Thank you to the 13 people who reviewed the last chapter. You guys are great and it won't be until the Mortis trilogy that Jenica begins to play a bigger role in this story but you're in luck because the Mortis trilogy is only two chapters away. (The next chapter will have a brief overview of Monster and then will cover Witches of the Mist.) This chapter will cover Nightsisters, which means there won't be much Obi-Wan in it. I hope that you like it and reviews, as always, are much appreciated.

Chapter 34

Asajj Ventress guided her starfighter around the carnage and the dogfights that existed around her with two groups of droid fighters on either side of her. She opened a channel to both groups as she examined the battle and headed toward one of the Republic's capital ships in the distance.

"Trident Group One, attack the starboard engines," she ordered the group on her right and the group broke off. She then turned her attention to the group of droid fighters on her left side. "Trident Group Two, knock out their port shield generators. I'll go for the bridge."

The second group of fighters broke off and Ventress, flew directly at the bridge of the capital ship firing at it as the droid fighters took out the shield generator and the starboard engines. When she neared the bridge, she fired on it before guiding her ship away as the capital ship began to explode sending debris flying.

Smirking to herself, Ventress guided her starfighter away from the doomed ship to continue the battle.

On the planet of Serenno, Count Dooku stood in the main audience chamber looking through the large windows at the landscape that lay beyond. When he heard the beep that indicated he was receiving an incoming transmission, he turned around before walking to the console and turning it on to receive the message that he knew was from his master.

When the holographic image of his master, Darth Sidious, appeared before him, Dooku knelt down.

"Lord Tyranus," Sidious said.

"My master," Dooku replied keeping his head lowered.

"There have been a couple of disturbances in the Force since before the war began. Some of which I have not yet figured out the cause of but I feel I must discover the cause as it may pose a danger to our plan." Sidious began. "However, there is one, a recent one that I am going to talk to you about now. Your assassin. She has become very powerful."

"Yes, my lord. She is quite important to me," Dooku said lifting his head to look at the hologram.

"Too important," Sidious said angrily.

"Master…" Dooku began to protest. The tone of Sidious's voice suggested that he wasn't too happy and he was pretty sure he knew why.

"Silence," Sidious growled. "I can sense her power is growing stronger. I would hate to think you're training your own Sith apprentice to destroy me." Dooku's earlier suspicions were proven correct by that statement.

"Never," Dooku said hoping his voice wouldn't betray him since there was some truth to Sidious's words. It was the way of the Sith after all. "My allegiance is to you and to you alone."

"Then you most prove it," Sidious said. "You must eliminate her."

Dooku had figured that would happen but he found he felt a little reluctant. "But she is my most trusted…" he began in an effort to plead for his assassin's life.

"I said eliminate her," Sidious growled angrily cutting him off midsentence.

Dooku swallowed back his anger and forced any signs of reluctance from his voice as he said, "As you wish, my lord," and bowed his head in response.

Obi-Wan still disliked flying.

He and Anakin were flying side by side past the remains of the Resolute with droids and clones locked in dogfights around them. The planet of Sullust rose up beneath them as the battle progressed onward.

Obi-Wan recalled that the battle of Sullust had occurred pretty much the same way the first time around and he also knew that he and Anakin would likely get caught up in a duel against Ventress if he couldn't figure out a way to alter what would happen. Naturally, when Ventress attacked, he knew that they would have to split up and Ventress would likely follow him.

As he thought about it, Obi-Wan wondered if there was a way he could change the outcome of this particular battle. I suppose I shall know that later, he thought just as he felt a blaster bolt slam into his starfighter.

"Ventress," Anakin said through the comm that linked them glancing over his shoulder. At the very least, Obi-Wan was thankful he couldn't see much anger in Ventress's eyes. The anger was still there but it seemed Anakin had some measure of control over it. He was learning quickly on how to control his anger and Obi-Wan felt glad about that.

"Split up," he called since he knew they provided too big a target if they stayed together and splitting up would be safer.

Though that meant he would have Ventress on his tail as usual.

Just as he had thought, when he flew away from Anakin, Ventress flew after him.

"Apparently, I am still her favorite," Obi-Wan said with a sigh. "I really didn't expect that to change."

Flying in the opposite direction of his former master, Anakin glanced over his shoulder as the droid fighters followed him and he sighed. "I'm kind of disappointed," Anakin said. "Only the droids followed me."

He noticed that a couple of droid fighters were flying parallel with him with the Separatist dreadnought separating them. They were flying close to the same speed as Anakin but seemed to be attempting to get ahead of him.

