CHAPTER-9

Aarya was four years old. Maul was sent on another assignment. Sidious was there 'looking after' her. He greeted her with the smile which would influence many.

"Where is Maul?" she asked slowly and delicately.

"He is on a mission." Sidious replied with a smile.

"All right. Did he say anything before he left?"

"He asked me whether I could look after you." He said in a sweet voice. "And I agreed."

"Okay. Where is Disturb?"

"Who is Disturb?"

"The medical droid. Where is she?"

"So the droid is a she."

"I think so." She answered walking towards a door. She opened it and peeped inside. "She is not here."

"She must have gone for slight repairs." Sidious sent the droid with Maul. Maul tried to protest but was silenced by his master.

"But Maul would never leave me alone."

"Why though?"

"The Jedi." She answered as a matter-of-fact. "But if everyone is out why are you here?"

"To look after you. Maul personally requested me." Sidious said delicately. The child was smart.

"You told him to go on the mission with Disturb, didn't you? You are his master, he told me. You are the Sith Lord. You have the right to give us any order." She spoke bravely.

"Consider me to be your friend not master." Sidious spoke with his sugar voice. The child was indeed smart.

"No a master is never a friend. A master is a leader." She said as she sat on the floor. "So what are we going to do today?"

Sidious smiled broadly. The child accepted him as a master. "Let us learn about the dark side of the force."

The child nodded. Sidious then bent forward and held her hand, walking with her towards a balcony. He then carried her. The child was alert. It was calm all the time. It showed no signs of fear as Sidious placed her on top of the railings. He was impressed. He suddenly pushed her of the railing. She was shocked and afraid. She screamed in fear as she fell from the fourth floor. As she neared the ground Sidious held her through the force and lifted her. He then placed her beside him. "That is the force." He said with his sugar smile. He bent towards the child. He then touched the trembling child on its shoulder and let out a small force lightning which made the child cry in pain and step back. "And that is the dark side." Sidious then straightened himself and laughed as he let out a small lightning at the child who cried in pain. This happened for one hour with him occasionally lifting her with the force and leaving her mid-air. This would mark fear in her heart for him. She would slowly turn this fear into anger. And that anger would be instrumental in his plans.

Aarya was in her room. She was hurt. She had two or three scars. One of them was mental. She was afraid of Sidious. But one part of her was angry with him. She didn't know what to do. She closed her eyes and slept empty bellied as Sidious refused to give her dinner.

Three days later, Maul returned. As soon as he returned Aarya ran towards him and hugged him. Sidious was in his chambers. He had a meeting with a senator. She hugged him tightly. Maul petted her as he carried her.

"What happened?" he asked delicately as he saw the girl was afraid and hurt.

"Sidious hit me." She answered earnestly.

"How much did it hurt?"

"Okay-Okay." She replied innocently.

"That is how strong you become. Sith grow stronger by the pain they get. The more pain you have the more powerful you will be. That does not mean that you hurt yourself, all right."

"Okay." The girl replied with a cheer. Maul smiled as he let her down. She got up and ran towards the droid whose eyes caught her scars. It rushed her for healing. Maul walked up to his master's chambers. He had a baggage to deliver. Inside the baggage was an artifact that Maul was afraid to carry; the mask of Momin. Sidious had finished the meeting and had opened the door.

"Ah Maul." He said receiving the package. "I see you have returned."

"Did the child trouble you master?" Maul asked softly.

"Oh no, she was as decent as one could ask for. I just taught her some things about the dark side."

"Hmm."

"Very well, I need to go. Continue the training of the child. Do not be so soft on her. Make her forget her old identity of Aarya. She must be Vader." He said as he wore his cloak. Soon Sidious left the room. Maul followed him out of the room. Soon they were in the hall. Aarya stood up as she sensed them coming. Her happy face suddenly turned to one with fear as Sidious entered the hall. She lowered her head. Maul felt the fear in her heart. He wanted to comfort her but reminded himself. He was just her GUARDIAN. He was given the responsibility to look after the child not form a bond with her. He was to look after her till she started using the force formally.

-oooooo-

Another month passed away, Aarya was in the hall with Maul. Her hands were outstretched and pointed towards a toy with open palm. Her face was full of concentration.

"You are not doing it." Maul was saying.

"I am trying." She replied.

"Do not try. Do it. You are being weak and Sith are not weak."

"Ah, I am trying as much as I can."

"Not enough. Try harder if you want to do it."

"I am."

Maul moved forward and pushed her hand down gently. Aarya was exhausted. The toy shook violently but never came towards her. Maul raised his arms and called it. It came flying. He then turned to Aarya. "That is doing. The next time do it, not try."

