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When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 37
“Qui-Gon, you can’t be serious…” The face of Master Mace Windu said through the holocall as he alongside the rest of the Council looked at him along with a few Jedi that managed to make time from the conflict with the Hutts including Master Dooku.
“I am Master Windu. What my padawan Obi-Wan and I had fought against was no Jedi, and we had encountered users of the dark side before. But what we battled was far stronger and well-trained than any simple darkside cultist.”
The Council looked between one another as a silent discussion seemed to play out amongst them.
“While we are thankful you and your apprentice are safe and alive, this has complicated things greatly.” Master Ki Adi Mundi spoke up as he rubbed his chin in thought. They all were contemplating why anyone would wish to make this conflict far more than it should be.
“Find the ones responsible, we must.” Grand Master Yoda said as he contemplated what had been discussed.
“I will find another to command the Jedi and Republic forces while taking a team with me to assist Qui-Gon in apprehending the one responsible,” Dooku said with finality.
Despite looking stoic and calm to most, those who were much more familiar with him could see the concern he had upon learning how close the two Jedi had almost died when engaging the assassin.
“Dooku you will not, needed you are in commanding the Republic's efforts against the Hutts,” Yoda said as Dooku gave him a pointed look completely baffled at what his former master had just told him.
“I agree with Grand Master Yoda, we have no one in the outer rim as capable and as experienced as you, Master Dooku. You currently are the reason why the Republic's forces in the outer and mid rims have not fallen.” Mace Windu chimed in as the rest of the council all seemed to agree.
Dooku kept the thoughts he wanted to say aloud to himself. That they were all being fools. A capable Jedi Master like his former apprentice was nearly killed along with his padawan against a highly trained and very skilled assailant trained in the dark side.
Qui-Gon didn’t even need to say his thoughts aloud since the high council knew what he was implying.
The Sith have returned…
Dooku knew he would be one of the few best suited for handling such a person because of his preferred lightsaber form. His beloved Makashi.
“Then pray tell what do you all intend to do about this? I for one am not willing to let the Sith that did this wander around the galaxy free considering they had preemptively attacked the Hutts and caused us to have a great many more problems than we should have had in the first place. If what Master Qui-Gon is saying is so then we need to mobilize now and deal with them.”
“The Sith haven’t been seen for over a thousand years, I find it highly unlikely this was a Sith.” Mace Windu said with an edge to his tone. “A group of Jedi Knights will be dispatched to aid Qui-Gon. Since the conflict has made it difficult for any ships to go through any major hyperspace lanes without getting attacked and destroyed they will have to be chosen from the Jedi currently stationed in the outer rim.”
Despite the other council members appearing fine with this decision both Dooku and Qui-Gon were far from happy with it.
Those Jedi could handle a few thugs and gangsters with blasters, but the one Qui-Gon dealt with would be far too much for them to handle and neither of them wanted needless deaths. And their deaths would be all but guaranteed in Qui-Gon's eyes since he knew most Jedi of the order focused more on Form VI but never put much effort into the form simply achieving a mediocre level in it and saying good enough. The cost of the peace that had lasted a thousand years.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea, Master Windu. The one I and my padawan faced was incredibly skilled, any simple Jedi Knight would find themselves swiftly overwhelmed and at their mercy. If they are struggling with pirates and bounty hunters hired by the Hutts how would they fare any better against a well-trained duelist?”
Windu merely glanced in his direction as he had an annoyed look on his face while Qui-Gon looked calm and stoic. It helped that he hadn't said the word Sith.
“I am well aware of the state of the Knights we currently have in the outer rim Master Qui-Gon. The few Jedi Shadows and Sentinels we have currently acting as spies are in deep cover operations and are currently not capable of rendering you aid. I also find it hard to believe that a large group of Jedi Knights who have managed to survive what the Hutts have pitted against us couldn’t handle a single cultist, regardless of how well-trained they are with a lightsaber.” He added extra emphasis on the cultist part.
Both Dooku and Qui-Gon firmly disagreed with that notion but knew better than to say otherwise since it would not get them anywhere and wouldn’t help the situation, instead causing further issues within the Jedi, and as things currently are now that is the last thing they needed to happen. That and it would be just like all the other debates in the past, an effort that would ultimately end in futility.
