~Storm's P.O.V.~
My eyes fluttered open to find myself in an unfamiliar place. I was stuck in a magnetic containment field without my belt, which meant my lightsaber was missing. It was very cold and rather dark. I scanned the area to find several statues and elegant paintings, and two IG-100 MagnaGuards beside me, holding electrostaffs. Where was I? I then heard that familiar voice, one I didn't want to hear. "Ah, you're awake. Good."
I narrowed my eyes. "Dooku."
I watched as he made his way towards me. Once he stood in front of me, he spoke. "Welcome to my home."
I'm in Dooku's castle on Serenno? This wasn't good, this was very bad. I could feel myself begin to panic. Dooku's home was without a doubt well guarded and without my comlink, the Jedi Council has no idea of where I am. For all they know, I could be dead.
"It's a perfect fit for you, Dooku. It's dark and cold, like you." I retorted.
Dooku kept my eyes on me as he spoke. "Do it."
With those two simple words, the two MagnaGuards raised their electrostaffs and struck me. I let out a scream as the pain of the electricity surged through my entire body. After a long and painful minute, Dooku ordered the MagnaGuards to stand down. I let out a relieved sigh, happy to have some rest. The monster I fought on Devaron then approached Dooku. He knelt before him. "Master, it has been done."
Dooku's eyes lit up. "Well done, Savage."
So that's his name...I should've known Savage was Dooku's new apprentice. I let out a chuckle. "I should have known you have a new messenger servant."
This angered Savage deeply. He stood up and whipped around to face me. "I am not his messenger. I am his apprentice."
I could feel his anger radiating from all around him. An idea then popped into my head. It was a risky plan but if done correctly, I could escape.
"Oooh, is that what he told you?" I taunted. "You're a monster, Savage. Dooku couldn't teach you even if that's what he wanted. You wanna know why? Because you are a brute who has no power!"
Savage let out a growl as he raised his spear. "I'll show you who has power!"
"Enough!" Dooku snapped. "Savage, lower your spear this instant."
"But she said-" Savage protested.
"Now!" Dooku ordered.
Reluctantly, Savage lowered his spear. He muttered to himself as his glowing yellow eyes glared at me. Dooku then turned his gaze towards me. I noticed a twinkle in his eyes, making my stomach churn.
"Nice try, Storm. I'm afraid manipulating Savage won't work this time. But I am glad you are following my footsteps." Dooku praised. "Manipulation is one of my favorite tools. One way or another, I will get you to join me. But I do have hope that you will do it willingly."
"You're delusional if you think I'll join you!" I spat.
Dooku took a step towards me. His face hardened. "You will join me and continue my legacy. You are a Dooku, it is in your blood. Perhaps some time with the MagnaGuards will help you see this."
He then turned around and walked off along with Savage, leaving me alone with the MagnaGuards. They wasted no time in amplifying their power, striking me with pain I didn't know existed. Days turned into weeks and I eventually lost count of how much time I had spent in Dooku's castle. The MagnaGuards would torture me for many hours of the day, leaving me little time to rest. I then heard footsteps heading towards me. I weakly looked up to see Dooku. He normally had no expression while torturing others, but this time he looked pained. I tried not to look to much into it. He was still an evil Sith Lord and the leader of the Separatists.
"I don't like hurting you, Storm." He mentioned.
I scoffed. "Then why torture me, huh? You know I'll never forgive you for leaving!"
"I know you blamed yourself when I left." He mentioned.
My face fell, but I remained silent. Dooku noticed as he continued. "...It wasn't your fault, Storm. You were one of my best students, and I hadn't told you why I was leaving because I didn't want you to be disappointed in me. You looked up to me, you wanted to become as great as me."
"Well that was the past. And you're right, I'm very disappointed in you." I shot back.
I then remembered the looks he would give me like a proud father would to his daughter. I couldn't help but feel betrayed. I narrowed my eyes at him. "You knew...when you met me you knew that I...I'm your granddaughter, didn't you?"
Dooku hesitated, making me repeat my question, much louder this time. "Did you know?!"
The amount of anger I projected in my voice shocked Dooku. It wasn't enough to make him go speechless though, but I did hear his voice falter. "Yes...But that wasn't the only reason I wanted you to become my padawan. I did see great potential in you. I knew you would become a great Jedi, but you needed the right Master."
"And you believed you were that right Master?" I retorted.
Dooku nodded, his confidence had returned. "I do. Storm, stop fighting me. I understand you, unlike your parents. Your mother and father don't understand what is was like to be a Jedi, the struggles, and the conflict that I sense is growing within you."
"Conflict? What conflict?" I repeated, rather baffled.
"I can feel your anger, your pain, your fear. The Jedi are fools, they're holding you back from your true potential. You're a Dooku, Storm. You are far more powerful than you realize. Remember our training? I allowed you to be your mischievous, empathetic, and ambitious self yet what did Master Allie do? She scolded you, forcing you to change who you are." Dooku explained.
