A red Republic cruiser makes it's way through the calm of space; a calm matched only by that of its three passengers.
Presently, these three Jedi were taking a call from Coruscant, care of the Old Folks Home.
The glowing, miniature form of the Temple's archivist continued, "...it was simple, actually. The Sith Lords fled to a place that existed, and the Sith Lords themselves existed, so all the information was right there in the Archives. All I had to do was use our Google search engine to find matches for "Sith Lords getaway planet coordinates," then I informed you immediately, Master Yoda."
Yoda smiled, and so would have Mace, if he hadn't lost the knack for it sometime around the Battle of Geonosis.
"Thank you again for your dedication, Jocasta Nu. We are very appreciative of your wisdom. May the Force be with you," Kenobi cut the connection even as he was finishing his sentence. Sometimes that woman's arrogance was more than his Jedi patience could handle.
One of the pilots, seeing that their call was completed, turned in his seat to face them, "We're nearing Korriban now, Master Jedi."
"Very well, pilot." Mace answered curtly.
"How will we know where to land? I can't sense them...the dark side is too elusive." Kenobi watched the planet grow larger in a viewport, a feeling of dread growing in the pit of his stomach.
"Hmmm, powerful is the dark side here. Difficult it would be, for us to find them, yes? Hm hm hm mm m." He raised his gimer stick and pointed it at Kenobi. "Three of them there are. Three of us also. Yet the advantage they assume they have. We do not need to find them, Master Kenobi. Find us they will."
Mace nodded. A small movement. Clearly he was already preparing himself for the coming confrontation.
Yoda hobbled up to the control area, to stand directly behind one of the pilots. "Land the ship, you may. Anywhere will do. Then leave, you must. Call you we will, when we are ready."
The pilots, trying not to appear confused merely nodded. As Yoda walked the short distance back to his friends, one pilot whispered to the other, "I didn't understand his landing instructions. Let's just land in a random spot, and get the heck out of here as soon as these crazy mystics are off the ship."
"Agreed," came the quick reply.
Sidious, having found a nice throne room, was sitting there watching Dooku and Vader try to tolerate each other's presence. He hadn't broken the rule of two, not yet. He was certain one of them would die in the coming confrontation with however Yoda had drummed up, and then the one who came out stronger would be his apprentice.
He was quite sure it would be Anakin, and was very pleased with himself for the brilliance of his scheme. How easily we betray our subjects, he thought to himself. He cackled.
Anakin sat cross legged on the floor, not quite centered in the room, so as to not be too close to Darth Tyranus, who was pacing and looking quite impatient. Anakin knew that Obi-Wan was coming. When he arrived, Anakin would have his revenge for the murder of his beloved wife, Padme.
He meditated, and the fire of anger filled his being, making his blood run hot, and his mind focused with razor sharp clarity on how sweet his defeat of Obi-Wan would be. He would savor it, and kill Kenobi slowly, and then the fool would understand the meaning of suffering. He would know what loss felt like when Anakin was done.
Dooku paced tirelessly. He was worried. As the Count of Sorenno, and the leader of the Separatist Systems, he was not above subtle political maneuvers. He did not care much for politics, but he could tell he was being set up. On the journey here, he had begun to wonder what might have happened in the skies above Coruscant, if Skywalker had gained the upper hand.
He knew Sidious to have had at least one apprentice before him, and he suspected more than just one. Dooku was old, and his ambition was not what it would have been if he were in this position a decade or two ago. He was not likely to rise up against Sidious and then seek an apprentice of his own.
He knew he must prove himself here, on Korriban. Prove himself superior to that whelp Anakin...but, then what?
He would still be under Sidious' thumb, and it was likely Sidious would continue his eternal quest for his next, more powerful apprentice.
Plots began to form in the strategist's mind. There was always a solution, just waiting for those strong enough to take it...
Sidious continued to cackle to himself, at various intervals, different scenarios playing out in his mind for the upcoming event. That arrogant little gremlin was finally going to pay, as well as his precious younglings. Oh yes, they were next. They would have to be, or he would be putting out one rebellion after another for the rest of his life.
He brought his mind back to his own younglings; one quite young, the other not so much. He could feel the conflict raging inside Dooku, and was curious to see what end it played out to. And he could feel the rage boiling inside Anakin. His power was growing by the minute! His hatred for the Jedi must have reached legendary status by now, and no one would be able to stand against him.
