This mission is increasingly throwing me off balance. First Palpatine showed up, and now Jorus C'Baoth. And you can't say who is more problematic at the moment. The first one, at least, doesn't bother anyone here. But the second one just came, using his abilities as a Gifted, justifying it with a mission – he beat an un-Gifted person, whom Jorus could have defeated even without the Force. A decidedly inadequate sentient being; I'm not surprised Thrawn solved his problem... Radically. However, it's hard to solve problems otherwise when you start being choked by holocomm. But I am even grateful to the two Gifted beings present here. They, at least, have returned my clarity of thought. And Amella also returned... It's time to focus on the mission, and as an additional action, to finish Aldera University, study everything they offer here, and move on.
Nothing stimulates a canon-knowing person to train in fanfiction like the fact that a monster like Palpatine is nearby. And even if Sidious is not half as strong now as he was at his peak, I'm still scared. But I didn't provoke him, except for our conversation at the banquet about the advantages and disadvantages of political systems. Only communists believed that they had formulated an ideal society. And under certain conditions, something similar can exist... I've heard about a couple of sentient races in this galaxy that have a system somewhat similar to communism.
But in principle, such a system cannot be built... As one country, which successfully fell apart, proved. However, I have no desire to discuss it now. I clearly understand that an ideal cannot be built. Neither in politics... Nor in the interpretation of the Force, which I have begun to think about more and more. It's probably time; I've been through a lot. And at the time, I thought the current Jedi Code definitely didn't suit me. My vision was not even in the tradition of good old Star Wars fanfiction, where the main characters came to the Je'daii code. We returned first to the coast, and then to Aldera itself.
Sitting straight on my bed, in a lotus position, I recited the lines of the Jedi Code. No, I wasn't meditating now, but simply trying to understand what I was specifically seeing in each line, its hidden meaning, what leads us. Are there emotions? Yes. Does the Code deny them? Not entirely. The interpretation is to keep one's emotions and feelings in check. To understand the difference… to think with a cool head. That's the point… Do I agree with this line of guidance? Yes. I can experience different emotions. Anticipation during a battle, joy from an orgasm, or some pleasant events, anger from something not working out. And maybe even hatred… Yes… I hated Shillaž, even when I went to fight her, even though it might have seemed that I acted relatively "coolly." But it's not emotions that rule me, but reason. That's what "no emotions – there is peace" means. And I agree with this line wholeheartedly… It doesn't matter how I feel about what's happening around me. It doesn't matter what emotions it evokes in me. One must try to act with a cool head. Although such a rational approach can be frightening at times. The notorious dilemma: whom will you save? Your woman, for example, or a dozen strangers? Your best friend, or a dozen strangers? What should we do in such a situation? Reject emotions, remain calm, and think: is one life worth ten? Any sentient being knows the answer. No, it's not worth it. Therefore, such a life is sacrificed for the sake of a much greater good. And studying politics at Alderaanian University, I saw this clearly. This is especially true for history. And in the Jedi Order, the history of some events was studied thoroughly. If you don't sacrifice anything, you get nothing. Selfish desire to do good for yourself can cost many around you dearly. Do I agree with that line? Again, yes…
"No ignorance – there is knowledge." And this principle can also be agreed with. Whatever I encounter on my path, no matter how inexplicable the situation may seem – there is always a variable that will accurately reflect all the parameters of the situation. You just need to find it, not panic because you can't understand something. If you break the second line, you will break the first. And from there, it's a short step to the Fall. As for the third line, "No passions – there is clarity of thought," I considered it a bit superfluous in this code. In essence, passion is the same emotion, quite base, in my opinion. And it can be attributed to the first line and partially to the second. Although many saw the main meaning of the code in it: succumbing to passion, you will allow ignorance to engulf your mind, causing emotions of anger, hatred from your powerlessness, and you will quickly fall to the dark side. Something like that…
"No chaos – there is harmony." And here the Jedi are being disingenuous… Chaos is all around us, for the most part. The essence of a Jedi is to try to order it, not to subjugate it, but to order it, to bring everything to a specific variable. Plus, I pondered this line in the context of the dichotomy of good and evil in the Force… More precisely – about the Light and Dark sides of the Force… Are these sides so different? Yes, I know that now one could question whether I am a Je'daii, find the path to Tython, or somewhere else and go to restore "the true Order, the true Gifted"… And also gather a harem of the galaxy's top beauties, bend everyone and everything in a pathetic battle, and so on… But in fact, I did not consider the words of the Jedi progenitors to be the truth. On the contrary… I asked myself a question, equating each side to the concepts of good and evil… After all, everyone has done this so often. What is good in the context of the Force? What is evil in the context of the Force? I didn't know the answer, but I understood that if I figured it out, found them for myself – I would become much better, stronger. It was in this line of the code that I constantly tried, especially since entering the university, to find contradictions. Who else but a Shadow could try to answer these questions?
