I had to run, of course. Because even with such a cheat as I have, I couldn't defeat all of Jarko Itari's ships. But I can predict that she was significantly pissed off. Of course, she's so beautiful and smart, she managed to detect me somehow, and I took and dunked her in shit. Destroyed the farm with such a precious bot completely, or severely damaged it. And then proudly left… Even I, with my old character of an ultimate doormat, wouldn't tolerate such impudence and blatant rudeness. But Jarko, judging by her behavior, did not possess it. The question is, what's next? Yes, I became much stronger, although my quirks and cockroaches in terms of "underestimating myself" are still there.
Here I rather adhered to the philosophy: do what you must and let what will be. And it worked, this philosophy. At least many things turned out well for me.
"On the other hand," I said thoughtfully, watching hyperspace, "there's not much time to think. Jarko will clearly want revenge. But, I am more than sure that I covered all the traces. A completely different ship appeared on their sensors. The "Star Trek" could only be identified visually, but there are thousands of ships like the "Star Courier" throughout the Galaxy. It's agile, convenient, you can transport contraband. Traders love it. This means that my specific ship can only be detected when resupplying ammunition. Which will reveal a modified version, because a courier and arming it with missiles… Hmm…"
"You're not going to rush headlong into this Jarko?" the mentor asked.
I had long gotten used to his presence, and besides, Lorm Decer could sometimes give good advice.
"Not myself. I'm not afraid of this slutty Anzati, I'm more than sure — she's no match for me in a direct fight. One should be afraid of "Black Sun". This is not an organization that can be dealt with alone, especially in the Outer Rim. Even in the Mid Rim worlds, the Expansion Region, and the Inner Rim — they pay attention to them, and some politicians can literally feed from their hands. No, without serious resources, rushing into it is suicide. Let's say," I clasped my hands in front of me, "I can physically destroy her. But what then? How soon will "Black Sun" try to find me and take revenge? But if I strike at her structure, in the context of an attack by a separate organization… That's a completely different matter, I'll tell you."
"The only thing that comes to mind is the Judicial Corps, completely bought by all these criminals, and the Jedi Order, which feeds from the Senate, which has Senators who feed from "Black Sun", and one of them, who is on the committee for combating organized crime — is personally a creature of Jarko Itari," Lorm Decer laughed. "The situation is simply terrible."
"It will be difficult to shake her off by legal means, and dangerous by illegal means," I noted. "But leaving her to take revenge on me is also dangerous, considering that she, even without knowing my identity — can make my life difficult with her meddling. This is not a fork… This is a stalemate," I said in a slightly sad tone. "It would be good to find allies for this, or to push our Order to get moving."
"No matter how dependent the Order is on the Senate, they cannot ignore one fact. You did send them information about the bot's effect on the Gifted, didn't you?"
"Hmph," I smirked. "Naturally, even if not my complete research on the bot's effect. I don't think many can handle," I propped my chin, "the overwhelming effect of euphoria and omnipotence."
"Only a reasonable person, with your initial character, a mumbler and a coward, could, because people like you are modest by nature."
"Well, thank you, mentor, for the kind, damn, word," I said through gritted teeth. "However, people like me can also get angry at everyone, and after receiving great power — they start to take revenge. Sometimes, hiding behind their good character, they themselves turn into those who tormented them — there are a couple of Chinese works where the hero is kind by nature, but then he starts doing such dark things that the remaining hair on one person's head stands on end. And some fanfic writers even motivate this darkness by the fact that they can't read the work further, in order to reveal this universe in their fanfics. It seems I've seen the latter somewhere…"
"And most of the latter. You are a miracle, Light. Your philosophical attitude towards insults has always impressed me. At first, I even thought it was due to your cowardly nature, but it seems you have simply outgrown it… Mentally. Physically you are still…"
"Please, mentor, not about height," I sighed. "I'm taller than Grand Master Yoda — that's enough."
"It's a pity only in the physical sense," Lorm noted. "So what are you going to do?"
"Contact the Council. Leaving Jarko on my tail, even with zero evidence, is dangerous for me. Eliminating her personally — means making "Black Sun" think. Running around the entire Galaxy and personally killing Vigo in that case? I doubt I'll manage even in ten years. So a legal elimination option is needed," I said thoughtfully. "In that case — for everyone, I will be at most a Jedi, who was ordered to carry out an order. An executor, who, as usual, doesn't have many options."
