We had to talk for a long time.
Sitting in one of the meditation halls, we took turns briefly recounting our adventures.
Throughout the entire story, not a single muscle twitched on my mother’s face; she only occasionally nodded or asked leading questions.
The only one not participating in any of this was Hadiya.
Sitting on a desk slightly to the side, she glanced now at us, now at my mother, showing absolutely no signs of worry.
“I understand everything about you,” she closed her eyes condescendingly and shook her head.
“But I’m proud of you.
All of you.
Well done.
You may be learning the hard way, but you learn fast and you don’t break up an already cohesive team.” “Thank you, Master,” Ves bowed.
“Now, about your venture.
What are you looking for in the Old City?” “It concerns my father.” “Weeeeell.” “Mom, just listen!” I bristled immediately.
Without that, arguing with her was impossible.
“We have exact information that the Stargazers want to retrieve something from the Old City.
We have a map and an approximate time frame for when they’ll start working.
Plus, we understand they’ll put everything they’ve got into this.
Before it’s too late, we need to figure out what exactly they’re after there.” “Hmm…” “And also, I still want to find out what Father was involved in.” “Okay.
I won’t ask how you found all this out or where from.
I won’t ask what your part in this is,” she glanced at Hadiya.
“I’ll only ask what you’ve come up with for your plans.” “Nothing yet.
Gather reinforcements — Hadiya will send her people, arm up, and then work out a plan with you.
After all, it’s a dangerous place.” “I see,” she exhaled with barely concealed relief.
“Mom?” “All right then, it’s all canceled!” She tapped her fingernails on the table in rhythm with her words.
“What?” “Excuse me?” “Arg?!” “Quiet!” She slammed her hand on the table and pressed down on all of us with the Force.
“This venture is doomed to fail.” “But why?” “Because the whole place is mined and riddled with traps, Shade.” The astonishment that hung in the room could probably have been scooped up with a spoon.
Even Hadiya lost her composure and blinked in confusion.
“More than ten years ago, a Je’daii Ranger named Lanori Brock saw in her dreams something devouring all of Tython, and then the entire star system.
The council didn’t take it seriously back then, and it stayed that way until recently.
About six months ago, we learned that the Stargazers had managed to assemble a special ancient artifact of the Gree, the first inhabitants of Tython, and somehow managed to charge it with dark matter using Marion.” “No shit…” I whispered, realizing what these geniuses — real geniuses and, by extension, lunatics — had actually managed to do.
“That information was gathered from their activities at Sunspot, since the artifact was being assembled there.
Where it is now is unknown — as soon as we tried to find it, all activity immediately ceased.” “So that’s the reason for the postponement,” Hadiya commented.
“What?” “They recently postponed their plans.
Now we know why.” “Hmm.
In short, they want to use this artifact on a device hidden in the Old City.
According to legend, there are Kwa hypergates somewhere in the Old City.
Many have tried to find them; no one has succeeded.” “Looks like Dad actually found them…” “I thought the same.
But it was too late to do anything.
Now, with this new data… If the Stargazers try to carry out their plan, it could create a black hole, and in that light, Lanori’s warning takes on a whole different meaning.
So we were tasked with finding the hypergates, but because of disturbances in the Force, we never could.
Instead, we set up traps and signal circuits there.
If anyone survives, we’ll know for sure about an intrusion into the ruins.” “Well… damn…” I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose.
What a turn.
Good thing I called Mom.
And now I understand why she got so angry.
If we’d gone in there, we wouldn’t have made it out.
I’m a hundred percent confident in Mom’s talent for setting up nasty surprises and hiding things.
I’ve lost count of how many times she’s hidden candy from me.
And the fact that I found them doesn’t really comfort me.
“Hadiya, have you heard anything like this?” “Not at all.
We have no stations at Sunspot.
Besides, I wasn’t very interested in Tython’s history; I was much more worried about clan squabbles in Shikaakwa.” “Right.” “It’s all in the Temple of Knowledge, Shade,” Mom replied.
“Which we haven’t gotten to yet.
I somehow never even thought of it in that context.” “If you don’t know something, visit the library,” she smirked.
“I admit it, I’m an idiot.” “So, is everything canceled?” Ramira looked first at me, then at Mom.
