Her saber fell from her bleeding hand, “Give it up! You're Bantha Fodder!" He mocked her very existence,  "You slave to the evil in this world, You’re finished! You could never think to beat someone like me!” The bounty hunter gloated above her with his machine gun cocked ready and aimed at her head.She chuckled, “What’s so funny?” He looked at her and asked.

               She glared up at him, blood dripping from her head, running down her face, “I find your lack of faith disturbing, “ and with that she twists her fingers and the bounty hunter’s neck snapped violently and she flung him off into the distance.

    She picked up her saber, and attempted to compose herself as best she could with a side wound and assess the rest of her injuries. Her employer wouldn’t be pleased with the sloppiness, nor the method in the way it turned out or how she conducted herself, but she didn’t expect the politician to have a hired Hitman as a bodyguard, all in all the outcome was the same, mission accomplished….

Kenina at a young age live on Ryloth, home of the Twi'Lek, their species were constantly exploited as slaves for the Hutt enterprises. On one such venture they were gathering a few of the younger Twi'Lek children up her best friend Vas'Savu was apprehended and it upset Kenina causing her to use her powers. She was found to be extremely force sensitive, and took out a whole squadron of Stormtroopers.  She strongly felt it was the reason her parents were killed. 

She was apprehended and taken aboard an Imperial cruiser ship to be taken before the Emperor back on Coruscant. 

Along the way their ship was intercepted by an unknown vessel, which turned out to be the former apprentice to Darth Sidious and now crime Lord, Darth Maul. He recognized the force pull in Kenina and vowed to raise her and train her in the ways of the force so that maybe one day she also could extract her revenge for those she loved.

So under Darth Maul's guidance and instruction, they lived on Mandalore and she trained to become one of the most powerful Sith, that no one would ever know about, because in the law of the Sith the 'Rule of Two' applied. The Rule of Two stated there can only be one master and one apprentice; at this time Darth Sidious was still the Master and he had a new apprentice Count Dooku. Darth Maul had been replaced due to his untimely death. 

So in secret they lived and in secret it stayed. That was until opportunity applied itself; Chancellor Palpatine, Darth Sidious's alias was in need of protection, some loyal body-guards as he had a few attempts on his life. Maul managed to call on a few contacts he had in the crime bracket and was able to get Kenina's name on the list. She went and applied herself showing her abilities as a shooter, but suppressing her force abilities and was given the job.

She thought on all she has done in the past three years under Palpatine's employment and wondered how much longer Maul would leave her here.

She jumped down from the building window slipping into the shadows unnoticed by any, she was good at that, no one ever paid her any notice, and she was fine with that.

     Kenina made her way across town toward  Bess’s place. Bess or Elizabeth as most knew her by was the only attachment Kenina had since losing her parents which said something and it wasn't an easy thing; They went through training together and Elizabeth tried her hardest at all things including Kenina eventually Bess grew on her.

Kenina rounded the corner to Bess's place but it appeared to be empty, she must either be with her grandfather, he wasn't really her grandfather but he also found her at a young age and she was so kind and pure that she worked for his cover as he worked for Lord Maul, he could obtain secrets and the dark intentions of the sith… if she wasn't there she could be found at the library studying up on better healing methods. Bess didn't possess abilities in the force as strongly as Kenina, not many did, but her Sage abilities and her willingness to heal made her an asset to Kenina on missions; especially ones like these when things don't go according to plan.

Bess was extremely smart and highly valuable due to her knowledge and skills in healing that it didn't take long for her to find employment with the Senate.

Not finding Bess at home Kenina heads back to the Senate building to see if she could find Bess. 

Lightsaber hidden under her wrap she switched it out for her two side blasters, and strapped them to her legs and entered the Senate building. 

“Well look what we have here,” Kenina didn't get far when she ran into Anttio. He trained with her in the soldier's academy when she became a bodyguard, and also was working for the Palpatine at the Senate building. He has it out for Kenina though because before she showed up he was a sure bet to be apprentice under Emperor Palpatine and hold that bodyguard position, now he sits at a desk until called upon unless another  Senator has need of him or is willing to take him on. He likes to spar with Kenina challenging her, always trying to one up her in everything they do, and he's never used her name, not once has he tried she's always been referred to as 'Girl’ by him. “You look a mess,” he stood staring her down.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Thanks for your wonderful insight,” Kenina turned to head up to her employer's chambers.

“Where you off to in such a rush?” He grabbed ahold of her arm.

She winced, then cursed herself for showing weakness, “I need to report in.”

He noticed then that she was trying to hide the fact that her arm was damaged against his better judgement he decided to help her, “hey...let's get your arm looked at first huh?” He put his hand behind her and helped walk her toward the medical station. 

