Disclaimer: Don't own Star Wars.

Author's Note: Sorry about the little mistakes in the last chapter, it was late at night when I was fixing it, and my mind wasn't fully awake. I would like to thank you all for your reviews as they are very helpful. Please R&R, it really does help. AU info: Anakin didn't lose his hand in this universe, though he is still married to Padmè (I can't blot out Luke and Leia ). Without further ado, here is 'Chapter 1: A Frustrating War'.

Chapter One: A Frustrating War

Four months had passed since the Clone Wars had started on the desert planet of Geonosis. With the war's start, many planets were quick to follow the CIS's path and leave the Republic, furthering the discord that beleaguered the universe. The charismatic Count Dooku continued to draw even more support to the CIS's cause. Though with the Clone Army led by their Jedi generals, the Republic now stood a chance against the seemingly endless supply of droids that the CIS had amassed. Albeit this Clone Army's creation was still a matter of much concern to the Jedi and certain Senators, it was a matter that would have to wait to be solved until the war reached its conclusion, which appeared to not be coming anytime soon.

Master Yoda sighed lowly, staring out over the city Coruscant, which almost enveloped the entire planet save for its polar regions. Next to the aged master, fellow council member, Master Mace Windu, stood. The dark skinned Jedi Master leaned forward and frowned, taking in the now familiar sight of marching clone and star destroyers.

"Strange it is." Yoda said, finally breaking the silence between them. "For each planet we take falls another."

Windu glanced out of the corner of his eye at the green master. "The Force has grown dark. Do you believe that a Sith Lord is responsible for this?"

"Answers slowly come… and silent the Force is." Yoda paused. "But a hand in this the Sith Lord has. Remember well Dooku's words on Geonosis I do."

"Regarding a Sith Lord being in control of the Senate?" Mace's frown deepened further. "I thought that we had already determined that to be false."

Yoda sighed. "True it is that fallen to the dark side Dooku has… however, speaks in little truths the dark side does. To look at this war is to see some part the Sith Lord does play."

"So find the Sith Lord and end the war."

The old master nodded. "Request Master Jinn and Padawan Skywalker… a mission for them I have."

Windu turned in the hallway pausing slightly. "Should I inform the council?"

"Inform them we must. The official mission important is… the second as well." Yoda stopped. "Make known that the second mission to remain secret is. If a Sith Lord in the Senate there is, best for him to be left in the dark it would be."

"Of course," Windu said, bowing in respect to the small master before he left to inform the council as well as Jinn and Skywalker.

SWSWSW

Count Dooku strode down the empty corridor, his cape billowing behind him. He kept his face void of emotion. He played his part as a Dark Lord of the Sith well. It was all in hope that one day he would be able to use these new powers and kill the monster that was now his master. His heart hardened as he thought about Darth Sidious, who he had a meeting with, though, of course, the Sith Lord would not be physically present. He rarely saw Sidious in person. In fact, Dooku only saw him when he went to Coruscant, the planet his master practically controlled. 'The Jedi have truly grown blind to not see it,' Dooku thought slightly disgusted that at one point he had been as blind as the Jedi Council. 'But no more.' He reminded himself. 'Now I have true power.'

Using the Force, Dooku effortlessly pushed open the door that led to his private chambers on the Providence-class carrier/destroyer known as the 'Colicoid Swarm.' The room was sparse with only one table and a few odd piece of furniture. The only real point of interest was the port view that gave Dooku an undisrupted view of the stars outside. To the far left there was another door which led to his bedroom. However, Dooku knew well enough that he would not be on the Colicoid Swarm long.

A rustling sound to his right, broke his observation from the room and brought instead it to a new being, who he recognized immediately. 'So he has sent the boy instead.' The boy was garbed in his customary black robes, which hung loosely around his unnaturally thin form. The color of the robes contrasted greatly with the being's pallid complexion. The baggy hood was pulled over the youth's head, concealing the majority of his face particular the eyes that through Sidious's care had atrophied. The Dark Lord had implied the first time that Dooku had noticed the boy's white orbs that the youth saw more than he ever had when he could see. Dooku had shuddered at this thought.

The boy, as Dooku had come to call him, bowed slightly to his much older superior. Dooku waited for him to speak, but he remained quiet. Eerily, it was the voice of Darth Sidious, who broke the silence as his holopad chair walked into view. Quickly both Dooku and the boy bowed before the shivering blue holographic image of the Dark Lord.

