The Path to Redemption
Summary
AU, but seeks to follow as much of the original storyline as possible. Obi-Wan Kenobi is on a mission to escort a Republic Ambassador to a planet that the Republic is seeking to join them in the ongoing Clone War. But upon visiting the planet Obi-Wan is drawn to a familiar foe, and given a chance to right what he feels is one of his biggest failures, and perhaps bring a feeling of redemption to them both.
All Star Wars characters are locations belong to George Lucas and his affiliates.
Chapter I
Obi-Wan Kenobi has always relished his time away from battle, for the Clone Wars had taken its toll on himself and the Jedi; both on their number and the very tenets the Jedi Order stands upon. He has meditated on ways to keep the true spirit of the Jedi Order intact during such times, but his fear for the well being of the Jedi Order constantly lingers in his mind. He opens his eyes from his meditation sensing the approach of someone outside his quarters.
"You may enter," he says rising to his feet.
"We have passed through the atmosphere of Malis," Kenobi is informed by a clone in the orange marked armor of the 7th Sky Corps.
"Very good Cody, is Ambassador Talen ready to depart?" Obi-Wan questions the clone troop commander.
"Yes, all we require is your presence in the hanger and we can depart for the surface," Cody replies, as he and Kenobi exit the quarters and proceed to the lift. They arrive in the hanger which is a buzz with movement as it always is, and Obi-Wan sees Ambassador Talen standing alongside a transport flanked by clone troopers.
"Greeting Ambassador Talen," Obi-Wan says bowing his head.
"Greeting General Kenobi, or should I say for the purposes of this endeavor the negotiator," she say with a smile.
"Are you ready to depart for the surface?" Obi-Wan asks, and Ambassador Talen nods her head before they walk up the ramp into the transport, and the hanger door of the Venator Class star ship begins to open.
"Let us depart," General Kenobi says as the shuttle departs the ship under the escort of two troop transports. They fly over the surface of the planet, which is many sets of mist covered hills separated by tall green forests.
"Do you think that this planet may aid us in our War against the Separatist Army?" Ambassador Talen asks Obi-Wan.
"Any systems we can persuade to join the Republic will aid us my lady and any one of them could be the stone that causes the flow of this war to change," Obi-Wan answers.
"All I have read of the Swag'Nel point to them being a non violent species who have kept to themselves for as long as our records go back," Ambassador Talen says.
"Well I fear that the Separatist Army will soon be at their doorstep, and they will not be as diplomatic as us," Obi-Wan explains. "This planet would be a prime location for a Republic base and outpost, but at the very least we must inform the Swag'Nel of the danger that will soon cast a shadow over this planet, and at least…" he says before pausing, unable to ignore a feeling growing in his mind.
"What is it General Kenobi?" Ambassador Talen questions.
"Something is wrong here," Obi-Wan Kenobi says walking to the window and looking out upon the terrain, the feeling growing stronger in his mind.
"Do you sense darkness Master Jedi," Ambassador Talen asks with a concerned voice, fear beginning to etch itself upon her face.
"No not darkness Ambassador Talen, but I sense that something is out of place here," Obi-Wan says as they pass over one last range of hills and glide over an open green field of long grass, patches of wildflowers, and scattered dwarf trees. Behind it is a city of green and white buildings resting upon a plateau in the shadow of another set of hills.
"Set down just in front of the city," Obi-Wan says as the cruiser settles down just before the city.
"Commander Cody, I need to one of the transports, and a pilot," Obi-Wan says before reaching the end of the ramp.
"Do you need me to accompany you General Kenobi?"
"No Cody, I do not believe we are in danger, please escort the Ambassador to meet with the Swag'Nel king,' Obi-Wan says, as Commander Cody nods his head.
"What could be of such importance that you would not accompany me to see the King?" Ambassador Talen questions.
"The Force Ambassador, it draws me to something upon the world, and the will of the force should not and cannot be ignored," Obi-Wan says walking to one of the troop transports, as Commander Cody motions for two of his men to accompany him.
"I will return soon, but do not keep the King waiting," Obi-Wan says as he steps upon the transport and it lifts slowly from the ground climbing into the air high enough to pass over the hills, and flying back over the tall forest.
"There, land it that clearing," Obi-Wan says pointing out the side of the transport.
"Yes sir," the clone pilot replies with a nod of his helmet, as he descends slowly and hovers over the forest, dropping delicately down through the hole in the foliage and settling on the forest floor.
"We will accompany you General Kenobi," one of the clone soldiers says stepping off the transport holding a blaster rifle.
"No, I will be fine, stay here," he says holding out his hand, as he walks into the trees.
