Serenno
Count Dooku's Castle
"Our attempts to destroy the Borg ended in the emergence with a new threat, Lord Tyrannus. If that was not enough our dear General lost another flagship because he ignored the advice of those who have more experience with the Borg as enemies." Lord Sidious stated grimly.
Dooku bowed his head. "I will see to it that Grievous is punished accordingly."
This wasn't Grievous's first blunder but it was the second blunder where Grievous lost the flagship of the CIS fleet. Frankly despite his tactical genius the good general had recently lost more battles than he should have and it was getting on Dooku's nerves. This should was becoming a problem and Dooku made a mental note to fix it.
"See that you do. In the meantime you are work on adapting the defoliator cannon for use in space against these invaders. These creatures must be destroyed before they become a threat." Sidious instructed.
"It will be done, my Lord."
"Good. This threat must be eliminated quickly so we can concentrate on the war. We have spent too much time being distracted from our main objective."
Dooku nodded in agreement. "The extermination of the Jedi."
"Our two sides have been building up, preparing to renew the war. We cannot afford anymore distractions."
"I understand, Master." Dooku bowed his head. "I will begin preparations for the renewal of the war."
"See that you do." Sidious before ending the transmission.
Outer Rim
Kessel Sector
Near the Maw
The large Klingon flagship Bortasqu remained cloaked with the assembled fleet as it watched the mine field, watching as the invaders made another attempt to break through the mine field. The aliens were firing randomly into the mine field again, their plasma based weaponry causing massive explosions. All attempts at communication had ended in failure as the aliens responded with threats of destroying all infidels in the name of their Gods. It was obvious they were hostile and they had no interest in communications, only war. They presented themselves as a threat, as dangerous as the Undine given their bio-technology that while different was advanced given by what the MWA (Milky Way Alliance) had learned.
Admiral Thrawn had even stated that they had been a threat to his people, the Chiss, in the Unknown Regions and that they were planning an invasion of the Skyriver Galaxy. This was kept secret from the Senate for strange reasons but the Milky Way factions agreed not to interfere in their internal affairs.
Fortunately a weakness might have been found.
By generating tachyons and graviton emitions they might affect, shut down or overload the singularities, or they could use tri-cobalt warheads that would cause subspace rifts that would the exact same only it would affect hyperspace travel in the area. Given that the Romulans were one of the few races to use quantum singularities as a power source and that they kept their singularities shields there was never a chance to prove that theory.
Until now.
"Captain, you should see this. I think the invaders have found a weakness in the mine field."
Koren narrowed her eyes as she looked at the view screen. The aliens were firing in a specific spot every three minutes and their smaller ships were slowly making it through.
"They have figured out the timing." Koren stated as the smaller ships came through.
The smaller organic fighters moved in attack formation towards the Alliance fleet that was guarding the mine field in case the invaders broke through.
"Full power to shields and begin reconfiguring the mines. We will test ourselves against these creatures." Koren said with an eager grin.
The Bortasqu uncloaked itself and quickly attacked the invaders before they could fire. The invaders fired on the Klingon flagship but the shields shrugged off their plasma projectiles due their design for deflecting superior weaponry such as the kind used by the Borg, Undine, Dominion and the Voth.
"Configure the deflector array to begin emitting high level gravitons. We will save the tri-cobalt warheads as a last resort." Koren stated.
"Yes, Captain. Deflector array ready."
"Execute."
The Bortasqu's deflector array released a modified constrated stream of tachyons and gravitons towards the invaders coming through the mine field. For a moment nothing seemed to be happening and then…
The quantum singularities that powered the alien ships began to power down, causing many of the ships that had been affected to float helplessly in space. Some had been passing through the temporary gap in the mine field and were helpless as the mines replicated and destroyed them.
"It is a success." Koren grinned victoriously.
Now that a fatal weakness in the invading fleet had been found it would perhaps force these so-called Far Outsiders to step back and forget their plans of invasion.
If not they would suffer the wrath of the Klingon Empire.
"The mines have been reconfigured. They are trapped again."
Admiral Thrawn had watched as the Klingons push back the Far Outsiders by exploiting their own bio-technology against them. A cunning move and it showed that the people of the Milky Way were not only advanced but they were intelligent, knowing how to adapt.