"You want to race?" Anakin asked even though he knew they couldn't answer him. "Well, come on then." He increased the battle speed of his starfighter a little before flying toward one of the engines of the dreadnought and swerving as the droid's blasterfire slammed into the shields. The droids followed suit and Anakin, smirking as he saw that he had the droids right where he want them when he saw the second set of droids flying at him on a collision course and he increased the speed again. He was well past the two sets of droids when they slammed into each other and exploded in a shower of sparks and flames.

Anakin smirked.

"Anakin! I'm going to need a little help," Obi-Wan's voice called.

"Where are you?" Anakin asked gazing around.

There was a moment of silence before Obi-Wan began speaking again. "I'll head toward the Separatist flagship. Blast it!" he stated.

Anakin caught sight of his former master's ship just as it flew past smoke and fire pouring out of the back of his ship and he gritted his teeth when he spotted Ventress flying after him. Ventress, the assassin who tortured and sought to kill Obi-Wan, his best friend, brother and father-figure and the person he owed his mother's freedom to.

"I've got her," he called before firing at Ventress's starfighter. Realizing he was feeling anger, he quickly grabbed it and released it into the Force to the best of his ability. Just like the other times whenever he felt anger, he just looked to his promise to his mother and his former master for motivation to release it. But also like before, he couldn't release all of his anger. That was something he was still working on.

One of his blaster bolts caught one of Ventress's wings and she swerved. Anakin continued to fire at her as she and Obi-Wan both flew into the hangar bay of the Separatist flagship and skidded to a halt. He quickly guided his starfighter into the hangar bay after them.

Ventress rubbed her head before gazing around when she noticed that her starfighter was in near ruins. She also noticed that she was receiving an incoming transmission and she sincerely hoped it was from Dooku telling her that the reinforcements were almost there. She needed them if she was to turn the tides of the battle.

"Master," she said when the small hologram of Dooku appeared. "I need your help quickly. I'm surrounded."

"You've already lost the battle, child," Dooku said with little to no emotion in his voice. "I've ordered your reinforcements to return."

"No," Ventress protested. "I will destroy the Jedi. I'll show you."

Dooku's eyes hardened. "You have failed me for the last time," he said voice like ice. "You are no longer my apprentice. And now you shall die."

Ventress's eyes widened in surprise and then anger filled their depths as Dooku's hologram disappeared.

Obi-Wan pushed against the transparisteel above his head as Anakin crouched beside him and Artoo activated his fire extinguisher. Just like last time, he put out the fire and ended up spraying Obi-Wan a little. Obi-Wan stood up. "Thank you Artoo," he said leaping out of the cockpit of the fighter.

He glanced toward Ventress's fighter. He was unsure of what happened exactly but he knew, based on what happened with Savage and the Nightsisters on Dathomir, that it was likely Dooku betrayed Ventress. Such is the way of Sith, Obi-Wan thought briefly glancing at Anakin who had been the instrument Palpatine used to betray Dooku.

That shall not happen this time, he told himself firmly keeping his thoughts to himself before igniting his lightsaber as he moved toward the smoking fighter with Anakin at his side.

Ventress climbed out of her fighter before glaring at them clutching her side that she probably injured in the crash.

"Ventress," Obi-Wan said mentally figuring out what he could change about the fight if anything since it had been a pretty quick duel and he doubted the duel was one of the changes he was supposed to make.

"You do not look so well," he added conversationally.

"She never does," Anakin murmured causing Obi-Wan's lips to twitch in amusement.

"It's over. Surrender now," he added though he really didn't know why he bothered. Ventress never surrendered.

"Never!" Ventress declared just as Obi-Wan had thought before she ignited her lightsabers and leapt at Obi-Wan and Anakin. They quickly caught the blow as Ventress flipped over them to land on her feet at their backs. They turned and Ventress swung one of her blades at Obi-Wan who angled his blade horizontally to catch the attack.

Anakin aimed a thrust at Ventress who easily dodged before the three of them separated again. Hatred burned in Ventress's eyes as she glared furiously at them her lightsabers held at angles aimed at them.

