At first let me say sorry for not updating this translation of my story for such a long time - a bit over two years!
This chapter is quite long and I write many other stories. So this fell a bit into oblivion - until today. I did translate some passages from the Darth Plagueis-novel into English by myself because I don't have the English original version, just in case somebody spots any difference there. And now enjoy!
Half a day later, evening
Shaak Ti was watching with Master Luminara Unduli the chancellor-election in the Holo-Net. The Mirialan did have a Holonet-receiver in her room – for Shaak Ti a renounceable luxury – but not this evening.
"Could we switch to the live-transmission into the opera, please?", the Togruta asked the Mirialan.
"Why that?", Unduli asked surprised.
"Senator Palpatine of Naboo is in the opera-performance from Mon Cala today. I want to see him just once, before he is becoming chancellor – or not", Shaak Ti explained with bright eyes.
"I didn't know you were interested in Palpatine like that at all", the Mirialan responded even more surprised.
They switched the channel as wished. The performance of the ballet had already begun. In a big, hovering sphere one could see colorful strings floating around in several patterns. After a while the holo-cam did turn to the VIP-lodge, where the senator of Naboo was sitting – next to the tall Muun with the transpiratory mask, whom Shaak Ti did see just this morning live. With her deep blue eyes Luminara Unduli peered furtively towards Shaak Ti, who revealed a mesmerized glance upon her red-white face, her lips slightly parted.
"Oh, you really wish him to become chancellor, don't you?", she kidded her Togruta colleague.
"Many people say that he is the only hope for the galaxy", Shaak Ti replied with a faraway look.
"May I switch back now?", Luminara pressed slightly.
"Just let me hear this passage, which they are playing right now", Shaak Ti tried to gain some more time.
When the Mirialan did switch the channel finally, Shaak Ti's thoughts still were somewhere else.
Darth Plagueis was in good mood, when he returned with his apprentice to his apartment in the Kaldani-Tower. The dinner, Orn Free Taa, Senator of Ryloth, did spend in a private room after the election, had been lavish and good. For the coming nocturnal hours, 11-4D had opened a bottle of wine, of which Plagueis let him pour something into his glass, where the Muun let the liquid twirl a bit.
"Sullustan – half a century old", he declared proudly, while 11-4D filled another goblet for his apprentice as well.
"It is your merit alone, that all those efforts bear fruits in the end, Darth Plagueis", Sidious said, letting himself sink into one armchair.
"Thanks to my guidance and your charisma, we soon will be in a position, to implement also the last act of the Grand Plan of the Sith", Plagueis stated with an animating voice and took a sip from his wine glass.
"Then let's drink on the implementation of the last act of the Grand Plan", Sidious replied elatedly and made a half circle with the hand holding the glass towards his master, to indicate a cheer – a gesture replied by Plagueis immediately. Then only Sidious took a sip of the noble wine too.
"I assume you already have developed some thoughts about your ascension speech before the senate", Plagueis said, while he ushered 11-4D to bring another bottle of wine.
"I did write down some keywords", Sidious replied. "Should I really spoil your surprise?", he asked with a boyish grin.
"Why not?"
On this encouragement by his master, Sidious begun to outline his prepared sketch of the speech, which he would hold as newly minted chancellor before the senate. It was obvious that he wouldn't miss the opportunity to introduce his ally Hego Damask as co-chancellor – an absolute novelty in the parliamentary history of the Republic.
"… and it was also Hego Damask, who did transform the Trade Federation", Plagueis heard Sidious recite.
"This is not the time to mention the Trade Federation, my apprentice", Plagueis rectified Sidious and let 11-4D re-fill his glass of wine, in order to take another big sip with his nose.
Sidious started to deliver his speech in many new or slightly modified variants. As time went by, his voice turned deeper, more monotonous, which made Plagueis tired finally. Two times already he had recommended Sidious to stop. But Sidious always found a new detail to amend or to alter.
"That's enough so far", Plagueis tried a last time, while his third glass of wine was going to become empty. "Presumably it is the best for you to return home and rest for some hours, before …"
"Just one more time – right from the start", Sidious did insist.
"From the start?", Plagueis scoffed.
