Darth Sidious, part one : How Obi-Wan ended up taking lessons from an actual Sith Lord with nobody aware, including the teacher and the learner – and Dooku was hailed as a Sith Lord none the more aware
The first time Obi-Wan met Senator Palpatine, it was on a diplomatic mission. Master Dooku had some connections nearby who had kept him abreast of the events and ultimately drew the Republic attention on the problem, and Senator Palpatine had been sent by the Chancellor to represent the Republic. Master Dooku saluted him with a nod and a few polite words, but his Force signature showed he was glad this senator had been sent and may have been more effusive if he had not to uphold an impartial standard. A quick greeting was even extended toward the padawan. Once on the table of negotiation, Obi-Wan understood his master reaction. Senator Palpatine was a wordsmith. His thoughts circled dizzyingly fast, his eyes sparkled at the battle of wits, and his opponents fell into pitfall after pitfall, seemingly unable to foresee the traps Senator Palpatine had laid under the guise of banter.
"I hope your padawan wasn't too bored, Master Dooku, I fear politics are an acquired taste" the Senator said to them, joining the master-padawan pair after the negotiation were closed in favor of the Republic. The ghost of a smile stretched Master Dooku face, because it was undeniably a taste shared by the Makashi master. "Not at all, Senator, it reminded me of my first master" answered truthfully Obi-Wan. A shiver of displeasure passed through Master Dooku "Force preserve me from your first master" his current master said, before broaching other subjects with the Senator.
Senator Palpatine was not a kind man, Obi-Wan discovered gradually. He had taken following his steady rise in the Senate after seeing him at work. There were hints of blood at some of his opponents disappearances, but mainly he appeared to delight in crushing them through their reputation, and was probably able to blackmail half of the Senate one way or another. But his manipulation, his speech, how did it remind Obi-Wan of Master Han who had fooled him so long into believing he wasn't Force-sensitive. It had taken a long time for Obi-Wan to acknowledge it, to get past the respect he had for his master and see his wild claims who had rung true. And there was all the things Han had not told him, the visions, Ach-To, and all he had told him and twisted: his teaching line, the Dark Siders hunts. A non-Force-sensitive could have done part of that, but not all of that.
He had been angry, at first. Refusing to acknowledge his master had lied to him, like he had lied to everyone he came across, but then he had accepted it. Han had had so many stories, and such an ability to combine them, and maybe simply not the will to tell the truth, to part from the reality and identity he crafted anew each time he came across another being. Maybe it was part of Han to lie this way, maybe it was a lesson he gave Obi-Wan, to learn in time. Master Windu seemed to think so and believed it to be a lesson for the whole Jedi Order. Obi-Wan had tried to back-track, studied for days the conversations he could remember word for word and expounded so many meanings, truth and counter-truth, lies of so many sort, everything and nothing. Han had had a way with words, the ability to say a thing, to make believe another thing or three, and to mean another altogether. An ability to lead a conversation to its end and leave everybody with a different understanding.
Senator Palpatine had a similar talent, so Obi-Wan studied him with a sick fascination. What a terrible cruel man under the veneer of civility and good humor. How many barbs in his compliments and truthful lies in his mouth. Master Dooku pejoratively referred of it as fangirling, proof Obi-Wan had an impact on his vocabular. Master Dooku could talk, he could barely detach his eyes from the wordsmith himself. And he must not have disapproved entirely Obi-Wan interest, for the next time an invitation to dinner from Palpatine was extended, he queried of the possibility to bring along his padawan. "He does admire you, Sheev" Master Dooku laughed once, when Senator Palpatine enquired if these dinners did not bore him out "his first master was such a talented talker we still do not know if he was really a Jedi" he joked. Obi-Wan smiled, but did not expound, because the senator return question came from politeness rather than interest. And how could Obi-Wan sum Han Solo to one not having known him. Still, Master Dooku words were true: Palpatine could have spoken of vegetal growth and Obi-Wan would have attentively listened, studying his way of speech, the nets he laid then sprung, and the way he closed all escapes. It was not Han way, Han let interpretations open then played in preconception, but Obi-Wan had admiration for wordsmiths.