That and they both understood where Windu and the others were coming from since it would be incredibly difficult not to mention costing several Jedi their lives to come and help a single Master in the outer rim if they tried to get them from Coruscant. They simply didn’t have the manpower or means to safely get to them and aid them.
The Shadows and Sentinels in this conflict had been spread far too thin and they couldn’t afford to have them break cover to aid Qui-Gon. After helping save Grub and the other Hutts' lives after witnessing and hearing what their surviving guards had to say the Hutts had realized that someone had been sowing the seeds of conflict between their sides. But it wasn’t enough for a cease-fire which Qui-Gon had expected just as Dooku had.
But at least the Hutts have been made aware that the one assassinating them is not a Jedi or at least considered a part of their order and Grub and his faction amongst the Hutts have more credibility to end this conflict. Especially when two Jedi had nearly died trying to stop the assassin that had been believed to be one of their own.
“With the Jedi being sent to assist you Qui-Gon the council has decided that we need your aid-”
“No. I am not becoming embroiled in this conflict.”
The sharp look that Master Windu and a few of the others in the council gave him was more than enough that most would find it hard not to wilt under those heavy gazes.
“Master Qui-Gon Jinn, this conflict is costing a great many lives, you are needed in it as skilled and as experienced as you are. Whatever visions the Force has shown you of this assassin pales in comparison to the bigger picture.” Master Windu said calmly but sternly but Qui-Gon remained unfazed.
“As Jedi, we are peacekeepers, not soldiers.” He said before turning to face Grand Master Yoda, “Master Yoda, I know the Force sent me visions of the attacker and is guiding me to them. If it wasn’t for the Force showing me the unique darkness that clings to them, I would not have been able to find them amidst the darkness that surrounded the planet. The Force is making it clear that this person must be found and stopped.”
Yoda sighed, looking down, closing his eyes in contemplation before coming to an answer looking back up and nodding at Qui-Gon. “Follow your visions, Qui-Gon. Lead you astray, the Force will not.”
“I am not the only one being sent visions,” Qui-Gon said calmly as Yoda stared calmly back with the rest of the council doing the same.
“Visions of what?” Shaak Ti asked the question on everyone's minds.
“My padawan, Obi-Wan, is having visions of a near-human man, who looks similar to Master Fay. The same one that has been supplying the Hutts with the droids that I have heard about in the outer rim. Visions of the man either helping us or killing Jedi, as he clashes against him. Sometimes it was all of it in his visions.”
Dooku’s gaze bore holes into Qui-Gon's head, and he knew that his old master would want answers. Qui-Gon could only give him so much since the visions never showed them everything. Obi-Wan took it as a sign that he needed to go to the battles raging in the outer rim and stop this bounty hunter.
Qui-Gon urged his apprentice to be cautious and not rush out so quickly. The boy soon to be a man had felt unnerved by the visions of the lightsaber he bore witness to in the visions and was reluctant to even speak of it. The fear that gripped his heart was the most he had ever seen him afraid but he had calmed him down enough to listen to reason.
“Then this bounty hunter must be apprehended. From what my sources in the outer rim have managed to learn, the bounty hunter's name is Corvo Attano, who appeared out of nowhere on Nar Shaddaa making a name for himself. He has quickly gained the attention of the Hutt’s and is currently on a task given to him by Jabba the Hutt himself.” Dooku said in a tone that held a hint of respect.
“He is currently on a mission to deal with the Echani that Nute Gunray had employed and used to take out several hidden major outposts the Hutts were using for their businesses. From what we have gathered he is somewhere on Eshan.”
“I cannot tell if he is either brave or foolish for going to the Echanis homeworld considering their history of being isolated despite still being a member of the Republic and would not take kindly to a bounty hunter under the employ of the Hutts stepping foot there.” Oppo Rancisis who had remained silent until now cut in.
“Most would not, but it is hard to say if that would stop Corvo or not. With how resourceful the stories are of him it wouldn’t surprise me to learn of him surviving and accomplishing his goal considering he was the one who acquired the evidence that the Hutts have touted as the Trade Federation being the ones who started this conflict.” Dooku said keeping his opinions to himself about how he believed the Hutts were not lying.