"Lord Plagueis, you did say yourself, that you will not rest until our victory is a done deal, didn't you?"
"That's true and I'm sticking to it, Darth Sidious", the Muun did surrender.
He let fill 11-4D his glass for a fourth time. As usual he took the goblet to his nose, to take a deep sip. As he tried to perch it on the side-desk, it set up, soaking the blanket with its red load. Plagueis was just too weak and too sleepy, to take notice anymore. His eyes did flutter shortly, then they closed and he sank into a blissful slumber.
His wake-up was rough, when he was hit by beams of electricity. As Darth Plagueis opened his eyes again, he saw his apprentice standing before him, the hands stretched out, while out of them blue bolts of force-lightning did crawl towards his face. His yellow-turned eyes sliced through the blue-hued web of electricity, to meet the bright shining yellow eyes of Darth Sidious, grinning at him diabolically.
'He can't do this. He but needs me!', it echoed through his elongated scull. He looked up at his apprentice. Anger and hatred had distorted Sidious' face into an ugly grimace. Finally the beast, he always had known to dwell inside his apprentice, came out thoroughly. Young Palpatine must have looked quite the same thirty-two years before, when he, Plagueis, had told him more or less clear to get rid of his family, which was done by the young Naboo with one swift strike.
The Muun tried to gather his forces to unleash a force-storm, but he had to realize, that the alcohol did paralyze his limbs – his powers.
"So let me start with the second, unofficial part of my speech, you useless old fool!", he heard boom his apprentice victoriously.
"It was Hego Damask alias Darth Plagueis, who came to Naboo, resolved to bleed my planet until the last drop of plasma, who did impose the Trade Federation as overseer!"
'Darth Sidious as the avenger of the exploited and the suppressed ones – that role did fit his apprentice during his last days as senator of Naboo really well', Plagueis mused with an inward bitter smile.
"Plagueis, who turned away from the Grand Plan, to focus on himself and his immortality for twenty years so complacently, while I pulled the strings on Coruscant and elsewhere", Sidious went on.
'But you could have gained much profit from my researches, my apprentice. I would have made you immortal too – at my side. Will you really spurn this? For perhaps forty years to rule? Who of us is complacent right now?', Plagueis thought back, still unable to speak, not to speak of acting.
"Plagueis, who had the insolence to scold with his apprentice to have instilled too much pride in the killer, whom he raised and thought all by himself!", Sidious ranted on.
'But Maul did fail on Tatooine. And the young Skywalker is with the Jedi now. That you do know as much as I do. And still we don't know what Maul will or even can achieve on Naboo', Plagueis thought back.
"Plagueis, who did have the frivolity to abuse our new Sith-candidate Dooku as a mere pimp, that the fine Magister may entertain himself here with a young Jedi Master, while I was busy with bringing on the way no less than the rule of the Sith over the galaxy …!"
'That's not Sidious's business!', Plagueis thought enraged. 'I did not deny him to wander around on remote worlds for months, without asking him about where with whom. Yes, I did trust him. Why he is bothered by this one night? Did Dooku eventually …?'
He couldn't contemplate further about, to whom Dooku owed his final loyalty, because Sidious, after revealing this moral failing of his master, went on with his suing suada.
"You may ask yourself probably: When did he change like this? The truth is that I did not change at all. I was like this always - since you did recruit me at Naboo. I had to learn from you – no more, no less. What took you to the thought, that I would need you after that any longer? Presumably it was your vanity, your unbelievable complacency. Since you never was more than one of those petty monsters in a Dejarik-game, played and won by a true master – the Sith'ari!"
Sidious let out a cruel laughter.
"So think about. Let pass revue the events of the past, if you still can: Maul, the Neimoidians, Naboo, a clone army, the fallen Jedi Dooku, your rendezvous yesterday with Jedi Master Shaak Ti … you believe, that were all your ideas, but indeed they were all mine, I did suggest you in such a subtle way, that you proposed them back to me, convinced that all this was to be assigned to you alone."
Sidious make an artificial break, before he proceeded.
'That's not true!', Plagueis thought. 'No, that can't be! Not the clone army! Not Shaak Ti!'
