Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 8

MEETING GREVIOUS

Bruck pulled his hood over his face, as he entered the slums of Corusant, ignoring the looks of the gangs as they spotted his light sabre, slung against his belt. Bruck turned to most of them, and snarled, "What are you looking at?"

The gang turned on him instantly, but he was prepared; he force-pushed them into the wall, causing many of the pedestrians to rush away in fright. Bruck laughed and continued walking, hopefully going to the bar where he knew he would find the person, or thing, he needed to find.

The bar had flashing holograms above it, most of them almost blinding him. He strolled casually into the bar, pulling his hood down when he stepped over the fresh-hold. Bruck glanced around, ignoring the chatter that was going around, and the woman that flirted with him instantly.

"Hey gorgeous," One said to him holding her drink shakily in her hand.

"Alright handsome," Another said, shoving the first away from him. Bruck smiled at them, but walked away, towards the back, hoping that there was some way he could get into the room there, where he knew held a small group of droids, snuck onto the planet. He was stopped instantly by two massive pig-like creatures. "Name?" One of them demanded, holding his lance towards Bruck.

Bruck held his hand up, gathering the force around his hand, choking both of the runts quietly. There was a small cracking noise, as their necks broke, and he let them drop to the ground. There was silence from the people close by. Bruck curled his lip, and snarled. "They drank too much,"

They chortled slightly, and continued with their drinks and conversations. Bruck placed his hand on the door, and slowly pushed it open.

There were three tables, one with cards on, as four droids played sabacc. Bruck stared, instead, towards the table at the back, where a massive droid with yellow eyes, with slits for pupils. He had clawed hands, and four sabre hanging from his side, with a massive black cloak around his shoulders. He was staring around at the other droids, giving a cough every so often.

"Hello, Grevious," Bruck said cheerfully, sitting opposite him.

The droids instantly got up, guns raised and ready. Grevious stood too, holding his sabres in his claws. "And who are you?" He snarled.

"Is that anyway to greet a friend?" Bruck challenged, raising his eyebrows slightly. "I think we can come to some sort of arrangement."

The Droid General seemed interested, but he suddenly rasped, "And why should I trust you?"

"We share a common enemy," Bruck hissed at him, placing his sabre onto the table. "I have a proposal for you."

Grevious frowned slightly at him, before slamming his claws onto the table. "And what proposal can you ever offer?"

"How about another sabre to add to your 'collection'?" Bruck said, smiling. The droids looked at one another, as their General leaned back in his seat slightly. "One that belongs to a Jedi called Master Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

"You have a plan?" Grevious snarled, but his voice gave some hint of interest.

"A good plan." Bruck said, smiling widely. "How about we lure him out into the open? I could fake an image of you killing someone, and you could make an open challenge to him. Is it not true that Master Tachi is leaving for the Alderaan system as we speak?" He did not wait for an answer. "I know Kenobi; he expressed an interest in pretty woman like Siri Tachi."

"Last I heard, he was in love with a woman called Duchess Satine Kryez of Mandalore." Grevious hissed, but his eyes were wider. "But, perhaps we can come to some sort of trap for him, and the other Jedi." Grevious suddenly chuckled. "I would like nothing better than to kill him in a hologram in front of the Jedi order."

Siri was fighting too hard against the droid forces, her blonde hair tied up, smacking her in the face as she twisted and dodged enemy fire, her purple sabre deflecting what she could. The droids, however, kept coming, and, next to her, Jets, her most trusted Clone and one of her closest friends, began to pull her away, as the battle droids came closer. "General!" He cried, as they rounded a corner, more clones rushing past them in order to face the droids. "We must evacuate and get to the planet!" "I am not leaving the Alderaan system to the Separatists!" Siri screamed at him, just as an explosion rocked their cruiser. "Jets, I want you to put a transmition through to the Council, there is no way we are going to fight them off without help!"

