II
Perhaps the "Imperial" officers were getting used to men in full black cloaks traversing their spacelanes. I gloried in our Emperor's success, at our finally owning.
Politely skittish, the human crew ferried me to you. Why all human, I wondered?
Lord Sidious introduced us in an otherwise unimportant hallway. Your irritating breathing beat like a rhythm. Not a centimeter of skin showed on this column you had become, this ebony durasteel mind that still remained--perhaps you too were kept alive beyond your purpose. So I held some hope, and looked up at you wondering how best to break metal articulated like limbs, as I had with the Confederacy pawn Grievous. I had been knowledgeable about his history, but never was permitted to fight him. I begged silently now that it would be vice-versa with you, Darth Vader.
Our Master addressed you; "Lord Vader, this is Darth Maul. You have seen each other before, I believe." Sidious's lined face stretched to a smile. "Maul will serve as your lieutenant; he is strong in the Force."
You watched me and thought complicated, buried thoughts.
"Be attentive," was all he said to me, and when he walked back toward the shuttle I locked eyes with you, and then took a few steps to catch up to our Master.
"Permit me to ask why, my Master."
He did not look at me. "This is not your mission, Maul; it is Lord Vader's, as is the new galaxy. You should be either successful or dead since long ago."
What a strange fact to be told.