"What is your bidding, my Master?" Dooku asked, remaining in his bowed position.

"Rise, my apprentice," Sidious began, emphasizing the action by raising his own hand. "We have much to discuss."

"Of course," Dooku said, coming to his feet. His eyes shifted to the boy, who remained on his knees. Whenever he was in the boy's presence, he felt unnerved. He was a blank sheet solely written on by Sidious. Dooku could only imagine all the hidden commands the Dark Lord had imprinted on the boy's mind.

"The Republic will be moving against Muunilinst. They will be sending Jinn and Skywalker. Unofficially, I believe they will be looking for clues to my existence. This cannot be allowed."

"I will take care of them, Master."

"No," Sidious hissed abruptly. "You are needed elsewhere. Ventress and Durge will be sent to Muunilinst to counter the Republic's move. You are to inform Ventress that she is to take charge of the space battle… there is a possibility that young Skywalker will take command of space. If this occurs, Ventress is to lure him away from the battle to the moon of Yavin… the planet might help Skywalker further tap into the dark side. Durge will be on the planet itself. San Hill is waiting for his arrival. Now I want you, my apprentice, to rendezvous with Grievous after he has completed the decimation of the Republic Army on Hypori. You are to further instruct him in lightsaber combat."

Dooku nodded reluctantly. He found Grievous disgusting with his twist circuits and real flesh. Grievous was also an alien, which further damned him in Dooku's mind. He was the lowest of the lows, though even he had his uses.

"You've sent the boy. I assume there is something you wish him to do."

"He will be accompanying Durge in order to aid with the land operation." Sidious holographic eyes shifted to the unmoving Dukke. "His battle meditation will be most needed there. I have foreseen it. However, there is danger sending him to Muunilinst in the form of the Jedi." Darth Sidious paused. "Make Durge aware that he is to guard him with his life. Under no circumstance is the boy to come into contact with them. It is time consuming and possibly dangerous to go back through and rewrite a mind repeatable. After all, his mind is not like that of a droid as unfortunate as that might be… but droids are not Force-sensitive, nor do they have his particular talents."

Dooku nodded slightly. However, he was careful not to interrupt his master.

"An untapped potential which would have remained untouched, if I had not come across him." A sinister smile played on Sidious's lips, revealing his teeth. "The Jedi are talented in not touching the full potential of the Force. They are doing the same with Skywalker. By the end of this war, he will seek me out… to access the power which has been withheld from him."

Dooku chose not to express his own thoughts, regarding Skywalker. He did not share his master's obsession with the proclaimed "Chosen One." He also highly doubted the Jedi would ever join their side of the conflict, despite his somewhat close relationship with the Chancellor, who happened to be Sidious. There was no doubt in his mind that his former Padawan, Qui-gon Jinn, had warned Anakin regarding certain politicians. Even before he had left the Order, Qui-gon had approached regarding a sensation that he had had on Naboo when greeted by the newly elected Chancellor. 'If you ever knew the truth, Qui-gon, my old friend.'

Dooku's eyes flickered to the ever silent boy. He had his guesses on who he had been… who he was no more.

The smile on Palpatine's face seemed to grow, and shaped itself into something quite the opposite of a smile. "Well, I'm afraid I have business to attend to… the senate is expect to vote the Supreme Chancellor even more emergency powers." The holographic light flickered briefly before it vanished entirely.

Dooku's brow furrowed as he fell deep into thought. Gradually, he turned his attention to the only other being in the room, who remained in the same position he had been in for the entirety of Darth Sidious's visit.

"Come, we have places to be."

Dooku turned, exiting the room. Behind him, he could hear the light rustle of the boy's robes as he followed at least three steps behind the Sith Lord.

"Tell me, boy," Dooku began. "What do you remember of the time before you came under the care of our master?"

There was a large gap before his companion responded. "Before?"

"Forget I have said anything." Dooku did not even pause in his long strides. "You are to serve Durge-."

"Forgive me, Master, but I already know my mission, perhaps better than yourself."

'Ah, so the boy still has some life in him.' Dooku choose not to comment and continued in silence to the briefing room where he had asked his dark acolyte, Asajj Ventress, and the bounty hunter, Durge. A grim smirk flitted on to Dooku's lips before vanishing just before he opened the door. Ventress's head jerked upward upon their entrance, while Durge's concealed face turned barely.

