AN: It is I, Light. Rejoice, for I have not forsaken you. I have merely been occupied with other fics and life keeping me too busy. Enjoy the chapter, and check out my other fic, Conduit Of The Force, if you're interested in a DC fic with an Anakin Self-Insert.
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Hidden Sith Sanctum - Coruscant
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The shadows of the private chamber pulsed with low, red light. The air was thick with the power of the dark side, contained only in the room due to Sith magic. In the heart of the Sith Lord's sanctum, Darth Sidious, shrouded in his dark robes and cowl, extended a hand over a holo-projector embedded in an obsidian pedestal.
The air shimmered before revealing the holographic image of an expressionless Count Dooku, hands folded behind his back. "Master," he greeted, bowing slightly in respect.
"He is here. I felt it. The new… leader of Hutt Space," Sidious informed with a sneer, refusing to call any besides himself emperor. "He walks the halls of the Jedi Temple."
Dooku raised a brow, intrigued. "An attempt to gain an ally in the Jedi before approaching the Senate, perhaps. You wish me to approach him?"
"Indeed," Sidious nodded slowly, disgusted by the idea of a magick user, like he assumed Grey to be, entertaining the idea of consorting with Jedi. He wished the man would be more forthcoming with his abilities and techniques, like those of the Night Sisters, but only time would tell. "You are still on Coruscant. Make your way to the Temple. Gauge his intent. See if he is... persuadable. This one is dangerous, too capable, too clever to leave unaffiliated like the Force users on Dathomir. If he resists... other plans will be made."
"Of course, my master. I shall depart at once," Dooku replied with a respectful bow before his transmission ended.
With a flick of a gnarled hand, Sidious changed the device to connect another call, showing a red and black tattooed Zabrak in robes.
"Maul," Sidious hissed, not even bothering with his well-trained dog's title.
"Master," Maul spoke in a sophisticated cadence despite his role as his Lord's mutt, even adding a respectful incline of his horned head.
"A new variable has emerged," Sidious said, stepping closer. "Should Count Dooku fail to sway the leader of Grey Space, I want you to tail him if possible. Study him. Reach out and offer him a meeting that could lead to an alliance with more… esoteric users of the Force. If he refuses you…" Sidious leaned in, yellow eyes blazing beneath his hood. "…then you kill him. Quietly. Where the Jedi will not see your blade. In the end, he is just a man without droids to aid him."
In reality, it was a test and a possible alliance rolled into one. If Grey survived, then it just meant his use of the Force was as good as it showed a few moments ago, if he agreed, then it was one more ally to aid with the Sith grand plan. But if he died, and Sidious hoped for that outcome, then it was less variable to think about. Maul's survival was no consequence now that he had a better apprentice.
A dangerous grin curled Maul's lips as he bowed deeply. "As you command, my Master. He will either join us or fall."
With that, the transmission cut out.
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Jedi Temple
Johnathan Grey
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The Jedi were not happy. I basically told them they were unable to take children from my kingdom without their parents' and my people's permission, not even if the child wants to go. They tried to counter, telling me if the child accepts but can't go because my people prevent their departure, it would be too late when they can legally take the offer as an adult. But I simply shrugged, telling them that it was a sign they should just increase their age requirements, which they easily declined.
Their unhappiness grew when I mentioned I would be going after the Zygerrian's slave trade now that the Hutt's empire has been dealt with. They tried arguing that they were part of the Galactic Republic and that we had no proof of such action, to which Nicolas brought up the evidence given to them and the Senate to have them do something about it, only for it to be dismissed or slapped with a ridiculous amount of red tape to have any action accepted.
They shut their mouths after that, telling me they would be moving against the secret slave empire as soon as possible, so my interference wouldn't be necessary. I gave them one month to act, otherwise I would have to do it for them. All arguments on how that wasn't enough time were shut down by a tap of Yoda's cane and acceptance from the Grandmaster himself.
Then there was the school on the Force I would be opening. They seemed to hate the idea of that one the most, but seeing as there was nothing they could do about it, they at least wanted some of their Jedi there to make sure the education was 'up to standard'. Naturally, I declined, much to their repressed frustrations, as I told them that none of my people were in the Jedi Temple messing with their education, so there is no reason they should do the same with his.