“Wait, Rami.
Mom, tell me.
Don’t you think this is strange?” “What exactly?” “The Stargazers might be fanatics, but they’re not idiots.
They want to return to where our ancestors came from, not destroy our star system.
Besides, these developments are older than I am.
And Dad, from what you’ve said, was never a fool, so they must be counting on actually pulling this off.” “No, Shade, we’re not going to the Old City, and that’s final,” she pinned me with her gaze.
“What does the Old City have to do with it?
I’m not even talking about that!” I returned the same pressure.
“This uncertainty pisses me off.
One person sees something in a vision, others start acting weird, and a third group, using those two vague facts, starts cooking up something of their own.
I want to know exactly what’s going on in this story!
Precisely, clearly, and point by point!
Why did Father get involved with the Stargazers?
Why did he leave us when he loved you?
Why are the Stargazers so certain about their plan?
And for all I know, maybe this Lanori’s vision wasn’t about this at all — maybe there’s some other shit lurking around that we don’t even know about!” I ranted.
What kind of peaceful life could I talk about when, it turns out, there’s so much drama going on around me?!
“And what do you suggest?” Mom tapped her fingernails on the table and asked.
“Nothing yet.
I need to think…” “Excuse me…” Hadiya interjected.
“Um… Why not ask the Stargazers themselves?” “Huh?” We both turned to her.
“I have contacts, and you have leverage,” she looked first at Aala, then at me.
“Besides, you’re the son of the adventurer who got involved in this — you have every right to know the details.
You, Aala, are his wife, and you also have every right to approach Dalien and shake him down a bit.
Especially since you have something to hold over him.
And if that’s not enough, you can always talk like this,” she jokingly pressed a knife to her own throat.
“Wait, wait.
Did you say ‘Dalien’?
Dalien Brock?” Mom tensed up.
“Yes.” “But he’s dead!” “No, he just changed his name and address,” Hadiya smirked.
“Changed it quite successfully, too.
I had to work very hard to find the people who handled that address change.” “An acquaintance of yours?” I glanced sideways at Mom.
“He…” Mom turned crimson and clenched her fist, looking away.
For a moment, I even thought her eyes flashed yellow.
“He was your father’s student, Shade.
A good man, kind, but a bit lonely and withdrawn.
He had some misfortune happen to him — I don’t know exactly what — but after that, he became disillusioned with the Force and tried not to use it.
It got to the point where Dalien renounced it.
He had almost no friends, at least here on Tython.
Saros was like a brother and a father to him.
But… because of his views on the Force, Dalien left the Order.
And then he had an accident in which he died.” “So it turns out he didn’t,” Hadiya shrugged.
“Are you sure about this?” Mom looked seriously at Hadiya.
“Dead certain!
I dug it up like it was for myself.” Mom bit her lower lip… “Mom, do you think Dad knew about his ‘friend’?” “Absolutely.” “Wouldn’t it be something if Shade’s father also helped organize the cult,” Feng smirked, but immediately realized under our gazes that he’d put his foot in it and started coughing.
“Impossible.
Saros would never have gone for something like that.
Besides, he told me in plain words about a discovery that would change the world.
He didn’t care about the cult; he was interested in the hypergates.” “So then, let’s call Dalien and politely ask for a meeting.
Hmm?” “I can help with that,” Hadiya chimed in.
“I don’t have direct contact, of course, but I can get the message to him indirectly.
And then… it’ll be news like you wouldn’t believe!” “Then here’s the plan,” Mom tapped her fingernails on the table and looked at Hadiya.
“Hadiya, arrange the meeting.
Tell him straight up how it is…” “Aala…” Hadiya winced.
“Don’t you worry, I’ll arrange the meeting.
He won’t be able to not show up.
The only question is, who’s the meeting for?” “Me and Shade.” “Fine.” “Ar gru-uu?” “As for you — learn,” she pinned the boys with her gaze.
“B-but…” “Learn!” “Yes, Master,” the humanoids replied in unison.
“Alright, that’s settled,” she rubbed her nose bridge.
“Hadiya.” “Hmm?” “Tell me, please, how did someone like you end up in this company?” “Simple!
Shade is my husband, so of course I decided to check up on him.
And help out, within my limits.” “Sorry, what did you just say?” She leaned forward.