Darth Plagueis rose, stood tall in front of his challenger. He realized that he gained no hold, that he did waver. He felt his seeking hand streaking a nearby statue, which fell off its socket rumbling. Plagueis stumbled back again, to plummet back on the sofa, where he had been sitting before.
"You are much too trusting, Plagueis. No Sith would ever give much store by anybody else. That is known for long. There is only one way – my way! … Oh, yes, just try to concentrate your Midi-Chlorians, to configure them anew."
'He's jealous. I still can remember his unbelieving look at Aborah, when I brought Venamis back to life. He wanted to perform such too, but didn't have the talent for this', Plagueis thought melancholically.
"To your consolation, I can tell you that I would have never made it without you. But now, where I did win, I do not need a co-chancellor, when I will bring to reality the rest of the Grand Plan … Shaak Ti was the last nail to your coffin, I still needed to get rid of you. Well, tell me, Plagueis: Did the pretty young Jedi Master did occupy you that much last night that after twenty standard years you did need a nap today?"
'He's envious, so pretty envious. He has always been like that', Plagueis mused.
"Now you will get you nap – a very long one … Yeah, it is really a tragedy! You were but so wise, that you could rule over the life and death of others, but not your own … Plagueis the Wise, who really did deserve that name, but forgot to ensure his place in the world he wanted to create, because in his pride he didn't realize, that also he wasn't needed one day … and now rest in your grave, Plagueis."
From his fingertips, Darth Sidious let shoot out another shower of force-lightning onto his half-sitting – half-lying victim.
'He's serious about it. He will really kill me!', the certainty of his soon doom dawned to the still supreme Dark Lord of the Sith. 'Is he especially clever – or especially stupid, in the wake of the eternal power and glory I could have bestowed upon him?'
In that very moment Plagueis realized that all the time during Sidious' monologue he did think on his apprentice. Sidious was right: He set to much store by others! And now he realized that Sidious was correct in another point too. He in his kind as a Muun was too much abiding to agreements and he misguidedly had expect the same from other, far less agreement-abiding people.
'But I have to warn you', the words of his own master Darth Tenebrous on Bal'demnic thirty-four years before crossed his waning mind.
'What is it you want to warn me of, Master?'
'You', had Tenebrous replied, before Plagueis did reveal himself as his master's conqueror, breaking the old, already hurt Bith's neck.
Sidious' thunderstorm of force-lightning did not cease. But still through the crackling, rattling noises of the blue bolts of his apprentice Plagueis's sharp ears did notice the short mechanical howl, followed by the cease of a long accustomed sound. From the corners of his more and more clouded eyes he got the affirmation. One of Sidious' bolts did hit the vacuum-cleaning droid, causing an irreparable shortcut.
'No, it was a forgivable sin, to give Shaak Ti the comlink. She alone will not hamper the Grand Plan', was his last thought.
Darth Plagueis' yellow eyes nearly did bulge out of its caves, then they broke.
Sidious did glance to 11-4D, who was about to come near the place of murder, but Sidious ushered him to stop where he stood.
"We'll find you a new home and a new shell, droid."
11-4D looked first to the Muun, then to the Human.
"Yes, Master Palpatine", he finally replied with his tinny voice.
Palpatine headed for the door, to return to his apartment. Before he left, he called Sate Pestage. There were traces to wipe out.
At midnight Shaak Ti finally was in bed. She was about to drift away, when she had again that dream about the blue lightning in the dark. And there was again that laughter - mean and ugly. She rose in her bed shrugging. She could feel a certain disturbance in the force and she felt it was not a good one. Her whole body ached, her heart convulsed. There was also that tremendous darkness – like in that dream – like in … No! That could not be! Hego Damask was not involved in that! She needed two more hours to find sleep finally.
It was early morning when the first news from Theed trailed in. Master Yoda, Shaak Ti and some other Jedi Masters and their Padawans were hanging out in front of the Holo-screen to watch the breaking news from the Holo-Net. When the picture of Obi-Wan Kenobi showed up, who gave a summary of the latest events, in which he was involved crucially, the Jedi in front of the screen spent spontaneous applause.
"He gave the Zabrak what he deserved to the full", Mace Windu said.
