Chapter IX – Gazing into the Mirror
Asajj Ventress has never liked leaving the planets she has helped to liberate or protect because she hates the feeling of unknowing of what will happen after she departs. Will the garrisons of troops left behind be able to protect the planets liberty or will the Separatist armies succeed in retaking the planets. She looks down to her wrist at a small bracelet given to her by Tayha, a small girl she helped to save on Elvian V and she thinks that the life of a Jedi is far more fulfilling than serving a side bent on destruction and domination of others.
"We are approaching the command ship," Obi-Wan says, before she turns and looks out the forward window of the shuttle. She had never seen this many battle groups together since she joined the republic forces, and she is impressed by the force of the Open Circle Fleet. They dock in the bay of the Venator class starship and Ventress shakes her head with a feeling she has not felt in some time. Not since he struck her down on Boz Pity. She ramp lowers slowing to floor, and at the bottom she sees him, glaring at her, his cutting eye bisecting the scar that she gave him. But surprisingly to her, she does not have the anger or ill feeling that expected to have upon seeing him for the first time since Boz Pity.
"Skywalker," she says before walking down the ramp and bowing her head.
"So it's true, they Council actually allowed you to serve the Republic after what you have done," Anakin says looking down on her.
"Anakin, now it not the time for this, and you are out of line," Obi-Wan says.
"Out of line Obi-Wan, with all the Jedi she's killed, she tried to kill you and…"
"ANAKIN," Obi-Wan yells, drawing the attention of some of the clone troops in the hanger bay. "She has served the Republic admirably since she has taken up its defense, and she has earned the great respect of the clones in our battle group because of her refusal to leave her ARCs behind on Elvian V, even against commands to withdraw and leave them," Obi-Wan continues. "You should fight beside her before you judge her Anakin."
"She is your padawan Master, trust her if wish, I still do not," Anakin says looking over Obi-Wan's shoulder at her before he turns and walks away.
"Do not mind him padawan, he has not had the best times as of late," Aayla Secura says putting her hand on Ventress' shoulder. "You have shown who you really are when not deceived by Count Dooku."
"That is of no concern now, I sensed a great deal of urgency when Master Windu summoned us here, so we had better see what he wants; let us go to the briefing room," Obi-Wan says as the three exit the hanger bay, take the lift up to the command level, and make their way down the hall to the briefing room. They walk down a small set of stairs where Anakin stands next to a large table which serves and holoprojector, which is already glowing with the images Masters Windu and Yoda, as well as Chancellor Palpatine and his advisors.
"Greeting Masters, Chancellor Palpatine," Obi-Wan says bowing his head, followed by Aayla Secura.
"Greeting Masters, greeting Chancellor," Ventress says, as a familiar feeling swims through her that she cannot place.
"Greeting padawan, heard good things of you we have," Yoda says nodding his head.
"Yes, Dooku's former assassin," Chancellor Palpatine says rubbing his chin, before he starts tapping the tips of his fingers together. "I have heard of your deeds since you joined the Jedi Order, and perhaps one day you may return to this galaxy what you have taken from it," the chancellor says nonchalantly, but his words sting her, and spring up new fountains of guilt within her.
"With all due respect Chancellor, Asajj Ventress is not a part of the Jedi Order to repay some debt she owes for past acts against this galaxy and the Republic," Obi-Wan says in her defense. "She now protects the Republic as any other of us."
"Fair enough Master Kenobi, but nevertheless we have a task for your padawan," the Chancellor responds.
"What would that be?" Obi-Wan questions.
"I have received intelligence that the Separatists have a listening post in the rings of Corin, the third planet in the Undar system. They have been intercepting our Holonet transmissions for some time since we have begun the sieges of the Outer Rim," Chancellor Palpatine says.
"Ambushing our fleets they have been, destroy this listening station we must," Yoda adds.
"We have also learned that they have a new Command Computer in this listening post that analyzes our data and sends tactical commands to the droid fleets for immediate response to our forces," Chancellor Palpatine says stepping from behind his desk. "If we can access this computer we may be able to acquire the locations of all droid forces in that sector," he adds.
"And use it as an advantage to ambush the droid fleets," Obi-Wan says nodding his head.
"Yes Master Kenobi, it could swing the tides or war to our advantage in the Outer Rim," Palpatine responds.
"I will leave with my padawan at once Chancellor," Obi-Wan says bowing his head.
"No Master Kenobi, this mission is tasked to your padawan, you are required for another task," Master Windu says.
"With all due respect Master, I do not feel that I should be separated from my padawan when she is about to embark on such a dangerous task," Obi-Wan pleads with this masters.
"The mission tasked to your padawan is not as dangerous as the one we send you upon," Master Windu replies.
"What mission?" Obi-Wan asks.
"We have uncovered some clues on the location of the Sith, and we ask that you and Skywalker investigate this matter," Master Windu says.
"Master Windu, Obi-Wan will need my help should he and Skywalker discover the Sith," Ventress says stepping beside her Master.
"To face a Sith, ready you are not," Yoda says pointing his finger at her, before he places his hand back on his cane. "A long way you have come since joining the Order, proud of you we are," Yoda continues.
"Then why can't I accompany my Master on such a dangerous mission?" Ventress questions the Jedi Grandmaster, and though encouraged by his words, she feels slighted by her exclusion from the mission.
"Because padawan, quickly lost can such gains be, your failure on Malis, remember it do you," Yoda questions her, as visions of her encounter with the vision of her former Master run through her mind, as she remembers the anger and rage taking control of her, even as she thought she had banished them.
"I have learned much since then Master, I am ready to face such things," Ventress pleads.
