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***
* Evening *
Usually time flies by when one is busy doing something interesting. However, it barely stretches when you're doing something unpleasant. I had a few hours to spare, so as soon as the fleet approached Naboo in the form of a squadron, I set off in my Crucible.
The Venators were impressive. I found no major differences from the cinematic representation, but they looked different - more serious. On the hull stood many rotating gun turrets with turbolasers, and the main calibre, a huge rotating turbolaser, stood in the nose of the cruiser. Its mobility was minimal, however, a salvo of such a huge and did not require speed and agility. According to my usual classification, it is this gun that distinguishes cruisers from star destroyers. And do not confuse the ZRs with battleships - the latter are not designed for general combat, their weapons are entirely or mostly composed of huge heavy turbolasers, respectively, they are not able to repel the attack of a large number of small ships, or participate in a highly manoeuvrable battle. They are designed to destroy especially large objects - space stations, planetary objects and other things. However, in my opinion, this is an unnecessary typecasting.
Along with the cruisers in the squadron there was also a patrol small stuff in the form of corvettes and light cruisers of unknown design. I steered my cruiser into the flagship's hangars, which were barely a fifth full. Shin, himself, came out to meet me. Along with him were the officers of the cruiser and the Hortad. As soon as I climbed out of the crucopter, jumping to the ground, they immediately approached.
- Your Majesty," all present bowed briefly.
- Save the politeness for tonight, Shin, Hortad," I clapped them both on the shoulder, "how are things on the conquered planets?
- The tightening of the regime has been a success," Hortad shared, "at least we've managed to clamp down on street crime. Our officers and the Nabuans will handle the case. Plus I've asked them to hire Mandalorian freelancers to lead the special operations force.
- Good," I nodded, "in that case, the matter is closed at our level and will be handled by the subordinates. Ready to go?
Shin and Hortad looked at each other, the admiral answered:
- 'Affirmative. Shuttle... - he turned to the captain of the cruiser, who immediately reported that the shuttle had already arrived.
Together with the generals, I boarded the shuttle and headed down to Theed. We sat down at the military base, before we left, the admirals had to clean themselves up, preferably in Tidus, and I had to solve one issue with Sabine....
If with Padmé our mutual explanations were more like confused, she's not the same, I'm not the same, but with Sabina the situation is different. I'll have to do something special. When the shuttle landed at the military base, next to the acclamation staters, I was the first to get out and head towards the ship where the Guard was based. Sabine didn't have any serious work to do, but on my orders, the Guards were put into individual cabins. The ship had plenty of living space, so the quadruple cabins were converted into officers' quarters, and all the pilots were officers. I walked up the long, almost two hundred metre long ramp on board. In general, the Acclamator is a big ship, so, standing stationary on the base they towered above the base like huge houses. The height of each is exactly two hundred metres. In space the same two hundred metres seem to be a trifle, but being on the planet the ship as if passes from macrocosm to microcosm - it seems to be a giant among Lilliputians-humans. All necessary communications were already arranged around them - cables were laid, as the acclamator reactors served as a power station of the military base. Finally, walking up the long ramp into the ship's hangar, I came face to face with the technicians, who recognised me as the Emperor, despite my Guard uniform. It must be seen how the eyes of the technicians rounded....
I walked on without paying much attention to them, until the officer who spotted me, the captain, the same one who had first met me, came running up:
- "Your Majesty? May I be of service?
- No, thank you, Captain, I'll find someone myself... - I walked past to the location of our squadron. But since Sabine is probably either in Tida or at her place, I preferred to meet on neutral territory. The neutral ground was the ship's wardroom. The officers who jumped up at my appearance were escorted out, and I occupied the wardroom, switching off all internal cameras and wiretaps.
- Erdva," I turned to my indispensable companion, "put me through to Sabine on the service channel.
Sabina didn't answer right away. In the meantime I had time to sit down on the sofa freed from the officers and examine my iron friend. Erdva had recently taken on the role of an observer, although he had been much more active in the past. However, his character hasn't changed, and sometimes he comments on what he sees. That makes him a well-developed person with a sense of humour.
