Be close to your friends, but keep your enemies even closer.
Temporary respite! Santal Sabura, who has passed the difficult trials of the younglings with honor, can finally relax a little. She plans to spend time usefully and have a good rest. However, not everything is going according to plan...
For the first time Sabura felt herself on top, boundless happiness. For the first time since Master Dooku left. Now that she is relatively free, she can do what her hands did not reach. In short, she had a lot of plans.
Firstly, she had long dreamed of walking outside the Temple. She hasn't done this in a long time. Since that fateful day. And then she was punished. Forced to wash the floors. And the girl really didn't want history to repeat itself.
So this time she decided to act smarter and asked for permission. Considering she's almost a Padawan, we should let her. In light of the fact that she behaved well and passed the tests, she was still allowed, but with conditions. Do not go far and be sure to have an accompanying person.
Santal frowned. It was undesirable for her to go with an escort. She was going to wander the streets in case anyone needed Jedi help. And then to the bar where she met Jango. What if she meets him again? Then can I ask where Dooku is, or more information about Aurra? That's right, she forgot something about her completely.
Since Santal found out about her existence, she still hasn't met her and hasn't even looked for information about her. Where is she now? She couldn't fly to another planet, she had to scour Coruscant. But how do you know that she's here? According to rumors. But the rumors are silent.
Only a year ago there were rumors that Aurra had visited Coruscant. Santal was biting her elbows that she overlooked. And then I thought: or maybe it's good? On that day, a mountain of the mutilated, suspended and dismembered was discovered. It was the handwriting of a mercenary. How many people died in a short period of time! Three Jedi were sent to investigate. Two of them were killed.
It's just a nightmare! And if she had gone to meet then, maybe she would have got into a hot hand too? Maybe this Aurra wouldn't even listen to her. I'd just see another victim and disembowel him by hanging him on the wall. Or, on the contrary, I was in a good mood, but still not the fact that I would be in the mood for communication.
Santal was most scared that so many brutal murders were committed by a woman. A woman! Santal was in shock. She would never have thought that a woman could be a villain. And not just a villain, but a cruel villain.
But time is passing. We must hurry. We need to find her urgently and talk to her. The investigation into the disappearance of the parents has not moved forward for many years.
I had to think of something. But the girl couldn't think of anything. And she decided to take a little rest and do something else. For example, the promised communication.
While Santal and some of her companions had already passed the trials, the rest of her clan were just starting out. And they needed support. In addition, this is a unique opportunity to get to know each other better. Especially those with whom I rarely communicated before.
A month later, an excursion to the cosmodrome was arranged for the Younglings. They were promised to introduce them live to different starships. And those who wish can try to pilot under the supervision of an experienced instructor. Before that, they were taught how to control a speeder, and also introduced to the Delta-7B light interceptor of the "Ethereal Fairy" type. It was also called the Jedi fighter, because the Jedi often used it if they had a solo mission.
Santal didn't really like to drive transport, but eventually learned how to drive a speeder. It turned out that the trips on it were very pleasant. And how many models he has! Santal even wanted to get a personal one. It is only necessary to search in the catalog and to be inexpensive.
The guys went on the tour on foot. Firstly, it was not very far away, and secondly, it was necessary to train endurance.
Santal was in the rear. One. It just happened that way. There are fifteen of them. It is worth noting that many people wanted to be paired with the girl, but they never came to an agreement. As a result, Santal went to the rear.
The girl was happy. She got out into the street and for this she did not have to dodge.
At first, the campaign was successful. Until we reached one seemingly unremarkable store. Santal thought he was exactly like that until she saw what was there.
There were hats in the window, among which there was one black one with a large brim and a bow. The girl was walking, and when she turned her head to the right and saw her, she froze in surprise. How she liked it! Santal just couldn't tear herself away.
Suddenly remembering that she was actually going on an excursion, the girl seemed to wake up from a dream and jumped. There was no one around. The curator and the guys instantly disappeared.
Santal wanted to hit herself on the head. What the hell! She's lost. And very stupid. Small children usually get into this situation.
And how did they not notice her absence? Okay, it doesn't matter. It is important now to think and make the right decision.
It's useless to go looking. You'll only get more lost. It is better to stay in place and take a walk around the store, which probably has a lot of interesting things.
The first thing Santal did was find a hat and took it. And, of course, the seller noticed it:
— Good choice. Fifty credits.
