A/N: well I hope I got all of the grammar issues this time, but I doubt I got them all. But regardless I did go over the chapter and corrected what problems I caught before posting. Thank you all in advance for the reviews and the ones for this chapter likely to come.

Chapter 5

Closing the Book on the Past

An hour later after the Star Destroyer the Retribution came to a stop at an old abandoned resource mining facility that had been once operated by the Empire of the Hand was now about to be permanently decommissioned and dropped into the heavy gravity environment of the planet Jupiter, but this old resource mining facility was about to serve one final purpose before its destruction. Seated in an old wheelchair Nunnally had brought out for this occasion as she waited for her captive V.V. to awaken as the immortal child was strapped to a metal table in a room designed for a single purpose.

A Carbon-freezing chamber, meant to flash freeze and transport gases and potentially dangerous materials from Jupiter. Although normally used for the transport of tibanna gas and such it could be used on a living being to encase the victim in carbonite.

The ash-blonde girl waited quietly for the child to awaken and when V.V. finally came to a smile appeared on the girl's face.

"I am glad you have woken up V.V. I hope my mechanical friends we're too rough with you."

"Huh…uh…" The immortal boy said as he regained consciousness, but using a remote in her hand to trigger the table V.V. was strapped to tilt forward until the bound immortal was facing Nunnally seated in the old wheelchair. A few moments passed until the immortal's eyes were able to focus clearly allowing him to gaze upon the black robed figure of the girl clearly behind his capture.

"Remember me uncle." Nunnally inquired removing her hood revealing her face.

"Nunnally, but how…the attack, but…" V.V. exclaimed in utter shock and bewilderment, but he was still unable to comprehend that the crippled girl before her was responsible for the brutal attack upon the Geass Directive which had been carried out by robotic soldiers that the test subjects possessing Geass were unable to hold their own against since their Geass powers had no effect on machines.

"It's all my doing I assure you." Nunnally said as she opened her eyes revealing to her uncle her regained sight, but instead of her beautiful pale purple eyes…they had taken on a molten gold color which was a result of heavy Force usage and anger.

Anger directed at the one before her who was responsible for everything that had befallen her and her brother because of his petty jealousy against their mother.

"You can't do this Charles will find out and…"

"He can't do anything if he is dead right?" Nunnally said as it took the immortal boy moments to realize the contract he had made with Charles was…ended, which could have only happened by one other means. "And yes I killed him and imprisoned my mother within the girl he hid himself in…you can thank C.C. for telling me and my brother about what happened."

It didn't take V.V. long for him to process everything Nunnally was saying since he had known about Marianne's Geass power given to her by C.C, but now it was apparent that the green haired immortal had betrayed them by revealing everything to that woman's children and he felt a pain in his heart as he realized that it was likely that Charles must have somehow known about what had really happened.

But now returning to reality Nunnally much to V.V.'s shock rose up from the wheelchair she had been seated in and glared down upon the captive immortal.

"How it feels? To know that all of your plans…your brother…your order…your revenge upon the world for your sad fate…it's now nothing but ashes and dust?" Nunnally spoke mockingly as V.V. snapped back at her.

"YOU'RE LYING!"

Without a word the immortal child was blasted with a painful burst of Force Lightning before using the remote in her hand to prepare the freezing chamber.

"It won't matter in a few moments because I have prepared a fate for you, which is much worse than the ones suffered by your brother and Marianne. This facility we're in was designed for carbonite freezing for the transport of special gases or other materials, but when modified properly it can be used to trap a being in suspended animation for a very long time…the block you'll be frozen in will be your casket and the planet Jupiter will be your burial ground." Nunnally spoke darkly as she pushed another button which began lowering V.V.'s metal slab into the freezing chamber itself.

V.V. began violently struggling against his restraints, but it was useless.

"But that's not all…I intend to dump you within the atmosphere of Jupiter where you will suffer an eternity of torment. Eventually your carbonite slab may give way, but even so you will never know peace except for suffering in the atmosphere of the gas giant which made worse by its gravity." Nunnally said with a smile upon her face as the blonde haired child flew into a rage.

