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The information basis for the actions is a complete zero. I mean, I had almost nothing but a history book in my secretary droid, and I think the level of the book is clear - there were no important details, and this time was described in one chapter, and that was extremely poor. I didn't even know who I was going to see - the Master of the Jedi Order was a dark figure. The power before the Ruusan Reform had been much more stable and firm - the Chancellor was in charge of the army, Coruscant was a major business centre, and the Chancellor had extensive powers. It was reassuring to see the Republic not in its decline, but in an acceptable state.
The lack of information made me a little uneasy, but not so much that I was afraid - after all, a local magister is a magister and a chancellor is a chancellor, I hadn't broken any laws, so I wasn't afraid to make contact with the administration. In my time I evaded conscription into the Order, so I was indirectly a violator of the order, but since the Order itself does not punish evasion of conscription, they were not going to punish me. Even if they had found me, though I looked different from the Anakin Skywalker that Qui-Gon had photographed on the documents. Brown-eyed, dark-eyed, childishly round-faced, a former slave from Tatooine... What people saw in front of me now was a blond man a couple of inches taller, with deep blue eyes, a skinny face, different features, a little more... wiry, I guess. It was more accurate to say that I had my own face. A more decent one, I didn't have hundreds of generations of blue-blooded aristocracy, but I didn't associate my face and my appearance with the lowest class of people.
The Jedi greeted me warily - as soon as I stepped out of the ship, two of them came up at once, judging by their emotions, the duty officers who were tired of standing on duty, and asked me in detail about my visit.
I simply handed them my lightsaber, with a request that they hand it to the head of the Order. Since I couldn't hide myself, they could just as easily read me and see that I was telling them the truth. The older Jedi sent the younger, "spirit" one to rush to the command. I stayed in the hangar at the same time - no one gave me a welcoming reception, only wary glances. I could tell that humans and non-humans were not the same as the Jedi I had met - they were much more wary, I'm sure if I had flown to Coruscant in my time, to a temple with the same conditions, they would have let me into the temple.
The calculation was simple - my sword was shielded, and it was impossible to look through the strands of neuranium with force, you need a very subtle sense of force to do so, it was like assembling a ship inside a bottle.
But even if the Magister could look - the abundance of electronics, sensors, recording devices, calculations, a couple of bugs, it was too complicated for a normal sword. Surely he'd be interested.
While I waited for a decision, I considered the hangar. The hangar was quite large, dozens of ships were parked inside, like cars in a car park - along the walls. The main Jedi transport was a small, ten metre long ship, either a small yacht or a large fighter. Or rather something in between. There were bigger ships that looked like yachts, but that was rare. The height of the ceilings was about twenty metres, which was quite impressive, but the ships were flying in, not coming in, so it was justified. Lamps shone from the ceiling. The room itself was square, there was no wall on one side, and the wall opposite had a repairmen's corner - there were enough of those labourers, both human and other creatures and droids.
As I gazed around the room, a "spirit" came in and informed me that I had an audience:
- Come, the Master summons you to his office.
- Where am I supposed to find him? - I asked perplexed. I didn't know my way around the temple like the local Jedi. "The Spirit quickly realised that I didn't know the layout and volunteered to escort me to the Chief's office.
The corridors of the temple were like a labyrinth, as it was difficult to navigate without spending at least a lot of time in the temple as a youngling. But my guide navigated quite well. I could have used my power to find the office I needed, but then the number of questions would have increased. I shouldn't have used my powers unnecessarily.
After ten minutes of wandering through corridors, lifts and stairs, we finally reached the administrative wing. It was a series of offices, like a hospital, the corridors were just as ascetic and bureaucratically furnished, and there were no plants, no living souls. By each door in a long row were signs with the names and ranks of the owners of the offices. It was understandable; it would be foolish to assume that Jedi worked only on "hot" missions and waved a light saber - to make reports to their superiors, read them, and do other paperwork.
At the end of the row was a door, obviously bigger than the previous one, signed "Master".
Leaving me near the door, the guy in the classic Jedi garb tried to get out as quickly as he could, so that he wouldn't have to see his superiors again.
There was no name on the sign, unlike the other signs on the doors, which clearly indicated that everyone knew who the boss was.
Left alone, I was hesitant to use any kind of force to see if anyone was around - I couldn't rule out the possibility that others might not like being spied on. There was no such difficulty with ordinary people.
The door slid aside as I stood beside it. Inside, the office was similarly ascetic, but rather cosy-not cheap furniture, a heavy wooden desk, a few filing cabinets along one wall, and the master's seat near the large panoramic window. Behind the desk sat a man, a man of rather aristocratic appearance, with grey hair. His eyes scanned me quickly and he spoke:
- Come in, sit down, young man. What are you here for? - He smiled a little, not taking his eyes off me. I had to spill everything I had.
- Hello. Anakin Skywalker," I bowed briefly, as I'd been taught at the academy. The older man gave me a nod and an interested look. I kept my strength in check-it would take an idiot to stare at the Master of the Order's emotions.
- Bale Lex," he introduced himself. - What's up?
