Next to the huge trees, Kelda Jawan felt insignificant. She knew, of course, that these were far from being the tallest trees known in the galaxy, but right now, the forest around her was more than enough to make her feel very small. And she was alone. Kelda had to keep reminding herself of that - she could not turn to talk to Rima, or Tor, or Damon, because they were all dead. Dead. Killed in the crash of their freighter, leaving only Kelda to survive on this uninhabited planet.

Well, they assumed it was uninhabited. But once some intelligent beings had walked its surface. The first time they were here, the small group from Nebula Transports had discovered an artificial cave complex on the surface. Some cursory exploration had turned up nothing very interesting, but they had had a deadline to make, and left before they had a chance to go through the entire system of tunnels. Kelda had been convinced that there was more to see, if only they could find it.

And today, upon their return, they had found two strange ships in orbit about the planet. Ships who did not make any effort to communicate with them, but pursued the unarmed freighter and shot at it, finally causing it to crash into the unforgiving earth. Kelda, in the rear of the ship, had walked away with a few bruises. The other three, in the cockpit, had all been killed. Kelda felt tears spring to her eyes again, and tried to focus on where she was putting her feet as she walked. She was not sure what to do now, but she was not far from the cave complex, and might as well go there. But then...how was she to get off this planet anyway? She had certainly looked forward to exploring the complex further, but not at the cost of being abandoned here - or at the cost of her friends' lives!

She had seen them, those who had shot their freighter down. After the crash she had left the ship, only to hear the faint whine of speeder bikes in the distance, coming closer. She had hidden in a clump of bushes, and soon the four humans and one Tw'ilek on their bikes came into view. They had checked the ship to make sure the inhabitants had not survived. They were pleased with what they, or their companions, had done, for now there would be no competition for whatever was in the cave complex. Kelda felt another emotion now - anger at their callousness, and a desire for revenge so strong it surprised her. But what could she do, now that she was alone?

She would think of something, she was sure of that. Kelda continued walking, her small backpack bumping slightly against her with every step. She made herself concentrate on the ground in front of her, so as not to take a wrong step. It wouldn't do to twist an ankle now.

Kelda had been walking for about 20 minutes. The sun was slowly sinking in the sky, and she was beginning to feel tired. Memories of the events of the day seemed to close in around her, overwhelming her with images and feelings. The voices of her crewmates, which she would never hear again, the jolting of the freighter as laser beams hit its weakening shields, the hard expressions on the faces of the speeder bike gang, all blended into a confusing muddle. She could no longer concentrate on the here and now. Slowly she lowered her pack to the ground, found a spot that wasn't too rocky, placed the softest part of her pack under her head, and slept.

A slight shaking sensation woke Kelda after hours of dreamless sleep. She opened her eyes to mid-morning light...and a foot in a heavy black boot prodding her in the shoulder, not six inches from her face. Her wits too sleep-dulled to react quickly, she remained lying down while her gaze traveled up the figure. It was humanoid, dressed in a full-length black robe. The arms were crossed in an air of supreme confidence, the hands covered by black leather gloves. Broad shoulders and chest suggested a male. Kelda's eyes crept up to the face - and the sight of it startled her abruptly into a sitting position.

Red-yellow eyes, intense as a volcano, stared down at her unblinkingly. The rest of the face was completely covered in bold, angular, red and black patterns, and framed by the black hood of the robe.

The man...or whatever it was...did not speak or move, but Kelda had the unnerving sensation that he was not just looking at her, but through her, and that she could hide nothing from him. Slowly, very slowly, she picked up her pack and stood, stepping backwards, away from the black-robed figure, never taking her eyes off him.

He was not tall - only a couple of inches more so than Kelda. She got the feeling, however, that he was strong and fit, despite the concealing clothing. And he had such...commanding presence. It was impossible not to look at him.

They stood staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Kelda was no longer afraid, but curious about this creature and confused as to why he did nothing. He had purposefully woken her up - why didn't he question her, attack her, offer her help, or whatever else was on his mind?

With a deep breath, she determined to walk around the robed man and continue on her way. She took two steps, then involuntarily glanced back at him.

"Stop." At first, she could hardly believe he had actually spoken. But his boldly patterned lips had moved. She stopped, surreptitiously edging one hand closer to her blaster.

"Where are you going?" his voice was soft, velvety, almost gentle, a sharp contrast with his threatening appearance. It was quite an attractive voice, actually, Kelda thought.

"Away," Kelda answered shortly. When the man just looked at her expectantly, she added, "North". Which was indeed her general direction.

"There is nothing to the north." He sounded so persuasive, the soft voice tugging at her mind. For a second she almost agreed with him, it sounded so reasonable...

"Yes, there is!" she suddenly burst out, for she knew it to be true. Of course! The fantastic cave complex was to the north!

The odd tugging sensation stopped. "What is it, then?" he asked.

