Carefully emerging from under Zela Diren's arm, which was hugging me, I walked over to the wardrobe where my clothes were... No, first take a shower. Zela... Standing under the cold shower, I tried to figure out what had happened... What do I feel for this woman? Any feelings? No, even if I'm not particularly talented in empathy, even I can figure out – there was simple, animal sex between us, with no obligations. It helped me relieve the tension... But I shouldn't count on a serious relationship with this woman. She thanked me, that's for sure. My appearance is too attractive, I've caught thoughtful glances many times, even Mila Karnur, who saw me only a couple of times, fell under this...
"Master," the BB-7's trill was heard when I left the captain's cabin. While we are in hyperspace and everyone is sleeping – BB-7 can control the flight. This time we left for Coruscant. We should start searching for Joyran, based on Mila's testimony. Mila immediately recalled two places where her brother might have appeared. After all, he was always foresightful... Yes, yes, a foresightful sentient being, instead of entering Alderaanian, becomes an outlaw galactic transporter. In any case, first we must complete the repair of my ship. We could have done it on Chandrila, or on Tyrann, but my ship will be best repaired by the Order, which, despite its decline, accumulates the best personnel in terms of technicians. "One of the females we picked up is sitting next to the engine and periodically emits sounds that I can identify as surprise and whistling."
"She's a mechanic, BB," I calmly replied to the droid, "there's nothing surprising about her sitting next to the engine. If you're afraid she'll break something – you can watch her."
"She threatened to take me apart," BB chirped as I sat down in the chair and checked the hyperdrive sensors. There were about two hours left until we reached Coruscant.
"Maybe then you'll start treating me with more respect, bucket of bolts," Lorm Decer's gruff voice was heard as he entered the cockpit, sipping fragrant caf, or rather finishing it. "Better take the cup and wash it."
"I'm an astromech droid, not a dishwasher, horned beast," BB beeped and drove out of the cockpit.
"What a cheeky one. Your father clearly overdid it with the loyal dog's personality manifesto," Lorm grunted irritably. "Although if you asked him, he'd carry out such an order immediately," he sat down in a nearby chair.
"You're gloomier than usual today, master..."
"Is it that noticeable?" Lorm asked me.
"I've been with you for more than a year, you've taught me a lot by talking to me. That's why I can notice it immediately. Is something bothering you?" I asked.
"It's not just you who has visions, student," Lorm replied with a sigh. "I, of course, don't have as much potential as you, but since we found Mila Karnur – my premonitions have been worsening with every hour."
"Perhaps then we should hand the Karnurs over to the Guardians for investigation?" I asked him.
"Then we'll lose even a ghostly chance, student. No, we'll deal with this ourselves, just like with your problem. Shall we talk?"
"If you're talking about that incident, then I thought..."
"The question is still open, my young student. I understand," Lorm chuckled, which made me feel an burning desire to punch him in the face with a brick, "that after Zela, you clearly don't want to talk to a tall and muscular Zabrak, but to relax a bit, considering your night."
"You heard..."
"Of course, I heard! You were radiating lust through the Force Bonds and even managed to transmit images to me, so much so that I barely restrained myself from running and making Mila a woman!"
"You restrained yourself from sex, master?" I asked in shock.
"I've done all sorts of things as a Padawan, and even restrained myself from sex. So, as you can see, the skills to think with my brain, not my penis, came in handy," Lorm replied importantly. And in such an instructive tone. "But that's not the point. You've let us down for the second time."
"Second?"
"The Crimson Kraken..."
"But you yourself..."
"What myself?" Lorm Decer asked slyly. "Understand, student, our training is excellent. You master the Force techniques quite quickly, your swordsmanship already puts you on par with an average Jedi Knight. You are an ideal student," he said with pride. "Such motivation, with such potential. And I would be proud – to go to the Council right now and say: 'My Padawan knows everything that I know, more or less. He is worthy of undergoing the Trials.' And I'm sure – by skills you'll pass, but by mind. By character... You have big problems. Mind. You are smarter, but not wiser. Do you think that if I told you something, it's the ultimate truth? What about thinking for yourself? Checking my statements..."
