Chapter 23 I am Delirious


(Fanfir Note: You know what: fuck you Sidious, Dooku da boss! If only you knew how much I hate Sidious and Snoke. Sidious is a douchebag. Snoke is a douchebag. I loath the two of them soooooo much. And since this is my fanfic I'm going to give Sidious a very long and painful death (most likely) so don't let words be deceiving you.


KEY THAT I SHOULD'VE MADE A LONG TIME AGO SO AS NOT TO CONFUSE MORE PEOPLE THAN NECESSARY WITHOUT GIVING THEM A CLUE TO WHAT ANYTHING (FORMAT) MEANT IN THE FIRST PLACE:

This means flashback

This format is Luke's thoughts as you probably already guessed

This is a Force Vision or could also mean a flashback, but it depends on the situation, mostly…

This is expressed words that are important or other words that are like BOOM or POW (onomatopoeia basically)

"This is Scavenger talk"

This is normal words, of course

"This is speech of regular peoples, or something, I think…")


LUKE POV

The force was eerily silent.

He felt intimidated.

This Dooku guy was literally looking down on him.

Sidious's lightsaber hummed softly in his hands, sending small, barely noticeable vibrations up his arms. It almost felt comforting in a way.

I don't ever think I will truly become accustomed to living in a world with so many powerful force sensitives. It left him in a bit of awe. Awe at how in this time and world seeing those strong in the force, such as Jedi, was common. But as in his time Leia, Ben, Yoda, his father, and old dried up Pulpy were the only known force sensitives he had gotten to meet.

Then there was Dooku.

Who he had only known through a force vision. But now he stood here before him.

So this is Dooku.

His muscles were tense and he couldn't hide how self-conscious he felt. He didn't know anything about his guy. Sith hell, I hadn't even known he existed till a few days ago.

He had only felt a glimpse of the Count's presence earlier but it had been just that. A glimpse. Then it had vanished as if it had never existed in the first place. But now that he was in such a close proximity to the dark side user that he couldn't help but notice how truly powerful this Sith was. He hadn't been this surrounded in it. Such a controlled dark dangerous presence that could bring someone to their knees. It was powerful. Something he had never truly felt before in this type of way. All these new things he had been given a chance to experience now that he was sent back were all a bit overwhelming and he just felt he could drown in them. This man, Dooku, no matter how stupid his name sounds, is very powerful. It's so unlike Sidious. As I know what Sidious is. I know how evil the slimeball can be. So that was why Sidious's siren call of power never entrapped him as it did his father and many others. But this guy, he's a whole different story, as I don't know anything about him! And the controlled dark side energy he felt that slithered around in the space of the vast room tried to cling to his little lightness in the dark.

And deep in those onyx brown eyes were secrets hidden that he could never comprehend nor imagine. How curious this was. Face to face with such a powerful and respected individual.

Around the room the only sound was the spraying of water and the flickering and dying of lights. Clear blue droplets of water that hit the red saber he clutched immediately dried up, evaporating because of the heat, not standing a chance against the temperature of the blood red blade.

Dooku seemed to study him for a moment with a scrutinizing dark brown gaze. And in that gaze, just discernable, were flecks of gold hidden within.

His body stilled, like a deer caught in a headlight.

It was impossible to know what the guy was thinking. His face is like a mask, showing no emotion whatsoever.

The silence stretched on. He clenched and unclenched his hands around the hilt of Sidious's saber for comfort in the murdering tool, muscles tense, ready for anything. Well, anything except for what came next.

The long pause was interrupted when the Sith finally spoke in a rich voice, hands folded behind back.

"Ah, so you are the little nuisance my master has been so intrigued in lately. Most likely because you are the one who stole his lightsaber. I must say, you don't look like much but I'm sure both you and I know looks can be deceiving." And then he got a whiff of the Sith's voice for the first time. It had a very cultured tone to it as well as one of vague curiosity and deepness resonated in the sound.

