Knowing that route of understanding was shot down, she had to try another question so that he could try to understand why had been away for so long. It warmed her heart to know that she was the first and only woman he had loved in his life.

At least he knew what love felt like, and would at least understand that part of the story she would soon try to tell.

"Was there something you wished to do, given the chance to do so?"

"Does killing my brother count?"

Magaia was asleep in the crook of his arm as they continued to walk. The stress of the day had obviously taken its toll on her but he just held onto her as she slept. He had to use the Force to help him hold her though. Otherwise he'd have dropped her.

"Why are you asking me questions? I thought I was asking you questions."

"I don't feel as though the time for quenching your revenge is anywhere close to now. You'll know it when it's that time, and not a moment sooner.

I know you're getting a bit impatient with all my questions, but all these questions do serve a purpose in my story. I'm trying to get you to at least attempt to understand the reasons for my actions in the past few months.

The answer to my first question, would be yes, I did love someone prior to meeting you. As to the answer to the second, that would be the very reason as to why I went to Kiyar, and eventually here, upon the conclusion of the story."

"I knew you went to Kiyar but no one there seemed to know where you had gone, I had to kill a few people just to get acknowledgment that you had left."

He looked over at her.

"What happened at Kiyar?"

"I went searching for someone I once knew, but ended up saving a planet from annhilation in the process. And I ended up completely changed by the experience. Long story, believe me."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Why didn't you just let the planet get destroyed? Or help for that matter? I would have."

They walked back the way that he had come and seeing as he had been running and they were walking now it would be a long walk. But they would get there in due time. THere was no hurry.

"Who was this person?"

Raven was already tiring, of both walking and answering questions. Little Magaia had it easy, with her sleeping in her husband's arms, hearing the occational meow, but mostly purring from her tiny frame.

If she told him the whole story, she might have one less thing to actually worry about.

"The person I was looking for happened to be the first one I had ever loved. A part of me still cared about him. The sad thing was that I never told him that.

In my initial search, I did do the whole torture and death thing. You would've been shocked at the lengths I took to locating him.

Oh yes, he name was Daren. Daren Trevelan. He was my commanding officer when I first came to the Shadow Jedi, and was assigned to the Rogue Squadron.

The closest I ever got in my own search was the coordinates for the Kiyar system. The bad news was that he was supposedly killed, protecting the planet from the greedy neighboring planet Seras.

Something didn't quite sit right with me. I could still feel his presence. I swore up and down that he was still breathing.

The Kiyar President, a Kilam Blackh, had promised to help in the search only if I could help them. When I arrived in system, I ended aiding them in an attack that was in progress, and he knew I could kick butt up there.

To make a long story short, they didnt' have to do much searching. There was a Dark Jedi controlling Seras, and he searched me out, sending his three cronies after me in the middle of a fight to take back a ship-building facility.

Two were killed, and the last one captured me, but not before I got the boarding team to leave on one newly completed Loronar Strike Cruiser. A real beauty, too bad I didn't get to ride her on her maiden voyage.

Face to face with the Dark Jedi, he asked me to join him, bringing out a surprise to help aid in my persuation.

The bloody bastard had no clue that there was a personal connection between myself and the prisoner, but he quickly took advantage of my shocked reaction.

You can pretty much guess who the prisoner was. He had spent the last year under the special care of the Dark Jedi's closest friends, and he looked like one more strong hit with anything could blow him over and kill him for real.

All I told the Dark Jedi was that I had had a chance to speak with Daren, I might think about the offer.

I had one minute to tell Daren all the things I was too afraid to say, to apologize for all the wrong things I did in my own frustraition. I even told him that I eventhough I had moved on, and married another, I still cared enough about him to be considered one of my most trusted friends.

All Daren could manage to say was that he knew somehow that I loved him, and was glad to know that I had found someone who could make me smile. He died right before the desonated minute was over, spoiling the Dark Jedi's threat.

So, I made one of my own. I pulled what remained of Daren's body over my shoulders, and dropped my lightsaber on the floor.

I told him to leave Seras, and Kiyar, and to never return, or I'd return and kill him.

The Dark Jedi, a bit stunned by all this, had let me go.

And the lightsaber?

Let's just say that when he picked it up not long after I had reached space, he got an explosive surprise.

I never leave an enemy stronghold operating.

After I returned, the threatening Serasians had ceased their firing, sitting in silence. My guess is that the Dark Jedi had some influence over their minds, and they felt a part of them die when the Dark Jedi did.

I only stayed long enough for Daren's funeral, and came here, seeking a change in scenery."

"Hmm. Interesting."

He lidtened to her intently but at the end of what she said it was obvious he didn't care about this Daren character. No one was allowed to take his place and if the man had lived to do so, Zerxes would have killed him. No one took something from Zerxes and got away with it. Not even his brother could do that.

"Oh well. Sucks to be them."

Raven never expected him to dismiss the events as the re-told them, though, she should have.

He didn't look all that pleased, either. Something about her story he absolutely did not like.

After a few moments, the ultimate realization hit her, and she yanked her fingers out of his, shoving him so hard that it woke Magaia, who had started howling.

Raven simply stormed off, walking a short distance away, sighing tiredly in annoyance as she sat down next to a nearby tree, little Magaia hopping into her lap. The poor girl was spooked, barely comprehending what was going on, still a bit groggy as she cuddled against her.

She rubbed the feline's back, giving her husband an icy glare, with the girl slowly settling back down, Raven kept her voice as dangerously icy calm as her glare.

"He's a part of the past. Do I have to keep reminding you of that fact? I never bothered telling you about my past because you never asked.

I would've told you if you did ask.

I absolutely refuse to appologize for my past. I made those choices, not you.

Why do I have to explain myself for what I have done, when I chose you?

Yes, at first we didn't exactly get along. Inspite of all the things you've done to me when we met, I couldn't stand the thought of walking away from you."

"Did I say you did?"

He scowls at her.

"I don't recal ever saying you would leave me. Your past is your past and mine is mine. I don't care that you went off for a while. I started to care when you never came back."

He walked over and knelt down in front of her. Esposing his chin he smirked.

"Go ahead. Hit me."