I was taken back by his words. Master Allie never meant to change me, did she? Dooku didn't give me much time to think as he persisted on. "You're struggling with yourself. Allow me to change you. To help you."
"Never, you'll have a better chance training a Hutt." I rebuked.
Dooku glared at me. "You will change your mind."
He then turned to the two MagnaGuards and at once, the MagnaGuards hit me again. I felt the excruciating pain once again, making me scream out. This time Dooku waited until five minutes past to stop the MagnaGuards. I could feel my heart rapidly beating against my chest as I tried to focus on something other than the throbbing pain I felt.
"Change your mind?" Dooku inquired.
Instead of responding to his question, I decided to hit him where it hurt. And I knew just the place.
"You say you despise Prikri Kryze, then why did you take his granddaughter, Vorlega under your wing?" I questioned.
"I needed an apprentice, one that would get me to you, Storm, and possibly to your sisters, Maya and Jinx." He confessed. "Not to mention that having Vorlega turn against her family is an excellent addition."
"I won't leave the Jedi. You will never turn me." I shot back.
"You don't understand the struggle within yourself. It's holding you back, little one. Imagine what the Ca'ana sisters could do altogether if they were on the dark side. Imagine the power they would have. Together we'd rule the galaxy." Dooku mentioned.
"Yeah, well that's a hard pass for me." I responded.
Dooku scoffed. "You think you have a choice? No, I've given you a chance to join me before and it cost your life."
"Because you sent me and my friends into that Genosisian arena!" I protested. "I can't believe I actually looked up to you as a child...I can't believe you're the same person who was once my Master."
Dooku's face fell and for a second, I thought I saw him hesitate but that must've just been my imagination.
"I didn't want to do this, Storm. I wanted you to join me out of your own free will, but you've left me no choice. You're too oblivious, too trusting in the Jedi and the Republic. One day, you will thank me for this." He mentioned.
Without warning, I felt him enter my mind. I felt great pain as he tried to change things around. I used all my strength to push him back. However in doing so I felt more pain that flowed from my head to my entire body. Once the pain became way too intense, I let out a scream. Tears began falling down my cheeks.
"Why do you struggle? I'm your grandfather, Storm. And all I've wanted is the best for you. Why is that so hard to understand, little one? Why stay with the Jedi? They are constantly scolding you, constantly pushing you down. You wish to prove yourself a worthy Jedi Master, but they won't let you. In their eyes, you will never be a Jedi Master." He explained.
My heart shattered at his words. "I won't?"
Dooku's face softened. "I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you, Storm. But the Jedi Council has no intentions of making you a Jedi Master. They think you're too powerful, too reckless. There's already whispers of them throwing you out."
I couldn't believe his words. Was he telling the truth? I began to fear the possibility of being thrown out. No, I can't be. The Jedi is all I know. They're my family. I don't know how or when but I felt myself losing control.
"I, on the other hand, care for you. And I see the true potential you have. Now all you have to do is stop struggling and join me. I will be the grandfather you always wanted, the one you looked up to. You will become my apprentice like in the Jedi Order." He reminded me.
"Will you abandon me like you did at the Jedi Temple?" I asked, surprised that I hadn't used another one of my retorts.
"This time I intend to remain by your side, little one." He assured me. "You will not be restrained by anyone and you can have whatever you want. The petty rules of the Jedi Code to not apply to you or me."
I then thought back to Koltav. No more hiding, no more secrets. We could finally be together. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I was no longer the same person. I was someone else...a new person. I had different memories, ones that I didn't have before. A grin appeared on Dooku, my grandfather's face. "My beloved granddaughter, you are reborn as a Sith Lady. From this day forth you will be known as Darth Naexle Dooku."
After my grandfather released me from the containment field. I knelt before him. "What is thy bidding, Master?"
"Rise, my child. We have plenty of work to do." He informed me.
•••
Grandfather had informed me of everything. His words aligned with my memories. I had many painful memories of how my parents let the Jedi take me away, holding me back of my true potential, and using me as their puppet.
Currently I was in his throne room. I glanced over to the lime green StainGlass window, seeing my own reflection. My glowing yellow eyes flickered down to my uniform, which consisted of a long black cloak, a red tunic, gray pants, a belt containing my double-bladed lightsaber, black leather Sith gloves, a mouth cloth cover, hiding part of my face, and black boots. I then turned around to see my grandfather kneeling before a hologram of a man in black robes made of Zeyd cloth. Grandfather greeted him. "Master. We are heading to Cerea as you have advised."
"Good. I trust you'll make better progress this time. And your granddaughter?" The man asked, sounding awfully familiar.
