Author's Note: Thank you for following the story, reviewing, and for adding to favorites. Also, most of my knowledge about Grievous and the Kaleesh I gleaned off of Wookiepeedia. As a disclaimer, I don't own star wars, only my own characters that I created.
Chapter 2
Grievous knew he had at least thirty children. He knew them all by name. So the fact that his youngest child lacked one annoyed him greatly.
"What is your name?"
The child did not answer. The little one appeared to be the silent type…or was he just shy? Grievous growled in frustration.
"What did those accursed jedi call you?"
The young Kaleesh opened his mouth as if about to speak but looked away in shame. After another moment of awkward silence, the soft sound of the child's voice pierced Grievous's audio receptors.
"The jedi called me youngling and boy. I don't have a name."
Grievous was stunned. How could he not?
"Didn't your mother name you?"
The boy shook his head sadly.
"I can't remember"
Those innocent words fueled Grievous's hate for the jedi.
"When we get to Kalee, we will find your mother and see to it that you receive a worthy name."
His son nodded in silent understanding. He sat still for a moment and then began to fidget. He didn't look at Grievous and tapped a small clawed digit against the medical berth, apparently lost in thought. Grievous was curious as to what he was thinking about.
"What's on your mind?"
"Nothing…" he still refused to look at the cyborg.
The General laughed, knowing full well that he was lying.
"Oh, but I believe there is. So tell me."
His son looked up at him with innocent, golden eyes that looked near identical to his own.
"I don't want you to be mad at me."
"I doubt I will."
The child seemed to be debating internally with himself, weighing the pros and cons of speaking his mind. His greater curiosity won out, overriding his rationale.
"What…what happened to you?" the boy gestured to his cyborg body.
Grievous growled at the question and the child lowered his head.
"I was in an accident," he refused to elaborate further.
"Are you really my father?"
The Separatist General chuckled at the question.
"DNA tests don't lie. So yes, I am."
"The jedi told me my father died."
Grievous clenched his hands into fists and snarled. He punched a passing B-1 battle droid in the face, knocking its head clean off.
"The jedi LIED!"
The boy's stomach growled and he looked up at him with a funny expression on his face. He was hungry. He didn't voice his discomfort however.
"We will reach Kalee soon…a home you were deprived of. There we will find your mother and the rest of our family."
The Kaleesh youngling nodded and then yawned tiredly. He curled up on the medical berth and looked at his father sleepily. A droid walked in at that moment and gave Grievous a routine status report. When he turned back around the child was fast asleep. A feeling he had not experienced since before his transformation made itself known and the paternal instinct to protect his son flooded his innate senses. If anyone were to even attempt to harm this child…they were dead! He stood for a few moments watching his son sleep in perfect peace. He would never openly admit it to anyone…but the child was cute.
Another droid came in and reported that they had reached Kalee. Grievous carefully picked up his son and carried him and boarded a shuttle that would take them to the surface. A bumbling droid dropped a supply crate, causing the child to stir. Grievous remained still. The boy continued to sleep, oblivious to everything around him. The cyborg Kaleesh growled a clear warning to the droid, who got the message and exited the craft immediately, lest he lose his function. The shuttle flew out of the hanger bay and in minutes, they were entering Kalee's atmosphere. The General commanded the droid pilot to land in a field right outside one of the villages. A tribesman greeted them. This one was a trusted friend who had known Sheelal during the Huk war. Only a handful of Kaleesh knew about General Grievous's true history. The tribesman bowed humbly.
"Sheelal…welcome home."
"Thank you Tekar. I'm here to see my family and to return my child to his mother."
"I'm afraid your family isn't here."
What?! All ten wives and thirty children missing?
"How can this be?"
"Lord Dooku evacuated them. Where, we do not know."
Grievous was angry and pointed an accusing metal talon at Tekar and snarled.
"If it had been anyone but the Count to have done this, they would pay the price, as would you."
Tekar bowed again submissively, recognizing his old friend's temper and sought to appease him.
"Sheelal, I would never let anyone take your family from you if I had any doubts that they would be safe and in good hands."
"There was a Kaleesh traitor who kidnapped my son from his very home. Explain that!"
There were only a handful of his people he trusted completely and Tekar was one of the ones he had entrusted with his family's safety while he was away on his missions.
"There was a Kaleesh jedi wielding a green lightsaber. We tried to stop her but she killed four of our best warriors!"
"Fortunately that jedi traitor is dead."