I started with my story, as I was sure he'd be interested in the details.
He listened to the information about me being a slave on Tatooine with no apparent interest, but the information about Qui-Gon made him jump forward. There was no such master in the Order, and he would have remembered. But I wasn't in a hurry to say what was important.
- Then what?
- I was presumed dead," I shrugged. - I had no great desire to become a Jedi, though. You can call it self-interest, but to take on such responsibility and obey the council at the same time... I'm sorry," I continued. - I didn't sit idle for long, though, because I got a job as a flight mechanic on a smuggler's ship," I answered, causing the Master's displeasure.
- Next," he said demandingly.
- Next, after a few months of my career, I decided to quit and went to Alderaan.
- Why there? - wondered the Master. - Go on, though.
- To study. I entered the academy, and slowly studied....
The Jedi chuckled, but he listened to my short story about my studies without much interest.
- Then I went to Mandalore. I'd heard rumours that there were deposits of beskar there, and with my powers I could search for them.
- An interesting way to use the Force," the Jedi nodded, "but nothing more. The result?
I told him the result too, from signing the contract with the KMC to the Mandalorian terrorist attack. The Master only laughed when I told him, though when it came to Alessia, he stopped laughing....
- And then I came out of hyperspace here. In this time.
- Yeah, that's a lot of business..." the Jedi stretched out. - I know of a few instances of travelling when time was different as a result of disruptions to the circuits, but usually the ship jumps out a month to a year ahead of time. It's not that fatal.
- I don't see how I could go backwards in time either," I replied. - It would take a large negative field charge, but it's something else. I have no idea how time travel backwards happened.
- Yes, with such questions it is better to go straight to the great holocron. If there are any cases, he's the only one who would know.
- That's partly why I'm here," I nodded.
And then the magister pounced on me with questions about the state of affairs in the galaxy in my time. Yes, it wasn't a very peaceful time, but it was better than here.
He accepted the news that the Sith had been almost completely wiped out with a broad smile, but the information that a number of them were still lurking and wielding power made him uneasy. As I finished my story, he cut me off and asked for a pause.
- So," he said, breaking the silence. - I can't waste the Order's resources on helping you get home. I sympathise with your plight, but helping stranded travellers is not one of the Order's tasks, especially since, as you know, the threat to the Sith Empire is still present.
- I understand," I nodded. It would be self-centred to think that the Jedi would help me so easily.
- Next. As you realise, I have only one thing to offer you. Become one of us. That way you will have access to the archives, the holocron, and also, as far as I understand, you understand how systematic education differs from independent attempts.
- I understand," I nodded.
- It will also give you some technical help. We haven't come across such cases and I'm not going to spend resources on researching the problem, but I don't forbid you to look for a way out of the situation yourself. One last thing. Do not give to anyone and under no circumstances what you have brought from your time. If in your archives there is no mention of the technical revolution or such a Jedi as Anakin Skywalker, then you should not disturb the course of history once again. Or rather, it shouldn't be disrupted at all. So the fact that you are sitting here is more of a kind of time loop.
The Master coughed and continued in a clearer voice:
- 'If you want to think about it, I won't rush you...'
- I agree," I said.
- Are you sure? - asked the Master. - You ran away from the Order in your own time. I will not refuse an extra fighter, but if you are smart enough not to become a Sith, I will not force you. There are millions of Force-users in the galaxy that we don't touch. Most of them are intelligent enough to foresee trouble or have good intuition, nothing more, but still ...
- I'm sure," I said. - After that reform I told you about, the Order was in for a lot of changes....
- Wait, don't tell me. I don't even want to know what I'm not supposed to know! - said the Magister imperiously. - I don't want this knowledge to change my current worldview.
- As you wish," I shrugged, "I just wanted to say that the Jedi of my time have no right to property and are celibate. Not all of them do, of course, but still ...
- So," the Master frowned, "without these rules you're satisfied with the Order?
- You could say so, - I didn't hide it, - I just didn't want the council and Master Yoda to get into my wallet or dictate my personal life....
- We don't have a problem with that," the Master sighed.
I was fine with the old Jedi Oath. Protect peace and order - that was what I was going to do. There were no clauses that said I would be single until I died or that I had to deposit my money in the Order's treasury. On the contrary, I had the right to have a wife, a business, and even outside professions. Jedi is not a profession, it's a religion, and it's a pity that in my time it has degenerated to the level of a sect.
I had to briefly repeat everything I'd said earlier while holding the datapad in the air above the table. The point was that no matter how skilful a Forceuser was at disguising himself, if he used even the smallest power ability once, the whole disguise would go to the Hutts. There had never been a Forcer born who could cloak and use force at the same time, because it was theoretically impossible. As far as I was concerned.
The repetition of the whole story led to a change of emotions on the face of the head of the Order - he was relieved. And immediately asked a question:
- Now that this has been dealt with, can you tell me about how you created your sword?
- By force.
- Force forging, but how did you make it unreadable? Even the sensors in the council chamber didn't work, so I couldn't read it.
