Chapter 64
Just being able to talk to Senator Bonteri was not a simple matter of making an appointment with her official staff. As far as CIS Intel were concerned, they had been 'attacked' by RI to disrupt their surveillance of her. They were currently chasing their tails due to all the false trails I had laid for them but they were also carefully investigating why RI would disrupt Bonteri's surveillance.
It didn't take a genius to deduce, from their point of view, that RI had done so to place their own surveillance on Bonteri. This naturally resulted in Bonteri herself coming under covert investigation. They had organic operatives tailing her and droids.
Given the general programmability of droids, anything from a cleaner droid to a standard B1 security droid could be used for the purpose with little trouble.
Getting through this level of surveillance to speak to her in private wasn't easy. Especially because the only communication we had with her was the encrypted burst datapad, which would slag itself if anyone other than the senator tried to use it. For safety, it could only send text as if she was seen communicating via holo, CIS Intel would naturally try to find the holochannel and listen in.
The key to success in this case was time.
The senator simply sent her general daily schedule.
Armed with that and a lot of patience, we had a full local week of waiting for the heat to die down ahead of us. It was time we didn't waste and we mostly spent it maintaining our own cover as astronomers. Taking shuttle rides to one of Raxus' two small moons, getting in vac suits and pointing our telescopes in the proper direction to capture some truly breathtaking imagery.
As much as space was just another place to me, there was always some small spark of fascination and wonder that remained despite the normalcy and ease of space travel in this life.
Walking out on that moon with a full vacuum around me, the sand compacted under my boots, which would remain that way for thousands of years, until a small meteoroid or the solar winds eventually degraded it - looking up at the infinite cosmos around me, with only a thin counter mechanical pressure suit, magnetic field belt and a transparisteel helmet protecting me…
The word humbling didn't come close to describing it.
Six days of this passed, when finally a window for meeting the senator opened up.
Every week she went to a small eatery in the central district of Raxulon.
It was one of those places in the middle of downtown, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, and situated in a street market.
The one reason she frequented it - the cook and owner was Onderonian and had a small selection of meals he made that was done completely in that style and taste.
It was also ideal because of how busy and noisy it was, which was just the thing needed to confuse long range listening devices and sensors.
With the help of a bit of Farsight and Prescience, I was also able to time our entry into Lamsin's Fast Eatery, so we could find a seat at the bar where Bonteri was eating and occupy two empty seats next to her in such a way, that it appeared an entirely coincidental arrival.
Her surveillance had also now defaulted to only using droids, which made things much easier thanks to a bit of judicious slicing and technometry use.
"Two of whatever she's having, it looks delicious," I said to the waiter manning the bar.
"Two dalgo stews coming up," the waiter nodded with a smile and sent the order into the kitchen with a few taps of his terminal.
"It is good," Bretoni affirmed amiably. She was dressed rather casually; long pants, sandals, high collared blouse with long sleeves and a red long haired wig with dark glasses to cover her eyes. The best bit of her going incognito like this, she did it all the time, to not be recognized on the street. Even the locals in the restaurant only knew her as 'Minnie' and a regular customer who probably worked in the Onderonian embassy.
Our bowls arrived just minutes later and both Padme and I eagerly tucked in, whilst we casually slid datapads next to our food to eat and 'work' at the same time.
What a coincidence that Mina also had her datapad out and quickly also got engrossed in her work.
The datapads were synced in a point-to-point network that we established on the spot and given its low power it practically blended into the EM spectrum as white noise. You'd have to stand with a dedicated sensor over our shoulders to even know that there was any EM signal bouncing between the pads.
"Firstly senator, I want to again apologize for the increased scrutiny CIS Intel has placed you under," I typed.
"Accepted, though I suppose I should also thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that I was being surveilled to that extent. That feeling of violation was not easy to get over."
"If it makes you feel any better senator, RI also has me bugged nearly constantly while I'm on-duty. The only place I have relative privacy is in the Jedi Temple, even there I have to be careful, but that's a different story. Padme is also surveilled but it's kept at a distance. Of course, it's all done in the name of 'safety.'"
"How did it come to all this?" Bonteri tapped rather angrily. "If you told me just a year ago that I would be under a microsensor in my own home, I'd have thought you a lunatic."
"War, is the simple answer," Padme typed. "And the sooner it can all end, the better."
"That clearly cannot happen whilst the Techno Union, Trade Federation and others all see the war as just a massive boost to their own profits, not to mention the other interests, those who want to see either side destroyed or reduced to ineffectuality," Bonteri pointed out. "The Saam Funding Bill is racing through evaluation committees at hyperspeed. That sabotage attack on the power plant was a masterful stroke. Fear, it seems, is a wonderful unifier."
"Something the enemy knows all too well," I typed out, scooping some of my stew and chewing.
Bonteri also ate a bit and paused for a moment before typing, "Yes, so answer me one simple question Tano. Why approach me? It's not just done out of the goodness of your heart or some Jedi philosophy of fairness."
I hid my amused smirk by quickly munching on more meat, "No, the Jedi way calls for honesty, not fairness. The universe by nature is far from fair and the sentient wish for it to be 'fair' has resulted in so much misery. As for why we are here truly? I want to recruit you into… let's call it a Conspiracy of Light. A thousand years ago the Jedi and Republic had the Army of Light to fight against the Sith Brotherhood. I think it only fitting that if the Sith of today want to fight in the shadows with conspiracy against the Jedi and Republic, then we should meet them on that field."
