The darkness that had thickened in the small room seemed not only to emphasize but even to enhance some features of its owner. Although the news received was not so important, it could not help but disturb him – to be honest, he was poorly informed about Set Hart, and would hardly ever have admitted him as an equal to himself. After the tricks that Jedi had pulled in Hart's mansion, the Muun carefully studied everything he had about the long-lived Bainite. And he came to the conclusion that this hedonist would hardly ever have challenged the title of Sovereign. However, something did not add up. Darth Plagueis, and it was he, ran his gaze again over his notes, which contained his view on the concept of the Unified Force, which he had been creating for many years... Something was not adding up. It would seem, live your insignificant life, clone yourself as much as you want and transfer your mind from clone to clone, but only...
Plagueis once again carefully reviewed all the available information about one of Darth Zann's students and concluded that something incredibly valuable had forced this womp rat to crawl out of its burrow. And this something greatly interested him: if there was something for which Set was not afraid to reveal himself, then He must know the reason. He absolutely must. Of course, one could capture the Jedi Shadow who attacked and defeated Hart. Plagueis did not know his name or appearance, but he could well use his connections and drag the Shadow into the light, and then capture him and extract the necessary information through torture... But the game is not worth the candle – it is quite risky to try to abduct this knight: he had already shown his abilities, and Set was not a weakling. Undoubtedly, insignificant compared to a true Sith Lord, but certainly not weak. One should not forget that the incident on Royce had attracted too much attention, and the sudden disappearance of the main participant in the event could cause a stir, which would lead to exposure. To risk the Great Plan for important information? Again, how important was that information – He did not know. What was the probability that Set Hart considered important something that actually had no value? Quite significant. If there was anything that Damask was interested in, it was immortality – the true immortality of his body, not the transfer of consciousness. He wanted immortality for himself, he wanted to break the chains of his mortal body and turn the laws of life and death to his advantage! To become a true Sith'ari, to rule the Galaxy! According to the Great Plan in its own version by Plagueis, the Rule of Two would turn into the Reign of Two. His student would take the appropriate role in His plan.
And here he is... The door opened, revealing Darth Sidious to this world, who wore the customary Sith attire: a scarlet robe with a deep hood. The student stood in the center of the room, kneeling.
"Master," Palpatine said.
"Student," Plagueis nodded. "I have been waiting for you."
"I assume this is related to the incident on Royce-VIII," Palpatine surmised. "I have probed the situation, as you requested, mentor. Master Even Piell is now in charge there. He has taken all of Set Hart's treasures, including those belonging to the Dark Side of the Force. And even the technology that allows calculating ships with stygium coating."
"Not the most pleasant news," considering that some of his elite mercenaries flew ships with this coating. "But not critical either. What are they saying in the Senate, my young student? Are your connections reporting anything interesting?"
Plagueis intended to compare the information he received through his sources with Palpatine's information, which so far disappointed him, having missed a whole host of political positions. Extremely important positions. However, his latest initiative to join the "Legislator's Apprentice" group is quite promising.
"My source from Senator Vidar Kim's entourage claims that this action was discussed at one of the receptions," Sidious reported. "Unfortunately, my 'teacher'," Sidious emphasized the last word, "is more interested in the circumstances of the Trade Federation and Naboo Planet deals than in what is important to us."
"That is quite logical for him," Plagueis closed his eyes.
"Will we use this case in a political sense?" Sidious asked.
"Yes," Plagueis nodded. "But carefully," his auridium eyes looked at Palpatine. "We cannot start too active a campaign. The Jedi Order, in order to clear their knight, will surely prepare corresponding campaigns, including in the Senate. If we are too zealous, we will attract unnecessary attention. And his, until we have our own representative in the Senate," Plagueis's voice grew cold on the last words, although it seemed impossible to be colder? Sidious shivered. "We should not attract it. And not even after. I will talk to some Senators regarding these circumstances. Fortunately, they also do not particularly like such behavior from the Jedi. And I am interested to know who that knight is who decided to challenge Hart. He is a Shadow, and the Order will not disclose his identity. But... He is strong. He defeated Set Hart in direct combat. It is unlikely that he will become dangerous and jump higher than an ordinary master, but all options must be considered. He has messed up our plans and, perhaps, shaken up that swamp that the Jedi Order had become lately. We do not need unjustified risks."
