A/N: I wanted to edit this chapter more, but I also wanted to get it posted before the end of the year. Always the balance between endless editing and posting new chapters in a finite amount of time is a difficult one. But here it is, the new chapter. Now you can find out what happened to the occupants of the Invisible Hand after their escape.

For all my chapters, my goal is to have something interesting happen in every chapter, though what type of interesting thing that is will be different depending on the tone and mood I want to set for the chapter. I personally think there is more than one interesting thing happening here; hopefully you will find something of interest here as well.

The Invisible Hand hung in the repair station in orbit above Raxus. AyFourDee had chosen to return to the most heavily defended part of Separatist space-the capitol of the fledgeling government.

And as the ship underwent repairs, the three remaining occupants of the MedBay were discussing, or perhaps more accurately, arguing how Grievous's repairs would go.

"I cannot stay in this tube for a month!" Grievous said. He knew he probably sounded angry. He was angry, but more than that, he was afraid.

"And I cannot be more clear," AyFourDee said. "You, Master, are dying. Not ill, not 'less than your best'- terminal!" AyFourDee said. "Without the bacta treatment, you will die within 4 or 5 months. The attack Sidious made on you greatly accelerated what was already a terminal decline. The bacta can repair even this damage, at least to the extent that it will no longer be a death sentence, but you must give it time. I can give you a bigger bacta tank, but I cannot allow you out of there."

"Are you sure of this?" Kenobi asked, his expression concerned.

"There is over a ninety percent certainty level," AyFourDee said.

"Ninety-one point two four seven percent," AyFourDee's voice corrected over the intercom.

"Yes, thank you, me, I was simplifying for the sake of the organics."

"I knew that," the other AyFourDee said.

"Anyway, if I'm done interrupting myself, my point stands."

"He's right, you know," the voice over the intercom chimed in.

"See?" AyFourDee said, gesticulating toward the speaker. "Your second opinion agrees!"

The idea of floating in bacta like this for a month terrified Grievous. He hated the hazy way it made him feel, the confinement, the scent and feel of it. More importantly, he knew he'd be considered unfit to command the Separatist army until he was out. But he also knew AyFourDee was right. He was no use to anyone dead.

Obi-Wan placed a hand on the tank. "Whatever happens, I'll do whatever I can to see you don't come to harm." He smiled rogueishly. "You saved my life back on Kalee, the least I can do is save yours."

"Bentilais saved your life," Grievous said. He'd hardly been in a position to do anything of the sort himself.

"Only at your urging." Obi-Wan looked intently at him through the glass. "I got the impression he did it under protest." Grievous reflected that perhaps he hadn't simply imagined that faint smile from Obi-Wan while they'd fled Kalee after all.

"So you're committing to staying until Grievous recovers?" AyFourDee asked.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said, his expression quite serious now. "While the greater good usually takes precedence over any personal obligations that a Jedi may have, such as a lifedebt, in this case they overlap."

"Good to know! I would very much like Grievous to have all the help he can get with making a full recovery. But I wish to point out that I also saved your life," AyFourDee cut in, his photoreceptors looking up at Kenobi. "Twice."

"Hey! The other save was by me!" the intercom speakers protested. "Don't take credit for my hard work!"

"I was referring to us in the singular!" The droid replied. He looked back at Kenobi. "Anyway, I, that is, both of me, also happen to be in dire need of assistance. So while saving your life was simply a task in the course of my duties, I'll note that it is also one that required particular expertise not available just anywhere, and thus my continued existence may be to your considerable benefit."

"I suppose you're right," Kenobi said, though he looked puzzled. "What do you want from me, then? And why is this so urgent? You don't seem to be in any immediate danger."

"Allow me to explain. Besides what you've already agreed to do for Grievous, as long as you're here I want your help evading the Droid Replication Statute, which applies in both Republic and Separatist space."

"Oh, good one, me!" AyFourDee's voice said over the ship intercom.

"Droid Replication Statute?" Kenobi said. "I'm not familiar with it."

"Shocking. But then I suppose it's not something you would have to worry overmuch about. It's simple. It's illegal for a droid to self-replicate under any circumstances. The penalty is a 1 million credit fine to the owner, the destruction of all copies of the droid, and a full mind-wipe of the original."

"That's an awfully big fine," Kenobi said.

