Chapter Sixteen: Practice, Practice, Practice

River stretched luxuriously and smiled at the night of uninterrupted sleep.

She got up and wandered into the bathroom, she washed her face and brushed her hair into a ponytail and went back out to the dresser. She pulled out a chocolate brown skirt that went half way up her shins and put it on, then she rummaged around looking for a worn pink tank and slipped her boots on and put her cloak on and set off to get breakfast.

After she had something to eat she went to look for Daniel. She found him in the hanger checking what looked like his personal fighter. When he saw her his face brightened up and he greeted her warmly.

"Hello beautiful!!" he said as he embraced her.

"Hello yourself!!"

"Ready for your first practice session?"

"Yup."

And they headed for the observation deck.

On their way there Daniel seemed to be struggling with something that was on his mind trying to decide if he should tell her something, he must have decided to because he told her.

"River since the day that I met you in the hanger I could tell that you were force sensitive."

River ran this through her mind a couple of times.

"Really? I'm force sensitive?" Daniel nodded his head. "I can't believe it!" she said smiling.

"Well believe it. If you want me too I could teach you what I learn from Count Dooku."

"Really you would?"

"Yeah." River's smile soon turned to a frown.

"Whats with the upside down smile?" said Daniel.

"Its just that if Grievous finds out I'm force sensitive and that I'm learning how to use it he won't like it."

"Why not?"

"Because he thinks that the only thing some one needs in battle is strategy and not use something that doesn't make things a challenge. But most of all its what Jedi use and he hates them with a passion."

"Does he have to know?"

"Well no, but I would be disobeying his rules."

"Well there is no fun in not being able to do something that you would want to do, it would be something that would make your life hear enjoyable and you don't have to use it in battle."

"You have a point."

"So you want too then?"

"Tell me what I need to know and watch out universe!"

"Thats the River that I know and love."

They walked into the observation deck. It was extremely large, it was all glass and on one wall there was holoscreen and in one of the viewing stations was the Admirals Chair (in this case General Grievous' chair). And if there was a battle going on this was the place to be if you wanted to see what was going on with the permission of the General of course.

River pulled out one of her sabers and took her cloak off, igniting her saber, Daniel did the same, and so started their first practice session. They spared for two hours using one saber and taught each other the forms their masters had taught them. River knew most of the ones that Daniel showed her but he didn't know any of the ones she showed him.

After two hours they took a break and upgraded to double bladed saber and practiced with those for two hours showing the other forms. After they had finished they sat down with their backs against a window and River had her orientation to the force.

"Do you know how to use four sabers?" asked Daniel after he finished telling her what he knew about the force.

"No and how do you use four saber if you only have two hands?"

"Simple my girl, you use two doubles and if you want me to teach you how I can, you already have one all you need is another one."

"Cool."

There was a peaceful silence.

"Well I guess that I had better get to bed." said Daniel as he stood up.

"Okay. I think I'll stay here for right now. Good night."

River sat there for a very long period of time just thinking and reminiscing. After a long while she heard the sound of fast passed clinking. The door slid open and in came an extremely agitated General.

River was hidden in the shadows so he didn't see her; she lifted her head to watch him and she didn't stir after that. Grievous pulled out a piece of paper and looked at it for a long time.

"I know you're in here," he said making it sound like it was a sigh.

How could he possibly have known she was in there unless he had run into Daniel or he had eyes in the back of his head which she strongly doubted.

She leaned her head back on the windowpane shut her eyes and shifted into a more comfortable position.

"So what if I am?" she replied coolly.

She could tell without seeing him that he turned around to face her now knowing where she was located. She opened her eyes to see him put the piece of paper away and walk over and stand next to her. She stayed in sitting position.

"I know what your warrior name is," he said looking out into space not caring if she heard him or not.

"Oh really." she said rather sarcastically.

"Yes, its Shikura."

River was hit with a feeling that she couldn't explain it had been so long since she had heard her name come out of anybody's mouth and it seemed forever since it came out of his.

"And I also know why the healer named you River."

She stood up and looked at him, she had what and she wanted to know.

"Why? Why did she name me River?"

"Because she said the river that flowed through the city reminded her of you, because a river is so peaceful and calm on the surface and beneath there is a strong current at work to move it forward to embrace what is to come."

She looked out the window not wanting to make eye contact with him. There was a very long silence between the two. River finally broke the silence.

"When I look out at the vastness of space I feel so small and trusting and I know that if I don't anger it I will not be harmed." she looked at him tears glistening in her eyes and a big smile was on her face. Was she trying to tell him something without actually saying it?

"Tell me, what happened after I sent you on that mission?"

"Well after two days into it I was found out and I think I have a pretty good hunch that it was your buddy San Hill. I was beaten dumped and left for dead. I made a healing lotion with the herbs that I had and found, I slowly but steadily recovered over the period of a month and made my way back to the clan. The evening I got back I found out that, that very morning your shuttle was sabotaged. I also found out that you had gone into a state because you thought that I was dead. After I found out that you died I locked myself in your room and didn't come out for many day's. They finally had to break the door down because I was so close to dieing because I had not eaten or drank anything for that period of time. After another month the city was attacked by the Huk and Jedi and was taken captive. I went into hiding so that I wasn't executed. Then that fateful day a year later I walked out my door and banged my head into your chest plate." she chuckled and rubbed her head "I still can feel the impact when I think about."

Grievous was silent absorbing what she had said.

"Well I had better go get some sleep that way I can embrace what tomorrow has in store." and River left.

Yes you should for tomorrow there will be an explosion and I will enjoy every minute of it. Thought Grievous to himself as he stood there in the silence of the darkness.