The morning was restless. Again, I intended to leave Coruscant with my mentor. We were heading to Sernpidal. The "Star Path" was ready for departure, cleaned, refueled, loaded with weapons. The hangar didn't stop its work even this early in the morning.
"I see," Kuro nodded at me, "you took my advice into account."
"I haven't decided on my Knight specialty yet, mentor," I replied to the woman.
"But you were right, I overloaded my bracers too much. So yes," I beckoned one of the swords to my hand and twirled the hilt before my eyes.
"I moved the scabbards a bit."
"Still, I taught you something," the woman licked her lips.
"Ready?"
"No training this time?" I asked in surprise.
Kuro liked to start training abruptly in the morning so that I would be "ready." For the last couple of weeks, I've been sleeping with one eye open and even started getting used to scanning the surroundings with my senses in passive mode, even while sleeping.
"Haven't you had enough training with Master Jonnal Ezar?" my mentor asked innocently.
"You should be flattered. Master himself saw a worthy Jedi in you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have even started those sparring sessions with you. He's the strongest Shadow Knight in the last five hundred years, at least that's what they say. And he's clearly taught you a lot."
"What can you learn in three days, mentor?" I asked the woman.
"He didn't teach me; he made me think," I returned the hilt with the sword to its scabbard.
"Now I'll learn myself. After all, I know how to do everything; I just need to adapt what I know to Jar'Kai."
"Interesting conclusions," my mentor nodded.
"Well, it's time to fly."
We went up the ramp. The interior was cleaned to a shine. VV-7 greeted me joyfully.
"Hello to you too, metal ball," Kuro waved her hand towards the droid, to which it beeped something like: "I wasn't greeting you, but the master! So many people showing up..."
Through the lift, I entered the familiar cockpit and began to start the starship. The ramp retracted, the entrance was closed. The ship's systems started working. VV-7 connected to the computer.
"Destination Sernpidal, VV," I said.
"So, here's the plan," I opened the map.
"Let's start by getting onto the Hydian Way," I highlighted it on the map.
"And it wasn't named after Hydia, by any chance?" I asked.
"Hydia... Hmm... I remember something."
"In history lessons, mentor, we studied ancient times. There was a story about a Twi'lek woman, her name was something like Hadia. She was an infamous dame, may a dagger pierce her heart..."
"Is that so," the Dark Woman said thoughtfully.
"I don't remember that in history."
"Well, history is ancient, it seems from the time of the Je'daii," by the way, somewhere I read something interesting about this dame from fanfiction, but I don't remember what. But if you think about it... those same Je'daii are an interesting topic. Although the Unifying Force as a concept... well, how to put it - questionable. After all, a sentient being either limits itself or lets go. Finding a balance, in my opinion, is incredibly difficult, not to mention impossible.
"Just don't delve too deep into the Je'daii themselves," my mentor asked me.
"Many Jedi fell trying to become like them."
Naturally, in my opinion, if children are taught only one type of Force, the Light Side, then the Dark Side will be an unknown, interesting thing. Forbidden fruit is sweet. Everyone wants to try what's behind the wall. But most of all, such sentient beings are captivated by the idea that if they succeed, they will become powerful Force-Sensitives who can twist the Council into a pretzel... and... this leads them not to balance in the form of the Unifying Force, but to falling to the Dark Side. I, for example, also fell, although my emotional state was a bit off. And I also turned two Dark Side users into kebabs with the help of a dragon... And honestly, during the battle, even before the dragon, I felt my opponents - they were fallen ones who hadn't fully stabilized. That is, they hadn't undergone Sith training. And I even felt a degree of pity for them... But more so, it was disgusting to be near them.
"So, moving along the Hydian Way," I said, "we'll fly to the planet Botajef. Then we'll go onto the Salin Corridor and head along it to Salin. And then, from the planet Salin, we'll switch to the Veragi Trade Route and reach Sernpidal along it. VV, calculate the number of jumps," I ordered the droid.
"And calculate the time until arrival in Sernpidal."
"Estimated arrival time is approximately six days and fourteen hours, master," the droid beeped.
"Hutt," my mentor exclaimed.
"The Outer Rim! By the time we get there, this witch will have sacrificed countless more sentient beings for her rituals. Although, I suspect she'll act more cautiously. And there's a small hope that she might even temper her zeal a bit."
"Why is that?" I asked Kuro.
"Because the Council has sent Knight-Protector Jord Gear and his Padawan there. Jord, of course, is a bit of a brute and more capable of putting gangs to the sword than investigating Dark Side users, but he will arrive there, at least in three or four days. Two Jedi should make the Witch hold back a little..."
