Star Wars:The Apprentice

The sensation of being watched never left me. It was faint, but it was there—someone lurking just beyond reach, hidden in the shadows of the Force. 

I walked beside Dooku as we moved deeper into the factory, but my focus was elsewhere. The dark side coiled around me, sharpening my senses, heightening my awareness. Whoever was spying on us was skilled—better than most—but they weren't invisible. 

Dooku must have noticed my distraction. "You've sensed something." 

I gave a slow nod, keeping my voice low. "We're not alone." 

Poggle the Lesser halted mid-step, his mandibles clicking in irritation. "Impossible. The factories are heavily guarded." 

I didn't bother answering. Instead, I turned my head slightly, following the faint disturbance in the Force. It was a presence—not Jedi, not Sith, but something else. Someone skilled enough to hide, but not enough to completely escape my notice. 

Dooku's expression remained calm, but I could feel his interest. "Where?" 

I exhaled through my nose. "Above us." 

The high ceilings of the factory were lined with catwalks, dimly lit by the glow of molten metal below. The machinery hummed and roared, drowning out any quiet movements. It was the perfect place for a spy. 

Dooku turned his gaze upward, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows. Without a word, he lifted a hand, and in an instant, the dark side surged outward. The catwalk groaned under an invisible force—bolts snapping, metal bending. 

A figure leapt from the rafters before Dooku could rip them down, landing with expert grace on a lower platform. 

I caught a glimpse of them—dark clothing, a mask obscuring their face. Not a Jedi. Not a Republic agent. Someone else. 

The figure didn't hesitate. They bolted. 

I was already moving. 

Leaping off the platform, I let the Force carry me forward, closing the distance in a blink. The spy turned sharply, pulling a blaster from their belt and firing. 

I didn't even bother igniting my lightsaber. With a flick of my wrist, I caught the bolt mid-air and sent it spiraling back toward them. The spy twisted, barely dodging, and fired again. 

Annoying. 

I reached out with the Force and yanked the blaster from their grip, crushing it mid-air. 

The spy skidded to a stop, glancing around for an escape. But there wasn't one. Geonosian guards were already swarming the lower levels, sealing off the exits. 

Dooku landed gracefully a few feet behind me, watching with cold amusement. "Nowhere left to run." 

The spy didn't answer. Instead, they took a step back, reaching into their coat— 

I moved faster. 

With a sharp pull of the Force, I dragged them forward, slamming them down onto the metal floor. They hit hard but didn't cry out. 

I knelt beside them, grabbing the mask and yanking it off. 

Beneath it was a woman a Mirialan green skin tattoos around her eyebrows and mouth —mid-thirties, dark brown hair tied back, sharp eyes filled with defiance. 

She spat blood onto the floor and glared at me. "Took you long enough." 

Dooku stepped forward, regarding her with mild curiosity. "Who sent you?" 

She gave a breathless chuckle. "Wouldn't you like to know?" 

I frowned. There was no fear in her—only irritation, maybe a hint of resignation. 

I pressed a hand against her throat, not hard enough to choke, but enough to make a point. "You've been following us since we arrived." 

She smirked, despite her situation. "You're smarter than you look." 

I wasn't in the mood for games. 

Reaching into the dark side, I pressed into her mind—digging past her defenses, searching for answers. 

Pain flashed across her face, her breath hitching as I forced my way in. Images flickered through my mind—encrypted messages, hidden meetings, a ship waiting on the far side of the planet. A name surfaced before she managed to shove me out. 

Zalrin Kane. 

I narrowed my eyes. "You're working for Kane." 

The name meant nothing to me, but Dooku's expression shifted slightly. He knew it. 

The woman gritted her teeth but didn't confirm or deny it. 

Dooku sighed, as if already bored. "Kill her." 

I hesitated. 

She noticed. 

Her smirk returned, even as blood dripped down her chin. "What's wrong? Not so quick to follow orders now?" 

I hated that she was right. 

I had killed before. Many times. mercenaries, criminals a Jedi —whoever Sidious ordered me to. But this woman wasn't a warrior. She was a spy. An informant. 

And more importantly, she was a loose end. 

Dooku took a step closer, watching me carefully. Testing me. 

I knew what he wanted. 

I knew what Sidious would want. 

I gritted my teeth and ignited my lightsaber. 

Her smirk faltered slightly, but she still didn't look away. 

I didn't give her a chance to say anything else. 

The red blade slashed through her in one clean motion. 

She crumpled. 

Silence. 

Dooku exhaled slowly, as if pleased. "Good." 

I deactivated my blade, staring at her body. 

I didn't feel anything. No guilt. No satisfaction. Just… nothing. 

Dooku placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice low. "This is the price of knowledge. The galaxy does not reward mercy, nor does our Master." 

I nodded stiffly, stepping away from the body. 

Poggle and his guards arrived a moment later, glancing at the corpse. 

Dooku turned to him. "See to it that this was an isolated incident. If Zalrin Kane is interfering, we must act accordingly." 

Poggle clicked in agreement, motioning for his warriors to dispose of the body. 

I watched them drag her away, the echoes of their footsteps fading into the factory noise. 

Seven years from now, this planet would become the starting point of a war that would reshape the galaxy. 

And I was standing in the middle of it, knowing exactly how it would all end.

I turned to Dooku, my mind still processing what had just happened. The name Zalrin Kane meant nothing to me. 

"Who is he?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. "A Jedi?" 

Dooku's expression remained unreadable, but I caught the slight pause before he answered. "No. Zalrin Kane is no Jedi." 

I frowned. "Then what is he?" 

Dooku turned, motioning for me to follow as we walked away from the factory floor. Geonosian guards trailed behind us, ensuring our path remained undisturbed. 

"As I and our Master have taught you," Dooku said, his voice calm, "the Jedi and the Sith are not the only ones who wield influence in the galaxy. There are others. Individuals, organizations, and hidden players who work behind the scenes, shaping events from the shadows." 

I crossed my arms. "So Kane is one of them?" 

Dooku nodded. "He is a broker of information. A manipulator. Some call him a phantom, a man who trades in secrets. His network stretches across the galaxy—Republic space, the Outer Rim, even the Unknown Regions. He does not serve the Republic, nor the Sith. His only allegiance is to power and credits." 

I processed that for a moment. "So… a war profiteer?" 

"In a sense. But Kane is more than just a simple spy or informant. He is dangerous. He does not act without reason, and if he has taken an interest in Geonosis, that means he has seen something of value here." 

I glanced back toward the area where the woman's body had been taken away. "And she worked for him?" 

"Likely," Dooku said. "Kane rarely operates directly. He uses agents—spies, mercenaries, and politicians—people who do not even realize they are being manipulated. He prefers to remain unseen, but his presence is always felt." 

I frowned. "If he's that powerful, why haven't we eliminated him already?" 

Dooku smirked slightly. "Because power is only useful if it is directed properly. Zalrin Kane is a problem, yes, but one that can be used if necessary. That is why our Master has not ordered his death—yet." 

I clenched my jaw. Sidious. Of course. The Sith didn't eliminate threats. They controlled them, bent them to their will, turned enemies into tools to be discarded when they were no longer useful. 

Still, I didn't like it. Someone like Kane, lurking in the background, moving unseen? It made me uneasy. 

"Have you ever met him?" I asked. 

Dooku gave a small chuckle. "No. Few have." He looked at me with something almost amused. "But I imagine, in time, you will." 

I didn't know why, but that sent a cold feeling down my spine.