"I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS…YOU HEAR ME I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!" V.V. shouted as he desperately tried to get free, but once he was in the bottom of the chamber the ash-blonde haired girl hit the last button activating the freezing chamber and the last thing she heard of her uncle was his screams. A few moments later once the process was completed the carbonite slab containing the flash frozen V.V. was brought up from the bottom of the freezing chamber.

A pair of Stormtroopers flanked by Nunnally's bodyguards entered the room.

"Prepare to drop this entire station into Jupiter's atmosphere let the remains of this place entomb him."

"Yes madam." The group said as they accompanied the Sith off the station and back onto her own star destroyer leaving the frozen V.V. behind. As the ash-blonde haired girl made her way back to her quarters to retire for the evening as her sceret teacher of the Sith ways, Darth Traya's voice echoed in her mind.

There must always be a Darth Traya, one that holds the knowledge of betrayal. Who has been betrayed in their heart, and will betray in turn. The galaxy needs its betrayers, especially in the times to come.

Betrayal…Nunnally thought before saying to herself.

"After all...who better to fish out traitors is the one that understands the art of Betrayal itself?"

Six days later Lelouch's YT-1250 freighter was landing in the spaceport of the city of Carannia on the planet Serenno; once he had engaged all proper security systems the young man disembarked the ship after it landed, but not before instructing HK-47 to remain aboard to guard the vessel. As Lelouch made his way off the ship his mind drifted back almost a week ago.

Five days prior on Dantooine as Lelouch awoke having spent the better part of his day and most of the evening at the ruins studying all of the unlocked secrets of Revan's holocron learn more of his teachings he had imparted into the holocron. Lelouch planned on resuming his trip to head towards the next world closest to him which according to star maps in the navigation computer was Korriban, but as he looked through potential routes Lelouch realized on the way traveling through the Hydian Way on the way to Korriban was his grandfather's home planet of Serenno located in the D'Astan sector.

Knowing his grandfather had thought it might be best for him to reacquire his family holdings on the planet or rather what remained as per special arrangements he had made with those he had allies with on the planet prior to the final days of the clone wars. One of them who according to a discussion he had with Dooku was now the current leader of the planet and had ensured assets and some holdings of his survived and kept them from being confiscated by the Empire.

"Question: Master do you intend to leave the planet?"

"Yes HK…and we're going to make a pit stop at Serenno."

"Curious Query: Serenno…what for master?"

"I think this is a good opportunity to reclaim some assets rightfully belonging to me."

"Statement: I understand master."

Returning to the present Lelouch had adopted more of a proper civilian appearance changing out his armor for a ebony black officer-style Vjun tunic with a pair of black leather boots and leather gloves he wore on his hands along with a matching leather belt while concealed in his tunic was his lightsaber should the former prince require it.

Walking proudly through the spaceport after Lelouch met with the proper docking authorities to finalize the proper paperwork needed to secure the hanger bay for himself during his stay on the planet. Upon reaching the hub for all transports and related services the young man acquired a blue polished Grav-cab to take him to the government administrative building.

According to information Dooku had given him the current leader of Serenno was Grand Count Duncan Baltar who was also the leader of the strongest house among the Six Great Houses of Serenno. Duncan was the son of a close associate and friend of his grandfather and had been responsible for acquiring the cloning technology used which would ensure his resurrection during the last days of the war. It was also thanks to certain measures taken by Dooku on his behalf that ensured should Serenno end up a part of the Republic again Duncan could still rule as the planet's leader, although it did fall under imperial rule during Palpatine's reign…after the New Republic liberated them Duncan assumed the lead government lead seat over his home world.

But in exchange Duncan would preserve what remained of Dooku's holdings and status until either he under a new identity or one of his bloodline would come to claim it.

The cab ride lasted almost a half-hour, but it allowed Lelouch a chance to look upon the busy and activity happening with the busy capital which was known for its vast, open-air markets that contained goods and services brought to the world from all across the galaxy. He tried to suppress it, but Lelouch was secretly excited to behold such a busy city before him filled with aliens from different worlds and cultures with the majority being humans, Wookiees and Twi'leks with other species spotted among those actively going from one point to another.

