The situation for the mercenary Dol Agid was not the most pleasant. His employer always sent him on the most dangerous missions, and he performed them excellently. Dol also guessed and even knew who his employer was. Once, 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. This battle was the precursor to the Ruusan Reformation of the Jedi Order. But the Sith did not disappear even in that battle, in which both the Brotherhood of Darkness and the Jedi troops were destroyed. And Dol has been serving a master who is precisely a Sith for the last few years. Dol's sphere of activity was vast: from eliminating promising Jedi to increasing contradictions between the worlds of the Outer Rim and the Core.
Peace in the Galaxy will come only with strong rule, when all power is concentrated in the hands of a strong sentient being. Unlike some of his colleagues, Dol was attracted not so much by credits as by the idea itself: the concentration of power in the hands of one worthy, strong sentient being. Politicians in the Senate do nothing but talk. Chancellors have long had no influence. The position is held by representatives of the same families who prefer to simply lobby the interests of those who supply them with credits, whores, and real estate. It is already noticeable that the Republic is rotten. But if the Sith win, then everything will surely change.
Therefore, Dol was more ideological than a simple mercenary. And his employer knew about it. That's why the master sent him on the most unpleasant, controversial, and difficult missions. Many years of training and travel forged his body and character. The master knows that Dol will always carry out any order. And his current task was to obtain a gifted child, and not just any. 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 race of long-livers: theoretically, the boy has enough time for training, a good predisposition to the Force. All this could help Light grow into a great Sith. In addition, Light Flaingstar himself understands his abilities well, entertaining children with various tricks.
Only there was one snag. The boy was born and lived on Tustra. The capital planet of the Sephi sector of the same name. The ruler of this world has always cooperated closely with the Jedi. Including, Alaric was known for his close friendship with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Yoda... He should only be feared for his acquired title. Although Dol had never seen Yoda in action, his master had warned Dol Agid against confronting this Jedi. Dol calmly arrived on the planet and managed to get a job in the palace, through the patronage of a servant from the HR department, whose mind his master had washed with the Force's influence at one time. But the moment was missed, and rather, it was Dol's fault.
Light Flaingstar was supposed to be taken to the Jedi Temple, and Dol himself couldn't steal him in time. Worst of all, not a regular recruiter from the Order, whom Dol had sent to merge with the Force a couple of times, arrived on the planet. For the boy, as if in mockery, the Grand Master Yoda himself arrived. And here one should be extremely careful. Quietly leave the dangerous Sector, hoping for the mercy of his master. But Dol decided to go all in. Sink or swim. His master would not pat him on the head for letting the boy go. But if he manages to outsmart Yoda himself? What then?
Oh, that would be simply magnificent... If it works out.
"As you said, master," addressed the Sephi, the traitor. Kaji, it seems. Kaji looked thin and nervous, constantly looking around. Apparently, the mental implants placed by his master had slipped a bit, because he shouldn't be behaving like this. "The boy is being led to His Majesty's garden. Soon His Majesty and Yoda will go there." If Yoda meets the boy, then that's it. The mission will be a failure, because the Grand Master will not let the boy go. So, I have to act now. Dol brought a datapad to his eyes and connected to the mini-cameras installed 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 not to his liking. The boy was thin and short. But he had a cute face and purple eyes. His figure differed somewhat 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 inconvenient for a human. The Sephi have longer fingers than humans.
"Excellent," Dol took out his blaster. "Thank you for your service," a shot, and Kaji slumped to the floor.
He had to be eliminated anyway, by order of the Master. Alaric's counter-intelligence is quite powerful. And Dol's employment in the palace made Kaji leave too much of a trace.
"Well, now..."
Dol moved to intercept, moving quickly 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 Light was walking down with his escort. Emerging, Dol immediately aimed his blaster at the man's back. A shot, and he slumped to the ground with a grunt. The boy turned around in shock...
"Your route is changing slightly, boy," Dol announced. "You're not going with him, but you're going with me. Now, slowly and without any unnecessary tricks, turn towards me."