Kelda debated what she should say, then decided there was no point in lying to this man. If he had meant her harm, he would have attacked long ago. Fierce-looking, taciturn, and discourteous he might be, but he was still the nearest to friendly of anyone she had yet seen on this planet.

"A cave complex," she admitted. "Probably once inhabited. It could be...very important."

"You have been there before?" Did she imagine a hint of eagerness in his voice? His yellow eyes seemed to burn even more brightly.

Kelda nodded. "Yes."

"Take me there. You will show me what you found." Kelda didn't like the fact that he was giving her orders... Just then her stomach growled audibly and she realized she was terribly hungry. Maybe they could bargain.

"I will if you give me some food first."

"You may eat afterwards."

That wouldn't do, Kelda's stomach told her. "It's a long walk. You really want me to faint with hunger before we even get there?"

The robed man looked as though he was going to insist on leaving immediately, but then his expression changed and he nodded, beckoning Kelda to follow him off to the left.

In a large clearing about a hundred paces away was a small, elegant, jet black ship. A sophisticated design, Kelda realized, which seemed somehow to suit its owner very well. He punched a button and walked up the extended ramp, Kelda following.

The interior of the ship was simple yet well-designed. In the corner to the right was a lift that went up to the upper deck, with a bunk beside it. To the left was another bunk and a good-sized table with a bench attached to the wall. Almost directly in front of them were the food processor and the refresher, toward which Kelda made her way.

When she emerged again, the man in black was setting a full plate and mug on the table. "Here. Eat."

Kelda gratefully applied herself to the food. It was bland but nourishing, and there was plenty of it. The mug contained a tangy-sweet fruit juice. The man sat across the table, looking at her, and as the edge of her hunger abated, Kelda began to feel self-conscious. Looking up, she found herself fascinated by the intricate red and black designs. They did not appear to be paint, as she had first thought, but some kind of tattoo, or perhaps the natural markings of his skin. Suddenly realizing that she was staring, Kelda looked down and hurriedly took another bite.

"What is your name, woman?" he asked, softly as ever.

"Kelda Jawan. Medic for Nebula Transports." She paused, but he did not offer his name. "You?" she finally prompted. "I can't go with you if I have no name to call you by."

"Maul," his lips parted slightly, and Kelda noticed that his teeth were dark, blackened.

"Appropriate," she muttered under her breath. Maul gave her a sharp look, but said nothing.

Kelda had finished the food, and now took the last swallow of juice. "I should tell you...there may be others at the complex."

"Who? Your companions?"

"No, I...I don't know who they are. They shot us down. Our ship was unarmed. The others..." she took a deep breath, "were all killed." There, she had said it. She felt sadness again, mixed with anger and a desire for revenge. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see their ships blown to smithereens...to see those arrogant speeder-bikers fall to her blaster shots... The ferocity of her thoughts was even greater than it had been last night.

"And you want vengeance." The idea seemed to please Maul. His lips curved, half smile, half snarl, like a dangerous predatory animal. A shiver ran down Kelda's spine. Had he read her mind? Did those burning eyes really see through to her soul?

"Yes, and with good reason!" she answered defiantly, daring him to contradict her.

"Patience, little one. You may get it. Come." With a dark swirl of robes he was away from the table and striding down the ramp. Kelda politely returned her dishes to the processing unit and followed him to the other end of the ship.

Here Maul opened an outside storage compartment and took out a speeder bike, quite different from standard models. It was C-shaped, with the seat considerably lower than the handlebars and little stirrup-like things for the rider's feet. It had a powerful-looking engine, but no obvious weaponry.

Maul gestured for her to get on behind him, which she did. Gingerly at first, then more confidently when he did not object, Kelda put her arms around his waist. He smelled musky, leather-y, not unpleasant, and she could tell his back and shoulders were muscular even through the clothing. He gunned the speeder and they were off, Kelda enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair, and looking forward to exploring the complex again, even in such unusual company.

As they rode, Kelda's hand noticed an object, probably metal, clipped to Maul's belt under his robe. At first she assumed it must be a blaster, then realized the shape was entirely wrong. So far as she could tell without moving her hand, the thing was cylindrical, and too big to be any sort of comlink. What could it be? The thought puzzled her, but they were fast approaching the complex now. She directed Maul to the less obvious of the two entrances, and they dismounted. So far they had seen no evidence of speeder-bike gang and their fellows.

Just as they began to walk up the slight rocky slope to the entrance, it hit Kelda in a flash. The weapon on Maul's belt was...

"A lightsaber!" At first she did not realize she had spoken aloud, but inexorably Maul turned and fastened flaming eyes on her. One gloved hand pulled aside the right side of his robe, and there it was, clipped to a very wide leather belt - a silver metal hilt - the unmistakable weapon of a Jedi. Without a word, Maul let the robe fall back into place.

"You're a Jedi?" But even as she said it, Kelda knew it did not seem right. Maul was unlike any Jedi she had seen, though that was few enough. The black clothing, fierce red tattoos, his entire attitude, were at odds with everything she had ever heard about Jedi.