"Will the Order help you," Lorm said thoughtfully. "That's the question. Burying your head in the sand of Tatooine is one strategy. Or did the policy regarding Jonnal's betrayal teach you nothing? The Council announced that Jonnal died of old age, not by the sword of Dooku, who executed him."
"They won't hide here, mentor. And the reason, precisely, is the effect of the bot on the Gifted. You were not the Shadow, but our regulations are actually quite simple. We not only kill Dark Gifted, but we also participate in hunting down any items that can influence, operate, or change the polarity of the Force. The bot is one such item. Revealing its properties like this — can attract attention. The Order will be interested either in establishing a base on Drongar, or in destroying this plant, as it is dangerous precisely because of the feeling of euphoria and omnipotence of the Gifted who takes the extract, as the effect is very fast. An almost instantaneous increase in strength and fixing this strength at a higher level than it was initially. A test for midi-chlorians of nineteen thousand," I sighed, "and this is after a year and a half of active use."
"Will you disclose this information to the Council?"
"No, of course not, I'm not an idiot. I only reported the euphoric effect of the bot. Which should have already alerted them… I am more than sure — they will sanction an operation to seize Drongar."
This time the ship exited hyperspace near Lianna, the planet where the firm "Santa/Sienar Technologies" was located. Coincidentally, they are responsible for creating ships of the "Star Courier" series, to which mine belonged, although mine was modified for the needs of a mercenary who served Plagueis.
"Master," BB's chirping was heard, "you are being called on a secure channel."
Only the Order could call on a secure channel. They could contact me in various ways, but a secure channel — a priori hinted at something interesting.
"I hope they don't sense the medallion," Lorm said, disappearing right in front of me. "They shouldn't. I've saturated this artifact enough with my Force. It can only be detected visually. But this is impossible via holocommunication. I approached the holoterminal behind the cockpit and pressed the signal acceptance button. Before me rose the figures of Yoda and a huge Wookiee, against whom Yoda looked quite tiny. He was hairy, like all representatives of his species, and dressed in light-colored clothes, or rather, just a cloak. And I know him… This is Tivokka, elevated to the High Council in place of Yula Breylon. The scandal with her happened about six months ago, I received information about her. She violated the Jedi Code by conceiving a child, and when he was born Gifted and began training in the Order, she volunteered to look after the younglings. Surprisingly — the Order couldn't figure out for a long time that Arat Tarrex and Yula were son and mother. The latter faked genetic tests and analyses. Arat became a Knight, under the guidance of his mother, who even took him as a Padawan.
Only recently he was caught robbing an ambassador with whom he was sent on a diplomatic mission. He did this to pay off gambling debts. For which he immediately came to the attention of the Shadows. Naturally, the "loving mother" tried to bail out her child, but one of the Shadows noted that she was too zealous and something was not right here. He began to investigate why Yula suddenly decided to "stick up" for a disgraced Jedi. And he found out a very unpleasant fact. Everything, as usual, was thought to be classic. A young Padawan, a mature woman, who had not yet lost her natural beauty and physical fitness at the time of his Padawanhood. But the truth turned out to be much more terrible for the Jedi monks. Arat turned out to be just her son.
And when the truth came out, forty years after all the events, which even Lorm was taken aback by, the reaction was predictable. Arat was stripped of everything, thrown out onto the street, deprived of the title of Jedi. He was not cut off from the Force, because such a punishment is not practiced. And then the factor of the ambassador, whom he was supposed to be on a diplomatic mission with, but whom he robbed, played a role. He used his connections, and the former Jedi was tried, and then sentenced to about twenty years in prison. Deprived of the Order's protection — Arat went to jail. Well, Yula Breylon was expelled from the High Council, forbidden to take a Padawan, and exiled on a Jedi Order food mission, with a guard. A massive Wookiee was appointed to her instead.
"Grand Master Yoda, Master Tivokka," I bowed, greeting the members of the High Council.
"Waaaah," the Wookiee greeted me. Shyriiwook, or in common parlance: the Wookiee language, I learned to understand perfectly. Although I heard the same howling sounds.
"Light," Yoda nodded to me. "Glad to see you after so many years."
"Almost two years have passed," I noted.
"I feel you have become stronger… And you sent interesting things to the Order lately."
"Yes, Grand Master," I said. "For the past year and a half, I have traveled through the northern part of the Galaxy, and even enrolled in correspondence courses at the Anaxis Citadel for new knowledge."