So Obi-Wan studied and learnt, questioned his at first bemused then understanding master and started to reflect. Ways to gather favor amongst an audience, ways to shed any guilt to the onlookers when delivering mortal insult, ways to coerce an opponent into agreement lest lose face. So many ways Senator Palpatine was a master of and Han had not been. Han had taught misdirection, tales so outrageous they were dismissed by fools and left wide-eyed the believers, and most of the time interlocutors scrambling long enough to pounce or to run. To shock then take advantage, whereas Palpatine played a longer game, slithering his coils around his prey before baring his fangs at the unwary captive. Truly fascinating, but Obi-Wan knew better than to poke such a man for the secrets of his trade. So Obi-Wan smiled, stared, and learnt, his unwavering attention dismissed by the Sith in favor of the far more interesting prey he was ensnaring.
Obi-Wan wasn't of much interest for the Sith. He was Yan Dooku fourth padawan, the second Sheev Palpatine met, and those came and go, sometimes offering opportunity to create a wedge, to dig a pitfall where he could lure the Jedi later. Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't as interesting as Komari Vosa had been for those instances, as he appeared a patient listener telling very little. His death could serve turning Dooku, but to kill a mere padawan did not ask much exertion for a Sith apprentice of over two decades. Darth Plagueis had known more but kept that secret to the grave when Darth Sidious hastened his accession to the title of Sith Lord. The only hint Sheev Palpatine had that Padawan Kenobi may be more than a meek Jedi was wholly misinterpreted.
"I trust there was no problem, Master Dooku? You seem tired, if you will pardon me to say" queried once Senator Palpatine, deliberately not stating they were also horribly late for this mediation. Obi-Wan was in his last year as a padawan and lived in colorful times with his master. A call by a nearby Shadow had delayed them, sending them on an unrelated mission involving a Sith Temple, smooth talking and racking one's memory about Sith greeting customs when the Dark Sider they were chasing attempted to turn the building against them. That they got out whole and hale was a near miracle credited to Master Dooku favoring Makashi as a saber style – aka one of the oldest lightsaber form heavily utilized during the Sith wars by both sides –, the pair excellent shielding – between Obi-Wan attempting to mimic his first Master shields, his friendship with Shadows and Master Dooku wondering if they had a role in battle meditation and subsequent focus on shielding in their mutual learning –, their Shadow companion being on the verge of falling – and an excellent actor to the top – and Obi-Wan lying his arse off in a true Solo way. Dark Siders came in all flavors, after all, and the Sith Temple Guardian found their act more close to the Sith of his time than the Dark Sider's they were chasing off was. It did not spare Master Dooku from numerous fights and Obi-Wan from a theological debate, but they were alive. And it had been a good debate, if a nerve-wrecking one.
As Master Dooku was actually nearly dead on his feet, it was Obi-Wan who answered "We had an eventful journey, Senator Palpatine, and I do not believe my master to be ready to mediate a session before some sleep". Senator Palpatine considered them a moment with a raised eyebrow, his eyes lingering longer on him, leading Obi-Wan to ask himself what Palpatine saw. He was far less tired than Master Dooku and both had scrubbed the best they could before landing. "I look forward hearing this tale, then" saluted Senator Palpatine "mayhap I may convene with you on the proceeding while your master rest, padawan?"
It was only looking back on this conversation Obi-Wan truly understood that Senator Palpatine had not switched his gaze on the padawan because the master would have been poor conversation. "Did that adventure earn you this necklace? I am given to understand piece of jewelry denote achievements for padawans". Obi-Wan, who still wore his beaded wrist-band and added some more in his padawan braid in his time of learning under Master Dooku, did not see ill in the questioning. "Indeed" answered Obi-Wan and he said no more because a previous appointment called Palpatine away and he had to care for his master.
"Sith Temple are dangerous area for Jedi" said Obi-Wan later on when Palpatine joined him again under the pretense of reviewing the negotiations process so far "it tests Jedi, judge their worth and might in a trial of body and spirit which I believe closely resemble Jedi trials. But I did not imagine it would do so as literally. The Temple had a guardian, a Sith of the old whose loneliness seems to have impacted his sanity, for once he ascertained our talent through his testing he let us go unharmed. At least, no more armed than the previous testing left us. But he was canny and so decided to test the ostensible learner rather than the teacher. I had a very interesting debate with the Guardian before Master Dooku had to battle out a few creatures most probably created through Sith Alchemy."
