Darth Sidious sends Darth Maul on a mission to eliminate a certain disturbance in the Force. Sidious informs Maul that the phenomenon threatens to wake the Jedi from their complacency and inability to sense the return of the Sith.
Maul as a young boy.
Maul tracks his quarry to a cantina on a planet in the Outer Rim Territories. The disturbance is in the form of a Drovian brute called Silus, who is extremely strong in the dark side of the Force. Silus is a champion competitor in a fighting sport that involves use of the Force, and the winning of credits.
When Maul enters, an Aleena called Tabor engages Silus in combat. Tabor is no match for him, and dies quickly.
Maul confronts Silus, and opens a holocommunication channel to his master. Through the holo, Sidious offers Silus an opportunity to become his new apprentice: by giving him a chance to kill Darth Maul. Maul is confused by his Master's apparent betrayal, and turns to great anger. He kills Silus without much effort. Maul later realizes that it was merely a test of his own strength, and a lesson demonstrating that in fear there is power.
Throughout the story, Maul experiences some minor flashbacks. The flashbacks reveal that Maul had plain red skin as a child, and that his Sith tattoos were applied by none other than Darth Sidious himself.
The story was later referred to in an article in Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 21.
In this story, Darth Maul's markings are portrayed as Sith tattoos. Later, The Clone Wars retcons them to be part of Maul's Nightbrother heritage.
- Star Wars Tales Volume 6
- Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Rise of the Sith Vol. 1
- Star Wars Legends: Rise of the Sith Omnibus