Chapter 32
The Kaleesh awakes only to a new galaxy, one full of pain unlike he has ever experienced before. While there has been a burning wound in his heart from the moment he lost his first wife, his best friend, and so many of his people, the Kaleesh had never felt something like this, open wounds and gashes.
Out of all the Kaleeshs that perished throughout the years, one quickly comes to his mind. He imagines her disappointment at what the Kaleesh has become, her disgust at him for not fulfilling the promise he made to her from the moment she died by those barbed shears of those damn Yam'rii, and he can only lament.
'Ronderu, I made a promise to you to free our world of those monsters and bring back peace in the galaxy,' the Kaleesh thinks, the last of his consciousness from who he once was as a native instead of a bloodthirsty warrior who cares little about the pleads of others, a Kaleesh who didn't fear war. 'I failed. I'm sorry.'
The Kaleesh wants to speak those words and wants to mourn the only love that he found in the galaxy that has proven to be nothing but hell for him. Despite all the wives, none of them would ever replace Ronderu.
Despite how he wants to speak, he finds himself unable to, staring down at the tubs that keep him intact. Had he been allowed to be in his current position, tears would have left his eyes at failing to fulfill the promise he made to many others and sparring the descendants of their kind from suffering.
"Ah, you are finally awake," a dark smooth voice says from the shadows. "You have been in your comatose state for quite some time, my friend, I feared that you were no longer among the living."
Grievous growls, wishing he could respond and demand answers from this human along with the question of why he saved him from certain death. This human is a Jedi, and that Order has been behind much of the suffering that came to his people. He wishes he had the power to kill them all before they could threaten his people any further.
"Saving this Kaleesh is beyond my understanding, Count," a Muun says, smaller and glaring at the Kaleesh as if he is under him. "Removing him permanently would have been a wiser decision; instead, you decide to form a monstrosity who is nothing but an animal that would only strike terror in others."
"Doing this is the way to save his life," the Jedi replies, staring into the eyes of the Muun with disdain and disapproval, two emotions that the Kaleesh shares. "You of all should know the Yam'rii wiped out his people, and that they deserved to die alongside the Galactic Republic. Perhaps, if we come down to a compromise, he would be suited to assist us now."
The Kaleesh feels the water around him leaving him as he feels himself coming out of the strange contraction he has been forced to and now before the two. He is the most powerful Kaleesh on Kalee! He was not going to kneel to anyone!
He growls, about to attack, every intent in killing the Jedi and showing his head to the Order for all to see as a sign that he still lives and he would assure that they all pay for what they have done. However, he finds himself unable to, his body incapable of movement, and where his teeth once would have been, is gritting together with rage.
"Speak," the Jedi commands, appearing to be sympathetic despite how the Kaleesh wishes to rip his throat's socket out. "You have been fit with a synthesizer. I am afraid that your old Kaleesh body was incapable of recovering, however, this new body can fit with services that you will find addicting to say the least."
"I am proud, Count," the Muun replies, scowling at the down Kaleesh, "you are wasting our time on this... thing."
Grievous snarls.
"San Hill, leave us," the Jedi replies, waving his hand sharply as rage crosses his face. "Your presence here has become counterproductive and no longer of a use to our new friend here."
Shooting one last glare to the Kaleesh which is replicated with Grievous's own glare, he stomps out of the room and leaves behind Grievous with the Jedi. Now, he wishes he had his weapons so he could be able to defend himself properly in what could be a dramatic situation, but now he is defenseless and would possibly be killed soon by the Jedi if something is not quickly done.
"Why did you spare me?" Grievous snarls, glaring up at the Jedi, knowing that any attempts to escape from his grip is all but nigh impossible.
Quickly, anger becomes confusion at the response of the voice that came from seemingly him but surely is not. How could that be his voice? What happened to him? What did the Jedi do to him that caused such a change in him?
As if sensing his dilemma, the Jedi bows down before him and touches his shoulder. "I regret to inform you, my friend, that you have endured a crippling injury not easily recover from. While I tried to deploy my allies onto the planet, ultimately the Jedi have won and the Republic is now in control of the planet with your foes following."
Grievous's anger spike at the reminder of the Jedi, at the tone which appears to be taunting, and how the Kaleesh people would never gain their freedom now. "Send me back to the planet! I would kill those dogs and assure that they regret taking over my planet! I would make them all regret it when they are begging for their deaths!"
