"Master..."
"Mmm?" I turned my attention to Jaro, who was in the cockpit of my ship.
"Why did we come to this planet?" he nodded at the green sphere, so familiar to my eyes.
After Corellia and some... sexual events with Celeste, Jaro and I headed to that same planet where Knight Lorm Decer had trained me. So many memories immediately came flooding back... Celeste, by the way, also came with us. She entered the cockpit, holding three mugs of caf with telekinesis.
"NK made it," she reported. "Have we arrived already?"
Honestly, after the night on Corellia, our Force Bond only grew... stronger, I suppose... One could say it served as a kind of medicine for me, for the old loss of Mila... Though I'd already recovered from that trauma long ago, considering I myself was guilty of some stupidities regarding her death. Incidentally—Celeste disapproved of Lara's advances toward me. And I myself found her actions, after I'd killed her nephew, very strange. That kind of interest was both frightening and alarming. So Celeste's offer to deepen our relationship came at just the right time. Accepting the caf from her, I sat down at the ship's controls. Holding the mug with telekinesis, I steered the vessel straight toward the planet.
"Yeah, we've arrived," I felt that the only place that could pass for our shelter had been occupied by my old acquaintances. A pack of rind, which I'd once subjugated. "As for your question, my Padawan—we came here because of you. Shadow missions aren't that frequent and are very specific. Well, you felt that."
"Yes... I felt it," Jaro replied. "I really felt it."
"Heh-heh," I allowed myself a smirk. "Different from the standard: noble knight arrives on the planet, helps a princess, and receives her highest favor? More or less—stupid kids think about a Jedi's work in roughly the same way. Stupid adults—think we're loafers. But we're getting sidetracked. The Grand Master wisely judged that your pride, arrogance, and illusions could be cured. Or rather, not cured, but burned away, by giving you work that fundamentally contradicts your ideas about Jedi... Neither childish, nor youthful," Jaro took a sip of caf. "That's why I sent you on that mission with Celeste. One of the reasons. Was one time enough for you?"
"Uh-huh," Jaro said gloomily.
"Yes, nothing disciplines like a chase through the sewers," I chuckled, and Celeste amusingly wrinkled her nose. "But something else will discipline you even more. A full-fledged training session on a dangerous planet. Where your life is on the line," I looked into the Lasat's eyes. The ship had just entered the atmosphere. The autopilot took over and began guiding it to the landing platform, while I started to feel for the remnants of my connection with the pack of rind I'd left here last time. Back then, I'd split the pack in two. The first part guarded the smuggler's spire, and the second—Mila Karnur's grave. I should visit her. Even though, faithful to the Jedi creed, I'd let her go. But still... "I can teach you all sorts of Force techniques for as long as I want. Maybe you'll even master them pretty well, Jaro. I can teach you a fencing style. Maybe, in a controlled environment, you'll even become a great fencer. But it's all nonsense—without proper practice. Only when your life is on the line can you truly show everything I'll teach you. That's invaluable experience. Life is a far better teacher than all the Jedi Masters combined. And we've arrived at a place where that life exists. I've sent you the data on this planet. As you can see—it's rich in the most diverse flora and fauna. Many of these living creatures can cause trouble even for a Jedi Knight. Some," I recalled the dragon I'd seen once. "Even send him to merge with the Force," the Lasat's eyes widened in surprise and he coughed. Celeste patted him on the back.
"A... a Knight?"
"Yes," I calmly confirmed. "But I won't send you after creatures like that. If that's necessary, I'll do it myself," I had an idea to give something to Celeste, since we were in a relationship. I'd used beskar, giving it a fine structure, when creating my suit. Krayt dragon scales were also integrated into it. And my suit was magnificent. Despite seeming like fabric, and after some events—also a way to identify me, since I'd been seen in it—it was perfectly suited for combat and could withstand blaster shots, though not all. But Celeste had standard Jedi clothing. She did wear light armor elements, but it was nothing compared to the characteristics of my outfit. Since we'd become so close, I wanted to protect her, my risk-taking partner, a little better. So I'd go for the dragon sometime. Its scales would go not only for her clothing, but I'd integrate them into my own as well. Using Force Forging, I could work out some interesting features in the clothing. "But you—will train in the zones I allow you. In them, you could also die. But you'll have exactly as many chances to survive. And surviving in such places will only harden you, both in body and spirit, making you stronger."
