When he set out for Kashyyyk, Revan hoped not only to find the records of his old friend, the Grand Master, but also to revisit the place where the Star Map was hidden. A part of him hoped that the order to destroy all traces of the "Forge" had been carelessly handled here as well, without ensuring the destruction of the Rakatan artifact. However, the Wookiees turned out to be much more responsible than the Republic army.
While Rrogrru was receiving medical assistance in Rvuukrrorro, Revan secretly made a sortie into the Shadowlands, using an old lift near the settlement. The former Jedi and Sith had not resorted to concealment techniques, which allowed him to become almost invisible even to the keen hearing and sight of the Wookiees, but this time they did not fail him. It was quite easy to sneak past the hunters… which did not save Revan from disappointment when he finally reached the place where, according to his memories, the Star Map was hidden.
The clearing among the thickets of ancient trees had disappeared. The forest had absorbed the place, entangling the remains of the destroyed climate control installation with roots and stems of young shoots, which in four thousand years had left no trace of the Rakatan artifact. Somewhere there, under a layer of greenery, the presence of something dark was still felt, but much weaker than during his last visit to Kashyyyk. Attempts to break through to the source of these dark emanations only led to Revan having to defend himself against the poisonous thorns and sharp shoots of the local flora. The plants seemed to have a mind of their own and were extremely irritated by the presence of a stranger… especially when he tried to cut a root with his lightsaber. In the end, the former Sith, taking on the role of a gardener, managed to extract a fragment from under the thicket, in which he recognized part of one of the Star Map projectors. The artifact was obviously so damaged that even with Rakatan technology, it had not been able to restore itself to working condition in four thousand years. However, last time, after the fall of the Rakatan Empire, the maps, even after tens of thousands of years of self-repair, were not fully functional, which is why it was necessary to find all functioning artifacts and assemble the final map bit by bit.
"Well, the search won't be easy," Revan noted thoughtfully aloud, tossing the projector fragment onto the table in the "Eagle's" mess hall.
"Chasing ancient treasures seemed unpromising from the very beginning," Tyra shrugged, busy repairing one of the elements of her armor.
The freighter had successfully left Wookiee space and was now heading to Serenno for a meeting with Dooku and Jinn. The Count wanted to discuss the immediate plans for forming a new alliance of worlds, which in the future could ensure the safety of those systems that adhere to neutrality and are not interested in political confrontation with the Republican loyalists or the growing opposition. The Senate was restless, and tension was gradually increasing between the Chancellor's supporters and the Banking Clan, which had begun active support of the Trade Federation not only in finance but also in the political arena.
Revan suspected the reason for such unrest in the Senate, but he could not yet share his thoughts with the Jedi, even former ones. The Sith, lurking in the galactic political arena, were gathering supporters like a deck of cards for pazaak, and as long as the third party did not gain strength, it was not worth attracting unnecessary attention to it. It was enough that Sidious knew of Revan's intention to intervene in the conflict in the future. Their non-interference agreement was in force.
"You still haven't said whether you managed to learn anything from the records of that Jedi who hid this datapad with the Wookiee," Nomad said, distracted from her task.
Revan, lost in thought, did not immediately react to the question. Only after Tyra tapped the handle of a compact cutter on the table did the former Jedi look at her and was ready to talk.
"What was on that strange datapad from Kashyyyk?" Nomad repeated.
"It's a datacron – a repository of information created with the Force, but accessible to non-sensitives as well. And I haven't finished studying it yet."
"So, what are you waiting for?"
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"About the number of coincidences and how easily we obtained information about the location of such a dangerous object as the Star Forge, when no one could find it for four thousand years," Revan noted, pulling the datapad mentioned by Tyra from his pouch.
The trophy did not evoke a sense of triumph or any emotions that should have arisen after receiving such a gift of fate… But that was the point… a gift – not a trophy. It was very conveniently placed in Revan's path at the most opportune moment…
"And what about your Force and its will? You explain all those incredible coincidences that surround you, Jedi, with that, don't you?" Tyra reasonably remarked.
Revan shook his head. Yes, there was sense in Nomad's words, but the former Jedi didn't have that feeling of rightness that usually accompanied the Force's providence. Quite the opposite, it felt like a trap... but a strange one. A test?
"You think it's a trap?" Tira guessed.
"It looks very much like one, but it was prepared by someone a very long time ago and, judging by the Wookiee's words, personally for me."
"But you... were dead, as strange as that sounds," Nomad exclaimed, slightly dramatically.
"Which narrows down the circle of those who could have organized this... and is alarming at the same time."
"In the sense that it's someone who managed to live for four thousand years and knows you well enough to hate you enough to prepare a trap even for a dead man? Argh, everything is so strange with your Force!" Tira irritably threw aside the shoulder pad she was repairing.
Revan, meanwhile, thought of Scourge. He was immortal and could hold a grudge for that failed attempt to eliminate Vitiate. And he could have trained Risa... But to harbor a plan for revenge for four thousand years?
"It could be someone who was very good at glimpsing the future," Bastila chimed in, taking control of Tira's body.