"Regarding who it might be," Sidious said. "When I was cruising on the 'Blue of Alderaan,' I met two Jedi there. One of them was clearly resolving a conflict between Organa and Antilles. But the second one... was working on Antilles. I could not understand the essence of his mission, but he could well have been the Shadow, judging by his skills. His name was Taivi Lanian."
"We will have to clarify who it is. Find out everything about this sentient. Although... it is quite likely that this is a false name. If Taivi is indeed a Shadow, then you will not find anything on his face in the holophoto. Not even in the Order's database. The identities of Shadows are simply... erased from all databases in the Galaxy. Even information about where and from whom they were born. And... is his search really that important to us?" Plagueis mused. "Perhaps it would be good, but now there is a more important goal: working on the Senate," Plagueis aimed his hand at Palpatine, and a purple lightning bolt struck the man without delay, making him writhe in pain. "For the umpteenth time, you show amazing incompetence, Sidious. Do you really want the Plan to be realized? The group you are currently in," Plagueis stopped hitting with Force Lightning, "is your last chance. I don't need to... tell you what will happen to you if you fail again... fiasco?"
"No, mentor."
"Then go," Plagueis waved his hand. "And prepare yourself. Since you have arrived, we will train a little. And for now, I need to talk to some Senators."
Yes, I have experienced a lot lately, and much more is yet to come. I had no intention of staying in the Temple: after completing all the necessary procedures, including psychostability tests created specifically for combatants, I began to develop new training methods. What exactly was I going to train? What the Jedi Healer advised me. In her words, there is a chance... zero point one percent, it seems, that I can develop my abilities without special training, but this, of course, is just words, and they clearly reek of shonen... Although, perhaps, I am wrong, because heroes who get all the perks without much effort are rare there too.
I can confidently say that I achieved my current strength precisely through training, and it was training that helped me defeat Set Hart. And with the same hard and persistent work, I will be able to master the new technique. I invented it myself... Now it's time to refine it to the level of "can be used in combat." Honestly, I saw incredible tactical potential in this ability. To teleport by swapping places with something or someone... I wonder, can I mark a living object? I always thought that Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto/Boruto could not fully unlock the potential of this ability. However, it is not a fact that I will be able to. For now, it is poorly accessible to me and is a weapon of last resort. Against Ezar, I used it when I was cornered, and even then I couldn't maintain consciousness for long. There is a high chance that next time I might not survive. So, immediately after the trial, I began to work on the corresponding methods and new training.
What did I intend to do next after leaving the Temple? This time, they decided not to give me a special mission in my specialty, meaning I could either stay calmly in the Temple awaiting a mission or go on my journey through the Galaxy. Fortunately, I had something to do. The medallion on Sernpidal had been lying around for a long time... I wanted to summon someone as soon as possible and use their knowledge... Like Tulak Hord... Although one must understand that Tulak is a Sith, and one of the most dangerous, an excellent duelist and master of Force use. Of course, one could practice on someone harmless before summoning Tulak, but on the other hand – who is harmless? It is unlikely that either a Jedi or a Sith would like someone summoning them from beyond the veil using some artifact. What else did I intend to do? After graduating from the Alderaan University under the guise of Taivi Lanian, I realized that I had no experience not only in politics. In the future, it is quite likely that I will have to fight, both in space and on planets. That is, I need military training.
I successfully dodged military service in my first life. And what would I have learned there? How to properly peel potatoes and make a bed? Fortunately, I had acquaintances who served in the army. And one of them told me that the favorite film of their commander was "Full Metal Jacket"... I don't think I need to say who the commander's favorite character was. Only if the character in the film, through his taunts, managed to form a unit into a full combat unit, if I remember correctly. After all, the essence of such leaders is to make the collective hate themselves through humiliation, however funny it may sound, and to unite them through this hatred, while training them. But in that army where my acquaintance served, people simply hated their commander, learned to scrub floors, shot a little, and painted the grass. Although, perhaps, somewhere they train real warriors and soldiers, who knows. Life has taught me not to judge what I don't understand.
