In the morning I was already at the southern part of the city, where I was supposed to meet Jacob Jarps's group. The landscape was ordinary for this planet: sand, which a light breeze was blowing around, that was basically it. The city of Mos Espa was still asleep — at least, there were very few residents on the streets themselves.
"I see you're ready," came the Dark Woman's voice from behind me. "And you even did some preparation. Although it was rude of you not to pay for my lunch, Light. Ever heard of etiquette? A man must pay for a woman."
"Well, I never intended to be a diplomat," I replied to Kuro without turning around. "Besides — neither the etiquette rules of my home planet nor the rules of your home planet prescribe anything like that. The Sephi in general consider such things an insult to women and prejudice. All such meetings follow the scheme: everyone pays exactly for what they ordered. It's foolish to order an ultra-rare and expensive dish if you work as a cleaning canal janitor."
"I see," Kuro snorted, "it seems the boy has grown some teeth and is trying to bite. Just very clumsily."
"A Gifted Sephi can live a thousand years; I'm not even a hundred yet," I noted. "You'll still be proud of me. If you live long enough."
"If you live long enough, because however you might become, don't be worse than Lorm," Kuro stood beside me.
"Have you come to give me a send-off?" I asked, turning to my mentor, whose face was also hidden by a hood.
"In your case, it's useless. Lorm influenced you too much, both your character and your perception of the Force," she sighed. "He remains your teacher, even dead. I'm only polishing your skills. Though I must note that the way you look at the Force is a bit strange — even from the point of view of a sentient like Lorm."
"Even I can't understand how I look at the Force," I shook my head.
"That was your problem, but it also set you apart — favorably — from everyone else. Unconsciously, in the view of your mentors and even Lorm — you didn't divide the Force, you used it. There is the Light Side of the Force, there is the Dark Side of the Force..."
"And there is the Unifying Force, which our predecessors knew how to use..."
"All Jedi who tried to study the Unifying Force — one way or another fell into Darkness," Kuro replied harshly. "I've cut down so many of them you wouldn't believe. So don't talk to me about the Unifying Force. Fairy tales, nothing more. You either use Darkness or Light. Before your Padawan days — I spoke with your mentors who guided you as a youngling — it was barely noticeable. But now I see... After the Fall — you view the Force not as Light or Darkness, but as some kind of substance."
"Energy," I inserted the word, "a bioenergetic field that permeates all living things. Why do we Jedi and our counterparts divide everything into Light and Darkness? When the Force is just energy. Just no fairy tales about good and evil, mentor..."
"And I thought I was going for a walk when I took you as my student," Kuro sighed heavily. "Depending on the side of the Force — so do our actions come. We Jedi protect the peace, tranquility, and well-being of the majority of Sentients. The Light always protects and warms. The Sith, on the contrary, in their love for Darkness, always wanted only to destroy, subjugate, and dominate. They would prefer to destroy what they don't understand. Do you understand? Your view of the Force is strange, but it's definitely not what a true Jedi should have. It's not certain that this will prevent you from being made a Knight. On the contrary, they'll make you one, given your abilities. But ask yourself this: with that attitude, can you bear the responsibility of our Order before the Galaxy? The responsibility for a huge number of lives. No. Sooner or later — you'll fall again with that attitude. And I'm not Lorm. I'll be forced to use my blade against you... What a pity. You have so much talent. But discipline, apparently, is lacking. That's what I'd like to teach you."
"I will hope that your lessons will benefit me, mentor," I made a bow.
"Me too. I would very much not like to receive an order from Magister Jonal about your elimination. And he wouldn't even hesitate, Light. I'll leave you now," Kuro told me. "I won't follow your group... with particular zeal. This is a trial for you and your skills, and the prize is incredibly valuable. I hope it's worth it. May the Force be with you," the woman disappeared.
Won't follow? Fine. I'm sure I can handle it. I just need to do what I always do. But this time — full throttle, so to speak. No excuses, no regrets, and don't hold back. Yes... And what about the Republic? The Jedi Order? The Force? Right... I feel something strange, like a fleeting vision. I'm starting to understand what I need to do. But something's missing. Something that won't let me completely reconsider everything and determine my path to the end. Until Lorm's death, I was a Jedi because I hoped I could change something without sacrificing anything, using my knowledge of the 'canon.' Now I understand that one who doesn't sacrifice changes nothing. We sacrifice our time, strength, mental health to become stronger. Same on the scale of the Galaxy... You have to sacrifice something to change everything. All that will be... but why should I do it? Why am I still, knowing that hellish trials await me in the future — still clinging to something?
