Viceroy should have found the silence comforting. Throughout the war, communication with the separatist leaders from Wat Tambor to Dooku himself was always a test of both fortitude and prowess. It was a game, a game that consisted of knowing the right words to recite and implementing strategies that could wield benefits for every scenario moving forward. It was a game of Pazaak where the reward was the reaping of worlds and sowing of profits, with losses being determined by the loss of future planets, and with them future markets. Being left to his own devices should have been cathartic as it meant he didn't have to put on a performance in front of rivals, or worse, superiors. He could finally be in charge for once.

Instead, Viceroy was terrified. Restless after recovering in a medical bay that treated his scorched tissue with skin implants. The thought occurred to him if the skin grafts he was receiving were better or worse than possible cloned organs that could be harvested from Kamino. Wasn't there some sort of attempted invasion of the clone homeworld? If that was even a claim they deserved to have. The droids didn't have homeworlds; only factories. Another means the Republic used to give those soldiers a level of importance. In any event, the supposed invasion didn't work as planned, no doubt due to those responsible for that invasion. Especially a certain cyborg monstrosity.

Grievous didn't sever bone, but the scarring to his muscles left a throbbing soreness over his body. His skin, if unshielded by the ornate attire he wore to appear more regal than he was, would be deemed hideous to a passerby, including a member of his own species. Haako's comment that Viceroy's already thin frame appeared shattered was enough for Viceroy to order him out of his quarters so that he could pretend to be planning. Was he gaining confidence with age? The aide was the closest he had to a friend at this point, but he had his limits with what he could tolerate.

The question faded, especially as his attention was spent caressing his left shoulder, staring out the viewport of a conference chamber onboard his personal flagship. Though there were notable exceptions for his species, namely the guards that acted as a private entourage of sorts, Neimoidians were rather frail. They financed the wars but didn't fight them for convenience.

Every cut Grievous made seemed to be worse than getting shot by over a hundred clone troopers at once. He was quite certain he was doomed to die before Grievous abruptly left him a jittering mess littered by cauterized scars across his upper torso and shoulders. Even being able to leave the medical bay wasn't satisfying. The medical droid itself appeared disinterested in the operation that restored his body as best it could. Ordering it to be melted down only brought the smallest modicum of assertion.

"Grievous, that abomination" Gunray snarled. The fear was replaced by something Gunray didn't expect to feel for the general; disgust. Gunray felt more than ever that he had to see Grievous punished, somehow. The cyborg monster was not only an indignity that was wielded to punish the Viceroy and his underlings, but a force that Gunray once again had no control of. This would have to change if the war was won.

If. Was it an if and not a when?

The complete silence from Grievous and Dooku left him baffled, perplexed and anxious for something to happen. Even a small skirmish with a clone strike force would break up the monotony, now that he was safely shielded behind a Lucrehulk battleship with an escort fleet of banking clan ships. And, unlike Naboo, there would never be an accident in which a single fighter managed to penetrate the inner defenses and destroy the invaluable reactor cores. Idiotic luck such as that would not be the end of him, just as it would not be a sheer case of terrific misfortune that allowed the Viceroy's world to turn upside down.

All because of a blasted mechno-chair that should have been melted down for scrap metal!

These thoughts finally erupted as Gunray threw a datapad off his desk against the doors of a nearby turbolift.

What if this event leads to Sidious' downfall?

The thought erupted so fast that before Gunray could try to suppress it as an impossibility, the thought took root in his mind. Could the intimidation Grievous displayed against Gunray be something more than punishment for critical oversights? Were they afraid that something terrible was going to happen and that their efforts would be nullified by a force completely outside their control? Was it a projection of their insecurities and limitations?

What if Sidious' master plan was just trying to continuously improvise with a web of deceit and terror that allowed him to be everywhere and nowhere all at once. No part was left untouched and yet a single break in the seams of black silk would result in an implosion that cascaded to its source.

