Chapter Two; "The General's Past: The Deal"
Darkness. Emptiness. A vacuum of emotions and thoughts.
And suddenly… He was awake. And full of pain.
Where am I? What has happened to me? Why am I in such pain?
He felt an agonizing pain all over his body. He was inside some kind of medical tube, used to store the injured. He must be in real bad shape.
He tried to call for help, but he failed to do so. The pain was too great, and he lacked the strength that he once had.
But he felt that he was being watched. He sensed that he was being studied. He sense that he was being analyzed. The question was by whom?
His eyes were failing him. He could hardly see, but he could distinguish two forms, perhaps two individuals. Were they friends or foes?
Does it really matter? I am weak, helpless… And I am in such pain. Death will be a relief, not a curse.
"Qymaen jai Sheelal?"
That was his name. He was almost sure of it. It sounded so familiar, yet so forgotten. He wasn't himself anymore. He wasn't even half of the Kaleesh that he once was.
"Calm yourself down, my friend! We are not your enemies!"
That voice… It seemed so friendly and concerned. Could they really be friends? Maybe they were his family? No… That didn't make any sense. Who could they be?
"Can he hear me?"
The other individual nodded.
"Yes, Count. You can speak with him. But I don't think that he will be able to speak back. He… well… He isn't in a good shape!" – said the other individual.
A Count? A nobleman? What was he doing in here? And what happened to me? Why am I not in a good shape?
"Thank you, San Hill." – said the Count. – "Poor creature. I bet that you must be in such pain."
There aren't words to describe the pain that I am feeling, Count.
"And I also bet that you wish to know what happened to you?" – continued the Count.
Of course! I want to know what happened to me! What happened? Please?
"You suffered a terrible, terrible accident. We found your shuttle… What was left of it, at least… Horrible, freakish accident it was. All your men died, I am sorry to say." – explained the Count.
My men? They are dead? No… No… This can't be happening! This is all a bad dream!
"You survived, my friend!" – said the Count.
Survived? I can't move! I can't feel anything besides this ghastly pain! Should I be happy, Count? Should I thank you for this?
Surprisingly, the Count seemed to be guessing all of his thoughts.
"I know that this may not seem such a miracle to you. But we are trying our best to make you return to your old self. Rest assured that we are doing our best!" – said the other individual that the Count had referred as San Hill.
What? You are trying to help me? Why? Who are you?
"I am going to be honest with you, my friend. We are members of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. We are rebels, against the Republic. We are the ones that had been trying to make you join our cause." – continued the Count.
You? I remember you! You wanted me to lead your army! And I refused your damn offer! I remember now! I remember you! I remember that sneaky San Hill! And I remember you, Count… Count Dooku!
"Indeed. We met each other one time. Don't know if you can remember that occasion? Unfortunately, you refused our generous offers." – said Dooku.
Did you dare do this to me, old man? I will kill you! I will kill you!
"I know what you must be thinking! But please think harder! We wanted you to join us! What would we gain with your death? Wouldn't the Republic benefit more from your death?" – asked Dooku.
What? The Republic? That damn political mess? They did this to me? Why? No… I don't believe it!
"The Republic knew that we had contacted you! They knew, my friend! So they decided to… eliminate you. To destroy you. To end the problem." – stated Dooku.
"We found traces of a Republic bomb on your shuttle. And we know for certain that some Jedi were seen near your shuttle. Our spies informed us!" – added San Hill.
Jedi? Jedi? What have they got to do with this? They tried to murder me? They killed my men?
"Jedi can be so uncivilized. Cowards the lot of them! And you can be sure of that! I was once one of them!" – explained the Count.
You damn murderer! You damn worthless hide!
"But I have left the Order. I disagreed with them. I hated their way of thinking. This act, for example, is distasteful! Horrible!" – continued the Count.
I hate you! I hate your damn Order! I hate you Jedi!
"I am not your enemy, my friend. I am your partner and ally. I will help you! You will survive and regain your strengths." – assured the Count.
I don't believe your lies! Jedi or not, you are a lying bastard!
"And you will have your revenge!" – added San Hill.
Revenge?
"Indeed. You will able to punish those that dared to try to kill you." – agreed the Count.
Revenge… Yes! Yes! I want revenge! I want to kill those damn Jedi! I want revenge!
"But…" – said the Count bluntly.
But? What is the matter?
San Hill coughed.
"The curing process will be very painful. Awfully painful. Even more painful than what you are experiencing now." - San Hill explained.
More painful than this? How can that be called a cure?
"A small price to pay for your life… And your revenge." – said Dooku.
Yes! Yes! My revenge! I accept your damn cure, Count! Cure me! Cure me so that I can crush those Jedi!
"But we need your help, my friend." – stated the Count.
My help? What can I possibly do? I am weak and useless!
"The process will be painful. You will most likely die. We need you to be strong, my friend! We need you to fight to stay alive! Don't give up! Remember your revenge against the Jedi!" – explained the Count.
"In order to survive, you must use all of your will to live! If not… The pain and grief will dominate you and eventually kill you." – added San Hill.
A small price to pay for my life… And my revenge.