“Husband?” “Yes.” “Shade?” At that look, I nervously cringed, but the guys, on the other hand, started grinning.
Damn… Traitors.
“Wasn’t that whole thing a farce?” “It was, Mom, it really was!” “Then I don’t understand…” she looked first at me, then at Hadiya.
Neither I nor she was lying, which caused the poor Togruta to experience cognitive dissonance.
“Hadiya is just twisting the facts a bit, sincerely considering me her husband, when in reality I’m not.” “Yes, but that’s for now!” “What is this love triangle?!” “There’s no triangle, I just have a problem, you know which one, Master.
I was pressuring Shade about it and waiting for him to find a second one himself.
I thought about looking for him myself, because it wasn’t right, and then Hadiya showed up.
Well, I checked her out, gave her some advice on how to build bridges with Shade, since she’s attracted to him anyway.
And besides, she’s a very serious ally from a purely practical standpoint.
So now I’m calm, Hadiya is happy because she has a future husband who even agreed, and Shade has me and her.” “(O_o)” “Something like that.” After Vessira’s matter-of-fact monologue, a suspicious Silence hung in the room.
That’s right, with a capital S.
Both Mom and the guys looked equally stunned.
Although Mom was probably more so — mine were already more or less used to the weirdness around me.
“Um… Two at once?” Zeng looked at Ramira, who responded by showing her fist.
“Grau-rar-grue.” “Agreed, Gris.
Ves, is your trait racial?” Feng inquired matter-of-factly.
“Yeah.” “Hmm… And where do the Cathar live?” “Feng!” “I was just asking!” the Zabrak huffed indignantly.
“Well, I mean…” Mom looked at me, then at Ves, who was scratching the table with her fingernail, then at Hadiya.
Hadiya was just Hadiya — looking down on everyone as usual.
Well, except for me.
“Something wrong?” Hadiya tilted her head.
“No, no,” Mom shook her head immediately, even her tone of voice changed.
“Quite the opposite.
I used to worry so much that Shade wasn’t starting any relationships, just studying the Force around the clock.
Then Vessira appeared, and it was like a weight lifted off my soul.
And now there are two of you,” she wiped away a tear.
“I’m so happy… That’s it.
I can rest easy about grandchildren.” “Mom!” “Well done, Shade.
Just be careful from now on — both of them could kill you,” she said instructively, completely ignoring my indignation.
“Alright, that’s it, I’m leaving,” I stood up from the table.
“Where?!” “To get settled in!” I shouted as I walked out the door.
The others followed.
The guys were grinning, Ramira was shy — though what did she have to be shy about?
Ves… She just didn’t care.
Hadiya, on the other hand, was getting some amusement out of all this.
Damn, what a madhouse… And am I really in the Star Wars?
Because I have my doubts.
Meanwhile, Mom led us to the Temple Master, and there we parted ways.
She went about her business, and we were met by one of the local masters/scientists/science maniacs — delete as appropriate — who gave us a tour of the Temple of Anil Kesh itself.
Unlike the other temples, Anil Kesh is the hardest to classify as one.
In fact, it wasn’t even a temple — it was one giant laboratory.
Which stands, for crying out loud, over a huge and deep abyss that has no bottom.
At least, no one has found one.
However, in the depths of this abyss lies one of the most powerful sources of the dark side of the Force on the planet.
Which, just for the record, no one has been able to reach, or even approach — the background radiation there is so intense it completely fries your brain.
And the pinnacle of this absurdity is three not-very-reassuring “claws” on which the laboratory is mounted.
And this, dammit, is on Tython.
Where storms, earthquakes, and hurricanes are a normal occurrence.
SHOW ME THE GENIUS who decided to build ONE OF THE TEMPLES HERE?!
“Shade, are you okay?” Ves asked worriedly as I stood by the railing, looking down.
“No… I’m not okay, Ves.
I’m really, really not okay.
I’m seriously considering writing a dissertation on the influence of the Force on the human mind.
Otherwise, I can’t explain the location of this particular temple.” “What’s wrong with it?” Ves came closer and also looked down.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” I stepped back from the edge and shuddered.
Goosebumps were having a race down my spine, and my hands were sweating profusely.
