Ventress jumped out of hyperspace before she reached Coruscant. She didn't want to risk piloting a ship into the core of the Republic when she was public enemy #4. Normally, she bartered transport on refugee ships or shipments of food off of Yulant, a planet with vast farm fields. Ventress landed her ship on a nearby landing pad, and put on her hood and a face veil, knowing no one would ask questions.
Even though Yulant was part of the Republic, the people on the planet had a growing frustration with Coruscant. Coruscant demanded more and more resources to feed its army, and the farmers were having a hard time keeping up with their constantly growing list of demands. Food shortages were common, as they gave most of the food grown to the Republic Forces. The Clones, who were in charge of the shipyard, were complacent. They used their time here as a leave of absence. They believed no one would attack an agricultural planet. Occasionally, she would run into a competent clone, who then required a mind wipe, but she had used this planet to access Coruscant for a while.
Ventress stepped out of her ship and walked over to a nearby freighter. They were loading various kinds of produce on the ship, and she was able to get a ride for 400 credits. She got on board the ship and sat down near the back, near a maintenance hatch. If the Clones searched the ship, she would use the hatch to hide. Ventress sat down to meditate, concentrating on hiding her force signature.
A few uneventful hours later, Ventress finally arrived in Coruscant. She was on the upper levels of the planet, near the Jedi Temple. Ventress smiled, as she made her way to a diner that she knew Kenobi frequented called Dex's Diner, knowing eventually he would show up. She knew he was still on the planet since she felt his force signature when she first arrived on the city-planet. She entered the diner and sat at the farthest booth from the door. A droid came over, and she ordered some juri juice and waited.
A few juri juices later, Ventress felt Kenobi's presence again, faintly at first, but growing stronger. She looked out the window and saw a familiar brown cloak coming towards the diner. Ventress took another sip as he entered the diner and joined her at the booth.
"You know, my sweet, those are bad for your health." Kenobi purred.
"Your sarcasm is bad for yours," Ventress replied, while taking another sip. "You want one?"
Kenobi chuckled and surprised Ventress by ordering one when the droid came back. As far as she knew, Jedi didn't drink, especially the prim and proper Kenobi. The droid came back with the drink and an order of sliders.
"To our health," Kenobi said, and raised his glass. Ventress looked at him, rolled her eyes, but raised her glass, then took a sip.
"To finding Opress and his brother," Ventress replied.
Kenobi sighed. "Our intelligence reports that there have been a series of ships who have been pillaged and their crew killed near the planet Yellowblades Landing. The council has decided they need to be found and taken care of before they can recruit others to their cause. They have given me clearance to search for them."
"I thought the Jedi didn't believe in killing?" Ventress stated.
"It goes against the Code, but the war has made us into warriors, not peacekeepers. After the war, we will have to deal with the consequences." Kenobi said, taking another sip.
"Why do you want my help?" Ventress asked.
"I so enjoy your company, dear," Kenobi replied.
"I still have my lightsabers," Ventress replied.
"Oh, Darling, I know. But having them is one thing, knowing how to use them is another." Kenobi mused.
"It's a wonder you got this far, my dear Kenobi," Ventress replied.
Kenobi smiled, and paused for a moment before continuing, "You're the only person in the galaxy who wants to find them as much as I do."
"When do we leave? I have my ship on a nearby planet. Taking a Republic ship would attract too much attention. After all, I am number four on the Republic's most wanted list." Ventress replied.
"It's not as simple as that, darling, I have permission to search, but not engage them. I am to report their location to the council, and they will send assistance."
"I have one guess on whom they are sending," Ventress said, rolling her eyes again.
"Yes, well, I have to go back to the temple, I will be ready to leave tomorrow morning."
Kenobi finished the rest of his drink and grabbed three of the sliders. He stuffed one in his mouth as he got up.
"So dignified," Ventress replied as she got up. She didn't wait for his reply as she walked out of the restaurant, heading for her apartment she kept in the lower levels. It was surprisingly easy to stay hidden on Coruscant. It was almost comical how defenseless the planet really is once you are actually here. She hardly had to disguise herself, since everyone is only interested in themselves. After a short walk, she reached her tiny apartment and went to sleep.
The next morning, Ventress returned to the diner and saw that Kenobi was already there, sitting in the booth they sat in yesterday. Ventress sat across from him and saw he was eating some other disgustingly greasy food.
"How can you eat that? It's a wonder you're still alive." Ventress made another face as Kenobi smiled and took another bite.
"And good morning to you," Kenobi said after swallowing his food. "I have secured our transportation. Anakin has agreed to let me use the Twilight."
