Chapter Eighteen: Grievous

I fucked up. I gently banged the back of my head against the metal wall of my cell. Stupid job. Stupid Kida. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

When I'd last stepped off a Republic shuttle on Coruscant after getting the holocron, I told myself I'd stay away from the war. For months, I took jobs as far from the warfronts as I could, trying my best not to keep tabs on those I cared about.

Of course, a massive monster from Malastare rampaging through upper Coruscant was hard to miss.

As time passed, I heard of yet another attempt on Padme's life...this time in the form of Nute Gunray and Rush Clovis. Yet more names to add to my list of people I should track down in my spare time. If I ever had spare time.

Between managing the club that was only growing in popularity-especially with the clones-and taking jobs, I'd had little time to take to myself. I suppose I preferred that. Being busy kept me from thinking. From thinking about Padme. About my Sith heritage. About my past. About Rex. About the jedi now knowing that I knew my background.

Of course...I had plenty of time to think now, trapped in a separatist cell. I could hear the droids clanking around outside, their high pitched tones growing more annoying with each passing hour.

I'd taken a smuggling job, of all things. I didn't even have to steal anything. Jabba entrusted me with delivering unmarked credits to a group of dealers in the Saleucami system for a delivery they'd made for him. Thankfully, I'd already made the drop before I stumbled into a Separatist fleet.

I'd outmaneuvered them for a while, but the old rust bucket I'd used to be discreet had shit engine power. It didn't take long for the lead ship to catch me in its tractor beam. Apparently, it was commanded by Grievous, but I never got to see him. Thank the force. According to the droids, the general had a more important prisoner.

"The General will want to speak with you," a droid had droned to me as they put me in binders, my weapons confiscated. "He may have a job."

"If he wants me to work for him, why are you putting me in a cell?" I'd quipped sassily. Still, I had a feeling that Grievous, being under the command of Dooku, knew full well that I wouldn't take the job. Or maybe they thought my closeness with the jedi and Republic powers would provide them with knowledge.

Maybe I didn't really pick a side in the war, but many people understood where many of my loyalties laid. I didn't care about politics. I just cared about some people...against my better judgement.

I came out of my musings as the ship rumbled, my wrists twisting thoughtfully in the binders. I moved from my place on the wall, pushing my ear against the metal door.

"We have Kenobi's ship in our tractor beam, just like the general said we would," one chimed smugly.

"What if the jedi come aboard when the general is on theirs?" another worried.

"Idiot," the first responded as they began to walk away from my door. "That's the plan. We'll be safe down here. They're keeping the prisoner on the bridge for Skywalker to spring the trap."

Oh boy. I sighed lowly, closing my eyes as I reached out with the force. Low and behold, I felt Skywalker's presence on the lower levels, along with another force-sensitive I didn't recognize and...Rex.

I did my best to stay away from the war. But kriff, it just kept finding me.

I rolled my eyes to myself as I got up and away from the door, standing in the middle of the room. "Help!" I screamed, putting on my best acting voice. Which, considering I was a slave and had to act submissive most of my childhood when in reality, I wanted to stab most of the people around me, it wasn't half bad of an act. "Help me please!"

The clank of droid feet returned to outside my cell, the door hissing open as I crouched, clutching my ribcage as best as I could with the binders on.

"Help me please! Something's wrong!"

"What do we do?" the first droid hesitated, glancing at his counterpart.

I rolled my eyes. "Just help me! Your general won't be pleased if I die in here and you two let it happen." That got them moving, one stepping forward to look at me while the other kept his blaster trained on me.

"Don't do anything that will make me shoot you," he warned, but I wasn't concerned.

As the droid knelt down to look at me, I concentrated on the force. Spending time with jedi and watching them use the force had helped, actually. I didn't practice often, preferring the natural senses it granted me, but this was a dire moment. I curled my fingers as the droid touched my shoulder, willing the binders to break.

To both of our surprises, they did. I leapt up, twirling the droid and holding him before me. He let out a surprised yell as I held him in the line of fire from his counterpart.

"She's a jedi!" the one in my grip yelled.

I rolled my eyes. "Not quite," I said as I used him to block the blast from the other before scooping up the fallen blaster and shooting the last one. "Still, better that you two don't tell anyone," I said to the scrap metal.

I snuck out of the cell, the detention block mostly empty, considering they were trying to spring a trap on Skywalker. I moved quickly, my mind racing. The battle was a perfect distraction to escape, even in my rust bucket. Still...I found myself hesitating at an intersection. The right would take me to my ship and to easy freedom, keeping me away from the war again.

