Darth Sidious stood alone in the dim light of his private holochamber, hands folded calmly within the sleeves of his black robes. The air was cool and still. In the center of the chamber, a holoprojector hummed softly before casting up a wavering blue hologram. The towering form of Jabba the Hutt materialized above the projector, his bulbous eyes blinking slowly. Beside the Hutt's image stood a spindly protocol droid. The droid's photoreceptors glowed as it translated the Huttese rumble that followed.
"Mighty Jabba offers his greetings, Lord Sidious," the metallic voice intoned. The translator's Basic was cultured and precise, a stark contrast to Jabba's wet guttural laugh. "He delivers the report you requested."
Sidious inclined his head an inch. A gesture of permission. "Proceed," he said, voice low and even. In the hologram, Jabba's massive tail twitched and the Hutt began to speak, his deep hos and chas echoing through the chamber. The droid quickly overlaid a translation.
"The Count of Serenno arrived in Mos Espa as you suspected," the protocol droid relayed. "He sought out a particular slave woman… by the name of Shmi Skywalker." At that name, Sidious's eyes narrowed. Shmi Skywalker. He kept his face impassive, but behind the placid mask, his mind sharpened. The translator continued in a bland tone, "Count Dooku took the woman from her owner and attempted departure."
Sidious's hooded figure remained still. "Attempted?" he prompted quietly. The single word carried a cold weight. Jabba's thick arms jiggled as he gestured broadly and spoke again. The translator's voice carried a note of irritation on the Hutt's behalf. "Jabba extends his regrets that the Count could not be detained. An effort was made to invite him to the palace for answers." The droid paused, as if choosing polite phrasing. "Unfortunately, the situation… escalated beyond control."
For the first time, Sidious saw a flicker of raw anger cross Jabba's slug-like features. The Hutt barked something curt. His tail slammed against the dais visible in the hologram, knocking aside a silver platter at his side. The translator spoke over the outburst dutifully: "The Count's daughter displayed unexpected… abilities. She is Force-sensitive."
Sidious's lips pressed into a thin line. He had expected some explanation for Dooku's presence on Tatooine, perhaps a political gambit or an altruistic whim, but this was something else entirely. Dooku's daughter. Yes, the girl from Serenno. Lady Liora Serenno, introduced at that ceremony a week ago. He remembered the poised child who met his gaze without fear. At the time, Sidious had sensed a faint ripple in the Force around her, notable but unformed. Now it seemed there was far more to the girl than polite manners.
"What abilities?" Sidious asked, voice smooth but commanding. He wanted specifics.
Jabba grumbled, and the droid obliged. "During their… escape, the girl seemed to take control of the rancor." The translator emphasized the word as if it hardly believed it. "Jabba had intended to discourage their departure by… releasing his pet. But the beast did not obey. It turned on Jabba's own guards. The girl used the Force to control it, made the rancor attack the others, and cleared a path."
Sidious allowed a moment of silence. The holographic image crackled faintly, illuminating the lower half of his face in pale blue. Jabba's wide mouth pulled into an annoyed frown as he awaited the Sith Lord's reaction. Sidious gave almost nothing. Inside, however, calculations were racing. A child, no more than six or seven years old, dominating a rancor through the Force. Such raw strength and assertive will in one so young… It was as impressive as it was troubling.
The droid continued when Sidious offered no immediate reply. "In the chaos, Count Dooku, the girl, and the slave woman fled the throne room. They overpowered several of Jabba's men and escaped the palace." The Hutt interjected with a furious ho of his own. The translator added, "They stole a skiff from the hangar. By the time order was restored, the Count's party had already left the palace grounds. Our spies report their ship departed Tatooine shortly after."
Sidious's jaw tightened a fraction, hidden in the shadow of his cowl. So Dooku had accomplished what he came for: Shmi Skywalker was now with him. And in the process, his daughter had revealed herself as a powerful Force-sensitive. An unpredictable new variable on the board.
The hologram of Jabba loomed, his orange eyes narrowing as he spoke in a tone of self-important indignation. "Mighty Jabba wishes to convey his disappointment that the opportunity to detain the Count was lost," the protocol droid translated. "He assures you that he narrowly survived the rancor's rampage himself." The Hutt gave a low grunt, perhaps in pain or anger. Sidious remained unmoved.