Arriving at the government bureau office Lelouch paid the droid driver before disembarking to look upon the gigantic pale tan castle-like government building designed with structure suiting the aristocratic nature of the counts of Serenno of the planet. The former prince entered the building where a young female receptionist directed him to the offices of the governor's offices on the upper floors once he was confirmed to have an appointment.

Using a subtle Jedi mind trick to get pass the security check easily enough assuring them he wasn't a threat, but if need be he could use his Geass of absolute obedience if the need arose. But thankfully it wasn't necessary as the former prince made his way to a waiting room outside the governor's office where he was asked to wait by the secretary until the governor was ready to see him.

Taking a seat on a soft leather chair Lelouch grabbed a news-holo pad lying on a wooden coffee table to his left and began reading the headlines to see if anything of possible interest was happening in the galaxy. There was nothing of particular interest to the former prince in the highlighted news articles didn't seem to be happening, but nevertheless he decided to pass the time by reading some of the articles while he waited.

Almost twenty minutes went by until someone exited the Governor's office, the man was clearly not the governor since for one thing the man exiting was too young to be the eighty year old man, but the gentleman leaving seemed to be around his early fifties. However it took Lelouch only a moment to instantly recognize the man.

Well, well…I never expected to run into Lando Calrissian on this planet.

Having been told of him by Thrawn and Soontir Fel the former prince knew of the gambler, business man and former general of his career primary because of his ties with the Solo Family and Luke Skywalker. According to what Lelouch knew of the man his recently activities were the opening of an underwater mining/tourist attraction on Varn two years ago. Although there were issues of providing protection for his shipments because of pirates the gambler was successful in acquiring it after an unexpected meeting with the Diamala Senator Porolo Miatamia which ended with Diamala providing protection for his mining shipments.

Now that Lelouch thought about it, it was around the same time as that incident happened around the time of the Caamas Document crisis which nearly splintered the New Republic which would have allowed the Empire to reform. But careful handling of the situation on the part of Thrawn and Dooku allowed them to eliminate an imposter who was going to attempt to pose as the Grand Admiral along with Moff Vilim Disra and Major Grodin Tierce.

Covertly providing Gilad Pellaeon, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet with a copy of the Caamas Document that Thrawn had kept in his possession it allowed the situation to be peacefully defused and helped cement the peace treaty negotiation talks between the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic resulting in the Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty that ended two decades of war in the galaxy.

For the time being at least and it ensured the galaxy wouldn't weaken itself further under more warfare and strife. Because Lelouch and those of the Empire of the Hand knew a far more dangerous enemy would be expected to appear in the galaxy in the coming years, so ending the two decades of war was in the overall galaxy's best interests.

Lelouch's own mission in this galaxy was to be in the galaxy's own interests as well.

Observing Lando leaving the secretary looked to the young man and informed him.

"The governor will see you now."

"Thank you…" Lelouch rose from his chair and entered the office of the ruling governor of the planet Serenno. Upon entering the office the former prince noticed how flush and well furnished the office was with white polished marble floors and equally immaculate white walls where beautiful portraits of lush landscapes from different worlds such as Dantooine and Kashyyyk decorated the walls.

Ahead of the young man was a white marble desk that seemed to be built into the floor of the room and a holographic computer screen and controls upon its smooth and polished surface. Sitting behind it in a throne-like chair with the cushions made of the finest Cornelia leather was the man Lelouch had come to seek. Although he was quite old the Grand Count of Serenno still kept an air of superiority about him and maintained the stature of dignity expected of his station.

Lelouch greeted the Grand Count, Duncan Baltar with a respectfully bow to the old man who shed a thin smile on his face.

"After forty years someone to finally claim Dooku's estate and his surviving assets had gone, but I was hoping for your grandfather to come Lelouch vi Britannia."

"I see my grandfather did contact you in advance about me."

"Indeed he did we kept some…if not…small level of contact between one another."

"I see…you two went way back I understand it."