- Your Majesty," a hologram of Sabina appeared above Erdva, ready to be received at the palace, judging by the small amount of make-up and the dress uniform. Sabina was stretched out, displaying a remarkably well-built figure, but... not like Padme, not delicate and delicate. Rather sturdy and respectful.
- Captain Josis, I'm waiting for you in the wardroom of the acclamator where your squadron is based. Where are you now?
- On the ship," she stretched even more.
- Waiting.
We've been cut off. I made myself comfortable in my chair and closed my eyes, wondering how to start the conversation. I had two things to do with Sabine, besides admitting that I was the same person as Heania. I'll start in order. While I was waiting for Sabina, I went to the bar and had a quarter glass of wine. It's a good stress reliever.
Sabine came into the wardroom with a quick step, noticing me. I sat in a deep armchair and sipped my wine. I took a glass for Sabina, too, but left it on the bar for now. She looked round and stood at attention.
- At ease, Josice. How did this little war go? - I came closer. Taking advantage of the fact that she was standing upright, I walked round behind her.
- Your Majesty, there were no casualties among the Guards. There are only minor injuries, but all the fighters are badly damaged.....
I put my hand on her shoulder, beginning to lower it. Sabina's surprise was unrivalled, but she quickly pulled herself together and shouted:
- Your Majesty! What do you think you're doing? - At the same time, a fist of a woman's very delicate hand flew into my face. The reaction saved me, however, smiling, I clarified:
- Don't mind me. Just a little test. Congratulations, Sabina, you passed.
Sabina's anger at me began to subside. I forcefully pulled the glass of wine left for her and offered it to her:
- Sit down, help yourself, we need to talk.
Sabina sat down, looking at me with real interest. We had not previously spoken as emperor and subordinate, consequently she was completely unfamiliar with me. Settling back in my chair, I began with the first matter of importance.
- Sabina, I will start by saying that I will organise a special organisation within the empire in the future. You will lead it.
- But, your majesty," she was surprised, "I have never done anything like this before and....
- Oh, it will be an unusual organisation. You won't have to deal with bureaucracy among your subordinates, at all, so bureaucratic experience is irrelevant. I've been thinking that I can't keep a lot of personalities in check in the empire. Also, criminals often cover for each other, so I need special people.
- What is the nature of the job? - she asked, surprised.
- The nature of... terrorist, - I grinned, - your task is to gather a certain number of people, honest and incorruptible, capable of active work. Once they join the organisation, they cease to obey the laws of the Empire and the Republic within the Empire. Your and their task is to punish treasury thieves, bribers, drug dealers and so on. Anyone whose activities pose a threat to the Empire. No trial, no chance of pardon or defence counsel. True, you'll have to check well and act only where the situation is unambiguous, but... you'll have a job.
- Isn't that against the law?
- Under the laws of the Republic, you mean?
Sabina nodded. She seemed to like the speech. Mandalorians don't like bureaucrats, especially if they steal.
- The Republic does not interfere in the internal affairs of the state. Inside the Empire, my word is law. No one will have authority over this service but me. Not the Republic, not ministers, not officials of any rank. Anyone who interferes with the investigation must be taken into custody until it is completed, no matter who it is. You are also outside the law, untouchable. If any of you commit a crime, it will be investigated and tried by me personally. Limitedly, you may obey members of my family, but only if their orders do not conflict with mine and your primary business of destroying internal threats to the empire.
I fell silent and pulled a vase of snacks from the bar, plain cheese sandwiches. The pensive Sabina trailed off, then asked an unexpected question:
- Your majesty, ah... why such a strange test?
- First of all, I need people of honour. From the word honour. If you can give me on my imperial face, it means that you have principles.
Sabina was satisfied with the answer, and respect appeared in her emotions. 'That's good, that's very good.
- When shall we begin?
- Don't be in a hurry. One last thing, today I have to go to a reception with the Queen of Naboo. I suppose you'll be my travelling companion? - he grinned and squinted his eyes. Sabina did not disappoint me in the least:
- Your Majesty, I'm sorry... but I can't. There is one...lieutenant I will go to the reception with.