For all Obi-Wan admired Senator Palpatine, he was wary of him, so redirected the conversation on the current negotiations rather than to expend his summary. Darth Sidious, after a slight hesitation, complied, his mind elsewhere. The padawan had told him much more he believed he had, thought the Sith, falling head on in the crafted web of meanings Obi-Wan had sewn. The padawan had observed for four years the effect of Han Solo spin on his interlocutors, and studied as long Sheev Palpatine own way to twist words. The senator appointment gave him the occasion to chisel a journeyman speech. And so Sheev understood that Yan Dooku was farther along the path of the Dark Side that he had believed him to be. Darth Sidious dared not to test Jedi shields often for fear of discovery, but he had perceived on the edge of his sense a change in Dooku's. He had not peered at them enough to ascertain the nature of the change and would not dare to do so with this new information, but change came from somewhere. A need to better hid his Force signature, for instance.
Sith Temple rarely failed to kill imprudent Jedi and padawan had little to no hope to get out alive. For the Guardian to let them go meant they had headed his trials. By his estimation, Yan Dooku could theoretically triumph of a trial in body by a Temple. But for the padawan to pass a trial in spirit? Sheev remembered his own trial years ago, an excruciating affair from whence he emerged whole but sweat-drenched, the flavor of the Dark Side an intoxicating taste in his mouth. The padawan seemed a bit jittery, but not overly perturbated by the experience. Not like an unprepared weak-light youngster. Someone had prepared him for such an experience and he proved sufficiently worthy for the Guardian to acknowledge him. Him, or his teacher, whom the Guardian had tested the knowledge and ability to pass down his knowledge. Darth Sidious nearly snarled.
Yan Dooku had been scouted by Darth Plagueis before Sheev became his apprentice, and the Jedi was later discarded in his favor. Or so Darth Sidious had believed, but evidently the Jedi knew enough to present his own trial. The boy before him wasn't a Sith apprentice, but Dooku was and as such a threat if Plagueis was still forming him after Sheev own prowess was demonstrated. Galidraan must have been the tipping point, Sheev thought wildly. A set of circumstances his master had had a hand in and which costed the Jedi dearly enough he may have called forth the true might of the Force. Sheev tried to remember what Dooku shields had felt like before this event. Already addled, meaning he already dabbled in the Dark Side beforehand, or done so in preparation for his stepping into the path of true power.
The proof of such treachery dangled around the padawan neck, the holochron hidden from sight but not in the Force. Proof of acknowledgement by the Temple. But to come straight from the Temple to a mediation Sheev himself was in charge of? Dooku would not have risked the student he had evidently invested time into teaching the true way of the Force, even if he believed he could triumph, tired, of a rested Darth Sidious. Plagueis would not have missed the coincidence either. Which meant it was either the Force playing into his hands, or a test from his master. Plagueis had long reproached him to be too hasty and his tests were not kind ones. If it was a test, it was probably whether Sheev would take action now, when his opponent appeared less dangerous, or would take the time to ascertain the situation. If it was a test, Plagueis would want the best apprentice and would not pit Dooku against him as a scarified pawn to better hone Sheev. If it was a test, Dooku was feigning tiredness and probably not coming directly for the Temple, but dangling the proof of his worth around his student neck to entice Sheev into this conclusion and in a fight where he would reveal himself to be more prepared than Sheev currently was.
Darth Sidious had survived all the tests his master had pushed toward him so far, and intended to continue doing so. So he did not swallow the bait, but attended the negotiations as a peace-loving senator, his eyes observing acutely his rival. Dooku did not measure him back, but his padawan attention on Sheev hardly wavered. Ah. The ploy was to delegate a part of the burden to a pawn and observe him through the teaching bond. An instant, Sheev thought of his own pawn, the Zabrak he raised as a weapon, a herald of the Sith return for the galaxy. Plagueis had allowed him such a fantasy as he called it, and Darth Sidious had no doubt he would allow the same to Dooku if he proved worthy of such a favor.