But it's better to return to my new life. I dodged military service in that world because I simply didn't see myself in that structure... Perhaps some kind of army discipline would have helped me lose weight. Now, military training is simply necessary. And there are several institutions in the Republic that train specialists in this field. At the same time, it must be said that the training in them is quite... specific. Why? First, let me explain what military education in the Star Wars universe is like in the year 53 BBY: first, each planet can have its own self-defense forces – some better, some worse. Also, each planet can have its own institutions that train the specialists they need. Somewhere, there is a system of conscription for active service, after which sentient beings are offered to take courses in local military educational institutions. However, the elite among the entire institution of military education are considered Academies. There are only three of them: Corulag, Carida, and Anaxis Citadel. Each of them trains officers for the Judicial Forces. There is also a nuance here: today, military education in the Republic is not in favor, and the Judicial Forces are frankly weak – everyone knows this, so service in it is rarely a privilege... Unless you want to make a fortune from smugglers of all kinds. Thus, the fate of Academy graduates is unenviable: either the self-defense fleets of their home worlds, or the Judicial Forces, but that's if they wanted to work in their specialty. Or they could be bought by wealthy corporations to fill their own self-defense forces.
In general, Academy graduates were not highly valued, and this despite the fact that these institutions are the elite of the elite, with a rich history in the form of many famous admirals and generals who were once their graduates. As far as I understood, the whole problem is that the Senators are afraid, and I am not exaggerating. Most of those in the Senate are truly afraid that the military will scratch their heads, and some other places, and say: "Listen – we have a disgrace here, not a state! Let's bring order." And such situations did happen... True, they ended with the bought-off leadership sending such commanders of the Judicial Forces, their initiative subordinates, to some galactic backwater in the Outer Rim "for combat duty." There, hot hearts were extinguished by the surrounding reality, and after fifteen to twenty years, a once young and hot patrol ship captain with a pile of ambitions in his beautiful brain transformed into the same hardened corrupt official as his superiors. Changes were noticed, and he was transferred closer.
No, of course, there will be sentient beings whose ideals will not be broken even after such abuse. But let's be honest – there are few such sentient beings in all the worlds. To believe in your ideals no matter what and always follow them regardless of the situation will be either a madman, or a fanatic, or a sentient being with a truly unyielding will. I, by the way, did not belong to any of the listed, because I revised my ideals and plans every time I had the opportunity. Even knowing the entire history of this Galaxy back and forth, I still doubted many things and asked myself questions. So... I planned to get a military education. The problem is that there is almost no time left before the canonical events in which I planned to participate. Of course, there were loopholes, and I planned to use them. I don't need ranks or assignment to any service. Only one thing was required – knowledge. Knowledge and understanding of the army and navy. From the stories of numerous wars, which I read in the library and in the breaks between adventures, I learned a lot, but it was not enough. But what can knowledge give? The fact is that, along with the decline of military education in the Republic, a so-called "distance learning" appeared in the Academies, which was more like remote learning. Upon admission, the program materials were sent to the student, and access to simulation applications for the computer was granted. All that was required of the student was to study the data and pass the exam, demonstrating their knowledge. Did this replace traditional learning? Yes and no... On the one hand, in face-to-face format, you can communicate with a smart officer who will point out your mistakes. On the other hand, military disciplines are purely applied sciences, meaning they must be learned in practice. Theory here is secondary, because one should not forget that pitfalls are possible here too, and a plan is far from a panacea. So I saw no problems in obtaining a military education through such a perverted method.
