The situation for the mercenary Dol Agid was not the most pleasant. His employer always sent him on the most dangerous missions, and he executed them brilliantly. Who his employer was, Dol also guessed and even knew. Once upon a time, the entire galaxy was torn by wars between the Sith and the Jedi. Almost a thousand years ago, the Jedi defeated the Sith during the Seventh Battle of Ruusan. That battle was the precursor to the Ruusan Reformation of the Jedi Order. But the Sith didn't disappear even in that battle, which destroyed both the Brotherhood of Darkness and the Jedi forces. And Dol had been successfully serving a master who was, in fact, a Sith for the past few years. Dol's field of activity was enormous: from eliminating promising Jedi to escalating tensions between the worlds of the Outer Rim and the Core.
Peace in the Galaxy would only come under a strong rule, when all power is concentrated in the hands of a strong being. Unlike some of his colleagues, Dol was attracted not so much by credits as by the idea itself: concentration of power in the hands of one worthy, strong being. The politicians in the Senate do nothing but talk. The Chancellors haven't influenced anything for a long time. The position is held by representatives of the same families, who prefer simply to lobby for the interests of those who supply them with credits, whores, and real estate. Even now it's noticeable that the Republic is rotten. But if the Sith win, everything will surely change.
That's why Dol was more ideologically driven than a simple mercenary. And his employer knew this. That's why the master sent him on the most unpleasant, controversial, and difficult missions. Many years of training and travel had forged his body and character. The master knows that Dol will always carry out any order. And so his current task was to retrieve a gifted child, and not just any child. The boy was born with a phenomenal number of midi-chlorians. He also attracted his master, apparently because the boy was of the Sephi race. This is a long-lived race: purely theoretically, the boy has enough time for training, a good predisposition to the Force. All this could help Light grow into an excellent Sith. In addition, Light Flyingstar himself understands his abilities quite well, entertaining the children with various tricks.
But there was one catch. The boy was born and lived on Tustra. The capital planet of the eponymous Sephi sector. The ruler of this world had always cooperated closely with the Jedi. Among other things — Alaric was known for his close friendship with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Yoda... One had to fear him for the rank he'd earned alone. Although Dol had never seen Yoda in action, his master warned Dol Agid against a confrontation with this Jedi. Dol arrived on the planet calmly and managed to get a job in the palace, through the patronage of a servant from the HR department, whose mind his master had once washed with Force influence. But the moment was lost, and, moreover, it was probably Dol's fault.
Light Flyingstar was supposed to be taken to the Jedi Temple, and Dol himself couldn't kidnap him in time. Worst of all, it wasn't some ordinary recruiter from the Order who arrived on the planet — Dol had already sent a couple of those to merge with the Force. As if in mockery, the Grand Master Yoda himself came for the boy. And that's when one should have been incredibly cautious. Carefully leave the dangerous Sector, hoping for his master's mercy. But Dol decided to go all in. Double or nothing. His master wouldn't pat him on the head for losing the boy. But if he could wipe Yoda's nose himself? What then?
Oh, that would be simply splendid... If it works out.
"As you said, master," the Sephi traitor addressed him. Kaji, I think. Kaji looked frail and nervous, constantly looking around. Apparently, the mental implants placed by his master had loosened slightly, because he shouldn't be acting like this. "The boy is being taken to His Majesty's garden. His Majesty and Yoda will be heading there soon." If Yoda meets the boy — that's it. The mission will be failed, because the Grand Master won't let the boy go. So he had to act now. Dol raised the datapad to his eyes and connected to the mini-cameras placed in the corridors.
"Corridor number?" he asked Kaji.
"Seventh," Kaji said.
Dol connected to the corresponding camera and noticed two companions walking in a direction he didn't need. The boy was frail and short. But he had a pretty face and purple eyes. His build was somewhat different from the Sephi children Dol had seen before. And the boy was accompanied by a tall guard with a standard rifle. The Sephi rifle was somewhat uncomfortable for a human. Sephi have longer fingers than humans.
"Excellent," Dol took out his blaster. "Thanks for your service." A shot, and Kaji slumped to the floor.
He had to be cleaned up anyway, by the master's order. Alaric's counterintelligence was quite powerful. And Dol's job placement in the palace had made Kaji leave too many traces.
"Well, now..."
