CHAPTER-7

The child was two years old. It was excited when Maul said that he would take her to see the outside of Naboo. He placed the condition that she had to be close to him. She jumped in agreement. She was made to wear a robe by the droid. She stayed close to Maul as the two boarded a local transport. She stared in wonder as she saw the transport. To her it was magnificent; to others it was normal. She watched in awe as she saw others. She got slightly afraid when she saw other species. Maul comforted her and nudged her forward. She moved forward and saw the planet's markets with awe. She was amazed by the simple tricks performed by the jokers. She saw other children walking with their parents to school. She insisted on having some candy. She had a ride in one of the circus rides along with Maul. Maul would normally deny it but went because of the child. She moved along with Maul. By the end of the day Maul brought her back home. She had slept on his shoulders. As he entered the palace, Disturb was waiting by the door. It readied the bed of the child. Maul placed her there and she turned and slept. She smiled as she slept. Maul grinned to himself and went to meditate. He then practiced his lightsaber skills. He then went and had something and slept.

-oooooo-

Aarya was excited again. This time they were going to another system. It was two months since they went out and saw the beauty of Naboo. They were headed to Enarc. It was a landing station and was a trade route. The system had corruption and slavery to a small extent. The Jedi rarely visited the system. Maul readied the ship. Aarya was made to wear a black tunic and trousers. She protested but Disturb had nothing. It forced her to sit still and plaited her hair. She was ready to leave. She was given strict instruction to be close to Maul, to which she nodded eagerly. She boarded the ship quickly. She was amazed by the interiors of the ship. It was amazing for her. She had never seen a ship's interiors and had never flown in one since a very long time. She seated herself beside Maul in the co-pilot seat. He ignited the engines and flew towards the Enarc system. It was closer so he did not use the hyperdrive. They reached the system. Aarya was amazed by the number of ships moved around the system. She liked flying. She bent forward to get a better view. Maul smiled as she opened her mouth in awe. Soon they landed on the surface. The planet was green with its own grey cities. There were innumerable landing platforms. Aarya was dumbstruck when she saw a huge transport move. She ran forward trying to chase it. But Maul ran behind her and reminded the condition. She sighed and walked along with him. She was awed when she saw a Twi'ilek. She had never seen one of them before. The Twi'ilek was a blue skinned female. She had a chain on her neck; she was a slave. Aarya noticed the chain and asked Maul, "Why is she wearing such a long necklace?"

"That is not a necklace that is the symbol of slavery."

"What is slavery?"

"The bad side of the Jedi."

Aarya frowned at this. She knew the Jedi were bad but this was too bad. The Twi'ilek was being dragged by some other man. Aarya turned away in disgust. She saw the ships and distracted herself. Soon it was nighttime, they left the system. They reached the planet of Naboo at the sunrise. They landed and Maul carried Aarya again and placed her in her bed.

-ooooooooo-

Aarya was now two years and five months old. Maul was told to start training her in the basic force exercises. Her trips to the other systems would be halted for a while. Maul had to train the young Aarya about the force. It was difficult as she would run around playing with her toys. She was undisturbed regarding the fact that she had to learn. So he chose to teach her bit by bit.

"Aarya, time for bed." Maul called out one day. Aarya ran forward and told, "Bed time story."

"All right, first get into your bed." The child jumped into her bed and readied herself to listen. Maul cleared his throat as he told, "Long ago, before me and you were here, and there was the force."

"What is the Force?"

"It is what makes everything what it is. It binds us together. It frees us. It gives us our powers. It always selects a few people to have the ability to wield it. Few who are given this ability are stronger than others."

"Do they rule others?"

"Few do, others don't."

"Why?"

"They are jealous of those who rule the weaker ones. They are the Jedi. Those who rule are Sith. We both are part of the Sith."

"We rule."

"Yes we rule. Now you sleep."

Aarya rolled over and slept. Maul got up and left the room. Soon she would learn to wield the force. Soon the Separatists would face the Republic.

-oooooooo-

Another three months passed away. Aarya was more intrigued by the Sith as Maul continued to pour in the knowledge of the Sith she needed. She liked the tale of Darth Revan, Darth Nihilus and Darth Traya. Those were the only three tales Maul had told her. He promised that he would tell her more as she grew. She grew intrigued by the Sith day by day. She wanted to be as strong as the Sith lords whose tales she had heard. She often sneaked into the room of artifacts and would often stare in awe at the artifacts there. She was a quite rebellious one. Her strength in the dark side grew disturbing Sidious.

Back on Tatooine, Anakin was the apple of the eye for many slaves who lived with Shmi. To them he was a jewel. Shmi too would forget her second child and be focused on her son. She would often tell people who asked her that she had only one child. She was often disturbed by the memories of the day she lost her second child.

-oooooooo-

Another month passed away, Aarya was waiting. Maul promised her that he would take her to the mining world of Bandomeer. She was dressed in a black robe. Maul arrived. They soon boarded the ship. Maul wondered as to why his master would ask him to take the child with him for his assignment on Bandomeer. They jumped into hyperspace. For Aarya it was the first time that she saw the blue and white strikes. For her it was magical. It was like anything she had ever seen. She was amazed by the strikes. Disturb was in the back. It too was happy to see the stripes. After a long time they arrived on the mining world of Bandomeer. Maul landed the ship near to an authoritative building. He asked Disturb to be with the ship and Aarya to follow her. The two walked hurriedly towards a bar. Aarya was amazed by the planet. She liked the colorations. Maul would often turn back to check whether she was there behind him or not. Soon they reached a bar. Maul turned and told to Aarya, "Stay here, do not move till I come, all right." Aarya quickly nodded. She stood out while he went in. She saw that almost all of the people were standing near the building where they had parked the ship. They were screaming. She couldn't see what was going on. She tried standing on her toes but couldn't see yet. Suddenly she felt as though someone was there behind her. She turned and saw a bunch of men looking at her.