"He avenged the death of his master", Padawan Barriss Offee chimed in.
"My Padawan, revenge is not the engine to drive a Jedi's deeds!", her master Luminara Unduli with her soft, but relentless voice did correct her before all the others and Shaak Ti nodded duly.
"I felt a bad disturbance in the force this night", the Togruta said finally.
"Surely because of the death of Qui-Gon Jinn. I felt it too", Mace Windu replied.
"No, it was very dark. As dark as the Dark Side of the Force ever could be", she explained.
"My dear, you won't but have felt the death of that Darth Maul?", Luminara Unduli said amused.
"That was not funny!", Shaak Ti shot back. "And it was not far away like at Naboo. It was here on Coruscant!"
"I think we all have to leave behind us that difficult day", Mace Windu said soothingly . "We should wait first, what Palpatine will do after he was elected chancellor now."
Shaak Ti had tried to reach Master Dooku since yesterday. But Dooku didn't serve his comlink, nor did he return to the temple. Shaak Ti wanted to console him because his last Padawan was gutted by this ominous Sith named Darth Maul. Was Dooku that unsettled after Qui-Gon Jinn's death, that he didn't want to see or to speak with anyone?
A bit lost, the slender Togruta walked along the ample floors of the temple, heading towards the middle tower without knowing what she wanted there. Master Oppo Rancisis crossed her way. The Thisspiasian with the serpent-like body and his head crowned with entangled white hair gestured Shaak Ti to listen to him.
"I did read your thoughts, my dear. You are not the only one having these thoughts. Master Yoda did summon a council session. Dooku did declare that he is leaving the Order and will adopt his hereditary title of a Count. He wants to serve the republic in a more direct approach now", Rancisis added in a mocking manner.
"Who is serving the republic in a more direct and active way than the Jedi?", Shaak Ti asked back unbelieving.
"Well, he always thought, he is something special", the serpent-like Thisspiasian replied with a disparaging grin.
"It is not because of Qui-Gon?", Shaak Ti asked.
"Would you leave the Order because of such?"
"Of course not", she replied, stating the matter of course required to show after questions like this.
Now Shaak Ti knew what she wanted to know.
Another day later
Shaak Ti sat in the cantina of the Temple for lunch. A Holo-Screen hanging on the wall, spat out the latest news after the election of Palpatine as chancellor of the Republic and the victory of the Jedi and the military forces of the royal palace at Naboo. Padmé Amidala thanked in a moving, yet monotonous voice all her supporters. Her picture faded out. Soon the news-time would be over. Fourteen minutes of that transmission out of fifteen were already done.
"And at last a report from the capital: As it came to be known today only, two days ago Hego Damask, CEO of Damask Holdings and important member of the Intergalactic Banking Clan have died in his apartment in the Kaldani-Spires here on Coruscant. As cause of death, medics assume a defect of the breathing mode integrated in his transpiratory mask. And now the weather on the capital planet …"
Shaak Ti let her fork sink. She couldn't eat anymore. She rose from her table to head for the training ground to watch the younglings training the lightsaber combat. She pondered about who would be capable to become her next Padawan. Yes, that human woman with the brown hair and the blue eyes would be a good match. But still she would not decide. The training did end. She called Master Luminara Unduli.
"Do you like to train the use of the Force with me a bit?", she asked the blue holo-image of the green-skinned Mirialan with the prominent chin-tattoos.
"In one hour I have time for three hours. I will bring along my Padawan", she heard Unduli say.
Relieved she broke off the connection. This day was saved at least. Not that she wouldn't plan her days at all. But today was no ordinary day. It had to be filled to the brim that she would not fall into silly and useless thoughts. It was just one night. And she wanted to think back on it with joy, not with bad feelings. But that was impossible after that Holo-News broadcast.
After another day
Shaak Ti hung over the closet's bowl and vomited – in the early morning. She had but eaten as usually. Nexu meat with some cucumbers and noodles – nothing strange or exotic. She shivered and a new flash of yellow mud was pressed out of her throat. She didn't had eat that much! Where did it all come from?
Her comlink was humming. She saw that Master Yoda personally was in waiting status. But she was too week, too shaky, to converse with the Grand Master in due formality. Thus she let it hum. She would call back later.