- All right, sit down," I waved my hand at Sabina who jumped up, pushing her slightly with force. She collapsed back into the chair," "You're not talking about Hennia, are you?
Some of Sabina's reactions interested me. First of all, her displays of power did not arouse the same interest as those of mere mortals, and secondly, Sabina was lying to me. Or rather, she lied very skilfully, masterfully. First of all, she's not a Mandalorian. In general, while I was on Farstin, I managed to make enquiries through Satine, Sabina Josis, the one I know, never left Mandalore. Otherwise, the biography and appearance are the same. Secondly, Sabine Josis of Mandalore was an average pilot, and served on a planet in the middle of nowhere. She had no relatives or friends among those from whom my army was recruited. Otherwise, the Sabine I knew was Sabine. There was no evidence of espionage or evil intent, so I continued to keep an eye on her and did not reveal my incognito. Using Hennia's guise I couldn't scan her well, only passive empathy, so I felt bad, but now my power wasn't constrained by self-control, I watched her as closely as I could. In fact, it was surprising in its strangeness. "Sabina either just wanted to get into the empire, so she used the document and the biography of Sabina Josis, or... and what the 'either' is, I don't know anymore. Her motivation is not clear to me, in strength I feel her gift is far greater than the pilots. After an active scan, I can see it clearly. She was stronger than most Jedi Knights, and had a pronounced "Green", i.e. healing, i.e. natural orientation. The mechanism of force development was not like a normal Forceuser, more like something incomprehensible. Closer to architects, but we, architects, have a much stronger, more multifaceted connection with the force, we are in our own way united with the force, being still alive. She is an amazing person, in general, a superforce or a billet for an architect. But architects are created by the force as they are. Even assuming she is one of us, that theory would quickly collapse, her power scheme is categorically different from the Architect's, in key parameters. So now I wanted to call her out on her honesty. In fact, I was amused by the situation that as soon as I put on the lieutenant's "mask", I ran into two girls hiding under other people's faces as well. It's obvious that the force has worked on probabilities. It has no control over fate, but it can influence mortals, forsusers, giving them feelings or drawing their attention to something. Perhaps if it weren't for the power, I wouldn't have noticed Padme strolling in the park, and I wouldn't have defeated Sabine in a training match then.
- About him," the girl nodded, looking at me with interest. Another wrong reaction, I should be surprised that the Emperor knows about her feelings for Hennia. So she knows full well that I'm a Forceuser and that I feel the way she feels about Hennia. But I didn't recognise her, so I'm incognito.
- Okay, Sabin, don't you think this is going a little far? - I sat down more comfortably in the chair, -I'll be blunt, you're not who you say you are.
Sabine twitched, and stared at me in surprise:
- How do you know?
- It's obvious to me.
I've removed the blocks that disguise my power as a normal Forceuser. A breeze of fresh, unleashed power wafted through the room. From the point of view of a normal Forsuser, I reeked of the much more powerful, "higher" power that the Architects had almost always used. Being around mortals with a trained and untrained architect who does not keep his power in check is overwhelming. It is a feeling that is difficult to describe. You could say that the power emanates from me, filling the space around me, making it tangible through the force and imbuing it with energy. It's like the radiation of the sun on the beach, filling everything around me, penetrating everywhere, warming everyone with invisible rays. Sabina's eyes widened in surprise, and I didn't realise that eyes could widen so much. She tried to stand up, but I pushed her down and put on my usual disguise.
- Who are you? She tensed up.
- I have the same question. And I'm the one asking the questions here. You're not Sabina Josis. It was reckless to impersonate a Mandalorian, considering my sister, Satine Kriz, has all the information. Sabina still serves on some run-down space station.
The guest sighed heavily, glaring at me, but lost the staring game, dropping her gaze to the table.
- I'm not Sabine Josis...
- Obviously. Okay, let me get this straight. Are you here to hurt the empire?
- No!
- Are you gathering information?
- No," she replied more calmly.
- Are you running errands for someone else?
Sabina answered uncertainly, "No."
- And who or what made you go to the Empire? And into the Guard as well?
- The Force," she sighed, "I just felt I was needed here.