"You have done well enough, Jabba," Sidious said, his voice echoing softly in the chamber. The hooded silhouette gave a shallow nod of acknowledgment. "You uncovered what I needed to know."
Jabba's translator perked up at that, relaying Sidious's Basic into Huttese for the gangster's benefit. The Hutt's demeanor shifted slightly; he straightened, letting out a pleased chortle as if to say Of course.
"As for your… losses," Sidious added coolly, "compensation will be arranged. The terms we agreed upon still stand." This was spoken with finality. He would authorize a suitable payment through the shadow channels, nothing that would be traced back to the Chancellor's office, naturally.
Jabba's mouth spread into a greedy grin, and he let out a satisfied Ho ho ho. "Jabba thanks you, Lord Sidious," the droid translated obsequiously. "He is pleased to have been of service."
Sidious had no patience for further sycophancy. "Our business is concluded," he said, tone brooking no argument. The massive Hutt dipped his chin in a semblance of a bow. The hologram began to flicker as Jabba's image receded. "Of course, my lord," the translator chimed before its signal cut off. With a final crackle, the projector went dark, and the chamber fell silent once more.
For a long moment, Sidious did not move. He stood in the gloom, pale hands still hidden within his voluminous sleeves, contemplating all he had learned. In the quiet, the steady thrum of Coruscant's traffic far outside was just audible through the insulated walls. Sidious's gaze unfocused as he turned inward to his thoughts.
Count Dooku, the esteemed former Jedi Master, one-time political idealist, now independent Count of Serenno, had involved himself in Sidious's grand design, however unknowingly. Dooku had gone to that Outer Rim dustball and plucked Anakin Skywalker's mother out of slavery. That act alone threatened to send ripples through carefully laid plans.
Sidious's eyes hooded in cold reflection. Ever since Qui-Gon Jinn had brought the boy Anakin before the Jedi Council years ago, Sidious had taken a keen interest in the child's future. The boy was strong, perhaps the strongest Force presence Sidious had ever encountered. The Chosen One, the Jedi whispered. A prophesied being meant to bring balance to the Force. Sidious nearly sneered at the thought, a faint curl of his lip that vanished as quickly as it came. Balance was simply a threat to the darkness he had carefully cultivated. It was imperative that Anakin Skywalker be guided down a path of Sidious's choosing, to become a tool, his tool.
For that, Sidious had been patient. He'd subtly befriended the boy. He offered mentorship and encouragement when the Jedi withheld it. He nurtured Anakin's confidence, even his frustrations, shaping a loyal bond that could be exploited in time. A delicate, ongoing work.
And now Count Dooku, of all people, had unwittingly gained a hold over Sidious's prize. Shmi Skywalker, the mother whose loss or suffering would one day serve as powerful fuel for Anakin's darker emotions, was no longer an abstract weakness waiting to be triggered. She was alive, free, and firmly under Dooku's protection. Sidious exhaled slowly, his expression smoothing back into impassivity. This development was not entirely to his liking.
He began to pace within the small circle of faint light, boots whispering over polished durasteel floors. The long shadows of his robe trailed him. Dooku's motivations were an open question. The man had left the Jedi Order, true. Dooku had broken away out of philosophical disillusionment. In Sidious's eyes, that made him a wild card, neither Jedi nor Sith, but something in between.
Perhaps Dooku had rescued Shmi Skywalker out of genuine compassion or a sense of justice. It sounded exactly like the sort of sentimental crusade Qui-Gon Jinn might have undertaken, unsurprising, given Jinn had been Dooku's apprentice long ago. Sidious's lip curled again, this time in mild disgust. Compassion was a weakness, but even weaknesses could produce troublesome outcomes. Because of Dooku's sentimentality, Anakin's long-suppressed attachments might now be encouraged rather than left to fester. Under Jedi doctrine, attachments were forbidden, which ironically would have served Sidious's aim by breeding resentment in the boy. But if Dooku reunited Anakin with his mother out of benevolence? If he gave Anakin the very comfort and family the Jedi denied him? That could stabilize the boy's heart, make him less angry, less afraid. Less susceptible to the dark side's call.