"She's been turned into an ally, Master. I am certain the rest of the Ca'ana sisters will follow her lead." Grandfather explained.
"I hope so...for your sake." He replied.
With that the hologram faded. Grandfather then stood up before turning to face me. "We're going to introduce you to the others, little one. Are you ready?"
"I'm more than ready, grandfather." I replied.
He gave me a grin before we headed out of the castle with Savage and boarded a ship that took us aboard a heavy cruiser. Once we reached the bridge of the cruiser, I saw Grievous, Vorlega, Sev'rance Tann, Kadrian Sey, Saato, and surprisingly I saw two more former Jedi as well which were Sora Bulq, a Weequay male and Jedi Master, and Tol Skorr a human Jedi Knight.
"My friends I have gathered you all here to inform you of our two newest additions to the Dark Acolytes: Savage Oppress and Naexle Dooku." Grandfather announced.
At his words, I lowered my hood and pulled down my mouth cloth cover. As soon as I revealed myself, everyone knew who I use to be. Grievous let out a chuckle. "If it isn't Storm Ca'ana."
"That was my past. Now I am reborn as Naexle Dooku, granddaughter of Count Dooku." I corrected.
Grandfather wore a proud look as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Yes, you are correct. Which is why as of today, I am making Naexle the leader of my Dark Acolytes and the second in Command of the Separatist Army alongside General Grievous. Naexle, you will be given the title of General and Supreme Commander."
At his words, everyone was baffled. I glanced over at Vorlega, who was fuming with anger. And she wasn't the only one, Tol Skorr was giving me a death glare. A smirk grew on my face. "Thank you, grandfather."
"Now that we have established that, Grievous, Vorlega, and Naexle, you will go to Cerea with an army and fleet. The Gossam Commandos, Commerce Guild forces are already on the planet fighting Republic forces. Savage, I'll need you to go on a special mission for me. Sora, you will come with me to Drongar with reinforcements. Saato, Sev'rance, Tol, you will take a fleet to Virujansi." Grandfather ordered. "Go, now!"
With that, we all went our ways. Grievous, Vorlega, and I took our own fleet and troops to Cerea. It didn't take long for the entire Separatist forces to know about me. Dooku personally took care of that. Vorlega, Grievous, and I were on the bridge of Grievous's heavy cruiser. We saw a Republic fleet above the planet.
"I know a of plan as soon as we land on the planet." Vorlega began.
However Grievous cut her off. "Allow the ex-Jedi to speak. She is the most familiar with the strategies of the Jedi and Republic scum."
At his words, Vorlega whipped around to face me. She narrowed her eyes at me, but remained silent. Her hands were enclosed in fists that were trembling by her side. I rolled my eyes. Vorlega's quite a drama queen.
"Send out a shuttle with droids, Vorlega and I will get the first wave to the surface, while you deal with the fleet." I suggested.
Vorlega raised an eyebrow. "And risk getting shot at?"
"We won't get shot, because I am happen to be the best pilot in the galaxy." I retorted.
"Ca'ana...or should I say Naexle is a bit reckless, but nevertheless she has proven herself a excellent pilot." Grievous defended. "Besides I shall distract with the Republic fleet, they'll be focused on the fleet that they won't even notice a small shuttle slip to the surface of the planet."
I gave Vorlega a smug look, causing her to growl. But she remained silent, knowing it was a lost cause to protest. Once we went over the plan, Vorlega and I were sent down in a shuttle with the droids.
Fortunately, Grievous was distracting the Republic forces so we managed to slip through without being blasted. Once we landed, Vorlega and I climbed out of the shuttle followed by the droids. I scanned the area to find we were on Tecave City, the capital city of Cerea. I had been been to Cerea once when Dooku and I were on a mission negotiating with the Council of Elders.
The capital had semi-tall buildings with clear blue skies, since they had no pollution. The ground was covered with lush green grass, bushes, palm trees, tecave plants, and many other plants. However, half of the capital was now in engulfed in flames, much of the plants were destroyed, and the sky was now blood red. Vorlega and I along with our army of droids approached the Gossam Commandos. They wore heavy armor, hats, goggles, and carried blaster rifles. One of the Gossam Commandos approached us.
"General Xochra, Supreme Commander Naexle." He greeted us.
I noticed Vorlega's lip twitch at the mention of my title, but she remained silent as the male Gossam continued. "We have half the capital in our control."
"What about the Council of Elders?" I inquired.
The Gossam shook his head. "No, we are working on that."
Vorlega furrowed her brows. "What are you thinking of?"
"If we can capture the Council of Elders along with the President, we will win this battle. Nothing will matter if we don't get to that side of the Capital, understood?" I questioned.
"Of course, but it is heavily armed with Republic forces." The Gossam warned. "And they have a few Jedi with them."
A grin appeared on my face. "Don't worry about the Jedi, leave them to Vorlega and me."