The Strength of True Love (Month 5, 21 BBY)

For days Kaia did not sleep and barely ate. She continued to feel Ranik’s pain through the Force as if it were her own. It was excruciating and she knew he was being tortured. The thought brought tears to her eyes. She had a strong feeling that someone was trying to get her attention. Well, they certainly had it now and Kaia was determined to get Ranik out of this in one piece. She would do whatever it took. Despite their separation, she still loved him deeply. She wanted to be able to tell him that and she would. Finally, R2 notified her that they were nearing the planet. They emerged from Hyperspace and Kaia knew that they weren’t just going to let her land. As she began communications, Darth Mail would suddenly be able to feel that she was near.

Darth Maul felt a tremor in the force and he knew what that meant. He sat in the control room as Captain Greneh notified him that an unknown ship was requesting permission to land. He didn’t need any more time to figure out what he was feeling and as he stood and looked into the chamber he saw Ranik slumped back in his chair. His chest was red and swollen from the pricks, chemicals and burns from the electrical shocks. He lived but he doubted the man would live very long. Ranik’s hands were tied behind the chair and his ankles were strapped in to the mechanism tightly. “Captain, give our guest a berth and allow them to land,” Maul said with a smile.

“Thank you Mr. Zane,” He said as he looked at him.

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Asena had already gather Hessani, Devon and Chrall. They sat at her dining room table as she paced back and forth. “He’s probably dead already Asena,” Hessani said and Asena stopped and glared at her. “Don’t you say that! Don’t you dare!” She said as she fought back more tears. She loved Ranik. She didn;t really realize that until the fear of losing him hit her. Everything that was happening to him was her fault. He knew who her father was. He knew everything and if she were being honest with herself. She did to. She made no excuses though. She liked this lifestyle. Liked the attention and the respect. Bt what did any of it mean without love? Ranik had taught her that love could change a person.

“I’m going to get him out!” She said defiantly.

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“You’ve been given authorization to land on landing pad 47j,” the voice said.

A feeling, almost like a black cloak, suddenly came over her. It chilled her down to her very core and caused her mouth to go dry. She knew in an instant that he was there...Darth Maul was there. He had killed Zavian and she had been hunting for him for so long, but he had found her first. However, she planned to kill him. She wouldn't let this opportunity pass her by. He would pay for what he had done to her husband and to Ranik.

She heard her authorization to land and she flew the ship over to landing pad 47j and then brought it down. She clipped her lightsaber to her belt, but then paused. She stepped over to her bag and opened it and pulled out Zavian's lightsaber. She moved her lightsaber around to rest on her back under her cloak, and clipped Zavian's at her side. Darth Maul had killed Zavian using her brother's lightsaber. She planned to kill Darth Maul using Zavian's.

She reached out with the Force and could feel where Ranik was. R2 chirped at her and Kaia looked at him. "No, I want you to stay here with the ship. Be ready to start it up quickly if I need you to."

Hark’s proximity alert had gone off. Ranik had programmed him to go to Kaia if or when she drew near. As she exited the ship he was there, armed and ready for whatever was coming. He looked at Kaia.

“I’m no expert on human physiology but, you look like you’ve gained some weight recently,” He said rudely. Ranik had programmed him to have a dry sense of humor but it often came off as rude.

Asena had her security detail monitor all incoming ships. What they were doing to Ranik, there had to be a reason for it. There had to be and so she wanted to know anything out of the ordinary, no matter how small. Behind Hark she was there with Hessani in her red an dblack skin tight outfit, Devon a bald human and Chrall, a human female with long, brown hair braided and spun around her head in a modern style. Members of her security detail and her friends.

Hark turned to look at them. “Friends of yours?” He asked though he did not lower his weapon.

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Maul knew Kaia had arrived but he did not send a force to confront her. He needed her to come down where he was. He wanted to turn her and he was going to use Ranik Zane to do it.

Kaia blinked when Hark suddenly appeared, however it did not entirely surprise her. He was armed, but that also did not surprise her. She frowned at his comment though, but had no time to explain that she had recently been pregnant. Kaia did not need to ask Hark where Ranik was. Their Force bond was like a homing beacon for her. She knew exactly where he was. As she started to walk, she quickly became aware that they were being followed. She stopped and looked at Hark. "No, but hold your fire."

She turned fully to face the small group behind her. "I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm here to find and help a friend."