Strange, but for some reason, a very unpleasant vision momentarily flashed through my mind, making me physically flinch.
And it definitely wasn’t the Force.
“Well, shit.
No, let’s finish up here quickly and get out.” “Mmm…” I shouldn’t have looked down, or walked around outside at all.
Now I keep flinching at every creak and listening to the floor.
And the laboratory is actually quite small compared to the other temples.
Together with guests, it can hold up to a thousand beings at once, but as the master giving us the tour said, there have never been more than seven hundred souls here at a time.
As I understand it, all of them are trying to get the hell out.
And yet, Anil Kesh has the most advanced equipment in the system and beyond, including special alchemical laboratories.
After seeing that, and the little monsters on the floor below, I understood where the roots of the alchemy of future dark side adepts came from.
Notably, to work in this field, a Je’daii mostly has to tip the balance toward the dark side of the Force.
At least, according to the local alchemists, that’s where the tastiest perks were.
The only thing that actually caught my interest in alchemy was the preparation of strengthening solutions.
It turns out half of our healing tinctures and ointments are produced using alchemy.
There are also solutions for strengthening metals.
As for the rest, I looked at it with a certain disgust.
I just didn’t like the idea of attaching wings to a rancor.
Or an extra pair of limbs.
A second row of fangs.
Or scales.
A separate question is where they even got a rancor here, but oh well.
On the other hand, they were developing pretty much everything here, but just a bit of each.
Technology, weapons, medicine — there was even a department for shipbuilding and energy.
They had everything except… the Force.
The Force, as the main subject, wasn’t studied here.
It was an addition to everything else, a kind of bonus.
After walking from one segment of the laboratory to another, getting a tour of what they do here, we were politely asked if any of us were interested in any particular topic.
The only one who showed interest was Gris, but he was more interested in studying what had already been invented rather than inventing something new — which was more Vur Tepe’s thing.
The master nodded disappointedly and lamented how few young people were going into science these days.
For some reason, I suspect it’s not really about science.
But when the tour was over, I went to pester the weapon smiths.
As soon as I mentioned a “laser sword,” the learned men and women twirled their fingers at their temples and asked me to leave.
Yeah, right!
As if I’d just walk away.
I kept eating their brains with questions until these geniuses of lasguns and lead gave me the theory of laser weapon operation with all the accompanying documentation.
By the second day, everyone had agreed that it was easier to give me what I wanted than to send me away.
And they did.
And I was even satisfied!
Now I just need to figure out what “coherent,” “monochromatic,” and “polarized” radiation flow energy means.
I went to the physicists.
As soon as they saw my face, they tried to explain on their fingers the gibberish their colleagues had given me.
I felt like a monkey that had bothered humans for no reason, because as soon as they said “the correlation of several oscillatory or wave processes in time,” my brain displayed a blue screen, and my eyes glazed over.
My interlocutors realized this too, sighed wearily, and tried to explain it even more simply.
By the third attempt, I gave up myself, but then my brain practically leaked out of my ears.
I took a break, ate a “Sweet Joy” that Hadiya’s goons had brought, and decided to try the opposite approach, returning to the weapon smiths.
They immediately redirected me to the mouth of a volcano.
Meaning to Vur Tepe, which is built on the mouth of a volcano.
Well… They know best where to send me, so let’s go.
Meanwhile, Hadiya had managed to contact the Stargazers and arrange a meeting.
Surprisingly, directly with Dalien.
He turned out to be willing to talk with his teacher’s wife and son, even without any additional incentives or conditions.
The only thing was that we had to leave Tython and arrive at Nox, where another ship would pick us up.
So I have five more days on Tython to distract the locals from their work, and then I’ll have to fly to the meeting.
But I’ve already realized that nothing in my life goes smoothly, and this time was no different.
“Knock, knock, knock.” “Come in, Hadiya,” I responded without opening my eyes.
I try to maintain the habit of always monitoring my surroundings.
“Shade, hi,” a pale blue, almost grayish figure slipped through my slightly open door.
And with her arrival came the aroma of a very tasty drink.
“Meditating?” “Not anymore,” I opened my eyes a crack and looked at this wonder.
“Something happened?” “Not really,” she handed me the drink.
Mmm, delicious.
