Dark Disciple

Dark Disciple, penned by Christie Golden and released by Del Rey on July 7, 2015, is a canon novel featuring Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos. This novel is a component of the The Clone Wars Legacy initiative, drawing its narrative from an eight-episode story arc originally conceived for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. These episodes, titled "Lethal Alliance," "The Mission," "Conspirators," "Dark Disciple," "Saving Vos Part I," "Saving Vos Part II," "Traitor," and "The Path," were never produced due to the show's cancellation. A foreword by Katie Lucas, a writer for the original episodes, is included in the novel, which is geared towards mature audiences. Marc Thompson narrates the book's audio edition. ## Publisher's summary ### Hardcover #### Back cover To defeat the Sith's most formidable warrior, an alliance with the dark side might be the only option. #### Internal flap Yoda stated gravely, "Dooku continues his attacks. We must stop him." Mace finally spoke up. "The question we face is—who will deliver the final blow?" Amidst the galactic conflict between the Republic and the dark side's forces, Count Dooku, a former Jedi Master now a Sith Lord, employs increasingly brutal strategies. Despite the Jedi's abilities and their clone army's military strength, the mounting casualties are devastating. When Dooku orchestrates the slaughter of defenseless refugees, the Jedi Council sees no alternative but to target Count Dooku, holding him accountable for his war crimes. However, Dooku is a formidable target, even for the most skilled hunters. Therefore, the Council makes a daring choice: uniting the powers of both sides of the Force by pairing Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with Asajj Ventress, a notorious former Sith acolyte. Despite the Jedi's deep distrust of Ventress, who once served Dooku, her animosity towards her former master is even stronger. She readily offers her skills as a bounty hunter and assassin to aid Vos in his mission. Together, Ventress and Vos represent the best chance to eliminate Dooku, provided their growing feelings for each other don't jeopardize their objective. Ventress seeks retribution and freedom from her dark Sith past. Balancing her complex emotions for Vos with her warrior spirit, she is determined to achieve victory on all fronts, a commitment that will be severely tested by her deadly adversary and her own inner doubts. ### Paperback As the Republic and the dark side's armies clash for galactic dominance, Count Dooku, once a Jedi Master but now a ruthless Sith Lord, escalates his brutal tactics. When he commands the massacre of innocent refugees, the Jedi Council is compelled to take drastic measures: targeting the Empire's most ruthless disciple for assassination. However, Dooku is a dangerous target, prompting the Council to utilize both sides of the Force by partnering Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with Asajj Ventress, a notorious former Sith acolyte. Although the Jedi deeply distrust the cunning killer who once served Dooku, Ventress's hatred for her former master is even more profound. Driven by a desire for vengeance and liberation from her Sith past, Ventress must reconcile her burgeoning feelings for Vos with her warrior's fury, striving for victory on all fronts. This resolve will be rigorously challenged by her deadly enemy and her own uncertainties. ## Opening crawl ## Plot summary ### Exposition On a Republic vessel escaping Mahranee, Ashu-Nyamal, a Mahran refugee, flees her family, seeking vengeance against the Separatists. After eluding a Clone trooper, she arrives at the bridge and witnesses Jedi General Chubor imploring Count Dooku via hologram to allow the refugees to escape. Dooku, aware that the conversation is being broadcast to the Jedi Council, orders the ships destroyed. Witnessing the Atrocity on Mahranee, the Jedi Council, led by Master Mace Windu, makes a morally ambiguous decision: to assassinate Count Dooku and end the Clone Wars. Despite his reservations, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi suggests Quinlan Vos for the task. ### Partnering with Asajj Ventress Meanwhile, Master Vos, disguised as "Tal," along with the Mahran Jedi Knight Akar-Deshu, thwarts a black-market operation in Otor's Hub run by the Koorivar merchant Sheb Valaad. En route back to Coruscant, they learn of the Separatist attack on Mahranee and receive a message from Kenobi requesting Vos's presence at a Jedi Council meeting. At the meeting, the Jedi Council informs Quinlan of their plan to assassinate Count Dooku. Vos accepts the mission but insists on a companion. Master Yoda suggests Asajj Ventress, the Nightsister and failed Sith apprentice, as Vos's partner. Ultimately, Vos reluctantly agrees to the mission and promises to contact Ventress. After the meeting, Vos ventures to Coruscant's level 1313 to find Ventress. At a shady bar, the undercover