Not wanting to destroy any goodwill they already had with my kingdom, they reluctantly accepted the terms in return for at least being able to enter Grey Space to recruit and conduct business. Qui-Gon, feeling bolder than the rest, outright just asked if he could have a look at their curriculum when he takes Anakin to visit his mother in a few weeks. Something the rest of the order was against, but accepted as a good enough tactic to get information on what I was teaching people.
Seeing no drawbacks to what we discussed, I ended the talks there for now. We were on our way back to the hangar bay, with Jedi Masters flanking both sides of myself and the Flamels. Qui-Gon and Windu were to the side, and Yoda walked beside Nicolas, taking Windu's place in answering questions on different aspects of Jedi tradition. The small green goblin actually looked pleased to answer them too, almost like he was teaching one of his more curious students again.
We turned a corner and came to a halt when a tall figure stepped from the far corridor. Clad in a regal cloak, his face was stern and angular, with high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and a meticulously groomed beard. Count Dooku walked toward us as aristocratically as one would expect from the ex-Jedi.
"Master Yoda," he greeted with a bow of genuine respect, voice smooth and deep like I remembered. "Masters of the Council." his eyes drifted to the other Jedi as he uncoiled his waist before turning to Qui-Gon and awarding him a respectful nod. "Apprentice." His eyes drifted with intent to my armoured form standing at the centre of the entourage. "And the illustrious Emperor Grey, I presume. I was hoping I might find an audience with the new sovereign of Grey Space."
Yoda inclined his head. "Well met, it is, Dooku. Healthy, you look, and clear of mind. Host your meeting, we will, if wish it, you do. Quiet chambers we have, as you well know, suited for such talks."
"Master," Qui-Gon bowed just as respectfully as his master did to Yoda in response, as the other Jedi just nodded.
Trying to have the talks where they can hear was smart on the Jedi's part. The room was most likely bugged to high heaven. And even if it wasn't, they would earn some extra goodwill as their temple would be seen as neutral ground where people can go to solve their problems.
"I appreciate the offer," I tilted my head, studying the Count. "But I'm afraid I have a prior engagement. However, my second-in-command, Cortana, is on Tatooine. If you reach out to her, I'm sure she'll set up a meeting in the next few weeks. I've heard of your discontent with the Republic's corruption. I'm more than willing to hear your grievances and the terms of any potential alliance."
A near-invisible smirk curled the corner of Dooku's mouth, barely shifting his finely trimmed beard, as a flash of approval or perhaps amusement crossed his features. "Then I shall do just that. In the meantime, may I accompany you to your ship?"
I gave a nonchalant shrug, ignoring the barely perceptible narrowing of Windu's eyes. "Suit yourself."
As we resumed our walk, Count Dooku matched pace beside me, folding his hands behind his back. "The galaxy is in great flux. It is becoming increasingly difficult for good people to do good things while bound by obsolete systems. I've found... more freedom to help where I can since leaving the Order."
Yoda let out a soft sigh. "The weight of legacy and duty, difficult to balance, it is. Mourned your departure, many of us did. A lot of good, you could do, as part of the Order, hrmm."
Dooku nodded, becoming briefly solemn before declining to verbally reply to his old master and turning to me. "I imagine you, more than most, understand what it means to be in a position of significant political power and still act in service of others. Without politicians hovering overhead, asking for their slice of every noble deed."
Unsurprisingly, none of the Jedi walking with us countered his words, having been bombarded with factual situations in which that had been exactly the case over the past hour or so.
I sent a sideways glance toward the former Jedi. "You're not wrong. The old systems stifle progress when every life saved is weighed against someone else's profit margins." I told the man, but didn't elaborate any further. It didn't seem to bother him though, he just seemed to nod and take words as something to think about.
[Observe] told me he had already become an apprentice of Sidious, but I couldn't sense anything from him to indicate he was using the Dark Side, which explained why he was so comfortable walking into the home of the Jedi.
As the hangar bay came into view, Windu subtly positioned himself between the rest of the Council and the Flamels, speaking lowly to Nicolas, who was still clutching his data-slate with enthusiasm, while Yoda conversed with Dooku.
