Chapter Thirteen; "Meeting with Dooku: Coruscant"
"And that is what happened, Lord Tyranus." – concluded the General.
It had been a nice tale, Dooku thought. A dashing smile crossed his face, when Grievous told him about the deaths of the two Neimoidians that had been aboard the Invisible Hand.
"Impressive, General. And your plan worked?" – asked the Count.
Grievous gave an evil laugh.
"They never knew what hit them…" – growled the cyborg.
Dooku looked at Grievous and nodded.
"Good. Thanks to your efforts the Jedi have lost many of their followers and the Republic has gained a new scar. A scar that will remind them of our growing power and determination." – said Dooku.
Grievous bowed and said: "It was my pleasure, Lord Tyranus."
"Now, General… It is time for the final strike." – said Dooku in a serious tone.
The cyborg looked confuse at the Sith Lord.
"Now? But… Lord Sidious said…" – stated the General.
Dooku raised one of his hands, trying to calm the cyborg down.
"Indeed. My Master didn't expect us to need to act so soon. But the Jedi are close, too close to finding his true identity. And that can not happen."- explained Dooku.
Grievous nodded. Darth Sidious true identity had to be kept secret, in order for the plan to be successful. Even the General didn't know Darth Sidious true identity, because according to Dooku it could ruin the plan.
"I understand. But we need more time to plan the strike. Attacking the heart of the Republic requires a precise strategy, with no margin for mistakes." – continued the General.
"And that is your purpose, General. That's why you are here. I expect you to have a winning strategy that leads to success. And I expect to see the results in a very near future." – stated Dooku.
Grievous gave an incredulous look.
"But… We need more time in order to…" – said the General.
Dooku interrupted the cyborg and asked: "We?"
"I mean… Me, Lord Tyranus." – corrected Grievous.
"Ah! It is good that you understand this, General. You are fully responsible for this mission. Failure is not an option. Failure will result in your death." – explained the Count.
"What?" – asked the cyborg.
"Lord Sidious isn't found of failures, General. Fail this strike, and you will fail him. And Lord Sidious hates being disappointed." – continued the Count.
The cyborg started to object, but Dooku interrupted him once again: "If you are successful, General… All the credit will go to you. And my Master rewards those that serve him well."
Grievous looked at Dooku and then nodded.
"It shall be done, Lord Tyranus. By the end of the week, we will attack Coruscant." – stated the cyborg.
"Good. I won't waste your time any further, General. I know that you have an important job to do." – stated Dooku.
"Thank you, Lord Tyranus." – said Grievous.
"And don't worry about the Viceroy, General. He won't trouble you with this business again." – added the Count.
"I would prefer if he wouldn't trouble me at all, Lord Tyranus." – said the cyborg.
"Life isn't perfect, General. You of all people should know that." – mocked Dooku.
Grievous nodded and started to leave the meeting room. Dooku sighed and looked at his vase collection. That empty spot still pierced his soul. The loss of such a work of Art was a stain in his honour and noble blood.
"General?" – said the Count.
Grievous immediately stopped and asked: "Yes, Lord Tyranus?"
Dooku started to walk towards the cyborg, always looking at his vase collection. Qymaen jai Sheelal had dared to break one of his priceless vases. That vile creature even had the nerve to state that Dooku viewed living being as things and things as living beings. The nerve of that creature.
That vase was priceless. Any assassin would point out that all living beings were not.
Dooku wondered if Qymaen jai Sheelal was still inside Grievous mind. Was he still suffering? Was he still in pain? Was he still crying for his loved ones? Were the images of their murders still darkening his thoughts? Was their blood still on his hands?
Dooku hoped that the creature was still in a terrible and infinite suffering. And that he would stay like that forever.
"I hope that you haven't forgotten your Loyalty Test." – said Dooku.
Grievous looked surprised by the comment and said: "I remembered it."
"What was it, then?" – asked the Count.
He had to be sure that the creature still remembered the Loyalty Test. He had to be sure that Qymaen jai Sheelal was still full of grief for his loved ones.
"You told me to kill my family and kin." – answered the cyborg, in a cold and emotionless tone.
"Yes. You murdered your love ones. All of them. They died a cruel and painful death. And you were their Reaper. Does it trouble you?" – asked the Count.
"Trouble me?" – asked the General.
"Yes. Do you feel any remorse?" – explained Dooku.
Grievous seemed thoughtful for a moment, as if he was considering the question.
"No. Should I?" – asked Grievous.
The Count laughed.
"No, no. Forgive me. Go and work your magic, General." – said Dooku.
"Yes, Lord Tyranus." – said Grievous.
The General bowed and left the room, feeling puzzled by the conversation with the Count.
…
Dooku saw the cyborg leave his meeting room. The Count only started laughing after the doors had closed.
The General hadn't noted, but he had.
During their little talk, Grievous had acted like he always did; like a cold hearted murderer.
But this time something remarkable and unusual had happened.
A tear had crossed the cyborg´s face.
Qymaen jai Sheelal was still alive and in grief.
The End