A quiet tension tightened around Sidious's eyes at that thought. This cannot be allowed. Anakin's path must remain clouded by longing and frustration until Sidious chooses to resolve it. Dooku's interference threatened to rob Sidious of a critical lever: the fear of loss.
Sidious paused his pacing before a window. Beyond the reinforced glass, the endless skyline of Galactic City twinkled with evening lights. Speeders flitted by in orderly streams, and far below, the city's billions went about their lives blissfully unaware of the Sith Lord in their midst. Sidious often took solace in that view, a reminder of the galaxy he was slowly bending to his will. But tonight, his reflection in the window shared space with a faint holo-glow lingering from the projector. It was a reminder that even the cleverest plans could face disruption from unexpected corners.
He drew a long breath and let it out silently, forcing any irritation into submission. There was more to consider: the girl, Liora.
Sidious's mind shifted to the memory of a grand hall on Serenno, filled with chandeliers and Serenno nobility. A graceful child with light green skin and solemn eyes had stood at Dooku's side, introduced to all as his adopted daughter and heir. Sidious, then appearing as Senator Palpatine, had made a point to attend that ceremony unannounced. He recalled how she had curtsied perfectly, how she spoke with a polite confidence beyond her years. Even then, the girl had intrigued him. He suspected something about her, given the unlikely tale of Dooku finding her and the protectiveness with which the Count guarded her existence. That day, Sidious had offered her gentle compliments, testing her composure. "Exceptional," he had called her, and he meant it. There was a spark in her, but he could not be certain of its magnitude.
Now he was certain. A six-year-old child had commanded a rancor. Such a feat spoke of immense innate power. Sidious knew seasoned Jedi Knights who would hesitate to confront a rancor without a lightsaber in hand. Yet this girl had bent the beast's will with barely any training, if at all.
His fingers curled slowly into the fabric of his sleeves. A potent Force-sensitive raised entirely outside of Jedi control, and outside of Sidious's own influence, was a worrisome prospect. Unshaped raw power was unpredictable. Liora Serenno was effectively a rogue element now, one that could grow to challenge even the most meticulously orchestrated schemes.
Of course, power on its own was neither good nor evil. It was a tool. In another situation, Sidious would have marked the girl as a potential candidate, someone to turn to the dark side at the proper time, to mold into an asset. But here the situation was complicated: Liora was bound by loyalty and affection to Count Dooku. The Count had raised her as his daughter; by all accounts, he was deeply devoted to the child. He had even defied the Jedi Order's norms to keep her hidden from them, presumably to train or guide her on his own terms. As long as Dooku remained in the picture, the girl would be his weapon to wield.
Sidious's eyes flashed with muted annoyance. Dooku had always been a charismatic man, a respected Jedi Master, and a leader among his people. If he now possessed both a powerful protégé and the leverage of Shmi Skywalker, he held two keys that could unlock pieces of Sidious's puzzle, potentially before Sidious was ready.
"Count Dooku," Sidious murmured to himself at the window. Not so long ago, Sidious had considered approaching the disillusioned Jedi Master and offering him a place in the new Sith Order. But Dooku had proven less malleable than Sidious hoped; he left the Jedi on his own terms and chose a different path, one of independence and high-minded idealism. Instead, he had turned his efforts toward other pawns, political separatists, corporate barons, and, of course, the slow seduction of young Skywalker as the Sith's future champion. Dooku was meant to fade into political marginality, a footnote.
Now that the calculation had to be revised. The Count had put himself squarely in play. Sidious moved away from the window at last. He stepped back to the holoprojector pedestal, as if the faint warmth from its last use could somehow aid his concentration. In truth, he was already forming new plans. His mind was a labyrinth of contingencies, and it was time to weave Dooku and his daughter into that web.
The straightforward option would be elimination, removing the unpredictable elements from the board. If Dooku and the girl perished quietly, Shmi Skywalker would likely perish with them or be of no consequence, and Anakin's fate would again be under Sidious's sole subtle guidance. It was tempting in its simplicity. Sidious allowed himself the ghost of a smile, imagining for a moment how the galaxy might hardly blink if Count Dooku's private shuttle met with an unfortunate "accident" in hyperspace. A tragic loss of a notable figure and his family, but nothing that couldn't be smoothed over with condolences and a Senate eulogy. Yes, that would solve several problems at once…
But he dismissed the thought almost as soon as it formed. Dooku was no fool; he would be on guard now, and he was exceedingly capable in combat. The man had survived many battles and could even duel Master Yoda to a standstill in his prime. Assassinating him would not be trivial, especially not while he traveled with young Liora at his side. Sending killers after a powerful ex-Jedi and a child was more likely to end in failure or exposure. Sidious did not like messy risks.