The left...would lead toward the bridge. Where Grievous was apparently torturing a jedi master. Where a trap was set for Skywalker. Rex, I still felt somewhere below-likely guarding however the hell they got on board amidst a battle. Still, could I let Anakin go into a trap?

I was sure he'd be fine. He was always fine…

A groan rumbled in my throat, my frustration at myself unending. Without even making a final decision, I was running to my left, my adrenaline pushing me faster and faster towards the bridge.

It didn't take long for me to stumble over pieces of battle droids, all of them still singed from lightsaber cuts. I hurried up the inclining hallways, hearing the buzzing of the jedi's blades flashing. Rushing around corners, the hydraulic hiss of a door sounded, followed by the clattering of metal.

"Surprise," I heard Anakin say smugly, just as I rounded the corner to see him and a female Tholothian standing in the entrance to the bridge.

"Not exactly," the tactical droid stated, standing beside a trapped Zabrak in jedi robes.

I wanted to yell to them, but I would be part of the trap then, too. I slowed, pushing my back against the wall and watching as commando droids appeared from the lower decks and ceilings to surround the two jedi.

"Well," Anakin grumbled. "At least they're not destroyer droids."

"The general's description of your tactics have been 100% accurate today. Very impressive, even by my standards." I rolled my eyes at the tactical droid. I hated those things. They had no personality, but still somehow managed to be pricks. It raised his metal hand, pressing a button on its wrist. Beside him, the Zabrak's bindings ignited with electricity, the worn out male crying out desperately. Anakin took a worried step forward as the torture stopped, the droid reacting immediately by starting it again. "One more step, and your friend will die," it taunted.

Alright then.

I stepped out from my hiding spot, openly visible in the middle of the hallway. "No steps needed, beskar'ad," I yelled, all eyes...or optics...turning towards me. I aimed the blaster quickly, firing a fast bolt into the tactical droid's chest. It fell backwards hard, disabled. Anakin seemed shocked as he regarded me until lurching back into battle with his fellow jedi. I entered the room, getting head-shots on the two closest commando droids before having to duck the vibroblade of another.

I went to fire but was punched backwards, falling to the ground at the Tholothian's feet. She raised her eyebrow in question at me, but raised her hand to force push the commando away. I found my footing again, rolling beneath the next swipe of a vibroblade before gripping the joint of the shoulder and twisting hard. Jango had taught me that.

Of course, that was on assassin droids, but I assumed the technique was similar.

Thankfully, the droid's shoulder fizzled and sparked as it came loose, letting me get behind it and do the same to its neck connection. It fell, allowing me to swipe up the vibroblade and block the next attack easily.

I ducked, feeling Anakin's presence behind me and allowing him to leap over my body and slice through the droid with his lightsaber. I, in turn, swept my vibroblade behind me, taking out the knees of Anakin's pursuing droid. It crumpled, letting me stand and slice through its faceplate.

The commandos all destroyed, the three of us stood, my lips offering a cheeky smile.

"Kida," Anakin said finally. "As much as I appreciate the help, what are you doing here?"

"The bounty hunter?" the other jedi asked for clarification as she approached the captured Zabrak. Anakin struck the base of the contraption with his lightsaber, the bindings disengaging to let the male fall into the female jedi's arms.

"That's me," I responded, turning off the vibroblade to let it rest over my shoulder. "It's an accident, actually," I explained with a sigh. "Grievous caught my ship in a tractor beam on my way back from a job."

"I see you got my message," the Zabrak spoke slowly, breathing heavily. "Where's Grievous?"

"If everything's gone according to plan," Anakin shrugged. "He's onboard Obi-wan's ship."

"He's been captured?" the weary jedi asked.

"If we can cut off his escape," Anakin tried to inspire them. "There's a good chance of that." He glanced to me as he put himself under the Zabrak's other arm. "I'm assuming you'll want to get back to your job."

I hummed, nodding. "I do. But I can help you get back first."

Anakin smiled at me. I hated to admit it...but he knew me better than I cared to admit. Not being a master, I doubted that the council had told him about my Sith heritage. Therefore...he still trusted me because he knew what kind of person I was...even if I tried to hide it.

The others...were masters...and I could feel their apprehension.

"Glad to have you," Anakin grinned as the group moved from the bridge and hurried down the halls. I scooped up a pistol on the way, brandishing it before me alongside the vibroblade as we stalked through the halls.

"And you are?" the Zabrak finally asked breathlessly.

"Name's Kida," I called back as I shot a few droids down the hall.