"I'm afraid the jedi also killed your son's mother. Kitna died while trying to defend the child."
Grievous, felt a pang of remorse at hearing the tragic news. Kitna was his tenth wife and the last time he had seen her, she had not yet had a child. His son was her first…and her last. His sorrow soon turned into anger…anger at the one who was responsible for keeping her safe and failed.
"Your failure will cost you dearly Tekar!"
The Kaleesh warrior took a step back with wide eyes. He could practically feel Grievous's rage rolling off of him in palpable waves.
"I did everything I could to save her!"
Grievous split his arms into four and activated two lightsabers and slowly advanced on Tekar blind with fury. He held his son securely in his two main arms and laughed darkly when Tekar got into a fighting stance with his ceremonial spear ready to defend himself. It would be so easy to kill him!
The boy awoke and squirmed in fright when his sleep fogged brain believed he was in some sort of danger. He settled down once he realized he was safe. But that other guy wasn't…
"Father?"
"What?!" Grievous spat venomously and glared down at the child.
"What are you doing?" the boy asked innocently.
Grievous growled and halted his advance on the tribesman.
What was he doing? That was a good question. Tekar was his friend and although he failed him, did he really deserve to die? Whenever Grievous was lost in bloodlust, it was hard for him to think clearly. If it wasn't for his son's innocent question…Tekar would probably be dead right now. Had Tekar not been Kaleesh, Grievous knew he would never have granted him any mercy.
"You have ONE last chance Tekar…don't waste it."
With that said, Grievous's two extra arms folded back in and his lightsabers clipped back to his hip plating. Tekar nodded his head in thanks.
"I will not fail you again. Thank you Sheelal."
"I want you to take this boy and see to it that he is clothed and fed. I will return for him shortly."
"Of course"
Grievous handed his youngest child to him, giving him a hard look through his mask that spoke volumes of his disappointment and displeasure. He then returned inside the shuttle to make contact with his master Count Dooku. His holo-image appeared and Grievous refused to bow to him, snarling angrily instead.
"What have you done with my family?!"
"I trust that your mission was a success?" The Count said by way of greeting.
"All seven jedi are dead! Now again I ask…where is my family?!" Grievous hissed icily.
"They are in a safe, secure location. When I discovered that the jedi attacked your family, I took action. You have no need to worry, my friend."
"They killed one of my wives and kidnapped my youngest son!"
"And you recovered him, did you not?" Count Dooku's eyes narrowed subtly.
"Yes. He is in my care."
"I want you to bring the boy to me."
"And why, may I ask?"
"The jedi would not take a child so young unless he was force sensitive. I wish to examine the boy myself."
"As you wish, my lord."
Grievous bowed and cut the transmission. It did not settle well with him that Dooku wanted his son. What were the Count's real motives? If the boy proved to be as powerful as that Kaleesh woman suggested on Yavin 4, then Grievous reasoned the old man would either want to take him on as an apprentice or kill him outright. He preferred neither. If he could have his way, he would train his son in the arts of warfare by Kaleesh tradition. Giving his son lightsaber training couldn't hurt either. Grievous was going to make sure that this son of his became a true warrior. The General decided to delay the inevitable trip to Count Dooku's lair and strode out of the shuttle.
He entered the village and nodded curtly at the few Kaleesh who greeted him in passing. He arrived before a stone dwelling and invited himself in. This was his old home. Tekar walked past him with a faint smile and out the door, having accomplished what Grievous asked of him. A fire was crackling in the hearth and a Czerka Arms outland rifle was mounted above it. A Shoni spear was propped up in a corner of the room, collecting dust. A few mumuu skulls lay on a table cluttered with old documents and a few modern day gadgets such as a datapad and holo-emitter. Karabbac pelts carpeted the floor and sitting next to the fire sat his son, eating what looked to be cooked fish, vegetables, and biscuits. He was now clothed in a white tunic, tan pants, and wore brown leather boots. A brown child sized cloak was clasped around his neck, blanketing his small frame. He noticed Grievous's arrival and smiled at him. After swallowing what was in his mouth he greeted him.
"Hi father!"
"Are you staying out of trouble?"
The boy nodded and eagerly stuffed more food in his mouth. Grievous watched him eat in mild fascination.
"When was the last time you ate, boy?"
The child seemed to think about it for a moment and held up four clawed digits to indicate the number of days.
"Four days! Did the jedi not feed you?"