"I don't know whether to be impressed or think you mad, Tano. What could I do to meaningfully contribute to such an endeavor? I'm no spy."
"You'd be surprised, Mina," Padme typed.
"Naturally, we don't want you to do anything that would compromise your standing in the CIS. We don't want military secrets that would help the Republic in this war, but we do want eyes and ears on the true mood of your parliament, on Dooku and any moves he makes that seem strangely counter to CIS interests. Also if you do discover some form of insane CIS superweapon that can cause mass destruction on a planetary scale, a heads up to us would also be kind."
I could feel Bonteri bitterly wanted to react openly to that last little bit, but she contented herself with merely typing, "What?!"
"Yes, it's a long term project being steadily worked on by the Sith. It's in the theoretical stage at the moment, but I believe the CIS scientific establishment and the war in general is being used to advance research in many fields."
She nodded in understanding, even though I could see her eyes were stormy as she processed the mere idea of a planet killer.
"So you don't want me to 'return' to the Republic or betray the CIS?"
"If it were so easy for you to turn 'traitor', we wouldn't be speaking, senator," I answered. "Your planet and many others seceded into the CIS for good reason and I fully support your right and determination to do so. I don't see this war as truly capable of ending until the Republic acknowledges the right of the CIS to exist as a nation."
Now I could feel astonishment and shock from both women.
"Ahsoka… are you serious?" Padme typed furiously.
"I admit I might have a strange sense of humor at times, but not on this topic," I replied.
"That's…" Padme stopped herself from typing further.
"Yes, from some points of view, that would be treason. You can't imagine that a Jedi, who fights the good fight on the front lines against the 'traitors', could possibly have this opinion. No, Padme, this has been a very long time coming, since before the Ruusan Reformation, but the Republic needs this kick up the ass. It needs competition. For too long has it sat there on Coruscant, promoting a system that has grown out of all control and proportion.
I gave a subtle raised brow as she stared at me. "Look at it this way, you're Senator of Naboo, but also represent the entire Chommel sector, which includes some two dozen populated worlds. The Senate passes a bill which disfavors just one of those worlds, but favors others… How do you reconcile your vote, Padme? How do you think those worlds feel? Democracy says you go with the majority, and oh, if the minority planet's economy just so happens to collapse, too bad for them."
"And your answer would then be to truly divide the galaxy? Republic and Confederated?" She actually glared at me.
"The idea of a unified galaxy is something that's been striven for since the days of the Old Republic. The problem is now, that the Outer Rim is now truly the actual outer rim of the galaxy, there will be no more expansion phases. Communication and practical travel times have plateaued. As the Naboo blockade crisis showed and this war is showing constantly, that the people of the Republic on the Outer Rim are truly on their own. If some emergency happens, it takes too long for help to show up from the central regions. Look at what happened to Naboo, after the Trade Federation invasion, it took nearly three days for the decision to be made to send Master Jin and his padawan, it then took a further seven for them to reach your planet. In military terms, that's an eternity which the Federation could've used to invade, conquer and cement their rule. Even if there were political hurdles in the way in actuality, the general principle still stands."
Padme's hand angrily flexed as she considered typing something but she stopped herself and just ate a few more bites of her stew. She knew I was right and she hated it.
"A two state system then," Bonteri typed. "The opposition against that within the Republic will be considerable, even within your Order, that's even the reason why there is a war in the first place."
"The enemy made sure that all the pieces were in place so that war was the only option. From the point of view of both sides - the CIS were launching their campaign for self-determination and liberation, whilst the Republic only saw terrorists who took a senator and Jedi hostage, then suddenly a conglomeration of megacorps and worlds decided to form their own state with an army that rolled off an assembly line. Many Jedi see themselves as merely 'defending the Republic'. At some point they will have to ask themselves, what is truly good for the Force, life and the people they serve in general and not the political interests of the Senate and the few in power. What happens when those two interests begin to conflict?"
"There must be a better solution than division," Padme typed, having calmed down a bit.
"Unless you can come up with a faster form of FTL than hyperspace, Padme, I'm just not seeing a practical solution to maintain cohesion in galactic civilization. The Republic encouraged its peoples to settle in the Outer Rim more than a hundred years ago, now those very people and their descendants want to go their own way. There may come a time when the Republic has no choice but to accept that."
"Let's get back to practicalities and the present here," Bonteri tapped out. "All of this discussion is academic until the Sith are removed from the picture. If what you say is true about Palpatine and Dooku, then what would that involve? Can arresting them even work?"
"Practically the technology and facilities exist to incarcerate even a Sith, as Dooku found out when he was captured by pirates. The Temple on Coruscant still has those facilities and there's other facilities in the galaxy which can hold him. The problem with Palpatine is that he has just too many plans, contingencies, allies both overt and hidden, and one of his primary expressions of Force ability is to foresee the future. Any plan big enough that accounts for all the problems in overcoming his contingencies is already doomed to failure because he will have seen it coming."
"Surely there must be a way. Has the Jedi not faced such enemies in the past?"
"Yes, but we're talking about ancient history here, senator. Much was lost in the Interregnum and during the final war against the Sith Brotherhood. I have efforts underway which I won't elaborate on, which may address this problem. Whether it will work… I'm unable to say."
"So if capture or arrest is off the table… Can you kill the enemy?"
