I normally update Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays but I decided to update on Sundays too now. I hope you don't mind. Anyway tomorrow will be a chapter as well and if my calculations are correct I'll finish posting this story which is the First part of a series on monday 15th . Anyway thank you for all those who've been reading so far.
I have to tell you something though. I'd appreciate some more reviews since I love to read and now what people think about the story so far, both constructive criticism and encouragement are welcome.
LD: I don't own star wars.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Star Wars AU)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Jango Fett stood in front of Count Dooku at the Count's Palace throne room reporting to the Count his latest failure to end the Jedi. The Count listened with a neutral expression even as the Mandalorian told him of Qui Gon and Sarah's survival and the huge battle between the rebels and the Jedi. When the Mandalorian Bounty Hunter had finished his story Dooku spoke very calmly from his position despite how furious he was really feeling.
"So you've failed me again" The Count spoke coldly. "I gave you the resources, I had my agents introduce in the Rebel Groups and put you in charge of all the mercenaries and Bounty Hunters I had gathered and you failed me."
Jango stood in front of the man without showing any fear. "There wasn't much I could do, I wasn't expecting the Jedi and the Captain to still be alive." Dooku's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man.
"Are you implying that this was my fault?" The Count asked very slowly.
"I'm just saying they shouldn't have been alive Milord." Fett said without even flinching at the Count's threatening tone.
"That's no excuse!" Dooku shouted. "You had your two oportunities. Two!"
The Mandalorian remained silent, it was taking all the patience he still had in him not to attack his client. But he was a smart man, he wasn't sure he would be able to take on a Sith Lord and a elite military Unit, Dooku's personal guard. Plus he knew Dooku wouldn't do anything to him, the Sith still needed him in Kamino.
"You haven't been helpful at all Jango." Dooku spoke calmer this time. "And if the circumstances were different I would have killed you. But the fact remains that I still need you and that you are still one of my best assassins."
"I'm not your assassin" Jango replied but Dooku's glare stopped him. He was tensing the rope too much.
"Return to Kamino Mandalorian your mission here is done" The Count said. Jango glared at the Count, he couldn't do this to him, his mandalorian pride had been hurt, he needed vengeance.
"But Milord..." He tried to reply.
"Return to Kamino Jango" Dooku said. "There'll be more opportunities to kill Jedi but you are done here."
Jango was going to speak but he felt as an invisible hand began constricting his throat choking him.
"I said go" Dooku said. Jango nodded and gasped for air as the Count released him. "Before I change my mind."
"As you wish" Jango replied shakily turning around and leaving him alone with his two guards. At whom he looked.
"Prepare my ship for departure immediately." He spoke. "And Contact General Stark from the Security Forces, I want Carannia retaken from the rebels as soon as possible."
Both guards bowed their heads at their Master and left to do his bidding. Left alone with his thoughts Dooku began to wonder how to break the news to his master. Sidious was bound to be angry that he'd failed to kill Qui Gon after delivering false news of his dead, if only he'd made sure before speaking. But the Count stopped, his Master didn't have to know if he ended things now, he may even forgive Dooku's past mistakes. Using the holotransmitters he contacted the Captain of his guard.
"Cancel the preparation of my ship I shall remain here." Dooku spoke. The Captain nodded.
"Yes milord." The man replied respectfully.
"Have you contacted General Stark yet?" Dooku continued. The guard nodded.
"He says his troops will have taken back Carannia by tomorrow morning." The guard spoke. "Apparently after Jango and our men were defeated the rebel groups began fighting amongst themselves."
Dooku nodded, it was to be expected, thanks to his machinations was how his rebellion had come to being. The different rebel groups had found a leader in Jango and with him and most of his men gone it was obvious they would start fighting over the leadership of the city.
"Once he's taken the city back. I want him to control the aerial traffic in and out of the city, I want him to find the Jedi and bring them here." Dooku said.
"Won't the general be suspicious?" The guard asked. Dooku sighed, for now only the big families knew part of his plans for Serenno and not even them were fully aware of his Sith allegiance although some surely suspected. Aside from them only Dooku's aides and guards knew of it. To General Stark and most Security forces Dooku was just a Count.
"Tell him I want to talk to them." Dooku replied.
"Yes Milord. By the way the other Families are calling for a meeting. Dooku sighed he'd been expecting this since he let Carannia in the hands of rebels the previous day. The families of Serenno cared only for wealth bussiness that's why they put so much efforts into developing the planet, most of them would be thinking on how would it affect their fortunes the taking of the capital by rebels.
"I'll meet with them after this is over have one of my aides tell them that I have the situation under control." The Count said.