Asena was not a fool nor was she oblivious to the world around her. She had heard things and seen things since she had been running the casino. She knew about Jedi and Sith but didn’t really know much about the whole ‘force thing’. She knew about war and the separatists but just didn’t concern herself about those things. Her world was comfort and luxury and people. And she had learned alot about people over the years.

There were usually 2 kinds of people. The hunters and the prey. Asena was most definitely a huntress. A Manka Cat in the jungle. Like any other hunter she knew competition when she saw it. Kaia was a fiery haired beauty that had that look about her. She looked dangerous and determined. Only a woman looking for her man had a look like that. And the Assassin droid at her side looked dangerous as well. It didn’t take much to put it all together in her mind. And knowing this did not make her happy either. If this woman was here for Ranik than there was something between her and Ranik. Who was she? Where did they meet? What strings did she have over him? It took a real effort to stamp down the pangs of jealousy that rose up inside of her. Her hand itched to draw her sidearm and remove her from the game. She loved Ranik and though she knew he didn’t really love her she knew if she went with him he would eventually. That made this game for his heart real for her. And she had realized that his love, if she could win it would be the only real thing she ever did that meant anything.

Unfortunately that also meant that she could not harm this woman. If she did, it would only drive a wedge between herself and Ranik. If he was still alive. And that desperate thought drove her forward though it pained her to do it.

“You are here...to...help Ranik?” Asena asked hesitantly. The three behind her had never seen Asena like this. Hessani was worried about Asena. The feeling in Asena’s stomach made her swallow hard. What was wrong with her? She struggled to keep tears from falling down her cheeks in front of this woman.

Kaia's eyes fell upon the dark haired woman who stood apart from the rest of the group. Kaia could see from the way she was dressed and the way she held herself that she was the leader, while the rest were her followers. Standing this close to her she could also feel the woman's emotions and they were running high. She felt pangs of jealousy towards herself, as well as anger and worry. Kaia was a very intelligent woman. She knew in an instant that this woman was connected to Ranik. Kaia herself felt a pain deep in her gut knowing that Ranik had chosen another woman. Any other woman would turn and walk away from helping him, but not Kaia. Even if he had moved on and did not love her anymore, she would help him. She owed him that after he did not turn her over to the Jedi Council.

"Yes," she said simply, but firmly. "Where is he?"

Asena licked her lips as they had gone dry. And she grinned and nodded. “So you’re the one,” She said as if a question had just been answered. And it had. This woman was what held Ranik back. It all made perfect sense now. It was painful for Asena to understand but it didn’t change how she felt about Ranik. He would either choose her or he would not. All she could do now is save him so he could make that choice.

“There is something you need to know first. I don’t know if you are familiar with who the Sith are but they are very dangerous,” She explained. She didn’t know who this woman was but she looked unimposing in her robes. She had never seen a Jedi before and didn’t know what Kaia was. “A Sith named Darth Maul has been…” It took a moment for her to collect herself. “Torturing him. I can take you but there will be fighting, are you prepared to fight for him? If not, I’d suggest you turn around and get back on your ship,” she said.

Hark had been watching and listening to this exchange. He turned toward Kaia.

“Oh I like her!” He said with enthusiasm. His outburst made those behind Asenachuckle.

Kaia raised an eyebrow slightly at what this young woman said to her. What did she mean that she was "the one?" She didn't have time to ask questions. She wanted to get to Ranik as quickly as possible. However, she listened calmly to what the woman said. What Hark said made her roll her eyes though.

She turned back to the young woman and eyed her for a moment before speaking. "I know Ranik is being tortured. That is why I am here. I felt it through the Force across the galaxy. He and I are connected in that way. Darth Maul is using Ranik to bring me here. He and I have...unfinished business to attend to. As for the fighting..."

She shrugged off her robe and unclipped both Zavian's lightsaber and her own. She activated them both at the same time. One glowed green, while the other glowed a dark blue. "I am prepared for it."

Asena’s mouth dropped open and her eyes bulged. The women behind her were no less surprised by the display. Not a Manka cat, a Krayt Dragon! Asena thought. Asena had so many questions to ask Kaia but time was against them. “Ok then...follow me!” She said and turned and ran toward a waiting shuttle.

Once they all boarded the shuttle it took off up and into the traffic of the city. Hessani drove with Devon beside her. Chrall was in the very back with Hark and Asena and Kaia were in the middle seats.

“I knew there had to be another woman,” Asena said. It was very likely that none of them were going to survive this. So she decided to just let it all go. “I love him but...but he always held himself back. Now I know why,” she said. She could never believe that it was her, herself that Ranik couldn’t love. It ‘had’ to be another woman. It was easier for her to reconcile in her head.

