A Way Forward

Then again… you're no stranger.

Warning! This page contains spoilers from Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. Caution is advised.

"There are two paths before you. You may join me and your sisters in this realm, or you may return to the land of the living."

―Mother Talzin to Asajj Ventress^[4]

"A Way Forward"^[1] is the first episode of the anthology animated television series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. The episode was written by Matt Michnovetz^[5], and will premiere on May 4, 2025.^[3] Before its official Disney+ premiere, it was screened for attendees at Star Wars Celebration Japan,^[1] and was released on May 2 in Fortnite on the Star Wars Watch Party island 48 hours before they hit Disney+.^[2]

Plot summary[]

Resurrection[]

In an underground temple on Dathomir that is surrounded by pools of water, Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi leads the way while Quinlan Vos carries the body of Asajj Ventress. Vos carries Ventress into a pool and gently lays her into the water. As she sinks into the water, he says that he will always love her. Vos exits the pool and walks away with Kenobi.

While immersed in water, Ventress hears the voice of Mother Talzin telling her to wake up. Ventress opens her eyes and sees Vos and Kenobi walking away. She rises out of the water and calls out to Vos but he cannot see or hear her. Mother Talzin tells Ventress that he cannot hear her because she is dead. However, Talzin says that Ventress does not necessarily need to stay dead. Talzin explains that Vos' words are a gift to her and asks if she loves him. Talzin offers Ventress two choices: remaining in the realm of the dead or returning to the land of the living. When Ventress asks about the cost, Talzin says the price is her heart's desire. Deciding to return to the world of the living, Ventress steps out from the mist. She emerges from the dark temple into the surface of Dathomir.

The security guard[]

Starships circle a desert town. Outside a spaceport, pedestrians including two stormtroopers walk by. Inside an office, a line of people wait while Cort, a human woman takes credits from the customers. Ventress watches and waits at the wall. A Rodian enters the office and scans a card on the datapad that Ventress is holding. The card glows red and Ventress ushers the Rodian towards Cort at the desk. When the woman tells the Rodian that he cannot ride without money, the Rodian says he has no money.

The male Rodian points a blaster at her, telling her that he needs to get out of here. Cort responds that his problems are not her problem. Ventress disarms the Rodian and expels him from the office. Cort warns Ventress that she pays her to provide security and not to kill troublemakers. Ventress responds that he is out. Cort notices that Ventress has certain combat skills and suggests a different career. Ventress says she is more interested in being a security guard. Cort doesn't understand, regarding Ventress' job as a dead-end security job.

The Jedi fugitive[]

Later, Ventress shares crumbs with a blue bird, which flies away as a stormtrooper patrol approaches. Lyco Strata, a human boy with dark hair enters the spaceport office, telling Cort that he needs to get on the next shuttle. He offers three credit bars but the dark haired woman says it is not enough. The adolescent attempts to use a Jedi mind trick to convince Cort, but she is unmoved.

Ventress ushers Lyco towards the door, telling him he should help himself. He says that he has lost everything. When Ventress asks if he can turn to someone, Lyco replies that everyone he knows is dead. Ventress opens the door but there are several stormtroopers and a Viper probe droid. Realizing he is in danger, Ventress closes the door and tells Lyco to keep his mouth shut. When Cort asks if the boy is in trouble, she tells her to shut it as well, to which she is indignant. The stormtroopers enter and order the two women to provide credentials and to submit to a search of their workplace.

Ventress uses a mind trick to convince the lead stormtrooper that there is no problem here and that there has been nobody visiting the ticket officer all day. She convinces the stormtroopers to search Docking Bay 24. Before leaving, the lead stormtrooper tells them that there is a substantial reward. Cort then reveals the location of the boy, prompting Ventress and Lyco to draw their lightsabers in self defense. The two strike down the stormtrooper squad while Cort cowers in terror. When she awakes, she finds the scattered remains of the fallen stormtroopers.

A change of heart[]

While running through the streets, Lyco asks Ventress who she is. Ventress replies that if he doesn't know, he should consider it a good thing. Lyco tells her that she is the first Jedi he has seen that has survived. When Ventress asks what he has done to arouse the attention of the Imperials, Lyco says that he has not done anything wrong but is just trying to survive by being secretive. Ventress chides his efforts to stay in hiding and blames him for forcing her to blow her cover as a Force user. The two hide under a table while stormtroopers gather.

Lyco tells Ventress she is the first Jedi he has seen in a long time and asks if she is connected to the Hidden Path. Ventress is unaware of the Path. He says that the Path helps spirit Force users to safety. Ventress tells the boy to keep quiet as a stormtrooper officer speaks to several bounty hunters in the distance. Lyco explains that Quinlan Vos established the Path, drawing Ventress's attention. Ventress tells him that they need to escape. The two enter a building but are shadowed by a cloaked figure.

The Inquisitor[]

The two line up with passengers waiting to board a departing starship. Ventress gives Lyco credits, telling him that these should be more than enough. When he asks who she is, Ventress replies that she is someone who knows how to stay hidden. She advises him to do the same. She hands him the credits. Lyco senses danger just as there is an explosion and a door falls apart. A cloaked and helmeted Inquisitor with red eyes dressed in a black uniform approaches Lyco and Ventress. Ventress tells the boy to board the ship while she draws her lightsaber and fights the Inquisitor with her lightsaber.

The two duel with their lightsabers. The Inquisitor uses the Force to levitate Ventress and hurls her against a crate. As he approaches her, Lyco attacks the Inquisitor from behind. The Inquisitor senses Lyco and kicks him and Lyco drops his lightsaber. Ventress grabs his lightsaber and fights the Inquisitor. When Ventress remarks that her opponent does not fight like a Jedi, the Inquisitor tells he knows who she is and adds that she should have stayed dead.

The Inquisitor activates his lightsaber's double-blade mode and the two resume dueling. Ventress hurls Lyco's lightsaber at the Inquisitor but he dodges it. He manages to knock her to the ground and tosses aside her lightsaber. Before the Inquisitor can finish her off, he is stabbed from behind with two lightsabers by Lyco, who leads Ventress to safety up a staircase as stormtroopers enter the hangar bay. The two reach the roof and Lyco jumps onto the ship. Ventress also jumps and dangles to the ship's hull.

Escape[]

After stowing aboard the ship, Lyco thanks her and asks who she. Ventress reveals that she was a Separatist commander who fought against the Galactic Republic and the Jedi. She also tells him that she was Count Dooku's assassin who probably killed several people that he knew. She identifies herself as Asajj Ventress and turns to face him. Lyco has a worried expression.