Chapter 2
The Shadow Venger landed in the outskirts of Mos Espa a few days later. Sidious and Maul descended the ramp with their black hoods covering their faces, menace clinging to their aura. "I feel a strong Force presence in the town, Master," Maul commented as he stretched out with the Dark Side of the Force.
Sidious nodded once. "I feel it as well, my apprentice."
"Do you think it is a Jedi?" Maul asked, his eagerness to confront a Jedi evident in his voice.
Sidious felt for the source and smirked. "No." They entered Mos Espa and continued to follow the source. The people in the streets, knowing the evil power the Sith possessed, trembled as they passed. Maul reveled in the peoples' fear of them, enjoying their frightened expressions.
Soon they entered the slave quarters and Maul followed his Master to an unremarkable door. Sidious banged on it heavily. "You will open up and cooperate with us!" he commanded as he waited for someone to open the door. He heard shuffling inside the dwelling as the person inside moved to open the door.
The door opened, and a worn woman looked out, her gaze wary. Shmi's eyes widened at the sight of the Sith and she backed up, letting the Dark ones through, but blocking the entrance to Anakin's room. "What can I do for you," she asked as calmly as she could.
Maul's eyes flashed as he approached her. "Do what we tell you, slave," he responded, sneering the last word.
Sidious felt for any other presences in the dwelling and found a sleeping being, in the room behind the woman that was admitting the strong force presence they had felt. "Maul, get a midi-chlorian count of the person in the room behind her." Maul nodded in response and entered the bedroom, pushing Shmi aside to do so.
Maul returned with a gleeful crooked smile. "The boy has a midi-chlorian count over twenty thousand." /Master, is it possible that he is the Chosen One/
/Indeed it is, my apprentice./
Sidious looked at Shmi. "Who owns you and the boy?" he asked gruffly.
"He will not sell my son to you Sith." Shmi responded, her eyes glaring at them. "My son will remain here. He does not belong with the Sith or the Jedi."
Yellow eyes gleaming with hate, Maul raised his hand and slowly Force choked her. "You will answer my Master!"
Shmi clutched at her throat as she struggled to breath. "W..Watto." She replied, as Maul released his hold. Drawing in a haggard breath she continued. "Watto. He has a small parts shop not far from here."
Sidious ignited his lightsaber and approached her. "You have been very helpful." His smile was cruel. "However, you will be most helpful dead!" he finished.
Something sparked in Shmi's eyes and in one swift movement, a silver thin knife was pulled out from a secret pocket in her skirt and she lashed out at the Sith. "You will not take him!" She shouted, ducking as a red blade slashed at her head.
Force pushing her into the wall, Sidious stormed up to her and plunged his lightsaber into her heart, killing her instantly. Deactivating his lightsaber, Sidious started toward the door. "Maul, stay here and watch the boy while I take care of Watto."
"Yes, Master, but what should I do if the boy finds his mother dead? Should I stay out of sight?"
Sidious looked straight at his apprentice. "Hopefully, his mother did not tell him anything about the Sith. When he wakes, act as if you were injured in trying to fight a Jedi that was coming to kill his mother and him."
"Master, I'm not injured," Maul said, belatedly realizing what a stupid thing it was to say.
Not more than a second passed after Maul had spoken before his Master reactivated his lightsaber and gave Maul a few injuries to his leg and a gash in his side. "Now you are," Sidious stated coldly as he left the dwelling.
Maul gaped as his Master left and gasped as a sharp pain coursed through his body. Not only had his Master given him outside injuries, but Sidious had also used the Force to strain Maul's muscles in his left arm. "I should have kept my mouth shut," he muttered to himself. He looked around and began to make the scene more realistic for when the boy woke up.
Sidious soon came to Watto's shop and entered. A pudgy blue creature greeted him, a sly smile on his face. "How can-a I help you?" he asked.
Sidious eyed him closely. "Are you Watto, the owner of the slaves in the slave quarter dwelling number 657345?"
"You mean Shmi and Anakin Skywalker, yeah they're mine. Why?"
Sidious eyes flashed in irritation. I hate Toydarians, he decided, disgusted. Without saying a word Sidious took out his lightsaber and ignited it. "Give me the device to disable the boy's transmitter and transfer his ownership to me," he commanded, his impatience rising dangerously.
