This is my last chapter for this, I will be putting the sequal up later on this evening hopefully...that is if a bargain ive made with someone goes through...my most dedicated and highly appreciated reviewer for this story if BYLTK!!!! YOU ROCK GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter Forty-Three: No Longer Whole
She heard them talking about her and how much longer it would take her to get out of her complex prison and their disagreement about that subject too, Count Dooku saying that it would be soon very soon. When that debate had subsided she heard Dooku say something about Lord Sidious wanting to speak to Grievous on a matter concerning her.
After that she could hear no more of the conversation except for huffs of protest coming from her master. After the murmering subsided into what she sensed was a heavy tension filled silence she stood a safe distance from the door fixed her cloak so that it trailed behind her and took another step closer to the door allowing it to slide open.
First all she could see was a blue haze, dark figures, and blackness, she walked futher into the room and waited for her sight to clear up. When it did her eyes emidiatly went to the holo-image of Lord Sideous, his face grim with a small curl of asmusment upon his face. Then to Count Dooku who was very smug and pleased with her appearance.
Last but not the least in her thoughts she set her eyes on what she now knew as a lean mean killing machine. His eyes betrayed him beyond measure, she could practically read his thoughts and emotions that were in his eyes.
"Your eyes descieve you General it would be wise to shield them for I can see what you are thinking. Remember that the eyes are the windows to the mind," she cautioned her master unflinching because she could care less of his reaction for this time she would be prepard for his wrath and was willing to test it.
Both Sideous and Dooku chuckled openly at her statement to the feared General. Grievous' eyes filled with a odd asourtment of things: anger, love, resentment, pain, compassion, and a sense of loss that confused her greatly.
"Did you have a pleasant vaction on your misadventure with the Generals wrath?" questioned Dooku wanting to make Grievous as uncomfetable as possible.
River responded not caring what effect her words might cost. "Yes I did I got some much needed clarification and answered some unanswered qustions. I should think that people should be given a challenge like that every once in a while to learn the meaning of patience in their frustration and contempt for another," she could tell that her words burned Grievous to the center of his being just by the look of desperation in his eyes, but she felt no pity.
"She has learned well General you have done a fine job," praised Sidious as he stared at her hard.
"Yes indeed she will make a fine commander and master of an apprentice due to your comitment and teachings," chimed in Dooku.
River's gaze shot to her master with a flurry of questions in it but he only diverted his eyes not wanting to look at her.
"What are you saying?" asked River panic welling up inside her.
"Why my dear," came Sideous' cold greasy voice in a "soothing" tone,"you are know no longer an apprentice you are a Commander with your own troops, ship and the ability to train an apprentice, so what you are is second in command next to our beloved General Grievous here who has taught you in the skills of combat and strategic thinking."
She stood there tears welling in her eyes for what reson she did not know if it was the freedom or the seperation or a combination of both. Her breathing was so heavy her chest fell up and down showing she was having difficulty fighting the the surge of sadness and joy. She had finally accomplished her goal in life, to be able to trian an apprentice and control her own flagship with her own troops.
"What would you like your title to be?" came Dooku's voice this time.
She striaghtened up showing dignity and composure and replied staring at Dooku hard, her gaze flitting to her previous master.
"To mine enemies Commander Shikura and to my fellow commrades and commanders River just River if you don't mind," her stare turning to Grievous staring him striaght in the eye neither of them flinching or blinking their reptilian eyes.
"Very well I shall arrange a transport of your belongings to the ship waiting for you to comand and you may go aboard anytime you like in your personal craft," stated Dooku as he walked out of the room.
"Congradulations River for your accomplishment we are ancsious for you to start mentoring a student and to test your abilities to the highest capacity. Good day," and the Sith Lord disappeared leaving River to walk out of the room in silence and want to escape before she was overwealmed by all of the happenings that just took place.
She only made it to the end of the hall before she was completly overcome by them. She stood there frozen breathing rapidly and trying to calm herself enough to get to the ship that Dooku was saying was hers. She felt someone make their way toward her and she heard the breathing of her former master, and it was the last thing she wanted to hear.
"Having trouble?" he said rather mournfully.
She turned around to face him with an aggrivated look on her face. "Heh it's kind of hard to not leave when you've been sealed into a room for only the ancestors know how long," she said as she waved her hand to make a point.
His eyes dropped to the floor as if ashamed of his actions. She realized what it was that overwealmed her, she had no desire to leave. She didn't want to leave for multiple reasons: one she wouldn't be able to have her once a week lessons with her master, two she wouldn't be here to get in trouble, and three she wouldn't get to see him at all for periods of time that she wasn't even sure of.
"I best be getting to the hanger, I don't want Dooku crabby because I dwadled," she said as she turned to walk down the hallway again.
She had hoped he wouoldn't come with her due to she was on the verge of tears anyway, but he, not wanting to leave her side still followed her.
"Youdeserve to become a master, have you own apprentice, ship, and troops under your command," he said trying to make the sad reality a little more cheerful.
"I hope your right because there'll be no going back when I mess up big time," she said keeping her face pointed forward.
They made their way into the hanger to see Count Dooku boarding his personal craft. She made her way to her fighter and started doing the preperations for her flight.
"What are the abilities of a Commander?" she asked Grievous as she finished up her preperations.
"About the same thing as a General," he said rather flatly.
She climbed into the cockpit and regarded him sadly. "I'll see ya around," she said as she closed the cockpit and started the engines up.
As she directed the fighter out into space towards her new ship she looked back for one more look at the Invisible Hand and then she turned around to embrace the future. She was going to take it in baby steps and succesed at all of her missions and mentoring of an apprentice of her own. Pushing all thoughts of her master out of her mind.