Author's note: Yo, many thanks for the reviews again. I've had a few questions lately about romance in the story. Well, yeah, I can confirm there will be romance soon. I needed to get the action over and done with first – for a very good reason. You'll see why later. But yeah, romance will be included. Somewhat uncharacteristically for myself, as I'm not good at writing it and all of my previous attempts have been, in my eyes, a failure. But hey, you know they say a writer is always his own harshest critic.
Lots of you have probably already guessed the pairing here. But for those of you who haven't, I won't spoil it.
Also, a bit more exposition in this chapter. Sadly, a lot of it is canon Star Wars exposition – you know, explaining the Sith plot to take over, establishing Sidious is actually Palpatine, etc. Since I go into detail about my plots, I feel obligated to do so about these too; however, not too much detail otherwise I'll just bore the majority of my readers. Hopefully I've found a good balance here. I'm not sure what to make of the dialogue in this chapter: a lot of it is a bit boring I think.
At any rate, please review if you get the chance, much love for everyone who does.
Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon were seated in Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's crimson decorated office overlooking the crowded city of Coruscant. The elderly, white-haired Palpatine sat opposite them across his desk, his normally kindly-face furrowed in concentration.
"I find this somewhat overwhelming, Master Jedi", he said slowly.
"Your ears don't deceive you, Chancellor", Ki-Adi-Mundi declared, "General Grievous has been captured by the Republic, alive. Or at least for the moment".
"And this was the work of Master Windu on Cosko?"
Yoda looked up at the Chancellor with weary eyes, "Of a sort. Helped he was, by one of our Knights. Without her, perhaps lost Cosko would be, Master Windu too".
Palpatine smiled, "That's sensational. She deserves the Senate's most gracious thanks and recognition".
Plo Koon stirred, "I agree. But for now, I think she may wish to remain undisturbed while she recovers from the ordeal in the Temple".
"Of course, Master Jedi", the politician nodded, "But also, the Senate must be informed of this development immediately. The capture of Grievous is news that has the potential to hasten the end of this war"
Yoda shrugged slightly, "Of course, tell the Senate you must. But bring about the end of this war it will not. Remain at large the Sith do".
"Yes, yes", Palpatine raised one hand in a dismissive fashion; his disregard for the Jedi's theories of the Sith controlling the war had been apparent to them for some time, "But at this point, the Republic craves some relief. This may be what they are waiting for".
"So be it", Ki-Adi said, "But as for us, we need to return to the Temple and prepare for Grievous' arrival".
"Ah, yes. And what do you propose regarding Grievous' detainment for now, Master Jedi?" the Chancellor asked.
"For the moment, remain in the Temple Grievous will", Yoda replied, "Medical attention he requires, also high security. But in time, hand him over to you we will, for imprisonment if Senate wishes it so".
The Jedi rose to leave as Palpatine flexed his fingers, "Very well. I concur. I will order a session of the Senate within the next few days. In the mean time, good luck with handling Grievous, Master Jedi".
"Where am I?" Grievous roared.
Mace Windu looked up at him, tired-eyed, "We're in a shuttle heading for Coruscant's surface. We've just left the Republic starship the Dominator".
Aayla Secura, Clone Commander Cal and a handful of Republic officers were in the small shuttle that contained the former Kaleesh warlord's bacta tank. It had been lifted carefully and gently out of the cruiser's medical bay and transported to the on-board shuttle as the Dominator emerged out of hyperspace above Coruscant. Grievous had been quiet, head bowed and eyes closed, for the last hour or so. But since the shuttle had taken off, he had burst back to life, and seemed determined to let everyone around him know what he thought of the proceedings.
"Cowards! Let me out of this cursed fishbowl at once!"
"We can't do that", Mace said slowly as if talking to a small child, "If we do, you'll die".
"Why didn't you let me die back on Cosko?" Grievous continued to rage, "At least you would have given me a warrior's death!"
The Jedi Master cracked his knuckles and hunched over, "Call it moral obligation".
"Moral obligation? And what is that? Foolishness! You, the female Jedi", his eyes darted in Aayla's direction and fixed on her, "You wouldn't have stuck me on this life-support, would you? You wanted me dead, didn't you?"