"All in due time," the Jedi replies. "Your anger is understandable, but to win, we need time."
Again, Grievous becomes bemused. "Aren't you a Jedi? Shouldn't you be attempting to save them from certain death?"
"It pains me to tell you that I have left the Jedi Order because I have disagreed with their ways," the Jedi responds, his head bowed, his expression conveying remorse as if he is attempting to receive sorrow from the Kaleesh. "Do not allow your hatred of the Jedi to disillusion you. I was one of many who disagreed with the ways they ran the galaxy and I wasn't going to tolerate it any longer. Examples such as what happened to your planet was a motivation, but they are certainly other benefactors that led me to this path. I have sought you out for the slight hope of salvation, though I do wish I was able to save others, but your body was the only recoverable asset at the end."
He keeps his head lowered for a moment before he stares back up, his hands now clenched up into fists and a powerful look across his eyes. In a split second, there is conviction and sudden power that erupts from across his face that the Kaleesh could only wish for, but know he would never receive as he is nothing but a loner on a planet.
"However, what if I can teach you a power that would allow you to accomplish wonders?" The Jedi finally speaks again, the expression across his face not changing his voice, which is proving that he is a warrior at heart. "You can morph this galaxy to bow before your people. The Jedi would fear you. The Yam'rii would follow, and the Kaleesh would finally have a new hope in the form of you."
Grievous nods. "Show me."
Nodding, the mysterious grip that have been placed on him suddenly ceased, allowing the Kaleesh to stand. He feels himself almost falling limp but manages to sustain his balance before the Count. If he was able to, he would have gasped in agony at all functions within his body failing him.
"First, you would have to look at your body and see what you have become."
Although Grievous is hesitant to see what must be a badly damaged body, he decides to see what the Jedi have done to him this time. He goes before a mirror and stares into it. He is shocked at what he's become; a monstrosity who appeared to be nothing but a casualty of war, his skin appearing to be shaved off from whatever techniques that they forced him to suffer at the end, and his green eyes the only final reminder of the native he once was. It disgusts him at seeing that the Jedi have forced him to become this very being.
The Jedi has taken away everything that defined him, he supposed it was only a matter of time before they would have taken away his humanity sooner or later. If the Jedi behind him means his words, then perhaps he could finally get his revenge.
"I regret that you had to suffer through this," the Jedi says, walking up behind him and placing his hand on his now mechanical back. "But it was the only way that we could have been able to recover you. If you wish to die, I would end it, but if you wish to allow the Kaleesh to finally fall behind you, I can still teach you the power that you don't know."
Grievous doesn't take long to choose.
Despite how much pain his body always is in, Grievous would not allow the Jedi to grant the fate of befallen to the other stragglers among his kind.
Darth Plagueis has to admit to being pleased with how Tyrannus is proceeding with yet another weapon. These words of manipulations are proving to work to their profit with a Kaleesh who seemed to be weakened, but what Plagueis envisions is an instrument that would be able to fight the Jedi. Ancient techniques are going to allow him to be built into a suitable weapon that would no longer be a pawn who is sprawled together with technology and such things...
No, soon he would be a symbol of their new Order.
Plagueis has a way of ensuring that. It seems that there would be yet another being rising from the dark side.
This has been a project that the Sith has been waiting to explore, and if this project is successful, their future projects would be explored.
"Whatever you do to me," the captured Jedi states from behind the Sith, glaring at him full of contempt, despite how there are two Sith behind him with their hands on their lightsabers prepared to activate them at a moment's notice, "would be useless. The Force would be guiding me."
"Foolish Jedi," the Muun retorts, turning to gaze at the Ithorian Jedi with no small amount of satisfaction. "You are merely a test subject. The Force would not aid you now, not any longer when we are through with you, for we Sith have plans which far from involves killing the likes of you."
"My Lord, we are prepared for the project that you have commanded." Behind him, the voice of the doctor who has been quite useful as of late, gains his attention, clutching a serum of some sort that at last would allow him to see the demonstration of what he can do.
Nuvo Vindi is a Faust, a blue-skinned species with doubled eyelids. Vindi himself has large purple markings around his eyes and speaks Basic with a heavy accent. He commonly wears a white doctor's coat, as well as Permese glass spectacles and air-tight boots.