Maul swiftly closed the distance between them and gripped her shoulder painfully. Good stars, his fingers were like bands of steel. "I am no Jedi!"

"Then what..." no one but the Jedi used lightsabers! That was an absolute...wasn't it? Fragments of half-remembered stories came to her thoughts: another group of Force-users, wiped out long ago..."A Sith?" her voice was barely a whisper.

Maul gave a solemn nod and released her shoulder, but his incredible eyes did not leave Kelda's.

"Then your full name...Lord Darth Maul?"

"Yes. Come, show me what you found." He was insistent, all business, and Kelda, shaken, led the way into the tunnel, switching on the handlight from her bag. As they walked, she tried to put the situation in perspective. She had learned some new information about Maul, but he was still the same person. Despite his disconcerting stare and strong grip, he had never made a move to really hurt her, unlike the others on this planet! Calm down, Kelda, she told herself. Don't be afraid of a word. You two can help each other, at least for now. She realized, though, that there was a possibility that Maul could read her surface thoughts. Well then, she must guard them carefully!

Consciously focusing on the business at hand, Kelda turned to Maul. "We found several places where there were cracks suggesting a door, but no way to open it. No latches of any kind. They were stone, much too heavy to break down without damaging the walls."

"Take me there."

Kelda nodded and set off, leading the way unerringly through the labyrinthine passages. There were other, more obvious doorways, but all these rooms had proved to be empty. They had to go some distance to reach the mysterious latchless doors, toward the center of the complex. Kelda suspected that the Sith Lord was surprised, perhaps even impressed, by her knowledge of the complicated tunnel system. As well he should be. It was an unusual talent of Kelda's - her memory for places and sense of direction had been termed "uncanny" by her crewmates. Even after only visiting this complex once, and without a map of any kind, she knew exactly where she was going. But of course, Maul made no comments, nor did Kelda really expect any.

They were very near their destination when Kelda, looking around a corner, spotted two figures walking towards them, dressed in rough garb similar to the clothes of the speeder-bike gang that had come to check on the ruined freighter. She caught Maul's attention and pointed. He nodded acknowledgement, then fearlessly stepped around the corner. The two men were confused at first, then brought up their blasters to fire as they recognized Maul was not one of theirs. Bolts shot out at what should have been point-blank range, but the brilliant red blade of Maul's lightsaber flared into existence and effortlessly deflected the bolts into the chests of the attackers.

Kelda had no time to marvel. There was someone behind her, pulling her towards him, his arm around her neck to choke her, his breath rough and unpleasant-smelling. Kelda turned her head to the side to prevent the choke, then drove her elbow hard, twice, into his ribs. As his grip loosened a bit, she managed to turn and strike him in the face. Caught off guard, he staggered backward, and Kelda pulled out her blaster and fired. The large, unkempt man slumped to the ground.

Turning, Kelda saw Maul watching her, as usual. He had seen her little display of her self-defense skills. Well, let him remember that she was not at all helpless. She took his nod this time to mean approval.

"Come on, it's not far." Indeed, they were within sight of it now. Seconds later they stood in front of the first of the "latchless doors".

Maul stood still, concentrating on the door. Abruptly, there was a soft click and the heavy stone swung inward, spilling dust on the floor. Maul entered the room without a second's hesitation, but Kelda paused to examine the door. There was a latch after all, on the inside. The Sith must have used the Force to manipulate it - and indeed that was the only way the door could be opened.

The room was not large. Along the walls were heaps of rusted metal, the incomprehensible remains of machinery, covered with thick layers of dust. How long had it been since any living being had set foot in this room? It smelled ancient, timeless, and dead.

Maul had found something. Kelda crossed the room, picking up her feet so as not to stir the dust, to find him holding a thick bundle of plasfilm sheets in his hands. Before him was an open metal box, where the sheets must have been stored. Peering at the sheets over his shoulder, Kelda saw they were still quite legible, though not in any script she had seen before.

"You can read them?" she asked, not caring if he sensed her curiosity.

"Yes," Maul answered. "The ancient Sith language. My master was correct." The deep respect in his voice when he said "my master" was not lost on Kelda. It struck her that this powerful being was still so absolutely loyal to another.

"The Sith built this place?"

"It would seem that they did." He let out a slight sigh and looked around the room, drawing himself to his full height, shadows playing over his face as Kelda moved her handlight slightly. This must mean a great deal to him, Kelda realized, to find a site occupied by members of his order who-knew-how-long-ago, and containing who-knew-what useful information or technology. She knew, of course, that the Sith were supposedly evil, that they used the Dark side of the Force, but these were only stories to Kelda, and she shared Maul's appreciation of the find.

Abruptly he was all business again. "These will take some time to translate. We will return to my ship."

"What about the others? What if they find something before we do?"

"They will not trouble me much longer." His voice, still soft, was nonetheless chilling. Kelda did not envy them, but realized she still very much wanted her revenge!

