The Beast Within

Cato Neimoidia, was a beautiful sight to behold. Fog engulfed the entire forest, giving the small town of Nigrat, their own private world. Little went on in this small town. There was your private own shops to the pirated items stolen from space or who knows where else. The people were nothing like the beauty of the land. They could be cruel even to the nicest person that came on their life path.

Each house has about four rooms, one for the dinning as well as kitchen, one for the shower, and two for the bed rooms. About five people could live comfortable in one of these housing units. At least that is what the Trade Federation thought as well as others around town. It took from the fact that their planet was the most poorest in the sector. Yes it had a large restricted droid compound, but that did not mean they get shit from the trade federation.

For Crystal, it was a drag. She was your typical eight year old girl that was about to turn 9 in a week. Her eyes were an amazing shade of bright green with light blond-brown hair that runs to her shoulder. She has clear skin and as skinny as a stick. Prancing around town trying to find what trouble she could get herself into. Her favorite past time would be going to the local market to mix up each farmer's food items of the day.

Today was just the day to do it. All the farmers were out in the bright sunny day and selling the best crops of the year. Many were juicy from the spring rain that ran from the steep slopes of the near by mountains.

Crystal tip toed over to a stand that was selling some strange alien fruit to her that was a bright red with orange stripes. They smelled nasty to her nose and squinted. She quickly picked the fruit up when no one was looking and stuck it into her brown bag she wore over her left shoulder.

She always carried it around. The shoulder strap was starting to rip off the main bag from the result of so much use. Her mother gave it to her when she was four years old. It was a bit ruffled with patches, but it was still special to her. When she was five she got pins with images of her favorite movie for her birthday. She clipped them on with the help of her mother.

She looked around her just to make sure no one saw what she was doing. If she got in trouble again, she would be in for some serious punishment.

Her father worked at a high security base that dealt with droids of the Trade Federation. She did not know much of his job contents or what position he held. The one thing she knew was that he was super smart and made a lot of money. Being caught might put her father's job on the line. She could not risk that.

She hated how late her father would come home, or how often he would not come home. It was mostly just crystal taking care of herself. The hardest thing she had to learn was how to make food for herself that was safe for her and safe for the house. Every week she would stick her clothes into a all in one washer and dryer. The first time she had attempted this, she added too much soap and resulted in the house getting a cleaning in the proessce, But the job helped them keep a good lifestyle as well as help the trade federation.

Crystal walked over to another stand that was about two blocks away. There she found a fruit that she loved, an orange. The best parts about oranges were how juicy they were. The skin was a nice color for an orange and the texture was just right.

As she reached for the orange to buy it, a loud voice blew in the distance.

"Stop that girl! She is messing up all my damn fruit! Stop her!"

Crystal's head turned to where the voice was coming from and noticed it was from the same vender that had almost caught her a week ago. Breaking away from eye sight she faced her body in the opposite direction and ran down the crowded street. At first they moved out of her way like she was some type of illness, but as she got father away from the man the streets would not make way for her.

She took a sharp right down a small street used to for the farmers and their animals they buy. Clumps of animal fur ran along the buildings as well as the left over feces. When she knew she was safe and out of sight she sat down next to a dumpster that smelled like crap left out in the dry sun in summer. She flipped her hand up to her nose to hold the air at bay.

"There is nothing fun to do around here without getting into trouble!" Crystal said as she tilted her head back onto the wall.

As she looked up into the clear skies, she thought of her mother. It was three years ago when she was taken away from her. Her mother had beautiful red hair that went down to her breast with a natural curl. Her mother's eyes were a deep shade of green with a sparkle of life in them…

Crystal snapped her head back into focus as she hears some type of noise down the road from her. The street was dark where the sound came from, expect for the small bit of sunlight that was able to make its way down from the rooftops.

Crystal stood up brushing the dirt off her jeans then continued to look down the road. She could hear faint noises that she could not make out. Some sounded like some type of predator trying to climb up steel with claws. Others sounded like feet that were panicking to get away. Between those noises were gaps of eerie silent.

Her feet began to take control of her body as they moved her figure closer to where the sound was coming from. Panic was flooding her mind with fear but also curiosity of what was down that road. She knew she should be afraid, she knew what could happen when unknown demons could leap out at her from the shadows. Classmates at the local school thought she was crazy when she talked about these things, but they have never experienced what she did.

"Hello? Is anyone there? Hello?" Crystal asked in a low shaky voice. She could hear her heart racing in her head as she moved her head side to side locating what the sound was coming from.

