Part 18 (2/2)
”Not true,” Yoda snapped. ”For the Republic, and none other.”
Appeased, Palpatine said: ”Then perhaps the clones can be trained to respond to others, as well as they respond to the Jedi.”
Yoda made a glum face.
”Trained the troopers can be. But wrong this strategy remains.”
”May I ask that you think back to Geonosis? Do you not agree that we erred then by not pursuing the Separatists?”
”Unprepared, we were. New, the army was.”
”Granted. But we are prepared now. We have the Confederacy on the run from the inner systems, and I will not allow us to repeat the mistake we made at Geonosis.”
”No, a different mistake we make now.”
Palpatine interlocked his fingers.
”This is the wisdom of the Council?”
”It is.”
”Then you will challenge the Senate's decision?”
Yoda shook his head.
”Sworn by oath to uphold you, we are.”
Palpatine spread his hands.
”That does not instill confidence, Master Yoda. If it's nothing more than an oath, then you are duty-bound to reconsider.”
”Reconsidered we have, Supreme Chancellor.”
”You imply no threat, I trust.”
”No threat.”
Palpatine forced a fatigued exhale.
”As I've told you on many occasions, I do not have the luxury of seeing this world through the Force. I see only the real world.”
”No problem there would be, if thereal world,' all there was.”
”Unfortunately, we who are not attuned to the Force have that on Jedi authority only.”
Yoda wagged his forefinger at Palpatine.
”To end this war, more we will have to do than defeat Grievous and his army of war machines. More we will have to do than seize remote worlds.”
”These Sith to whom you keep referring.” Palpatine fell silent in thought, then said: ”When you were believed killed at Ithor, Master Windu said as much to me.”
”More attentive to his concerns, were you?”
Palpatine regarded him.
”A skilled duelist you are.”
”When need be, Supreme Chancellor.”
”You never fully described what went on between you and Count Dooku on Vjun. Was he at all inclined to return to the Order - - to the side of the Republic?”
Yoda allowed his sadness to show.
”From the dark path, no returning there is. Forever, the direction of your life it dominates.”
”That may make Dooku difficult to rehabilitate.”
Yoda raised his gaze.
”Captured, he will never be. Die fighting, he will.”
”This Darth Sidious, as well - - should Dooku be found and killed?”
Yoda's eyes fidgeted.
”Difficult to say. Deprived of an apprentice, Sidious may withdraw - - to preserve the Sith.”
”One person is all that's required to preserve the Sith traditions?”
”Traditions they are not. The dark side, it is.”
”Then what if you should find Sidious first, and kill him? Would Dooku's power increase?”
”Only Dooku's determination. Different it will be, because a Sith late he has become.” Yoda shook his head. ”Hard to know if Dooku a true Sith is, or simply with the power of the dark side infatuated.”
”And General Grievous?”
Yoda made a gesture of dismissal.
”More machine than alive, Grievous is - - though more dangerous for it.
But without Dooku's or Sidious's leaders.h.i.+p, collapse the Separatists will. Bound together by the Sith they are. Mortared by the dark side of the Force.”
Palpatine leaned forward with interest.
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