"You seriously want... this kind of training?"
"What is the main goal of your Padawanship, hmm?" I asked Jaro. "Do you want to wander around the Galaxy for five years under my patronage and get your braid cut off? No," I shook my head. The ship had landed by then, and my pack of rind had gathered around us. They hadn't lost contact with me, nor had those guarding Mila's grave. "A Jedi Knight is a strong-willed, strong-charactered, intelligent, calm sentient who can solve tasks assigned according to their specialization, using Force techniques, a lightsaber, wisdom, intelligence, and ingenuity. Suppose, Jaro, that going on missions with me, or with Celeste," the ship's engines had finally cut out, and we moved toward the exit. The caf was finished. "You'll build character. You'll learn a lot. However, without experience and practice—theories are nothing. Abilities are honed by application, and not against stationary dummies, no. You must be able to apply your skills in any environment. And if you, going through training where you can die, learn to use your abilities—then you won't falter in other situations either. I will teach you. I'm not canceling essays, fencing training, or Force techniques. We're simply adding practice to the list. And if you can get through this practice—you'll become a strong Jedi Knight."
"If... I survive," Tapal latched onto the word.
"Don't cling to words," I smirked as we descended the ramp. "I've calculated everything. And if I survived this training, you can too."
"And will you teach me powerful Force techniques?"
"And what do you mean by 'a powerful Force technique'?" I asked the Lasat. The pack leader approached me and started nuzzling like a dog. He looked old, with one eye. They must have had a busy life here. Celeste initially reached for her lightsaber, as did Jaro, but seeing the leader's behavior, they stopped trying to resort to violence. "Hello, friend. And I missed you... Not that much," Through the Force, I could communicate with them. I also sent them a command not to harm Jaro, Celeste, or NK. "Force techniques... Something that can defeat the whole Galaxy in one fell swoop? The more powerful and convoluted a Force technique, the harder it is to learn and use. By the way, you should know—using Force techniques carries its own risks. For instance—standard enhancement. They told you about muscle injuries, right?" He nodded. "Other techniques have their risks too," I pulled away from the pack leader and ignited a flame on my right hand. "For example—pyrokinesis," I extended my arm. "The Alter Technique. Command over flame, or even over lightning—is intoxicating. In the literal sense of the word," I extinguished the flame and gathered a charge of Force Lightning, holding it in my hand. "These techniques, especially lightning, are not for nothing considered more aligned with the Dark Side of the Force, because to use them you must revel in your own power. Of course... There is a way to learn them while being a Jedi, as I did. But that requires training and the strictest self-discipline," though self-discipline wasn't really my thing. "When you can use lightning, or fire—it's easy to give in to a feeling of omnipotence and fall. That's why Alter Techniques aren't taught to Padawans. My mentor took the risk of teaching me when I was still a Padawan. But you should know—I've already fallen to the dark side once. In your case, the risk is even higher. Because you remember—you're too proud and arrogant. Pride is a useful feeling, but in you, it's clearly in the form of hubris. So, I'll wait... I'll wait for changes in your character."
"I've already changed!"
"Nonsense! Drive, I call it…" I folded my arms across my chest. "It's easy to say: 'I was a fool, but come Monday — a new life!' A lot of people can say that. You've probably said it too… More than once. But that's not enough. Changes in the mind aren't shown by words, but by actions. Words are the domain of populists. You can craft any fairy tale with them, write any nonsense, or speak it. What matters is how you back up your words. Here's my lesson for you, using the example of 'what a King of some country is.' Anyone who has to say he's a King — isn't a real King. A King, in this situation, is someone who has the power and authority of a King. He doesn't have to shout about being a King… Everyone already knows that. Remember this. To prove to me that you've changed and become better — don't talk about it. Don't shout it from every corner, in every cantina, to every drunk. Prove it with actions, and I'll change my mind." Though Piell's words about not teaching Padawans Change were firmly lodged in my mind. No, I'd most likely teach Jaro Change either at the very end of his Padawanship, or not until he became a Knight. And preferably the kind of Knight I saw in the game. No matter how shitty the Disney canon was, its elements had appeared in the Galaxy I'd ended up in — Jaro had come across as a level-headed, calm Jedi, capable of reacting when Order 66 was executed. That counted for a lot, considering many Jedi hadn't even managed to react. And the way he managed to protect his Padawan. Yes, he didn't succeed, but even so — his actions showed him in the best light.
