"...and so, I am prepared to offer you the sum of one million republic credits plus these nine Jedi in my custody as of right now, if-and only if-Ventress is safely returned to me, completely unharmed both physically and emotionally, by tomorrow at noon."

Mace glanced over at Yoda from the corners of his eyes. The grizzled little alien simply closed his eyes and grunted slightly. "Needs no thought, this decision does," he responded. "Too many Jedi have we lost. Accept your offer, we do, Count Dooku. Where would you like us to meet?"

"On the front steps of the Jedi Temple," the hologram of Dooku replied smoothly. "General Grievous will be my escort to this affair. I expect it to be kept relatively quiet. I understand that it is impossible to keep everyone away, but do please make the effort."

"Make the effort, we will," Yoda said, ears twitching. "But do the same, you must, as well."

"Of course," Dooku said in return. "I thank you for your cooperation. Ladies; gentlemen." And the connection was severed.

Obi-Wan slowly exhaled through his palms, dragging his hands back away from his face before leaning forward and setting his elbows on his knees. "Well?" he said slowly. "He sounded pretty sincere to me. I say we go for it."

Shaak Ti's expression was less than persuaded. "I can't say why," she murmured, "but I have a bad feeling about Dooku bringing along an escort. I mean, really? It's like he expects it to be a hostile encounter. He displays no trust in us."

"With a good reason," Saesee Tinn pointed out. "We are his enemies."

"But, as Master Ti said, showing up with an entourage does indicate the thinking of a hostile encounter," Mace Windu said, glancing around the circle of Jedi Masters in the Council Chamber. "I don't like the looks of it. Do you think he'll try something?"

Plo Koon shook his head. "Dooku might be daring, but he's not stupid. Even he, as powerful a Sith lord as he is, cannot defeat more than ten Jedi at a time. And he can only bring so many droids. Which are fairly useless anyway."

"Unless used en masse," Ki-Adi-Mundi dryly pointed out. "In which case, we would be slaughtered."

"Caught unawares, yes," Shaak Ti returned. "But there is the matter of Ventress, as well. Obi-Wan, what has she been like these past few days?'

"Cranky. That's all I really need to tell you."

Shaak Ti felt a smile tug at her lips, but carefully repressed it. "Understandable," she said, "however inexcusable. Anything we should know about?"

"Strangely docile," Obi-Wan said, brow furrowing. "I don't get it. She just sits there and broods."

"Let's not look a gift kybuck in the mouth," Ki-Adi said. "As long as she can keep herself under control for another eighteen hours or so, we'll live happily ever after."

"The steps of the Temple," Obi-Wan mused. "An odd location, to say the least. So public. And yet, he says he wants to keep this relatively quiet. What game is he playing?"

Mace Windu shrugged hopelessly. "Our only thing to do now is to just keep Ventress under control for a little while longer, and then just go along with it. I'll meditate on this, and see if I can sense anything within the Force. Until tomorrow at eleven-thirty, we are adjourned."

The Council stood up and left immediately, each heading for their respective destinations. Obi-Wan, however, headed for Stass Allie's room. He needed to brief her on the Council meeting she had missed; and, he wanted to see Ventress again. He could sense her in the Force: nothing more than a small ripple, the product of the Force-suppressing drugs she had been administered. She could still access the Force, she just couldn't manipulate it. Obi-Wan knocked on the door, and it cycled open almost immediately. Stass Allie stood in the doorway, looking slightly annoyed.

"She's being quite a little jerk," she grumbled. "So, what did I miss?'

As soon as Allie stepped aside, Obi-Wan walked into the room. "Dooku finally made contact," Obi-Wan said as Allie let the doors shut again. He could sense Ventress suddenly perk up in the Force, listening intently to his words. He smiled softly as her signature picked up even more-she had realized who he was. "He just reiterated everything he told the press; he's offering a million credits and the nine Jedi he claims he has in his custody. Noon tomorrow is the date; he's meeting us on the steps of the Temple."

"Wow," Allie said, proceeding Obi-Wan into the room. Ventress had just stood up, and was approaching them with some unreadable expression in her eyes.