He shook his head no.
"Why not?" Grievous rasped. He felt another cough coming on.
"Telarial said not eating would help me focus."
The cyborg Kaleesh laughed and broke down into a coughing fit. He snickered.
"Those jedi imbeciles lied to you! You focus better on a full stomach. Warriors need to keep up their strength!"
"She said it was discipline."
"Did you do something wrong? Was it a punishment?"
The little boy's shoulders sagged and he looked down at his plate sadly.
"They said I could eat if I listened to them and did what they said."
"And did you?"
"No!"
The boy was angry and slammed a little fist against the table top and glared at Grievous. This made the General laugh.
"You are such a defiant, little one! Good…hate the jedi. They took everything from you."
The child calmed visibly after a long heated moment and then sighed.
"I said I would listen if they let me see my mother again. They said no. So I didn't eat."
Grievous chuckled.
"You were a good boy, not to listen to them. They would have made you their slave!"
"I wanted to know more about my father. They told me to forget about my mother and to forget about you. The jedi said that they were my new family."
What little blood he had left was boiling at those words. He calmed considerably when he remembered that those jedi were now dead, slain by his own hand. If only he could have the pleasure of going back and doing it again! Grievous remembered something important. He recalled what the medical droid said upon revealing the test results. His son had a birthday today.
"You are six years old now and as a gift, I will grant you a worthy name."
He thought about it for a moment, pacing a few times across the room until he finally had just the one.
"From this day forth, you will be known as Zekaloph Quilemec Sheelal."
Zekaloph smiled.
"Thank you."
Grievous nodded and his golden eyes were smiling. For the first time in a long time…he was happy. He helped to name some of his other children but this was the first time he had done so without the agreement of his wives. Just being able to name his youngest child himself filled him with pride. He felt he was already forming an attachment to his son that he had never felt with any of his other children before. Zekaloph was truly unique.
The child finished his meal and wiped his face with his sleeve. Grievous cleared his throat to get his attention and gestured for Zekaloph to accompany him.
"There is something I want to show you."
The boy skipped to his side and reached a small hand to grasp one of Grievous's large clawed, metallic fingers. It was the closest thing to holding hands that the youngling could achieve. It took his father by surprise. His first impulse was to shake the boy off. These cybernetic hands of his were dangerous and had killed many diverse beings in the galaxy. Besides…he had a reputation to maintain. It was only after his son looked up at him with adorable, trust filled eyes that he relented. As long as he was mindful, it should be safe.
Grievous walked a little slower so the boy could keep up with him, the two walking in amiable silence for a while, until Zekaloph had a question.
"Where are we going, father?"
"To a special place"
Zekaloph sneezed when pollen from a nearby plant tickled his nose. They followed a winding path that led them into the jungle. After some time, they reached a temple. They climbed up two levels of stairs and entered the main room. It was lit with torches and incense filled the air with a pleasing aroma. In the center was a statue of a Kaleesh warrior. He had a rifle slung over his back and held two swords in his hands. A war mask covered his face and his cloak billowed in an unseen wind. Beneath the statue was a sarcophagus. Someone who was once great in life was now buried here.
Zekaloph released Grievous's clawed finger and went up to investigate the statue in wonder.
"Who is this father?"
"That is Qymaen Jai Sheelal."
It took a moment for the name to register but when it finally did he looked at Grievous in amazement.
"This is you?"
"That was me before the accident."
"How did you become so famous?"
Grievous gave his son a history lesson, explaining all about the Huk war and the injustices that were forced upon their people by their enemy and how the jedi nearly destroyed them. He shared as much knowledge with his son as the boy could handle in one day. Zekaloph was riveted by his tale and never took his eyes off of him for a second.
"Once you become a great warrior like me, the Kaleesh people will immortalize you forever."
"What does immortalize mean?"
"It means you live forever."
"But no one can live forever!"
"In other words, you will be remembered for a very long time."
"Oh…okay."
The boy reverently followed Grievous out of the temple and gasped when his father suddenly held him back with one hand. They were halfway down the stairs. All of the usual forest sounds had ceased. It was quiet…too quiet. Grievous narrowed his eyes and searched for the hidden predator that must be lurking in the nearby foliage. A twig snapped to his left and he growled threateningly.
"Slowly Zekaloph…walk back up those stairs and get inside. Take this…just in case."
Grievous handed him a bone carved knife that he had retrieved from home earlier, crafted from mumuu bones. He didn't yet trust his son with a lightsaber. Not until he was trained.