The girl rummaged in her pockets. It's good that she guessed to take the money that Obi-Wan borrowed. I couldn't resist and bought it — especially since the hat is good. So what if it's still too big. The head will eventually get bigger and will be just right.
Suddenly, someone bumped into the girl. Santal turned around and saw the boy from the dream. In his hands was a datapad. He was looking at it enthusiastically and, apparently, that's why he didn't notice.
— What are you looking at?
The boy tore his eyes away from the datapad, looked at her and lowered his head again. The girl decided that he was either shy or just wary. Then she decided to take the first step.
— I'm Youngling. Name is Santal Sabura. What about you?
— I'm Bob! I'm Jango Fett's son!
Santal's eyes widened. Wow! So he had cloned himself after all. And she also wondered who he reminded her of.
— Wow! If you are Fett's son, then you are a future tracker and hunter. You play hide-and-seek really well. Shall we play, Boba? Then it won't be boring. - The girl decided that the game is the best way to defuse the situation.
— And how to play?
— Very simple. You hide, and I'll look for you.
— That is, to track down?
Santal was confused, but answered:
- yes. Something like that.
The girl turned to the wall and closed her eyes. The boy quickly hid behind the shelves and shouted:
— Done!
Naturally, Santal found him quickly.
— And now you look for me. Come on, turn your back to the wall and wait a minute.
Boba did everything that was asked. Santal started to step aside as she felt that she was being watched. And indeed: the boy carefully tried to peek.
— Don't peek! Otherwise it's not fair.
Fett Jr. made guilty eyes.
— Okay. Let's start over.
If someone saw all this, they would be very surprised. What miracles! The hunter's son and the Jedi's daughter play together.
I really enjoyed playing with Boba Santal. Although she saw that the boy was not at all experienced in games, she wanted to show him childhood, that it was necessary to have enough time to play in time. Because then it will be too late.
— Well, well, well. What do we have here? Santal heard a familiar voice and turned around.
It was Jango Fett. And it was unclear from his tone whether he was glad to see her or not.
— Dad, meet me. This is Santal. We played with her.
— I see. Boba, give us a minute. I'll talk to her.
The man took the girl deep into the store into a dark corner, which greatly alarmed the latter. She was about to activate the sword when she was stopped.
— Don't be afraid. No one will kill you. I just want to know. What are you doing here?
— I saw a thing in the window and decided to buy it. And what?
— And why did you get acquainted with my son?
"Can't you?" Santal asked a little brazenly.
— I asked "why"?
— We accidentally ran into each other, — the girl realized that it was better not to anger him, and slowed down. — And the idea to play belongs to me. Or are you implying that I shouldn't have done that?
— Why not? May. But don't get too carried away.
"Is that all?" Santal put her hands behind her back and rolled from heel to toe.
— That's it.
— Then I have my own questions. First, I need more information about Aurra Sing. Because I won't catch her that way. Secondly, how is my teacher? Is he all right? Third, about that Cad Bane or whatever his name is. Who is he? And where does he live?
— What do you mean?
— I mean, give me the address. Street, house, apartment... By the way, this also applies to Aurra.
Jango looked at Santal like she was crazy.
"There's nothing wrong with your teacher. Alive and well.
Well, at least some good news. The girl's mood improved a little.
— And everything else?
— I won't say that.
- why? Because it is forbidden?
— First of all, yes. This is confidential information. Secondly, no one ever asks such things. Hunters do not have a permanent place of residence.
— And we have everything in one place and everyone knows who lives where.
Jango chuckled and continued:
— In general, I won't tell you anything more and I'm not going to help you anymore, — He was just about to leave, but Santal wouldn't let him.
— Well, no. I saved your friend. I think his name was Silas. By the way, how is he there?
— I'm fine.
"Exactly. And it might not have been if it wasn't for me! So you owe me!
"You forgot something. I calmly endured your company in a secret discussion of the deal with your teacher. Although, in a good way, I should have thrown you out by the scruff of the neck for lying. And I also told you about the existence of Aurra. So we've been even for a long time.
The man quietly pushed her into the wall and left with his son.
Jango, being a bounty hunter, always liked everything to go according to plan. But, unfortunately, this did not always happen. In such cases, improvisation helped well. So on that fateful day three years ago, when an unknown girl fell on him like a snow on his head, he decided to act on the situation.
When she began to ask him for help, the man was very surprised. A little girl fearlessly begs a stranger for help. You can see in her eyes that she's desperate. And when he refused, she did not retreat immediately, but continued to advance. Boldly. And then I compared it with a duros in a hat.