A talented scientist, Vindi has an instinctual understanding of biology and biochemistry. Despite this, the doctor is mentally unstable and believed viruses were the highest form of life in the galaxy. This philosophy disturbed and frightened even the Perma families, and upon Vindi's disappearance, it was believed the families themselves had orchestrated his murder. After its eradication, Vindi became obsessed with the Blue Shadow Virus, which he saw as beautiful. He was adamant in his belief that the Blue Shadow Virus was a life-form that had been murdered and was willing to torture and kill to revive it.
Vindi is an unhinged animal who could become a threat, but right now, the Muun Sith Lord finds himself needing him until he gets more stable researchers and doctors. The thought of allowing someone who could be a threat is not something that the Muun is willing to permit from within his ranks.
"You have done well," Plagueis praises, gripping the serum and walking over to the Jedi. "Now, Jedi, shall we do this the easy way or the hard way?"
The Jedi growls. "Never!"
He yanks the lightsaber from the Muun's belt and activates it, chopping down the first Sith who didn't expect his assault, before moving forward to the second one and locking blades with the double-bladed lightsaber, sending a few attacks every so often while watching the Muun.
The Jedi is forced onto his knees by the Sith Assassin, who now deactivates his lightsaber and holds him up into position, allowing the Muun Sith a clear pathway for doing what he intends to do while the Jedi screams helplessly and attempts to escape from the dark side of the Force levitating him.
"You won't get away with this!" The Jedi shouts towards the Sith.
"Oh," the Muun replies, grinning mockingly as he gets close. "I already have, Jedi."
Plagueis sticks the serum in as the Jedi squirms helplessly.
Before an ear-piercing scream fills the air...
The Force screams...
Whatever the Force Users have been planning must have been successful, Grievous is surprised at sudden power filling the air around him, the people across the galaxy. It starts with the greedy politicians in the Republic Senate, the same those who have mainly assisted in the massacre of many of his natives on the planet. And then the Jedi who is allowed to walk about their ancient Temple untouched and impossible to beat which is something that the cyborg is striving to see no longer an impossibility...
And at last, the Kaleesh who is still on Kalee, now being enslaved by their rivals with the Republic and Jedi watching, and appearing to lose all confidence. The Yam'rii enslaved his people and the so-called peacekeepers don't appear to care aside from believing that they are doing the right thing!
They would die screaming!
"Are you alright, my friend?" The voice of the Count cuts him off from any further musing.
"Wha-what is this power?" Grievous replies slightly hoarsely, moving both of his hands as he literally feels something rushing through him once more.
"It is the Force," the human replies. "Now you are feeling it in no small part of my Master who has been exploring ways to control the Force. You now feel it as if you were always Force Sensitive. I made a promise and I see it through that you managed to accomplished your goals. In return, I ask for you to join us and help us abolish the Jedi from the face of the galaxy. Before you make that choice, my Master wishes to meet you."
"Indeed." Another Force Presence enters the chambers and crashes down against the cyborg that forces him to stagger as he clutches his head at the immense power filling the sir. "I am impressed with this one, Tyrannus, it appears as if your progress has paid off and that we are one step closer to finally eliminating all the threats that stands between us."
The dark figure appears to match Grievous's height, and the cyborg knows it is not wise to challenge this one. This one is a cold one, almost as if a demon has come for them in their greatest nightmares...
Grievous nods. "I would be honored to serve you after I save my people from their slavery."
"We shall see to it that you receive upgrades to your limbs and that your people are safe. While you may have accomplished our ability to use the Force, you are not a Sith."
"A Sith?" While the cyborg heard of the Jedi, he'd never heard of the term 'Sith'. What is this?
"The Sith are peacekeepers in the galaxy, wishing to accomplish victories and save the galaxy from the Jedi," Plagueis replies, smiling in a soft manner way, though something is twinging from the spine of where the cyborg once had one, something that is warning against... what. "The Jedi, as shown on your planet, are individuals who wish death upon the many. I am Sith as if Tyrannus here. We of the Sith would bring justice back to your planet and allow you to see what the Jedi has never allowed you to touch."
"I'm ready."
It is with that that he begins his training. Those sessions have been brutal to say the least. Frequently, Grievous finds himself adjusting to his new life, no longer seeking power but rather gaining it each passing day. He finds himself dueling with his Sith partners with electrostaffs that the Sith allowed him to hold out of replacement of lightsabers.