"We agreed, not so abruptly," Nomad grumbled, massaging her temples, regaining control of herself.
Revan's eyes flashed with the image of Scourge again. Once, it was precisely because of a vision of the future that he betrayed them with Mitra and sided with the Emperor.
"And if we discard all this nonsense about the Force and the like? If we look at the problem from the perspective of a general, not a knight of the Order?" Tira spoke up again, drawing the attention of Revan, who was pondering the identity of the mysterious opponent.
"What do you mean? Deciding whether it's worth risking falling into a trap for the Forge?" the former Jedi clarified.
"Exactly."
After a moment's thought, Revan nodded decisively.
"It's definitely worth it. The Forge exists, I can feel it. And if there's a chance to find and capture it, then we must take it."
"Then what's the point of thinking about who organized the trap and how, if there are no options to avoid it anyway?"
"Minimize damage?" Revan suggested with a smirk.
"Attempts to avoid combat to minimize damage often lead to even greater losses. Any Mandalorian knows that."
"And seeking combat without studying the enemy is a sure way to lose everything. That's the general's point of view," the former Jedi countered.
Tira snorted in response.
"But you're right about something. Indecision leads to death even faster. Will you join me?" Revan placed the datachron on the table before him.
Nomad nodded and moved closer. She was driven more by curiosity than by a desire to find the Forge. For her, it was just an ancient weapon, forgotten by everyone, but still capable of bringing benefit. Like a transport lost on a distant planet, full of "Basilisk" battle droids, which the instructors loved to talk about.
Revan himself tried to understand why he was hesitating so much and seemed to be deliberately postponing the moment. Was it this strange feeling of a leash leading him in circles? Or the fear of repeating the same path again?
"I'm overthinking," the former Jedi chided himself mentally and shook his head.
"Is there a map inside?" Nomad clarified, settling next to Revan.
"Yes, but it's Rakatan, so don't look for familiar markings," he replied.
He touched the datachron, resembling a small cube with elegant engraving, in several places, and it opened, projecting a hologram of a star cluster map. Revan had already opened it and even let R2 check it, but the astromech could only find a few correspondences in the Republic's star charts.
"According to our astromech, the map is relatively 'new', and the positions of the stars correspond to a period about a thousand years before the current date. Which is already good. The markings correspond to the Rakatan system of spatial coordinate determination, fortunately, it's not that different from the one adopted in the Republic. I am familiar with both, so we will still be able to determine certain reference points," Revan began to explain, turning the map at a certain angle to demonstrate its similarity to one of the regions of the "Outer Rim."
"And what is a Rakatan map doing in a Jedi holocron?" Nomad clarified.
"I can only assume that the Jedi stumbled upon a working Star Map or copied the coordinates directly from the Forge's onboard computer..."
"Or is it just a high-quality forgery containing trap coordinates?" Tira remarked.
"That too. However, it's unlikely. The map is incomplete, there's no clear mark with the target coordinates, only a region with about ten star systems," Revan changed the scale of the hologram and highlighted the area where the Forge was presumably hidden.
"And we have to check each one?"
"Considering that these are unexplored territories? Yes. If there were information in the Temple Archives about planets or objects with a high concentration of the Dark Side, we could narrow down the search. As it is, it's a needle in a haystack again, only the haystack is smaller."
"Then perhaps our initial assumption that someone is deliberately pushing you to search because they themselves haven't succeeded has a good chance of being correct?" Bastila, who had momentarily awakened, expressed her opinion.
"Anything is possible. We won't know if we don't try. The territory is large, some systems seem familiar," Revan said aloud, sorting through enlarged holographic fragments of maps, trying to understand why they seemed familiar to him, even though the astromech found no correspondence, only determining that they were Unexplored territories... when Tira interrupted him.
"Stop! Back! Enlarge that sector!" she said quickly and peered at the image.
"Does something here look familiar to you?"
"This is Chiss Ascendancy territory," Tira said grimly but confidently.
"Are you sure?"
This explained why some star clusters looked familiar. Four thousand years ago, the Chiss were allies of Vitiate's Empire. Images of these territories must have flashed through the Emperor's mind when Revan tried to stop Vitiate from deciding to attack the Republic.
"Yes, I defended my thesis at the academy on stellar cartography methodology using the example of little-explored systems on the border of the Ascendancy. This is Arosi, a border zone with the Vagaari, where I was supposed to serve after graduation. And this is Redoubt, a little-studied region where no one appears except patrol gunships of the Expansionary Defense Fleet," Nomad replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.
And Revan understood the student's state. Many years ago, she had left her homeworld and her people behind and had no desire to return. But the map led to Chiss Ascendancy territory.
"Hutt, we're going to fly there, aren't we?" Tira asked irritably.
"Not immediately."
"Good. There will be time to prepare mentally... Can I refuse this... journey?" Nomad asked, not particularly hoping for a positive answer, judging by her voice.
"Sorry. You are the only one among us who is familiar with the Ascendancy from the inside. Your experience is invaluable now. Especially if we encounter someone from the Defense and Expansion Fleet," Revan noted with regret.