"Me personally, no, but I'm consciously not working out a plan to kill him. There's too much of a risk his sight will pick up the possible future events, at which point he will know. That alone would be catastrophic."
"So what can your Conspiracy of Light actually achieve in the end?"
It was a difficult topic to address and one which I've been wrestling with constantly. The idea that everything would just be pointless, that Palpatine had ticked all the boxes, that he was unassailable.
No, I refused to believe that. He was not omniscient, not omnipotent. He made mistakes, he wasn't perfect. He was at his core, still human, as horrible as the idea was to contemplate given the monster he was.
"We might not have the answer now, but we will look for it until we find it."
Bonteri studied me out of the corner of her eye before a small smile adorned her lips. "You still have hope, which is rather amazing considering the obstacles you face, Padawan Tano. Therefore, I will have hope as well, for Lux and that he sees a bright future, free of this conflict. For what it's worth, you now have my support."
I didn't celebrate or cheer internally, even as my mission here succeeded. It just felt like another rope of expectation and responsibility had been latched onto my shoulders.
We didn't linger long on Raxus afterwards. Making sure that the little details and practicalities of secure communication were handled. The next day we were on a passenger transport heading for the Lianna system, to begin the journey of getting back to Indu San and the parked Pioneer.
We had to do a bit of system hopping at this point due to the lack of space flights going directly back. In this way, we passed back through the CIS border into neutral/Republic space without any incident. Only experiencing the boredom of waiting and queues in space ports and stations.
We passed through Galidraan, Rhen Var, back into the Salin Corridor hyperlane, and finally got a direct flight to Indu San from the Vjun system.
The Pioneer was in good shape in the hangar bay I had left her in. The under-the-table payment for berthing fees had been exorbitant. Padme and I didn't exactly make for the most intimidating pair of travelers in the galaxy but the guy was at least trying to uphold a relatively good rep, which wouldn't happen if he swindled a customer even after he had been bribed.
I handled the piloting and quickly got us into hyperspace on a course back to Mandalore through the Finbar system.
I was thoroughly tired of just the sheer drudgery of travel through spaceports and starships that I wasn't flying. It was a relief to just be behind the controls again and in command of where and when I went somewhere.
My eyes stared at the neverending blue swirl of hyperspace through the Pioneer's cockpit, my montrals taking in the constant hum of the engines, the occasional beep from the navicomputer and blinking lights and screens surrounding me.
I felt like I could sit here in this comfy cockpit pilot chair and just fall asleep.
"Snips."
It felt like someone had just poked a taser in my spine as I stiffened in surprise at the call from Anakin along the bond.
"Skyguy, I was just about to fall asleep."
I could feel a hint of remorse at that, "Sorry about that, just checking in to let you know. Resolute and Negotiator are on our way to the southern fronts. The Fifth Fleet is amassing for a push into Sullust. You probably won't make it back in time before the battle is over."
The Battle for Sullust.
"I see, thank you for the information, master."
"How's things on your end? I sense you're back on that new ship of yours."
"The Pioneer, yes. We're safe and on our way back to Mandalore. We can finally drop our disguises."
"Good to hear. Now what is this I'm sensing from you… doubt, uncertainty?"
"Yes, the fight for Sullust. Master, I'd ask you to pay careful attention afterwards to the post-combat analysis of the CIS fleet for any… strange behavior. If you see something, please let me know."
"Will do. This isn't going to 'bite me in the ass', as you so colorfully put it?"
"Not you personally, a long running probability line will reach a nexus point. Whether I need to act will depend on what you tell me."
"And you can't give me more specifics because I'm a part of the events, right."
"When I can say something without sparking a potential disaster, I will, master."
"Right… now I'll let you get some sleep."
"Thank you, master."
We both closed down our respective ends of the bond.
I opened a navicomputer holo, then started to input travel parameters as a theoretical exercise.
It would take seven days for the Resolute to travel to Sullust. Another day or so before the fleet launched their attack. Add another day, then another eleven from Sullust to the north… assuming Dathomir is your destination.
So nineteen to twenty days.
Six days from Mandalore to Coruscant, roughly seven to go from there to Dathomir.
I glared at the glittering highlighted hyperspace routes.
Should I really care at all about this?
The Nightsisters didn't give two shits about anything beyond Dathomir except for if it affected their little ichor infested rock. Their powers were of the Dark Side, yet their carefully cultivated dispassionate mindset in viewing everything they used to practice their 'magick' as tools, meant that they were isolated from the usual ravages that the Dark Side caused against a Force user's psyche. At best, they were mercenaries for hire, something their current matriarch, Mother Talzin had started. They were only 'cooperatively' aligned with Sidious and the Sith in general. Why should I care if they killed each other off in the future?
Yet… the part of me that loved knowledge didn't want to see such a unique sect of Force sensitives exterminated. They were just as much part of life and an expression of the Force as the Jedi. It was why the Jedi Council and Yoda specifically hadn't led a crusade against them when they had been discovered early in the Post Ruusan era.
There was absolutely no love lost between the Jedi and the Nightsisters though. They were actively taught by their own doctrinal laws to distrust and even dislike all Jedi. An unfortunate consequence when in the distant past, a young Jedi left the Order for some reason to join the Nightsisters and then went on to codify their laws.
It would therefore be foolish in the extreme for me to go to Dathomir in person. The only way I would ever set foot on that deadly world was if I had both Obi-Wan and Anakin with me.
My only edge in speaking to Mother Talzin would therefore be in her very secret estrangement from her alliance with Sidious.
