Chance
Three days had passed by quickly and without delay, to Grievous' eyes that is. He could have left the little ingrate in there for the rest of her life, he could. But what joy would that bring to the general's sick pleasure when he had all the time in the world to shred her sanity piece by piece in a slow fashion, that would suit more for her kind. "Republican Dog," He had muttered every few whenever he would inspect the brat in her cell. Still in her same mouldy corner, the child had awaited for the day she would be freed. When he did, she was less than grateful. He would have enjoyed punishing her for being unappreciative towards his mercy. In the end, he sent her to her personal cell to cool off before he sent her off for more cleaning duties. The words he had spoken of three days still rocked in his mind, questioning his actions as a way in disgust and against his nature. Grievous, too, questioned whether he was going soft on the miniscule or rather a sense of pity had taken over. Bah! Hardly. He would have said to such a barbaric idea, he'll show these pathetic dogs kindness when Gor miraculously learns how to fly and when the Republicans pay for the misery he bared witness too.
Count Dooku, the very Sith Grievous has been tying to contact in over a week had been given no answer or evidence of his existence. It was becoming unsettling since the very start of this all, Grievous has been given a break from the war – something he thought pointless, and unnecessary – and began thinking if the Count was forcing Grievous to actually mentor the brat himself. Grievous would have gagged. From the beginning he had wanted a break from the war to rest his mentality, but it was turning . . . disturbing.
The door created two knocks on its steel-built exterior, to which, snapping Grievous' unsettled mentality back to the world of reality. When Grievous made no attempt to answer, the knocks repeated soon after more violently and impatiently.
One last bang on the door finished it all, but the person didn't leave.
"I know you're in there, master! Admit me!"
Grievous grunted in disagreement, unintentionally revealing his location in the process. His eye twitched when he heard the sounds of the animation of gears and contraptions performing as his medical droid began to tamper with the passage doorway to open. A-4D came forth with a sense of annoyance enveloping his current stance. The General continued where he left off to his duties of configuring plots, ignoring the droid completely. He just didn't want to deal with the droid, he was already galling him. A new record for the both of them.
Neither knew the unsettling silence as A-4D permitted himself rudely, though neither acknowledged it, speak to each other, or so much as moved from their positions during that moment. When the droid began to slump its shoulders, turning calmer, Grievous' cautious instincts settled.
"Why must you shun me out, Master? Do you not appreciate the luxury of my presence?"
Grievous couldn't help but chuckle at the mere thought of even liking the retched sadistic droid.
The droid fumed. "I'm being serious!" It cried, pouting like a spoiled child.
"Doctor, you're becoming unpleasant," Grievous warned, removing his eyes from the screen and turned to the droid. "Please remove yourself if you are proven to be unable to control you're peculiar circuitry."
That comment made the droid furious with embarrassment – an odd feature for a droid to express – and threw something rather pointy at the general. Grievous did not go on a frenzy at the droids act, instead, he sighed tiresomely.
"That's not the point master! I'm here because I need to administer you're monthly check-up, not to annoy."
Grievous huffed. "That is annoying."
"Not unless I say it is."
"It is."
"No it's not."
"It is."
"No it's not!"
"Yes, it is!"
"No, its not!"
"Leave already, you nettlesome scrap pile."
"Take the blasted treatment and I will."
"Never!"
"You're unbelievable!"
"I would rather be dead than be treated by you!"
"You're so cruel, master. . ." A-4D pretended to sob with such emotion that it would have fooled anyone, except Grievous, who gave the droid a narrowed, bored look.
"Fine, I'll leave," it finally said in defeat.
"Finally!" Grievous hyped, turning away at last. But the sounds of sliding doors did not occur. The cyborg groaned. "What?"
A-4D didn't turn around, or make his motives known as it was protected by the pure blackness of the shadows, it stood there, next to the passageway, immobile. Grievous was growing more impatient, and he couldn't stand for this droids stubbornness any longer. He was about to send his droid a final command, but was intercepted by the droid.
"Why did you do that to the female, master?" The droid asked in mysterious, dark, wonder. "You would have torn her whole mouth off for such ill behaviour, but instead you let her go with three chances. Now that's against you're principles all together."
"You're point?" Grievous rasped, unsettled by the droid, and annoyed that it noticed the general's sudden change in principles.
"My point is that you're going soft on this one, may I ask why?"
That was a good question. Why, exactly? Grievous placed his metal head on his comforting chair, lost in thought. He had to admit – though not directly to the pushy droid – that he might possibly harbour a sense of mercy for the child, starting when he had first received her from his master. He couldn't understand why though, for the very concept began to gnaw at his memories, seeking for the answer as if it were already there.
"I . . . don't know. . . "Grievous admitted in a soft spoken voice, his claws unconsciously clenching as the mental pain began to sink in and he could feel the past weighing him down. He blinked, and refreshed.
All of the sudden, the chair had somehow given in to the generals weight and pulled him to the center of the second room, his wrists bound by steel restraints.
He growled, "Doctor!?"
"Stop you're fussing, you're only making this more difficult to determine where I should administer my treatment," said A-4D, tapping at its built-in syringe fill with silver liquid. "You wouldn't want me to miss, do you?"
The general grew silent and still as the syringe came closer to the gut sack carrying his internal organs. The Doctor giggled in sick pleasure and proceeded.
Three days in those mold-covered cells was incredibly horrendous, and inevitable to escape the odour either. Words cannot describe the unique odour lurking in every corner of the cells; so intoxicating that I was at my limits of puking there and now. Thankfully I was out and made an oath to never go near there again.
Having been sent to my newly refurbished room – after having demolished it previously, I sat myself on my bed, my mind losing ideas on how to keep myself occupied. And then, to my greatest disgust, that appalling odour had mysteriously followed her all the way to my room. But it went worse. I dropped my head and sniffed my tunic, swiftly recoiled and pinched my tanned nose shut, the horns on my head tingled with displeasure. "Oh no. It's on me!" I cried in distress and tore off my tunic, throwing it at the door.