“He is the one that had infiltrated a fortified compound and captured a merchant there while escaping with no trouble?” Eeth Koth asked, looking more interested having looked at the reports of notable people that the Hutts had in their employ and despite Corvo rarely ever being seen on any battlefield he had proven to be a dangerous man.
“The very same. His being on Eshan has helped the Hutts immensely with the Echani forces being withdrawn to find him. I cannot hold that against them when he had managed to plant explosives in enough crates to cripple a Lucrehulk that would have brought enough food and supplies to Coruscant to last for a month. His droids also have proven equally dangerous. I recommend petitioning Eshan to let Republic forces on the planet to either apprehend him or kill him if Master Qui-Gon's padawan visions are anything to go by.” Dooku said his peace on the matter.
The council didn’t object to the topic of killing him after seeing enough to know how dangerous Corvo was in their eyes, and learning of the visions that Obi-Wan had been having of this man and the disappearance of the Jedi and Judicial forces on the planet with the kyber crystals before the conflict broke didn’t appear to be a mere coincidence to the council.
“I agree with Master Dooku, Corvo Attano needs to be apprehended. He has committed many crimes against the Republic. With him being in the inner rim we can send several Jedi without fear of them being attacked and killed.” Mace Windu said evenly but everyone could tell he was ready to go and capture Corvo himself if given the opportunity.
Many Jedi have died because of his droids and countless sentients have gone without supplies because of him. Even now despite the stalemate, several worlds are going through shortages. Coruscant is one of them but of course, it took priority over the other worlds with it being the center of the Republic.
All this suffering and he was only making it worse, with the many lives he and the other bounty hunters have taken and suffering they have caused they will be held accountable and face judgment for their evil actions.
The discussion amongst the high council continued, ranging from different battles and Dooku's advice being heeded since he was one of the few if not the only Jedi with experience leading troops in battle. The topics also involved ensuring the Trade Federation doesn’t go under and keeping them supported in the conflict despite how Qui-Gon and Dooku had their reservations about the company.
They understood that the Republic relied on the Trade Federation to bring goods from the outer rim to the core worlds to survive and not go through shortages. There were other companies of course, but they did not have the numbers and power that the Trade Federation did.
One of the issues the two of them would occasionally speak about besides their philosophies about the Force and how to get the Jedi to reform from their stagnant ways. The Republic has grown far too reliant on the company that had developed a near monopoly on the trafficking of goods.
Soon enough the council meeting came to an end as the figures of the various Jedi Masters disappeared save for one.
“Qui-Gon, I will send you a group of Jedi as support,” As Qui-Gon opened his mouth to speak his old master and friend cut him off, “I know you are capable Qui-Gon and a group of Jedi would make it harder to swiftly hunt this… Sith down, but you need the support. You struggled against this Sith, you need backup. I don’t care what the council or Master Yoda has to say about it, if the Sith have returned then we must be ready.”
Qui-Gon fell silent, nodding and accepting his mentor's support knowing better than to argue with him on this subject. There were many things Qui-Gon would argue with him over, but not on this.
He wasn’t exactly against having some backup so long as they wouldn’t slow him and Obi-Wan down and were skilled enough to not get them all killed. That and so long as they won’t get too many people killed in their absence.
As if sensing his thoughts Dooku softly smiled, “I will make sure they are competent and can assist you Qui-Gon. With the many battles that have happened, I know which Jedi are capable of standing alongside you, even if they are not up to my standards. Their absence won’t cause many issues.”
When he said the part about standards his smile turned into a frown. Qui-Gon agreed with him. “The Jedi order and the Republic are ill-equipped for a conflict like this after the long peace that the galaxy has enjoyed.”
“That is putting it lightly my old friend. I have had far too many cases of Jedi falling to the dark side in these battles when surrounded by so much pain, anger, and death…” Dooku's face said it all, not just disgust at the order but sadness at so many Jedi not fully prepared for the darkness that would rise up in such conflicts.
The same darkness that corrupted them as they fell to it just as his second padawan, Xanatos did…
Qui-Gon shook away such thoughts as it wasn’t the time nor place and whatever had existed between him and his former apprentice was long gone now after he and Obi-Wan had brought his plan to an end years ago.