He would have to be wary after this, so that Anakin didn't try to take control of the Sith too soon. The promise of a Padme clone would keep him at bay for now, and Sidious was confident he could come up with some more things later.
Suddenly, Anakin looked towards the ceiling, and somehow past it, as if looking for...
Sidious cackled evilly as he felt three rather familiar ripples in the Force approach the ancient stronghold of the Sith.
Dooku stopped pacing and came to kneel in front of his master, "By your leave, I would seek out these Jedi to bring you the trophies of their defeat."
"You have my leave, Darth Tyranus. I want Windu's head from you." He held back the cackle, careful not to overuse that particular allegory.
"He will die, Master." An evil glint filled the old man's eyes, and Sidious was impressed with what he felt. Dooku would indeed kill Mace Windu today. Most impressive.
"And me, my master? Am I to bring you Obi-Wan's head? Or should I kill Yoda first, and then destroy the murderer?"
"Yes, my boy, now is the time for your journey to the dark side to be completed. Strike down your former master, and become more powerful than any Jedi the galaxy has ever known!" A full blown maniacal laugh escaped his throat this time, and he let it continue for a while; it echoed off the walls, and through the corridors of the structure. The very aura of the planet seemed to laugh with him, as if it couldn't wait for the spectacle about to unfold.
The three Jedi stepped off of the ramp of the ship, onto the rusted dust of Korriban.
Mace inhaled sharply, eyes locked in one direction.
"I was wrong, Masters," Kenobi looked in that direction also. "I can feel his presence easily, here."
"Hmmm...strong is his presence in the Force. Feel, I can, the three of them. Careful we must be, Sidious could hide in the aura of the planet, if he wished. Deception is his weapon, if know we do, his location, wants this he does."
Mace nodded. "I sense the truth in your wisdom, Master Yoda. I have opened myself to the Force, and it has shown me my destiny. Let us spring this trap, and get this over with."
Kenobi quickly assessed the situation also. "The three of us meeting the three of them is risky too risky, perhaps we could lead them off and engage them one on one."
"Anakin, you wish to face then, yes?"
Kenobi looked down, "I will face Anakin. He has betrayed the Order, but I do not hold vengeance in my heart, but rather pity. Destroying him now is the kindest act I can make, so that I must do."
Mace nodded again. "Dooku's mine."
"Yes, sense I sense, hmm hm hm hm m." The little green being hobbled toward the room of darkness, with the other two following closely behind.
Dooku strode purposefully from the room, feeling the progress of the Jedi. He wanted to confront them before they got this far. He had already picked a good spot to lead Windu to, and he needed to intercept them in a certain place to make it happen.
Anakin was not far behind him. He had not thought it through with nearly so much clarity, relying instead of his brute strength to carry him through this encounter. Obi-Wan will pay. Soon.
Sidious continued to sit in his throne. Yoda was going nowhere fast, and soon enough he would have his grand confrontation, that he had been looking forward to for such a long time. He ca-
Yoda stopped, and then so did Mace and Obi-Wan. They could not sense Dooku any longer, but Skywalker's movement towards them made the Sith's intent quite clear. Sidious was not moving.
It was not long until Dooku and Skywalker showed themselves. They weren't quite side-by-side, yet they approached at the same time.
"Master Yoda," rumbled the Count's pleasant baritone, "so glad you could make it to our happy little reunion here. And Master Kenobi, long have I waited to meet you again. Sadly, I will have to leave the two of you to your individual fates, as my Master has commanded that I kill just one man today." His stare turned meaningfully to Mace. "Come, Master Windu, let us spar once more! This time I promise to take more than your pride."
Mace lifted his saber from his belt deftly, igniting it and holding it above his head. "There is no emotion. I have no pride."
"Exactly!" The Count's red blade suddenly sprang into existence with a sharp snap-hiss , and leaped for Mace.
Mace parried this attack easily and the battle was joined.
Even as the embattled duo moved slowly moved off, Obi-Wan's focus remained locked on Anakin.
"You haven't joined the Sith, yet, my friend. There is still hope-"
Anakin wasted no time with words, and just attacked.
No one noticed Yoda renew his hobble towards Sidious...