The door opened and A-4D became my tunic's next victim. A-4D stood there for a short, awkward moment before dropping the tunic to the floor and placed a white plate with a sandwich and apple on the table nearest to my bed.
"Everyone here isn't giving me that much consideration anymore," A-4D sighed sadly, "or perhaps my internal circuitry has a malfunction," he finally claimed.
"Sorry," I immediately apologized, "It's just that my clothes reek of sewage and dead carcass."
A-4D picked up the odour leaking tunic and tossed it out of the room for good. Now all I had left was a black top that left my shoulders uncovered and bare.
The smell of food instantly caught my senses, hunger and nutrition came back to mind and I remembered the need for food and ignored the coldness cascading down my shoulders. My mouth began to drool with unquenchable hunger. Snatching the sandwich, I began to devour it whole, not a single crumb spilled. A-4D watched with amusement.
"My my, forgive me for forgetting that you fleshies require organic food," A-4D admitted shamefully. "It's been awhile since I've had any guests."
"Is that so? That's . . . depressing," I said, munching away on my lunch.
The droid nodded in agreement, "Indeed. I mean – master does get guests here and there – can you believe that!"
No, I honestly say I can't.
"Anyways," he continued, "Other than the Counts rare visits, there are other acquaintances that come and stay for a day or two."
One of my eyebrows rose from that announcement. It was all hard to believe. "Other acquaintance? Are you referring to the tattooed Rattataki woman from before?"
"Ah, Ms. Asajj Ventress," The droid had corrected. "No. But those two's relationships . . . is hard to distinguish. I can't even tell if they want to kill each other even when they work together. Isn't it fascinating?"
"For you it is," I pointed out with a cracked smile.
"Yes well, once you are finished – which I'm sure won't take long – we must carry on with our cleaning duties."
I nearly coughed up my sandwich. "There's still more!?"
"This darkened sanctuary isn't going to stay clean forever."
I mumbled something unintelligible and finished the last of my sandwich before lifting myself off the comforts of my bed and followed the EV droid towards our next assignment. The usual was me being given the job of mopping and dusting, two of which I detested the most, and be ditched by the doctor. But I was certain it took pleasure in forcing me to do the hard work.
Mopping gifted me excruciating sores in my legs, back, and arms all awhile I mopped in a circular motion on the smooth floor. I kept this rhythm constant as I trailed down the dusty hallways. After I finished the first hallway the other twenty-five hallways were also mopped until I was done and ventured into the Shrine Room. My forehead began to crease with cool moisture; I whipped it away with my free hand while the other was dusting up the many statues of the same strange warrior in the Shrine Room. I took a step back to check my progress. There were still dust-bunnies on the statues face, much to my dismay. I sighed in aggravation, imagining a stern medical droid chastising me for laziness if I didn't completely dust them all off.
"I should be paid for this," I grumbled, narrowly climbing up the warriors arm with ease. Once I was able sit myself on his shoulder, I began to dust off his face. A couple of brushes later I stopped and took a long, good look at the statues face to check for missed spots, but was so overwhelmed by his peculiar face that I couldn't help but take a gander at his facial features.
Reptilian eyes, smooth skin, and sharp tusks and mandibles. I've never seen these features before, it left me to question what race this man was. It wasn't just the face that had caught my attention, but it was those carved-in eyes. So beautiful, hypnotizing, and raving mad eyes. I was completely lost in them.
In fact, they resembled-
A mop full of soap water swung at me, but luckily, I had heard the whirring of the mechanical alloy limbs waltzing inside the statue room and foresaw the attack in time.
"Nice try, Doctor." I sneered.
A-4D snatched the mop away and looked up at me, concerned. "What are you doing up there?"
"Dusting."
"That's a funny way of doing it," the droid spoke. It took a step back for me to jump and land next to him, but, as usual, I fall ungracefully on the floor butt-first. A-4D cackled and held its chest. "Wow. Now if only master could have seen that."
"Shut up," I whined, flailing my arms at him with anger.
A-4D caught both my arms easily and pulled me to my feet and took the duster out of my hands.
I patted my dirty butt clean. "Where were you? You're supposed to be helping me."
"Actually, I was hoping to find my master while I was away. He managed to slip away from his," I was presented a piece of metal. ". . . Bindings on my first try, and I was hoping that I could have found him again."
"Is it that painful?"
"I don't know. Never tried, never will," He tugged me out of the room and walked down the freshly cleaned hallways with me by his side. "My master despises the treatments completely and, comically, flees."
I giggled.
Suddenly A-4D grew considerably frustrated, and embarrassed. "Oh shoot, I forgot something important back in the Control Room. Ahsoka, could you go fetch it for me? It's a white bottle."
I sighed. "Fine, but you better do you're work when I get back!" I threatened with a harsh look.
He promised, but it didn't feel that honest. I still did it though, running down the hallways, and somehow falling on my own two feet thanks to the freshly washed flooring. But even after the whole ordeal, I was able to make it to the Control Room in one piece.
I looked around the chair, figuring it might be there, but it wasn't. I looked everywhere from floors to holo-projectors, till the last place I hadn't checked was the shelves filled with personal trinkets the general must have favoured the most, and still none had the damn bottle.
I was about to lose hope when I finally realized where I was. I was in the Control Room, all alone, and the cyborg was no where to be seen. It was too good to be true. Just to be safe I gave the area a second survey before confirming that I was the only one here. Plopping myself into the oversized seat, I began to tamper with the controls, starting with complete and total lockdown of the entire perimeter.
And I made sure every door was locked.
Grievous had stayed put in the arena, occupying himself by honing his skills. During his time in hiding, the general practiced numerous forms in lightsaber combat. Two of his most lethal MG-magnaguards came at him using Form 1 Shii-Cho, sending their weapons for his head, right arm and torso. But, by carefully watching the MG's duplicate such a raw form was completely disastrous; the general was going to have to re-train them more severely after this combat practice. Swiftly, Grievous parried both attacks with his own two, and then attacked more fiercely, rotating his wrists, and disarming his opponent's weapons from their mechanical appendages without difficulty. The general was about to lecture their flaws until the medical droid came in on him. He nearly shuddered.