- That's right," I nodded, "I need forsusers. Like the rest of the Guard, you're one of them, but you're different. Your mechanism for interacting with the force is different from any I've ever seen. And I have seen many Sith and Jedi. And you don't look like an Architect, so the question remains, who are you?" I smiled, "If you don't want to tell me your name, I don't care. It's just a set of sounds, and who you are, I can feel perfectly well through the force. What is the name of those mechanisms and swirls of natural force that permeate your soul? - I looked at her intently.
- I... - the girl was confused, - I don't know... I've always been like this... - she became excited and there was some hope in her soul, - but how do you feel it?
- I'm not just a Force-user. People like me are created by the force itself, we are a separate race, regardless of biological basis. We've been called many things, Celestians, Architects, Celestials. We are more powerful than mortals, but rare.
- Mortals? - she marvelled," Isn't...
- Yes. We're completely immortal. You can kill someone like me, but not with a simple blaster or sword, even complete destruction of the body is only a temporary inconvenience. In a way, we are one with the force while our bodies are alive. A friend of mine, who looks younger than you, once taught me how to use the force. Her father wanted me to do something with her, but she was almost a million years older than me, so I refused. Age and time are very subjective to us.
- It can't be," the girl turned pale, agitated, "you... you..." she broke into a sweat, "you're one of them?
I just nodded:
- Yes. We are instruments of power. The strongest thing the Force has created to influence the mortal world. And if the Force is as benevolent to the galaxy as I am, then I see nothing wrong with fulfilling my role. Though our power is great...enough to destroy predestination with our will. At first I thought you were one of us. But I dismissed that thought when I took a closer look.
The girl's face fell asleep, surprised at what she saw before her. And the main thing she was interested in was herself. She clearly didn't know that her mechanism for interacting with the force was different, so I'm like a doctor to her, who knows better than she does what she is. And she was very interested.
I was just thinking of the dialogue between Anakin and Ben before they fought one last time. The prophecy, "you were meant to restore balance, not destroy it." Idiots, there is no such thing as fate. That Anakin in the original universe, which never materialised in reality, didn't do as predicted was obvious. A man is the master of his destiny. His power was strong enough to kill Palpatine, that's what the prophecy was about. That in one of an infinity of probabilities, he would restore the balance by killing the villain, but the choice is always for the intelligent himself. Always.
- Then why didn't you go to the Jedi?
- Why not? I am a Jedi Master. But first, let's stop playing the partisan interrogator and tell me everything. From the beginning. I've already learnt what was important to me, you won't kill me or harm the Empire and its citizens.
The girl sighed heavily as she looked down at the table in front of her and began to speak:
- My name is not Sabine, per se. My name is Faye. I am a Jedi Master. I've wandered the galaxy for years, listening to the will of the force, helping the people of the galaxy," she sighed heavily once more, "but the Empire... it's something different, not what the galaxy is used to. It's something different, you know? At the centre of the galaxy, and yet it has enormous power, the Empire is a giant unaccounted for factor. And the most important part of it, the core, is the emperor. This is a man who has phenomenal, unprecedented power.....
- Don't overestimate me," I shook my head, "power isn't money or strength. It's political weight, and I've never gained more of it than I need. And I don't want to interfere in the galaxy's affairs openly, dictating or imposing my will.
- I've already realised," the girl nodded, "that's not the point. This force exists in fact, and whether it is applied or not... that is another matter. I followed the will of the force that led me to the empire stronger than anywhere else, ever before. And beyond that... perhaps for the sake of our meeting today. Perhaps that's what this is all about.
- Faye... as an Architect, a Celestial, a Son of the Force, one who understands it better than any mortal, I tell you... there is no fate. The mind creates destiny. Once upon a time, I believe the Jedi made a prophecy about me. That "one will appear who will restore the balance of power." But I sent the entire Jedi order to the Hutts and acted on my own. I did not restore the balance of the force, though I did kill one extremely powerful Sith. The Force doesn't guide us, it lights the path ahead, and whether we step into the light or step into the darkness... that's up to us. The only good thing about such prophecies is that when we do things our own way, we can't know exactly where it will lead. Maybe it's for the best.
