CHAPTER-2

It had been a month since her child was missing; Shmi Skywalker was cradling her only son. She was so busy looking after him that she almost forgot about her second child. Her focus was entirely on her son. She often forgot the fact that she had a second child. The residents of Tatooine also had forgotten the second child quickly.

-ooooo-

Back on Naboo, Maul had just finished reading the child a story. It finally slept after being entertained by him and the droid for four hours straight. Looking after a child was indeed a tiring thing. He was exhausted. The droid left to charge itself while he was left to look after the child. Maul remembered the conversation he had with his master the night before.

"Master is there any problem?"

"Yes Maul, there is, the biggest one as I can put it."

"Is it the Jedi?"

"No those insects are not the problem. The problem is Darth Plagieus. As you know he has shown interest in the child."

"He shall not only eliminate us but he shall turn the child into a far more dangerous monster."

"Yes and she shall die the most painful death if that happens."

"We must stop him."

"That is what I am thinking."

"We can kill him in his sleep."

"No it is too low."

"It shall be easier to cover up. He does have a reputation among the Munns. If we kill him in his sleep with a dagger and destroy it, then no one shall doubt us."

"How do you expect to get rid of the dagger?"

"We shall manipulate a servant to take it and stab him."

"Yes that might work."

Maul sat back in the chair. Once the biggest threat was finished, the tale would begin; the tragedy of Darth Plagieus the wise. It was a good one. One which the child would learn about later. A half an hour later the droid came. It ordered him to go and sleep for a while. Maul was a mess. He cleaned himself up and went to practice. After an hour Maul went to have some food. He then went to meditate. He let the dark side flow through him. He remembered the time his mother gave him; a young three year old child, to Sidious. She wasn't wrong; but she wasn't right either. Maul never had a choice from his birth. He doubted that he would have had a chance even if he was given to the Jedi. His life was limited with choices which would lead him into being a slave. In this case he was a slave of Sidious, looking after his new apprentice. It was ironic for Maul; he was looking after the child which would soon be his replacement. He just wished his sacrifice would be worth. One might pity him, few would hate him for the actions he was made to do without any choices. But only Maul would be angered with himself. He felt a mixture of emotions when he came to think about himself. Maybe this was the reason why he was being replaced. Maybe this was the reason that he always did what his master would ask him to. This stream of self conflicting thoughts continued till the child started crying. Maul got up and left to check what had happened.

He walked in the room and saw the child crying and the droid trying to comfort it. Maul walked forward and placed a delicate hand on the child who held it immediately. "What happened?" he asked.

"It seems as though some bug has bit it. I shall go and get some antibiotic for it. Stay here." It said as it flurried out of the room.

Maul sat beside the cradle. He gently carried the child and held it close. He felt the warmth which came from it. It had stopped crying. It held his finger tightly. Nobody in his life, not even his own mother had held Maul so tightly. But in that tightness he felt the unconditional love and trust the child had for him. He was surprised, happy and full with pity. He child had formed a bond with the person she would replace soon; the person who separated her from her own family. He held the child closer and let it sleep on his chest. If this was how the child had opted to kill him; by breaking his heart, then let it be for it would be for a greater purpose. She would become a great leader of the Sith one day. If it were to be achieved by his death, then so be it. Soon he slept with the child sleeping comfortably on his chest. The droid came to find this scene. It took a recorder and recorded it. It then stayed there watching out if the child woke up again.

-oooooo-

About an hour or two, the child got up again. This time Maul sensed it. He got up before the child got up. He placed it softly on the cradle and went to create the formula. He then carried the child and fed it. After it was fed he made it burp and stayed up with it for a whole five hours occasionally accompanied by the droid. He then changed its diaper and then cradled it to sleep. He then stayed up looking after the child. It slept tranquilly. He then was told by the droid to go and it would look after the child. Maul got up and left. He then switched on the holonews and watched it with a low voice. He then watched a couple of things on the holonet. Then he got up and prepared something for himself and ate it. Then he got up to meditate. He was ready to let the dark side along with self conflicting thoughts to enter again. But this time he felt way too calmer than the usual. He never felt like meditating. So he decided to sweep the hall and clean it up. He then went to the room where the child was. It was awake. It would start crying in a minute or two. He got everything ready. He repeated the process. He took the child outside the room and walked around the palace for a long time. He did this till the child slept. He then walked back to the room and placed it in the cradle. He then looked after the child while the droid went to charge itself. Maul picked a holobook and read it till the droid came. Later he went and slept.

-ooooo-