Chapter 50

Kalee - Present

The Izvoshra ran through the hallway with Ventress and Silvya close behind. Even with the alarm still blaring, they could hear the clashing of lightsabers up ahead.

Silvya and Ventress kept their weapons ready as they approached the warden's office.

"After this, I'm heading off-world to look for better work."

"Where'd you have in mind?"

"I dunno. Batuu, Castilon, Had Abbadon…basically anywhere outside Republic jurisdiction."

"In that case, you won't have to look that far."

"Hopefully…"

Once they finally reached the office, they found Grievous and Troc engaged in close combat. Grievous was using all four of his arms to attack, but Troc was using his agility to dodge and counter with ease. The Izvoshra ran forward to join the fight. But before they could get any closer, they were suddenly surrounded by another group of guards. The guards aimed their weapons and fired at the intruders, forcing them to split up and take out each guard one at a time.

Ventress and Silvya quickly joined the fight, using their respective weapons against the guards.

Ventress cut down her opponents with her lightsabers while Silvya shocked and stunned them with her electrostaff. However, after a few minutes of fighting, it became clear that they as well as the Izvoshra were greatly outnumbered. Despite her intense focus and ferocity, Ventress was soon surrounded by guards, each one striking at her with electrostaffs of their own. While she was able to keep up with them for a few seconds, she quickly found herself in a tight spot that she couldn't escape from. And as soon as there was an opening, one of the guards stabbed at the back of her leg.

The sudden shock caused Ventress to fall over, her knee buckling in the process. This allowed the rest of the guards to stab at her as well, sending jolts of electricity rippling throughout her entire body. After nearly a dozen shocks, Ventress finally gave up and collapsed onto the hard, metal floor. She could hear Silvya shout to her as the guards began surrounding her as well.

"Ventress! Get up! Get up!"

But she couldn't get up.

Not now.

Not while she had so little anger.

Anger was what fueled her and brought her closer to the dark side.

She needed anger in order to fight.

But now, all she could feel was exhaustion.

Exhaustion from all of the fighting, the chasing, the pain…everything.

But she knew she couldn't give up.

Not now.

Not when Grievous and Troc were within her grasp.

Not when she was so close to finally being done with this blasted mission.

So rather than simply give up, Ventress instead reached deep inside herself.

She thought back to the most painful memories of her life.

The memories that would reawaken her hatred and allow her to strike her opponents down.

She thought and thought as Silvya desperately called for her help.

And then, she found it.

The memory that would surely restore her strength.

She latched onto this memory and tried to recall every last detail of it, bringing it to the front of her mind and allowing it to play out in her head.

She remembered her final day as Rattatak's Angel of Death.

The day she was finally captured.

The day she finally lost.