Jedi encounters several bounty hunters familiar with Ventress, including the Trandoshan Bossk and Boba Fett, the son of the late Jango Fett. Fett reveals that Ventress is on Pantora, pursuing a Volpai fugitive named Moregi. Acting on this information, Vos travels to Pantora and encounters Ventress's hunt. Moregi escapes due to Quinlan's arrival. Following a tense reunion, Vos and Ventress team up to capture Moregi. Later, Vos meets Ventress aboard her starship, the Banshee. There, the undercover Jedi pretends to be an aspiring bounty hunter interested in partnering with her. Despite Vos's irritating behavior, Ventress sees his potential and reluctantly agrees to accept him as her partner. Vos spends the next two weeks aboard Ventress's ship, training and undertaking several hunts together, typically involving underworld contracts and outlaw targets. On one occasion, Vos saves Ventress's life by using the Force to disarm a Weequay target, allowing Ventress to eliminate him. On their fifth hunt, the two bounty hunters collaborate to capture the estranged former first mate of captain Lassa Rhayme of the Blood Bone Order. Ventress uses her feminine wiles to lure the fugitive. As part of their payment, Rhayme gives them a bottle of Tevraki whiskey, which they share. While drinking, Vos attempts to extract information about Ventress's training, but she remains guarded. The two hunters also begin to develop feelings for each other, though they are hesitant to acknowledge it. Later, while Ventress is on Coruscant's Level 1313 modifying the Banshee, Vos meets with Kenobi to discuss their mission's progress. Kenobi urges Vos to find a way to motivate Ventress against Dooku, given their established rapport. While on Coruscant, Ventress accepts a job from the Pyke Syndicate, a powerful cartel of drug-runners and spice dealers based on Oba Diah. The Pyke Syndicate boss Marg Krim tasks the two bounty hunters with rescuing his wife Tezzka Krim and their two children Laalee and Vram, who have been kidnapped by the rival Black Sun crime syndicate. Black Sun is holding his family prisoner at their fortress on the volcanic world of Mustafar. They travel to Mustafar, rent two lava fleas, and visit a bar called The Last Resort. There, they confront a Falleen Black Sun guard and force him to reveal information about the Pyke hostages. The two hunters infiltrate the Black Sun fortress through an exposed balcony outcropping. They rescue Krim's two children but cannot find their mother. Pursued by Black Sun sentries, the two hunters and the children escape on their lava fleas through the lava flow. While Ventress and Laalee manage to jump onto their lava flea mount, a blaster bolt hits Quinlan's back, causing Vram to fall into the lava flow. However, the undercover Jedi uses his Force powers to levitate the boy to safety. After returning to the Banshee, the two bounty hunters devise a plan to rescue Tezzka, while Ventress tends to Vos's blaster wound. Using his psychometric powers, Vos touches Laalee's locket and discovers that her mother Tezzka is still in the fortress, held captive by the Black Sun leader Ziton Moj. Ventress enters the fortress disguised as a negotiator, while Vos frees Tezzka from her cell. After a struggle with Moj and his men, the two hunters escape Mustafar on the Banshee with Krim's family. Upon returning to Oba Diah, Marg Krim rewards Ventress with double pay. As they leave the planet, the two hunters witness a Black Sun fleet exiting hyperspace to settle scores with the Pyke Syndicate. Unable to assist the Pykes, Vos and Ventress have no choice but to flee into hyperspace. ### Joining forces against Dooku Burdened by the guilt of being unable to protect Krim's family, Quinlan Vos reveals his Jedi Knight identity to Asajj Ventress. However, Ventress is already aware of this, having witnessed him use his Force powers to save himself and Vram on Mustafar. Vos also tells Ventress that the Jedi Council sent him to kill Count Dooku and seeks her support. Having developed respect for Vos and seeing an opportunity to retaliate against her former Master, Ventress agrees to help but warns Vos that assassinating the Separatist leader requires tapping into the dark side of the Force. Later, Vos informs Kenobi of this development. However, Kenobi cautions Vos to be wary of Ventress's manipulative nature. Still, Quinlan insists that he can trust her for the moment. To begin Vos's training in the dark side, Ventress takes him to her adopted homeworld of Dathomir, a planet strong in the dark side. While in Ventress's company, Vos learns about her past, including her enslavement, her apprenticeship to the stranded Jedi Knight Ky Narec, her subsequent apprenticeship, her falling out with Count Dooku, and the loss of her Nightsister comrades. During his training, Vos develops a romantic relationship with Ventress but struggles to avoid fully embracing the dark side. In an effort to push Vos closer to the dark