After an hour finally she felt better.
"Shaak Ti, in the central tower for a session of emergency - immediately we you await", she heard Yoda's voice.
She put herself in a presentable state and left her chamber. She felt creepy, that she was called to a council's session thus suddenly. She presumed nothing good. Creepy was also the demise of Hego Damask so soon after she had been in his apartment.
When she entered the big, round room in the middle tower of the Jedi-Temple, Master Yoda and the rest of the council members were already present. How long did they wait for her?
"Pale – you are – well you do feel?", Yoda asked compassionately.
"Thanks, it is o.k. I hope you didn't have to wait too long for me", she replied.
"What in relation to the long existence of our order – one hour is?", Yoda replied cheerfully.
'I had let wait the council for one whole hour!' it shot through her. What was that important that the council waited that long for her, who was not even a member of it?!
"Master Dooku – disappear he did, after to Hego Damask he brought you. From Dooku something heard you had?", Yoda went to the core of the matter.
"No, I didn't have seen him since, nor did he answer his comlink, when I tried to reach him."
"Why Dooku you wanted to contact?", Yoda asked further.
"I wanted to express my condolence about his former Padawan's death."
"Proofs - we have, that with Damask Dooku had met, before the Order - he left yesterday."
Shaak Ti looked from one council member to the next without uttering anything.
Master Adi Gallia took up the word. "Did you know about the gathering, which took place in the Perlemian Orbital Station over Coruscant four days ago?"
"I heard about it but was not present", the Togruta answered.
The slim, white head-tentacles of Adi Gallia shivered, while she was listening to Shaak Ti.
"I was present during that meeting", Gallia said. "I could see how during that meeting, Master Sifo-Dyas talked with Magister Damask very vividly, bevor he disappeared."
The blue eyes of the Tolothian pierced into the violet ones of Shaak Ti during those words.
"I did see it in the Holo-Net yesterday", Shaak Ti replied composedly.
"What have you seen in the Holo-Net?", Master Jorus C'baoth asked suspiciously, shaking his white-haired head.
"The news of the death of Hego Damask", the Togruta answered.
"That's not what Master Adi Gallia meant!", Master Even Piell butted in, while his remaining right blue eye sparkled at her.
"I spoke about the disappearing of Master Sifo-Dyas", Adi Gallia explained further. "He told the Council that he had to undertake a longer mission in the Outer Rim, about whose content he wanted to inform the Council later after its fulfilment. But he didn't. Und since then we haven't received any life sign from him, nor does he react to our tries to contact him."
Shaak Ti did not reply. She had no idea, where Dooku was, nor did she have any contact with Master Sifo-Dyas that week.
"Hmmm Shaak Ti … more to say – you have?", Yoda took the lead again. "As well with Dooku as with Damask you did speak at last. Now Dooku and Sifo-Dyas – gone they are. But still here – you are. About what with Dooku and Damask – you did talk?", Yoda wanted to know.
'Still here – I am', Shaak Ti thought, while an unknown dread creeped up her spine.
"With Dooku I just talked about the next mission of Qui-Gon and my guarding mission with Magister Damask. And with Magister Damask actually about Shili and Mygeeto – and about the state of the Republic."
"Soso – about the state of the Republic …", Yoda mused. "What about the state of the Republic – Hego Damask did say?"
"That the Republic is in need of an army", 'that he would co-finance'. But the latter she didn't tell. Why so, when he was dead already, before he could put his good intentions into reality? She tried to think of Sifo-Dyas in order that the others could not read any thoughts about what she else did discuss with Magister Damask – and what she had done with him. She did see Sifo-Dyas last time two weeks ago. The Human Jedi Master had his black hair tight up into a knot as usually and his brown eyes had looked discomforted. But as much as she tried, she couldn't remember, about what she had talked with Master Sifo-Dyas that day.
"Why – an army the Republic should need?", Yoda asked Shaak Ti.
"He was concerned about – the Republic and about the Jedi", she replied.
"And about other Jedi – Damasks did talk not?", Yoda went further.