"It can't be," he says to himself as he presses deeper into the forest until comes upon another small clearing hidden underneath a tight ceiling of foliage blocking out all but a few thin strands of sunlight. There is a small structure at the back of the clearing snuggled between two trees, the smoke of a fire still floating upon the air.
"Hello, is anybody…" but before he can complete his sentence he reaches for his lightsaber and turns his eyes up to the trees where a cloaked form if falling from the boughs, one of the few strands of sunlight gleaming off the red blade of its lightsaber. Obi-Wan rolls out of the way and rises to his feet just in time to parry the forms strike, before he extends his hand and pushes the form away, at the same time blowing the hood from its head.
"It cannot be," Obi-Wan says in disbelief, lowering his lightsaber to his side.
"Asajj Ventress, but it cannot be, I saw you die," he says continuing to stare upon his former nemesis.
"But yet here I stand."
"But how?"
"That is of no concern of yours Kenobi; the only questions that matter are how did you find me here, and why can you not leave me alone?" She demands as she draws another lightsaber from inside her cloak.
"Wait Ventress, I do not wish to fight you, I am only here on a diplomatic mission to seek the aid of the Swag'Nel in the Clone Wars," Obi-Wan explains.
"Finding you here was the will of the force."
"Then in spite of everything I have done, the things I had hoped to leave behind have found me," she says after a loud sigh.
"The War, the Jedi, the Sith, I only seek to be as far away as possible from you all, and still you find me," she says turning her gaze to him; one that was once was full of animus and hate, now somber and fearful.
"You cannot run from that which your destiny and fate are intertwined," Obi-Wan says turning off his lightsaber.
"What destiny, what fate?" she questions, anger beginning to enter her tone.
"I have been betrayed and left for dead by those I once trusted, and I have slain too many in your order to ever seek the path of a Jedi as my first master," she says, her face once again falling into sadness.
"Your former wished you to become a Jedi Ventress, he would never had wanted the path that Dooku placed you upon, nor would he want you living in solitude when you could be so much more," Obi-Wan explains, trying to mask his sorrow for her, as he feels the turmoil going on inside the once dark Jedi.
"Forget it Kenobi, I am evil, it is all I will ever be," she says dropping her head, and turning off her lightsabers.
"It is all I have ever known, even before the path Count Dooku set me upon," she says rubbing her fingers over her smooth head.
"I bear the marks to prove it," she says looking up into the boughs of the trees, a single strand of golden sunlight falling upon her face.
"I am worshiped as the Goddess of Death, because that is all that I have known, all I have brought to this galaxy," she says somberly, a tear welling up in her eye before she turns away.
"Then become something more, become what your former master would have wanted you to be," Obi-Wan pleads, but Ventress only turns to him, her face wearing a wide grin.
"A Jedi," she says shaking her head.
"Your order would not allow me within a parsec of their temple," she blurts.
"You would not be the first Jedi who was brought back Ventress."
"There is nothing to be brought back to Kenobi, no good deeds, no acts of selflessness, there is nothing but evil in my past," she says.
"You told me to protect the Galactic Core from Dooku, you said that perhaps I was right about you, and I still believe that I am," Obi-Wan says sincerely as he holds out his hand to her.
"Your history is only full of dark deeds because you choose to make it that way by to living here in exile," he explains to her. "Write yourself a new history."
"Why do you care so much, I have tried to take your life on more than one occasion, why would you trust me, why is this so important to you," she questions him, her eyes yearning for a something to hold on to, something real.
"Because I know that there is good in you; I know you can do great things if you can only get past your guilt, your feelings betrayal, you can be more than you ever were under Dooku," he says as she drops her head.
"It would be nice to be something more than a mere assassin or an exiled failure," she says, and he can feel her thoughts and feelings conceding to his words, but not for all the reasons that he would like.
"I do owe you for relieving me of my hatred and malice," she says sincerely.
"Then you will leave this place of solitude and return with me to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant?"
"If you can convince your Order to accept and welcome me, than such a miracle would convince me to stay and see what I can become under your guidance," she says, as he finally approaches her.
"But if not, you must agree to let me go, and never seek me out again," she says, as he nods his head.
"Then I will return with you."
"Then gather what things are important to you and make ready to leave," he says as she nods her head and walks towards her shelter.
"And Ventress, I can sense that one of your motives in coming with me is revenge upon those who betrayed you," he says, as she stops in her tracks.
"But you would allow me to accompany you nonetheless?" She asks without turning around.
"Yes, because I know that you can be better than this once you are shown something true."
End Chapter One
Hopefully you like this better than my first attempt at FanFiction, but even if you don't all comments and opinions are welcomed and appreciated.