Aayla looked away and didn't reply, because she feared the answer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mace look at her.
Grievous seemed to have recognized that he had touched a raw nerve, because he began to laugh a deep, throaty laugh. He continued to glare at Aayla as he cackled at her discomfort.
He was interrupted by the voice of the clone pilot from the cockpit, "We're touching down now on the landing pad".
"Good", Mace stood up as the shuttle began to descend "We need to get him inside as quickly as possible".
Immediately Grievous barked, "Inside where?"
Mace heaved a weary sigh, "The Jedi Temple".
There was a silence. Even the Republic officers tensed, sensing the raw emotions whirling around Grievous. After a few seconds, Grievous predictably bellowed in rage.
"What! The Jedi Temple? The Jedi Temple! Are you mocking me?" before Mace could answer Grievous snarled, "I'll be dead before I'm thrust in there like some kind of trophy for the Jedi scum to smirk at! You", he looked at Aayla again, "Unplug this life support system, now".
The bluntness of his order stunned the other occupants of the shuttle. Slowly, Aayla dared to look up at him, her brown eyes haunted with fatigue, physical pain, emotional pain and uncertainty.
"What?" she whispered.
"You heard me, idiot! Pull out these cables and shut down the system. You want me dead, I know it. I should be dead in minutes, right Master Jedi?" the last comment was directed as Mace before he turned his attention back to Aayla, "Hurry, twi'lek. I don't wish to be alive when we touch down on Coruscant".
Aayla didn't respond, completely overwhelmed by the insanity of the situation. Here she was in a shuttle with cloned human soldiers for the Republic, her esteemed superior Mace Windu whose life she had saved a few hours earlier, and a seemingly insane warlord who was screaming at her to kill him.
"Well? Are you braindead?" Grievous kept snapping off the orders and insults, not even allowing for a few second's delay.
Something fierce welled up within Aayla, something she hadn't experienced before, not in all of the Clone War and all of her Jedi training. She began to feel hot and annoyed, even angry. She looked at Grievous.
"Shut up".
Grievous stared. Everyone was quiet.
"What?" Grievous eventually rasped.
"I said shut up", Aayla replied instantly.
"Shut up? Who are you to give me orders, you insignificant Jedi…"
"I'm someone who has the power of life and death over you right now", Aayla snapped, "And I'm choosing not kill you. Maybe you do deserve to die, but that's not a decision I'm going to make. Now for God's sake, just shut up".
The awkward silence returned again: awkward because the somewhat pompous Republic officers were staring at her as if she mad, awkward because she could feel Mace's intense disapproval at her words and actions, and awkward because everyone could feel Grievous' murderous hatred blaring at Aayla.
"You Jedi witch", he snarled in a far quieter voice, "So you won't kill me. Then when the opportunity comes, I'll kill you".
Nobody spoke during the landing, as the cargo door slid open and the light of a Coruscant morning flared on them. The Jedi and officers rose to their feet: the officers went their own way, heading back for the Senate Arena with their various reports for Palpatine's military advisers. Mace and Aayla were greeted by several other Jedi.
"Master Windu, Master Secura", Obi-Wan Kenobi bowed his head in a mutual display of respect, his smooth face displaying a heart-warming smile, at least in Aayla's view, "We've heard everything, and we're here to take you back to the Temple".
Mace nodded, "Good. Aayla needs to return to the Temple for further medical attention and rest. As for the cargo", he raised his eyebrows in a significant manner, "He must be transported to the medical centre in the Temple. Maximum security and as many medics as can be spared".
"The cargo transport is here already", Obi-Wan said and turned to his former apprentice, the legendary Anakin Skywalker, "Anakin, get the Temple communications on the commlink and give them the medic order".
The longhaired, handsome young Anakin inclined his head and pulled out his commlink "Yes Master".
Behind the Jedi, a large, three meter tall durasteel droid on two sturdy legs lumbered over. The droid was a 1W-37 Salvager – a cargo droid designed for transport. A pair of grasping pincers on the front of the droid were already in motion as the Jedi stepped aside, allowing the Salvager room to reach to the shuttle.