Kenina wasn't sure what his true intentions behind being nice to her were but she did need to get her arm and head looked at since Bess wasn't around earlier and she had forgotten all about it.

After seeing Kenina off to medical Anttio slipped back away, he needed to be more careful. He can't slip up like that again or he will be figured out, and he was here for a purpose...and his purpose wasn't her, no matter how he truly felt about her.

Kenina left medical and headed for her master's chambers.

Kenina saw Chancellor Palpatine was in a meeting with the council members and a few Jedi so she waited outside his chambers until the meeting was done. She learned to hone her patience and hide all her feelings and emotions so not to give anything away, made things easy to hide from the Jedi thus far.

“Ah, Lady Kenina how are you,” Master Yoda exited her master's chambers and walked toward her.

“I'm well master Yoda, how are you fairing?” She put on a smile for him.

“Good, good, returning from a mission I see.” He noticed she was holding herself a little different, “hopefully not too much trouble?”

“No, it went well,” she lied some and tried to hold herself differently, “hope the rest of your day goes well master Yoda.” She bowed to him and proceeded into her Master’s chambers.

He watched her walk away, conflicted that one is, he knew this...but what it was he did not. Meditate on this he would…

Chancellor was finishing chatting with a council member, she stood silently to the side and waited for him to escort the member out of the room and closed the door.

“Lady Kenina, I see you've returned,” he acknowledged her but didn't look at her as he walked passed her.

She nodded and followed stride behind him not saying a word.

“I take it that means the situation was handled?” He took a seat behind his desk, still not looking at her but out his window.

“Yes, not as planned, but handled all the same.” She stood in front of his desk hands in front of her folded at her waist, head bowed.

“So I was informed,” he now turned to face his to her, “seems the man got spooked and hired the bounty hunter.” He stood up and walked around to her, “it still wasn't enough to save him...how is your arm?”

She put her hand up on the mildly injured arm, disappointed in the fact she let it happen, “healing...it won't become an issue.”

“Nonetheless, we need you better and soon,” he walked back to his desk and picked up a folder, “so you are going to train with Anttio until I see fit, and Elizabeth will oversee your health and report back to me. Once she and I have cleared you then I will return you back to your duties and assassinations .” He could see she wasn't happy with his decision, “ is that completely understood?”

“Yes my Lord,” she was angry but she understood, she let an enemy get close and injure her an Assassin should never have, she needed to train.

“Also I'm assigning you a Droid to oversee things and assist, Y2-W8. You can go pick him up and  I’ll have Anttio report to you in the morning. That will be all.” He waved her away.

“Thank you,” she bowed at him and turned to exit his chambers. She hoped a Jedi wasn't outside the doors because she wasn't going to be able to hide all her anger very well at this moment, but before she reached the door she composed herself and breathed, pushed the door open and left.

“There you are,” Bess came running up to her, “I've been looking for you,” she could tell by the look on Kenina's face she wasn't in a good mood, “the meeting didn't go well?”

“I don't wish to discuss it, we start training tomorrow.” Kenina didn't mean to be so cold to her but she couldn't take the chance that Bess would report back to the Chancellor of her disapproval in his request of her.

“Alright, what is it that we are training?” Bess followed behind her.

“I'm to work with Anttio and strengthen up until Palpatine deems me worthy enough to go back out on missions again, you are to keep him posted on my health and keep me healthy during training until told otherwise.” They left the Senate building and Kenina leaned against the banister at the bottom of the long staircase they just walked down. Still frustrated that she felt demoted to training, and now looked like she was probably pouting.

“Just go on home, there's nothing more today that you can do for me...I feel I've already done enough to ruin that.” Kenina looked up at Bess; Bess knew it wasn't meant to hurt her but Kenina was mad and when she was it was best to just let her be so she did as she was asked and headed for home.

Kenina sat a while longer at the bannister, staring off at the city watching the sky change colors from the once a blue to a yellow, orange and purple color the night sky was beginning to form, “it's gorgeous, isn't it?” A voice came from around the corner, Kenina didn't sense anyone which was rare for her, normally no one could sneak up on her, “my apologies I didn't mean to startle you.” The girl walked over to her and took a seat on the steps.

Kenina cautiously eyeballed her, “yes, it is gorgeous,” and went back to looking at the sky.

“I just love how all the different colors can blend just so perfectly...like they were meant to meet...light and dark...always in conflict, to gain control...yet when together in this masterpiece could be so...exquisite.” She looked up at Kenina, “I'm Qi’ra,” she extended her hand.

“Kenina,” she gave her a small smile. Qi’ra accepted Kenina's hand.

“Well, Kenina I look forward to seeing you again.” And with that Qi'ra smiled and took her leave.

Kenina watched her leave, still unsettled she was able to approach her with no warning...who was this Qi'ra.