Jets nodded, and the pair of them rushed down the corridor, followed, un-noticed by Grevious, who had just entered the ship, accompanied by three magna droids. He gunned down some clones, and his eyes caught the purple blade of Siri Tachi, and her blonde hair as she and the clones sealed themselves in the bridge. Grevious turned to see Bruck, hooded, walking towards him, and said, "They've locked themselves in the bridge." "Let me deal with Tachi," Bruck said, fingering his new sabre, which hummed now with a red blade, with Skywalker's old crystal in a small bag on his belt; better to keep the deception, than to expose the real truth. He knew, deep down, that Kenobi was alive, and this trap would ensnare him if he was alive. Bruck turned to a droid that approached them. "Take care of the clones, General," He smiled at him, "Would you accompany me, along with your magna droids, to the bridge?"

"I will," Grevious said his voice cunning. Bruck and Grevious walked towards the sealed doors, and Bruck pulled his new sabre out from under his cloak and ignited it, before stabbing it through the door, causing the metal to burn and crumble instantly. Grevious signalled his magna droids, and they flanked behind Bruck, ready and waiting. The large circular disc fell, and, instantly, blaster fire rained in their direction, causing both Bruck and Grevious to use their sabres to defend themselves. Bruck raised his hands, and, using Anakin's force energy, caused lightning to erupt from his hands. The clones screamed, and Siri, standing by the hologram-system, turned, obviously interrupted in her conversation with two Jedi that he could see. "Master Yoda!" She screamed at the smaller, "Please! Get help!"

"Siri!" Obi-Wan called, and their image flickered slightly, as the magna droids surrounded the lone Jedi.

Bruck smiled at her, before saying, "Goodnight Siri Tachi."

Obi-Wan watched in horror as Siri was engulfed by force-lightning, and the younglings behind him gave loud squeals of fright. Ahsoka clasped them close to her, staring up at the fallen Jedi, as two figures appeared in the hologram. Grevious, and a hooded figure, brandishing a light sabre that looked strangely familiar to her masters. Obi-Wan's face turned from shock into anger, as he instantly said, "What did you do to her Bruck?"

"Oh, she's unconscious, Oafy-Wan." He answered, lowering his hood, and using Anakin's mouth, smiled widely. He spotted Mace Windu and Yoda, and instantly said, "How do you like me now Jedi traitors?"

"You're the traitor here Chun," Mace snapped, causing Yoda to flinch slightly.

"I'm the traitor?" Bruck said, placing a hand over his chest (No, not his chest, Obi-Wan told himself, Anakin's) "You let this man," He indicated Obi-Wan, "This Jedi fool get away with murder! Literally!"

"I had no choice," Obi-Wan said sadly, hanging his head slightly. "Bruck, you were stealing from the Jedi Temple!"

There was a pause, and, when Bruck spoke, he spoke directly to him, "You have two hours to come here and rescue Siri Tachi, or Grevious here," He indicated the massive droid general standing next to him. "Will have the pleasure of killing her himself, and taking her sabre might I add."

Obi-Wan's head snapped up, and this time, he looked angry, "If you hurt Siri in any way! Both of you. I will hunt you down and make you suffer. You," He pointed at Bruck, "Will leave Anakin's body this instant! Don't you know what you are doing to him?"

"I admit, I did not wish to do this." Bruck said, his voice sounding low. "But, we all have to live off one another don't we? His padawan," He smirked at Ahsoka. "Lives off his knowledge, using it to suit her own purposes as a Jedi. And even Master Yoda uses those he had trained to go and risk their lives instead of him!"

"How dare you!" Mace started, but Yoda held up his hand, and stepped forward, his cane clatter vibrating through the chamber. The venerable master stared up into Bruck's eyes (Anakin's eyes, Obi-Wan reminded himself) and said, "Propose a challenge, do you?"

There was a silence. Even Grevious had fallen quiet.

"I propose nothing," Bruck snapped. "Not to you anyway. I propose that Master Kenobi here come and face me on Mustafar, unless he wishes to see Siri Tachi burn tonight, Mustafar time." He bared his teeth at Obi-Wan. "Oh yes, I know your weakness Obi-Wan. Who would you kill to protect your pride? Your friend or your brother?" He gave a laugh. "Come alone Kenobi, or Siri, and Skywalker, will both die tonight."