Kaia kept herself calm. She had to. She knew if she let her emotions get the better of her then Darth Maul would win this fight. Yes, she wanted to save Ranik and avenge Zavian's death, but she could not let her anger take control.

She followed the young woman to the shuttle and took a seat with the woman sitting beside her. She looked out the window at the city as it rushed past. She could feel Ranik getting closer...Darth Maul as well. As the woman began to speak, she glanced over at her. She let her speak and was quiet a moment before responding. "I am here to save Ranik...not to force him to return to me. I love him, but I do not own him. He is his own man. Should we all survive this I will leave that decision up to him."

On the way there Asena made it clear to everything that they were going to be attacking her father’s own security. She also mentioned the soldiers that she had seen. They wore black armor and some of them looked to have melee weapons. Kaia felt a sudden urgency inside of her. Ranik was not well. It was like a poisonous pit in the middle of her stomach. He didn’t have long. She knew that now that the shuttle docked at the skydock shuttle pad that was several floors up in Dryden’s office building. She also felt the dark side of the force.

Right off guards poured out of the building. Hark began to fire at them immediately. Kaia had seen him in action before and he didn’t disappoint here. Hessani and Devon were good shots as well but Chrall fired an energy grenade at them and when it went off all those nearby fell to the ground. Some of them fell over the sides of the skywalk balcony to their deaths. Kaia had deflected several shots but as the dust settled from the grenade they saw some kind of armored air car come toward them.

As Kaia looked at it, she saw it had guns on it. Big ones. ‘Run Kaia...run!’ A voice inside her head said. It was Zavian’s voice.

Kaia felt an urgency grow inside of her that was connected to Ranik. She knew that he was not doing well and didn't have much time. She needed to get to him as soon as she could. As the shuttle docked at the skydock pad, Kaia looked up to see guards start pouring out of the building. As they began to fire, Kaia used Zavian's lightsaber to deflect several of the shots. Beside her, she saw Hessani and Devon return fire, but Chrall was able to fire an energy grenade at them.

As the dust settled, Kaia looked over to see an armored car coming towards them. It had several large guns on the front. In her mind she suddenly heard Zavian's voice telling her to run. She didn't need him to tell her twice. She sprinted off inside the building with the others following behind her. She felt that Ranik was down below and she looked at Asena since she knew the building. "How do we get down to him?"

Hessani moved up to the door and used a black key card. She pushed a few of the buttons on the panel then the door appeared to shut down. “Hessani is my chief of security, she has all the keys,” Asena said with a grin. And then she frowned as she felt a sudden urgency. For some odd reason she knew Ranik was really hurt. She felt him inside of her, like a feeling that was not her own. She shrugged it off as they headed toward the elevator. There were 3 more security guards that had taken up position at the elevator. They began to fire at them as soon as they came around the corner. Hark blocked several of the shots with his armored arm shield. Devan and Asena along with Hark took them all out fairly quickly and the small group ran up to the elevator.

“The doors to the elevator are armored but they could throw something,” Hessani warned. They all got into the elevator and Hessani injected her black key card into the control panel. She hit the sub basement and the elevator began to move down. Everyone checked their gear and weapons.

When the elevator doors opened something was fired toward them. An energy grenade. Kaia had felt it coming and when she lifted up her hand it stopped several meters short and bounced back. It went off and the explosion caught several of the soldiers who had taken up a defensive position behind a small barricade they had set up. It was flattened along with the soldiers that were nearby.

Kaia looked at Hessani and was grateful that she was there. Kaia would have figured something out, but this was going to make it quicker. Kaia followed the group towards the elevator and as they came around a corner they spotted three security guards positioned in front of the elevator doors. Kaia stood back and let Hark, Devan, and Asena take them out. Once they knew they were down they rushed towards the elevator and got in. As the elevator began to move down towards the sub-basement Kaia could sense incoming danger and readied herself. The moment the doors opened she raised up her right hand. An energy grenade had been thrown at them, but Kaia used the Force to stop it mid-air. Behind her, she heard the group gasp at what she had just done. The grenade dropped to the ground and Kaia pushed it back using the Force. It exploded and flattened out the barricade the soldiers had set up. Kaia was the first to move out of the elevator and was followed by Hark. She activated Zavian's lightsaber, but held it low as she walked down the hallway. Ranik was close...she was almost there. However, she also knew that Darth Maul was near as well and she was ready for him.

