"I don't like this one bit," Master Sincer admitted as she, Sifo-Dyas, and Qui-Gon descended the twisted spiral staircase into the Sith Shrine that lay below the Grand Jedi Temple.

"Me neither," As they reached the final landing, and Sifo-Dyas turned to Master Sincer, "Do you have any idea why Master Yoda and the Jedi Guards aren't doing this?"

Master Sincer explained, "They're trying to extinguish the fire in the Archives at the moment. And…they think we're the best team to find out what exactly the arsonist is doing down here."

She paused and took in a breath as she looked around the Sith Shrine. "Perhaps we may also find whatever killed poor Master Denth Cruz. Although the Jedi Guards are taking care of that one, its likely a poisonous creature that snuck in somehow." Sincer went on, "Hopefully the perpetrator or perpetrators may be down here. Yoda thinks so at least and hopefully we'll find them."

"Really?" Qui-Gon perked up at that. "That's so awesome! Master Yoda actually thinks we're going to find this wrongdoer!"

Master Sincer went on as they ducked behind a few crates. She peered over, "Yes, well, they want to see if they can consider…" Master Sincer glanced at Sifo-Dyas, "—this hot shot over here for a…higher position."

Sifo-Dyas' eyes lit up, "Are you serious? Sincer…I…I'm going to be a Jedi Master?"

"If you cut the chatter, you may have a chance," Master Sincer told him.

Qui-Gon whispered as they snuck around the tilting Sith Shrine. "Does anyone have an idea who the arsonist is?"

Master Sincer glanced at Qui-Gon and then to Sifo-Dyas, "Well, I heard, someone let a civilian into the temple. Again. Does that ring a bell, Sifo?"

Sifo-Dyas coughed and didn't acknowledge her accusation, "Well, I'm not the one who has a padawan which likes to vandalize the Jedi Temple in her free time."

Master Sincer scoffed, "I said I would deal with Vatari's insolence later. Why do you have to rub it in? I've done my best, she's simply…difficult…but very sweet." She paused and huffed. "At least I know she's not going to do anything as destructive as burning down the Jedi Archives!" She was checking her lightsaber. "How about that random civilian, Sifo-Dyas?"

Sifo-Dyas laughed. "Oh, he's not going to be a problem. Look, he was definitely lying when he said he knew where Dooku was, but you know…kids get curious. The Jedi Temple should be something that everyone can enjoy, you know, Sincer."

Master Sincer insisted. "He might be a problem. Tell me his name."

Sifo-Dyas shrugged. "He's some Youth Senator. I think the name was Pawpatina?"

Master Sincer laughed. "Palpatine? Never mind then. A slight breeze could knock that kid off his feet. Poor kid, he was one of the hostages from that terrorist attack. He was scared out of his mind."

Qui-Gon cut in, "But we can't rule out anyone, can we? He could be the—" Qui-Gon's words were drowned out by their laughter.

Master Sincer added after they finished laughing about that pathetic Naboo Youth Senator, "I bet it's that guy again. The one that killed all those terrorists. He burnt down the Archives and now he wants something from down here. But what?" Sifo-Dyas and Qui-Gon nodded along.

They kept pacing around, ducking behind Sith artifacts. Some of the artifacts were statues which had vicious leers while others were objects whispering dark secrets.

After a few more minutes of sneaking around the Shrine with no progress Sincer suggested, "Let's split up. I'll take Qui-Gon and you, Sifo, go alone. We'll meet back here in say…an hour." They went back and forth a few times before agreeing. Then they both went their separate ways.

The darkness was almost too much to bear for Sifo-Dyas. He could see why most of the Jedi Masters' avoided this place even after being granted permission to visit it. Of course, Sifo-Dyas and Qui-Gon were an exception for these dire circumstances. It was not as exciting as he thought it would be to his great surprise.

It was unnerving.

Sifo-Dyas knew it wasn't the best idea to let some Youth Senator kid wander the halls of the Jedi Temple, but it seemed harmless enough. What was Palpatine going to do? Burn down the Archives and steal a Sith artifact? No…that was insanity. He wasn't the type…at least Sifo-Dyas thought so.

Clink. Clink.

Sifo-Dyas whirled around. It was a quick flick, but he swore behind a crate he thought he saw ten eyes peering out him, two blue and the rest green.

Sifo-Dyas was swift and did not take his moment for granted. In one quick motion he had withdrawn his lightsaber, ignited it, and took a precise slash at the crate.

The box fell apart, cleanly and neatly. There lay another box with these words printed in bold letters: CONFIDENTIAL! NEVER OPEN!

What lay behind the crate? It was nothingness, simply more darkness. "Strange…" he mumbled. He glanced down at the label for the artifact. "Sith Artifact 69." He said aloud and chuckled to himself.

His neck snapped to his left at the sudden flicker of light blossoming across the void of the darkness. About fifty meters away he saw a shadow against crimson light. The stiff stature, the deliberate steps, yes, Sifo-Dyas knew exactly who it was.