"Indeed and I will repay Dooku for all that he had done for me back then…he was the only one who had been looking out for me when I lost my parents. However…there is something I would like to ask of you."

"Like what?"

"During my last meeting word reached me that my son had been assassinated and his child…my grandson has been kidnapped. I would like your assistance to rescue him."

Lelouch was silent, but thoughtful for a moment as he gave it considerable thought before he answered. "I have no objections, but you must realize my true self cannot be known to the galaxy at large."

"I know and I'll make sure to do all in my power to ensure your status as a Sith is not known…I'll even make sure any possible traces are covered up."

"If I do this then you'll grant me my grandfather's estate?"

"Of course and more, but we'll discuss that once you succeed, but if it's not too much trouble I want the one behind this killed."

"Of course." Lelouch replied before requesting all information related to the kidnapping and the assassination to use in locating the missing grandchild of the Duncan. But unknown to him someone else who was wishing to gain the good graces of the Count was also planning on rescuing the kidnapped grandchild as well.

Meanwhile around the same time in another region of the galaxy on a somewhat infamous planet known for its vast dangerous swamp lands was the planet Dagobah. There was nothing really noteworthy about the planet itself in a matter of speaking, but it is known to many who are familiar with the story of Luke Skywalker as this planet being the place where Jedi Master Yoda had chosen to spend his remaining life in exile awaiting the young Skywalker to train him in the ways of the Force before passing away peacefully.

Despite having not completed his training as originally intended Luke Skywalker would go on to become a Jedi Master and founder of a New Jedi Order, but as for the home for which Yoda had spent his years in after building it using what tools he had on hand as well as making use of what usable natural materials he could gather.

But following the Jedi Master's death his home now abandoned had fallen into a state of disrepair having been left to the mercy of the elements and whatever else the harsh environments of the swamp world could throw at it. Not much remained of the home now except for its foundations and parts of the roof, but it was still recognizable enough to a small degree to those who had seen it.

But for one who had never seen the home prior to its owner's death was still able to recognize it as the home of the one who had been a great Jedi who lived for almost nine hundred years because of the impression his presence within the home had left as a type of fingerprint in the Force. To the student who now stood outside the remains of the home he strangely felt close to his master again.

Dooku stood alone in front of what had been his old master's home seventeen years ago before passing into the Force. Having traveled to the swamp world alone aboard a personal shuttle adapted for landing on this horrendous and hostile world to visit what he considered as his old Jedi master's final resting place. Dressed in his black tunic and a matching Armorweave cape keeping his lightsaber on his belt while in his hand was a small object wrapped in a white cloth.

Stepping into what remained of Yoda's home feeling through the Force itself…the former Jedi found what he believed what the exact place where Yoda had passed into the Force leaving only his blankets behind while his physical form had vanished completely according to an account of the Jedi Master's death that had reached him.

Recognizing it as a small bed built into the wall while whatever blankets and pillows might have remained had long since been consumed by time and the elements. The Count slowly, but solemnly began unwrapping the object he had brought with him...a simple rose. It was specifically a Malreaux rose, white petals trimmed in blood red.

Years earlier Yoda had once presented him with such a rose during their rendezvous on Vjun during the Clone Wars where he sought to trap his old master, but Yoda came fully expecting it and instead in a move that had surprised him was that his former master had asked him to turn him to the Dark Side by convincing him of the benefits of its power.

Although he didn't turn as a part of him had expected, but another part of him was glad he didn't turn since he knew compared to Palpatine a Sith Lord Yoda would have been far more dangerous and more powerful than Darth Sidious which was enough to frighten even the likes of him temporary at the mere thought of it.

Their conversation ended with a supposed betrayal which he came to suspect that it was more than likely that Palpatine had a hand in the appearance of Anakin and Obi-wan in an attempt to ensure he wouldn't lose Dooku his prized pawn until the time came to dispose of him.

So many mistakes…pride blinded me to what should have been right in front of me.

Gently laying the rose upon the spot where Yoda had once laid before his death Dooku felt a sting of sadness in his heart a part of him wishing to have met his master once more or be at his side during his final moments. If anything he left like a mournful family member who had come extremely late to a funeral.