It certainly couldn't be entirely impossible. When the assassin Ventress rescued him from a Jedi cruiser years ago, it was not done out of hospitality or any legitimate concern. Gunray wasn't willing to entertain such an idea no matter how attractive and optimistic. He assessed that it likely only occurred much for the same reason as why Gunray did not receive intensive punishment for the Naboo crisis. How he managed to avoid the lengthy trials that came dangerously close to convicting him time and time again until he could slip away.

Sidious had use for him.

But how far could Gunray fall before Sidious finally ignored him altogether? What if Sidious let the Republic, and the Jedi, have their way with him? What could he possibly do from that point? He wondered if even his battle droids were under his control, since the possibility that they might simply stop following his orders one day couldn't be entirely assured. What if Sidious ordered that every battle droid execute their living, organic, commanders?

Nonsense, Gunray had direct control of the broadband signals that traversed the galaxy ensuring that every droid followed a given set of frequencies and orders. Exterminate the clones and the Jedi, along with any that get in their way. That ensured that he had at least some influence over the armed forces. Wherever he was based, the intergalactic communication consoles went with him.

The viceroy decided that even when Haako was a thorn in his side, better to reason with a thorn than a viper. A quick command on his private console opened the blast door to conference room and his aide strode in to join him, wearing a pale green and silver to contrast his red and vermillion regalia.

"This cannot be allowed to continue." Gunray spoke with a faint sense of conviction. "We are not going to let Grievous order us around like servants."

"We don't seem to have many options. You especially." Haako admitted, sitting opposite him.

"There has to be something we can do. Something." Gunray persisted.

"Shoot him?"

"Of course not!" Gunray spoke indignantly. "If it were that simple, we would have done it years ago."

"If that thing cared about anything besides killing and conquering, perhaps we could bribe him."

"What do you sell to a butcher?" Nute asked, not sure if he was being rhetorical or not.

"Fresh stocks?" Haako suggested. "Maybe we give him something to pillage. I can think of a certain planet with a troublesome senator."

Gunray wanted to grin, the thought of seeing that particular annoyance erased from existence would be a delight no less, but Grievous was still looming in his mind souring his momentary elation. "Perhaps, Haako. One day, if this war comes to an end."

"When, Nute" Haako corrected. "I'm not one for philosophy but all ventures must end."

"As long as it ends swiftly."

As he was starting to stand a faint humming started to ring in his ears. At first the faint droning was an irritant that Viceroy wanted to mute until...

Until...he recognized what it signified. More importantly, who it signified. The console notification that only ran for his most secure of channels. One that was reserved strictly for Dooku...and his master.

All thoughts ceased in an instant and the flash of alarm on his face must have shown. Haako stood at attention and joined his side, no doubt recognizing the gravity of what was about to occur. The long awaited silence was finally to be broken. The only question now, was how it would occur. Standing erect, the console came to life.

The cloaked figure that loomed above them from was one they had seen time and time again, nothing less than the mastermind that that called itself Sidious. His robes were folded and the features of his face shrouded in a veil of shadow, save for the faint glimmer of what must have been his clenched lower face. In all the years of communicating with Sidious, he seemed to know only what he was told and nothing more.

"You disappoint me, Viceroy" Sidious boomed. "I would have expected that you would have tried to contact me, to provide yourself with at least a modicum of dignity. You should have known, nothing is hidden from me."

"My lord, Sidious" Viceroy bowed, alongside his aide. "You have my humblest apologies-"

"I am not interested in explaining the gravity of this situation, Viceroy. No doubt you have recognized your failure."

"Yes, the general" Viceroy replied, noting that he didn't refer to Grievous by anything than his title, as unbefitting as it was.

"Your thoughts betray you, Viceroy" Sidious sneered as Viceroy's stomach sank into his feet. "It seems that Grievous is a well of torment. Perhaps you can be so bold as to protest my methods."

"No. Never, my lord. My allegiance is to you."