"Master, what a spectacular show. Congratulations."
The guards bowed their heads respectfully towards the general before leaving the arena.
Grievous returned to the center and re-ignited his lightsabers, attacking at the air with devastating blows. He stopped once, and then came again. Stopped, and again.
"Keep training, and you're body will suffer."
"My body is functioning perfectly, my reflexes are precise, and my attacks were exact," Grievous persisted ignorantly.
Around the corner of his eye the general could see the droid shake its head and cross its arms.
"What is it, Doctor? And it had better be important," Grievous rasped.
"You know why I'm here."
"Caretaking."
"No. I'm here to give you you're blasted treatment. Take it so that I can find peace."
"No. . ."
"You're as ignorant as that bloody pet of yours," the droid began to rant, and the generals right eye was starting to twitch ever so slightly.
"Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on my slave?"
"How can I when right now I have something far more of importance to tend to."
"Poor, simple, servant droid," Grievous sympathized, adding his own move for a creative counter.
"You know what I think!-"
Without warning, the sliding door closed and the security alarms turned on. Everything had gone off; leaving the general to wonder what was the purpose for the whole misunderstanding. He stalked towards the door with the intentions of finding out until he heard a faint click and recognized that the doors locked itself. Grievous finally grasped the fact that the lock-down had been initiated. And he could think of one person who would do such a thing.
"Damn her."
"Come again, master."
Recalling the droid standing next to him, a shed of luck was coming to Grievous.
"Doctor, hack into the system of the Security-mainframe and disarm the Lock-down immediately," he ordered.
The medical droid did as it was told without a fuss. A single interface arm inserted into the control pad at the doors side, rotating in a circular motion, A-4D remained immobile until it perked its head up.
"I can't somehow. I'm afraid the Togruta has managed to put up a firewall from allowing me to scan."
Grievous growled. "Impossible?"
"Apparently not. The girl is quite gifted with computer hacking. Impressive."
"Don't admire that brat," Grievous snapped. And yet he knew he was partly to blame for leaving the Control Room unguarded in his time of hiding. "I shouldn't have left that Control Room."
"If you had taken the treatment, this wouldn't have occurred," the droid chimed in joy.
How could it be happy? The general had no time for the droids personality disorder and came at the door with his lightsaber, cutting a large enough hole for him to go through before kicking the carved chunk out. He leaped out and bolted.
"She's heading towards the south exit, if you're wondering!"
Grievous managed to hear what the droid was saying before quickening his pace after the girl. He wasn't going to let her go that easily.
Everything was set. Hacking into the mainframe was a piece of cake, not even a challenge for me. I got up, making sure everything was set one last time, and ran towards the south exit.
Turning a corner I saw two MG-magnaguards come in my direction. I ducked around the corner, barely keeping out of the guard's sensor eyes. I began to huff, not realizing my lungs were on fire from how fast I was running. I slowly looked over the corner and saw that they had gone the other direction, so I continued towards the opposite, taking a detour from the south exit.
I had almost made it when I felt a ripple in the force. I leaped to the side and saw a guard swipe at my leg, missing by an inch when I recoiled away and very close to cutting my headtail off. How could I have been so oblivious that one of the guards was tailing after me.
The droid lifted its electro staff and came at me with a swing. I back flipped and kicked the guard at its uncovered torso. It caught my boot and held me there; I tried to shake it off but could not.
"Let go!" I cried, jumping in place with one foot. The guard kept its grip strong, never letting go. Desperately I tried to shake off its hold, but decided to shake off my boot, and shivered as my foot touched the coolness of the floor.
I broke into a combat stance, without thinking of the advantages I took my chances.
It came again and tried to keep up with my dodges and flimsy punches. With its free hand, it would try to snatch one of my fists in hopes of capturing, but I was far too slippery to be captured. Thanks to what little connection I had left with the force, and with my sensible headtails, I kept alert and foresaw its attacks and moves. And when an opening came, I lunged at it, grabbed its staff and rotated it so that it hit the guards head square in the face. Purple electricity surged throughout its body, sparks flew in the air, and the droid fell dead.
I took a step back to be cautious, and with confirmation, I turned on my heel towards the gates. I stopped in my tracks, and saw the cyborg, Grievous, standing right in front of the gate. But how though?
"H-how?"
He tipped a lightsaber at his waist. Darn. And just when I was certain of a future success. Without thinking I retreated and ran.
"Get back here!" Was his command, and my body almost gave in to his control, I nearly stopped in my tracks before snapping back to my normal self and press on.
Then my entire body flew back as my arms were pulled behind my back, a pain began coursing up my shoulders and shoulder blades. I winced in pain as he pulled on one of my headtails, forcing me to look up at him. My headdress beads swayed and tacked between the two of us, being the only sound as we locked eye contact. The only thing I kept looking at were those raging yellow pair of eyes.
Grievous pushed me forward, causing me to land on the floor. I rolled on my back and looked back at him.
"That makes one attempt, you know," the general spoke.
I glared. "I was close."
"Not really."
I got to my feet slowly, never taking my eyes away from his. And I knew what was to come. "So what's the punishment?"
"Since it's you're first one, I'll try to be merciful," Grievous told me, pinching the tip of his mask to think about the consequence. When he finally decided, he bent down to my level. His eyes softened a bit, humorous. "I'm taking away you're food for three days."
My jaw dropped. "For three days?!"
"Correct."
"I'll starve."
"That's the point, smartass," he smirked under his white mask, flicked at my forehead – close to my headdress - then turned away as A-4D, accompanied by a guard walked from behind me across the expanding hallway. "Take the slave to her room for the rest of the evening. She is to be given no food for three whole days."
"Yes, master." A-4D grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the general's gaze. I glared at him one final time before turning my back to him. It was the guard who escorted me to my room. A-4D stood by Grievous as the darkness engulfed them both and I could no longer see him. My eyes began to burn, and I rubbed my eyes to keep from tearing.
