My relationship with my Master is complex.He rules me.He orders me and directs me.Yet we are both Sith Lords,and though I am his apprentice I share some of his power.As I have grown,so has his confidence in me.I stand by his side,but slightly behind,in his shadow.

我和师父的关系很复杂。他支配着我。他命令我并指导我。但我们都是西斯尊主，虽然我是他的徒弟并分享他的一部分力量。随着我的成长，他对我愈发自信。我站在他这边，但是是在他身后，在他的阴影里。

I am content there.I still have much to learn.Not in battle,but in larger strategies.He sees weakness and exploits it.He senses anger and inflames it.His vision takes in a galaxy,with its multitude of planets and governments.The complexity doesn't intimidate him.He can hold it in his mind and know that someday, he will control it all.

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我满足于此。我仍有许多需要学习的。并非战斗，而是计谋。他明察他人的弱点并利用它。他了解愤怒并激发它。他将整个银河系收于眼底，包括大量的星球和它们的政府。它们的繁复无法将他吓退。他能把它们牢记在心并知道总有一天，他会控制一切。

When I return to my training room,I activate a panel to look out over Coruscant.The city spreads out above,below, and around me.It extends as far as I can see,curving to the horizon.

回到训练室后，我打开了一块护窗板俯瞰科洛桑。这座大都市向天空和地下伸展，它环绕着我。它占据了我目力所及之地，直到弯曲的地平线。

This is a favorite time of day for me,the last gasp of the strangled setting sun.Crimson flashes like splashes of blood off the millions of windows and metallic ships.The lights of the buildings illuminate the sky like a dozen moons.Even at night,Coruscant is never dark.The planet has no forests or mountains,and even its streams have been paved over and built on.It is a world made up of one city.

这是一天中我最喜爱的时刻，这将被扼死的太阳的最后喘息。深红色的闪光灯像血一样溅在成千上万的窗户和飞船上。建筑物的灯光像一打月光一样照亮了天空。即使在夜晚，科洛桑也不会变暗。这个星球没有森林或高山，甚至连河流都被推平并建起高楼。这是个只由一个城市构成的世界。

Billions of beings live on Coruscant in billions of dwellings.Yet here it is possible to have more privacy than on a sparsely populated planet.Among billions of beings,there are just as many ways to be secret.My Master Lord Sidious has created our lair,a world within a world.Around us throbs the city,but here we are invisible.

数十亿人居住在科洛桑的居所中。然而，这里比一个人烟稀少的星球上所能拥有的隐私还多。在这几十亿人中，保密的方法也一样多。我的师父西迪厄斯大人创造了我们的隐蔽所，世界中的另一个世界。我们周围城市悸动，但在这里我们是无形的。

Out among those lights is the Jedi Temple.There the Jedi sit meditating while we act.They dream of a galaxy of justice and peace.It makes me smile to think of what they are about to face.

在那些灯光之间的就是绝地圣殿。当我们行动的时候那些绝地就呆坐在那里冥想。他们梦想着一个正义与和平的银河系。想到他们将要面对的东西时我就想笑。

I cannot calm my eager,racing mind.I know the Neimoidians will fail to kill the Jedi.I will be called into service.All my life I've waited for this.

我无法平息我的渴望和竞争欲。我敢肯定内莫伊迪亚人没法杀掉绝地。我将会得到召唤。我的一生都是在等着这一刻。

But wishing for the failure of the Neimoidians means that I am wishing that an order from my Master will fail.I don't like this contradiction.It borders on disloyal.But I can't help feeling it.The Jedi are mine.Mine to taunt, mine to destroy.I want my Master to see that I am a worthy apprentice.I've thought I'd been tested before.But this is my first true test.The ultimate test.

