Tip tap. Tip tap.

Rain listened with growing irritation as Grievous' clawed digits beat out a tuneless rhythm on the arm of his chair. He'd been doing it on and off for almost a quarter of an hour now and Rain felt if he didn't stop soon she was going to lose her mind. She'd already given up mustering the courage to try to start a conversation a long time ago.

How am I supposed to gather information like this? she thought frustratedly.

It had been who knows how long since the attack on Dathomir and she hadn't even begun to make any progress on discovering Sidious' identity.

The ship carrying any hope of Dooku rescuing me from this nightmare has long since sailed. Besides, I doubt I ever would have been able to weasel anything out of the dear Count without him catching onto me.

She cast a glance at Grievous.

How does one bring up such a thing in a conversation anyway? Oh, by the way, do you happen to know who this terrifying man shrouded in mystery is? Yeah, I'm just super curious about it.

The recent events certainly didn't help put Rain's mind at ease either. She hardly remembered what had occurred between her and Grievous while they had been stranded together; it was all just a blur, but somehow she had the distinct impression that she had said something she wasn't supposed to.

Why did he hold off on his report to Dooku? I get the feeling he could've easily landed me in the Count's black book.

Rain looked back at the General, who hadn't even spared her a glance in the past several hours. She was beginning to think he'd forgotten she existed.

Maybe it's better that way.

She uttered a long sigh, reaching up to rub her temples as the General's ceaseless tip tap tip tap echoed in her ears. She could swear it was giving her a headache.

What exactly could I learn from Captain Asthma over here? she silently scoffed, Aside from underhanded tactics and cowardice?

But she was stuck with him, and if she ever wanted to get out from under his clawed thumb, she'd have to convince him that she deserved it.

Tip tap. Tip tap.

Rain resisted the urge to scream.

Is this ambassador ever going to arrive?!

The General had received a transmission some time ago from an ambassador for a planet currently under Republic control. They had expressed interest in negotiating a covert arrangement that would allow them to fund the Separatist armies in exchange for being left alone. They had reached an agreement as to where they should meet, and now the Invisible Hand was floating aimlessly in some empty part of space, as it had been for countless hours prior, waiting for any sign of its guest-to-be.

Maybe we got the wrong coordinates. Wouldn't surprise me. Half the droids on this ship act like they need their circuits checked.

Rain was about to suggest as much when a B1 suddenly piped up, "General! Our sensors detect two ships dropping out of hyperspeed."

Finally!

Rain gazed expectantly out the viewport, watching as two Republic battlecruisers materialized in front of them.

She knew at once something was wrong. She turned to see Grievous rising slowly from his chair, and it was obvious there was no need to clue him in to the seriousness of the situation.

"Raise the—"

Grievous' order remained unfinished. Two ion torpedoes shot toward them, striking them just under the nose of the ship. The floor rocked beneath Rain's feet, an alarm blaring in her ears.

"General!" a B1 shouted in alarm, "They've struck our shield generator!"

Oh no.

"There's an incoming transmission," another B1 announced, "Its code confirms that it's from one of the enemy ships."

"Put it through," Grievous snapped, stifling a cough.

A holographic screen flickered to life over the control panel, revealing a face far too familiar for Rain's liking.

Shaak Ti? You've gotta be KIDDING me!

"General Grievous," the Togruta addressed her adversary, "We have disabled your shields. You are at the mercy of the Republic. Surrender quietly and I promise no harm will come to you."

Rain turned to the General, watching as his face fell in contemplation, his reptilian eyes burning.

"You have bested me. You may board my ship. I will offer no resistance."

Shock hit Rain like a blaster bolt.

He's just...giving up?

Shaak Ti seemed equally skeptical.

She cast a glance at someone offscreen before speaking, "Stay your course. We will flank your ship and begin docking."

The image of the Togruta's face wavered and cut out, leaving a tense silence hanging over the bridge.

Grievous was the one to break it.

"Set the ship to self-destruct," he ordered, making to exit.

Rain stared at him.

"You're running away, aren't you?"

The General burst into a fit of coughing.

"Did you honestly think I would surrender so easily?" he said when he had finished.

"No, but this is your flagship—"

"What of it?"