What keeps me in the Jedi Order? What drives me forward? The desire to survive, which gnaws at me like a flame during another battle? Or the understanding that a Gifted of my talents in this Galaxy cannot live in peace? Or maybe something greater, altruistic, burns within me like a flame... Something that tells me to give everything to change future events? Or is it pride pushing me? Pride that looks at me with contempt? As long as it's not hubris... Because pride is one thing, but if it's hubris, then nothing has changed even with such sacrifices. Master and the girl died because of damned hubris.
"You're late," I said sharply, sensing the heavy footsteps of four sentients. This is no time for self-digging, especially since I almost found the answer. I just need a couple more puzzle pieces. I hope it will at least bring some clarity... to my meaningless actions. "The meeting was supposed to be about twenty minutes ago."
"Some... unforeseen difficulties arose," Jacob said. "We had to get distracted."
"The mercenary group that camped nearby suddenly decided that their speeders were broken because we had some fun at their base," came Hori's voice. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
"I think," I turned to the group, "I accidentally took a couple of 'extra' parts from their speeders. Besides, I'm the one who cut off their comrade's hand."
"They didn't ask about the hand," Bombur said. "But they did ask about the damaged transport."
"Then they're idiots," I concluded. "Twenty-nine sentients against four Mandalorians... Even drunk, I wouldn't bet on a different outcome." So that explains the strange sounds. I thought they were shots. But who knows. Mos Espa, after all. They might shoot here every day.
"Again, I'm surprised by you, sonny," Vanda said mockingly. "Do you even know what makes sentients drunk?"
"I know, lady," I replied innocently. "But you don't. You don't take off your helmet, according to the Codex. That's respectable, yes... But it imposes... some limitations. I even doubt: are you a woman or a girl? After all — the codex and rules for Mandos are sacred."
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha," Bombur laughed. "He got you there, Vanda."
"Shut up," came from the woman. "And you, shorty — arrogant, rude..."
"Hey, don't swear in front of the children," I stopped her.
"Oh, stop it," Bombur clutched part of his belly armor theatrically. "I'm going to die!"
"Enough," Jacob's cold voice cut sharply. "I thought we had a serious matter here. But you've gotten somewhat off-topic. At least one more group will set out from Mos Espa and about five from Mos Eisley. And you're acting like children in kindergarten. Either take this seriously, or the city is behind me."
Silence fell. Jacob spoke sharply, coldly, and with his voice he, as it were, cut off Bombur's laughter and my response toward Vanda. He instantly made us all listen only to him.
"Anyone want to turn back? Those who think we're going on a picnic can go back. No? Then pull yourselves together and get ready," he said. "Prepare your speeders. You have ten minutes, then we start the operation. And I want to warn you, Padawan, about the iron rule of the 'Steel Strike' group. If you fall behind — no one will have your back. My group doesn't tolerate weaklings and whiners. I can only help in battle, and depending on the situation. Understood?"
I just nodded.
"Good," came from Jacob. "Then go get your bike ready," he nodded toward my speeder.
My speeder had been ready for a while. So I just glanced it over, especially some important components that might give way. After all — we were heading into the desert, into the Dune Sea. Using equipment in the desert has its specifics. High temperatures, sand, wind... All of this could be extremely unpleasant not only for Sentients but also for equipment.
"So," Jacob summed up. "Everyone ready? Then let's begin," he pressed a couple of buttons on his datapad and brought up a holographic map. "The approximate area where the Krayt dragon lives is quite large. Preliminary reconnaissance indicates a square twenty kilometers long and twenty kilometers wide. The first goal is to reach this square. It'll take us about an hour and a half to two hours to reach it. Then we need to find our target. We'll reach the square on speeders, switching to jetpacks only in battle," he nodded to his team members. "So. We've reached the square. Is everything about reaching the square clear? Any questions? Excellent. Special formation for the journey: the Jedi goes first, at the head of the column. I know your reflexes are far more powerful than those of ordinary Sentients. I'm sure if we're attacked head-on, you'll think of something," I nodded. "Right behind you, I follow — the group commander. I hope you don't have any illusions?"
"Your group, I joined, so you're the commander, Jacob," I said indifferently. "I know about Mandalorian group tactics only from a history course. I can't command you. That would be ineffective."
"Then I'll continue," Jacob nodded. "Right behind me follows Hori, behind Hori — Vanda, and after Vanda — Bombur. Hori provides operational information during the move, so the whole group will have to adjust to his speed. He's the only one whose speeder will be controlled by a droid, and I need you to use your system slicer skills, Hori. Hack our enemy's communications and report their movements to us. Bombur will provide rear cover... in his style," he looked at the last Mandalorian.
"How will we find the Krayt dragon?" Vanda asked Jacob.
