Chapter 56 – Plots

Author's Note: In which Dooku, Asajj, and Rex plot. :D

~ Amina Gila

It must have been several hours before Rex's thoughts turn back towards his brothers and what they were talking about together. He and Asajj are still curled in her bunk, her hand lazily tracing aimless patterns on his chest. The skin-to-skin contact is unusual, but not unwelcome in the least, and Rex thinks that this was really a long time in coming.

"You're thinking too hard," she hums, tilting her head to kiss his neck.

Rex rolls his eyes. "Maybe I'm not thinking hard enough," he snips back.

"So, what's on your mind, darling?" Asajj drawls, taping her fingertips on his chest and lifting her head to peer down at him.

He can't quite stop the warm flush of… something, maybe love, if that's what this feeling is, at her use of the term, and he clears his throat, refocusing his mind on the future and trying not to be distracted by memories of… what they did. "I spoke with my brothers when we were on the Executor," he relates without hesitation. Not only did they spend a month in each other's company, but also, they were just together in the most intimate way; there is a strong trust between them, and Rex has no reason to doubt her.

"And?" she prompts.

"I told them what you told me about – about Anakin and everything, and we discussed the feasibility of doing something about the inhibitor chips," he explains. "None of us are happy about how all our brothers are, for all intents and purposes, enslaved to the Republic. We want to do something. Dooku doesn't know of a way to shut them down, or deactivate them, but there must be a way. We just need to find it."

She is quiet, processing, studying him with blue eyes. "Okay," she replies, nodding, "And how do you intend to find it?" Her tone is questioning, curious, not hostile or challenging.

"We need to go to Kamino," he answers quietly. "It will not be easy, but that is… it's the only place I know where we can get answers. If anyone can find a way to permanently turn off the inhibitor chips so they can't be used against us, Nala Se will know."

"She'll never help you," Asajj murmurs, one hand reaching up to stroke through his blonde hair.

Rex smiles a little, the smile hard and cold. "We aren't going to ask her. We will find out through more… illegal means. But first, we need to get in."

"Okay, I'll talk to Dooku once this is over, once we have Windu secured," she promises, "And if you're going, I want to come."

He's shaking his head almost before she's finished speaking. "No way. How would you? I would love for you to come, but you wouldn't be able to blend in like we can. The Kaminoans are orderly and strict, but they don't care to know one clone from another. I'm sure we can find allies there who will help us. We are brothers; we are a family. The Kaminoans don't really understand that, so they'll underestimate us."

She hesitates before pressing a hand to his chest, above his heart. "If you're going, I want to come," she repeats. "A Force user could help you. I have learned much from Maul. No one will detect me, not the Kaminoans, not the Jedi. No one."

"It will be dangerous for you," he warns, and she smiles thinly.

"I take risks every day, darling. This won't be any different. I'll do it for you, Rex, for all your brothers. I – I know that I have… hurt them, when it's necessary, but I don't like it. I want to – to atone for that."

There's a fervent earnestness in her eyes that Rex can't say no, too, so instead, he reaches up, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame and pulling her down next to him. "Okay," he agrees, "You can come, but only if Dooku clears it."

Asajj grins at him, flicking his shoulder. "Of course, Captain," she teases.

"I'm glad we are in agreement, Commander," he returns dryly, and she snickers, leaning in and kissing him, visibly delighting at being able to do so with such freedom. And really, whyever would Rex want to discourage her?

**w**

Asajj can't help but be wary as they touch down on the landing platform of Rattatak. She has not been here in a while, and she has no idea what kinds of changes Sidious has ordered to be made in her absence. Or Offee, since she's staying here, overseeing Windu's imprisonment. Either way, Asajj is confident in her ability to successfully retrieve Windu, especially with Rex at her back. He's wearing armor again, hands hovering near his blasters as they approach the entrance.

It opens before they arrive, and Offee steps out, followed by a couple MagnaGuards. "Ventress," she greets coolly, "I did not expect you to come. Why are you here?"

"This is my home," Asajj throws back contemptuously. "I don't need a reason to come here."

"And the clone?" Offee questions dubiously.

"Is with me," she answers sharply, tensing despite herself. She will not stand for Rex being insulted or otherwise threatened. "I am here to see the prisoner."

Offee's expression closes off entirely. "Lord Sidious has forbidden it," she replies crisply. "No one is to see him except me."

"Stand aside," Asajj warns, ready to reach for her lightsabers on a moment's notice. This will come down to a fight, she knows, and she needs to destroy the droids while also dealing with the Fallen Jedi and covering Rex. Not an easy feat, but she is confident that she can manage it. She has learned much, after all.

Offee narrows her eyes. "No." She gestures and the two MagnaGuards start forwards, but Asajj had expected it, and she was waiting.