"Dooku?" Sifo-Dyas whispered. He approached the shadowy figure. "Hey, old buddy, what are you doing down here?" Dooku didn't reply.

Sifo-Dyas could see Dooku's face in the crimson light. His eyes were unfocused, and he was strangely very stiff. The artifact he was holding was a mirror glazed over in shiny red blood. The Dark Side veiled the mirror strongly. Dooku was mumbling to himself under his breath.

Sifo-Dyas tapped Dooku on the shoulder. When Dooku didn't respond he became more persistent. "Hey Dooku!" Dooku still ignored him.

Sifo-Dyas' brows furrowed, and he shook Dooku's shoulder. "DOOKU SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Sifo-Dyas glanced at the mirror. It was doing something to Dooku. It was obviously a Sith artifact. Whatever it was doing, it was not good. Nothing about the Sith was ever good.

Without pausing or even deciding if it was a good idea, Sifo-Dyas wretched the mirror out of Dooku's iron grip.

"GAH!" Sifo-Dyas let the mirror clatter loudly on the tilting floor. It was like touching red hot iron. He tried to cool his hand down by using his breath, but it was useless.

Dooku snapped out of his trance and looked to Sifo-Dyas. He put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Are you quite alright, Sifo-Dyas?"

"Not really." Sifo-Dyas winced as he held his seared hand. "What in the blazes are you doing, Dooku? You know you shouldn't mess with that kind of stuff."

Dooku reached out to the mirror but quickly retracted his hand. He turned to Sifo-Dyas and admitted. "I know I shouldn't but sometimes you must look at things from all perspectives. I used the Light Side artifacts, and they were no use. So…I decided to utilize Dark Side artifacts."

"Why?"

"I'm trying to find who killed all those terrorists. The terrorists are all dead. They can't pay for their crimes but this…attacker must be found. I suppose I was hoping the Mirror of Zarus could give me a hint, but it refused. It's as though its hiding something, protecting secrets." Dooku sighed deeply. "I wonder why—Sifo, are you listening?"

Sifo-Dyas was looking around the room. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Dooku inquired with a slight tone of frustration. "Are your ears playing tricks on you again?"

"No, I swear, Dooku, this isn't like that booby trap on Natoruy Two. I can hear it…its…"

Dooku insisted. "This place is simply a warehouse of dusty trinkets. Well, apart from a select few. But there's nothing down here, that's alive…of course, apart from us." He added. "There's no need to be paranoid."

"You're obviously not paranoid enough." Sifo told Dooku in a somewhat stern voice. "The last time you didn't listen to my acute hearing skills we ended up in a Ha'on death trap. And that—that is something I never want to experience EVER again!"

"How was I supposed to know that an innocent chirping sound would end so sourly?" Dooku insisted.

Sifo-Dyas' eyes went wide. In one quick motion he ignited his lightsaber. "DOOKU WATCH OUT!" he cried.

Dooku whipped around a little too late. A slimy tentacle grabbed his ankle, and he was dragged into the darkness.

"DOOKU?!"

Palpatine stood before it: Sith Artifact 66.

This was where the voice had been leading him all this time. The voice echoed from a small excavated Sith ruin where a small black box with ancient engravings was set upon an altar. He ascended the stairs leading to the altar and he stood before the small box.

Palpatine thumbed the clasp then drew away from it. The darkness emitting from this squat box was more than all the darkness combined throughout the Sith Shrine. It was the core of the darkness, the heart, and soul of this shrine.

Evil flowed through the crevices of the box and the young Palpatine was about to liberate it for the first time in five millenniums.

Palpatine drew back his hood and brushed centuries of dust off the lid. He closed his eyes and outstretched his hand. In his mind's eye he imagined the clasp undoing itself but then he recoiled.

A flicker of a horrid face crossed his mind, a leer with golden cracked teeth and a jagged scar cut through frail violet skin.

Palpatine's eyes snapped open as he looked upon the undone clasp. The young soon-to-be Sith took a deep breath before lifting the lid of the box.

Lo and behold it was…a lightsaber? Palpatine stared at it with puzzlement. The hilt was a golden color, sheen and sleek. Palpatine thought it was elegant, just his style. However, it was not the dark mysterious artifact he expected.

Palpatine took it in his hand and thumbed the switch. Brilliant crimson light bathed his face in its glow. He smiled as he twirled it in his hand. Its hum was music to his ears.

However, he was untrained in dealing with a laser sword and a slab nearby was cut cleanly off by his lightsaber.

A flash of great darkness…great evil split through the air. He pivoted on his heel angling the lightsaber to where he had sensed the sudden burst of powerful dark energy.

A golden cloaked figure in the corner watched him. Palpatine edged closer pointing the crimson lightsaber shakily at the intruder. The intruder didn't flinch as the lightsaber was pointed directly at its chest. "What do you want?" Palpatine hissed.