“I just thought, since you’re leaving and I have nothing to do at the meeting with you, I’m not going to sit around here missing you either.
So while you’re off gallivanting, I’ll head back to Shikaakwa.
I’ll personally check on things and clean house — they’ve gotten way too relaxed in my absence.” “That’s right, you need to keep that kind of crowd in line,” I nodded and took a sip.
“Uh-huh.
I’m leaving tomorrow.” “So soon?” “Why drag it out?” “True.” “Um… You be careful, okay?” “Absolutely,” she looked at me skeptically.
“Honestly!” “Sure, sure.
And don’t forget to call.
Or at least don’t forget to give me your number if you change your communicator again!” She grabbed me by the collar and shook me a little.
Laughing, I levitated the glass to the table, grabbed her, and sat her on my lap, starting to tickle her.
Hadiya tried to kick, break free, threaten, but the evil tormentor and emotional junkie showed no mercy — he was having a blast!
Ah… If her father could see her now, he’d clutch his heart.
With him around, Hadiya never lets her guard down.
And in public, she tries to be cruel, but that public is such that… Well, you get it.
“And what are you doing here-e-e-re?” Vessira poked her head in.
She must have sensed my happiness.
“Playing.
Want to join in?
We can make it a threesome.” “Shade!!!” “I meant a get-together.
All perfectly proper.
What did you think?” I glanced sideways at Hadiya, but she first blushed, then narrowed her eyes and reached for her knife.
“Too bad.
I would have been all for it,” Ves winked.
And honestly, I couldn’t tell if she was playing along with my joke or being serious.
“Mine!” Hadiya hugged me and pressed me to her chest, completely forgetting about her weapon.
“As for you, go on, shoo, and close the door behind you.
You can talk tomorrow, after I’ve left,” Hadiya waved her hand in a “shoo-shoo” gesture.
“You’re leaving?” Ves tilted her head.
“Yes.
The crown won’t fall into my lap by itself, unfortunately.” “Why do you need that crown?” Ves crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe.
“Do you really crave power that much?” “I want order, Vessira.
And I want my word to be law, because I’m sick of it all!” “How adorable… A real little tyrant in a skirt”, I melted with affection.
Although, Hadiya doesn’t wear skirts, always pants.
“But!
To anticipate your next question.
Power for the sake of power is nonsense,” the young tyrant in my arms continued.
“I understand perfectly well that those with immense power are, to some extent, its hostages.
You have to wield that power correctly, or it will destroy you.
My father, because of his position, completely forgot about his personal life, constantly switching between me, the clan, and business.” “And you want the same?” Ves raised an eyebrow.
“Of course not!
That’s what I have subordinates and deputies for.
And thanks to Shade, I’m more or less confident in them.” “And if these ‘trusted people’ let you down?
Or worse, betray you?” “Then they’ll regret it.
Two overly clever ones tried to get to me; now their mutilated bodies stand as scarecrows as a warning to the rest.” Ves’s face fell, and her mouth dropped open.
“But you know how quiet it’s gotten?
It’s pure idyll.
But my power isn’t held together by fear alone.
I may be cruel, but I’m fair — and I know how to reward.
So among my circle, there are those who are genuinely loyal to me and will tear apart anyone I point them at.” “Hadiya… You’re a terrifying woman.” “At least even hitmen are afraid to take contracts on me.
That says something.” “Indeed.” “Something wrong?” she batted her eyelashes.
“Nothing… I’m looking at your closet full of skeletons and I can’t figure out how you can just sit so carefreely on his lap.” “I can.
Because Shade is mine,” she stroked me.
And I don’t care at all.
I closed my eyes, smiled, and shifted my face a little, meditating.
Yes, exactly, meditating.
“Well.
Anyway, I came for a reason.
Hadiya, sorry, but Shade is being called.” “Who?
Where?!” I was genuinely outraged, because I didn’t want to move at all.
It was so nice.
“Master Aala.” “Uh… Why?” “I don’t know, but it’s urgent.” “Fiiine,” I lifted Hadiya off my lap with the Force and stood up from the cushion.
“Where, at least?” “At the Temple Master’s office.” “Apparently, I’ll only find peace in the grave.” “You won’t get a grave, just a funeral pyre,” Vessira winked.
“Even better.”
It all helps promote the story.