CHAPTER-8

Another month passed away, Aarya was three years old. She would start her formal training in a month or two according to Sidious. He had arrived on an early morning. Maul welcomed him. The child was still asleep. Disturb was with the child. Sidious sat in the armchair.

"The child?" he asked in an exhausted voice.

"She is sleeping master. You seem to be tired, master. Shall I get you some refreshments?"

"There will be no need of that. I was just making the fog of darkness. It is a tiring process."

"I am still not clear on the fog of darkness master."

"The fog of darkness, it is the most powerful thing you can use to blind the Jedi. Once the fog is complete they won't be able to see what is going on. They shall be blind."

"So they won't be able to sense anything beyond what we want them to?"

"Not exactly. It will just block their ability to sense the dark side making us invisible in a way."

"How can this be broken?"

"Only by the death of the creator."

"Which means by your death."

"Or by my will, yes."

Maul then nodded. This would be a perfect weapon against the Jedi. They would not be able to cross this fog. They were too concentrated on the light side. They would be blinded by this. this was good.

Sidious stayed for five days. He observed the way the child interacted with its surroundings. "Vader." He called out to it. It turned and looked at him. He then called out, "Aarya." She came running to him. He concluded that she was attached to the birth name. He then waited till Maul came and fed the child. He waited till the child was asleep. He then spoke to Maul.

"So the child is attached to its birth name?"

"Yes, master."

"It must be changed. She must forget her past."

"It will be done my lord."

-ooooooo-

Five months passed away, Aarya was more intrigued by the Sith every time Maul would teach her something about the Sith. She learnt about lightsabers. She learnt how to hold them. Maul took her to other systems once in every two months. Maul was happy to see the child show more interest in the Sith. He was surprised when the child was growing only in the dark side. He was surprised and happy.

-oooooo-

Another month passed away and Aarya was in her black robes again. This time they were going to the trade system of Ogem. Aarya was excited. She was visiting the fifth planet in her list. The planet was known for its male dominancy. Aarya and Maul boarded the ship. Maul was given the task to hunt down an artifact collector. Aarya was to be brought along with him. The two soon reached the planet. The people of Ogem; Ogemites, were pale and had blonde hair. They were near humans with feather like hair. One could see a lot of men. They were traders. The planet was known for its traders. The location of the artifact collector was given to Maul. Soon they landed. They walked for a short while till they reached another bar. "Stay here and don't talk to strangers." He then walked inside the bar. Aarya stood outside. Don't talk to strangers, remained in her mind. She just stood there observing her surroundings; they were beautiful. There were buildings which were sandy in color. They were beautiful and new to Aarya. She stood in awe. She didn't notice the fact that there was a person behind her. The person tapped her on the shoulder. She turned sharply to meet a Jedi Master and his Padawan.

"Hello there." The Jedi Master said. He had long hairs which were brownish grey, a short beard and moustache which too were brownish grey. He wore wheat Jedi robes. The Padawan was in his formal attire with the Padawan braid. Aarya looked at the Master. He then spoke again, "Are you alone out here?" Aarya shook her head. She refused to speak with the Jedi, after all they were strangers and Maul told her not to speak with strangers.

"My name is Qui-Gon Jinn. And this is my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. What is your name?" Aarya was silent. They were Jedi and she was a Sith. Where was Maul?

"What happened? Don't be afraid. We are Jedi. You can talk to us." The Padawan spoke moving forward and bending in front of her. Aarya stepped back. She hated the Jedi. Sith were enemies of the Jedi.

"What is wrong young one?" The master asked moving forward and bending too. Aarya got afraid. She stepped back and tripped on her robes. Obi-Wan held her quickly and suddenly shook his head. He helped her stand straight. He then looked at his master. Aarya was more scared than ever. Did the Jedi discover that she was a Sith? Qui-Gon then held her hand and asked, "What happened? Don't be afraid." He then suddenly was disturbed as he held her hand. Aarya was scared. At that time Maul called her out, "AARYA. Come here." She turned and ran towards him. Maul held her close and turned away as the two Jedi turned to look at him. He carried a bag which had the Sith artifact his master asked for. Aarya hugged him and went off with him. The Jedi Master looked at his Padawan as the two straightened themselves. Obi-Wan spoke first, "Aarya? Master did you feel what I felt?"