Back at his ship, Maul stowed the speeder bike and opened another storage compartment. Inside were several black, spherical droids with long antennae. Turning back the wrist of his left glove, Maul punched various buttons on a small metal comlink and three droids floated out of the compartment, their repulsorlifts just barely audible. Maul entered some more commands and the droids moved off, soon disappearing from sight. They were probe droids, and he was sending them to search for the intruders.

That task done, he went inside his ship. Kelda followed, having nothing else to do, but she was wary. What if he decided that her usefulness to him was at an end? Would he send her away...or kill her, even? Or would he still tolerate her presence? She felt a dark curiosity about the wonders the Sith complex contained, but couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting in way over her head. After all, she knew nothing of the Force...

Maul had removed his gloves and comlink, and now laid his hooded robe aside. Underneath he wore simple, practical, black pants and a black tunic that fell to his knees, held by the wide belt from which his lightsaber hung. His head, however, was much more unusual...he had no hair at all, and the red and black patterns continued up to the top of his head. He also had ten smooth, sharp-looking horns, seven of them forming a ring around his skull, one on top, and two smaller ones at his temples. He was a Zabrakian, Kelda realized. She had seen members of that species occasionally before - but never so fierce-looking. The horns were small, and not that threatening in themselves, but combined with Maul's facial tattoos...the entire effect was different.

The Sith Lord turned, but Kelda's face did not betray a reaction to the sight of his now-bare head. Instead she tried for a glimpse of the plasfilm sheets. She could see what looked like plans or diagrams, and words of explanation. Maul turned away, and she stepped around him, still trying to get a good look.

"These are not for you," he hissed. There was anger in his eyes now, and he took hold of Kelda's wrist and twisted her arm away from him. He reminded her of a volcano about to explode, but Kelda ruthlessly suppressed her fear. She was angry too, and she tried to focus on that. She refused to step back or break eye contact. Finally, after a long moment, Maul loosened his grip, just barely. Kelda snatched her arm back, and he let her. He gave her a last raking glance, entered the lift, still holding the sheets, and whooshed up to the upper level.

Fuming at his treatment of her, and even more because she must stay on his good side to get off this planet, Kelda paced the cabin for several long minutes. When she was calmer, she noticed a holochess set-up on the table. Well, there were worse ways to pass the time. She sat down and activated the board.

Two holochess games later (having won once and lost once) Kelda tired of this activity and wandered outside the ship. It was shifting into late afternoon, and the air was pleasantly cool. She raised her arms in a langorous stretch. In this moment she could almost forget the reason she was here...but not quite. And that maddening so-called Sith Lord, closeted with his translating that she was not supposed to see! Did it mean nothing that she had guided him there in the first place? No, she had to admit. To him, it probably did not.

Feeling the need to burn some energy, she assumed a fighting stance and shadow-boxed, throwing kicks and punches at an invisible opponent in front of her. She had worked up a good sweat when she finally paused to rest.

A flicker of movement caught her peripheral vision, and she turned. It was Maul, standing near the bottom of the ramp. How long had he been watching her?

He moved on a diagonal to another part of the clearing, where he stood still for a moment, almost as though meditating. He unclipped his lightsaber and held it at arm's length, perpendicular to his arm, and ignited the blood-red blade. Then, incredibly, a second blade sprang into being, from the other end of the hilt. Kelda could only stare, transfixed, as Maul began his own practice session.

He leaped, whirled, and somersaulted, spun, thrust, and blocked with the beautiful 8-foot weapon, all with incredible grace, speed, and power. Kelda leaned back against the nearest tree, sliding down to a sitting position, never taking her eyes off Maul, never ceasing to admire his panther-like movements. She lost all sense of time, feeling like she could watch him forever...

Abruptly, he finished his workout and strode back up the ramp to the ship. Kelda stood slowly, her head swimming. An all-too-familiar feeling was growing inside her...why hadn't she realized before how attractive he was? His muscular build, silky voice, effortless movements...she wanted more than anything to...

This is not appropriate, Kelda! she told herself, shaking her head hard. Clear your thoughts, go find a distraction! But another voice said, Why not? You're grown, with no other commitments. There's no shame in such thoughts...

Almost dreading it, she approached the ship, cautiously until she realized Maul was not on the lower deck. He must have gone above to continue translating. Good. She would not bother him. With a feeling of some desperation, she returned to the holochess board, setting the difficulty to maximum.

The lift door made its slight whoosh, and Kelda looked up from the board. The Sith Lord did not, as she had half expected, put on his cloak and leave the ship, possibly gesturing for her to follow him. He merely stood, leaning slightly against the bulkhead, his arms crossed on his broad chest, directly opposite Kelda.

Why did he just stand there like that? Did he know the effect he was having on her? She determined to ignore him, and made her next move in the game. The computer responded in kind.