"In that case, I'll prove it," Jaro declared confidently.
"May the Force be with you, big guy," Celeste remarked.
"Yes, you'll need the Force's help…"
* * *
I knew where the dragons made their home. In short, it was the center of the continent. That's where the largest herbivores lived. And that's where the dragons preferred to romp. So, after sending Jaro to conquer one of the zones and attaching NK to him as backup in case he ran into trouble — before that, I'd given him a briefing on all the beasts he'd encounter in the zone, handed him a map, and some initial supplies — I set off myself at dawn on my rinds toward the center of the continent. They wouldn't accompany me all the way to the dragons' habitat because I didn't want to lose such useful creatures in a possible fight. Celeste stayed at the base to keep watch over the surroundings. After covering about thirty kilometers a day, I set up camp under a giant tree. I posted my animals as lookouts. A heavy rain hit during the night, and I'd only brought a simple tent along, which quickly got soaked. I should've looked for a burrow or a small cave.
Morning greeted me with a dank fog and the smell of dampness. According to my calculations, based on the approximate location of the nearest dragons, I still had a week of travel ahead. Why didn't I do this by ship? Because I'd have to fly low, and dragons are flying creatures too — pretty huge, and there were several of them. I was afraid that the ship's weapons would damage the hides too much, or that the dragons themselves, trying to ram the Star Trek, would damage it instead. And I didn't want to risk my ship, considering its durability was unknown. So I continued my journey almost the old-fashioned way… Along the way, I encountered all sorts of fauna. Some of it I had to kill. The ones that didn't attack me on their own, I let go.
Finally, I reached a huge lake formed by a waterfall. The waterfall was wide and tall, about three hundred meters high. A wide river flowed out of the lake, probably emptying into the sea a couple hundred kilometers away. A large number of wildlife had gathered at the lake to drink. The herbivores came in groups of a few individuals, constantly looking around for predators. The idea that animals don't attack each other at a watering hole is a myth as pure as the water in the lake I'd found. The forest grew around this lake, the trees reflecting in its mirror-like surface. I decided to set up another camp here.
But I didn't get the chance, because suddenly, for some living creatures, a dragon dropped like a stone. It rustled the treetops above, and many of those present nervously looked around, but only I and my animals understood where the threat was coming from, and they quickly darted aside. The dragon pinned two animals to the ground, creatures that looked like antelopes, only about one and a half times larger. They kicked painfully as claws sharp as razors dug into their bodies. Blood gushed…
"RAAAAAGH!" came from the dragon's maw. It had one pair of wings and only hind legs, which it was using to pin the unfortunate creatures. Its forelegs were fused with its wings. The dragon's snout was crisscrossed with scars, and its eyes had vertical pupils. Even the treetops trembled from the creature's roar. Many of the animals began to back away fearfully. The kin of the pinned ones outright fled. I didn't blame them. The monster was imposing… But I hadn't been through so much just to back away fearfully now. Pointing my hand toward it — or rather, aiming it straight into its open maw — I used Force lightning. A dark green, branching bolt crossed the twenty meters separating us and hit the dragon right in the mouth. The ten-meter-long body — from crown to tail tip — convulsed. It let out a pained roar, but nevertheless stood its ground.
Filled with righteous anger and fury, it glared at me.
"Good day," I said, looking the dragon in the eyes. "I decided to present your hide to a certain lady. You don't mind, do you?"