"It would be better for you if I, Aru'Tir'Anudë, were not on board at this moment. I remind you that I was born into an Aristocra family that abandoned me and my mother. We were cast out into a collateral branch, as far as possible from the main one, but still, the Arus remain connected to the Mitt. Just as the Anudë, into whose family I was accepted as an adopted daughter, is connected to the Nuruodo. And Nuruodo and the Ascendancy fleet are almost synonyms. Exiles of great houses are a disgrace, and the Chiss do not forget disgrace. If they find out that you have a Chiss on board, I will be identified, and then you can't count on a peaceful resolution. Anyone who tries to help an exile is a criminal."
"And how will they identify you if you're wearing armor?"
"The protocol for inspecting an unidentified vessel involves taking biometric data for further comparison with the archive. This is how the Chiss identify pirates, lawbreakers, and... exiles who try to return. Although everyone knows there's no way back, sometimes there are desperate ones."
Nomad lowered her head. Thoughts of the past brought the girl no pleasure.
Revan took Tira by the shoulders and turned her to face him.
"Then we'll have an extra reason – not to get caught. Tira, we don't choose where we are born. The families and customs of our peoples can be cruel and unjust, but the past cannot be changed. You left the Ascendancy in the past and became a true Mandalorian, fearless and confident. You chose a new family, new friends, and a new path. And now I'm asking for help not from Aru'Tir'Anudë, but from Tira Nomad. Will you agree to help me?" he asked firmly.
Nomad closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Forbidden technique. You know yourself that I won't refuse. I haven't given up on my decision yet and I'm not going to lose to your ex," the Mandalorian declared with a brazen grin, although beneath the forced bravado, the former Jedi caught a hint of fear.
Revan nodded gratefully and hurried to let her go, although she didn't object to the prospect of being almost in the former Jedi's embrace a little longer. But the former general himself felt a slight pang of conscience for using Tira's feelings to convince her to go in search of the Forge to her former homeland. But it was just a slight emotional discomfort... after all, he had always been good at persuading, making entire armies follow him.
While Tira meticulously examined the maps, among which she managed to identify two more Chiss systems, the flight to Serenno passed unnoticed. Except for a slight skirmish between Skywalker and Oda'Barr on the topic of the best technique for counteracting large flocks of animals, which was ended by HK, who dragged the padawans to class almost by the scruff of their necks, the flight was quiet and peaceful.
Count Dooku and Qui-Gon met the crew of the "Eagle" with all the warmth and hospitality of Serenno's aristocracy... Or rather, Dooku expressed the hospitality of the aristocracy, while his former student, always disdainful of ceremonies and official protocols, in contrast to his former mentor, demonstrated warmth. Revan was pleased by this picture. Despite their age and life experience, these two still perceived each other precisely as teacher and student.
After the welcome lunch, which was attended by too many outsiders from Serenno's aristocracy to discuss the plans for the future Union, Dooku invited Revan to move to his study, where they could discuss everything calmly.
Before the Count could brief the former Sith on the situation in the Senate and enlighten him on the opinions of representatives from Alderaan, Naboo, and Mandalore on this matter, Revan surprised him with a sudden request for a ship capable of quickly reaching the Unknown Regions, as well as capable of withstanding possible threats in this unexplored region of the galaxy.
"I admit, the request is unexpected," Dooku mused.
"Circumstances force us. Unfortunately, the 'Eagle' is not entirely suitable for such a flight. Besides the heavy load on the hyperdrive for such a long route, the ship remains just a freighter. Even though we managed to replace the armament, its hull leaves much to be desired," Revan explained.
"Does this mean that at your destination, an enemy with powerful weapons awaits you?" Dooku clarified.
"We will likely have to fly into Chiss Ascendancy territory."
"Chiss? I haven't heard about them in a long time. If my memory serves me correctly, Republic Senate diplomats last contacted a representative of this extremely unsociable race more than twenty years ago. What prompted you to decide on such a flight?" the Count became interested.
"I'm afraid some things should remain secret for now. I can only say that this expedition is important for the future of the Union," Revan evaded a direct answer.
Dooku was clearly not satisfied, but he was in no hurry to press.
"Well, I understand. Here, perhaps, we will need the help of our new acquaintances, the Sienar company. I believe they can provide something suitable for your requirements."
"I heard that the Republic also has an expedition project to the unknown regions... but the project is still in the early planning stages and its implementation will take years, which we, of course, do not have," added Qui-Gon, also mentally searching for solutions to the emerging problem.
"Alas," Revan agreed.
"Then I will contact Sienar," Dooku summarized.
"I would be grateful," the former Sith nodded gratefully.
"Now, we should move on to discussing the state of affairs in the Senate. I assure you, you will find it interesting."
Revan wasn't sure about that, but he couldn't ignore the political battles between senators, especially if the Chancellor was involved in any way. So the former Jedi... or rather, three former Jedi, began to analyze the intrigues within the Senate. And the process threatened to drag on.