Dooku calmed himself. He was on the Invisible Hand, holding Chancellor Palpatine prisoner….patiently awaiting his rescuers. His long-awaited rematch with those he bested in what felt like a millennium ago. He looked to Palpatine, who had his eyes shut. He was silent, concentrating. They both felt the two Jedi's presence too. An eery tremor. Getting closer, closer...until the door whisped ajar.
Dooku walked into the round room. He was now inside the Jedi Council chamber. There were seats arranged around him, half full. There was the likes of Yoda, Windu and Ki-Adi Mundi. But this did not stop the Jedi Master from airing his views.
32 BBY, the battle of Naboo had just concluded.
"I saw the holotape." Count Dooku said, his voice trembling.
Yoda gestured with his small, green appendages. "A most terrible loss, this is. Master Qui-Gon, your old Padawan, forgotten he will not be." Yoda was wise, and spoke in a kind of peace no other Master could match..
Yet Dooku struggled to suppress his anger, he didn't want the other Masters to see his passion, they would see it as a weakness. A path to the darkside, and an esteemed Master like Dooku could not afford to be second-guessed.
But in truth, he no longer cared.
"It was a Sith Lord, my good Masters."
Master Windu commented. "Qui-Gon had informed us of this unfortunate revelation. While we understand your pain, Master Qui-Gon's wisdom and teachings fall to his apprentice. We hope you take comfort in knowing Obi-Wan had brought justice to this evil, and is on the path to becoming a Master.
"Failed your student you have not, lives on in Kenobi he does." Yoda reinforces.
Dooku lost it. Kenobi was a great Jedi...but would never be another Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was Dooku's successor, he was to bring change to the order...but Kenobi was just another Jedi puppet. Dooku felt disrespected that they would even compare Qui-Gon to Obi-Wan. They were completely different.
"You're right. I did not fail my student."
The council nods in relief.
Then Dooku says something which shakes the Council room.
"It was the Republic." It was like a seismic charge had rocked the Temple.
Short, awkward silence ensues. Yoda looks to Windu - who is no stranger to addressing those who stood on the edge of the Jedi's authority.
"I would advise you to be careful, Master Dooku. You have our respect, but the Republic has been an ally to democracy and of the Jedi for thousands of years."
"There is always time for change my friends. For thousands of years the Jedi have been sovereign protectors of the Galaxy, not servants that do the Republic's bidding, until now. You must now have realised, after losing one of our best to this pointless power struggle that the Order have become nothing more than political druges of the Galactic Senate."
"What you suggest is most disturbing, Master Dooku. What is it that displeases you about the Republic?" Windu asks, baffled and part-offended.
"It has come to my attention, and the attention of countless other star systems that the Galactic Senate, the Republic...is riddled with corruption. Countless senate politicians are under the influence of something darker."
Yoda makes a 'hmmm' sound, caught off-guard, but speaks nonetheless.
"Made a very bold statement, you have. The Council requires evidence before assuming. These unproven views with the influence of a Jedi Master - damaging for the Order, it may be."
"You undermine the value of my teachings. My knowledge of the Force is vast, you all know this. Is this not why both myself and Qui-Gon were swayed from being granted a seat on the council?"
"You have now overstepped your bounds, Master. The council do not need to justify itself to someone who has no confidence in its constitution." Windu eyes Dooku.
"The senate is dead. While my Council sits here bickering of current affairs, the Sith grow in power. Today marked the return of our most ancient foe. We must strike now, with or without the Republic's unlikely reform. Our old ways and ancient methods have driven the very Force from our palms, and clouded our clarity of vision. Can you not sense the darkness surrounding the senate? There is something very wrong, and I refuse to condone its continuation."
"Speak no more of this. This outburst from you will be put down to your recent loss. Your best course of action is to go back to your chambers and meditate." Windu warned, voice strained.
"Hmmmm. Relieve yourself of these troubling thoughts, you must." Yoda advises.
"For the time being, at least." Ki-Adi Mundi added.
"Stubborn fools, you will act on none of this?" Dooku growled in disgust.
He is greeted by silence, Windu can no longer bite his tongue, and even Yoda grows impatient at his disrespect.
"Then I will no longer be an instrument for the Republic's corruption."
Count of Serenno, Sith Lord, Master of the Force.
Aboard the Invisible Hand
Dooku is now in the present. His senses come back to him. A pair of super battle droids clanged along with him to confront whoever dares enter.
Anakin and Obi-Wan turned to face Count Dooku. Twice the pride, double the fall.