George Lucas created a great sandbox: even has librarians. (A profession I am working to join.)

Separation

Obi-Wan had made a point of seeing her because he and Anakin were going back to the front lines. Asajj found it mildly disquieting to wake up and not feel his force signature close by. Shaking her head of the thought she decided to go to the cafeteria. The force decided to make her morning easy by having Bant eating at the same time.

"Asajj!"

Asajj settled in front of the Mon Calamari. Bant was not Obi-Wan but Asajj admitted to feeling some fondness for her. The Mon Calamari was obviously a healer, and not a warrior, but Asajj did not hold that against her. After all the healing arts were why Asajj was still alive, so she would not quibble. Besides the Jedi honored healing. Asajj frowned. I have taken the ideals of the Jedi as my own- not counting their ridiculousness about attachment. Does this mean I am a Jedi? Held to their authority? Will they try to make me a padawan? Hopefully not. I am only here until I can get back to Rattatak. I give my fealty to the light, but I have my own work to do.

"What are your plans for today?"

Asajj was not certain. Beyond the knowledge she couldn't leave for Rattatak her plans for the day were uncertain.

"I am not certain."

"Well if you need anything please ask me."

Asajj almost snapped a question if Obi-Wan had put Bant up to that, but she could sense the Mon Calamari liked Asajj for her own sake.

"Thank you, but I think I need some time to think. I am usually more organized."

"You've been through a lot."

I put people through a lot as well. What would be the most productive use of my time? Perhaps I can do some research for Rattatak. My plans so far have been guesses. They have worked but I prefer more precision.

She remembered Bant quietly bringing Asajj to the archives. So much information. I wonder if they would also have information on Ky…

"Bant, do the archives or any other place have information on specific Jedi? I would like to learn more about my master."

Bant looked uncertain. Asajj would not hold it against her if she refused to help. I am dark no longer but I have not done anything to earn their trust either.

"There should be information about him in the achives."

Asajj could guess what was bothering the Mon Calamari now.

"I do not mind if anyone monitors what I look for."

I wonder how they would take it if I also look up information about Obi-Wan and his master. I heard whispers Obi-Wan's master was Dooku's student.

"Alright. Remember to eat though because research eats time."

Asajj nodded. "I will take the advice of a healer. I will see you later."

She went to the archives. Sure enough, the librarian came to her.

"May I help you?"

"I am seeking information to help my home world Rattatak heal, about my master Ky Narec and about Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn."

"An assortment. What connects them?"

The librarian walked, expecting Asajj to follow. Asajj knew the ruler of a domain when faced with one.

"They are all topics I care about. My world needs help and I need to be informed to do it. I want to learn more about my master because he had little time to tell me. Obi-Wan is interesting and I wonder about how his master formed him- and how his master was formed by Dooku."

The librarian gave Asajj a piercing look at that.

"Very well," she conceded. She gave Asajj a tour of the archives. Asajj eyed the statues of the lost Jedi- Jedi who had left the order and shook her head. One could say so few is a testament to the strength of the order. One could say so many is a testament to its weakness.

Asajj settled in to read about planetary cycles and requirements. At first she ignored her body's queries for food but remembered Bant and stood up. She had no desire to displease the one ally she had here.

She picked up the materials she had read and was going to return them when she heard a cleared throat behind her.

"You may download information to a datapad to read if you wish."

"That would be agreeable."

Clearly someone had decided show Asajj more trust. Asajj knew if it had been Obi-Wan extending the trust nothing would be required. For the Council to do so…her eyes narrowed. Take things as they come. Obi-Wan trusts the Council so I will do so for now.

Asajj left with several datapads and went back to her room. She felt more like reading than comprehensive nutrition so she cobbled some food together and made some tea. Making tea reminded her of Obi-Wan. She felt curious to know how he was, but wasn't about to ask the force. Either he is well or not…I can do nothing to change his fate. The thought was practical but she irrationally felt like she was not being a good friend for it. What can I do from here? What if I drew attention to him somehow? Asajj wanted to ask someone about this but that would mean exposing, more than she already had, her caring for Obi-Wan.

Enough. Do what you can and trust him to remember the first rule of war: to survive.

Research brought her knowledge she could use to help Rattatak and insight into Ky and Obi-Wan. Asajj was; however, suffering the side effect of research. I have barely moved in days and I hadn't gotten a good workout long before that. She looked at her lightsabers but shook her head. I do not want any misunderstandings which means I will have to make do with training weapons.