Almost involuntarily Kelda glanced up at Maul again, but he had not moved from his position. His eyes, however, burned into her like golden fire. She looked down again, embarrassed by his presence. She felt uncomfortable, almost twitchy, and acutely aware of a growing wetness in her undergarment.

Kelda continued to play her game, beginning to lose badly as her thoughts distracted her. How would it feel to have those strong arms wrapped around her? Or to hear that seductive voice whispering in her ear? Underneath that loose, practical black clothing, what was his body like?

"Checkmate," said the computer softly, as her last piece disappeared down the throat of the opposing holo-monster. And in that same instant she felt Maul's hand under her chin, making her look at him, and not particularly gently.

"So, what is it you want?" he queried, his voice soft and mild as always, but this time it ran through Kelda like an electric current, making her shudder.

Oh, no, she thought, he can sense my feelings, can't he? Especially strong ones like these. Part of her wanted to stand up, to walk away, to run if necessary, but she couldn't move, couldn't look away from Maul's shining, yellow eyes.

"I want..." but Kelda couldn't say what she meant, could not put her thoughts into words. She wondered it there were words to fully express her conflicting emotions, and the warmth and longing that spread throughout her entire body. "What do you want?" were the words that finally came out.

A rare smile touched his lips as he pulled her roughly to her feet. One hand was instantly around her waist, holding her tightly against him, the other hand twined in her hair, firmly, but not enough to hurt. His breath was hot in her ear as he fiercely whispered, "I think you know." He ran his tongue around the inside of her ear, making her gasp, as his hands began to move, sliding up under her shirt, exploring her body with confidence.

Surprised, yet somehow not surprised by his ardor, Kelda turned her head to lightly bite at Maul's lips, which were hard and soft at the same time, and then kissed him deeply. His scent of sweat, leather clothing, and some indefinable maleness was intoxicating and she leaned into him, caressing his smooth tattooed head and sharp-tipped horns. His tongue ravished her mouth, and she could feel the bulge in his trousers becoming more conspicuous.

With a growl he pushed her onto his bunk not far behind them. "Strip," he ordered, and, her hands feeling clumsy, Kelda obeyed, discarding her clothing in a heap on the floor. Maul removed his own garments with urgent, graceful motions. Gods, he's beautiful, Kelda thought. Smooth ebony skin, the tattoos continuing down his chest to his waist, every muscle perfectly defined and rippling with his movements. Suddenly decisive, she reached out to pull him toward her, but he needed no encouragement.

He was on her in an instant, taking her breasts in his hands and devouring them hungrily with his lips, tongue, and teeth. Sweet, longing fire coursed through Kelda's body, concentrating itself between her legs.

"Please..." she murmured, trying to adjust her position, but his weight on her chest held her down.

"Please what?" he answered, a hint of mocking in his beautiful voice.

"I think you know." With a sudden surge of energy she pulled him up so their faces were even.

"Oh?" he propped himself up on his elbow, his free hand lightly caressing Kelda's stomach and thighs, everywhere but _there_.

Kelda felt like she might explode with desire, the still-present sense of danger only adding fuel to the flame. Her reaching hands contacted the velvety rock-hardness of his manhood and he hissed with pleasure. "Please, Maul...take me. I want you so much." She spread her legs wider in invitation.

An expression of satisfaction, and desire of his own, settled on his patterned face. In one sudden movement he pinned her wrists to the bunk with his hands and thrust deeply inside her with a moan. He was larger than she had ever experienced before, but she was slick with readiness for him. A moment of discomfort passed, and she wrapped her legs around him and gladly matched his rhythm, her moans joining with his. As their pace quickened Maul let her wrists go and she put her arms around him, pulling him closer. He kissed and bit at her neck, one of his horns scratching her deeply on the cheek, but she didn't feel it. She was going over the edge now, and so was he. She felt him come inside her and her own muscles clenched into a delicious, shuddering climax.

Maul pulled out of her and lay on his back beside her, their shoulders barely touching. When her breathing had quietened, Kelda pushed herself up on her elbow and gazed down at him, drinking in the sight of him. His tattooed face, relaxed, eyes closed; his smooth, night-black skin, solid musculature; his still-slightly-erect, softly throbbing member.

She reached out a tentative hand to touch his chest, and his eyes opened and he caught at her hand, as if trying to prevent her caresses. Then he seemed to change his mind, let go of her hand, and relaxed back onto the pillow. She traced his contours with a light touch, marveling at his perfection.

Maul did not respond, and Kelda soon laid her own head down and slept beside him.

Kelda woke suddenly, realized she was alone in the bed. Indeed, there was no sign of Maul in the cabin at all. It was quite early in the morning, probably still dark outside, but she was fully awake. She gathered her clothes from the floor and went to the refresher.

Passing the mirror on her way to the shower, she caught sight of the long, pink scratch that marred her left cheek. Surprised, she touched it - it stung slightly, but was not deep enough to bleed. The situation suddenly seemed funny, and she laughed out loud to herself. Sleep with a Zabrakian...that's what you get, I guess! Then she sobered, sternly telling herself to expect nothing more from the Sith Lord. They had had their fun, and she didn't regret it, but he certainly wasn't the affectionate type.