Darth Maul… was her son.
That Sidious had so callously used and discarded Maul as his apprentice had utterly soured that very loose alliance. Talzin only kept it going because she knew she couldn't afford to have Sidious as a true, openly declared enemy.
So now the question was, how do I speak with Talzin yet not set foot on Dathomir?
It wasn't like I had her comlink address. They had to have some manner of modern technology and a holocom system in that village of theirs, to speak to potential clients for their mercenary contracts and to maintain their weapons. I could ask Fulcrum's slicers to track down the clients that the Nightsisters had definitely worked for, but then what? Could I ask for that address, posing as someone who was interested in hiring them?
The idea had merit, yet the conversation we would then have was certainly not one I trusted over the Holonet, even encrypted and while I could ensure my end was safe, the same could not be said for Talzin's side. If I was Sidious, I'd definitely be keeping an eye and ear on the Mother of the Nightsisters. He knew their potential power better than anyone and it was clear that they would have no place in the New Order he was building.
The small door to the cockpit behind me opened.
"Ahsoka, you all right?"
I turned my seat to see Padme looking once more like herself and finally ditching the stuffy Rodian clothes for one of her more form fitting white, catsuit like outfits.
I blinked in surprise, "Fine, why do you ask?"
"It's just… I'm not sure if it's from you or I was going crazy, but it felt like…" she frowned, clearly struggling with the words. "Were you feeling conflicted just now?" she blurted out as if she couldn't believe what she was saying herself.
"Well, that is a nice surprise," I smiled ruefully, feeling instantly cheered up. "Your independent awareness of the bond is growing. Something that you being in close proximity for so long has helped with. But yes, I was feeling 'conflicted', thank you for chasing that away."
She frowned before dropping herself into the co-pilot seat. "So what was making you feel this way? If you don't mind me asking."
"I'm pondering a decision, many lives and precious knowledge are hanging in the balance."
Padme gaped at me for a second, "Only you, Ahsoka. We're barely out of CIS space and already you find another potential disaster to involve yourself with."
"Time marches on, as does this war, it's only going to get worse, a lot worse, before it gets… well I won't say 'better'."
"What is it this time?"
"This time, I have to stretch out a hand to a very unpleasant person, who may burn it."
"Then why bother at all, Ahsoka?"
"Because at the end, we're looking at the enemy using the CIS to practically wipe out an entire people."
"And you can't openly go to the Jedi for help with this?"
I shook my head, "Quite a few would secretly be very happy it happened. Whatever happens, I'll probably need to remain on Concordia, check in with my clan and Mandalorian affairs in general. I'll assign two of my best Blades that are there at the moment to escort you back to Coruscant."
"Ahsoka, that's really not-"
"Please Padme, for my own peace of mind and I'm sure Anakin would personally beat me into the ground with hours of mandatory lightsaber practice if I ever let you fly alone anywhere in this turbulent galaxy."
She folded her arms with unhappiness but I could sense she was agreeing. Duty was also calling her back and with Saam's bill due to reenter the agenda after dozens of studies had been commissioned and delivered both for and against it, the final debates and vote on it was fast approaching.
"Fine, but please be careful."
"I will."
Padme's J-type star skiff rapidly grew smaller in the sky of Concordia, along with the two Fang fighters in escort formation. I had personally chosen the best star pilots among the Blades for the job. Both were aces and veterans of the civil war and had flown numerous combat missions alongside the GAR in the ever shifting battle spaces of the north-east. They would remain her bodyguards until the RNSF could take over on Coruscant officially, but I had secretly ordered them to remain at least until the Senate's banking deregulation vote was over, one way or another.
I turned my eyes away from the future and with a few purposeful blinks and movement of my eyes, dismissed the magnification function of my helmet.
"She'll be all right, Manda'lor," Togai Vizsla reassured me confidently. "Gall and Sheho are the best."
I merely nodded at him and gestured for him to follow me off the clan estate's landing pads and begin an easy walk back to the main house.
"M8, open a directional link with Togai, highest encryption," I vocalized.
"Established, mistress."
"Oh dear, more clandestine activity, Ahsoka?" Togai's amused voice piped into my helmet
"Yes, I'm afraid. What can you tell me about the mercenary activities of the Nightsisters of Dathomir?"
Togai didn't react, but I could sense his apprehension and even a wary respect at the mere mention of the name.
"Not much, Manda'lor. When Death Watch still existed, the nameless one did sometimes bid on mercenary contracts to clients where the Nightsisters did the same. As eventually happened, the client chose the Nightsisters. We naturally investigated their eventual performance on the contract. The nameless one was impressed and from that point we knew to keep a good distance from anything involving the Nightsisters."
"Let me guess, you observed things that seemed even impossible in a galaxy where you have Jedi like me."
"Yes, Manda'lor. Does the Jedi know of them?"
"Oh yes, but we are content to leave them be. You wouldn't happen to remember who that client was? Or that you kept any data or recordings of the Nightsisters?"
"Sorry, Manda'lor, I can't answer offhand. We'd have to look in the clan archives, this was more than a decade ago."
"That's all right, there's no urgency regarding this yet. I want to get started on my Plan B though."
"Dare I ask, Manda'lor?"
"You can always ask, Togai," I chuckled. "I'm going to need to borrow Avu and commandeer a few folks from MandalMotors. We have to build a very special kind of droid."
