

Harry nodded. "That too. But I'm not going to lie it isn't disconcerting. If the Sith Lord could manipulate things in the Senate to that degree it could be ruinous."

"I will say Chancellor Palpatine thus far has shown no signs of despotism."

The awkward conversation Harry had been partly dreading came later, when they were perhaps a day away from Coruscant. He sparred with Ahsoka and practiced several new spells. With Obi-Wan's help, they also worked on meditation and a technique Obi-Wan called Force Channeling. By mastering the technique, you would heighten your connection with the Force and you wouldn't drain so quickly. If Harry learned anything from his duel against Krayt, it was he could not afford to drain his connection to the Force so quickly.

After Obi-Wan left, Ahsoka asked him the question he had been waiting for since she helped him interrogate their prisoners. "Where did you learn all these other things Harry?"

"So you want to know huh?" He laughed under his breath. "I wonder if Hermione has had this conversation with Isachr yet. All right sprite I'll tell you but it is a long story. I hope you're ready."

She rolled her eyes. "Enough stalling Harry. How long could the story be?"

"Well at least long enough for seven books…or eight movies." He laughed. But then he saw the quip meant nothing to Ahsoka. A joke you had to explain wasn't funny anyway. "Sorry. I guess the best place to start is the beginning. Eight years ago, Hermione, Ron, and I arrived on Queen Amidala's ship, the ruler of Naboo back then."

"You sound like you just appeared. Was it like those portkeys you used on the hutts?"

"We did just appear but no we didn't use a portkey. My friends and I are from a planet called Earth. We didn't have any of the technology that exists in this place. As best as I can tell, we either travelled into the future or to a whole new galaxy. Before we showed up on Amidala's ship, we were fighting a dark wizard on our world. His name was Lord Voldemort." He explained the battle in Azkaban. He needed to stop and dab at his eyes when he talked about Ginny.

"Did you love her?"

Harry nodded jerkily. "I did. I've never forgotten about her. It's been a long time since I spoke of her. It…it hurts to think about her."

"Is that why you didn't say anything about liking the admiral?"

"Part of the reason yes. Everyone I ever loved back on Earth, except for Hermione and Ron, died during my eight-year war with Voldemort. That man or his pawns killed my parents, godfather, mentor, and countless friends and classmates. And one of those maniacs killed Ginny." Harry couldn't help breaking down again. He was embarrassed but couldn't stop himself clinging to Ahsoka when she came over to hug him.

"Thank you sprite," he said when he regained his composure.

"You know Harry you shouldn't let that keep you from finding other people. You know I don't remember my family at all. I always thought that was the way it should be because that was what my masters always said. But love doesn't seem to be as dangerous as the Jedi used to tell us. If you, Hermione, and Ron didn't have each other it doesn't sound like you would've survived."

"Oh I would've still fought Voldemort if I lost them. I just wouldn't care if I lived or died. But the Council does have a point; affection is dangerous if you let it blind you to everything else and loss is dangerous if you cannot think clearly after experiencing it. Love is a source of strength but you have to be able to move past it, especially if the people you love die. Back in my world I would've gone off to fight Voldemort directly the second Ron and Hermione died, just as I did when Ginny died. I wouldn't have cared if I died so I would've done something stupid and for what? The Jedi are correct that you have to see past your own affection and your own pain when it comes to the greater good."

"But like I told you magic and the Force are not inherently good or evil. There is a Light and Dark side of the Force but an old mentor of mine once said it is your choices, far more than your abilities that decided your fate. If you give yourself over to the Dark Side and the evil emotions it makes you feel, it will corrupt you. But I've seen good people use dark magic and vice versa. Four years ago Master Vos used Force Lightening to defeat Volfe Karkko. I've used dark spells myself. And I've seen the reverse with evil witches and wizards using 'good' spells or Light side powers for evil."

"And that is where I disagree with many Jedi on the Council. Love and affection can give you a reason to travel to the dark places in the galaxy or use dark magic and come back home so to speak."