Still, I won't be able to consider myself a captain, and that's the rank given to Academy graduates, like those of Anaxis Citadel, until I myself lead a ship at least cruiser-class into battle. Although in this matter, the Star Wars universe has taken care of me. So my future actions were as clear as day. First – to go for the medallion. And, preferably, taking it with me, to find some remote planet where I can dedicate myself to training. Second – to begin to master military disciplines. It will not be superfluous to learn the logic of warfare in this Galaxy. And the question... Where to go? Hmm... I need to review the plan again: to refine the Heavenly Palm; to study the medallion, for possession of which I have made so many sacrifices, and to calmly study the material from the distance learning of the military academy... On what planet could I do this?
I activated the datapad and brought up a map of the Galaxy before me... Ah, and it would be good to find the source of Set Hart's information. Unfortunately, it was not possible to determine his current location, although there were leads. The signal, it seemed, came from the north of the Galaxy, but there are many inhabited worlds there. Two important trade routes crossed the North – the Perlemian Trade Route and the Hydian Way. To search for someone there when I only know the direction? Smells like a specific type of masochism. Hmm... I zoomed in on the map of the Outer Rim of this region of the Galaxy... Hmm... Sernpidal in the north, the source in the north. Maybe settle on Sernpidal? A planet in the Outer Rim... I'm not going to dissect a dark artifact on Tustra, am I? Although... Sernpidal is a densely populated world. It's better to find a planet with fewer sentient beings. And then my gaze caught on one of the planets located in the Outer Rim, in the northeast... Drongar. Something familiar... Drongar... Drongar...
"Drongar!" I said loudly. Of course! It is there that the valuable bota grows, a special plant that can help a gifted being better unlock their potential in the Force. Now, no one knows about its property, otherwise everyone who is not lazy would rush there and fight over the possession of this planet. For now, only its healing effect is known... However, there is a problem. Drongar has problematic flora and fauna. Especially disturbing were the spores of some plants growing in the atmosphere of this planet... However, they would only disturb me if I didn't have the Matukai techniques that allowed me to better control my body. And although the technique from the planet Tsay was gone, as it was destroyed by Theodor Loy, I knew how to resist pathogenic phenomena by controlling my body with the Force. Another problem is the increased oxygen content, which increased the corrosion rate even for such a sophisticated ship as the "Star Trek". But there is a way out here too: I can land on the planet, and send the ship under the control of the AI to orbit. And then, when I finish my training, I can have the ship returned for me. The communication there is not broken. Knock on wood...
Also, on Drongar, there is an outpost of the criminal organization "Black Sun": it is they who control the supply of bota to the Galactic market. So, let's summarize what I will get by going to Drongar: first, I can devote attention to training and calm learning – the "Black Sun" Station on the planet is completely autonomous, meaning it is controlled by droids, because no one wants to inhale pathogenic spores, and it will not be difficult for me to hide from machines. They cannot intentionally block communication, so I will have the opportunity to both take exams and be aware of the main news of the Galaxy. Second, it was from the Galactic North that the signal of Set Hart's informant came. So I can also deal with this problem. If anything happens, I will bring such a useful agent to light. Third, I will improve my connection with the Force. Fourteen thousand midi-chlorians is, of course, very cool, but it can be better. Of course, reaching Ani is like going to another Galaxy for me, but to Yoda's level... Although why predict – I will be happy with any outcome.
Based on the available data, the "Black Sun" base not only grew bota there but also froze it in carbonite and then sent it to a distribution point. There was also a defensive station hanging in orbit, however, it would be very easy to fly past it with a stygium coating. And I must not forget to load the "Star Trek" with funds for setting up a camp, including a relay with encryption, so that I am not detected on the planet.
This time, Yoda decided to talk to me in the meditation room, where the Master liked to spend his time.
"Sit down," Yoda said, pointing to a pouf opposite him.
"Great Master," I said, sitting down, and bowed slightly, greeting the old Jedi.
"Light," Yoda opened his eyes and looked at me. "I am glad to see you in good health."
"You wanted to see me, Great Master."
"Hmm," Yoda frowned. "I wanted to see you, yes... I wanted to ask you, Light..."
"Not about how the events I experienced might have changed something in me and my... worldview?" I interrupted Yoda. The Grand Master continued to look at me, though this time his wrinkled face, as it seemed to me, was touched by surprise. "That's a logical question. First, I encountered a sentient being who, in my opinion, could well claim the title of Sith Lord, and then — betrayal by a Master of the High Council, my direct superior. In such situations, many can lose faith in their organization and leave it, hello, Ahsoka Tano, as they say."
