LordDarthYoda - Hah, I don't think Assaj is flirting with Sascha, more like playing with (or toying with.) I think Dooku will be a bit more casual than just trying to say a Jedi tried to kill him (also there are several witnesses with Dooku, so his lying can't be too egregious. He has a way of turning it to his advantage though :).

SpeechBubbleme - Ventress is in! Nara is hardheaded, and her annoyance with Dooku really pushed her into doing stupid things (notice how Dooku manipulates her...). I'm sure Padme would have probably attended at least one of these Summits. Just not this one ;). This story has enough characters going as it is!

A/N - Nothing from me!

As always, Please enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter 29: Sneaking

Tyra Harker's day was not off to a good start. One of her Master's favourite things to do each morning was to read the news of whatever planet he was on. Usually this was just to gain context as to what the planet was going through, and a nice way to kick off the day.

Unfortunately, the main headlines on Serenno today were all about the 'assassination attempt' that had been made on Dooku and how he had heroically fended it off, protecting the group of young people that had been with him at the time. Worse still, were the comments from the people that had been there.

Teff stabbed a finger at his datapad and read aloud, "'Taxia Lang of Garvit III stated that 'We had a Jedi with us, but she and Dooku got into an argument and she stormed off. She wasn't here when we got attacked by those droids. Only Dooku was.'" Teff looked at the ceiling, "Somehow we have managed to make Dooku more popular," he groused.

"And lowered our own popularity at the same time," she agreed.

"This has been a very impressive mission, so far. Though it will all change tonight," he promised.

Tyra swallowed hard. Yes. Tonight. The night where Master Nal'ma would turn himself over to Dooku while she snuck into his estate and tried to steal information from one of the most powerful Jedi in existance. Judging by the way that Dooku had been one step ahead of them, Tyra did not have much confidence in what was going to happen tonight.

"You are having second thoughts," said Teff.

"Always, Master."

"What does the Force tell you about tonight?" he asked.

Tyra frowned, "I do not know. The Force is pretty good at never giving me a clear answer."

"Sometimes having no clear answer is the answer."

Tyra made a face, "Can you just skip the fanciful, mystical explanation and get to the point where you explain your answer to me?"

Teff smiled enigmatically, "The Force is giving you the knowledge that you don't need to know what is going to happen tonight."

"That is a load of bantha dung, Master. No disrespect intended."

"A little bit of disrespect, I think," drawled Teff.

"No, Master, never disrespect to you," she said, bowing her head slightly to him. "I just sometimes don't like the answer that you give me. You know that I always want to know more."

"And someday the answers will be at your fingertips," Teff said. "But today is not that day, my apprentice. Today is the day where we discover what Dooku is doing."

"Or things go horribly wrong."

"All is as the Force wills it," said her Master.

Tyra nodded, but secretly, she hoped that the Force willed that she and Teff would have a good mission. Infiltrating Dooku's compound, which is what she had to do, was not exactly high on her list of favourite missions...and she hadn't even started yet. Plus the whole thing about her Master turning himself over to Dooku...

"You worry too much, apprentice," said her Master

"I worry about the day where I didn't worry enough," she retorted calmly.

Teff smiled confidently at her, "Today is not that day."

Tyra Harker certainly hoped not.

Tyra Harker, wearing the same clothes that she had been wearing the first time she had snuck into Dooku's estate. Tyra did not like wearing black, she felt it was unbecoming of a Jedi to wear such a dark colour. She also did not like not wearing her Jedi robe. She was wearing her usual shirt but she was wearing a black tunic and pants overtop of those.

She had split off from her Master about twenty minutes ago. The two of them had said their goodbyes a little more emotionally than usual. There was a chance that this would be the last time that the two of them would see each other. While the two of them weren't that close...Teff was still her Master and she cared about him as a mentor.

From afar, she had watched as Teff walked up to the front gate and turned herself in to the guards. The guards, who looked tough, but didn't seem amazingly competent, put him in stuncuffs and led him into the sprawling estate of Count Dooku. Interestingly enough, there was a slender woman that seemed to be bossing the guards around. Tyra hadn't seen or heard anything about her, but her poise suggested confidence and power. Interesting. Dooku could probably afford to have at least one vaguely competent person on his staff, she supposed.

Tyra filed that away that bit of information for potential later use.