"It is gratifying to hear that you are progressing not only in the Force," the dwarf said. "But we want to talk about your travels."
"The Order is interested in your report about the planet Drongar," Tivokka began to speak. (Author's note — listen, let me write the Wookiee's speech like human, ordinary dialogue. Just keep in mind — the MC understands the Wookiee's grunts as normal speech. And we are reading the MC's adventures from his perspective).
"I figured, Master Tivokka. I stumbled upon Drongar completely by chance, perhaps by the will of the Force. A couple of weeks ago, when I started sending you reports about the planet, I stumbled upon a strange caravan guarded by "Dreadnoughts". And I decided to check — what were they transporting. After all, these ships, according to the bases, belong to a trading company, which, as it turned out, was suspected of being a firm connected to the criminal Syndicate "Black Sun". Intrigued, I continued my investigation and found the planet. On it, I discovered an automated base for growing bots, a special medicinal plant."
"Only 'Miracle of Iego', a pharmaceutical firm, officially sold bots. Many tried to find out where they get this plant," the Wookiee growled, "but nothing came of it. We even sent a Jedi Knight to find out exactly — where they get bots. But he disappeared, apparently died."
"Quite likely," I agreed.
"Do you know something that you haven't managed to indicate in the report yet, hmm?" Yoda asked with curiosity.
"Correct," I confirmed. "The structure of "Black Sun", a criminal Syndicate, is managed by the Vigo Council, each of whom is responsible for a certain part of the Galaxy, which may include several sectors and systems of the Galaxy. I managed to infiltrate their base and hack the computer. The Vigo responsible for this territory is a certain Jarko Itari," I displayed an image of the Anzati before the Masters.
"Hmm," Yoda looked at her thoughtfully.
"She is dangerous because she is a Gifted… Anzati."
"Anzati?" Tivokka repeated. "Is this a race that feeds on the brains of its victims?"
"Yes," Yoda confirmed, "Anzati are a Force-sensitive race, however, due to their feeding method, they are dangerous and often come to the Dark Side. They are prone to telepathy and mind control. There were Anzati among the Jedi, one of the most famous — Wulff Karkko."
"I've never heard that name," Tivokka remarked.
"The Order tried to forget about him," Yoda noted, "he was one of the best, yes… But after tasting the "soup", as the Anzati call the brains of other sentient beings, he turned to the Dark Side. He was imprisoned."
"And why didn't they kill him?" I asked.
"The Council decided so, cherishing the hope that Wulff, upon learning of his fate, would begin to find his way to the light."
"Apparently, he got lost along the way, if he even started it," I smirked.
"Hmm," Yoda looked at me intently. "Let's return to the current problems. The Council considers the bot's property, which enhances the Gifted, to be dangerous."
"Yes," I agreed. "Most likely, Jarko keeps this feature a top secret, but I found out about it. And… Honestly, I couldn't resist. I had to study the effect."
"And what is the result?" Yoda asked.
"A feeling of euphoria, omnipotence… One dose and the Force… It's like it goes wild. I believe that without proper control from the recipient — the chance of falling is high. Not even high, it's almost absolute. But that's not the worst part. Her method causes addiction. After all, euphoria…"
"It doesn't just go away," Tivokka continued, "you'll want to try it again and again."
"Correct," I confirmed. "I was there for only a couple of weeks and didn't become addicted. But I am sure of such an addiction in Jarko."
"She increases her Force by taking the bot. And Anzati are already strong in the Force," there was another important nuance here. The bot could only enhance depending on how strong the Gifted was initially. In other words, the stronger the initial material, the better the effect was felt. That's why I had a jump of up to five thousand midi-chlorians for my "therapy". And Jarko's effect was not so strong. Her body had long been accustomed to the "herb" and did not give the full effect. And yet she was quite a strong telepath. — The Council believes that this resource cannot be left under the control of "Black Sun".
"I thought so too, so I destroyed their base with a strike from my starship. The bot is very sensitive to any changes in conditions. Anything can make it lose its properties, or mutate. My strike on their plantation clearly disrupted their plans, but it is not a solution to the problem."
"The solution to the problem here is the capture of Vigo and Drongar," Yoda remarked.
"And this will be my new assignment?" I asked.
"Not yours alone," the Grand Master said.
"My Padawan, Plo Koon, and I will join you, Light Flaingstar," the Wookiee said.