The words of his master pieced him as memories came flooding back to him of their last face to face meeting on Vjun.

Yoda a darkness carries with him…Dooku bears a light. After all these years! Across all these oceans of space! All of these bodies you have tried to heap between us: and yet call to me still, this little Dooku does! Flies towards the true Force, like iron pulled to a magnet. Even the blind seed grows to the light: should the mighty Dooku be unable to achieve what even the rose can do.

I have gone too far down the dark path to ever return

Pfeh…the empty universe, where is it now? Alone are you, Count, and no one your master. Each instant the universe annihilates itself, and starts again…Choose and start again.

Had Yoda somehow held an idea to what his fate was going to be…his words the promise to catch him when he fell suggested he somehow had known he was going to fall to the Dark Side at some point, so perhaps there was a possibility. In the darkness of the Unknown Regions having lost the will to fight on Dooku had fled until the Force guided him to Earth where he settled and began fresh. He even found a woman to love who would birth him a daughter a test of him to overcome his previous weakness of attachments and the fear of betrayal he held towards people who had gotten close to him. It was this fear that caused him to coldly rebuke his master when he thought the arrival of Skywalker and Kenobi were a betrayal by his master.

He overcame his previous weakness in both skill and technique in the Force, but most importantly the flaws within himself…his own personal faults which had contributed to his first death aboard the Invisible Hand. Dooku had grown disillusioned with the Jedi and left only to be later betrayed by the Sith, but as he thought about it during his own exile maybe they were part of a true learning experience intended for him.

Choose and start again…that's what I did and now I think I finally understand.

"No matter what…I always in the end discover that I am still learning from you…even though I was no longer your apprentice." Dooku spoke looking down on the rose.

"Life itself…a learning experience it is…teacher no matter…the Force always teach us. Our experience, interaction with ours makes the Force grow within us it does." A familiar, but unexpected voice spoke. Dooku recognized it instantly as a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Somehow I am not surprised you appeared…it seems not even death could prevent us from seeing one another." Dooku spoke dryly as he turned and came face to face with the Force Ghost of his old master.

"Surprised I am to see you alive my old padawan."

"It was only in hindsight that I had prepared a way to cheat death that I survived. I was fool for believing Sidious where I was nothing, but a place holder for the real apprentice he sought from the beginning."

"But remained with him you did."

"I know and I feel nothing I did really changed anything except condemn the galaxy for many years of pain and suffering. What I had wanted for the galaxy to be remade for the better, the Jedi were hopeless lapdogs for the corrupt senate and the Empire had the perfect opportunity to truly do some good for the galaxy, but Palpatine's megalomania destroyed that opportunity instead paving the way for the old system to return where even now I see the same mistakes that doomed the Republic and the Jedi returning once again." Dooku said taking a seat on one of the walls of Yoda's old home finding a smooth area of it that was idea for a temporary seat anticipating a long discussion with his deceased master.

"But you true intentions different were they not?"

"(Sigh)…they were, but I feel I had the galaxy's overall best interests in mind. I grew tired of the system we the Jedi had been attached to, granted we had served well as protectors of the peace and upholders of justice. But the Senate was corrupt beyond salvation and something we should have realized long ago was that the Republic had no longer been worth fighting for and that people had grown tired of the old system."

"Reflected upon the mistakes you made have you?"

"For many years my old master…for many years while I was in exile within the Unknown Regions, but now I feel renewed…I understand what I can do to help the galaxy and maybe repay it for all of the war and suffering I made it endure and for what came after. I know I owe the people galaxy a lot for my actions, but I will heal the galaxy and save it from the coming darkness…the ones who are dead in the Force."

"More tell me…"

"Very master I suppose we do have much to catch up on."

The following evening on Serenno after attaining covert passage to the location where the assassin and his grandchild were suspected to have been taken based on reports of the local police as well as complaints from those who had been near the area in question. Lelouch was in his Sith armor once more as the former prince was utilizing a form of Force Camouflage in conjunction using a Sheath Camouflage generator to help further mask his appearance as the masked Sith slowly made his way onto the site in question.