The first day was gruesome for the former Kaleesh, for he still couldn't adjust to his new life and the power that now is radiating from him. He couldn't properly use his limbs properly and thus this opens him up to the Sith.
However, after months of endless training and learning from those of the Past Sith and even knowledge from the Jedi, Grievous is fighting not like a mad animal but rather as a concentrated being that would come to be what many Jedi fears in the near future. He is managing to attune himself with the Force, using it as if it is a second resource, and seriously posing a threat to other using the Force.
This day, this is no different.
Grievous has been growing increasingly furious. It's as if the Sith now sees him as nothing short of an animal that they would be able to use. Count Dooku's condemnations have been getting on Grievous's nerves. It is almost as if the Count believes he is incapable of proving himself to the old man and that he has been reduced to fighting these pathetic fools who cannot stand against him.
The limbs that have upgraded through the test of time and proving to make him stronger. It is a shame that the cyborg has to continue clinging onto these pitiful electrostaffs instead of wielding the lightsabers that would definitely suit him better. He has been tortured whenever he lost, losing multiple limbs and regaining them through time and patience.
The Sith can tell that each time he suffered, he grew angrier. They would remind him of his people until his control finally snaps even in binders. He hates to be treated in such a manner!
They are still mocking him! How dare they?!
The four Sith Assassins tap into the powers of the dark side like they have done to many of their Jedi opponents, trying to use those pathetic methods against him. The cyborg now utilizes his mechanical reflexes to rapidly send them away before finally disarming one of them. But instead of it flying away, it lands in the cyborg's hand, the staff he has been using previously now disregarded for a weapon he has been training to use for months.
Now, the Sith Assassin is defenseless, golden eyes widening the more his attacks grow more passionate than whatever comes before. And soon, all the Sith is doing is ducking to the side, attempting to protect whatever blow but mainly attempting to evade decapitation.
Had the cyborg had a mouth, he would have smirked sadistically at the instant spike of fear radiating through the Force, the desperate attempts to escape from his grasp while the cyborg only is getting closer to pick at his defensives is extremely amusing.
The Sith attempt to flank the cyborg, lightning discharging from their fingertips. Seeing it coming, the cyborg disengages and leaps up to the ceiling, sticking his claws onto the top of the building before manipulating the Force and throwing a barrage of nearby wreckage towards the Sith who merely fling his efforts to the side.
He lands between them, forcing them to separate away from one another, the debris coming from the land disorienting them. They are about to run up once more when they come to a sudden stop, and they are levitating around the cyborg. The two pair of crimson hues flares with merriment and the Sith are frozen with terror, as they begin tightening their hands around their throats, their faces reflecting their true horror, and their golden eyes widening when they realize that the monstrosity that the cyborg has become.
Yes, this power would be something that the unsuspecting fools long remember. Soon, he would be able to match the Jedi. They would all be butchered and killed if the cyborg has anything to say about it. The power that has been promised to him months prior is now nothing but an understatement now that the cyborg is feeling it.
There are words of the power that are begging for him to kill these two and prove himself to the worms that are his Masters and make them all fear him. He is not going to allow himself to be used as a pawn, not with the power that he has learned and the knowledge that is waiting for him. They will all plead for him... his mercy... for him not to end their miserable existence.
"Burn, dogs," the monster states, having grown tired of the countless beatings and merciless taunts that are sent in his direction.
"Grievous!" At the immediate voice of the Count, Grievous feels only further anger and at last an emotion snap into place as if it has always been there. Something roars from within him at the fact that he is obligated to obey his orders. Has that always been what he was? A hound for individuals such as Dooku to use and remove easily, someone who has been taught the power only for greater motives so he would accomplish a goal.
"I am sick of your lectures, Count Dooku!" Grievous roars, angling his newly collected lightsabers towards the direction of the Sith Lord, his hands tightening into fists and the necks of the Sith cracking, his crimson orbs brightening at the death, a sign of corruption within them. "Challenge me to battle and show me how powerful you are, old man!"
Faster than one could have even blinked, Grievous swings in the direction of the Sith Lord, causing the elderly man to spin on his foot and deflect the attack before it could have descended down, evading to the right and compelling the Cyborg to spin nearly out of control which opens him up.
"You are overconfident in your abilities, Grievous," the Count mocks, raising him into the air and sending him flying away. "But if you wish to do battle, let us fight."
