Chapter 1

Serenno - Present

"Failure."

Dooku's anger was apparent. Ventress could sense it. Grievous could hear it in his voice.

"Millions of credits…months of preparation…all for a simple failure."

Their loss at Kamino had been a public embarrassment. Dozens of worlds were losing faith in the Separatists and turning towards the Republic. The war was becoming more one-sided with each battle.

"No DNA sample…no substantial damage…not even a single Jedi casualty…nothing."

Grievous interjected.

"Thousands of clones are dead. Their hatcheries are destroyed."

After a brief pause, Dooku looked up from his desk.

"I expected as much."

He then stood up from his throne and approached Grievous.

"However, I did not order you to simply kill clones. I ordered you to halt their production. Which you clearly didn't."

Grievous tried diverting Dooku's frustration.

"Neither did your assassin."

Dooku's gaze shifted to Ventress.

"…Ventress did ultimately fail…and there will be consequences…"

Ventress remained calm as he continued.

"But if the reports from the surviving droids are to be believed, she did manage to secure a sample of the clone template before being intercepted."

He turned back to Grievous.

"Meanwhile, you barely left a dent in the clones' barracks. The battle droids caused more damage than you did."

Ventress smirked.

"Perhaps the General was too busy trying to impress me…"

Grievous snorted.

"Don't flatter yourself. I was merely distracted."

Dooku's voice deepened.

"Distracted by what, General?"

Grievous knew the Count was out of patience. He gave his answer carefully.

"…The Jedi Kenobi."

Dooku gave a heavy sigh as he turned away from Grievous.

"General…I brought you into our ranks so you could kill Jedi. But since the Battle of Hypori, you've only managed to kill one. Fisto, Koth, Gallia, Kenobi, Skywalker's Padawan…all of them were able to escape you."

Grievous spoke under his breath.

"They'd be dead if this body worked properly."

"What?"

Dooku turned back to Grievous, his eyes wide as if daring the General to continue.

He did.

"This body's combat systems only function periodically. Half the time, my joints will lock up and limit my movements, forcing me to retreat. You told me this body would make me stronger. But it's only made it harder for me to fight."

Dooku's eyes narrowed as he turned away again.

"Perhaps. But I sense another reason for your poor performance."

In an instant, Dooku had his lightsaber drawn and pointed at Grievous's face. Grievous flinched at the sight of its blood red blade.

"Your lack of focus."

With equal speed, Dooku withdrew the lightsaber and returned it to its holster. He continued while facing Grievous.

"I've been observing your behavior during combat. Your mind will often wander and make you lose track of your opponents. Perhaps you are preoccupied with current events? Or maybe…"

Dooku looked at one of the holsters in Grievous's cape. He noticed something familiar inside it.

"…something more personal?"

Before Grievous could react, Dooku reached out with the Force and plucked the object from the holster. Grievous froze as Dooku studied the object in his hand.

"A Lig sword…Now why would you have one of these with you?"

Grievous's surprise turned to anger.

"Give it back."

"First, you will answer my question."

"I said give it back!"

Grievous lunged at the Count. But before he could strike, a surge of electricity ripped through his body. He collapsed on the floor as smoke poured from his innards.

"It is as I suspected. You've been thinking about Kalee again, haven't you?"

Grievous couldn't answer. His gut-sack felt like it was on fire.

"I told you to put those memories aside or else they'd hinder your progress. But it seems you did not heed my warning."

With the pain finally subsiding, Grievous was able to push himself up off the floor. He spoke through spasms of coughing.

"Give it…back…"

"That is out of the question now. I've given you ample opportunity to refocus yourself, and yet you remain tethered to your past. If you will not break your ties with Kalee, then I will. I didn't want to do this, General. But you've left me no choice."

Dooku approached his desk and activated a holoprojector. It displayed footage of a chamber filled with Kaleesh statues and artifacts.

"My lair?"

Dooku then spoke into a communicator on his wrist.

"B-183. Are you in position?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Then commence the operation."

"As you wish."

Suddenly, the chamber's main entrance opened, revealing a small squad of battle droids. And upon entering the chamber, they opened fire.

"No!"

Grievous could only watch as his most prized possessions were reduced to rubble. Countless works of art…centuries of Kaleesh history…gone.

"What have you done?!"

"I've given you focus. Your days of living in the past are over."

Dooku held up the Lig sword.

"I will dispose of this weapon, along with any other Kaleesh artifacts in your possession. Qymaen jai Sheelal is dead. You are General Grievous."

"No."

"What?"

"No."

His combat systems ready, Grievous drew two lightsabers from his cape. He then blocked the Count's lightning as he leapt across the floor and lunged at his opponent. Dooku could feel Grievous' raw strength as he blocked the General's lightsabers with his own.

Drawing her weapons as well, Ventress attacked Grievous from behind, only for him to block her with his extra pair of arms. Grievous then pushed his opponents back and spun his four lightsabers rapidly. While Dooku was distracted, Grievous grabbed the Count's head with his foot and slammed it into his desk. Dooku fell to the floor, writhing in pain as Grievous reclaimed his Lig sword.

Ventress attacked again. But with his joints locking up, Grievous was forced to evade her and make his escape. Her master incapacitated, Ventress had no choice but to pursue the General herself. She could barely keep up with him as he leapt and crawled through the palace halls.

Eventually, she chased him to the outside walkway, where his personal ship was waiting. Despite her best efforts, Grievous was able to enter the Soulless One and activate its engines. As he began to take off, Ventress reached out with the Force and attempted to force him down. But once he activated the hyperdrive, his ship shot off and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Ventress could only stand in the middle of the walkway and feel humiliated. As she contemplated her next move, she was contacted by Dooku.

"Ventress! Where is Grievous?!"

She took a deep breath and reluctantly answered.

"He's…gone, Master."

…

As Grievous flew through the endless void of hyperspace, he looked down at his Lig sword and realized what he was doing.

He was leaving everything behind. Dooku, the Separatists, the war…everything.

There was no turning back now.

And he knew exactly where he was going.