Much like the Borg if one thought about.
The Borg had the technological knowledge of a thousand species and yet they had underestimated the United Federation of Planets and then later the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Republic. For all their knowledge and technology they had failed to assimilate these few factions that should have been no match for them. It was only by watching these people that Thrawn realized why the Borg had underestimated them.
The Borg had become complacent in their quest for assimilation, underestimating the Alpha Quadrant Alliance and other threats like the Undine, the Republic, and the CIS who had all fended them off at one point. Their ability to adapt had ironically been adapted by the people of Starfleet and the Klingons who continued to grow stronger. It was this ability that made Thrawn respect them as the ability to adapt and grow was an ability not shared by many people, even his own people. It was possible that even the Supreme Chancellor himself underestimated how dangerous the Milky Way could be given their recent accomplishments.
They had bled the Far Outsiders and drove them back into the Maw that they used as a forward staging ground, replacing the Borg. They could not expand due to the surround black holes, only travel along the only safe route out of the Maw and with the cloaked self-replicating mines stopping them they could not escape and even if they did the mines could be reconfigured to replicate themselves possibly faster or slower. Even if they were not at official war with the Outsider they were managing to make them bleed and that was a start.
With this technology and science which was the perfect weapon perhaps the Outsiders would be stopped when they invaded.
Of course Thrawn was aware of the other threat, the Demons of Air and Darkness better known as the Iconians who perhaps were an even greater threat than the Outsiders due to their ability to appear anywhere with their gateway technology. The Milky Way was dealing with other threats like the Vaadwaur and the Borg but they knew the Iconians were coming and thus were working to prepare for that invasion. The Republic was working to build and prepare for a possible invasion from the Iconians as well, only known by the Chancellor and a few select members he trusted.
Thrawn being one of them.
Building ships, growing more clones, and making more weapons.
It was only a matter of time before someone made the first move and next war would start.
Perhaps it was time that Thrawn suggested a possible alliance between the Milky Way and his people for mutual protection. Despite his exile Thrawn still had contacts with his people in the Unknown Regions and a chance to gain technology advanced enough to fend off the Far Outsiders and other threats was tempting but his people would no doubt wish to remain independent. He also knew that many in the Republic were not happy that some worlds were asking for political membership of the MLA due the fact that many in in the Senate believed the Republic was the only supreme government in the Skyriver Galaxy but it was actually a wise decision.
The Republic would be deep in dept at the end of the war and at the end they had no idea what they would do with an army that wasn't needed anymore. Of course Thrawn suspected the Chancellor had other plans which was why new ship designs were being made and sent to Kuat Yard Drives, even Thrawn had drawn up a few new Star Destroyer designs, along with new fighter and weapon designs.
The Republic was preparing for a new war after the defeat of the Separatists.
Milky Way Galaxy
Delta Quadrant
Jenolan Dyson Sphere
USS Voyager
Ten-Forward
Asajj Ventress had been invited out of her guest quarters to the ten forward for some kind of special meeting and of course she was escorted by two security guards. Given her track record she wasn't surprised and she was actually interested in the so-called Dyson Sphere that Voyager had entered. She knew Dooku and Sidious would love to see the inside of this massive construct and see what it made it tick. The technology here would be of great interest to them and their agenda and she was glad both of them were a galaxy away.
For first time in perhaps ever she was free from the Jedi and the Sith.
She entered the ten-forward and spotted Admiral Tuvok speaking with a Klingon if she was right. The Klingon had a mix of grey in hair and he wore a white pelt underneath a grey battle vest with grey pants, black boots with a symbol on his brown belt.
The Klingon looked at her and slowly walked forward, stopping a few feet in front of her. "You are the warrior known as Asajj Ventress?"
"I am." Ventress nodded, judging the Klingon before her with a critical eye. "Who wants to know?"
"I am Kahless, Emperor of the Klingons." The Klingon introduced himself. "And I am here to speak with you, regarding your galaxy."
"And what do you want to know?"