Faye listened with bated breath.
- So... fate isn't a foregone conclusion? - she asked hopefully.
- That's what it turns out to be. There are only probabilities of what will happen if we make one choice or another. If I throw a crystal glass at the wall, the probability that it will shatter increases to one hundred per cent, if I don't throw it, it remains ten to twenty per cent. And it depends on how the people using it behave whether that probability comes true or not. That's the Force. It unites the past with the present, but not the future, although it exists in it. The future is not defined, it is a blank slate on which history appears as it is written. But you didn't finish. There's a lot I didn't know about you.
- Okay, I'm sorry. I've been wandering the galaxy for years, and a force led me to the Empire. I joined the Guard to learn more about a man who concentrates so much... power in his hands.
- You learned something about me that even the people closest to me don't know," I chuckled, "that I'm the Architect. That secret must be kept. I am a danger and a boon to the Jedi.
- Why? - Faye was genuinely surprised.
- Think about it. If what I say about the Force contradicts the order's beliefs, will it be welcomed by the council? After all, my word means more than the words of mortals. Much more than the words of the Council of Masters that governs the Order, for I am in some measure the agent of the will of the Force in the material world.
- You are right," she grew sad, "but did you say Jedi Master?
- They don't know who I really am.
- By the way. I know all the Jedi Masters from the last three centuries. And you're definitely not one of them.
- I joined the Order a long time ago," I chuckled, "long before the wars with the Sith were over. That Order I respected, that Order I swore oaths to. Not what it's degenerated into. If you're over three hundred," I chuckled, "you should see how the Order is changing.
- Admittedly... I'm rarely in it... very rarely. Exceptionally. I haven't been in over a century.
- Well, you've heard about the Order and you've been in contact with the Jedi," I parried, "I haven't been to the Temple in almost three thousand years, but I've still met Jedi, even made friends....
- You're three thousand years old? - she jumped up, but I sat her down again with a poke of my strength:
- No. Time is relative for people like us. I'm..." I thought for a moment, "I'm young by human standards, but I can't tell you how old I am. We grow old physically only by choice. I'm over twenty but under fifty. More like thirty, but then again, I've spent many years... where time flows differently and in isolation from society, so I haven't aged physically or psychologically. Think of me as 25 years old.
- Sorry, it's just a bit sudden," she smiled, "you know, I thought I was so alone... that the force had done something to me.
- The second is definitely true. The force made you who you are. And who you are, we'll find out soon enough.
- How? - the girl is really interested.
- I mentioned the ancient, ancient architects the other day, remember?
- The ones you learnt from.
- That's right. We'll go to them. By the standards of the immortals, I'm a baby, barely born. I'm not even a thousand years old yet, so we children will consult with the older and wiser, the true Architects.
- I..." she rejoiced and almost cried. In general, everything that concerned the explanation of her nature caused her a sea of emotions.
- Don't thank me. I'll be glad if you realise at last who you are and what you are. I'm very curious myself.
- Thanks anyway," she smiled, "you don't know how much it means to me.
- It's good. Speaking of the Queen's reception... we should get going.
- I'm sorry, but I already told you I can't...just....
- Don't sweat it," I smiled, "I can feel you right through. You really do seem to love Lieutenant Henya. Now...," I smiled, "the main issue! Hennia is one of my names.
- What?" she was surprised, "what did you say?
- Hennia Kriz is me. That's my name. I'm sorry, but I just wanted to unwind, so I assigned myself to the Guard, becoming an ordinary pilot... you know, I'm even amused by this situation....
- It can't be," she opened her eyes again, "it can't be.
- It can. So, Anakin Skywalker, aka Heania. Honestly, I'm glad this masquerade is over.
- But..." she squirmed, "but then...
- But then what? Or did your feelings change once I grew my hair and got my face back to normal?
- No, but... it's... somehow.... - the girl quickly managed herself, - somehow unfamiliar... incomprehensible....
- But we are the same as we were before, - I sighed, - you know? We haven't changed. Names and some facts of biography... you fell in love with a lieutenant without knowing anything about him except his name and rank. Isn't that enough for you now?