"I..."
"As a warning, I can say the following: my employer ordered me to deliver you to him, but he didn't specify in what condition you should arrive. So I repeat again: if you don't want me to break all your useless arms and legs, slowly turn around and come here," cruelty in raising children is the most effective method. That's what his father told him, beating him during yet another training session. But what did Dol grow into? A mercenary who is not afraid of Jedi, valued by dangerous Sith.
The boy just threw up. And the blaster hit wasn't even the most brutal thing he would see. Sith and Jedi use lightsabers in battle. These swords can not only cut through a door but also cut a sentient being into several equal halves. And he threw up from a simple blaster shot? Well, what a weakling, Dol never liked such weaklings. But it's okay, this weakness will be beaten out of him in the most effective way - by training with a Sith.
"Well," the man chuckled. "What a wretch you are. But the master needs a strong Gifted one. You were paid well, boy, and if I understood correctly, after a couple of months with my employer, you'll kill your own mother without much regret," although it would be better if he didn't. His mother is incredibly beautiful, one could have fun with her. At least a little.
The boy hesitated for a short time. Literally a couple of seconds later, he moved towards Dol. The mercenary smiled. Finally. He'll be able to escape, his ship has a few tricks. Suddenly, the boy raised his right hand...
If running is the only way out, then I must prepare for escape. If I leave with him now, I'll have no chance... Yes... Calm down, Light. You have an advantage now. He doesn't know what you're capable of, or he knows but underestimates you. As long as there's an opportunity, it should be used. Step... Another step. The mercenary was smiling brazenly, though his gaze was focused on me and the corridor behind me. He is definitely controlling the surrounding environment, which means I have to be careful too. Unfortunately, without proper training, I am incapable of sensory techniques, like the Center of Being, when a Force adept enhances their sensory abilities to incredible heights. Now, unfortunately, I truly have extremely weak sensory perception. After all, without proper training, comprehending the Force is like trying to figure out Higher Mathematics on your own. You can read it, but understand... Incredibly difficult, impossible. Sith... Their desires, their views - completely contradict everything I believe in. And that means that from the very beginning, I am not on the same path with them. I could, of course, go with the flow. But enough! Enough 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 only that, in essence. After all, even my body is incapable of defeating an adult, well-trained mercenary in hand-to-hand combat. And that means...
I sharply raised my hand, directing the Force, as much as I could, in a push using telekinesis. The mercenary was thrown back several meters. Turning around, I rushed in the opposite direction down the corridor, spurring myself on with the Force.
"Ah, you bastard!" the Mercenary roared from behind. Apparently, he wasn't trying to catch up, but I heard a click. Did he switch the blaster to stun mode?
I jumped to the right, slipping and hitting the marble floor of the corridor. It hurt, damn it... The fall broke my concentration on the Force. But the stun shot flew past me, missing. But the next one... Get up... Get up, damn it! The mercenary aimed his blaster at me. Come on... I saw, as if in slow motion, his finger about to pull the trigger. Then... I raised my hand again and tried to disarm him, pulling the blaster away with the Force. The shot hit the wall... And there was no next shot. A short figure in a white robe, over simple, light brown clothes, appeared before me. I only caught a glimpse of his skin: green, wrinkled. Only someone too far removed from Star Wars could fail to recognize him. The Great Master Yoda himself...
"Hutt," spat the mercenary, when I, realizing I was saved, stopped trying to influence him with the Force. I lay sprawled on the floor, exhausted.
"Yoda is my name, not Hutt, mercenary. I sense death from you, my comrades," Yoda said calmly. "You should surrender, I guarantee you worthy treatment."
"Surrender? Hutt!" exclaimed the man.
