Chapter 4
Before I start this chapter, I'd like to respond to a review that was made by someone who probably does not have an Fanfiction account
Judy,Laura,L: When Bethrilia said 'Governor Naberrie', she meant Padmé grandpa, not her dad. Her dad is like, in college at the time that the last chapter… and this chapter took place. A college student does not become a governor.
Now, to start the story!
Time: 948 YASW, 11th Month
Location: 500 Republica, Coruscant
Darth Plagueis laughed evilly, all was going as he planned, and he didn't even need that much power as his original plans, now, it was best if the Fetts don't get involved.
His apprentice, Sidious, had been the secret leader of the Separatist military, who gave orders to Grievous and Fett. And he also laid the seeds to make sure that the Separatist planets also immediately become part of the Empire, by manipulating almost every Separatist Senator into thinking that Democracy itself was corrupt.
Ultimately, Plagueis was glad that he got his vision, else, this plan would take many more years to finish, and at the finishing point he would get fewer planets than what he would get now. He pulled the curtains of the window, then turned on his small hologram that was on the floor, the image of a kneeling Darth Sidious came up.
"Master…" Sidious submissively greeted
"Darth Sidious, I suggest you move the Separatist leaders to our secret base on Byss." Plagueis ordered
"Byss? But isn't that our secret Sith base" Sidious told the name of their group with emphasis
"But they won't live to tell it" Plagueis smiled a bit, Sidious caught the implication
"When shall I take care of them?" Sidious asked, waiting for the answer
"When I tell you to." Plagueis assured
"It will be done, my master. But… what of the Fetts?" Sidious asked, on the inside, he was confused of what to do with the two.
"Instruct the Fetts to come to the Industrial Sector of Coruscant, I will take care of them. I assure you Sidious, you will get what you deserve." Plagueis swiftly turned off the hologram, as Sidious immediately
Plagueis turned 180 degrees, an evil laugh came out of his mouth, 'Sidious will get what he deserves, and it will be death', Plagueis thought.
In the Jedi Temple, heart of the Jedi Order, Qui-Gon Jinn was having tea with his former Master, Dooku, as they did every evening they got. And plus, now, it was absolutely required for them after events that had transpired. Qui-Gon looked outside, and frowned, for the first time, he noticed how much the darkness had clouded their vision. Despite the fact that he was very, very young and untrained when the first Dark Disturbance happened.
"Something wrong, Qui-Gon?" Dooku asked, concerned for the man he considered a son
"No… nothing's wrong, I'm just thinking of the Sith." Qui-Gon answered
"The Sith?" Dooku's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Qui-Gon smiled, deciding to make a joke
"Yeah… the Sith, you know, the bad guys with red lightsabers" Qui-Gon commented, Dooku laughed at the comment
"Still, why are you thinking about them?" Dooku's smile faded as confusion quickly overtook him.
"Umm…" Qui-Gon seemed to contemplate, whether to tell Dooku what he was thinking about, or should he not.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Dooku assured Qui-Gon, who immediately smiled.
Dooku glanced at a chrono on the wall, and saw that it was very late, Dooku gaped, and then frowned, he looked down at his now cold tea, which he gulped down very quickly, like an average person would while drinking water.
"Sorry for staying here so long." Dooku tried to apologise, immediately standing up with his eyes widened
"It's okay Master. You can drop in any time you want" Qui-Gon cheerily accepted the quick apology.
"Thank you. And you should remember, you're a knight now." Dooku supplied, Qui-Gon realised his mistake at calling Dooku 'master'.
"Whoops. Habits die hard." Qui-Gon stood up then, Dooku chuckled.
The two went their own ways, Dooku went to his quarters in the Knight's level, which was a few corridors away from Qui-Gon's new quarters. There was no such thing as a Master's level when it came to Jedi quarter levels. The closest thing that could be considered to being over a knight was the family-sized Jedi quarter that managed to house seven people maximum, though no one knew why those quarters were actually built.
