How many people dream of seeing the stars. Not in pictures, and not even in the sky. In space — real, actual space. Huge, boundless. In its own way, gloomy and beautiful. My first time in space on a spaceship even scared me a little. The engines barely made any noise, but the feeling that the ship was moving frightened me at first. Yes... This was nothing like the space combat simulator I had at home. Computer games existed here too... A bit simplistic and dumb, honestly. Strategy games barely existed. Unless you counted the equivalent of chess as a strategy. What really captivated me back then was the Space Simulator — whatever-thousand-something.
It was distributed on the FIFA model from Electronic Arts. The graphics, mechanics, and controls, according to my father, hadn't changed in the last couple of dozen installments of the game. Only the starships changed. And I flew pretty well on the simulator. Even too well — on the insane difficulty level, my giftedness helped me react quickly to all the environmental conditions in the game. But it was just a game. How I would behave at a real helm was something I still had to find out. According to Uncle Gadji, this version was created for kids to play. Students at military academies used full-fledged combat simulators. Now those were something resembling realism. In one of the academies, according to him, there was a machine that gave a mild electric shock to the loser in such a simulator. Sith methodology, though... they also liked to shock negligent subordinates who didn't follow orders. Except Darth Sidious didn't suffer from that with Vader, apparently afraid of overloading his apprentice before the right time. Remembering the Sith, I thought about my own situation.
I had no choice. It was only an illusion of choice, honestly. The Sith, whoever they were, knew about me. And they wouldn't have left me alone if I'd stayed on Tustra. Moreover, it was also bad that they generally knew about my family. And that meant potential problems. After all, if I became a Jedi, it would be easy to turn me to the Sith path just by taking my family hostage. How difficult it was, damn the Hutts, these Sith. Damn it, I was even starting to swear in Galactic Basic now. And I once thought that Basic was the devil's invention and I'd never master it. Now — I write, read, unconsciously speak?
"Boy," a soft, gentle voice reached me. Turning around, I saw Vaila, the Twi'lek accompanying the Republic diplomats — clearly being used by them not only for diplomatic consultations. "I think you might find it interesting to go to the viewports and look at the beautiful stars."
"Thank you, ma'am," I said calmly. There were places on this ship where I could watch the stars. I'd like a quieter spot, away from the others. Maybe I could even meditate.
But I wasn't allowed to meditate. Vaila accompanied me and stayed too close to my body, which made me tense. Her rather revealing clothing shouldn't have embarrassed a child, but my mind was the mind of an adult man. And alien women were the same as beautiful women to me. Getting up from the couch where I was sitting in something resembling a lounge, I proceeded toward one of the rooms. Judging by the sign, it was an "observation room." Maybe this corvette could be used as a combat vessel, but this one was clearly assigned to diplomats, because it had almost no weapons, but rooms like this were provided.
"And how old are you, young Light?" she asked with a kind of breathlessness.
"I'm five," I said, trying to move further away from her.
"And what are you doing?" asked Vaila. The woman's warm breath was distracting me from my focus.
"Ma'am. I'm five, why are you distracting me?" I asked innocently. "Are you, forgive the question, normal?"
"In what sense?" Vaila blinked in surprise.
"Well, I'm five years old, and you keep coming at me, like... Like..."
"Calm down," the woman smiled softly, hugging me. "I think I heard that you're smarter than your peers, but to this extent... If it weren't for the pirates," she said, "my son would be as old this year as you are now. I thought maybe you needed someone to help you a little, to talk to you — after all, your departure from home was, as I understood, somewhat abrupt."
"It was my decision," I pouted. "I decided myself that I should leave with Master Yoda."
"Is that so," the woman smiled softly. "And you decided to become a Jedi?"
"A Jedi Knight, a defender of the Republic," except the Jedi hardly defended the Republic. Maybe it was like that once, but now they acted more as defenders of the Senators' interests. I should think about that when I'm on Coruscant. That's where I could obtain the information I was interested in, not just about Force techniques and fencing. Politics, history. That's where I could understand how to intervene in the history of the Galaxy Far, Far Away. What to do about Order 66? About the Order? And by that time, many conflicts would have passed. The Naboo conflict, the Stark Hyperspace War, and a bunch of other local and not-so-local Wars. It wasn't for nothing that this universe was called "Star Wars."
"Well, I hope everything works out for you," said Vaila.
"Entering hyperspace," said the corvette's Captain.