So startled was he that all he could do was stare dumbly, unable to process or respond at the moment. He was getting lost in that dark gaze again.

Dooku frowned slightly.

"It's a common courtesy to always introduce yourself," the Sith stated taking in his ragged appearance and looking him up and down, judging him, "especially for when you are trespassing on others property. But perhaps it is foolish of me to expect one such as you to have adequate manners."

At that comment his mind immediately caught up with what was said, and what the blatant insult meant. His mind broke out of its reverie of awe at the man's power and mystery and any smidgen of respect that he had unconsciously gathered for the damn Sith immediately flew out the window!

Huh?!

Did he just!...

How dare he!

"Wha – I – you – gah! I do have good or er, eh, perfectly adequate manners you pompous prick!" he blurted.

The latter let out an amused chuckle that came out as sounding very degrading to him.

"Hey, stop laughing at me!"

Dooku seemed unaffected by the insult to the least and he didn't seem threatened at all by Sidious's red blade that he wielded with clear shown inexperience.

Does this guy think I'm a joke or something he pouted, further raising his mental barriers just in case.

It was very clear Dooku didn't take him seriously.

Their eyes met for a small moment. He was immediately forced to turn away from the superior.

This guy's really ticking me off he grumbled to himself.

"A mere youngling such as yourself shouldn't get entangled in such dangerous situations that are none of your concern… Someone could get hurt."

"Are you threatening me?!" he shouted, gripping the saber tighter. Who does this guy think he is!

"Not at all youngling," was the response in a very patronizing tone.

He growled, pointing a finger at the Sith and stated, "First of all I'm not a youngling! I'm twenty three years old. And second of all this is fully my business Dooko so don't you go tell me to bugger off! What you and Palpatine are doing is not right! Its sick and its hurting many innocents!"

There was laughter in those dark brown eyes. "I am amused by your naivety."

Then the elders tone turned to a more serious note, "Despite your age I would expect someone like you to know this by now: no one is completely innocent and in war someone is always going to die."

"Well that won't stop me from trying to prevent it!"

"Such as strong spirit in one so young. The youth these days seem to be getting more and more reckless."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Hah, not quite. Their stupidity has increased as well. In fact you happen to remind me of a certain blond haired blue eyed impulsive reckless loud spoken padawan."

"Oh."

He gulped, feeling increasingly uneasy and breaking out in cold sweat. I bet i can guess who he's talking about. There was only really one person who came to mind when he thought of an impulsive, reckless, and loudmouthed blond hair blue eyed padawan and that would be his father. As he had met him a few days ago and boy was he disappointed at how blindly his father followed Palpatine, but anyways he was happy none the less.

While he was out of his zone Dooku had been staring at him.

When he noticed he was sure his face was turning a light pink under the strong gaze as Dooku's intense stare turned to rest on his face.

Time seemed to last forever as the minutes ticked by, or was it longer. He didn't know but the silence seemed to stretch for an eternity. The wetness of the water flooding the floor soaked into the bandages around his legs and touched the torn jagged flesh of his cut which continued to ache.

Ouch.

He reinforced his mental barriers once more with what he had, even though it probably wouldn't do much.

The silence was eternal.

Then it shattered with the unspoken words that hid behind the Sith's dark gaze.

W-what're you looking at? He thought aloud.

His nervousness and this damn cold were getting the better of him.

Finally Dooku seemed to come to some sort of conclusion.

"Now that I look more closely the resemblance is unmistakable. One could even say that you and Skywalker are related."

He had nothing to say to that.

A new silence stretched forth and on. The count began to circle him like a predator about to pounce on its prey, stepping gently through the water at their feet. He in response sloshed further away following the movement by turning his body in the count's direction. This went on for a while. Dooku continued to stare at him, seeming to be in deep contemplation.

Abruptly, the man stopped.

They were both face to face once again.

Tension had risen in the air and now it was unbearable. His lightness of the force clashed with Dooku's resting dark energy that coiled like a snake, ready to strike at any given moment.