Dooku opened his quarter doors, and was opened to the normal scenery of his quarters, a few plants here and there, two bedrooms for Master and Padawan and a small kitchenette. He hadn't seen this room in a while.
Dooku went in, and checked his plants, a yawn escaped his lips as he realised that he was tired. He rubbed his greying brown beard with his palm, as he headed for his own bedroom.
Dooku quickly took off his boots and lied on the bed, he closed his eyes and quickly went into a deep sleep, as it was expected for someone who had a hectic day.
Plagueis, who was in deep meditation, cackled evilly, now was the time for the next step of his plan. The true turning of his future apprentice, who was a bit… older than Sidious, but still acceptable by most standards. First, the nightmare. He conjured images of a Jedi being sucked into the darkness, one who his future apprentice was attached to.
Dooku was calm as he saw blackness everywhere, that was normal for someone asleep, but then, a sudden image came along, he saw Qui-Gon in front of him, they were in a mansion… a very dark mansion, there were two big, dark doors right behind his former apprentice. The Jedi Master's eyes widened in fear, and his clothes slightly torn. Dooku became from calm to concerned immediately.
"Qui-Gon! What happened?" Dooku asked, showing said concern
"Master…" Qui-Gon grit his teeth, he continued tiredly "They're after me"
"Who?" Dooku asked, stepping closer to Qui-Gon
"Them!" Qui-Gon whispered harshly, as the two dark doors opened, Qui-Gon widened his eyes in fear, it was shown that there was darkness behind the doors, just darkness, darkness… a void that sucked in everything in it's path. Furniture flew everywhere to the darkness. Qui-Gon attempted to run towards Dooku, but he was flipped and was lying on his belly. He tried to hold on to the floor, Dooku tried to run towards Qui-Gon, wanting to save him, Qui-Gon's widened eyes then turned back to normal, as he said"I'm sorry Master", and then released his hold on the floor, the Jedi Knight was sucked into the darkness.
Dooku wanted to scream in anguish, as a sinister voice taunted the Jedi Master with "He's mine…"
Dooku quickly opened his eyes and sat up, only to see that he was surrounded by cold sweat. He wondered what the dream was about.
Dooku decided he couldn't sleep anymore, so he stood up from the bed, it wasn't hard since he was already awake, and took a cloak from a closet beside the bed. He quickly gone outside his quarters to find the Jedi Temple, and it was still night. Dooku began walking across the empty corridors of the Jedi Temple.
Qui-Gon woke up, at feeling tremors of the Force coming from his former Master earlier. He looked around the night atmosphere, there were simply not enough Jedi to notice someone awake after midnight.
Qui-Gon nodded solemnly at thinking that. The war had been such a surprise, that the Republic almost died at the first few weeks, they would have, had it not been for the military laws the Republic set up.
This affected the Republic, since one Senator Damask, much to Qui-Gon's annoyance nowadays, had proposed giving emergency powers to the Chancellor. Many Senators had voted for it and the Republic Military was created. Qui-Gon remembered that time like it was yesterday
Flashback
Time: 945 YASW, 3rd Month
Location: Republic Senate Building, Coruscant
Senator Damask decided to speak at the topic of giving Chancellor Kalpana emergency powers, due to the war, one Senator had proposed emergency powers to Kalpana, though Senator Valorum was doing everything against it.
"The chair recognises Senator of Scipio, Hego Damask" Kalpana's voice boomed through the microphone, as the Muun's pod came up front, as Senator Damask took the floor. The other Senators applauded until they heard the chants 'Order, Order!'
"Fellow Delegates. In response to the war between the Republic from the Confederacy of Independent Systems, I propose that emergency powers are given to the Supreme Chancellor!" Damask exclaimed, uproar of applause fill the podium
"We won't support a dictator!" One female voice shouted
"This war is an exceptional time, one in which too much time taken debating instead of acting would lead to disaster, I am confident that the Supreme Chancellor will act swiftly and justly and then returned as swiftly and justly!" Damask continued, getting the support of most if not all the Senators.