I hate him.
He watched her walked right into the darkness before looking down his happy-go-lucky droid. His eyes narrowed, and he couldn't shake an uncomfortable feeling.
"What?"
The droid began to chuckle. "How unfortunate," it giggled.
Grievous, having become impatient once more, would have nothing of it. The droid had been annoying since he released the girl, and Grievous was at his breaking point. He could find another medical, there are plenty out there in the galaxy. Grievous whirled his head towards the droid angrily, wanting nothing more than for the droid to be silenced.
"What's wrong with you?" He demanded.
The droid stopped its guffaws and looked straight at the general, getting too close for comfort with the general.
"I hate it when my patients disobey me, you know?" he stated venomously, his voice twisted and sadistic. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't disobeyed me, master."
Grievous' eyes widened a bit, never has he seen this deranged side of the droid. So the rumours about the EV series violent behaviours were true, this one was just as defected as the rest of the units. He hunched over the droid, becoming furious with the droids actions.
"You little. . ."
"I feel a sense of pity, however," the droid mumbled, ignoring the general's rage on purpose. ". . . For using Ahsoka like that. Too bad she wasted one of her chances, neh?"
"You're a twisted little droid."
"And you're a barbaric being, but I still respect you're morals," A-4D retorted. "And besides I was sort of delighted in tricking her into going in there."
Finishing what he had to say, the droid, too, walked straight into the black darkness. Leaving the general to himself, Grievous coughed before looking up at the bolted down gates. Lifting up his claw, he touched the features of the gate, trailing down the curves and bumps.
So close. . .
The next Day
The sounds of growling – similar to Gor's – echoed the hallways as I dusted the walls. I gripped at my stomach and tried to keep it at bay. It wouldn't listen, and, too weary to deal with it, ignored it with all my willpower. But I groaned softly, falling to my knees and curling into a ball. I was so hungry.
"You done yet?"
"I'm doing the best that I can," I cried, grouchy from the loss of nutrition.
The medical droid came to my side and helped me to my feet gingerly. I held my stomach from falling, my insides were wrenching in a painful fashion.
The beads at the end of my headdress stuck to my sweaty headtails, I felt so light-headed even when I was heating up.
"You don't look so good."
"I'm hungry!" I screamed, my throat dry from lack of water. I needed a drink. "Can I at least have a drink?"
"You may. Finish dusting this section and I will lead you to the kitchen."
"Thank you," I croaked dryly, willing myself to dust the rest of the halls and followed the caretaking droid to the kitchen, ignoring the fact that this place had a kitchen to begin with. I never thought of it.
The kitchen was sparkling clean; it was obvious it was rarely used. There wasn't a food stain to be seen.
"How often do you use this place?" I asked, marvelling at all the unique, expensive utensils.
"Not enough."
Within a couple of minutes, A-4D came forth with a full glass of water. I nearly drank the whole glass in one gulp, coughing in the process.
"Thanks," I gasped, breathing in my refreshed lungs.
"As long as you're able to clean, I'm more than obliged to offer a hand."
I gave it a frown. "That's reassuring."
The ceiling quivered and shook as the echoes of a certain growl continued, rattling all the utilities dangling in the ceiling. And I was starting to get a headache.
"So when do we go feed Gor?" I persisted.
"Awe you miss him already?"
"No! I-I-Its just that feeding Gor is the last chore on the list."
"Why in such a hurry when it's obvious you have nothing to do instead being stuck in you're own room. I will not tolerate another Grievous in my domain and I will do anything to keep it to the minimum of one, thank you."
"You know, you talk too much for a mere droid," I perked up.
A loud screech sounded the corridors, making us both quicken our pace out the kitchen and towards the arena. A-4D entered a room not too far from Gor's arena, and the foulest air reached my nose as the droid opened it wide. Inside had the largest stock of meat I would ever see in a lifetime. A-4D gave me a smelly armful. Unable to bear the smell, I pushed through the doors, and threw the steak in the air. I only had a second to blink before I got the wind knocked out of me, being soaked in a red rough color. Gor scooped up the steak in its mouth and swallowed it whole without even chewing then continued to soak me with warm saliva.
I lashed out and pulled myself out of the Roggwarts overweight body, shaking from the horrible contact. "I say we go in there and stick a knot in his stomach. You have to admit it's a good idea."
"It is, but Master wouldn't approve."
"Blasts," I cursed, shaking off the dripping saliva.
"Gor is a beast. He'll go on a rampage if not fed properly, I promise you that."
"Is that so," I thought out loud. Then it was like a light bulb had flickered in my mind in an instant. Two things clicked into my head, and it would only work if I did it now. How it occurred clustered my mind, but I understood what needed to be done.
A-4D took me aside and placed more steak for Gor to eat. I jumped to my feet and hugged A-4D tightly, catching the medical droid off guard and unbenounced to him, sticking a piece of meat over A-4D's back.
"You are the best caretaker in the galaxy," I commented with a bubbly accent.
A-4D, uncomfortable by the close contact, tried to push me away. "Are you . . . okay?"
I jumped up and took a step back, with a sly expression. "Yup. You have a nice day." I flipped around and skipped away. My scheme coming into action.
With the doctors back turned, I waved my hands in the air to gain Gor's attention and beckoned him towards the steak sticking behind the doctor. Gor bared its fangs, ready to pounce, and in one push, ambushed A-4D. The doctor whirled his head and saw Gor charging at him and ran as fast as his little legs could take him, with Gor hot on his trail. He wailed and screamed and called for help, but I could not, now was my chance to run.
Not a moment too soon did the sirens ring and by that time I was already gone.
The sirens were going off in red fans, to Grievous it was like actual red floating lightsabers flying around. But that was just his imagination getting the best of him.
Placing his duranium claw over his eyes, Grievous shadowed away from the blaring lights and deactivated them via from the red button next to his main control system. Grievous has been expecting for the girl to make her escape, took her long enough. The displays was brought to his full attention, examined by the general carefully until he found his only doctor being chased by a ravenous Gor.