The elderly Sith activates his lightsaber and points it downwards before falling into a battle stance salute which the Cyborg now recognizes as Makashi. Retaliating the salute in relish and swinging the lightsabers in his hands with challenge, testing their grips for the first time, Grievous is quick to hack away at the Sith Lord, not showing any care with his barrages.
Tyrannus thrust his lightsaber into the abdomen of the cyborg, forcing him to break his defense fairly simply. However, he didn't pray upon his broken stance, but rather wait for the Cyborg to attack once more.
It isn't long before he sends a volley of strikes toward the Count, recovering from his earlier flaw and attacking with greater intensity. Each of the strikes misses either by being sidestepped or deflected with ease, and the cyborg can only growl at victory continually being ripped away from him.
"Stop using the standard attacks. Use the unorthodox," the Sith Lord lectures.
The cyborg snarls the more he is getting angrier than before, raising his hands and sending a massive Force Blast toward the Count. The result is only his robe quivering from behind him, a wave appearing to emerge behind him.
"Are you attempting to die, Grievous?" The Sith Lord snickers.
Grievous attacks, lunging forward with his body. Dooku is rapidly alternating his blade from hand to hand, obviously hardly finding this display a struggle. It is quite humiliating in fact that the cyborg could kill Sith Assassins but cannot defeat a Sith Lord which means that he would have to concede he is nothing but a weapon of the Sith that would be rid of shortly if he proves to be a liability or defeated by a Jedi.
Grievous propels the two lightsabers at the Count, causing him to swerve underneath the blades, just as the weapons return to him. At last, the Count appears to breathe heavily, making the cyborg feel the false hope that the Sith Lord's elderly age is finally catching up with him.
He switches the handling of his lightsabers to his armed foot, and he thrust his lightsabers to the Count's lower parts of his body. The Count leaps back as Grievous begins to restart another offensive by spinning his lightsabers around him and sending more assaults at him, for best concentration.
"How often must I tell you? Control my central line," Dooku commands, still not taking the challenge seriously even with Grievous attacking with all of his hate.
Grievous swipes one lightsaber across and then the other downward, hoping to cause him to open up an advantage that he can spot, but the strikes are deflected without effort before at last there is a flaw within his stance, one that can easily be exploited.
"Your progress is improving," Dooku compliments.
The Cyborg dashes at the Count, having to admit being arrogant by the Count. The Sith merely uses the Force to trip Grievous and send him sliding to the side. The Cyborg warrior recovers once more and charges at the Count again, knowing that he would have been more cautious this time and that attacking smoother would be wiser.
However, the elderly Sith does not let up, deciding to send his own assaults which send the Cyborg dodging backward, barely managing to deflect the crimson blur of the lightsaber continuing to send him back.
"You have a good offense but you should work on your defense."
Knowing that he would have to allow a counter assault, the Cyborg kicks him in the stomach, before he somersaults into the air and launches another series of strikes against the Sith. The Count rotates into the air, thrusting his lightsaber every so often towards the Cyborg, missing all the marks before their lightsabers clash with one another, staring into each other's eyes.
"You must learn to destroy my focus," the Count says, reflecting the Cyborg's strikes while jumping and flipping back. "You're holding the saber too tightly."
The taunt grates onto the fury of the Cyborg, his entourage becoming more and more powerful, crippling assaults that would have surely defeated Jedi Knights and Padawans on the battlefield.
Despite this, however, this didn't evade the outcome where the Sith swing his blade upwards into one of the Cyborg, sending it flying upwards.
"Now too lightly."
The Sith waves a hand into the air and sends lightning towards the Cyborg, forcing him onto the ground. The cyborg is forced to shout out in agony as if reminding him how much of a pawn he is, and that he has been included in the long term to the Sith.
The Count could have ended it right there, but he stops before Grievous's wires could have exploded.
"I have killed your fellow Sith," Grievous growls, facing death in the eyes many times and knowing when the time has come. "Finish it. Kill me."
"No, despite your bloodlust against me, you need not die this day, Kaleesh," the Sith replies, deactivating his lightsaber and planting it onto his belt along with the other ones from the fallen Sith. "You are still a being at heart who wish justice on your planet and this is a wish I shall grant. Kalee would soon be under your grip. Do remember that you would be the head of this new standing army, but manipulation is a required tactic on the battlefield. You need not kill all of your enemies. Break them if you must."