"A'kate iv t'uve Sith'onus." Its dead blue lips curled, and it's outstretched its spindly fingers.

On instinct Palpatine slashed the figure to bits, with erratic motions but no less deadly. He acted on the one feeling he most despised: fear.

He faltered when he looked upon the destruction around him. The moth-eaten cloak was seared beyond repair. The cloak had not been a person. It was simply a broken off pillar the cloak had been draped over. The rubble sizzled with his fear.

Perhaps the cloaked creature was a trick or perhaps fear was the one thing had…saved him.

Whether it was a trick or real Palpatine had more pressing things to attend to. The object was secured, now the one thing left was to flee before the Jedi captured him. He could sense their loathsome brightness rolling across the great hall in tsunamic waves.

Four Jedi against him…the odds weren't in his favor but if he played his cards right, he might win.

"SIFO! AIM FOR ITS CORNEA! NOT THE TENTACLES!" Palpatine heard a voice cry out. It was closer than he'd like.

The Jedi seem to be running into trouble. I supposed that's my cue to escape…

Palpatine thumbed the off switch, slightly struggling with attaching the lightsaber to his belt. When he did so successfully, he made sure his cloak covered the very suspicious weapon.

Palpatine closed the box hoping the theft would go unnoticed by the Jedi. It was very unlikely that they would discover it soon given the immense amount of unopened Sith artifacts scattered about the expansive Sith Shrine.

He shoved the lightsaber box into his knapsack. Palpatine patted the smoke device in a deep pocket of his cloak and withdrew a vibro blade from his hand.

"Lightsaber. Smoke device. Virbo blade. Master escape plan. All set and ready to go." He reminded himself. He slung the knapsack over his back and took one last glance at the Sith excavated ruin.

There was one thing missing.

It was too quiet.

There was no hissing, no clicking of pincers, no unnecessary grumbling, or insults. "That droid." He swiveled around looking for that loathsome creature. "Buddy?" he hissed at it.

It's nothing but trouble, I swear. I must find it! I can't leave without it! I mustn't fail Plagueis.

Palpatine tapped on his HoloComm to track the dreadful cyborg's location. It was only fifty meters away. Palpatine's face dropped. Fifty meters away was where the Jedi were. From what he could hear they appeared to be engaged in a battle.

Perhaps that slimy creature from earlier became voracious after all. But why is Buddy there?

Then he realized. Buddy was entranced by blood and was always ravenous for it. If Buddy was lingering that implied at least one of the Jedi was injured. It better not kill another Jedi! Palpatine sighed deeply and started towards the battle.

He had to retrieve Buddy. Despite his resentful thoughts, Palpatine forged ahead towards the battle.

More shrieks were heard from the Jedi.

Palpatine withdrew his vibro blade and snuck up to the scene, hiding behind a few crates. In the faint crimson light, he spotted two familiar looking Jedi.

One was Dooku who was ensnared in one of the slimy beast's tentacles. The other was Sifo-Dyas who was dodging the beast's attacks and attempting to find an opening.

Sifo-Dyas yelled into his Comm. "SINCER! QUI-GON! YODA! ANY ABLE JEDI! I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE BACKUP IN THE SITH SHRINE!"

Sifo-Dyas leapt over another tentacle slashing at the beast's skull. It screeched in pain then let out a fiercer cry as it swiveled its slimy body towards Sifo-Dyas.

Palpatine couldn't make out the beast's entire stature in the dim light, but he could tell it was much more powerful than he had first realized. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a spidery figure in the darkness slurping a dark liquid. Palpatine strongly suspected it was flecks of Dooku's blood.

"Buddy!" Palpatine's whispered in a sharp tone. The spider cyborg tilted its hideous head towards Palpatine's voice. It ignored him and returned to its meal. "Droid, come here."

Buddy did the very opposite, it drew closer to the beast. Buddy's eight irises glistened with insatiable hunger. Don't do it, you ignorant droid. Buddy's fangs were bared.

Buddy sunk its fangs into the beast's skin. The slimy creature shrieked and swiveled towards Buddy. However, the beast's motions became sluggish, its limbs drooping and its grip on Dooku lessened. Dooku was to free one arm, to ignite his lightsaber and he slashed the deadly laser, cutting through the beast's skin.

The beast slumped forward with a great thump. It came to rest on the never-ceasing tilting floor of the Sith Shrine. It lay there paralyzed as Buddy started slurping blood from the slimy creature's veins.

When the veins ran dry Buddy scuttled towards Palpatine in a happy daze. Apparently, the creature's blood must have been satisfactory because Buddy, for the first time, didn't complain.

Sifo-Dyas was helping Master Dooku who had lost a substantial amount of blood. Master Sincer and Qui-Gon were running towards the scene with concern on their faces. In the distance Palpatine spotted dreadful yellow lightsabers, Jedi Guards.

Palpatine scooped up Buddy and swept away into the darkness. He congratulated himself on a job well done. Palpatine would soon find his self-congratulation was premature.