Shaak Ti swallowed. When anyway, it had been her, who did tell Hego Damask about this or that Jedi during their comfortable come together. While he had told her only, that Palpatine was a good man. A question rose in her, if his death was really just due to the defect in his transpiratory mask.
"No, he hadn't", she answered finally. "But I believe that his death did not come by chance. I think he was murdered. The whole is much bigger than we know now."
"Hmmm … but a failure of his breathing mask the medics did state. To question this – a Jedi matter is not", Master Yoda finished the issue.
"Ended this session is." With these words Yoda allowed all participants to leave.
The very same day in the Kessel sector in the Outer Rim
Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas was in good mood. On Kamino everything went as best as it ever could. The Kaminoan Prime Minister Lama Su and the head of the research department Ko Sai had been very obliging and more than normally friendly, when the honorable Jedi Master did mention the name of the client, who was no lesser than the Order of the Jedi itself. When he did say the name of the financier too, the eyes of both became bright in restrained joy.
"Magister Hego Damask is an appreciated guest we like to see here on our planet. His wish is our command", Lama Su had affirmed.
Such Sifo-Dyas never had seen on both during his visits to the planet of eternal rain before. That had been genuine Kaminoan feelings!
The coronation of it all was, when Sifo-Dyas did hand over the two quipus, artistically slung wool-strands, whose knots did keep a complicated code, which could decipher only the bank on Muunilinst, in which the account was conducted, to which the two quipus were assigned. Hence the contract had become perfect - ripe for signing. Pride swallowed up in Sifo-Dyas. He did make it – almost. Soon the Republic would become a better one. When he strode back to his shuttle through the whiplashing rain of Kamino – he felt that rain to be the blissful shower, which soon would lead to the wellbeing of the whole Republic.
The shuttle T-6 No. 775519 did exit the hyperspace. Before the eyes of Sifo-Dyas laid the lilac planet of Oba Diah, where he had to meet the leader of the Pyke syndicate, to hand over a peace offer from Chancellor Finis Valorum, whose acceptance would guarantee that the spice-gangsters would not meddle into the affairs of the capital planet anymore.
"Do you have the credits handy?", he asked Silman, the assistant of Valorum, who accompanied him during this secret mission, of which nobody knew beside his friend Dooku and of course the Chancellor.
Sifo-Dyas was looking for a good place for landing on Oba Diah … when his holo-projecor hummed. Master Yoda wanted to speak with him personally. When he didn't want to cause suspicion he had to answer the call.
"Master Sifo-Dyas, to speak to you – a joy it is", Yoda started the conversation.
"I will be back on Coruscant tomorrow, Master Yoda", the black haired Jedi Master replied, while his brown eyes shone expectingly.
"Not home you shall come. Travel to Felucia – you will. Feuding jungle tribes – pacify you must!", Yoda explained the newest mission.
"I understood and will go there even today, Master Yoda", Sifo-Dias complied.
"To hear this – I like. The force with you – may be", Yoda said, before he ended the conversation.
Five minutes later the holo-projector did hum anew. The holo-image of Dooku appeared.
"My old friend. How was the mission on Kamino?", Dooku asked.
"Very good. I'm on Oba Diah at the moment to negotiate with the Pykes. Minister Lom will grant me an audience soon."
"Then everything is going according to plan", Dooku replied satisfied.
"Not thoroughly. Yoda did contact me right before you called. I now have been assigned a mission to Felucia – to pacify Jungle Felucians", Dooku heard Sifo-Dyas's slightly unnerved voice.
Dooku hid his anger about this news behind a jovial smile. This mission would become riskier than he had thought. And so he forged an amendment to his initial plan.
Sifo-Dyas's ship was just hovering between Oba Diah and a moon of that planet, when the Jedi spotted the escort, which was supposed to bring him to Minister Lom Pyke's residence. His com-station beeped, indicating that one of the ships wanted to communicate with him.
"Here is pilot Nam Tyco speaking on behalf of the orbital control of Oba Diah. Identify yourself!"
"Here is Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas, accompanied by Taras Silman, personal assistant of the Galactic Chancellor Finis Valorum. We have an appointment with Minister Lom Pyke here on Oba Diah."
"Good", the Pyke replied. "Just follow us!"
