Chapter Eight; "The General's Past: Lightsaber"
"We are having a guest today, General." – said the Count.
Grievous looked at Dooku and shrugged.
"Must I be present? Small talk bores me, Lord Tyranus." – explained the General.
They were both in the Count's meeting room. Dooku had insisted that Grievous be present on that meeting, although he didn't explain why.
"Yes you do, General. I already told you this!" – reminded Dooku.
Grievous showed an angry look.
"Why?" – demanded the General.
"Patience, General… Patience… I assure you that it will be brief!" – said the Count.
"Bah!" – growled Grievous.
Dooku was amused. It would seem that he and Grievous had one thing in common: impatience. They both hated waiting.
There was a knock on the door and a Battle Droid entered the room.
"The Viceroy has arrived with his gift, Count." – said the Battle Droid.
Dooku told the Battle Droid to leave and started preparing some drinks. He wouldn't waste his best wines with the Viceroy. That would be a blasphemy. The Count could be gracious and well mannered, but the truth is that he was also very racist. He hated aliens. He considered Humans the right kind of Race, while the others were mere imperfections that deserved to be destroyed. Even when he was a Jedi he had those feelings, but he tried to hide them. A Jedi couldn't show any signs of prejudice.
Darth Sidious had insisted that Dooku should play the roll of the Diplomat; therefore he had to hide his true feelings towards his alien allies as he had done when he was a Jedi. But his Master hadn't said anything about the wines.
"Gift?" – asked Grievous.
Dooku smiled at the cyborg. He also hated Grievous. The General had once been an alien, too. But now he was far more hideous than that. He was a cyborg, a mixture of flesh and metal. Mechanical abomination! Yet, he had his uses. And Dooku had to be a Diplomat. That was his roll in this entire charade.
"Indeed. You will be positively surprised, General." – said the Count.
The door opened and the Viceroy entered the meeting room. Nute Gunray looked at the Count and bowed slightly.
"Hello, Count." – said the Viceroy.
The Neimoidian looked at the cyborg that was standing besides Dooku.
"Is this the damn Droid that cost us a fortune?" – asked the Viceroy.
Grievous yellow reptilian eyes reflected hate and death. He hated to be mistaken with a Droid. Those mechanical creatures were nothing compared with his superior strength and intellect. He was different. Only a fool couldn't tell the difference between a God and a worm.
"Droid?" – growled Grievous.
The Viceroy gave a step back.
"Calm down, Grievous!" – ordered Dooku.
The Viceroy pointed a finger at the cyborg.
"Don't you dare use that tone with me, you piece of junk! I financed you! I invested in you! You exist because of my credits! Show me some respect!" – shouted the Viceroy.
"What did you say, slug?" – asked the cyborg.
At that moment, two Neimoidian entered the room and pointed their blasters at the General.
The Viceroy showed a smile of victory.
"I said that you were a piece of junk. Understood, Droid?" – said the Viceroy in defiance. – "And spare me the tough routine. We all know that you can't harm us. We are your Masters!"
Grievous looked at the Viceroy and then he looked at the two Neimoidian guards. He started laughing. It was a cruel sort of laughter…
"What is happening?" – asked the Viceroy.
The two Neimoidian guards looked confused. Only the Count seemed to understand the reason for the General's laughter.
"May I ask you a hypothetical question, Viceroy?" – asked Grievous.
The Viceroy didn't like the cyborg´s tone. Something was wrong… He could feel it.
"Let's just suppose for a moment that I am not a Droid. That I have a mind of my own. And that some slug decides to insult me and mock me. That would test one's patience, right?" – said the General.
The cyborg started walking towards the Neimoidian guards and the Viceroy. The three Neimoidians went pale.
"Well… The only defense that those slugs have against me are blasters. Powerful weapons, no doubt about that. But what if… And please try to follow my reasoning, Viceroy! What if my armor was so damn powerful that it should resist those blasters shots?" – continued the Viceroy.