"But..."
"Jedi raise Padawans and Younglings with the concept of trust in their elders, and that is fundamentally wrong!" Lorm cut in harshly.
"Trust in your elders... Trust in the Council... Trust only yourself, student. And the Force, but trust the latter only by letting it flow through you. Because I have doubts about the concept of the Will of the Force."
"These are strange words, Master," I remarked, "after all, the Council insists that the Will of the Force..."
"Hutt, student!" Lorm exclaimed.
"I told you. Your mind is weak if you didn't ask me questions before leaving, or didn't double-check yourself. The galaxy is a dangerous place, you know. And it's better you learn my lesson through conversation than the galaxy's lesson."
"But, Master..."
"You still dare to protest, my foolish student," Lorm snarled.
"Fine. Experience is a much better teacher. I've said all I have to say, and you've heard it. Our mission will provide you with practice, I hope you don't pay too dearly for the practice itself."
The cockpit door opened as my master finished speaking, and a happy, smiling Zela Diren entered with BB-7 and Mila Karnur. The woman showed in every way that she was in the best mood... And I felt some irrational pride in her contented state. The Master's words... I think I need to think about them... A little later, right? The master sat in his chair, turning towards those who entered.
Mila Karnur, unlike the Togruta Zela, looked serious and calm. A focused expression was frozen on the girl's beautiful face.
"So, we didn't have much time in Tyranne, so let's talk more thoroughly," Lorm sighed.
Indeed, there we thought about leaving the system as quickly as possible, finished repairing the ship – we left, narrowly missing a passenger ship that was escorted by Justice Corps barges... Barges? Well, compared to Venators, Acclamators, and ISRs – what is now considered the "army" of the Republic – it's hard to call it a sensible starship.
"My name is Lorm Decer," the master continued.
"I am a Jedi Knight, and this is my Padawan, Light Flaingstar," he nodded in my direction, "but you've heard that already, haven't you, Mila Karnur?"
"Th-That's right," the girl nodded.
"You said you were looking for my missing brother."
"Your brother is missing," Lorm confirmed.
"Missing, after stealing an important Force artifact... In short, he is important to the Jedi..."
"I know what the Force is, Master Knight," the girl said in a quiet tone, which made Lorm's eyes widen at the address.
"I... I am... a weak Force-sensitive," as proof, she took a regular wrench from her pocket and used telekinesis. It was weak, very weak, I felt she was straining too much... As a result, her legs buckled, and she would have fallen, but I caught her and helped her into the pilot's seat.
"You shouldn't have strained yourself like that," I remarked.
"It was enough to just say it."
"I'm sorry," the girl said, looking away, breathing heavily.
"It's just that few people believe me."
"Then this simplifies things," Lorm chuckled.
"Greatly simplifies. We need your brother."
"Do you want to kill him?" the girl asked.
"After all, it's a dangerous artifact, you wouldn't just look for it for no reason! I..."
"Mila," I took her hand, looking into her eyes.
"Two bad beings are hunting for the artifact your brother stole. If anyone is going to kill your brother, it will be them. We want to take the artifact from him. That will automatically protect him."
"Really?" Mila asked, blushing slightly.
"Neither we nor those two," the master chimed in, "will have any interest in your brother once we take what we're looking for."
"Then I'll help you..."
"It's not necessary," I shook my head.
"You're risking yourself for nothing. Just point us to all the places..."
"This is about my brother!" Mila exclaimed, releasing my hand.
"And only I decide whether it's worth the risk or not. And you'll take me with you. Otherwise, I'll go look for him myself!"