Drawing her red lightsabers, she leaps at them, her blades crashing against their electrostaffs. It's a short, fierce duel, because she has trained against these droids before, and she has trained against Anakin, too, who is far stronger. A well-placed blow sends one careening backwards, and she Force throws it to the side. It hits the wall and collapses to the ground, sparking. The second she cuts into pieces, kicking it aside as she lunges towards Offee.

A red lightsaber meets hers, the Mirialan's yellow eyes filled with something akin to cold hate. "You are making a mistake," she warns.

"No," Asajj throws back, "You are. You are not even half as strong as me. You are nothing, merely a weak, expendable pawn. I am much more. I am an assassin, a commander."

They exchange rapid strikes as Asajj pushes Offee onto the defensive, forcing her to retreat into the building itself. She nods subtly to Rex as he slips past them both while Offee is distracted, heading down to the prison level where Windu is being held. Asajj can only hope that he's capable of being transported; she has no idea what Sidious has ordered to be done to him.

It's only a matter of minutes before Offee has been thrown to the floor, Asajj's lightsabers leveled at her neck. "It looks like you lose, child," she taunts. While she could kill her, it might be better to bring her to Dooku as a prisoner; Offee could be useful to them.

"I didn't!" Offee denies hotly, unexpectedly Force shoving her backwards.

She skids a few feet, and that's all the diversion that the Fallen Jedi needs to call her lightsaber back to her hand and take off running into the building. Asajj could chase her, of course, because she has no doubts that she knows this place better than Offee ever will, but she doesn't know what kind of surprises she might find, and at the end of the day, so long as they get Windu, it doesn't matter what Offee does.

Rex contacts her comm only moments later, reporting that he located Windu, who is, unsurprisingly, not in good shape, and she immediately heads down to help him transport the captured Jedi Master to their shuttle. From there, they need to make haste to Serenno.

**w**

Dooku is more than a little relieved when Ventress and her clone companion arrive on Serenno with Windu as a prisoner. He also can't help but notice the way that the duo seems much… closer, for lack of a better term; it's as if something has settled between them. He doesn't ask, but he doesn't need to, anyways, because what he can feel from them in the Force is answer enough. At least they have found happiness despite the gravity of their situation.

Windu is… not in good condition. At all. His hand had been amputated at the wrist when Dooku and Kenobi had fought him on Ryloth, and it doesn't appear to have received any treatment, because some infection has set in. Once the Jedi Master is properly sedated, Dooku has a medical droid give him a thorough examination and treatment. Aside from his wrist – which will be fitted with a working prosthetic – Windu has suffered from extensive torture. The physical injuries are… bad, but Dooku expects, more like hopes, that Windu will make a full recovery; he is a Jedi Master after all, and this is hardly the first time he's been tortured, no doubt.

It takes a full three days before Windu is well on the path to recovery before Dooku has the medical droid awaken him so Dooku can pay him a visit. When he arrives, Windu is propped upright in his bed, looking at the shiny durasteel of his new hand.

"What is this?" Windu demands as soon as Dooku has entered the room. "If you think this treatment will make me more inclined to cooperate with you, you are wrong."

"No," Dooku answers, shaking his hand, clasping his hands behind his back, "But I do hope you are… better. The situation in the galaxy has become… tenuous, and I feel that your aid will be invaluable." He continues before Windu can interrupt, "My master and I are… at odds, and I feel that it is imperative that he be eliminated sooner rather than later. Skywalker, Kenobi, and Tano have been captured by the Republic, and our window of time is… limited. I had you retrieved, against my master's orders, in the hopes that you would be amenable to providing your aid."

Windu's eyes narrow, the suspicion and skepticism in them never lessening. "Go on."

"Darth Sidious is Chancellor Palpatine," Dooku tells him frankly. "He has amassed much power, and we are running out of time to destroy him. I had hoped that Anakin, along with Kenobi and Tano, would be available, but things have changed, things are changing, and I can no longer say that the plans I had initially crafted will work."

The Jedi Master nods slowly, showing no surprise at the news, though there's no way he isn't – unless he already knew. "Tell me what happened," he requests, "And then I will decide whether I would be willing to consider helping you."

Unlike in the past, Dooku doesn't hesitate to explain the situation at length. By freeing Windu like this, he has essentially declared war against Sidious, and unless he moves quickly, his time will run out. Now, there is no reason to keep these things secret. He explains everything to Windu. He tells him how Sidious freed Shmi in name but kept her slave chip active so she couldn't escape. He tells him how Sidious trained Anakin, how he coerced him into accepting the Dark Side piece by piece, holding Shmi as leverage over Anakin's head. He tells him, admits to him, of his own complicity, how he stood by and enabled it all, instead of doing his utmost to help Anakin and Shmi, of how he even aided in Anakin's training, making him into the lethal weapon that he is today.

And he tells Windu about his plans, about the inhibitor chips in the clones, about how they inserted another order which would allow them to seize control of the clone army to stop Palpatine if they have to, about how they had intended to remove Shmi's slave chip so she, and everyone, could leave and escape from under Sidious. From there, he explains how it all went wrong, how Shmi's chip had detonated when the Republic, and Jedi, show up, and how Anakin, Kenobi, and Tano had been captured.