side, Ventress claims that Dooku murdered his late Master Tholme, when she was the actual killer. Under Ventress's tutelage, Vos undergoes a rigorous training regime designed to expose him to Nightsister culture while enhancing his strength, endurance, fighting spirit, and Force powers. Later, Ventress receives word from her informant, the Gossam Sumdin, that Dooku plans to visit Raxus Secundus, a planet in the Tion Hegemony and the Separatist capital. As his final trial, Vos must kill The Sleeper, a near-extinct crustacean creature inhabiting pools near the former Nightsister village. Despite his initial hesitation, Vos kills the Sleeper and passes the trial, completing his dark-side training. After Vos fails to meet at their pre-arranged Level 1313 bar, Kenobi meets with Yoda to express his concern that something has happened to Quinlan. Yoda assures Kenobi that Vos has undertaken many undercover missions and knows what he is doing. He also suggests that sometimes one must walk a dark path to appreciate the light. Meanwhile, Ventress and Vos travel to Raxus Secundus, where they meet Sumdin. Vos is horrified when Asajj kills Sumdin to prevent any secrets from leaking about their mission. The two hunters then proceed to a large public square, where Count Dooku is giving a patriotic speech to a large crowd. General Grievous, the Separatist military commander, accompanies the Count. After the speech, the two separate while attending a large public feast. Ventress seizes the opportunity to sneak up on Dooku, who is mingling with the crowds. To avoid causing a public disturbance, she challenges Dooku to a fair fight on the overlook later that night. Dooku agrees, and they split up. However, Dooku secretly contacts General Grievous and instructs him to meet him on the overlook with reinforcements. Before Grievous can join the Count, Quinlan attacks him, overpowering Grievous and his battle droids. At the overlook, Ventress and Vos engage Dooku in a lightsaber duel. After Dooku knocks out Ventress by throwing her against a stone bench, Quinlan attacks the Sith Lord, who taunts him about his flirtation with the dark side. Following a fierce duel, Vos is defeated by Dooku, who incapacitates him with Force lightning. Grievous arrives with droid reinforcements to apprehend the intruders, but Asajj manages to escape into the sewers. Meanwhile, Quinlan is taken prisoner by Dooku. ### Rescuing Quinlan Vos In Separatist captivity, Quinlan Vos is transported to Serenno. There, he is imprisoned and tortured by Count Dooku, who intends to complete Vos's transformation to the dark side. Back at the Jedi Temple, Vos's Jedi colleagues worry about his safety, fearing that he has died or strayed from the light side. Meanwhile, Asajj Ventress travels to Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina on Tatooine, where she enlists the help of several bounty hunters, including Boba Fett, Bossk, Latts Razzi, C-21 Highsinger, and Embo, to rescue Quinlan. Back on Serenno, Dooku turns Vos against Ventress by revealing a hologram showing her murdering his late Master Tholme. Dooku's version of events is confirmed when Vos uses his psychometric abilities to touch Tholme's lightsaber. Shortly after, Asajj and her bounty hunter allies arrive on Serenno to rescue Quinlan Vos. As part of their plan, the bounty hunters stage a diversion by attacking Dooku's battle droids. Meanwhile, Ventress makes her way into Dooku's palace, where she encounters a vengeful Vos in his cell. Enraged that Ventress lied about her role in his master's murder, Vos attacks her with his lightsaber. Ventress tries to reason with him, urging him not to succumb to the dark side and reminding him of their mission to kill Dooku. Unable to rescue Vos, Ventress is forced to retreat with her bounty hunter confederates. As they leave, she sees Vos walking with Dooku, indicating that he has become Dooku's newest Sith apprentice. Distraught, Ventress returns to Coruscant, where she informs Kenobi about Quinlan's fall to the dark side. For the next few months, Asajj bides her time, taking on various bounty-hunting jobs. Struggling to cope with Quinlan's rejection, Ventress turns to alcohol. Meanwhile, Vos becomes Dooku's new right-hand man in the Separatist hierarchy, earning the nickname "Admiral Enigma." At some point, Quinlan's Jedi comrade Desh contacts Asajj, having been dispatched by Kenobi to bring her to a Jedi Council meeting to discuss rescuing Vos from the Separatists. The Jedi Council learns that "Admiral Enigma" was last seen on a Providence-class Dreadnought. In exchange for recovering Quinlan, the Jedi offer to pardon her for her crimes against them and the Republic. The inclusion of Asajj is controversial among some of the Jedi, especially Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker. However, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda defend her. Ventress agrees to the deal and participates in the rescue mission. After