"The bounty hunter," the female said softly to her friend. "Called the Oracle." His brow furrowed in response.

I hummed, glancing at their faces quickly. "Nice to meet you," I grumbled.

"Eoth Koth," the Zabrak responded with a nod to me. "Thank you for the help." I shrugged at him, gesturing that it was no big deal.

"And I'm Adi Gallia," the female voiced. "Your predicament was rather conveniently placed, don't you think?"

I lifted my eyebrow at her, about to respond with sass when Skywalker's comm beeped. "Anakin," Obi-wan's voice came through. "I hope you've rescued Master Koth, because Grievous is headed back to his ship."

"There goes the hope of capturing him," I grumbled, looking back at the three jedi as we rounded a corner.

"You both go," Eoth Koth groaned. "I'll make it back. I'll be fine."

I lifted my eyebrow, Anakin seemed to be on the same page as me. "I'll have to disagree with you on that one," he looked between his companions. "Master Gallia, you go ahead. I'll get Eoth back to the shuttle."

"May the force be with you," she responded, her voice deep and determined. She removed herself from under Koth's arm and turned to race down the hall. Anakin took the weight of the Zabrak jedi, my lips pressing together tightly.

"Wait!" I yelled after her, my mind telling me to run with Anakin, but the force telling me to help against Grievous. All the jedi looked at me curiously. I breathed deeply. "I'm going with you."

"Kida," Anakin started, but I waved him off.

"He got in the way of a job, Anakin," I said, everyone knowing that my motivations had nothing to do with that. I sighed. "Let me help."

Anakin nodded slowly. "Be careful."

"You too." I turned and raced after Adi Gallia, the woman casting me a curious glance before leading the way towards where the Separatist ship had docked with Kenobi's.

As we drew closer, the sound of lightsabers clashing echoed down the halls. The ship began to tilt, our footing sliding slightly on the metal floors. We rounded the corner and I saw General Grievous for the first time. He was hulking, his mechanical body full of sharp edges and powerful coils.

"Until we meet again, Kenobi," he taunted, looking down the port hallway. Master Gallia ignited her lightsaber, Grievous whirling as she lunged at him. He drew his own lightsabers, the two battling as I ran forward, the port beginning to rip away at the end of the hall.

"Obi-wan!" I yelled, seeing him be sucked backwards by the vacuum of space. We were all pulled forward, my arms latching onto the doorframe. I caught Adi Gallia as she flew past me, her fingers wrapping around my wrist desperately. Below us, Cody caught Obi-wan. Grievous climbed away from the port, using his various appendages to crawl up the hallway.

"Hold on," Gallia called up at me, pulling herself up beside me and crawling to lean against the other side of the doorframe. She reached down, pulling me up beside her. "Help me," she said, firing a grapple line down the port hallway. I gripped the wire beside her, bracing our bodies against the doorframe as Cody, Obi-wan, and a third clone climbed the line. They leapt up beside us, Gallia rolling to close the door.

We all let out heavy breaths as it closed, the atmosphere restabilizing.

"Hurry," Obi-wan urged. "We can still catch him."

Gallia stepped forward as I offered my hand to Cody. He looked at me in surprise, but accepted the help. ""Obi-wan," she stopped the jedi. "Anakin's leaving. We'll be trapped on this ship.

Kenobi visibly deflated before lifting his wrist comm. "Anakin, come in." He glanced at me with a raised eyebrow before continuing. "We're in a bit of a spot and need a way off Grievous' ship."

"There's a large hangar near your position," came Anakin's voice. "Make your way there and I'll pick you up."

We hurried down the halls towards the hangar, Obi-wan glancing at me. "Nice to see you again."

"Likewise," I huffed, running beside them. "My ship might be in this hangar, too."

"You have a ship?" the jedi questioned, clearly frustrated. "Where was the offer to take us off this deathtrap?"

"Hey," I said defensively. "It's a hunk of metal. I'm not even sure if it'll work again after fighting the tractor beam."

We entered the hangar, Obi-wan humming as my ship came into view. "That ship is barely held together," Gallia mused.

"Yeah, well it was supposed to be inconspicuous," I tried to reason, but didn't hide my distaste for the rustbucket.

"Thankfully, we won't have to take it," Obi-wan said as a Republic shuttle entered the hangar. "Come on!"

I thought about taking my own ship for a moment, but stopped myself. It was on the other side of the hangar and I had no way of telling how long the ship would hold together, especially considering the Republic cruiser was near exploding. I ran after the jedi, bounding up the gangway after them.

I was met with some familiarly painted helmets.