Kelda showered, dressed, and ate, then stepped outside the ship. It was indeed predawn, and she had trouble making out any details. Then she heard soft mechanical noises, and followed them to the rear of the ship.

Maul was there, dressed in his full robes, listening to the coded report of one of his probe droids. When it was finished, he sent it back to its compartment.

Then he turned to Kelda, his face expressionless, but his eyes lingered on her cheek. How he could see the scratch in the gloom Kelda wasn't sure, but she got the feeling he did see it.

"My probes have found their ship. They are from the Black Sun." Black Sun? That was a notorious criminal organization, perhaps the largest and most powerful in the galaxy that the Republic had failed to eradicate, despite repeated attempts. Maul didn't seem the slightest bit worried, however. "It is as I suspected," he continued. "My master learned of this place through his spies among them."

"We must be rid of them," he added, seeming to savor those words of doom. He beckoned Kelda back inside the ship and explained his plan. She was only too happy to participate.

They took the speeder bike to a place near the second, larger entrance to the complex, outside of which the Black Sun ship had landed. Well back in the trees, out of sight, Maul dropped Kelda off, handing her a metal box. He then soundlessly walked the bike up closer to the ship, staying behind the trees.

Kelda, crouched low behind some bushes, couldn't see him anymore. She heard the roar, however, when he ferociously gunned the bike's engine. That was her signal to move forward, which she did, quickly but still cautiously, staying low.

Very soon she could see into the large clearing, dominated by the handsome, well-built and well-armed transport. The sun was coming over the horizon, touching the trees with golden light and glinting off the metal of the hull. There was a small group of beings in the clearing, yelling, pointing, and aiming their blasters at the dark figure on the bike who sped around and past them, lightsaber ignited. As she watched, he blocked two bolts, yanked the bike upward, and sliced off a sensor array from the ship. It crashed to the ground, causing more confusion.

Kelda wasted no more time. She ran, still crouched low, to the other end of the ship, the engine end. She Fumbled momentarily with the catch on the box, then took out the first detonator, opened the lid, flipped the switch to "receive command" and placed it up against the hull.

Continuing around the ship, she kept an ear open for the sounds in the rest of the clearing. Maul was still zipping around creating havoc, and probably enjoying it, too. She heard a man yell into a comlink, "Underground One, can we have some help here?" Good. That was the object of this diversion - to draw all the Black Sun operatives out of the complex so they would all be destroyed at once. She must hurry now.

Three detonators had been set and she was crouching to lay the fourth when a ramp opened right next to her, and the T'wilek woman she had seen earlier, just after the crash that killed her crewmates, came down it, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. But she was more alert than Kelda expected, for, when she spotted her crouched by the detonator, she jumped off the ramp and aimed a kick at Kelda's head. Kelda rolled away, the kick missing by inches, and stuck out her own booted foot to trip her adversary. Then they were both rolling on the ground, both desperately trying to gain the upper hand. Kelda grabbed one of the fleshy head-tails and yanked backward, and was rewarded with a knee in the crotch hard enough to bring tears to her eyes. She heard a voice and realized it was her own, yelling whenever she landed a blow.

"That's for Rima!" a fist in the face.

"That's for Tor!" an elbow in the ribs.

"That's for..." the whine of the bike was suddenly right by her ear, and an arm much stronger than the T'wilek's jerked her upright.

"They are all here," Maul's voice hissed.

And indeed they were, rushing around the ship as a group, a little more organized by now. Kelda half climbed, half was pulled, onto the bike, which Maul immediately twisted into a sickeningly steep climb. Blaster bolts came incredibly close but somehow continued to miss. They had barely reached a sufficient altitude when Maul hit the command on his comlink and the scene below exploded into a fireball.

Kelda felt anxiety give way to a curious elation on seeing the livid flames. The deaths of her friends were repaid. Revenge was indeed sweet.

They had already returned to Maul's black ship when Kelda realized that not all of the blaster bolts had missed. Maul's right shoulder had been clipped, and blood stained the black sleeve. Not life-threatening, but it needed some attention.

"Let me bandage that for you," she said when they dismounted.

"It's nothing."

"It's bleeding. Where do you keep your med supplies?" Kelda was already halfway up the ship's ramp.

With an air of resignation, he showed her, then removed his cloak, gloves, and tunic, sat on the edge of his bunk, and allowed Kelda to disinfect and apply sealer to the wound. It was, as she had suspected, shallow, and would heal relatively quickly. She wrapped bandage around it to protect it. "There. Done." She stepped back several paces to allow him to get up.

He did not immediately do so, however. He flexed his shoulder, trying out the fit of the bandage. The sight of Maul's bare torso inevitably reminded Kelda of the previous evening and she made to turn away. But before she could, Maul looked up, and once again his eyes held her fast. His hand made a little "come here" gesture, so small she at first thought she had imagined it.