"Nothing. My people already suspected a hidden agenda all those months ago when the Republic and its clone army made their presence known. We discovered a bio-chip in their skulls, one designed to lower emotional inibitions and was imprinted with a list of orders. Admiral Tuvok spoke to me of what you had told him and your experience with the Sith made us relook over the bio-chip and we found this." Kahless presented a PADD to Ventress who took it. "Are you familiar with Order 66?"
Ventress scrolled down the list and saw Order 66 and what it meant.
Order 66: In the event of Jedi officers acting against the interests of the Republic, and after receiving specific orders verified as coming directly from the Supreme Commander (Chancellor), GAR commanders will remove those officers by lethal force, and command of the GAR will revert to the Supreme Commander (Chancellor) until a new command structure is established.
Ventress' eyes widened as she read it over, almost unable to believe what she was reading. "The clones were programmed to kill Jedi? That makes no sense. Why would the Chancellor decide to implement such an order…Sidious."
That bastard.
That scheming sneaky bastard.
He was in on this somehow, she just knew it. That meant all of the battles between the Republic and the Separatists were not real battles. They were staged to cover up Sidious's true plan and it was out in plain sight.
The entire war was a farce and everything she did was pointless.
All the time she spent trying to please her former Master.
All the time she spent fighting the Jedi.
All the time trying to become a true Sith.
All of it was for nothing.
Ventress clutched the PADD, threatning to break it with her own hands as anger built up within her. They used her and then tossed her aside like trash. And her sisters, her master, the only ones who cared for her were all the ones who paid the price while she was left alone to continue suffering in their place as Sidious and Dooku played their sick demented games.
"We suspect that this Sidious played a role in the creation of the clones and thus ordered them to be modified with this chip. And since the Supreme Chancellor is the only one who can order these clones to carry out these orders he is either working with this Sidious or-" Kahless stated, mindful of the angry look Asajj was sporting.
"He is Sidious." Ventress growled.
It was the only thing that made sense.
How could an order that exists to destroy the Jedi be used by the Sith if one of them was not in a position to use it?
It explained how Sidious could supply the Separatists with much needed tactical information in the war. It even explained how the Republic managed to keep fighting despite the fact that droid armies outnumbered them and managed to attack key installations in Separatist space that prolonged the war.
It was all a setup.
Sidious was keeping the war going for as long as he needed and it was all aimed at the Jedi. On one side were the droid armies led by Grievous and on the side were the clones the Jedi trusted with a secret order to kill them on word of the Chancellor.
The hidden Sith Lord.
"A cowardly tactic but unfortunately a cunning one as loath I am to admit it. What better army to serve as executioners than one you regard as your ally and one that is limitless in numbers?" Kahless stated.
"And why are you showing me this?" Ventress asked, seemingly calming down.
"You have given us reason not to trust the Republic or the Confederacy. Both sides use machines both biological and mechanical as their weapons and they both serve as a weapon against these Jedi. And you claim that these Sith will be a threat to us, thus forcing us to begin a creating a counter to them and you have more experience with these forces than us." Kahless explained.
Ventress raised an eyebrow. "You're offering me a job?"
"I offer you the chance to join the Klingon House Pegh, a covert group of warriors who fight for the Empire from the shadows. Some would say it is not the honorable Klingon approach but the path to honor can be taken in many ways so as long as you walk with honor. And this is a battle that can only be won from the shadows." Kahless said, slowly walking around Ventress. "This Sidious hides so we must drag him into the light. If he wishes to exterminate the Jedi through their own troops we must look for ways to prevent that. That is what I offer, a chance to for personal vengeance against this Sidious and Count Dooku for their own crimes against you and a chance to expose them."
Ventress thought it over, smirking at Kahless. "What you plan is not easy. Dooku will not be easy to defeat and his master I suspect is even more dangerous."
She should know since she tried to kill Dooku twice.
The first time she infiltrated his castle with two fellow Nightsisters, poisoning him before trying to kill him but he was still too strong. The second time she used the Zabrak Savage Oppress to become his assassin while secretly working for her, waiting for the right time to kill him. But Oppress became too strong and too fierce for her to control in the end and she barely escaped with her life. Dooku then sent Grievous and the droid army after her and wiped out her fellow sisters on Dathomir, leaving her alone again to wander in a galaxy that was cruel and unkind.