It was a bit of a wait until night fell completely. Tyra passed it by meditating lightly, strengthening herself for the trials to come. When she felt that she was ready, she ended her meditation and waited to ensure that Tiplee had parked her speeder somewhere close by, should Tyra need to make a hasty retreat. After she made contact with Tiplee in the Force, she started making her way to the spot where she and her Master had infiltrated Dooku's estate the first time. Just as before, there was a small gap in security of the estate and she slipped inside with some acrobatic moves. There were, Tyra knew, very few places in the galaxy that could keep a Jedi out.

Tyra kept her senses alert before finding a door that seemed like it would lead somewhere promising. She opened it quietly, and waited for an alarm to sound. If an alarm was sent, it was silent. Tyra went inside.

What she needed to find was a datapad that she could steal or a terminal which she could hack into and download data onto a disk. Someone like Dooku was likely to be careful...but perhaps he would be complacent as well. The rich and powerful often were.

Tyra reached out with her senses to see if she could detect anyone in her near vicinity. No one was. Dooku was still at the Leadership Summit, and would be for at least another hour. After that...she would do well to make herself scarce.

It took Tyra some searching, and a couple of failed attempts, but eventually she found a computer terminal that seemed to be...unlocked.

"Jackpot," Tyra whispered quietly.

Unfortunately, her enthusiasm was short lived. This computer terminal was locked down in such a way that it would be impossible for her to download any information that she found onto a disk or datapad. Nor would she be able to send files to a secure location on the Holonet.

"Drat," Tyra said, kicking the desk that she was sitting at with her foot.

That left one option, manually searching through Dooku's millions and millions of files, hoping to find something incriminating, then...taking a picture of it on her datapad? Ugh. Tyra felt herself deflate. This was going to be impossible.

Then, she found her determination again. This was her mission. Her Master was counting on her. Master Yoda was counting on her. She would not fail.

She glimpsed into the Force again to see if anyone was nearby. There was no one even close to her vicinity, though she could detect her Master in the Force and Tiplee as well. All seemed to be going to plan.

Now she just needed to get to work.

Assaj Ventress didn't like being on babysitting duty. She liked the Jedi that was sitting across from her even less.

Assaj didn't mind being a tool of Count Dooku. Dooku was powerful and had promised to make her more than she was. Ventress believed him. Dooku had plans, Dooku was going to be someone who changed the galaxy. There were worse things in life than being a trusted confidant to a man such as him. And besides, Dooku was old...he might eventually leave everything to her...

This Twi'lek Jedi was annoying her though.

First he showed up at the front gate saying that he wanted to 'join' with Count Dooku. Assaj had no idea who 'Teff Nal'ma' was, but she sure as heck did not want a rival for Dooku's time and attention. And she certainly had no intention of sharing any more time than necessary with a Jedi...

"I can feel your anger," said the Twi'lek. Teff was handcuffed and had been placed in a secure room that was ray-shielded, meaning that there was no way for the Twi'lek to escape. Teff had clearly no intention of escaping, as he was sitting in a meditative position in the middle of the barren room, his eyes closed softly. Unfortunately he could annoy her with his words and he was doing a good job of it.

"You are very perceptive, Jedi."

"I am your ally, stranger," said Teff Nal'ma. "I do not know why you have such anger for me."

"It's because you are a Jedi," she said, giving him an answer that was both the truth and designed to get him to shut up.

"I've known Dooku for longer than you have," Teff continued. "We are very alike," he said.

"I doubt that," Ventress replied dryly.

"Doubt me if you must," he said. Thankfully, the Twi'lek seemed to enter a meditative state thereafter.

Her comlink rang, and she answered it, stepping away from Teff's room for a moment, "Yes, Count Dooku?"

"I understand that we have a guest," Dooku said.

"We do. A Jedi, says he knows you."

"Not well enough, evidently," said Dooku sarcastically. "He is adequately confined?"

"He is not going anywhere."

"Keep him there until I return. I will be home shortly."

Shortly turned out to be more like fourty-five minutes. But at least Assaj was not further annoyed by the idiot Twi'lek during that time. Teff Nal'ma opened his eyes as he sensed Count Dooku approaching. Dooku was dressed in a formal suit along with a fashionable cloak. He looked every part the aristocrat that he was. Dooku acknowledged her with a nod before turning his attention to the captured Jedi.

"Count Dooku."

"Master Nal'ma. A fine evening for a visit," Dooku said placidly. "What message does Mace WIndu have for me?"

"That he's as cold an unfeeling as he's ever been," Teff said confidently.

A slight smile appeared on Dooku's face, "I do not think those were his exact words."

"They weren't." Teff bounced out of his meditative position and stood, "I'm here to join you, Master Dooku, in whatever that you are doing." Teff turned his eyes towards her, "I see you are accepting recruits."