Obi-Wan leapt at Ventress as Anakin dashed forward and swung his blade at the assassin who caught the blade in hers. He thrust his blade at Ventress before leaping up to avoid her next attack and, when she attempted to kick him, he managed to dodge it

Ventress, snarling, flipped backwards as Obi-Wan and Anakin attacked again. She flipped backwards again before stumbling closer to the wall when Anakin lashed out in a Force push. She leapt onto the wall before flipping over them but Obi-Wan, expecting that, moved backwards to where she landed in between them but close enough that she could inflict damage if her attacks weren't blocked

Eyes flashing with fury, Ventress thrust both her blades at the two Jedi who moved backwards to avoid the thrusts. They continued to fight back and forth across the hangar bay crimson and blue lightsabers sparking and sizzling as they clashed with each other.

Ventress, caught in the middle again, blocked the attacks that came at either side before hurrying toward her starfighter. Obi-Wan took a flying leap over the assassin that put him between her and the fighter before catching the slash that Ventress launched at him. He knew the attack on Ventress would be coming at any moment though so he reminded himself that when that attack came, he and Anakin should get out of there quickly.

He also made an extra note that Ventress had used Force choke on them during the battle the first time around.

And it was around that time when another dreadnought was within firing range of the command ship.

Obi-Wan lashed out with a Force push that sent Ventress skidding closer to Anakin who nearly bisected her had she not caught the blow. She, not wanting to be in the middle anymore, dashed out from in between them and, when they did, Obi-Wan and Anakin lashed out in a combined Force push that sent Ventress flying hard into the wall.

The duel had lasted a bit longer than it had the first time around and Obi-Wan knew that Ventress wouldn't have time for her last resort attack before the attack occurred. As it was, Obi-Wan could sense the imminent danger approaching quickly.

Just as he predicted, the dreadnought began firing at the command ship causing Ventress, Obi-Wan and Anakin to stumble.

Ventress attacked them and they continued their duel around Ventress's starfighter. Seeing that the command ship was going to start listing to one side, and send Ventress's starfighter skidding toward her, Obi-Wan flipped over the fighter and Anakin followed suit before they leapt off the starfighter as Ventress also followed them and continued her attack.

The duel continued even though the command ship was trembling violently and continued to shift back and forth as if balancing. However, the duel's ending being the same as the first time around became evident when Anakin disarmed Ventress.

Ventress growled in fury.

Obi-Wan knew the bombers would be attacking at that moment. "Look out, Anakin," he called before leaping away a few seconds before the bomber streaked into the hangar. Ventress also dodged and the bomber exploded as it crashed into the hangar bay wall.

"We should get out of here," Obi-Wan said glancing at Anakin as he shielded his eyes from the burning flames.

Anakin nodded before the two of them and Artoo, who had stayed out of the way during the duel, hurried toward their starfighters. He leapt into his starfighter before guiding it after Anakin out of the hangar bay. They had just barely managed to get out of the blast radius when the dreadnought exploded.

Dooku sat on his chair resting his chin on his folded hands as he thought about what happened. He had lost his best and most trusted assassin, as well as a potential Sith apprentice just as Sidious had suspected, and he didn't know if he could replace her. However, he had no choice but to obey Sidious until he garnered enough power to take his master out.

Turning around, he stood up before calling his master through an encrypted channel. He decided to inform his master of what occurred above Sullust. Pushing his misgivings away, Dooku sat down as his master's hologram appeared.

"My master," he greeted him.

"What is it, Sith Lord Tyranus?" Sidious demanded.

"I have done as you requested. Asajj Ventress is dead," Dooku said kneeling down and lowering his head.

Sidious chuckled. "Once again, you've proven your loyalty to me," he said before his hologram disappeared.

Ventress stiffened when she felt something sharp pierce her arm and she opened her eyes before looking up at a blue-skinned Twi'lek standing in front of her. The Twi'lek moved backwards examining her. "You took quite a beating there, didn't you, missy?" he said. Ventress noticed there was a knife in his hand.

He laughed shortly before asking, "Which side of the battle where you on?"

Ventress remained silent eyeing the Twi'lek.

"Aw, not to talkative, are you?"

Ventress remembered where she had decided to go now that Dooku betrayed her. Ignoring the pain she was feeling, Ventress gazed at the Twi'lek. "Take me to Dathomir," she said.

"Aw, why would anyone wanna go there? There's nothing there but fog and witches," the Twi'lek said.

"Exactly," Ventress growled grabbing the Twi'lek in a Force choke as she stood up.

The other three aimed their weapons at her but she focused her power on their throats as well before tossing them into the wall, snapping their necks before tossing them on top of each other.

She then took control of the ship, left the debris that floated above Sullust and jumped into hyperspace.

