An undisclosed location

Count Dooku was once again kneeling before a holo projector, he had just received news on Cydon’s defeat and after sending two scouting parties to look for maul he had received no replies. Dooku’s heart sped up as the holo projector burst into life and the image of Darth Sidious illuminated the room.

“Greetings master.” Dooku spoke, without lifting his head

“What news do you have concerning Maul?” Sidious questioned his apprentice in a calm and collected voice.

Hearing his master speak in such a manner sent a shiver down Dooku’s spine as he answered “I’ve sent my best scouts to Lotho minor but none have retur-.”

“And? Why haven’t you gone personally?” Sidious interrupts him

“Personally master? But why woul- gak”Dooku was now a meter above the ground, both hands grasping his neck as he struggled to take in air while his master force choked him

“NOT ONLY DO YOU FAIL AT THE TASK I GIVE YOU, NOW YOU LIE TO ME!!!!” the image of Sidious jerked his raised arm, causing Dooku to smash into a nearby wall as Sidious growled at him.

“Ma….Master I would ne….never li…..lie to you.” Dooku responded, trying to ignore the fear that started creeping into his mind.

Moving his fingers like a puppeteer and positioning Dooku to once again face the holo projector, Sidious continued, “More lies. At least be good at it if you plan on trying to fool me, your best scouts you say? Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your apprentice, or do you think she just slipped my mind? Think I don’t know about your new pet bounty hunter? On the contrary, I know that just like you he failed his master but at least he had the decency to die trying to carry out his job.” As a look of fear crept onto Dooku’s face Sidious couldn’t help but smirk as he continued speaking, “and now you think that because of your station, going to a garbage planet is beneath you.” Letting go of the force choke, Dooku fell to his knees, his every breath burned like fire was making its way through his lungs as he struggled to catch his breath. Sidious continued, “I am the one who decides who and what you are beneath. Now enough of this fool’s errand for the force harvester, Republic forces have already formed a blockade around the planet and any chance you had of retrieving it is lost. See to it that you find Maul, our plans are already in danger of failing due to this latest disturbance in the force. See to it that you do not fail me again, apprentice.”

A day earlier

“Well that does explain some things, but really? Force sensitive?” Atin questioned. The group was now in Atin’s workshop, the idea of entertaining guests had never crossed Atin’s mind so they were seated on makeshift chairs as they spoke.

“We felt it when you screamed at the droid earlier, that and considering who your father is it makes sense that you are. There is a test we can do to make sure if you want.” Anakin answered.

“I don’t doubt you, though i am curious to see how this test works but we can do that later. First let’s address the more pressing matters at hand,” Atin replied.

“Agreed.” Obi wan spoke up, ”Your mention of a sith artifact has me worried.”

“No Need to worry about that.” Atin answered, “As long as the republic can provide protection for a while I have a plan to get rid of it.”

“Before you tell us about your plan tell us about the artifact itself, what exactly lead you to believe it’s of sith origin?” Obi wan spoke up.

“Simple really,” Atin answers with a shrug. “Just had to put two and two together, when I got too close to it before it felt as if all the energy was leaving my body and I couldn’t help but want to move closer, for some reason my body wanted to go towards it and surrender everything regardless of my will, if Floaty hadn’t pulled me back in time I wouldn’t be here right now. Later, when Cydon swaggered in here talking about a sith artifact it just made sense, my working theory is that it acts as some sort of battery or storage unit for something much larger and more deadly, I can’t be sure what the purpose of whatever that is but I’m damn sure I’d rather not see it in action.”

“We’ll have to do our own checks of course, but what you’ve described does sound sinister enough to be sith related. And your plan to get rid of it?” Obi wan replies.

“Easy.” an exited smile crept onto Atin’s face as he spoke his next words, “We chuck it into the sun.”

Obi wan let out a nostalgic sigh before he spoke, “There’s the Mandalorian insanity I remember.”

Forcibly wiping the shocked expression off his face Anakin spoke up. “Yeah that’s probably not a good idea, we haven’t even seen this artifact yet, who knows what will happen if we ‘chuck it in to the sun’ as you put it.”

A look of disappointment made its way onto Atin’s face as he replied to Anakin, “Well, any better ideas?”

“Why yes I do actually have a better idea” Anakin Faced Atin and flashed a cheeky smile, “We chuck it into a black hole.”

‘Slap’ Looking toward the origin of the noise Atin and Anakin saw Obi Wan with his hand on his forehead and heard him mutter, “Insane. The both of you.”

“Always wanted to see a black hole in person, sounds like this is going to be an interesting mission.” A visibly exited Rex chimed in from next to obi Wan.

“I stand corrected, all three of you are insane.” Obi Wan states while rubbing his temples, “let’s see this thing before we decide what we’re going to do with it.” Obi wan glanced toward the entrance before looking at Atin, “but before that why don’t you introduce us to your little friend hiding by the doorway.”

Seeing that she was noticed Miilo made her escape, Atin’s ears perked up when he heard a barely audible ‘ting’ amongst the pitter patter of Miilo’s feet as she ran. Stepping out of the door Atin noticed a single bolt lying on the floor, recognising it as one of Sparky’s he let out a sigh before turning to Floaty, “take our guests to the artefact and see to it they have everything they need, they happen to be uniquely equipped to inspect it safely, I have a little girl to find and a malfunctioning droid to fix.” Turning back to Obi wan Atin Continued. “Miilo’s a bit shy, but shell come around, we can discuss our next actions after you come back.”

Floaty Led Obi wan and Anakin to the welded Doors locking away the force harvester before leading Rex back outside to inform the rest of their group of the situation. Atin on the other hand was looking for Miilo, After about a half an hour of searching he heard crying coming from one of the vent covers in the hallway, crouching down he heard the crying become muffled as the guilty party noticed someone was near and tried to make herself quiet, Letting out a sigh Atin sat next to the vent cover and leaned his back against the wall.