"No death – there is the Great Force." It's foolish to argue with this… Because if all the previous parts of the code were confirmed rarely directly, often indirectly, then this line is one hundred percent true, the Force Ghosts will not let me lie… This is roughly the picture I formed by the end of my tour on the Blue of Alderaan. And I have something to think about regarding the Force. But for now, it's not urgent. I am well aware that in interpreting the Force, it is better not to rush, otherwise there is a great risk that I will lose… Reason or life… One cannot treat this life as some kind of game. This is not a game, and most likely, not even a fanfic. But rather – my second life. If I'm not serious, I'll die.
So, what's on my agenda? I have to meet with Bail Antilles this evening, at his mansion, in my Jedi attire. And for that, I need to get dressed. It's almost six in the evening… Today the Antilles are hosting a ball, together with Organa. Again, at Jorrus's initiative. However, his initiative concerned me the least. I intended to meet with Bail in his room, as a Jedi Shadow, and retrieve the necessary information. Aristocrats are devilishly difficult, you can't interrogate them directly most of the time, you always have to find a way to achieve your goals… And "not offend anyone." However, it's even more interesting this way, it keeps the mind sharp.
I donned my classic Jedi attire, pulled the hood over my head, and put my bracers back on, as well as secured my lightsabers.
"The time has come," I said, leaving the room. With the Force, I made sentient beings ignore me, so I was able to reach the Antilles mansion relatively quickly, on foot.
The wealthy mansion of the House was fully prepared for the ball. I pulled the mask over my face and activated the vocabulizer. In my case, this device modified my voice so that Bail himself wouldn't recognize me. After all, the exposure of a Shadow is not a good thing. At first, I climbed onto the roof of the opposite building to get a better look at the current security configuration. And even though I had studied it inside and out during my visits to this mansion, they might have come up with something special for the ball… I need to enter quietly and leave quietly. And they had indeed increased the guard. In the courtyard, I observed twice the number of Antilles guards. However, the crowd of guests was also appropriate. Rich people and aristocrats filled the mansion's courtyard, with one family in particular drawing much of the attention. It was led by a stately, tall woman with chestnut hair, dressed in a rich, luxurious white dress. She had perfect facial features, and next to her stood a short boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old. Also stately and very much like his mother… It was: Masicia Organa, the Queen of Alderaan herself, and her son – Bail. To the woman's right stood a man in a white uniform, with a solid, well-developed physique. Preston Virtuna, the current Vice-King. A King could be called an elected monarch; Masicia was elected to the current post, which is why she is Queen. And her husband is the Vice-King.
Who rules between the two? The King, or the Vice-King? In reality, it varies. In fact: the Vice-King is the head of government, a sort of prime minister. And he must report to the King. But, as I noted from the history of this planet, after the fall of the Pantir, those who could confidently be called "true Kings of Alderaan" – could truly rule, both the Vice-King and the King. Often they were spouses, and who ruled depended on the character of one of them. In the current situation, even though Preston is the Vice-King, Queen Masicia rules Alderaan. This is clear from the fact that Preston is more about putting on a show, playing a role. In reality, the man does exactly what his wife, Masicia, orders him to do in politics. The crowd parted around Organa; the only ones who didn't move away immediately were the Antilles. Olaren Antilles approached and greeted Masicia.