"You are both to travel to Muunilinst to aid the Banking Clan." Dooku motioned to the boy standing just behind him. "Dukke will further brief you on the way. You will leave immediately." Dooku had no qualms in leaving the boy to brief Ventress and Durge. He was after all Palpatine's puppet and lacked a will of his own.

"Master," Ventress posed the word like a question. "Where are you going?"

Dooku had already begun to turn from the room when Ventress spoke. "Hypori is about to fall." With those words he left the room, his cape swelling behind him. Let them devise their own plans. After all, Ventress wanted desperately to prove herself.

Vaguely, in the background, he could hear her voice asking the boy for their mission. Sighing, Dooku knew that she could possibly be a powerful Dark Jedi, if she survived Skywalker.

SWSWSW

Qui-gon groaned loudly as he sunk down into the worn sofa that decorated the apartment that he shared with his young Padawan. At this moment, he chose to level an even glare at the young man, causing the youth's smile increase further.

"Master," Anakin began, trying to gain some measure of control over his facial expressions. "You know that you had fun."

Qui-gon hid the grin that was threatening to appear. "I know that I have bent the rules occass-." Anakin's snort cut him off. The older man glared at his younger counter-part before continuing. "Though I occasionally bend the rules… it is proper to remember to inform the Council of changes in plans."

"At the proper time," Anakin finished. "I am well aware, Master. Next time, I will even give you more notice… I might even inform you before the Council."

"No doubt the Council loathes me for passing certain aspects on to my Padawan." Qui-gon paused. "But overall, I feel that they are impressed with your progress. Before long, you will be a knight."

Anakin shrugged. "But then you will be lonely, Master. After all, who will make your life interesting when I'm gone?"

"Interesting… is definitely the correct word."

"Would you like some tea, Master?"

Qui-gon began to answer when his comlink began to chime. "This is Qui-gon." He answered.

"You are wanted in the Council Chambers." The familiar voice of Mace Windu said.

"We will come immediately."

After Qui-gon returned his comlink to his belt, Anakin came to stand beside him. "What do you suppose they want? We had only just got back from the front!"

"It could be nothing."

Anakin snorted. "It is never 'nothing'. Trust me; I have daydreamed that the Council would send us on a vacation, which has never happened."

Qui-gon rose from the sofa, stretching his tired muscles. "Remind me to make sure we get that vacation after the war is over."

Anakin smirked. "Now that is something I will remember!"

"I'm sure it is." The older man commented dryly. "Well, we shouldn't keep the council waiting."

The two kept up a light conversation as retraced their usual route to the Council Chambers. Surprisingly, there was no wait, and they were admitted immediately. It was no longer a shocking sight to see that certain chairs were filled with holographic images of absent masters. The war had required this change as it drew many Masters away from the Coruscant.

Both Qui-gon and Anakin bowed in respect and then waited patiently for the Masters to begin.

Yoda was the first to speak. "To Muunilinst you will go. There head the army against the Separatists you will."

There was a pause and Mace continued. "We are entrusting Padawan Skywalker with his first command." Qui-gon could feel his Padawan's pleasure at Mace's. 'He is so close to taking the trails.' Qui-gon noted with a small amount of pride before returning his attention to Mace. "He will lead the air support, while you, Qui-gon, lead the ground battle. It will be your task to secure the Separatist command post and San Hill."

The holographic image of Shaak Ti spoke next. "But there is more to this mission than the battle. We believe that within the Separatist command post we will be able to gain information regarding the Sith Master of the Zabrak that you fought on Naboo."

Windu's stern gaze remained focus on the two Jedi, who stood in the center of the room. "Exercise great caution, Qui-gon. We believe that it is possible that this Sith Lord is orchestrating this war. He will not willingly reveal himself."

"What leaves you to believe that information regarding the Sith Lord will be present on Muunilinst?"

Yoda's ear lowered and his large eyes closed. "Guided me the Force has. Feel that you and Skywalker destined to go to Muunilinst are. There the key to the Sith Lord you will find."

Qui-gon bowed. "We will find this key that you have foreseen."

"May the Force be with you," Windu and several other Masters uttered.

Qui-gon returned the familiar saying before leaving with Anakin in tow. The doors were closed behind them.