a struggle with Dooku and his battle droids, Ventress and the Jedi rescue team free Vos from his cell in the brig, where Ventress finds an emaciated and half-naked former Jedi hanging from shackles. While Quinlan Vos's Jedi companions are relieved to rescue him, Ventress sees fury in his eyes and realizes that he has fully embraced the dark side. Ventress attempts to attack her former lover but is restrained by Kenobi. After freeing Vos, Ventress and the Jedi escape the Separatist dreadnought aboard her starship Banshee. After returning to the Jedi Temple, Ventress is formally pardoned by Yoda. However, this news is bittersweet for Asajj, as none of the Jedi believe that Vos has truly changed sides. Vos attempts to reconcile with Ventress, but she rebuffs him. Meanwhile, Skywalker discusses his suspicions about Ventress with his secret wife Padmé Amidala. Still suspicious of the former Dark Sider, he suggests that Ventress seduced Vos to the dark side and doubts her capacity for love. ### Enemy in the Ranks While Quinlan Vos's Jedi comrades debate in private whether he has succumbed to the dark side, Vos and his Jedi comrades participate in a mission to steal medication, weapons, foodstuffs, and ship repair parts from a Separatist asteroid base. Vos is accompanied by his friend Akar-Deshu, Kenobi, Skywalker, and Clone Commander Cody. However, the Separatists have booby-trapped the asteroid with explosives. Vos and his Jedi and Republic comrades manage to escape, but all the supplies are destroyed. Following the failed mission, Vos meets Asajj Ventress in a Coruscant bar, where he affirms his love for her and forgives her for killing Master Tholme. He promises to formalize their relationship after helping the Jedi destroy Count Dooku. Later, Quinlan participates in a mission with Kenobi, Skywalker, and Cody to destroy a Separatist listening post. However, upon arriving, they find the station abandoned. Meanwhile, Desh visits the former Separatist asteroid base and discovers evidence that a traitor within the Jedi ranks is leaking information to the Separatists. Suspecting that these incidents are not coincidental, Yoda arranges a private meeting with Vos and senses that he has indeed fallen to the dark side. Yoda discusses his findings with the Jedi Council, who devise a plan to test Vos's allegiance by sending him on a mission to kill Count Dooku. Kenobi is instructed to watch over Vos and execute him if his true loyalties are revealed. After receiving his assignment, Vos informs Ventress about his new mission to kill Count Dooku. After some debate, Vos agrees to let Ventress accompany him. At the Jedi Council briefing, the Council agrees to allow Asajj to accompany Vos after she reveals that Dooku will be traveling to Christophsis on a Separatist dreadnought. Together, Vos and Ventress travel on the Banshee to Christophsis, where they discover Dooku's dreadnought among the Separatist fleet. Meanwhile, Skywalker and Kenobi tail Vos from a captured Separatist shuttle and infiltrate Dooku's dreadnought. After boarding the dreadnought with the help of reprogrammed battle droids, the two Jedi witness Vos engaging Dooku in a lightsaber duel. However, Vos fails to kill the Count and instead forces Dooku to lead him to his mysterious master, Darth Sidious. Realizing that their suspicions about Vos's loyalties have been confirmed, Skywalker and Kenobi have no choice but to arrest Vos and Dooku. After capturing the two darksiders, Kenobi and Skywalker bring their prisoners to the Venator-class Star Destroyer Vigilance. Despite Commander Cody's efforts to secure the prisoners, Vos tricks Desh into approaching him and steals his lightsaber. He uses it to free himself and Dooku. During their escape, Vos kills his former friend Desh and the Chagrian Jedi Knight Kav Bayons. Vos and Dooku then escape with Ventress aboard the Banshee. ### Showdown on Christophsis Ventress attempts to land the Banshee on Dooku's dreadnought, but the Vigilance gives chase and damages the ship. As a result, Asajj is forced to crash-land the Banshee on Christophsis. Kenobi, Skywalker, and several clone troopers investigate the wreckage of the Banshee and deduce that the fugitives have survived. Meanwhile, Ventress, Vos, and the seriously wounded Dooku navigate the crystal-covered landscape of Christophsis to reach a nearby Separatist base. Kenobi secretly contacts Ventress and informs her about Vos's fall. He instructs her to convince Quinlan to surrender, or they will kill him. When Ventress confronts Vos, he convinces her that he is close to completing his mission but does not reveal its goal. Meanwhile, Windu orders Kenobi and Skywalker to execute the fugitives. Ventress, Vos, and Dooku finally arrive at the Separatist base built into a giant crystal pillar. There, they receive word that Darth Sidious wants to speak with Dooku. During the brief hologram conversation, Dooku pleads with his master to send a ship to evacuate