"You're not surprised we're flying on a regular flight," my mentor's voice came from nearby.
Everything happened quickly. I said goodbye to the rest of our group, listened to Drallig's laments about not being taken as a student (many don't like his overly boisterous nature). Lorm Decer prepared a set of clothes for me. I was even in his Knight's room; they give those to all Knights so they can live there with their Padawans. I'd never seen so much dust. According to Lorm himself, he spent almost seven standard years in the Outer Rim, even venturing into the Unknown Regions for his research; he might even find the Yuuzhan Vong that way.
We were inside the mess hall of a huge ship. Beings of various races, wealth, and appearances bustled past us. Two Jedi, in principle, don't attract much attention in the center of the Galaxy and… No, wait. Did I say "Jedi"? Jedi robes themselves are not exactly a sign of "high-wealth" beings, and if you don't periodically look at the belt where the lightsaber hilts are attached, it's hard to guess our affiliation with the Order. I'd call us not Jedi, but two bums… We were dressed differently: I was in light clothing, and Lorm was in beige, with a brown cloak over it.
"What's there to be surprised about, Master?" I asked him.
"You warned me about it."
"Yes? I meant something else," the Zabrak calmly remarked, taking a drink from a tray that a waitress had kindly offered him. After taking a sip, he continued.
"Usually, after the Temple, children are in a daze. The world outside it is much bigger."
If only he knew what kind of hovel I came from.
"I adapt quickly to new things," I observed.
"Well, then you'll quickly adapt to the circumstances I put you in," the mentor concluded, emptying his glass in one gulp.
"My acquaintance, however, thinks it's excessive, but I know it will help."
"What will help?" I asked my Master, pausing my notes in the book "The Jedi Path: A Guide for Force Seekers" and closing my datapad.
"Training?"
"Yes," he said.
"So that you stop being a useless Jedi larva faster, we'll use a common technique. Have you heard of Force Bonds? Of course, you have. Or I'll be disappointed in you."
"A connection formed by the Force between two sentient beings," I recalled the description.
"That's right, larva," Lorm said.
"And we will form this connection with you. This way, I will help you master the Force skills. That will solve the issue, in the next couple of years, regarding your skills; only the mental aspect will remain."
"Mental?" I asked.
"Based on your current skills, you're already suitable to become a Jedi Knight. You've mastered much below average, yes, but now even the worst become Knights. The times of the Order's former glory, when people like you were at most younglings, are gone. However, despite your general development, your character is too soft; you lack it. A Jedi cannot afford to be soft-hearted, Larva."
"Soft-hearted?" I asked him.
"Then stop calling me 'larva'."
"Then make me," the Zabrak said mockingly.
"What will you do to me? Attack me? I'll smear you against the wall!"
Well. And what can I do to him? He's my teacher. His aura literally hung over me, threatening to crush me.
"Something like that," Lorm grinned.
"That's what we'll change. In the end, I'll call you by name if you get better. For now, only 'larva,' or 'apprentice,' but after creating the Force Bond. And now, concentrate, close your eyes, enter meditation."
I immediately followed his order… Did he grit his teeth? But why?
"If you started, do it," the teacher's voice came.
The world around transformed. Many bright auras sparkled around us. Suddenly, something seemed to touch my head.
"Do you feel me?" the mentor's voice asked.
"You feel my presence, right? I'll help. Together, we will unite our minds for a time. Don't be afraid, larva. I won't look at how you peeked at the girls in the shower. Or do you want to say you didn't peek? In that case, you're not just a Jedi larva, but you're also an impotent Jedi larva," the mentor's mocking laughter rang out.
My body tensed; I could literally feel his mind opening and merging with mine. I suspected he felt the same. At the periphery of my consciousness, a thought flashed: "Just don't let him see the truth." After all, my knowledge of this Galaxy's future is only my knowledge. And I want to use it only for myself. Because he might interfere with my plan. My plan for manipulation. But my prayers were heard, and either he didn't want to delve into my open mind, or he couldn't, it all stopped abruptly.
I found myself leaning too heavily against the back of the chair, as if trying to sleep. Sweat streamed down my body, my head ached as if it had been shoved into a fire. Probably a fever of forty degrees.
"Not bad for a first time," the mentor's voice sounded.
"But not enough. Force Bonds form slowly. There are, of course, options where the connection arises spontaneously and instantly. But that's not our choice, is it, larva? This is how each of our mornings will begin. Alas, we won't be able to practice lightsaber combat; I hope winning the shortened Tournament hasn't made you arrogant? I wield Niman, so I can help you both in developing Soresu and in learning Ataru."