"I don't believe you, Viceroy. The error that deserves condemnation is not your methods, but instead your execution of those methods." Gunray was doing everything he could not to shudder. Even from across the galaxy, wherever Sidious was, the Viceroy felt his mind being probed as if stripped to nothing but bare skin. There was no shield he could summon that Sidious couldn't either remove or push aside. The very room darkened as Sidious seemed to command the air itself and it became deathly cold. The churnings of Viceroy's essence was being ripped away by a vortex that drained any resolve or confidence he might have had. "I ask you again. Explain why your failure was claimed by your superiors? All you have done is demonstrate your lack of usefulness."

"I swear to you, Lord Sidious, I will not fail again. The war shall be won-"

"You have failed many times, Viceroy" Sidious' voice grew louder, booming in his eardrums. No doubt Haako staggered along with him, fearing the worst. A fear, that with Sidious' next words was reality. "Why should I protect you from the Jedi when they hunt you down? Why should I protect you at all? Grievous would see you mutilated. Why should Viceroy Gunray be of importance to me?"

Sidious was practically in his mind, reading his thoughts before they occurred. Something had to be done or else he might very well die here. Knowing that something had to be said, anything at all, Viceroy finally gave in to his instinctual thoughts.

"Because Grievous is a monster!" he declared. "Grievous is nothing more than a brute who can only offer destruction. I give you ambition, Lord Sidious."

Gunray blinked, registering that he almost didn't provide Sidious with his honorific. That might have been fatal. Haako stood beside him, and for several excruciating moments Gunray feared that Sidious might raise a hand as Dooku sometimes would before unleashing unspeakable powers onto him. Instead, though Gunray made sure not to change his own expression, Sidious appeared to be grinning.

"Well spoken, Viceroy" the Sith announced. "At last your true thoughts are revealed. You wish to see Grievous punished."

"Yes" he admitted plainly without reservation.

"The general will meet his end in time. Like yourself, his purpose will be revealed."

Gunray felt a sense of elation rise in himself, perhaps Grievous would be struck down after all. This feeling lasted only a moment as it seemed to be ripped away by Sidious' tightened jaw. There was a surely a catch. Sidious was no fool, and mercy was not to be expected. "Your failure must be corrected. You have but one chance to prove yourself."

To Gunray's surprise, it was Haako who spoke. "We will serve as promised, Lord Sidious."

"You shall" Sidious answered. "The planet, Yerbana, a lightly defended Republic base. The Jedi's investigation will lead them to discover our operations. Of concern are records indicating projects run by the Confederacy. The Geonosians. The Trade Federation. These must be recovered and erased from all Republic records. You will then join the others on Utapau as the war continues its course."

"Will we be expecting resistance, my lord" Haako asked, before Gunray could ask the same. It was less pressure directed at him specifically. To ask Lord Sidious questions was a risk in itself. For a second he was suddenly gripped by the fear that Haako's question might unleash the Sith's wrath only for Sidious to maintain a neutral expression, or what counted as such since his face was hidden from view.

"Minimal. Expect to be followed. You will expend your fleet and you will do as instructed. You will know what must be collected by the time you arrive. You will lead this operation personally, Viceroy. If you fail, you will pay with your lives."

"We will not fail, my lord" Gunray answered, bowing in respect. The hologram flickered before vanishing into thin air.

Gunray and Haako nearly collapsed in their chairs as they breathed sighs of relief. They were alive. Sidious had once more given them a dangerous assignment, but they were in fact, alive. Yerbana was not a system with which Gunray was overtly familiar. But an assignment from Sidious would be carried out, no matter the risks.

Especially when the risk of Sidious was itself always worse.

"We will set course for Yerbana. Ready the fleet for invasion. Sidious said that we would know what to look for. See to it that this information is sent to my chambers at once."

"Of course" Haako nodded, making his way out as the door opened. As Gunray began to turn to his chambers while his aide walked towards the bridge, Gunray paused. While not one for expressing gratitude, the viceroy knew when to show appreciation.

"Haako" he spoke, as the aide turned. "Your services are noted."

