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| - “Traitor!” The words were out as soon as Dooku entered the room, but the former Jedi ignored them with cool elegance as he regarded his captive. Before him Obi-Wan was secured in an array of mist which bound him at the wrists and ankles. He was also rotating, which annoyed Obi-Wan as he now had his back to Dooku. “I still don’t understand why you regard me as your enemy, Obi-Wan,” Dooku remarked dryly, walking around so they could see eye to eye. “I think the fact that you captured me confirms that,” Obi-Wan replied. “This has nothing to do with me, I assure you,” Dooku told him. “I will petition immediately to have you set free.” “Well I hope it doesn’t take too long,” complained the Jedi, “I have work to do.” “Might I ask why a Jedi is doing all the way out here on Geonosis?” Dooku asked. “I’m tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett,” Obi-Wan told him. “Do you know him?” “There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of,” Dooku remarked loftily, “the Geonosians don’t trust them.” “Well who can blame them?” reflected Obi-Wan. “But I assure you, he is here.” Dooku paused, his expression was unreadable, then his tone turned graver. “It is a great pity that our oaths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you.” Dooku glanced at Obi-Wan to see if there was a reaction to the mention of his former Master’s name, but there was none so he continued. “I wish he were still alive, I could use some of his help right now.” “Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you,” Obi-Wan declared with conviction. “Don’t be so sure, my young Jedi,” Dooku rebuked, returning to the same condescending tone he had used in the beginning. “You forget, that he was once my apprentice just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the Senate, but he would never have gone along with it if he had learned the truth as I have.” “The truth?” Obi-Wan asked. "The truth,” Dooku repeated. “What if I were to tell you that the Senate is now in the control of a Dark Lord of the Sith?” “No, no, that’s impossible,” Obi-Wan replied promptly. “The Jedi would be aware of it.” “The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision my young Jedi friend,” Dooku said. “Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord, called Darth Sidious.” “I don’t believe you,” Obi-Wan said, meaning every word. “And why should I?” “Would it interest you further to know that the conference between myself and the so-called ‘Loyalist Committee’ is nothing more than a trap?” Dooku queried. “No, you wouldn’t dare,” the Jedi murmured. “Come, come, my friend,” Dooku laughed. “Surely you would think I have no better things to do than to tell lies to an unarmed prisoner?” “But the lives of the Loyalists—” Obi-Wan interjected. “A necessary loss,” averred Dooku. “This is the only way it can happen, the only way to remove the Sith influence in the Senate. You must help me, Obi-Wan. Together we will destroy the Sith! ” “I’ll never join you, Dooku,” Obi-Wan said without hesitation. Dooku looked coolly at Obi-Wan with an expression of disappointment. “It may be difficult to secure your release,” Dooku remarked caustically, leaving Obi-Wan to contemplate these words. Nalanda’s starship, while still plated with the royal chromium, was not as imposing as the one she had left behind on Coruscant. Still, it served the purpose even without the usual array of crew and security. Aside from Nalanda and Padmé, the only others on board were the pilot and second officer, both whom had long served Nalanda’s family. Beside Nalanda in the cabin, Padmé sat disguised as a handmaiden. “We shall be arriving soon, Senator,” the second officer told her. “I must say there was quite some surprise from the port authorities.” “Thankyou,” Nalanda said, straightening her white velvet cloak. “I hope they have found Danta by now,” she murmured, more to reassure herself than anything else. “Your life is in danger too, m’lady,” Padmé reminded her. “Here I am hoping to save many, many lives,” Nalanda countered. “How can that be done, senator, if your life is not among those saved?” Padmé persisted. “M’lady, I know by now that there’s nothing I can say that will change your mind, but you must admit that the two events are connected. The assassination attempts and now the kidnapping. It seems as if someone wanted you off Coruscant and then wanted you to attend the summit.” “But Viceroy Gunray is behind the attacks,” Nalanda said. “Master Kenobi said so.” “That doesn’t make as much sense as it should,” Padmé told her. “And there’s every change that the Viceroy will be here, particularly after what we now know.” Nalanda merely adjusted her cloak again, turning over Padmé’s apprehension in her mind. Imbroglio was hardly a planet, and it boardered on being a gas giant. Its atmosphere could support most sentient beings even if its natural features could not. Aside from the bare, inhospitable plains most of Imbroglio was covered in clouds. Yet the two native species—the Brolgs and Kameels—lived above the clouds in cities supported by large curved struts, mining the gasses and metals that were beneath. From space, Imbroglio looked like a swirling expanse of clouds and as one neared the silver dots of the various cities could be seen. The largest and the capital was Caldera, their destination and the venue for the summit. Padmé noted as they descended that the sun cast a golden glow over the sea of clouds, a gold that reddened as they gradually neared the city. Nalanda had deliberately chosen attire that was both striking and imposing for her arrival, an elaborate combination of black, grey and white. Inside the large spaceport her host Kanesh Dijoro was waiting. He was a Brolg, a grey skinned humanoid with two horns extending from the crown of his head. He wore a floor-length white robe which left his arms bare. Attending him were several short, non-descript Kameels, their ability to change their skin and form made them sought-after assassins. Yet it was with Kanesh that Nalanda had made all the arrangements prior to this, and now was they first time they were to meet face to face. “Senator Nalanda.” Kanesh came forward and bowed over Nalanda’s hand, his smile revealed a mouth of pointed teeth. “What a pleasure this is to meet you at last.” “The pleasure is all yours, administrator,” Nalanda replied dryly. “My only concern is that we may stop the storm which is about to break.” “A full scale war would affect us all,” Dijoro agreed, he beckoned to a waiting speeder and they set off away form the port. Padmé sat behind, deliberately not focusing on the conversation. “I must say that your arrival is somewhat unexpected,” Kanesh intoned. “You sent word that Representative Pela was to take your place.” “Chancellor Palpatine insisted so after several attempts were made on my life,” Nalanda told him. “When I received word that he was unable to attend there was little choice but to take up my original plans.” “Of course,” agreed Kanesh. “What matters are the lives of the millions upon millions that will be affected by this war if it takes place,” she continued. “I trust that everyone has arrived?” “We are still waiting on Count Dooku himself,” Kanesh told her. “But he is scheduled to arrive later today so it is of no real concern.” He must be still on Geonosis, Nalanda thought, but Kanesh was speaking again. “We hope to begin as planned tomorrow,” the Brolg said. “But there is a small reception organised for tonight, will you be able to join us?” “Gladly,” Nalanda assented, thinking it the best time to size up her opponents.
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