"Yes milord." The hologram of the guard replied before the transmission was cut.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Star Wars AU))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Obi Wan, Qui Gon, Sarah, Kiara and Anakin shocked asthey entered the former Security HQ, which was in a pitiful state after the previous day battle with the structure damaged most of the corpses of Security members and unlucky civillian personnel were still laying on the ground. Hadn't it been for that most people would have believed the building abandoned for more than a day. They had decided to go there where they had seen the little security the rebels had on the building leave for another part of the city the Jedi supposed to fight some remaining security forces or even another Rebel Group, as they felt fighting resume around the city
Qui Gon centered his attention on the remains of the Force nullifiers as they went upstairs towards the comm room, the turbolifts had been blocked by Security members the moment the assault began and besides they wouldn't work without electricity. The jedi master hadn't thought much about the artefact when he'd learnt of his existance, he'd been more centered on regrouping with the group and organize the capture of his former master. He'd certainly told Sarah to destroy it with her rifle as soon as she saw it because it was an obstacle in his plan and a powerful weapon for the Sith but nothing more.
Now it was something more, it was the proof that the sith were not only back but were back as powerful as before if not more. That's why he'd insisted they contacted the Council after applying some first aid treatment to Obi Wan with some somewhat basic Healer techniques which would help him until he could receive better treatment, although his recuperation told Qui Gon that he wouldn't require much either plus the Force Nullifier didn't seem to have left permanent damage in his connection to the force. They arrived at the last floor the floor where the communications room was located.
"Master don't you think the rebels will have destroyed the communications room?" Anakin asked. "It would be a logical thing to do so that the Serennian forces don't ask for help. Also we've forgotten to turn the energy on"
"I don't know Anakin" Obi Wan said with a voice that reflected his wounds still hurt. "But we have to try."
"Besides Padawan" Qui Gon added, "This is the only long distance communications room in the city. The one at the government building was destroyed by the explosion since it was just under the Count's office."
"Don't worry about the energy." Sarah spoke. "All comm rooms do have an independent energy source to use in case of emergency."
Sarah who had had her blaster rifle ready at all times since they entered the building leveled it when they reached the door to comm room. The door was closed and without electricity it wouldn't open. Obi Wan, Qui Gon and Anakin used the force to open it while Kiara tuned her lightsaber on and stood besides Sarah. Once the dooor was opened they discovered no one inside, not even a corpse. Perhaps the operators of the room had fled or had died defending other parts of the HQ. Sarah proceeded to touch the machine and checked everything was alright.
"It seems fine but the emergency battery is not working." Sarah said.
"I thought the thing was automatic." Anakin said.
"So did I" Sarah said as she began searching for the battery. "Here it is. Is disconnected, the rebels must have done so because they didn't know if they would need it." Sarah connected the emergency battery and the room was illuminated by the lights of the comm system. "Now let's connect you with Coruscant."
After a few seconds the holographic image of a Jedi knight, a male Togruta, appeared before them. The togruta's eyes went wide as he recognized Qui Gon. "Master Jinn, it's good to see you we thought you were dead."
Qui Gon nodded. "It's a long story I need to contact Master Yoda and Master Windu." The male togruta nodded and he heard him speak with either of them. He then spoke again to Qui Gon.
"I'll connect you with the council now." The Togruta said. A few seconds later the man disappeared and the figures of the High Jedi Council appeared in his place.
"Master Qui Gon. Afraid we lost you we were." Master Yoda spoke when he saw had contacted her.
"I'm sorry Masters." Qui Gon spoke bowing his head. "But the nature of the enemy I faced forced me to do so."
Yoda's expression turned grave. "A sith you have encountered?"
"Yes" Qui Gon replied.
"The one behind the invasion of Naboo?" Master Windu asked.
"I suspect these Sith work together yes." Qui Gon replied again. "I believe the Sith behind Naboo's crisis is also the one behind this mission."
"And howcome the Count hasn't felt it?" Master Plo Koon spoke.
"He was surely concealed" Master Deppa Bilaba voiced her opinion, prompting nodds of agreement in the council.
He looked at Obi Wan who was sitting on one of the chairs and was not visible to the council members and his Padawan nodded. He didn't know how to tell them what he was going to tell them next, up until 2 years ago Dooku had been their friends and colleague as he'd been to Qui Gon. Most would have a hard time believing it. He felt as Anakin, Kiara, Obi Wan and even Sarah supported him in the force. He sighed.
"You are wrong Masters." Qui Gon said. "Count Dooku is the Sith we are fighting this time." He heard some members gasp as he felt their collective shock, there were many whispers of confusion before Master Yoda silenced the Council Members.
"Sure of this you are?" He asked, his voice betraying nothing about how he felt about the news of his former Padawan.
"He confessed it himself before he almost killed me and Captain Sunn of the Judiciary Corps." Qui Gon spoke. His tone was bitter as he recalled the situation. "He also gave this to a Bounty Hunter." Qui Gon said as he showed the remains of the Force Nullifier to the council. " A Force Nullifier."
The council's reaction to this was also of surprise and even Yoda appeared worried.
"Tell us everything you must" Yoda said. And Qui Gon did.