Dooku's eyes flicked to her for a second before meeting the Twi'lek's gaze, "And why should I accept you?"

"Because you know me," Teff said calmly. "You know my reputation. You know that we have talked in the past. And also because I have information you will want to hear."

"Really," said Dooku. "If you think I need another mole within the Jedi Order you are quite mistaken."

Teff seemed to lose confidence for the first time, "My information is more current."

Dooku stretched lazily, "And what information is that?"

"Your security is compromised."

Dooku smiled like a Lothcat, "By whom, exactly?"

"My apprentice."

"Please tell me she is not the annoying Togruta," said Dooku.

"She is not," said Teff. "Her name is Tyra Harker. And she is my pride and joy."

Ventress rolled her eyes.

"I see. It seems to be a bit of a contradiction," said Dooku. "You cite her as your biggest accomplishment in life, yet you let me know that she is currently invading my home."

Teff raised his chin, "I am telling you this as a sign of loyalty."

Dooku raised a hand to his chin. "Well, I suppose we cannot have someone snooping around." Dooku turned to face her, "Did you take his lightsaber?"

Ventress handed it to Dooku with a flick of her wrist.

Dooku analyzed it for a moment, "It is generally very stupid of a Jedi to give up their lightsaber to an enemy."

Teff smiled, "You are not my enemy."

Dooku smiled back. "Well, I suppose we should talk in private. Ventress, you can handle our unwanted guest, I assume?"

"A Jedi whelp? Please. You insult me."

Dooku tossed her Teff's lightsaber, "You might need this."

Ventress caught the lightsaber. It was cool in her hands, but she could feel the power that the cylinder contained. She caressed the smooth surface of the lightsaber for a moment. She was still hoping for the day when Dooku would let her build her own. But for now this would suffice.

"Please don't harm my Padawan," Teff said, a bead of sweat appearing on his green forehead. It looked like the Jedi actually cared for his Padawan. How trite.

"She will not be harmed…more than necessary. Right, Ventress?" asked Dooku.

"No more than absolutely necessary," she repeated.

"The Padawan is probably near the main database computer," said Dooku.

"I will bring her to you," she purred.

This was going to be fun.

Tyra Harker was losing her patience and running out of time. She had found bits and pieces of things that she wanted to find, but nothing concrete on what Dooku was up to. She had found some of where Dooku had stashed his money, including, confusingly, places like Sluis Van, which was one of the Republic's staunchest planets. But beyond some simple things, Tyra had made no progress, despite searching for an hour.

She was about to give up when she found an interesting directory with what appeared to be Dooku's travel plans for the next few months. Tyra found the pattern at once. It was almost a directory of planets that were currently unhappy within the Republic and some of the most powerful planets that existed outside of its borders. Quickly, Tyra tried to find any more details. Was he meeting with local politicians? Was he giving speeches?

She was so enthralled in her search that she almost missed that she almost missed the person entering the room. She withdrew her lightsaber and whirled. Across from her, staring her with an amused expression was a young woman that looked not dissimilar from her. Of course, she didn't have shockingly blonde hair, or a face that was so pale that it seemed to be bloodless. And she also did not have her Master's lightsaber.

As Tyra's mouth dropped open, the woman strutted towards her, "Caught snooping around. Not very Jedi like. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I prefer the hard way...but its not up to me today..."

"Who are you?" she asked.

"My name is Ventress. I work for our esteemed Count Dooku and as you invading his property, you will surrender."

Tyra ignited her lightsaber, "No thanks. First you will give me back my Master's lightsaber. Then you will get out of my way."

Ventress scoffed, "At least you have spirit, Padawan." Ventress ignited her Master's lightsaber, "Surrender and you will not be hurt."

Tyra didn't need to talk any more with this...whatever. She intended to get out of here, the tough talk about her Master's lightsaber, was just that...talk.

She swept in on the attack, looking to look like she was trying to fight, all the while all she wanted to do was get to the door. Tyra prodded a couple of times, noting that Ventress had pretty solid bladework as she parried. Then she took two steps towards the door...and was surprised to see Ventress dance and block her path adroitly.

"Going somewhere?" she asked.

"I have dinner reservations," she gritted out.

Tyra decided to stop playing around. Whoever this was, there was no way she could stand up to her in a duel. She went on the attack, blistering towards Ventress with one of her favourite patterns, attacking low and high, forcing Ventress backwards, but not putting on any significant pressure. This Ventress, Tyra was starting to realize, was very good.

"Dooku has trained you well," Tyra said grudgingly.

"I will take that as a compliment," said Ventress.

