Enter a new character! Short chapter, but hey. This is me we're talking about—it came out awfully quick, didn't it? Yay! Let me know if it makes any sense at all I feel as if only half my brain is present today, somewhat like poor Grievous.

Chapter 17

The clickety-clack of his own iron claws—fingers! On the keyboard was annoying.

Everything was annoying! Another wave of stress hit him as he racked his brain—or whatever was left of it—for ways to make the message sound plausible. To make it sound like it was from a mother, not a machi—man! Soldier, person, whatever!

He erupted in a series of harsh coughs that came from deep within his bionic chest, which would have caused him pain had he any pain receptors left on this contraption he would pretend was his body.

Because he had to.

There was nothing else left for him, than to pretend to be alive. Ha!

"We are well…" he typed, speaking the words in his deep, slightly wheezing voice as he did so, then backspaced impatiently. Clackclackclackclackclack. "I and your father are well…" He sat back in his wheeling chair with a huff to survey the wonderful half-sentence that had been so ridiculously hard to write. He heard clanking in the background, meaning those mischievous, miserable insects that were his minions—had he just written poetry?—were on their way in.

Feeling the stress return afresh, he put a clawed—fingered—hand to his head and shook himself. He needed to finish this, and quickly.

Leaning forward again, he typed, "We want you to come and stay with us soon. There are many rumors that Coruscant might become a battleground before many days have passed…"

Narrowing his eyes as the droids marched closer, he changed 'want you to' to 'wish you would' and 'battleground' to 'dangerous'. He couldn't sound desperate, or like he knew anything suspicious.

This was a Senator they were talking about. She knew what a trap looked like, normally. This moment was crucial, more crucial, according to Dooku, than any other battle they'd fought so far. This could not be normally, it had to be won.

He still didn't understand why it was so important to capture the Senator. It wasn't like they hadn't captured her before, around half a dozen or more times. Dooku had never wanted to harm her then. What had changed? Didn't his Master trust him now, after years of dedicated service?

And, he thought grimly just before the droids clanked their clumsy selves in through the door to bother him about something unimportant, he had nearly spent his life doing it.

Some accomplishment.

He clicked 'Send'. Clackclack.

Replies to Reviewers:

scottusa1: Cool (: Yea, what would be Star Wars if we weren't always worrying about someone? Sigh. At one point I thought Derolf was just my pet character and I was going to take him out. I ended up putting a twist on his character instead! So, glad you enjoy the story.

.5851: Thank you! I was really hoping it wouldn't be too sappy.

sodorland: Thanks! I'm really glad that it all worked out!

ErinKenobi2893: *clears throat loudly* Whaaat? That would be ridiculous! *turns bright red and deletes your last review subtly* So about Krell…obviously he hasn't exactly turned to the dark side (he's still very much unconscious) that part is a bit AU. Actually I have a confession: I never saw the episode with Krell. I just hate him because of what I've read about him. So! If I make any stupid mistakes feel free to let me know! (:

Elfyliane: Awww! Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy it (: