The Shadows Star: Book 2

47: Join Me

Sombra stirred, her eyes gradually focusing on the room around her. The force field held her in the air, and she found herself facing an old man in regal robes. Recognition flashed, and instead of rage, a quiet confusion filled her.

"Count Dooku. I've seen your bust in the archives..." She tried to move and even tap into the force but found herself incapacitated.

"What's going on?"

"Ah, Padawan. The last time we spoke, you were just a youngling. Now look how you've grown. I had hoped to avoid such measures, but circumstances dictate otherwise."

"Why am I here Count?"

His demeanor shifted; his expression softened, betraying a hint of regret. "You're not my prisoner out of malice, child. Quite the opposite. The Geonosians have offered to release you to my custody. I hoped we could speak, that you'd be willing to listen to me."

Her brow furrowed in genuine curiosity as she inquired about his intentions.

"Listen to you? What would we have to speak about?"

Dooku chuckled and tilted his head.

"How much do you really know of your father?"

"My father? Plo Koon is a great Jedi master, an exemplary teacher, and–"

"No, not your master. Your father, Maul Opress. Quite a formidable warrior if I remember correctly. You must have been a very interesting child for him to take you in."

Her blood froze in her veins and if she weren't frozen in the force field, she was sure her fingers would have begun to twitch. The truth of her father was an unspoken truth among the Jedi and a secret to the outside world. If the galaxy knew its supposed 'chosen one' was raised by a Sith, they would never trust her when the time came. Even among other Jedi, it was merely a rumor that circulated but had no actual evidence. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out how this fallen Jedi knew the truth.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I was an orphan on Coruscant when Master Qui Gon Jinn found me and brought me to the temple."

"Lying is unnecessary, child. I used to work alongside your late father all those years ago. Though we were never close, we shared the same goals. He would have wanted you to listen to me now."

"I must insist that you have been misinformed, Count. Perhaps you should leave the gossip and speculation to children. A man of your... pedigree shouldn't concern himself with such things, it's beneath you."

Though her voice did not betray her, her heart began to pound faster.

He chuckled as he circled her slowly. "You possess your father's defiance, though you are much more eloquent, I'll give you that."

Dooku continued to circle her, his eyes scrutinizing every nuance. "You've grown strong in the Force. The same fire burns in your eyes, tenacity, power..."

Sombra's jaw tensed at the comparison and she couldn't deny the way his words resonated. Dooku, however, sensed the turmoil within her. His own heart beat faster. He had already failed to convince Obi-Wan of this very argument not a day earlier. He had hoped that Qui Gon's padawan would be more open-minded, but that was not the case. Now, he asked the force to help persuade her soul.

"Your heart betrays you, young one. You hunger for freedom... strength. Maul would have wanted you to know the truth."

"The truth?" Her brow furrowed and her curiosity took over.

"What if I told you the Republic is now under the control of the Dark Lords of the Sith?"

"Thats-"

Before she could say 'impossible' she stopped herself. She thought about the political upheaval that had dominated her life the past couple of years. She thought of the thousands of refugees and displaced families that she had seen on the way to Naboo. The Galaxy had been taking a steady and continuous turn for the worst and there was no end in sight.

"How is that possible? The Jedi would have sensed it by now."

"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, young one. Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

"What proof do you have of this?"

"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious. But he was betrayed ten years ago by the Dark Lord. He came to me for help. He told me everything."

His eyes became crazed and his breath picked up. Sombra didn't need the force to pick up on how fiercely and passionately the older man felt about this. She knew from her own experience that something was wrong but she couldn't just believe that the situation had strayed this far.

"You must join me, Sombra, and together we will destroy the Sith!"

"If what you say is true, then we must inform the Jedi Council. You are respected among many Jedi, especially with Master Yoda. Please, Master Dooku, allow me to go with you to Coruscant," Sombra insisted, her determination shining through.

Dooku sighed, frustration and sorrow etched on his face.

"The Jedi Council would not believe us. I tried many times to warn them but they wouldn't listen to me. Once they sense the Dark Lord's presence, it would then be too late."

Sombra met his intense gaze with unwavering determination. "I cannot do what you want of me, Master Dooku. However, if there is a Sith threat, I will do everything in my power to expose it and bring the truth to the Council."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Dooku's face, his piercing eyes reflecting a sense of regret. Internally, he understood the gravity of her decision. If she did not align herself with his cause, the odds of his mission succeeding dwindled. He understood the challenges that lay ahead, but the realization that his fate rested on the actions of this young Padawan added an unexpected layer of panic.

Recognizing the futility of his words against her stubborn ideals, he switched.

"I had hoped for you to be rational about this. Even if it takes time you will join me; you will become my apprentice."

He tapped a comm on his wrist and the door slid open to reveal a wall of a man in Mandalorian armor.

"Fett will keep you company until it is time to leave. It's for your good."

"Dooku!"

She began squirming and doing anything to try and release herself, but she only exhausted herself further. The fear crept into her eyes as she realized the count fully intended to leave her alone with the stranger. "What are you going to do to me?!"

"There is no need for dramatics, child. Fett will assure that no harm comes to you. He is here for your safety, nothing more."

His departure left her alone with the silent sentinel. The toll of the day's events began to settle in and her muscles ached in the awkward position. She looked into the visor of the mando and tried unsuccessfully to decipher where his eyes were.

"Look, I've had a rough day-" she gestured at herself: tattered, dirty clothes, bruises littering her body, "...obviously. Can I at least get something to drink?"

The armor remained completely still and she wondered if the person below was even breathing. However, she was determined to crack the man before her.

"Tion'jorhaa'i mando'a? Tion'suvari ni? Ner gai Sombra." (Do you speak mando'a? Can you understand me? My name is Sombra.)

They remained silent, and the lack of movement made her question if maybe it was a droid under all of that beskar. She rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Gods, I bet you're an absolute joy at a party."