maskormenace | [Video] Arrival

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[Video] Arrival

[Was that a mask? The visual shows what appears to be some sort of skeletal alien mask and the voice that accompanies it sounds oddly mechanical. Some here may recognize the cyborg General, even if just from historical records. While arriving as human, he'd quickly discovered his powers of transformation from the files he was given then after some brief experimenting he settled on the one he'd last been most familiar with. At least for now.]

Citizens. Heroes.

[The emphasized word seems to catch in his throat and there's a brief cough before he continues with an underlying growl to his tone.]

This is an unfortunate development. I was interrupted in the midst of a critical battle. I do not have time to deal with your little world's problems.

[The words are interrupted again by more coughing then an annoyed growl before the video cuts out abruptly.]

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Yes. Do so.

[He agreed to the first part readily. Any information he could sort through could be of use to make sense of this. Then a name was dropped.]

Count Dooku... is here? That is not possible.

[It had been not very long ago that he'd had word from Lord Sidious that the Count had been killed. But of course he had also just been told he himself had met a similar fate... Was this a place where all the dead were drawn to? He had to know and maybe Dooku had more answers.]

Where is he?

Has the General ever been to a lower tech planet whose inhabitants considered his cybernetics impossible?

I'm afraid relative to the creators of the Porters, that's our situation.

...Anyway. There are several of us here who came straight from our deaths.

Are you implying yourself as well?

Yes, sir.

And you remember it?

[If he died, he doesn't remember it. He only recalls battling with Obi-Wan - and then he was here.]

Not everyone does. I do.

[the changed tone of the conversation… he wonders… could be… progress?

They're on an entirely different scale now. Dimensional transference was a hard thing to sink in. But death… that's something soldiers inevitably grapple with.

And the war-born Grievous… was difficult to read. But… some kind of level shift for certain. More personal, if nothing else. …Which was also remarkable.

—in respect of which, an anticipation: ]

Though less clearly as time passes. It's hard to hold in the mind, alive.

[Like Cassian, Grievous had often lived with conflicts and ongoing wars. It had been rare to get to know many on a more personal level back home. But here - even though there were obviously things going on as they'd been called here as 'heroes' to take care of unknown situations when they arose - there wasn't quite the same sort of pressure to an immediate fight. He'd only just arrived but even he could feel that difference already. He wasn't exactly relaxed or even more open, but there was time for a conversation.]

Was it in a battle?

[This was important to him, being from a warrior background. To not fall in battle would be a disgrace.]

[He knows in some cultures, very likely Grievous's, that this is a distinction with a difference. Being directly and immediately killed while still actively fighting, or…]

I lasted until it was over. I would have succumbed to injuries sustained in combat if not finished off by orbital attack.

[Aware that disclosing this is probably relinquishing advantage. It's far less a warrior's death. He's not sure if Grievous's mindset would prefer Cassian found a way to finish it himself on an enemy's weapon rather than "outlast" and die in a way that would have been the same were he a civilian. It's not unlikely. Still, for multiple reasons right now, he'll stick with truth.]

[Still, the fact he'd been killed in any attack was good enough for Grievous right now. He felt there was some nobility in that.]

If we are to fall, then let it be in battle. Did you feel that you fought well?

[It hadn't been much actual fighting for them. Not as much as those on the beach. Not as much as Kay. Everyone else had been about clearing the way for Jyn and Cassian to get to the transmitter.

No. For Jyn to get to the transmitter. Cassian had simply been her last line of defense.

…He'd fulfilled that.

Cassian had taken out the Deathtroopers so they couldn't shoot Jyn off the datacore, giving her time to get clear, before the man in white shot Cassian down.

On regaining consciousness, Cassian had managed to drag himself the rest of the way, though it made his own wounds irreversible to do so, and taken out the man in white before he could shoot Jyn on the citadel.

Cassian had covered Jyn's back and made sure no one prevented her finishing her job.

And the job had been done]

We succeeded in our mission.

[So, no, he wouldn't give himself any honor for fighting over the others. Whom he could name, every one, and doubted there was any left alive who could do so. Not even more than Kay. But in doing his part: yes. He'd helped Jyn finish her job. Cassian would own that.]

Good. Then you can be proud.

[He could respect that. Before having to deal with ineffectual droids, he'd led his own special groups of warriors against bad odds and they all had to play their part. If he knew the extent of all of Palpatine's manipulations, he'd have no great love for the Empire either so would be pleased by Cassian's efforts against them.]

[The impact of having a childhood hero say that to him—no matter how used and betrayed he'd come to feel about figures like Grievous in particular—

they went from cheering to discomfort as reports of his viciousness grew—weren't they supposed to be better than…?

—and the CIS at large—

It was tempting to spare you. But impossible. Yes. The inescapable and near-unanimous conclusion of both sides is that the Separatist movement backfired by speeding if not directly facilitating the rise of the Empire.

—is…

Powerful.

Even for someone as hardened as Cassian.

Perhaps if it were anything but Rogue One he'd keep more cool. But…

He swallows. Visibly… moved.]

Thank you, General.

[…

But.

No good to undo any of the points he's scored by showing softness.

Squaring his jaw and his shoulders, Cassian got back to business.]

How may I further assist in your transition, sir?

You have been very informative. Continue to be so and report to me when you have any further information of importance.

[He did appreciate the strength and Cassian being professional. It would only make him respect the man more.]

[a crisp, saluting nod]

Sir.

[…it's so tempting to try… something. Maximize the impossible odds of… well… recruiting, really—of Grievous to the new cause.

Of life. Of peace.

But if it were remotely possible… it would take something beyond Cassian's ability. Any attempt on a mind like Grievous's would more likely…

like the movement

…backfire.

All he could hope for meanwhile was to stay on Grievous's side and hope that didn't become a contradiction. Have a better chance of minimizing it if it did.]

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