I turned my gaze to the viewport. From here, it wasn't very visible how the stars stretched out, but the blue space of hyperspace was captivating.
"Vaila," the door opened, revealing Vaila's superior. "I'm waiting for you in my cabin, we need to discuss," he shot a glance at me, "some work matters."
"Good luck," I said to Vaila. "Have a nice rest, sir."
"You..." was all the diplomat said. He didn't have time to finish, because Vaila, ruffling my hair, left, taking the man by the hand.
Well, at least now I could meditate properly, while I had time before Coruscant. The Force felt somewhat different in space. More immense, cold, and neutral. Slipping into meditation, I felt my connection to the Force. Concentrating, I sensed all the beings on this ship. They burned with a bright light, bright auras.
"Who taught you this?" a voice suddenly rang out, making me lose concentration instantly and jump to the side.
"I... didn't sense you?" I said in surprise. "How?"
"Too young you are to sense me," said Yoda, pointing his cane at me. "Force Cloak, that is what I used. Weak you are in using the Force to sense me."
"Uh-huh," I sighed sadly. I would have been surprised if I could have sensed him.
"You did not answer my question," Yoda frowned. "Who taught you this?"
"Myself," I said, slightly dazed. "Since childhood. I didn't have many friends, Master Yoda. So I was always separate from everyone else. And one time, I just fell asleep. That dream showed me a vision."
"A vision?" asked Yoda.
"Of what Mom would make for dinner," I smiled.
In principle, I could attribute my knowledge of the Sith to this framework. That Hego Damask, by the way, one of Sifo-Dyas's best friends — was actually Darth Plagueis. Reveal Sidious too, reveal the Prophets of the Dark Side on Dromund Kaas. But I knew very well about such a thing as the butterfly effect. And I was afraid. What if the Jedi missed Plagueis? What if they missed the Prophets of the Dark Side? What if they found out who revealed them and took revenge? No, for now I wasn't confident in myself, and certainly not in the Order, which was negligent in its duties. Maybe during the Ruusan Reformation, many saw this state of the Order as a blessing. But I was one of those who considered this state of the Order to be precisely a mistake. Without change, the Order couldn't stand against the Sith. So it needed to change. First and foremost — to change myself.
"Strong your connection with the Force is, yes," Yoda shook his head. "Into meditation on your own you enter."
"Is that good?" I asked Yoda.
"Yes and no," Yoda cut off. "Is it good that you can do more than others, hmm? Yes, it is good. Easier training will be for you, for contact with the Force you have already found. But is it good that you, without a master and proper supervision, decided to explore the unknown? Bad it is. The unknown is dangerous. When an adult and strong Jedi faces danger — normal it is. But a child, barely having learned to live — bad it is. But blame you for it I cannot. Wondrous the minds of children are, yours most wondrous of all. More than many you have achieved."
I smiled. He'd scolded me, but also praised me — that was still nice.
"But do not grow proud. Long and thorny is the path of the Jedi. And pride is a vice that leads to arrogance, which leads to vanity, and vanity is a direct path to the Dark Side of the Force."
"Master Yoda," I called to him. "If the Jedi path is long and thorny, then is the path of those who walk the dark side not long and not thorny?"
"Dangerous that path is. Easier it almost certainly is, but so easy is everything in relation to the Force? Always remember, young Light. Jedi do not walk the simple path in understanding the Force. Hard it is for us, but that is why we are the Jedi Order, which protects the Republic. This our enemies do not understand," Yoda said sadly. "Smart you are, and talented. Careful you must be."
"I think... I understand," I said, though in some ways he had probably confused me even more.
"When it ceases to seem," he poked my chest with his stick, "then you will understand. Sit," he ordered.
"Sit?" I asked.
"Teach you a little I will, how a Jedi should meditate," Yoda said. "Understand our path better you can, through the Mind that prevails in you."
* * *
"Exiting hyperspace in three... two... one," the Captain's voice came over the loudspeaker. The ship shuddered slightly, though that was barely noticeable to my critical eye.
No one except the pilots themselves was allowed on the bridge during the flight. I spent the entire flight meditating — Yoda was teaching me. And yes, the meditation I had used before was, from Yoda's point of view, wrong simply because I hadn't used the Code. It turns out that in its own way, this affects the meditation itself and the Force. Connecting with the Force through the self-suggestion of the Jedi Code was difficult at first. After all, I had never used any formulas before.