Then, Ventress attacked. Tyra dug in, keeping her defence strong. Not only was Ventress quick, but she was strong as well. Tyra was starting to feel like this wasn't going to be the easy victory she assumed. She decided that fleeing was the better option.

She deflected another attack and then used a Force push to give herself a little space from Ventress. Then she dashed for the exit.

She managed to get into the hallway, when Ventress replied, using a Force push, which sent her careening into the wall. Tyra dropped to a knee and then rose. She managed to avoid Ventress using the Force to fling a chair at her.

Tyra decided that a fighting retreat was looking more and more difficult by the moment. She steeled herself for a fight in the hallway.

Ventress casually strolled out of the room and into the same hallway, dropping into a fighting crouch, "Now we are having fun, aren't we?"

Tyra Harker was not.

Ventress charged. Tyra held her ground. The clash of lightsabers filled the hallway with their noise, the lighting from the lightsabers making shadows on the walls. Tyra was starting to realize that Ventress was actually toying with her in some regards. Instead of infuriating her, like it would have when she was younger, it fuelled her determination to do better.

Tyra avoided a wild slash and prepared to counter, but she didn't see Ventress' left leg lash out. Ventress' kick caught her low, right on her knee. Tyra's knee buckled and she just about got decapitated by Ventress' next attack. Tyra tried to put weight on her knee, and it nearly gave out. She was going to be fighting on one leg for a few moments.

"Surrender is still an option," purred Ventress.

"Who...or what are you?" she asked. Maybe if she could get Ventress to talk, she could get her knee a little more time to recover.

"My life story is not yours to know," said Ventress dangerously. "Now I have a task to do and it involves subduing you."

"Try me," Tyra snarled, trying to seem more dangerous than wounded.

Ventress saw right through the facade.

Fighting only on one leg meant that she could get no power behind her blows and Ventress took advantage of this, attacking from odd angles which forced Tyra to put pressure on her knee. Eventually, there was only so much pain she could overcome and she collapsed to one knee.

But Tyra wasn't done fighting, she summoned the Force and tried to use the Force to push Ventress back. Ventress was ready for this tactic this time, and she wasn't pushed back very far at all. Ventress came back at her as Tyra struggled to her feet. Her leg was pretty much useless now. Even the thought of making a break for the exit was now gone. All she could do was defeat this Ventress and then limp her way out of here.

Ventress brought the two lightsabers together in a bind, and pushed her weight towards here. With both lightsabers heading slowly towards her, she had to do something to change that. She went back down to one knee and now with the added strength of her position, she was able to resist the blades coming towards her.

Ventress though, was smart. She broke the bind, and then quickly drove her knee towards her. Tyra took the blow right on the chest and the wind almost immediately rushed out of her. She tried a couple of wild swipes with her lightsaber that were easily parried.

Then Tyra saw a punch from Ventress coming...and all she could do was take it clean on the chin. Dazed, Tyra tried to bring her lightsaber back to bear on Ventress, but her lightsaber was knocked out of her hand, and then another savage blow landed. Whether it was a kick or a punch, Tyra couldn't say, all she knew was that it hurt and that she was seeing stars.

"You are tough, Padawan," purred Ventress. "But I have been fighting my whole life. You never stood a chance."

Tyra, through watery eyes, threw a desperate punch towards a blurry Ventress. It missed by a mile.

Then Ventress hit her again, and things went dark.

Tyra faded in and out of consciousness for the next few minutes.

First she felt herself being dragged by Ventress. Then her eyes closed again. When she woke up for a second time, she could still feel herself being dragged along like a carcass from a hunt. When she woke up for a third time, she was in a dark room that reminded her of a jail cell. There was what might have been a small bed along the side of the room, but there wasn't much more furnature than that.

Damn it, thought Tyra. This was not part of the plan at all. She curled up on the floor the best she could, and tried to fall asleep.

Tiplee knew that Tyra was fighting, just by dropping into the Force. Who she was fighting was much more difficult to determine.

A younger Tiplee would have loved to have charged into battle to assist Tyra in her fight, but the older, wiser Tiplee, simply knew that her role was to await Tyra with the speeder.

However, it didn't make it easier to watch. The Jedi Knight really thought that this was going to be one of those missions that just went wrong. Unfortunately, that meant that the lives of Tyra and Teff were going to be in the balance.

When Tiplee sensed Tyra losing consciousness, she decided that it was time for her to make an exit. She turned on the speeder's engine and headed back to the city, not looking forward to reporting that both Teff and Tyra were in the hands of Count Dooku.

And Force only knew what he'd do with both of them.