Old Friends Homecoming

Chapter 17 - Maelstrom

In the city centre Emi followed the droids and guards escorting her in silence, she did not resist and kept her head up as they led her down the ample stairs. It was a whole army smuggled onto the planet that nobody knew was there until the beam fired and it made her speechless to believe that all of this had been undetected until now. To her surprise, she noticed more droids arrive from a connecting tube to her left and two Magnaguards were dragging a bound and unconscious figure and then approached beside her descending. Kit! Emi held back a gasp, how did they catch him? There was no time to ask questions yet, Kit opened his eyes to see his partner walking beside him also bound and unarmed. He looked at her, his lips moving as if he was asking her something without speaking, she could only shrug in response.

Into the heart of the city, with many golden lights and the massive forcefield overlooking the other domes and schools of fish, Emi saw it, the great green beam illuminating the antechamber and bursting out through the bubble gap on the canopy out into the water. At its base stood a great blue spire with a sphere at the very bottom to sustain it. It was some kind of weapon, but of what nature? A familiar mechanical voice erupted from the bottom of the stairs in front of the weapon and echoed across the square.

"Well, it's about time you caught those intruders!?"

Emi tried not to swear this time and looked back at Kit. She knew all along that Grievous would be here, but how would she handle him this time without her personal feelings clouding her judgement. Kit winked at her reassuringly which made her heart leap.

One of the super battle droids walking in front of her responded, "Yes General, they didn't get very far, looks like they're just what you were hoping for!"

At the bottom of the dais, the droids cleared the way and there Emi saw her old nemesis, his cape draped over his cybernetic body but she still knew it was him. Grievous could never hide from her. The other droids dispersed a little and the two guards dragging Kit, pulled him to his feet so he stood beside her. Grievous turned around and gave a short laugh.

"Ah, Emi Takori, how good of you to join me, and Fisto too, what a pleasant surprise," he said opening his arms like he was attempting to be welcoming. He sounded like he had completely forgotten about their last encounter where she left him outraged and swearing revenge.

Emi swallowed, "Easy for you to say, Grievous," she answered indifferently,

One of the Magnaguards stepped forward carrying both her and Kit's lightsabers and handed them to Grievous, he took them immediately, "Two adds to my collection and now we can finally settle this once and for all," he coughed and placed the weapons in the inner pocket of his cape among several other lightsabers,

When Emi and Kit did not answer, Grievous continued to speak, walking closer to them, "So much for your little rampage inside and out, I knew you wouldn't make it too far, before surrendering. After all, you would not believe the things the Gungans left for us to salvage, despite how primitive they can be!" he laughed again,

"And yet you slaughtered innocents to take their technology and use it against the entire planet. Perhaps we misjudged you," Kit interjected staunchly,

"You flatter me, Jedi, both of you know my motivations so well,"

Emi's heart raced again, now he was going to reveal his scheme and she wondered how much longer she could keep herself serene until she and Kit could secretly come up with a plan to disable the weapon.

Grievous approached and gazed at her fiercely, "How could I forget about all the periods you have bested me, you were quite the fighter for a child back then, now you've grown and still managed to ruin everything for me! No matter where I went, you were there, but now all of it is insignificant for this time, I shall have my revenge against you!"