The Viceroy looked at the Count in search of help, but found none. Dooku was amused; you could see it in his eyes.
"You have to obey my orders! I am one of the leaders of the Confederacy!" – shouted the Viceroy.
Grievous looked at the Viceroy and then shrugged.
"You weren't listening, were you? Let me demonstrate my point!" – said the General.
In a matter of seconds, the cyborg attacked the two Neimoidian guards and killed them. The Neimoidian guards had shot the General, but it would seem that the cyborg´s armor was too powerful and that the blasters shots didn't hurt him.
The Viceroy screamed for help and four Battle Droids entered the room. But when Grievous looked at them, the Battle Droids simply saluted and said: "Yes, General?"
"Kill this damn beast!" – ordered the Viceroy.
The Battle Droids didn't even move. They were waiting for the General's commands.
"Clean the Count's meeting room. And burn these filthy corpses. Now!" – ordered the cyborg.
"Roger! Roger!" – said the Battle Droids.
Dooku couldn't hide his smile. Sure, he hated the cyborg more than ever. That damn aberration had dared to fight in his precious meeting room. It was now full of blood… How barbaric! But still… It had been for a good cause. The look on the two Neimoidian guards before their deaths had been very enjoyable. And the Viceroy was looking more like a coward than never.
"How… How… Could you? You work for us!" – said the Viceroy.
"Actually… He works for me, Viceroy." – explained the Count.
The Viceroy looked surprised at Dooku.
"He what? But it was my credits that you used to build him!" – said the trembling Neimoidian.
Count Dooku simply drank his wine and looked at the window. The view was simple marvelous. The nature on this planet was incredible exotic and rich in various types of green.
"Life isn't fair, Viceroy. But don't worry! Grievous will work for the Confederacy. But he will respond only to me. Do I make myself clear?" – asked the Count.
The Viceroy looked at the two corpses that had once been his bodyguards. Their death hadn't been painless.
"Yes." – squeaked Nute Gunray.
"Now…" – said Dooku. – "Where is my gift?"
The Viceroy hurried towards the Count and gave him a box that one of his bodyguards had been carrying.
"The gift is already inside a cell, Count. This is just a bonus." – said the Viceroy.
Dooku nodded and asked for the Viceroy to leave. Nute Gunray started to run towards the exit and tripped over one of the corpses that hadn't been taken by the Battle Droids yet. Before he fell on the floor, something grabbed him. It had been Grievous.
"Don't worry, Viceroy. I don't bite…" – said the General. – "But I can break every bone in you body, if you like."
The Viceroy went pale and said: "No… I… have to go… I have a meeting…"
"Too bad! Maybe next time?" – suggested the cyborg.
…
"Aren't you going to open the box, Lord Tyranus?" – asked the General.
The Count looked at the box that he was holding. Although he already knew what was inside the box, he was also very eager to see its content. He opened the box… Inside it was some kind of object that Grievous didn't recognize.
"This is a lightsaber, General." – explained the Count. – "A Jedi's chosen weapon. A weapon full of grace and finesse."
So that was it? Grievous had heard stories about lightsabers. Powerful weapons! Every warrior should fear and respect them. Jedi could use lightsabers as if they were part of them.
"It is a very rare and powerful weapon, Lord Tyranus." – said the General.
Dooku looked at the lightsaber and examined it. The lightsaber was indeed a rare and powerful weapon. Rare because only Jedi and the Sith knew how to make them. Powerful because when mastered it you were nearly invincible. Only those with some connection with the Force could use the lightsabers without fear of losing an arm or another part of their body. It required a great deal of concentration and focus, only possible with the help of the Force.
"Yes… But quite frankly it is a bit flawed. It must belong to a Jedi Knight that was until very recently a Padawan." – said the Count after examining the lightsaber.
"Oh?" – said Grievous.