Did she dare to believe that help from a new galaxy would help her get revenge on her former master?
"You do know to whom you speak. We Klingons are bred for battle and death." Kahless stated with a grin of his own. "We are not afraid of death. We fear…Dying without honor."
"Honor has no place where you plan to go. Dooku tried to kill me, I tried to return the favor and failed. What makes you so different?" Ventress asked curiously.
"We are not alone. We have allies, brothers, and we seek the same as you. I do this for the sake of my people. We will not bow down as slaves to these Sith and they will learn to fear us, with or without your help."
Ventress looked at him carefuly. "We shall see."
"Then you will join us?"
Ventress held out a hand. "I believe this is the start of a good friendship, Emperor Kahless."
Kahless grasped her hand. "I believe the same, Asajj Ventress."
Old Republic Era
Chorlian Sector
Rekkiad System
Rekkiad
Ebon Hawk
Due to the fact that they were approaching a planet that was probably overrun by Mandalorians Revan and Canderous agreed that it was possibly safer to land closer to the site populated by Clan Ordo, Canderous's people. Of course that was no guarantee given that Canderous had avoided his people for the last five years, including his own clan and if they found out he was traveling with the man who scattered their people things were bound to get ugly.
That was if they could actually land the ship without crashing.
Revan grunted as he managed to bring the ship into the atmosphere but the blizzard it flew into was messing with the sensors. "Get Canderous up here. Tell him to check those grid coordinates again."
T3 beeped and spun around, leaving to find Canderous. Revan jammed the throttle forward and yanked back on the stick as a gust of wind hit the ship and caused it to veer down and to the left. He pulled the ship out of steep dive but he also veered off course and now it was heading straight down to a massive glacier. Revan banked hard to avoid hitting the glacier but the ship still suffered a sharp clip to the underside.
The Ebon Hawk went into a spiral and Revan fought for control. He managed to regain equilibrium with the help of the Force and took the ship up to a safer altitude and set the autopilot. He slumped onto his chair, letting out a long sigh and set the autopilot. A red panel light however alerted him to another problem.
The clip from the glacier had damaged the ship's landing gear.
Just as Revan cursed T3 came back in with Canderous staggering behind it. "You trying to smash us into a gree pulp back there? I thought you knew how to fly this rusted slag heap."
"I thought you said Clan Ordo had set up a campl somewhere on this frozen rock." Revan retorted. "Couldn't see a blasted thinkg on those grid coordinates you gave me."
"Maybe they moved to another location." Canderous shrugged. "Can't have gone too far, though. Not in these conditions. Do a ground scan of the area and they'll probably turn up."
"That's what I was doing. Turns out it's a good way to get up close and personal with a glancer." Revan replied sourly.
"That's why the red light's blinking?" Canderous asked, glancing at red light on the panel.
"The landing gear got smashed up when we clipped the glacer."
"You couldn't just fly around it?"
Revan didn't dignify that with a response.
"Go around for another look. Clan Ordo's gotta be close by." Canderous advised.
"Even if we find them, then what? You really expect me to bring the ship in on busted landing gear?"
"You're a smart guy. You'll think of something." Canderous said in the co-pilot seat, actually getting comfortable.
Revan rolled his eyes and worked on bring the Hawk in low again, only at half speed this time to account for the strong winds.
"See if you can do something to give our sensors a boost." Revan said to T3 who beeped affirmative and interfaced with the Hawk's main systems.
A moment later he beeped in excitement.
"I think your droid's got some rust on the brain." Canderous said, looking at scanner. "I don't see anything."
"Can you enhance the image?" Revan asked T3.
T3 whistled before a static filled image appeared on the screen with the details hard to make out but almost appeared to be a campsite.
"Could be them." Canderous gave T3 a pat on the head.
"Doesn't look like there's land stip at the camp. See any place for us to touch down?" Revan asked.
T3 adjusted the scanners again, giving them a large layout of the area.
"Perfect. Nice work, T3." Revan smiled.
"Uh…That's not a lading strip. It's a giant snowdrift." Canderous quickly pointed out.