Darth Sidious had no doubt that, for all his projected lack of care, Dooku was aware of what he was, for by the second day to the end of the negotiations he was wearing the holochron as a necklace in a taunt. Sheev did not rise his own call for a fight, as he intended to plan it carefully before acting. Dooku must be waiting for him, for he never floated the holochron again and continued to come to his invitations his padawan in toe. His rival mocking him by affecting his Jedi guise, the padawan assessing him with a polite false smile.
Back on Coruscant, Darth Sidious did not confront his master, for Plagueis was probably waiting for them to settle the succession without his input, but sent feelers and reassessed everything he believed he knew about Dooku. Dooku was making headway in the Senate lately and Sheev was sourly reminded he had to retract his last bid to Chancellorship for he lacked sufficient support for the outcome to be certain. Plagueis faith in Sheev ability must have declined following that setback, if he was putting forth another candidate. He had believed the Jedi sudden interest in the Senate to have been either a private interest or on Mace Windu behalf, as it coincided his accession to the post of master of Order and Yoda retirement. His indicators had pointed a closeness between Windu and Dooku both Jedi downplayed with an audience. Alas, Dooku plotting was a cautious one and most of Sheev indicators came back empty-handed. Or, more exactly, Dooku had much activity in the Senate and championed many Jedi-minded causes, but did not appear to have an endgame in mind. Did he hope to take advantage of the Jedi standing? Darth Sidious resolved to wait and see if his rival plan revealed itself in later actions. If he allowed Dooku to live that long that is.
The feelers he sent to create a profile on Padawan Kenobi did not have much success either. Sheev had dismissed the padawan early on, but now felt the need to ascertain his danger with more than a passing glance. Kenobi had been Temple-raised then discarded by the Jedi for reason unknown. Instead of arriving to the forgotten corner of the galaxy the Jedi put their rejects, Kenobi seemingly disappeared for four years at which point he reappeared as Dooku padawan. He was apparently an outspoken critic of the Jedi doctrine, as was Dooku, so the fact did not appear odd. Kenobi seemed as perfect a padawan as Dooku was a Jedi: flawed, but not suspiciously. Those four missing years were the only thing unusual. It mays have been an undercover mission, but this was a simple hypothesis.
Digging deeper and remembering an offhand comment from his rival, Darth Sidious found numerous sightings of Kenobi, alongside a purported smuggler by the name of Han Solo. Those sightings always took place in times and places of interest or dangerous ones. Han Solo face did not evoke any memory in Sheev, and his name only brought up a corellian citizenship but none of the traces a being could be expected to make. For all intents, Han Solo came to the galaxy a day like he had always been here. Plainly a fake identity but one who fooled the Jedi into believing he had been one of their own enough they de-facto accepted back Kenobi upon his first master death. Dooku at least had met Solo and had a mild dislike for him. When he queried, the Force stayed silent on the matter and would not been wrenched into compliance with the means he had without alerting his master or the Jedi.
And Sheev wasn't about to alert the former after an official document reached him. Han Solo, who had been so careful about leaving no trace after him, had an account in the IGBC. A link to Darth Plagueis. Sheev wanted to scream in rage, for what this document meant. Solo was careful and crafty enough that if he was a Force-sensitive he could mimic a non-Force-sensitive and if he wasn't a Force-sensitive he could convince Force-sensitives that he was. He had presented a front to the galaxy, another for the Jedi Order and both had held scrutiny. And he was old enough to have been a pawn. Not one of Dooku or Sheev, for he was older than both, but of Plagueis. A pawn Darth Sidious had been unaware of and who purportedly died just at the right time for Kenobi to rejoin the Jedi Order. Sheev scoffed in the privacy of his lair. More like Solo charade had come to the end of its usefulness and it was time insert back Kenobi in the Jedi Order. Close enough to Dooku to give him the final push, and maybe be of use at a later time in one of the grand plans Plagueis was prone to make. The human having used the identity of Han Solo was still around, doing Plagueis bidding. And Sheev had not been included in this plan.