The General was marveled at the lightsaber. He had never seen anything like it. If the legends and rumors were correct, he was in the presence of the most deadly melee weapon in the Universe. This one could have flaws like the Count suggested, but it was still a work of art.
"How do you know so much about lightsabers, Lord Tyranus?" – asked Grievous.
Dooku looked at the General and seemed to be thinking about something. He must have reached some sort of conclusion, because he then smiled at the cyborg.
"I also have one, General. I was once a Jedi, remember?" – said the Count.
"Oh? Didn't the Jedi ask for your lightsaber after you left?" – asked the General.
Dooku nodded and said: "Sure they did. And I did give them my lightsaber. But I still had the knowledge to build one, General. I built this one afterwards…"
The Count picked up the lightsaber that he had hidden under his cloak. Grievous was impressed. Dooku had such a marvelous weapon hidden all this time? It would seem that the Count knew the importance of creating a dramatic moment before a fight. The element of surprise was very important in a battle; it could be the difference between life and death.
"This is my lightsaber, General. This is lightsaber is part of me, of my personality and identity. I built it after leaving the weak and simple minded Jedi Order. I built it in order to become a Sith." – continued the Count.
Grievous already knew that the Count was a Sith. After his Loyalty Test, Dooku had introduced him to his Master, Lord Sidious, and both of them had explained their plan to the General. Grievous was sure that they didn't tell him all the details of the plan, but that didn't matter to him. If it meant killing Jedi and destroying the Republic he would obey their orders. He would be the General of their Droid Army.
"Oh? Then you don't need the lightsaber that the Viceroy gave to you?" –asked the General.
Dooku seemed to be paralyzed for a moment or two. Had that creature dared to suggest that he could give the lightsaber to him? How revolting!
"I am sorry, Grievous. But no! This isn't a mere weapon. It is "the" weapon. The most elegant weapon in the whole Universe. You have to earn the right to wield it." – said the Count.
"Earn the right to wield it?" – asked the General.
Dooku sighed. He couldn't tell the creature that the mere fact that he had spoken the word "lightsaber" was revolting enough. He needed Grievous.
"Yes. You see there is some sort of code of honor. Only Jedi and Sith can wield such a powerful and elegant weapon. Nothing personal, General." – said the Count.
Nothing personal? This was personal! But Dooku knew that he had to be diplomatic.
Grievous looked at the lightsaber that the Count was holding. He wanted the lightsaber; you could see it in his greedy look.
"How do I earn that right, Lord Tyranus?" – asked the General.
Dooku was beginning to feel annoyed. The damn cyborg was asking him too many questions, and by the looks of it he wouldn't give up. He really wanted the lightsaber.
"Only Jedi and Sith can wield a lightsaber." – stated Dooku.
"There was a sort of code of honor amongst my kin. Do you want to hear about it?" – asked Grievous.
I doubt that I have a choice, thought Dooku. The Count nodded.
"If one of my kin challenged another, the winner would become the owner of the loser's possessions." – explained the General.
"What? Let me get this straight. Killing a Jedi would therefore give you the right to own his lightsaber?" – asked Dooku.
Grievous nodded.
"Well… I see the logic in your argument. I really do! But to kill a Jedi? That would be an enormous feat, General. I doubt that even you could stand a chance against a Jedi." – said the Count.
Dooku could really see the logic behind the cyborg´s argument. But he didn't like the way this conversation was going. He didn't want to be persuaded by this filthy creature. He didn't want to give him the lightsaber. Logic or not, that wasn't the point. He wouldn't give the abomination a lightsaber.
"But if I did? Could the lightsaber be mine?" – asked Grievous.
The Count was sure that the General would never be able to defeat a Jedi. That would be impossible! Jedi are weak compared to the Sith, but divine compared to the rest of the Universe. And the cyborg was part of the rabble. He wasn't a Force Sensitive.
"By your logic… Yes." – agreed the Count.
Dooku guarded his lightsaber in his belt. He gave the other lightsaber to Grievous.
"Touch it." – ordered Dooku.