"With the landing gear shot, we're going to need something to cushion the blow when we hit the ground."
"You really think this'll work"
"Sure…But you'd better strap yourself in, just in case."
It turns out Revan was right to suggest strapping themselves in because a moment later the entire front the Ebow Hawk was buried in the snow drift they had come down on but it was more less unscathed with only the landing gear in need of repair.
"I guess sometimes it's not so bad being a droid." Canderous groaned as he stood up, rubbing his shoulder.
"You mean like when you're marching through a blizzard? This snowdrift's at least five kilometers from the campsite." Revan replied.
Canderous simply grunted before going to gather the gear while Revan and T3 ran a diagnostic of the ship.
"Doesn't look too bad. Think you can fix it up while we head off to the camp?" Revan asked T3 who beeped twice. "It's going to be hard for you to keep out there in the snow. Besides, someone has to stay and guard the ship."
T3 beeped again in compliance.
"You get started on repairs. I'll go give Canderous a hand."
An hour later both Canderous and Revan were all ready to leave for the camp, dressed in heavy white winter gear for the cold and Canderous offered a weapon to Revan who at first refused. "You don't want to be swinging that lightsaber around when we get to the camp. Jedi aren't too popular around here."
Revan didn't like it but agreed so he picked up a pair of blaster pistols. "I'll get by with these."
"Suit yourself. When we get to the camp let me do the talking. Remember: these are my people." Canderous said.
"I can live with that." Revan said as he lowered the carbo bay ramp. "But if we're going to get there before dark we'd better get moving."
It took them two hours for them, going through a subzero weather before they came within sight of the camp. As they arrived Revan spotted several vehicles near the camp and his heart race when he saw what they were.
Baslisk war droids.
At the end of the war he had ordered them to disassemble their most dangerous weapons, including the infamous Baslisk war droids that the Mandalorians used like mighty steads to ride into combat. It seems a few clans ignored his terms.
"One more step and we paint the snow with your brains!"
Revan and Canderous stopped as four sentries came into view, armed with blaster rifles and trained on the two.
"Lay down your weapons and identify yourselves!"
Canderous was the man who answered. "My name is Canderous of Clan Ordo. And I don't lay down my weapons for anyone!"
It seemed his words had an effect on them as one boldly spoke back. "How do we know you're really Canderous?"
Canderous smirked. "Well, Edric, I could punch you in the face until I straightened out that crooked beak of yours, but we'd probably all freeze to death before I finished."
The one who asked laughed, slinging his rifle over his shouders and walked up tp Canderous to big him a hug. "It's good to see you again brother!"
The other sentries lowered their weapons and came forward, welcoming Canderous.
"Let's get you and your friend out of the cold. Leave your sled; we'll have someone else come get it."
Edric led Canderous and Revan through the camp, both of them noticing eyes on them and the building excitement.
Apparently Canderous was very popular.
The entered the shack in the center of the camp that was full of supplies with over eight Mandalorions lounging inside. The welcoming Canderous got from them was much like the one from outside, thus proving Revan's observation of how close Canderous was with his clan.
Well, the welcome didn't last long.
The door swung open and in walked a tall, broad shouldered Mandalorion who slammed the door shut and causing everyone to go silent. The person removed the mask covering their face, revealing a attractive looking woman who glared at Canderous.
"Su cuy'gar, Canderous." She said, staring at Canderous and no one else.
"Su cuy'gar, Veela." Canderous replied softly.
She glanced at Revan for a second. "Do you want me to speak Basic so the Outsider can understand us?"
"I understand well enough." Revan replied, speaking Mandalorion.
Veela raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised before turning back to Canderous. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that any way to greet a clan brother?" Canderous asked.
"Are you still my clan brother? You left us after the war. You deserted Clan Ordo to become mercenary." She said harshly.
"There was no Clan Ordo after the war. Tegris was dead. We had no leader. We were scattered." Canderous snapped back. "Broken. Defeated. I wasn't the only one who left."
"We heard you were working for the Jedi." Veela continued, her voice now scorned and angry.
"Cin vhetin." Edric suddenly spoke up.