Zekaloph listened to his father and slowly retreated back into the temple, watching him from a safe distance. Grievous ignited two lightsabers just as a pack of mumuu tore through the foliage and leapt right at him, snarling viciously. They must be starving to be so bold to attack a being that was more machine than flesh. He kicked the first one aside and plunged one of his lightsabers through the second. A third one growled at him and lunged to attack. He crushed it's skull beneath his sharply taloned foot. It made Grievous laugh! These beasts were no match for him! He was so distracted mutilating and destroying the rest of the pack, he failed to see one sneak past him and make its way up the stairs.
Zekaloph backed away, holding the knife firmly in his young hand. Most other children his age would be running and screaming, or even crying. He was not most children. He was scared but he saw how his father killed them. Maybe killing this renegade mumuu wouldn't be so hard. The young Kaleesh tried to hide, taking refuge behind the statue of his father. The incense smoke was throwing the beast off as it tried to sniff him out. That didn't stop the creature from tracking him though. The child's heart hammered wildly within his chest as the deadly animal neared his position. He knew he shouldn't be afraid…his father wasn't! Zekaloph came from a race of warriors, not cowards! He stepped out into the open with weapon raised for combat. He felt he regretted that move when it snarled at him and crouched, ready to pounce. It was far smaller than any of the others his father had to fight. This one was practically a pup. To Zekaloph, it was big enough. The fear he felt was strong enough to motivate him to dive to the side when it finally did leap at him. He trusted his instincts…unknowingly tapping into the force.
He may be a child, but he wasn't stupid. He was a fast learner and he carefully observed how the jedi trained and how his father dispatched the other predators. He knew where their weak spots were, behind the head, beneath the throat, and the middle of their chests. The only thing he would have to do is avoid this mumuu's razor sharp claws and teeth.
His father told him during the history lesson that most Kaleesh younglings killed their first mumuu when they were between ten and twelve standard years old. They were a war-like people and in this environment filled with multitudes of predators, you had to kill or be killed. Zekaloph was quickly learning that.
The mumuu advanced on him again, drooling hungrily. If it thought it was going to eat him, it was seriously mistaken! It lunged at him, snapping its jaws. He slid beneath it and tried to stab it but missed. It was a good plan…at least when it was in his head. It circled around him, beginning to realize that he wasn't as easy prey as it thought. Zekaloph gripped the knife tightly and prepared to roll aside when it made a move to lunge again, but it tricked him. The child dove to the right and that's when it leaped on him snarling. Razor sharp claws dug into his chest forcing him to scream loudly as he tried to keep the beast from biting his neck. An overwhelmingly strong survival instinct and the innate desire to live flooded his very being. He raised the knife and began to blindly stab at it repeatedly, ignoring the blood that began to gush, whether it was from him or the animal, the child didn't care so long as the damn thing finally died!
Soon it was over and he was pulling himself out from beneath the carcass. The animal was whimpering, on the brink of death. He stabbed it behind the skull, into its brain and killed it, just as his father had done. He crawled away from it and lay on the floor, bleeding. He sobbed piteously as he struggled to overcome his near death experience.
Grievous had heard his child's screams and finished killing the last of the pack. How in the kriff, did he miss one?! He ran as fast as he could into the temple and had to do a double take. There was a mumuu pup… but a mumuu nonetheless, dead…killed by a kriffin six year old! His son was in a sorry state. He was wheezing, struggling for breath and blood soaked his clothes. It appeared that the beast's sharp claws dug into his chest and it bit his arm. He needed treatment immediately.
He scooped the child off of the floor and ran, motivated by a different kind of fear. He didn't stop to explain to anyone as he ran through the village and towards the shuttle. He ordered the pilot to take off and practically ripped apart the bulkheads trying to find the damn emergency medical kit. He ripped the boy's tunic off and pressed bacta patches to the wounds and applied pressure to stop the bleeding until they could make it to the medical facilities on his ship. The child lost consciousness and Grievous swore, furious with himself. He would be damned if his child died due to his careless negligence!
"Be strong Zekaloph."
If he survived this ordeal…he was a true warrior indeed. And Grievous couldn't be more proud.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's note: Yeah, it's pretty unrealistic to have a six year old fight and kill a puppy mumuu but this is fanfiction. And Kaleesh are proud warriors and learn to fight from young ages. So there…that's my excuse.