I slowed my pace to a stop, causing Dooku to turn to me one last time as we reached the spot I would be summoning the [Gauntlet]. "I look forward to our proper meeting, Emperor. Perhaps the future of the galaxy lies in the hands of those unafraid to reshape it." He looked around, not even noticing the looks he got from his former colleagues. "...I don't seem to see a ship prepared for you."
I used that moment to summon the [Gauntlet] from the [Hoard], only causing the Count's eyebrow to rise in surprise. "Likewise," I said with a nod before tuning to the Jedi. "Well, Jedi, I suppose I will see you around. And good luck with the Zygerrians."
With that, the Flamels and I were stepping up the ramp and heading to the cockpit, setting off moments later and leaving the dimension entirely once we were in space.
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Count Dooku
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As the ship bearing Emperor Grey and his attendees rose into the air and vanished into the Coruscant skyline, a long silence settled between the remaining Jedi and Count Dooku. The former Jedi Master turned slowly toward Master Windu and Grandmaster Yoda, arching one brow expectantly – daring them, almost mockingly, to voice whatever thoughts clearly danced behind their reserved gazes.
Yoda was the first to speak. "Much change, the galaxy sees. Already begun, Emperor Grey has, a school for training those strong in the Force. Hope, we do, that should an alliance form, guide them, you will. Ensure they walk not, the path of the dark side."
Dooku tilted his head slightly, holding back his amusement at being asked to prevent others from delving into the dark side, when he himself has become a recent practitioner. "A school, you say?"
Mace Windu gestured subtly toward his former apprentice, who stood just to the side. "They plan to recruit regardless of age. Qui-Gon will be sent in a few weeks' time to inspect the school's development. The Emperor has been… cordial, but cautious. Since Qui-Gon remains part of the Order, full access will most likely not be guaranteed."
Hearing this, both of Dooku's brows rose in genuine surprise. A group teaching force users outside of the Jedi was a rarity. He was aware of the Force users on Dathomir, among other smaller sects. But with the power he felt rolling off the new Emperor, he had little doubt the new school would come to rival the Jedi Order soon, especially now that they had an entire region of space to recruit from and no age restriction to worry about.
Dooku muttered thoughtfully, "I see…" He looked back up, offering the tight, well-practised smile he found himself using when speaking to politicians. "I'll do what I can. If Emperor Grey does agree to an alliance, I will personally advise him on how to keep his school from drifting into dangerous philosophies."
His old, diminutive Master narrowed his eyes slightly, catching something in his words, but said nothing.
Dooku gave a final, courteous nod to the Council and to his former Padawan, who bowed in return. "May the Force be with you," Dooku offered.
"And with you, Master," Qui-Gon replied softly.
Without another word, Dooku turned, heading to his own ship to take off. Once within the privacy of his cockpit and far enough away from the temple that he would not need to mask his connection to the Force, he activated the encrypted holo-transmitter embedded in the armrest of his command chair. A moment later, the hooded visage of his new Master appeared.
"What do you have to report, Lord Tyranus?" Darth Sidious's voice rasped. And while he may look unbothered, Dooku knew the fact that he answered so quickly was because his master wanted to gain the alliance just as much as he did.
Wanting to keep his list of enemies as small as possible, Dooku made the wise choice to keep that to himself and lowered his head slightly in deference before replying. "Emperor Grey has begun the foundation of a Force academy for his citizens. I believe it will exist outside Jedi jurisdiction. He seems open to alliances. Cautious but not hostile. With the right influence, we may be able to guide or mould what comes of it."
If things went as well as he hoped, then the alliance might even result in the death of Sidious and his vile Zabrack apprentice, but Dooku could only hope.
Sidious narrowed his eyes, fingertips steepled beneath his chin. "A dangerous precedent… or an opportunity. It would be ideal if his school were more open with its knowledge, but we shall see."
Dooku continued, "The Jedi are sending my previous apprentice to inspect the academy. But even the Council fears they will be kept at arm's length. The Emperor values autonomy and clearly distrusts the Republic."