No, better to manipulate the circumstances to work in his favor. If Dooku could not be immediately removed, perhaps he could be nudged into a position that ultimately benefited Sidious. The Sith Lord's mind whirled with possibilities. Dooku's interests, justice, reform, and protecting the innocent could be exploited. Perhaps Sidious could steer Dooku into direct conflict with the Jedi Council or the Senate. In opposing the Republic's corruption, Dooku might inadvertently serve as the catalyst Sidious needed to fracture the galaxy further. There was an irony in that: Dooku leading a Separatist cause out of genuine conviction, not realizing he was moving along a path the Sith had long ago envisioned for him. If orchestrated delicately, Sidious could remain the hidden hand benefiting from Dooku's actions, even while the Count believed he was acting independently.
However, that scenario grew far more complicated now that Dooku had Shmi Skywalker. If Sidious did nothing, what would Dooku do with her? Almost certainly deliver her to safety, likely on Serenno under his protection. And then? Would he tell Anakin? Dooku still had connections within the Jedi Order; he was once close to many Masters. He might feel it proper to inform them that the boy's mother was free. Or perhaps Dooku would reach out to Anakin directly, bypassing the Council or even then not at all.
Sidious's eyes burned with a sudden intensity at that idea. If Anakin learned that Count Dooku had saved his mother from slavery, the boy's gratitude and admiration for Dooku could be profound. He might even begin to view the Count as a sort of benefactor or guardian, a role Sidious had been carefully cultivating for himself in the boy's life. Dooku's act of kindness could steal the young Skywalker's heart in ways Sidious's political flattery never could.
It was bitterly ironic. Sidious had long planned to use Shmi Skywalker as a pawn, to allow her suffering to fester in Anakin's nightmares until the boy was ripe for turning. Now, Shmi was a different kind of pawn, one sitting in an enemy's hand. Sidious could not tolerate that for long.
He would have to adapt quickly. Perhaps an accident for Shmi alone? If she were to perish even after being rescued, the emotional blow to Anakin might be twice as devastating – hope given and then snatched away. Sidious had no qualms about killing a helpless woman if it served his purpose. In fact, Shmi's canonical fate had always been death in pain; engineering something similar was well within his capabilities.
Yet, doing so now would pit him directly against Dooku and the girl. They would never forgive or forget an attack on Shmi under their protection. It would cement them as active adversaries, possibly even drive them to rally against an unknown assassin, and if they ever discovered Sidious's hand, all subtlety would be lost. No, a premature strike could backfire. It had to be done carefully or not at all until the timing was right.
Sidious tilted his head, considering another approach. If the Jedi learned of this situation, they would be deeply concerned, about Dooku, about the child Liora, and about Anakin's attachment. They might react by trying to assert control. Yes… The Jedi's own dogma could be a weapon here. He knew how the Council operated: cautiously, sometimes rigidly. If news reached them that Count Dooku had essentially abducted Anakin Skywalker's mother and was harboring a very powerful, untrained Force-sensitive girl, the Council's alarm bells would ring loud. They might suspect Dooku of dark intentions, even if misguided. At least, they would be uneasy about Anakin's attachment being tested.
Sidious could use that. A gentle anonymous tip, perhaps, leaked through one of his trusted informants in the Senate or via the Holonet rumor mill… something to ensure the Jedi became aware of Liora Serenno's existence or Shmi's rescue. If the Jedi decided to intervene, to "secure" the child for training in the Temple, or to warn Dooku to stay away from Anakin, it could create exactly the kind of conflict Sidious relished. Dooku would bristle at any attempt by the Jedi to take Liora; Sidious recalled clearly how possessive the Count had been of the girl's secrecy. That could lead to a dangerous standoff. And if the Council forbade Anakin from contacting his mother, the boy's resentment of their rules would only grow.