Grievous sighed for his doctor's foolishness, but deep down, thought of smiling for how the doctor allowed himself to be manipulated so easily. The cyborg chuckled to himself. Pure Karma.
The secret passage to his door felt the full fury of unending pounding, as was Grievous' tired head. The cyborg sauntered to the door and opened the door, only to slam it shut again in a flash.
"Let me in!"
"Go away," Grievous growled.
A-4D didn't go away and kept banging on the door. "I beg of you master. I am in need of dire assistance, Gor's gone savage!"
Grievous thought to himself and chose his options carefully, wishing for there to be an option for him to simply ignore the doctor's pleas and let him be devoured by his pet. But he couldn't. He was his only doctor, and much more suitable to him than any other.
He opened the door and re-closed it, facing both a panicking medical droid and a hungry Roggwart, wagging its tail.
Helplessly, A-4D turned his back at Gor and tried to run for it again, catching Grievous' eye. Behind his back was a slice of meat.
Grievous had to think quickly. In one long stride, Grievous intercepted the Roggwart from its target. Unlike those many times, Gor continued to charge, ignoring the general's interception, which became his downfall. Grievous raised his arms and clutched at the Roggwarts curved horns, he could feel himself being pushed slowly back, close to where his trusty medical droid was. He was at his limits and could already feel his legs giving in, but blocked the pain out and absorbed all of his energy into the balls of his claw-feet. Gor thrusted forward in an attempt to move his master aside, but Grievous did not waver. Grievous pushed forward and finally pushed Gor against the wall. Gor did nothing after that.
Grievous plucked the steak off of his medical droids back and threw to his pets awaiting jaws. Instead of chewing, the creature swallowed it whole.
Grievous patted the Roggwarts plated back. "You need to go on a diet, Gor."
"Hey!" A-4D screamed, waving his hands around for attention. "I'm the victim here!"
Grievous shrugged. But he wasn't entirely distracted; he still had a certain Togruta to deal with. The cyborg general gave A-4D a cold and deadly glare, his eyes stern and angered. "Where is she?"
My breathing quickened as I ran like hell down the many hallways of Grievous' castle. Hopefully Gor bought me some time. I had to say, Gor went rampaging crazier than I had anticipated – which was good.
The sirens had gone off within seconds after I was half-way down the south exit. I could foresee an army of MG-magna guards waiting for my arrival.
My prediction was correct when an armed guard came round the corner. With what little options I had left, I turned to the closest room I could get in.
I pulled the door open and saw the horrifically overpopulated shelves booked with lightsabers. I cringed from it all and could faintly sense the heavy atmosphere weighing over me like a heavy blanket. I was about ready to scream, and whimper at the loss, but I shook it off and quickly snatched at least 4 lightsabers and hid them inside the safety of my sash while I stored about an armful of lightsabers in a spare meat plastic beg I managed to steal. I had a feeling I was going to need a lot of these in case things become worse.
Just as I predicted, the south exit was completely swarmed with MG-Magna Guards by the time I got there, all wielding deadly electro staffs. All of them were formed in a tactful pattern, meaning the general is already hot on my trail. That and he's probably more pissed off I could ever imagined.
I stepped out of hiding and faced what could be an entire fleet of MG-Magnaguards, two lightsabers ignited. I had to admit, though not out loud, that wielding two lightsabers has been proven rather difficult for most beginners such as me, even for council members, or so I've heard, even I don't know a Jedi council member's full potential in both the force and lightsaber combat. But this was not the time to brainstorm right now.
Without the use of the force – thanks to this stupid collar latched around my neck, my power is limited, but right now I'm not counting the odds.
I bent my knees and pushed myself into the air, landing not-so-gracefully in the middle of the guards. I fought them all swiftly and as gracefully I could mimic. I swung horizontally and slashed across at least one guards in half. I punched them, tripped them, and decapitated them, anything to keep them from standing up. Others put up a far more of a fight than most of the others could ever do. But that only made me more focused and on my toes. Barely another two down and it only made more come at me and some more resilient. But by that time, I was beginning to catch my breath, and almost toppling over. I tried to keep up with most them, but they came at me one after another, like a true group of well trained warriors. More and more came, yet I kept my ground. A couple of time, they would easily slap my lightsabers out of my hands, but I inwardly thanked myself for bring more with me for safe keeping. But I had a feeling I should have brought more, I only had five more left while the others were scattered and recovered by the MG-Guards and taken to their previous shelves.
It felt like a century of fighting head-on with the highly trained droids, until there was only one left standing. While its right hand and a chunk of its side ribs were severed, I on the other hand had almost zero energy and only one lightsaber left.
In unison, we both dashed at each other. To surprise him, I side-stepped and stabbed at him, but the droid foresaw my move and deflected it with a horizontal twist. I raised my lightsaber and slashed across the droids chest, barely singing the staff of the electro staff. But the droid didn't falter and came at me faster. I stood on one leg and kicked at him with the other, but that became my downfall. The droid crouched and kicked my free leg and forced me to the ground. I hit the back of my head on the cold floor, and for a moment, tugging me towards unconsciousness.
As the guard was about to deliver the final blow, I rose up and pressed the blades hilt where the droid could only be activated or deactivated from, with a flip of the switch the lightsaber burned bright blue of light energy through the droids chest. The guard jerked and twitched in its movements before coming to peace and lifeless. I pushed it off of me and to its side, out of breath and in dire need of some rest. But I could not give up now, a faint but recognizable picture of my master with his protective arms held out wide for me kept me going.
Suddenly the sounds of clapping came from over my head. I weakly turned my head and saw that the general had watched the whole thing play out, and judging by his comfortable stance, I surmised he was entertained.
I tried to get up, but fell from the lack of strength. No. Not now.
Grievous sauntered over me in a hunchback posture, a sort of posture I have never seen before.
"My, my," He began. "To defeat 9 newly built MG-Magnaguard droids is truly . . . entertaining."
My eyes hardened from that announcement, was it really 9? I counted over 13. Unless some of them knew how to reassemble themselves.