Count Dooku wasn't a cruel man. But Darth Tyranus was. The General wanted the lightsaber. Let him hold his precious weapon for a moment. He will miss it more that way. It will pain him more, knowing that he once held in his hands the most elegant weapon in the Universe… And then he had to return it.
Grievous looked scared for a moment, as if the lightsaber would explode if he touched it. Then, the General touched it. And his yellow reptilian eyes didn't reflect pain and death anymore. He seemed to be at peace.
It was of course a false peace. He was still in pain, and he still wanted to murder all the Jedi. But this was the closest thing to happiness that Grievous had ever experienced. The cyborg grabbed the lightsaber and turned it on.
A green blade made of light appeared, when the General pressed the button. It was simply marvelous. So much power in a weapon.
After seeing its power, Grievous wanted it more than ever. He wanted the lightsaber. It should be his. He is a powerful warrior, one of the best; therefore he should have the most elegant weapon on the Universe.
Dooku seemed to be reading his thoughts. The way the Count looked at the cyborg, clearly showed that Dooku knew of the General's desires.
"Put it in the box. Now!" – ordered Dooku.
The cyborg showed him a pained look.
"Please, Lord Tyranus… Let me have the lightsaber… You don't need it!" – begged Grievous.
"Now!" – ordered Dooku, again.
Dooku´s voice seemed darker, somehow. The General nodded and did what the Count had asked him. It pained him to give up voluntary the possession of the lightsaber. But that voice… It was so hard not to obey it.
"Good! Now leave me! I have to talk with the Master. I wish to know what to do with the prisoner." – said the Count.
Grievous was still looking at the box, which container the lightsaber. He wanted that lightsaber. It had to be his.
"General?" – said Dooku.
The cyborg bowed.
"I am sorry, Lord Tyranus… I will leave at once. What prisoner by the way?" – asked Grievous.
Dooku looked disappointed.
"You still haven't figured it out? It is the owner of the lightsaber, General." – said the Count.
…
Grievous was a bit nervous. He had to be. He was disobeying a direct order from his superior. But what could he do?
He wanted that lightsaber more than anything. It had to be his.
And the Count had agreed with his kin's code of honor. He had said so himself. And the owner of the lightsaber was there. He had to take that chance!
Even if he failed, he would die. He wouldn't have to worry about the Count's punishment. But if he won… Ah! He would own the lightsaber! It would be his lightsaber!
He had entered the meeting room again, a short time after leaving it. He knew that the Count was busy talking with his Master via hologram in his training room. And the box was still on the table, where Grievous had left it. It had all gone well!
He was now in front of the cell door that contained the owner of the lightsaber. Grievous had never fought a Jedi before. He had heard that the Jedi controlled powerful magical energies. They had some kind of connection with a mystical energy called the Force. The General didn't know exactly what the Force was, but he respected it. He respected it because one should respect all of his enemies. And the Force was his enemy, since it gave power to the Jedi.
He opened the cell door. Inside the cell there was a young man. He was a Human. He shouldn't have more than twenty years. He had a black beard, and some scars across his face. Grievous looked at him and then at the box that contained the lightsaber.
"Are you the Jedi?" – asked Grievous.
The prisoner didn't answer. He just stood there ignoring the cyborg.
"Answer me!" – ordered Grievous.
The young man nodded.
"Yes. I am a Jedi. And that's all I am telling you." – said the Jedi.
Grievous looked at the box that he was carrying. He opened it and showed the Jedi its content.
"Is this your lightsaber?" – asked the General.
The Jedi was looking at the lightsaber with a confused expression.
"Yes! It is mine!" – said the Jedi.
Grievous called the Battle Droids that were guarding the cell. The Jedi was still looking at his lightsaber, and ignored the Battle Droids.
"I have a proposition for you, Jedi!" – said the General.
"I won't betray my fellow Jedi! Nor the Republic" – said the Jedi, still watching his lightsaber.
