It appeared that whatever force was at work coordinating the narrative against independent powers of the Outer Rim, was just starting to spin into action against Mandalore.
The thought gave her pause.
...
Without even really having to convince herself, Tan'ya already knew that there was an invisible hand guiding the actions of the Republic's news outlets, the Trade Federation and even the disparate feuding Hutt Cartels.
"Being X." She growled his name like a curse.
It was only a matter of time until he united the Galaxy in a spiteful crusade against her, she knew. That was what he had done to Germania, just because he couldn't take even a hint of criticism. He promised she wouldn't be reincarnated again, and now he had proven himself a liar.
With her brows furrowed in concentration, she opened up a new document on her compad and started documenting the connections she found.
Behind her, the holoprojector showed the lights shutting down on Theed Palace as the Trade Federation cut the power to the upper levels. Absent-mindedly, she turned down the volume on the Siege of Theed, focussing on the task at hand.
...
Even in the height of Serenno's hot and soggy summer season, Dooku could almost feel the exhaustion beginning to melt away as he stepped off his light cruiser. With the sounds of chirping insects filling the air and bird song whistling through the garden, the sight of his wife coming to greet him brought a smile to his lips. She wasn't alone, either. Accompanying her, just old enough to begin crawling by himself, was Dooku's youngest child, Ideon.
As Dooku came closer, Ideon held his arms out to his father, demanding attention, and was rewarded by being taken out of his mother's arms. Dooku leaned forward to give his wife a soft kiss, before holding his son up in the air as the boy wriggled in delight, smiling with just a few bottom teeth.
"He seems to be in a good mood."
"Right now he is." Athemeene replied, and wagged her finger at the boy with exaggeration. "You should have seen the tantrum he threw at dinner though. He still doesn't like anything but milk, yet."
Dinner? Dooku glanced behind himself to see the sun only just starting to touch the distant horizon of treetops, and realized just how late it was. Ventress stepped out of the ship behind him, her travel bag slung over one shoulder. She seemed happy to be back as well.
"Good afternoon, My Lady." She greeted Athemeene with a friendly, informal bow that was barely a tilt of the head.
"Did you enjoy your trip?" Athemeene asked her.
"It was interesting, though we weren't there for fun." Asajj replied, hesitating slightly before asking her Master, "Is it alright if I just head straight to bed? Anything you want me to handle first?"
Dooku considered for a moment, before shaking his head. "Go."
Asajj smiled, before turning away and heading for her room inside.
Athemeene watched her walk away, before turning to her husband again. "How about you? Enjoyed your trip?"
"Nothing but work." Dooku answered her, pulling his son a little closer so that he could rest Ideon on his hip. "But potentially productive."
Dooku had traveled to Mon Calamari to follow up on some of the fallout from Sifo's unexpected death. He hadn't wanted to go in person, but constant connection issues with holocalls and inability to really get anything done without actually being there had forced his hand. In the end, he wasn't sure if he was any closer to convincing Councilor Ackbar to sign on with the New Temple, but just the fact they were willing to take an unscheduled meeting was a good sign by itself. Dooku had at least persuaded the Calamari to send a representative to inspect the New Temple for themselves.
Often diplomacy was about putting out feelers, rather than direct persuasion. Giving people a chance to sound a situation out for themselves could be more productive, when too much nagging came across as desperate. The last thing Dooku would want to do was make the Mon Calamari believe he needed them to join, because then they might start demanding special privileges, like knights that he couldn't spare for a world that wasn't even a member.
Everyone wanted Jedi Knights, and he just didn't have the numbers. Dooku needed more knights, and padawans, but especially he needed masters. The first class of younglings were still five years from becoming padawans, and the New Temple's only senior padawan was Ventress, who Dooku wasn't willing to promote just yet. The girl was talented and dedicated, she was getting closer to her Knighthood, but Dooku was still reluctant to graduate her.
Ventress would be his fourth Padawan, and Dooku would not cast her into the Galaxy when he thought her ill prepared. What happened to Komari had been… unfortunate. Dooku did not wish that for Asajj.
The two of them walked inside together, Dooku relaxing until he noticed the look his wife was giving him. She had something to say, so he turned to face her fully, still holding Ideon.