Dol moved to intercept, quickly moving through the corridors. Kaji's corpse, previously examined by Dol, who had prudently taken all possible evidence with him, remained lying on the floor. Dol hid at the intersection of one of the many corridors with the one along which Light and his escort were walking. Stepping out, Dol immediately aimed his blaster precisely at the man's back. A shot, and the man, grunting, slumped to the ground. The boy turned around in shock...
"Your route is changing slightly, boy," Dol announced. "You're not going with him. You're coming with me. Now slowly and without any tricks — turn to face me."
"I..."
"For clarity's sake, I can tell you this: my employer ordered me to deliver you to him, but he didn't specify in what condition you should arrive. So I'll repeat myself: if you don't want me to break all your worthless arms and legs, turn around slowly and come here." Cruelty in raising children — the most effective method. So his father had told him, beating him during another training session. But look what Dol became? A mercenary who fears no Jedi, valued by dangerous Sith.
The boy just threw up. And a blaster hit isn't even the most brutal thing he'll see. Sith and Jedi in battle use lightsabers. These blades can not only cut a path through a door but also cleave a being into several neat halves. And he threw up from a simple blaster shot? Tch, a sissy, Dol never liked such weaklings. But nothing, this weakness will be burned out of him by the most effective method — training under a Sith.
"Pfft," the man snorted. "What a pathetic thing you are. But the master needs a strong Force-sensitive. They paid well for you, boy, and if I understand correctly, in a couple of months of living with my employer — you'd kill your own mother without much regret." Though he'd rather he didn't. His mother was incredibly beautiful, wouldn't mind having some fun with her. Even a little.
The boy hesitated only briefly. In just a couple of seconds, he moved toward Dol. The mercenary smiled. Finally. He could escape; his ship had a few tricks. Suddenly, the boy raised his right hand...
* * *
If running is the only option, then I need to prepare for an escape. If I leave with him now — I won't have another chance... Yes... Calm down, Light. Right now, you have the advantage. He doesn't know what you're capable of, or he knows but underestimates you. As long as there's a chance, I should use it. Step... Another step. The mercenary was smiling arrogantly, though his gaze was focused alternately on me and on the corridor behind me. He's definitely controlling the surroundings, which means I have to be careful too. Unfortunately, without proper training, I can't use sensory techniques like the Center of Being, where a Force adept enhances their sensory abilities to incredible heights. Right now, unfortunately, I really do have extremely weak sensory skills. Because without proper training, understanding the Force is like figuring out Higher Mathematics on your own. You can read it, but understanding it... Incredibly difficult, impossible. The Sith... Their desires, their views — completely contradict everything I believe in. Which means from the very beginning, I'm not on their path. I could, of course, go with the flow. But enough! I've had enough of going with the flow; I have the Force. And it can unpleasantly surprise all those who consider me their enemy or a pawn.
But I have telekinesis... And that's essentially it. After all, even my body can't overcome a well-trained adult mercenary in hand-to-hand combat. Which means...
I sharply raised my hand, directing the Force, as much as I could, into a push using telekinesis. The mercenary was thrown back a few meters. Spinning around, I dashed in the opposite direction down the corridor, spurring myself on with Force enhancement.
"Y-you little bastard!" the mercenary snarled from behind. Apparently, he wasn't trying to chase me, but I heard a click. Switched his blaster to stun mode?
I dove right, slipping and slamming into the marble corridor floor. Painful, damn it... The fall broke my concentration on the Force. But the stun shot flew past me, missing. The next one, though... Get up... Get up! The mercenary aimed his blaster at me. Come on... As if in slow motion, I saw his finger ready to squeeze the trigger. Then... I raised my hand again and tried to disarm him, pulling the blaster, with the Force, in a different direction. The shot hit the wall... And there was no next shot. In front of me appeared a short figure, clad in a white robe over simple, light brown clothing. I only briefly glimpsed his skin: green, wrinkled. Only someone completely detached from Star Wars wouldn't recognize him. The Grand Master Yoda himself...
"Hutt," the mercenary spat, as I, realizing I was saved, stopped my attempts at Force manipulation. I sprawled exhausted on the floor.
"Yoda is my name, not Hutt, mercenary. Death I sense from you, of my comrades," Yoda said calmly. "Surrender you should, fair treatment I shall guarantee you."
"Surrender? Hutt!" the man exclaimed.
