By Mark Post
Hate.
Of all the emotions Darth Maul feels none motivate him like hate. Embedded with a disdain of the Jedi from his youth, Maul has immersed himself in the Dark Side and embraced all he feels it has to offer. Power through hate, control through fear.
Maul's meticulous training has taught him that. Years of practice have granted him not only command of the Force, but a skill with his double-edged lightsaber known to but only a few. His grace and fluidity with the traditional Sith weapon has allowed him to disperse many an enemy with frightening quickness. He has taken all his Master's teachings to heart, most especially that his greatest ally is fear.
I am the Heart of Darkness. I know no fear, but rather I instill it in my enemies. I am the destroyer of worlds. I know the power of the Dark Side. I am the fire of hate. All the universe bows before me.
Darth Maul has taken heed of these words from the Dark Jedi code and his choice of red and black tattoo markings as his death mask come from his belief in them. His is the face of hate and the demon that image presents places light years between the man he has become and the boy his Master first found on Iridonia.
Maul has no memory of his family. Taken from them at age 12, the images of his youth have withered quietly into the darkness of his mind. Even his true name -- Khameir Sarin -- has no real meaning for him; a fading ghost from a distant memory. Zabarakian by birth, he now lives for nothing save his own hatred. Only two influences guide his life: the Dark Side of the Force and his Master Darth Sidious.
Master, teacher, leader. Darth Sidious has been the one constant in Maul's life since his early years. With the patience and dedication of an artist, Sidious has molded Maul, transforming him into the mechanism of skillfully controlled anger he needs him to be.
The only patience Maul ever feels comes from the words of his Master. This is most evident as the black-cloaked Dark Jedi paces incessantly outside his Master's chamber on Coruscant, his impatience engulfing both his mind and body as he waits to deliver his newly-gained information to his Master.
Maul knows a journey stands before him. Information from Queen Amidala's foolish, but flukishly successful escape from her home world has shown Maul where his destiny will take him next. Confident that his Master will send him to dispatch the pitiful Jedi accompanying the youthful monarch, Maul's Sith Infiltrator stands ready for his hands to pilot it through the Coruscant skyline. Maul is sworn to abide his Master's every wish and will undertake any journey or perform any task the Sith Lord orders. Even if it takes him to as desolate a place as Tatooine.
Maul's faith in Sidious has never wavered. Certain his Master is a man of great importance, Maul has often wondered about Sidious' "other life" but has always ignored the desire to inquire. Maul knows that only a man of power could attempt what Sidious has planned. It is a brilliant plan, one sure to succeed and Maul is eager to bask in its success and any rewards his Master deems him worthy of receiving.
The sound of stirring from behind the closed doors of Darth Sidious' chamber catch Maul's attention. His heart rate increases ever so slightly. Victory is close and the time for revenge is at hand.
As the doors slide gently open Maul's thoughts are once again filled with words from the Dark Jedi code:
There is no peace, there is anger. There is no fear, there is power. There is no death, there is immortality. There is no weakness, there is the Dark Side.
For Darth Maul there is nothing else.