"Master Kenobi," she greeted smoothly. "Came back for me, mm?"

"Couldn't stay away, my darling," Obi-Wan returned, just as smoothly. Ventress snickered at the comment, and Obi-Wan was impressed with her ability to put on an annoyed face. He was not, however, impressed with her ability to mask her emotions in the Force. She was about as easy to read as an open data pad. He gave her a small, taunting smile, and he simply returned it.

"So, what's all this chatter about my master actually stooping to such a level as to make deals with you?" she sneered, glaring at Obi-Wan. The Jedi simply smiled more, and Ventress couldn't help but wonder if he really was enjoying tormenting her.

"Anxious to get out?" Obi-Wan said evenly, resulting in a glare from Ventress.

"As if you didn't already know the answer."

Allie snorted with laughter. "Don't worry, you're outta here tomorrow afternoon if all goes well," she said. "So just keep yourself under control until tomorrow afternoon." She turned to Obi-Wan, and asked, "Anything else I should know?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Nothing too important," he said. "Master Windu is meditating on this, to look for deceptions. But that's really all."

Allie shrugged. "Well, thank you," she said. "I'll meet you in the Council chamber half an hour beforehand?"

"That's the plan."

"See you there."

Ventress looked like she was about to make some comment, but then decided against it. She simply excused herself to the bathroom, and left. Obi-Wan flashed Allie an apologetic look, and then left, as well. But not before he sent Ventress a message along the Force: Until tomorrow, my dear.

Ventress was slightly taken aback; why would Obi-Wan risk it, talking to her? Anyone could easily catch their message. Still, she replied: can't wait. There was a slightly sarcastic edge, but Ventress and Obi-Wan both knew it was just part of her charm. Ventress sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. Her makeup, after being wiped off on day one, had never been recovered. Well, Allie wouldn't mind if she borrowed a little, would she? Ventress opened the cabinet above the toilet and began looking for war paint and eye liner. No one would miss it.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Dooku stood up as the ship landed, albeit rather bumpily. Temple runways weren't the best, not now, not before, and probably not after. Dooku almost lost his balance, but used the Force to keep himself upright. Grievous anchored himself to the floor with magnets in his feet; the pilot apologized for the rough landing, but Dooku waved him off. Stupid, cowardly Neimodian. He simply walked to the rear of the ship, and waited for the ramp to be lowered. Grievous clanked up behind him, a single Jedi in one of his clawed hands. Adi Gallia…he should have killed her. She was more trouble than she was worth, and she had almost cost Dooku an entire system, in addition to the rest of his Jedi captives. He was about ready to have Grievous put a bullet through her head when he got wind of Ventress's plight. And even now, after Grievous had beaten some sense into her and then used her to try to obtain information about the Council, she was still fighting.

"Don't say a word," Dooku growled, "or your life is over. I have more like you; you are worth nothing in my book."

Surprisingly, the female quieted, but not without an ample amount of glaring. The ramp opened with a hiss, and Dooku led the way down, flanked by two battle droids and backed by Grievous. He could see several Jedi gathered on the steps of the Temple not a hundred yards away from the runway; fools. They thought they could intimidate him with their numbers, hm? Ah, yes, there was Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and even a few new faces. Obi-Wan Kenobi, yes, Dooku remembered him quite vividly. His former Padawan's Padawan. Shaak Ti, she was new. Always had promise, though. Coleman Kcaj, he was new, as well. Stass Allie…hm, he had never really paid much attention to her back when he was in the Order. She was a mere Youngling back then, though. But what drew his attention now was the fact that she was the one who was holding Ventress: she held both of the Sith woman's bound arms in her hands, and she stood right in front of the entire assembly. Mace Windu seemed to be in charge of the exchange; he stepped forward as Dooku neared.

"Count Dooku," he said shortly, by way of greeting. The Count gave him a vicious grin.

"Master Windu."

"Enough with the fooling around," Mace said roughly. "Where are the rest of the Jedi?"

