Shadows of the Past

Chapter 17

Rebel base on Valc

'General!
The rebel took a step back as the tall figure of the cyborg revealed himself from the darkness of the forest. The man was unable to do anything as the Kaleesh picked and threw him into a nearby tree, rendering him unconscious. The other rebels just turned their gaze upon Grievous before he ignited his red inquisitor lightsaber and started spinning it. The normal foot soliders of the cell couldn't help but feel most afraid, as they shakingly pointed their blasters towards the red light. He stopped though, and hissed towards them:
'I wouldn't do that if I were you.
The strange advice actually made a few rebels to throw their weapons and back down, hoping they would survive. A few remained on positions.
'Call Master Shaak Ti! Quickly! A rebel shouted to the others.
The General held up a chuckle from releasing at the order. An idea formed into his mind... Shaak Ti surely won't like it, but it will greatly help her in the future. Grievous watched as from the white shuttle, the red togruta dressed in some old jedi robes was walking down the ramp. Grievous didn't offer any greeting towards her and charged into the rebels with his lightsaber spinning. In the first moment, 4 soliders were sliced to death while the others jumped or ducked under, lucky to survive. Grievous then jumped in front of Shaak Ti and tried to stab her, forcing her to ignite her lightsaber and parry. They clashed their swords, but Grievous was not intent on wasting time. He exited the saberlock and kicked the woman in her belly, making her return into the shuttle in an amusing fashion, the General thought to himself a second. He turned to the rest of the soliders returning to their feet and revealed from his cloak a blaster. He aimed and shot one rebel then blew the brains out of another. In a short amount of time, only the Rebel Commander was left alive, hiding under a crate and 3 other soliders. Grievous decided it was enough and threw the blaster towards the next enemy that exited their cover, then entered the shuttle and closed the ramp. He saw the Jedi on the ground, groaning in pain. He ignored her and went straight to the cockpit, but left a chuckle escape his vocabulators. Shaak Ti blinked hurt and tried to stand up while staring at Grievous take off the ground silently.
'What... in the galaxy are you doing? She asked holding one arm around the waist, still in pain.
'Keeping appearances, if you haven't noticed.
The General's tone was devoid of any sign of caring towards the situation.
'You could have tried to... use other methods, more gentile, you know?she replied as she approached the cockpit's entrance.
'I assure you it wouldn't have looked the same. Besides, it was just a kick.
'A metal talon hitting my belly isn't too pleasant, especially when I actually flew back in the shuttle and hit the wall. You used much force, I could have broken my spine.
'You could have, if I wanted of course, but you didn't.
Shaak Ti sighed annoyed by his cynnism.
'Fine, have it your way. I guess it was necessary...
She glanced towards the windows of the room and noticed how the white clouds were dissapearing, and the atmosphere was starting to fade leaving way to the dark matter of the cosmos.
'Were do you intend to go? She asked.
He turned his head to her slowly and replied with another question:
'It is your decision, my lady.
The politeness did make Shaak Ti shrug for a little.
'Really? Well, what do you say of... Muunnslist?
'I would be recognized immediately. The planet was home of the Confederacy's Banking System.
'Very well. Let's go to...
She tried recalling the old galaxy map that was stored within the destroyed Jedi Temple. A name came into her mind:
'Terminus!
Grievous was ready to type in the coordinates but remained still. Shaak Ti raised an eyebrow while her smirk was fading from her face.
'What is it?
'I... I don't know where Terminus is.
Shaak Ti shook her head and bent over the table to the console.
'I do however. It seems you aren't as knowledgeable as I thought, General.
He watched her as she typed the numbers right besides him and felt his pride wounded. He had heard of Terminus before, the planet's name being the most easy to decipher. The planet was located somewhere on the edge of the known world, as a terminal and finish to the Galaxy. It connected the Wild Space and the Unknown Regions, representing a Galactic Spaceport. Luckly , the Empire wasn't too anchored there. However, he lacked the coordinates.
'Well? He glanced at the screen and saw the Galaxy map and a red point in the most southern place.
'That planet is located on the other side of the Galactic ring. Getting there will take months!he shouted a bit exasperated.
'It may, as we are going to travel through Hutt space to avoid Imperials of any kinds.
'You are crazy! Why don't we go somewhere ... close?
'Because Terminus is a link to alien civilizations! We can leave the Galaxy from there.
'Oh, I have left the Galaxy once and it was a grievous mistake.
Shaak Ti chuckled in his face.
'Very well, Grievous, pull the lever.
The cyborg sighed defeated and made the shuttle jump into Hyperspace.

Rebel fleet

The Ghost crew, Ashoka and Commander Sato were seated at the table of the Command Centre. The news of the failed mission with the dissapearance of both Grievous and Shaak Ti struck a blow to everyone , for many reasons. Commander Sato was sad for losing the greatest general he ever knew.
'Well, the incident on Valc VII certainly will be remembered.
'That monster betrayed us! I knew it! Kanan shouted angrily. We trusted hin and he decided to simply leave us.
'Kanan, please calm yourself... Ashoka advised him. She was, too, furious but tried to keep them hidden.
'Besides this, where is Master Ti? Ezra asked frowning.
'From the commander, I understood she dueled Grievous and was pushed in the shuttle by a kick. Her status remains unknown.
'He killed her most likely! Kanan outbursted again. We should have been there. Finding that Jedi Temple on Lothal could have waited.
'Kanan, please. This is how it is meant to be. Maybe the Force doesn't want Grievous to be on our side.
'If I ever see that creature again...
'We will face him together, Kanan! Ezra told him optimistically.
Ashoka just rolled her eyes.
'We are not going to pursue him now. The Empire is growing more interested in us, especially with the last encounter.
'The Inquisitor will be defeated, Ashoka. We will do that.
Kanan glanced at Ezra and realised his own mistake. The manifestation of the Grand Inquisitor had told him not to fight, yet he had been so eager to even now.
'Ashoka is right. We wil deal with the General later. Now , we must focus on defeating the Empire and trying to find a base to finally operate accordingly.
'Indeed. We must find some headquarters! The bothans Ashoka swayed to our side in her mission were a good choice.
'Indeed. The spy neywork Grievous ordered to create will serve us well. Now, we must see what we shall do in the future...