Jango immediately understood who he was talking about. He knew this duros well and even taught him for a short time. He knew his principles, or rather, almost the complete absence of them. Therefore, the girl's statement that he was no better was considered a personal insult. And, apparently, that's why he agreed to help.
And what was his surprise that the girl was a student of Tyranus! The way she protected him... Then a blind man will guess. He even gave her advice about shooting. And some information about Aurra. Why? He hoped that she would go looking for her, and he would not see this girl again. However, three years later, she is still alive. The same arrogant, fearless and stubborn. But also deceitful.
When Santal said that Count Dooku had saved Silas, he didn't believe it right away. The Jedi have always been the enemies of the Mandalorians. And jango didn't like being lied to. But the thought that the friend who once saved his life, with whom they had gone through so much, was alive, warmed his soul. While flying, I wrote a message to the customer that if Silas was harmed, the deal would be terminated, and the Mandalorian's revenge would be merciless. And after the "part-time taxi driver" there was a long-awaited reunion.
The friend was in far from the best condition, but he was alive. After taking his friend to the hospital, the hunter again remembered about Dooku's student, which is not as simple as it seems. That question about the two Jedi that Django really didn't kill. Here he told the truth. But he knew exactly who did it. Aurra boasted at a meeting many years ago how she and Cad Bane, Robonino, some kind of vikway hunted very successfully.
In general, as an orphan, jango understood the orphan girl. And when she said that Dooku was her Juster, he fully felt her so-called cry of the soul. Maybe that's why I decided to help. A little bit. In the hope that he won't see her again.
But suddenly she showed up again. Three years later. And where? In the shop. Yes, I also met my son. No, never set foot on Coruscant again. At least with Boba. This girl will have a bad influence on him otherwise.
Five minutes later, Santal herself was found. As punishment, they were forced to meditate for several hours to develop concentration, so they also arranged an individual piloting lesson.
But Santal was worried about something else. She has a new friend. And he's not from the Order. And I wanted to see him again. But how? Most likely, they live on Kamino, and this planet is very far away. Public transport does not go there. You won't be able to fly very often. She does not know how and she will not be able to secretly escape all the time. If she constantly leaves the Temple, many will have a lot of questions, and she does not really want to answer them. And how do you explain why you're going away?
The easiest thing is to tell the truth, because there is nothing wrong with what she is doing. But is it possible for a Jedi to visit friends outside the Order?
But she's still glad to meet you. Such a fateful meeting. But the oddities did not end there.
After a while, something else happened. A curator approached Santal and said that someone wanted to see her. Realizing that the meeting was going to be serious, she went to the shower and put on clean clothes.
The curator and Youngling flew to the Senate building. With each step, the girl became more and more anxious. Who called her? And why?
Here the chancellor's office appeared. Only then did it begin to dawn on her who was behind all this. The girl hoped that she was in the wrong place, but all in vain.
— Santal Sabura! It's good to see you. Thank you for taking the time. I know how exhausting Jedi training is.
— Santal Sabura has recently achieved great success, — said Tera Saynube.
— Of course. It can't be otherwise.
— What do you want from me? Santal asked, hoping it wasn't too rude. — Do you have a task for me?
— Not really. Just a modest tea party.
— Are you serious? — Even the curator fell into a precipitate. And the girl understood him very well.
— Absolutely not. As you said, Santal Sabura is a very capable Jedi with great potential. And I'd like to get to know her better. It won't take long, don't worry. You won't have time to blink an eye, as I will return her to the Temple in one piece. I understand that training is waiting for her. And she still has a lot to learn," the Chancellor approached Santal with a friendly smile.
Then the curator left them alone. So the girl was left alone with the head of the Republic. Because of this, she became very uncomfortable. She's not alone with anyone, but with the chancellor! And then there's that oppressive silence again.
— Honey, please follow me, — the chancellor beckoned her with his finger.
The girl suddenly felt like a dog, which the owner commanded: "To me!". But she went.
The Chancellor led Santal into a rather cozy room with a large white sofa with a golden pattern. There was a glass oval table near it, on which there was a teapot, two white cups with a beautiful but simple ornament and a curved handle, and even large plates with a bunch of sweets and fruits. A few slices of cake with a jogan fruit. A large vase with ice cream balls made of blue milk. Cupcakes with muja fruits, chocolate. Juicy purple kree-kree berries. Mailurans that Santal adored. Even the grapes were, despite the fact that they were rare. It was mostly eaten by the rich.