"We will see this to its end, Nute." Haako answered, turning towards a series of blast doors before vanishing behind them. Gunray smiled. Haako reserved the right to call Gunray what he wished. For all purposes they were equals.

Unlike Grievous, who Gunray now suspected, might be inferior after all.

"Fa'ale is doing fine," Anakin said as he approached Obi-Wan jauntily. "Two more days of bacta and she'll be on her feet. She says she's through with Naos Three, though. She might even remain here on Belderone."

Obi-Wan looked at him askance. "Your relationship with females is an interesting one. The more jeopardy they're in, the more you worry about them. And the more you worry about them, the more they worry about you."

Anakin frowned. "You're basing this on, what, exactly?"

Obi-Wan looked away. "HoloNet gossip."

Anakin stepped deliberately into Obi-Wan's gaze. "Something's wrong. What is it? How did your meeting go with the Council? A second meeting I guess, considering you didn't tell me about the first one either-"

"You know, if you really wanted to be there-"

"Just, answer the question, Master."

Obi-Wan sighed. "We won't be returning to Coruscant."

They were in a visitors' lounge in the largest of the MedStars orbiting Belderone. For four standard days they had been awaiting instructions from the Jedi Council and visiting the medical ward to check on Fa'ale's progress, and the strain of so much inactivity was beginning to show. Anakin was staring dumbfounded at Obi-Wan as if he just said that they were floating in space.

"Hear me out before you go critical. Mace and Shaak Ti were able to locate the building in The Works. And, it turns out to have been the same one where Quinlan Vos met with Dooku while on...assignment. Vos and Master Plo are themselves on route to Cato Neimoidia, to recover what they suspect to be the transport that Maul used during the Naboo crisis. That was the first meeting. As for the second meeting, Mace's team discovered more than we could have even hoped for, evidence of a more recent visit by Dooku, and of the person he apparently went to Coruscant to see."

"Sidious?"

"Possibly. Even if it wasn't, it's likely that Dooku has other confederates on Coruscant, and tracking them down could eventually lead us to Sidious. Other evidence has come to light, as well. Intelligence discovered that the building belonged to a corporation called LiMerge Power, which was believed to have been involved in the manufacture and distribution of prohibited weapons during Finis Valorum's term as Supreme Chancellor. It was rumored at the time that LiMerge was responsible for funding acts of piracy directed against Trade Federation vessels in the Outer Rim. And it was those acts of piracy that led ultimately to the Trade Federation being granted the right to defend their vessels with battle droids."

"So this, company, has been controlled by the Sith. This whole time. How is this news? They certainly aren't working with the Jedi!"

"Anakin, at Naboo, the Trade Federation was in league with Sidious. The entire Confederacy is in league with him now. Dooku didn't take control of the Confederacy after it had been started, it was likely started by Sidious this whole time and Dooku is simply when it became public. As far as the galaxy knows, Dooku is just a noble idealist committing evil for the sake of a greater good which we know to be false."

Anakin shrugged impatiently. "I still don't understand how this keeps us from returning to Coruscant."

"I've just been informed that the Separatists have attacked a Republic garrison base on Yerbana, and are set to occupy the planet within a few standard hours. They are retreating to some fortifications, but the separatists are taking control and need help."

"Great, we can help them after we get to Sidious" Anakin suggested, trying to steer the conversation his way.

"No, we need to go there right now, Anakin!" Obi-Wan fired back, trying to highlight the urgency of his message.

"Master, I don't think we'd be helping the Jedi Council if we were stuck in the middle of nowhere. And they certainly wouldn't want us out of the way" Anakin listened to his own words and shrugged with a dull realization that tasted bitter. "Well, maybe they want me out of the way."

"Do I need to remind you that we are still at war?" Obi-Wan countered, frowning a bit condescendingly. "We have sworn to protect the Republic and we will do what we must."

"But what about Sidious?" Anakin pressed with exasperation.

"If they are indeed on his trail, then Sidious will be captured by Mace and his team. Speaking of captured, Yerbana soon will be as we speak."