"Our own council will decide upon when you are ready," Yoda says sternly. "Unusual it is for a Master and padawan to be separated, but strange are these times, and to risk the loss of padawan Ventress to the darkside once again, wise it is not."
"I understand Master," Ventress says, finally conceding the point to Master Yoda. But at the same time she concedes a point to herself as well, that maybe the Council's decision is based not upon a distrust of her, but a genuine wish to protect her.
"When do we leave Master," Anakin asks.
"You and your battle group will leave as soon as you are prepared," Master Windu says.
"I am still uneasy about leaving my padawan Masters," Obi-Wan says, his voice full of concern.
"Accompany General Secura your padawan will," Yoda says pointing to Aayla Secura, who bows her head. "Work with the ARC commandos again you will," he adds.
"Good luck to all of you, may the force be with you," Mace Windu says, as all the Jedi bow to their Masters and the Chancellor before the holo image disappears.
"Master no disrespect to the Council but something about all of this does not sit well with me," Ventress says, and Obi-Wan nods his head. "I also felt a familiar presence and it was not Master Yoda or Master Windu," she adds.
"What are you saying padawan?" Obi-Wan asks.
"I think that the Chancellor or someone in his inner circle does not have the best interest of the Republic at heart," Ventress replies. "I do not have a good feeling about either of these missions."
"Who are you to question the Chancellor, YOU of all people," Anakin screams at Ventress as Obi-Wan steps between the two. "The Chancellor is a good man, and a close friend, he would never do anything to jeopardize the Republic or the Jedi," Anakin continues to yell.
"Calm down Anakin, Ventress is only saying that she does not get a good feeling from these missions, and I must admit that I feel something is out of place as well," Obi-Wan says shaking his head.
"Well I trust the Chancellor, through his leadership this War will soon be over," Anakin says with his voice full of pride. "And your padawan needs to learn her place, she has no right to question the Chancellor."
"Calm down Anakin," Obi-Wan pleads holding out his hands.
"I won't stand here and listen to you question the Chancellor as if he can't be trusted," Anakin says angrily turning towards the door. "I'm going to prepare my men," he says before he exits the briefing room.
"He has not been the same since he lost his padawan," Obi-Wan says. "He still blames himself." Obi-Wan continues, shaking his head as he stares at the door Anakin exited.
"You should go and ready yourself as well Master Kenobi, Master Windu made it sound as if you would be leaving immediately," General Secura says.
"Watch over my padawan until we return Aayla," Obi-Wan says.
"Do not worry I will accompany her and the ARCs into the listening post Master Kenobi, we will be fine," General Secura says bowing her head.
"You should get some rest before your mission Ventress, you will need it," Obi-Wan says.
"I will not fail you Master."
"How many times must I tell you Ventress, these missions are not tests to prove yourself, and you cannot fail me, I can only fail you," Obi-Wan says as Ventress bows her head. "But be mindful padawan, I get an uneasy feeling from these missions as well."
"May the force be with you Master," Ventress says.
"May the force be with the both of you as well," Obi-Wan says before he turns to leave.
"I am going to discuss some things with Commander Bly and Admiral Yularen, but do what your Master said and rest," General Secura says, before Ventress bows her head and exits the briefing room to take the lift. She exits the lift on the floor her quarters are on, but as she approaches her room, she feels a familiar presence. "What is he doing here?" She thinks to herself before she opens the door to her quarters.
"Skywalker, to what do I owe this pleasure," Ventress asks, even as she feels the coldness coming from the Jedi.
"You may have fooled Obi-Wan Ventress, he's always had some unexplainable desire to save you, thinking that you will make a good Jedi one day, but I know that will never happen," Anakin says angrily. "The Council knows you are dangerous and they will never make you a Jedi Knight."
"You heard Master Windu and Master Yoda's words in the briefing, they have put the past behind them, I have put the past, our past behind me, why can you not do the same Skywalker?" She questions him, but there is no change in his demeanor, or the feeling saturating her quarters like and angry mist. "When all is said and done, we are all Jedi."
"You don't know what it is to be a Jedi Ventress." He says dismissingly.
"And you do Skywalker," she blurts out finally having enough of the Jedi's accusations and undermining of all she's done to prove that she isn't that person anymore. "I wonder what the Jedi Council would say if they knew about how you called upon your anger and rage to defeat me on Yavin and again on Coruscant," she says pointing at him. "That you threw a defeated enemy from the roof, that is not the Jedi way," she continues and though she knows that her next words will not defuse the situation she decides to hurt him how has hurt her. "What if they knew about you and the Senator, what would they say," she says and though she doesn't think it possible the smell of igniting plasma reaches her nose, and a flash of blue blurs her vision of him, momentarily.
"I warned you on Coruscant what you happen if you threatened those I cared about Ventress, do not taunt me further," Anakin says his eyes cutting her with every word.
"I do not threaten anyone Skywalker, I only ask you to look at what you have done and think of where you would have been if you had not had Obi-Wan as your Master," Ventress replies not backing down one inch from the Jedi. "Be careful Skywalker because in your anger I see something in you." She says staring back right into his eyes looking at her reflection on his pupils, where she sees a flashing image of a person she wishes never to see again.
"And what would that be Ventress?"
"Myself, or rather how I used to be."
"We are nothing alike Ventress," he says extinguishing his lightsaber, and turning to leave. He pauses for a moment before he turns and looks over his shoulder at her. "And forget you ever heard of Padme, never mention her name to me again," he says before he leaves the room.
"Yes Skywalker we are alike, only we are moving in opposite directions."
