Okay I am sorry for falling behind in my stories. Thanks for the reviews and hope you enjoy.
Chapter 3
"Thanks for the rescue by the way." Ventress remarked as she and Grievous entered their room. "The Republic will be here tomorrow, and because of my mess-up we have fallen behind in our plans to ambush them."
Grievous shook his head wearily, "Our cover has not been blown, all witnesses are dead and the Republic does not know we are here. If worst comes to worst we will simply blow up the transport. I 'acquired' a bomb from a few smugglers; we can plant it under the transport and wipe them out."
"Regardless" Ventress sat down in the seat, "We need to get up early tomorrow to prepare."
Grievous casually grabbed her shoulders and lifted her out of the chair, ignoring the protests he set her down on the bed and settled himself in the chair. After she was done glaring at him she got into the bed and lay there for a moment staring at the ceiling.
"So, how exactly did Skywalker beat you, that time when you captured his R2 droid and he blew up the station? You had a far larger fleet so what happened?"
Grievous was silent for a moment before answering, "AT-TE's on the asteroids hit me from behind."
Ventress sat upright, "You're kidding."
Grievous shook his head, "That blasted Jedi let me sail right into his trap. Then of course he chased me despite the damage to his ship. Thankfully the damage ruined his chance of catching me."
Ventress fell back into the pillow with a flump, "So your ego cost you that one."
"I suppose you letting Kenobi and Skywalker walk in the front door on Crystophsis was a tactical plan?" he countered, "Rather than a craving to see Kenobi again."
"And I suppose you letting Skywalker's filthy pet escape was because you don't want your precious reputation to be tarnished with the phrase 'child beater' rather than 'Jedi Slayer'" Ventress smirked as he growled.
"So I care about how the galaxy views me, I am far too dangerous to be considered a simple bully. As for you," he pointed at her and she sat up, "You are known as several names, care to guess what they are?"
Ventress frowned as she considered what she had been called during her career in the Separatists, "Hairless Harpy" she offered.
Grievous sniggered, "There are a lot more, you are called the Separatist Assassin, not bad I will admit. Witch, rather apt all things considered, and here's the real kicker." He paused for effect and his eyes glistened, "You are called Dooku's bitch or his whore, take your pick."
Ventress eye's expanded in their sockets and her mouth dropped open. Ignoring Grievous chuckles she fell back into the bed and took deep calming breaths.
After several minutes Grievous stood up and peered down at her concernedly. "Are you okay?"
Ventress just nodded while doing her best to get unpleasant images out of her head.
"Well, um goodnight then." Grievous sat back down and watched her roll onto her side. After a while he heard her slow breathing which meant she was asleep. He felt mildly guilty about telling her that, it had been meant as a joke, despite the fact it was true. But now the matter was brought up and having seen her reaction he wondered, 'Does she have sex with the old man?' as images started to form he shook his head and switched his thoughts back to the mission. A message from the Count had informed them that Skywalker and his apprentice were leading the mission.
"Skywalker will not win this time." Grievous vowed to himself, a rustle from the bed reminded him that he wasn't alone in this.
(NEXT MORNING)
Grievous and Ventress watched as Skywalker's ship touched down at the public docking bay. A squad of troopers exited the ship carrying crates which were assumedly for Jabba, they were followed by an orange skinned Togruta who was arguing with a young human. Ahsoka and her master, Anakin Skywalker.
"So what's the plan?" Ventress asked as they watched the clones load the crates onto some native animals for transporting to the arranged pick-up point.
Grievous watched the Jedi arguing for a moment as he considered their options. "We hit them as they are in the desert. I have an explosive primed and ready; we can plant in under the transport and detonate it when they enter the desert."
Ventress nodded and they swiftly made their way to the meeting point. A few of Jabba's thugs were waiting beside the skiff, they watched Grievous and Ventress approach.
"What you doing here?" the appointed leader demanded.
"I have a message for your master" Ventress seductive voice came from under her hood. She stepped closer to the Zebrak and pulled him close to her. Several whistles came from the other pirates as Ventress ran one hand down the Zebrak's trousers. What they didn't realise was during that Ventress had slipped the capsule into one of the pockets and with her other hand she handed him a pouch containing a large amount of credits. The Zebrak's greedy eyes widened and stared at her intently as she stepped back.
"I will make sure my master gets the message." He smirked and hid the money in his jacket before the others could see it.
"Thank you" Ventress bowed her head slightly before joining Grievous and walking away.
"Impressive" Grievous whispered.
"Thank you General" she grinned as they vanished into the alleys.
(FAR OUT IN THE DESERT)
"So these are all for Jabba?" the Zabrak conversed with Anakin as the skiff flew over the sand dunes on the way to Jabba's palace. He nodded at the crates of spices.
"Yeah, we're here to discuss new terms of our alliance with Jabba so we didn't want to talk business without a gift for him." Anakin leaned casually against the rail.
The Zabrak opened his mouth but was cut off as the capsule in his pocket exploded. The skiff lurched and crashed into the sand and flipped over and over until skidding to a stop.
"Ahsoka?" Anakin called while maintaining his firm grip on the handrail, his ears were pounding and his wrist was aching from the shape it was twisted in.
Ahsoka groggily opened her eyes and looked around. She was sprawled out on the sand and had an unconscious, or dead, pirate on her leg. With a little shove from the Force she pushed him off and sat up. The skiff was crashed a short distance away and she started making her way over.
"We got two survivors" Ventress watched through her binoculars. "Skywalker and his pet are alive."
Grievous climbed off the speeder and lifted his binoculars, "Well the spices are destroyed, the pirates are dead and Skywalker and that brat are stranded in the desert. Our work is done." He sat back down.