"Well, look what we have here boys!" one of the men said.

"A good sell." Another commented. Aarya was afraid. She didn't know what to do. Suddenly one of the men walked towards her. She stepped back. They moved forward again and she stepped back. She wanted to run into the bar and find Maul. Before she could react another man came from the back and grabbed her. She kicked and pushed but failed. They put her in a bag and were ready to leave before another voice came, "You know it is not decent to kidnap kids in the middle of a commotion." Soon the bag was opened and Aarya was lifted by another man who wore a hood. He let his hood down and let Aarya down. He had black hairs and was around twenty-five. The men who tried to kidnap Aarya were lying on the floor. She turned and saw them. She then asked the man, "What happened to them?"

"They are dead."

"Are they Jedi?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"The Jedi are bad."

"Hmm, whoever is your parent must have taught you well. Are you alone?"

"No, I came with Maul."

"Is Maul your parent?"

"What is a parent?" at this the man expression softened. He then placed a hand on top of Aarya's head and ruffled it.

"Where is Maul?"

"He is inside that house." She answered pointing to the bar.

"Wonderful. What is your name?"

"Aarya, what is your name?"

"Xanatos. Are we friends now?" he asked bringing his hand forward.

"Okay." Aarya replied shaking his hand.

"So Aarya, what do you know about the Jedi?"

"They are weak and bad. The Sith are strong and good."

"How do you know about the Sith?"

"Maul taught me."

"Maul?"

"Yes. Do you know about them too?"

"No." He said getting up and holding Aarya by her hand and walking with her. "Will you learn something from me?"

"Okay." As she said it Xanatos bent forward and squatted beside her. He then pointed towards a passerby.

"You see that man, he is a bad man. Do you know what we do to bad men?"

"We punish them. Maul told me."

"Yes, we punish them." saying so he made a fist and the passerby clutched his throat as an invisible hand crushed it. All the people were near the government building. They were protesting. The passerby's eyes were wide in horror. "We punish them using the force. Do you know what the force is?"

"Yes, it is what gives everyone their powers, it frees us."

"Yes it frees all." Saying so he released his hand, the passerby dropped dead in front of them. "So did you learn something?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Bad guys must be punished."

"Good. How about another lesson?"

"AARYA, what are you doing?" Maul called out as he stepped out of the bar. "You are not supposed to talk with strangers."

"He was teaching me about punishing people." Aarya replied innocently. Maul bent forward and picked her. He just stared at the man who was smirking.

"So you are Maul. I see the Sith have survived." He said as he noticed the lightsaber hanging from his utility belt.

"Sleep." Maul whispered into Aarya's ears. She slept immediately. "What do you want?"

"I am Xanatos. I just want you to help me eliminate the Jedi."

"I can't. You are a lost one." Maul said as he waved his hands.

"I am a fallen Jedi. You will find that I have a lot of knowledge about the Jedi."

"You betrayed the Jedi, who is to say you won't betray the Sith? Anyways, it's like they say, 'A fallen Jedi is worst of all.' Go on Jedi." Saying so he moved away. The two walked different paths. Aarya and Maul reached the ship. Maul placed her in her seat and secured it as he readied the ship to leave. Soon they were in hyperspace. They reached Naboo after one day. Aarya woke up in the middle and did her daily procedures and sleeping again. She slept while they reached Naboo too. Maul carried her and placed her in her bed. Disturb was the first one to notice the blood in his dark robes.

"You have blood on your robes."

"Oh I will just put it in the machine."

"Blood stains are very difficult to remove."

"Oh it's all right."

"No it is not, what about the child?"

"Oh you are not my wife all right. It'll be okay."

"Well I am not a crazy to marry a headache so remove and give your robes."

"What did you say?"

"You heard me now your robes."

"Fine." Damn this droid, it had the audacity to insult Maul. The other day it directly called him a 'red and black zombie' when he didn't sleep properly for four days. Another time it called him an 'out of order Dathomirian' when he slept for too long. It was a headache. Maul wished to slice the droid with his lightsaber. But it would be of most useful when it came to taking care of the child.

-oooooooo-

Two more months passed away, Aarya was two years eleven months. She was sitting in the balcony with Maul.

"The force can be used to save and attack." Maul was explaining.

"Ok."Aarya replied.

"All force-sensitives raise their hands whenever using the force. This is to help them concentrate. Now raise your hand." He said raising his own hand. Aarya raised her hands. "Now close your eyes and focus." He said closing his eyes. Aarya closed her eyes and waited. "Now call on to your favorite toy." She did as said. The toy moved and flew towards her hand. Maul smiled. This was recorded by Disturb. Maul then let her play with her toys. He then sent the clip to his master. Sidious would be coming the next month. He would come and stay for a couple of days. He had formed a weaker bond with the child. Maul had made a strong bond. It was difficult to break it. Only one of the two could break it. It was this bonding that Sidious needed to break the two. It was easy but was more damaging than anything.

-oooooooo-