Hutt... It's worth considering upgrading the hyperdrive. Right now, I have a second-class engine... I should install something much faster. I've accumulated enough money to go to Sienar and request an upgrade for the bird. I'll do it right after passing the Knight trials. Yes... because the flight time now is unacceptable – at least install a first-class one, otherwise, at this speed, I might even be late for Order 66. Brrr. I'm sure that for a certain sum, Jedi can bypass the limitations on hyperdrive classes for civilian vessels. Meanwhile, the autopilot took us out of Coruscant's atmosphere, and I, setting coordinates for the Hydian Way, took the ship into Hyperspace.
"Well, use your time wisely," Kuro said, turning to me from the co-pilot's seat.
"Go and train Jar'Kai. And I'll watch you. While we're flying, you have enough time to train. I have a nagging feeling that soon your training will be replaced by practice."
"But you only believe your hands and eyes, not your premonitions, mentor," I remarked.
She told me something like that once.
"Idiot," Kuro stated calmly.
"This isn't a Force premonition; it's female intuition. For a woman not to trust her intuition? It's easier to find a man who won't react to Twi'lek dancers than a woman who won't trust her intuition."
"Understood," I said, getting up from the pilot's seat.
"VV, warn me when it's time to take the ship out of hyperspace."
In the cargo hold, moving away from the ammunition lying near the launch shafts, I took out my two lightsabers and, immersing myself in the Force, began to recall all the Ataru movements I had become accustomed to recently, as well as thinking about what exactly I could adapt for Jar'Kai tactics. The lightsabers activated, green blades flew from the hilts. Still immersed in the Force, I began to perform attacks, mainly in the air. I need to correctly calculate each attack, adjust to the weight of the hilts. That's what I was doing. The most important thing now is to master my two swords. Gradually, I began to increase the tempo. An enhancement spread through my body with a pleasant warmth... The blades swirled around me like lightning, turning into barely visible green flashes. Although this is just my perception, I suspect that many are quite capable of withstanding even my peak speed. But that's for now... I must continue training to become even stronger and faster. My very physique suggests that I am a speed fighter.
Towards the end of the training, I also thought of trying to control the Force during my movements, without pointing my hand at the objects of influence. I considered several empty boxes in the cargo hold as objects.
"The point isn't that someone is too weak, and someone is strong and talented," I recalled Master Jonnal's explanations on this matter, "the point is persistence in your training. If you want to learn to apply techniques without showing hand movements, all you have to do is repeat the training. Again, and again, and again, and again... Many find this repetition to be madness. But this is how this skill will work. When you can direct the Force without waving your hand, you will become incredibly dangerous in yourself. What do you need for this? You do everything you need, just don't slow down the tempo."
Next time, I'll have to start training immediately with practicing katas and applying Force techniques in the process. The more I repeat this, the faster I will adapt and be able to unpleasantly surprise any opponent.
***
Sernpidal... All the time until we got there, I dedicated to training again. I'm already used to working like a galley slave. After all, it's all for my future. Whatever plan I adopt, in the end, I'll still have to fight. The name of the universe in the culture of the planet I came from hints at this. And it's not that I'm particularly against it; on the contrary. Lately, I've started to like battles. It's not that I've become a battle maniac, but sometimes, you can fight a little, right? Just a little bit... Sernpidal greeted us with warm, summer weather. Upon learning who was on board, we were allowed into the Spaceport without much delay. The starship landed in a special hangar, where, after locking up the ship and leaving VV as protection, the droid connected to the ship's systems, my mentor and I immediately headed to the local police department, where we were expected.
The city had the same name as the planet. It was quite technological. Speeders zipped back and forth, though without particular skyscrapers. This planet was one of the economic and industrial centers of the Outer Rim. If I remember correctly, it was here, on Sernpidal, that Chewbacca, the Wookiee and co-pilot of the "Millennium Falcon," died. The Yuuzhan Vong dropped an entire moon, Doido, which orbited the planet. But that's if you believe the legends, the new canon... It's better not to mention it at all, or you might fall. If this version of the universe follows the new canon, then most of its participants can be safely turned into mince. Well, and if it's legends? Then we'll mince the Vong. As they say, don't bring your own commandments to a foreign monastery. And they came and suddenly decided that people were living wrong here. For such an opinion, invaders should always be multiplied by zero.
The planet seemed too peaceful for the Outer Rim. Why? Because it's an important trade hub. And where there's money, Senators, lobbied by corporations, consider it necessary to focus on security. On any other planet in the Outer Rim, they wouldn't care at all. But here - no. Because these are credits that can be spent on elite resorts, beautiful women and men, and much more. If the Republic was prosperous, then now we have complete degradation. There are thinking sentient beings who speak the right words. But do they have the opportunity to do anything? What isn't there, isn't there. The police station was located in the very center of Sernpidal City, the Planetary Capital, at least that's where the case of the "Sernpidal Maniac" was being handled. As it happens, initially, law enforcement agencies didn't consider it to be dealing with a serial killer at all. Connecting several corpses isn't always easy. Here, according to the information provided to us, it happened after the third corpse. Now, the twelfth victim is known.