"But we have to kill them." Ventress protested, "They are open targets, all alone, no way out, this is the perfect opportunity to kill them."
Grievous shook his head, "We are not allowed to let the Republic know we are involved. If we attack the Jedi and if they survive or if anyone investigates and spots us we will have failed our mission."
Ventress twisted and turned on the spot as her desire for revenge fought her loyalty to Dooku. Eventually she sat behind Grievous on the speeder and gripped his metallic waist as he rocketed across the sand, back towards the town.
(HOTEL)
Grievous stood outside and sent a message to Dooku informing him of their mission status. After stowing his comlink inside his cloak he slipped inside and strode passed the Rodian who waved at him.
As he entered the room he noticed the chair had been sliced into pieces.
"What a pity." A voice came from the bathroom, "Now you'll have to sleep in the bed." Ventress emerged wrapped in a silk gown.
Grievous modestly looked away as she slipped under the sheets. "Is there a reason behind this?"
Ventress smiled seductively and beckoned him over.
"Well, since the chair is broke that means unless one of us is going to stand, or sleep on the floor we have to share the bed. Now don't tell me you're scared of sleeping in the same bed as me."
Grievous muttered beneath his breath as he lay on top of the bed. His metal body caused his side to sink lower and Ventress to roll over.
"I should have expected that" she frowned, "Um, let's see now." She slid out of the bed and with a quick Force use she removed the supports for the bed so that it now lay evenly on the floor.
"It would have been simpler to just let me sleep on the chair." Grievous mumbled as she got back into the bed.
"Where's the fun in that?" she closed her eyes, "Besides, we were supposed to take it in turns." She rolled onto her side and snaked an arm out of the bed and draped it across his chest.
Grievous looked down at the arm across his metallic body, then at the owner of said arm. Her breathing was slowing down as she fell asleep, his golden eyes darted around her face taking in as many details as he could. For a moment he was tempted to stroke her face, as he reached out tentatively his comlink vibrated.
Grievous retracted his hand and slipped out from under Asajj's arm. Making his way into the hallway he answered the call.
"General" Dooku's unsmiling person appeared.
"Yes Count" Grievous lowered his voice slightly as his hearing detected Asajj's breathing pace increase.
"I have received word that Jabba has accepted the Republic terms. What do you have to say for your failure?"
Grievous spluttered, "My Lord, we destroyed the transport and the spices. Skywalker and the child were stranded in the desert. Forgive me but, how did they make it to Jabba's palace?"
"Some of Jabba's men were sent out to meet them. They discovered the wreckage and gave the Jedi transport to Jabba. After the meeting a Republic transport arrived to take them back to Coruscant. So who is to blame for this failure? I assume it was Ventress fault."
"It was mine" Grievous stared defiantly at the old man.
Dooku was openly surprised, "You accept the blame?"
"I made the decisions; I accept the failure as my own." Grievous held his head high as he watched Dooku struggle to comprehend what he just said.
Eventually the Count transmitted some co-ordinates and hung up.
"I can't believe I just did that" Grievous leaned against the wall, "What is wrong with me?"
"Need a doctor?" the Rodian in charge asked in a slow dull voice.
(NEXT DAY)
"I'm glad to be leaving" Ventress watched through the viewport as they entered hyperspace.
"Me too" Grievous switched the shuttle on to auto-pilot and joined her in the passanger section. "Wonder what Dooku wants us for now."
Ventress looked thoughtful for a moment then shrugged, "No idea"
"Well since we probably will be separated again I would like to tell you that I enjoyed working with you." Grievous nodded to her, "You certainly have plenty of assets in stealth operations."
"Thank you General" she looked surprised, "Maybe on our next date we could be in a battle, I believe that is more your territory."
Grievous smiled behind his mask.
(DOOKU'S SHIP/ ONE WEEK LATER)
"My Lord" Grievous arrived on the bridge, "I have just received word that one of our ships engaged your assassin's command ship. What is going on?"
Dooku turned to him calmly, "My master has ordered Asajj to be eliminated. I gave the order for her command ship to be destroyed."
Grievous gaped at the old man, "My Lord, she is one of our finest agents. As the military leader of the Separatists I must protest."
"I did not want to do this General" Dooku was upset about his orders, "I did not want to kill my apprentice but Lord Sidious was adamant."
Grievous clenched his fists. Dooku raised an eyebrow.
"Problems General?"
"Count Dooku" a droid turned from a console, "The command ship has been destroyed, apparently the Jedi escaped but there is no sign of Commander Ventress."
Grievous took a step forward and punched the droid's head off, earning a scowl from the Count in the process.
"You are dismissed General" Dooku glared at the cyborg as he left the bridge.
Grievous walked through the hallways until arriving at the hanger bay. He climbed into Soulless One, flew out of the hanger and entered hyperspace.
"That woman is not that easy to kill." He muttered to himself as he arrived at the wreckage of the battle. He flew amongst the hunks of metal and activated his scanners. Nothing. He gritted his teeth and flew over to the remains of the command ship, a small blip appeared. Hardly daring to believe it he flew over to see a salvage ship leaving the debris. As his fingers twitched over the triggers he received a transmission from Dooku.
"Return to my ship now, she is dead General. I don't know what your relationship with her is but she is gone. Abandon your search and return at once." He vanished.
"Sorry Asajj" Grievous turned his fighter around and flew out of the wreckage, after one last glance at the salvage ship he entered hyperspace.
Oh yeah, if you watched the series you know what happened. And you know about that salvage ship. Stay tuned and press that nice little review button please.