但是期待着内莫伊迪亚人的失败就意味着我希望师父的命令会失败。我讨厌这个矛盾。它接近于不忠。但是我无法停止这种念头。那些绝地是我的。由我来戏弄，由我来毁灭。我想让师父看到我是个合格的学徒。我曾认为我已被考验。但这才是我第一次真正的考验。最终的考验。

I strain my eyes,but the Jedi Temple is not visible from this viewpoint.I imagine it instead.I see a smoking ruin,a blasted shell.The bodies of fallen Knights and Jedi Masters are littered around it.I stand on the rubble before my Master.

我睁大双眼，但绝地圣殿在这里是看不到的。我只好以想象来代替。我看到浓烟中的废墟，烧焦的外壳。周围散落着绝地武士和绝地大师们的尸体。而我则站在师父面前的瓦砾上。

Here is what I have done for you,Master.

这是我为你做的一切，师父。

I am pleased,Lord Maul.

我很高兴，摩尔尊主。

I activate the panel,and it slides closed.The blinking lights of the city narrow to a slit,then disappear.

我启动护窗板，它滑下来关闭了。城市闪烁的灯光在缝隙中逐渐狭窄，然后消失了。

I must focus my mind.The Jedi are out there.I will meet them someday,and soon.I cannot bring the moment closer by wishing for it.

我必须集中精力。绝地们在外面，我总有一天要会会他们，很快就会。我没法更期待那一刻赶快到来了。

I feel some fatigue and hunger.That means I should undertake my most difficult training of the day.I push my body whenever I can.This I have learned from my Master.Events do not wait until you are well rested.You must be able to fight at the peak of your control even when you lack sleep and food.我感到有些疲劳和饥饿。这意味着我该开始一天中最困难的训练了。我随时都能强撑起身体。这是我从师父身上学到的。机会不会在你万事俱备时到来。即使在你缺乏睡眠和食物的情况下，你也必须能够在你的控制力达到顶峰时进行战斗。

It is time to activate the assassin droids.

是时候启动暗杀机器人了。

Assassin droids are a necessary part of training.They are programmed to fight to the death. Blasters are built into their chests and hands.Their accuracy is perfect.A miscalculation on my part could be lethal.

暗杀机器人是训练中必要的一部分。它们被编程为战斗到死。它们的胸前与手上都装有爆能枪。它们有着无与伦比的精准度。一个误判对我来说可能会是致命的。

I activate three droids and power up my double-bladed lightsaber.I am outnumbered,but assassin droids can't move as quickly as I can.They cannot jump,and their flexibility isn't as finely tuned.

我激活三个机器人并打开我的双头光剑。我寡不敌众，但暗杀机器人无法移动得像我一样快。它们无法跳跃，它们的灵活度也不够完美。

Their weaponry makes up for that.

它们的武器装备弥补了这些。

They track me easily in the empty room,their sensor lights flashing.I meet the first barrage and deflect it with my lightsaber,spinning it in a blur of motion while I track the next blaster fire and meet it.I can feel the power of the dark side.Aggression fuels it.The darkness throbs furiously, beating in my muscles,making me merciless and effective.

它们很轻松地在这个空房间内追踪到了我，它们的感应灯闪了起来。我遭遇了第一轮攻击并将它们用光剑反射开，当我预测到下一个爆能束并看见它时，我在模糊的运动中旋转着光剑。我能感受到黑暗面的力量。侵略性维持着它。黑暗面在深处疯狂地悸动着，在我的肌肉中跳动，让我变得无情而高效。

This is what I love:the feel of the dark side of the Force pulsing, growing, until the air crackles with the charge. It is the charge of blood and pain and anger.I control it. I manipulate it.It only makes me stronger.

这就是我喜欢的：黑暗原力跳动、生长，直到周围的空气像通电一样爆裂着的感觉。它掌管着我的血液、痛苦和愤怒。我控制着它。我支配着它。它只能让我变得更强大。

The assassin droids are programmed to use complicated fighting strategies.They try a flanking maneuver,but I leap over them,the dark side fueling every muscle,and come at them from behind.I destroy the first droid as the second and third turn and fire.