Of all the members of Clan Vizsla; close family, extended, vassal houses and adoptees, Aphil Avu was the one woman I'd found who had the most similar mentality to my own. She was the only surviving member of House Avu, most of whom had perished in the Mandalorian civil war. Their House had been known for two things, their eccentricity and they had a tradition of going into the various fields of sciences for hundreds of years.
Given that this was Mandalore, most of them had applied their talents to metallurgy, high energy physics, blastersmithing, anything related to war. Occasionally, there was the odd one out that dedicated themselves to peaceful applications of their field. Aphil was one of these and her speciality lay in the Coruscanti notion of artificial intelligence and droids.
She along with four others from the MandalMotors design group were seated in one of the conference rooms on the lower floor of the Vizsla estate. I had wined and dined them as was befitting of a host in Mandalorian culture and now we were finally getting down to business.
"I'm sorry, Manda'lor Vizsla, you want us to do what?" said egghead number one, otherwise known as Veth Wrest, specialist engineer in shielding technology and related subjects.
"I want you to take the concept of a holo sheathe, as used by clawdite changelings to facilitate their quick infiltrations and combine it with repulsion or deflector field technology."
The other eggheads stared at each other incredulously as if I had said rancors were flying over Sundari. Aphil was simply scribbling on some flimsiplast and idly playing with her long blonde hair.
"Why would you ever want to do that?" asked egghead two, Lluts Skuc, a particle physicist who worked on hypermatter reactors.
"Disguise yourself and protect from blaster fire in the same package?" guessed egghead three with a lazy air. Xai Yror, a hyperspace communication specialist and she clearly liked her beer because she was on her fifth for the evening.
"Don't be ridiculous, the radiation from shields of sufficient strength to protect from modern weaponry clearly prevent their use in personal application," objected Doctor Rhan Totyl, the computer hardware expert, who mostly worked on the specialized architecture of hardened computers for use in outer space.
"Obviously Rhan," Veth rolled his eyes. "Give the Manda'lor a little more credit than that."
"Thank you, Wrest," I said dryly. "The idea is to create the next step forward in holography. As it stands now, a holograph is just a three dimensional construct of light. The relatively recent innovation of integrating touch sensing has allowed us to manually manipulate holos and use them as user interfaces for systems. What I want Mandalore and MandalMotors to achieve next is combine a precision deflector field with a holo, meaning you create a holo that you can actually hold, which exerts a force and even has friction."
There was silence for a long while as everyone absorbed that and I could practically hear them tumbling the concept around in their heads.
"I'm not sure the deflector emitters exist which have that precision," Doctor Totyl said eventually. "Sure you have static spheres and ovoids, but what you're talking about… It's quite fascinating of course, but it means a deflector which will dynamically reconfigure its kinetic field to conform to a human sized surface area and has to move itself through 3D space."
"Totyl is right, but not completely," Skuc pointed out with a raised finger. "Internal containment fields of hypermatter reactors, they're torus shaped, they have to be able to dynamically compensate for flux and any external radiation or ambient EM interference which tends to want to bend the hypermatter reaction. We obviously don't want that reaction near the reactor walls."
"What of interference from the emitters into the holofield-"
Skuc scoffed, "A simple phase adjustment and that shouldn't be a problem."
"What of a compact, long lasting, power source?"
The two kept badgering each other with problems, then proposing solutions and I simply let it go on, sensing that it was a familiar dance between the two men.
"Radiation? Still haven't solved that," Totyl folded his arms.
"Rad suit?"
"Too bulky. You'd be limited to imitating large species."
Avu looked very bored at this point, her green eyes glassy, but she put down her pen and shoved the flimsiplast down the table. It smoothly slid along the glossy surface and stopped underneath the noses of the various scientists.
I gave a brief look at it for show, but I had already seen it. I nodded and smiled at her in thanks. She merely shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say, 'Meh, it was easy to see what you were going for.'
It didn't take long for the eggheads to comprehend what they were seeing and they looked very impressed, giving Avu somewhat incredulous looks.
"That's… that's brilliant," Totyl said breathlessly and turned to Yror and Avu. "I was wondering why the Manda'lor brought you here but… of course. This is amazing… it'll change long distance communication and interaction forever."
I clapped my hands lightly, "Gentlemen and ladies, well done. Yes, I brought you all together for this. I had a good idea of what I wanted to achieve, but we are integrating a lot of fields of expertise together to make this work. The engineering to achieve this is not going to be easy and I foresee that there will be problems none of you have even thought of yet. Yet solve it you must, not just for my immediate use, but for the future. You can see the applications both civilian and military of this - all of you will get credit and be on the patent list for it, but only if it works."
"With MandalMotors taking the largest share, of course," Yror sighed in disappointment.
"I can't change the nature of this business or your contracts, unfortunately," I held up my palms and shrugged. "Your names in history and the future royalty percentages will just have to do."
"When do we begin?" Veth asked eagerly.
"As soon as possible, tomorrow. With wartime military authorization, I'll cut through the usual flimsiwork that would get in the way and get you a budget. Ideally, I want to see a prototype system in eight days."
"Eight days?" Totyl gaped at me. "Utterly impossible!"
"Always with you what can't be done," I muttered under my breath and looked up into the ceiling. "Under normal circumstances, you'd be correct in your skepticism. The difference is now, that you will have a Jedi with you and the impossible is our stock in trade."
It was late evening now and I waved off the scientists as they got back into their respective speeders and left the Vizsla estate.