When she reached Dathomir, she landed in the area a few kilometers from the Nightsister's village. After shutting down the main engines, she stumbled out of the ship down the boarding ramp. She paused at the base of the ramp clutching her abdomen where the worst of her pain was. When she caught her breath, she stumbled toward her old home aware of the Nightsisters that were following her.

When she reached the home, the Nightsisters circled her and aimed their bows at her.

"We don't like strangers," one of the Nightsisters said stepping forward and taking Ventress's lightsabers. Her voice sounded as though it was overlaid with another's.

"I'm not a stranger," Ventress replied.

"Prepare to die," the Nightsister said placing her blade at Ventress's throat.

"Stop."

Ventress turned around as Mother Talzin landed behind her.

"She is one of us," Talzin said. "Take her to the village."

Ventress heard a few of the Nightsisters ask who she was as they put away their weapons and guided her toward the village. Unfortunately, her wounds were severe and it wasn't long before she lost consciousness in Mother Talzin's arms.

"At last you have returned to us. Now you are safe," Talzin said as Ventress felt her force magic waft over her.

"I remember when we were forced to give you up," Talzin went on as the memory flashed into Ventress's mind. "It was for the good of the clan. Your sacrifice has never been forgotten."

Another memory flashed into Ventress's mind; the day her master was killed back after her sacrifice and how a Jedi had saved her life. The Jedi had told her that she was strong in the Force when she sent one of the pirates flying with the Force.

The next memory that flashed into her mind was one of the days when the Jedi taught her how to use a lightsaber.

The next memory, however, was when the pirates attacked her home and murdered her master. That was the day she first touched the dark side of the Force by attacking and killing the pirate who murdered the Jedi that raised and trained her.

"I must have revenge," Ventress murmured. Another memory came into her mind. This memory was of the day Dooku took her as his apprentice. He told her that he sensed the dark side in her and he would teach her the ways of the dark side of the Force so long as she proved herself worthy, which she did.

Then came the most recent memory when her master betrayed her by stating that she failed him and refused to send the reinforcements she needed to turn the tides of the battle as well as telling her that she would die and ordering the droids to kill her.

Then the stream of memories ended.

"Dooku," Ventress said sitting up on the table. "He betrayed me."

"I know," Talzin said. "I had hoped you would find your way to us sooner."

"I will have revenge," Ventress said firmly.

"You shall sister," Talzin said. "We shall see to it." She gestured and two Nightsisters moved forward. She then said, "Caris and Nalith are the greatest warriors of our coven."

"I'll be the judge of that," Ventress said.

"They will help you destroy Count Dooku," Talzin added causing Ventress to smile slightly eyes glittering with hatred as she thought about the Sith Lord who betrayed her.

Later that day, Ventress, Caris and Nalithapproached Talzin ready to go and Talzin glanced at her. "Sister, we have assembled a potion that will help you sneak into Dooku's castle undetected," she said. "Step into the mist and become like shadows."

Ventress stepped through the mist before noticing that it was allowing her to blend in with her surroundings. Caris and Nalith followed suit.

"Now you are invisible to most," said Talzin.

"Even to Count Dooku?" asked Ventress.

"Yes perhaps even Count Dooku," Talzin replied.

"But what if he can sense us?"

Talzin removed a vial and a dart from her robes. "Here," she said dipping the dart into the vial. "Take this dart. It will dumb his senses and distort his vision."

Ventress took the dart.

"Then you can deal with him easily," Talzin added.

The other Nightsisters stepped forward and handed Ventress, Caris and Nalith Jedi lightsabers causing Caris to ask, "Jedi weapons?"

"You'll need these. If the Count engages you, he must believe you are Jedi," Talzin said before glancing at the two Nightsisters at Ventress's side. "Nalith and Caris, serve your sister well."

The two bowed before stepping back and Talzin placed her hands on Ventress's shoulders. "Deliver your vengeance sister then return to us," she said.

"We shall prevail," Ventress replied.

Ventress guided the stolen ship toward Serenno and landed in the forest close to the palace. Once she, Caris and Nalith left the ship, they ran toward the castle in the distance leaping from tree to tree the closer they got to the castle.

Once they got to the castle, Ventress led the way toward one of the ventilation shafts and used the Jedi's lightsaber to cut a square-shaped plug. She removed the plug before waiting for her Nightsister allies to go into the shaft before she followed them. She moved to the head of the group as they made their way deeper into the castle.

"This way," she whispered before she moved further down the shaft. When she reached the spot where she could sense her former master's presence, she stopped.

"He's below us," she whispered.

"You can sense him?" Nalith asked.

