(Jayden's PoV)
"Master, can I go see my friends?" I asked my master.
Since our report was completed, we are now free and would usually rest for a while before returning to Pantora. There was no reason for the two of us to remain here.
So, in that resting period, I thought of meeting my friends here. Well, they are the ones I grew up with here, and they are more than friends; they are like family to me.
After leaving Coruscant, I couldn't maintain much communication with them, as they lacked communicators like mine. However, I left them my communication code, which I hoped they would use when they acquired their own communicators, which would likely be when they became padawans.
As they have yet to make any communication in the year I was away, they are still younglings.
Now that I am here, I can meet with them directly.
Well, if I had to succeed in the future, I need allies, a lot of them, possibly along with an army and wealth to support my activities.
The Wealth part had already been taken care of. Multiple revenues have opened up for me, but allies and army are still a no-go for now.
With the wealth, I can hire a multitude of mercenaries or private soldiers, but true allies take time to develop. When I said I wanted allies, it was everywhere, including the Jedi Order and even the Senate.
At this point, I can't make a move on the Senate, but the Jedi Order is still open for me.
Though they kind of semi-exiled me, I can still come here. There was no need for any permissions or anything. Unless I was on a mission and supposed to be elsewhere, travel is not restricted, as long as the location was shared or kept in constant touch.
The best allies he could have were his young friends, where friendship was formed not out of some calculation but out of pure innocence. They can be trusted more than others. Of course, if they betray, no one can see such betrayal, but I have to take the leap of faith and trust them, as, at least for now, they wouldn't be betrayers.
I met with my friends in the room where I used to live. Well, when I arrived, no one was there. So, I waited there, on my old bed.
When Derek, Boran and Verlock entered the room, they were at first surprised to see someone in the room, but that surprise turned into happiness when they saw that the newcomer was me.
"Jayden", they all hugged me at the same time.
"It's good to see you all, too", I said as I hugged them back.
"How have you been? We missed you", all three asked me in unison.
"I was fine. How are you?" I asked them.
"We are good", they answered.
"Wait, let me go call the girls. They would be happy to know that you are here", Boran spoke as he left the room.
Yeah, the girls. Well, I was more interested in Elia than others.
I knew that Elia had feelings for me, but controlled them as feelings were against the code. One day, I would make her break that code, but not now. To do so, we need to be strong enough to face any backlash, which we are not.
The other three girls are good friends, and if they offer themselves in the future, I won't say no. I am not a single girl type. I am going to build a harem. Of course, if someone only wants a one-time thing and is beautiful, I might not say no.
A minute later, Boran returned with three girls following.
Elia was missing, and when I asked them about her, they informed me that she was going through her trials.
In fact, over the next year, all six of them would undergo their trials and soon become Padawans.
"That's good to know", I said.
With only a decade for the Clone Wars to start, as long as they can become Jedi Knights before that, and have clone troops assigned to them separately, not under someone else, I have some plans that might change the outcome of the war.
I stayed with them for the day, but at night, I had to return to my assigned quarters.
---
Next Day...
Now, there stands a question in front of me.
Should I disrupt the path of the Chosen One's future romantic path?
I mean, it was partly the reason why he went down the Dark Side and became Vader, but even if I remove that chance, Palpatine would find some other way to turn him into Vader.
Anakin and Padmé thought they had kept their affair a secret, but many were aware of it, including Obi-Wan, and I am sure even Palpatine was aware. It was why he involved Padme in many dangers, wherever Anakin was at that time.
It was a brilliant strategy on Palpatine's part.
He always made sure that when Padme ran into trouble, Anakin was available. He never sent others. Even when a mad scientist was developing a deadly virus on Naboo, Anakin was sent.
When Kenobi and Anakin cornered Grievous one time, Palpatine dragged her into the warzone.
So, even if she goes out of the picture, he would find one way or another to drag Anakin to the Dark Side and turn him into Darth Vader.
So, whether I break this path or not, it doesn't matter to his path of becoming Vader; Palpatine would find someone else to play the part of Padme.
So, whether I disturb the path or not, it may not matter.
Why am I having this question?
Well, the Queen invited my master and me to a meeting. It means I have to meet the fake queen and also the actual queen, maybe the real queen who was still posing as a maid, more than the fake one.
So, should I try my chances with her?