暗杀机器人们被编程为使用难以捉摸的战斗策略。它们尝试侧翼夹击，但我跳过了它们，黑暗面为每块肌肉充能，我从它们身后冲来。我摧毁了第一个机器人，第二个和第三个转过身向我开火。

I am already a millimeter away,escaping the fire and twisting to deliver a cleaving blow to the second droid.It topples,its sensor lights still flashing.I bury the other end of my lightsaber in its control panel.It lets out a screech of protest that sounds almost human.Smoke rises and I breathe it in.It is the smell of the Jedi Temple burning.The pleasure of destruction builds,makes my blood pound.

但我已经挪开了一毫米，躲过射击后扭转身子向第二个机器人释放了毁灭的一击。它摇晃着倒下了，感应灯仍然闪烁着。我将光剑的另一头插进了它的控制板。它发出了一声像人类一样的刺耳尖叫。浓烟包裹了我，并且我吸入了它。这是绝地圣殿燃烧的味道。毁灭带来的快感让我的血液沸腾了。

The third droid swivels.Instead of coming at me directly,it wheels to the right.I feel a start of surprise.It is a new maneuver.The droids are continually reprogrammed.

第三个机器人旋转起来。它没有直接冲向我，而是向右冲去。我开始感到惊讶。这是种新战术。它们总是被频繁地重新编程。

The maneuver and the surprise please me.I do a backward somersault as blaster fire pings over my head.

这种战术与惊讶感让我感到愉悦。我做了一个后空翻，爆能束掠过我的头顶。

Challenge.That is a cornerstore of Sith training.Lord Sidious keeps me off balance.

挑战。这是西斯训练的基础。西迪厄斯大人并未让我均衡发展。

This mission will challenge me.He told me that.I must not assume the Jedi will be easy to defeat.I must remember the power the dark side will give me.I must be confident,and I must be prepared.

这次的任务会挑战我。他对我说。我决不能假定绝地武士是容易对付的。我必须牢记黑暗面带给我的力量。我必须自信，我必须做好准备。

Many times in the past,Lord Sidious gave me duties to perform without telling me the reason why.But now my Master includes me in communications with the Neimoidians.This must mean that he's come to trust me completely.He has come to see how valuable I am.

过去有很多次，西迪厄斯大人指派我任务但不告诉我原因。但现在我的师父和我一起与内莫伊迪亚人通信。这一定代表他开始完全信任我了。他开始发现我多么有价值了。

The blaster fire is close,closer than I like. I can feel the heat on the sleeve of my tunic.I smell singed material.The assassin droid has suddenly flipped sideways and aimed from the chest.I've been distracted.

爆能束接近了，到了一个令我讨厌的距离。我能感觉到衣袖上的震动。布料烧焦的味道传来。暗杀机器人突然滑向侧面并用胸部的爆能枪攻击了我。我分心了。

Anger rises in me, which is good.The darkness crests and roars.I twist in the air, my lightsaber twirling,revolving.Its balance is perfect in my hand.I strike one hard blow to the left flank of the droid.I feel the power of the move reverberate all the way to my shoulder.It gratifies me.The other blow to the right follows a fraction of an instant later, so close that an observer would not be able to tell which blow came first.They would only see the armless droid wobble, its internal balance mechanism destroyed.

愤怒在我心中升起，它的感觉很好。黑暗拥抱着我并咆哮着。我跃向空中，光剑在手中旋转。它被我掌握的很好。我对机器人左侧猛砍一剑。我感到移动的力量全部传向我的肩膀。它让我感到满足。一瞬间后我又向机器人右侧挥出一击，它如此迅速以至于旁观者无法分辨哪次攻击首先来临。他们只能看到缺胳膊少腿的机器人摇晃着，它的内置平衡器被摧毁了。

It is an easy job to slice off its head.The droid crashes to the floor,now a useless heap of smoking metal.I kick it out of my way with a smile,my lightsaber held loosely in my fingers.One day I will see a Jedi at my feet just like that.