Suddenly, there was a mechanical beeping, a warning of some kind, and Maul rose in a fluid motion and went up to the cockpit. He did not so much as glance at Kelda, who stood where she was for a long moment. Already her muscles were stiff and sore. Damning the T'wilek for jumping on her like that, and damning the alarm, if that was what it was, Kelda crossed the cabin to the lift.

In the cockpit, Maul sat in the pilot's chair, eyes focused on the display in front of him. There was no copilot's chair, so Kelda stood, looking at the screen over Maul's shoulder. The display showed...another ship had just landed in the area, between them and the complex's larger entrance.

"The Black Sun?" she wondered, but how could they tell from here?

"No. They are Jedi." Maul's confident answer surprised Kelda, till she realized he could probably sense them through the Force.

"What...what are you going to do?"

Maul stood, drawing himself up to his full height. A terrible expression came over his face. Kelda was frightened, but unable to move. She was utterly rooted to the spot, couldn't look away from Maul if she tried, and a single thought repeated itself over and over in her head. "He could kill me right here and now. He could kill me right here and now."

The Sith seemed to suppress that anger, pushing it ruthlessly down, relaxing just a little. "My master has ordered me to remain hidden from the Jedi. But when darkness comes, I will return to the complex and take anything useful that I can."

Kelda nodded dumbly, still shaken by Maul's intensity and very grateful it was not directed at her. Then suddenly he _was_ looking straight into her eyes, but it was not anger written on his face. He favored her with a wicked smile, and Kelda thought her knees might melt under her. He slowly took a step towards her.

"I am not finished with you yet, little one."

Maul was still standing two feet away from Kelda, not touching her at all. She felt a sensation of movement, however, at the collar of her shirt. Ripping her gaze away from Maul's eyes, she looked down - and discovered the buttons undoing themselves. Maul's expression when she looked back up was almost smug. The shirt pushed its way off her shoulders, and she felt the fastening of her pants loosen as well. As the initial shock wore off, Kelda felt a slight smile coming across her face.

"That's a good trick," she acknowledged.

"It is," he answered in simple agreement, his eyes looking her up and down. He grabbed Kelda's wrist and sat back down in the chair, pulling her onto his lap. He kissed her now-exposed shoulders and breasts. She felt his teeth bite lightly, then lick away the sting, and she could focus on nothing else, aware only of what Maul was doing to her.

Unlike the previous day, he now took his time to kiss and lick every inch of her, easily finding the most sensitive spots - and then avoiding them. He was torturing her, sweet, sweet torture. Kelda had no idea how long it lasted, but she knew she begged him for release. And she knew that he enjoyed her entreaties, maybe even laughed at her. At some point, Maul's clothes had come off too, and she whimpered as he finally sheathed himself in her, his breath rough in her ear. The sensations built higher and higher, they came together, gasping and crying out, and then it was over. Kelda felt the metal plates of the deck cool against her back, and sighed her contentment. After only a moment, Maul got up, dressed, and returned to the plasfilm sheets.

The sun had set, and a cool breeze sprung up when Maul departed for the complex. He was not taking Kelda with him. Apparently he had succeeded in translating the plan of the caverns and knew what he was looking for.

Kelda, however, was not one to sit idle. Despite the danger, she planned to return to the complex herself. She and her crewmates had discovered it first, and she was not going to be kept from even seeing what it held! After giving it some thought, she realized that she had a reasonable idea of how to get to the center of the complex, even though they had not gotten that far before. She would not get lost! And if there were great wonders there, Maul could scarcely cart them all away before she had a chance to see them. And the Jedi? No matter if she ran into them, she could simply tell them the truth about how she got here. She might leave Maul out of it, in deference to the wishes of his master. Or she might not. She hadn't decided that yet.

So, as soon as Maul on his speeder bike had disappeared from sight, Kelda snatched up both handlights from her bag and set off on foot. She set a brisk pace, but still it took three quarters of an hour to cover what was only a short hop on the bike.

When she could see the entrance, the smaller one, which she and Maul had used before, she paused under cover of the trees. Hearing no unusual sound, she trained her light on the doorway. No one was there, and Maul's speeder was not in evidence. Well, if he's smart, he hid it well back in the trees. And he is smart, Kelda admitted in her thoughts. Still being cautious, she entered the stone corridor.

The caverns, for some obscure reason, were more eerie, more worrying that night, and Kelda felt like an intruder in a way she had not before. Exactly how old was this place, anyway? What beings had lived and died here? And what lay at the center?

Preoccupied with these thoughts, she wound her way deeper into the tunnels, still nowhere near where she judged the middle to be. Suddenly, her attention was arrested by an object, small and roughly spherical, lying on the floor against the wall. She trained her light on it and stepped closer for a better look.

The object was a detonator.

And it was activated.

