22 Hat Trick 3 (1/2)
LAAT en route to the Senate Building
Coruscant
I was strapped into a seat at the troop compartment of the gunship with Shaak Ti sitting next to me. We had barely exchanged couple of words after my induction in the Republic army. I wondered if a chat between her and the council was the reason for the meeting we were about to attend. My attempt to gather information from the Jedi Master were faced with stoic silence. It was not ominous. Not at all…
When I felt the transport enter the upper layers of the atmosphere I opened the side door and took in the sights as we descended towards the Senate building. It is early in the evening so the local sun was visible from this height. I could clearly see skyscrapers which were dozens and few even hundred kilometers high. Below us the planet sized city was blazing with countless lights reminding me of a star covered sky. The gleaming towers of Coruscant were breathtaking feats of engineering.
As we got lower and lower I could make out thousands vehicles which were flying in what resembled multi-colored rivers suspended in mid-air. Even now, when the memories of Darth Vael were more or less mine, the sight of the capital world of the Republic was amazing.
The gunship flew into a travel lane restricted for military traffic and the only vehicles which came near were other LAATs or various GAR transports. All too soon the mushroom shaped Senate building came into view and our ride headed to a brightly lit platform near which waited a pair of senate commandos wearing their distinctive blue armors.
When the LAAT landed they rushed to our side and saluted.
”Sir, I am Major Garm Falks. I have a temporally ID card for you, General. However you should go to GAR headquarters ASAP to get yourself permanent ID and log it into the net, sir!”
”Thank you Major Falks. I'll do it at the first opportunity I get. ”I returned his salute.
=RK=
Senate Building
Coruscant
Ten minutes later we were in front of the Chancellor offices where we met with Masters Yoda and Windu. The Vaapad master glared at me. It's a good thing that his look was not able to kill or I would be a stain on the floor by now.
I greeted them amicably. This was not the place to make a scene.
”Masters, do you know why we are here?” Shaak Ti.
”Chancellor Palpatine summoned us here. He said it was vital to meet him as soon as possible.” grunted Windu.
It was clear that he was not impressed by Palpy. Only if he knew…
”General, Masters, please follow me. The Chancellor will see you now.” A middle aged human aide opened the door leading to the Republic's leader office and waved us inside.
Wow. Palpatine really looked just like in the movies and he did have that kindly old man's look perfected. If I did not know better I would have believed his every word. He had an aura around him that whispered to you that he was your friend and you should listen carefully to his words.
It was nothing I had not seen before. Standard Sith Lord trick. With my mental shields heavily reinforced it was easily to disregard.
To my surprise, Padme was in the Chancellor's office. She was wearing a blue and purple dress which probably was the high of fashion in the Core words but looked strange to my eyes. After exchanging the expected pleasantries, our host waved us to sit before getting down to business. When Palpatine told us why we were there I had to valiantly fight not to explode into a fit of giggling like a young schoolgirl.
This had had to be the Dark Side's idea of trolling. There was no other way to explain it. The Force itself wanted to mess up with our resident Sith Lord. Dooku got caught by pirates. At least that a self-styled Pirate Leader had said when he had somehow contacted the Chancellor's office. In few minute the cutthroat would call again and that's why we were here... It was bloody hilarious!
The Jedi were surprised by that development too. They as well as Palpatine did not believe that it was a credible information but it was not something they could ignore. I was torn. On one hand, by being a Force user I was aware of the capabilities that Dooku should have. Getting captured by pirates was highly unlikely, embarrassing too. If true. There was a more reasonable explanation – we were dealing with a very bold and resourceful outlaw trying to pull off a fast one. I kept silent and waited to see how the events were about to unfold. At least with three Jedi Masters in the room, Sidious had his own Mask firmly in place and was not about to do any Dark Side tricks.
=RK=
”If you want the Sith it will cost you a million credits in spice. I want it delivered on a diplomatic transport.” declared the Pirate TM we had to deal with.
Palpatine's face was an unreadable mask. The Chancellor was obviously not amused. All of us could feel his irritation.
”We want proof that you have him and that he is still alive before agreeing on anything.” Palpatine glared at the pirate.
I gleefully watched what happened next and was forever thankful that my helmet had a built in camera. The expression on Dooku's face when he was matched in front of the holocomm was hilarious.
”And now I present you the fearless Sith Lord Count Dooku!” declared the pirate.
The bastard obviously enjoyed the show. I can't blame him. It was priceless.
”The hologram is fixed.” said Palpatine.
He was smiling thinly at the pirate.
”If you don't believe me.” The cutthroat took out a curved lightsaber from under his jacket and activated it. ”This is his lightsaber.”
”Yes. Dooku's this lightsaber is.” Yoda added his two cents.
”It still proves nothing.” I interjected. ”It's no big secret how his lightsaber looks like. For all we know it is just a clever toy you cooked up in your spare time, pirate.”
While the Jedi gave me looks which were shouting 'Shut up!', the Chancellor gave me a grave nod.
”General Veil is correct. You have not shown us anything that cannot be easily faked.”
”Is that so?” growled the Pirate Leader. ”Perhaps the CIS Council would be more receptive to my offer. But I can give you further proof. Bring him here!” he shouted an order and then nodded to someone off screen.
We could hear few blaster shots and soon after Dooku's body was dragged so we could see him.
”Stretch his left hand!” ordered the pirate.