The former Kaleesh finds himself honored. Despite him daring to resist the Count, he is willing to grant him a second chance and allow him to accomplish what he wishes in the long run. In the end, the cyborg knew he could never kill the Count. He cannot forget he had saved him from certain death and has morphed him into a more powerful being who is soon going to hunt those who wronged him and his people.
The dark side of the Force rules strongly on this planet, and so many Jedi blood have been claimed the moment dark figures disembarked, coming to invade the planet and wishing to breach the peace.
Nicanas Tassu is one of many Jedi who has been stationed on this planet after the attack by the dark that claimed the Jedi here's lives, rallying up the survivors and leading them. The Order cannot continue to waste their resources on this planet, nor can they continue losing Jedi, but they merely serve as protectors and attempt to keep the captured under control.
Due to the unconventional methods, the Kaleesh would not be able to threaten the stability of the Republic nor ripple the peace once more. The Yam'rii would call upon the Galactic Republic for assistance, however, and the Republic sided with the Yam'rii. A task force of fifty Jedi Masters and Knights was sent to Kalee, and was able to stymie Grievous' efforts to claim total victory. The Republic blamed the Kaleesh for the war, likely due to their history of oppression, and imposed an embargo and harsh sanctions on the Kaleesh."
Once the Yam'rii were victorious and the Kaleesh defeated, the Republic turned its attention elsewhere, letting the spoils - Kaleesh slaves - go to the victors, the Republic's ally, the Yam'rii. There is also some kind of financial incentive for the more corruption of the Senators in the Republic to take the side of the Yam'rii.
The Jedi Order didn't want to wipe out the Kaleesh despite how much of a threat they pose and how there are still fighters that need to be stopped before it is too late. There will always be a war with the Kaleesh still fighting and dying despite how seemingly pointless.
"Nicanas," the Jedi behind him smirks, someone who has become a close friend for the time that they have been deployed onto the planet.
"Sarrissa," he replies, "how did the search went?"
"Unsurprisingly, we didn't find a single thing. At this point, I have a feeling the Council keeps us out here because our call to adventure." She replies, letting out a small teasing chuckle, something that the young man has grown used to.
"Or maybe because of your antics," he replies. "Besides, you are one of the most prized Jedi in the Temple. I highly doubt..."
Through the Force, he can practically hear explosions and immediate turmoil that fills the air around them. By the expression across the face of his ally, the female Jedi alongside him feels it too...
And they can hear it.
As quick as the lightsabers activate, the Jedi stand at the side of the Yam'rii, aware of the opposition coming to crash down among them all.
In seconds, so many of them have been shredded to bits, more Yam'rii than Jedi, their ruined bodies disintegrated and burned to pieces, and their smoking bodies after being killed in such a gruesome way would never leave them. So unlucky Jedi who hardly didn't even have the chance to block the bolts of the torrents that are raining down among them.
Both move quickly just as droids and dark side users descend down upon them, moving in perfect sync. There is no mercy for the Yam'rii that have been at the front, no hesitation as they fire their fair number of shots into the direction, or lightsabers igniting and craving through a fair number of them.
"Protect the leaders! Do not allow them to reach them!" Sarrissa shouts, her command reaching many of the Jedi and Yam'rii combined, as she allows her confidence to radiate through the Force and give the others also deployed the hope that they scarily required.
The Jedi have one advantage that the foes do not, their capability of standing side by side as well as the brain and manpower to use the Force. However, their enemies make this up by numbers, overpowering whatever Jedi or Yam'rii that they encounter.
It is obvious that their allies need assistance and that standing by and observing the battle would not solve anything.
Nicanas and Sarrissa leap simultaneously among them all in front of their companions, the latter ironically saving a Padawan from certain death. The droids are cut through in seconds, hardly providing any challenge as they continue to be fought off by the remaining Jedi who know that staying together is the most likely possibility of survival...
The Yam'rii are not willing to go down without a fight, fighting with melee weapons or blasters that assist their allies in moving into the next. Their participation in the battle is proving to be of use, saving the Jedi who find themselves struggling as they are forced to roll to the side.
They overwhelm their opponents but at a great number. Fifteen Jedi were killed while Yam'rii suffered a high casualty count that cannot even be counted.
Immediately, darkness enters the atmosphere once more as it did if not for more corruption with more advanced droids coming down. The Droids remind them of the battle of Naboo but their accuracy proves to be superior to what it was then, blaster bolts rippling through the chests or hitting other parts of their bodies.