"Watching?" a voice asked from behind me. I didn't even flinch; I had sensed his presence a couple of minutes ago.
"You know, Jorrus, I'd recommend you not sneak up on a Shadow like that. If I hadn't remembered your aura from Sineva, a lightsaber would already be sticking out of your torso," I sighed heavily, not even turning around. "To answer your question: I'm not watching, I'm studying possibilities."
"Hah, you're too arrogant," said the man, standing next to me. "So, what are you planning to do, coming here? Who is your target?"
"She's not here," I shook my head, even slightly disappointed. Whoever we were facing now – Jorrus and I could try to kill them. Or maybe tell them about Palpatine and gang up on Sidious now, together? No… There's also Plagueis. Besides, I don't think they can be touched yet. Because if the "current Jedi and the current Republic" defeat the Binyte Sith, we will descend into even greater degradation than we are now. After all, if we could defeat such monsters even now, why do anything at all?" "But there is someone here who can give me the drawings of the key to finding my target."
"And what is your investigation about?"
"Investigation?" I asked, turning to Jorrus. "You know, I can compare it to raw baradium, and your questions to trying to urinate on it. In the worlds where it's mined, there's a saying: 'Don't pee on baradium, or you'll lose your member.' As I've already told you, Jorrus, the Shadows' investigation is not something you'll want to get involved in."
Taking him against that enemy of ours is unwise. Jorrus is hot-tempered and unlikely to listen, even if Master Jonnal himself came to my aid.
"Hmph," K'Baot snorted. "You're too impudent for someone who recently became a Knight."
"And I've already paid for my impudence, though not to you. You don't need to worry, I'm heading to the mansion, yes, but my target is neither Masicia nor Olaren. I just need something to be passed on to me."
"And you have a plan for infiltration, of course? One that won't provoke an alarm. I've put too much effort into organizing this banquet, too much time and effort into convincing both Olaren and Masicia that my proposal for resolving the conflict between their Houses is rational. And if you ruin everything…" he fell silent, but quite eloquently. "So I hope you have a plan, Light."
"Better," I said, smirking. "I have a drawing of a plan."
In reality, getting inside wasn't that easy. I couldn't just walk in, hiding in the crowd. The face control, quite brutal, at the entrance, would have quickly turned me back. So I went around the estate and looked for a place where I could infiltrate with minimal problems. Jorrus could have escorted me… Probably. Although I didn't want to ask him to. And besides, he arrived on the planet practically alone. The appearance of a second Jedi would be strange. In any case, I went around the Antilles estate, found a spot where the guard was covered by only one camera, and, waiting for it to turn away, jumped over the fence, immediately moving aside with the help of my bracers, as another, wide-angle camera was looking at the spot where I was supposed to land. I had walked around this estate so many times that studying its security was a simple matter for me.
Why did I go to infiltrate Bail right now, disguised as a Shadow? Because this is the most convenient time, while the guards are distracted by the guests, distracted by Organa, I can slip to Bail Antilles, whom I informed that a Jedi would come to his room, and it's not the one who arrived to resolve the conflict between the Antilles and Organa. Bail himself was supposed to be putting on a show and greeting guests right now, so I have about thirty minutes. After that, it was simple. With the Force, I closed the circuit of windows on the third floor, opening them and, using my bracers and the Force, entered the desired corridor. Closing the window, I moved forward, down the corridor, carefully avoiding detection by the cameras.