"There is no emotion, there is peace," Yoda recited — surprisingly, he spoke the Code with the correct word order in the sentences. "This means that emotions you must not cast aside, but control and subdue. A Jedi should not be subject to emotions. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge," Yoda continued. "This means that if there is something you do not know, it does not mean you cannot learn it. Understand and accept facts you must. Flexibility of mind a Jedi must have. So that he can understand everything, even what he did not understand before. There is no passion, there is serenity. Concentrate on momentary gain you cannot. Global is the task of the Jedi, young Light. You cannot throw all your strength at a single goal. Do not doubt — do what must be done, but if you doubt — do not do it. There is no chaos, there is harmony," Yoda continued. "Small failures, troubles, setbacks — all this is insignificant. All this was before you, all this will be after you. Do not forget this. Follow your own path. There is no death, there is the Force. The dead pass into the Force. They continue to live, in it, in our hearts and thoughts, but remember you should that they have died. The Jedi Code this is. Study it you will."
"Master Yoda," I called to the green-skinned alien, finishing my meditation, turning the Code's tenets over in my mind. "But if there are no emotions, then how do we express them? Why do we deny them? If there is no ignorance, then are Jedi all-knowing? Why is the absence of ignorance postulated, if we literally do not know many things? And if I... die. Then it will all end. What is the meaning of the last tenet, if death is death? It is the logical end of all living things."
"Interesting questions you ask. To the tenets about the absence of passion and chaos you asked no questions. Explain what you did not understand I must. Emotions must be subject to control. With a cool head you must look at events. To tell the truth: this is the hardest thing of all. Know why?"
"We are sentient beings, subject to emotions from birth," I replied. "It's hard to give up what has been in us from the very beginning."
"Correct you speak," Yoda nodded. "However, emotions are a path to the Dark Side of the Force. Love easily leads to hatred, and hatred to anger, which is the Dark Side. A dark emotion. Sith bring chaos with this power. You will understand that all the tenets of the Code are connected. There is no harmony without, without control of emotions within. There is no knowledge without clarity of thought."
"And what about my other questions?" I asked Yoda. "How can it be postulated that there is no ignorance? If there is so much unknown in the Galaxy."
"Correct you speak. Vast the Galaxy is in its size. This tenet affirms that we must learn the unknown, not fear it because of ignorance. Learn about the world around you. From examples of the history of many Jedi you will learn, soon, how to understand all the tenets of the Code."
"But what about death?" I asked. "If I can understand, even with questions, some tenets, then why do we deny death?"
Honestly, Yoda's explanations regarding emotions and knowledge had clarified some things. I understood how he himself felt about it and how he would teach everyone around him. But why limit yourself so much in emotions? I had always thought that Jedi were disliked because of their emotions. They could give absolutely any order, guided only by bare rationalism, ignoring emotions. Because of this, sentients cannot understand them, which is why they themselves hate them. This indifference of the Jedi, when appealing to their Code — they would not allow punishing murderers and pirates — this very thing became the catalyst for hatred towards them. I agree that emotions need to be controlled, but the current Jedi do not control them; they deny their existence. As for knowledge — that was just a question for the sake of a question. But about death... The current Yoda had only heard of a Force ghost. But he had not seen one, nor encountered one, nor did he possess that technique. I would like to learn it too, to appear and guide history if I do not succeed in my own body. I hope I never have to use it.
"There is no death," said Yoda. "When a Jedi dies, he merges with the Force. The Force, which envelops our Galaxy, binds all living things inextricably. The dead live this way, in the Force," Yoda said.
"So, they literally are the Force? And can they contact us?" I asked. "Can we communicate with those who have already passed on, to gain their knowledge?"
"Yes," Yoda nodded. "A way there is, but only powerful Jedi are capable of this. Holocrons they can create and communicate with us, teaching us."
"That's not what I meant, Master Yoda. As I understand it — Holocrons are physical objects," Yoda nodded, "but what if there is a method by which we can communicate with any Jedi who has passed into the Force? You yourself said that they merged with the Force, which means they can appear before us and communicate. Without Holocrons. Or can they not?"
"Hmm," Yoda pondered. "Strange are the thoughts that can meet in a child's head. Truly... A way there likely is, but know it I do not," Yoda smiled at me. "Meditate on this I will. For important it is, to gain the knowledge of Jedi not only those who created Holocrons. Interesting thoughts you express."