"I don'a care if you are Sith—you are not getting' Ani, he is worth much to me," Watto spoke defiantly.
Sidious gave a crooked smile as an evil—yet simple—plan developed in his mind. "I can give you the power of the Sith and with it, anything you desire is yours—power, wealth…"
Watto spat in disgust. "I don'a trust Sith. Little Ani is not for sale." He turned to fly off, but the Sith grabbed one of his wings and yanked down hard.
Giving a cry of pain, Watto struggled to get free from the Sith's grip. "Letta me go, I'm under orders."
"Orders? What orders?" Sidious asked, releasing Watto from his grip.
Watto flew behind the counter and continued. I am only looking out for him till his real Master returns. Ani doesn't hav'a transmitter.
Sensing the truth in Watto's words, Sidious growled in irritation. "Where is his Master now?"
Picking up a broken part, Watto began fiddling with it. "I dunno."
Sidious reached across the counter and grabbed the Toydorian around the neck, pulled him over the counter, and shook him hard. "You worthless piece of scum." He hissed and then threw him into a pile of broken droids, knocking Watto out.
Sidious gave a cold smile as he looked at the prone form of Watto. "You may be of use later." Chuckling, he walked away.
Anakin rubbed his eyes and opened them as he stretched out on his bed. Glancing at his chrono, he groaned. Watto's not going to be happy that I'm late, he thought as he flew off his bed and brushed over his hair quickly with his hand. A sudden thought struck him as odd and he headed for the door. Why didn't mom wake me up? He wondered. Anakin gulped down a sudden unease that something was wrong as he opened the door and left the bedroom.
He had not gone more then five steps when he stopped in his tracks and stared in horror at what he saw.
The workbench, tools and furniture lay in disarray. Slash marks marked the table, chairs and walls and on the floor lay his mother. Running quickly to her side, he felt for a pulse. When he felt none, he began to panic. "Mom," he cried, lifting her still form slightly off the ground and letting her head rest on his lap. "Mom, please wake up," he pleaded with tears streaming down his cheeks. He stroked her face with his figures and began to sob. "No…no," he shook his head in denial, "you can't be dead."
With every minute that passed, Anakin's pain grew until he felt like he would explode. Anger and bitterness filled heart at whoever had killed his mother. Laying her back on the floor, he went to find a blanket to place over her body, wondering what he should do.
Hearing a moaning sound, he cautiously entered the kitchen and saw, against the wall, a partly slumped form. He crept forward slowly, grabbing a wooden spoon on the way. "Who are you?" Anakin demanded suspiciously as he held the spoon ready to defend himself.
The figure lifted his tattooed head, "I am Maul. I…" he grimaced in pain as he shifted a tiny bit, "I was following someone who claimed he was a Jedi." He held his side as pain shot through his side and his lips released a groan. "He came into this dwelling and I listened in on what was said. He wanted to kill you, but your mother got in the way. The Jedi kept saying something about how 'the Chosen One must be destroyed'. I rushed into where the so-called Jedi was, just as he killed your mother."
Maul gave another groan. "We fought a furious battle but he was too strong…I did manage to get him far away from you, but he said that he would be back to complete his mission."
Anakin frowned, his brow crinkling. "My mother said not to trust the Sith."
Maul shook his head from side to side. "She did not know anything about the Sith—she only told you rumors that the 'Jedi' spread."
Anakin's eyes darkened with anger and heartache as he saw his mother's broken body in his mind. "What do I do now?"
"If you come with me and my mentor, we shall make sure you are trained so that you can destroy your mother's murderer," Maul offered as he struggled to stand.
Anakin dropped the spoon and helped Maul to his feet. "I will join the Sith," the nine-year-old vowed. "I will find my mom's murderer."
A robed and hooded figure followed the Sith apprentice and boy from several feet away, keeping his presence cloaked and out of sight as possible.
