Writer's note:

Hey everyone! Guess who is finally back with a fresh new chapter of this once dead fanfiction? n.n

Sorry it took forever, my Star Wars fandom died for a bit, but a new recent trailer for the new Clone Wars and the Star Wars at 30 special got me kicking again. Been watching the movies and finally got around to finishing this chapter.

I want to thank you all for your kind concerns of my health and I also wanted to thank you all for your support of wanting the story finished. You're all wonderful readers, thank you.

I knooowww I said there was going to be dancing in this chapter, but I decided to add a slight twist in this one. :D Well, I hope you enjoy, and I hope I can get the next chapter done without you all having to wait forever. Hehe.

Still no-beta reader... lawl.

Chapter eighteen: The past revealed and his path to choose

"Well isn't this party a blast."

Shika, now alone, stood beside the rushing fountain in the center of the main hall. Her expression was at a fault, her hands folded; her gaze slowly drifting to each moving person in the room. It wasn't till after Viceroy had left when Grievous had jerked his arm free of her grasp about fifteen minutes ago to go meet up with Dooku, who wanted to have a word with him. So the two just left her here, after making such a fuss on who was going to escort her, and then they just left. She liked all the attention, the gift from Grievous, the two fighting over her, made her feel like she was more than just an apprentice. But, easy come easy go, right? And when was the banquet going to actually start? It looked like everyone was already here, all the important people anyway. She picked madly at a loose string from her left sleeve, out of annoyance for being left alone, and for feeling a tad bit nervous. Sure, she had left Viceroy speechless and she had yet to get scolded by Grievous, but what if she screwed up at dinner? She would never hear the end of the General's yelling.

"How dare you do that in front of all the Separatists, you worthless peace of scum! I knew I should have killed you right at the spot!" She mimicked quietly to herself and she plucked at the string." No… More like: I shouldn't have let you come! Now I'll never hear the end of Dooku's ranting! When we get back to the ship I'm locking you up tight in that small square box you call a room and giving you no food or water for three weeks!... Yeah that sounds about right…" She sighed.

Knowing him, it was probably true. Knowing he would explode at the tiniest thing she did wrong tonight, he was like a thermal detonator waiting to explode. What was with him anyway? One moment, she seemed to understand him, the next, he's some weird new monster she's never met before. She sat herself down on the edge of the fountain, setting her elbows onto her knees and her chin into her hands. There was that little bit of information Graka had given her that one evening on Kashyyyk. Honor, pride and love. Those were his problems… You see, he was aggressive to begin with, but mixed in with the problems… He wasn't aggressive enough… Maybe the problem of him acting completely whacko was he had those emotions, but he could no longer tap into them… Or something. Maybe his brain knew they were there, but he was no longer aware of it? It seemed highly impossible to just rid someone of they're emotions, so they probably just sealed them off so he couldn't use them? And he was a warrior from Kalee? So he was humanoid at one point, so he must have had those emotions when he was human, before Dooku brought him to the Geonosian's to play with.

All this thinking made her brain hurt.

It was bad enough she had to attempt to get on his good side, if he even had a good side. But she also wanted to know more about him as well. There were just so many sides to him and she wanted to know them all, but he would never let her that close. She was scum, disgusting, slime, pathetic and many other names he referred to the Jedi as. Even through his moments of kindness he managed to fit those names in replace of her actual name. Her mind just seemed to wander off into some black abyss, so far from reality, that she didn't even hear the servers say that dinner was served. Grievous was about half way into the dining hall, tailing behind Dooku, when he saw Shika sitting at the edge of the fountain, eyes showing her mind was distant. He stared for a moment, pondering what he could do to her. He could march over to her and hit her to get her mind back on the planet, once the others were out of sight of course, and then he could have his moment of scolding, saying she should always be aware of her surroundings. But he didn't want to waste his breathe on her, he had a strong feeling Viceroy wasn't done with his idiotic blabbering and wanted to save insults for him. So, he let out a cough, loud enough for her to hear. She didn't move. He coughed louder. She didn't move. He stormed over to her, grabbed her by the dress and yanked her up onto her toes and near his face. She was moving now.