While adapting his course slightly to fit into the formation of the vessels, the Jedi was about to wonder why the Pykes did send six bulky assault-ships which surrounded the Jedi's shuttle now. Didn't the Pykes trust the Republic? Or did they fear some attack from outside? Red bolts of laser-fire ended Sifo-Dyas's thoughts - hitting the carbon-metallic surface of the shuttle. The Jedi Master knew that the deflector shields couldn't defy for long the steady, heavy barrage, hammering from all sides against the T6-shuttle. Another crimson bolt hit the ship – a really serious one. A sharp hiss from behind told Sifo-Dyas the hyperspace drive was hit and went out of service. Now he couldn't even flee. He had just one chance. He had to land, to bring himself and Silman into a save covering and call for help. Fighting the odds he headed to the spotted landing place. Soon he would land.
The fire ceased and the assault-ships did turn away. Sifo-Dyas took in a deep breath and concentrated. Surely they presumed the job done – and he and Silman could need the break. The formation of mountains there on the moon looked quite good for an undisturbed stop-over and so he headed for it. When the shuttle approached the hoped save haven, some green bolts came out of nowhere. They hit the transparisteel window of the cockpit. The window smashed and the Jedi and his companion could breathe the thin atmosphere of Oba Diah's moon. Apparently somebody did even wait on the moon for them. But who? Sifo-Dyas activated his blue lightsaber, deflecting some of the heavy green bolts, coming from hidden canons, carved into the withered moon-stone, as he spotted on the second glance, but they were too many of them. One of the long laser bolts hit his chest. The Jedi fell with his chair behind and was dead at once, while Silman sat perched in the back of the shuttle – waiting for his doom to come too.
Completing his mission Dooku looked out into the orbit of the planet Oba Diah. His Punworcca-solar-sailor had fallen out from hyperspace, as Minister Lom had contacted him to report, that the targeted person had been found and killed. As proof the Pyke hold up the lightsaber of the murdered Jedi.
Time had come for Dooku, to check the place of the doom of his former friend, to erase traces, especially those, who would lead to Sifo-Dyas's former mission to Kamino. On this behalf he had already deleted every hint at Kamino, Dagobah and Dromund in the archives of the temple. He gave Lom Pyke the agreed sum of credits, then he took the corpse and the lightsaber of his killed friend with him, to head towards Felucia.
Dooku did not undertake any efforts, to broker for peace between the jungle tribes on Sifo-Dyas's behalf. He hid behind a bush and placed the corpse of his killed friend next to him in a way it was not to be seen at the first sight. Then he coaxed out some of the blue-feathered Felucians there, to suggest them danger via a mind trick. The Felucians rose their cudgels, arrows and bows, to defend themselves against the alleged danger. Just after the first wave of their arrows did leave their bows, Dooku rose behind the bush, his blue lightsaber spread to the right in the typical Makashi-stance, then he deflected the incoming arrows.
"You have killed my companion!", he accused the Felucians.
Flabbergasted the Felucians looked at him. The Jedi had but come to end their feud. And now one of the Peace-keepers of the galaxy was dead.
"In the light of this tragedy there is only one way of atonement for your transgression", Dooku said earnestly.
The Felucians looked at him, expecting even more grief. None of them said anything.
"Bring your chief here!", Dooku ordered.
The Felucians did as he commanded.
"These your men had killed my Jedi-Brother! Sentence them and burn the corpse of my brother, then the Republic will show you mercy and won't pursue you any longer. My mission here has come to an end though!", Dooku rumbled apodictically, wiping out every protest before it could ever been uttered.
The chief let line up his men and told them to report about the incident. The speeches of the blue-feathered beings were contradictory. Everybody blamed everybody. So the chief decided that all men, who did shoot at the Jedi, had to be killed by poisoned arrows. Unmoved, Dooku watched, how one sentenced after another fell lethally hit to the ground - eight men at all.
The pyre was erected. Dooku himself placed Sifo-Dyas's body upon it. He stood next to the pyre, incinerated by the Felucians a moment later. Dooku looked forlorn into the flames and mourned his friend, whose burden of death nobody had to bear but himself. After Sifo-Dyas's body had burnt to a heap of ashes and bones, Dooku headed for his solar-sailor. He set course for Coruscant, to make his entrée to the Chancellor - the new Chancellor obviously.