The General closed the box and the Jedi looked at him directly in the eyes.
"I don't care about any of that! I wish to make you a proposition of another nature. In exchange you may gain your freedom and lightsaber." – said the cyborg.
"This is a trick!" – shouted the Jedi.
Grievous laughed.
"No trick! I just wish to give you a chance. That's all!" – said the General.
"What do you mean?" – asked the Jedi.
Grievous gave him the box, which contained the lightsaber.
"You only have to defeat me, Jedi! I can see that you are neither injured nor sick. You are therefore a worthy adversary. If you win, you may walk free." – explained the General.
The Jedi opened the box and grabbed the lightsaber. Grievous showed a pained look when the Jedi touched the lightsaber.
"What about the Droids?" – asked the Jedi.
Grievous nodded.
"I gave them specific orders not to harm you. There is a shuttle ready for you. The Droids will escort you to it." – said the General.
He Jedi gave him an incredulous look.
"You expect me to believe that?" – asked the Jedi.
"Do you have any other choice?" – asked the General. – "Do you prefer to be tortured by Count Dooku? And you will eventually die! And perhaps after all that torture you will talk! You will betray your Jedi Order! You will betray those that trust you!"
The Jedi showed the cyborg a look full of hate and said: "Never!"
Grievous laughed again.
"That's what they all say…" – mocked Grievous. – "But how long will your strength last? A day? A week? A month? You will eventually talk, Jedi! It is just a matter of time!"
The Jedi turned his lightsaber on and attacked the General.
"Never!" – shouted the Jedi.
Grievous grabbed the Jedi's arm and broke it. The young man's scream was full of pain and agony. The lightsaber fell on the ground.
"Ahhhhh! You are a fiend!" – shouted the Jedi, looking at his broken arm.
"No… I am much more than that!" – said the General. – "I am Grievous!"
The Jedi tried to escape the powerful grip, but the General was too strong.
"May the Force be with you, Jedi!" – mocked the General.
The General's other arm grabbed the Jedi by his neck.
"No please! Don't…" – begged the Jedi.
But Grievous didn't listen. He didn't care. He wanted the lightsaber and the Jedi was in his way.
He broke the Jedi's neck. The Jedi stopped moving and screaming. There was only a deadly silence that echoed in the cell. There was only death. There was only Grievous.
The General picked up the lightsaber from the floor and threw the corpse against the wall. In that precise moment, Dooku entered the cell.
"What the…" – said Dooku.
He couldn't believe in his eyes. In front of him was Grievous and… A corpse? No one could be alive after a treatment like that. The Jedi had suffered a terrible death.
"What is the meaning of this, General?" – demanded the Count.
Grievous showed him the lightsaber.
"The lightsaber is now mine. I killed its owner in a fair fight. It is now mine by right. I have the right to use it!" – stated the General.
Dooku wanted to destroy the wretched creature for daring to defy him. He wanted to put an end to the abomination's miserable life. But he couldn't… He was needed. The plan required him. His Master had said so.
"Yes. It is yours." – said Dooku.
What else could he have done? Grievous was needed. He was going to have an important part in his Master's amazing plot to destroy the Jedi and the Republic.
"Thank you, Lord Tyranus." – said Grievous, while his greedy look was directed to the lightsaber.
Dooku shrugged. The Jedi was going to die, anyway.
"If you insist on using a lightsaber, I better teach how to use it. I don't want you to cut yourself while fighting a Jedi. You have cost the Confederacy too much." – said the Count.
Grievous bowed and said: "Thank you, Lord Tyranus."
"Well… Do you want to start your training now? I could use a bit of exercise, General." – said Dooku.
"Yes… But there is something that I wish to obtain first, Lord Tyranus." – said Grievous.
Dooku showed a surprised look.
"Oh? What is that?" – asked the Count.
"A cloak, Lord Tyranus. I want a cloak."
The element of surprise was very important in a battle; it could be the difference between life and death.