"Who cares? I mean, I'm sorry for any troopers we lost, but Yerbana is...I actually have no idea where that is, which means it can't be that important."

"For a lack of a better word, aside from the capital, it's a wasteland."

Anakin almost laughed. "Even better. They are attacking a wasteland! Let em have it." Obi-Wan frowned to which Anakin reluctantly sighed. "Fine. Please continue. What is special about Yerbana?"

"For your information, Yerbana is or rather was, a headquarters for LiMerge Power that has been since converted into a Republic stronghold. The reason for the planet's belittled importance is that it became a wasteland following intense industrialization which was done to experiment with harvesting the rich minerals of the planetary core"

Anakin mulled it over for a moment. "Another attempt by Sidious to erase the trail we've been following?"

Obi-Wan ran his hand over his mouth. "The Council was able to convince Palpatine of the need to retake Yerbana, and he has authorized a full battle group to divert there. It seems he is finally willing to follow Master Yoda's advice about concentrating on dismantling the Confederacy leadership."

"Grievous is on Yerbana?"

Obi-Wan grinned. "Actually, Gunray is."

Anakin turned his back to Obi-Wan. His face was flushed when he finally swung around. "As enticing as that sounds, not good enough."

Obi-Wan blinked. "Not good enough?"

"Look, Gunray is personal, I admit it. But Sidious is the more important target and by capturing Sidious we get all of them. If he's thought to be on Coruscant, then we're the ones who should be there to capture him."

"You should have heard Vos. He was saying a variation of what you are now saying."

"That means he would agree with me!" Anakin replied, raising his hands defensively.

"Anakin, Mace and Shaak Ti are more than capable of seeing to that. If Sidious is even there."

Anakin was shaking his head. "Not as easily as … we could. Sidious is a Sith Lord!"

Obi-Wan took a moment to respond. "The way I remember it, we didn't fare all that well against Dooku on Oba Diah, or Naboo and especially not at Geonosis."

"All that's changed!" Anakin said, becoming angrier as he spoke. "I'm stronger than I was. You're stronger. Together, we can defeat any Sith."

"At the expense of losing the trail we've just found?"

"Master, don't be stupid!" Anakin said with exasperation. "Gunray is a misdirection, what's really important is getting to Coruscant and stopping Sidious before he gets away."

"If they needed help, they would have called for us. We have our mission, they have theirs. What if on our mission at Geonosis we abandoned Dooku to assist Padme?"

"You mean the mission where we failed? Where I lost my arm? That mission?" Anakin asked indignantly. "That didn't exactly work out and I don't think it's for the reason you think it is."

"Because you disobeyed orders, like you are suggesting we do now."

"First off, since when have I ever been good at following orders. Second, wait a minute!" Anakin spoke up defensively. "That's not fair! You didn't warn me at the time!"

"Of course I did, I said "No, Anakin, No!" but you didn't listen and Dooku swiftly defeated you."

"Hey, you're the Master, you should have known that was going to happen!"

"I did know that was going to happen! That is why I tried to stop you!"

"Well doesn't Yoda always say, "Do or do not, there is no try?"

"You're radically missing the point!"

"The real question is, why did Yoda let Dooku get away? He could thrown that pillar at Dooku's ship and he would have won the war in the span of a day!"

"He was saving us! How do you not remember this? Are you suggesting we should have died?"

"I think he could have found a way" by now Anakin was shouting. "In fact, the irony of all of this, and what you seem so unwilling to realize by not letting us go back to Coruscant, and instead stay out here in the middle of space completely aimlessly, is that we could accomplish things if we just tried!"

By now the sudden silence of activity around them became apparent, and they collectively realized they were being watched. Obi Wan and Anakin turned to see both Rex and Cody, along with a small assembly of clones, looking at the two Jedi with a combination of both amazement and concern. The two Jedi looked back at one another with blank expressions before realizing they made some sort of a scene, with clones as the audience. The first person to break the silence was none other than Cody, who was reacting poorly to being stared at with demanding expression.