"I know," I gritted out, trying to regain my breath.
"Then to more real matters. What are your relations with your parents?" he asked me.
"We separated when I was five," I replied.
"And they tried to kidnap me. But why this question?"
"Because we'll be staying at their place for a couple of days," Lorm nodded.
"My creed: 'maximum convenience.' You know, I've slept in sleeping bags or in some flea-ridden places for so many years that any place with a normal night's sleep is perceived as paradise by my mind."
"And what about your ship, Master?"
"Not funny, do you even know what I was flying? I took it from pirates about fifteen years ago, and it was already falling apart then. Some compartments had to be removed by our mechanics," Lorm snorted.
"But your little ship…"
"Star Trek"…
"Here," he nodded. "Star Trek is more modern, and it seems to be covered in stygium. Excellent mineral. I always wanted a lightsaber with a unique mineral, I even flew to Tatooine for a krayt dragon. Didn't find one."
"Hey," I protested, as quietly as possible. "My ship isn't your toy!"
"Forget it," the teacher chuckled. "I was joking."
What kind of jokes could there be? His smile was like that of the Jew from that meme!https://youtu.be/kxqDwN0ChqA?t=7
"Hey," an extra voice was heard.
I knew it was a bad idea to discuss this in the mess hall of a transport ship. We both looked towards the speaker. A group, looking like thugs. Three tall men, of the "human" race, with "below average" intelligence, approached the two Jedi. They looked standard for their "thug-idiot" class. Worn clothes, patched and re-patched. A belt with blasters. Short haircuts, though apparently, fleas still managed to settle, not in their hair, but right in their brains. And these guys clearly suffer from some kind of vision dysfunction, because how else could they not see our lightsabers? Several individuals tried to sit near us, but they quickly noticed the swords and decided there wasn't enough space for them here. But these guys... Are they complete idiots? Or blind?
"We, with our buddies, heard that you guys have a valuable ship. That's not good. How about you give it to us, the needy? You xenos shouldn't care anyway."
"And why is such a nobody flying to my homeland?" I asked aloud.
"Damn, larva," Lorm gritted out. "You shouldn't say that."
"Did I say that out loud?" I asked with feigned surprise. "I apologize, I didn't mean to offend you."
"You're an idiot, larva," the mentor shook his head, drawing his lightsaber. "Who in their right mind apologizes for a compliment?"
"So, is the word 'nobody' a compliment?" I asked the mentor.
"It's politics, my 'almost student.' For some sentient beings, this word is an insult to their dignity, but for these guys," he nodded towards the group. "These... 'nobodies' – it's a compliment!"
"Listen here, you," the second man opened his mouth, but was immediately interrupted by the sound of a lightsaber activating.
"Listen to me, runt," the mentor literally began to suppress them with his aura. He held the light blue cyan blade to the man's throat. "One move and you'll be without arms and legs. Or maybe," he lowered the sword, "I'll cut off your manhood, huh? Or we can negotiate according to the Jedi Code. Diplomatically. I won't cut anything off you. And you take your buddies and go fuck yourselves somewhere far away. Did we understand each other?"
"Y-yes," he sighed.
"Then get out of here before I throw you out the airlock," Lorm growled.
They vanished. If I didn't know they weren't Force-sensitive, I would have thought they were under some kind of enhancement.
"What a Jedi conversation. You can really feel the methodology."
"Let them go," Lorm spat, not even caring that the four women sitting at the next table winced. "Otherwise, I'll gut them and throw these bastards out the airlock. What is the security service even doing?"
"According to the received data," a robot's voice was heard. "There is a ninety-seven percent probability that you are a Jedi Knight. Therefore, the priority of your protection was lower, as those like you are capable of protecting themselves."
"Provided your data? Well, then hobble along. And what are you staring at?" he asked the other sentient beings.
Damn. I got a terrible mentor, I can't even stand up! Not a cultured and diplomatic Jedi, but some kind of street thug.
"Okay, alright," the mentor turned to me. "You sit down and eat for now. After meditation, you need to rest a bit, especially after the one we did."
"Yes, mentor."
"And warn your parents that you'll be arriving with... Sephi, right?" he thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "Your race is quite beautiful... What are your women like?"
"What are you planning, mentor?" I asked the teacher.
