A/N- I know the last chapter was a bit eventful. Thank you for the reviews!

Chapter 12 - Inquisitor Maul

Summary: Alternate World: The Empire Prevails and the Jedi have all been in hiding for thirty years. Emperor Palpatine searches for a way to live long past his dying body through cloning technology and his attempts at descendants. One of his " experiments" escapes and comes to live a slave's life on Naboo. He will meet and forever his destiny changed by the fateful meeting with none other than one young Naberrie girl…

Location: Imperial Academy, Qui-gon Jinn's Office

Month 1 Day 2 Year 28 BBY

It has been quite the day. Qui-gon leans back in his leather-bound chair and collects his thoughts. Two days into the new year and all hell has had to break loose; between the cadets schedules, and the shocking news this morning, he can't catch room to breathe!

He sighs and flattens his cap, setting it down on the burnt gray desk in front of him. His eyes flicker to the datapad lying there, begging him to read the data withheld from his curious eyes. He had already read over the results from the DNA swab, but his eyes begged him to read them for a second time. He presses the switch for the datapad to buzz to life. The screen flickers at him and he inputs his password and the file returns onto the screen. His eyes read the results flashing before his eyes.

DNA Match Found

DNA Relative

Most commonly found in DNA of common ancestors from the father's bloodline.

It isn't a myth any longer. He has waited months to find out these results. He had put it off until the young man had come back from his vacation in a whirl of fury. Obi-wan had expressed his concerns the moment they had landed on Coruscant. The dark side swirled alarmingly around Anakin. He threw himself into his training and his classes with a new energy and focus most of his instructors were impressed with. Even in his down time, Anakin and Obi-wan trained within the confines of Qui-gon's home. Qui-gon has plans to move their training to his safe house in the warehouse district soon. The concern of the movement towards the dark side had attracted others to Anakin's training, namely Inquisitor Maul. Inquisitor Maul had insisted on meeting this afternoon prior to the dismissal of classes today.

Qui-gon eyes his chrono on his desk. 5 till five. Maul had wanted to meet with him at five, so he had a few minutes to collect his thoughts. The meeting will be brief in nature. He already is aware of Maul's findings. Maul will request testing of Anakin's midichlorian count, he's sure of it. Why else would he watch almost every other day of the boy's training? He already senses his great surge within both sides of the force.

It is something uncanny that Qui-gon has never felt before. Anakin's power can be tapped into either the light or dark side. He can sway easily to either without a thought. Most force users can only focus on one, rather than both. However, this isn't the case when it comes to Anakin's powers. During his supervised lightsaber training, Qui-gon had witnessed him tapping into the light side of the force without a thought, a beacon which he relies on during combat. And then he's also tapped into the dark side during those same training sessions where he has chosen to use more manipulative tactics, ones Maul will expose and put to the test. The one concern Qui-gon has with all this is the news blaring into his datapad.

If DNA has any impression on how a force user were to be able to control the force, then the theory would be dispelled by Anakin's DNA results. Qui-gon isn't sure how it is possible for his own blood to have such a high midichlorian count, as his own is lower than that of his son's.

His Son

That word is foreign to his thoughts. He had wandered time and time again if the boy was his. There are certain facial features that he saw within the boy- his smile. His eyes reminded him of those of his own mother's, though Qui-gon had few memories of her since he had been taken in by the Jedi at a young age. But the truth meant that the Emperor's experiment had failed or had it? There had been anomalies in Anakin's blood- ones similar to the clones. Qui-gon can only theorize that some of the DNA of the clones may have altered Anakin's within the womb. Neither explains his power and usage of the force on both ends of the good vs evil track. To Qui-gon it just means he needs to protect Anakin. He may not be the Emperor's own blood, but he is one of the strongest force users Qui-gon has come across. His natural power is undeniable and if he is to become an Inquisitor, he'll be a helluva good one. The only track Qui-gon needs to fix before he starts training with Maul is to tell Anakin the truth about his parentage.

The chime to his office beeps. " Come in."

