A/N Before I even start this chapter, let me tell you that many of the characters will be acting in what will seem to be OOC. However, you have to remember that galaxy is a very different place. All of these characters have had very different lives because of the Sith defeating the Jedi thousands of years previously. The Sith are much more like the Jedi than either group will admit. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Sith Order was actually started by a Jedi who decided he didn't like the way the Jedi Order worked and so he left. However, the Sith species are different and were more evil/cruel. And once again, correct me if I'm wrong, the two groups "merged" in a sense. Had the Sith won the Sith Wars, their entire persona would have been completely different as it wasn't until after the war that they instituted the Rule of Two and became more vengeful. So, the characters are OOC for a reason.

Disclaimer: I don't own this.

Chapter 2: A New Beginning

The Zabrak sat in the cockpit watching the stars streak past while Anakin slept in his lap. Taking care of the infant had been harder than he had expected, and stinkier, too. He had tried to look on the Holonet for information on raising human babies, but it was Ryl to him. He figured he'd just have to try his best until they reached Coruscant. They only had another day and a half in hyperspace.

Being in solitude with just him and the babe was peaceful. Well, except for when it was crying, which was a lot. Maybe it really wasn't that peaceful at all, but it certainly was better than what the Masters would do when they found out about the boy. They order was more than willing to accept younglings into the creche, but many on the Council, including the Overlord, were anti-human. And although attachments were not forbidden, they were frowned upon as they were believed to make one weak. He himself felt that they only made one weak if one allowed themselves to become weak, and he was no weakling.

He stared down at the babe, who had just begun squirming and looked straight back at him with wide blue eyes, as if to say hello. Little tufts of soft blonde hair were just barely visible on his head, such a stark contrast with the horns that crowned the Zabrak.

Anakin waved his arms erratically and his face contorted in discomfort. The Zabrak checked to make sure the ship was on autopilot before walking back to the lounge. Carefully holding Anakin with one arm, he retrieved a bottle from the cooling unit that had been filled with blue milk. He let it warm in the heating unit before feeding it to Anakin, who drank it much more quickly than expected. Once again, as most newborns do, Anakin fell asleep. To the Zabrak, that seemed to be all that the babe did, eat and sleep, but he didn't mind for now. He shifted Anakin to his right arm, as the other was getting rather sore, and set the bottle back on the counter. He returned to the cockpit, about to sit back down, when he suddenly felt that perhaps he should sleep also. It wasn't long that Anakin would be asleep. He should take advantage of the silence.

He returned to his chambers, hoping to be able to rest for at least an hour. He figured that as long as he kept the babe nearby, he would be safe while they both slept. The Zabrak carefully lowered onto the bed and placed Anakin between himself and the wall. He only hoped that Anakin would stay asleep for more than an hour this time.

The last half of the trip was very similar to the first, alternating between sleep and feeding Anakin. The longest the Zabrak had been able to sleep so far had been a meager three and a half hours. Thankfully, they had just come out of hyperspace above Coruscant. He gave his clearance codes and entered the atmosphere.

A short time later, they landed in the Temple's hangar. The Zabrak put his few possessions in a rucksack on his back and carried Anakin out of the ship. He left the droids to finish shutting down his ship and walked into the hallways connecting the hangar to the rest of the building. A few other apprentices passed him, only giving the bundle in his arms a casual glance. As a general rule, many of the Sith kept to themselves in personal matters. However, the Zabrak hoped he could get someone to help him. He may not have needed a lot of sleep, but taking care of Anakin was proving to be quite tiring. He thought he knew someone who could help him, but then again this person could also be very unpredictable.

For the entire trek, Anakin stayed silent, content to stare up at his guardian's face and the ceiling that towered above them. It was the quietest the babe had been so far, and the Zabrak was grateful for it. It was early morning on Coruscant and he didn't want to wake anyone unnecessarily, especially any of the masters.

Before too long, he arrived athis destination. He knocked and a muffled, "Coming!"as heard from within. A minute laer, the door slid open.

"Hello, Asajj."" he tried to smile, though it was difficult under her exhausted glare.

"What do you want, Maul?"