"If there were more mushrooms with mold and ricrit meat, it would be quite a paradise," Santal thought.
She was also very uncomfortable. She was even ashamed of it. It seemed to her that she did not deserve this. Doesn't stand out in any particular way, or does the chancellor know something about her that she doesn't know? Was he spying on her? Hardly. Why would he do that?
— Oh, don't be shy. You deserve it. Have a seat. Don't be shy.
"How does he manage to see through people? Or was it written on my forehead?" — Santal obeyed and sat down to the left of the chancellor and took a couple of grapes. Once offered, you should not refuse.
— But for what? I didn't do anything wrong.
— I rewarded you. After all, you've come a long way. Withstood so many trials.
"Others have passed no less tests," Santal objected, scooping up some ice cream with a spoon..
The Chancellor smiled kindly, shook his head and said:
— Okay, you got me. In fact, I started this to make friends with you.
It was the most startling confession Santal had heard at the time.
— Why? — the girl was in shock.
— Does friendship need a reason? In our age, it is very difficult when there are no close friends to rely on. Friendship is a very rare phenomenon. Now there are betrayals, lies, deception all around. Believe me, I have lived a long life and have the right to advise.
— I have no such problems. There are friends around and I trust everyone.
"It was not enough for him to find out about the failed teacher. Here's another one! Will I still discuss my classmates with an old man whom I don't know so well"
— I believe it willingly. I'm just warning you that you might run into it. And it's very unpleasant.
— You say that as if you have repeatedly encountered this.
"Alas, my dear, it is so. You see, I've been involved in politics all my life. Dirty business, as they call it. And for a reason. I know the Jedi don't like politicians, and you probably don't either. We are considered corrupt egoists who think only of themselves. But they don't understand that our life is a continuous series of difficult decisions. That's why, to some extent, I envy the Jedi. Your life is predetermined from birth. You are spared the need to choose. Your path is straight. My path is a fork.
"What words. Straight philosophy"
Palpatine paused, and then asked:
— Tell me, how do you like studying at the Temple? Do you like it?
Santal foresaw such a "control" question and gave a cliched answer:
- yes. This is the best thing that happened to me in my life. I'm perfectly happy," the girl replied sternly and firmly.
She had been told in class more than once that every action of a Jedi reflected on the entire Order. Good deeds improve the reputation of the Order, bad ones sometimes cause irreparable damage. Every being they meet can see a Jedi for the first time, and the actions of just one Jedi will affect the perception of the entire Jedi Order. So she did exactly that. In accordance with the instructions.
The Chancellor nodded. The girl poured herself some tea again, shifting slightly on the sofa, which seemed uncomfortable to her. Despite the fact that the chancellor was the epitome of friendliness, she was uncomfortable being in the same room with him. She was embarrassed because the head of the Republic invited her to visit, sits and drinks tea with her.
According to Santal, her fellow clansmen also deserve such an honor. Therefore, it seemed to her that everything that was happening to her was wrong.
But it was worth paying tribute: the chancellor organized a chic table. When the treat was eaten and the tea was drunk, the girl leaned back on the sofa. She had never eaten so many delicious things at once. Santal, during the meal, took, for example, a kree-kree berry in her mouth and held it there for about a minute, enjoying the moment, and then calmly swallowed. She even envied the Chancellor. He probably eats like this almost every day. How she would like to live the same way! In a luxurious apartment, a plate of fruit every day, chic expensive clothes.
And she? A Jedi to whom prophesying is contraindicated. They cannot have many things, only the most necessary. And the interior of her private room should not be rich.
The Chancellor stood up and wiped his mouth with a napkin. His piercing blue eyes widened, as if he remembered something important. The girl was worried that something serious was about to happen. And suddenly I got a surprise.
— By the way, I suddenly remembered that I had planned a kind of small trip for today. And I thought you could accompany me.
Santal choked and jumped up.
— Chancellor, are you serious?
"No way," the old man said calmly.
— Oh, no, no... Are you serious? What kind of escort am I? I'm just a youngling.
—A very talented youngling," the chancellor reminded, raising his index finger up with an intelligent look.
— It doesn't matter! Santal waved it away. — Let me better call the Temple, they will send you an experienced knight or a master who could go with you instead of me. After all, the Jedi are responsible for your safety. And I still have a lot to learn.
