The cadence of synchronized footfalls alerted gate master Jurrok to their approach.

Armored in white slashed by the stark black of their rifles, helmets outlines by a gaunt black line, they came. The clones. Headed by five of the Chancellor's own Red Guards, they marched in perfect tandem: an entire squadron. This much trouble for someone they can't even arrest? Jurrok thought to himself silently. The Chancellor must want her bad…as the clones and Red Guards approached, Jurrok stood his ground, one hand moving to the handle of his lightsaber. If it came to a fight, he didn't want to have any disadvantage he could control. The Red Guards ascended the steps to the Jedi Temple, force-pikes crossed diagonally over their chest. The top tips slanted to the left; the bottom, to the right. Though the pikes were deactivated, Jurrok was careful to listen for the tell-tale buzz of one being ignited. The middle Guard, who seemed to be the captain, held up his fist and called for a halt when he reached the top step. The clones and other Guards both stopped, and the captain walked up to Jurrok. "We are here for the prisoner Asajj Ventress," he said, voice slightly muffled by the red face cowl he wore. "We have instructions from the Chancellor to retrieve her and escort her back to one of our maximum-security prisons."

"And I have word that the Chancellor has been removed from office for outright defying the Constitution of the Republic," Jurrok returned smoothly. He tried to release all of his nervous energy into the Force: they wouldn't kill him, would they? One more strike against the Chancellor. Plus, the Red Guards and the clones both were humans: they weren't slaves to programming that said: "Do or die." They could be spoken with, rationalized with. Jurrok had no reason to fear them. Or, at least, he hoped he didn't.

The Red Guard's stiff mask hid his every facial expression. "But the Chancellor gave us his orders while he was still in office, and therefore, we have to follow," the Guard said, taking another step forward. Now, if you'll allow me-"

"Absolutely not," Jurrok said firmly. "Everything the Chancellor did while in office is now null and void, as he has been removed from office on charges of high treason. That negates every standing order he ever gave. Now, back down."

The Guard seemed to realize the fruitlessness of the argument. He was already on the losing side, and the Jedi's logic wasn't helping, either. The instead turned around and marched the soldiers away. As soon as they were out of earshot, Jurrok breathed a heavy sigh of relief. No siege on the Temple tonight.

OOOOOOOOO

Obi-Wan was enjoying the peace.

Anakin had headed out again. It was just himself and Ventress in the apartment. She was leaning on his again; he was gently running his hand up and down her spine. She was softly arching into the touches, just happy to feel the touch of another human without having searing pain accompany it. The two had watched the developing Holo-news all night; coupled with Shaak Ti's and Yoda's constant updates via comlink, everything was working out perfectly. Yoda had gotten the video clip; Shaak Ti and the rest of the Council had successfully arrested the Chancellor, and he was now awaiting trial within the Senate in a maximum security holding cell. Mace Windu had temporarily seized control of the Senate, and had called an emergency session. A new Chancellor was being elected as they spoke. After several hours of debate, several people had been nominated, among them Senator Padme Amidala, Senator Mon Mothma, and Senator Bail Organa. All of them, Obi-Wan knew personally, and knew that all of them were good, honest people, and would do everything in their power to end the war and corruption once and for all. Ventress knew none of them, and didn't particularly care. She had never been one to even know who the Chancellor was, and if his face wasn't on the Republic credits, she doubted she would ever know who it was, no matter how the scandals ran. Obi-Wan was never really much into politics, but he had to care to some extent, being on the Jedi Council, and thus being so deeply involved with the Chancellor himself. It was almost in the job description to give a damn.

Ventress gave a small shiver, and moved closer to him.

Obi-Wan looked down at her, watching as she curled into a ball and tucked herself beneath his arm. "What?" he asked softly, embracing her without question. "Cold?"

Ventress shook her head. "N-No," she stammered. "The Force…it's cold...frozen. Arctic, even. Sidious…he's here."

Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. "How does he enter and leave Coruscant so easily?" he questioned. Ventress shook her head.

"He never leaves," she said. "Dooku told you long ago that the Senate was under the control of Darth Sidious?" Obi-Wan nodded, and she continued. "Well, that Darth Sidious has a politician alter ego. Duh. So, he never has to leave Coruscant. All he has to do is mask his presence in the Force while keeping his signature of a life-form, and no one is the wiser. Not even Yoda could tell." Ventress gazed up at Obi-Wan with tranquil blue eyes. "I figured out who he was. Have you?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "The Council never did," he admitted. "We've been trying, but somehow, he always eludes us. One step ahead, we say. We get so close, and then, he's gone again. It's very frustrating."

Ventress smiled softly, and nodded. "I understand," she said. "But, think about it: I'm a former Sith. The Sith has it out for me. Wouldn't a Senate trial totally and completely damn me forever? A Sith lord, as my master, would want to shut me up. Dooku can't do it, since he's in the public eye. But Sidious can…because he's Sidious. Even if the public did know about him, it wouldn't be like with Dooku. My former master is an arrogant, self-centered person who likes to appear to any and all as an untouchable, aloof character who somehow gets all the attention while he doesn't want it. He acts impassive towards it when in fact, it is he who beckons it. So, it would have to be Sidious. Tell me, who is judge, jury, and bailiff for the Senate?"

"Chancellor Palpatine." Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. He didn't like where this was going.

"And who is totally in control of the entire Senate, so much so that not one Senator has a voice anymore?"

"…Palpatine…"

"And who was so damn insistent that I have a Senate trial, sending his own guards away from him to get me, especially when each and every person alive knew I would be sentenced to die, alone, scared, and away from the Jedi, cursing the Sith and Jedi and the entire world for leaving me alone to die?"

"…Palpatine!"