Veela regarded what Edric said before seemingly agreeing. "I'm leader of this clan now. I still have a right to know why you're here."
"To help Clan Ordo find Mandalor's Mask."
Veela tilted her head before looking at Revan. "And what about this Outsider?"
"He is my friend. My brother. He will help us in our search." Canderous answered.
"Do you have a name, Outsider?"
"His name is Avner. He's a mercenary. We met while I was working for Davik Kang."
"You can't speak for yourself?" Veela asked. "I thought you understood Mando'a. Am I going too fast for you?"
"I understand. You speak well." Revan answered.
That caused a gasp as Revan had basically insulted Veela, implying she was only skilled at talking.
Veela only seemed to clench her teeth but remained calm. "Brother Canderous vouched for you so you can stay. But if you betray us, I'll kill you. If your weakness causes one of my people to get hurt, I'll kill you. If you slow us down, I'll kill you. Is that clear?"
"Wait…What was the second one again? Maybe I should write this down." Revan said, feigning ignorance.
This caused a bit of laughter but Veel ignored him as she turned back to Canderous. "Welcome home, brother."
She threw back on her winter gear and left without another word, leaving Canderous and Revan to enjoy the small welcoming party.
"Avner?" Revan whispered. "That's the best name you could come up with?"
"What's wrong with Avner?"
"You just rearranged the letters in Revan."
"Relax. Nobody out here's going to-" Canderous stopped as Edric approached them.
"Don't judge Veela too harshly. She's a good leader but she has a temper." Edric looked at Revan. "You should remember that the next time you provoke her."
"I just got caught in the middle. Canderous is the one she's really made at." Revan looked at Canderous. "I get the sense you two have a history."
"You could say that." Canderous answered. "She's my wife."
Present Era
Skyriver Galaxy
Invisible Hand
En-Route to Serenno
General's Quarters
Grievous marched out of the bridge after leaving the droids with the instructions to make for Serenno. No doubt Count Dooku was planning chastising him for losing the the Inferno in the Maw during the battle against the Borg. So he wanted to spend the entire trip in silence while preparing for the eventual meeting in his quarters. Just as the elevator came onto the top level and the doors opened he marched into his quarters where he spend time training.
Only when he came upon the balcony of his quarters he saw someone in the chair. There, sitting in the chair and reading a pad was someone he had seen before.
And someone he had known to be as dangerous to him as the Jedi.
The person looked up and smiled while at the same time dressed in the clothing as Count Dooku. "Ah, General Grievous. I thought I heard a squeaking sound. You are making sure to properly oil all your joints, are you?"
Grievous inhaled sharply, his eyes visibly narrowing at the sight of Q sitting in HIS chair. For a moment he was prepared to follow his usual response to such an outrage: snarling and shouting mixed with someone being decapitated. However, he remembered all too well how this being had returned his original form to him during the trial that the Jedi had been placed in. The General exhaled at the memory of feeling like his old, true self for the first time in many years…and at the thought of potentially feeling that again if this being truly was as all powerful as he claimed to be.
"…what do you want?" He demanded in as flat a tone as he could manage.
Q raised both brows as if genuinely shocked. "Really now, I honestly hadn't expected you to ask me that! I predicted snarling, yelling and a childish tantrum being concluded with a lightsaber to my neck! How wonderfully barbaric that would be!"
"What. Do. You want?" Grievous asked, utilizing more self control in that moment than he had in his entire career in the CIS.
Q stood up and clapped his hands together once. "Well since you asked so politely…I have an offer to extend to you."
This made Grievous tense up. "What would I stand to gain from a deal with you?"
"Well…if you say yes then you will have…" Q pretended to think over it as he paced around Grievous. "Your life back! By which I mean you will have that fleshy little reptilian number you wore before it got all mutilated and burnt in that accident."
"Accident…" Grievous muttered bitterly.
"Oh right…attempted murder is the proper term to apply." Q nodded. "You really stuck it to those Jedi snobs at that trial. Oh it was so funny to see the looks on their faces! To realize how they weren't always the good guys and have their actions thrown right back in their faces. I tell you those are the moments that I would pay to see if I had any need of this 'currency' you fleshy little meat bags like to throw around."