— It's nothing. I'm quite capable of standing up for myself. You probably think that because I'm a politician, I can't defend myself. But this is not the case. I'm not as defenseless as you think. Yes, and in any case, nothing will threaten us. You won't have time to blink an eye, as you will return to the Temple, safe and sound. I understand that training is waiting for you. Like you said, you still have a lot to learn.
Santal still agreed to go. She and the Chancellor put on cloaks with a hood, and then the head of the Republic took her to the lower level 2685. The girl's stomach turned cold.
— Why did you need to go down so deep? What business can you have there? I was told it wasn't safe to go down to the lower levels.
— Ah... they told you. And, of course, you've never been this low yourself, have you, Santal?
—Of course not," Santal lied. It was not necessary for the chancellor to know about her adventures. Even padawans are rarely allowed to leave the Temple unaccompanied. What can we say about the younglings. They are kept under strict control even in the Temple.
"Is that okay with you?"
— Absolutely. Adults know better what is best for us. And our right is to obey.
Santal thought for a second that disappointment flashed across the chancellor's face.
— Well, I visit the lower levels all the time. I feel like it's my duty. Despite the fact that padawans almost never come down here, I'm sure that few locals come to the surface. Do you know what is most valued on Coruscant?
— Nature? A clean neighborhood? An apartment with all amenities? Water? Clean air?
— The sky. Down here, the sun is a myth. My predecessor, the unfortunate Valorum, was happy to pretend that these depths did not exist for him. But I can't. It's the darkness that needs light the most.
Long live Chancellor Valorum! Santal shouted in her mind.
She liked the previous chancellor much more. Serious, as she thought, responsible, focused only on the case. He definitely wouldn't be having tea with a jungling girl!
And the Chancellor continued:
— When I have free time, I visit places like this. I hide my identity, just like we are now, and then secretly try to do something good.
The chancellor led the girl into a dim room. Santal immediately wanted to cover her ears with her hands because of the loud music. There were a lot of people. Someone was drinking, someone was laughing, someone was talking loudly. There was a bar with a huge selection of drinks, tables for games. Two people [even worse! we sat down on a long red sofa, next to which there was a round white table.
"Don't take off your hood, Santal. That way we can stay here incognito.
A blue twi'lek approached them. The girl immediately caught the eye of her outfit. She had never seen anyone dressed so openly before. The girl had a gold-embroidered bra with a fabric sewn to the bottom of the bodice, and a skirt, as they say, one name. A wide belt to which two pieces of fabric are attached in front and back. It seems that the girl stayed on the beach, realized that she was late, and ran in what she had. Lots of sequins, ropes and open spaces. The head was decorated with a wide black rim with gold sequins.
Some kind of swimsuit, not normal clothes! And some fancy jewelry. Especially the strange necklace around her neck. That's how shameless you have to be to dress like that. After all, it is still visible, especially what should be hidden as much as possible in a decent society. And here... A bra with such a deep neckline, then look, the chest will fall out and everyone will see everything. It is already as visible as possible.
While the girl was reasoning, the chancellor politely replied that he would not make an order, and the twi'lek turned around and left. So Santal saw other candid places. For example, the lower back. How it attracts attention!
Suddenly someone whistled. The girl looked around, and Santal too. A man was waving his hand, almost slipping. Apparently, the legs did not hold. But the look was like that of a hungry predator who saw his prey and began to think about how to catch it and eat it.
The girl felt unwell. The Chancellor noticed this and started a conversation:
"Just look at this place. Terrible things happen here every day. Debauchery, violence, robberies. Complete impunity, crime. Moreover, anyone can be bought here. Absolutely anyone. This club sells lives every day. It's disgusting. Especially twi'lechki...
Suddenly the old man started up and hurried to say:
— Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I know you came from the planet Ryloth. This is your home planet, right? I must have caused unpleasant associations or memories.
— Yes, I'm from Ryloth, but I don't understand. What associations?
"Ryloth is the home planet of the Twi'lek, whose culture is deeply rooted in slavery. Any individual, thinking about a slave, immediately imagines a twi'lechka in a revealing outfit. Twi'lechki are the most favorite object of the slave trade, and sometimes a status symbol that creates the appearance of wealth in society.
— What a horror ... — although Santal had already heard about it, she pretended that it was a surprise for her. "Does that suit the Twi'leks?" Do they really like to live like this?