"This mission taught you a lot," Yoda said with interest. "I remembered you differently. It's not the first time something like this has happened, yes..."
"It's hard, you know, to remain the same after all these events, Master Yoda. Who, if not you, knows about this — you have taught so many Jedi, seen so many destinies..."
"I agree with this wholeheartedly — he who does not move forward, goes into the Force. Although it must be admitted that we must remain ourselves in any situation. Unchanging views are the essence of a true Jedi."
"That's possible," I replied, "if you clearly know what you want. But there's also the other side to this statement — immutability leads to stagnation, stagnation to dogmas, dogmas to convictions, and convictions to fanaticism. And fanaticism, as can be seen from history, has never led anyone to anything good. Look at Jonnal Ezar, for example. He never changed his views and didn't accept half-measures or compromises, but what did it lead to?"
"Hmm... hmm... You are right and wrong at the same time. Isn't the steadfastness of spirit an important part of a Jedi?" Yoda asked me.
"Undoubtedly, it is important," I nodded. "But one must understand that not only steadfastness of spirit is important, but also the chosen path. Yes, steadfastness of spirit will help not to stray from the path, but if the path itself leads to an abyss... What then?"
"You want to say that you can now see the deviation of the path?" Yoda inquired. "To distinguish what leads to prosperity and what leads to decline, right?"
So that's why he called me for this conversation. Wise... His main goal is to make sure I haven't started judging the views of beings myself and passing sentence on them. Jonnal also considered his path the only correct one, but, in the end, it was his path that others recognized as mistaken. Well, let's check...
"You called me for this conversation to find out if I've adopted the beliefs of Master Jonnal?" I asked Yoda directly.
"In part," Yoda replied.
"Tell me, Master... All of us — knights, masters, grand masters — have our own established views and beliefs, which, one way or another, will differ somewhat. But who among us all has the right to decide which of them are correct and which are not? Those sentients of our Order who judged Jonnal?"
"I agree with you, Light," Yoda said after a moment's silence. "Each of us has our own vision of the same problem. Even in the Jedi Order. The only problem is that we must judge actions — not views and beliefs."
"But actions are a continuation of views, Master. Rarely does someone think one thing and do another."
"This is an interesting topic for discussion," Yoda finally said. "I have understood much regarding your current thoughts. And what do you plan to do? Will you leave the Temple now or wait for a mission?"
"I intend to leave the Temple and realize my goal. All these events have raised many questions for me. Especially those views and actions that Jonnal Ezar implemented. I think I will find answers to them on a solitary journey."
"And where will you head, hmm?" Yoda asked curiously.
"To the Outer Rim, Grand Master. I plan to travel around the North of the Galaxy, but first, perhaps, I will visit Tustra — I will visit my family... You could say I've missed them."
"Hmmmm... I will be glad to see you again, Light. Perhaps next time you will take a Padawan."
"Isn't it too early for me?"
"And the next time... when do you think a knight should be?" Yoda asked me. "I feel you want to know something, hmm?"
"Master Yoda, it's about Hart... Does anyone besides the Council know who killed him?" In fact, I wanted to ask this question back in the Halls of Healing, as I was very alarmed that Rela managed to recognize me on the video, but... it only came out now.
"Hmmmm... We hid this news — no one besides the Council should know. They can guess, but not know. Anything else?"
"Holocron. Did Master Piell find it?"
"I read that he couldn't find it. Either the Sith kept it separately, or hid it securely... The holocron can be considered lost."
"Thank you, Master. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you..."
Leaving the room, I exhaled with relief. Yes... It was a rather strange, but interesting exam, which I passed successfully. Yoda was always famous for his ability to draw non-standard conclusions even from a completely ordinary conversation. And these conclusions can also work! In any case, I had a plan... First, Tustra awaits me, then — Sernpidal, and finally, Drongar. It's time to set off...