Chapter 18.

What have we become?

Maul suddenly let go of Kyra and looked toward the door. He sensed the guards just outside the chamber's door. They most likely heard the commotion and wanted to know what was going on. Maul didn't want to start another fight, he was exhausted and hurt. Every single muscle in his body screamed in agony. But there was only one problem. The only exit from the chamber was the door they came in earlier, and that was off-limits.

Within seconds, the door burst open, and six of Master's Imperial Royal guards entered the chamber. Armed with Force pikes and fully clad in their crimson robes, they looked at Master's destroyed body lying on the floor, and then simultaneously they activated the long pikes. Nobody made a move. Seconds went by, but to Kyra felt like hours. She didn't want to fight either.

Instantaneously, Kyra and Maul turned toward the huge windows and ran as fast as they could across the room. Extending her arms, Kyra sent a powerful Force push at the windows, shattering them into million pieces. Then they jumped out and landed on the green grass, littered with sharp pieces of glass beneath the window. As fast as they could, they sprinted toward the shipyard. Kyra was sure the guards would follow them until they caught. Their loyalty ran deep with Master. They would avenge his death even if it cost them theirs. When Kyra looked over her shoulder, she saw all six guards jumping out of the window, pursuing them.

They had no choice but to reach the Infiltrator as quickly as possible. The ship was the only escape from this place. While running, Maul entered a start-up code for the ship on the small keypad, located on the inside of his leather glove.

The guards were getting closer and closer. They were fresh and ready to revenge Master's death. On the other hand, Maul and Kyra were extremely exhausted. Her left arm pulsed with great pain, and looking at Maul, he didn't look better either she thought disheartened. Every second counted and they couldn't waste any.

Somewhere in the main building, an alarm sounded off. Then they reached the perimeter of the shipyard and pushed themselves further into the yard. They could see the ship now, next to the last hangar. Maul was glad when he saw the door down he knew the ship was ready to take off. Quickly they ran to the door and closed it behind. Then the autopilot lifted the ship and they took off, leaving the crimson guards in the dust.

Breathing hard, Kyra sunk down to the floor, and then she started to laugh. Leaning against the wall, Maul looked at her in disbelief. He felt like dying. The fight with Master came with a great price. With an exhausted voice, he asked.

"Why are you laughing? You think it's funny?"

Then he looked into her eyes and saw not happiness but sadness, deep and true sadness. She was hurt and not just physically, but deeper than that. Then her forced laughter turned into a sudden and heart wrenching cry. Maul lowered himself next to her and embraced her shaking body while gently stroking her back.

Kyra was in tremendous pain. She felt her soul was ripped to pieces. All the things she had believed and trusted were shattered just like the chamber's windows, she thought gloomily. From now on, her life is going to be different, and not just hers, but Maul's as well. They became fugitives in the eyes of the Empire committing an atrocity when they killed Master.

Master, she thought. No!

She didn't want to think about him right now. She had to clear her head. Looking into Maul's eyes, Kyra felt safer and stronger. Yes! Together they were stronger. Now they can start a new life even if it meant to hide and run forever.

Maul got up and pulled Kyra off the floor. Then they went up to the cockpit. Sitting in the chair, he entered some new coordinates into the c-shaped control panel.

"Where are we going?" Kyra inquired.

"My home planet, Dathomir." He said, staring at the console.

"Dathomir?" Kyra asked puzzled. "I've never heard of it. Where is it?"

"It's in the Outer Rim Territories in the Dathomir system." Maul replied. "We should arrive there in a few days. I have family there. My brother can help us." Then he added with a hint of apprehension. "And my mother could help too." Thinking about his mother, Maul got a queasy sensation in his guts.

He wasn't sure how his mother would react once they arrive. It was not a custom on his planet to couple with a non-Dathomirian. They liked to keep their traditions to themselves. The Nightsisters held an iron fist over the Nightbrothers by manipulating them into their own personal avengers and lovers.

And they also possessed powerful magic, which was utilized from the depth of the planet itself.

Sensing his troubled thoughts, Kyra asked. "Does your planet have an Ocean?"

Maul looked at her and said. "No Ocean, but we have huge lakes. I think you would like them." With a sly grin, he added. "We also have Rancors."

"What's a Rancor?" She inquired.

"You'll see". He replied with a mischievous smile.

As she settled down on his lap, Kyra kissed him lightly and gazed into his eyes. Looking at each other, they knew that an exciting and new experience would begin with this journey.

Epilogue

Somewhere in the galaxy, in a simple hospital room, a young man was lying in bed. The sound of the machine, which was keeping his organs alive, was making small beeping noises. The man appeared to be in a deep coma. With the help of the machine, his chest was slowly rising with each breath. His pale skin was a stark contrast to his dark brown hair that stuck to his damp forehead. With his eyes closed, his face looked serene.

Suddenly, the machine started to beep faster and louder and his bed started to tremble with small energy. Then the trembling became more forceful and the whole room started to shake. His eyes flew open and he looked around with fear and amazement. Then slowly his eyes became less fearful. In their deep blue depths, tremendous glowing energy was burning high. Then a small evil grin appeared on his pale face.

The End. Or is it?