Chapter 27.

Terms and Conditions

Part 2

A couple of days later some guests arrived at the Nightsisters fortress. To Kyra's surprise, they were all Jedi. Their spaceship landed outside the fortress. They were five of them, all men, wearing the usual brown and beige Jedi outfits, except for one of them. His clothing was in a darker shade. They were all greeted by the women and made their way inside. Kyra watched them with curious eyes. She didn't know that Mother Talzin was dealing with both sides. When the men passed by Kyra, the one with the darker outfit looked at her way, locking eyes with her. Suddenly, she felt a strange and unpleasant feeling. She didn't know why she felt this way looking at him. He didn't look unusual, just a regular man. Then he kept walking with the others further into the cave.

Maul noticed the Jedi walking into the cave. He never understood why his mother dealt with them. If it were up to him, they would all be dead by now. But he was not in the position to make this decision so he stayed low and watched them from afar.

They all walked up to his mother, who greeted them with respect. They talked for a while, and then returned to their ship. Maul followed them while staying in the shadows of the cave. One of them particularly caught his attention. He wore darker clothing and was looking around, almost like sizing up the place. There was something off about that one, Maul thought. Then the Jedi approached Kyra. His back was to Maul so he didn't hear or see his face while he was talking with her. First, he noticed Kyra's face looked concerned, then her face become more relaxed and even flirty? Maul was losing it. Then the man said farewell to Kyra and walked away.

Maul approached Kyra and with a sudden move, he pulled her to the side grabbing arms. Kyra's lips curled into a small evil smile and then she said. "I thought you were going to pounce on the poor man."

"I wish I could do that, and not just him but all." He said with a devilish grin.

Then he let go of her arms and said. "I'm going to visit my brothers today. We are going on a hunt. I'm getting bored here, Kyra. This is not the way I used to be or used to do things." With a frustrated sigh, he added. "I have to kill something or someone or I'll go crazy."

Gently, she placed her hand on his arm. She knew exactly what he felt. This was the way of the Sith. Without violence and destruction, the Sith order couldn't survive. Through the Dark Side, their deepest and greatest strength was drawn. But she knew because there was no balance, this side would grow with too much passion for power and if they could not harness this power and feel trapped by it, it would lead down a path which Kyra did not want to follow. Maul only knew the Dark side. He was completely influenced by it since childhood. He never knew any other way, until now….

Kyra sensed that he indeed was struggling to let in the Light. She knew he would never become a Grey, but something might change that…time would tell.

It was getting late and Maul was already on his way to Nightbrothers. Kyra was about to retire to their room when she saw something strange. It was that Jedi. He was standing outside the entrance staring at her. He had a sly, mysterious smile on his young face. Then he turned and walked away. Kyra felt millions of goosebumps enveloping her skin. She knew that she should go to her room and try to get some sleep, but curiosity took over her, and then she ran across the cave following him outside.

Outside, she caught a glimpse of him turning behind one of the tall trees to her left.

What is he doing? Kyra was asking herself as she kept following him.

It looked like, he was leading her deep into the swampy area. Then she lost him. She couldn't see him or sense him for that matter. In the dark, from the swamp, a red mist was floating up giving the terrain an eerily look. She could hear the small animals moving about under the foliage and in the water. She was about to turn back when suddenly he appeared at the base of one of the bigger trees. Leaning lazily against the tree trunk, he had a smug small smile on his face while his piercing blue eyes were penetrating into hers. At that moment Kyra felt scared. She didn't understand why but there was something familiar about him, the way he looked at her.

Then he spoke up. "Hello, Kyra." With a malicious grin, he added. "My one and only, Kyra."

In an instant, Kyra's blood froze in her veins. She felt paralyzed with fear. Then she realized that she was indeed paralyzed. She couldn't move. He casually pushed himself away from the tree and then he approached her while not taking his eyes off her.

The reddish mist swirled around his boots as he stepped closer. He stopped an arm's length away from her and looked into her terrified face. Slowly, he sized her up, and then he said. "You look different. Something about you, I could sense, it's hmmm, new?"

Kyra's heart was beating so hard she thought it was going to burst through her chest at any moment.

Then he casually walked around her and stopped behind her. Looking at her dark hair, which was in a long tight braid, he casually lifted her hair up and felt it with his fingers, touching it lightly.

Kyra was screaming on the inside now. She knew exactly who this man was! This knowledge terrified her to the core. How naïve and blind I was? She thought with disheartenment.

"You have your mother's hair." Then with a jerking motion, he yanked her hair back hard and strong. An extreme pain shot through her scalp and neck. She tried to scream but no voice was coming out of her mouth. While her head was pulled back, he placed his lips at her left ear and whispered into her ear.

"And I had so much hope for you. But I see things from a different perspective now. You see, I started a new life, and I'm loving it! Every second of it."

Then he let go of her hair and walked in front of her. "My rage kept me alive, to allow my soul to flee my old and battered body and begin anew. This new life will give me even more than I had before."

Then he lowered his face to hers, and as his warm breath tickled her skin, he said.

"This time, no one will stop me!"

Then she heard his lightsaber buzzing to life, giving an eery bluish glow to his young face. "And now you will die…my granddaughter."

However, before he could strike her down, something forceful pushed him off his feet. His body flew through the air and landed at the foot of the big tree.

Kyra felt the force field around her diminishing. Then she saw HER small form in the mist. Her bony hands were extended forward and on her ancient face, Kyra saw tremendous power. She looked like a small Goddess. Then Kyra saw the Jedi getting up giving her an evil look. Then he quickly disappeared into the swampy terrain.

Old Daka approached Kyra who was extremely happy to see this tiny but powerful woman. Then her body started to shake and she fell to the ground. Kyra felt exhausted and her legs were trembling so bad that she knew she wouldn't be able to walk right now.

Looking at old Daka, she said. "What is going on with me? My Force powers are almost gone. I'm not myself for a while now. I can't even defend myself." Then with a sigh, she added. "I feel useless."

Old Daka helped her up, then she placed her pale hands on Kyra's abdomen. In a raspy voice, she said:

"There is nothing wrong with you. You are with child, my dear."