The Sith continued to observe him with onyx brown eyes that seemed so dark and deeper than ever before.

He could feel prodding on his mental shields, searching for weakness. In open defiance he met Dooku's gaze straight on. Cerulean blue eyes crossing with dark brown. And he violently lashed out.

It didn't do much but cause the count to blink in surprise at the unexpected mental attack.

Amusement clearly shone in the deep muddy pools.

"Tell me. What do you believe yourself to be?"

"Huh?"

"I'll say it once again. What do you believe yourself to be." The count's dark eyes pierced him.

"A Jedi of course."

"Are you certain."

"positive," he huffed.

"Then you must be confused."

"How so?"

"It is clear to me that you are different from the Jedi, aren't you youngling. Even if you claim you are a Jedi you will always be separate and individual from the fools. I suspect one such as you could never fully integrate into the order should you choose to join. You would be an outcast there among their light. Having the masters spy on your every move and anticipate when you finally mess up so they can have a reason to persecute against you," Dooku stated with conviction.

It made his blood boil in his veins. How dare he! What does he know!? His anger increased as Dooku went on monologuing. But besides his anger doubt took hold of his heart. For what he felt in the force could be nothing but the truth in those words, could it?

"The Jedi will never fully trust you. The Jedi and the enigma that is you, a product of following Jedi ways in your own perspective, are worlds apart."

Both their eyes locked.

"I can see it in your eyes" Dooku said in a low tone as he began to approach him.

His feet seemed glued to the floor. As what came next partially stunned him. He was in shock. Frozen by fear when confronted with it. Was this the truth?

"I can sense the darkness within you."

Dooku moved closer. They were barely feet apart now.

He clutched the hilt of the saber, holding it tightly and pointing it at the Sith.

"I can feel your conflicted emotions clearly pervading through the force. It is a known taboo in the order to use the dark side and one's inherit passionate emotions. For either personal gain or out of selflessness it does not matter. But you've felt it, haven't you, calling in the dark of night. You have used the dark side of the force. And you liked it, didn't you."

"You know nothing!" he shouted, body starting to quiver. He was cold. So very cold.

Chuckling in a rich deep voice the Sith came up closer to him and abruptly grabbed his saber hand, curling fingers around the appendage and dragging him close. He almost released a cry of pain as his wrist was tightly squeezed. The red blade was now positioned just above Dooku's heart. He could have easily plunged it in the black clothed chest and hit home, but he didn't. He didn't dare. The dark tendrils surrounded them. He couldn't move. Paralyzed. Blue eyes open wide. Fear clouded his thinking and his vision. His body shook now in Dooku's grasp. The Sith leaned down next to his ear all the while still tightly gripping both his hands that clutched the saber. He could just feel Dooku smirking by his ear. The Sith pulled him closer. So very close. He could see over Dooku's shoulder now. The Sith pulls closer and sadistically whispered, "In fact, I could know everything." At that he couldn't stop his body from trembling uncontrollably like a little child. Scared.

Oh so very scared.

When there was a time when he felt this much fear.

Long ago in a galaxy far far away…

A time.

I was afraid.

My heart was young.

I was sheltered back there.

Unknowing of what my fate would bring me…

There was so much sand.

It battered and stung against his 13 year old body and thin clothes. In this dark of night the sand was like a blanket. He couldn't see a thing here!

"Arghhhh" he groaned out.

Where am I? he thought groggily, rubbing his face. He squinted. I cannot see anything in this sandstorm.His body felt numb in on itself. This sand. It got everywhere. It was coarse and rough and hard and it hurt! A part of him still hadn't registered what was happening or the severity of the situation, when, all of the sudden:

"Krrrarrrrrrrrrrr krrrrrarrrrrrrrrrr!" came the roar erupting behind him.

He whipped his small body around.

Fear filled his being and all his limbs felt heavy.

A pearly red eyed krayt dragon bared its rows upon rows of dagger like fangs and came down on him with a gapping maw.

"Krrrraaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr!" it screeched in the storm.