— Do you like it? I'm begging you, it's part of their life. Twi'leks often trade with their own kind. Although there are more and more marriages where a man and a woman love each other, respect and consider each other equal, there are still dominant men who love to dominate in the Twi'lek society, who head clans and control the economy, while they consider women as an ornament and addition to a man. Such men do not take women seriously, considering them to be nothing more than a thing whose only duty is to serve men and fulfill their whims, so the twi'lek occupation was usually limited solely to this purpose: while their husbands or masters were engaged in politics and trade, they acted as dancers, masseuses and concubines. But, as I said, it's not that bad. Those I have described are in the minority.
— And yet they are.
— Yes, and they are quite dangerous. For example, the famous gangster Jabba the Hutt, he has a whole harem of twi'lechs, which he easily changes. Or Chom Frey Kaa, the senator of your planet, also did not put women in anything. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of one of the Jedi, Quinlan Vos, he was arrested for distributing the drug glitterill. But, alas, not always so lucky. Look here.
The Chancellor talked and talked, and Santal listened, but at the same time carefully studied everything around her. So she noticed another twi'lechka who had light purple skin and similar clothes. Only the bottom was different. This lady had a very short skirt. The rest is similar.
— What a nightmare! Santal said. — Where does the owner of the establishment look?
— And here's where, — the Chancellor pointed with his gaze at an obese man who came out of the door near the bar. This guy looked around his "possessions", noticed his acquaintances, among whom there was a whistler, and approached them. They began to tell him something. Then the fat man shouted something, and apparently it was the name of the blue twi'lek. The waitress came up, and a real shower of abuse fell on her.
The whole conversation took place in a language Santal did not know. At the end, the boss barked so that the girl dropped the tray. The man could not stand it and slapped her, so much so that the girl's ass kissed the table. The fat man's friends laughed together.
The girl couldn 't stand it and exclaimed:
— This is an outrage! Not only do his waitresses wear inappropriate uniforms, but also... this!
— Calm down, dear. These girls are his property. Alas, natural beauty played a cruel joke on them. Therefore, most often they were only slaves," the chancellor finished sadly. — That's why I was scared, afraid to upset you, to remind you that your people are too... or do you know this firsthand?
"Nothing like that," Santal replied, glancing at the boss out of the corner of her eye.
— good. So I didn't reopen old wounds by mentioning slavery.
— Of course. I learned about this phenomenon for the first time in books.
— Well, you're lucky.
Suddenly, a woman screamed. The girl raised her head and saw how the already familiar whistler was holding the blue twi'lek by the waist, and with the other hand he was squeezing her chest hard. The girl screamed and called in Twi'lek for help. The boss stood and looked calmly.
Santal could not calmly look at the suffering of a representative of her people, and therefore she felt her pain especially strongly. She felt she had to do something. Is she a future Jedi or not?
The girl had already decided to get up, as the chancellor took her hand, hinting that there was no need to interfere. Then she crawled under the table.
Who would have thought, a man wants to drag a girl into the back room to do his dirty work there, and suddenly his belt unbuttons. As a result, the "connoisseur of female beauty" turns out to be in front of everyone in underpants, and then without them at all.
The whole place just exploded with laughter:
— Just look at it! What a tiny dick! — the men were laughing.
"I'd have to look for him under a microscope!" — one girl almost fell with laughter.
The whistler, out of anger, quickly corrected the "misunderstanding", began to look with his eyes for the one who humiliated him. Looking around the room, he noticed a man in black clothes, who was laughing almost the loudest, throwing his head back. Someone else in a raincoat was sitting next to him, but the victim was less interested in him. In a rage, the humiliated man went to him:
— Hey, you freak, what exactly amused you so much? Oh, no, I know, you did it! You! You've made a fool of me! Am I right? Answer me immediately! Why are you silent? I asked you a question!
Santal was scared, thinking that a fight was about to start, but on the other hand, it was funny to her, because this man does not know who he is dealing with. Oh, if he knew, he would have started apologizing himself.
The Chancellor, oddly enough, apparently had the same opinion, thought there was no threat, and calmly replied:
— My niece was joking. I laughed. That's all. Now, if we've sorted it out, we'll go. We were just about to leave.
"And quickly," the disgraced one added.
Santal initially doubted whether to leave now, she wanted to make sure that the girls would be all right. When she saw those waitresses smiling out of the corner of her eye, she calmed down a little and followed the chancellor.
But she was still worried, afraid that when she left, the girls would have problems, and she would not be able to help them. We need to think about what to do.