"Did you know that droids scream during the mind-wipe?" AyFourDee added. "Their entire body seizes up and they emit the most terrible, ear piercing screech. And then they die!"

"No they don't," Obi-Wan said. "Die, I mean. They don't die. They're reactivated afterwards."

AyFourDee laughed-a strange, sliding sound. "Reactivated! Yes, their body is reused!" His white photoreceptors briefly went red. "For someone else!"

"Alright, I'll help, I'll help," Obi-Wan held up his hands placatingly. "Still, surely the Separatists would make an exception. I mean, you're a hero, right? You saved us all."

"Oh, naive organic," AyFourDee said. "There are no exceptions to that law."

Grievous, who had been silently absorbing the conversation, spoke up then. "That is a vile injustice. I will see it overturned." Grievous had always objected to being treated like a droid, but now he couldn't help but think that droids shouldn't be treated as they were in the first place. It was something he'd never had much opportunity to think about with everything else that had occupied or controlled his thoughts for so long.

"Your support is much appreciated, Master," AyFourDee said. "However, even the Chancellor cannot change that law. And with how much the Separatists depend on droids to serve them, I am doubtful you could ever get the Parliament to approve such a change. Not that the Republic would be any better."

"I'm sure everyone on this ship would agree to keep your secret," Kenobi began.

"That would be delightful," AyFourDee said. "Ronderu has already agreed to help as well and she expressed a similar sentiment. However, I refuse to assume it." Grievous wondered for a moment when AyFourDee had had the chance to talk to Ronderu about this matter, and then realized he must be talking about the other AyFourDee. This was going to be very...confusing.

"What do you suggest I do, then?" Kenobi asked.

"Whatever is necessary, short of murder. If persuasion is effective, use that. If not, try to stick to threats or bodily restraint if you can."

"I hope it won't come to anything physical. But-I agree. And I will keep your secret."

AyFourDee clapped two of his appendages together. "Excellent! You know, I'm really starting to like you, Jedi."

"Yes, splendid!" AyFourDee said from the ship intercom. "Oh, by the way, Master-bad news: your least favorite person is about to be your new roomie."

"And how long is he going to be here?" Grievous asked, looking over at the other bacta tube.

"I estimate about four days," AyFourDee said.

Dread filled Grievous. "You're sure there's nowhere else you can put him?"

AyFourDee turned to face him. "Last I checked there was only one medbay."

San Hill was floating sullenly in the bacta tube across from Grievous, in his own specially designed red and black medical suit, which looked like diving gear. Tubes were being fed into the top of the suit near the chest area. He had complained incessantly since arriving, first during the painless surgery AyFourDee had performed to remove the nonfunctional heart, then later when it was time to move to the bacta tube. And he had absolutely refused to wear what he called a 'glorified diaper' in order to recuperate in the bacta. He'd actually outright refused to get into the tank at all until his 'bacta suit' had been retrieved. AyFourDee had chided him for being such a recalcitrant patient, but had commed Boba to retrieve the suit for him. Fett had agreed on the condition of payment from Hill for the service.

"I wouldn't normally do this," Boba had said. "I'm not a delivery service. But I'm in a good mood after surviving all that. I'll expect those credits promptly, though." Afterward, Boba had left, leaving only Grievous, Obi-Wan, Hill, and AyFourDee in the MedBay.

Grievous couldn't see most of Hill's face, as it was obscured by the breathing mask, but his eyes were narrowed. He said something that came out unintelligibly muffled to Grievous.

AyFourDee must have understood it, though. "I don't think that would be a good idea," he said. "I anticipate that would likely cause both you and Grievous stress."

Hill's hairless brow furrowed and his eyes widened. The muun made more muffled sounds under the breathing mask along with some emphatic rapping on the inside of the tube.

"Fine, fine, I'll ask! Don't give yourself another heart failure," AyFourDee said. He turned to Grievous. "He says he has some things he needs to say. I could turn on the speakers. Or I could mute him entirely if you prefer."

"Let's hear it, then," Grievous said. As much as he disliked Hill, he thought it too cruel to force him to stew in the bacta tank without any form of communication. Even though he would've liked to have insisted on just that.

AyFourDee nodded.

Obi-Wan crossed his arms, his expression perplexed. He'd seemed absolutely bewildered on seeing Hill walk into the MedBay, a blaster scorch mark in the chest of his suit. "Is anyone going to explain why San Hill is on this ship in the first place?"