him. However, Vos fails to learn Darth Sidious's true identity. Shortly after, the Separatist base is bombarded by Republic clone troopers and Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighters. Despite Windu's orders, Kenobi insists on getting the fugitives out unharmed. Despite Anakin's objections, the former master and apprentice venture into the Separatist base to find Vos and Dooku. During the Republic bombardment, Ventress is badly wounded by artillery fire and falling debris. Vos helps his wounded lover as they attempt to follow Dooku and complete his mission. Meanwhile, Skywalker and Kenobi order a ceasefire to sneak into the fortress and kill Dooku. Back in the fortress, Asajj confronts Quinlan about his fall to the dark side and alignment with Dooku. After some hesitation, Vos confesses that this is true. Shortly after, Dooku attacks Vos with Force lightning. However, in a selfless act of sacrifice, Asajj shoves Vos away and takes the full force of Dooku's attack. Dooku then attempts to goad Quinlan into killing him, but Vos refuses to give in to the dark side and affirms that he is a Jedi. While Vos reconciles with Ventress in her final moments, Dooku seizes the opportunity to escape. ### Denouement Following the events on Christophsis, Quinlan Vos surrenders to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, who bring him back to Coruscant. There, in the presence of the Jedi Council, Vos confesses that he embraced the dark side and joined Count Dooku to use Dooku to reach Darth Sidious and eliminate both Sith Lords. He accepts responsibility for his crimes under Dooku's service and for killing his Jedi comrades Desh and Bayons, as well as the clone troopers aboard the Vigilance. Vos also defends Asajj Ventress for bringing him back to the light and sacrificing her life to save him from Dooku. During the hearing, Kenobi argues that the Jedi Council's tactic of assassination was foolish, as it led one close to the dark side. He also defends Ventress as a "friend" of the Jedi. Following the proceedings, Vos is pardoned for his crimes against the Jedi and the Republic. Kenobi accompanies Vos to Dathomir to bury Ventress. Together, the two Jedi lay the Nightsister to rest in a dark pool near the abandoned Nightsisters' village. As Ventress's body enters the waters, the pool turns green, and the voices of the deceased Nightsisters welcome Ventress back. ## Development The novel's announcement occurred on July 25, 2014 during San Diego Comic-Con, in [Del

During a Star Wars panel by Rey, the novel A New Dawn was prominently displayed. Christie Golden was revealed to be the author; she adapted scripts originally co-written with Series Producer George Lucas for the unproduced seventh season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television show before it was cancelled. Jennifer Heddle indicated the novel was aimed at a more mature audience, and Pablo Hidalgo commented that the novel allowed for greater character depth than the TV series. The initial illustration for the book was created as concept art for the animated series. A new section on StarWars.com, called The Clone Wars Legacy, was launched on September 25, 2014. It was a multimedia project designed to release unmade The Clone Wars scripts across different media. The site unveiled the title of Golden's novel as Dark Disciple, which was named after one of the adapted episodes, and also featured a gallery of concept art from the episodes. While the gallery indicated a four-part story arc, Shelly Shapiro, a Del Rey editor, later clarified that the novel drew from a total of eight episodes. Golden confirmed this on Twitter, explaining that the eight episodes comprised a single, extended story arc. These episodes were titled "Lethal Alliance," "The Mission," "Conspirators," "Dark Disciple," "Saving Vos Part I," "Saving Vos Part II," "Traitor," and "The Path." The writers for these episodes included Katie Lucas, Head Writer Matt Michnovetz, and Series Supervising Director Dave Filoni. Golden received animatics for the first four episodes, alongside the scripts for all eight. Erich Schoeneweiss, another Del Rey editor, initially announced that the novel would be released in July 2015. Amazon.com listed the novel's release date as July 7, while the UK release was set for July 9. On December 9, 2014, StarWars.com revealed the cover art for the novel created by Matt Taylor. Golden announced on January 16, 2015, that she had completed the novel and submitted it to her editor, and as of February 24, she was finalizing the second draft. In an interview released on March 11, Shelly Shapiro mentioned that she had just finished her work on the novel. Katie Lucas, one of the original episode writers, contributed a foreword to the novel. Furthermore, Golden authored a prequel short story titled "Kindred Spirits," which initially appeared in Star Wars Insider 159 and was subsequently included in the paperback edition of Dark Disciple.