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"A spy then?"
"Possibly…" Sidious mused. "We could try to perform the same operation there as we did in the Temple itself."
The two Sith were talking about a program that Darth Paen had created and uploaded into the internal computer system of the Jedi Order, which automatically downloaded into any cleaning droid that connected to it. This allowed the cleaning droids, which had vocal receptors in order to take commands, to record segments of conversation when they were in specific rooms in the Jedi Temple.
It wasn't perfect, but they were an incredibly valuable espionage tool against the Jedi, who had no idea whatsoever that it was there. Force powers could not extend to discovering such minute details of code, and the droids never acted out of character. Indeed, they were not even aware of that segment of their programming. And there was never a living mind looking over the data live for the Jedi to sense.
Nor was the Jedi Order the only place where that program had come in handy. Hundreds, thousands of senators and business leaders were being spied on due to the same code. And there were other, even more esoteric espionage devices in place that only the Sith knew of scattered throughout Corsucant's upper echelons.
"Look into it," Plagueis ordered. "Then send me a copy of everything that has been going on since I have been out of touch. I want to go over it in minute detail, but I'll start with anything pertinent involving the Senate and your plan to slowly centralize authority. Send that to me immediately."
"Of course, Master," Sidious said, no emotion visible on his face. "I do, however, have a meeting this evening that I need to get ready for. The data will be sent to you in a few moments, but I will not be available until late this evening for further commentary."
"That will be fine. It will take me some time to get my thoughts in order about the information in any event."
Sidious bowed, and the connection cut off. A minute later, his anger poured out of him. His lightsaber activated, a red flame in the darkness of the room as he turned and smashed the chair he had been using into kindling. He raged around the room for a few moments, barely keeping control of his Force powers enough to keep them from bursting out from underneath his Force Stealth, before turning and snarling as he exited the room.
The old man might have come up with one or two ideas during his time away, but by the Force itself, it is time for there to be only one true Master here! Plagueis has outlived his usefulness. I am the chosen of the Force! Not him, not the vergence, me! And I have no need of my teacher loitering around the place!
Eventually, however, Sidious gathered his self-control together once more. He would simply have to either wait or look for an opportunity to do away with Plagueis in a less personal manner.
OOOOOOO
Despite his conviction that the Sith were still out there somehow and his guilt about their manipulation of him in particular, Master Dooku was wide awake the next morning, waiting for his new students to appear. He would work with the Masters and a few of the Knights who had been ordered to retrain themselves. The Masters he knew would probably need more work. After all had at last a few decades on most of the Knights, and so would prove to be all the more intransigent when it came to changing their combat skills.
At the same time, Harry, Aayla, and the others would train the youngling clan in the Clan Saa techniques, and the remaining Knights and padawans in furthering their own abilities. While this was going on, Lily and Master Fay would observe, getting a feel for the knights and padawans to decide who would join Shaak Ti, Giiett and Alecto in learning how to use runes. They had decided that Mak and Kass would not be introduced to runes just yet, not until Lily and Fay could meet their masters. Padawans knowing things like that which their Masters did not would drive a wedge between them, and the members of Clan Saa had no need to add any more such.
This group was entirely made of Masters and Knights, including many who Master Dooku knew had been forced to come here for retraining rather than simply agreeing to it. As such, he decided to get things off on the right foot.
"I am Master Dooku," he said softly, yet every one of them could hear his voice. It wasn't a Force trick; it was simple physical projection. "You are here because you all practice form six, Niman, the so-called Jack of all trades, master of none lightsaber style. Recent events have proven that this style is not enough. I care not what type of missions you are normally sent on. I care not about what sect you are part of. What I care about and what concerns me is keeping you all alive.
"I see doubt and concern, as well as irritation and other rather self-centered emotions in your eyes," Dooku said, scanning the room for a brief moment before walking through the class. "You do not agree with the council's orders to retrain yourselves in lightsaber skills. You do not agree that you should spend time on more physical Force skills. You believe you are either above them, will not need them, or that your current skills are good enough. Very well. I will not gainsay that just yet."
By this point Dooku had walked through the crowd of Masters and Knights to the entrance to the training area. He reached into a pocket and flipped a switch on a small control device before continuing to walk as several dozen, and then a hundred tiny little training drones appeared all around them, coming out of the small holding areas built into the floor around the training area. These were the same style that he had introduced Harry to when he was training his Force Precognition months ago.
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