Star Wars: The Last Qymaili | ✔

52 | Trust Me

Song: "Jedi Eulogy" from Star Wars: The Clone Wars OST

Through the security cameras, Grievous clenched his fists. I am jealous for you, Ronderu. I can keep this game up.

His medical droid walked into the room. "Master, you have an incoming transmission from Count Dooku."

He growled. Not now. Anytime but now. But he stood. "Patch him through."

He bowed, coughing briefly before Dooku's form appeared. "Grievous, today you must terminate the false khagan."

Terminate her.

My trainer, my master....wants me to murder the woman I love.

He narrowed his eyes. "It will be done, my lord."

He bowed, and the message was disconnected. He stamped toward the corridor to find Ronderu. Time for them to make amends was running short.

✺✺✺

She had stubbornly stripped herself down to nothing but her linens. She glowered with swollen red eyes. Her tangled black hair, sallow skin, and shivering frame were her own doing—that much was clear.

He crossed his arms. "You disregard my gifts and attempt suicide? Hate me if you wish, but I will not stand for this."

She stood indignantly. "Hate you? Damn it, Qymaen—I'm in this state because I love you!"

He growled. "This isn't how you display it!"

Her shoulders were wracked with weeping as she sank to her knees again. "I thought you were dead...." she gasped. "I thought you were....and to find out...." her words were cut off. "I need time...."

"I fear it cannot be so," he replied softly. "I must take you to Kalee for your execution."

He wrapped her in the cloak and gently lifted her up by the knees and shoulders. "I must show you something."

✺✺✺

She wore a sour look as they entered the medical bay, where the med droid was busy cleaning. "Ay-Four, get a chair."

It obeyed, and he sat her down, tucking her in the folds of his cape. "Run a scan."

"Begging your pardon, Master, but—"

"Just run it."

"What are you hoping to find?" Ronderu put in.

He bent down to the droid's level, and it ran the scan on him. "Here are the results."

He snatched the pad out of its hands and passed it to her. She squinted at the pad. "A stimulation of your amygdala? That's why you're so....angry?"

He crushed his eyes shut; Hill's words from a year ago stabbed through his mind. How do you feel? Angrier, perhaps?

"I was a fool not to recognize it earlier. This isn't who I am, Ronderu."

She lowered her head. "You know how hard it is for me to just move on."

I will let her go. I will not be afraid if she hates me.

But I could never be the same.

"I understand if you want nothing to do with me any longer."

She whispered a reply, more tears flowing down her cheeks. "I want you. But I must know that you are safe....now that you know who I am."

And I can't prove that.