The Hunter and the Hunted (Month 7, 24BBY)

Kaia walked into the cockpit and sat in the co-pilot's seat. She was quiet as Hark spoke and gave his report to Ranik. Based on what the droid said he clearly did not think very highly of humans. However, she gave R2 a little smile when he spoke up and tried to defend her. Besides his lightsaber, R2 was all she really had left of Zavian, apart from her memories. She intended to continue to care for R2. He was a loyal droid and looked out for her.

She was not surprised to learn that Hark had intercepted an outgoing message from the palace to Raxus. However, she was surprised to learn that there had also been a much more recent message from the palace going to Dathomir. Clearly, the Representative had known much more about her than she had let on. Was the intended recipient of this message the Nightmother? She glanced at Ranik, but decided at that moment not to tell him about the prophecy. Her main goal was to get to Raxus and find Darth Maul.

"We'll look for Darth Maul on Raxus first."

Ranik looked at Kaia. “Oh? I would have thought Dathomir a better choice. They think your dead, wouldn’t someone inform Maul? I can’t be certain he’s there or on Raxus,” Ranik said. “But if your heart is set on Raxus, I think picking up a load of supplies to deliver there would be a good cover,” he said.

“I’ve done freight business as well here and there. I can see of any my old contacts are still around. In the meantime, Are you all settled in? Maybe try and get some sleep. The galley is pretty well stocked too,” Ranik said. His ship wasn’t the cleanest or rosiest she’s ever seen, that was for certain.

Kaia couldn't be certain where Darth Maul was at this point, but she wanted to avoid Dathomir if possible. She couldn't let the Nightmother get her hands on her. She decided to try and get some sleep again. She found a cot and laid down fully clothed. Once again, her thoughts were plagued by memories of Zavian as soon as she closed her eyes. After several hours she finally just got up and went to the galley. Like the rest of the ship, the galley was not clean and when Ranik walked in he would find her scrubbing it.

"Your ship is filthy," she said out of obvious irritation. When he asked her why she wasn't sleeping she sighed. "I can't sleep. I haven't been able to sleep since his death. Every time I close my eyes he's there. I...I failed him. I failed to help him...to save him."

Ranik was about to argue about her ‘dissatisfaction with the state of his ship. He offers his help at great risk to himself and his ship...his livelihood and this was the thanks he got? When she continued though his temper drained away. He would let her get away with it...this time. But he didn’t like her telling him where they should go and how dirty his ship was. If she was hurting right then and not have so beautiful he would have given her the rough side of his temper for certain sure.

“While you slept there was a message from the Jedi Council. I didn’t even pull it in. If I did they’d be able to make a carrier trace. The bad thing is that if it was news, important news, we’ll never know it. Kaia, I know you need to do this...thing but the rest of the galaxy is on the verge of war. Entire cities are starving, people dying, good people Kaia. Innocent people. I said I would help you and I will but I want you to realize that whomever this Count Dooku is, he’s intent on burning down everything that the republic built,” Ranik said

Kaia continued to scrub the counter top as she listened to Ranik. She wanted to argue with him...to yell at him...to make him see that finding Darth Maul was more important than anything else, but the argument died on her lips before she even drew a breath. In the back of her mind she could hear Zavian's voice. They had spent so much time fighting for the Republic. Could she really just turn her back on that now?

She sighed a little and turned to look at him. "What are you suggesting we do?"

“Well, does it make any sense to you that the Trade Federation were the ones that Threatened the people of Naboo and the Representative of Naboo wants to join them as a Separatist? Obviously promises, big promises are being made to change people’s minds. Not only that the Techno Union, General Grievous AND the Trade Federation all seem to have these massive expendable droid armies but their only conducting raids so far. Raids and trade embargoes. I mean, they have enough troops to go to war and likely win but their going the diplomacy route? Why? If the Sith are involved as you say, what are the Separatists waiting for? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. It all seems…” He just sighed. “Maybe I’m just reading into everything too much. That’s how my mind works. Tactics and Strategy,” he said and shrugged.