She borrowed some training sabers and used the force to find an empty training room. She didn't feel like any opponents be them droids or live beings. She centered herself and went through what she remembered of the katas. Then she stretched again and imagined herself fighting an opponent. What moves would be her best? What arrangements called to her? She let herself flow around the training room. Something jarred her concentration and she swept out of her workout to find Mace Windu observing her. She shut off the training blades and observed him back.

"You still prefer two lightsabers."

"There is nothing evil in what I am doing."

Using two sabers fits me. If I want to use one fine, but the other is there if I need it.

"I sensed no darkness in you. Your time with Obi-Wan has been fruitful."

Asajj held back some annoyance. She trusted Obi-Wan, but trusting others with the knowledge she trusted Obi-Wan was still jarring. She settled for a nod.

"Would you be able to spar?"

So the Council tests me again. Fine.

"I would."

This test was a very challenging one. Mace Windu was not just a Jedi Council member. He used the Vaapad style which harnessed darkness instead of dispersing it. He would be a fierce opponent and the closest to a Dark Jedi she had faced since Dooku.

Soon they were moving about the room. Asajj called on the force to hold off both him and the darkness he was channeling. Asajj knew if she had not done as Obi-Wan had recommended and let go of her anger at Kirske she would have been tempted by darkness again. As it was she was able to remain separate from it. It was her only victory in what felt like too short a time as Windu held his blade against her neck. He, like her, was using a training blade.

"You kept away from the darkness Ventress. You could be a Jedi if you wished."

She frowned. "My allegiance belongs to Rattatak."

"The Council is uneasy with the idea of you returning there with your training unfinished. You do not touch the darkness, but I sense you still have more to learn to truly resist it."

To learn unattachment? I think you overvalue it.

"Think about it."

"I shall."

Not for very long.

"Yoda would like to see you tomorrow."

Daily check ins. Not too onerous.

"I shall visit with him then."

She decided to visit the old master early in the morning. As she approached his room she cautiously reached out. Yoda felt her and the doors to his quarters opened. Asajj went in cautiously and sat where he gestured.

"Take care of things quickly do you. Good morning to you Asajj Ventress."

"And you as well."

"Share some tea with me would you?"

Tea. Obi-Wan. Was Yoda the one who had passed on the tea tradition to Obi-Wan's master? Asajj figured thinking on that question would be more productive than wondering about Obi-Wan.

"To Obi-Wan your thoughts turn."

These are not check ins they are tests. Tests of my loyalty and skill I do not mind, but leave my thoughts of Obi-Wan alone. She reined in her irritation.

"Ask this to make you unhappy was not my intention. Meditated on his state have you?"

"No. It would be pointless or potentially damaging."

I will not worry about him. It helps nothing.

"Worried Dooku might harm Obi-Wan through your perception are you?"

Asajj's hands clenched into fists. Yoda was hitting two sore spots this time: Dooku and her concern for Obi-Wan.

"I don't know enough of the dark side to know what he can do."

"Teach you how to shield yourself can I if wish it do you."

Asajj narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why?"

"Sorrow for your loss and for your being alone I feel. Also, important Obi-Wan is. Too many wishing and watching for his safety we cannot have."

Blending sentiment with practicality? I will not turn it down in Obi-Wan's case.

She nodded and he began to teach her. It was harder listening to him than Obi-Wan, but since Obi-Wan was who she was seeking she allowed it. Reaching for him was still hard and Asajj suspected Yoda was going to judge how close she and Obi-Wan had become by how much and how easily she did so. She reached with determination and found Obi-Wan's force signature. He was fighting, his concentration on the battle. Asajj, since Yoda didn't stop her, reached further and she could see him battling. He and Skywalker moved as one and the warrior in her enjoyed seeing them.

"Productive the meditation was?"

The worry about Obi-Wan she had pushed away was replaced by knowing how he did. Being this in tune with the force in a non-battle capacity- whether the battles were with weapons, words or herself- was a new and calming experience. Asajj blinked and nodded.

"It was," she said briefly.

Yoda eyed her for a moment and then nodded.

"Like I said important Obi-Wan is. If sense any danger to him tell me you must."

Yoda was assuming she would use her new skill to check frequently on Obi-Wan. To Asajj's annoyance he was right. She wanted to know Obi-Wan was alright and if she could help him she would.

"I shall."

To her surprise, Asajj was left alone after that. Her days passed in a cycle: eat, research, training room, meditate on Obi-Wan, and sleep. She would be interrupted not by checkups, at least not Council ones, but by various masters who were friends of Obi-Wan. She fought her first non-test related spar with Luminara. She endured a lunch with Kit Fisto. She even spent some time learning a few healing meditations from Bant.

Then the Separatists invaded Coruscant.