Obi-Wan turned to Ventress, a look of astonishment on his face. "Is that why you were so quiet all this time," he murmured, more of a statement than a question. "Ventress, you are a genius."

Ventress smiled softly. "Well, thank you," she said quietly. "But, hey, it's a package deal. Comes with my stunning good looks and charming personality."

"And deadly skills with a lightsaber."

"And deadly skills with anything are you kidding? I could kill you with a banana."

Obi-Wan chuckled softly. "That you could," he said, shaking his head. "Well, I think Master Windu needs to know about this," he continued, reaching for his comlink. Ventress placed a hand on his arm.

"Don't," she said. "Wait until it can happen in person. If anyone intercepts the message, or overhears us, we'll all be fried bantha for dinner. We can't bring it up in the trial, anyway: we have no proof. And besides, we take him out of the Senate, he'll be done for, anyway. We can subtly give his name to the Hutts. I'll do it, so the Jedi won't even be involved. That way, we have both Sith lords. Dooku is easy to find, and control: just sic the media on him. Now that we know who he is, we'll have tabs on him for life. We'll let a few weeks go by, and then, in the grand finale of the war, we shoot the cruiser he's in as they jump to hyperspace. I'll hijack a Separatist craft."

Obi-Wan thought it over for a moment, and then nodded. "Much as the violence doesn't appeal to me, that's not a bad idea," he said thoughtfully. "Well, you take care of that. And we never had this conversation.

"Never," Ventress swore. Obi-Wan nodded once.

"Now…what?"

Ventress shrugged. "We wait," she said slowly. "Palpatine can't do anything, because the media has everything live. As soon as he is expelled from the Senate, I talk to an old friend."

Obi-Wan felt one brow arch nearly into his hairline. "And who might that be?" he asked cautiously. Ventress smiled.

"You don't wanna know."

OOOOOOOOOO

Ventress awoke to something stepping on her.

It wasn't heavy; about ten, fifteen pounds. It felt like it had claws, too. A long tail trailed along behind it as it crawled up over Ventress's back. She was lying face down, on her stomach, in bed, next to Obi-Wan. He had his arm around her waist, although rather loosely, if the creature could get all the way up her back and not wake him. Ventress slowly opened her eyes; the creature wasn't a threat, otherwise it would be dead already. Although, it might be nice to know what it was and why it was crawling over her…Ventress blinked blearily, adjusting her vision to the darkness in the room. A darker shape was silhouetted above her, looking down on her with cold, dark eyes, baring sharp teeth-

Ventress abruptly screamed.

She turned over fully, knocking the furry little creature off of her back and down into the sheets. Obi-Wan sat bolt upright, groping the lightsaber he had put down on the table next to the bed. He ignited it, and went to swipe at the creature. It curled up in a ball, and then rolled off the edge of the bed. Obi-Wan gave a sigh of relief.

"What is it?!"

Obi-Wan smiled, and laughed softly. "I forgot to mention," he said slowly, "We have what's called a miniature nexu around here. He's kind of here and gone; he just lives in the Temple. It looks exactly like a nexu, only bred to be tiny and kept as a pet. Sorry; he must have scared you. Someone usually leaves food out for him; if not, he catches the rodents that make it in from the sewers…"

Ventress's pounding heart and labored breath barely eased. "Yeah, thanks for letting me know," she said faintly, clutching at her chest with one hand and pulling the sheets up over her body with the other. "Might I suggest keeping the door closed at night?"

Obi-Wan smiled softly. "Will do," he said. "Now, I advise you go back to sleep. Because it is…" A brief glance at the chrono on the wall gave him the time. "One in the morning. And that's standard time."

Ventress sighed, and flopped back down on the mattress. "Force help us all," she whispered, rubbing her forehead with one hand and pulling the sheets up even more with the other. But, as soon as Obi-Wan had calmed down as well, and the two were settling back in, Anakin burst into the room, lightsaber ablaze, swinging it wildly and declaring,

"I heard screaming!"

Ventress rolled her eyes. "Little late for the show," she said. "Little Night-stalker Nexu just scared the crap out of me. Get back to bed."

Anakin looked hurt. "Then, I got up and got my lightsaber for nothing?" he sighed, and deactivated the saber. "Now where am I supposed to put my thermal detonator? If that little skunk's running around again, I can't leave it out!"

"Oh, I'll tell ya where to put it," Ventress growled, sitting up. But, in doing so, she lost the covers, revealing the only thing she had worn to bed: her scanty bra and underwear.

Anakin immediately snickered at the sight. "Oh, my," he said condescendingly. "Was that your idea, or Obi-Wan's?"

"Why, I oughtta-!"

Obi-Wan caught her with a hand around the waist. "Darling," he said, the sweetest of sarcastic tones in his voice, "Please, don't turn around…while I enjoy the thong, I'm not sure Anakin does. He's not worth it, I promise."

Ventress suddenly paled-even further-as she remembered that her tiny underwear was the result of a thong. Wonderful. She usually wore it to avoid a panty line, what with the shorts and the wraps, it was rather embarrassing. But now, it probably wasn't necessary…and she had never gotten new underwear. "Crap," Ventress muttered, slowly backing up. She sat down first, pulled the sheets over her waist, and then turned her back to Anakin. "Good night, insolent child," she said, as firmly and nastily as she could. Anakin snickered again.

"Good night, cold-blooded reptile stripper."

A high-heeled shoe lodged by the stiletto heel in the wall mere hairs' breadths from Anakin's head.

"Good night, Anakin!!"

A/N: Awkwardness again!! :D But this is a little more fun. You guys out there, enjoy the fanart soon to be coming your way. You girls, enjoy that the fact that some men have the decency to let you know. :D And while you do that, review.