According to reports Duncan provided him with the site in question was an old Imperial outpost that had been established during Warlord Zsinj control of the planet. After Serenno came under New Republic control the outpost was abandoned with the structure being left intact after New Republic agents raided the outpost taking anything of use and what couldn't be allowed to be left behind.

What buildings remained seemed to have been untouched for the most part, but Lelouch knew they were ideal places for those on the wrong side of the law use as a hideout. Although it was curious the government didn't simply destroy the ruins or why the local law enforcement hadn't done a check of the ruins it became more and more clear to the young man that this was a very likely spot for the assassin and kidnappers to hide.

Lelouch moved quietly through the ruins of the old outpost where he found a hole in the roof that allowed him safe entry into the structure, but as he moved using the shadows and his camouflage as cover he remained alert for any kind of alarms or possible traps. It might have been unlikely, but both his master and his own personal life experiences have taught him to always expect the unexpected.

The first two floors of the old command tower of the outpost didn't hold much, but once the masked Sith made his way to the lower levels it was there he discovered working electric lighting as well as sensor traps on the floors. The masked former prince was certain now that he was on the right track and so he proceeded deeper into the lower basement of the outpost where another surprise greeted him.

Stormtroopers?

Lelouch entered into a large room where he came across a large group of at least thirty Stormtroopers stationed around the room while there was a larger group on the bottom floor standing guard around a fifteen year old boy with blonde hair dressed in a blue uniform-like tunic tied to a chair whose head was also hanging forward suggesting that he had been drugged since Lelouch could feel him through the Force.

I see so another rouge Imperial force must be trying to cut some kind of deal with one of the Great Houses, but who.

Lelouch's answer came as he eyed a tall woman with long flowing black hair that hung down pass her hips, unusually pale skin, thick black robes with scaled leather armbands, claw-like finger nails and a painted face which were enough clues for the former prince to take a good guess at what the woman was.

A Nightsister…but…that man next to her, wait I think I remember him.

Lelouch recalled the news article he had read early while waiting for the governor…the reddish haired and largely built man dressed in a set of elaborate red and gold robes was in fact Count Cortes of the Nalju family. Based on what he recalled from the news article Cortes wanted to increase trade tax for exports being sold beyond their world, but it was mentioned there were rumors of him behind the embezzlement of taxes and donations he was receiving which were meant for the less fortunate of Serenno, but people saw more money flowing to the greedy count instead of the people and government it was meant for.

Is this some kind of plan to force the Grand Count from office so Cortes could take over…or is there something else going on that I am not just seeing?

Lelouch wanted to listen in on their conversation, but even the sound pick up of his mask couldn't quite reach it. However when they began moving away from the restrained fifteen year old boy the former prince did pick up something.

"Everything is going as planned; the ransom for the boy will help both of us quite well." Cortes said with a grin.

"Indeed and if he doesn't take the child back he'll still be of use to my masters."

Once they were gone Lelouch began to formulate a plan to rescue the child and then deal with Cortes afterwards to take him out of the picture as Duncan wanted, but before the masked former prince could get a descent plan formed in his mind a sudden explosion rocked the room as Lelouch looked to the other side of the elevated platform going over the large storage room where a man dressed in a full set of Mandalorian armor stepped out equipped with a jet pack on his back and with a blaster rifle in his arms. The green coloring of his armor and it style set off a number of alarms in his head as he quickly realized the identity of this new comer who began gunning down Stormtroopers.

You have got to be kidding? How can I complete my job with Boba Fett around?

Lelouch didn't need much time to consider that someone had obviously wanted the child either rescued or killed and hired the bounty hunter to do just that. However this didn't bode well for Lelouch as he realized this complicated matters considerably.

A/N: Well things have become complicated for poor Lelouch, chapter six isn't quite finished yet and where Lelouch goes after this, besides looking for the other star maps, has yet to be decided. Also...yes Lelouch will eventually be paired with Jaina, but romance is not likely to take place until in the middle of the Yuuzhan Vong war. I'll post the next chapter as soon as it's ready.