Ventress was brooding.
She had been brusquely marched onto the ship that would take them back to Coruscant, and then handed off to several clone troopers, who were even rougher with her than Anakin or Obi-Wan. Well, she really couldn't complain about Obi-Wan: he had been surprisingly gentle with her, considering the circumstances. Anakin, though…Anakin was out for blood, and took every opportunity to let Ventress know it. As soon as she had been handed off to the clones, Ventress had thought a respite would be short in coming. She had been wrong. The clones had taken her from the foot of the ramp back into the bowels of the cruiser they were riding in, and she had been roughly dragged, prodded, and treated like a stupid animal the entire way. Ventress could hear the clones making fun of her in their native Mandalorian language, thinking she couldn't understand them. Among the insults were "superiority complex," "cheap whore," and "blind, loyal dog." Ventress had taken about as much abuse as she could by the time they reached the lowest levels of the cruiser, and she was thrust into a random cell. As the doors closed, the clones offered one last insult: "And she's so stupid, I've seen reeks that could think faster than she could!"
Ventress stood up, glaring viciously, and held her chin up, trying to at least regain a scrap of dignity. "And I've swallowed things smarter than you," she growled, replying in the Mandalorians' own language. The clones exchanged what Ventress knew where concerned glances under their helmets, and then the doors closed, obscuring them from view. Ventress sighed softly, and took a look around her. There was absolutely nothing in sight. Absolutely, positively nothing. Stark gray walls greeted her, mockingly offering comfort in the fact that there weren't any sharp instruments around. Ventress took a seat against the left wall, dropping first to her knees and then swinging her legs out from underneath her so she was sitting on her rear with her legs crossed in front of her. Ventress tried to work around her hands, which were still secured behind her back. It was hard, though, being left with such limited mobility. Ventress tried to clear her mind and meditate in spite of it, and decided that she would search for the brightest beacon in the Force that she knew of: Dooku.
Not surprisingly, the master of the dark side of the Force was not hard to find, nor make contact with. Ventress! he scolded. Why have you not made contact? I've been waiting for hours for you! You were supposed to send me the results of your attack, and what happened with our informant after we took Christophus. Lord Sidious is not a patient man, and I have been bearing the brunt of his irritation on your behalf-
Ventress took a deep breath, and cut Dooku off mid-sentence. I do realize that I have caused my lord much trouble, she whispered. But I feel you should know that it was only because I was rendered unable to communicate with you. I have been captured by Jedi forces, and I am being escorted back to Coruscant in an armored cruiser. They have shut off my ability to manipulate the Force, and they will probably restrict my access to it altogether once we reach Coruscant. I need you to come and find me…and help me.
Hearing his apprentice's voice had, at first, surprised Dooku. Ventress always used holograms for communication, unless she was completely and totally unable to access it. And now she was speaking to him using the Force? No, that usually didn't happen. But the second Ventress had spoken, Dooku had heard the clear distress in her voice, and knew all of a sudden how serious the situation was. Ventress might be recalling some nasty memories, or maybe she was just scared. This had never happened to her before, and now she was staring death in the face. She had knocked on death's door many times, but never had she seen its terrifying visage. This was going to be rough.
And what exactly do you want from me? Dooku asked. I can't just walk into the Temple and walk back out with you. What do you want me to do?
If I knew would I be asking you?!
Dooku gave a rough sigh and raised one hand to stroke his beard. This was difficult, indeed. And it was bound to be all over the Holonet by the evening had come. The legendary Asajj Ventress captured by Jedi and awaiting trial in the Senate. There was a chance Darth Sidious could save her, but it was very, very slim. If he tried to do anything as Chancellor Palpatine, he might be forced to reveal himself sooner than anticipated. If he moved as Darth Sidious, it could put them all in an awkward situation. But, if Dooku moved…ah, now there was a prospect. He was a very public figure already, and all knew where his allegiances lay. Fine. If the Jedi wanted to make it public, so would be.
You will not be making deals over me like a steak! I won't stand for it!
You're in a fine position to be making demands. Dooku amusedly contemplated the silence on the other end of the connection, and smiled slightly. Yes, he could make this interesting, indeed…Anything else I should know?
Kenobi. It was he who captured me, along with Skywalker. But I believe Kenobi has been feeling sympathy for me. I can play that to my advantage.
Ah, good girl. Keep him on your side. Soon, I'll make my move. And I promise, this will be done so that you are safely returned to me, in one piece, and with most of your dignity still intact.
Thank you, my lord. It is all I ask.
Dooku then severed the connection, and Ventress was left alone in the cold, dark cell.
OOOOOOOOOO
Obi-Wan could sense her simply radiating distress in the Force. She obviously wasn't happy, but there was something else underneath all the anger: fear. Was she really so afraid of dying? Well, he supposed anyone would be. But Ventress, of all people? She, who had stared down death and laughed, and then conquered it? Obi-Wan was confused, to say the least. He and several other Jedi were sitting up in the bridge of the cruiser, and they were preparing to enter hyperspace to get back to Coruscant. The Jedi consisted of himself, Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, Anakin, and Ahsoka. It seemed only he, Kit, and Luminara could sense Ventress's unease: they kept exchanging nervous glances every time they felt her shiver. Finally, Obi-Wan simply stood up, nodded to Luminara, and exited the bridge. Luminara understood him; he was going to see if he couldn't calm Ventress down.
The walk down the cruiser's length seemed excruciatingly long. The cruiser itself was close to a full mile long, and Obi-Wan was situated at the front of said massive distance. Ventress had been sent to the back. As Obi-Wan walked, he could feel her despair more and more acutely; as he drew nearer to her, her emotions flooded him. Obi-Wan finally just blocked himself out from the Force; he couldn't take Ventress's crashing emotions. By the time he finally reached her cell, he was close to restricting any and all of her access to the Force. She was Force-projecting, and the chances were, she knew it.