The Witch prefers young, healthy, and strong sentient beings. The bodies look like dried fruits, which, for a geek like me, immediately evokes an association with a vampire... or a succubus. Whatever one prefers. And for me, as a Force-Sensitive, it's about Draining... Sith used many forms of such techniques. Draining Life, Draining Force. What are these conclusions based on? Well - the Dark Side user is working, plus traces of exhaustion and dystrophy. Most likely, life was being drained.
The police station building was large, painted gray, and had about five floors. This is the central administration; there are many other stations throughout the city.
"What is your business?" we were asked at the entrance.
The hall was filled with sentient beings and droids. A huge space was occupied by the checkpoint, where gray protocol droids were registering arriving visitors.
"We are Jedi," Kuro said, sending our data to the droid via datapad.
"We have an appointment with Senior Investigator Zurko Lod," the Force gave the name and surname.
"I am the Dark Woman, and this is my Padawan - Light Flaingstar."
"Verification. Your clearances are correct. Senior Investigator for Especially Important Cases Zurko Lod is currently interrogating a suspect. The interrogation rooms are located on the basement floor. You need the prisoner from cell B-23; he is currently in the seventh interrogation room."
Then a flying droid appeared before us.
"This platform will escort you, Jedi," the protocol droid informed us.
"We wish you a pleasant visit to the Central Police Station of Sernpidal City. Please follow your guide."
The checkpoint doors opened, and we walked forward behind the small droid. Behind the checkpoint, there were fewer sentient beings; almost all of them were law enforcement officers of the planet. There were also various droids walking around. Our guide led us to an elevator, which we entered. Descending to the basement floor, I saw exactly what I expected. This floor was located below ground level and had no windows; the light was maintained by icy white, artificial lamps. The droid led us further until it brought us to the interrogation rooms. The interrogation room was a simple room with a table and two chairs. Inside the room was a stocky man with black hair showing slight graying, and gray, seemingly emotionless eyes. He was barely taller than me, and his clothing was standard: gray with three bronze stripes on the epaulets.
"You are Jedi," the man said calmly.
His voice was quiet and insinuating. I noticed the second person sitting in the interrogation room. He was roughly my age, young, with blond hair and brown eyes. Only he looked disheveled, tousled, his clothes were prisoner's attire.
"Dark Woman and my Padawan — Light Flaingstar," Kuro nodded to him.
"Understood. You know my name," he said calmly. "And this… societal outcast, Pol Klair," he nodded. "A dealer of all sorts of junk. Slippery as can be. He's had dealings with many smugglers."
"We have another question, Investigator Tsurko…"
"A different question — one case," the man waved, standing up from his chair. "This individual was the last one seen with all the victims of the maniac who settled on our planet and whom a second pair of Jedi are already interested in."
"Your maniac is Gifted," I said.
The man looked at me intently, squinting his eyes strangely, but I held his gaze.
"Jedi usually handle such cases."
"No one disputes that," he shook his head. "It's just that the first ones arrived and have been patrolling the city for days, doing nothing. Pol was caught by our operatives."
"And how is the interrogation process?" Kuro asked.
"Pol," the man addressed him. "What do you say?"
"I SAW THE GODDESS! I SERVE HER! SHE SPOKE TO ME!"
"What do you say, Jedi?"
"Hmm," I said thoughtfully. "If you talk to God, it's prayer. If God talks to you, it's schizophrenia."
"A wonderful conclusion," the investigator smiled at the corners of his lips. "And about the case?"
"Well," Kuro's voice had a hint of laughter. "This is more like mind-washing by the Force. This Witch really messed with his head. Or the drug dealer himself used his own product…"
"No," Tsurko shook his head. "Pol is a cunning bastard who got even the Senator's son from our sector hooked on drugs. But he himself never used. That pair of Jedi told me that this Witch influenced his mind with the Force," Tsurko nodded. "I asked: can you Jedi try to undo the influence, get into his mind yourself, and extract information about our enemy."
"I suspect that Jord said that Jedi don't do that," came from the mentor's side.
She sat down opposite Pol, and the madman began to examine her with curiosity.
"That's exactly what happened…"
"Interfering with an already shaken Mind is the precursor to the Sentient becoming a vegetable. It's unethical from the Jedi doctrine's point of view," I explained to Tsurko.
