I do not own Star Wars. It was created by one of the greatest fictional creators of all time. George Lucas! If Mr Lucas is reading this then I must say you honour me by reading this. Any Star Wars fan owes that title to you alone. I do not own Star Wars that belongs to Mr Lucas no matter what Disney says. Enjoy
Chapter 11
The shuttle landed on the sand covered world of Tatooine. Asajj emerged and shielded her eyes from the twin suns' glare before making her way to the nearest cantina. Hopefully she could blend in.
Tatooine hadn't been her first choice of place to run to, but it was controlled by the Hutts who wouldn't take kindly to a Separatist invasion. With her Sisters all but wiped out Dooku might give up his hunt anyway.
Entering the refreshingly cool cantina she sensed eyes rotate to her almost instantly. This was clearly a place where no-one trusted anyone. Fine by her.
"Hey lady," a Rodian at the bar waved her over, "Can I buy you a drink?"
Her lip curled in disgust and she sat a few seats away, "Thanks. But I'll get my own."
"Come on." He stood up and smoothly moved over to her, "You're new in these parts aintcha? I could show you around."
One hand flexed around her lightsabers, "I'm already spoken for."
"Is that why you came out here on your own?" he sat down, "You are obviously running from something, or someone. Your boyfriend not good enough? That it?"
Her hand clenched around the hilt, "I suggest you walk away right now."
"Or what?" he set a drink in front of her, "You'll run away again?"
There was a flash of red and two screams, one of fury, and other indicating extreme levels of pain, as Asajj ignited her lightsaber and sliced the Rodian's arm off. He collapsed to the ground as the horrid smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
"Run!" Asajj screamed at him, "Get out of here!"
He hurriedly scrambled to his feet and bolted for the door without a second glance.
Breathing heavily she deactivated her weapon and replaced it on her belt before grabbing the drink and draining it.
"Looks like someone has boyfriend issues." A familiar voice remarked casually.
Asajj turned to glare at the Twi'lek, "Khalida."
"Ventress." She nodded.
"Grievous sent you?"
"Actually I'm here on my own authority." Khalida raised an eyebrow at the severed arm, "I tracked your ship from Dathomir. My master is busy running the war."
Asajj turned back to the bar as Khalida sat beside her, "So why are you here?"
"Because I want you to know I'm on your side." The Twi'lek frowned, "I don't want my master enslaved to that old fool. But until I can find a way to free him I have to go along with it."
"And Dooku doesn't suspect anything?"
Khalida snorted, "That old man probably doesn't even know I'm gone. But I'll try and keep a low profile anyway. Oh, and I figure you'll need credits so I called some friends of mine to hook you up with a job."
"What kind of job?" Asajj asked reluctantly.
"Bounty hunting." Khalida grinned, "Interested?"
(LATER/ SEPARATIST SHIP)
"Status report." The foreboding and menacing figure of General Grievous strode imperiously onto the bridge.
"We are approaching the enemy forces General." One droid reported, "They are moving to engage."
His eyes gleamed in anticipation of the battle, "Disable the Jedi's ship and launch boarding parties. I will deal with them myself."
"Sir" another droid spoke up, "There is a fighter emerging from hyperspace, "It is Commander Khalida."
Grievous spared a glance at the screen before opening a channel, "Apprentice."
"Master" she replied.
"Move to engage the Republic fighters. You will lead the space battle."
"As you wish master."
Squadrons of vulture droids swarmed out of the hangers and fell into formation behind Khalida as Republic ARC-170s raced towards them.
Khalida flicked her weapons online and smoothly picked her target, "VD One through Five cover me. I have the leader. All other units maintain straight run until my word."
Five Vulture droids moved to cover her sides and rear in a shield formation as the two sides entered range.
"Engage." Khalida opened fire.
Red and green lasers flew everywhere as the fighters zoomed past each other. Multiple explosions lit up and Khalida lost one of her guard.
"Break formation engage all hostiles," she snapped as her latest target bankrolled to avoid her fire, "VD One to Four maintain defence formation."
(TATOOINE)
Asajj glanced at the human lounging outside the hovel that Khalida had directed her to.
"Ello love." The human grinned, "What's a beauty like you doin here?"
"I'm looking for a team of bounty hunters." She folded her arms.
The human nodded, still grinning, "You came to the right place. Name's Dengar, may I ask yours?"
"You can ask, but don't expect an answer." Asajj stepped into the hovel.
Inside she found a Trandoshan and a Theelin working on weapons with a large droid while a smaller human was speaking to a hologram of a Belugan.
"Yeah we'll be there shortly. Don't worry you paid for the best and that's what you'll get." He disconnected and turned, "Who are you?"
The other three figures paused and likewise stared.