- I'm sorry," she rubbed her temples, "I'm sorry, I was a little nervous. No, my feelings haven't changed... Anakin.
- Mine haven't either... Faye.
I stepped closer, this time not putting the initiative in her hands, and tried to kiss extremely gently. Sabine-Faye accepted the kiss, and for a few minutes we kissed. She pulled me down onto the couch, ending up on top of me. Gradually there was more passion in her kiss - she was not hiding the Force, so the contact between the two forsusers, the two forces, was very unusual - the Force seemed to flow from her to me and back again. The sensation was delicious, so I gave myself over to it completely, forgetting about time. Faye seemed to have solved the dilemma, and now it didn't matter what her name and mine were. The same girl who had kissed me brazenly on Chommel had come back to me, brazenly, passionately, assertively. It was this girl with an iron character and rare willpower that I liked.
We broke off the kiss only when Erdva tactfully hinted, telling us the time.
- Faye... there's something I haven't learnt yet..." I grinned into the girl's face that was a millimetre away from mine. Her breath after the kiss was deep, felt on my skin.
- Yes?
- Appearance. Take off that face, I want to see you.
- Okay... - she got off me, and plunged into meditation. I watched her metamorphosis with increasing interest. Her hair lengthened, below her shoulders, lighter in colour. Exactly the same colour as mine. Her face had become less harsh, more harmonious, and she had a tattoo on her face, in the form of three small stripes, on her left cheekbone, above her left eye, and above her chin. The looks... well, let's just say that now I'm not sure I won't fall in love. Very unsure indeed, she is indeed more beautiful than many people I have seen. And most importantly, the most beautiful and attractive thing of all is the ears! Slightly pointed "elf" ears, the tips of which peeked out from behind strands of hair. It all looked so attractive together that I couldn't resist kissing her again when she came out of her trance. This is phenomenal beauty, a stab straight to the heart! Faye opened her eyes in surprise and when we broke the kiss, she asked:
- Do you like me?
- Very much. It's... perfect.
- Not that perfect, I think," she got up from the couch.
- You're wrong. It's perfect for me.
- Better than your what's-her-name," Faye squinted.
- Don't compare. She's beautiful, but in her own way. You're perfect.
- Is it okay if I'm a little less human? - Faye raised an eyebrow.
- 'I'm a bit of a non-human too. Half-miraculous. And my son is half-breast, so ignore those little things... especially your ears," I smiled, "Would you let me pet him?
Without waiting for her permission, I reached out and stroked the ear. It was soft, and longer, pleasant to the touch. I touched it with my lips, causing Faye a wave of embarrassment. Apparently, some sensitive area on her body. I'll remember...
- That's enough," she blushed, "that's enough, heh... Anakin.
- I'm sorry, but I can't help it," I smiled, "although physicality is a relative concept for me, as it is for you, but... I can't help it," I pulled away, "I thought we still had an appointment to go to?
- Right," she smiled charmingly, "you know, Anakin, I think I've travelled the galaxy enough. I want to stay with you, especially since you said we make destiny.
- I'm glad," I smiled back, "please stay with me. But that doesn't mean you have to do nothing. I've rarely stayed in one place, and that's why I've developed such a roving character.
- I see..." she squirmed, "so be it.
It was time to go. We left the wardroom and headed for the hangar. The crew members I caught sight of tried to play dumb, but they were few and far between. I bet this corridor had quickly become a dead zone - not many people would want to be seen by their superiors unless they needed to. Together with Faye, we walked to the hangar. From there to the palace, on the first shuttle we could find. Maybe it's inappropriate for an emperor to fly on a travelling shuttle, but I'm not demanding. Fay accompanied me in silence, speaking only as we flew toward the palace:
- Anakin, I've been thinking... should we hide our relationship, or not?
- On second thought... you don't have to flaunt it, but you don't have to avoid me either. I'll be glad if no one realises at first sight what our relationship is.
The girl nodded confidently.
- 'I mean, kissing in front of an audience is a bit early....
- But leave aside the loyal "Your Majesty" as well. Call me Anakin. Or "Ani," as everyone in my family does. Now..." I gave the controls to Erdwah as we circled the palace in a large arc, "it's time to land.
