For a few weeks, life returns to normal. As normal as civilian life could be for two runaway Sith, in any case. Aaron's temper cools significantly without that Stryder character making constant passes at his wife.

The peace couldn't last. Not for them. The unease prickling at Aaron's awareness peaked early one morning. A strange noise, one that might have been more mental than physical, woke Aaron. Sailens woke at the touch of his hand on her shoulder.

She responded to his wordless question with a shrug. Sailens pulled the blankets over her head and waved at the door.

I'll be right back. He said in the silence of their bond. Without turning on the light, Aaron dressed, pulling on his heavy leather boots. After a brief pause, he clips his sabers to his hips. He slips down the fire escape, steps silent on the metal.

Once he's on the ground, a shadow detaches from the wall. Aaron recognizes the mask at a glance. Sai…

What is it? Along with the words, she mentally sends the image of herself dressing in a flash and following him down the fire escape.

Raven. Rencarn found us.

"Aaron."

"Raven."

"Cantina work doesn't suit a true Sith, my friend."

Aaron shifts his weight, tensing his muscles, ready to move. With a touch of Force, he loosens the clasps holding his sabers in place. "I'm not Sith anymore."

"We were both forged in the fires of Korriban. We will always be Sith."

Sailens snorts as she walks up. Her hair is perfect and held with silver clasps that shine in the dim light of the alleyway. Despite dressing in a hurry, she'd donned her old, overly-tailored, disgustingly expensive Sith battle robes. "Neither of you were ever anything even approaching Sith. Blood matters, Raven."

Raven turns his masked face to Sailens, taking her measure. He sighs. "I have strict orders, My Lady. Stand down as I take this traitor and I have no qualms with you. However, should you interfere, I have no choice but to kill you."

"What do you want with me?" Aaron asks, sabers draw and lit, the purple plasma sizzling in the pre-dawn silence.

"You belong to Rencarn. It's time you repaid him for your life." Raven drew his own saber, a single red blade spraying light on his black robes.

Sailens stares at Raven for a moment before laughing. She bends at the waist and makes a show of gasping for air. "Worm, do you really think you could take what is mine? Let alone kill me?"

"I know I can. Sa'alle has forsaken you and given up all of your abilities." He gestures towards the fire escape with his saber. "Go back to bed. I like Aaron enough that I don't want to make him watch me kill you." He address Aaron again. "Come with me. She'll remain alive, free, safe."

Aaron answers with a blast of Force lightning. "No."

Raven counters it with his saber, as if brushing away an errant fly. "Such arrogance. I am a Lord. Two lost apprentices are nothing to me." Before either of them can react, Raven leaps and stabs his saber straight through Sailens's abdomen.

She crumples to the ground in the dirty alley. Her hands cover the charred hole and the smell of burning flesh wafted through the air.

Aaron stands silent and perfectly still, the gravity of the situation washing over him like a storm. His sabers deactivate and fall from his hands with a clatter.

"Messy business. Sorry about that, Aaron, but it had to be done. Come on. I'll even split Sa'alle's bounty with you. Her mom is paying well." Raven deactivated his own saber and took a step towards Aaron. He didn't make it an inch further.

A primal roar escaped Aaron's throat and knocked into Raven with the weight of the Force. On either side, the buildings shook, sending a cascade of dust falling down. The dust didn't bother Aaron, of course, not with his glowing Force aura that all but blinded the already disoriented Raven.

"Aaro-" His voice cut out as Aaron's aura snapped out and slammed into Raven. The Lord vaporized in a spray of blood and rags.

Aaron fell to his knees. A tickle of dust, the remains of Lord Aucht's trinket, spilled out of his coat. "Sai…" He reached for her with the Force, but felt nothing. He tried to use it to pull her towards him, but again, nothing. "Sai…" He lifted his knee to crawl, but collapsed unconscious, hand stretched towards her.