Originally I was going to post this tomorrow and the rest on Monday but something has come up and I don't know if I will be able to post on monday, so I will post this chapter today and the next two chapters which will include the final confrontation and the epilogue of this story. There can be a sequel, I actually have a few chapters of it done, since this has been resting on my computer more months, so after you read the story I would like to know if you would like to read the sequel, which has no name yet. Thank you for favoriting commenting following or just reading. Enough with my life, enjoy the reading.
LD: Star Wars doesn't belong to me.
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Count Dooku listened as the hologram of General Stark tried to explain why the Jedi weren't already at his palace. Apparently a rebel ship had attacked the shuttle the Jedi were being transported in and had taken them away, the security forces were looking into the incident but apparently the General didn't think they would come up with much before the guards and pilots woke up but and the general told him it would be a while, plus there was no guarantee the guards would remember much
"So this rebels?" Dooku asked calmly without letting his anger control him. "Did they follow the shuttle from Carannia?"
He knew the answer to that, he had felt the presence of more Jedi on the Planet but had to act concerned and ignorant for the sake of appearances. The General shook his head.
"Like you ordered milord, not a single ship except for that shuttle has left the Carannian airspace since our counteroffensive began." The General replied. "I suspect they came from the space, other planet, perhaps mercenaries brought in by the Rebels."
"I see" Dooku replied.
"Perhaps it would be better if I sent some more troops to your Palace, milord." The General spoke with concern.
"There is no need General." The Count replied. "My guards and I are perfectly capable of defending ourselves."
"Yes sir." The General replied.
"Keep me posted on the situation" Dooku said as the hologram of the General disappeared. Dooku looked at one of his guards that stood guard besides him. "Have the guards prepare for an attack" The guard nodded and left his side. "Go with him." He told the one at the other side. Then looked at every guard posted at the room. "Leave" All the guards obeyed and left him alone
Dooku screamed in frustration. This was not the way things were supposed to be going. By now he was supposed to already have killed the Jedi and have the boy ready for his master. It made Dooku nervous that Lord Sidious hadn't contacted since he'd told him of Qui Gon's supposed death, despite his decision to hide it he wasn't sure he could and had expected his Master to contact and threaten him or even punish him harshly, Lord Sidious was capable of that. But the Lord of the Sith was surprisingly silent, perhaps still waiting for good news, perhaps giving him this chance to redeem himself if he knew Qui Gon was alive. Dooku shuddered to think what his Master would do if he failed to bring him the boy.
He wouldn't kill Dooku, or Tyrannus, he needed him, needed him in his great plot to destroy the Jedi order, to form the damn Confederacy and take over the galaxy forming a new stronger Sith Empire. Also he needed him presently to find an holocron in Korriban. Didn't he? Dooku wasn't a fool he knew Sidious had many adepts and followers, if he failed wouldn't he replace him? No. he wouldn't let that happen, he would give his Master what he wanted and then continue training until he became powerful enough to destroy Sidious. Yet there was the possibility his Master would kill him once he had Skywalker, he had to have a back up plan, something he could bargain with and yet use as a revenge if that failed.
He thought about it and smiled, yes, he had something that would work perfectly for that. He he entered a code on the comm control of his throne and waited. After a few seconds passed the tall and slender body of a Kaminoan appeared. It was Lama Su, recently appointed prime minister of Kamino and the man in charge of one of the key parts of his Master's plan, the clone army.
"Master Sifo Dyas." The Prime Minister smiled inwardly as he heard his former friend's name. A curious fact, at least to the count, about the Clone Army it's that it hadn't been either Dooku's or Palpatine's idea. It had been Master Sifo Dyas and in fact he had been the one to contact the Kaminoans first but Dooku had been ordered by Palpatine to kill Sifo when the Sith Lord learnt of this and seeing an oportunity of using Sifo's plan against the Jedi he ordered Dooku to pose as Sifo Dyas before the Kaminoans. And it had worked. "It's a pleasure seeing you."
"You too Prime Minister." Dooku replied with a bow of his head. "I contact you because I want you to do some changes in the clone army. I want you to erase one of the orders from the clones programming. Is it possible?"
"At this stage it's difficult but not impossible." Lama Su replied. "Of course you must understand that this means you will have to be charged extra."
