Chapter 2 : Fate
High above the table that the Kaleesh General had been laying upon, a small Genosian poked her snout out past the others that had crammed into the small alcove with her. Taking a step forward to peer over the edge of the ledge beneath her feet, her semi transparent wings quivered with curiosity.
Below her, she could see the count had now de-activated the shield that surrounded the cyborg, and was in deep conversation with him.
In turn, the cyborg had stopped being so aggressive, and was merely listening to what the old sith lord seemed to be proposing. If she had not been so nervous now, she would have smiled. Her design, in her eyes, was a work of art, and here she could see that work of art come to life for all to marvel at.
"Piqu!"
She heard her name shortly before she felt a bony fingered hand on her shoulder. Turning, she came face to face with a rather gnarled old Genosian, he was one of those she could recall Archduke Poggle the Lesser holding in high regard. However, she could not recall his name, nor did she wish to, he unnerved her more so than she had been already.
" Your presence is required in the primary hive" He added, his stance and tone indicating that this meant emediately.
Piqu made a slight noise of uncertainty, she had hoped to stay with the others to watch what was unfolding below them. Possibly the only chance she would have to see her design in action. Years worth of toil and hard graft, only to be denied the chance to see the final results.
A rough shove in the right direction, told her she would not get that chance.
The main entrance to the primary hive was grand indeed, in Genosian terms at least. Gnarled decoration adorning it's doors indicating to outsiders this particular hive held great importance amongst the Genosians. And because of it's importance, security here was tight, though you would not have been able to see them at first glance, several Genosian Guards tucked themselves away inside alcoves in the wall, becoming part of the gnarled decoration.
Piqu had been lead to a small ante-chamber just outside the main audience hall where the Archduke would meet with various people of importance to discuss matters concerning the war. A war Piqu herself wished would end soon, and yet, she had contributed to it's perpetuation in so many ways through her innovative designs, for various weapons and droids.
Poggle the Lesser, now limped into view from the audience chamber doors, his gimmer stick clicking along the red sandy floor after every unsteady step. Behind him, followed Dooku, flanked by two imposing super battle droids.
Piqu's wings quivered as they always would when she became nervous, and she inclined her head respectfully. The presence of Dooku, while being somewhat imposing in its self, was also unusual. The work she had been commissioned to do, had been set down by Dooku, though this was the first time she had seen the count close up.
"The experiment has so far been a success Piqu, you should congratulate yourself and your team." The Archduke mused in their native tongue.
Piqu's black eyes flittered between Poggle and Dooku, her expression clearly indicating a certain amount of curiousness, perhaps uncertainty.
" My Lord Dooku wishes however, to clear up a few small facts..." Poggle added as he waved a knobbly hand in motion for the Count to pose his questions.
Taking a single step towards the small, and now very skittery Genosian female, he paused tapping his fingers together, a thoughtful look upon his aging face. It was almost as though the Count was in a silent conversation with someone, Piqu thought.
His cold gaze met her own in a movement so sudden, Piqu flinched visibly.
A small chuckle of amusement escaped Dooku's lips before he calmed.
"Yes, indeed, while I am more than satisfied with the outcome of this experiment, I am keen to know one important thing..."
The Sith Lord, leaned down to her level, a worried look flashed across her face, her wings quivered again making a noise likened to the rustling of dried leaves.
"Y-yes, of course...a-and that is?" She inwardly cursed her stammered reply.
"Your colleagues who performed the mind alterations I requested...were they successful?" He paused,
"More importantly, the node you designed...will it be strong enough to keep such 'alterations' in place?" Dooku still looking her in the eye sceptically.
Piqu did not realise it, but she had already begun to nod before replying, and quite frantically too.
" Yes they were, they reported a 100 percent success upon analysing neural patterns, a-and as for the node...it is strong enough to withstand as much as he can himself. In short my Lord...it will last a lifetime."
Dooku clasped his hands together at the small of his back, a pensive expression replacing the sceptical one.
" Good, then I shall inform my master once I have put the experiment under more stringent testing."
Piqu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but something told her he had not quite finished with her as yet.
And right on cue,
"One last thing...did you back up all of your work? Pass you knowledge onto those working under you?"
Piqu stiffened, dark orb like eyes growing larger again. She was so unsure what would be the 'right' answer. Having heard many tales of force sensitives abilities, she concluded, that the truth in this case, would be best.
"I have detailed files, design schematics, and even a log of thought processes concerning the whole project...I-I have never worked with designing anything for sentient organics before now...none that needed this extent of...Improvement." She felt the need to justify herself.
The Count however, was unreadable, a state uncommon for humans Piqu noted.
" I found it important to document the process, so that if any problems arise, they can perhaps be located and solved quickly. And should we need to repeat the procedure again...everything is mapped out." She concluded, still trying to read the Sith Lords expression.
It was no use.
Dooku now shot a raised browed glance to the Archduke, who had been observing the whole conversation. The elderly, battle scarred Genosian merely nodded once to the count. A gesture that confused Piqu, as no word had been spoken between them. Something was terribly wrong here.
" I trust you did not make records of the Generals memories, those I requested to be erased?" Dooku spoke again, so many questions.
The Sith Lords back was turned to her now, he was slowly making his way to the door at the back of the ante chamber.
Piqu shook her head slightly,
" No my Lord, that information had been destroyed, as you requested."
She had spent a full 24 hours prior to the procedure simply talking with the bacta tank bound, kaleesh warrior, and she remembered it well. Their speaking had not been without purpose, it had been relayed to Dooku, and he in turn had specified what needed to go memory wise. Piqu remembered at first feeling a great amount of sorrow when she first saw the state Grievous was in. And more so, how not only was his body broken, but his spirit too.
He had spoken of the war that had raged on his home world of Kalee, how he longed to get back to the heart of the battle, to redeem himself, bring aid to his people. And then of his obvious failure which overshadowed all else. How he had been so painfully denied the death he deserved. He was disgraced, and he knew his people would not hold any honour for him if he returned now, like that. He could not bear the thought of his wives and children having to bear the brunt of his humiliation, they were better off thinking he was dead for now. Redemption was the only way he could ever return to Kalee.
Piqu at this point had spoken in reassuring terms about what they proposed to do. It would be a true work of art, Genosian design technology at it's finest, pushing the boundaries of new 'weaponry' in this war where the Jedi had stood in their way for so long.
It was halfway through her obsessive musing, Grievous had cut her off, remarking how she sounded just like 'that muun'.
Piqu wasn't quite sure who 'that muun' was she had been likened to, but she could tell by the tone of voice the Kaleesh had spoken in, it wasn't a compliment. It mattered little, he would not remember her or any of this little chat come morning anyway.
The nervous impromptu fluttering of her insectoid wings, brought her out of her thoughts, and with it a sudden realisation...the secrecy of those deleted files would never be completely safe. Not as long as she still held the information within her own mind. And due to her own insistent backing up of notes and files. She had just made herself rather expendable. She was a liability.
Piqu didn't have to look up to know the heavy footfalls she heard approaching on either side of her, were those of the super battle droids that had accompanied Dooku into the room previously. Firm, cold metallic hands grasped her stick like arms, encompassing them fully.
Dooku was now standing in the doorway, silhouetted by the light from the main audience chamber, back still turned to the ante chamber.
" Thank you so much for your efforts, they have been most appreciated, however, I regrettably have to inform you, you are no longer required."
With a simple, arrogant wave of his hand he closed the door behind him. Poggle made his own exit to one side of the room, not so much as meeting the dark watery eyed, gaze of the Genosian female, who's fate it seemed, had just been decided for her. /lj-cut