In one calculated stroke, Sidious could drive a wedge between Dooku and the Jedi and between Anakin and the Jedi. All while he himself remained out of sight, the invisible hand stoked discord. The thought brought a thin smile to his lips. It was a possible strategy.
Sidious took note: he would need more information for that plan to succeed. He had to know Dooku's next move. Where was the Count heading now? Back to Serenno, likely. And what of Anakin, had the boy any inkling of these events yet? Probably not, unless the Force had strangely told him. The Jedi likely kept Anakin busy on something in the Temple, ignorant of his mother's sudden salvation.
No, Sidious must stay ahead. He would have his agents trace any communications from Serenno to Coruscant, especially toward the Jedi Temple. If Dooku attempted to reach out, Sidious would know. And if Dooku stayed silent, Sidious would decide how to break this news at the most opportune time and in the most damaging manner to the Jedi's interests.
Having settled on a tentative course, Sidious felt the earlier tension in his shoulders ease slightly. The situation was troublesome indeed, but not beyond his capacity to manipulate. It was merely… unexpected. And unexpected events could be turned to advantage with enough cunning. After all, one could not foresee every possibility, but one could prepare to exploit any outcome.
A soft chime sounded at the chamber's door, interrupting his reverie. Sidious pivoted smoothly to face the entrance. "Enter," he called.
The door slid aside with a whisper. A female figure in a dark cloak stepped in, moving with a predatory grace. She dropped to one knee at once, bowing her head. Even without seeing her face, Sidious noted the slight scuffs on her boots, the singe marks on the edge of her sleeve. His apprentice had returned from her assignment.
"Rise," Sidious said quietly. The woman stood, pushing back the hood of her cloak. In the low light. A few strands of black hair escaped her tight braid. She placed a fist to her chest in salute.
There was the faintest hint of satisfaction in her voice. "The cultists have been dealt with, as you commanded."
Sidious regarded her with cool eyes. His apprentice, a deadly asset he had been honing in the shadows, had proven useful in cleansing the galaxy of minor nuisances. He gave a shallow nod of acknowledgment. "You have done well," he replied, a note of approval threading through the words. "I trust there were no complications?"
"None that remain, my lord," the dark-haired woman said. A small, almost eager smile touched her lips, She clearly relished the victory. In another circumstance, Sidious might have drawn out her debrief, letting her detail the demise of the so-called cult that he had sent her to eradicate. But tonight his thoughts lay elsewhere.
"Excellent," he managed, voice distant. He stepped past her, pacing slowly as she fell in line a respectful two steps behind. "Your efficiency continues to serve the grand plan."
She dipped her head at the praise, though she had surely noticed his distracted tone by now. "Thank you, Master." After a brief hesitation, she ventured carefully, "I sense… something troubles you."
Sidious's stride paused. He realized that traces of his earlier contemplation, the faint ripples of annoyance in the Force around him, might have been perceptible to his apprentice. She was attuned to his moods perhaps more than he liked. But no matter, a little truth could keep a servant properly motivated.
"While you were away, a new matter arose," Sidious said, keeping his back to her as he clasped his hands behind him. He stared once more at the inert holoprojector, picturing the moment Jabba had uttered the name Skywalker. "An unforeseen development that will require… careful handling."
His apprentice waited in obedient silence, but Sidious could sense her curiosity. She would not ask outright; she had learned not to press him. Instead, she said, "How may I assist, Master?"
Sidious turned to regard her. In the sparse light, his apprentice's youthful face was half-illuminated, a thin scar along her cheek catching the glow. She was powerful in her own right, skilled with a blade and the dark side, but compared to what he had just learned of Liora Serenno, Sidious wondered if even his apprentice would be outmatched by that child in a few short years. The thought was faintly sour. Let us hope it will not come to that, he mused privately. Still, perhaps she could serve in the coming plans.
"You will assist by remaining ready," Sidious answered at length. His voice was smooth, revealing little. "We may have to act swiftly in the near future, but for now, we observe."
The apprentice's brow knit slightly, confusion in her green eyes. "Observe whom, my lord?"
Sidious allowed himself a thin smile that did not reach his eyes. "An old acquaintance of mine," he said. "Count Dooku of Serenno."
Recognition flickered in the woman's gaze. She knew the name; all who delved into the Jedi archives did. "The Jedi Master who left the Order… He's involved in this development?"
