After two days of searching the brush and eavesdropping in every seedy cantina of Aris, Obi-Wan, and Anakin were forced to conclude Fett wasn't there either. Dooku sent them his coordinance upon arrival, which was a wide-open field with escape routes for both parties.
"This is quite a meeting place."
"Thank you, Anakin. I thought you two might prefer something a little airier to make it obvious this is not a trap." Dooku sat at a table his droid had set out and motioned for them to do the same.
"A most appreciated gesture." Obi-Wan replied as they joined the Count. "What is this job you mentioned?"
"I take it you are still trying to track down Jango Fett?"
"Of course."
"You won't find him out this way. I intercepted a rather interesting distress call from the Death Watch on Mandalore's moon, describing a Mandalorian fitting Jango's description."
"From the Death Watch? So he just showed up there and started attacking them?"
"Certainly sounded that way."
"Seems a bit convenient considering he seems too smart to be drawing attention to himself like that."
"You are allowed to be suspicious, Anakin. However, I can assure you that he has been a revolutionary for his homeworld since before you were born, something I learned at great cost to trust between the Mandalorians and the Jedi."
"My Master mentioned that. Awfully coincidental he is the same Mandalorian who caused you to question what you had been told."
Dooku shrugged. "Perhaps it looks that way, but he didn't seem to hold any grudges against me when I recruited him as a genetic donor for the Kaminoans to clone. They were frantic to find someone to fill the order, claiming Syfo-Dyas had come and made it with the promise of bringing them a candidate, but had never returned."
"And how did you get involved?"
"Let's just say that the clones were a special interest of my master, Ben."
"Considering Master Windu's analysis, I am not surprised. However, I think we both know it wasn't Master Syfo-Dyas."
"Yes, my old friend would have sooner chewed his own foot off than become a sponsor for violence. That being said, I don't know the details of how the order was placed. I was only sent there to ensure that someone was able to provide DNA and I have more public influence because of my family."
"One would think you being the leader of the Separatists might complicate things."
"Kamino is a bit far out and reclusive to hear of such things. Perhaps now they will be more involved since Master Windu reportedly helped them find a major security breach in their systems."
"I bet that information coming to light pissed off your master."
Dooku's lips turned upwards into a barely visible smile. "Indeed, Anakin. As did the news that the Separatist and the Republic Senators came to a truce agreement. Still, he has never been one to accept defeat. Fett no longer contributing won't really change anything on the clone frontier, however, since he has dropped all other contracts it will make him a target. Not that he is by any means an easy mark, being on his own turf, dealing with Mandalorian problems, but Mandalore needs to know what is coming."
"And what is that? You?"
"No. My master has many loyal followers and Death Watch is one of them. Mandalore's neutrality has been a problem to him for many years now ever since Duchess Satine took over. Before it was chaos and their the military was the most desired in the galaxy. Right now, the Mandalorians are the only thing standing in my master's way. He has never been able to get in and I warned Jango a while back before Obi-Wan went to Kamino that it was only a matter of time before Death Watch made a move, so I imagine once confronted by a Jedi Master he figured it was time to return home where the Republic could not touch him without proof of a crime."
"Running from and shooting at a Jedi certainly makes him look guilty of something. His Mandalorian armor matched a bounty hunter who silenced another one we pursued on Coruscant after an attempt on Senator Amidala's life."
"As far as I am aware, bounty hunter contracts are considered legal on Coruscant, and any action between them including killing one another is not touchable by law. Without the bounty hunter who tried to kill your Senator, technically you have nothing more than a claim he may have been involved."
"But-"
"No, he's right, Anakin." Obi-Wan drummed his fingers on the table. "Me IDing the armor without an outside witness or involved party just makes it look like another grudge between a Mandalorian and a Jedi. Do you think he would agree to talking?"
"I honestly have no idea. I haven't been in contact with him since I warned him for both our sake's. He may have changed his comm number by now, but you can try the one I have from when he agreed to be the gene donor." He slid a data cube across to them. "If it's not disconnected and he does answer, tell him you spoke with Lord Tyranus. It may or may not help you. Either way, Mandalore will need you. I have it on good authority of one of the members of Death Watch is trained in the ways of the Force, though I am not certain how unless my master broke his rule and took a second apprentice."
"How can we be sure it's not yours?"
"A fair question, Ben. I have not chosen one of my own as of yet and perhaps I never will. This path of corruption is too much even for me, but such is the cruel twist of vengeance and greed for power."
"It's not too late for you to turn back. Qui-Gon would say the same."
Dooku twined his long fingers together, his faint smile almost wistful. "You are not wrong. He could be far more stubborn than I and wouldn't let me give up. Sometimes when I look at you, I see him. He taught you defiance as much as justice, and by the Force that makes me so proud. My last Padawan breaking all the barriers from beyond the grave through you. But we both know the Council would never forgive my actions and let me return."
"You don't have to go back any more than you have to keep down the path of the Dark Side. It doesn't matter if they forgive you or not, you have to be willing to do that for yourself."
"Very wise words."