"Yes, there is something about the child which the force is hinting at. But what?"

"I don't know master. It just was so dark."

"It indeed was. Let us go and find our smuggler now." Saying so the two entered the bar. Inside they saw the entire bar was watered with blood. Everyone was dead. This hurt the young Kenobi.

"Who could have done this?" he asked through pure horror.

"I do not know young one. But the one who did it must be cold blooded."

"Maybe. Master look a vibroblade." Kenobi pointed to a weapon lying on the ground. On the ground was blade soaked in blood. Qui-Gon used the force and picked it. He inspected it. He recognized that the blood was fresh. He then turned around and observed the surroundings. Everyone was dead; but one. The one who called out to the child Aarya. Obi-Wan too realized it. By the time they ran out and located the person; he and the child had taken off. The Jedi were late.

"We lost him." Obi-Wan said under his breath.

"We might as well try and follow him." the Jedi Master replied. Soon the two boarded the ship they arrived on. Obi-Wan piloted the ship and quickly followed the person.

Inside the ship, Aarya went on talking about how she shut her mouth in front of the Jedi. Maul listened patiently. If he were late by a minute or so Aarya would be discovered by the Jedi. He had to ask his master to allow her stay on Naboo whenever he went on missions. He suddenly felt as though somebody was following him. He checked the rear camera and saw the Jedi follow him. He frowned and quickly prepared to jump into hyperspace. "Aarya hold on to your seat." He called out as they were preparing to jump for the hyperspace.

Behind them Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged glances. "He is going into hyperspace!" Obi-Wan exclaimed. Peculiar, they just followed him and he was ready to jump into hyperspace. Obi-Wan prepared to jump into hyperspace. Soon they were in the hyperspace behind the man.

Maul was frustrated when he saw that the Jedi followed him into the hyperspace. Aarya was admiring the blue and white streaks. He set the coordinates for Naboo. He had to get the Jedi off his tail.

Qui-Gon reached out to the force. He tried to read where the man was going to. As though the force was waiting, he received the answer. "Set the coordinates for Naboo." He ordered his Padawan.

"Are you sure master?" he asked.

"It is the will of the force." The master replied. Obi-Wan nodded as he set the coordinates to Naboo. Soon the two parties were out of hyperspace. Maul was even more frustrated when he saw the Jedi had followed him out of the hyperspace too. He turned the ship to face them while Aarya was excited. He then pointed at the Jedi and fired at them.

Obi-Wan sensed the danger and quickly swerved out of the way. The shot scratched the ship. "He really doesn't want us on his back, this one." He commented as he back fired.

Maul turned the ship avoiding the shot. He then readied to jump into hyperspace. He jumped into hyperspace as another shot was fired. He set the coordinates to Umguli. He waited there for a long time. The Jedi were left surprised when the fighter jumped into hyperspace.

"He is clearly avoiding us." Obi-Wan commented.

"He is trying to protect the child." Qui-Gon stated.

"I will set the coordinates to Coruscant."

"Very well."

Soon the two left to Coruscant. Maul arrived about an hour later. Aarya had slept in the ship. It was night time. He brought her and placed her in her bed as she slept. Disturb came and pointed the injury Maul had sustained during his assignment. It was a deep cut. He used the dark side to sustain it. Disturb did its work duly. It tended to his injury and dressed it. Maul meditated and slept later.

-oooooo-

Another five month passed away. Sidious arrived to visit the child and Maul. He came when the child was asleep.

"It is time that you go to your missions without her." He started. Maul turned and nodded.

"Yes master. But who shall look after her?" Maul asked.

"I shall look after her. After all it is my responsibility too." He said with a smile. Maul knew that smile too well. He nodded as the two proceeded to duel with each other. Maul held his ground for longer. Sidious was impressed. He praised Maul and then defeated him.

-ooooooo-