"All right." She groaned as she followed him. Aarya was training to use the force. It was difficult in the first place but now it was comparatively lesser difficult. She grew in the dark side. Whenever she would try to meditate, one could sense the dark side radiating from her. The next month Sidious was arriving again. Maul was to be on another assignment where he had to let the dark holocron fall into the hands of the Jedi. This he could do by giving to a pirate captain who was friends with a Jedi Master called Adi Gallia. In this way they would get corrupted slowly. It would be easier for the Sith to destroy them. It was one step closer to the elimination of the Jedi.

Aarya went to refresh herself and go and play. She had no friends as the Sith could not reveal their secret by letting her have any. She would only play with the droids or herself. She was not allowed close to most of their droids too. She was allowed to interact with only three droids; Disturb the medical droid, Cook the cooking droid, Service the maintenance droid. Maul made sure that she had lesser contact with either of them once she started her training. It was necessary.

Another month passed away, Sidious came to train her while Maul left for his assignment. This time Sidious made her swim through warm water. Aarya struggled as she started to have difficulties with breathing. Water reached her lungs through her nose. While she struggled Sidious laughed. Aarya was made to swim in full robes. The weight of the robes made it difficult for her to swim. It pulled her in the shallow water. Sidious used the force slightly to keep her from drowning. Water entered Aarya's body through the ears and nose. Her lungs were filled with water, anger and hate. It also had fear. Sidious laughed as he lifted her. She was dripping wet. Water was dripping from her robes. She was half unconscious as Sidious carried to a chamber and let Disturb do its work.

Disturb was horrified when she saw the state in which Aarya was. To her it was child endangerment, to Sidious it was training. Aarya was unconscious. Disturb managed to get almost all of the water out. She was disturbed. Aarya was just a child and didn't deserve any of this.

Soon Maul arrived. He greeted his master who had to leave immediately for a political meet. Maul ran towards the medical chamber and placed a hand on Aarya's forehead. It was warm. She had a fever by the training of his master. Disturb entered the chamber.

"Water entered her lungs and other body parts. It's lucky that she survived." She stated as she stood beside him.

"I should have made her stronger." Maul sighed.

"You have. For this age if she survived that then imagine how strong she is. You must ask him to stop it. It is child endangerment."

"What?"

"Whatever the Senator is doing."

"I can't interfere."

"You must. The child can't survive if he treats her like this."

"You do not know who he is or how the procedure is." Maul said with every note of rage in him.

"You are right. After all I am just a droid." Disturb stated as she moved to check on Aarya. "She should be up in another hour or so. If she doesn't you can call me. Pardon me for a minute." She said as she left the room. Maul sat in the chair next to him. He was exhausted and now this. Sidious started his training when he was eight, why did he start HER training so early? And why did the question enter his mind now? He had to speak with his master.

Another five months passed away, Maul shuddered as he recalled he conversation he had with his master;

"Master I am asking a simple question. I didn't mean to offend you." Maul was reasoning immediately as he saw the face of Sidious. It was livid.

"You filth. You dare question my methods? Now face the consequences." He roared in anger as he let out series of Force lightning. The blue waves licked up every single part of Maul's body. They burned him and healed him. They tortured him and made him suffer. This went on for an hour. One hour of powerful Sith lightning was enough to calm Sidious down. Maul was on the floor. He was cowering before his master. Sidious exhaled deeply before sitting on an armchair. Maul ran and let him place his foot on his back. Sidious smiled and kicked Maul. He then used the force and dragged him towards himself as though he were a lowly dog. He then spoke, "You are right. I must allow her to grow closer to you then I can have her eliminate you. Yes, it IS too early for me to train her." He laughed after he said this.

Maul felt as though his life was dead there. He had never been shot at with such a ferocious lightning ever. All the ones before were comparatively weaker. This one was as though it was meant to suck the life force of him. From the past five months Maul had managed to train Aarya little. He made sure that she recovered from the injuries of past. He took her with him to systems which had slavery. He was ordered to lie to her. The lie being that the slave systems were the Republic. And that the Republic was always advised by the Jedi. Today his master had told him to take her to Mandalore. There she was to see the battles and hate the Jedi more, according to his master. Maul decided to not argue and took her to Mandalore. He jumped into hyperspace. Aarya stared at the blue and white streams with lesser admiration. Maul sighed in silence as he saw her clutch her knees in fear. After an hour or so, they reached Mandalore. Maul made sure to land in a place where there was no battles, where Aarya could see beauty. He landed safely. He opened the door and waited for Aarya to follow her. She was scared to even walk out now. In the past months, getting her to leave the palace was a trouble. The wounds of Sidious affected her deeply. Maul looked at her. She was hesitant to even walk out. Maul hated himself, he should be supporting his master and make this child strong but here is he opposing his master and making this child weak. He just hoped that Sidious would clear him out sooner. Aarya finally managed to step out. She took her time to absorb the environment. Maul had landed in one of the lush, green, pacifist parts of Mandalore. Here they would accept people from everywhere without doubting them. Aarya followed Maul as they moved into a city. Maul nudged at her softly and made her to come out. She started viewing her surroundings and started smiling. Maul was happy. She then left his hand for a minute to hold it again. She saw the basics of trade, functioning of the society and other things. She loved the arches and doorways in the middle of the planet's road. The two were enjoying each other's company. Aarya trusted Maul, and so did he trust her. Soon they reached the heart of the marketplace. Maul felt the disturbance in the force and held Aarya closer to him. Aarya looked up at him with fear. There was something coming and Maul had sensed it.