"The temperature on Tatooine makes some sensors... non-functional. So we'll have to find the Krayt dragon using the bait principle. We split into three groups. I go alone, crossing the square through the center. Vanda and the Padawan head to the right. Hori and Bombur — to the left. We keep in contact with each other. If our target attacks any group, we call the others."
"The sensors might have problems," I said thoughtfully. "But in my group, I was the best at sensory Force techniques. Predicting the future during a fight, finding vulnerabilities," the Mandalorians looked at me, "and also — sensing the Force. Roughly speaking, I can sense invisible targets perfectly. A Krayt dragon is a huge living creature, and sensing it won't be a problem for me."
"Is that so?" Jacob asked, his voice carrying something strange. "Interesting. And what's the radius of your sensing? I understand that this ability of yours is active from your body. You can't exactly project it onto a specific area."
"I can't detach it from my body, although in deep meditation I can catch 'hints,' let's call it that. But we don't have time for me to sit in deep meditation. First — it takes time. Second — I'd be extremely vulnerable during such meditation. But there's another option. I can use sensory perception while moving. The technique's effective radius is about five hundred meters in all directions. If we adopt your plan, Vanda and I would have an advantage."
"No," Jacob shook his head. "My first plan is no longer valid with this new information. Since you can cover such an area with your Force, everything now revolves around you. The group won't split up; we'll just continue following you," an editor appeared on the holographic map. "We'll cross the square. Then, if we don't find the target, we'll move five hundred meters in another direction and cross it again. All this time, you'll try to find the dragon. Until you find it, we'll be crossing the square. Plus, in this case, we'll also act as advantageous bait. They're voracious creatures — at least they'd prefer to attack several at once to have something to eat."
"So we're counting on the kid?" Vanda asked.
"Besides everything else — he'll also be able to predict an attack on us," Hori noted.
"No," I objected. "You have far more chances to predict an attack on the group. My detection radius is five hundred meters. Too little to realize any advantage."
"But given the speed at which we'll cover the distance to the enemy," came from Bombur, "it's enough for me to load my grenade launcher."
"Everyone's on their own topic," Vanda sighed heavily.
"Meanwhile: how are we going to fight?" I asked Jacob.
"Obviously, you'll attack in close combat. Your task, Padawan, is to keep it away from us. Among Sentients, only Jedi and Sith like fighting in close combat. Everyone else uses blasters. And the most dangerous fauna objects prefer close combat. We've had many problems with mobile, and not-so-mobile, strong and durable fauna objects, because they closed the distance. That's why we Mandalorians use jetpacks. But right now, it's not certain we'll need to use them. Use your sword," Jacob nodded at my right hand, where the lightsaber was attached, "and keep the krayt dragon away from us."
"Seems easy," I said thoughtfully, "but it's a giant and powerful beast. Do you think I can hold it back? Physical strength has never been my forte. And anyway, is such a thing even possible? It weighs a couple of tons!"
"But do Jedi only use the sword?" Vanda asked innocently.
"Even with the Force... I think I can buy you no more than a minute."
"That'll be enough," Bombur said confidently. "I've got three grenade launchers with me."
"As for encountering Sentients..."
"Each fights as they know how, Hori," Jacob interrupted him. "We fight the dragon as a group. And with sentients, each as they know how."
Once the tactics and plan were clear, we got on the speeders and raced into the desert. Maybe no one saw it, but I was gripped by pre-battle jitters... in the sense that I was finally in action after such a break. The speeders tore through the desert... Suddenly, a message from Hori was heard.
"Those mercenaries, or rather their remnants, have decided to use their ship."
"And I told you, Bombur, we should have finished them off!"
"They don't want to get the krayt dragon. They want to finish us off," Hori explained. "What do we do, Jacob?"
"Don't break formation," Jacob's order came through. At a height of about ten meters, to our left, that same ship appeared. "Bombur, shoot it down."
"Allow me," I cut into the conversation. "BB, you here?" Tuning into my droid's channel, I asked him.
A positive chirp was my answer.
"What the... Another ship approaching at high speed. Class... Star Courier?" Hori reported.
"That's mine. Now..."
Star Trek came in from our right and fired three missiles at the mercenary ship. The sentients there didn't have time to react. They hadn't even switched their vessel to combat mode, so they didn't deploy countermeasures for the missiles. The missiles hit the engines precisely. An explosion rang out, and the pirate ship tilted and headed for the inhospitable sands of Tatooine.
"What did you do to it to make a courier ship fire missiles?" Hori's voice came through.
"Just modified it... a little."
"A little? That ship is perfect for sabotage! Its panels have Stygium coating!"