The clones at the door, snapped to attention as Obi-Wan approached; they crisply saluted, and one of them asked, "Ah General Kenobi! What brings you down here to face such an animal?"
"Said animal has been Force-projecting ever since we got aboard, and it's getting on all of our nerves" Obi-Wan said dryly, typing in the pass code for the door. The door cycled open with a hiss of pressurized air, and Obi-Wan stepped through, entering Ventress's cell with caution.
She was sitting against the left wall meditating, tears streaming down her face.
Obi-Wan felt his heart go out to her, but he knew he shouldn't have. She didn't deserve sympathy; not after everything she had done! Obi-Wan tried to recall anything that would make him see why his thoughts were taking him towards sympathy for this girl: but he could see nothing in his memory. In fact, he could only recall instances that would make him hate her. Her repeated elusion of him; scarring Anakin; humiliating the both of them time and again; slaughtering countless Jedi on a near daily basis; and finally, the cherry on top, her own capture and torture of him. Obi-Wan knew he should despise this woman: and yet, seeing her broken and distressed at his feet triggered some automatic male response within him. Something about men always hated to see a woman cry, and Obi-Wan was no exception.
"Asajj."
For once, he addressed her by her first name, and not the name most knew her by. The sound of another voice seemed to do the trick; Ventress snapped out of her reverie, ice blue eyes flashing open and spraying opalescent tears everywhere. She looked shocked to see him: had she really not sensed his approach, or better yet, heard it?
"Did I startle you?"
"Yeah, just a little," Ventress snapped, bending her long neck to her shoulders to wipe away the tears. Obi-Wan held up a hand; he took a step towards her, and pulled a cloth out of a pouch on his belt. For cleaning wounds, and such. But now, he used it to blot the tears from Ventress's porcelain cheeks. Ventress felt him hesitate when he came to her eyes: she had covered them heavily in makeup, and even Obi-Wan knew that if it was one thing women were touchy about, it was their makeup.
"Oh, just take it off."
Obi-Wan shrugged, and carefully wiped Ventress's eyes clean of the tears and running makeup. Ventress closed her eyes as he did so, to keep the makeup out. As Obi-Wan removed the terrifying marks, he could see more clearly now the true face of Asajj Ventress. And he had to say, he found it much more appealing then the makeup-covered look she had adopted for whatever odd reason. And, while he was at it, he may as well remove the rest.
Ventress, oddly, didn't react when Obi-Wan wiped the rest of the makeup from her face. She instead remained completely still, trying not to make eye contact, and waiting. But waiting for what? Obi-Wan ruefully thought. Chances were, she knew what was about to happen to her, and she was just scared of what was going to happen.
"Just hang in there," Obi-Wan said softly, offering a soft smile as encouragement. "I promise, we'll make every attempt to treat you with dignity."
Ventress looked up at Obi-Wan, filling her eyes with tears once again and trying to look as sweet and innocent as possible. "But…why?" she whispered, keeping her voice soft and subdued. "I've done nothing but cause you pain, cause your friends pain-I have taken the lives of so many, and I would have taken the lives of many more, had you not captured me-"
"You're an intelligent being, and you deserve to be treated with respect," Obi-Wan said, shrugging indefinitely. "There has to be a point where all sentient life is respected, regardless of what they have done. There is a line where we all need to put aside our differences, and just shut up and listen to each other. Sadly, few can see that line, and even fewer can obey it. I am hoping to be at least able to see the line, so I know what I've done wrong and can properly atone for it later. I can make my own decisions, and not wonder aimlessly about the repercussions. This way, we all know what's coming."
Ventress smiled softly. "Noble words," she said. "But isn't there a point, also, where there simply can't be respect for sentient life? Such horrible atrocities committed that nothing can make up for these sins?"
Obi-Wan shrugged. "Every living creature has a right to life, and basic freedoms. Freedom to life. Freedom to speak. Freedom to make your own decisions. These are all fundamental rights we should never deny another living creature, and yet, this happens on a daily basis. The Jedi were formed around the principle that we should defend these people who are being deprived of their rights, and that we should try to keep the peace so that every being can at least have a chance. Sadly, we have been turned into soldiers recently, and we are being used as a tool to combat what one man's idea of right and wrong is. In a sense, I suppose we are being deprived of our rights, by being raised as infants to adhere to a strict code of living, and to embrace only that one way of living."
Ventress contemplated Obi-Wan's words. Much as she hated to admit it, he was right. His words were wise beyond his twenty-some years of age, and Ventress couldn't hope to compete with them. Still, she had something she needed to ask, and she knew she couldn't rest until she heard the answer.
"You recognize the faults of the Jedi. Have you ever considered disobeying that code of laws which they set for you?"
Obi-Wan faltered. He could see clearly that Ventress was looking for a weak point in his defenses: and, somehow, he was hoping she would find it. Such a woman as her didn't deserve to go down all alone, without a single person who cared.
"I might. For the right people; under the right circumstances."
"General?"
Obi-Wan glanced up at the commando that had just entered the cell. "We have just re-entered real-space. You are needed on the bridge."
That fast? "Alright. Thank you." The clone nodded once and saluted, and then left. Obi-Wan stood up, giving Ventress a pained stare.
"Here's a hint: don't struggle."
The doors hissed shut behind him, and Ventress allowed a sudden feeling of calm and triumph to wash over her. "Works every time!"
A/N: Little demon-child, Ventress is. Review, please!