"I can smell his stench a parsec away."

She removed the grate before glancing at her allies. "Be on guard at all times. He is no fool. He is a Sith Lord," she said before the three of them dropped soundlessly into the room.

Once they were in the room, Ventress pulled out the dart and used the Force to send it flying into Dooku's neck waking him up instantly. He rolled off his bed before calling his lightsaber to his hand and pulling the dart from his neck.

"What kind of sorceries is this?" he demanded tossing the dart away before looking around.

Ventress gestured to her allies before they moved forward.

Dooku closed his eyes. "I do not need my eyes to see you, Jedi," he said before he leapt straight at Ventress and the three on one duel began.

Dooku sent Nalith flying into the wall before battling Ventress and the other one as they forced him passed a door into a hallway. Nalith, moving along the walls, attacked from behind but was sent flying into the main chamber of Dooku's headquarters.

Ventress and Caris forced Dooku into the chamber as Nalith scrambled to her feet and leapt onto the walkway they were fighting on.

Dooku leapt into the middle of the chamber before closing his eyes as Ventress, Nalith and Caris also leapt down. The Sith Lord and his former apprentice faced each other lightsabers held vertically in front of them as they waited for the other to strike first. Dooku struck first and the duel began again.

Dooku was starting to tire though, Ventress could see that. He backed away but raised his blade to strike. However, before he could, Ventress Force pushed him into his desk and his lightsaber fell from his hand. Caris and Nalith leapt onto the desk behind him.

Dooku reached for his lightsaber but Ventress used the Force to push it away. She then moved forward and pointed her lightsaber at Dooku thinking him defeated. However, she did not realize Dooku's exhaustion was merely a ploy. Once she was close enough, he unleashed torrent of Force lightning causing Ventress to scream in pain as Dooku caught Nalith and Caris in the lightning as well.

He then tossed the three of them through the window of his chamber. Ventress fell but managed to grab hold of the rock and stop her descent before she used the Force to stop Nalith and Caris's descent and guide them to where she was clinging to the rock before they dropped down to the ledge.

"He is more powerful than I imagined," Caris said.

"I warned you," Ventress replied.

When they returned to Dathomir, Ventress had to admit she was disappointed that she had been unable to defeat her former master but he was a powerful Sith Lord and she knew she would need more strength and power in order to defeat him.

She, Caris and Nalith made their way out of the stolen ship and across the way to join Mother Talzin and a few of the other Nightsisters.

Nalith was the one that spoke when they came to be in front of Talzin. "Mother we…we failed," she said.

"Where one sees failure, others see opportunity," Talzin replied before she placed a hand on Ventress's shoulder and guided her toward the village.

"What do you mean, Mother?" asked Ventress.

"Your infiltration proves Dooku is vulnerable," replied Talzin. "He will be eager to protect himself."

"How?"

"By finding a replacement for you," Talzin replied.

Dooku was meditating when Mother Talzin's hologram appeared before him. "Count Dooku," Talzin greeted him. "It has been too long."

"Yes, Mother Talzin, how may I assist you?" Dooku asked pulling himself from his meditation.

"It has come to my attention that you have lost your most prized assassin."

"How would you know of this?"

"I know these things. I have seen it. After all, she was once one of us."

"It is true your warriors are of a different caliber," said Dooku.

"Perhaps something different this time," Talzin suggested. "Perhaps a male from our planet would be more to your liking since you could not tame a female."

Dooku thought about it for a moment before deciding Talzin had a good idea. "I shall take you up on your offer," he said.

"Excellent," Talzin said while Ventress listened in nearby. "I will be in contact."

Dooku's hologram disappeared and Ventress moved to Talzin's side.

"I will see Count Dooku dead. I swear it," she growled.

"So you shall," Talzin replied, "so you shall."

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: the next chapter covers a brief overview of "Monster" but it will focus more on "Witches of the Mist"

Darth: that's cool and is the Mortis trilogy gonna be really different?

Blaze: consider Jenica will be a part of it, yes

Darth: Cool

Blaze: I am going to have fun with that one

Anakin: and after the Mortis trilogy is gonna be a special chapter that only one of Blaze's reviewers knows about. Some might not like it but others might. If anyone objects to what occurs in that particular chapter, feel free to PM Blaze and she can explain why she did that chapter.

Blaze: Exactly, thank you Anakin

Anakin: no problem

Blaze: please review and I will post the next chapter, which will cover an overview of "Monster" and all of "Witches of the Mist", as soon as I possibly can