Rain hesitated.

If he gives up his flagship so easily, he'll be...well, more of a joke than he already is.

"General, might we pursue a different strategy instead?"

Grievous uttered a scornful laugh.

"And what might you suggest, assassin? We are outnumbered two to one and our shields are disabled."

"Setting the ship to self-destruct," a B1 announced, "Shall I begin evacuation, sir?"

"No," the General answered shortly.

Rain watched him exit the bridge, his heavy footsteps echoing off the walls.

He means to slip away unnoticed. A full evacuation would draw lots of unwanted attention.

She glanced at the droids piloting the ship.

I mean, they're just droids, she thought, and it's just a ship...

"I suggest you find your own way off this ship, assassin," Grievous called back, "You are running out of time."

Rain stayed where she was.

"Wait." The B1 who had set the ship to self-destruct seemed confused. "Did he say no to the evacuation?"

Rain turned to the baffled little droid, a strange calmness settling over her.

"I rescind the self-destruct order," she said, feeling almost surprised at the words coming out of her own mouth.

The droids exchanged uncertain glances among themselves.

"But, the General said—"

"Do you see the General?" Rain demanded, "I'm in charge now. So who can tell me the damage report on our shield generators? Are they fixable?"

Some more uncertain glances.

Then a tentative answer, "Uh, yes...sir."

"How soon can they be fixed?"

"The damage has shown to be minimal. It seems the enemy failed to make a direct hit, but it could still take some time before the shields are operational."

"Get on it."

"Yes, sir."

Rain assumed Grievous' chair, leaning forward and pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.

Now what? I have no idea how long the shields could take, and I can't allow the enemy to flank us. But if I cut the engines, they'll know something is up. Think, Rain, think.

She ran a hand over her face, uttering a shaky breath.

May the force help me.

"Move the ship starboard of the port side enemy battlecruiser," she said, pushing herself to her feet, "I want to know the second the shields are ready."

"Yes, sir!"

Any time now, she thought.

And she wasn't disappointed.

"There's an incoming transmission!"

"Put it through."

Shaak Ti's hostile form sprang to life before Rain.

"Assassin," the Togruta addressed her coldly, "Where is your General?"

"Tell me, Master Ti, when did the Jedi stoop to using such underhanded tactics as trickery?"

The muscles in Shaak Ti's face tightened.

"We have always done what is necessary to protect the galaxy from abominable threats such as yourself."

"Necessary, huh?" Rain scoffed. "I seem to remember that when Kamino was threatened, you insisted on hiding away in your little command center until the battle was practically already won."

"Enough of this," Shaak Ti hissed, "Why have you changed your course?"

"Do you blame yourself?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you blame yourself that I left?"

Rage spilled from Shaak Ti's violet orbs.

"No."

Rain glared viciously, "Well, you should. And there's one more thing I want you to know. I've seen the chaos you spoke to me about, and I'm happy to say I have never been the cause of it. Now in answer to your question, the General has taken his leave. But, no thanks to you, I'm not in the habit of running and hiding, so I will be your adversary today."

"If you do not cooperate, we will be forced to open fire!"

"Sir, we are approaching the enemy ship," a B1 declared.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Rain's lips.

"I dare you," she said to Shaak Ti, "I'm ready."

She turned to her B1s.

"Terminate the transmission and aim the ship at the enemy cruiser's flank."

"But, sir—"

"Do it now!"

"Fire on—"

Shaak Ti's shout was cut off as the holoscreen flickered out. Scarce seconds later, both Republic battlecruisers were blasting the Invisible Hand with their combined firepower.

Oh crap oh crap oh crap I'm not ready I'm not ready I'm not ready!

"How long till those shields are ready?!" Rain yelled over the shrieking alarm system.

"Just a few more moments, sir!"

It's too late.

"Forget it!" Rain snapped, "Divert all power to the engines!"

"Yes, sir."

Rain glanced around at the Invisible Hand.

Please hold together. Just a little longer. Come on!

