News had spread fast thanks to the HoloNet. It took almost no time for the news to reach the home of Grievous. But the one who got it was none other than his medical droid, A4. when the article was found by it, A4 read it with great interest before he waddled off to reach his Master, who hadn't been the same since he had came back.
Grievous was sitting in his favorite chair. He was slouched in it, his head tilted to the side as he stared at nothing, blinking from time to time. He felt emptier then ever before.
"Master!" A4 called, as he quickened his pace until he was in front of the General. "I have some news you'll want to hear."
Grievous straightened his head, looking at the droid. "I highly doubt it, but tell me anyway."
"The planet of Yam'ril was 'audited' by the Jedi." He reported. "And they're liberating the Kaleesh slave colonies. And they searched through Senator Zev Svung's office."
"That doesn't interest me anymore." Grievous said, looking away, "Good for the Republic, they finally found out who was at fault."
"There's more, General. They found the preserved head of Ronderu lij Kummar."
Grievous suddenly sat up. "What?! My... My Ronderu?!" He looked around, "I need to get her."
A4 was rather relieved to see the energy come back. "Senator Amidala is holding onto it currently, she claims she'll only have it temporarily."
Grievous stood and went to a transmitter, activating it. "I have to get her." He said, trying to contact the Jedi Temple.
A4 folded his hands behind his back, watching. "You believe they'll give the enemy the head?"
Grievous ignored the droid, managing to get through. "Give her to me!" he nearly screamed.
Kenobi was the unfortunate soul who had to hear that. "Easy, general. There's no need to get edgy."
"Give her to me now!" Grievous snarled, "No, show her to me!"
He sighed patiently. "Ahsoka." He beckoned. The Padawan stepped forward to the transmitter, holding the jar containing the head. "This is Ronderu, right?" She asked Grievous.
Grievous reached up and grasped the lower part of his masked. He looked away. "They cut her... Hair. They cut it. Your lovely hair." he whispered, making a choked sob.
Kenobi was able to catch the sob, but whatever he mumbled was incomprehensible. "How shall we bring her to you?"
"Take her to my old castle on the third moon of Vassek." he said, "And there had better be no tricks."
he shook his head. "Me? Tricks?" He chuckled. "You have me confused with someone else."
"Do not make light of this Kenobi! You will bring her to me!" Grievous yelled, cutting off the transmit ion.
Shaak Ti had been watching the hologram with the others. "Just as charming as he was on Hypori." she said.
Kenobi looked to her silently, taking the container with the head.
Kit Fisto was beside Shaak, grinning. "At least we don't have to worry about him calling back again."
"I do not think this is a grand idea." Oppo Rancisis' hologram said, the serpent-like Jedi sitting calmly off to the side, "Grievous is unpredictable. This could send him into a blind rage. While this is admirable, perhaps we should make a Yam'ril return her head? It would have more of a peaceful impact, to show we are seriously regretful for all that had happened to his fellow species
"Well I do not think we should give it to him at all." Eeth Koth said
"It's alright, Koth." Fisto said. "It'll only make him enraged if we don't give it to him now."
"And we already told him we'd give it to him." Ahsoka said. "What kind of people are we to go back on our word?"
Yoda sighed. "Put another innocent life in danger we must not, master Rancisis. No matter how good the suggestion is." he said, "Go now, Master Kenobi. May the Force be with you."
Kenobi nodded. "Thank you, Master Yoda." he said, sighing.
-
As the ship approached the moons of Vassek, he looked to the lifeless head of Ronderu lij Kummar. "You picked quite the keeper, didn't you?" He asked, as if expecting an answer back. But in the end he turned his attention back to the point of this little expedition, picking up the container once the ship landed.
Grievous was waiting on the landing strip. He was wringing his hands. He had actually believed that they would not come, but there Kenobi was.
Kenobi came off the ship, seeing the General anxiously late. He had came alone, to prove his worth in his word. He stepped forward, watching Grievous. "Just like we said. Here is Ronderu lij Kummar's remnants. Perfectly preserved."
Grievous snatched the container away from the Jedi Master. He looked down at her face, his metal fingertips skating over the glass. "It... It's her." Grievous said.
Ronderu's head was completely oblivious to the outside world. Her eyes were pressed closed, giving her a look that she was simply sleeping. A Kaleesh slave had closed them when she died so many years ago, when he or she had to preserve the head to be kept as a trophy. Kenobi watched Grievous silently. "I see you have some reminiscing to do... Shall I leave now?"
Grievous didn't answer, fumbling to open the container. He managed it, reaching into the liquid to pull out Ronderu's head. He cradled her head like it was a newborn. "Go. Just go." Grievous hissed, petting Ronderu's cheek with a metal finger.
Kenobi refrained from expressing his feelings, turning on a heel. He took a few steps before looking back at him. "I just want to say... We do regret our choice in who to help years ago." He said. And with that, he walked back onto his ship, wanting to return as soon as he could.
Grievous didn't even look up. He continued to cradle what was left of his companion. He finally held her face to his, closing his eyes and nuzzling her cold, pallid face. He looked up, glaring ahead. No. He could not just let this end this way. The Jedi and the Republic they defended could not continue to exist. They were corrupt. Almost all of them were corrupt. It wasn't over yet.
With her head tucked under his arm he pointed a claw at Kenobi, who was almost back to his star fighter. "Do not think that you giving her back to me has ended this war Jedi!" he screamed, "I will kill you all! Do you hear me?! I will not spare a single one of you! The younglings won't even be spared!" His voice cracked and he leaned forward, coughing heavily. But he kept screaming through it "N-No one will… Be spared!"
Kenobi stopped at his declaration. He slowly turned to the General, his eyebrows high up. The male wasn't going to quit... In fact, he seemed more lustful for blood than before! Even he didn't think that was possible. But he hid his foreboding thoughts. He watched the general finish his coughing fit. "If that's so... I'm still glad you have her back." He gave a nod, grinning. He was mainly avoiding a sudden onslaught by Grievous. He then hopped aboard his starfighter, quickening his pace to leave him alone.
Grievous shook his head after his fit. he would let Kenobi go for now. He placed Ronderu back in her tube and took her back in his own fighter. He took off, returning to his ship. He turned on his transmitter. "Dooku, give me a mission this instant." he snapped, his metal fingers skating over the glass.
Dooku was taken off guard from the sudden need to fight. And seeing the head didn't help him recover. "...Of course." he said. "You can accompany Ventress and Durge to take care of a settlement of clones, lead by three Jedi."
"I'll take it. Send me the coordinates." Grievous hissed, "Now Dooku!"
Dooku frowned. "Control yourself, General." He said, sending the coordinates to him. "Leave now if you want to be in time."
Grievous cut him off, entering hyperdrive and blasting off. He looked at Ronderu's head. and sighed. When he arrived he stepped off and walked past Durge and Ventress. Removing Ronderu's head he created a pyre and managed to set it ablaze. He turned away, his eyes filled with rage. "No prisoners." he snarled, "Don't even let those who serve to heal live.
The republic had created a monster.