An instant later, Dooku raised his hands and sent a stream of deadly Force lighting toward him. Yoda blocked the lighting automatically, grieved by this final evidence of Dooku's change in allegiance. Only those who turned to the darkside of the Force misused their abilities so. This he had feared ever since Count Dooku left the Jedi Order.His old student had not just left the path of the Jedi; he had betrayed everything he had once stood for. He had joined the dark side. "Much to learn you still have," Yoda told him. A startled expression crossed Dooku's face at the utter failure of his attack. Then his eyes narrowed. He lowered his hands and replied, "It is obvious that this contest will not be decided by our knowledge of the Force, but by our skills with the lightsaber".
As he spoke, he reignited his weapon and whirled it in the formal salute that Yoda remembered teaching him fifty years before. Yoda drew his lightsaber and answered the salute. In contest, he had no interest, but in stopping Count Dooku, he had great deal of interest indeed. And Dooku had left him no other choice. Count charged forward. Yoda sighed. Nothing has he learned. Nothing has he remembered. He closed his eyes, bowed his head, and felt the Force that bound all things, even himself and the Count.
His lightsaber moved effortlessly, flowing with the force to find the balance point between them and block Dooku's every stroke. He did not even have to step back. The Count's attack grew more desperate, to no avail. Breathing hard, he backed away, but Yoda did not pursue him. To stop Dooku was all that was necessary, and he could not pass Yoda to reach his Solar Sailer. The Count slowed once more, then stopped, his blade braced against Yoda's. Yoda could feel him drawing on the dark side in an attempt to pressYoda's weapon back, but the darkside was only an easier path, not a stronger one. Back by the full power of the true Force, Yoda's lightsaber was unmovable. "Fought well, you have, my old Padawan," Yoda said gently, giving him the truth, though he knew that the Count would not want to hear it. Count Dooku had never been happy to merely fight well; the best he must be, always. But not this time.
Star Wars:Attack of the Clones Junior Novelization
Never could he strike low, though, for never did Yoda seem to be on the ground, leaping and spinning, flying all about, parrying each blow and offering cunning counters that had Dooku skipping backward desperately.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones novel
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