He aimed his blaster at Yoda and fired... Oh, fool. Yoda activated his green lightsaber and deflected the shots precisely back at the mercenary, but the man ducked and lunged at the Grand Master. He didn't appreciate the humor and executed a perfect Mou Kei (Author's Note: as you've figured out — the MC knows a lot. Mou Kei: https://youtu.be/LkfIcv_DOSM?t=105. A Sith technique inherently, but Obi-Wan loved it). To be honest, I only saw the result. Yoda moved at a speed I couldn't have noticed even with my senses enhanced by the Force. Yoda... According to Jedi classification — he focuses more on studying the mysteries of the Force, not fencing. But even so — he defies logic. Yoda is a master of Ataru, who has advanced so far in this form that he ignores its direct disadvantages.
"Ghaaah," the mercenary coughed heavily. "Ghak?"
"Weak you are, to oppose the power of a Jedi," Yoda declaimed. "Peacefully I wished to end the fight, but this you desired yourself. Now for everything you shall answer..."
"FUCK OFF!" the mercenary roared.
What's that strange beeping? Did he decide to blow himself up? Damn, he's one of the ideologically driven ones. Yoda oriented quickly. The wall shook from the explosion that radiated from the mercenary. But the explosion didn't even touch me; Yoda, appearing before me, simply extended his hand, absorbing the energy from the blast with Tutaminis. I watched in shock as the explosion vanished into Yoda's three-fingered palm.
"A pity interrogating you will not be possible," Yoda said ruefully. "Assistance give him," he addressed the guards who had run up, nodding at me, "shock he has survived, our future young Jedi."
* * *
In the end, after my little adventure was over, an investigation of incredible scale began in the palace. Unfortunately, the mercenary himself, whose name was Dol Agid, didn't reveal anything to me. He only mentioned "the master" in passing. And who was his master? Plagueis? Or maybe Sidious? Or one of the Prophets of the Dark Side? The galaxy has many personalities from all sorts of factions who might need me. And although I guessed that all threads lead to Hego Damask, also known as Darth Plagueis — I couldn't share this with anyone. After all, I don't even know him. Plus, I'm not trained. And Force visions almost never manifest for me. How could I explain my knowledge about the Sith? I didn't know and didn't understand, even after talking with Yoda.
"What... will happen to me?" I asked the Master, who was sitting on a chair before my bed in the Palace Infirmary.
"Told you already I have. To Coruscant with me you shall go, a strong Jedi you will become."
"A Jedi," A Jedi, after all. Sounds cool... I guess.
"A Jedi," Yoda nodded, wrinkling his face amusingly. "Protectors of Peace and Tranquility in the Galaxy we are." Only the Order is too weak for that. "The Jedi Order — peacekeepers for quite a long time we have been, even before the Republic's formation we were. Jedi are knights of the Light Side of the Force. The Force is our ally, helps us. Used it you have, and quite successfully against Dol."
"The Force," I nodded, trying to keep the conversation going. "Will you teach me?"
"Little you know, but ask to learn more you do, hmm?"
"I understand," I replied to Yoda's question. "What I can do is only a small thing compared to you and other Jedi. That's why I ask you to teach me..."
"A strange boy you are," Yoda shook his head. "Usually proud are future Younglings, if something they can do. But not pride I hear in your voice, but a thirst for knowledge. Teach you we shall, worry you need not. But careful you must be. Unbridled thirst — a path to the Dark Side. And the Dark Side — a path to self-destruction and chaos. Only by conquering your passions and taming your thirst, the Jedi path you will understand."
"Is it bad to thirst for knowledge?" I asked Yoda.
"A mind you have not of a child, but older than some. But a child in spirit you still are," he rebuked me, "bad it is when unable you are to tame your thirst for knowledge and power. The Force must be understood gradually. Therefore, the system is important. Order is important, control is important."
"And I will become a Jedi Knight?"
"Difficult is the path to becoming a Jedi, Young Light. First a Youngling you will become, a young Jedi. Training under the guidance of teachers, living in a clan with your comrades, more powerful and wiser you will become. After, a teacher will find you, making you a Padawan. Through much you shall pass together, and then, the Council will decide what to do with you. A strong Knight you can become, I sense it, a great Jedi who can lead our Order to dawn. But learn you must first, a difficult path you must traverse..."
I see, as the Great Comrade Lenin bequeathed. And I will study... I was given a second chance in this world. And it would be a sin not to use it. I've seen the future, even if only on the pages of comics. But I know what's coming in this galaxy. The Order is not ready for the Sith Attack. And I, knowing this future, must take matters into my own hands. But for that, I need to become an incredibly strong Jedi. No matter how much the Order boasts that wisdom and intelligence are more important, you should always look at the High Council of Masters. Not all of them are excessively wise, but all are strong. The door to the infirmary opened... I tried to get up to greet the entrants.