"So that is where you learned all this magic. What was that stick you used during your interrogations?"

Harry pulled his wand out of his ankle holster. "This is a wand. The majority of magic can be performed without it but some things require a wand. I wouldn't have a prayer of making another one though. I have no idea how and the materials are different here than in my time."

He rubbed his face, wiping away the last of his tears. "Do you have any other questions?"

She shook her head. "No. Thank you for telling me everything Magic Man."

"Thank you sprite. I've been sitting on these demons too long."

When their ship docked in the southern hanger of the Jedi Temple, Masters Koon, Rancasis, and Drallig were waiting to greet them. "Welcome back you three," Drallig said, stepping forward with six other Jedi knights. "I don't think anyone expected you to capture both bounty hunters and Aurra Sing."

Master Koon nodded. "Yes I must say we're quite impressed. Master Gallia and Hermione have been dissecting the transcripts of your interrogations since you transmitted them."

Harry watched him for any signs of displeasure and was please to see both he and Master Rancasis looked genuinely pleased. "Thank you masters," Harry said with a bow. "Do we need to meet with the Council?"

"We would like you and Obi-Wan to give a quick report to the Council of Reconcilation. Before we meet with the Chancellor and discuss Count Dooku's extraordinary allegation, we would like to better understand what you learned from Sing, Fett, and Cradossk. The High Council is out of session with several masters tending to affairs throughout the galaxy but we will appraise them of this as well before we meet with the Chancellor as well."

"Of course Master. Sprite would you mind helping Master Drallig and the others bring our guests to their rooms."

Ahsoka and Drallig snorted. "Of course Magic Man."

From what Harry understood, Masters Koon and Rancasis were the leaders of the Council of Reconciliation, appointed for life unless they wished to step down. Masters Gallia, Sabla-Mandibu, and Tiin served appointed terms. Hermione served in an advisory capacity of sorts, most likely preparing her to replace Master Gallia. All the masters were consulars, which made sense; they needed to rely on intelligence and mental acumen after all.

"Welcome back Obi-Wan. Welcome back Harry."

"Thank you Master Gallia," Obi-Wan and Harry said.

"Now before we discuss what Harry learned," Master Sabla-Mandibu interjected, "We wanted to start with the allegation Count Dooku made against the Senate." She gestured at Obi-Wan. "Can you please tell us what Dooku said to you before young A'Sharad attacked?"

Obi-Wan recounted his conversation with Dooku. "If I may masters, I do not believe there is any merit to Dooku's allegations. It is possible, even likely, Darth Sidious and Dooku have a hold over some senators but I doubt it is very many. If the Sith did control the Senate, why for instance would they need to ferment a rebellion along the Outer Rim?"

"It is difficult to predict the nature of the Dark Side," Rancasis muttered. "You used rather inventive means to gather information from the prisoners Harry. Were you able to find any specific systems where Fett has assassinated…I suppose we can call them loyalists?"

"I did not push that deep master for risk of killing them. I followed the current of their thoughts slightly farther than they revealed but not very much. For one, they were candid and I sensed that immediately. But more importantly, I pushed until I nearly reached Sidious' dark magic. In my experience, if I pushed right up to it, even if it didn't kill them it could have wiped their minds or done any number of other fun things."

Sabla-Mandibu nodded approvingly. "That is very commendable Harry. We will confer with Master Vilbum and his Council about what you have discovered but let me ask you: given what you learned, if you led the Sith, can you think of any way aiding and abetting a rebellion against the Republic could simultaneously help strengthen the Republic and hurt the Jedi?"

"Simultaneously? No. Back in my time, Voldemort was a guerilla fighter for the most part. He never cared for politics, except when he finally managed to overthrow the Ministry of Magic. Besides I never really was interested in politics myself."

"Masters there is one way I think this could work to the Sith's advantage," Obi-Wan interjected.

"Please explain yourself," Gallia invited.