切下它的脑袋很容易。机器人轰然倒地，成了一堆冒烟的废铜烂铁。我微笑着踢开它，手中松弛地握着光剑。总有一天我要让一个绝地也这样倒在我的脚下。

Suddenly, my lightsaber is gone.It flies from my hand across the room.It lands in the hand of my Master.

突然，我的光剑不见了。它从我的手中飞走，穿过房间。它落在我师父的手中。

I never see him enter.Not if he doesn't want me to.

我没有发现他进来，如果他不想让我发现的话。

The smile of triumph fades from my face.

胜利的微笑从我脸上消退了。

"Do you think,"Lord Sidious says,walking toward me,"you can ever relax your guard?"

“你认为，”西迪厄斯大人说着，向我径直走来，“你能放松自己的警惕吗？”

"No, Master. " What a clumsy, weak mistake.I should be prepared for him to enter at all times.How could I have forgotten that,even for a moment?

“不，师父。”这是个多么愚笨无力的错误啊。我应当随时准备好他的进入。我怎么能忘记这件事，哪怕是一小会呢？

The lightsaber whirls in the air, twirling,held in my Master's hand.I can't track it,it moves so fast.But I know it's heading for me.

光剑在空中旋转着，在我师父的手中。我没法追踪到它，它太快了。但我知道它是冲着我来的。

Lord Sidious moves faster than my eye can follow.I smell heat and smoke.The laser traces the outline of my body,my face, my hands.The buzz is loud in my ear.One flinch,one involuntary twitch of a muscle,and I am dead.

西迪厄斯大人的速度已超越我的眼力。我感到震颤，闻到烧焦的味道。光束顺着我身体的外轮廓划过，以及我的脸，我的手。我的耳边嗡嗡地吵闹着。一个退缩，一次无意识的肌肉抽搐，我就会死。

I do not flinch.

我没有退缩。

At last,Lord Sidious deactivates my weapon.He tosses it toward me.The sweat on my palm almost causes me to drop it.

终于，西迪厄斯大人关闭了我的武器。他将它扔给我。我手掌中的冷汗差点使它滑落。

"Do not let me see you relax your guard again,"my Master says.His eyes burn."You are valuable, yes.But you are not indispensable,Lord Maul.I can do without you."

“别再让我看到你放松警惕，”我的师父说。他的眼睛如燃烧一般。“你很有价值，没错。但你并不是不可或缺的，摩尔尊主。没有你我也能做下去。”

A flick of his robe, and he is gone.他的长袍轻轻拂过，他离开了。

I feel my leg muscles shudder as I lower myself to my haunches.I breathe slowly,in and out,until I am calm again.He is right.I will not let it happen again.

我弯下腰，感到自己两腿在打颤。我慢慢地吸气、呼气，直到重新冷静下来。他是对的。我绝不会再让这种事发生了。

It is the Jedi's fault that I failed my Master.I pictured a Jedi at my feet,and I allowed myself to be distracted.Now I focus my mind on the Jedi,funneling my hatred and anger into a blade directed at them.The hatred is a hard,cold place,yet it burns.They are my enemy,and I will beat them because I am better,stronger,and smarter.  have weapons they don't have.I have my anger.And my most important weapon:I have no mercy.

我让我的师父失望完全是绝地的错。我想象着一个绝地在我的脚下，让我自己被分心。现在我要将注意力集中在绝地身上，将我的仇恨和愤怒灌注在砍向他们的剑刃上。仇恨是无情且冷酷的，但它也是一团烈火。绝地们是我的敌人，我会打败他们，因为我更优秀，更强大，更敏捷。我拥有他们所没有的武器。我拥有我的愤怒。还有我最重要的武器：我没有怜悯。

I remember one of the first lessons my Master gave me on the Jedi:

我想起了师父教导我最早的关于绝地的一课之一：

Do not underestimate the Jedi.Even though they have a fatal flaw,they are formidable.What is their fatal flaw,Master?Compassion.

不要低估绝地。即使他们有着一个致命的弱点，他们仍是强大的。这个致命的弱点是什么，师父？怜悯。