"Um- err- General!" She stuttered." I didn't hear—"

"You didn't hear the cook, the people leaving this room, or me attempting to grab your attention. Are your going deaf? Or were you letting your mind wander else where? If this party is boring you so much you should return to the Invisible Hand."

She was only able to shake her head for an answer. The General slowly lowered her to the ground; then shoved her away to release her dress. He then turned away from her and walked off towards the dining hall once more. Shika followed close behind. That was strike one in her attempt to have a scold-free night.

When the two walked into the dining room, the Separatist and their escorts where all finding their seats. Shika watched; they weren't much different from the Jedi Council in her eyes. They were missing a short green, big eared thing that talked funny. And as far as she was concerned, every group of leaders needed one of those. She smiled in amusement. Yoda was an interesting little man, half the time she had no idea what he was saying, thank goodness for Windu being there to give a quick summon up. No wonder he was second best, he understood what the green imp-like man said. That actually made her smile more, enough to show her teeth. But her smiled faded when she heard Dooku call out to her.

"Ms. Cloudrunner," Dooku said as he walked over to her and Grievous. She turned her attention to him." If you will please follow me, I will take you to your seat."

"But isn't Grievous my—"

He took her hand." Of course. But the General does not need to eat," Grievous growled quietly, only a small rumble that made it seem like he was clearing his throat." There for he will not be sitting at the table, so I will be escorting you." She looked up at Grievous, with a save me look. Grievous only nodded his head to Dooku as a signal to move or die. She sighed lightly and looked at Dooku, once more forcing a false smile at him. She really didn't like him and she didn't know why. Most of the Separatists thought he was the greatest thing to ever happen to them. He was intelligent, a smooth talker, he was a Sith lord, well groomed and wore only the best clothing. But for some reason, she could not find one likable thing about the man. Maybe it was the fact he was only using her to make Grievous un-easy, as if he was tempting the General to act aggressive. She didn't know, and she didn't care. She would rather starve herself than be escorted by the Count. But, Grievous wanted her to go with it, and so she did. She already screwed up once, she wasn't about to do it again.

Dooku had pulled a seat out from the table and Shika sat down, thanking the Count when she did. She was near the end of the table. Dooku pushed her seat in and then took his seat, which was at the end of the table. Oh this was great. She had to sit next to him through out the entire dinner. She slowly shifted her gaze to the front of her to see she was sitting across from Viceroy who was busy speaking to his own escort. Perfect! Now she needed Lord Sidious sitting on her lap!

Sure, she didn't mind Sidious as much as she did Dooku and now Viceroy, but he still freaked her out. Come to think of it, she thought, if Sidious was part of the Separatist, should he be here? She looked around and saw no presence of Sidious at all. Maybe they didn't invite him because everyone else thought he was freaky too? Or maybe he couldn't make it because he was sick? The answer really didn't matter to her; she'd rather not have three people she disliked in the same area with her. Sidious was pretty much the big cheese so to speak, but did he have to be so mysterious and sound like he knew what was going to happen? All of it just freaked her out. During her moment of thought the servers brought out the appetizers, when the plate of a small portion of Neimoidian food was set before Shika it snapped her out of her trance and she looked down at it. Her expression went from face fault to disgusted; it looked like there was some sort of… Dead… Nuna on her plate. What the heck was it? She turned her plate slightly, observing whatever was on there. Her observations of her food caused the Count to turn his attention towards her, he watched her for a moment, eyebrow raised, before he finally spoke out.

"Something wrong Miss Cloudrunner?"