As they ran up to the cross corridor where the hallways split Kaia saw the red glow of a lightsaber at the end of the hall to the right. The guards not hit by the grenade went to the left. Ranik was in a room somewhere nearby but it might be between the soldiers and Maul who moved across the doorway. Hark turned and faced down the right hallway, at Maul.

“I’d like to shove his red sword…” He began. But Asena cut him off. “We’ll go left and work our way around,” she said. Maul waited patiently as they left Kaia to it

Kaia knew Maul was down that corridor before she even looked. The feeling of the Dark Side of the Force was so strong it was almost overwhelming. She took a calming breath and steadied herself. She knew she could not allow her emotions to get away from her. She turned and faced Maul as the others moved to the left. The moment she looked at him, she saw Zavian's death. She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed. She then re-opened them when she felt calm again.

"I'm going to make you pay for what you did to Zavian and Ranik."

Darth Maul needed an apprentice. He had chosen Kaia since the first time they had met. He knew she was strong in the force, and very good with a lightsaber. He looked at the green one she held.

“How loyal you are, using your old master’s lightsaber. I’ve heard that you loved him and you married him?” he said as he moved. He kept a distance between them. Kaia heard shooting from the other hallway and the smell of burned flesh still permeated the air from the energy grenade that had gone off in the hallway. The room they were in had a tall ceiling and it was quite large and fairly dark.

“I can feel your hate for me, and this Ranik, you loved him as well? Odd how the men in your life seem to die. He is slipping away Kaia, And I will not let you help him. Come, strike me down before its too late to save him,” he said calmly.

Kaia tried to control her anger...to remain calm, but seeing Darth Maul again...being this close to him caused it to course through her veins. He had killed Zavian and tortured Ranik. He was responsible for countless other deaths and despair. She began to fear that she had failed Ranik and that only made what she was feeling grow. It took her a moment to truly realize what it was...hatred. She had never experienced this feeling before. It was...strange. It made her feel even more powerful than she already was.

Without warning she suddenly attacked him. She attacked out of anger and she felt her calmness slipping away. "I did love Zavian and I do love Ranik, but you...you love NOTHING. You care about NOTHING."

Darth Maul tested her. Kaia was very good with a lightsaber. She was strong and quick but she was also unbalanced. She hated him a great deal and so she was not listening to the midichlorians inside of her. He stepped back away from her saber arc.

“The time of the Jedi is coming to an end Kaia. Can’t you feel it? All your knowledge and serenity has only made you weak. Despite all your efforts, all of your training you could not save Zavian. You turned your back on the Jedi Order, your family, your own flesh and blood. And you say ‘I’ care for nothing? What do you care about Kaia? The man dying in that room? Or just your own, happiness?” Maul asked. “Only the power of the dark side could have saved Zavian. And only your hatred of me will help you save Ranik. He is dying...can’t you feel it? Come, strike me down and save him!” Maul taunted and prepared himself.

Kaia was too angry to realize just how unbalanced she was. Her focus was solely on Darth Maul and not on the midichlorians inside of her. With the Light Side of the Force she felt held back, but the Dark Side frightened her and struggled against giving in to it.

Suddenly, she felt Darth Maul use the Force to shove her up against a wall, causing her to drop Zavian's lightsaber. As she struggled to break free, she felt a pressure building up around her and inside of her. She began to fear that she had failed Ranik, just as she had failed Zavian. The pressure inside of her continued to grow as she fought back against it.

Let go Kaia. Trust in the Force.

Zavian's voice was clear and strong in her head. She knew then what she must do. She closed her eyes and breathed and gave in to the Dark Side, while continuing to hold onto the Light Side as well. She felt a balance form inside of her and for the first time in her life everything felt...right. She felt the anger inside of her vanish, but her resolve to kill Maul increase. Her eyes opened and fell upon Maul. She saw his expression change as he felt the change within her...however, it had not been the change he had wanted. She used the Force to push Darth Maul off of her and she pulled out her dark blue lightsaber. Dark blue crashed against dark red with a loud crackle. Their strength was almost equal, but the scales tipped slightly more in Kaia's favor.

Kaia fought hard and fast, leaving Darth Maul on the defensive. Kaia pinned him against a wall and was about to finish him off when suddenly he swung his lightsaber to try and take off her arm. She managed to move just in time, but his lightsaber was dragged along the underside of her right forearm, searing the flesh. She dropped her lightsaber and stumbled back a few steps before hitting the ground, allowing Darth Maul to now lead the attack. She saw him grin as he hovered over her...ready to finish her off. However, out of the corner of her eye, Kaia saw Zavian's lightsaber. In the blink of an eye it flew into her hand and she activated it. She then shoved it up and stabbed him in the side.