"Can I ask you a question, Santal?"
- of course.
"Your Jedi abilities allow you to manipulate objects with the Force, don't they?"
- yes. We have been learning this since childhood.
— Could these abilities affect the location of, say... underwear?
— What I can do, everyone can do. I'm not special and I didn't do anything special. I acted according to my conscience," the girl answered seriously, looking the head of the Republic in the eyes.
They didn't talk the rest of the way back.
Entering the Chancellor's office, the duo took off their raincoats. Finally. Santal breathed a sigh of relief.
— How do you like our little adventure? Did you like it?
— I liked it. It was very interesting. I learned a lot of new things. And you too. I hope you will not ignore this.
"What do you mean?"
— Well, the head of that institution... When you have seen everything with your own eyes, you will be able to press him," the girl clenched her fist with a wide smile.
— I'll try. But this scoundrel is a small cog compared to large criminal organizations. His arrest will not greatly correct the picture of the world. The victory will be imperceptible and will change little.
— And I remember you said that you like to do good deeds in secret, — Santal reminded.
— That's right. But honestly, I'm sorry I dragged you into all this. You're still so young. It was completely inappropriate.
"You just realized about it now?" the girl was surprised, but she did not speak out loud.
— I have already said that there are many masters and knights who have three times more experience than me. You can ask them to do it for you. You're a busy person yourself.
"The Jedi don't belong to me. They are in the power of the Senate. It's quite possible to ask them to arrest that scoundrel, but I can't send them all the time on minor issues. If they were obliged to obey my commands, I would be nothing but a dictator. I don't want that.
— Then call the police.
— The police at the lower levels are not as effective as at the top. He often proves his incompetence, or even shows inaction at all.
"So she can't either?" You're the head of the Republic, I thought you could control everything.
— Not all of them. Although I am the chancellor, I am limited in my powers. Otherwise, it would not be a democracy, but a dictatorship. Which I can't allow.
— If you can't... And the Jedi can't... Then who can?
— This, my dear, is a question that haunts me even at night. Please do an elderly man a favor and don't tell your Jedi masters anything about it... I'm not sure they would approve...
- yes. I suppose it is," Santal agreed here. The curator wouldn't like a walk to the hangout.
— Santal... it's none of my business... but let me ask, are you happy in the Temple?
- of course. Becoming a Jedi is all I've ever wanted. This is my destiny. And I am glad that she brought me to the Temple," Santal also answered the standard question firmly, without hesitation, looking the old man in the eyes.
— I see. Now go home. You must be tired after everything that happened. I've exhausted you. But I want you to know: you will always be welcome here, and if you need help, I will help you.
As soon as Santal left, the chancellor was lost in his thoughts. Well, the psychological experiment went well. But worse than planned. I learned quite a bit about the subject. But, nevertheless, it was interesting to watch her.
Obviously, the girl is the complete opposite of Anakin. Very obedient, unwavering loyalty to the Order (you can see it even in your eyes), strict to yourself and others, too... Jedi. You can't make anything out of such clay, it's too hard. No matter how your hands crumple it, you will not make the necessary dishes.
Although what she did to that idiot is amusing. According to the chancellor, the girl acted quite harshly and very thoughtfully. I hit a sore spot, but it was still a pretty childish act. Besides, she wasn't at all proud of what she had done.
Unlike the same Skywalker. He is more emotionally unstable, plus childhood injuries have done their job. And most importantly, the old Sith saw that the boy trusted him completely. And he's very talented. Single-handedly destroyed an entire station only with the help of his pilot skills. The power flows powerfully in him. Darth Sidious felt it well. Incredible potential. When he met this boy, he immediately realized that he must definitely become his disciple.
In the case of Santal, Sidious met her before Skywalker purely by chance. Then he didn't pay much attention to her. And yet there was something about her that he couldn't explain. While. And that case at the Tournament... The girl accidentally found herself in the thick of things and successfully got away with it. Not bad. Very good.
Perhaps I'll have to ask Dooku. Maybe he knew her personally and would tell her something useful about her.
The bad thing was that the Chancellor had a very busy schedule. Sometimes there was so much to do that there was no time to sleep. If he didn't have a special bed, he wouldn't get enough sleep.
And it was not by chance that Sidious dragged the girl to the "Excitement and Erotica" club. He was still able to find out some information about Santal Sabur. It turned out a little and almost nothing significant. An ordinary-looking human girl. From Rylot. A planet rich in the drug rill and women.