"There is no passion, there is serenity, Master Yoda," I recited one of the tenets.
"Correct," Yoda nodded, "correct. Wise you are beyond your years. A fine Jedi you will become. Watch your progress I will."
"Will you not be my teacher?" I clarified just in case.
"Not I," Yoda agreed. "Council affairs take much of my time. Though teach all younglings I will. And speak with you I will, if questions you have."
Meanwhile, the ship entered Coruscant's atmosphere, and I caught my breath at what I saw through the viewport. Incredible buildings, made of glass and steel. Coruscant Prime, the star of Coruscant, playing the role of the Sun, illuminated the legendary planet-city. This was the wealthiest world of the Republic, located at the intersection of several trade and hyperspace routes. It was the forge of all Republic politics, the forge of the economy. Whoever controls Coruscant controls, at minimum, the Core Worlds — the most developed worlds in the Galaxy, with the greatest economic power. Coruscant had quite busy traffic, which was noticeable even from the viewport. Speeders flew at incredible speeds for a traffic flow.
"Amazes you this, does it?" asked Yoda. "To the Jedi we fly. To the Temple."
"The Temple?" I asked. "What about those diplomats?"
"This ship belongs to the Jedi. They will drop us off first, and then they will go home on speeders. Made friends with them, have you?" asked Yoda.
"Not really," I said. The men barely paid me any attention at all, but Vaila... Now that was a woman, even though I knew it was foolish. My adult mind reacted to her beautiful body, but not at all to her character.
"Hmm?" Yoda looked at me questioningly. "Never mind. Land soon we will."
The ship flew around the Jedi Temple, and I could only briefly glimpse what would soon become my home. For a long time, by the way. A huge cube, just like in the movies, comics, and games, with five towers arranged around its perimeter and in the center. In each of them, their own Councils sat. Concentrating on my senses, I thought I would go blind. The Temple was located directly on a huge amount of Force — literally, the Force surged beneath it. According to canon, it was built on a Force Nexus by four Masters — two sages and two warriors. Contrary to logic, the High Council of the Jedi Order was not located in the tallest spire tower, which rose above all the others (Author's note: imagine, when I was working on this chapter in the draft stage a couple of months ago, I thought otherwise). The Central Tower mainly housed meditation halls. Ancient texts were also stored there.
The First Spire, as the spire on the southwest side was called, as Yoda explained to me, was intended for the meetings of the High Council of the Jedi Order. Currently, it included: Teym Sirollian, a human; Yoda; Tivokka, a Wookiee; T'un, a half-Sephi, half-Arkanian; Deira Von, a human — these were the ones I knew even before my rebirth (Author's note: approximately during this period, the indicated individuals were on the High Council, however! I know nothing about T'un's race — so that's my imagination; he is several hundred years old). Besides them, the Council included Mila Gar, a Twi'lek; Thorn Shyr, a Togruta; Gar Mirt, a Mon Calamari; and Yula Braylon. Honestly, I didn't have to remember all of them. By the time of more or less important events, many of them would not survive. Most would die, as befits a Jedi — not by their own hand. And even now, the Council was not at full strength. Four Masters were missing, and this was in peacetime, generally speaking.
The Second Spire, in the northwest, was the Council of First Knowledge. It gave advice to everyone, a kind of Jedi Google. They directed the Archives, as well as the Academy, which according to Yoda I would be attending. They would also be responsible for my education. In the Jedi Academy, they taught not only how to properly cut up sentients with a lightsaber and hypnotize them with the Force. The main sphere of a Jedi was diplomacy. Reconciliation, conflict resolution. They taught history, politics, the culture of different races, rhetoric, and, albeit superficially, how to command armies and fleets. That was from what Yoda told me. "Much you will study, before a Jedi you become."
The Third Spire, the southeast one. The Council of Reconciliation. They were responsible for peacekeeping activities. Mostly, members of this Council were engaged in diplomacy in the Senate. It was at the local level that a Jedi Knight could be sent.
The Fourth Spire — the northeast tower. The Council of Assignment. They assigned all Jedi to their posts. They were responsible for making younglings into Padawans, or sending them to the Service Corps.
I asked Yoda about almost everything I heard, and he willingly told me everything. Although now I could experience all this in practice, not in theory, in comics, films, and games... The ship shook slightly as it landed on the hangar floor. The sound of the ramp opening came... Well, that was it. Now the road was definitely one-way only.