Chapter 19. Darth Maul

Palpatine's plan was taking shape as he was using Farmer to gain information on Plagueis' habits. His plan was to get Plagueis to drink wine laced with his blood, that way he could alter Plagueis' cells. He traveld across the galaxy studying differet force techniques that would aid him in defeating his master.

On his fifth trip across the galaxy Sidious traveled to Dathimor because he heard of the blood trace technique developed by the Nightsisters of Dathimor. Of course he was welcome among the Nightsisters as a sith lord. There was one woman trying to ply him of sith secrets and her name was Gethzerian.

Plaguies had mastered the blood trace technique and was getting ready to leave tomorrow when he was cornered by one of the nightsisters. "Is there something you want?"

"Milord forgive my trepidation… I have a gift for you…"

"What…"

She reached behind a bush and pulled a young Zabrak from behind the bush. The boy was eight years old and covered head to foot in black and red tattoos. Sidious felt the strength of the boy and immediately considered him for his apprentice.

"Please… great one I can no longer hide him… I lost his brother in war against the sisters of mountain singing clan… I do not wish to loose him he is special to me… If you take him he will be valuable to you…"

Sidious sighed, "What is his name?"

"His name is Maul…"

Sidious took out his lightsaber and cut the women in half. Then he looked down on Maul. The boy screamed and leapt at Sidious who caught him by the neck. "You have spirit little one…" He threw Maul to ground, "…Use that anger let it flow through you." The boy attacked again and Sidious used his hands and feet to block his attacks until he wore himself out. "You hate me and rightly so… Use that hatred and you shall have a place at my side… From now on you shall be Darth Maul…"

Sidious kept Darth Maul hidden from Plagueis as best he could and when Sidious wasn't doing something for Plagueis he was training Darth Maul. When it was time for lightsaber training Palpatine decided to teach Maul the ancient art of the double bladed lightsaber. They practiced with double blades swinging and twisting around each other. Sometimes Maul would win, but most of the time Sidious would win.

"Master when do I get to test my skills against a Jedi…"

"Soon Lord Maul soon… When you finally do face one never underestimate them…"

"Yes my master…"

Darth Maul was now fourteen and his hatred for the Jedi was strong, in his mind the Jedi were responsible for the death of his mother. Responsible because the Jedi had started the war with the sith and they would finish it. Another three passed before Sidious had his first mission for Darth Maul.

"There is a Jedi Padawan named Koran Ji… I want you to follow him for the time being and when the time is right… Kill him… but wait for my orders…"

"Yes Master…"

For Darth Maul's mission Sidious gave him an infiltrator star ship. It had a grey hall with a cloaking device and Capital class type shields and hyperdrive. Maul flew his ship to the Yelma system where Padawan Koran Ji and several other Jedi were stationed to keep the peace between the workers and the company they worked for. In the first day Maul learned that Koran was apprenticed to Jedi Master Sifo Dyas, also there was Jedi Master Dooku and his former apprentice Qui Gon Jin.

Maul also had the ability to hide his presence in the force so the Jedi was unaware of his presence. After nine days of observation he received a transmission from Sidious to kill the Jedi. Maul got into position and as soon as did that is when it started. The workers blew up a drill and everything after that fell apart. The Yelma government had hired droids from the Techno Union Army so the droids fought beside the Jedi against the rebel workmen's alliance.

Darth Maul had disguised himself as a worker to get close to Padawan Koran. When he got separated from the other Jedi Darth Maul ignited his lightsaber and attacked the young Jedi. Who are what are you?" Koran asked.

"There shall be two only… A master and an apprentice… I am Sith… I am Darth Maul…" He toyed with the Jedi to get a taste of what he could do. Koran was a very knowledgeable swordsman as Maul fought him with one end of his staff ignited. It was when he ignited the other half that the Padawan was thrown off. The double blade had not been seen in a thousand years. Maul blocked left then right and spun around aiming for the Jedi's right leg, but he raised his leg at the last minute. Maul saw an opening and kicked him in the throat. Koran stunbled backwards and Maul stabbed him in the gut.

"So shall it be to all Jedi…" He gloated.

Sorrow filled the heart of Sifo Dyas Koran was his apprentice and he felt guilty for leaving the Padawan behind. "Who would do such thing?" He asked kneeling over his mutilated body.

"Take heart my friend he is one with the force now…" Dooku said standing over him…"

"I told Yoda and Windu that we needed more jedi for this mission, but did they heed my advice…"

"Sometimes Master Dyas you must take it upon yourself to do what you think is right despite the opinions of the Jedi Council…" Qui Gon Jin said.

They burned what was left of his body, "I am leaving the order… I can protect the Republic better from outside the order…" Dyas' annoucement shocked the gathered Jedi. They tried to convince him otherwise, but the legendary Jedi was determined.

Darth Maul sat on a hill watching the Jedi until they left. He had slain his first Jedi, a padawan, now he wanted to test his skills against a Jedi. Knight, and then a Master. Maul left the hill and boarded his ship for Korriban where his Master Darth Sidious was waiting. They met in the tomb of Marko Ragnos, where Maul knelt before Sidous.

"Master as you commanded I have killed Padawan Ji…"

"Well done…"

"Master… What was the purpose in killing the Padawan?"

Sidious stood up and walked down the steps from his thrown, "Jedi Master Sifo Dyas was like a father to Koran loosing him will nudge him in the direction of the Senator Afram who is in favor of creating a grand army for the republic… I have some personal business to attend to… While I am gone… be ready to travel with me to Coruscant…"

"Yes Master…"