Shika looked up from her plate to Dooku and shook her head as her answer while smiling at him. Dooku returned to his appetizer and Shika looked back down at her plate. It looked as though it was still alive, ready to spring up from her plate and scamper across the table. She picked her fork up and gently poked it, just to make sure it was dead. Right then, at her second poke, Grievous had grabbed her shoulder with his cold, metal hand and placed his head near her own.

"Eat." He hissed at her in a whisper. He removed his hand from her and backed off, lurking behind her chair and near Dooku, almost like a body guard.

Shika looked up at Grievous, then back to her plate; she then swallowed hard and picked up one of the vegetable pieces set near whatever the Nuna-looking thing was. She took a small nibble off that.

It tasted better than the rations she survived three years off of! It had been forever since she had real food, it was heaven! As long as she stayed away from the… Nuna, then she wouldn't mind eating anything else! She continued to enjoy her vegetables, and no one even asked why she hadn't touched the main part of the appetizer, they saw her eating so they paid no more attention to her. She was on her fourth veggie when she heard Viceroy begin conversation with Dooku, which was fine also, she just basically flooded they're chatter from her ears with the other on-going sounds in the dining hall. The sounds of the other Separatists talking, glasses being set upon the table, knives and forks clanging together; all of this kept her from listening to Viceroy and Dooku. That was until she heard the name General Kenobi, which caused her to look from her place up at Viceroy, who was the one that had said Obi-Wan's name, and focus more on they're conversation.

"He may look as though he is a powerful Jedi, but it is that brat Skywalker that is doing all his work," Viceroy continued, his glass in his hand, waving it in the air as he spoke." If he were without Skywalker, he would be an easy opponent."

Shika gripped her fork tightly." You mustn't underestimate Obi-Wan," Came Dooku, causing Shika's attention to be turned to him." He knows much of the Force and when it comes to a Lightsaber duel is isn't easy to beat. But he isn't difficult either."

"BAH!" Viceroy spat," How many times have you fought him before without having Skywalker run in to save him? Without the boy on his tail he is nothing—"

"Enough!" Shika finally snapped, slamming her fist down onto the table. Viceroy, Dooku and Grievous all looked to her, as did the other Separatists. She stared angrily at Viceroy before realizing what she had done. She slapped her hand up onto her mouth, eyes widening. She was silent for a moment before clearing her throat and lowering her hand." I just… Wanted to say I'm not really hungry." The others around her slowly went back to eating and Dooku leaned towards her.

"You're practically skin and bones and the main course isn't even here yet." He said.

"I-I know… I accidentally ate before I came, happens when I get nervous." She answered. Dooku leaned back, still very puzzled." E-excuse me." She said finally before pushing back her seat, setting the fork onto the table, getting up and quickly walking out of the room. Grievous watched silently before looking at Dooku who looked right back at him. The two stared at each other in a moment of silence before Dooku returned to his conversation with Viceroy. Grievous turned his attention back to the exit of the hall where he saw the last bit of his apprentice turn the corner out of the room.

Shika walked out into the main hall and gazed around at the emptiness of it, aside from the musicians who were sitting off in the corner of the room, snaking and drinking while the Separatists ate. Her eyes traveled towards a pair of doors leading out onto a balcony. She wandered over to it and opened one of the doors and slipped out, closing it once she was outside. A heavy sigh finally escaped her lips and she hunched over slightly, that was going to be strike two once Grievous came looking for her. She didn't know why Viceroy talking about Obi-Wan like that set her off, he was on the Republic side, he was the enemy; she had no reason to defend him anymore. Then why did she try?

"Maybe…" She said as she walked to a small bench located near the railing of the balcony, which over-looked the city." Maybe it's because he is one of those people you can't simply forget in three years, or even a life time... That's going to suck…" She sat herself down on the bench and folded her arms, leaning forward and resting her arms on her legs. She slowly began to realize that it wasn't just Obi-wan that she missed; she missed the Republic all together, even if they were liars, the Republic was her home. She grew up under the watchful eye of the Jedi, they were her family… She was homesick; she wanted to go back to Coruscant, she wanted to get away from the Separatists. Her eyes shifted from the night sky down to the marble flooring of the balcony. If she were to suddenly disappear, would anyone notice? Would anyone even care she was gone?...