"Of course money is not an issue." Dooku replied. "However, I want this change carried out only if I don't contact you within a month."
"It is a weird petition but alright." Lama Su replied. "Which order would you like erased?"
"Order 66." Dooku said with a smile. "I'll organize the payment from another account to be transferred immediately, even if I contact you at a later date you can keep the money."
"It's an honor" Lama Su replied and Dooku could see the greed on the creatures eyes.
"Just one thing." He said. "Never tell of this conversation to anyone."
"I won't. I hope you contact us again." Lama Su said as his hologram disappeared. Dooku nodded with a smile, but some part of his subconscience told him he wouldn't see the Kaminoan again.
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Siri and Sarah flew the ship over the palace as Qui Gon and Obi Wan scanned the place with the Force. Overall there were about 30 guards in the palace, a few aides and Dooku himself. The guards seemed to be prepared for their arrival. Obi Wan looked at his master and smiled.
"There is little security it seems that we may be able to reach Dooku easily." Obi Wan said. Qui Gon shook his head.
"Do not underestimate our enemy" He replied. "Those 30 guards are Dooku's personal guards we can expect heavy resistance from them." Siri, Ferus, Kiara and Anakin joined at that moment while Sarah was left alone piloting the freighter.
"So what is the plan?" The other Jedi knight asked. Qui Gon looked at her and smiled.
"I don't have any yet." The Master Jedi spoke truthfully.
"Then perhaps I could help with that" Siri replied. The other five Jedi looked at her and she decided to tell them her idea. "I was thinking we could use the ship to fly over the mansion again. Four of us will jump over to the mansion and use the force to soften the fall, one pilots and other 2 man the ship's guns providing cover. We fight our way up to where Dooku is and make fight him until we capture him."
"It's a rather simple plan, yet risky." Obi Wan spoke.
"Just the way I like them" Anakin added. Qui Gon chuckled at his Padawan's antics and nodded.
"How do we figure who stays manning the guns and piloting?" Ferus asked not paying attention to Anakin.
"Sarah could stay here and pilot the ship. I talked it over with her and she is not a bad pilot." Siri said, Obi Wan nodded in agreement.
"And who will be the gunners?" The stewjon knight asked. Everyone looked at him. "What? Me? You know I hate being on ships during combats more than I hate flying." He protested. "Plus you'll need my ability down there."
"Obi Wan you are injured. Despite your quick recuperation abilities you are not still a hundred percent, and you have to recuperate from the effects of the Force Nullifier." Qui Gon told him. Obi wan.
"But I am fi..." Obi Wan tried to reply
"Plus you will your mission will be equally dangerous." Qui Gon interrupted him. "And if we need you down there we'll request your help."
Obi Wan looked at the rest in search of support but everyone seemed to agree with Qui Gon. He finally nodded.
"Alright I'll be one of the gunners." Obi Wan began. "Then Kiara should..."
"The second gunner will be Anakin." Qui Gon interrupted. Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"What!?" Anakin shouted clearly disappointed. "Master I..."
"This is not up for debate." Qui Gon said as Kiara threw Anakin a sad look and Ferus snickered a little until Siri smacked him lightly on the back of his head. Obi Wan looked at his master sensing there was something behind his decision but said nothing. It wasn't the moment. Anakin just bowed his head, hurt by Qui Gon's decision.
"Yes Master." He replied. Qui Gon put his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"It is for your own good believe me" He said as he headed for the cockpit and left the rest of the Jedi debating the plan between themselves. When he arrived he sat on the copilot's seat beside Sarah.
"Has Siri told you her plan?" She asked.
"She did, we decided to go ahead with it." Qui Gon replied with a kind expression.
"I see" Sarah said without looking at him. "It's risky but I think you have a very good chance of making it."
"We do" Qui Gon agreed. "And we'll have Anakin, Obi Wan and you having our back from the sky."
"I'll do my best." Sarah said.
"I know you will" Qui Gon replied smiling. "That's what you've done this whole mission."
"Thank you" She said as a small blush crept up her face. Neither of them said anything else despite wanting to. Sarah just turned the ship around and headed for the Count's palace again. Qui Gon just sat besider her until Siri came back to cockpit and demander her place on the copilot's seat.
