Summary:

Ventress and Jinn spar.

Ahsoka and Rex question Jinn.

The Jedi question Count Dooku.

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14.

Ashoka and Rex were looking for Jinn. Ahsoka wanted to speak with him before meeting with Obi-Wan and Anakin. As a fellow time-traveler, she wanted to get his insight on how to interrogate Count Dooku. It was important that Dooku identify the Sith Lord so they could arrest him as a traitor to the Republic. She also wanted to ask him about his use of the Force. Ahsoka thought Jinn's abilities could help Anakin overcome his Darkness. Lastly, she wanted to know how his progress was going with finding the cure for clone rapid aging.

Ahsoka and Rex found Jinn in a training room. He was shirtless and sparring with Ventress. The two double swords wielders thrusts and parried one another in rapid speed. Sparks flew every time Ventress' red lightsaber made contact with Jinn's black steel sword. It was impressive. If Ahsoka didn't know better, she would think they were fighting for real.

She noticed that Jinn had good foot work. He seemed comfortable fighting close. It was probably because he was trained to use the steel sword. The sword allowed him to get a lot closer than a lightsaber. However, Ventress was faster and her movements were fluid. She was able to evade Jinn's close attacks.

Ventress locked swords with Jinn in a cross scissor move and said, "I see you're still holding back, Jedi."

"I don't need a sword to defeat you, nightingale."

Jinn then stepped back and deactivated his blue lightsaber and clipped it back onto his belt. With his right hand free, he raised it and curled his fingers into a fist. Ventress gasped when she suddenly landed on her back and felt Jinn drag her across the mat by her legs.

Ahsoka raised her brow at Jinn's focus. However, Ventress thrashed at him wildly with her lightsabers till he finally relented and let her go. She got up and glared daggers at him.

"That isn't fair, Jedi."

Jinn smiled mischievously and said, "I don't fight fair, Miss Ventress. That's one point for me. Here, let me teach you how to break a Force-hold."

He sheathed his sword and bent down to pick up a towel. He tossed it in the air and used the Force to suspend it in mid-air. He turned to Ventress.

"Try and take it."

She raised a brow. She put away her lightsabers and raised her hand towards the towel to take it. However, the towel didn't budge. Jinn's hold on it was strong.

He said, "Don't focus on the object. Focus on me. Try and match my strength and nullify it."

Ventress frowned but turned to Jinn and waved two of her fingers to match Jinn's strength. The towel only wobbled. She tried again, and this time the towel fell to the ground.

"Good, that little trick should work on Force-chokes too."

Ventress titled her head in confusion and asked, "What's a Force-choke?"

"It's what it sounds like."

Without thinking, Ventress raised her hand to her throat. She could only imagine a Sith being capable of using such a move. She wondered how much like a Sith Jinn really was.

"Have you ever Force-choked someone?"

He said, "No, I prefer the direct approach. I also possess the ability to control the flow of energy such as Force-lightning. If I grab an opponent by the throat, I could technically burn their jugular with my bare hands."

"Sounds nasty."

Ahsoka stepped forward and said, "Yes, very nasty. Ventress, do you mind if I borrow Master Jinn?"

Ventress said, "He's all yours."

The ex-assassin left the training room. Jinn rubbed his face with the towel and then went to pick up his robes and put them on. He saw that Ahsoka wasn't alone. The good Captain was with her and gave the door Ventress exited a suspicious look.

Jinn said, "Can I help you, Miss Tano?"

Ahsoka crossed her arms and asked, "What's going on with you and Ventress?"

"She's my new partner."

Ahsoka raised her brow and said, "Is that your arrangement?"

Jinn said, "Yes, she's agreed to fight with me and I with her. She also wants a salary. I'm sure that won't be a problem."

The young Jedi huffed and said, "Why am I not surprised? I'm sure I can get Anakin to agree to that. By the way, I wanted to ask you about your use of the Force. You seem to have experience fighting the Sith."

"What would you like to know?"

"I saw your abilities in Mother Talzin's vision. You used Force-lightning. How are you able to do that?"

"I'm able to use both the Dark and the Light side of the Force."

"How?"

"I had training."

"Who was your master?"