And she'd run into Tyron and Shilazh. And they wouldn't be lenient. As an option – leave her at the Temple? Well, yes, of course... The Templars have nothing else to do but feed another mouth. Take her as a mechanic to the Temple Hangar? Mila is a competent mechanic, but it requires experience, a lot of it. All our mechanics are at least thirty years old, and have worked at least ten years in their positions before the Temple. In addition, there's the Service Corps, which is recruited from Younglings who haven't found a Master, or who weren't taken as Padawans for some reason. Or leave her on Coruscant? No, they'll get there too. Maybe take her to Tustra? No, stop! What Tustra? I have family there, and Shilazh and Tyron clearly won't be lenient with her.
"Master," I looked at Lorm. Judging by his expression, he was also frantically sifting through options.
"Alright," the Knight finally replied.
"So be it. I agree to take you with us. And you will help us, Mila Karnur. But keep a couple of things in mind. First – don't try to cover for your brother. If you find an important lead, report it to my student or me. Second – don't get in the way. We're not Jedi Consulars, you know, and we don't go to social events. We might be attacked, and not just once."
"I understand, thank you," Mila said shyly.
"Now we're flying to Coruscant, dropping off the useless cargo, repairing, and flying to the coordinates Mila gave us..."
"Hey... Stop! Am I the useless cargo?" Zela asked.
"And besides, I need to go to Correlia, not Coruscant!"
"I don't care, Zela," Lorm growled.
"You're still a heartless horned beast, aren't you!" Zela exclaimed angrily.
"But you've apparently forgotten what you owe me, Lorm."
"I owe you?" the master flared up.
"After what? A Hapan Battle Dragon (Author's note – a cruiser-class starship) almost atomized me during your last job with me! I almost failed the mission, and you still think I owe you?"
"But I'm the one who got you out of there," Zela said, blinking her blue eyes.
"Oh, how you got me out of there, I'm not even going to talk about it," the master roared.
"Let's go outside, I'll tell you everything I think!" he said, looking around at those present. Lorm Decer unceremoniously grabbed Zela and dragged her out of the cockpit...
"Master, that woman was speaking the truth," BB-7 beeped.
"What exactly?" Mila inquired.
"That he's a heartless horned beast," BB-7 beeped, and I just sighed heavily. When will all this end?
We found Mila Karnur, I don't deny it, but we didn't get any closer to our goal. Where is Joyran Karnur? Will the medallion work for us? If I doubt the results of the current mission, which has already turned into some kind of madness, what should I do with my "global plans" for reforming the Jedi?
"Is everything alright?" the girl asked, interrupting my thoughts.
"Completely," I nodded, looking at the brunette.
"I'm just morally tired, I guess," it's generally believed that after sex, a man is rested. And that's true... Physically, my body is rested, but morally and mentally – I have a headache... From many thoughts... Both the reprimand from my master, and the missions that are quite stressful for an archaeologist Padawan. Mercenaries, bandits, and even dark Force-sensitives.
"Then maybe we should talk?" the girl asked.
"Mom said that if you feel bad, you should talk about it."
"Talk about it? To whom?" I was distracted by the timer.
"Oh... Right, sorry. I guess I'm not close enough to you for you to tell me anything. I just think you'd feel better," Mila said, raising her hands.
"Yes, better."
"Better, you say..." I looked at the girl, and my words somehow came out before I could think them through.
"We'll be staying on Coruscant for a few days. How about we go somewhere?"
"Hmm?" Mila arched an eyebrow questioningly, and then blushed.
"Then yes... Probably. Only I don't have any clothes, nothing but this jumpsuit," she slapped the pockets of her mechanic's jumpsuit. Something metallic jingled in her pockets, presumably tools.
For some reason, I felt a growing joy in my chest... I need to figure out why...
***
Lorm Decer's Padawan was always allowed more... I felt that immediately. Instead of memorizing the Codex until my head ached, it was practice. Endless practice. Lightsaber combat, the Force, survival. Lorm seemed to be cramming knowledge into me, frantically, yet systematically. Hence his assessment: "worthy of passing the trial, purely on skills." At the same time, while Lorm gave me a lot of practice, he also gave me theory on applied archaeology, sometimes showing me artifacts he had managed to find and turn in to the Jedi archives, Lorm didn't pay attention to me in terms of developing the "right Jedi." That is, conversations about the Codex were dismissed by him after the "third conversation about the Codex" went into the unknown. The basis of his upbringing, however, was to "show how terrible a place the galaxy is."