"They're here!" Adi Gallia called from behind Dooku. "He's just too-"

She was cut off by a rough backhand by Grievous, which knocked her flat off her feet. Mace rushed forward, lightsaber ablaze, menacing Grievous back. "The rest of the Jedi," he demanded, standing protectively over Adi. "Now."

Grievous gave him a glare, which was actually possible given his sentient eyes (although not much else,) and he simply walked away, back to the ship. Mace stepped back, returning his lightsaber to his belt and unclipping the binders around Adi's wrists. He helped the female Jedi to her feet, and then walked with her back to the group. Shaak Ti immediately came forward, greeting her old friend with a warm embrace and kind words. Soothing energies flowed through the Force, and Mace silently thanked her for it. Everyone's nerves were frayed enough already.

One by one, Grievous released the Jedi. Obi-Wan, as well as everyone else in the vicinity, could sense Ventress's nerves growing more and more electrified as she waited, watching as the Jedi returned to their comrades. She knew none of them; she didn't think it mattered. But Ventress knew one thing, and that was that she was, quite possibly, about to be pulled out of the pot and put into the fryer. Dooku was likely to kill her for her repeated failure, and now, what with her capture, he wasn't going to be happy with her. And if she survived, she was probably going to be in bacta for weeks healing. As if sensing her nerves, Obi-Wan sent her a message through the Force: calm down. It'll be okay.

No, it won't, Ventress replied bitterly. He'll kill me!

Will he? Or are you just saying that because you'll be so close to death you won't be able to tell the difference?

I don't even know…he might keep me around to do more of his dirty work, but he might decide I'm not worth it anymore.

You'll be fine, I promise. Why would he go through so much trouble to get you back without a scratch on you if all he wanted to do was kill you?

Ventress would grudgingly admit that Obi-Wan was right. Damn it, why did he have to be right?! Finally, the last of the nine Jedi had been released, and Grievous was looking ready to go for his sabers and blasters alike. Dooku handed over the credits, and everyone waited with bated breath as Mace examined the money, checking for counterfeits. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Ventress, he turned around, and nodded to Allie. Ventress breathed a sigh of relief; over one hurdle. But it was only the first of many, she knew. She walked over to Dooku as calmly as she could, knowing she was alone as she did so. Allie had simply taken of the binders, and let her go. That they would trust her was amazing to Ventress. But still, she didn't risk a backwards glance; she simply moved forward, to meet Dooku.

His face was like stone as she met him in the middle of the steps; his body looked like it was shaking with anger as he moved. Ventress whispered an apology to him, bowing her head and trying not to meet what she knew would be a furious gaze. Dooku simply told her to get on board the ship. Ventress obeyed hastily, not wanting to try Dooku's patience. Grievous followed her, his awkward metal feet clanging on the ground as he walked. Ventress walked up the ramp of the ship, turning right to go into the cockpit. Grievous, however, had other ideas.

"To the back," he said. "Now."

Ventress turned around and glared but, seeing as she was the one without lightsabers, chose to listen to the cyborg. She turned around and moved towards the back of the ship, hearing Dooku board and the ramp hiss shut. He was following them back, she realized, hearing the soft footsteps behind her underneath Grievous's heavy ones. Grievous stopped suddenly, and Ventress stopped as well. She turned around to see Dooku shouldering his way past Grievous, and she realized too late that he held an ignited lightsaber in his hand.

"You have failed me for the last time, Ventress."

A sudden panic overtook Ventress as she realized what Dooku meant by the statement. "No!" she cried. "It wasn't my fault! Don't hold this against me, don't!"

Dooku's face betrayed nothing; it was like he hadn't even heard her voice. Grievous reached out with one foot, slamming into Ventress's shoulder and kicking her back against the wall of the ship. "Give up, Ventress," he hissed, a malicious edge to his voice. "You've lost!"

Ventress didn't even try to fight back. She knew sh was going to die, but she knew as well that she needed to hear his voice one last time.

Good-bye, Obi-Wan. I hope this doesn't mean anything to you, because the chances are, I won't ever see you again.

A/N: No, she's not going to die. Then there wouldn't be a fanfiction. :D But, you're going to have to review to see what DOES happen!!