The dragon answered with another furious roar, and this time I managed to lob a fireball of pyrokinesis into its mouth. I was afraid to throw my swords because I wasn't sure they'd make the path from its palate to its brain. After getting hit again, this time with fire, the green-scaled thing charged at me. In the air, it spun around, turning into a kind of disc, and tried to hit me with its tail. I dodged the attack by pulling myself toward a tree with my cat. So persistent — it took two of my strongest Force techniques and still wanted more. Though it was definitely in pain; denying that would be stupid.
"Wow," I said in surprise. The force of its strike was enough to shatter a tree. And now I was falling along with it. Pushing off the trunk, I noticed the dragon was about to strike me with its tail like a stinger. And it struck very fast. On top of that, I couldn't sense it in the Force… I had to rely only on my reflexes, and when things really got heated, I teleported closer to it, activating both lightsabers. No, killing it with Force techniques would be hard. I'd hit its mouth twice with them. And I hadn't even burned its tongue, and destroying a tongue is significant damage. From the outside, killing it was out of the question. It was fast, barely perceptible in the Force — actually, not perceptible at all… So I decided to let it swallow me — or rather, to get into its mouth myself with my swords — and then start cutting in all directions from there, including making my way to its brain. But as soon as I got close to its mouth, it let out a roar.
"RAAAAAGH!" came from the dragon. And that roar created a shockwave. I was thrown back. Using my bracers, I helped myself land.
"What a bastard," I said. "But don't think that changes anything."
The dragon charged at me again. I just timed it and pulled myself into its mouth with my cat. It snapped its jaws shut… But I had my lightsabers activated in the most vulnerable part of its body. So about ten seconds later — its body went into convulsions, because I'd stabbed through its palate, gained access to its airways, and then its brain, plunging both sabers into it. Even though it had super-tough scales on the outside, its bones inside weren't super-tough, and its flesh was completely ordinary. Well, almost… It had some toughness, otherwise my lightning and pyrokinesis would have had an effect. I had to get out through its mouth. Covered in its saliva and some strange white fluid… And possibly its snot, I crawled out through its open jaws.
"So help me Hutt," I cursed the dragon up and down. "Of course, damn it, I killed you… But now I'm all covered in filth. I need to wash off," I looked at the lake. "And wash my clothes too." I also needed to figure out how to skin it… I'd probably hook it up to my faithful rinds and have them drag it through the forest. The speed would decrease. But I'd accomplish my goal. After that, Celeste, as she said, would work out a suit for herself. Apparently, after finding some porn on my hard drive with a plot involving Twi'lek dancers, she doesn't trust me much. Fine by me… Don't need it anyway… I'm even curious what she'll come up with.
I made it back to the base only two weeks later, carefully making sure the dragon's corpse didn't start rotting. How did I manage that? I'd packed a container of something akin to formalin in my supplies. Though that substance only slowed the decay process. But at the base, Celeste Morne was able to start working with its scales. The only problem was that skinning it was very difficult, and we didn't have an industrial cutter. But the woman just shrugged and, armed with a lightsaber, the Force, and a hell of a lot of determination, started working. Meanwhile, while she worked, I observed Jaro's progress. And I hadn't lied to him. That zone pushed him to the brink of life and death, where my Padawan gained valuable experience, tested his skills in practice, and also — forged his character.
Five days later, I got to see Celeste in her new outfit. She appeared in a simple, dark top, pants, and boots. On both arms, she wore bracers like mine. A magnetic hilt holster for her lightsaber and a pouch were attached to her belt.
"Well?" she spun around in front of me. "I inserted the scales." Indeed. I could see she'd placed them on her upper torso, protecting her heart and lungs. And on her legs too… She'd covered her boots with them. And they could be found on the bracers. "But we don't need them for the rest. I used very little… Honestly, the properties of its scales aren't what I expected from a creature called a 'dragon.'"
"Well, it's not a krayt dragon, and even they've been practically hunted to extinction over time. Finding one on Tatooine for my own gear was more luck."
"That's for sure… And how's our big guy doing?" Celeste asked with interest.
"He got back recently, resting now. He finished the first zone… Honestly, I thought he'd take longer… But he did it faster. That's good… But we can't stop. Time to continue training… And not just his."
Celeste has a regular lightsaber, not a staff. And the blade is yellow.