Even the Dark Side Can't Take Our Memories

Chapter 23 - Leave no Trace

Ahsoka felt her heart stop, a chill rippling up her arms and leaving goosebumps in its wake. Not her; anyone but her. I can't do this right now, Ahsoka thought to herself, gritting her teeth.

"Ahsoka Tano..." the smirking vigilante drawled.

"Ventress." Ahsoka clenched her hands in and out by her sides. Ventress's eyes inadvertently flitted across Ahsoka's body. The Togruta searched Ventress's face for any sign of plotted hostility.

"A real Jedi. Haven't gotten my hands on one of you in a long time - since Barriss. But I sense you know all about that." Ventress tilted her head to one side, her smile laced with poison. Ahsoka cracked her knuckles, only one of Ventress's instigating points ringing a bell in her mind.

"I am no Jedi."

"For someone who claims neutrality, you sure do act like a Jedi." Ahsoka did not say anything for a moment, waiting to see if Ventress would move on to any significant topics. When she simply looked expectantly at Ahsoka's quiet eyes, Ahsoka decided to take it upon herself to discover Ventress's motivation.

"Why are you here, Ventress? Shouldn't you be off doing Count Dooku's dirty work like the pawn you are?" Ahsoka crossed her arms over her chest, and Ventress narrowed her eyes.

"You do not seem to understand the magnitude of power I hold over Dooku."

"Nor do you seem to understand the line between dreams and reality."

"Child," Ventress muttered under her breath, before continuing. Ahsoka flared her nostrils. "If you are to wrangle a word out of me, I would expect some hospitality." Ahsoka jerked her head forwards, her arms still crossed.

"Hospit- what do you think this is, a friendly house call? We are at war, assassin. Democracy has been long out the window; you're Separatist, and I'm - I'm..." Ahsoka did not realize her mistake until after she'd spoken.

"I thought you said you were not a Jedi," Ventress leered. "What place in this war do you so claim to hold, civilian?"

"I do not have time for your games. What do you want with me?" Ahsoka was growing anxious to hear Ventress's response. Ventress sighed and settled onto one of Ahsoka's makeshift chairs. She was clearly taking the hospitality upon herself.

"I never should have associated with that weak-tongued girl, for now I am obligated to deal with the likes of you."

"What do you-" Ventress held up a hand, and Ahsoka couldn't help but close her mouth.

"I know Barriss told you everything, and I would not put it past you to go scurrying back to your Jedi brood with all that you know."

"Why would you care what the Jedi discover? You commit much worse acts without any fear of the unlikely consequences." Despite her witty banter, Ahsoka had a feeling where this was going. Ventress was there to silence her.

"I thought they said you were clever."

"I-"

"Now, now, Padawan. Don't make me question your maturity, too.

"I am not a-"

"I do not worry of my prosecution. The Jedi have tried and failed to catch me many a time before for crimes I have yet to be reprimanded for," Ventress continued, as if Ahsoka had not spoken. "But if the Jedi learn that the bombing of their temple was orchestrated by a Separatist, my work will have been for nothing. The purpose, you see, was to stoke the flames of distrust within your petty 'peacekeeping' organization. The bombing was to cause unrest and suspicion, an uproar. Which it did. Now, mind you, the Jedi need to retain the belief that this is true for my work to have been successful."

"I've cut off my ties to the Jedi. You need not worry about them hearing word of your treachery."

"My treachery? Who is it I am betraying, may I ask?" Ahsoka narrowed her eyes.

"The very fabric of peace."

"The fabric of your peace, juvenile." Ventress's words couldn't help but remind Ahsoka of the fateful day Barriss and her had fought over the morality of the Jedi. They were such similar ideals. "Either way, if I am to believe you truly have cut off your ties to the Jedi, then how was Barriss Offee in your home, Tano? Rather than the high-security Republic prison she was incarcerated in; accessed only by Jedi and clone troopers." Ahsoka tightened her already prominent jawline and prepared to run for her weapons. Her fingers itched to have a defense. "I will not let you foil my labor. I am here to kill you, Ahsoka Tano."