Sidious gave the slightest nod. "Indeed. He and his… household." The word carried a subtle, ironic emphasis that only he understood.
The apprentice opened her mouth as if to question further, but thought better of it. She merely bowed her head. "As you wish. Shall I gather intelligence on the Count, Master?"
"Discreetly," Sidious replied. He began to pace again, and she moved aside gracefully as he passed. "I want to know where he goes, whom he contacts. Pay particular attention to any communications between Serenno and the Jedi Temple. Use our agents in the Outer Rim to keep watch for the Count's ship." He paused, then added coldly, "And if the opportunity arises to learn more of his daughter without revealing our hand, do so."
"Yes, Master." The apprentice's tone was efficient, professional. Yet Sidious sensed a hint of surprise in her at that last instruction. Dooku's daughter was presumably a small child; it likely puzzled his apprentice why such a figure merited the Sith Lord's attention. Sidious did not clarify. He simply met the younger woman's eyes, letting a glimmer of warning shine in his own.
"There are variables in motion now that were not in play before," Sidious said softly, almost to himself. "We must be vigilant. I must be vigilant." He fell silent, and for a moment, the weight of his true thoughts hung unspoken: If Dooku and his newfound charges proved a threat, they would be eliminated without mercy. If they could be turned or used, Sidious would not hesitate to draw them into his web. One way or another, everything and everyone was expendable in the service of the grand plan.
His apprentice lowered her head. "It will be done. We will watch them closely, my lord."
After a moment, Sidious addressed her without turning. "That will be all for now. You have leave to rest and recover your strength. Remain on alert. I will summon you the instant you are needed."
"Yes, Lord Sidious." She bowed and exited swiftly, the chamber door hissing shut behind her.
Outside the window, far beyond the Senate district, countless stars prickled the night sky above Coruscant. Somewhere out there in that vast galaxy, Count Dooku's ship was hurtling through hyperspace, carrying Shmi Skywalker and the little girl who had suddenly become a significant disturbance in the Force. Sidious could sense, faintly, the echoes of that disturbance – the turbulence of events shifting unpredictably. It felt almost like a challenge issued by the Force itself.
If so, Darth Sidious would answer it as he always had by bending it to his will. He allowed himself a final, thin smile in the darkness. "Interesting," he whispered to no one, the single word curling with quiet menace.
Elsewhere in the galaxy
Master Yoda settled himself at the head of the great circular table in the Council Chamber. The room was quiet; the Jedi Masters present waited for him to speak. Yoda opened his eyes slowly. Across from him sat long-standing Masters: Ki-Adi Mundi, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia, and others. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu were away on assignment; their chairs remained empty.
A weight hung on Yoda's chest as he rose slightly. He took a moment, gathering himself through the Force. Finally, he addressed the Council. "Begin we must," Yoda said quietly. "News from the Outer Rim, we have. A report from Jabba's palace on Tatooine, we have received."
The Council turned its eyes to Yoda. Concern and curiosity were on every face. Master Ki-Adi-Mundi tilted his elongated head, voice calm. "Master Yoda, this report, have we confirmed the source?"
"Credible this source is," Yoda replied, eyes meeting Ki-Adi's. "Trusted by Republic contacts, he has been. False news from him is rare. In his message, Count Dooku has a daughter, age six. Force-sensitive, she is. Rescued Shmi Skywalker from slavery, he did."
A hush fell. Yoda watched the other Masters process this information. Master Plo Koon broke the silence first. Through the lenses of his mask, his eyes were grave. "A six-year-old child, Force-sensitive," Plo said softly. "The informant says she domanated Jabba's beast. Is that even possible? Such power at that age… extraordinary."
Master Saesee Tiin leaned forward, skepticism on his face. "He claims the child took control Jabba's rancor during their escape? If true, that is remarkable, and frightening as that is a power that belongs to the dark side. Could any of this be exaggerated or twisted?"
Yoda closed his eyes briefly. Memories stirred, including an image of Anakin with his rancor. He opened them and spoke calmly: "Unlikely it is."
Adi Gallia frowned. "If Dooku really did free Shmi, on the surface, it sounds kind. But where did this child come from? Count Dooku left the Jedi long ago. Some say he resents our Order's rigidity. Now he may be forming his own circle—maybe a 'Jedi-like' following of his own."