Would Grievous care?

Now that she thought of it, if she left to return to the Republic, would she feel the same sorrow for Grievous as she did Obi-wan? She leaned back slightly, staring thoughtfully at the floor. Her heart began to beat slightly faster as she continued to wonder if she'd miss the General's constant yelling, his shoving and his anger. Ever since she left the Jedi order to train under Grievous, she felt a strange emotion running through her every time she glanced at him, it was small at first, but now it felt large, every time he spoke calmly it made her heart race. Maybe… Maybe she did like him? But how? He hated everything about her and there was nothing attractive about him. She shook her head and stood from her seat, walking to the railing of the balcony and setting her hands on it as she looked out at the city. It was a rather peaceful settlement, the city wasn't as large as she had expected since she was used to big cities, but it was nice.

And with her luck, that peaceful moment ended when she suddenly felt an eery feeling run throughout her entire body. Shika leaned back slightly as her eyes drifted about the city, something was different, there was something out there that she had not sensed before when she arrived. But what? It was defenitly not a good sense either, and the longer she stayed to stare out at the city, the thicker the presence got. It felt like…

A Jedi?

"No, it couldn't be a Jedi," She mumbled." How would they get by the fleet of Separatist ships pretty much surrounding the planet?"

"So," Came the familiar deep, metalic rumbles of Grievous' vocabulator. Shika's eyes went wide, the eery sense fading when her focus was turned away from the city, and she spun around, seeing the General standing in the doorway to the balcony, his eyes fixed on her." This is where you've run off to." Shika swallowed hard and backed up into the railing, the scolding was on its way out." Attempting to hide from me, no doubt." He began to make his way towards her, his talons scraping across the floor. Shika's breathes got heavy and she began scooting away from him, Grievous took notice of that and in a mere second he was right at her, slamming both arms down on either side of her and gripping the railing behind her." Are you trying to run from me now?" He hissed darkly, reptilian eyes narrowing at her.

"O-of course I was!" She answered shakely as she stared directly back at him." You terrify me when your angered. Any smart person would run!" Grievous' head pulled back, the fins on either side of his head pressing forward. He was not expecting that answer, he was expecting another one of her lies, saying she wasn't afraid when he could plainly see her trembling. And her gaze never left his own. Strange. She was behaving differently. The General backed off, highly puzzled to her actions. Shika eased slightly when he moved away and released air through her nostrils slowly to calm herself. She watched him, waiting for the scolding, but all he did was stare back. The two just stared at each other for a moment before Grievous finally broke the gaze and turned from her, walking towards the other side of the balcony.

"You are well aware that you will be punished for what you did." He informed, Shika frowned." You will have no food for three days." She sunk down slightly. Now she wished she had ignored Vicroy's insult to Obi-wan, or had at least eaten that Nuna thing." One other thing," Grievous spoke up again, eyeing Shika." Why did you burst out in rage like you did?"

"I was trying to say I wasn't hungry, but Viceroy—"

"Do not LIE to me!" Grievous snapped." I know very well what you told them was not the truth!"

Shika jerked back slightly as she stared at the General as his rage began to rise up again. She sighed and looked off at the city again, if she was going to be scolded, she should at least be yelled at for the real reason of her out burst." Truth be told, sir… General Kenobi was like a brother to me and the Jedi order was like my family… And even after what you told me, I just can't simply forget them and immediately make them my enemy… When Viceroy spoke of General Kenobi like he did, I felt a sudden anger rise up from the depths of my heart, I wanted to strangle Viceroy, even though I'm not even on the Republic's side anymore." She looked at Grievous, who didn't seem at all pleased with her response. He was about to speak when Shika had stopped him." Don't you have a family you haven't seen in years?"

