Ventress set her hands in her lower back, leaning back slightly to relieve the weight of her pregnancy. After a mere month of carrying her child, her stomach was already swollen, and the side effects of carrying the baby were beginning to set in. And Ventress knew they would only get worse. She was plagued by cramps, back pain, exhaustion, and mood swings. Morning sickness had set in as well, and Ventress found herself vomiting up half of what she ate. Obi-Wan tried to help her through it, but he knew next to nothing about pregnancies, let alone those of Rattatakis. Ventress was doing her best to explain it to him without making anything incredibly awkward, but it usually ended up that way anyway. Now, however, was a rare intimate moment between the two. Obi-Wan came up behind Ventress and put his arms around her, placing one hand on her stomach. Ventress smiled slightly, and placed one of her hands atop his.

"She keeps kicking."

Obi-Wan set his head on her shoulder, smiling as well. "Feisty," he said. "She's so much like her mother already. So, do we have a name?"

"I was thinking about Raina," Ventress said. "Or maybe Electa."

Obi-Wan nodded slightly, stepping back from her, and then moving off to the side. Ventress was busy making dinner, something that she had surprised Obi-Wan with when she had first done it. "You cook?" he had asked. Ventress had answered: "I used to make dinner for myself all the time. Dooku pretty much had the same reaction as you when he found out." Here, she had smiled, and continued, "I always kind of had to make food for myself, after my parents were killed. I didn't have any siblings, so I was pretty much out for myself." It made sense, when Obi-Wan thought about it. One couldn't survive on take-out forever. Ventress pulled a knife out of one of the drawers under the counter, and began slicing a rather large vegetable with it.

"I like Raina," Obi-Wan said. "Actually, I like both names. Anyone else have a say in this besides us two?"

Ventress shook her head. "Not on my end," she said. "Anyone you want to include?"

"Maybe Shaak Ti," Obi-Wan said. "Barriss. I would ask Anakin, but he's a bit immature for that."

Ventress smiled, and set the knife down away from the cutting board. "I was actually considering the godparents, as well," she said, "and I figured Shaak Ti would be the godmother. She's smart, responsible, and she's done a lot for me. And maybe Mace could be the godfather? He's a fantastic Jedi, and he's been fair and impartial this entire time."

"I was thinking Dex," Obi-Wan said, a smile creeping across his face. "But, hearing your idea, I think I like that one better."

Ventress grinned, and dumped the chopped vegetables into the pot of boiling water she had on the stove. "Dex is great, and he's fun, but I'm not sure he would be the best choice for raising our child if we couldn't…"

"Shaak Ti's a good choice, though," Obi-Wan said. "Hey, what do you need me to do?"

"Just setting the table would be amazing," Ventress said. "For three, please."

Obi-Wan nodded, and went to the cabinets on the opposite side of the kitchen. He grabbed three plates from the top cabinet, and walked over to the table. He set the plates down, and was about to go back into the kitchen when someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" he called, staying where he was. Shaak Ti came bursting through the door excitedly, a blur of disturbing pigmentation and blinding colors. She raced over to Obi-Wan and Ventress, saying,

"Dooku's and Palpatine's trials are right now, back to back!"

Ventress and Obi-Wan shared a glance. "I'll turn the stove off," Ventress said. "Leave a note for Anakin, and I'll change."

"Now!" Shaak Ti cried, dancing elegantly back towards the door, all the grace of her species in her body at that moment. Ventress hurried into the room she shared with Obi-Wan, aiming to change out of the loose shirt and pants she was wearing now into something a bit more suited to a Senate trial. She found a long, dark robe with her things that she was certain was good enough; and it would also hide her pregnancy. The thick robe slid over her easily, flowing down around her and disguising the baby within her. Ventress raced out of the room again, meeting Obi-Wan and Shaak Ti at the door.

"I got the stove," Obi-Wan said. "And I left a note for Anakin. Let's go, before Master Ti's head explodes."

"Ten minutes is all I got," Shaak Ti said, breaking from the room. "I have a right to explode!"

Obi-Wan smiled, and hurried after her. Ventress did her best to keep up, despite her baby, and made it to the hangar in record time. Shaak Ti jumped into a four-person speeder, grabbing the control throttles and punching the engine into life. As soon as Ventress and Obi-Wan were halfway seated, she took off, racing towards the enormous Senate Rotunda. "Mace is saving us a seat in the Jedi Representation pod, but he can't keep everyone else out forever. And plus, I don't want to miss a minute of this!"