"Master," Anakin stated. "I think after we return you will owe me a dinner."

"Oh?" Qui-gon asked. "And why is that, my Padawan."

"I do recall a certain Jedi Master saying," Anakin cleared his throat. "And I do quote: The day they let you command anything with your reckless behavior will be the day krayt dragons fly."

"Oh? I do not recall any Master saying that."

"It was directly after I took an independent action during the defense of Kamino without first informing youself."

"Ah," Qui-gon muttered. "I think some memory of that is returning."

"The mind is a funny thing," Anakin said mimicking the serious Windu. "Now let's get this mission over… there is a certain dish at Dex's that is calling my name."

Qui-gon simply shook his head, concealing his grin.

SW-Muunilinst-SW

San Hill quivered as he watched as his droid army was being destroyed by the Grand Army of the Republic. The fear radiated off the Muun with every tremble that caught his body.

The Banking Clan's Chairman was really making Dukke physically ill as he sat out of the way, viewing the battle in his own manner. He was extremely sensitive to the changes in the Force, especially when he was in the midst of a battle mediation, which alone weakened his body. Now the fear that encased the Muun was distracting his focus even as he further removed himself from his mediation. Dukke pushed down the need to rub his temples, which ached. He finally decided that there was really very little he needed to do since the battle was already occurring as his master had wished it. Muunilinst was meant to be a martyr for the Separatist cause. It would galvanize further support.

"I don't understand why Count Dooku sent you, if you are just going to stand-." The Banker began only to find Durge gripping his throat fiercely.

"The master will not be pleased, if you kill him." Dukke commented from behind. His simple statement had the desired affect, and Durge dropped the terrified Hill, turning his attention instead unto Dukke.

Dukke sidestepped in time to avoid Durge's blow, a red streak, which would have struck his face. Dukke knew that his successful dodge had insulted Durge more than any words could have. After all, he was blind while the bounty hunter was not.

"W-whenever you are ready." San Hill stuttered, drawing Durge's attention.

When the bounty hunter spoke it was to Dukke. "You will regret your interference in my affairs." He punctuated by shoving the unprepared youth to the ground. "Puppets aren't supposed to have thoughts of their own."

Dukke chose to remain submissively on his spot on the floor as Durge strode out of the room. It was fortunate that the bounty hunter had not seen that his hand had strayed to one of his many lightsabers… that knowledge would have only invited further problems.

Only when the red glow that represented the bounty had vanished did Dukke rise to his feet. Out of all his master's servants, he had found Durge and Grievous the worst. However, even their presence was more desirable when compared to that of his master's. Dukke's fingers brushed against his temples with little to no thought. He would relish these moments away from his master.

"Shouldn't you be doing your part of the bargain?" The gravelly voice of San Hill asked.

The youth peered briefly at the grayish light of the Muun, before walking passed it. With Hill near he would not be able to reenter the mediation. It was better to search out a more isolated room to feel Durge's battle with the Jedi General.

SW-Space over Muunilinst-SW

Anakin peered out his clear canopy into the vast regions of space. Around him, clone pilots maneuvered their own fighters at they met the Separatist fleet in combat. It was quite a light show from Anakin's perspective with lasers of various colors dotting the black bulk of space. The exhilaration of the battle was intoxicating, especially after he had managed to destroy one of the Separatist's battleships using their own missiles.

A sudden motion caught his attention as a sleek ship of a golden color whirled passed him.

"R-4," Anakin said, talking to his droid. "Can you get an ID on that ship?" The droid beep was negative. Anakin was about to ask the droid another question when the ship in question reversed and came racing at him headlong. "Ah, so they want to play." Anakin commented as he prepared to avoid the spray of fire that the pilot of the other craft was releasing.

Maneuvering his fighter craft behind his target, Anakin was amazed at the skill of the pilot. "That is no droid." The sound of R-4's beeps answered. "I'm sorry R-4. I'm sure you are an excellent pilot."

Anakin chased after the other craft, following each of its tight turns. His eyes suddenly darted down to his view screen in time to see a message scrolled across it: 'Follow me if you dare, Skywalker.'

SWSWSW

Author's Note: Don't forget to R&R! Next Chapter will be called 'Sidious's Pawn,' which will hopefully be up next Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, unless I'm away this weekend. In it the Battle of Muunilinst will continue.