"Ah, uh, sir, I just wanted to let you know that we have prepped the fleet and are ready to head out at whenever we are needed."

"Of, of course, Cody. We'll be leaving momentarily."

"How long have you all been standing there?" Anakin asked with a concerned expression. The clones looked at each other, with some of the privates deciding to quietly shuffle away before Cody held out an arm stopping them.

"I think it was at four minutes" Rex replied slowly. "Give for a take."

"You're clear to depart the station." Obi-Wan suggested. "We're just discussing, strategy."

"Of course" Cody nodded.

"Well, get going" Anakin added, more of a command than a suggestion.

Rex leapt into action, motioning for his troops to file out. "You heard him. Quit gawking and lets get a move on. Double time. Move it." With that the clones filed out of the open hallway and left Anakin and Obi Wan to resume their conversation, before it devolved into ramblings about the past.

"Okay, that was my fault. We got really off topic" Anakin admitted. "Can we just agree that we were both at least, a little arrogant, and that we are less so now?"

"That seems fair" Obi-Wan agreed. "And hopefully more patient."

"Yes. Much more patient."

"Anakin, regarding before, is this really about capturing Sidious?"

"Of course it is. We deserve the...respect...honor."

"Honor? Since when did this war become a contest for first place? If you're thinking that the capture of Sidious will earn you a place on the Council—"

"I don't care about the Council! I'm telling you, very calmly, we need to return to Coruscant. People are counting us."

"What people?"

"The … people of Coruscant."

Obi-Wan inhaled slowly. "Why don't I believe you?"

"I don't know, Master? Suppose you tell me?"

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. "Don't turn this into a game. There's something else at work here. Have you had a vision I should know about?"

Anakin started to reply, bit back whatever it was he had in mind to say, and began again. "The truth is … I want to be home. We've been out here longer than anyone. Trooper or Jedi."

"That's what you get for being so good at what you do," Obi-Wan said, hoping to lighten the mood.

"I'm tired of it, Master. I'm not just the Jedi that slashes things with a lightsaber. I have a life you know. I want to be home."

"Then your protests have nothing to do with capturing Sidious."

"No. They do."

"Well, which is it? Home or Sidious?"

"Why can't it be both?"

Obi-Wan studied him silently, as if struck by a sudden suspicion. "You miss the Temple so much?"

"Yes."

"The food?"

"Yes."

"The lights of Coruscant?"

"Yes."

"Padme?"

"Yes." His face flushed at his mistake and he raised a finger with accusation. "Wait! Hey, you can't do that!"

"You're too easy." Obi-Wan spoke with a slight grin. "I heard you talking to her on Anaxes. Rex wasn't exactly good at lying."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Here you go again."

"Well, am I wrong?"

Anakin compressed his lips, then said, "I won't lie to you and say that I don't miss her."

Obi-Wan's frowned sympathetically. "You can't afford to miss her in that way."

"And exactly why is that, Master?"

"Because you cannot be married to both."

"Who said anything about marriage? She's a friend. I miss her as a friend! Since when are Jedi not allowed to have friends!"

"You would forgo your destiny for Padmé?"

Anakin's brows beetled in anger. "Now you listen. My destiny is mine to follow. I never claimed to be the Chosen One. That was Qui-Gon. Even the Council doesn't believe it anymore, so why should you?"

"Because I think you believe it," Obi-Wan said calmly. "I think you know in your heart that you're meant for something extraordinary."

"And you, Master. What does your heart tell you you're meant for?"

"Infinite sadness," Obi-Wan said, even while smiling.

Anakin regarded him, his expression softening at the sincerity of his words. "If you believe in destiny, then everything we do becomes part of that destiny, whether we go to Yerbana or we return to Coruscant."

"You may be right. I don't have the answer. I wish I did."

"Then where does that leave us?"

Obi-Wan rested his hands on Anakin's shoulders. "Speak with Palpatine. Maybe he'll see something in this that I've missed."