Shaak Ti resembled Anakin in piloting, only a small bit less reckless. She ducked, dived, swooped, and narrowly missed vehicle after vehicle as she wove through traffic with the ease of a champion Pod-racer. Obi-Wan clung to the sides of the craft, face paling as Shaak Ti pulled into a sharp nosedive to avoid oncoming traffic. Ventress seemed to be enjoying herself; a smile teased at the corners of her lips, and she was perfectly relaxed in the back seat. Obi-Wan was shocked that she could remain so calm in the face of such, as he called it, "suicidal maneuvering." He decided he would call Shaak Ti out on it later: for now, he really wanted to get to that trial!

Shaak Ti skidded the speeder to a stop, and Obi-Wan and Ventress jumped out immediately. Shaak Ti killed the engine, and then she jumped out as well. The Jedi and their companion jogged across the landing platform and into the Senate Chamber, choosing the door closest to the Jedi Pod. Shaak Ti flashed an identification chip at the clone guarding the door; he waved them through, and Shaak Ti pushed Obi-Wan and Ventress ahead of her. They hurried down a long, curving hallway until they reached the door marked, "JEDI." She pushed it open, and then let Obi-Wan and Ventress duck in. As the door opened, Mace turned around.

"Hey, you just missed opening announcements," he whispered. "Just silence your comms."

"Done," Shaak Ti whispered, sliding into a seat next to Mace. Ventress and Obi-Wan took the front seats: Ventress wanted Dooku to see her, if he even so much as glanced her way. She wanted both Sith lords to se her now, completely beyond their reach and doing just fine. She wanted to prove to them she didn't need them. Obi-Wan reached over and gently took Ventress's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze to remind her he was there.

"The first trial is Palpatine's," Mace said. "And then the second one is Dooku's. But it's not really a trial: Dooku is a political idealist; not a murderer. So, they'll just be negotiating the end of the war. Much as I hate to let a Sith lord go, this one falls under politics."

"I blame Palpatine-slash-Sidious," Ventress muttered. "You arrested him as Jedi arresting a Sith, he should be tried as one."

"He's not that dangerous, though," Obi-Wan murmured back. "We can make this a private Jedi affair, but we need to remove him from politics first. The Sith will be extinct, I promise you."

"I meant to tell you this earlier," Ventress said slowly, "but I gave his name to the Hutts, as well."

"And who's getting that assassination?"

"Aurra Sing."

"Oh, he's dead."

Ventress smiled, and returned her attention to the trial at hand.

Palpatine's trial was a short one. Mace Windu, Yoda, and Shaak Ti came forward with testimonials against Palpatine, and evidence of his corruption. Palpatine had next to no defense; his tactic was to try to discredit the Jedi. He failed, of course, and was sentenced to be removed from office immediately. He was never to enter politics again, and was not to enter Coruscant without an escort. Ventress smiled softly as she watched Palpatine exit the office; she, apparently, sensed something in the Force. Obi-Wan felt her pulse beat faster, and her breath became giddy with excitement.

My sniper friend, she whispered through their bond, is outside. With one hell of a grenade waiting for him. She used the Force-bond established between her and Obi-Wan now; to be overhead meant certain death. Obi-wan sighed softly through his nose.

Much as I deplore the method, I know it needs to be done.

A blaster shot rang out throughout the chamber, and Palpatine dropped to the floor.

Gasps from the Senators were all around; thousands of languages suddenly sprang to life, asking what was going on, who had shot, where the assassin was, why the shot was fired; Ventress was struggling to contain her laughter, watching Palpatine's body fall to the floor, a smoking, charred bullet hole through the exact center of his forehead. "She was always an expert markswoman."

"Here me, Senate!" A confident, female voice rang out through the entire building. "I've killed who I came to kill. The Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, is dead!" As she screamed the final word, Aurra Sing leapt down from her perch in the rafters, a blur of orange and white. She landed on the Chancellor's podium, which was currently occupied by Mon Mothma of Chandrila. Over her shoulder was a long rifle, tipped back towards the ceiling. Mothma shrank back, fear in her dark eyes. "I'm done here," Aurra announced, tossing her weapon over her shoulder. Mothma caught it shakily, and just as soon dropped it as if it were poison. "See? I'm not armed, and I'm not here for any of you. I go in peace." She cast about the Senate chamber, seemingly searching for someone. Spotting Ventress in the middle of the throng of people, Obi-Wan felt a surge in the Force, and suddenly, Aurra landed on the front of their pod. "Oh, Ventress, darling! Oh, I hoped I'd run into you here. Dear, what the hell is this? Jedi?! What exactly have you been doing?"

Ventress smiled softly. "Aurra, my friend, you and I have so much to catch up on. But for now, I suggest you get out of here. I hear the click of blasters locking and loading."

Aurra smiled, and took a step down into the pod. "Ah, don't worry," she said, seeing the Jedi spring to their feet and ignite their sabers. "I was just leaving." But, as she passed Ventress, she paused in her step. She leaned over slightly, pert nose wrinkling as she sniffed at the air around Ventress. "A baby?" she said, sniffing again. Ventress nodded, seemingly unfazed. Aurra looked shocked. "Oh, darling, please, why?!"