Maul’s eyes bulged as he felt the pain and heat from her blue lightsaber as it pierced into him. The scent of burned flesh and fabric filled the air for a moment as she pulled her lightsaber from his flesh. He went onto his knees and blinked as he fought to control the pain of it. And then he fell to his side without even a grunt.

Kaia’s arm burned and the bottom of her forearm was black as if she had indeed held her arm over an open flame. It certainly hurt like she had. There had been shooting a bit ago but it appeared to have died down now. Kaia used the force to summon her own lightsaber to her hand as she clipped Zavian’s back onto her belt.

Hurry

That voice said in her head. Ranik was close and she used her lightsaber to slice through the locking mechanism to the door. Once she struck it, the door slid open. Inside Ranik was there bound to a metal chair that looked part of a mechansim. In front of him was a machine of some kind with odd looking needles, instruments and other things that made her skin crawl as she looked at them. Ranik’s chest was swollen and red. He looked dead but when she touched him he stirred and his breaths came in a low rasp. Once she cut him free it was all she could do to guide him down to lay on the floor. Just as she did the door on the other side of the room slid open. Asena and her crew was there.

“Ranik!” She cried as she holstered her sidearm and slid onto her knees beside Kaia. The others filed in though Hark took up a defensive position. He did gaze at Ranik.

“Bah...I’ve seen him in worse shape…” he began but one glare from Asena shut him up.

Kaia ignored the hot, burning pain in her arm as she helped Asena pick up Ranik and take him to the medical center that was close by. Kaia could feel that Ranik was still alive, but only barely. She couldn't let him die...she wouldn't let him die. Her stomach churned when she looked at him and thought about what they had done to him. Darth Maul had somehow known that there was a connection between them. She hated knowing that he had used him to get to her.

Hark took out any guards who tried to stop them on the way. Once inside the medical center, the medics immediately took Ranik away and then took her to get her arm treated. The medics had never seen a lightsaber wound before and so Kaia had to tell him exactly what to do. Her wound was covered in a salve and then bandaged. She wanted to see Ranik, but she was kept away from where they were treating his wounds. Kaia stood there for a moment before closing her eyes. She reached out with the Force and touched Ranik's mind. She spoke his name through the Force to let him know she was near. All she could do now was wait until they agreed to let her in.

As they brought Ranik out Kaia noticed that Maul was no longer there…

At the medical center...

After several minutes, one of the doctors dressed all in white came out. As he did one of the medical droids hurried by them and moved down the hall. He removed his mask and looked around to everyone that was there and then settled on Kaia though he did not know why.

“Are you who brought him?” He asked hesitantly. Once she drew near Asena stood to listen. “We’ve tried just about everything. There was a toxin introduced into his body but we managed to filter it out of his blood. Once we did that we expected his vitals to get better but...but their not. I can’t explain why. Its as if he’s just decided to give up,” he said numbly. “I’m sorry,” He said. “He’s as stable and comfortable as I can make him. You can go see him...while there’s still time,” He said then stepped away.

Kaia knew that Darth Maul was gone, but she couldn't worry about that now. Ranik was at the forefront of her mind. She stood with the others, waiting for any news. Suddenly, the door opened and a doctor emerged. She watched as the doctor looked around at the group, but his eyes settled upon her. As the doctor began to speak and told them that Ranik was dying and there was nothing more they could do, Kaia felt as if a large metal ball had been dropped into the bottom of her stomach. She didn't want to believe what she was hearing. She looked down and held back tears. Beside her, she could tell that Asena was doing the same. Kaia stood back and decided to let Asena go see him first. She waited for a while until she emerged. Her eyes were red and her cheeks stained from her tears. Kaia knew he wasn't gone...not yet. She could still feel his life force. She took a breath before stepping into the room alone.

She slowly approached his side and took a seat in the chair that was there. She looked at him a moment before she reached out and gently took his hand. Tears began to slowly trickle down her cheeks.

"This is all my fault. Darth Maul was using you to get to me. I'm so sorry. It should be me...not you." She became quiet a moment as she tried to hold back her grief long enough to say what she wanted to say. "I love you Ranik. I'm sorry I didn't say it before. I suppose I was scared. The only other person I had ever said that to was Zavian and he died. But you deserved to know how I felt. I'm just sorry you won't be able to hear me say it."