I tried to get up, but felt a claw grasp onto my back and push me back down. His golden reptilian eyes went from amused to ferocious. I would have trembled in fear, but instead I whimpered, giving the general the satisfaction of watching me cower before him.
"You used my pet, Gor, for you're own desires. Knowing that he belonged to me and can be used only by me." His words were becoming more vehement as his talons-like feet wrapped around my body, squeezing especially around my entire ribcage. "And then you steal not one – but twelve of my trophies-"
"They didn't belong to you in the first place!" I cried out, but was immediately pushed deeper into the ground. I gasped for air and tried desperately to unhook his inhumanely strong claws from squishing me further.
"Don't you ever talk back to me!"
"Fuck you!"
At that, Grievous retracted his free hand into a fist and was about to punch me square in the face before controlling his actions and self rage. He lowered his arm, but didn't release his fists.
"You're lucky my master wants you alive," I heard him hiss. He circled me like some sort of beast as he tapped at a communicator he held in the palm of his hand. When he spoke again, it became hard to interpret what he was muttering or speaking to. I kept staring at him weakly, awaiting for the second punishment.
"Hurry," he rasped. He looked down at my weakened form, tapping me with the tip of his talon-foot. I moaned, pained by the touch. He must have hit a bruise.
The darkness crept up along my back, caressing me with cold touches, masking itself as the true terror. I shivered and rolled over, wondering what was taking him so long to punish me. I just wanted to get it over with, the sooner the better.
Then, somehow, the darkness moved, and EV-A-4D appeared from its abyss. It looked down at me and helped me to my feet, and hauled me away from the general and the gate to freedom.
She was on the ground stirring here and there, ready to fall into slumber as Grievous observed her carefully. He nudged a bit to get a decent response – a remark, he was strangely hoping for – and received in turn a soft moan of discomfort.
He bent down to lecture her, until he recalled the headdress affixed to her forehead. He immediately recognized it being carved from the teeth of the Akul species. Grievous was well acquainted with the Togrutan religion and ceremonies. But to be given such an honourable headdress at a young age clearly stated her level of skill in her race's heritage. Then he saw the beads sprawled on the floor. He prodded with them, felt them, and memorized them. His eyes took a closer look, until something from the back of his memories struck him violently.
The dry leaves of the oaken trees swayed, and the tall grass moved like the blue ocean itself, the wind pushing the grass in a rhythmic motion.
A woman, elegant, mystical as she was as holy as the gods, stood in the very middle, mending with nature and following the tall grass' dance with the wind. Her pale lips formed a small smile as she swayed, her arms spread wide for the feel. Her bare, dirtied feet felt the cool refreshing surface of the soil, the only moist soil way far of from the village she immigrated to. She moved her arms, following the wind as it moaned with a strong chilling passion, all awhile, she danced, her marble tanned face shined by the suns intensive rays, hot as it was, she did not heed. The beads adorned to her headdress, which stuck to the top of her forehead, splitting into three, ending between the bridge of where the eyebrows could be. A blue gem was embedded at the larger portion in the center of her golden headdress, the beads that could reach to the end of her waist, attempted to follow the wind and the leaves.
Her blue eyes revealed themselves after a long, internal bonding with the earth, looking at the small boy before her.
She held out her hand.
"Sheelal . . ."
Grievous snatched at his helmet and scratched at it feverishly, and the pain began to remember the past. With his left hand, Grievous placed his hand at his chest plate, over his heart, breathing uneasily and coming to a fit of coughs.
It was those beads.
Footsteps started his way, and A-4D appeared by his side, sly as he was. Yet Grievous could not answer or acknowledge the droid, he was lost in deep thought.
"Master. . ."
He couldn't bring himself to move his mechanical limbs, nor speak as functionally. And then all he could hear was a wail of the dead, and a numbing ringing.
"Master?!"
Grievous blinked, coming to. He looked down at the droid before him and recognized him as his servant droid. He regained his composer and stood firmly. The droid looked up to him with confusion, wondering for his master's safety. Grievous guarded himself from the droids gaze and created authority in his voice.
"Take her to her room. No treatment will be given to her as her second punishment. Remove her from my sight." He ordered, turning away at the scene and down the hallways. At the moment, he didn't want to be disturbed. Something inside him was aching his heart, and he didn't know what the cause was.
My world turned upside down as I was placed in the confinements of my room. Cold was all I could feel from around me, comforting me in a sort of way, and then I was placed on my mattress bed. I didn't move or speak, just laid there.
Sensing that I was not alone, I kept still. A sharp finger poked my left shoulder blade with my back turned to the person. My eyelids shuddered and opened to see A-4D was left alone with me.
The droid looked down to me with a stern, and angered look. He crossed his arms and spoke, "That was a dirty trick."
I thought about apologizing to the droid for using him, yet I felt like I wasn't suppose to, that I was suppose to hate him for some odd reason. I obeyed and said nothing in return, then turned my back towards the medical droid and tried to get some rest.
A-4D sighed to my back and spoke before he left me to rest.
"Tomorrow I promise you will clean this entire castle top to bottom without rest, which is my punishment for you," He hissed.
I frowned at his announcement and curled up in a ball for comfort. Everything was silent as I was left alone to brood over my loss. I tried sleeping to see if it would help to get rid of the stress and sadness, and it worked. A dark scenery was what I saw when my eyes closed from the dim light. It didn't faze me to see it all again, it's the only thing I've been able to see since the time I've been here.
My subconscious began to remember the past. I remembered the loneliness, the cold, and the abandonment when I was left to fend for myself. And when I remembered Master Plo Koon, I felt secure and welcomed for the first time in my life. And then out of nowhere, a cold breeze swiped me away from his arms, and then from behind, he was there. The one who kidnapped me from my happiness. Grievous. He looked down on me with pity, proceeded to grab my throat and lift me in the air. Shackles wrapped around my neck, arms, and legs, with the chains being held by the cyborg. He held me closer to his mask, and then, the wind began to scream.