Ventress smiled. "Shoo, shoo," she said. "I'll tell you later."

"Augh, you owe me," Aurra said exasperatedly, rolling her eyes. "I'll meet you outside. Chou, darling." She waved slightly at Ventress over her shoulder as she left, long-fingers rippling as she opened the door and exited, the epitome of calm, cool, and aloof. Ventress smiled slightly at Obi-Wan, looking slightly chagrined.

Oops, Dooku was the thermal detonator outside…sorry…?

Obi-Wan said nothing, merely sighing and rolling his eyes. Deep down, though, Ventress sensed his gratitude. One Sith down, and one more to go. The guards in the room immediately cleared the body of Palpatine from the room, exiting out the nearest door as quickly as they could. Ventress, upon looking around, saw that several of the Senators had fainted with fear; she chucked darkly, and gently placed a hand on her stomach. "First taste of life," she whispered. "Welcome to my world, Electa."

Obi-Wan smiled softly, and shook his head. Ventress reached over and took his hand again, relaxing again. The Jedi slowly resumed their positions in their seats, lightsabers finally deactivating. Mon Mothma chucked the rifle over the edge of the podium, just as Aurra stuck her head back through the door. Seeing the rifle falling, she reached out through the Force, using her meager knowledge of it to bring the rifle abruptly off course towards her. She caught it, however forcefully it slammed into her palms, and offered the Jedi a goofy salute. "Forgot this," she said, setting the weapon in its holster again. "Thanks." She flashed the Senate a smirk, an obscene hand gesture, and then, she was gone again. Ventress sighed.

"Always was one for theatrics."

Obi-Wan outright laughed at this, smothering his chuckles with the back of his hand. Mon Mothma stood up in the Chancellor's Podium, calling out, "Order! I will have order!"

The Senate slowly quieted, as she and her assistances screamed at them a little more. Finally, the din had thinned to a few whispers here and there. Mothma decided it was as good as it was going to get. "Alright," she said slowly. "While it is a tragedy that we lost Palpatine-"

"We don't miss him!" someone called out from the other side of the Senate chamber. "No one does!" Mothma faltered, clearly wanting to agree but unable to do so because of her position. Instead, she just sighed, and held up her hands for silence again.

"Alright, calm down, everyone! We must move on with the proceedings. We still have to work out a settlement to end the war between the Republic and the Separatists. Count Dooku, please?"

Dooku swept into the Senate chamber not as a prisoner, but as the head of the Separatist movement. He was flanked by two clones, however, and unarmed. "Count Dooku of Serrenno," Mothma said, rising again to greet him. "You have been fighting this war as both a Sith lord and a Separatist. Now, we seek to end this pointless conflict bloodlessly and right now. I will not close this case until we have reached a settlement."

Dooku seemed fine with that. With the loss of Palpatine, or Darth Sidious, he really had no reason to fight anymore. "I will end the war right now," Dooku said, "On several conditions. I will be allowed to return to my home world of Serrenno, to live out the rest of my life in peace. I will be allowed to pursue the Force in any manner I so choose. I will not be obligated to explain my actions or reasons to you, or the Jedi. And I will allow the Separatists to be merged back into the Republic as smoothly as possible."

Mothma nodded once. It was about as much as she could hope for, she supposed. "I accept all terms that I am entitled to accept," she said. She turned to the Jedi pod. "The Jedi are obligated to accept the rest."

Yoda stood up, moving to the front of the pod as it steadily rose to the level of Mothma's and Dooku's. "Accept these terms, we do, Count Dooku. However, have one term for you to comply with, we do." Dooku raised a brow, and turned to the Jedi. He said nothing, and so, Yoda continued. "Allow you, as a Sith, to take another apprentice, we do not. Pursue the dark side, you may, but instruct another in it, you may not. Clear, we are?"

"Very well, then," Dooku said evenly. "I accept your terms. The droids will be deactivated as soon as I may reach a control center."

"The clones will be recalled as soon as the droids are deactivated," Mace said, rising to his feet in the pod. "Nice dealing with you."

Dooku smiled slightly to Mace, but then, his gaze fell to Ventress. "My dear," he greeted smoothly. "I hear you are with child?"

Ventress seemed shell-shocked by his very voice. Obi-Wan turned and gave her a concerned glance. Ventress took a deep, shaky breath, and replied, "I am."

Her confidence was intriguing to Dooku. "And by Kenobi," he breathed, shaking his head.

"What a galaxy we have become."

A/N: Whew! Long one! :D But, several nice appearances by some favorites, and so, I hope you all enjoyed. Review, please!!