"Look." One local called out pointing towards the sky. A ball of some kind headed towards them. Maul focused and saw that it was a ball of fire.

"Leave immediately." He called out before running with Aarya. As soon as they reached the door, three or four Mandalorians with armors were standing there.

"It's a bit too early to leave a party, isn't it?" The Mandalorian said before removing his weapon. Maul stepped in front of a frightened Aarya. Suddenly there was a blast behind them; the bomb went off. Aarya hugged Maul tightly. The Mandalorians started firing at the civilians, Maul and Aarya. Maul shielded Aarya and together they ran towards the centre of the market. Soon Mandalorians started coming from above the sky. They used live rounds on everyone below them. Mandalorians entered from the side entrances. Soon the entire market was filled with Mandalorians firing at others. Maul ignited his blade and deflected the shots while protecting Aarya. As the civilians lifted weapons and fought with the attackers. The Mandalorians removed their blades and started viciously killing others. Maul defected and killed Mandalorians ruthlessly. There were few Mandalorians who held their ground longer against Maul. Aarya was behind a wall with other children when a Mandalorian found them.

"Well looks like we have some foundlings." He said as he started to grab the children and pass them to another one who pushed them into a ship hovering above. Before he could reach Aarya a civilian came and started to fight him. The Mandalorian punched him in the face. The civilian was bleeding. He fought back with his shocker. The Mandalorian removed an electric whip and slapped the civilian. The civilian screamed before falling. He jabbed the Mandalorian again with the shocker. The Mandalorian was impervious to the jabs as he wore a pure Beskar armor. The armor was made electric proof. He removed his blade and sliced of the civilian's hand. The civilian screamed as the blood poured from his body. Though he was in immense pain, he lifted the shocker with the other arm and jabbed the Mandalorian. The Mandalorian laughed as he grabbed the other hand of the civilian and twisted it. The civilian screamed as the Mandalorian pierced his blade into the open wound where his hand once was. The Mandalorian pushed his blade inside and blood poured like water flowing from a river. The civilian screamed in pain. Aarya's eyes widened in horror. The Mandalorian laughed in joy as the civilian lost more blood. Another Mandalorian came and sliced the neck of the civilian with his blade.

"I was enjoying it, you know." The one laughing said.

"I know, but we have to follow the orders of the Jedi."

"Yeah I know. Isn't it fun to watch the blood flow?"

"Yeah, yeah, get the kid and board the ship." He said before turning away. The Mandalorian who was torturing the civilian turned towards Aarya. Aarya backed away in fear. She didn't have the strength to fight this monster. The Mandalorian moved closer laughing. Aarya backed away in fear. She hoped that Maul was fine and would come soon. The Mandalorian was closer to her; the bloody blade still in his hands. Aarya kept on going back till she hit the wall; she had nowhere to go now as she was in the corner. The Mandalorian reached forward and almost grasped her when a crimson blade pierced his body. Aarya sighed in relief. The Mandalorian dropped dead. The other one screamed and ran towards them. Maul lifted his hands and the Mandalorian clutched his throat. He too dropped dead. Soon the surviving civilians came running towards that place and freed the children. Maul held Aarya close and led her out of the market. On her way, Aarya saw the dead, bleeding bodies of the civilians. Among them, few were children and women. Aarya even saw a bunch of pregnant women. The Jedi ordered this attack. The Jedi, who were the 'keepers of peace', ordered this murderous attack. The Jedi were responsible for this murder of many. The one point Aarya marked was; she was weak. She could not help those poor children who were viciously grabbed by the Mandalorians. Few died by the force in which they were thrown into the ship. Many were injured.

Maul was surprised. He made sure that there were no Mandalorian fighting nearby the place they were supposed to see. Then how did those Mandalorians who by the blood on their armors were in a fight land there? Then it hit him; Sidious. He knew that Maul would land in a peaceful place. Hence he sent a bunch of Mandalorians. He made it bloody because he wanted to break Aarya quicker. But he didn't know, nor did anybody know, that it made her stronger.

-ooooooo-