"Kida?" a clone with the Republic insignia on his helmet asked, making other faces turn, including Rex's.

I gave him a smirk. "Hey Jesse."

"Here we go," Anakin called from the cockpit, engaging the engines. I gripped the handles on the ceiling tightly as we launched forward. Gallia and Obi-wan moved into the cockpit, my feet carrying me past the watching clones and after them. Gallia checked on Koth while Kenobi sat behind his former padawan.

"Anakin," he said. "Get me Admiral Yularen."

"General Kenobi," Yularen's voice came through the comms after Anakin tapped a few buttons. "Several crafts detached from Grievous' ship and attempted to land on Saleucami."

"Then we'll have to land and follow them," Obi-wan responded tiredly. "Prepare the tanks."

"Yes, sir."

"There must be several landing sights," Anakin mused. "It might be hard to locate the good general."

Obi-wan hummed, stroking his beard. "You'll have to command the space battle while Rex, Cody, and I head to the surface."

"You're sure you can handle this on your own?" Anakin asked, glancing over his shoulder at his master.

I shifted beside Obi-wan, earning a look from him. "I won't be," he said, still meeting my gaze. "Kida," he started. "Care to join me on an adventure?" I pursed my lips, humming. "You can consider it payback for giving you a lift off the ship."

I lifted my eyebrows, but my mouth was already curling into a smile. "I actually already helped save your jedi friend over there," I gestured to Master Koth. "But...I'd be willing if you feed me before giving me a lift out of here."

Obi-wan smiled, Anakin shaking his head in amusement. "I think," the bearded man voiced. "We can manage without you, Anakin."

Skywalker chuckled, guiding the shuttle into the hangar of the Republic Star Destroyer. Rex entered the cockpit, giving me a glance before offering his arm to Master Koth. They left the shuttle, the rest of us following behind.

"I'll get Master Koth to a medical frigate," Adi Gallia announced as Rex handed the Zabrak to a medical droid.

"You all took a great risk rescuing me," Koth said to the group, his brown eyes sliding to me slowly. "Even you, child."

I was about to say something sassy, as was my usual method of communication with figures of authority, but the sincerity in his gaze made me hesitate. I felt the force ripple around us. He knew what I was. But...I could sense his feelings towards me shifting. Maybe it wasn't respect, but it was heading in that direction. I closed my mouth, giving him a small nod of acknowledgement.

"You're welcome, Master Koth," Kenobi voiced, nodding his head, casting his gaze to my face briefly. He seemed impressed with my ability to keep my mouth shut.

"Since you divided your forces," Koth mused. "Grievous is still at large. I would have gladly given my life if it meant bringing that monster to justice."

"Well," Anakin said gently. "At least we all lived to fight another day."

Gallia and Koth cast us all gentle smiles before heading towards a shuttle that could bring them to a medical frigate. Obi-wan and Skywalker exchanged glances, the former stepping away to join Rex as the AT-ET walkers began to get into formation.

"You don't have to do any of this, you know," Anakin said gently, regarding me as clones passed to join their squads.

I looked around, sighing. "I know. But I'll admit...I've tried avoiding the war over and over. I guess I inherited more from Jango than I thought." I looked back at Anakin. "I can't seem to stay away."

He hummed. "I know how you feel."

"I'll help here, at least. Grievous is dangerous. I can't have the boys going in alone without me to watch their backs."

Anakin's eyebrow lifted. "The boys?"

I nudged his arm gently as I moved to join Obi-wan. "Hey, I lived on Kamino for a long time. I watched some of these guys get trained."

Skywalker smiled at me. "What happened to no attachments?"

I stopped, looking back at him knowingly. I cast him a sly grin, but didn't deny the truth. I'd gotten attached. We all knew that. Trying to avoid it was me trying to keep myself from being hurt again.

"You're one to talk," I cast back vaguely, knowing he would understand. He crossed his arms, giving me a look, but allowed it as I chuckled. "I guess," I allowed. "They're the one thing I remember as a constant for the longest part of my life… I guess that makes them a bit like family."

Anakin was silent for a second as he regarded me. Finally, he nodded slowly and turned to leave. "I suppose it does."

MANDO'A

Beskar'ad - droid

Author's Note:

Clearly, time skips have occurred. Thus, we skipped over the Zillo beast, Rush Clovis, and Geonosis arcs. Sorry if those were ones you wanted to see, but there was no real pivotal way for Kida's story to be involved. In addition, life goes on when she's not around, so I don't want her in every adventure.

I'm excited for the next chapter, so stay tuned!

-Ryder