"Things went well?" Togai questioned, coming to stop next to me at the front doors.
"Yes, generally. I won't be in the estate much for the next week. Long nights are ahead at MandalMotors with little sleep."
"Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to make some time in your busy schedule, Manda'lor," Togai said with mock officiousness. "Now that you're here in person, there are some duties that you can no longer defer to me."
I felt my stomach sink somewhat in dread. "Which ones?"
"There is a Parjai'tsad for the Blades that is being held tomorrow evening, in the main meeting hall of the Concordian capital."
The best way to describe this type of gathering was a 'victory meal'. It was usually held after some form of great battle had occurred. It was both a celebration and a recognition of those who had fallen to achieve the victory. Given the reports that crossed into my inbox regarding the Blade's activities and where their latest deployments had been…
"Aq Vetina?" A small, very recently established colony world in the north-east galactic region.
"Yes, you should also know that a number of foundlings were taken."
That tradition was one that I'd be very much a hypocrite in objecting to, considering the Jedi Order also had a version of it. The difference being that Mandalorians found 'battle orphans', children whose parents had died in the crossfire of Mandalorian operations. Children who would otherwise die if they were left as survivors.
"How many?"
"Given our resources and losses, a full dozen."
That was the other side of the brutal equation. Foundlings were also only taken when the clan had enough resources, space and wealth to afford raising them. Mandalorian culture was not a charity.
"They're also going to be formally introduced at the Parjai'tsad?"
"Yes, Manda'lor, as a time saving measure."
"Any notable guests that you invited?"
"In the interests of openness, House Kryze and most of the major clans will have a presence."
"You're throwing me into a quagmire of politics, Togai. This is your overdue revenge, for saddling you with the governor job, isn't it?" I asked with mock severity.
"Would I stoop so low as to do that to my Manda'lor?" he retorted solemnly.
I gave him a flinty eye, "Fine, anything else?"
"The New Mandos also want a bit of pomposity for the year's end, so they're holding a state banquet at the end of this week with all the governors, ministers and a random lottery of the public in attendance."
"Let me guess, the duchess would prefer it if we did not arrive in armor, but rather elegant finery and foppery more suited to a Coruscanti affair?"
"Your skills of deduction do not disappoint, Manda'lor," Togai smirked.
"What about security at this event? It'd be just like the CIS to infiltrate an assassin or hire one for the job."
"Everyone attending will be vetted and scanned for any possible known threat vector, Manda'lor."
"Good, we should plan for the worst anyway. I want a full squadron of Blades in fighters on standby to launch and a dozen in full beskar'gam inside Sundari."
Togai frowned at me and I sensed his worry, "Manda'lor, do you foresee something?"
"We can't expect our enemies to pass up an opportunity like this," I answered, before turning around and heading back into the house.
If there was one word that most people used to describe a Parjai'tsad, then it was 'loud'.
Combine the voices of nearly three hundred raucous Mandalorians, talking at ever increasing volumes so they could hear each other, laughing, drinking, cheering and clinking beer mugs, in a space that was nominally designed to hold meetings - therefore the acoustics favored transmission of sound - then you had what might as well be a slowly broiling sonic weapon.
I had long since willed a bubble of low level TK on the air around my head to dampen it down to a level that wasn't maddening. I really wanted to increase it more, but that would leave me unable to hear when anyone wanted to talk to me. Using Force Hearing would lead to the problem of hearing everything very clearly, but it would quickly lead to a bloody splitting headache as all those conversations rolled into my brain simultaneously.
Even in my previous life, I'd had difficulties with acute hearing. As some frequencies, resonances and voices had made me feel like my spine wanted to crawl out of my body or like someone had taken a pair of pliers to my ear drums. Not fun.
The other word I would personally use to describe this evening was awkward.
I was seated at the head of the table, which in turn was situated in the most prominent position in the entire hall, surrounded by dozens of other circular tables. Fifteen Mandos sat at each table, drinking, eating and inevitably looking at the high table.
They weren't just looking at me, but also my own table mates.
Right next to me at the guest of honor position, sat Bo-Katan Kryze who was idly nursing a beer and occasionally talking to the chief of Clan Awaud, Nam Beroya.
Nam Beroya was the first part of the sandwich of awkwardness into which the universe saw fit to stuff me tonight.
He was two meters of utterly buff, handsome beefcake, wrapped in beskar. Armor that in contrast to most Mando clans, was shaped to imitate the human form. They even painted the torsos of their armor into a quite realistic mimicry of human skin, whilst the rest was red. It was only close up that you could tell the difference. His chiseled jaw, high cheekbones, long black hair that was slicked back and tied into a ponytail made him look like he could be on the cover of some trashy romance novel.
What made it worse, I could sense in the Force, he wasn't some poseur or vain at all. You'd imagine a man with these kinds of looks would have a huge ego as the women threw their panties at him. No, Nam Beroya was actually quite humble, principled, and an excellent Mando warrior. He'd been readying his clan to leave the Mandalorian sector, seeking to avoid the impending factionalism and brewing civil war between the New Mandos and the old guard. Right until I stuck my oar into the entire situation.
Bo-Katan was clearly enjoying her conversation and close position. I tried my best to ignore her low key amorous feelings towards Nam.
The cherry on this evening of awkwardness was seated to my left.
I knew my influence and actions would produce ripples throughout Mandalore, but nowhere was it more demonstrated by the fact that another Kryze, clad in a blue beskar'gam sat there.
