Chapter 15: The Council's Request
POV: Kael Vorn
The morning after 79's arrived with all the subtlety of a Republic artillery barrage. Kael lay in his narrow Temple cot, contemplating the philosophical implications of hangovers in a body that was technically not his own. Did Kyle Ford's liver function transfer to Kael Vorn's metabolism? Were the Force-enhanced healing factors helping or making things worse?
A sharp knock interrupted his suffering.
"Message for Kael Vorn," came the voice of a Temple messenger. "The Council requests your presence immediately."
His stomach dropped toward Coruscant's core. Immediate summons were never good news—they meant either a crisis requiring his specific skills, or that someone had discovered something about his true nature that required urgent discussion.
"Please let it be the first one."
Thirty minutes later, Kael stood in the Council Chamber's center, surrounded by the familiar circle of Jedi Masters. But the atmosphere was different today—tense in a way that made his skin crawl. Mace Windu stood at the chamber's heart, arms crossed, his presence radiating controlled frustration.
Beside him, a holographic projection flickered—Asajj Ventress, bound in what was clearly a Republic detention cell, her pale face defiant despite the restraints.
"This is wrong. She's not supposed to be captured yet. This isn't canon."
[TIMELINE DEVIATION DETECTED]
[MAJOR CANONICAL EVENT: DISPLACED]
[UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES: CALCULATING...]
"Three days ago," Mace began without preamble, "Republic forces captured this Sith assassin on Toydaria. She claims to have information about a secret Separatist project."
The hologram of Ventress smirked, her yellow eyes gleaming with malevolent amusement. "I offer a trade, Jedi. My knowledge for my freedom. Count Dooku has... discarded me. I no longer serve the Separatists."
Her gaze swept the Council chamber until it landed on Kael, and her expression shifted to something like curiosity.
"The gray one. I've heard whispers about you. Interesting aura."
Kael's breath caught. Even through a holographic projection, Ventress could perceive his Force signature—the silver-gray energy that marked him as something outside the traditional dichotomy.
Yoda's ears twitched with interest. "The coordinates from the Malevolence, match they do, with her information. Project Shadowfeed, she calls it."
"Of course. The one plot thread I know nothing about because it shouldn't exist."
"Dangerous, she is," Yoda continued, his ancient eyes studying the hologram with the patience of centuries. "Yet valuable, her information may be. Propose, we do, that Kael Vorn escort her to these coordinates. Investigate together, they will."
The Council chamber erupted into immediate argument. Mace's voice cut through the chaos like a lightsaber through flesh.
"Absolutely not. Ventress cannot be trusted. She's killed dozens of Jedi, destroyed entire Republic outposts. Pairing her with an untrained Force-user is madness."
Plo Koon's respirator wheezed thoughtfully. "Our intelligence on Project Shadowfeed is dangerously limited. If this woman truly knows its purpose, the risk may be acceptable."
"Besides," Obi-Wan added with diplomatic precision, "Kael's gray nature might actually be advantageous in this situation. Ventress respects strength and unconventional thinking. She might be more forthcoming with someone outside our traditional structure."
The debate raged for several minutes, voices rising as twelve of the galaxy's wisest beings struggled to balance pragmatism against principle. Finally, Yoda raised his gimer stick for silence.
"Feel it, I do, that the Force guides this pairing. Test them both, it will. Kael Vorn—accept this mission, will you?"
Every instinct Kael possessed screamed at him to refuse. Ventress in the canonical timeline was lethal, unpredictable, driven by rage and betrayal to extremes that made negotiation nearly impossible. Traveling alone with her was essentially signing his own death warrant.
But the Codex displayed information that made him hesitate.
[QUEST: PROJECT SHADOWFEED INVESTIGATION]
[COMPANION: ASAJJ VENTRESS]
[DIFFICULTY: EXTREME]
[POTENTIAL REWARD: UNKNOWN]
[COMPANION REDEMPTION ARC: POSSIBLE]
He thought about Grievous's memories, the way Palpatine and Dooku weaponized trauma to create their servants. If Ventress had truly been discarded by her master, if she was feeling the same betrayal that had driven Qymaen jai Sheelal to become a monster...
Maybe she deserved better. Maybe everyone did.
"I accept."
Ventress's hologram smiled coldly. "How noble. Try not to die quickly, gray one. I'd hate to lose my ticket out of this cell."
[MISSION ACCEPTED]
[VENTRESS REGISTERED AS POTENTIAL COMPANION]
[TRUST LEVEL: 0/10]
[STATUS: HOSTILE]
[WARNING: EXTREME CAUTION ADVISED]
After the Council dismissed him, Kael barely made it to the corridor before Ahsoka cornered him, fury radiating from her like heat from a forge.
"Are you insane? Ventress killed Jedi! She's Dooku's attack dog!"
Her voice carried the kind of barely controlled emotion that reminded him she was still a teenager, despite her combat experience and Force abilities.
"Ahsoka, she's been betrayed by Dooku. This might be our chance to turn her—"
"Or she kills you the second you're alone!" Ahsoka cut him off, her hands clenched into fists. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I know she can be redeemed. Because I've seen her story play out, watched her grow beyond the hatred that defines her now."
The curse clamped down on his throat, preventing him from sharing the real reason for his decision.
"Because everyone deserves a chance to choose a different path. Even her."
Ahsoka's anger cracked, revealing the fear underneath. "I just got used to having you around. Don't make me lose another friend."
The pain in her voice hit him like a physical blow. He pulled her into a brief hug, feeling her tension slowly ease as she accepted the comfort.
"I'll be careful. I promise."
Over her shoulder, he caught sight of Anakin watching from the junction of two corridors, his expression unreadable but his mechanical hand flexing unconsciously—always a sign of internal conflict.
[AHSOKA TANO COMPANION BOND: TRUST LEVEL 6/10]
[EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT: HIGH]
[SEPARATION ANXIETY: DETECTED]
That night, Kael stood in the Temple hangar bay, reviewing supplies for a mission that might well be his last. A small Republic stealth ship waited nearby, pre-loaded with provisions for an extended journey into the Unknown Regions. Tomorrow, he would collect Ventress from detention. Tomorrow, he would fly into uncharted space with a Sith assassin who had every reason to kill him.
The Codex offered no predictions beyond basic probability calculations. He was so far from canonical events now that anything could happen.
Footsteps approached from behind—Ahsoka's distinctive gait, quick and purposeful. She pressed something into his hand without speaking: a small comlink, its surface warm from her palm.
"Private channel," she said quietly. "If you need help, call. I don't care what the Council says, I'll come."
Kael closed his fingers around the device, feeling warmth spread through his chest. The simple gesture—a lifeline in the darkness he was about to enter—meant more than he could express.
"Thank you, Snips."
Her answering smile was fragile, weighted with all the things they couldn't say.
"Don't make me use it, Gray."
As she walked away, her silhouette disappearing into the Temple's ancient corridors, Kael wondered if he would ever see her again. The path ahead led into darkness, guided by a woman who had spent years perfecting the art of killing people exactly like him.
But somewhere in that darkness, answers waited. And perhaps, if he was very lucky and very careful, a chance to save someone who had given up on saving herself.
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