Count Dooku wasn't entirely surprised when a Geonosian told him they had captured a Jedi, but it was a bit of a surprise to hear the name Obi-Wan Kenobi. So, my old Padawan's apprentice as more of Qui-Gon in him than I could have guessed. I suppose that makes sense, since it was obvious as time passed that Qui-Gon also got some of his traits from me. He took his time walking down the honeycombed corridors of red stone to the holding cell, adjusting his elaborate cloak before entering so the hilt of his lightsaber was in plain sight. He always made it perfectly clear to everyone he had not given up wielding one even after he'd openly left the Jedi Order. He had thought about leaving for years before to be honest, but it was Qui-Gon's death because the Council had refused to take his claims of the attack on Tatooine being a Sith Lord seriously till it was too late that had finally driven Dooku into leaving.

I believed him, why couldn't they? Qui-Gon was not one to ever exaggerate or tell tall tales. Not that I can talk, I eventually joined the very group that killed him. At first it was not intentional and I did not plan to stay, merely wanting to learn enough to get revenge. I should have known that would have never been enough. I learned to be aware of the seductiveness of the dark side even as a Youngling, yet like a fool I walked right into the trap. He pushed those thoughts away into the Force, returning to the matter at hand.

"You traitor." Obi-Wan said in the closest thing to a judgmental tone a Jedi could muster.

"Jumping to conclusions so soon? I thought you had the reputation of being a neutral diplomat, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan's cerulean eyes studied him for a long while. "Being held in an energy field prison isn't exactly my idea of actual negotiations, Count Dooku."

"While I am sorry about your current situation Master Kenobi, I must remind you that you were sneaking around our base uninvited. The Geonosians are a very paranoid race when it comes to officials from the Republic showing up on their planet." Dooku replied, feeling a sense of pride at Obi-Wan's obvious strength of will. Qui-Gon had taught him well. "Especially since their world is in the Outer Rim, which is far outside the Republic's control."

"They do not seem to mind you or the Viceroy."

Dooku felt his lips twitch under his white beard into an almost-smile. Obi-Wan might have been young, but he certainly was not foolish and did not miss much. "Ah, yes. Well that is because both the Viceroy and myself have issues with the Republic and have backed certain Geonosian investments to cement our relationship."

Obi-Wan chose to say nothing, lest he reveal just how much he'd overheard before being captured. He knew from past experience as an interrogator that Dooku was fishing for such information.

"Be that as it may," Dooku continued, "this Separatist Movement could still use influential people. I wish Qui-Gon were still alive, he would be a great help to our cause."

"My old master would never join you." Obi-Wan said defensively, though he doubted his words as soon as he said them. Qui-Gon had been a maverick, defying the Council on multiple occasions and getting close to being kicked out of the Jedi Order on several of them.

"You don't sound too sure of yourself, Master Kenobi. You knew Qui-Gon almost as well as I did, being trained by him in the ways of the Jedi, as he was trained by me. He was like the son I never had."

Obi-Wan raised an eye brow. "You sure have a strange way of showing you feel that way about him."

"I suppose all youngsters think such things of their elders at some point." Dooku conceited, hands clasping behind his back. "But I assure you, I have very good reasons for what I am doing. You see, I left the Order after Qui-Gon's death at the hands of a Sith and did some investigating of my own. I used a substantial amount of my family's fortune as bribes in places no Jedi would have ever admitted going to outside of official business. The further I dug, the more disturbed I became. Eventually I had to see if what I was learning was true, which brought me to where I am now."

"And what was it you learned?" Obi-Wan asked skeptically.

Dooku held his gaze. "A Sith Lord is in control of the Senate without anyone in the Order being aware of them."

"I find that hard to believe coming from you."

Dooku shrugged. "Whether you believe it or not does not change the reality."

Obi-Wan had to admit the Count's claims had thrown him off guard, even if he found the very idea inconceivable. Then again, with all the strange things that had been happening lately, maybe it wasn't such an unattainable possibility. He had been warning Anakin for a few years now about how the majority of politicians were corrupt. This malfeasance had been going on even when Obi-Wan had been a Padawan, but not nearly as much or as noticeably as the past decade. And a Sith would have far more to gain by encouraging nepotism than anyone else, since it would help them gain more power and get them closer to controlling the entire galaxy. The Council dismissed Qui-Gon's statement concerning the attack on Tatooine, perhaps I should at least hear Dooku out. Anything less makes me as blind as they were to what I thought was obviously true. "So where is your proof?"

"Let's just say this Sith Lord would have never gotten his position if it weren't for certain sympathies which were brought on by some influential friends who never answered for their actions a decade ago."

"I will admit the Nemoidians getting out of answering for their blockade on Naboo required a powerful and influential friend, but whoever it was never revealed themselves."

"Indeed. The Sith Lord is very careful not to make public appearances. He keeps to the shadows and lets everyone else do all the work from what I have learned."

So that means the Sith who killed Qui-Gon was probably an apprentice. The Çouncil never could find out which it was. But that's giving Dooku too much credit, he could be trying to see if I'll believe his claims. "Seems rather convenient for him to be always in the background where no one will notice him."

"Indeed. Makes my statement sound disparaging, doesn't it?"

"I see you're still as blunt as when I was a Padawan."

A ghost of a smile crossed Dooku's lips. "Some things never change, at least not in the traditional sense." He paused for a moment. "You know, I was surprised to hear your name when told a trespasser had been caught. I had anticipated it would be your rash Padawan, who hasn't shown up yet."

"Anakin is currently indisposed for sneaking around, I'm afraid." Obi-Wan replied dryly, still feeling frustrated that Anakin had disobeyed a direct order to stay on Naboo with Senator Padmé Amidala. His Padawan hardly ever did as he was told anyway, but his feelings for Padmé should have made him less impulsive.

"Really? Then you will be very interested to know a Nubian J-type diplomatic barge belonging to one Senator Padmé Amidala just landed within walking distance of the entrance to the factory of this place."

Obi-Wan withheld a sigh, not surprised by the news. "He's here to rescue me, no doubt."

Dooku nodded. "I'll arrange for them to join us."

"I thought I was under arrest?"

"We'll call a truce for now. The last thing I want is a ruined factory, which your Padawan would certainly cause trying to find you." He walked over to the control panel and punched in a code. "Besides, I need your diplomatic representation and level head."

Obi-Wan blinked as the forcefield around him disappeared. "And here I thought you didn't trust me."

"I would prefer you over any other Jedi, Master Kenobi."

"Thank you." He managed in surprise, following Dooku out and wondering if he was making the right decision even though there was little to do with choice in the matter.