The two were silent yet again after Tigress had asked her question. But Grievous wasn’t quite sure were to begin, he desired her as his apprentice, yes but how to tell her that…? It was situations like this where he wished he was better with words.


“You showed me great skill, able to destroy over a dozen of my droids with only your bare hands as well annihilate one of my bodyguards.”


’Surprised you even need them,’ Tigress thought to herself as he continued to meet the cyborg’s glowing stare. “And being able to last against me without being Force sensitive is impressive, even if I was going easy on you,” he added a bit smugly. Tigress glowered darkly at him, the shadows complimenting her eyes and unique orange and black coloration nicely. Grievous shook his head once before resuming, “If it isn’t already obvious to you we are at war.”


“With who?” Her chains jingled as she moved her head forward aggressively.


“The traitorous Republic scum and their precious Jedi Order!” Grievous’ metal fists clenched at the mention of the Jedi, his sworn enemies and the scourge of his people! “Thus far I have been leading the CIS myself, most of the time, and I have witnessed in you a kindred spirit-“


The Tiger Master’s tail fluffed out and she snarled at being compared to him. “You know nothing! And I will not have my time wasted any further with this nonsense, release me now!”


“I know that you are a lone warrior,” he pointed a slim claw like finger at her face now standing inches from her, his voice lowering, “you must have allies but in the end you alone bear the responsibility of leadership,” his menacing skull like head closer to hers, “I can see it in your eyes.”


Tigress remained dead silent as hostility as much she hated to admit to herself, began to ebb away. He was right.


“I want you as my apprentice Tigress,” he stated, assuming a somewhat calmer stance, the gears and servos clicked and whirred as he shifted in place. Tigress’ paws had clenched so tightly her claws were close to slicing open her palms and she began weighing out her options.


’If I refuse he’ll probably kill me…but I want absolutely nothing to do with him either! Nor this war and I cannot abandon China or my friends!’ But still, she accepted her escape was going to be a time consuming one. General Grievous was not stupid and there was no way he’d just let her walk out whenever she wished…


“I accept your generous offer Grievous,” she felt ashamed and even a little traitorous towards her Master Shifu at even pretending to admit this…creature as her master. The manacles released her immediately and she dropped hard to the floor on her palms and knees. Feeling more embarrassed at not expecting that. Grievous, in a very uncharacteristic act of what kindness offered a hand to the feline, not wanting to see her in defeated shamble.


Her amber eyes glared at the six fingered appendage and without his help she stood tall and defiant. It was then she realized just how huge he actually was compared to her and he was looking down on her intently again, his eye boring into her. “We will begin tomorrow.”