It showed that the Jedi council merely sent whoever was closest and could get to the outer rim the quickest and not the most capable for conflicts of this scale and size. The peace that had lasted for over a thousand years had been both a good thing and a detriment.
Qui-Gon and Dooku have had their differences in the past like Qui-Gon's views on the Force having deviated from the rest of the order but despite not agreeing with Qui-Gon's views on the Force or as he called it the Living Force he supported him all the same.
“Has it gotten worse?”
“I have managed to figure out which Jedi are better suited for fighting in the thick of it. It took far longer and far too many resources figuring that out that instead could have been better used to beat back the Hutts.”
Qui-Gon could see the weight his old master bore with the position the council had given him, the stress aging him. Before he looked young for his age and he still does, but he now looked several years older since this conflict started and having to deal with the council and how clueless they were about how to conduct military affairs or how to beat the Hutts.
Qui-Gon could only sigh as his master gave him a commiserating nod in turn. “As things stand the Republic is not capable of keeping a conflict like this going for much longer. Supplies are running low for the inner rim worlds while the Hutts, despite taking many of their businesses out of commission and making hyperlanes safe for trade ships to bring supplies, it's not enough.”
Dooku looked deep in thought as he continued, “The Hutts with the vast wealth they have been allowed to accumulate in the time the Republic has allowed them to operate can outlast us. Between the Jedi put under my command and the judicial forces and the worlds that sent aid with their planetary defense forces we have managed to reach a stalemate, but we will lose this conflict.”
“Has the council-”
Dooku cuts him off with a look of irritation in his expression, “The council along with the Senate has been made well aware of the situation. Despite asking to start peace talks with the Hutts, the Senate refused citing that was too much and an outrage. The council was no help either, I even went so far as to deem it dangerous enough for several of them to come and give aid regardless of the danger using the hyperlanes.”
Letting the conversation fall into silence to give his old mentor the time necessary to calm himself he closed his eyes to center himself in the Force before he let out a long sigh and opened his eyes looking far calmer.
“I apologize, Qui-Gon.”
“You have nothing to apologize for Dooku. It is good to have someone to talk to about these things.” Qui-Gon said calmly, more than willing to lend an ear to Dooku as he had done for him in the past.
“It’s a sad state of affairs when the rest of our order is so cut off from the rest of the galaxy they would have no idea what to make of what I am speaking about. Knowing them, they would try and tell me to let go of my concerns or some such words of advice that would work under normal circumstances but this is far from normal…” Dooku said, trailing off, shaking his head as he thought of how out of touch the Jedi had become.
“Before I leave Qui-Gon, here.”
Qui-Gon's comlink beeped as he brought it out, seeing a new number to contact on the secure link. Giving Dooku a raised brow as the man merely smirked, “If you or your padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi are in danger do not hesitate to contact me. Regardless of how badly I am needed in the outer rim, I will not abandon you old friend if you ever need aid.”
Qui-Gon merely smiled as he felt thankful for having such a good friend and former master. Bowing his head to the man, “Thank you, my friend. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. If you need assistance you need only ask me.”
“About that Qui-Gon…” Dooku said before Qui-Gon could end the feed Dooku looked far more serious than he had before. Which for Dooku spoke volumes since he always looked serious to those who knew little of him.
“Yes?” Qui-Gon said reluctantly.
“I know you do not wish to become embroiled in this conflict-- I am not asking you to help on the front lines or anything of the sort.” He cut what he was going to say off and instead tried to assuage Qui-Gon's refusal to aid in the conflict. “Please hear me out, Qui-Gon.”
Both fell into an awkward silence as Qui-Gon wrestled with his belief in staying out of conflicts that were the Republic's responsibility not that of the Jedi.
If the Force wished for him to fight in this conflict then it would have brought him to it one way or another. Sometimes the Force was not obvious with things but one way or another you are brought where it needs you to be if you are willing to listen to it.
Now some could argue that since the Force had led him to find the one responsible for incriminating the Jedi to the Hutts which was some irony right there, but they could argue that seeking the culprit is a good enough reason for him to join the fight.
He disagreed. Seeking conflict is not the path a Jedi should take. Stopping acts of evil and cruelty, certainly. He tried when he could to help those in need when he had both the time and resources.
