*A couple weeks later*
Cody looks up at the building before him. The huge crystal walls leer down at him, screaming the terror and pain of those held within it. A hand falls on his shoulder, "Now or never, kid."
Cody sighs and turns to Alpha," You sure she's here?"
"Yeah, kid. Been here for a couple years," Alpha sighed.
Cody nodded, starting up the steps, leaning on his cane as old memories flooded forth. Dancing under the moon, her laughter filling the air, ringing clear through the silent hills surrounding them. Sneaking away from their separate lives, getting away from questioning eyes to spend just a few precious hours with her. Hiding his feelings from his friends, because if they knew, he would never be trusted. Silently hating himself every time they faced each other on the battle field. Knowing Kenobi was right when he said that a part of her had not been corrupted by Dooku. She had been the only other person other than Alpha to know the location of his chamber and she was the only one he wanted to see right now.
He slowly walked through the archway, looking like a gaping black hole waiting to swallow unsuspecting victims. He went straight to an open counter, flashing his Republic id at the secretary," I have an appointment."
She nodded, typing his name into her computer. She paled, then looked at him," Would you like some guards with you, sir?"
"No, I'll be fine by myself. I'll just need the code for her room and those forms I requested," Cody said curtly. She handed him a datapad, her hands shaking. He took them, heading for the turbolifts.
Alpha met him at one, holding the door open for him, "You gonna explain yourself?"
"Have I ever explained myself?"
"No," the door slide shut. "So, you're a jedi?"
"Something like that."
"How can you be something like a jedi?"
"As Yoda explained it, I have an awareness of the Force, but not like a Jedi. I can see images in it, but not really use it," Cody shrugged, reading the datapad.
"How so?" Alpha crossed his arms, leaning against the wall.
"Well, I can look into the minds of others, but I can't control it or lift objects, like Skywalker or Kenobi. I get to play with a lightsaber, though," he half-smiled.
"I think I'm gonna have a talk with Mace when we're done here, "Alpha laughed.
The turbolift jerked to a halt and the doors slide open. Cody led the way slowly down the hall, stopping at the very last door. He looked down at the datapad, then typed the code into the pad next to the door. It slid open to reveal a poorly lit cell. A being hung in a containment cell in the middle of the room. Cody hit a button and the figure was slowly lowered to the floor, the bracelets encircling her wrists falling off as she kneeled in the middle of the room, a hood covering her face. Cody walked forward, kneeling down next to her, setting his cane aside. He gently lifted the hood off her face, letting her brown hair encircle her face," I always said you should let it grow out."
She looked up into his face, tears in her eyes," I thought I was never going to see you again."
Cody smiled, taking her hand," Let's get out of here." He slipped a wedding band on her finger. "I keep my promise."
"I can leave?"
"Yeah, whenever you're ready."
Asajj Ventress stood, taking Cody's hand, looking down at his cane," Is he gone?"
"Yeah, I had to go help out though. Been twenty years since we last talked."
"A lot's happened in twenty years," she smiled at him.
"How bout we talk over dinner?"
"That sounds just great."
The End.