The future must be built on the present.
This is called a plan.
Without it, nothing in the world can be good.
***
Dooku, Count of House Serenno, stood silently on the small balcony of one of his mansions. His duties at the CIS took up so much of his time that he could only devote a small fraction of the hours that were spent on work left for rest. However, when he did manage to snatch a little time for himself, he preferred to relax in a familiar place. Even the Jedi Order could not eradicate his love of comfort and luxury.
But even here, thoughts of business did not leave him. They flowed steadily, as if in the background, but they were there. However, most of them were positive.
Everything was going according to the plan devised by the Lord. Both sides, the Republic and the CIS, were suffering huge losses on Jabbaim. The information coming in was fragmentary and contradictory, but one thing was clear: the consequences of this battle would be very serious, regardless of who won. Stratus... is a rather skilled commander and a natural leader, his men are loyal to him and willingly go to their deaths. Such a man can be admired. The actions of Ventress and Durge are flawless — half of the Jedi who landed on the planet are already dead. Only the actions of Kenobi and that brat Skywalker have ruined all the plans of the local commanders. However, when Dooku discussed this with Darth Sidious, the latter made it clear that he would solve this problem, and soon everything would fall into place. Except for Ventress... she's getting a little carried away. She was showing excessive interest in one of the Jedi. What was his name?.. Mikt?.. Vikt?.. It didn't matter. It wasn't critical, but such actions were unacceptable in the long run. There was still hope that she would soon kill him and calm down. If not, appropriate measures would have to be taken — disobedience must be punished.
Our Quarren friends report that they are ready for the coup. Soon, the entire Mon Calamari sector will switch to the side of the CIS. Thus, the entire North Outer Ring will come under our control. And agents on Muunilist are preparing everything for the Republic to capture the planet as soon as possible. At the right moment, they will carry out sabotage operations on key facilities. The only problem could be the orbital defense platforms — the Muuns are shaking above them, and it is practically impossible to penetrate the platforms.
In addition, Grievous will soon join the fray. Until now, this cyborg has been operating in the Outer Rim, pacifying savages, but now it's time for the Jedi to experience firsthand the unclouded hatred and cold calculation of a machine in one bottle. Dooku considered Grievous his most successful experiment and was rightly proud of him.
However, the best event in recent times was that Dooku had finally won Quinlan Vos over to his side. He had fallen into the Dark Side. Undoubtedly, the Count had a hand in this, but the process was a matter of time. A smirk touched the man's lips...
He remembered how this story began. It was a frankly disastrous attempt at infiltration, but after consulting with Darth Sidious, he turned a blind eye to minor flaws and pretended to accept Voss. He became an excellent channel for leaking the necessary information. "I am here because I betrayed the Republic. I am here because I believe in my ideals..." That's what Voss told him. To be honest, Dooku admitted that there was some truth in those words. Kiffar was a complexpersonality; in many ways, he did exactly as he saw fit, and often his opinion did not coincide with that of the Order. He disregarded certain tenets of the code if they conflicted with his habits.
After a while, he began to carry out small tasks, unwittingly passing on information to the Order. And then came the moment the count had been waiting for and preparing for.
Kiffu, the homeland of the Guardians, neighbor to Kiffex, the prison planet. The Guardians are led by the Sheyf, who is traditionally chosen from the Vos clan. Currently, this position is held by Tinte. They arrived there to conclude an agreement... nonsense. The goal was different. And yet, Dooku played his part.
"... We ask for very little. Allow us to establish a base on Kiffex, and in return, you will be generously rewarded. Agree. It's a lucrative offer.
Dooku looked questioningly at the crone sitting on the throne, surrounded by the Kiffar Guard.
"I am not obligated to agree to anything. The Guardians themselves have always been the guarantor of independence. What is profitable for others is not profitable for us. Let the Republic and the Separatists wear each other down — we will only grow stronger... You have come a long way, Count, in vain — for it will end here.
As expected.
"Kill them," Dooku commanded. His companions accompanying him activated their swords. Voss's green blade hummed familiarly behind the Count's back.
The old woman had wanted them dead from the start, so the Guardians was ready. The battle began. However, the word "massacre" was more appropriate. The old hag had chosen the wrong opponents.
And then everything went exactly as the count had expected. Quinlan stood up for his kin, killing one of the count's henchwomen. And then a conversation took place...
"I knew the truth from the beginning. The Jedi are always willing to sacrifice pawns like you."
"Why didn't you kill me earlier?" The Kiffar crossed his saber with the Count's.
"Because you're much more useful alive," Dooku replied honestly.
And then the Count began his work. After bringing Voss to a state where the Jedi knew the fury of battle and the helplessness of defeat, he began to tell him the truth about his fate. And the fate of his parents. When the informants sent that file, Dooku barely suppressed a feeling of disgust. Quinlan couldn't accept it, but the Count found words of persuasion — and they fell on fertile ground. Quinlan had a rare gift — he could read any information from any medium just by touching it. And Dooku suggested using this gift on Tinte. Vos hesitated — after all, she was a living being — but Dooku unobtrusively suggested using the full power of the Force... the dark side of the Force.
Quinlan Vos had turned to the Dark Side. He killed Tinte for feeding his parents to the Anzati. The Kiffar's pupils now blazed gold. Soon after, he received a new lightsaber from Count Dooku. Its crimson blade housed not only an artificial red crystal, but also a specialized shard steeped in the Dark Side of the Force—crafted to draw the Kiffar even deeper into the Darkness.
Now the Jedi—and double agent—Quinlan Vos was entirely under Dooku's control. There was no path back for him, neither to the Republic nor to the Order. And thus, another sentient being became a tool in the execution of the Plan.