"Lie down," ordered King Alaric, "I heard you were injured, so I came to visit. Forgive me, Light Flyingstar."
Behind Alaric, in a maid's uniform, stood my mother, looking at me with concern. My heart filled with warmth as she smiled at me... Yes, I'm fine.
"Therefore, I feel that I ought to compensate for the damages," Alaric continued, causing Yoda to gaze at him. "The mercenary who wanted to take you — it turns out he has a personal ship, which we impounded in the planetary docks. Alas, old friend," he addressed Yoda. "The ship is completely clean. With all that entails. That is, no information was left behind after Dol's death. But there is a ship, I assure you, a decent one. I would like to give it to you, as the injured party. And yes, I know that Jedi are forbidden from owning property. But still, Yoda, the boy has clearly suffered enough. And what prevents it — if the presence of this ship in the Temple bothers you so much — leave it here for now, under the ownership of the Flyingstar family? And whether Light will use it or not is entirely his wish.
"Object I do not, yes," Yoda's ears wiggled strangely. "Yes... Talk of this with Light we will, later. For now, with his family he must be left. Yes... Say goodbye they will soon have to."
Yoda jumped off the chair and, accompanied by guards, Alaric, and some servants, left. And then I felt incredible pain. I was literally squeezed in my mother's embrace. She held me so tightly, afraid to let go, and, it seemed to me, even sobbed.
"Mayla," my father, who was also there, called to her. "Let him go. You'll break all his ribs."
"But... But... Fine," Mom reluctantly loosened her embrace. "Light. Just say the word if you don't want to become a Jedi. I'll do anything, but you won't become one."
"No, Mom." Would a child demand such a response? Kids are usually up for anything except hunger strikes. Though many noted my level-headedness. "I want to be a Jedi." The Force won't leave me. It will drag me into any conflict anyway. And it's better for me to be a trained fighter in a conflict than an untrained militiaman or something worse.
"The Winds witness, I will talk with you about this yet, Light Flyingstar," Mayla promised. "You don't know what awaits you as a Jedi. And I don't want you to suffer the pain that will accompany you on your path. I will talk to you again..."
"Calm down, Mayla," Dennis stroked her back. "Speaking of which, Light. Do you know what kind of ship they just gifted you?" He took out a holoprojector and activated it. "See that? Our sappers barely managed to defuse the bomb that that... um... jerk planted. In short, an unpleasant being," my father cleared his throat. "Son, this ship is a modified version of the 'Star Courier' from Sienar! I'd estimate it at sixty million credits." My father could work for that sum his whole life! That's how much a Venator costs! Thank you, gentlemen Sith, for the valuable gift. "The standard version costs around two or three million. But this... The standard 'Star Courier' has a class four or five hyperdrive. No laser armament. Simpler engines, a weaker reactor. But this one. Everything's upgraded and modified. A choice bird. Class two hyperdrive, weapons... I'll keep it in good condition, though some military types were giving us dirty looks. They wanted to take it apart to the last bolt."
I looked at the standard ship of Darth Maul; Sidious flew one in his time too. The "Star Courier," in fact, was a pretty common ship. Used for light smuggling and quite successful, and most importantly — it was mass-produced. Sienar hadn't yet started supplying its famous TIE fighters. But they were invaluable in transport vessels like the "Star Courier," which was highly valued in the Galaxy. It was relatively cheap, but the most important thing about this ship was the ability to create your own modification when ordering. Standard couriers came with a weaker hyperdrive, no shields, weak engines, as my father explained to me. But nothing prevented installing a couple of lasers, missiles, a higher hyperdrive class, sensors and detectors, and shields. As long as you had the credits... For the illegal attack, the Tustra government simply confiscated the vessel from Dol Agid's use and transferred it to my family. Though my father already promised me that the ship would be exclusively mine, if I returned to Tustra and claimed my rights to it.
Well, I definitely won't refuse such a gift. And until then, I can also study the ship's documentation, maybe I'll also make some modifications to my ship. After all, it's now MY ship. As long as there's the money and the desire... Yes... But before that, I'm being sent to Coruscant. The capital of the Galactic Republic and the place where I will learn many things...