The ship picked up speed, powering forward and striking its target full force. Rain slammed back into Grievous' chair upon impact, stars momentarily dancing before her eyes. The Republic cruiser's shield crumpled instantly under the pressure, vanishing in a burst of light. The nose of the Invisible Hand ploughed right into the hull of the enemy dreadnought, leaving a vicious gash of shorn steel, with debris floating aimlessly through the open expanse of space. The Republic fire ceased, leaving a tense quiet in its wake. Rain shook off her dizziness.

"Concentrate fire on the bridge," she ordered, "And give me a damage report."

"We've lost our ion cannons," came the answer, "The shields are beyond repair, a few of the escape pods were damaged, we're leaking fuel, and our subsidiary reactor is unstable."

"Focus on stabilizing the reactor and patching the leak," Rain instructed, "And turn us starboard."

The B1 hesitated briefly before uttering a reluctant "roger, roger" and boring deeper into the side of the Republic cruiser. Rain glanced at the ship's scanner to see the second enemy dreadnought moving in their direction. For now they were safe from its fire; the first Republic battlecruiser stood between them and it, but it wouldn't stay that way for very long. Rain turned her attention to the viewport, watching as the enemy's forward observation station erupted in flames.

Well, we won't have to worry about them anymore.

"Cease fire."

The Republic dreadnaught began to move, the Invisible Hand propelling it forward. Rain's eyes were glued to the scanner, watching with growing tension as the blip on the scanner grew closer and closer.

"Divert all power to the engines!" she shouted.

They're gonna be out of our path by the time we reach them.

Rain felt the ship start to pick up speed.

COME ON!

The blips converged on her scanner. They caught the tail end of the Republic cruiser. Rain released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, loosening her death grip on Grievous' chair.

"Activate the reverse thrusters," she ordered, "And give me a damage report."

"We've managed to repair the leak in the fuel, sir, but the reactor is still unstable."

Rain took a deep breath.

Oh, Mira. I wish you were here. I could use your knowledge of ships right now.

"Use whatever resources we can spare to fix it."

"Yes, sir."

The ship began to tear itself out of the wreckage that was the enemy dreadnought. Rain's mind was reeling.

We have no shields, and there's still one battlecruiser out there.

Her gaze fell to the scanner, perspiration coating her skin. She looked for the blip indicating the remaining Republic ship, but she couldn't seem to find it.

Wait.

"Sir!"

Where did it go?

"Sir!"

Rain shifted her attention to the excited B1.

"Yes, what is it?"

"The enemy made a jump into hyperspace. The battle is won!"

Rain blinked, taking a moment to process the news.

"I won," she murmured, a wave of relief hitting her, "Thank the force."

I never want to do this again.

It took some time to stabilize the reactor, but Rain was just happy to be on her way. They punched in the coordinates for Hypori and made the jump to hyperspace.

Grievous seemed unsurprised by their arrival, but Rain assumed it was just an act.

"Assassin," the General greeted, "I see you have returned with my ship."

"Yes," Rain replied shortly, matching the cyborg's stony expression.

"So I gather you did not take my suggestion."

"No."

"I see." Grievous stifled a cough. "I will require a full report of the events that transpired during my absence. I wish to know how it is you caused such damage to my ship."

Rain's eyes widened in fury.

"If I recall, General," she said icily, "You were ready to sacrifice your flagship in a heartbeat. I saved it."

"After what appears to have been a very reckless battle," Grievous remarked, "Count Dooku taught me to rely on the element of surprise, and that once it is lost, it is better to retreat."

"Doesn't sound like much of a battle strategy," Rain muttered, narrowing her eyes in contempt.

"It has served me well in my role," the General replied, sounding unusually calm despite Rain's obvious insubordination, "Courage is a worthless trait if it only serves to get you killed."

Is he lecturing me?

"General, one cannot always rely on the element of surprise."

"Indeed. And one cannot always rely on good fortune, young Callyn."

Rain stared in disbelief, convinced her hearing must've deceived her.

After nothing but 'assassin' this and 'assassin' that, he's choosing to address me by name?

"I believe I have acquired enough information for my report to Count Dooku," Grievous wheezed, "Perhaps soon enough we shall be free of each other's presence." He paused, turning his back. "Rather unfortunate. I consider you more tolerable than Dooku's previous assassin."

Rain had to stop herself from gaping wide-eyed at the General.

He's...wha...what is HAPPENING?!