Her question went unanswered, at least for a second. A loud blast was heard right before the side of a building down the road exploded with fire. Crystal went smashing to the ground with her hands covering her head. She heard a great battle go on around her as her form stayed on the ground to scared to move. Heat from a fire started to irritate her skin.

Come on crystal, you can do it. I have to be brave for mommy. I have to learn to fight my own fights so nothing happens to the people I love.

She took her hands off her head and looked up. What she saw in front of her shook her in fear. A figure with a long white beard, flowing brown drapes with red trimming, holding a white glowing sword was fighting some type of metal object.

His face remaindered her of a skeleton, but it's length was way too long to be a human, as it also looked unreal. At the bottom was no mouth at all but 4 rods that stood out from the white of this skull looking "mask". His body was huge, this creature could tower over her father like a child. It was slim in size but its power and swiftness was not lacking by the way it was fighting. It too held these swords, but had 2 of them. One was green in color and the other was a blue color. She also noticed that it gave off a small hum where the air touched it.

The animal's feet where pure talons, but instead of standing on heals it stood on top of its own talons. This thing was made for hunting and killing. There was no doubt in Crystals mind. In her mind she could see his claws tearing through flesh in bone leaving nothing behind.

But there was something that was familiar to Crystal. She could not place it but she had this feeling. Her pupils dilated as she was hit by unknown memory. It was not a pleasant one.

Crystals mind blasted to the past in that moment.

"Come on honey wake up! We need to get out of here. I'm so sorry to wake you but we need to get out", Crystal opened her eyes to look into her mother's eye. She then cleared the nasty stuff that always from around her eye lids when she sleeps.

"Mommy, give me five more minutes".

"No darling, we must leave now"

Her mother scooped her up in her arms with crystal giving little protest. She turned to face the door and looked at it. Crystal looked up at her mom worried that she was hurt or something. Small wounds surrounded her mother's hair line with blood running down the left side of her face. Her shirt was tattered with spots of blood around the neck line. Why would her mother just stand there looking at a door that has always been there. Nothing was wrong with the door; at least crystal didn't think so. Maybe it's a bad door she thought but it was always good to her

"Mommy are you okay?" Her mother looked down into her bright green eyes. Worry could be seen on the dark green ones of her mothers. A small tear rolled down her face then she nodded. Her lips were dry and cracking from the atmosphere of the planet.

"I am okay my lovely, but we have to get out of here and away as fast as we can. I need you to be as brave as you can and never look around you. Think of how proud daddy will be once we get back home." A small smile could be seen forming on her lips trying to believe that everything would indeed be okay.

"Okay mommy!" Crystal smiled up at her mother and put on the bravest face she could make.

Crystal snapped back to his time and world. Tears started to come from her eyes as she tried her best to wipe them away. There was some type of major battle going on around her and she must focus but the shock from the memory of the past shocked her. That day she knew her mother died, but it was so traumatic she forgot all about it. At least that is what her father said.

Another loud explosion woke her up from her thinking. She looked up to see that a gas tank that was laying there was thrown to that old guy and was exploded on impact.

The old guy swiftly jumped up and right back into the lighted sword duel again. The white skull thing was down to one sword but was reaching for a blaster that was hanging from his hip. The other fighter looked to much into his swings to notice. Their feet moved like they were doing a dance of life and death. It was a sight to be seen.

The thing snapped his wrist up and pushed the trigger down to send a blast right at the old man, but what came next surprised crystal and the animal as well. The old guy reached out his arm and somehow pushed the thing back in space. The blaster went flying in HER direction but the sword stated tightly in its clawed hand. The thing hit the building with such impact it send waves of concrete everywhere as well as a cloud of dust. A shadow appeared and seemed to leap out of the cloud so fast she thought she was seeing things. The animal was now standing on top of a building looking down at the jedi. Its head started to move to its right… at her.

No, please don't look this way. Please don't.

It's eyes meet crystal's for a split second but it felt like ever for her. His golden eyes seemed to glow with power and life, but the sharp predator black slits took the life out of her. They felt so familiar to her again. What was this? Is this someone from her past?

Was this it? Is this where I die?

Crystal's right foot slid back searching for a way to outrun this thing. The power of this thing was amazing and freighting.

As long as it lasted its head snapped back to look at the old guy that was charging up the wall with some type of power. Its sword rose to guard himself as the old guy came up slashing the air out of anger.

"Mommy I'm scared!" Crystal said to her mom as they ran down the street. She looked to her right as her mother carried her.

