Well, I'm back.

The all-too-familiar interior of the Invisible Hand surrounded Rain, but the question as to whether or not she was happy to see it still remained up in the air.

It is still in one piece because of me, so I guess that's one thing to be happy about.

But the countless hours she'd been forced to waste on that ship by standing around waiting for orders really wasn't something she could get excited about.

Remind me again why I didn't just take that promotion and save myself this torture?

She knew the answer well enough. Grievous was her best chance at finding out Sidious' identity.

Bane's too smart to let on, the Count is far too cautious since what happened with Ventress, and Sidious himself...

Rain remembered that chilling smile, those sharp blue eyes.

He threatened me. He threatened Mira. He knew exactly what I was doing.

It scared her to know that he might have easily seen through her lies as well.

If he knows I'm not truly loyal...if he found some way to get at Mira...

She shook the thought away.

I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. I have to be careful.

Which was exactly why Grievous was her best shot.

Since I saved his ship, he's started warming up to me, so at the very least we should be able to hold a conversation without him strangling me to death at any point. And...there is that one other thing...

She had to know what had happened during that time the two of them had been stranded on that ocean planet. Try as she might, she had failed to remember the events that had transpired between them and it worried her to know she might have said something she shouldn't have. After all, she had been told that she'd been delirious for much of the time.

I couldn't have said something all too bad since the General gave me a glowing report afterward.

But nonetheless, it concerned her.

She glanced over at the General, seated in his appointed place, and she couldn't help but frown.

I really, REALLY think I deserve my own chair by now.

She considered suggesting it to the cyborg, then thought better of it. She sighed, letting her eyes wander over the bridge for what must have been the umpteenth time.

Come on, Rain, no time like the present. Just think of something, ANYTHING to get a conversation going.

She aimed another sidelong glance at Grievous, clearing her throat loudly. A reptilian pair of eyes turned in her direction.

"Uh, so..." Rain faltered. "I-I turned down my promotion."

Silently, she uttered a scream of frustration.

"So I understand," Grievous replied, facing forward again, "I was rather surprised. I had the impression you were not so fond of my company, young Callyn."

"Wha-what? No! Nothing like that! Uh, General, I mean. I-I was still, um, adjusting, at the time."

Oi vay...

She pressed on, "Though I was sure you would reject my offer of returning to your service. I felt I was not a very good subordinate."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Never mind the fact that YOUR leadership skills SUCKED.

"Indeed, your skills were lacking and doubtless still are, but your potential could not be ignored."

He punctuated the sentence with a cough.

Potential? Rain's thoughts echoed.

"Thank you, General."

"Of course, you had one other factor in your favor. Droids are dull company."

What? Your perfectly subservient droids? How on earth could they be worse than an annoying, insubordinate organic?

But Rain couldn't help herself.

"Tell me about it," she said knowingly.

"I fear I have become too accustomed to their presence. Count Dooku has never before placed any of his apprentices under my care."

"Really? Why do you think he did it this time?"

"Perhaps his current student was proving more troublesome than his previous ones and he believed that I, as his superior student, could be of assistance?"

It was more of a question than a statement but the pointed look Grievous gave her at that moment was enough to sour Rain's mood.

Sure. Whatever will feed your ego.

But the General wasn't finished.

"Of course, one cannot forget that I have been waging wars nearly all my life. My experience is indispensable."

"Oh?" Rain's curiosity had been piqued. "What wars did you fight in before this one?"

"Only one."

Rain waited for the General to elaborate, but when he didn't, she scrambled to keep the conversation going.

"Lord Sidious seems to think politics are vital to deciding the end of this war. Are you at all aware of the current state of politics?"

"Count Dooku is the political representative of the Confederacy. I hold no interest in such things."

Rain blinked in surprise.

"Then it seems we're in the same boat. I've never been interested in politics but unfortunately it seems if you don't keep up with it you get left out of the loop on a lot of things."

Grievous scoffed, then promptly erupted into a fit of coughing.

This really doesn't get any less irritating as time goes by.

Rain bided till the bout had concluded, allowing the General to say what he had intended.

"It is not politics that decides greatness. Fools dither about in committees. It is those who conquer the battlefield that are the truly great ones."

Rain remembered Senator Organa suddenly, his determination to defend Christophsis, despite the fact that the odds were not in his favor.

"I suppose. But it's politics that gives wars direction."

"I am aware."

Rain took his lackluster reply as an opportunity to switch tracks.

"So I presume you've had the pleasure of meeting Lord Sidious in person?"

"I have not."

Rain stared in shock.

What?! You're the leader of this 'grand Confederate army' that you go on and on about and you've never met the guy you work for?!

"My Master only meets with those he trusts most," she recalled Dooku saying.

So he trusts Bane and I more than he trusts his own top General? Ouch. That's gotta hurt.

She regarded the cyborg silently for a moment.

I wonder if he knows. Or if he cares.

It took her a minute to realize Grievous was staring at her in anticipation, effectively snapping her out of her musings.

"Just...wondering," she said weakly.

Great. Another dead end. What am I supposed to do now? I've already turned down my promotion. Should I go back to the Count and tell him I changed my mind? What if it's too late?

She suppressed a sigh.

Well, if there's one thing I can say it's that Sidious is sure as hell efficient about keeping his identity a secret. Ventress was right to wish me luck.

She wasn't ready to give up, not yet, but her hopes had plummeted drastically.

Well, there is still one thing I might be able to know for sure.

"General, I don't believe I ever thanked you properly for your favorable report of me to Count Dooku. I hardly deserved it, especially after what happened during the time we were stranded together. I should have been more helpful but, as I've heard, I wasn't much more than a deadweight."

"I was rather impressed by your resolve to reunite us with the main forces."

"I'm sorry. I don't remember much of what occurred. Perhaps you can fill me in on the things I'm a little fuzzy on?"

Grievous stifled a cough.

"I fail to see of what importance it is."

Rain groped for an excuse, "I wanted to apologize for any erratic behavior I might have displayed during my episode of delirium."

To her surprise, Grievous uttered a raspy laugh, "Your erraticity, young Callyn, I found rather refreshing. You proved to be much more decisive in your delirium, and considerably more loquacious."

"I-I did?"

"Indeed. You were in a very sharing mood."

Oh no.

"It would seem we have more in common than I first believed," Grievous continued.

"We...do?"

"Namely our hatred of the Jedi."

"Ah...right. What else exactly?"

The General got to his feet abruptly, towering above Rain.

"Callyn," he said, his golden eyes fixed on her face, "I admire your devotion to your family."

Rain stared up at him, wide-eyed.

"You do?"

"Loyalty is a prized attribute. Which is why—" Grievous leaned down, causing Rain to tense as the distance between them grew smaller. "—I hope your loyalty is principally to the Confederacy."

He straightened, moving toward the viewport. His back was to Rain, his clawed hands clasped behind him.

"What was her name?" he asked suddenly.

Rain hesitated, "Mira, General."

"Perhaps your wish will be granted, young Callyn, and you may see this sister of yours again."

I want to do so much more than just see her, but you wouldn't understand something like that, would you? What do you know of family, I wonder?

But all she said was, "Thank you, General."