A dark figure storm down, wielding a pair of mysterious Force pikes, the dark side clinging onto him as if it is a cloak. This one is far more dangerous than the rest, they can sense the desire for blood that is coming from the figure and the shroud that is forced upon them which causes them to clutch their heads.
"Depart, menace," a bolder Jedi in front of the rest demands, pointing his lightsaber in front of him, about to engage in battle.
The figure merely takes several steps, before, with one swipe, his head is removed as if he is nothing, his lifeless body collapsing onto the floor. The figure reaches for the hilt, activates the lightsaber, and begins to walk forward up to the Jedi.
"Hold the Yam'rii off! Keep them of the way of the General!" Another hooded figure shouts to his comrades, making them nod as they again engage in battle around them.
This time, three Jedi dashes forward, knowing that standing around would only get them killed. In a swift second, the figure switches their position, stabbing their newly collected lightsaber through the heart of the Jedi, cutting to the right and chopping the other in half, before locking blades with the other Jedi, swerving underneath and grasping the poor Bothan woman's throat and snapping it without hesitation.
"Come, Jedi," the poisonous voice heckles. "I am not completely without mercy. I would give you an honorable death if you are willing to show me your power."
To think, he didn't even stop his stance, even as he collected the lightsabers and now spread his limbs. Five more Jedi run around the dark figure, attempting to move around him when he begins rotating his lightsabers around his form. A foolish child would think he is attempting to protect himself out of desperation and that he doesn't know a thing about how to fight, but the Jedi knows better.
He locks lightsabers with them, causing them to each grit their teeth, protecting themselves as they are forced to swerve to the side and thrust their weapons at the figure. He is breaching through their defensives and at last cutting them down in mere seconds. Whatever Jedi that comes forth is massacre through five seconds at most.
"Nicanas," Sarrissa states, running up and hoping to save the Jedi before it is too late.
Waving his hand in their direction, both of them flies back, as the rest of their fellow Jedi are cut down with little effort, dying in many gruesome ways that they never had thought possible. What is worse is that their forces are being driven back and that they are making their way through.
The figure grips another lightsaber and is now holding the four lightsabers that consist of green and blue, pointing them in the direction of the remaining Jedi which are the two of them and one Jedi who stood behind them. Their ally rushes to the fray, growling as he unleashes all his training and experience against the figure who opens up his defense and stabs him between his heart, killing him immediately.
They gasp as once, nodding to each other before running backward, cutting through whatever droids and dark siders that crosses their direction. They have to stand their ground and not allow this dark figure to make its way to the leaders of the planets that would be defenseless to stop lightsaber-wielding individuals.
At the entrance, just as Sarrissa chops down the last dark sider, the cyborg is standing at the front, prepared to fight the battle. How the kriff did he get there so quickly?!
"You two are the only one left," the figure states with a cruel laugh. "I wonder if your precious Force would be able to stop me now that I have acquired the power and is going to destroy the Jedi any time now." He turns to see the Yam'rii Senators and their allies being forced outside by Droids and Kaleesh, deactivating his lightsabers and placing them within his dark cloak, a grin undoubtedly across his lips. "Do you wish to know why I am going to be the Jedi's greatest nightmare? Because I am the future..."
His voice appears to darken despite being robotic, and the Senators are seized into the air, gripped by their throats in a choke, before every bone in their body appears to crack, their screams filling the air as they died a painful death, before they are hurled into the direction of the two Jedi, stopping short.
"What have you done?" Nicanas demands coldly.
"What is right," the figure cackles. "Now you shall soon join them."
Nicanas launch towards the figure, lightsaber aimed for where his stomach is unprotected. Alongside him, Sarrissa assumes a position of defense, a saving grace that Niman offers due to the form being a combination of the other forms, and that means she is the most dangerous threat between them.
The figure pulls backward, appearing to recognize the threat, at least to the point of the realization that he would have to separate them. And a tree is coming at them quickly, forcing both of them to roll to the side. And yet another. And another. Each of them is cut off or shoved aside by the two Jedi. The result is never different.
Seeming to recognize the pointlessness of this, the monster engages in a fierce lightsaber battle with Nicanas, forcing his green lightsaber to work profusely as he calls upon the Force, knowing that he has to think of unpredictable strikes that can allow them an advantage and to finally kill him. He finds himself feeling his eyes widening with horror as he endures a strain from within his bones the more he is attempting to deflect each of the strokes getting closer to him.