As the droid went to work, the few Jedi merged and began separate conversations about the war, the recent events and the political events. Aayla was about ready to collapse from weariness when she saw a familiar face and smiled. Jedi Master Kit Fisto, the Nautolan on the Council, approached her.
"Are you alright, Aayla? I heard of the events when Mace briefed the Council. I was worried for you".
Aayla smiled, "I'm fine, Kit. Or at least, I will be when we get back to the Temple".
Kit flashed his white-toothed smile, "Good. Glad to hear it Aayla".
Not for the first time, Aayla felt the odd urge to collapse against Kit's chest and sleep. It was strange. She decided it must be because she was so tired. At any rate, she was glad to be able to talk to someone so informally and so warmly for a change.
The various conversations suddenly halted when the Salvager droid wheeled about, the bacta tank carefully held in its pincers. For most of the Jedi standing there, it was their first glimpse of the infamous General Grievous, the murderer of their comrades, friends and family, the butcherer of millions of innocents.
He looked oddly helpless, pinned and strapped up by the life support system. He was silent as they looked at him and he looked back at them, his eyes sweeping over them deliberately.
Finally, Grievous saw one of them that caused him to speak up, "General Kenobi, no doubt".
Obi-Wan stroked his beard and arched one eyebrow, "Impressive since we've never met before, General".
Grievous snorted, "It could only be you, with that thin-veiled arrogance and cockiness. And you", he glanced at Anakin, "You're Skywalker, I assume. Although I'm surprised the pair of you are on Coruscant at all: shouldn't you be off saving the galaxy from the oppression of the droid army in the Outer Rim worlds?"
The reaction to Grievous' sarcasm was limited to Obi-Wan smiling politely, "Not right now, General. We're on leave".
"I didn't know Jedi were given leave from duty. I thought they were ordered to parade around the galaxy during their spare time, condescending and interfering where they're not needed. A sort of holiday for them".
Mace had heard enough banter, "To the Jedi Temple", he motioned to the Salvager droid.
The robot began to clatter along and the Jedi walked with it. Aayla saw Obi-Wan shake his head in bewildered amusement: Anakin on the other hand clenched his fists and lowered his head.
Aayla walked alongside Kit, hobbling a little because of her wound and her general condition. Almost immediately Kit held out his arm for Aayla to lean on as they walked. She gratefully accepted the invitation and used him for support as they followed the droid back to the Temple.
The gantries and platforms were empty: the shuttle had landed within the proximity of the Jedi Temple. The four-spired building loomed up before them as they walked along, chatting to each other in a manner Aayla found surprisingly casual for the moment.
Darth Tyranus waited patiently in his personal quarters on board the Invisible Hand. He had tried to contact Sidious immediately after he had had his revelation about Grievous, but the channel wasn't open: Sidious was busy. However, Sidious was very precise with his communications, and Dooku was sure that he would hear from him again in moments.
It was truly unfortunate, what had happened to Grievous, Dooku thought as he turned to look at the stars out the window. It wasn't that he was a necessary ally, a comrade on equal footing, or even a collaborator in the larger scheme. In fact, as far as Grievous knew, the intentions of the Dark Lords of the Sith were pure and simple: to take over the Republic with the Separatists and establish a new order for themselves.
However, the truth was much more complex than that.
The Clone Wars were merely a huge ruse by the Sith: admittedly a very complex one, but nonetheless a ruse. The irony of the matter was that both the Confederacy and the Republic were led by a Sith Lord: Darth Tyranus was playing the role as Count Dooku, former Jedi who wished to overthrow the corrupt Republic, and Darth Sidious was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, humble politician who was doing his best to lead the Republic past these difficult times into a bright future.
And no one suspected this. Not even the Jedi. They would soon taste the bitter irony: they were serving under a Dark Lord of the Sith, and were pawns and puppets to him.
The time for that irony was drawing near. It was still not here, but it was approaching.