He aimed his blaster at Yoda and fired... Oh, fool. Yoda activated his green lightsaber and deflected the shots right at the mercenary, but the latter ducked and lunged at the Great Master. He didn't appreciate the humor and used an excellent Mou Kei (Author's note - as you understood, the protagonist knows a lot. Mou Kei: https://youtu.be/LkfIcv_DOSM?t=105. A Sith technique, in essence, but Obi-Wan loved it). To be honest, I only saw the result. Yoda moved at a speed that I couldn't have noticed even with my Force senses enhanced. Yoda... According to Jedi classification, he is more focused on studying the mysteries of the Force, not dueling. But even so, he is illogical. Yoda is a master of Ataru, who has advanced so much in this form that he ignores its direct drawbacks.
"Ghaaa," the mercenary coughed heavily. "Ghak?"
"You are weak to resist the might of a Jedi," Yoda declared. "I wanted to end the fight peacefully, but you wanted this yourself. You will answer for everything now..."
"GO TO HELL!" roared the mercenary.
What was that strange squeak? Did he decide to blow himself up? Damn, he's one of the ideologues. Yoda reacted quickly. The wall shook from the explosion that erupted from the mercenary. But the explosion didn't even touch me; Yoda, who appeared before me, simply raised his hand, absorbing the energy of the explosion with Tutaminis. I watched in shock as the explosion disappeared into Yoda's three-fingered palm.
"It's a pity I won't be able to interrogate you," Yoda said regretfully. "Help him," he addressed the guards who had run up, nodding at me, "our future young Jedi has survived the shock."
***
In the end, after my adventure was over, an investigation of incredible scale began in the palace. Alas, the mercenary himself, whose name was Dol Agid, didn't tell me anything. He only vaguely mentioned "mister." And who was his master? Plagueis? Or maybe Sidious? Or one of the Prophets of the Dark Side? There are many individuals in the galaxy from various factions who might need me. And although I suspected that all the threads led 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 my Force visions almost don't manifest. How to explain my knowledge of 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 stool by my bed in the Palace Infirmary.
"I've already said. You will go with me to Coruscant, you will become a strong Jedi."
"A Jedi," a Jedi after all. Sounds cool... Probably.
"A Jedi," Yoda nodded, wrinkling his nose amusingly. "We are the defenders of Peace and Tranquility in the Galaxy." "The Jedi Order has been the guardians of peace for a long time, even before the Republic was formed. Jedi are knights of the Light Side of the Force. The Force is our ally, it helps us. You used it and quite successfully against Dol."
"The Force," I nodded, trying to keep the conversation going. "Will you teach me?"
"You know a little, but you ask to be taught more, hmm?"
"I understand," I replied to Yoda's question. "What I know is just a trifle compared to you and the other Jedi. That's why I ask you to teach me..."
"You are a strange boy," Yoda shook his head. "Usually, future Younglings are proud if they know something. But I don't hear pride in your voice, but a thirst for knowledge. We will teach you, you don't have to worry. But you must be careful. Unbridled thirst is the path to the Dark Side. And the Dark Side is the path to self-destruction and chaos. Only by overcoming your passions and quenching your thirst will you comprehend the Jedi path."
"Is it bad to thirst for knowledge?" I asked Yoda.
"Your mind is not that of a child, but older than someone. But you are still a child in spirit," he reproached me, "it's bad when you are unable to curb your thirst for knowledge and power. The Force should be comprehended gradually. That's why the system is important. Order is important, control is important."
"And I will become a Jedi Knight?"
"The path to becoming a Jedi is difficult, Young Light. First, you will become a Youngling, a young Jedi. Training under the guidance of teachers, living in a clan with your comrades, you will become more powerful and wiser. Then a teacher will find you, making you a Padawan. You will go through a lot together, and then the Council will decide what to do with you. You can become a strong knight, I feel it, a great Jedi who can lead our Order to dawn. But you must learn first, go through a difficult path..."
It's clear, as the Great Comrade Lenin bequeathed. And I will learn... I was given a second chance in this world. And it would be a sin not to use it. I saw the future, albeit on the pages of comics. But I know what is 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 the wise and intelligent are more important, one should always look at the High Council of Masters. Not all are exaggeratedly wise, but all are strong. The door to the infirmary opened... I tried to stand up to greet those who entered.
