You feel a brief disturbance in the

The following weeks blur together hazily as your flagship nears completion. The dreadnaught was truly a fearsome work of art and you could hardly wait to see it in action. It waited patiently at a docking arm, and was crewed temporarily by droids for maintenance and basic travel once it became truly space worthy. Thoughts of grandeur drift through your head as you lay down in bed for rest, with a nude Shmi cuddling into your side.

She proved to be quite the eager and insatiable lover, pleasing you every night and often times well into the morning. No doubt your desire for her made her feel young again, and with your numerous couplings it was inevitable that she became pregnant with your child. You stroke her abdomen lovingly, knowing that the first of many children had been conceived. She giggles at your touch and places her hand atop your own.

As the both of you lay down for sleep, you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end as if the **** was trying to tell you something. Curious of the cause, you extend your consciousness across the galaxy, searching for anything of note that would warrant such a disturbance. Your search eventually brings you to the planet of Geonosis, home to the insectoid Geonosians who were master engineers and the backbone behind the Droid Armies of the Separatists. Clarity dawns on you as your vision shifts to the massive Petranaki Arena where you see Obi-wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala being prepared for execution. It seems the Clone Wars were about to begin.

Planting a kiss on Shmi's forehead, you rise from your bed and begin to dress in your armor, drawing your lover's attention.

"Is something bothering you, my love?" she asks with concern.

"I felt a disturbance in the **** that requires my attention," you tell her. "I'll be back before long."

She hums in understanding and curls up in the blankets.

"Please hurry back. It's so lonely here without you," she whines quietly.

You flash her a smile before donning your helmet.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

You then vanish from sight, clearing the vast distance of space between Lehon and Geonosis in a matter of minutes. When you do at last return to known space, the execution games are already well underway, if the screaming of the native Geonosians is any indication.

Keeping out of sight, you pick a secluded corner in the arena away from prying eyes and watch as the arachnid-like Acklay attempts to crush Obi-wan by toppling over one of the stone pillars, Padmé swinging from her chains and kicking the fragile Nexu in the chest, and Anakin wrestling with the Reek for control.

The games continue much like they do in the movie as the trio mount the Reek and attempt to escape through one of many iron gates leading into the bowels of the Arena, but are cut off and surrounded by a squad of Droidekas. Deciding now would be a good time to intervene, you reach out with the **** and grasp the droids, lifting them from the ground and crushing them into scrap. You can't help but snort with amusement as you hear Viceroy Gunray's cry of alarm from the royal booth followed by the snap-hiss of a lightsaber. Mace Windu had arrived to confront the Count.

As if the purple hued blade was a beacon, hundreds of other lightsabers ignite throughout the Arena, scattering the natives into the sky as the battle begins in earnest. As a child, you marveled at seeing so many Jedi in one place duking it out against thousands of battle droids in a battle royale as you watched the movie for the first time on the big screen, but now as not only an adult being physically present for the spectacle, you couldn't help but shake your head with how tactically foolish the stunt was. The warrior-monks literally stood in the open as if they were fish in a barrel just waiting to be shot.

Shaking your head at their ignorance, you jump down from your perch and make your way to the Royal Booth to see the man you were most interested in speaking to today; Count Dooku, or otherwise known as Darth Tyranus. Masking your presence, you're able to join him at his side before finally allowing yourself to be noticed.

"Well you've certainly made a mess of things," you comment nonchalantly to the elder man.

As a master in the Jedi arts and an advanced practitioner of the Sith's, the Count shows little outward reaction to your appearance beyond a raising of his eyebrows. It was a far-cry from the shocked shrieks of Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, and Poggle the Lesser, or the immediate blaster fire from Jango Fett. The bolts bounce harmlessly off your body as you enshroud yourself in the ****.

"Put that gun away, Mandalorian. I'm of no threat to you unless you fire again," you state with boredom.

"Do as he says, Jango. I sense no hostility from our new guest," Dooku commands with a wave of his hand.

The bounty hunter reluctantly obeys.

"I have to admit that you're either very brave or very foolish to approach us so casually," Dooku continues as he addresses you. "I assume that you're here to talk unlike the last Jedi who decided to confront me?"

"You would be correct," you concur. "I'm actually rather surprised the Jedi are so quick to **** these days."

"You speak of the Jedi as if you were one of them," the Count observes. "Who are you really? It hasn't been long since I left the Order and I'm familiar with just about every padawan, knight, and master, yet I have no recollection of you."

"No, I am no Jedi, certainly not one of the Order," you admit. "I'm merely a man who can feel the **** and was brought here by a disturbance. I see my instincts were correct."

Understatement of the year.