"I'm your new teammate." Asajj answered coldly, "You ask me no questions, got it?"
The human glanced at his friends, "Alright. Your past is your business and I respect that. I'm Boba. This is Bossk," he indicated the Trandoshan, "Latts," the Theelin, "And Highsinger," the droid, "We're about to head out. You got your gear?"
Asajj patted the lightsabers on her belt, "All set."
She caught Boba glancing at her weapons suspiciously as he walked to the door. He was a little young to be a leader wasn't he? But the rest of the team clearly didn't have an issue.
Must be tougher than he looked.
(SPACE/REPUBLIC CRUISER)
"Keep firing!" Grievous clenched his fist as he stalked through the corridors while clones and droids battled fiercely, "Kill them!"
There was a flash of a blue lightsaber and his eyes widened in delight as they spotted the wielder, "Jedi Master Shaak Ti." He grinned behind his mask, "We meet again."
She calmly cut through a pair of super battle droids and turned to him.
All fire stopped as clones took up positions beside Shaak Ti while droids done the same beside Grievous.
"Surrender Grievous," Shaak Ti pointed her lightsaber at him, "Tell your forces to stand down and submit to Republic law."
He chuckled in amusement, "Have you been spending time with Kenobi? Your foolish negotiations will never work on me." He grabbed a lightsaber from his waist and ignited it, "Kill them!"
Laser bolts filled the air as both sides opened fire. In such a confined space people started to drop. Surprisingly Grievous turned and started running back to the hanger, leaving his droid forces to get cut down.
"Pursue him" Shaak Ti led the clones after the fleeing cyborg. But as they entered the hanger dozens of droids emerged from behind crates and ship wreckages, "Ambush!"
A hailstorm of lasers tore through the Republic forces until only Shaak Ti was left standing. All fire stopped abruptly as Grievous raised a hand and stepped forward, "I will deal with this Jedi myself."
"Do you think you could actually defeat me in a fair fight?" She angled her blade defensively.
"Says the Jedi scum that relies on magical abilities to help them win." Grievous countered.
He grabbed another lightsaber and ignited it as he closed on the Jedi Master. As he predicted she backed off, waiting for him to make the first move.
"Scared Jedi?" he taunted, "I'm sure somewhere in all that patience and self-control is a core of fear and anger."
Grievous slashed down with both blades. She parried one and stepped aside to avoid the other before jumping into the air and swinging her foot. He stepped aside to avoid her kick and brought one arm round in a sweeping motion. Shaak Ti bent over backwards to avoid the attack then brought her lightsaber vertically upwards, aiming for his head. He quickly brought his second blade in to intercept it.
"Hypori" he growled, "I butchered you Jedi scum. Were it not for a rescue attempt all of you would have fallen that day. Now I will correct your fate this day." He brought a foot up and grabbed her torso before throwing her into the side of a Republic gunship.
Shaak Ti winced as her back collided with the metal but she rolled aside to avoid getting a lightsaber rammed through her stomach. She backed away from Grievous as he advanced with both his hands rotating at high speed, "I may fall today, but the Jedi will defeat you."
"The Jedi are weak." He sneered, "You think you are safe and secure in your position in the galaxy. But you have no idea of the power growing against you."
He sprang forward and brought both blades directly towards her. As he predicted she angled her blade and intercepted them both, though she clearly was confused he made such an open move. But with her blade stuck in place he was able to open up his two arms and grab her throat in a grip akin to what Dooku could do with the Force. Except he enjoyed watching the Jedi squirm as he plucked the lightsaber form her hands while watching the light leave her eyes.
"Your time is up." He leered.
Her head lifted and he gasped as the pale face of Asajj Ventress stared at him with pain in her eyes.
"Grievous" she begged, "Please"
"Asajj?" he asked softly, "What are you doing here?"
Shaak Ti, losing oxygen, blinked in confusion at his words. A moment later the cold metal claw released her and she dropped to her knees.
"Grievous?" she gasped and looked up at him.
The cyborg looked utterly frozen as he stared at her with something that looked like regret in his eyes. But was that even possible for Grievous?
"I'm sorry!" he yelled, "I didn't want to hurt you!"
By now the droids were looking at each other with obvious confusion.
"Master!"
Grievous jerked slightly and tapped his helmet, "Apprentice?"
"We've got incoming Republic reinforcements! We need to fall back." Khalida reported.
He shook his head and looked over at Shaak Ti before he started walking to his shuttle, "Another time Jedi."
Shaak Ti could only sit and watch as the droids retreated as more clones poured into the hanger while Grievous flew out without a second glance. The Council would have trouble believing this in her report.
Short I know. But it's just to let you know I have no abandoned this story and I shall not because there needs to be more Grieovus/Ventress pairings. Anyway please review readers. Pretty please?