"Lie down," King Alaric ordered, "I heard you were injured, so I came to visit. Please forgive me, Light Flaingstar."
Behind Alaric, in a maid's uniform, stood my mother, looking at me with concern. My heart filled with warmth when she smiled at me... Yes, I'm fine.
"Therefore, I feel I must compensate for the damage," Alaric continued, causing Yoda to look at him. "The mercenary who wanted to take you away, it turns out, has a personal ship that we impounded in the planetary docks. Alas, old friend," he addressed Yoda, "the ship is completely clean. With all the consequences. That is, no information was left after Dol's death. But there is a ship, I assure you, a good one. I would like to give it to you, as the victim. And yes, I know that Jedi are forbidden to own property. But still, Yoda, the boy has clearly suffered too much. And what's stopping us, if this ship bothers you so much at the Temple, to leave it here for now, in the ownership of the Flaingstar family? And whether Light will use it or not is entirely his wish."
"I don't mind, yes," Yoda's ears twitched strangely. "Yes... We will talk about this with Light later. And for now, it must be left with the family. Yes... They will have to say goodbye soon."
Yoda jumped off the stool and, accompanied by guards, Alaric, and some servants, left. And then I felt incredible pain. My mother squeezed me in her arms, literally. She squeezed me so hard, afraid to let go, and, it seemed to me, even sobbed.
"Mayla," my father, who was also there, called her. "Let him go. You'll break all his ribs."
"But... But... Alright," my mother reluctantly released her embrace. "Light. Just tell me if you don't want to become a Jedi. I'll do anything, but you won't become one."
"No, Mom," would you demand such an answer from a child? Children are usually excited about anything but starvation. However, many noted my reasonableness. "I want to be a Jedi." The Force won't leave me. It will drag me into any mess. And it's better for me to be a trained fighter in a mess than an untrained militiaman or worse.
"The Winds see, I will talk to you about this again, Light Flaingstar," Mayla promised. "You don't know what awaits you as a Jedi. And I don't want you to experience the pain that will accompany you on your path. I will talk to you again..."
"Calm down, Mayla," Dennis patted her on the back. "By the way, Light. Do you know what kind of ship you just got gifted?" He took out a holoprojector and launched it. "See? Our sappers barely managed to defuse the bomb that that... mr... Anyway, a bad sentient planted." He coughed. "Son, this ship is a modified version of the 'Star Courier' from Sienar! I would estimate it at sixty million credits." My father could work his whole life for such a sum! That's how much a Venator costs! Thank you, Sith lords, for the valuable gift. "A regular version costs two to three million. But this... A regular 'Star Courier' has a fourth or fifth-class hyperdrive. No laser armament. It has simpler engines, a weaker reactor. But here. Everything is upgraded and modified. A real bird. A second-class hyperdrive, armament... I will keep it in good condition, although some military personnel looked at us askance. They wanted to take it apart screw by screw."
I looked at Darth Maul's ordinary ship, the one Sidious also flew in his time. The 'Star Courier' was actually a very common ship. It was used for light smuggling and was quite successful, and most importantly, it was mass-produced. Sienar hadn't started supplying its famous TIE fighters yet. But they were invaluable in transport ships like the 'Star Courier', which was valued in the Galaxy. It was quite cheap, but the most important thing about this ship was the ability to create your own modification when ordering. Regular couriers came with a weaker hyperdrive, no shields, weak engines, as my father explained to me. But nothing prevented you from installing a couple of lasers, missiles, a higher-class hyperdrive, sensors, and detectors, as well as shields. If only there was money... For the illegal attack, the government of Tustra simply confiscated this vessel from Dol Agid and transferred it to my family. Although my father already promised me that the ship would be exclusively mine if I returned to Tustra and claimed it.
Well, I definitely won't refuse such a gift. And until then, I can also study the ship's documentation, maybe I'll make some changes to my ship too. After all, it's MY ship now. If only there was money and desire... Yes... But before that, I'm being sent to Coruscant. The capital of the Galactic Republic and the place where I will learn a lot...