"You're mine."
I snapped my eyes open and gasped for air, my face sweaty and my body breathing abnormally. Damn. Every time I tried to sleep I would always get a terrible nightmare, or perhaps a vision, it was all so vivid, and yet I couldn't tell the difference between reality and imagination when the darkness came after me and reminded me of my misfortune.
What time was it? I thought to myself. I looked around and remembered there was nothing to let me know what the time was. I guessed the night has finally come.
A cool breeze crawled down my back. Over my bed was a single vent, allowing clean oxygen to enter my room and giving it a below 0 temperature. I moved away from it and tried to keep warm by wrapping my arms around my chest. It was so cold, and my body was shaking feverishly.
And then, my brain grew an idea.
The vents.
They were my next escape.
It was only a matter of time before that bossy medical droid will come in and check on me at midnight, so I thought quickly. I stood on both of my stiff feet on the bed and began to unscrew the bolts locking the vent's cover in place. It didn't take long, though my fingers were sore when I finished. I tore the cover away and crawled inside; ignoring the stings my bruises gave in to.
Grievous stalked aimlessly around the hallways through the evening, near the Main hanger by the time the moon covered the sunlight, until resting at the Shrine Room when the moon completely covered the planet at night time. His mind at lost.
Something was happening to him. All because of that peculiar trinket that slave always adorns herself with. He never paid it any mind because, well, he never paid attention to what the little Togruta would wear. If she wore war-paint he was certain he wouldn't notice.
That headdress sparked a memory in his subconscious; something he knew has stained an impact on his past life, his mortal life. He wasn't sure why, or how, but he knew it had to do with the beads. But for verification, he would need to see them closer.
Grievous readjusted himself in his seat. With a polished lightsaber in his right hand, Grievous used his free hand to turn on the com-link upgraded into his medical droid. He moved closer so that his built-in vocabulator was close to the speaker.
He cleared his throat, having not been using his voice during his solitude, and spoke, "Doctor. Bring the slave before me immediately."
The response came earlier than expected. "Yes, master," the speaker buzzed.
Satisfied, Grievous fell back in his seat, trying to relax for a future argument. He was certain the slave wasn't going to give in to his demands so easily, as stubborn and dim-witted as she was. If, however, things get out of hand, he will use force. Most likely he will though, on account that the entire ruckus the brat has created has worn down the cyborgs body and he feared he could no longer control his outbursts if she angered him again. If he could anymore, he would have slept from exhaustion from the whole ordeal.
The speaker beeped repeatedly until Grievous tapped the switch for communication.
"Master!?" cried the droid, sounding distressed.
"What is it, Doctor?"
"The slave has escaped again."
Grievous nearly jumped out of his seat. "What!?"
I crawled on all fours through the vents, it was like a maze. I coughed a couple of times whenever the dust would enter my lungs. Rooms amongst rooms I passed, some I recognized and some I don't. One of them seemed the most intriguing when I saw three lightsabers placed perfectly on a long-extending, silver plated table with a brightened top that it gave the lightsabers a godly shine.
Readjusting my collar, I removed the vents cover and dropped to the floor. When I looked around I regretted it. It was the same room where all the lightsabers are kept. This was all out of plan; I didn't expect to come back here anymore. Unwillingly I stepped towards the shelves and grabbed at least one lightsaber. Just one, I thought. As long as I crawl through the vents, I'll be undetected, so all I really needed was one lightsaber.
I jumped back up inside the vents and continued on where I left off. The gate was guarded by at one Magnaguard this time when I reached the south exit, it was only one – and thank goodness not 9. I climbed out and jumped on top of it, igniting my lightsaber, and slicing it in half. The smell of burnt circuitry was overpowering, sizzling as the red light in the guards eyes began to fade and I turned towards the gate. I stabbed at the gate and started a curved line.
He didn't give the door any time to open by itself, and ripped it open himself. He stalked inside and saw that the vent had been removed and the girl was nowhere to be seen. The general scowled for not realizing how simple it was for her to escape.
A-4D giggled, "How sneaky."
"Silence."
Grievous thought to himself in silence. He only sent the girl away for rest of the evening, who knew how long ago she escaped, or even in the castle to begin with. He growled angrily from frustration and punched a hole in the wall.
"Perhaps it would have been better if you didn't make that bet with her, master. It's becoming unhealthy."
"I reap for the future when she'll fall to me!" Grievous hissed.
"Yes," A-4D assured softly, "but first you need to catch her."
But Grievous knew that already. He was already heading the south direction, beckoning two guards to follow, and a lightsaber at hand.
The slave was carving a circle and was trying to push it through; it was all very pathetic and sad to look at. She was too involved in her work that she didn't notice the general stopping in his tracks a few feet away from where she stood. Grievous threw his lightsaber at her direction, purposely missing. The Togruta fell back and whirled her head around to look to him in horror.
Grievous smiled to himself. "Rushing things aren't we."
"Just like you!" the slave retorted icily.
Grievous scowled and took a step back, permitting his guards to attack.
They flung their staffs down on her. She saw it coming and dodged out of the way, rolling and stabbing at its sided with the lightsaber. The second one caught her wrist from behind, squeezing her arm to finally let go of her stolen lightsaber and kept her there as she screamed and squirmed.
"Unlike the many other guards you've slaughtered, these two are more lethal. Not even a Jedi council member could defeat them." Grievous informed her whether or not she paid his words any mind at all.
She growled and continued to tear away from the guard's grip, until Grievous regarded the droid to finally release. They obeyed without complaint and released. The girl, still gasping for air, rose and charged at the general head on, unarmed. Grievous caught her in time, holding her back as she tried to push him back.
Finally fed up with her persistence, Grievous growled, "That's enough," before flinging her into the wall. She yelped and fell, and tried to get back up. Grievous held her there with his right foot.
"Enough with this annoying persistency. You've lost!"
She stopped in her tracks, apparently not taking it well, and continued to scream. "No!"
"Admit defeat!" Grievous rasped, pressing her against the floor.