A nearby tree is removed due to an eruption of the Force, targeted towards the cyborg. Sarrissa leaps up towards him, saving him from certain death and allowing her fallen companion to remain alive for a few more precious moments, managing to pull counterattacks and opening up slight holes in his defensive more and more. She is no normal Jedi Knight. She is one of many within the Order that can fight like the Jedi of the Old Republic, a true definition of a Jedi Guardian...
And that is proven when at last she decides to end this, lunging forward and plunging her lightsaber through his stomach and cutting off part of his robe, causing him to disregard his cloak and force it to the ground, revealing a monster that is a machine with an appearance that makes them feel the urge to hurl. A noticeable stab wound is through him.
Luckily, he would not be able to spread his influence through the galaxy, allowing Nicanas to raise him into the air, throwing him across a nearby swarm, and causing dirt to consume his monitors. The two Jedi shoot a nod of faith to each other, believing that they are beginning to take another wielder of the dark side to a certain death...
Before the Cyborg stands back up, moving over to the female Jedi slowly, extending his third hand, and gripping her throat despite how she attempted to protect herself with her lightsaber, his clawed hands deactivating each of his lightsabers and reaching for the lightsaber in her grip before applying pressure onto the heroine's throat. Blood begins to dawn on her neck, drowning down the arm of the Jedi murderer, as he grips her hilt.
"No!" Nicanas shouts, knowing that the end is coming for the female Jedi who he is helpless to protect even as he is attempting to run forward but being stopped by an invisible Force. "Let her go! Stop this!"
"Sure thing," he replies with a cackle, spinning her neck in an unnatural direction, before throwing her lifeless body to his feet.
"You'll pay for that!" Nicanas shouts, managing to break free of the grip with adrenaline alone, and run forward with a yell and crashes his lightsaber down upon the figure.
In seconds, all lightsabers are out, prepared to fend off the attack.
It only takes five swings, powerful slashes and slices coming at each other, before the Cyborg disarms him, stabbing him in the arm before thrusting the four lightsabers to his now valuable chest, pulling them up, and eviscerating the Jedi's body.
The last thing Nicanas can feel is agony before he fades into darkness.
Never on the battlefield did the Cyborg feel like this. Before, it has only been a minor accomplishment and seeking ground for their planets, but he has managed to wipe out not only the Jedi but the Huk who have been threatening his people for far too long. Now, none of them would dare to question him or would find themselves facing an instant execution.
"Lord Grievous, we have captured the remaining Yam'riis." The newly programmed, tactical droid, states. In Grievous's opinion, there can still be opportunity of approval, but there is still light-minded company compared to the Sith that he was forced to spar with for months. "Do you wish to imprison them and lock them away or instant termination?"
Grievous would have smirked if he was still allowed to. At last, he has gotten the chance as well as collecting many lightsabers which he would be able to use against the Jedi on the battlefield, his new powers serving a use to him. At last, he can gain control by bending the entire planet to his will.
"Enslave them," Grievous demands, knowing that there are priorities as of now despite how he would enjoy the things that he has planned for the Yam'rii on a later date for their treachery. "And free the Kaleesh slaves. Bring all of them to me. Make it known that they are free and that we could cut the Jedi and Republic off of their Slave Trade."
"Roger Roger."
Grievous turns to the Captain of the Sith Assassins. "Captain, send out search parties and find the Kaleesh that are in hiding. There are methods that you can exploit to persuade them that you are not the threat they need to concern themselves with. If I find out any of them have been killed, you would find yourself wishing for a more merciful death."
"Yes, my Lord," the Sith replies, knowing that denying the Cyborg now towering above him is not wise despite how he wouldn't have feared him at one point.
Grievous walks inside and assumes his place at the throne, resting both hands on each side, at last feeling that all of the deaths have been made right. For far too long, he has been fighting for a way to free Kalee from those dogs.
But now, Grievous would rule over the planet and assure that the Jedi would not return with their Republic to massacre his people again. The remaining Kaleesh would fall in line behind him, and all the lives that have been lost in the past years would not be wasted.
One by one, his families come into the forefront of his thoughts, his best friend, his closest other allies-
And at last, his wife...
'For you.'
Grievous at last is victorious.
'I won.'