Jinn turned around and removed his belt so he could fix his robes. Once the robes were secure, he put back on his belt with his sword and saber. He was apprehensive to answer Miss Tano's question. He didn't like discussing his past. He feared that revealing too much would affect the timeline. Though, he supposed Miss Tano already altered events.

"Very well, Miss Tano. If you must know, I was trained by my parents. My mother taught me how to use the Dark side of the Force."

Rex raised a brow and said, "Wait a minute, I thought Jedi are brought to the Order as younglings."

Jinn said, "I was born after the Order fell."

Ahsoka titled her head and asked, "You were born after the Clone War?"

"Yes."

She rubbed her chin in thought and said, "So that means you're from our future. Does that mean you have future information that can help us defeat the Sidious?"

He shook his head and said, "No, our timelines are different. The three of us being here changes things."

Ahsoka said, "Then, do you think you could help prevent Anakin from falling? Maybe teach him how to control his Darkness?"

Jinn lowered his head and said, "It isn't easy to learn, Miss Tano. Especially for someone who's been taught to be a Jedi. You'll have to unlearn what you know. You'll have to accept the Darkness inside you."

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone has Darkness inside them. Facing that Darkness is hard to accept. I've accepted my Darkness. It isn't easy for everyone to accept that they have distasteful impulses."

Ahsoka carefully said, "Mother Talzin called you a demon. I felt your bloodlust. As a Togruta, I know what it's like to want to hunt."

"Then you know what it's like to lose yourself to feeling. There is bliss in letting go of control."

Ahsoka shivered at Jinn's words. The predator inside her understood his words. She suspected that Jinn's mixed bloodline was a predator. It would explain his eyeshine. Yet, the Jedi part of her was worried. Jinn sounded like he had gotten close to the Dark side. It sounded like he enjoyed it. She remembered what she felt in Mother Talzin's vision. The hunger was painful and desperate. She wondered if Jinn ached like that all the time.

Yet, Jinn hadn't fallen. Instead, he was a talented healer. He didn't seek reward or praise. And for all his talk about slaying, he hadn't killed anyone. He was using his knowledge the help the Clones. He even cared about someone like Ventress, who betrayed him to Dooku.

"What stopped you from falling?"

He softly said, "I wouldn't be able to look my family in the eye, if I failed them. It doesn't matter that I may never see them again. What matters is that I live my life worthy of their love and pride."

Ahsoka reached over to put her hand on his shoulder. "I hope you see your family again, Jinn."

He gave her a watery smile and said, "I appreciate you saying that, Miss Tano but I've lost hope that I ever will. I'm content to do all I can, where I can or in this case, when I can. Speaking of which, I've completed my research on rapid aging. I wanted to give you this data-pad." He then took a data-pad out from his discarded long outer robe and handed it to her. "It contains a list of supplies I will need in order to construct a healing chamber. After it's built, I can start administering the cure."

Ahsoka smiled brightly and took the data-pad and said, "That's great news! Thank you, Jinn."

"It's my pleasure, Miss Tano."

Ahsoka rubbed the edge of the data-pad tenderly. She couldn't wait for Rex and the others to get the cure. They deserved to live normal human lives. With this precious information, she could give them a chance to be normal men. She could even have a life with her Captain.

Though, there was on last thing on Ahsoka's list of questions. "Jinn, I wanted to hear your thoughts on what we should do with Dooku."

"I thought it was obvious. Get him to confess to the Sith Lord's identity and then slay the dog."

Rex couldn't disagree. "That's easier said than done. How do we get Dooku to corroborate?"

Jinn shrugged and said, "I don't know, Captain. I'm not familiar with the Count. Perhaps you should ask Master Yoda to interrogate him. He was Dooku's former master. I'm sure he would understand his motivations better than anyone."

Rex said, "Sounds like good advice."

XXX

When the group finally returned to Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Anakin escorted Count Dooku to a high security detention center. The High Council and the Senate had been informed of his capture. They were getting ready for his interrogation and trial.

However, Ahsoka feared that Sidious would try and free the Count or kill him.