Huge rounds of applause suddenly filled the chambers, as Kalpana seemed to contemplate what would happen next, the Supreme Chancellor sighed in reluctance, as he then addressed the entire Senate.
"It is with great reluctance I take these emergency powers, The Republic stands for giving power to the people. But if the Senators vote for emergency powers, I shall do my duty and use these emergency powers to attempt to end this war" Kalpana sighed again, as more applause filled the chamber.
"We shall take this to a vote" Kalpana's aide boomed, posture still, as the votes came in.
That day, Kalpana was granted emergency powers, which he used to create a military, as he saw that as the best solution to combat the Separatist threat. That session was remembered as what sparked the war entirely.
End Flashback
Qui-Gon remembered that day, as he watched from Chameta's podium. Senator Da'atarka had no idea that she would invite him to such a Senate Session, one that dictated what happened the past three years
He walked across the dark Jedi Temple halls. He was at the knight's quarters level even still. He had no aim where he was walking. He then saw a figure, also walking. He started running, trying to catch up to the figure, who suddenly stopped.
"Qui-Gon." The rich voice came from only one man Qui-Gon knew
"Dooku?" Qui-Gon asked, the man turned around to show that it was indeed him, the Jedi Master who would have been the Count of Serenno had he not been given to the Jedi. He then sensed a tremor of… was that fear coming off his Master? His mind-shields weren't active, so Qui-Gon sensed all his fear and anger, coming off him in waves. This confused him, so he decided to ask about it, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing." Dooku immediately looked away from Qui-Gon and walked ahead, Qui-Gon jogged and caught up to him.
"Seriously Master, what's wrong?" Qui-Gon asked, not caring about a reprimand and just wanting to help his Master.
"I already told you, it's nothing." Dooku sighed, Qui-Gon became even more convinced that something was wrong, when Dooku didn't tell someone something, he told them whatever it was very vaguely.
"Master." Qui-Gon released the breath he didn't know he was holding, his tone changed from questioning to a softer tone of reassurance, "You know I love you like a father, you can tell me anything."
"And Qui-Gon, I love you like a son, and that's where everything is wrong" Dooku pointed out, the younger Jedi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, giving a questioning look to the elder Jedi
"How so?" Qui-Gon asked, wondering
"It was a dream Qui-Gon" Dooku finally answered Qui-Gon's repeated question
"It was about… you" Dooku sighed once again, he looked at Qui-Gon, who noticed the plethora of emotions just in the Jedi Master's eyes
"Me?" Qui-Gon asked, why would his Master dream about him?
"You suffered, taken by the… Dark Side…" Dooku vaguely answered, as he closed his eyes, remembering the dream
"I will not be taken by the Dark Side, Master. I am here, in the Jedi Temple. I will fight if I get taken by anyone intending to be against me." Qui-Gon tried to reassure, putting his hand on Dooku's shoulder.
"Hopefully." Dooku imagined Qui-Gon dying, the man who was in his mental image saw it.
"I won't die either." Qui-Gon reassured again, he felt Dooku slowly calming down, and turned around intending to go to his quarters.
Dooku, he wasn't sure if Qui-Gon was right, he could still be taken, or worse, killed. He feared for his former apprentice, the man he thought as his son. He considered the possibility that it was a dream.
Hopefully it was.
Thinking about what Dooku would foresee was hard, my first plan was to make Qui-Gon die in Dooku's vision, but then I put down the idea, after a while of thinking, it made sense, the only things Dooku were actually attached to in the movies were, the people (he intended for peace and a non-corrupt government), Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and since Obi-Wan's a youngling and Qui-Gon was a recent knight in this chapter, the only things Dooku were attached to were the people and Qui-Gon, and dreaming about Qui-Gon made most sense, so it happened that way. And hopefully you guys (and girls) liked the flashback, hopefully that explained a bit.