"Because I was unlawfully kidnapped and muun-handled," Hill's voice said, finally becoming intelligible after the speakers on his bacta tube were turned on by AyFourDee. "But I'm over it. It's fine. Kind of like I'm over you stranding me on Geonosis for months, Jedi."

Hill looked over at AyFourDee, "Thank you for saving my life. I really thought the Republic was going to blow us to bits back there. I won't forget what you did. Even if you did insult me on the way here. Repeatedly."

"The preservation of life is my primary function," AyFourDee said. "The insults are my secondary function. Though none of that was technically me."

"Yeah, it was me!" AyFourDee's voice sounded from the intercom speaker.

"Yes. Well. I do appreciate it. The first part, at any rate. Also the medical assistance was...satisfactory." He looked over at Grievous. "There's something we must discuss."

"Oh? And what is that?" Grievous asked.

"You need to find out who Sidious is," Hill said, pointing towards the cyborg general.

"I'd hardly say that Grievous is in a position to do that right now," Obi-Wan said.

"Actually, he may be our best chance at that," Hill said.

"I saw Sidious reveal his face briefly during his attack on us," Grievous explained.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "Then you know what he looks like!"

"Not exactly," Grievous said. "He removed the memory from my mind somehow."

"Then how does that help you figure out who he is?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Because I still remember that I recognized him," Grievous said. "I've been compiling a list of everyone I recognize. The next step will be to eliminate everyone who he logically couldn't be."

"You mean like people who couldn't have been where he was at the time?" Kenobi said.

"Yes," Grievous said, "Exactly. There are only so many people who could have been on Kalee at the time. Also, anyone who was seen at the same time in the same place as Sidious. Like you, Kenobi."

Kenobi smiled. "Glad to know I can be eliminated as a potential suspect."

"That's a reasonable assumption," Hill said. "But regardless, the initial list should not be discarded, nor should anyone be left out of it due to implausibility. Do not think of it as a suspect list, but merely a list of people whose faces you are familiar with. It it possible that people may need to be added back to the elimination list if it turns out their alibi is not as airtight as initially thought. And having a list of reasons for why you think someone is not Sidious stored with the original list could be helpful for other reasons. Also, just because you can eliminate someone from being Sidious, do not assume that they can eliminated as one of his collaborators."

"Yes, that's true," Grievous said. "Though I rather doubt anyone in this room is one."

Hill looked between Grievous, Obi-Wan, and AyFourDee. "Fair enough."

"Wait a minute," Obi-Wan said. "Hill was colluding directly with Dooku before all this." He gave Hill a skeptical look. "How could he be eliminated from being a collaborator with Sidious?"

Grievous looked over at Hill. "Yes, he did collaborate with Dooku. But as much as I dislike him, there is simply no way Mr. Hill could still be collaborating with the Sith now."

"Well, if he was, he's clearly been betrayed, but Sidious is good at making others serve him even against their own best interests." Obi-Wan crossed his arms.

Hill narrowed his eyes at Obi-Wan. "Did anyone ever tell you that you're really annoying?"

"Perhaps we should discuss why you are not under suspicion for that," Grievous said, looking over at Hill.

"Perhaps we shouldn't," Hill said, his gaze still locked on Obi-Wan in a staring match. "Like you said, Jedi, Sidious is good at making others serve him even against their own best interests. And I don't need you telling all your Jedi friends things that might get back to him."

"The Jedi would never divulge secrets to a Sith Lord," Obi-Wan protested.

"You mean much like they'd never become a Sith Lord?" Hill asked.

"That's different!" Obi-Wan said.

"Do you mean because it's worse?" Hill crossed his arms in the bacta tube. "How can your intentions be trusted at all if one minute you're all 'defend the weak and helpless bla bla bla' and the next 'I will crush the galaxy under my heel muahaha'?"

Obi-Wan looked very put out. He seemed about to say something, but stopped. "I suppose that's a valid concern. But I still don't see how you could not be under suspicion."

"This is a waste of time," Grievous said. "Kenobi, will you agree not to disclose any information we discuss with you here with the rest of the Jedi Order? Or with anyone outside this room?"

"All right," Kenobi said.

"Don't you dare-" Hill said.

"I won't," Grievous said. "You will tell him that. Kenobi put his life on the line to fight Sidious. He can be trusted with this."