/Master/ the figure sent through a training bond/even if we get him away from the Sith, there is no telling what lies they have already implanted in his young mind./
/We must do the best we can./
/We cannot force him to go with us, Master./
/I know, that is why you are going to talk to him while I take care of the Sith Master/
/What if he refuses to accept what I say/
/Then we leave./
/Master, I don't understand. Why is this boy so important that we should risk being revealed? How will it benefit us/
Garen's Master remained silent as he contemplated the same question that had been going through his own mind. Knowing now was not the time, he pushed his questions aside and prepared to confront the Sith Master at the ship.
/Just do what I told you to do, I am already at the Sith's ship and I need to focus on what is going to happen here./
/Yes, Master. May the Force be with You./
/And with you, my padawan./
Sidious approached the ship, a small, smug smile on his face. This is going better than planned, he thought. His musings were cut short when he sensed a Jedi somewhere near the ship.
Sidious growled and sneered, "Come out Jedi! I know you're there."
A Bothan stood under the ramp after coming out of a quick and refreshing meditation. "As did I."
This answer puzzled Sidious long enough for Reton R'lya to ignite his green lightsaber and commence the duel.
Garen waited until they were far away enough from Mos Espa but the right distance away from the ship. Throwing off his robe, he uncloaked his presence and ignited his dark blue lightsaber.
Startled by the sudden appearance of a Jedi that he had not sensed, Maul turned around and ignited his own lightsaber, not hindered in his reaction.
Anakin walked a few feet away without Maul before he heard the snap-hiss of lightsabers. He turned around and saw Maul battling a Jedi.
Maul swung at the young Jedi's neck. Garen blocked and pushed his lightsaber against Maul's. At the same time he gave a powerful Force push and hurled Maul five feet away.
Maul struggled to stand, but fell again with a grunt as pain shot up his right leg and his side wound became noticeable again.
Garen deactivated his lightsaber and walked over to Anakin who was backing away in fear.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Garen said gently.
"Why should I trust you? Your kind killed my mother. How do I know that you are not the one who killed her? Or that you plan to kill me?" Anakin blurted out, pain and anger in his tone.
Garen glanced at Maul, whose lips were curled into a snarl, then back at the boy. "You don't," the padawan admitted.
Anakin nodded his head. "Right, so leave us alone!" he commanded, crossing his arms stubbornly.
Garen looked at the boy, sensing the fear in him. "Look, I'll give you my lightsaber to prove that I am trustworthy," he said as he placed his lightsaber on the ground and rolled it to Anakin.
Anakin stooped down cautiously to pick it up, barely taking his eyes from Garen. The boy stood with the lightsaber in his hand and examined it a moment before looking up again. "I still don't trust you," he stated matter-of-factly as he looked at the Jedi.
Garen gave an inaudible sigh. "What can I do to earn your trust?"
Anakin thought for a few moments. "Leave and if you come anywhere near our ship before or during take off then that will mean I can't trust you."
"If that is what it will take, then I will do so," Garen replied as he turned and began to walk away.
/Master, I have done all I can. I will wait at our ship and prepare it for take-off./
/Understood padawan./
Once Garen was out of his sight Anakin ran over to Maul and helped him to his feet. "Are you ok?"
Maul ignored the question and the throbbing of his leg and side. Pain is merely an annoyance to a Sith, he reminded himself harshly. "What do you plan to do with the Jedi's lightsaber?" he asked instead.
Anakin looked at the lightsaber that was in his hand. "I'll hang on to it. You'll let me keep it won't you?" Anakin asked hopefully.
Maul mentally debated about whether he should be concerned. A lightsaber won't harm anything, he mentally rebuked himself as he shoved the thought aside. "I see no harm in it," he grunted.
Anakin gave a delighted smile as they continued on their way to the ship.
Sidious managed to put the Bothan Jedi on the defensive and began to press his attacks.
Reton R'lya rolled and swung at Sidious' side. Sidious blocked only to have Reton R'lya jump over his head. Sidious turned quickly and Force pushed the Jedi into the side of the ship. Dazed, Reton R'lya barely missed being skewered by the Sith's red blade as Sidious lunged forward with a sudden thrust.
"Give it up Jedi," Sidious sneered mockingly. "Your powers are no match for mine."