"When is Tan'ya going to resume her lessons?"
Dooku paused at that. "As soon as I can find her a Master I trust."
The look on Athemeene's face made it clear she didn't accept that answer. "It's already been a month since Sifo's funeral. If the New Temple doesn't have enough Masters as it is, where are you going to find one that you specifically trust with Tan'ya?"
Dooku fought back a grimace at that. It wasn't that he thought that Masters from the Grand Temple wouldn't be unwilling or unable to teach Tan'ya, just that he didn't trust any of them not to influence her poorly. Of his two surviving former Padawans, Qui-Gon was already training young Kenobi, and Rael Averross was not really on speaking terms with Dooku.
"I was speaking to Ky," Athemeene said, and Dooku just knew she'd been preparing for this moment. "He says that the Younglings in the class at the New Temple are doing really well."
Put her in with the other students? Dooku instinctively disliked the idea. Tan'ya was special, and far too advanced in her learning to fit in. Putting her in with them would make Tan'ya the target of resentment, and slow her growth. He would know. As a youngling, Dooku went through the exact same thing.
Seeing the look on his face, Athemeene held up a hand to forestall his objections. "At the New Temple, there's a Green Jedi, from Corellia, I think? Apparently he was willing to put together an advanced course for another Youngling? Ky told me he already had one student who was advancing too fast for the rest of the class, so it might be good for Tan'ya to be placed with someone who's more of a peer?"
A Green Jedi? Dooku hadn't had too many dealings with them, but they weren't on good terms with the Grand Temple, not that it really mattered to him what those fools thought.
"I will… interview this Green Jedi. And I'll try to talk to Rael. If Rael isn't willing, and if the Corellian is up to the task, then that may be what we have to do."
Even if he didn't like the Green Jedi, Dooku might not have much of a choice.
The New Temple needed more Masters very badly, it was a wonder that Narec was able to sleep at all. Thinking about the man made Dooku feel slightly guilty, because he still hadn't had the chance to help him tutor his lightsaber skills to the level of a Master.
"I think you should talk to Tan'ya?" Athemeene pressed further. "She doesn't listen to me the way she listens to you, and she's been spending all her time alone in her room since the funeral."
If she liked to spend her time alone, why was that a problem? Dooku had been similar at her age. Well, he supposed he was always good friends with Sifo.
Thinking about that made him grimace. "I'll speak with her." He murmured.
Tan'ya had been close with Sifo as well, but now he was gone, thanks to Sidious.
Dooku frowned, and briefly touched the Dark Side of the force. The call was gone, the Whisper drawing him to Coruscant. Either Sidious had moved on to other things, or he would find another way to contact Dooku. Thinking about it made him… if not worried then maybe concerned.
Dooku doubted a Sith would take to being ignored very well.
There had been a small thought that was bothering Dooku for a while now, one that wouldn't quite go away. Sidious had felt that Sifo threatened his plans, and removed him. When Sidious discovered the prophecy about Tan'ya, wouldn't he eliminate her as well? The prophecy didn't specify Tan'ya, any of Dooku's children could be the one mentioned. A Sith wouldn't hesitate to remove any threat, or even a source of potential threats.
In his mind, Dooku pictured Senator Palpatine visiting Serenno Palace, and his stomach turned. Just the idea of Athemeene, or any of his children being in the same room as him made him feel… furious.
Did Dooku really need Palpatine? It was a dangerous thought, but one worth exploration. The Clone Army was already in production, and with Sifo gone the only contact the Kaminoans had with the Jedi was through him. It would be very easy for Dooku to simply inform them that the Clones were for the New Temple, not for Coruscant Jedi. In the end, they were running a business, and they would serve whoever paid them. Right now that was Dooku, even if he was getting the funds from somewhere else.
Realistically, Dooku's plans were going well without much need of or help from Sidious anyway. Why go through all the trouble of creating an illegal clone army to pacify the Outer Rim, when Dooku was managing it fine without their help?
He glanced down at his baby, Ideon, who smiled up at his father and reached up to grip the bottom of Dooku's beard with a happy gurgle.
Why work with the Sith at all, especially when the risks were so high?
...
Don't forget to throw some power stones ;)
...
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