There was room in the Palace hangar for our shuttle. Erdva started the ship accurately, and landed next to Shiai and Ahsoka's corvette. Before I went, I wanted to stop by their place some more, and, if she and Mum are there, introduce them to Faye. The girl took a deep breath as the ramp lowered down.
The hangar was filled with ships and luxurious aerospiders of the guests. While watching the film of Far Far Away, I wondered why so little attention was paid to speeders and aerospiders? There is so much more information on some secondary fighter than on the primary vehicle on the planet. No, speeders in the galaxy are and have been good. The main market was shared by a few corporations like SoroSub, Incom, and KMK. The speciality of speeders was that they were very easy to manufacture, so almost every planet could produce speeders that met the standards and aesthetic sense of the inhabitants. The number of manufacturers of speeders in general is exorbitant - on Corellia alone there are more than a thousand of them. And this is despite the fact that there is the KMC, which is grabbing a piece of the market. Speeders are even easier to manufacture than droids - they literally consist of a frame, repulsors, a reactor and a cockpit inside with controls. Building your own speeder is like building your own computer - there are some corporations in the galaxy that sell pre-built and perfectly assembled models, like the X line that Luke Skywalker and I use, but it's not very popular - they mostly sell components that meet certain standard specifications and have unified systems. The same KMC produces repulsors that can be plugged into an Incom computer, which in turn will easily connect to any speeder reactor, whether it's made on Corellia or Yavin. Anyone can either buy a standard, professionally designed machine, or turn to the many workshops that build to order, but often have their own designs. The only exceptions to this are planets and places where there are no workshops, so there you either buy assembly kits through the holonet or ready-made machines. Here on Naboo, however, most of the speeders were local. They looked like the N-1 fighter, with an open cockpit, but wider and longer, with no engine in the tail and much smaller wings in front, which provided manoeuvrability in flight and created some lift, thus relieving the repulsors. In general, the Nabuan machines were quite beautiful, sleek, but not washed out forms, with smooth curves and sharp as a knife, nose plumage, cutting the air flow. The second largest speeder here is the Danatos. This machine was already impressive - about twelve to fifteen metres long, externally the hull was similar to the silhouette of a thick predatory fish, in front of the windshield was a bonnet, which hid a double set of systems and life support systems for flights at high altitudes, the same tanks with oxygen, pumps. After them, in the fuselage, was the travelling compartment. It is a small compartment for the driver and a small saloon for the passengers, with two facing each other sofas, luxury finishes and a lot of entertainment and simply useful systems hidden in the hull. The bottom of the Danatos was flat, with small bulges connected rigidly to the frame of the speeder, serving as legs in case of hard landings or just idle time. The tail hid a powerful atmospheric ion engine capable of propelling it to five hundred kilometres per hour, although the speed was artificially limited to three hundred kilometres - that's because the afterburner would make the systems noisy, and that would bring down the company's prestige. KMC, which created Danatos, has always cherished its reputation. Usually the most travelled and famous products of KMC, freighters, are just ugly ships, assembled according to one principle - nothing extra. Like a tank - no decor or design, strict functionality, but this rule didn't work with the average civilian consumer. KMC had about a dozen models of speeders. Figuratively speaking, compared to their Earth counterparts, the "D" line, the Danatos, was the equivalent of a Rolls-Royce. These are large, spacious, well-equipped speeders, with a luxurious and spacious interior, which was not overly stylish, eye-catching entertainment systems, overly coloured interior. Everything was strict, conservative, quiet, luxurious. After the Danatos, the third and last recognisable model among the aerospiders gathered in the hangar was the truly legendary Incom series Black Sky, or by nickname, Black or Fighter. It was so called because it could easily enter the upper atmosphere and flew predominantly there. It was small, only five metres long, with a slick fuselage, small but wide wings on the sides, a two-seat cockpit, and five small-sized engines that looked like five squares joined together in a single stripe at the rear. This speeder already resembled, in comparison with cars, a sports car, fast, light, with excellent control and high performance, but low autonomy. The oxygen reserve was enough for five hours of flight in the upper atmosphere or in space - the speeder could fly there with the same success as on the planet. But after five hours - that's it, either go lower and pump up the air, or it's dead. It has an unusually harmonious construction and design, looks like... yes, and looks like a sports car, which instead of wheels has repulsors. The same cramped two-seat cabin, control almost like on a fighter plane, speed and manoeuvrability are worse, but still high, an ordinary average pilot-obsessive will definitely not be able to cope with such a machine, but it is like a breath of fresh air for former pilots and just romantics of combat fighter aviation. Small, stylish air intakes-nostrils were a source of pride for the owners of the "Black". There were many other speeders of all shapes and sizes, but I knew nothing about them.