"What's with the sharp tone?" he blinked. "We're going to the Outer Rim, and I'd like to rest both body and soul. That's why I'm studying the future place of arrival. Fools just want to save the world, but I want to enjoy myself too."
I've heard this phrase somewhere before. I just don't remember where.
"In any case, I'm not going to hit on your mother, I'm a responsible sentient. Only unmarried and only by mutual consent. I heard you have a sister..."
"She's five years younger than me," I noted.
"We'll meet in about ten years then," Lorm thoughtfully rubbed the back of his head.
"I'll castrate you by then, mentor," I'll castrate you much earlier, and I'll cut out your tongue too. Who was assigned to me as a mentor? I understand – the Force, knowledge, experience. But this mentor is no good! How long do I have to tolerate him?
"Oh, how cool we all are, you defeated a bunch of weaklings and now you think you're the strongest. The truncated tournament doesn't show your skills, larva," Dezer sneered. "You don't even know much about Dun Moch, if you let yourself be so destabilized. A worthless Jedi larva."
"Then perhaps you'll enlighten me," I said, cutting off a piece of steak, quite watery. Did they make meat for a couple? And is it even meat?
"Listen. Every word and action should express superiority, you already know that. But do you know how to use it? Everything should be ridiculed. Race, parents, origin, skills. If you know a lot about your opponent, then use that lot. Jedi always depend on their emotional state. No emotions – there is peace. If you take a Jedi out of emotional abstraction, their connection to the Force can be disrupted. You are weak because you fall for it and... you are weak because you are incapable of it. Your worthless character limits you. And do you know the worst part? It's not created by the Jedi Code, but by yourself."
"My character..."
"Rare shit. You're a wimp," Lorm declared. "I've insulted you, many times. I've provoked you, and what did you do? You didn't even flinch, you keep trying to resist. You only managed to blurt something out once, but even then you didn't continue your thought. Your abilities, compared to your peers, are incredible. But you ruin them with your worthlessness, naivety, and excessive kindness. You are consumed by doubt and indecision, which is why you even doubt whether you should shut me up or not, and we are in the middle of a mess hall on a large ship, and everyone around can hear you right now."
"I..."
"You. Your excuses: 'But you are my Teacher, Knight! How can you think that I would start fighting with you over words!' Only everything has its limits, larva. And you don't see that limit. But we will fix it, we will free your skills from the burden of ignorance of your character. By the time I finish your training, you will either become better, or you will die!"
The ship emerged from hyperspace in the Sumitra sector. It was a direct flight to Tustra. In general, few people got to Tustra. The Sephi are arrogant, and they don't hesitate to show it. As soon as the two Jedi stepped onto the ground of border control, we were allowed in without much questioning and out of turn. But everyone else would have to wait and meticulously explain their reasons for arriving here. After all, Tustra's status is "a living world." Moreover, the Sephi Kings cultivate the idea that other planets in the Sumitra Sector, which my race has successfully colonized, were used for trade and production, while the capital world played only the role of the Capital. On the planet itself, there were only a couple of industrial complexes that produced clothing, food, or computers. Power stations were also located here. Heavy industry – starships, weapons, speeders, and other things were produced on a special planet, thus Tustra was and is a flourishing paradise, a garden, with green parks and blue lakes.
My fellow citizens prospered, it was evident from their smiles, from their mood.
"Beautiful place," Lorm admired. "I've traveled half the galaxy in my search for Tulak Hord's holocron, but I've still seen very little. There are still planets not ruined by industry and waste."
We exited the spaceport, and Lorm Dezer was literally staring. Although he pretended it wasn't a big deal for him.
"His Majesty is extremely reverent towards his Royal Domain," I remarked, taking a deep breath, inhaling the familiar and dear air of my homeland. Tustra-Prime – the star around which our planet orbited, warmed pleasantly. As always...
Suddenly, my gaze caught a familiar face. Him? Yes, according to the messages, our father was supposed to meet us, having taken time off work. He stood there, almost unchanged, except for the weariness etched on his face. Apparently, my little sister, who else... My heart strangely clenched. I didn't have a sister, nor a brother. Although the caregiver at the orphanage where I grew up in my first life was young and naive, she believed we were all brothers and sisters. But that's nonsense... Those freaks were never my brothers and sisters. My Clan is closer to me than those freaks.