It seems like there should be a lot of cameras here? Well, honestly, there are. Although on the third floor of the Antilles mansion, there are places where there are no cameras at all, so that no one intrudes on the private lives of the estate owners. Downstairs, the noise of arriving guests could be heard. Jorrus was lucky. He's a diplomat, probably downing champagne now and being the center of attention… And I'm sneaking around like a thief, carefully analyzing every extraneous rustle. And as I expected, the third floor was indeed patrolled. Two Antilles guards were strolling leisurely in the north wing of the floor, through which I planned to get to the west wing, where Bail's room was located. They were moving quite slowly, and it was very difficult to follow them. In the end, I decided to use Force Suggestion on them…
"So, we're negotiating with Organa?" asked one man.
"Lord Olaren's position here is unequivocal," nodded his comrade. "I myself heard him discussing the House's course of action with esteemed Yoluk."
"Organa didn't consider us," the man scoffed. "These bunglers thought Alderaan was their personal fiefdom. But now a Jedi has arrived to resolve the conflict."
"And, as I heard," the second continued, "the Jedi has reached an agreement that even convinced Lord Olaren."
"And what agreement is it?"
"I have no idea, but if even the Lord decided to reconcile with Masicia, then it's beneficial for our House."
"Ha!" the man said, suddenly stopping. I applied the suggestion technique to him. "Oh, damn. I need to pee."
"You just did that recently," the man remarked. "Oops. Gizka! As you mentioned, I also feel like I need to go," they don't want anything, I just convinced their minds that it's time for both of them to go to the toilet. And rightly so, they shouldn't worry for now. Jorrus and I certainly won't stand aside from possible… excesses. But as far as I remember correctly, K'Baot's mission was incredibly successful without anyone's intervention. He arranged for Masicia Organa to be succeeded by Bail Organa, her son, who would marry Breha Antilles. And this is, in principle, a rational decision. Many conflicts were resolved this way – a simple marriage between two members of conflicting factions… There is, however, the case of Romeo and Juliet. But mostly such marriages resolved contradictions. With the Force, I pressed the button on the door separating the corridor and Bail's room, and entered.
The interior of the room testified to the occupant's good financial standing. It was furnished with the latest technology, so to speak. A spacious double bed stood about five meters from the entrance, against the wall on the right. The desk was turned so that the person sitting at it looked at those entering the room. Numerous cabinets stood along the walls, and portraits of wild nature and hunting trophies hung on the walls themselves. I was even flattered that on the desk, one of the constantly active holophotos was a photo of our group: me, Amella, Bail, Mia, Delon, and Rulana. I thoroughly scanned the room with the Force, and with all possible senses, before sitting down in the corner, in a lotus position, and going into a light meditation. Bail graced his room with his presence about twenty minutes later, when he managed to leave the banquet without offending anyone.
"May I convey congratulations to your sister on her wedding?" the vocabulizer, the device that changed my voice, made it quite grim.
"WHAT?!" Bail, who had walked to the window and hadn't noticed me because I was sitting in the corner to the right of the entrance. As soon as I spoke, he drew his vibro-blade and aimed it at me. I stood between him and the door. "Who are you? An assassin?"
"Yes," I nodded, "although I don't deal with the gifted."
"I see," he returned his weapon to its place. "You're the one Tywin was talking about, aren't you?"
I nodded.
"Then I know what you need, Shadow."
"Tywin has a loose tongue," I said grimly, "he even named the structural unit to an outsider. I'll have to talk to him… in my own way."
"Don't touch him!"
"I'll decide what to do myself," I said rudely. "The data Tywin reported. And everything you know about who you've been dealing with," I demanded, extending my hand. "And don't worry. Tywin will survive… Probably. I just want to tell him a few choice words about who he can talk about me to."
Bail walked to the desk and pressed a hidden button. A panel slid out. He first placed his palm on it, and then let the system scan his right eye.
"Biometric protection?" I chuckled. I certainly couldn't bypass that. So the "steal like a thief" option could become very complicated. To the level of "are you even normal?".
Finally, a drawer slid out directly from the desk, from which Bail took out a couple of infochips.