/Master, I have done all I can. I will wait at our ship and prepare it for take off./
/Understood padawan./
Reton R'lya stumbled, but recovered just in time to meet lighting bolts that was fired from Sidious' fingertips with his lightsaber.
While the Jedi used his lightsaber to block the lightening bolts, Sidious was using the Force to billow particles of sand and fling it at Reton R'lya's face.
Reton R'lya began to use the Force to shield himself from the sand particles, but in doing so lost his concentration. Lighting hit him in the shoulder, causing the Jedi to fall to the ground withering in agony. Sidious gave a satisfied smirk as he poured deadly amounts of lightning into the prone Jedi. Sidious stopped after a few minutes and walked over to the crumpled, but still breathing Jedi. "Now you die." Sidious declared as he plunged his lightsaber into Reton R'lya's body and pierced the Jedi's heart.
Anakin and Maul arrived at the ship just in time to see Sidious strike down a Jedi. Anakin turned to look at Maul with a questioning look, his eyes wide with uncertainty.
"It seems someone didn't keep his promise and got his Master to do his dirty work for him," Maul said as they walked up to the dark Master. "Anakin, this is my Master, Darth Sidious," Maul said, his voice boastful.
Sidious studied Anakin closely for a few moments before speaking to his apprentice. /Maul, take the boy to his cabin and get him something to eat. Once you are done I command your presence./
/Yes, Master./
"Come Anakin," Maul said. "I am sure you are tired and hungry after what happened today."
Anakin nodded his head in agreement and followed Maul into the ship.
Sidious followed right behind them and started toward the cockpit to take off and head to Coruscant.
Garen reached the hangar only to stumble and fall. He clutched his head in agony as he bent toward the ground. He felt his training bond with his Master be severed in a single, terrible jolt. "NOOOOO!" He cried out in anguish as his Master, his mentor, his father, became one with the Force. Garen remained on the ground sobbing, not caring that people were giving him strange looks.
After Maul had left, Anakin sat down on a chair in front of a small table. He almost gaped at what Maul had given him to eat. A slab of roasted Bantha meat was on a platter in the middle of the table and broiled fish eggs in a small bowl were nearby. To the side were brown mushroom gravy, a bowl of pallies, a plate of Shaak meat, a pitcher of Bantha milk, a pitcher of juri juice, a glass of water, and a bowl of a clear, jelly like substance that he didn't recognize.
"This is what they eat? Wizard," he said as he took his plate and began to serve himself.
Maul strode into his Master's cabin, ignoring his still throbbing leg and aching side. He found his Master standing in the middle of the room waiting for him.
"Report!" Sidious ordered.
"My Master," Maul began after he gave a small bow. "On our way to the ship we encountered a Jedi apprentice. I fought him but, because of my previous injury, was unable to defeat him at once and he began to talk to the boy. They made an agreement then the apprentice left. I...I did not kill him for several reasons. One it would have strengthened what the Jedi apprentice had told Anakin and it would have made Anakin suspicious if I had attacked the Jedi apprentice without a cause. When we arrived at the ship I told him that the Jedi apprentice had broken the agreement by sending his Master to fight. By doing that he now believes that the Jedi are liars."
Sidious scowled menacingly at Maul's report. "The Sith council will not like this."
"Master, we do not need to tell them that the apprentice was not killed. I could alter the report so that it appears he is dead," Maul stated quickly.
"The council is not so easy to deceive, my apprentice. As cunning as your idea is, it will be a disadvantage to us if the Sith council ever found us out. We are already held in disgrace by the Council when we had failed in our most recent assignment." The Sith Master snarled in disgust.
"Then I ask you to let me tell the council of my failure and thus keep you from becoming a disgrace to the Sith order," Maul declared as he bowed his head in submission.
Sidious grunted. "If that is what you wish, then so be it."
Maul did not look into his Master's eyes as he gave a quick bow and hurried from the room. Once outside, Maul stalked through the ship's corridors and let his hate build against the Jedi. "If it weren't for the troublesome Jedi, everything would be just fine," the apprentice growled under his breath. "They should have stayed as they were—DEAD! They will regret coming back," he finished as he let lightning spark a few centimeters from his fingertips. With his vow made, he went into his cabin to heal himself and then practice with his lightsaber.