The Guardsmen, unlike the locals, arrived on cross-wings, which stood along the walls of the hangar. The biggest visitors to the hangar were two yachts, the Shiaya and the Royal Nubian. The Nubian that I knew so well from my adventures during the Crisis. I even felt nostalgic for those times. I gave my hand to Faye and, like a gallant cavalier with a lady, strolled to my son's yacht. Guests were arriving and being greeted, there was a sea of servants in the hangar to see off each arrival, a sea of guards to keep an eye on everyone. However, the yacht was parked in a rather rarefied area from speeders and servants. The ramp had been released, so after passing under the belly of the ship, we went inside. Faye, like me, was turning her head round, looking round. The yacht my son had chosen for himself was nice, comfortable, and quite handsome. Clearly the purchase hadn't been without Ahsoka's influence. One of the guardsmen stood near the entrance.
- Where are the children? - I turned to him. He stretched and replied, "On the ship, your majesty. I can't be sure.
- At ease," I nodded, and after searching for the children with my power, I went to them. The children's quarters were like the living area of my yacht, spacious, not overly furnished, but with a bar in the living room so they wouldn't have to run for a snack in case of an emergency, and quite light, that is, in soft and light colours. Faye, looking round the living room, concluded:
- 'It's definitely a woman who did the design.
- That's right," I repeated after her, "Ahsoka. Her taste.
Shiai was dressed and in his bedroom, sitting in a chair, but Ahsoka was with her mother, in her bedroom. Surprisingly, the children preferred two different rooms, though usually on the yacht, especially lately they slept in each other's arms. It was more comfortable and pleasant, and they slept better. Faye let go of my hand and asked:
- Where are they?
- In the bedrooms," I nodded at the door to the rooms, "Shiai is ready and Ahsoka is getting changed.
I, leaving my companion behind, went to Shiai's room. The kid was lying with a datapad on a wide and deep chair. For some reason I didn't understand, he and Ahsoka had a special affection for that furniture. Good memories, I guess.
- Shiai," I caught his eye, "are you ready?
- Yeah. But Ahsoka and Grandma are closed and have been in there for an hour...
- Get used to it," I grinned slightly, "they're women. By the way, I wanted to introduce you to a lady, would you come out?
- Is she here? - Shiai was surprised," I'm coming," he threw the datapad back on the bed and came closer.
By the way, Shiai looked just fine. The stylists had managed to match his clothes and accessories in such a way that he didn't look like a man with a smeared face. Shiai's clothes consisted of a dark grey kimono-like tabard, with a wide belt, underneath them was, like mine, a shirt made of a dark blue fabric like silk. The white leather inserts on the lapel of the tabard harmonised with the pigments on Shiaya's face. In fact, if it weren't for Ahsoka, he would have been the star of the evening - from a human perspective, he was lucky to be a stupendously handsome boy. I, on the other hand, couldn't boast the same. In fact, that's what Faye noticed, staring at him as Shiai walked out.
- I'll introduce you. Faye, Shia Skywalker.
Fay nodded," Anakin, you didn't tell me you had such a handsome son.
- Why would you? What if you had fallen in love with him, what would I get then? - I took offence, causing Shiai to laugh heartily. We were also infected by it and started giggling too. Probably, having such an original appearance, he had heard compliments more than once.
- Okay," the girl laughed, "don't worry, Anakin. Looks aren't the point. I didn't love you for your pretty face, oh, not for your face..." she squinted, but laughed again when Shiai feigned offence.