"Then why aren't you down there aiding them?" Dooku questions.

"No amount of personal intervention at this point is going to stop the events already in motion today," you reply candidly. "I've merely been preparing for the coming war in my own way. I've been watching events unfold in the Galaxy for quite some time, Count Dooku, and I'm already quite familiar with Republic propaganda but I wanted to hear you own account of the situation before I make a final decision."

The Count gives you a small, placating smile.

"So it's an interview you're seeking. Unfortunately I must decline for your timing has much to be desired. As you've said, a war is about to break out and thus it requires my full attention. If you don't wish to be dragged into this conflict, I suggest you leave immediately."

"On the contrary, I can't wait for the fighting to begin," you correct him as you watch the Jedi begin to dwindle in numbers. "My issue is as follows. The Republic, for lack of a better term, is a bureaucratic nightmare overrun with corruption and self-serving interests yet it's not so far gone as to beyond saving. On the other hand, the CIS seems rather noble on the surface, seeking independence from that same, corrupted governing body, but many of its benefactors are equally questionable."

You don't bother to hide the side-long glance you shoot towards the Viceroy of the Trade Federation and his Lieutenant.

"As for myself, I've recently come into ownership of an ancient artifact that would be infinitely beneficial to either side but also propel me into the game as a third player, yet I don't know which path to choose. Given this artifact's very nature, the Jedi would quickly reject me which puts them out the question. Then there is still the matter of your Master to deal with, dear old Darth Sidious who would just as quickly brand me as a rival and seek to eliminate me from the picture. Lastly is the worst case scenario where both the Republic and the CIS initiate a ceasefire to deal with the threat I pose, and fighting a defensive war on two fronts is a recipe for disaster no matter how strong the foundation."

You pause for a moment and gauge Dooku's reaction. Your offhand mention of the Star Forge certainly piques his interest and your openly displayed knowledge of his Master pries the first hints of genuine unease from his usual calm and collected demeanor. You can feel as he attempts to probe your intentions with the **** and you decide to give him a little show, a glimpse of the power you possessed. Like the Legendary Jedi Knight whose armor you now wore, you took on a personification well deserving of Kreia's description of her most gifted apprentice. Looking upon you was like staring into the Heart of the ****, and you made sure that Count Dooku understood exactly what kind of being he was dealing with. It takes a great deal of effort on his behalf to maintain his composure.

As a lull falls over your exchange, you take notice of Jango blasting off into the arena to confront Mace Windu in open combat. Reaching out with the ****, you yank him back onto the viewing platform much to the bounty hunter's shock and Dooku's amusement. You assert yourself further before the warrior can round on you for interfering.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Skilled as you are, you'd be throwing your life away if you try to fight one of the most powerful Jedi masters on the High Council," you lecture.

Jango growls from within his helmet from the sting to his pride. You can feel his desire to blast you radiating from his body, but refrains out of respect for his employer's wishes.

"At any rate," you continue as you return to addressing Dooku, "when you've left this planet and reported back to your Master, feel free to seek me out in the Lehon system in the Unknown Regions. Even if you're not familiar with it, I'm certain Sidious certainly is. I believe you'll be most interested in speaking in greater detail."

The Count takes a moment to ponder your offer but settles on an answer of ambiguity.

"We'll see," he says with a polite nod as he returns his attention to the Jedi survivors remaining in the arena.

Of the 200 or so Jedi who came here, you count thirty still standing. You watch expectantly as Dooku motions for the droids to ceasefire.

"Master Windu!" he says with a booming voice. "You have fought gallantly; worthy of recognition in the Archives of the Jedi Order."

Out of the corner of your eye, you notice masters Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and Aayla Secura being escorted into the survivor group by their battledroid captors.

"But now... it is finished," Dooku declares. "Surrender and your lives will be spared."

"We will not be hostages to be bartered, Dooku!" Mace Windu replies scathingly to his former colleague.

"Then... I am sorry old friend."

You can tell Dooku holds a measure of genuine remorse in his words despite the finality of the statement. Regardless, he was still an agent of the Dark Side and the Apprentice in the Rule of Two. At his command, the droids sight in with their weapons to carry out the execution, but you knew this wasn't going to pass.

"And cue the cavalry in 3... 2... 1..." you say softly.

In an instant, the silence is shattered by the screaming of Clone gunships descending into the arena. The battle resumes in a flurry of blaster bolts, energy beams, and rockets as Master Yoda arrives to evacuate the survivors of his strike team. As Dooku and his entourage make to evacuate, you give the Sith Lord a curt bow and make your own departure with a snap of your fingers. The Clone Wars have officially begun.