A young guy held something that was bright. It was so bright to crystal. It kept coming down, killing droids and people. The blood around her rising up to great her. Show her that she was next on the list. She clutched her mother tighter. Why was this guy doing this? Did lives mean so little to this person? She just wanted it to stop. Her voice cried out.

Another flashback drove her back to that day. She wanted this to stop. Why was this happening to her now?

Was this guy the same as the person that was attack grievous now? Did he just want death? If so she had to stop it. She was old enough and there was a blaster right in front of her eyes. She has never used one though.

Ha think what the kids at school would think if I told them I shot something with a blaster. No stop. This is not the time to think about that. I must stop this guy.

Crystal leaned down and touched the handle to the blaster. She could tell it was old. The touch of it was so cold, like death. She ignored the feeling and clutched the grip and pulled the blaster up. It was slightly heavy to her . But she did not care, she was not planning to hold it long. She was going to fire the damn thing when the old guy was not looking and blast him with it. Hopefully it will kill him. For her mother.

She didn't know what the other thing would do. It might find her as the new threat coming after her but she knew she had to stop the old guy before he kills people on the street.

When this came to her mind she looked around to see if anyone was around, watching this scene unfold around her. No one was around to her surprise. She thought this had to catch there attention with all the noise going around. Even if she was father down the street where no one was around. All these damn buildings were factories where items were stored.

She focused back on their fighting which has now turned into a pure on the ground sword slashing event. Both were keeping their ground. She raised the gun up to the fighting, tring to focus the gun's target on the guy.

I know I'm going to get into some depe trouble but that has never stopped me before. I might be killing a man's life, but if that means I save many other's then I will. I will protect everyone here no matter what!

Crystal pulled the trigger and the blaster fired. In less than a second the blaster fire hit the guy on the leg in which he lost focused and shouted in pain.

She held her breath as she saw what happened. Just as he lost focus on the fight, he got the tip of the other thing's sword in his chest. The look on the old guys face glued Crystal's face to his eyes. They lost al lthe live in them and his skin turned a pale white. Right before he collapsed, he glanced down the road at her.

Tears started to develop on her check as she started to shake. She did it. At least she helped. He lost focus on the fight causing him to die but she did not directly kill him.

The thing pulled the sword out of the man's chest turning it off. Crystal could hear something, a voice, coming out of the mask. She was too far away to hear what was said though. That's when he glanced over to crystal. His golden eyes staring into crystals bright green eyes. Its head tilted to the side as some fin objects came up to expand his face.

Run…Run…..RUN..!

Her feet would not move. She could not move. The blaster dropped to the ground filling the empty silence. The golden eyes moved down to view the blaster. At that moment her body got her control back. She turned around and ran down the street.

She knew that with his speed he could of caught up to her but she could not hear anything from what she left behind. Her mind raced with what just happened. How did she get into this mess.

Crystal had to get home to her father, she knew as long as he is there he will protect her. Would the thing follow her to a populated area? And why is this going on in trade federation space? Was it the factory that her father works at?

As she raced through the streets people were yelling at her to move out of the way since she was bumping into a lot of people. She did not care if she ran into that guy that was after her, life was more important.

When she reached the house she was out of breath. She knelt down to catch her breath, keeping her hands on her knees. Standing up she went to the door and opened it.

"Father? Are you home?"

No answer came so she came to the conclusion that he was still at work which was not rare for him. She turned back to the door and locked it then ran to each window shutting the blinds and locking them. After everything looked good she ran into her room and sat on the bed.

Why me?

She let her mind think about everything that happened. Everything. How was she going to explain this to her classmates…. Wait.. why tell them anything. She should just not say anything and be safe. That's it. Nothing at all. I'm going to pretend nothing happen. Out of sight out of mind.

But why was that thing so familiar to her? She sighed and laid back on the pillow. She stayed up till she could not anymore listening to see if her father was home but she gave up as she could not stay awake any longer.

That night she dreamed of what expired that day. The strange "thing" all in white.

Thanks for reading I am planning to keep this story as good as I can and not stop it. I am not a good writer but I have a huge imagination.

You can find me on Dev art –galaxypa

Or youtube –galaxypa

As you can tell I LOVE Grievous and I wanted to make a story with him in. I have watched all the movie and parts of clone wars but I am not good with their history. All hints and reviews will help. I am also planning to add art and some animation storyboarding

I am going back in to stories and fixing them up as well as trying to make the story longer as well as good to read.

Enjoy.