An Independent Confederacy
By:Taylor Divine
Chapter 1:Adoption
"True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what's right."-Brigham Young
Raxus,Confederacy of Independent Systems(C.I.S.) Capital
Raxus System,The Outer Rim
The boy ran swiftly past the towers and streets of Raxus. Raxus was a large and bustling planet,capital of the Separatists and somewhat unplagued by the companies and corporations that claimed the planet it's center. The boy's name? Draak Nerseth. He was an orphan and child...well young adult of 18 years. His father had worked as a merchant with the Trade Federation and one of it's few Human contracts. He made enough to provide his family a somewhat extravagant lifestyle and for that he was always grateful. Yet his father was long dead. Killed 2 years ago by a Republican raid. And still the war raged on. He had turned to stealing,pilfering,and lying to survive. He thought of what his father Sven Nerseth would say. Or his mother Adrane...He snapped out of his reminisces to flatten his back against the ally he was hiding in. A red and tan B-1 Battle Droid marched past the opening. It stopped and looked up at the droid sighed and began to mutter quietly to itself. He strained to hear what it was saying,not because he needed to,but just for the curiosity of it all. As it left,the droid muttered "Quiet,as always" in it's high-pitched metallic voice and moved on. Lucky for him. He was carrying a blaster. A stolen blaster. From a Confederate factory.
...
The cyborg stared down at the boy. He must be feeling like the most clever kid in the galaxy right about now. Best to crush that out of would give him some pleasure in an otherwise unpleasant visit. His stationing on Raxus was not exactly an assignment had eagerly looked forward to. The constant smog an pollution was a horrible irritant,especially for his already damaged and weak. The pollution was horrible. Though not as horrible as the complaints,arguing,and bickering of the Separatist Council however. The "leaders" of the Confederacy's members were weak,conniving,loathsome,lying,and bigots. In short,perfect businessmen. He understood that the backing of there corporations and companies was needed to sustain the movement,yet he hated them all. Especially that withered,foolish idiot of a Neimodian,Trade Federation Viceroy Nute the entire Confederate leadership only Count Dooku and the military leader of Genosian Industries,Poggle the Lesser had and deserved any of his respect,let alone his friendship. If he even could have friends. He had left them bickering there and had come out here for a breath of fresh air. Ironically. Yet now he saw something to distract his attention. A small Human child running through the allies and backwater streets of Raxus . There were no curfews,restrictions,or any laws of the like on Raxus Prime and in truth the activities of the small,scuttling being beneath him wasn't illegal or highly interesting in any way. Yet he had his suspicions. A breaking in at a Trade Federation factory and the theft of one blaster wasn't exactly important. Yet if it got him away from any and all Neimodians for even a few minutes or an hour at best,it was worth all the credits in the galaxy.
...
The boy continued to run down,the streets and allies,when he saw a large cloaked figure jump down and land with a metallic clank,in front of him. He stared forward as the cloaked,metal devil turned towards him and stared at the small boy. What was worse is that it started to speak,in a horrible and harsh voice. "Well boy,I think you may have something of a friend of mines. Perhaps you could be ever so kind to return it?" hissed the being in a tone the polar opposite of polite. He turned to run,before thinking better of it. If that thing could jump like that he only imagined how it could run. So he turned around closed his eyes and shot straight at the creatures grooved and plated face.
...
Grievous saw the boy pull the trigger and quickly pressed himself on the smooth surface of the ally's side wall. The kid realizing he missed,dropped the gun and ran out of the ally. Grievous picked up the blaster and ran after the already disappearing small figure. The kid had guts,that was for sure. To bad they'd be ripped out in short order.
...
Draak ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran faster than he had ever ran in his whole life. He ran faster than he though he was physically capable of. That was as fast as a corpse compared to the beast now stalking him. The creature soon caught up and grabbing him by the scruff,of his soon to be gone neck,stared him straight in the eyes. Probably the last time he would ever see anything in his life. And such charming eyes too.
...
General Grievous,Supreme Commander of the Confederate Military and leader of the most powerful and largest droid army the galaxy had ever seen,looked at the pathetic scrap he had now caught. Well should he kill the thing no that would be rude. First toy with it then...he stopped his thoughts for a second as he realized how the boy stared at him calmly and rigidly. He had never seen anyone stare like him so...bravely. Not even his allies. Only Count Doooku and Darth Sidious had ever not had the slightest fear when talking to him. Yet this boy,this child was staring straight at him and didn't whimper or cry. Well,not yet so far. "What's your name boy? Draak Nerseth. You parents? Dead. Why? The Republic's attack on Raxus 2 years ago. Really two years? Whose been watching you? Myself." Grievous was impressed. Resourceful kid. For that he could life. For now. "Well kid you shouldn't be getting in any trouble around here. These things are somewhat...unpleasant to touch." He ignited a green lightsaber and flashed it in the kids smiled slightly at that. Without another word,he was leaving.
"Wait don't leave me." "And why not?" he replied slightly annoyed. "My dad was a trader." "So?" "For the Federation. And you work for them or your there friend or something,right?" He stopped. He was not the Trade Federation's friend,and especially not the friend of that conniving worm Nute...Wait? Gunray loves kids. "Actually I'm a great friend of there's",he said it like it was acid dripping from his mouth "of the Federation and there leader,Nute Gunray." Acid again. "I'd be delighted to take you to them." Draak looked puzzled,then delighted that he was having his offer accepted."Well thanks,General I guess?" The general placed his hand on the humans shoulder and began to guide him towards the tallest building on the planet of Raxus,the Confederate Separatist Council building. "That's General Grievous,to you and it be best if you remembered that boy."