“There’s a high price on your wench’s head, Khameir. I’ve come for her, not you, I’m afraid,” he replied nonchalantley. That enraged Maul. He had almost lost Dirae to Sidious and damned if he was going to lose her to this scum. He snarled viciously and kicked Damek in the chest forcefully. Damek staggered slightly then straightened from the blow. Frowning in a displeased way, he whipped his hand around and backhanded Maul into the ship’s controls. Dirae roared angrily and launched herself at Damek. She forgot her lightsaber and clawed at Damek’s face viciously.
“Don’t you touch him!” she snarled, wrapping one hand around Damek’s thick throat. “You’ll have to kill me to get to him!” Damek threw her from his body and rearranged his shirt patiently.
“Look, wench, we could do this one way or the other. Either you come with me so I can get paid or I kill your Sith boytoy right here and now. It’s your choice,” Damek said. Dirae had landed on her feet in the pilot’s chair and perched there like a lioness ready to pounce on her prey. Beside her Maul stood as well and spat out some blood before turning his reptilian glare on Damek.
“You can’t have her, Damek. She belongs to me and the Sith,” Maul said, his anger lacing his words even though his tone was calmer than it had been previously. Damek heaved a great sigh, flipped his long silver hair over his shoulder and grabbed Dirae around the neck. She choked out a growl as he lifted her from the chair. He held her to his right, squeezing her windpipe every time she struggled. Maul screamed his rage and bumrushed Damek.
Damek thrust his free hand forward and pushed Maul back with his Force. Maul cried out as he was thrown back against the panel over and over again. Sparks flew from the controls as his body was battered into the various levers, switches, and buttons. Dirae felt tears seeping from beneathe her closed eyes as she heard Maul’s cries of pain everytime he was slammed into the panel.
Finally unable to take anymore of his torture she shouted: “Stop! Just please stop it! He was dead once! If you have any respect for him you’ll stop!” Damek looked at her, his Force still battering into Maul’s body.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you, wench,” Damek hissed, his malice finally showing through his careless demeanor. Dirae choked out a sob and repeated her demands.
“Lave him alone! I’ll...I’ll go with you if it saves his life.” From the floor, Maul heard her words and raised himself into a sitting position. Weakly he reached out to her.
“No..Dirae...don’t go,” he whispered through his pain. “He’ll kill you...”
“Maul..” Dirae whimpered, her vision blurry from her tears. “Please, if it saves your life. I lost you once to men like this..please don’t let it happen again. Please.” Her pleading finally reached Maul’s dark heart and he crumpled to the floor. Hot tears slipped from under his tightly closed eyelids. Damek kicked him in the side roughly and stalked out of the cockpit, still carrying Dirae by the throat. Maul’s breath hissed out between his teeth as he stared after the departing bounty hunter. The sight of Dirae hanging there limp from defeat brought fresh pain to his heart. He choked on a cry of despair and passed out.