"Isn't that the ship that looks like it's going to fall apart if you lean against it?" Ventress asked.
"That would be the one."
"Well, it's more could I hope from you, Jedi. We will take Skywalker's ship to Yulant, where we can pick up my ship. Where is Skywalker's ship?"
"At the spaceport near the Temple. I took it there earlier. I assumed it would be slightly less difficult for us to board there, instead of sneaking you into the Temple." Kenobi stated.
"Hardly."
"Shall we?" Kenobi asked.
Ventress got up and walked out of the Diner, and stood outside the door waiting for Kenobi to pay. As he walked out, she noticed he was not wearing his typical Jedi robes. He was wearing a simple brown shirt with a brown coat over it with black pants. You wouldn't be able to tell he was a Jedi, except for his lightsaber peaking out of his coat as he walked.
Kenobi smiled at her as he walked out and offered her his arm. Ventress rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest.
Kenobi leaned over and whispered, "We're going undercover Ventress. You're going to have to learn to work with me. Whatever animosity you have towards me, you're going to have to put aside if we are going to survive. When we arrive at the spaceport, it will be much easier to get through security if we act like we're a couple going on a holiday."
"Or we could say we're bounty hunters. Won't they know who you are? None other than the infamous Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Ventress whispered back.
"I don't normally leave the planet from the spaceport. There may be clones there that I have worked with in the past, but chances are they won't know me."
Kenobi straightened back up, fished a beanie out of his pocket, and put it on his head. He offered his arm to her again. Ventress shook her head but linked her arm with his. It was a short walk to the spaceport, for which Ventress was glad. Forced physical contact with Kenobi was uncomfortable. However, she needed him at the moment, to lead her to Maul and Oppress. What she would do when she found them was another matter. Help Kenobi, and destroy them? Or help the brothers with their plans, destroying Kenobi in the process? Ventress looked over at Kenobi, who was leading them to the gate, then at the distant ship. She had tried to meditate on the matter on her journey to Coruscant but found her mind and her body needed to rest.
"Name?" said a clone, bringing Ventress out of her thoughts.
"Harko Zadean and this is my wife, Leesea. We are celebrating our third anniversary!" Kenobi said, handing over some identification to the clone.
The clone looked at the identification, and then back up to Kenobi. He waved over to another clone sitting in the booth. Ventress tightened her grip on Kenobi's arm, and with her other hand fingered the lightsabers hidden underneath her cloak. Kenobi patted her arm in warning, and Ventress put her hand down. The clone turned back to Kenobi.
"I'm sorry Sir, we need to take some additional information. Please, could you step inside the hangar bay?"
"What is the problem?" Kenobi asked.
"It seems to be an error in the system. We have no record of a Leesea Zaden. Please follow me."
"Certainly," Kenobi said to the Clone.
Kenobi and Ventress followed the Clone to the hangar bay. He seated them in a small office and sat down behind a desk. The clone looked at the identification papers and started typing on the computer. Ventress leaned over to Kenobi.
"Can't we just mind wipe him?" Ventress whispered.
"Preferably not, my dear. The paperwork should be there. I put it there myself when I uploaded my paperwork."
After a few moments, the clone stopped typing on the computer and looked at the pair. "Excuse me, Ma'am? I need to ask you a few questions."
Ventress looked over at Kenobi. He had not told her the information that he had used to falsify her identity.
"When were you born?" The Clone said.
Ventress sighed, and waved her hand, "You don't need my identification. You will allow us to go to our ship."
"I don't need your identification. You can go to your ship now," the Clone replied.
Ventress got up and looked over at Kenobi, who was still sitting in the chair. After a moment, he shot her an annoyed look. He got up and thanked the Clone. He offered his arm again to Ventress. She took it, only to have him yank her slightly as he led her out of the room. Ventress looked over at him with anger in her eyes, but he didn't look back at her as they walked to the Twilight.
As soon as they boarded, she ripped her arm out of his and walked past him to the pilot's chair. Just as she was going to sit down, she changed her mind, and pushed Kenobi to the wall behind him, placing her forearm on his neck and grabbing a dagger she had hidden in her cloak. Kenobi looked back at her. She could see the anger in his eyes that he tried to hide most of the time.
"If you ever pull that little stunt again, Kenobi, it will be your head," Ventress said as she brought the dagger up to his throat.
"I asked you not to mind wipe him. I had everything under control. They were only going to ask for your birth date and the birth planet. I put down your actual birthday and Dathomir as your birth planet. You were taken as a slave to Rattatak. However, a family bought you, and instead of making you a slave, they treated you like their own child. It's not far off from the truth. It's what should have happened." Kenobi said, looking down.