Asajj felt awed when they stepped out the airtaxi they had taken to climb up from the lower levels.
The Jedi Temple was in front of her, tall, solid, imposing. She had not imagined it would look so mighty—and yet her trained warrior eye noticed some vulnerabilities in the building and the apparent lack of weapon or shields. She frowned.
"What is it?" Obi-Wan asked, seeing her expression "Don't you like it?"
"Yes, I do, it's awe-inspiring but…well, I can imagine myself attacking it from different angles without finding resistance. It looks rather…vulnerable."
"It looks like that, but it is not. We have several defensive systems. I will them to you another time. Now we must go to meet Master Yoda."
"Do we really need to do it now?" Asajj was not thrilled by the prospect of meeting the Jedi Grand Master.
"Yes, we do. He probably already knows we are here, and he is waiting for us. Also, I need to know what we will say to the Temple resident regarding your presence among us," Obi-Wan explained.
"I bet Master Yoda will decide to lock me in your cells – you do have cells, don't you? – and throw away the access key."
"No, he won't," Obi-Wan answered. "Now come, let's not use the main gate. I don't want for the Temple grapevine to report the arrival of a stranger before we are ready to make your presence known."
He led her to a side entry and dialled a code on a keypad. Once inside, Obi-Wan used a hand on the small of her back to guide her along a series of deserted corridors and into a lift.
"Sorry I didn't let you have the time to look around, but there will be plenty of time for explorations in the next days," Obi-Wan apologized.
Asajj nodded, still wondering why the Jedi should want to allow the woman that had killed many of them to feel free to explore their Temple. Obi-Wan…she could almost understand him, for it looked like he still had some affection for her, if the use of her nickname was an indication. But the others… if she were in their place she would lock her up without a second thought.
The lift stopped and Obi-Wan led her to a closed door.
"Ready?" he asked.
"I was born ready," Asajj replied, faking a bravado she was far from feeling.
But Obi-Wan saw thought her façade. "Don't worry, everything will go well." He briefly touched her hand in reassurance, as the door slid open.
The room they stepped into was small and scarce in furniture. There were only four round, plush settees, and two of them were already taken. One by Master Yoda, the other by Master Windu, the two leaders of the Jedi Council, whom Asajj knew well, even if she had never faced them in battle—which was a good thing, since they were probably going to decide her future.
"Master Kenobi, Commander Ventress, relieved I am to see you both," Master Yoda said. "Sit down you will, things to discuss we have."
Asajj sat in front of the diminutive Jedi, while Obi-Wan sat beside Windu, whose gaze never left her, as he studied her with more than just his eyes.
Yoda was doing the same thing, and encouraged by Obi-Wan's supporting gaze, Asajj made the effort to lower her shields, letting the Jedi search her feelings.
After a few minutes Yoda nodded while Windu visibly relaxed.
"Pleased we are to see your dark feelings renounced you have, Commander. Even if far from over your journey on the Jedi Path is."
"The Jedi Path?" Asajj whispered. "What do you mean?"
"Among the Jedi, welcome to stay you are. Encouraged you are to learn and train in our ways. To complete what started was many years ago," Yoda explained, tapping the floor with his gimmer stick.
Asajj was dumbfounded. "How can you be so understanding? So forgiving?"
"It's the Jedi way," Master Windu answered. "We believe redemption is possible, as long as one isn't consumed by the Dark Side—and you are not. Otherwise, you would not be here."
She threw a look at Obi-Wan and he nodded soberly, as she realized what the dark skinned master had meant.
Not even the realization Obi-Wan and Ky Narec were the same person would have saved her from her hate and anger had she turned to the Dark Side. She wouldn't have experienced the joy that still burned in her heart at the discovery her love was still alive, because she would have been already lost. Asajj shuddered at the thought.
"Then…is Obi-Wan to be my master again?" she asked, unable to hide her hopeful tone.
"Yes, he is," Yoda answered, "but be ready. Easy your training will not be. Many things to learn you have, and many things to unlearn you must."
"Yes, Master Yoda, I know."
"Also a lonely path it might turn out to be. Trust and friendship, difficult to earn they will probably be. Too well known, your past is. Wary of you, many Jedi will be."
"I've been lonely for most of my life, Master Yoda. It doesn't scare me. As for friendship and trust, I've my Master's and it is more than enough," Asajj said with conviction, looking briefly at Obi-Wan.
Master Windu nodded. "Good. Now, Asajj Ventress, it's late and it is best if we all retire to rest. Tomorrow we will meet again, with the rest of the Council present too, and we are confident you will be able to give us information about Dooku, Sidious, the Separatists' foundries, bases, factories…anything that might be useful to stop this war and find the Sith." There was a hint of durasteel in his words, a sure sign Asajj had not yet earned his complete trust.
"I will tell you everything I know," Asajj bowed her head.
"Perfect." Windu turned to face Obi-Wan. "I believe it would be best if you host her in your quarters. You have a free room and, after all, she is your apprentice. This way you will be handy should she need anything."
And you will also keep an eye on her, Asajj completed the line.
"That's fine for me," Obi-Wan nodded.
"For me too," Asajj confirmed answering to the masters' questioning gazes.
"Then settled the matter is. Closed this meeting is. To sleep we go. Rest better all we will, I think."