"Thank you masters. The Outer Rim covers several quadrillion lifeforms spread over thousands of systems. If they target certain systems, ones that we cannot lose but are also spread out across the region, they may be able to force the Jedi to divide our forces. There simply aren't enough of us to be everywhere strategically important in the event of a galactic civil war. If we're spread too thin and too far from Coruscant, Darth Sidious could use that to consolidate his power before the Jedi had a chance to reorganize."

Master Rancasis closed his eyes in reflection. "We will need to discuss this with Vilbum. There is a dark wisdom to that strategy, especially if the Sith were to one day control or kill Palpatine or whomever is his successor. Thank you Obi-Wan."

Several kilometers away, Darth Sidious felt his rage threaten to overwhelm his senses. Outwardly he felt his calm façade waver as well as his office walls shook and the durasteel window cracked and groaned from the pressure of the Force.

Abruptly, he turned away from his desk and gazed out over the vast cityscape. Behind him, furniture, carpeting, and other belongings burst into flames. He paid it no heed, save suppressing the sprinkler systems and sensors.

Eight years of plans were now laid bare before the Jedi. Oh they didn't have enough to know every facet of his designs for the galaxy. But thanks to Potter and Kenobi the Jedi had enough information to make him change course.

His first instinct was to kill Tyranus for his stupidity. He knew once Potter and Kenobi captured his bounty hunters the Jedi would gain valuable intelligence. But he never imagined Potter would find a way to extract the information he did. And Kenobi showed unexpected prescience, deducing a way Sidious could use a civil war to destroy the Jedi. If there was a silver lining, it was they still trusted Palpatine. But for how long could he depend on their naiveté.

The Jedi would be watching Fett, Sing, and probably Tyranus for some time to see what happened to them after this. If he killed them, it would probably send up a red flag and even the Jedi were smart enough to add 2 + 2. He would need to bide his time then.

After an hour of meditation and reflection, he decided all was not as put asunder as he originally thought. He had hoped to stave off the war for 2-3 more years until the clone army was ready. He still hoped to put it off for at least 1-2 years but Tyranus would need to push other systems in the Mid and Outer Rims to boil over within the next few months. The Jedi would need to be distracted from the main event long enough for Palpatine to squeeze more powers from the Senate.

He would need to groom a new Lord of Betrayal as well. Tyranus would die—painfully—as soon as he could arrange it. His first thought was absurd: turn Potter. But that would not happen. He knew that. Palpatine was ingratiating himself with Skywalker but he wasn't in his confidence yet. The lad was incredibly powerful, perhaps even more so than Sidious himself. His was a raging storm of emotions and without Potter, Jinn, and Granger he would eventually chafe under Jedi control enough that Sidious could turn him. But he couldn't afford to wait, not now. If he wanted to turn Skywalker, it would need to happen within the next year.

Of itself, his eyes turned to the senate apartments to the southwest. He closed his eyes and reached out for Senator Amidala and was pleased to find her resting. As he wove through the vast tapestry of her mind, he sought any sign of Anakin. It was a foolish hope of course. Even though she had seen him recently, she had feelings no different for him than what she had when he was a child: nothing more serious than a proud older sister.

Across the vast expanses of space, Shmi Skywalker lived with her new husband. He could not feel her specifically, not from this distance. But that did not matter. If Skywalker could be turned quickly, he would need to use Shmi and Padme, even if the latter didn't care for him romantically. But how could he use them?

Most important of all though was how Skywalker could alter his plans for galactic domination. The lad would be less than useful in the game of political diplomacy. For that he needed Tyranus, damn him. Once the war began though, once Tyranus was no longer needed, Skywalker could emerge from the shadows and take his place as Lord of Betrayal. But if he could turn Skywalker, what could he do with him before the war began? Could he do anything? And what of the Jedi who care for Skywalker? What would they do if he turned him?

All paths led back to Potter. Before he turned Skywalker, he would need to kill Potter.

Personally.

For the first time that night, Sidious smiled. Once again the galaxy turned on his axis. There was only one more shatterpoint to destroy.

Enjoy your pathetic victory Potter. One day soon you will die.