"Light!" my father exclaimed, raising his hand. The speeder was yellow and quite modern, a four-seater. Dennis quickly approached me. He was dressed in more or less decent clothes. Quickly closing the distance, my father grabbed my right hand and began to shake it vigorously. His purple eyes darted over me. "Gods, how you've grown. You were so small when you left for Coruscant, and now! My son is twelve! Though you wouldn't say so. You look fourteen! There's so much we need to discuss..."
"Ahem..." the mentor's cough was heard, and my father looked at him questioningly.
"Zabrak?" he asked.
"Dad," I called him. "Allow me to introduce – Knight Lorm Dezer, Jedi Archaeologist, my teacher."
"Ah, yes," my father smiled, bowing slightly. "Master Jedi. Please forgive my behavior. I haven't seen my son in so many years."
"It's alright," Lorm smiled gently, which made my eyes hurt. They hurt because my pupils dilated too much. What the hell? "I would be... lying if I said I 'understand,' as I have no children. But I can roughly imagine what you feel, after all, your emotions are perfectly felt through the Force."
"The Force, yes," my father nodded. "Light, Mayla, and everyone else are burning with anticipation. Your mother will prepare your favorite food. And it's time for you to meet your sister, she's already seven years old! And Gods! What a beautiful child you were. Ziri is just a whirlwind! She's not sensitive to your Force, and thank all the Gods for that! Otherwise, our home would have turned into ruins, which she successfully manages even without the Force."
"Seriously?" I asked my father.
"You'll see for yourself," my father smiled. "Please, get in the speeder."
Not much had changed on Tustra in so many years. Indeed, here it is, paradise. Not like in nearby Mandalore. There are always some jerks hanging around. Even after the establishment of Kryze, who is a pacifist, it won't get better. At least because Mandalorians only understand the language of force, not peaceful shouts. No, you can shout about peace, but only after shooting the most odious opponents in the head. However, it's not for me to judge... The flight home took about twenty minutes, it was still located in the Palace Complex. But the house had improved, it was clear they had done repairs. The interior and, as it turned out later, the exterior became richer.
My mother was waiting for me at the threshold. And she was less formal, unlike my father. Mayla immediately embraced me, completely ignoring Lorm's gaze, which, oh miracle, decided to tactfully remain silent. My grandmother and Gadji were also present. And there was a little black-haired girl, dressed in a white, light sundress. Her black hair fell to her shoulders. She was laughing merrily, sitting in Gadji's arms. So this is...
"This is Ziri Flingstar," my father said when Mayla went to the kitchen. "Ziri, say hello to your brother."
"Brother?" the girl turned her curious purple eyes on me. "Hmm... Is this my brother, the Great Jedi?!" she shrieked, almost knocking me off my feet, for which I earned a mocking snort from my mentor. "Tell me..."
And then it began. She bombarded me with various questions. First, she demanded to see the lightsaber. While we waited for "the final touches from mother," I decided to talk to Ziri, my... cute little sister. And no, I'm not a lolicon, and I couldn't stand some harem anime because of the way the brother had strange relationships with his sister. Ziri hugged me, about twenty times. She looked admiringly at the lightsaber, even held it in her hands, though she didn't swing it. Even a child understands that chopping off one's hand with such a "toy" is not the best idea. Then, under her cheerful, playful laughter, I lifted her above the ground using the Force. The stiffness that bound me when my mentor was near me disappeared somewhere. I was simply talking with my family until my mother called us.
After so many years, Mayla Flingstar's culinary skills had improved significantly. The best gift for me was the pizza, seemingly simple, just with sausage, but my mother's skills turned even pizza into a work of art. And Lorm Dezer is a completely different person when he is in decent societyhttps://youtu.be/zCVfmrw2UjM?t=574. Suddenly, the door to the house opened... Another figure slipped inside. It was a tall girl, half a head taller than me, with black, shiny hair. She was dressed in a purple sundress.
"Aunt Mayla, I brought you the documents..." the girl stopped in the doorway between the corridor and the kitchen. Her regular facial features contorted into a strange grimace as her dark eyes examined me.
"Rivi," I recognized my friend's aura. My peer had grown quite a bit, her awkward girlish figure just beginning to develop into a proper woman's figure. "So much time has passed."
"Light!" she exclaimed. "You... You... It's been a long time," she handed my mother some infochips. "Um..."
"Join us," my mother nodded, pointing to an empty seat. "As you can see, Light has arrived with his mentor, Master Lorm Dezer."
"I am a Knight," Lorm corrected her. "However, many sentient beings call even Padawans Master Jedi. It doesn't matter, really."