"It is… falling apart," Dooku admits bluntly. "None of this is going as I had anticipated. Sidious is getting one victory after another. If I do not act now and fast, he will win. He knows I mean to destroy him, and I fear that he may try to destroy me before I can do him damage." He doesn't add that Sidious undoubtedly already knows that Dooku is moving against him, since Offee would have reported it to him. Time is fast running out.

"He has set it all up to ensure his success, no matter what opposition comes in his way," Windu notes, his voice – and expression – still neutral. "I sense you are speaking the truth, but what assurance will I have that you will not simply turn around and destroy the Jedi yourself, that you will not form a Galactic Empire under you?"

It's a legitimate question, because in truth, Windu has no guarantee, and without a guarantee, he has no reason whatsoever to agree to help Dooku. Agreeing is treasonous, and he could face major consequences with the Jedi and Republic by helping. He won't agree unless he knows it will be worth it.

"Ventress is still with me," Dooku elaborates, "And she has… taken a fancy to one of the clones who has been staying with us." He had, of course, also told Windu about the clones who are staying with them, even if their stay is not fully optional. "He has developed a plan with one of his brothers to go to Kamino and find a way to permanently neutralize the inhibitor chips. I believe that there is a way, but I do not know it. Is that enough proof for you?"

"Perhaps," the Jedi Master answers, noncommittal. "I will need to meditate on it. How much time – and proof – do you intend to give me?"

It's a trick question, and while Dooku knows that he needs Windu's help, he also doesn't want to reveal his every card. That would defeat the whole purpose, especially since he can't trust that Windu won't turn on him once Sidious is gone. They can't trust each other, and for good reason, but they somehow need to trust each other enough to work together to overthrow Sidious.

"As much as you need," Dooku answers at last. "We are running low on time, and while your help would be… invaluable, I can make do without. I did not join Sidious because I wanted power. I joined him because I saw the corruption and complacency of the Jedi Order and of the Republic. I sought change."

"Very well. I do not believe that you are sincere, but I agree that Sidious must be taken down. If the situation truly is as you have described it, then time is of the essence." It's not an agreement, per se, but it's not a refusal, either, and Dooku will simply take what he can get.

**w**

Barriss is more than a little scared to report to Sidious that Ventress and a clone came here and managed to get past her and take Windu. The Sith Master had been very clear that he wanted Windu broken. He knew it would take time, and he told her as much. She doesn't truthfully know if he actually wanted anything, in particular, out of Windu, or if he simply wanted to break the Jedi Master for fun. It could have been either; she was never told.

And as she suspected, Sidious was… less than appreciative of the news, though he doesn't actually electrocute her or otherwise punish her. It's almost as though he suspected it, even if he doesn't share his thoughts with her. The transmission ends abruptly, Sidious telling her that he will contact her with further instructions.

It's the first time in weeks that she hasn't had anything to actually do, that she hasn't had a mission to accomplish, and it's… strange. Unnerving, even. Barriss doesn't really like it, and she doesn't really like the way the Force is tingling with a vague sensation of warning. Things are changing faster than she anticipated, and a part of her wonders why she ever thought that she could be anything more than a mere pawn for Sidious.

No.

No, she'll be more than that. She just needs to prove her loyalty to him and him alone. Windu's loss was a setback, but nothing else. She will undoubtedly get more such chances in the future once her master decides how to react to these latest developments.

She's so lost in thought that she almost doesn't notice the small alarm pinging a warning of an approaching ship. Barriss frowns when she sees it; as far as she knows, there shouldn't be anyone coming here, especially since Ventress was just here only hours ago. Who could it be now? She feels… something akin to fear at being so alone and unprotected. The two MagnaGuards were destroyed by Ventress, and all she has here is a small platoon of battle droids which stand guard.

The shuttle is a Separatist one, though, so she goes out, albeit warily, to see who it is. It's not a Separatist. It's a Jedi. It's Quinlan Vos, who looks inordinately pleased to see her. "You're a hard person to track down, Offee," he jibes. "It's time for you to come home."

She takes a step back in spite of herself. "What? No, you're mistaken, Jedi. I am home."

Vos' mouth quirks into a mirthless smile. "Is that so? A pity then." He draws his green lightsaber with a flourish, advancing on her, forcing her to draw her own blade to fight back and defend herself, even though she knows it's hopeless.

And maybe there's a tiny part of her that actually likes getting this escape route.

Barriss isn't stupid, and she knows when she's in over her head. She is. She always has been, but it's been a choice of playing the game or trying to do her own thing and suffer for it. Now? Now, she has an escape, and maybe it's one that she wanted more than she ever realized.

Many minutes later, she's in Force restraints on the shuttle as it returns to Coruscant.

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