A moment passed as the calculated look in Sidious' eyes amplified, most likely thinking of how he could play the Grey Empire as a third side in the war he was brewing. Then, Sidious smiled, somewhat satisfied with himself. "Good. We wait for your formal meeting. If the Emperor is willing to deal, we may not need subterfuge... yet." He leaned closer, eyes glowing a sickly yellow beneath the hood. "But if he is not... we will need to employ plans to remove him from the board entirely."
"Understood, my Master," Dooku said with a bow. The holo-transmission ended, and Dooku sat back, eyes narrowed in thought as he made his own plans to fully utilise Emperor Grey to eliminate his Master when he no longer had a use for him, before the opposite became true.
"My chains are broken," he muttered, almost longingly for the moment the phrase would be true.
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Reality: Potterverse
Jonathan Grey
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Leaving the Flamels to gush over meeting and conversing with aliens for the first time, having been to space and flown in a spaceship. They rushed off almost as soon as we arrived in Egypt to properly begin studying the different alien biologies and how they can be applied to rituals.
Meanwhile, I went straight to my wand lab, taking out the Elder Wand, Invisibility Cloak and the Resurrection Stone to see what the hype was about. The next thing I knew, I was in a room with an attractive lady sitting in the same chesterfield wingback armchair Voldemort and I sat in when he tried to violate my soul.
Her most defining feature was her flawless, snow-white skin and long flowing, pure white hair, cascading in waves behind her. She seemed tall even while sitting down, dressed in a black, revealing, gothic-style ensemble, adorned with skull motifs and silver accents. Honestly, she reminded me of what Yennefer would look like if she were even hotter, and that was saying something, considering how incredibly hot Yennefer already was.
I didn't need to [Observe] to know who it was, but I used it anyway to see what it would show me.
[Lady Death - Cosmic Entity]
[Description: The personification of Death. Creator of the Deathly Hallows, which were given to the Peverell brothers after they completed a ritual for magical artefacts to defeat Herpo the Foul. What else did you think she would let you see here?]
Figured as much. Even the level of Observe I bought has a ceiling. Regardless, I didn't forget my manners as I walked over to her, brushing my lips against the cool, pale skin of her offered hand. The smirk on the nigh-omnipotent Lady's lips, which she had been maintaining since I got here, widened playfully, almost seductively. Her eyes, deep pools of starlit darkness now that I got a better look, somehow shimmered with curiosity and delight.
"Such manners," she said in a smooth, velvety voice that sent a chill up my spine. It would have been a shiver of fear for a normal human considering the visage of a hooded reaper behind, scythe in hand and all. But for me, it just seemed to arouse my inner dragon. "Rare, even among those who bear my Hallows."
If the look toward the visage of the ethereal dragon behind me was anything to go by, she knew exactly how I felt about being in her presence. And the smile that followed indicated she liked it.
I straightened up and walked over to the free chair to take a seat, maintaining a respectful posture. "I figured a polite greeting was the least I could offer, considering I've apparently become what others may consider 'your master'."
"Oh," Lady Death raised a brow. "And you don't?"
"Nope," I popped the 'p' as I shrugged. "I'm not dumb enough to believe I could be Master of Death. At most, I could be master of my own death, as in when I die, but that's about it." Seeing the smile and gesture to go on, I did so. "Aside from defeating Herpo, at least as one of my many theories goes, the Wand was to give the user the power to change when they die, the Stone to be better informed, and the Cloak to be hard to find in the first place."
Lady Death chuckled, the sound echoed faintly in what I could only call a soul room, having only really been here when souls were involved. "Oh, mydear, that is definitely one way to see it." She shook her head. "No one masters Death… me. Not truly. But you… You are different. You've earned my attention, and perhaps, my favour."
She leaned forward, smiling while narrowing her eyes, not quite dangerously but definitely in a way that implied… intent. "Tell me, how are you enjoying bringing people back to life after I had done the rigorous work of having their souls ferried to the afterlife?"
It was at that moment I realised… I may have fucked up.
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"Twice the pride, double the fall."
- Count Dooku.
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Hello There
We greet Lady Death and rejoice while we are still granted the ability to breathe.
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Until next time, Light's out.