The conversation lasted until late at night. We talked about absolutely everything. My father, Uncle Gadji, Lorm, and I formed a so-called men's circle and discussed politics, starships, weapons, and at my father's suggestion, droid building. The women initially interjected, and they wanted to talk with me and Knight Lorm, but then they gave up, noticing that the men were artificially pushing them aside, and formed their own circle...
"Oh, how late it is!" Rivi perked up, looking at her watch. "Mom will scold me."
"Well, then stay with us overnight," my mother remarked. "I'll talk to Viri, she won't mind."
"No," Rivi shook her head sharply. "Excuse me, but I don't want to bother you, Mrs. Mayla. I'll go home. It's only two streets away."
"Then let Light escort you," Lorm Dezer inserted.
"Escort?" my father chuckled. "This is Tustra, not even Coruscant. Crimes here are so rare that it's ridiculous to even mention statistics. Especially since we live in the palace quarter... Ow!" my father grabbed the back of his head when he received a rap from his mother. "What for?"
"Of course, Light will escort you, Rivi," Mayla smiled gently. "Right, Light?" she looked at me. "You never know. And there's no better protector than a Jedi. I believe even His Majesty's Guard would think thrice before wanting to mess with a Jedi."
"That's for sure," the mentor remarked.
"I'll escort you," I nodded, getting up from the sofa.
I remember where Rivi lives, I've been to her house a couple of times. So escorting her won't be difficult. But why Dezer suggested it, I don't know. Should I ask?
"Y-yes?" Rivi turned her head towards me. "Y-you'll escort me? M-me?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Why are you blushing? What's the big deal? I'll just escort you to the porch, you never know."
"U... Uh-huh," the girl nodded. "Then let's go..."
She headed towards the exit of the house suspiciously quickly, so I had to catch up. Catching up, I grabbed her hand, making her slow down slightly.
"W-what are you doing?" Rivi asked me.
"That's my question," I remarked. "Are you in a hurry somewhere?"
"Well... Yes! It's late! I want to go home! Escort me, since you... volunteered..."
She fell silent, and I had never encountered such situations before. More precisely, I don't know what to say. I haven't seen Rivi in almost seven years. And what should I tell her? I don't know about her hobbies or what to talk about with an old friend. So I focused on active meditation, probing the surroundings for threats... Ah, a threat in the center of Tustra, a funny joke. A five-year-old could walk around here at midnight and nothing would happen to them. So this idea of escorting Rivi is strange... Stupid, I'd say.
"So, how do you like the Jedi Temple?" Rivi abruptly broke the silence, pulling me out of my meditative state. You'd better have stayed silent.
"I trained a lot, Rivi," I sighed. "I hardly rested. We were taught a lot. After becoming a youngling, all children are assigned to Clans. Each age group is sorted more or less. In my Clan group, there were four boys and three girls."
"Really?" a strange sternness in Rivi's voice.
"That's right. A Wookiee and two humans, along with me – that's four boys. And among the girls: a Twi'lek, a Tolothian, and a Togruta," I explained. "We have all reached the age of becoming Padawans, and each of us will be taken by a teacher of at least Knight rank."
"Knight?" Rivi asked. "I thought your teacher, Master Lorm, was so courteous, by the way – how does he manage that? – is a Master. Is there a difference between a Knight and a Master?"
"There is," I nodded. "A Master is considered a Jedi who has trained at least one Knight. Or this rank is given for special merits. One of the two."
"So, when you become a Knight, your mentor will become a Master," Rivi said.
"That's right..."
"And you... You... Will you fly here when you become a Knight? You left so abruptly after the attempted kidnapping, Light, that I got scared, and now you're flying here as... a Padawan, right? Will you only come here as a Knight now?"
"Perhaps sooner," I smiled at Rivi as we reached her house.
"Sooner?" the girl asked.
"I got a capricious Knight, who knows when I'll appear on Tustra again. What if he wants to visit our planet again, after all, it's not just us who like it."
"That's for sure. I've been to Corulag with my father on family business – it's no comparison to Tustra. Everyone is so worthless," the girl snorted.
"The best demonstration that home is better," I remarked. "So don't worry, Rivi. I'll be flying here, and quite often. Someone has to escort you home, after all," what did I just say?!
"Okay," the girl turned to me with a strange smile. "I'll be waiting, just don't forget to let me know, Light."
She hugged me and disappeared too quickly into her house's yard. What was that? Alright... It's time to return to my room and sleep, I'm too tired for today.