Counting down, with thirty seconds to go.

For two or three precious seconds, Kelda stood there, stiff with horror. Then she turned on her heel and desperately raced for the exit, back the way she had come. Flicking her gaze briefly to the side, she saw that that was not the only detonator - they were spaced out at intervals along the main corridor. And I didn't even notice! she wailed in her mind. How could I be so abysmally stupid?

Surely she must be nearing the exit now. Yes, up ahead, a faint lightening! She tried to pump her legs even faster. A thundering roar sounded behind her, and a glance back told her that the tunnel was collapsing - and that the collapsing part was catching up to her. She gave everything she had to the final sprint, thinking her heart might explode in her chest. She was just passing under the lintel when it came crashing down on her, pinning her under rocks from the waist down.

The pain...the pain in her legs was unbearable, crushing, twisting her apart. Kelda fought to stay conscious. She wanted to cry out, indeed, her lips moved, but no sound emerged. She tried to remind herself that it was a good sign that she could feel the pain - it meant her spinal cord was not severed - but it was horrible...like she was falling forever...

Dimly she heard approaching footsteps, and a familiar pair of black boots was suddenly before her. Maul! She was indescribably relieved to see him. Surely he could get her out of this. He is so strong, she thought. Stronger than anyone else I know...a warrior in all things...

Maul took in the situation in a single glance. But before he could respond to it, he sensed the approach of others - the Jedi! They had felt Kelda crying out in pain, just as he had. A terrible indecision struck him. He must not be discovered, yet to just leave this woman here...

She was looking at him, sweat on her brow and face contorted with agony. "They're coming?" she said, her voice barely audible.

Maul nodded, still unsure what to do. There had to be something...

"Go!" Kelda was struggling to form a coherent sentence. "Doesn't matter...if...they find me...You can't...be seen."

He knelt and squeezed one of her hands, hard. It hurt, but Kelda was also obscurely comforted by it.

"Kelda," Maul said, and her eyes focused on him with sudden clarity. It was the first time he had ever spoken her name. "Whatever happens, tell no one of me." Then he let go of her hand and melted into the shadows.

Running footsteps sounded, coming from the other direction. "Master! Master, over here!" A dark-haired young man knelt by Kelda's side. The long, thin braid in his hair hung down, brushing her forehead. He was followed closely by a woman of about fifty, her gray-brown hair pulled back in a bun.

"Try to ease her pain, Seth," she instructed her padawan. "Jiro! We'll need a stretcher!" she called back to someone else, not visible yet. Then she took a deep breath, focused, and began to move the heavy rocks aside with the Force.

Others arrived, and the babble of voices was making Kelda's head spin. She raised her eyes a little in the direction Maul had gone. She could not see him, of course. And, most likely, she never would again. Realistically speaking, how long could she expect to keep a Sith Lord company, anyway? Their separation was inevitable and for the best - so why did it feel wrong?

The ancient Sith complex had been completely destroyed by the blast, so when the Jedi, carrying Kelda on a stretcher, were out of sight there was nothing for Maul to do but return to his ship.

As he walked to where he had hidden the bike, he felt anger wash over him like a wave, and the Dark Side fill him with more strength than ever before. He felt capable of anything...of crushing all seven Jedi beneath rocks and slicing them apart with his beautiful double lightsaber...but he could not. The time was not right, and he must control himself.

But the injustice of it! In their zealousness for destroying anything Sith, the Jedi had prevented him from making who-knew-what fantastic discoveries - things that could be very useful to his master. And they had taken Kelda from him, as worthy a companion as he had ever found. From the first time she saw him, she had not been afraid, but defiant, yet somehow also cooperative, and attractive besides. Attractive...and enthusiastic. Maul almost smiled. Then he was angry at himself for becoming so attached to another person, and one not even strong in the Force! He should care nothing for Kelda...but for some reason he did. And was disgusted with himself for it. Caring was a weakness!

He pushed the extend button on the ramp control panel and strode into the Infiltrator, his boots pounding an angry rhythm on the deck. His eyes automatically went to the chair where Kelda had been accustomed to sit. Without thinking about it, Maul gave the chair a terrific side kick that loosened it from the heavy metal bolts. He paced back and forth across the cabin, then made an angry hand gesture, and the chair ripped free of the bolts and crashed into the bulkhead.

The loud noise brought Maul back to his senses. This anger he felt was no good if he could not control it. He must store it up inside him, nurture it, bring it out even stronger when his master told him the time was ripe. For someday it would be. Someday he would not have to hide like a coward while the sniveling Jedi destroyed priceless Sith artifacts, while they injured his companion and then took her away from him. Someday he would reveal himself to the Jedi, and they would be no match for his prowess! Someday he would have revenge!!

The End (until I write the sequel)

DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction written in appreciation of Star Wars; to promote the franchise and to keep it alive. All characters and settings original to Star Wars are copyright to Lucasfilm, Ltd. The rest is copyright to the author.