Chapter 10: Blending In

R2-D2 was rolling nervously through the grey metal halls of the Separatist base. Never had he seen so many battle droids! (Well, maybe during the Jedi Battle on Geonosis. That was the worst.) R2 was not used to keeping quiet while passing by a battle droid. Whenever he'd see a battle droid or any other droid that belonged to the Separatists, he'd beep like crazy. Or squirt oil in their face. Or set them on fire. Or shock them. Whichever felt best at the time.

But according to Obi-Wan's strict instructions he had recited while he gave R2 the charges: "Leave them alone. Act natural. Like a Separatist."

R2 didn't like the idea of acting like a Separatist. But once Anakin had agreed with Obi-Wan and tried to encourage R2, the astromech had decided not to disobey his Master. So here he was, trudging passed hundreds of battle droids, acting like he was doing something important. Everyone in the base had given him strange looks, especially the Commander and his troops who were guarding the base's entrance.

This is exactly what happened: R2 had been finally sent off by Anakin and Obi-Wan to the base. After 2 miles of rolling through the jungle, dirt stuck up his wheels, R2 jumped at the sight of a battle droid. "Woah!" It said, surprised. R2 tried to calm himself down as another droid came to check on what was going on.

"What's this?" It asked, kicking R2's third leg.

Oh, how he wanted to go back to Anakin!

R2 beeped persistently to the two droids. The battle droid who had just came told the other droid, "He says he's one of ours. He was just….looking for any…Jedi?"

R2 beeped again, agreeing to the battle droid's statement.

The other droid shrugged. "Alright, then. Should we show him back to the base?"

The battle droid said sternly, "Well, YEAH."

R2 had then quietly followed the two battle droids through the jungle until they came upon the big building that was the Separatist base. There was a Commander battle droid, along with a whole bunch of battle droid troopers behind him, watching as R2 skidded to a stop. The two battle droids who had found R2 gave a nod.

"We have found one of our astromech droids rolling around a few miles away from the base, Commander. He wants to go inside." The Commander tilted his long head to the right as he gave a good look at R2.

R2 squirmed.

The Commander finally turned to the troops and said, "Open the doors! And hurry up!"

The battle droids all tripped and fell into a bunch of leaves as they rushed to open the door. As R2 continued his way through the door after they were opened, the Commander droid shook his head and said to the scattered battle droids, "Well. That was great. Fifth time this morning!"

So there was R2 now, still inside the base, not making eye contact with any battle droids. Trying not to, for the most part. Suddenly, R2 was frightened to see a hunchbacked figure with a long black cape walk slowly out of a door to his right. The figure coughed terribly as it began to make it's way through the hallways, followed by five Super Battle Droid escorts. R2 searched through his memory, remembering Obi-Wan and Anakin's conversation with him.

"And we all know what Grievous will do once he finds out" Obi-Wan had said. "Run. He's going to run." said Anakin.

It took more than that one conversation for R2-D2 to realize that this was Grievous, the Commander of the entire Separatist droid army. R2 listened closely to Grievous, who was giving strict orders to a Super Battle Droid.

"I want you to take me somewhere in the base where I can get a clear transmission to Dooku. Now!" The Super Battle Droid looked to the other Super Battle Droids uncomfortably, for he knew Grievous had his eyes fixed on him.

"Um, everyone. Let's show the General where he can send Dooku a clear transmission."

The other battle droids hurriedly lead the way in front of the General, while the Super Battle Droid had stayed by Grievous' side. R2, a droid who would risk anything for the sake of the Republic, followed behind Grievous curiously. Perhaps Grievous and Dooku would spill some top secret Separatist information during their meeting, something that could be used against them by the Republic. The droid tried to be as quiet as he could, but also as close as he could be to the General.

R2 followed Grievous and his droids into a dark room at the end of a busy hallway. Lucky for R2, the hallway was filled with astromech droids running errands for the Separatists. For those few moments, R2 was safe. But once they got to the dark room, there was nothing to be seen in there but a gigantic Hologram projector and a grey cushioned chair. R2 hid behind a wall as two of the Droid General's MagnaGuards, each armed with electrostaffs, marched into the room to stand behind their master.

General Grievous turned back to the Super Battle Droid he had been talking to earlier and said, "You may leave."

That was all that was said before the battle droid had rushed out of the room. Grievous reached for a switch on his armrest and clicked the holoprojector on.

A towering image of Count Dooku appeared on the projector. R2 began to record the confrontation.

The General lowered his head in respect. "Count Dooku, what a pleasure to finally speak to you again at this fine new Separatist base." Grievous said, gesturing with his hand around the room.

Dooku's eyes sagged, not the least bit impressed. "Quite." Dooku replied. He quickly changed the subject. "Don't try to fool me, General, I know what has happened."

Grievous glanced from left to right, then back at the Count.

"I do not know what you mean."

Dooku's brow furrowed. He asked again. "Anything happening having to do with something important? Like the Republic? For example, let's say….a Jedi?"

Grievous took a deep breath and replied, "I'm sorry about that Count. The Jedi who came by earlier was—it was really nothing. So what if he destroyed a couple of battle droids? He left."

The Count's voice boomed angrily, "You let him go? You didn't think that he would leave and tell his Republic allies about this?"

Grievous' fingers ripped through the armrests, furious. The Count narrowed his eyes at the General and spoke deeper.

"Yet another incident. More delay. Let me remind you that this is not something to expect from a high-ranking General."

The hologram disappeared in an instant. Grievous growled as he looked at the two MagnaGuards still stationed behind him. "How DARE HE!" He shouted, his echo shaking the room.

R2, who had been listening attentively the whole time, accidentally let out a small beep.

Grievous turned around quickly, and the MagnaGuards raised their electrostaffs defensively. Grievous said out loud, "What was that?" R2 rolled backwards, deeper into the shadows behind the wall, as Grievous and the guards passed by. Once the droid had heard a door on the opposite side of the room close with a bang, R2 knew that they were finally gone. R2 rolled out from his hiding place and opened his grasping arm compartment. The explosive charges rolled onto the floor.