"I had expected you already, Count", the newly elected Galactic Chancellor Palpatine said almost cheerful, as the brown-gowned Count did enter his office.
Dooku put his cloak back to present the hilt of his fallen friend's lightsaber, which was placed on the left side of his golden ringed belt, while his own still adorned the right side.
"Not here, my friend", Palpatine rebuffed and went outside with his guest.
Both men went on a glider, bringing them to The Works, a slummed industrial quarter, where the LiMerge-Building was situated, towering over all the other buildings around.
Sidious' glider landed smoothly on the platform inside the LiMerge-Building, designed to harbor smaller ships, while the door to the ample room did close again already.
"Here one can start and land without being noticed by the spaceport authorities", Dooku assumed.
"That's how it should be", Palpatine replied with a conspiring smile.
After leaving the glider, Sidious led his guest into a room, where on the wall-shelves many old books and foliants were to be seen. Dooku found, that from the big window of that room, one had a fantastic view upon the Jedi-Temple. He could also spot some pyramids, big as fists, which stood in the upper shelves. He knew those pyramids. They were Sith-holocrons, which Yoda didn't want to be studied by his former apprentice. But gone were those times.
"The task is completed. The contract about the creation of a clone army between the Jedi and the Kaminoans is perfect. And Sifo-Dyas is dead as you wished", Dooku reported.
"Then you have proven to be worthy, Count Dooku", Palpatine stated elatedly, pronouncing the other Human's title deliberately.
"Bow down!", he ordered the one head taller and twenty standard years older man with the white hair.
Dooku complied and went on his knees before Sidious.
"I am Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith. Do you promise, that you will dedicate you, your pursuit and your estate in the future to the wellbeing of the Order of the Sith, the realization of the Grand Plan to gain the Sith the rule over the galaxy? That you want to become my apprentice?"
"Herewith I vow, that I will dedicate myself, my pursuit and all of my estate to the Order of the Sith and the realization of the Grand Plan, that the Sith shall gain the rule over the galaxy. Yes, I wish to become your apprentice", the brown-attired Count vowed and his dark-brown eyes lit up.
"Goood", Sidious purred. "Hence I will assign you the rank of my apprentice and successor in the Order of the Sith. Your new and true name will be herewith Darth Tyranus", he declared, while Dooku held his head still bowed.
"Rise, Lord Tyranus", Sidious commanded.
Dooku rose.
"As next we will provide you with a new lightsaber, which is worth your skills and your new destination", Sidious announced.
"So shall it be done, my new Master", Dooku replied with raspy voice.
Afterwards the two men left the room and went once more to the glider.
Shaak Ti had vomited once more at morning, when her comlink hummed. Master Yoda wished to speak to her. With restrained expectation she headed to the cartographic room of the Jedi-Temple. Yoda looked concerned when she entered.
"Master Sifo-Dyas – yesterday speak to him - I could", Yoda started.
"And? How is he?"
"Yesterday to the Tion-star cluster to Felucia he should travel. But successful there – he was not – as the Felucians told me. But the jungle tribes – pacify them – we must. Sifo-Dyas's mission to Felucia take – you will?", Yoda asked with concerned glance at her pale teint.
"Don't worry – I am ready, Master Yoda", Shaak Ti replied.
Yoda smiled. Shaak Ti was hiding something before him. But this would reveal itself to him in due time.
Author's note: All events in this chapter, except the events around Shaak Ti which sprung out from my phantasy, you can see in Ep. I of the Prequel Trilogy or you may read about it in the novel "Darth Plagueis" by James Luceno, from where for this chapter I borrowed many dialogue-citations.
The quipus are mentioned in Joe Schreiber's novel "Darth Maul: Lockdown".
The events around Sifo-Dyas and Valorum's assistant Silman are unraveled in S. 6 of "The Clone Wars", ep. "Traces". The lightsaber of Sifo-Dyas was actually left by Dooku on the moon of Oba Diah in Sifo-Dyas's shuttle, which Dooku never entered. In my story this is a bit different.