Star Wars: Brotherhood excerpt teases when Obi-Wan met Asajj Ventress

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Separatist/Sith assassin Asajj Ventress had an…interesting relationship. Throughout the Clone Wars, they were flirty enemies and uneasy partners — sometimes at the same time. But their first meeting is finally be showcased in a new excerpt from the upcoming novel Star Wars: Brotherhood.

The book by Mike Chen follows Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker at the beginning of the Clone Wars — Anakin becoming a Jedi Knight (and harboring a secret marriage to Senator Padme Amidala) and Obi-Wan learning how to be both a general in the Republic army and a peacekeeping Jedi.

According to the synopsis, much of the action of the book happens on Cato Neimoidia, which has just been bombed with the blame landing on the Republic’s shoulders. It’s on this wealthy colony world that we get our excerpt, which teases Obi-Wan’s assignment to investigate the crime.

And it’s here where Obi-Wan meets Asajj for the first time.

"“Let’s dispense with the pleasantries. You wish to ask me something, Kenobi?”Her direct line of questioning caught Obi-Wan’s diplomatic sensibilities off guard. Perhaps that was by design, given her demeanor. “I’m trying to be polite.” Obi-Wan tilted forward in his seat. Around them, the Neimoidians remained silent, though he was certain they listened. “Unless you feel you have something to hide. Something,” Obi-Wan said, suddenly all of that experience strategically arguing with Anakin proving fruitful, “that makes you untrustworthy?”Ventress’s head tilted as she bit her bottom lip, a huff of amusement coming out just enough for Obi-Wan to hear. In fact, the other passengers may have missed it. “While my Master has great respect for your Order, he also understands that it is the political tool of the Republic. If you recall”—she gave a knowing nod—“that is one of the reasons he left it.”"

Read the full excerpt on StarWars.com.

At this point, Obi-Wan doesn’t know anything about Asajj’s past or true relationship with Count Dooku, who was secretly Darth Tyranus and answered to Sith puppet master Darth Sidious. The Clone Wars fans know Asajj as many things — a former Jedi padawan, an assassin for the Sith, a Nightsister, and a bounty hunter.

Asajj’s journey is one of the most fascinating, heartbreaking, and underrated in the Star Wars saga. In-universe, perhaps the only people who didn’t underestimate her or treat her as a pawn were Obi-Wan and Quinlan Voss (Dark Disciple fans, if you know you know).

As such, Star Wars: Brotherhood is gearing up to be a big treat for Asajj Ventress fans and Clone Wars fans overall. And it releases about a month after E.K. Johnston’s Queen’s Hope, which also showcases the earliest days of the Clone Wars — from Padme’s point of view.

Star Wars: Brotherhood will publish on May 10 and is now available for preorder.

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