Clone Wars: Inquisitor

Inquisitor

Hearing the scream of agony, Obi-wan quickly ran to prisons. Inside, he saw Anakin lying on the floor with the Sith corpse standing in front of him with nothing but the cell's force field between them. 

'Stay back'. With a force push, Obi-wan pushed the thing away before going to Anakin's side. 'Anakin, are you alright?'

'Wait, Master Obi-wan. He was trying to help'. Ahsoka pulled Anakin into a nearby stool. Looking closely, Obi-wan could see Anakin's wound had already closed up. If it wasn't for the small faint cut, he wouldn't have thought him to be hurt in the first place.

'Now that all this unpleasantries are over.' Hearing that voice made Obi-wan step back. 

'I've done my part. Now, it's your turn'. The Sith slowly walked towards them. The first thing Obi-wan noticed about him were his eyes, golden orbs that seemed to stare at his very soul. 

'Ahsoka, what's he talking about?'

Ahsoka gulped. 'He promised to heal Anakin's wound if we promise to tell him what's happening'.

'Not exactly the deal, is it?' The Sith smiled at them, his current look making the gesture extremely menacing. 'No, the deal was information in exchange for healing your master, is it not? I want to know everything'.

'Come on, Ahsoka. Help me carry, Anakin to the medbay'.

'Will you really let them break their promise, master Jedi? Has the Jedi Order truly fallen so low?'

Obi-wan wanted to let the taunt slide. Instead, it was Anakin who replied. 'What is it you really want, Sith? And don't play games with me. Your still the prisoner here'.

'I know I'm a prisoner, young Jedi. But not just to you and this cell but also to time. I'm lost in an age I know nothing about, my people long gone. A stranger in a galaxy who either despises me or wants to do nothing but to use me to further their own goals. And so, I ask merely for knowledge. To know what's happened since my apparent death'.

It was Obi-wan's turn to answer. 'Very well'.

After some time, the Sith eventually had his fill of history lessons. 

'How the galaxy has changed', he said after much contemplation. 'The Empire's defeat isn't really any surprise to me but this Rule of Two is quite troubling for me'.

'What? Aren't you supposed to vie for your own team?' quipped Anakin.

'The Empire was flawed from the very beginning. We were fighting amongst ourselves just as much as we fought against your Old Republic. It was only a matter of time before it crumbled completely'.

'And the new Sith? What do you think about them?' asked Ahsoka.

'The fact that we've grown so few in number troubles me. Korriban being turned into a graveyard just might be the greatest shame in our history'.

'Can't accept that we're better than you?' sneered Anakin again.

The Sith laughed. 'I know you're trying to get  a rise out of me, Jedi, and honestly, you're not very good at it'. 

Anakin glared at him. 

'No, what disappoints me is the fact that the Sith has lost its ways. They've forgotten what our Order has long stood for'. 

'You don't have to worry about that for long because once we're done, there'll be none of you left'. 

'For a Jedi, you talk a lot like a Sith'. 

Anakin jumped up, his hand already on his weapon.

'Anakin, stop!' ordered Obi-wan. 'Ahsoka, take him to the medbay'. His tone didn't allow for an argument. Anakin gave the Sith another glare before being guided by Ahsoka out of the room. 

'What now, Sith Lord? The Sith Order as you knew it, is long gone. There's nothing left for you in this era' Obi-wan pitied the man that stood before him. Even with the dark side engulfing him, Obi-wan could still sense greatness in the man. Honor, truth, and even justice, although twisted in his own Sith ways. 

'Perhaps, but even a small seed can grow into a sturdy tree. My comrades are gone but if the Force wills it, then I will find new comrades again'. 

The Jedi Master thought for a moment. Perhaps, if the old ways did return, peace could be restored to the galaxy. He doubt the Sith and the Jedi would ever see eye to eye, but perhaps it could be a start. Still, he resolved himself. 'You know we can't let you do that'.

'Perhaps. Or perhaps, the Force brought me back for a reason. Que sera, sera'.

'What was that?'

'Nothing. Thank you, Master Jedi, but I think it's time for me to rest once again. I hope to look as presentable as I can in front of your Jedi Council'. The Sith smiled before laying back down on the healing pod in the middle of his cell. 

Obi-wan gave him one final look before leaving completely. 

Ventress punched the walls, rage powering each strike. If it wasn't for that stupid corpse, she wouldn't be here in the first place. Even now, she doubts if rescue would ever come for her. She's on her own, like always. 

Suddenly, a loud high pitched noise echoed inside her skull before returning to total silence. 'You should save your strength, young apprentice'.

Ventress immediately bowed her head. 'My lord'. Strength ruled over all. That was the Sith way. The weak could do nothing but bow and serve and Ventress knew her position in that hierarchy. 

'No need to be so polite, little Sith. I'm but a mere inquisitor. No need to call me lord. Tell me what ails you'.

Ventress wanted to spout as much profanities as she could. To blame him for her current predicament. But what's to stop him from ending her right now. If he could easily get into her mind, he could just as easily break it from inside out. The apprentice quickly swallowed her own pride. 'I'm trying to find us a means of escape, my lord inquisitor. Just give me time and I'll get you out of-'.

'Such young promise, you are', interrupted the voice. 'With enough training, you can be a master of your own'.

Ventress was shocked by the sudden compliment. 'And I can be so much more, my lord'. 

'Indeed. Such a shame that your mentor can't see that. They'd rather replace you than see your training complete. See you punished not for your mistakes but because of your master's incompetence'.

A deep hate broke out of Ventress' calm facade. Hate for Count Dooku and his entourage, and for the hooded man behind him. 

'Tell me, young Asajj Ventress. If you could choose a new master, would you?'

Her mind, filled with hate only had one answer. 'Yes'.