Author: Femmeslash Fatale

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. Please don't sue me, as I have no wealth or money. Except twenty dollars in my purse. ;)

(Extended) Summary: When Ventress starts to fall in love with a certain Togruta, her life is irrivocably changed. Does Ahsoka share her feelings? If so, how will they survive the brutality of the Clone Wars together? Ventress/Ahsoka

Asajj Ventress looked out into deep space with a troubled gaze. It cooled her raging temper and sprained muscles. After failing her last mission, Ventress had been severely punished for her incompetence. Count Dooku - more importantly, Darth Sideous - did not appreciate being told that the Jedi had won once again.

Ventress almost shuddered at the thought. But she restrained the urge, for any small sign of weakness would be exploited. It was the Sith way.

The dark side of the Force was telling the lithe assassin that this mission would be difficult. Very difficult indeed. One didn't need to be Force-sensitive to know it though; rescuing Nute Gunray almost single-handedly from a heavily guarded Republic ship would test the abilities of anyone.

But she had a standard hour or so before she would be leaving. Time to waste. Walking over to her bed, the Sith acolyte sighed deeply. Ahsoka Tano, one of the Jedi Order's rising stars, would be helping Luminara Unduli guard Gunray. The small and highly skilled Togruta was a formidable opponent - something Dooku did not seem to grasp. If Ventress was to pull off her mission this time it would take great ingenuity. Jedi had an uncanny way of doing just the opposite of what one wanted them to do.

This thought was not comforting to the Sith acolyte in the slightest. Getting up, Asajj decided to do some light training against a few special droids which were designed to fight like Jedi. Minus the Force powers, of course.

She was just in the middle of a rather enjoyable fight when an incoming hololink transmission forced her to halt.

"Yes, Master?" Ventress asked. She struggled to keep an even tone - Dooku demanded that she speak to him respectfully at all times.

He regarded her with his usual calm composure. "I take it you are ready for your mission?"

"My task will be fulfilled to the letter, my Lord."

"Good," he said, and his deep voice carried the hint of a smile. "Remember; if it is too difficult to bring Viceroy Gunray back alive, silence him."

Ventress felt a sneer twisting her dark lips. "Yes, Master," she said, rough voice filled with her absolute delight.

She would prove herself today. She knew it.

Republic Transport ship

Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano was in a foul mood. Not only was the slippery and corrupt Nemoidian she had to guard refusing to talk, but he was also insisting that he was only an "innocent pawn." Honestly. If someone ever claimed to have found an innocent Nemoidian she would shove her boot up their rear.

"Are we there yet?" the young Togruta asked boredly.

Luminara Unduli shot her a reproving look. "You are entirely too impatient, Padawan! Control your emotions." The Jedi Master was right, Ahsoka admitted grudgingly to herself. She'd always been a little too emotional - being paired with Anakin Skywalker as a master hadn't helped on that front.

"Yes, Master Luminara."

With one last glance at the young Togruta, Luminara turned away and sat down to meditate. She had a sneaking suspicion that she would need all the composure she could find. Skywalker's headstrong padawan seemed to have a way of finding - or attracting? - trouble of the worst kind.

Ahsoka stared out at the blurred brightness of hyperspace. A beautiful sight, to be sure, but not a comforting one. Space was freezing cold and as deadly as it was amazing.

At times like these, she wished that the war would just end once and for all. Then nobody would have to die. Families wouldn't be torn apart anymore. Planets wouldn't be invaded and bombed and cruelly repurposed. The Jedi wouldn't have to exercise their skills for anything other than calm diplomacy. But the end of the war was not yet in sight.

She was shaken from her brooding by a clone announcing that they had almost reached their destination.

"Finally!"

Luminara shot her another warning look, then moved to the cockpit. "Have you established a link?"

"Yes Commander. Patchin' her through now," the pilot responded.

When the ship finally docked Ahsoka watched Nute Gunray being led out of the back room. He was protesting loudly. The clone that was shoving him along from behind whacked the Nemoidian over the head with his gun with an annoyed, "Shut up!"

Once Gunray had been successfully transfered, Luminara started to question him in earnest. It was not hard for her to delve into his mind with the Force. For all his corruption he was remarkably weak-minded. But he continued to refuse to give up his secrets. "I am an innocent pawn!" he proclaimed fearfully.

Luminara gave him a sarcastic look. "Then who are you protecting?"

"No one! Please!"

That was when the ship was rocked side to side by a powerful explosion. Everything became frightening all of a sudden; Ahsoka found herself knocked to the ground, stunned and hurt. Shouting from the clones vaguely filtered through to her brain, but the blackness was closing in. Luminara saw the padawan lying there on the floor - seemingly injured - and her brow creased in concern. Was Ahsoka going to be all right?

"Super battle droids have boarded the ship, Commander!" the warning came through her comlink. "They're headed for the prison cells!"

Racing quickly towards the sound of marching and guns firing, Luminara sees the carnage before her. It's worse than she'd thought it would be. Bodies lay sprawled all down the corridor in pathetic little bunches. Sticky red blood coated the floor and some of the walls. The droids had mowed down every clone in their way!

How could this happen?

Cliff hanger :D I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. Review please.