He fell back, trembling, attempting to shield himself from the beast that he could barely see amid the storm.

Someone help me! I'm not ready to die now! Not ever!

"Ahhhh!" he braced himself the best he could, eyes squeezed shut, just waiting to feel the pain that never came.

A sound he had never heard before was what met his ears instead. It was a deep eternal hum that just vibrated the air itself. The pungent smell of burnt and cauterized flesh filled the air that violently whipped around him. Slowly opening his eyes he saw, standing before him amid the sand ridden storm, was a hooded figure wielding a glowing blade of blue and at its feet lay the slayed krayt dragon. Only then did he let himself feel relief…

But there was no relief now

Ben wasn't here to save him this time. Nor any of his friends. They weren't here to save him from Dooku, from the truth, nor himself.

Suddenly Dooku gripped his chin, one hand still holding tightly to his own hands that gripped the lightsaber.

"Look at what you've done," the Stih crooned forcing him to turn his head and together they gazed around at the room's destruction. He felt sick.

But one thing stood out among all else in the chaos.

His heart clenched.

Nooooooo.

His breath quickened.

I couldn't have.

"No mercy whatsoever. Just like a true Sith," Dooku hissed, approval in voice.

I would never…!

But you did.

Sprawled out on the floor is one of the, what he saw at the time, as a mad scientist but now, to him, it appeared to be just another human. This person was a light skinned human with gingerbread brown eyes and cedar colored brown hair. A straight nose and hard jaw line. Dark eyes wide open in a blank fixated expressionless glass gaze at absolutely nothing forever and ever. Mouth hanging open in a silent scream. But the thing that left him horrified was that in the outstretched limp hand was a sliver heart shaped locket. And in that locket was a photo.

Why?!

A photo of a smiling woman and three happy children.

Around the rim of the locket were the printed words: ~ Family ~

I didn't, did I?

He no longer felt Dooku's grip anymore.

Everything becomes numb to me today…

How could I be so deluded?

I was delusional.

I am delirious.

How could I!?

Dooku's murmuring voice in his ear brought him back to reality once more and he could feel once again the soft grip of the Sith's fingers around his wrists and on his chin, "It is not wrong to wield the force for one's power…," the Sith soothed.

"…To use the dark side," Dooku's whispered in a sickly sweet voice, "Don't you despise feeling weak and helpless, watching those around you get hurt?"

All he could manage was a weak nod, still transfixed by the scene before him.

"You yourself claimed you wanted to save the innocent people."

As he watched the blood leak from the humans sprawled on the floor.

"The darkside is the pathway to many abilities."

So it is…

"Now come at me Jedi," Dooku mocked, suddenly jumping away, startling him.

He moved shakily to face the Sith, ruby red bladed lightsaber gleaming brilliantly, held numbly in his tightening grip. He noticed that Dooku had drawn his own lightsaber. This one having a curved hilt and expressing a frightening crimson blade that allowed the blade to be held in line with the forearm. The Sith performed some sort of salute with the blade.

"Don't be a piteous little creature. It thought you were stronger than that. Don't act so weak. You know what to do."

His blood boiled at Dooku's undermining tone.

"If you don't stop me now all those you care for will be gone. You will fail. The Jedi will all be no more. Now, show me how you can wield the true power of the force, without the light side!" the Sith proclaimed.

His darkening azure eyes narrowed and with a roar he charged, brandishing the red blade and meeting Dooku head on.

Red and crimson clashed and shone haunting shadows on their faces. Amid the human bodies that lay on the watery floor and the pierced hearts that bled pink in the empty room there was little light to be seen.


(Hydra Note: Hope you liked the chapter... hehehehehe... { ; - ; } )

Breached the 60k mark :)

Don't forget to check out the Star Wars webtoons if you want... ( where I borrowed Luke's confrontation with the krayt dragon and stuff): just google- (webtoons star wars chapter 1 an old friend) and it should be the first link or something... unless it doesn't work...