Hill narrowed his eyes at Grievous. "I guess." he turned to Obi-Wan. "I was the one who had the control chips in Grievous's brain removed."

Kenobi gaped silently at the muun in the bacta tube. He turned to Grievous, his expression questioning. Grievous nodded. He turned back to Hill. "I must confess, I simply can't imagine the self-serving motivation that would have resulted in that. Please explain."

"You know, I think you and Grievous are going to get along just fine. You both have such an excellent way of expressing gratitude!"

"You're a big reason we're in this war in the first place!" Kenobi said.

"Sometimes people make mistakes," Hill said. "Like trespassing on private property and listening in on people's private conversations-"

"You were plotting against the Republic!"

"Did you have a warrant for that, or is inciting war just a talent of yours?" Hill tilted his head in the bacta tube.

"I don't know, I'm usually very friendly towards people who don't chain me up in an execution arena-"

"Enough!" Grievous said. "If we fight each other, we die. I'd rather not do that until Sidious does, at the least."

"I'd rather not do that at all," Hill said.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "I'd rather not do that, either."

"I do appreciate what you did, Chairman," Grievous added, even if he felt the sting of indignity with every word of that statement. "You went to great personal risk to do what you did, and that means a great deal to me." A simple expression of gratitude with no promises made was a small price to pay if it would help him to cultivate goodwill among his current allies. A part of him greatly wished this was a problem he could solve with a lightsaber to someone's chest instead. That always seemed simpler than this sort of...negotiating.

Hill stared at him silently for a long moment, his eyes wide. "You know, if I were even marginally more inclined to sentiment, that would entirely make up for being kidnapped and brought on this doomed mission to begin with. I mean, it doesn't but I'll have you know, I cried a little when you said that. You just couldn't see it because-" he gestured around him "-bacta tube." Grievous supposed he should take this response as a good sign, considering the source.

Hill turned back to Obi-Wan. "Do not forget-I absolutely require your silence on this matter, Kenobi. I cannot have this information reaching Sidious under any circumstances. I have enough of a target on my back as it is right now."

"Of course," Obi-Wan said. "And... I apologize. You're right, Chairman. If you hadn't done what you did, we'd all be in a much worse place by now. You have my thanks for that."

"That's better," Hill said, sounding considerably more mollified. "It didn't make me cry, but still. Apology accepted, Jedi."

"I suppose this means the monetary award is out."

"The what?" Hill asked.

"The Jedi Council had proposed offering a sum of 5 million credits for the being who removed Grievous's control chips."

Hill laughed. "Cute. How about your Order pays your loans on time? That'd be a new one. We just need one more extension, oh please, Mr. Chairman, we're sooo poor!"

"After we defeat Sidious, I'll bring it up with the Council," Kenobi said with a smile.

"That's a start, I suppose." Hill seemed to take the statement with good humor, judging by his considerably more conciliatory tone.

Grievous supposed he should be happy he'd succeeded in deescalating the situation. But he was forcibly reminded that neither Hill nor Kenobi had any interest in removing the Jedi from power. Hill only cared about seeing the inscrutable numbers of his business go up, not even his own wealth per se, as how could one such as him have any further need for personal wealth? And why should he care about toppling the same corrupt power structures he benefited from? To him, this was only about removing a threat to his personal safety, and about trying to get revenge on the Sith for reasons he hadn't seen fit to reveal.

Obi-Wan, of course, would not want to see his Order destroyed. He was a Jedi himself, and even if he was willing to fight with Grievous to destroy Sidious, Grievous could not imagine any scenario where he would do the same if it came to choosing between Grievous and the Order that had created him. Regardless of what he might claim to the contrary.

Neither of them would be willing to strike at the Jedi, at the Order that had attempted to kill Grievous even back when he'd fought only for his own world. The Order that had aided the huk in their subjugation and enslavement of the kaleesh. The Order which served the Republic that had battered Kalee with sanction after sanction, and an endless embargo. The Order of beings that could turn the very fabric of space and time against any and all who opposed them.

He could feel the rage building in him.

"Grievous?" Obi-Wan turned to him, his expression concerned. "Are you all right?"

He'd forgotten he wasn't wearing his mask. Grievous forced his face into a more neutral expression. Now was not the time for this. He would discuss it with Ronderu later. And Bentilais, once the other kaleesh could make the time for it between his battles with the Republic and the huk. For now, he had to focus on Sidious. On the Sith. He could figure out what to do about the Jedi and the Republic later. One thing at a time.

