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Narglatch in Shaak's Clothing Chapter 2
71 BBY
Whenever Dooku is on Coruscant, he makes a pointed effort to visit the classrooms in the Temple. He hints to the Jedi masters that he is thinking of taking another Padawan learner soon, and they accept his words with relief. Perhaps now he will move beyond the pain of Qui-Gon's passing. Perhaps now he can release his grief into the Force.
A lie, Dooku knows. Betrayal and grief: always these things will be with him. He is nothing like the other Jedi.
But now something new drives him onward. He obtains the records of the youngling's classes and is intrigued to find that the boy has signed up for nearly every available political theories and galactic history course, mentioning a modest interest in becoming a Jedi Consular someday. He has even obtained an internship with one of the Senators from Chandrila and spends several hours of every fifth day in the Senate Building. So much like himself, Dooku ponders. Having been one of the rare Jedi aware of his familial past, Dooku had always been drawn to the political field.
He knows that Palpatine had been brought to the Temple too early to easily understand his family's history, but he still wonders. After all, a nearly unnatural intelligence burns with frigid resolve in those searching eyes. He watches the boy debate his classmates, and his tongue proves as capable as his arm in a tough fight. The boy feints with precision, pulling a mask of geniality over his words until his victims are helpless, then ruthlessly cutting the throats of his opposition in a way that nearly makes them thank him.
Dooku studies the notes of his teachers. Exceptional academics, a keen mind, many questions. Some instructors admit being hard-pressed to keep the youngling sufficiently challenged. A few remark that he loses his place in the world from time to time, traveling far away in his thoughts. Dooku discovers that the boy admitted to visions early in his training, but little mention is made of them in the most current data. Either the dreams have tapered off, or the boy hides them.
He suspects the latter, and is impressed. Only an exceptional being can mask his experiences from a Jedi master, much less many.
Soon he will need to meet young Palpatine.
Before he makes his decision.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Don't do it, Dooku! You have no idea what he's capable of (and may I just say, Darth Plagueis has so many great lines…).