"Well, it's more fun together," I shrugged. It doesn't change the plans, except that I'll have to hide the medallion well. "However — my ship, Master Tivokka's ship — is clearly not enough to counter the forces of "Black Sun". As someone who passed the exams in Anaxis with flying colors, I tell you, even with stygium coating on my ship — it's a lost cause."
"The Council understands this," Yoda said. "Therefore, the operation will be under the auspices of the Jedi. Where you and Master Tivokka will be commanders."
Excellent, I'll get to try out what I learned at the Academy in practice. It's better than chasing around in simulation programs, which sometimes too closely resemble strategy games… And I also need to consider interesting cases in "commander vs. commander" simulators. Some students, during "multiplayer games", that is, the competition of one Academy student's fleet with another's fleet on a simulation program — managed to hack it and get God mode, or unlimited credits, or instant construction. It's worth mentioning that such an exam turned into torture for those who wanted to play honestly. We had only two such exams in total. After the second one, which I passed only on the third attempt, because a damn idiot hacked the distribution of his simulator, and the examiners didn't care about this event at all, I spat and finished my studies externally. I don't have time to suffer from cheaters in an elite military academy.
"What will we command, Grand Master?" I asked.
"The Judicial Corps," the Wookiee answered for Yoda. "We need to act quickly. Carry out the arrest of Senator Nelson, on whom you dropped compromising material, and strike Drongar."
"A strike on Drongar and the station is good, Master, but we must not forget about Jorka Itari," I said seriously. "Who knows — who else is under her thumb. Maybe not only Senator Nelson? It's no secret to me anymore that the Judicial Corps is frankly not succeeding in its activities. She, as a Vigo and a Gifted, and also with "her methods of sucking brains" can cause problems."
"Her methods?"
"Yes, Grand Master," I nodded. "She has learned to restrain the absorption, stretching this process, as it seems to me, for years. In the process, the victim receives something like… Sexual pleasure, if in simple terms — an orgasm. She probably stimulates the corresponding brain areas when extracting part of its tissue. At least that's what I understood from her slips of the tongue. In addition, she can use telekinesis at an advanced level and even showed Force Choke. She wields a vibroblade and a blaster. Here I cannot say at what level. But what is dangerous is that she is a quite competent organizer and a skilled leader. To ignore her existence and just take Drongar — would be foolish. In the sense that we would also allow the appearance of her victims, or rather, victims of her peculiarity."
"I agree," Yoda said thoughtfully after all my words. "What do you propose?"
"Physical liquidation," I replied. "Annihilation."
"Just like that?" Tivoqqa asked. "Jedi are not murderers."
"We are keepers of peace. And for the sake of peace, sometimes one must get their hands dirty, Master Tivoqqa," I looked at him. "Jarko Itari is primarily dangerous to those around her. Therefore, I believe we shouldn't play games with her, but simply kill her."
"It is difficult, but I agree with Light. The Anzati will not change their minds, no matter what words we prepare for her. Therefore, Light is participating. It is his duty. Your duty, Master Tivoqqa, is to control the attack. You must meet at Iego. And gather the forces of the Judicial Corps there. I have contacted the Corps. They will provide forces."
"I just hope they will be worthy," I snorted, "otherwise, a glorious end awaits us. 'Black Sun' is not a force that will be afraid of the fact that Jedi are attacking them."
"You both have no need to worry," Yoda said. "The Order will do everything necessary for you to succeed."
"It is gratifying to hear that. Then, until we meet at Iego," I nodded. "Grand Master Yoda, Master Tivoqqa," I said goodbye.
"May the Force be with you."
Iego was a well-known planet among the surrounding sectors. Quite developed technologically, a transport hub, and... connected to some corrupt schemes. "Black Sun" ships passed through it, among others. To avoid revealing myself prematurely, I chose to land my ship outside the spaceport, not far from the capital city. Naturally, I slipped under invisibility so as not to be detected. And I ordered the ship's AI to maintain invisibility, simply memorizing the surrounding area, and landed the ship in a clearing, in a forest. This planet belonged to the Republic, albeit nominally. Iego had long become a "smuggler's haven" and had a corresponding reputation, even considering the fact that the Judicial Corps headquarters was stationed there. But this structure either didn't want to, or couldn't do anything about the smugglers. And it was on Iego that I was to meet Tivoqqa and Plo Koon...