Korkie Kryze.
He had the patrician nose and blonde hair of his family, but his eyes and other features - those came from a father that I needed just one look to identify. The Force also bore witness to the identity of the father.
That Korkie wasn't in the Jedi Temple right now was due to the previous civil war and that no foundling missions had come this way. Even the New Mandos didn't want the Jedi Order to potentially carry away children when the population levels had been so critically low in the aftermath. The Jedi had also probably refrained from sending any missions because of that fact.
Korkie was slightly older than me if I had to guess, but his armor and the way he held himself made him seem even more deceptively older. His armor's appearance also told a story. It was new, but it had seen wear - the kind that you'd only get when you saw combat action or training on a level that Mandos generally subjected their apprentices too.
What was he doing here? How had this gotten past Satine?
He clearly wanted to be here. Perhaps he had gone to Bo-Katan to request training after the general declaration of war against the CIS, with feelings of duty, patriotism and leadership ringing through his mind. Bo would not deny it and Satine would've been faced with a united front of 'nephew' and sister.
I could vaguely recall in the timeline-that-was; Korkie had been a student of the Royal Academy of Government. This meant he had left his studies there to answer the 'call of his people'.
In the time since the declaration he could've gone on the full Mando equivalent of basic training. That I could see in the way he was sitting, the way his eyes moved to maintain situational awareness on automatic. How his left hand was always held relatively close to his belt and the WESTAR blaster holstered there.
The other question tumbling about in my head, was whether Obi-Wan knew?
A Jedi of his power and ability should've clearly felt the connection in the Force of a son being born of his own flesh and blood. There was no way he would have remained ignorant of it. I could also see the ever dutiful Obi-Wan Kenobi accept his youthful indiscretion and move on from it. Especially in these tumultuous days he would refuse to acknowledge it even more, given the many enemies he had in this war.
I could recall debates on this topic another lifetime ago. One camp argued in retrospect that there was no way the perfect Kenobi would ever do something to 'betray' the Jedi Order and sleep with Satine, whilst the other pointed out he had been young, alone, human and in love with her! He had not always been the straight laced padawan lecturing his own master about 'following the rules'.
I sighed wearily, calling on the Force to reinvigorate me, whilst waving over a server to take away my now empty and dirty plate.
My eyes briefly locked with Korkie's as I turned in my seat…
Ah yes, more awkwardness, hooray.
He had a crush on me.
My plate was taken and a fresh glass of Quin-Berry juice deposited in front of me and I turned my attention to savoring the sweet taste as a firm distraction. What made it even worse was that Bo-Katan knew as well and was clearly enjoying what her nephew's attention and emotions would do to me. I was also sensing a building nervousness from Korkie that was clearly his attempt to work up the courage to ask something.
Our conversation thus far had been very limited due to the din in the room and our mouths were too busy eating.
Oh good grief, give me a CIS fleet to fight, it'd surely be more easier and straightforward than this. If this conversation went badly then it was also surely to have political consequences. My relationship, political and personal, with Satine was always on shaky ground. Our viewpoints in both politics and military just differed too much. She still resented me for dragging her, kicking and screaming, into avoiding a second civil war.
That she wasn't here and was represented by her sister also spoke volumes.
I pushed my sound dampening sphere of TK outward, encompassing Korkie, Bo-Katan and Nam Beroya.
Korkie visibly flinched as my control passed over him briefly, which was interesting in itself. Bo and Nam for their part just looked confused as their ears reported the sound anomaly.
"There, we can now have a conversation at a reasonable volume," I smiled briefly, keeping a generally friendly and casual mask on my face.
"Wow, is that…?" Korkie trailed off, unsure of which word to use.
"The Force, Apprentice Kryze," I answered.
It was just four words, but I hoped it would jolt Korkie out of his thoughts about me and remember the social order and rank at play at the table. Nephew of the duchess and part of the ruling house he might be, but this was not a full monarchy with familial inheritance of rule.
It only succeeded partially from what I could sense.
Bo-Katan gave Korkie a pointed look, which caused the teenager to inwardly cringe. "I was hoping-" he coughed unnecessarily. "To ask you about that actually."
I took a sip of my juice, "Then please do. What is it specifically you wish to know?"
"I understand that the Jedi only trains from a very young age, but there's never a proper explanation given in my research as to why this is so."
"It's much the same reason why you start learning to read at a young age or why traditional Mandalorians start the basics of gun skills at that age. It's to take advantage of the exceptional neural plasticity and learning retention that most sentients have at that age. That is the official answer."
"And the unofficial one?" He couldn't help but ask.
"Can you not guess, apprentice?" I raised a brow at him.
He frowned for a moment, his eyes ranging over to the table nearby that held the twelve foundlings, the oldest of which was eight years old. They were all dressed in bright white comfortable clothes and were being looked over by the very Mandos who had found them in battle. It was a subdued table for a bunch of children, given the presence of so many adults, but they were all enjoying their large meal with abandon.
"Indoctrination," he eventually answered with a slump in his shoulders.
"From a cynical point of view, yes. Think of it more as a cultural assimilation. The Jedi Order, like any grouping of sentients with thousands of years of history behind it, has an overarching culture and tradition. For such an old institution to accept change is very difficult, they also want to preserve the status quo, therefore they only want to bring in new members who will be the easiest to mold in that direction."