Inquisitor Maul steps in in all his glory. He's dressed in the Inquisitor garb which is more like a soldier's armor. The uniform and armor is solid black and made from mithral and adamantine. He has a chest plate of armor and carries his crimson lightsaber on his belt. It dangles against his hip. Inquisitor Maul is known as a dual welder. His lightsaber is one piece, but it takes two hands to wield his saber. He is skilled in the arts of mind manipulation and in combat. Unlike most Inquisitors who were scouted out during their first year of training at the Academy, Maul was actually discovered by Sidious on a "peaceful" mission to Dathomir some twenty years ago. Maul had been a very young child maybe- 4 or 5 when he was presented to Sidious as a gift of their " friendship". Sidious took his force sensitive gift and slaughtered most of his tribe in " thanks" for his gift. Maul has been trained by Sidious personally, alongside Count Dooku as well. Up until now, Maul is considered one of the strongest members of the Inquisitors.

Maul perches himself onto the chair in front of Qui-gon's desk. His glaring golden eyes stare back into Qui-gon's and he says nothing. He probes the room for any signs of recording holos before he begins. Maul is considered highly trained when it comes to finding hidden holos that Senators and other nobles alike have found in their office. He determines there is nothing there so he begins, " I believe you know why I requested this meeting."

Admiral Jinn nods solemnly. " Of course, subtlety is not your best trait. I think it is wise to test Cadet Skywalker."

Inquisitor Maul's beaming white teeth gleam from his black lips. It is a smirk of knowing. He continues, " Already done. He reported to the infirmary after returning with a dislocated shoulder from his holiday. The results are outstanding. His count is the highest I've ever seen. I have personally taken his profile to the Emperor who has requested for me to accelerate the boy's training as an Inquisitor."

Maul waits to feel any sort of panic from Admiral Jinn. Some of the Admiral's who are hiding information will squirm in their heads when given bad news. But who is to say Admiral Jinn did not agree? Qui-gon himself had been an Inquisitor for many years before requesting a transfer to the Academy. Maul would not argue that many suited Inquisitors and instructors have come out of the Academy since Admiral Jinn joined their ranks.

" What of the boy's examinations in his main classes?" Admiral Jinn questions.

Maul gestures with a wave of his hand. " Cadet Skywalker has ample training in piloting and engineering so he can miss those classes. The other he can be dismissed from is basic combat. Since he will begin training with me starting at the beginning of next week, he won't need to worry about those three classes. Although he can continue the other basic classes he is required to graduate. If he succeeds, he'll be able to graduate a semester ahead of his class. He is required to start training at the beginning next week."

Admiral Jinn nods without argument. He knew this had been Maul's plan all along. This is how the system worked. Any cadets that are suspected to have higher skills that reflect those most force sensitives possess, they are retested to check their midichlorian count. He does comment, " He cannot skip his examinations in piloting and combative. If he skips them he'll not be able to graduate from the academy as those two classes are requirements, even if the Emperor personally requests for him to be trained earlier."

Maul's golden eyes stare him down, probably picturing in his mind, force choking the life out of him. At least this is what Qui-gon senses through the simmering anger within the force. Maul is not known for his patience with anyone, nor waiting on time to pass.

He does not argue though. He knows the Emperor's words only go so far in the Academy.

" I expect you to explain to your recruit the change in his specialty. I saw that he has applied to be a pilot. This has been denied by the Emperor." He adds flatly. There is no care in his voice. Nothing to note.

Qui-gon nods and comments, " Cadet Skywalker I think is better suited as an Inquisitor. He has key observation skills and an arrogance most Inquisitor's need to complete their missions."

Maul's white teeth shine within the light of the room. He cackles and mentions, " The boy has so much potential because of all the anger he keeps at bay. I've never felt such an untapped power within the dark side. He has the potential to be as powerful as myself if he is trained properly."

Qui-gon agrees with Maul's comment; one of the many reasons he has acquired Anakin into the Jedi ranks. However, he knows before he starts his training, he needs to be told the truth so he understands that the dark side and the Emperor does not have control over who he becomes.

Qui-gon eyes his chrono and mentions, " If that is all, if you don't mind I'd like to head for home at this time."

The Inquisitor stands to his feet and does not say goodbye, it isn't his style. He is silent as he exits with a loud hiss of the door. Qui-gon sighs with relief as he leaves. His mind reeling on how to now explain to his son the truth.

To Be Continued…