"What do you want from me?" Grievous asked, this time more eager than impatient.
"Well in return for giving you back your body I want to see if you can do the one thing you might never be able to do as…this." Q gestured to Grievous. "…give up hunting the Jedi."
Grievous recoiled. "WHAT?!"
"Ooh, did I hit a sore nerve there?" Q asked innocently. "Actually on that note can your nerves even feel sore anymore?"
"You want me to give up hunting the people who brought my world to its knees?! Those self righteous hypocrites?!" Grievous demanded, swinging one arm out to the side. "The Jedi are a scourge on the galaxy!"
"Oh please," Q scoffed. "Jedi, no Jedi, you flesh bags have been butchering one another long before you heard of this Force, long before you even picked up a stick! What would you do if you got your body back anyways? Go home, see the wife or wives in your case, hug the kids and go finish up crushing those bugs? I'll even lend you a can of Raid if you'd like."
Grievous stormed past Q to his chair. "You have no idea how I feel about the Jedi," He growled, "You have never watched your people being humiliated and brought low! You have never been forced to bow your head to self appointed guardians of the peace who condemn you for defending your world and your people!" He turned to Q. "What I do is not simply for my own pleasure…it is for every last Kaleesh warrior who was cut down avenging the injustices done to their world and their families!"
"Ohhhh…I get it now." Q nodded. "I thought the wiring was messed up in your head, considering how you go about thrashing everything in sight but now I see what this is: a debt you feel that you owe to your people. A jedi scalp for every thousand Kaleesh they killed?"
Q shrugged. "I actually do understand that to a certain degree. I mean even the Q never spent an eternity without throwing a few punches at one another or forcing one of their own to…" He frowned. "Endure humiliating circumstances. I was once forced to become a mere human, a weak and helpless flesh bag who had to rely on the help of others to survive. It was only because the Continuum felt I had 'learned my lesson' that they allowed me to reclaim my previous position. Believe me when I say dear General that I do know what it is like when a collective of self righteous, hypocritical and downright unpleasant individuals impose their will on me."
He walked up to Grievous. "That is actually part of why I am here, you see. I am here because in a way…I see a bit of myself in you. I see someone who was doing great things before someone else stepped in and said 'you cannot do that, because I say so'. And when you disagreed with that they forced their will on you and did everything in their power to make sure you couldn't do what you saw was right. I am here dear General…because quite simply I wish to offer you what I took for myself: freedom."
Q reached up and tapped the side of Grievous' head. "Freedom from this abomination of a body and from the things that have been done to that poor old brain of yours while you've been stuck in there."
Grievous held one claw up to his head. "What do you mean by that?" He asked suspiciously. "Are you saying that…"
Grievous trailed off as his thoughts began to race, considering Q's words. He had known that his brain would have been exposed to tampering under Dooku's surgeons, but the idea that they had actually done something to alter his brain had never occurred to him. Surgery on a brain, especially on one undergoing implantation into a cyborg body was beyond risky. A single mistake would render a tactical and cunning mind as ineffective and unstable…abnormal…defective…
He remembered that he forbade the Geonosians from tampering with his mind when agreeing to the offer of gaining a new body. There's no way they would have gone and did that, right?
He would have known.
He would have noticed something different.
Or maybe he was unable to notice.
"What do you think I'm saying, General?" Q crossed his arms. "Bear in mind: I hang out in a galaxy where a cybernetic race routinely messes with people's brains…and they don't do it to make them better or smarter. They do it to make them obedient. Do you think things are so different here?"
Grievous sat down in his seat. "…I wish to verify this claim for myself." He said immediately. "From a third party…an unbiased party."
"I think you know a few people who fit that category." Q nodded. "I tell you what: think it over, look into what you need to and when you come to a decision…" He flicked his hand once and a card appeared between his fingers. "Well I'm just a whole dimension away so here's my card for when you've come to a decision!"
He set the card down on the arm of Grievous' chair and stepped back. "With that I bid thee adieu, Herr General!"
With that, Q blinked out of existence. The cyborg General glanced down at the card and carefully picked it up to read its contents…
The letter Q, or rather its equivalent, in Kaleesh.