I had to explain the details of how I got to this life - how I studied on Tatooine, then how I worked as a flight mechanic and maintained the ship, fixed the hyperdrive....
At the last one, the Master couldn't stand it, thinking I was bullshitting him. I had to take the datapad again and speak honestly.
He believed me, though he still had his doubts.
- You have to realise, this level is obviously not normal. Most Jedi can't figure out a complex circuit, and it takes a lot of time, and hyperdrive is probably one of the most complex technologies in the galaxy. It took decades to master, even with working samples, let alone the fact that changes to it are considered impossible in principle.
- All right, all right, I understand. But I have these abilities.
- Where did they come from? - he asked.
- It just sort of came on its own.
- It did," he grinned incredulously, "so you believe it. Well, let's not go into details, and I don't advise you to talk about your extraordinary abilities either. It's a lot of attention, or even envy, without any payoff.
- I understand," I nodded.
- I'll look for a use for your abilities, too. Since our masters of power forging use a completely different principle in this matter, there's no point in you learning forging in the Order. I understand you're not very good with a sword.
- Well, not really.
- No, Anakin, you'll never learn to be a serious swordsman on your own. So you can go now, and I'll make sure you're registered and given everything you need," he said. - Wait a minute, though. You don't want to breed entities, it's better if you're registered under some other name.
- What name? - I paused, as I stood up and walked to the door.
- I have no idea," he shrugged his shoulders, "so as not to cause confusion in the archives, we'll put you down under something else....
I just shrugged my shoulders and walked out. The Master was so busy that he forgot to give me a guide, but now I found my way back by force. Since no one had told me where I could spend the night, I went back to my boat, which was quite cosy. If it weren't for the signs of renovation and the bad memories of the incident, which were painful, I might have preferred to live in the yacht, as the temple didn't have all the comforts.
But my constant companion was waiting for my return.
- How was it? - He asked me as soon as I boarded.
- It was fine. The local chief is a good man, though, as I expected, he said not to spread too much and immediately warned that there would be no special operations on our return.
- Then why did we fly?
- That's why we flew," I walked past the droid into the spacious bathroom, closed the door, and continued through it. - To get support, not to burden the locals with our own problems. They're not stupid enough to help anyone they meet. People have their own tasks to fulfil, and they do them, and our situation has nothing to do with their tasks. We have to think how to get out of it, - I got into the warm water. - We, Erdva, have great things to do, but some other time, and preferably after we return. In the meantime, we sit tight, keep our heads down, and don't get into trouble - the Sith are still a bit restless, and frankly, once was enough for me, and I have no desire to get into the thick of it until I've built my death star.
- What's a death star?" - asked the droid's voice from behind the door.
- Oh," I said meaningfully, "It's a big, dangerous thing. But until I have it, let's not look for trouble. Next. I've been admitted to the Order, on the rights of... I don't know what rights. Bird rights, I guess.
- You've already joined the Jedi Order?
- The warden said he'd accept me. We have no choice - the Jedi, as far as I know, have one of the largest archives in the galaxy, and there's a local archigolocron. Plus in the Order you can learn to wield a lightsaber, because I'm still a complete zero in this matter.
- So we're staying?
- Where are we going to go from a submarine? No money, no fuel, no status, no status, working for criminals means no return, and they have no information or teachers. So it turns out becoming a Jedi is the perfect way out for me. Plus, the rules are better than our time. So I'm seizing the moment.
- Maybe you should have gone to the Sith. - The droid persisted.
- If you suggest that again, I'll remove your repulsors," I threatened. - Think with your brain, they have no society. Angry, insolent, aggressive... they look like some stupid teenage subculture that lives by the laws of a society of children, not adults," I shrugged, splashing the water. - So no options. Just the Jedi.
The morning on the ship was familiar, except the ship was in a hangar, but that didn't matter.
As soon as I left the room, Erdva swooped in:
- Captain, a Jedi came to see you.
- Who's who?
- The Jedi said he'd be waiting for you outside the ship.
- Tactful," I said, surprised, and hurried to get ready. It didn't take long - I was a tumbleweed as a person, and sitting in one place all the time was depressing. There was indeed a Jedi near the ramp, a young Padawan by the looks of it.
He introduced himself, though I didn't remember much, and took me through all the necessary procedures. First, to the Aesculapists, where they took all the measurements, tests, and so on.
I forgot to tell the Master about my midichlorian level, which caused the local doctor's eyes to round in surprise. She took the midichlorian test again and flew off with the results to her superiors, leaving me alone. While she was gone, I considered the examination finished and left the office, accompanied by my Susanin to the mess hall - a Jedi shouldn't neglect food, much less go on any kind of diet. As far as I understood, using the Force was not a mental ability, and it required the Jedi to have a certain amount of strength. With frequent use of the Force, a Jedi ate much more often and more than he normally needed to. My guide had told me all this, though I already knew that the Jedi's body and the Force were closely related - my rapid growth was proof of that.
My thirst for knowledge, which seemed to have receded the moment Ali died, had begun to plague me for once recently. I didn't even want to think about studying.