She came up with a plan to take the Count to the Jedi Temple instead. She decided to take a page from Padme's book and use a decoy. Obi-Wan and Anakin would escort a decoy to the detention center. The real Dooku was moved to a secret location under the Jedi Temple. He was escorted by Ahsoka and Rex. His cell was modified so it would be unrecognizable. He was also kept under heavy drugs to weaken his connection to the Force.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka tasked Jinn and Ventress to start building the healing chamber inside the Temple in order to cure rapid aging. A group of clones were assigned to the amber Jedi to hasten his work.

Once Count Dooku was secure, he was locked behind an energy field. He glanced at the Ahsoka and said, "I didn't think Skywalker would leave my imprisonment to a mere Padawan and a few clones."

Ahsoka smiled and said, "Don't worry, Count. We have someone here who is eager to talk to you."

Dooku raised his brow at the Togruta teen. He noticed she was very confident. She was no doubt following in Skywalker's arrogant footsteps. Though, he wondered who she was referring to. A moment later, Master Yoda approached his cell. The little green Jedi hobbled closer to the energy field with his cane. He stared up at his former apprentice with a look of concern.

"Well, if it isn't my former-master. To what do I owe the honor of your presence?"

Master Yoda said, "Dooku, know the identity of the Sith Lord, you do."

The Count scowled and said, "Of course, I know the identity of my new master."

The little Jedi said, "Tell us who he is."

Dooku sneered and turned his back to him and said, "He will reveal himself at the right time."

Ahsoka stepped forward and said, "What if I told you that your new master has no intention of making you his apprentice?"

Dooku turned his head and replied, "Then, I would tell you that I am surprised that the Jedi would stoop so low as to allow a Padawan to lie."

Master Yoda sighed and said, "War solves nothing. The corruption you seek to end, this conflict will not resolve."

Enraged, Dooku snapped, "Yet, you continue to do thing to prevent it. You let the corrupt Senate dictate your actions. All in the name of democracy. The Senate is nothing more than a cesspool of fear and greed."

Ahsoka raised her white brow and said, "Is that why you turned your back on the Jedi?"

Dooku frowned and slowly began to pace inside his cell and said, "I wasn't the one who turned my back to the Jedi. It was the Jedi who betrayed me. For years they allowed corruption and deceit to run rampant. The Senate does not serve the people, they serve themselves. The Jedi are nothing more than muscle for the wealthy."

Rex said, "What makes you think the Separatists will be any better?"

Dooku raised his brow and said, "I didn't think clones could think."

Rex huffed at the insult and crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Yeah, your one to talk. Darth Sidious is playing you for a fool. He wants the Chosen One as his apprentice, not an old man like you."

Dooku's sight turned inward as he considered the clone's words. It hurt his ego to admit it, but he did make sense. Skywalker was reckless, but even he had to admit that the young Jedi Knight had great potential. Under Sidious' guidance, Skywalker could grow more powerful. It was a frightening thought, but there was no end to Sidious' ambition.

"My master will not abandon me."

Ahsoka said, "You know that's not true. He's only using you to farther his own plans."

Master Yoda nodded his head and said, "Is true, what the Padawan speaks. Loyalty, the Sith, do not honor."

The Count sneered and said, "Yet you remain loyal to the Republic. You are blind if you can't see how your inaction will lead you to ruin."

Ahsoka inched closer and said, "Please, tell us who the Sith Lord is? If you care about corruption than think about how much this war is hurting the innocent."

He sighed and said, "Your negotiation skills are rather poor, my dear. And besides, I stopped caring about the innocent a long time ago. You fools will reap what you sow."

Master Yoda shook his head and started to walk away from Dooku's cell. He had argued many times with his former apprentice about the corruption in the Senate. Dooku thought it was the Jedi duty to take a more active role in the Republic to better serve the people. However, after Master Qui-Gon's death, Dooku had lost all hope in the Jedi. His fall troubled Master Yoda greatly.

Once they were in the halls, he stopped and turned to Ahsoka. "Interrogate his mind, we will. No other choice, I see."

Ahsoka rubbed her chin and said, "Not necessarily. We already know who the Sith Lord is. We just need Dooku to confirm it. Maybe we can trick him into believing he's talking to Sidious."

Rex gave her a skeptical look and said, "It can't be that easy, can it?"

She shrugged and said, "We can give it a try."

Master Yoda smiled and said, "Like this plan, I do. Find someone to impersonate the Sith, you will."

XXX

TBC

XXX

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