"So they wouldn't take in someone older, even if it was proven they had the Force."
Anakin's early history rang in my mind. "No. I just want to clarify to you that everyone has the Force. To use it as the Jedi do is a combination of inborn potential, talent and a lot of training. As you clearly internally felt my usage of telekinesis to dampen the sound, whilst still letting air pass through so we don't suffocate, you clearly have the talent and a high 'sensitivity' to the Force."
I pushed forward with my mind, making eye contact with Korkie and leaped across the thin thread of connection made through the Force.
"I cannot train you openly, Korkie," I said directly into his mind. His eyes widened as he realized what was happening, that he was hearing my voice without his own ears.
"How- why-" his thoughts were an unfocused babble, but they were projected across the connection without any help from me.
Talented, indeed.
"There is not enough time to explain and this is not the place to speak of it. Think of a way for you to plausibly visit me at Clan Vizsla without raising any eyebrows."
I casually looked away and the fragile connection broke. Korkie's emotions were all over the place for a moment before he calmed down, then there was only relief.
"So you are forbidden teaching those skills and knowledge to just anyone, Manda'lor? Even those with talent?" Nam Beroya asked. His voice had a rich, deep tenor that resonated pleasantly in my montrals.
"Yes, it's very much out of the question, Manda'lor. There are dangers to the Jedi Arts and this war is a galactic scale example of it. I can teach no one until I am a Master myself and even then they must be an Adept from the Order. It is a pity, but the fact is that there are people like Apprentice Kryze all over the galaxy, the Jedi cannot be everywhere and we are not omniscient."
"A fact our ancestors are quite thankful for," Beroya chuckled.
Bo-Katan smiled teasingly at her nephew, "See Korkie, she didn't chop your head off for asking? Was that so difficult?"
"Bo!" he cried in betrayal, his face going red in embarrassment.
"For me to draw the Darksaber and relieve someone of their head, requires them to generally commit a far more grievous sin than asking an awkward question, apprentice," I chuckled. Korkie looked at me at this point and clearly blushed, I could feel his eyes lingering on my facial patterns, lekku and lips.
Oh dear.
My chrono flashed an alert at me.
I dismissed the Silence TK, then pulled on the Force slightly then pushed my intent on a metal level outward as I stood.
The hall took just a few seconds to realize and a blessed silence settled on the entire room.
Every eye turned toward me and butterflies of nervous energy seemed to settle in my stomach.
"Warriors of Mandalore," I said, my language changing to Mando'a. "We are at this victory gathering to celebrate many battles that have been fought and won these past months. They have not come without cost. As we are basking in the fullness of life, there are others who have fought and died for the cause of our freedom. Across the galaxy, you have now seen the struggles of people fighting for their own worlds, even as we fight for Mandalore.
"The sad truth is that even when we claim victory, the cost is not only to us, but also to those around us. Buildings might shatter and be repaired, crops can be planted again, but those lost to death cannot be brought back." I gestured to the table of orphaned children. "These are now foundlings of Mandalore. To save them is the highest honor, they are the future of the Way and might one day establish new houses of legend and renown. In nature, the fire might ravage the field, but many seeds need that fire to crack open and for life to continue to flourish. Such is the way!"
"This is the Way!" echoed the hall of Mandalorians back to me.
"As much as we have succeeded, brothers and sisters. Know that this war is only a year old and moving swiftly into its second. There are many months of struggling and suffering ahead. How many that will be, I cannot say. We will fight, in space, on planets distant and wondrous. We fight with all the strength given to us, to fight against those who would see us slaves to the metal of droid and credit, to die a slow death until the name of Mandalore is nothing, not even remembered in the annals of history. For thousands of years, many foes have tried and failed. This will be no different!"
"This is the Way!"
"Foundlings, step forward!"
With the snap of my voice and with the Force resonating, it resulted in the twelve children not even needing to be guided by their guardians. They only knew a few basic Mando'a phrases at this point, but my intent and meaning was carried along. In a few seconds, twelve young minds were arranged in a line before me.
Eight humans, three echani, one twi'lek. Seven males, five female.
I held my hand out and the Darksaber's hilt zoomed into it, before I raised it in the air and lit it.
At this point, the blade had only the occasional hint of black underneath the broiling white surface. The children gazed at it with wonder in their young eyes.
"This is the Darksaber. Remember it. For under its light and whoever bears it, you will find leadership and if you ever think yourself up to it, you can challenge for the right to be that leader and hold this."
Some barely understood, but the words would be seared into their heads until they did.
"You have their new names?" I asked one of the guardians.
"Yes, Manda'lor!"
"Declare them for all present."
"Tagr Brouss, Rugr Joraist, Lor Luahl, Tainx Napan, Din Djarin, Threlleagg Kord, Kadurr Braivid, Na Stragh, Emin Qes, Vhinnae Jorn, Bo Vilul, Bhentu Jen and Irim Vuvhyngh."
"Your names are declared and recorded. Go, bring victory and honor to them."
I extinguished the Darksaber and returned it to its holster as cries of Resol'nare echoed through the hall. The guardians shooed the children back to their seats.
Then I took my seat, wanting nothing more than to just curl up in my bed at the estate.
"Nicely done," Nam Beroya smiled at me with approval.
"Thank you," I gulped down the last of my drink, tasting only bitterness. Those children should still be in their village, with their own families, but here I was inducting them into an entirely different culture.
Damn Sidious and damn me for not seeing a better way.
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