Dooku smiled. He was tired of this war: he wished for the conflict to end, for the Separatists and the Jedi to be destroyed, and for the Sith to rule the galaxy. He was tired of being the villain of this piece. That was what Grievous was for.
In Grievous, Tyranus and Sidious had found the ideal tool. Dooku had no intention to be a commander of battle droids, and the bumbling businessmen of the Separatists were certainly not suited for the task. This became apparent when, early in the first year of the war, the Separatists were beaten back further than was intended.
So Grievous had entered the picture. He had devastated worlds, personally murdered Jedi and struck fear throughout the galaxy. Not only was he a superb field commander, but also he was an excellent scapegoat. When the war was over, Dooku could hardly be held responsible for the atrocities of the droid army. No indeed: that would be a weight Grievous was to bear. Thus Dooku would be pardoned and allowed into the New Order by the gracious Chancellor Palpatine.
No, not Chancellor Palpatine by the, Dooku mused. Emperor Palpatine.
Behind him the hologram transmitter flared to life. The ghost-like image of Darth Sidious appeared, hooded and shrouded in robes that covered all but the lower portion of his face, even though Dooku knew perfectly well his true identity.
"Lord Tyranus", he said in a terse voice.
"My Master", Dooku bowed genially.
"You contacted me, my apprentice".
"Yes indeed, my Master. I have unfortunate news".
Something twitched in Sidious' facial expression, "I have already heard it. General Grievous has been captured by the Republic".
Dooku blinked in surprise, but then realized it wasn't surprising Sidious knew. The Jedi had probably contacted the Chancellor as soon as possible, eager to share the information of their little success.
Dooku said, "Yes, my Lord. On the planet Cosko, as you are no doubt aware. Although the circumstances are still vague for myself".
Sidious sneered, "Remain in the dark no longer. He was overpowered by Jedi Master Windu and another, and mortally wounded. At the moment he is being held in the Jedi Temple. He will survive".
"I see", Dooku remained quiet: he could sense Sidious' displeasure. The moments when Sidious had been angry before him were slim: this was one of them.
"This is unforeseen, Lord Tyranus. Unforeseen and unwelcome. This turn of events threatens to hinder our plans".
"Grievous is so essential for this war?"
"At the moment, yes", Sidious' gritty voice was stern and snappish, "We cannot allow for the Republic to maintain any form of victory for long at this point in time. The capture of Grievous will hearten the Senate and encourage a few of the more troublesome ones to push for negotiations with the Separatists. Also, the Confederacy army will start to fail without his leadership".
"We have other commanders", Dooku ventured.
"Of course, but none with the reputation of Grievous. His image has been carefully crafted to provide a vision of terror for the Republic citizens. It will not be easy to replace him".
"Then what do you propose?"
"I am uncertain", Sidious could see Dooku's surprise at these words, "Yes, Lord Tyranus, even I can be caught off guard. I am not unerring. However, setbacks are only temporary. I will soon find a way to engineer these events to my favour", he shifted in his voluminous robes and continued in a quiet voice, "Yes, it won't take me long to put matters back on track. Anything the Jedi throw at me, I can throw back at them with a great deal more impact".
"Masterful as ever, my Lord",
Sidious' voice returned to its usual harsh fashion, "Did you contact me for any other reason?"
"No, my Master. Although I have sent the Separatist leaders back to their home planets. Doubtless they will take this news badly".
Raising one hand in dismissal, the Dark Lord said, "Their opinions and complaints do not matter. We will soon return events to their normal course, or better. If that's all then, Lord Tyranus, I bid thee fare well".
Dooku bowed again, "Fare well, my Master".
The image of Sidious faded. Dooku did not stand straight until it had disappeared completely. Then he produced a commlink from his belt and activated it.
Presently, the stuttering voice of the Neimodian Captain of the Invisible Hand from the bridge was heard, "My Lord Count".
"Captain, have your communications officer make contact with the Separatist Leadership Council. Give them this message: 'General Grievous has been captured by the Jedi on Cosko. The situation is under control. Await further instruction'".
"Yes, My Lord Count".
"Oh, and advise your communications officer to hang up immediately after you inform Viceroy Nute Gunray before he gets an earful of griping".