Chapter 19

By the time the Jedi had reached the council room, Mace had about had it with Dooku. Yoda was very calm but mara looked like she wanted to scream.

"Dooku," Luke warned. "I think you're—"

"Upsetting the Master Jedi?" He rolled his eyes. "What a crime. Arrest me and lock me in chains."

"I might have to if you keep this up," Mace snapped. "You must be civil, Dooku. If we are to defeat the sith, we'll have to start working together."

"We'll have to start working!" Dooku argued. "All you're proposing is informational gathering. Droids can do that."

"We can't start anything until the senate…"

"Senate… blah." Dooku weaved if off. "Bull. We don't have to wait on the Senate. They don't control us."

"I don't think you completely understand the seriousness of the situation with the senate," Obi-Wan informed him. "The senate is very weary of the Jedi. They think it's our fault the Republic fell."

"Have you pointed out to them that they were the ones that elected a Sith lord as the chancellor?"

Luke shot him a look. "No one knew. And my mother was a part of that."

Dooku shrugged. "You're almost as touchy as Skywalker."

"He is a Skywalker," Mara informed him.

Obi-Wan stopped suddenly. "Where's the boy?"

"Aric?" Mace asked. "He's with the ship. He wouldn't come out."

"Why?" Luke asked worriedly.

"Because he thinks that if he does, Anakin will send him away," Dooku explained. "The little trooper thinks he can save Skywalker." He shook his head. "But the only one Anakin needs protection from is himself."

Luke stopped and motioned back. "I'm going to go check on him."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Good idea, Luke. I'll find Leia and Han and fill them in."

Luke nodded and walked back the way they'd come but Mara called after him and he waited for her. Obi-Wan headed off to find Leia as well.

"Guess that leaves just the two of us," Dooku smirked.

Mace closed his eyes and nodded. "Let's see what we can find out about this uprising Sith."

The pair started walking again, Mace leading. "I'm having our prisoner transported to a discussion chamber in the Jedi Temple."

"Discussion chamber…" Dooku snickered. "Nice."

"We'll try to see if we can get him to understand…"

"Corporate."

Mace agreed. "Exactly."

"By torture," Dooku continued.

The Jedi Master sent him a severe look. "We do not torture people, Dooku. We are not Sith."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Mace. You're all about hand holding and romance novels."

"Jedi do not torture people!"

"Yes, they do," Dooku snapped. "Just not as often as the Sith."

Mace turned on him. "I will not allow it."

Dooku rolled his eyes and continued walking. "Tell me that after he won't corporate."

Luke ducked inside the plane and looked around in shock at the mess. The ship had barely made it in the landing dock in one piece. It surly wasn't safe to leave a boy of mere ten there unattended.

Mara followed him in and shook her head at the scene. Luke lay a hand on her arm and motioned towards the back of cockpit.

A boy sat on the floor, behind a board.

Luke stepped forward slowly.

"I ain't goin' no where!" the kid snapped. "You can't make me, Dooku!"

Luke stopped and kneeled down so the boy could see his face. "Hi, Aric."

Aric froze. He looked Luke over carefully and then stared at Mara. He swallowed and looked around almost frantically.

"Who are you and what do you what?" Aric asked quietly.

"My name is Luke Skywalker," he began slowly.

The boy looked up in surprise. "You're my master's son?"

Luke nodded. "I'm going to go see him. Want to come?" He held out his hand to the boy and noticed the sudden excitement pierce the boy's eyes. He swallowed carefully and thought about if for a moment before grabbing the outstretched hand.

"Yeah," Aric said. "Let's go find him."