But this war with the Hutts was done with little forethought like the Republic not having a standing military and the few people that knew what they were doing seemed to be the planetary defense forces stationed in the outer rim that had experience fighting off pirates, not trained mercenaries nor the more dangerous people the Hutts have sent to fight for them.
But his former master asking him to hear him out made Qui-Gon dread what he was going to ask of him. For if there ever was anyone in the galaxy who could get him to truly compromise on avoiding pointless wars and conflicts it was Dooku.
His bond with his former master and friend was something the rest of the order would frown on but Qui-Gon would openly acknowledge politely he did not care for that part of the order.
Any words they would have on it would fall on deaf ears.
Sighing, he looked up into Dooku's eyes, “I am willing to hear what you have to say.” He said keeping his voice neutral but not devoid of warmth or emotion entirely.
“Even if the assassin you are after is indeed what you believe them to be, and you somehow prove the Sith are still alive after a thousand years and that they were fanning the flames for this conflict I highly doubt the Hutts will accept that as an excuse to let the Republic off lightly for this conflict when they were willing to let it go for a fair enough price in the beginning.”
Both Qui-Gon and Dooku knew that despite what the Hutts demanded for what the Trade Federation had been accused of, what they asked for in turn was a surprisingly fair deal considering who was making the demands. It was still not something to scoff at demanding the right hand man of a powerful and wealthy individual like Nute Gunray and the amount of reparations from the Republic in spices.
But far fairer than anyone had expected with any sense to see it for what it was, but clear minds didn’t prevail since they were now in a conflict that should have been avoided.
Dooku continued as Qui-Gon did not like where this was going, “When this conflict comes to an end we need to have something that will make the Hutts come to the table and not be at an advantage over the Republic.”
Qui-Gon's thoughts raced as he tried to think of what he was getting at and accepted that he was not wrong when the conflict came to an end the Hutts would take the Republic for everything it was worth and will cause many worlds across the galaxy to suffer far more than they already had.
Things like economics were not Qui-Gon’s specialty for they did not truly interest him but even he knew enough to know that it would bring ruin to the Republic and that is just the Republic's financial issues should the Hutts be in a better position to make demands. Countless worlds that already struggled will be put in far worse states should that happen, and worlds that were stable now would become chaotic, to put it mildly.
So then what could they do to force the Hutts to compromise with them? What do they have that was more important than the obscene wealth they had amassed that could be wasted on such pointless things? When they have had their businesses attacked and destroyed yet more to draw from.
That’s when he realized what Dooku intended to do. He could only stare at him wide-eyed in shock. “So you realize what I must do for the Republic and the Jedi.” He said with a sad smile showing all of his stress knowing what he aimed to do.
Qui-Gon felt torn. Where before he had been calm facing down the entire Jedi council without batting an eye yet what the closest thing he had to a father planned to do was insane yet he understood why he needed to do this.
“Qui-Gon, not only will this put the Republic in a better position to negotiate, it will also help bring an end to this conflict. But the Jedi under my command are not skilled enough for this besides maybe a select few. Even the troops that have proven themselves capable on the battlefield will not be enough. I need your help.” Dooku implored him as he asked for his aid, knowing Qui-Gon's thoughts on this yet there was another reason for Qui-Gon contemplating helping him.
Despite his desire and belief that the Jedi should avoid needless conflicts unless necessary, this conflict has the potential to grow and become far worse and once it is done many innocent people will suffer and die years after as the galaxy feels the echo of this event for generations to come.
If the Hutts are allowed to be in a better position than the Republic but if something happened to the Hutts, the ones controlling the criminal element out in the outer rim then that too will cause far too many problems just as if the Republic collapsed in some form. So Dooku’s plan would find a balance of keeping the Hutt's position secure in the outer rim while saving the Republic and both sides may walk away wounded but not dead.
Qui-Gon pinched the bridge of his nose letting out a long sigh as he looked up at his old master, “What do you need?”
One of the few times he saw a genuine smile where Jedi Master Dooku smiled so wide he could see his teeth, the first being the time he had managed to overcome several traditionalist Jedi in philosophical debates and the second being now.
“How familiar are you with the planets of Tatooine and Nal Hutta?”
Qui-Gon felt like he was going to regret this…