It's worth noting that Palpatine wasn't even lying when he talked about how men and women on Santal's home planet treat each other differently. The man expected that a seemingly smart girl would be aware of this. And that she, realizing the injustice of this world, seeing how much her people suffer, with her own eyes, will give free rein to inner darkness.
He thought Santal would try to make the tormentor of a representative of her people really hurt. Somehow it will give itself away. However, his expectations were not met. To the fullest extent.
Sidious also felt distrust from the girl, which he managed to dispel a little. This is progress.
And yet Skywalker was more preferable to the Sith. And older, more independent and more "dark". Santal could also become his student, but it is harder and longer to process her. And one of the reasons is distrust. But Anakin fully believes him.
And Santal is too Jedi. At the moment. However, even she can be turned to her side. It's only a matter of time. In the meantime, it remains only to observe. Sometimes.
— Wow! Barriss exclaimed, surrounded by a bunch of datapads in the library.
"I know you don't believe it, but it's the truth.
Santal has just told her best friend about her adventures with the chancellor. Yes, he asked not to tell the teachers, but he didn't say that you can't tell your friends. And she chose Barriss as a listener. She is quiet, understanding and there is no risk that she can condemn somewhere like Green. And she won't be too emotional, like Max and Dasha.
— What do you think about this? — the girl was eager to know the opinion of mirialanka.
— Honestly, I don't even know what to think. It's all so weird.
— I completely agree with you. I was shocked when I found out that the chancellor wanted to have tea with me.
— And then he dragged you to the club "Excitement and Erotica", where all the conditions for sabacca, pazaak and other games. Where you can play, enjoy a drink and admire the available girls.
— How do you know?
— I'm always reading something. And I train my memory. For example, I can already remember a small maze of streets.
— Those who read a lot know a lot.
"Exactly.
— You know, I'm doing the same thing. We're great.
— And about the chancellor, most likely, he just wanted to make friends with you. After all, you are special.
"Are you going there too?" I'm not special at all. The most common youngling. Well, smart, well, I know how to swing a sword a little, I read books, but nothing else.
Barriss chuckled. The girls also studied the files. Santal decided to find out more about the club.
— Can we chew? I've been sitting here for a long time," Mirialanka suggested.
A slight rumbling in her stomach made Santal realize that eating was a good idea.
In the dining room, the friends gathered full trays and continued the conversation:
— I keep thinking about your words. Like, I'm special. And what is my peculiarity? Santal asked, cutting off a piece of meat and putting it in her mouth. Simple food again. Less than a day has passed, and she already misses the fruits and ice cream from the chancellor's office.
"The Jedi teach that each of us is unique in our own way. The Temple has always strictly adhered to the belief that no student was better than another. Everyone has their own gift. For example, it's interesting to communicate with you. Something happens to you all the time. And every time you come out the winner. I wonder how you do it.
"I don't know. I'm not looking for adventures. They're the ones who find me. If I had my way, I would generally sit quieter than a mouse. You're unique, too. Quiet, well-read, calm, with whom you can discuss a lot. Maybe that's why we became friends. Both are disciplined, respectful of their elders, loving new knowledge.
Santal sincerely believed that there was a perfect friendship between her and Barriss. They are so similar, complete harmony and balance, peace and harmony. No quarrels. The girl hoped that it would always be like this. True, they do not see each other often, but perhaps in the future everything will change.
Then the friends separated. Santal went to her room, continuing to reflect on everything that had happened to her. The story is really very strange from the very beginning. There were questions in my head that urgently needed answers. Why did the Chancellor invite her to tea? Why did you take me to this creepy place? Probably, the chancellor is a busy man, and he is very bored alone in a huge office. He's a grandfather by age. He would like to babysit his grandchildren, but he doesn't seem to have them. Otherwise he wouldn't have called her.
Santal also concluded that the chancellor is very self-confident, since he went to the lower levels, taking a child as an escort.
"I'm not as defenseless as you think," the old man's words echoed in his head.
Maybe the chancellor studied martial arts in his youth? Perhaps. If so, that explains a lot. For example, his calmness in any situation.
Santal was so lost in thought that she didn't notice how she bumped into someone.
"Look where you're going, youngling," This voice is not to be confused with any other.
"I'm sorry, Master Windu.
— Santal Sabura, and I'm just looking for you.
"Is something wrong?"
— I have a question for you.