She didn't though, and he could see tears falling down her face. Her tears turned to whimpers and for a moment he couldn't understand what she was mumbling. The general still kept her in place, uncertain about her current state of mind.
"You lost, and as we agreed, you will cease you're relentless escapes and become a proper slave," he finally told her, releasing her at last.
He turned to walk away from the scene. Suddenly, Ahsoka jolted up and stole an electro staff from the nearest guard and attacked him from behind with tear filled eyes. She was too slow, even for a padawan who should at least hold some degree of agility. He felt for the stolen lightsaber with his talon-like foot and kicked it up for him to use. He slashed down, but his fierce attack was parried by her move. She ran at him, shifted to the side and slashed at his lower legs. Grievous whirled his lightsaber in a counter clock-wise direction and forced her back. She brought her arms up to regain her balance, which became her downfall. He saw the opening and took it, knocking her electro-staff out of her hands, punching her with his fist, creating a sickening crack coming from her ribcage. She screamed and fell to the familiar floor. He pressed his foot over her head, ready to crush it with one move. He wanted to do it badly, to kill her now and be rid of her once and for all. Oh, he wished he could. But what saved her cranium from turning flat was her unique hypnotizing headdress that caught his eyes in time. Already fallen unconscious from his previous attack, Ahsoka tipped her head to the side, breathing unevenly and horribly.
Grievous bent down and snatched her headdress from her forehead. He held it next to the dim light and examined how ever close he wanted.
Finally, he thought darkly. Basking with the headdress, he felt complete somehow. As if something was right next to him, keeping his aching heart from tearing inside out.
A-4D arrived right on time, as he always did. It bent down and examined the unconscious girl at its knees and shook its head.
"Scanners indicate you've broken some of her ribs, master."
Grievous didn't pay mind to his words; he kept fidgeting with the beads. Her third punishment and final punishment will be this. . . He tucked away the headdress within the safety of his cape, never to be seen again. She will never see it again, for it is his now to keep.
"How cruel. To take something that precious with ruin her, you know," The droid spoke in an amused manner, giggling softly to itself just by the idea Grievous presumed.
Grievous narrowed his eyes and moved his cape over his shoulders. "It is merely her final punishment. I must do what is necessary to break her."
"And you are doing a fantastic job, may I say." The droid lied, pointing at the damaged done to the gate. "I'll have that fixed right after I have the girl treated."
Grievous nodded and turned, his cape followed in suit.
"Master, by the way, you have a transmission from Count Dooku. He wishes to speak to you alone."
Eyes widened with surprise, Grievous was at last able to make contact with his master. He hurried to the control room and pressed the transmission to run as soon as he got there.
A small hologram of the human being appeared over the holocam, a emotionless face gifting the general in recognition.
"General, I assume the child was no trouble."
Grievous growled, relaxing in his seat as he spoke casually to his master.
The count gave him a stern look. "I hope you haven't killed her yet, she is a necessary subject in our most important experiments for our future victory in this endless war."
"I understand completely, my lord," Grievous answered respectfully.
"Very well." After being satisfied the Count pressed on. "I have an assignment for you. And it relates to the CIS federation industries."
"What?" Grievous barked. "Are they not satisfied with what they managed to pillage. I care not for their personal quarrels."
Annoyed, Dooku lifted a finger towards Grievous' white mask. "You are not only a general to the Separatists, but a protector of the Federation Clan as well. You will think best not to think otherwise."
Grievous didn't say anymore. That outburst was from a recent quarrel of his own, having to do with his annoying slave, and he mistakenly let it out on his master. And he just couldn't handle another fight with his own master. Nor the strength to outwit him.
"You assignment is to take part in a CIS meeting held in Neimoidia. I need you to take my place during my time away," the holograph instructed.
"I. . . ." Grievous was unsure with the assignment. Usually the Count would never have allowed the general to participate in any of the federation meetings until his anger was in check. Why now? Still the general complied with his master's demands. "I understand, my lord."
"And I want the padawan to accompany you on you're assignment. It will be good experience for her."
Grievous inwardly scowled. He was hoping he would have been given some time away from the brat. All he wanted was to be left alone peacefully without disturbance.
"Leave to Neimoidia tomorrow and make sure you don't kill any of the CIS members. Lord Sidious has insisted the CIS are an important asset."
"You have my word, my lord."
"Good. End transmission."
The hologram receded into the holocam. Grievous fell deeper in his seat, contemplating for the coming future and what it has in stores for him. Gods willing he'll be given a break. But he knew very well his new slave will act out and make him the fool.
Curiously, he switched a projector to view the medical room from behind. The small girl was placed on top of the medical table, her whole stomach wrapped with bandages, unconscious through the procedure.
He heard the chiming of the beads concealed within the pouch of his cape, and when he held them out to see, that same strange woman appeared in his mind.
"Sheelal."
He cringed and dropped the headdress to the floor. His heart burned violently, his lungs turning into sand paper, and began to have a coughing fit. Grabbing at his chest plate, Grievous slowly controlled his breathing, and then tucked the headdress under his cape once more.
Perhaps for the moment he will wait till he is ready to face the past locked away in his forgotten memories, it will take time. But why now, why would he be so interested in his past. Or perhaps, it was more than just that. Was it possible he was not only a blood-thirsty warlord, but something else, something he had forgotten, or lost? He didn't know, and whatever it was, it was happening to him now. And it's all because of that retched slave.
Grievous fell deeper in his seat, his right claw unconsciously held the headdress hidden in his cape.
I apologize for my absence and if anyone is not satisfied with this chapter. Apparently school thinks kids like me have all the free time in the world that they keep piling up projects. I had a stupid bug project to do; luckily I got an A so we're good on one part. The second part is that I hope dearly some of my fans have not given up on me during my disappearance. Again I am sorry for not turning in my next chapter soon enough, but stress has been the only thing I've been feeling lately.
I don't want to sound rude though but I do expect review since – unlike youtube – I do not know how many people read my stories. Reviews notify me if I'm being noticed, and assure me of my success.
Please review
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah everyone