"Here are the logs of all his orders that passed through our company's system, the essence of the tasks. Where the objects were picked up and where they were delivered. What the Captain told me: the recipients of the orders usually looked decent, middle class," he said, "not rich and not poor. They paid promptly, but exactly the agreed-upon sum."
"The Captain is understood, alas, he won't tell anything more, although it's an interesting case," I said, "what else do you know? Did the client contact you?"
"No, not directly, at least not directly. But I knew the person in whose name he concluded the contract," Bail said. "Laari Davli, he's a quite successful mid-level merchant. Was."
"And what happened to him?" I asked with curiosity.
"Laari had an incredibly beautiful wife, I remember her at one of the receptions. Blond hair, perfect features, slender figure… And she moved just wonderfully. Laari was old and fell madly in love with her; recently she left him for some industrialist. The old man couldn't bear the grief and shot himself…"
"An old man, seasoned by life experience, shoots himself over unrequited love?" I asked in surprise. "Over some woman?"
"You should have seen her yourself, Jedi, you'd change your mind."
"Ha, I doubt it," I snorted. It seems to me that I have already passed the point where I should kill myself over emotions. Yes, emotions are important, but it's worth remembering that they are just a part of my personality, a part of my character. "And what kind of industrialist?" I asked.
"Yes, I don't remember anymore," Bail said. "Something related to the Hutts, I think. His surname is still in the company name."
"With the Hutts?" there's big money involved there. "I see. Do you happen to know when he died, if anything can be found on this matter?"
"Alas, I can't say anything," Bail spread his hands, "Laari was outside our family's interests. A simple partner, whom our House's intelligence didn't pay much attention to, Jedi."
"Not much," I summarized, "although it depends on what I find on the infochips. Thank you for your participation, Bail Antilles," I smirked. I turned my back to him. "The Jedi Order is grateful to you… And congratulates you on the engagement of your sister and the heir of House Organa," I put the chips in my pocket and left the room. Leaving, it turned out, was much easier than entering.
Bail Antilles collapsed onto the bed. Damn! It was strange…
"Young master," the door opened, and Oderis Yoluk entered the room. "So that's where you are, hmm," the man stood in the spot where the other Jedi had recently been. "Strange, I felt the presence of another sentient being in this room. Incredibly strong."
"There was a Jedi here," Bail replied dryly, "a Shadow."
"A Shadow?" the man swallowed. "What kind of dealings do you have with them, young master?"
"My family's business," Bail sat on the bed and rubbed his temples.
"Try not to have any more dealings with them, young master," the man said seriously. "Shadows are not the brightest members of my former Order. You know that Jedi bring light, as they say. But light, with the right skill, can wound and even kill. Shadows kill. It's better not to cross their path."
"I've already understood that… Haha… However, my friend has strange acquaintances," Bail stood up.
"So it was your friend's acquaintance? Be careful with him, please."
"But what are you doing here?" Oderis was also an elite officer of the Antilles House guard. "Did something happen downstairs?"
"Yes. The ball is in full swing, and the heir of the House, who is hosting it, is inexplicably absent from it. After all, this is a ball given in honor of your sister's engagement, and you must attend it. Your father expressed his displeasure…"
"Yes," Bail stood up, "I have to. But still… This Jedi, whom I saw," as he left the room, Bail glanced again at the spot where the Jedi from the Shadow Corps had stood. "He created a feeling that even you don't create when you fight."
"That's why I'm telling you not to get involved with them, young master. Let's go back, your father is waiting for you."
Bail sighed and followed Oderis. After all, this Jedi's visit, namely the Shadow, had lifted a real mountain off his shoulders that had been weighing him down. He didn't know who the person the Shadows were interested in was. This Jedi clearly came not so much at the behest of his acquaintance Tywin, but because he was interested in this matter. But he understood that even his House's influence might not be enough if this knot were untangled. And it's better – let it remain a behind-the-scenes game than be made public.