"In the Galaxy, people buy slaves for money, Hori," I replied. "So why not buy yourself a proper ship? Although, I didn't buy it. It's a trophy, a memento of one idiot."
"Shut up, both of you," Jacob said. "Our square is close. Use your technique, Padawan."
I concentrated. The dragon was most likely underground. They can sleep in caves or even bury themselves slightly, forming mounds... dunes. About five minutes later, we found them... Right behind one of the dunes, a real tragedy was unfolding. We stopped to look... Wrecked vehicles, sentients, blood and destruction. Some were torn apart, mangled and mutilated.
"According to the data, there were twenty-three sentients in this gang," Hori's voice came through. "I can confidently state that they were one of the groups from Mos Eisley."
"The dragon did this?" I shuddered.
"Can you sense it?" Vanda asked.
"No," I shook my head, "even though I'm using my technique at maximum."
"It must not have gone far," Jacob informed. "We can try to look for tracks," he looked at one of the sentients. He was lying right in the center of a paw print. A little further away were other prints. "There are only nineteen here. It carried off four, apparently to its lair. The problem is that its lair isn't in the nearby caves, which are too small for a creature its size. Most likely, it doesn't have a permanent lair at all. It figured out how to bury itself in the sand and sleep wherever. Because of its size and ferocity, it can afford to do that."
This is... I stopped abruptly when we were already heading to the speeder. It can't be... These sensations.
"Are you okay, Padawan?" Vanda asked.
"It looks like you'll have to continue the search without me," I answered the group. "There are two Dark Siders here. And they've set a course for us."
"Sith?" Bombur asked.
"No. Too weak for Sith," not that he was stronger than Shilazh. But if it were a Sith like Sheev Palpatine or Hego Damask, I'm sure I would have felt it a hundred times stronger than that chilling sensation I felt now. But still noticeable...
"For an effective confrontation with them, it's logical to use the group," Jacob noted.
"Only if you don't have a Sider on your side," I dismissed. "Your group is ranged combat, and I, as you noticed, fight in close quarters. During a battle, a Sider moves at high speeds. And it would be problematic for me to fight alongside you. Roughly speaking, you'll just be in my way. Go. I'll catch up with you later. Come on! And don't forget my share!"
"To get your share, you need to survive first, boy," came from Vanda.
"Yes," Jacob nodded. "If you survive, we'll give you what's due, I swear on honor. But if you die, we won't seek revenge, no offense. Revenge is a pointless feeling. It won't resurrect the dead. So I wish you, may your Force be with you."
Bombur just shoved something into my left hand. "Trust the Force, but carry grenades with you," I heard his whisper.
"And may it help you too, Mandalorians," I nodded, facing the direction of the Siders, who were already close. The Mandalorians, using their speeders, disappeared from the current location... so to speak. My lightsaber flew into my right hand.
Two Siders, dressed in black cloaks that hid their faces, appeared before me.
"Jedi," came from one of them. "How unexpected... and pleasant."
"Lies," I shook my head. "If you guys weren't expecting me here, you wouldn't have rushed here. And since you arrived, it means it's not as unexpected as it should be. What is your goal? And who are you?"
"Ha ha ha ha. Maiko, what do we keep saying?" the second asked the first silhouette. "Let's cut him into ribbons!"
So, apparently both are Fallen. But the one named Maiko controls himself better. But the second...
"For you, it's 'Master Maiko' now, my student," the first said. "We wanted to extract the crystals from the dragon's belly. But they won't go anywhere," Maiko activated the crimson blade of his lightsaber. "First, we'll kill you."
"And naturally," I activated my lightsaber. "There's no point in our conflict, just as there's no point in any conflict of Sentients, but you'll try to kill me through it."
"Another messed-up diplomat for us!" the student exclaimed. "I'll cut you into little pieces," he ignited the blade of his lightsaber.
"There is meaning in our conflict. You're someone's trump card. One of the hunter groups. We can't allow such a trump card to exist... I would suggest you join us, but..."
"But I'll send you to a Hutt's ass, and I'll be right, Fallen," I stood in an Ataru position, using a one-handed grip. Grenades were clutched in my left hand. First, I need to destroy their means of escape. They won't use my bike, since I went to the trouble of demanding biometric security on it.
"Worse for you..."
"No. Worse for you," I applied the standard 'cocktail' of techniques for battle. Strengthening physical characteristics, precognition, vulnerable point. I'll manage... After so much training, two fallen Padawans are no match for me. It was obvious... They weren't even Knights when they fell. And although not everything in the world is that clear-cut, I was confident in my victory... No matter what I ultimately bring to the Galaxy, I wasn't going to die here.