"But what do we do if Pol is the only thread? You see, we caught him, but the corpses kept appearing. He is possibly the only one who can help us protect the citizens of the Republic. So is his life and his mind worth all those whom that creature might still kill?"
"It's not worth it," the mentor said unequivocally. "I will extract everything from him that we need for the investigation."
"Is that so?" the investigator asked. "Strange. Knight Jord…"
"Knight Jord belongs to the Defenders corps. I, however, am a Shadow. The Shadow's motto is 'The end justifies the means'," Kuro said. "The mind and life of this insignificant wretch are not worth the lives of those whom this Witch can still destroy. The life of one sentient being will never balance the lives of dozens."
"This is an interesting topic for discussion," the man noted.
"After the mission, I can discuss it with you," Kuro replied.
Then something unexpected happened. Pol tried to lunge at the mentor…
"You are a good sacrifice to the Goddess!" he shouted.
I reacted quickly, without even aiming my hand at him.
The man was thrown aside and slammed against the wall with his back.
"KHA!" he spat blood.
"That was foolish and a bit naive. You're either brave or a fool," I said, holding him above the ground.
"He's an idiot… Or, as you said, a schizophrenic," Tsurko noted. "And I like you much more than the Padawan of that other Jedi. In terms of personality, of course. Are Shadows' Padawans as effective as Defenders' Padawans, to the same extent that Shadows are more effective than Defenders?" Tsurko asked thoughtfully.
"It depends on what you mean by 'effectiveness', investigator," Kuro said, standing up from the table. "Hold him, Light. He might struggle. You can train at the same time. And yes… Investigator Tsurko, turn off the cameras in the interrogation room. And also delete the recordings…"
"It's an unwritten rule of our department: cameras are not turned on when talking to drug dealers. We don't like this scum since the Senator's son from the sector died from a Spice overdose. Then the Senator hired Ailonians, and they drowned a couple of local smuggling groups in blood. And we were prescribed stimulants by the authorities. Now with guys like him," Tsurko nodded at Pol, whom I was still holding above the floor, "the conversation is short. We beat out everything he knows, and then we hit them with the harshest charges and execute them."
"Then fine," Kuro grinned maliciously, pointing her hand at him. "I am a Jedi Shadow, and I also have a short conversation with such people," her voice became deeper and more demanding. "Now you will show me everything you know!" she demanded.
At first, nothing happened, but then Pol suddenly convulsed, and veins bulged on his head. I felt a wave of Force emanating from Kuro's figure. It was literally engulfing Pol's head. It all happened for about twenty seconds, and then Pol suddenly went limp. I released my telekinesis, and the man fell to the floor like a sack.
"He's dead, mentor," I said.
"This creature is cunning," Kuro laughed. "She set up a failsafe, that if anyone tries to probe his mind, the Force will shut down his respiratory centers in the nervous system. Not all Dathomirians are capable of that. And what's most unpleasant, when I blocked the influence, the failsafe tried to activate on my body. She might not be strong in direct combat, but indirectly Dathomirians can be troublesome, truly witches."
"Did you learn anything, mentor?"
"Correct," Kuro nodded. "She is at an abandoned power station, west of the city."
"It's not a power station, but a whole complex," Tsurko noted. "It belonged to 'Outer Rim Energy Systems'. But not long ago, this company was declared bankrupt. Its assets were bought by the 'Trade Federation', and the complex was nationalized by our government, which plans to build a national energy complex service based on it. They said it on the news. It's several huge buildings, currently abandoned, as the government's work is planned only for next year. Looking for the Witch there…"
"There will be four of us," the mentor interrupted him. "Rest assured, Tsurko, we will find the problem and eliminate it effectively. Gifted people easily find other Gifted people if they know where to look. And yes, Light. The Witch who appeared here is not just another Dathomirian whore who doesn't know her place. She is your old acquaintance — Shillaj."
I flinched at the last remark. Shillaj? She's here? Then the depleted sentients went to feed Arrogant's medallion! Truly, the Galaxy is small. I can not only destroy her but also take the artifact that started it all!
"Is that so," I said, putting my hands to my cheeks. "I was already interested in our mission, teacher, but now my interest has increased tenfold."
"You know her?" the investigator asked.
"Yes," I nodded. "We crossed paths once. Seriously crossed paths. I have a debt to her, with interest. And a debt, as you know, must be paid."
"Then I can only wish that your Force be with you and help you pay your debt, Jedi. Do you need my help?"
"Secure the area," Kuro said.
"Securing such an area would require an army," the man said. "Our special forces won't be enough. But I'll talk to a general acquaintance from planetary defense. He'll help."
"Then let's get started. We'll call Jord only," Kuro said. "And let's get started… with paying debts."