A murmur swept the table. Ki-Adi Mundi folded his hands thoughtfully. "Rumors have whispered of Serenno's nobles backing Dooku. If he's gathering followers, an orphan girl among them… could there be others like her? More Force-sensitive children we do not yet know."
Saesee Tiin's brow furrowed. "He could be creating a cult of followers or worse, training young ones in secret. A potential Jedi on Serenno, he is raising. We have the right to be cautious. This news unsettles me."
Plo Koon said quietly, "We have no proof. He did free Shmi Skywalker; that act alone was good. The girl's powers might have saved lives. We should not assume he has dark motives."
Yoda's brow furrowed as he listened. Plo's compassion was wise, he thought, but caution was needed. "It is good that Shmi is free," Yoda said softly. "Anakin's mother, she is. Young Skywalker will be relieved. But the child's strength… unusual it is. Worry it gives."
Ki-Adi Mundi glanced sideways. "This also touches Anakin. If he hears Dooku freed his mother, Skywalker may feel loyalty to Count Dooku. Anakin's attachments run deep. Another father figure could sway him."
Master Yaddle, beside Yoda, spoke in gentle words. "Mindful we must be of Skywalker. Obi-Wan's reports on the boy and what Master Yoda has sensed tell us he is young and impressionable. If he learns of Dooku's 'good deed' and sees only goodwill, confusion could grow."
Yoda nodded. "A good point, Master Yaddle. Young Anakin is, to judge such matters. Hears of Dooku's actions, confuse he will grow. Vigilant we must be."
Saesee Tiin spoke up. "Should we notify Master Windu or Obi-Wan about this? They may not like us delaying a meeting with Dooku."
Adi Gallia shook her head. "They're unreachable now—Obi-Wan and Master Windu are on a mission together. We must act with the information we have, quietly and carefully."
Ki-Adi Mundi added, "A formal inquiry would tip Dooku off. Discretion is key. But waiting too long is dangerous if the child is truly with him."
Yoda placed a hand on the table to pause any rising alarm. "Calm and careful, we must be. To Dooku we will go, hear his side in person. See this child with our own eyes. Jump to conclusions, we will not."
Plo Koon nodded. "A Jedi Master should go to Serenno, to observe and learn."
Yoda met each Master's gaze. "To Serenno, send we will. Who will go to speak with Count Dooku?"
Master Ki-Adi Mundi straightened. "If it pleases the Council, I volunteer. I have dealt with Serenno's nobility before. I could travel as a diplomat and discreetly inquire."
Adi Gallia quickly added, "Allow me to accompany Master Mundi. I know some of Serenno's protocol and can assist in conversation. We both can speak with Dooku and carefully observe the child."
Plo Koon stepped forward. "I will join you as well. My connection to the living Force may help sense the girl's nature. Together we can cover more ground."
Yoda regarded the trio approvingly. "Good. A wise group. Careful, you must be."
Saesee Tiin nodded. "Remember, Dooku was once one of us. Approach him as an old friends, with respect. Not as investigators out of suspicion."
Plo Koon continued, "Perhaps speak first of Shmi's rescue. If Dooku presents it as a noble act, then ask gently about why the child is with him. We should learn her story."
Yoda nodded. "Yes. Ask why she's with him now, but no accusation. Judge not until we know."
Adi Gallia spoke up again as the meeting wound down. "We should clarify if the child is related to Dooku by blood, if she is a niece, that changes things. If not, he must have taken her as an orphan."
Yaddle added softly, "Right. If she isn't Dooku's by family, perhaps he took pity or sensed destiny in her. That we should learn on Serenno."
A quiet fell over the chamber. Yoda closed his eyes, letting the Force guide his final thoughts. The Council had agreed on a plan: travel to Serenno, meet Count Dooku face-to-face, and assess the situation carefully. No decision would be rushed. Finally, Yoda opened his eyes and spoke in a low voice: "Six years old, she is. Much too old for the temple she is. Skywalker, exception he was, repeate we will not."
The chamber was silent. Yoda gave a small approving nod. "Patient, we must be. May the Force guide our steps," he said.
With that, the meeting was adjourned. Yoda rose and gathered his robes. As he left the chamber, he carried with him the weight of their decision, and the resolve to see it done wisely.