Grievous froze. It was the first time Shika had ever seen that sort of reaction from him, he was completely stiff, he looked as though he didn't know how to answer her question, or even know how to react. Shika tilted her head slightly at him, taking a few steps toward him." General? Are you alright?" She asked.

He only blinked once, never before had he been asked that question, he didn't know what to say. He could barely remember his own family, but why? His hand moved to his head and placed it there, he remembered a lot, but not enough. His family… He remembered he had wives and children, but his parents, they were slightly blurred, he new they exsisted but what they looked like, it was gone from his memories…

And there was one female, a female whom was shadowed completely, who was she? He couldn't remember! Why couldn't he remember?!

Shika, now close enough to touch him, reached out and placed her hand on his raised arm, causing him to snap out of his thought and look at her." Grievous…? Are you alright?" She asked.

"I… Can't remember." He answered.

Shika blinked once." You can't remember? Can't remember what?"

Grievous moved away from Shika, mind racing over so many things that he had pushed into the depths of his mind years ago. He never thought of his family, his people, his planet after the accident. Of course he had not let go of the reason for hating the Jedi, but Kalee was the last thing on his mind, it was always war that came first. But why? He used to care so much for his homeworld and the Kaleesh. So why was war more important than them?

He stopped, eyes traveling across the area as he attempted to refresh his memory of his homeworld, attempting to imagine his surroundings like he was back on Kalee." There was… A woman. I don't remember who, but she… I believe she is dead."

"Was she your wife?" Shika asked.

"No, no… My wives were different from this specific woman."

"Wait… Wives?" Shika exclamed. Grievous looked to her, nodding slightly.

"It is natural for males of my people to have multiple wives," He answered." I, myself, had at least ten."

Shika's jaw dropped open, her eyes widening slightly. He had ten wives? It was NORMAL amoung his kind? Her jaw slowly closed, her eyes reverting to normal as she stared in amazement at Grievous, finally realizing that he was actually speaking to her about his past life. That meant she could ask him questions about himself and possibly get away with it. So she acted quickly before his mood changed.

"General," Shika began," How did you end up in your current condition?" She heard him let out a low growl and she swallowed hard, maybe that wasn't the best question to ask off the bat." Of course you don't have to answer—"

"A shuttle I was on was sabotaged, the explosion and the removal of my body from the burning wreckage cost me my limbs and most of what was left of my humanity." He answered. Shika stared at him with both a mixture of surprise and shock." There was no doubt that a Republican soldier rigged my ship in hopes to get rid of me so those damn Huk could distroy my people."

"And did they?..." Shika asked. Grievous looked at her, then turned his attention towards the city.

"I never returned to my homeworld after my remaining organs were moved into this metal body. I do not know what befell my people."

Shika stood beside the General, turning her gaze from him out to the city; she felt horrible. Not only did he lose his family, but his body and half of his memories as well. It was a pain she would never understand; even if she wanted to. All she lost was her family, Grievous had lost everything, but in the end, gained a vast army. But was that enough to please him? Did he enjoy having just an army of emotionless, non-organic beings to boss around? To control? Since they were on the topic…

"Do you ever get lonely?" Shika asked, looking back at him. Grievous snorted.

"Of course not," He responded," I do not need company, I'm pefectly content fighting alone. I end fights quicker not having to check to see if my comrades are still alive. That is why I prefer metal over flesh." He directed that at her, she could tell. She frowned at him and looked back out at the city. There was a small pause between the two before Shika broke the silence, letting out a gentle whisper, only loud enough for him to hear.

"If you don't like me, then I'll leave..." Grievous looked at her, fins pressed foreward, eyes slightly wide." All you have to do is say so and I'll go."

Grievous shook his head, scoffing." Lord Sidious would—"

"This isn't about Sidious," Shika interupted with a voice choaked snap, looking at him." If you want me to leave, then I will!" He stared right back at her near tear-filled eyes, completely confused and unsure of how to respond to her.

… She would leave? For him?