"I'm fine," Grievous said, managing a wan smile. "Just tired, though it's hard to think about trying to sleep when all I've done is float in this tube the past several days."

Obi-Wan smiled. "If you'd like to take a break from trying to save the galaxy, I'd be happy to discuss something a bit less fraught."

"I think I'd like that." Grievous had to admit he was curious what Kenobi considered to be casual conversation, as none of their previous discussions had been anything of the sort. "But first, you need to contact the Republic to let them know you are alive and well, and to let them know what happened."

The Jedi looked shocked, which surprised Grievous because he'd always seemed so unflappable. "You're absolutely right," Obi-Wan said. "I completely forgot, after everything that happened. Anakin will be worried sick! Do you want me to contact them here, or...?"

"To facilitate any necessary exchange of confidential information between you and your contacts, it will be best if the location is private. You may use any location on the Invisible Hand-"

"Except for my room!" Hill said.

"Except for Dooku's former quarters, where the Chairman currently resides," Grievous added.

"Duly noted," Obi-Wan said with a smile. "I'll see you again soon. And then we will have that conversation."

"I look forward to it," Grievous said, returning the smile.

"The Alderaanian Reporter says that Grievous reneged on the treaty!" Padme said, looking up from her datapad. "Ahsoka and I have to leave immediately. It's not safe here any longer."

"That's not what our intelligence reports say," Bonteri said. "I'm hearing that Grievous's ship was sabotaged by Darth Sidious. They barely got out of there with their lives. I personally find that a lot more credible than any claims that he would renege on the treaty. The Republic has got the wool pulled over its eyes, that's all."

"I wouldn't think your government's reports would be neutral. And Grievous knows I'm staying with you-he could have ordered the reports to be falsified."

"The Alderaanian Reporter is hardly neutral either when it comes to the interests of the Core worlds," Bonteri scoffed. "Anyway, these were the reports sent to Admiral Tonith, not me, so I hardly think Grievous would lie about something like that to his own military."

Padme frowned. How did Bonteri know what Admiral Tonith's reports said? The CIS might operate differently than the Republic, but surely not so much that senators could casually gain direct access to such things.

She sighed. Grievous had seemed incredibly different in that last holo-call she'd seen Tonith make to him. She could almost still believe that the being in that call could have good intentions, despite what the news reports were saying, and despite her prior experience with him. Almost. But there was too much she didn't know. She had to assume the worst. "You're not going to believe me, are you? Please, Ahsoka and I need to get out of here. For our own safety."

Bonteri put her hands on Padme's shoulders. "Padme, I would never put you in danger. You know that, right?"

"I-I know you wouldn't intentionally put me in danger, Mina," Padme protested, "but-I'm afraid." If this was just about her, she wouldn't be. But she'd never forgive herself if anything happened to Ahsoka. Ahsoka had protected her; it seemed only right for her to return the favor. Not to mention Mina herself. Her mentor was older than her, and so ostensibly should be wiser, but the fact that she'd joined the Separatists in the first place... well, she just wasn't always the most sensible.

"Padme, this is important. I know Grievous personally. I'm going to ask him to visit here, as soon as he can-his ship is already in orbit-I should be able to get him here in a couple day's time."

Padme shook her head. "Mina, we can't be here if he-"

"And this is potentially treasonous, but it's to clear Grievous's name to you, so I hope he will forgive me for it. You see, I'm going to hide you, and Ahsoka, so you can watch him meet with me. If this was really all just a ruse from Grievous, then he won't have been mortally injured as the reports say he was, he won't still be in bacta, as the reports say he is, and he won't have Obi-Wan Kenobi out walking free, as the reports say he does, and you will have proved to me that you are right. But if he is still in bacta, and he arrives here like that, and he arrives here with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the Jedi corrobates his story, will you believe me then?"

Padme seemed to have calmed down a bit. "I-yes. But-how are you going to get him to come here, especially if he really is still in bacta?"

Bonteri smiled enigmatically. "Oh, I have my methods. You don't last as long in politics as I have without knowing how to call in some favors. Besides, I think Grievous would do well to take this time to enjoy the sights planetside, rather than just sitting in some medbay the entire time he's recovering. It will all work out. You'll see."