Because of this, I, Light Flaingstar, didn't shy away from relationships at all, I slept with Zela calmly, although it was unexpected. But I had no doubts and even thought about "repeating" (Author's note – I won't show all the sex scenes in porn chapters, sometimes the MC will sleep with someone, but it will be reported post-factum). However, I never got around to doing that.
We flew to Coruscant, where Zela, remembering that Coruscant is not Correlia, said goodbye to us, secretly kissing me on the lips, and slapping Lorm across the face, under the stunned gaze of the Temple technicians and Mila Karnur, then quickly disappeared, presumably towards the spaceport, to finally get to Correlia. Lorm then ordered Mila and me to rest, and he himself left the Temple. Carefully, without haste, I led Mila to our room with Lorm, so she could take care of herself there. The girl accepted such solicitous treatment favorably and simply occupied the shower for a good hour and a half. As a true man, who needs only ten minutes to wash completely and smell good, I sincerely didn't understand what one could do in a shower for a whole hour and a half...
While Mila was in the shower, I calmly tidied up the room, wiped away the dust, and brought Lorm's luggage to his bed. The Council readily gave us a new room, much more comfortable. This time it was a huge room with four exits: the bathroom, which Mila was currently occupying, my room, which was smaller, sparsely furnished with the bare minimum. A desk stood by the window, with a computer on it, which, password-protected like any self-respecting geek's, had porn, fan service, lots of games, movies... Just kidding. Mostly it contained Jedi training materials, I didn't bother to download all that nonsense from the Archive and, little by little, continued to do what I did when I was still a Youngling. I sorted all the material into "what will be useful" and "what is completely useless." For better sorting, I had to read everything completely. In fact, I was looking for mentions of Force Techniques that I still needed to master and was compiling my own... Wine list? No, a Force Technique map. Thus, I added to it – Morichro and Force Paralysis, both created to effectively stun an enemy. I only entered Lorm's room once, and immediately ran out, because Lorm... This Lorm, who didn't give a damn about the Council, had simply plastered the wall with posters of top models...
And now he's gone, judging by the fact that he's not in the Temple, and my feeling of connection with him was pulling me somewhere outside the Temple, he clearly went to rest his body... The doorbell rang... Who could it be? Lorm would have just walked in... I opened the door and was slightly stunned... Standing before me was a green-skinned Twi'lek girl. She was dressed in tight, light-colored pants, and her top was a rather revealing blouse of the same color, with a deep neckline. Hmm... And only thanks to her smile did I recognize her.
"Rela?" I asked the girl.
"Light! Long time no see," she hugged me, beaming.
"I heard you were back, so I decided to stop by..."
"Um... Well, yes, come in, of course," I conceded, letting the girl inside and closing the door.
Rela walked into the room, spotting the sofas in the middle and sitting on one of them. I glanced towards the kitchen...
"Maybe I can make you something?" I asked.
"No, no need," Rela shook her head.
"I'm not hungry. I just decided to stop by," she gave me a strange look, "to see my classmate. We haven't seen each other in a long time. Qin told me you visited here some time ago. But I wasn't here. Neither were many of us."
"Yes," I nodded.
"With my master, I have to get used to the idea that I'll be far from civilization for a long time," I sat down opposite the girl.
"I doubt I'll be back on Coruscant anytime soon. We're leaving in two days," that's how long the technicians will be working on my ship.
"And this time we're flying to Selvaris," a swampy planet where, according to Mila, her brother has a hiding place. The main one, specifically.
"Selvaris?" the girl asked.
"I've never heard of it."
"In the West, in the Inner Rim," I explained.
"And how are things with you?"
"They're going okay," the girl yawned.
"My teacher thinks I have a talent for diplomacy. At least, I managed to negotiate with some... particularly unruly ones. Although my Teacher made me wear rather revealing clothes."
"Ah, I see," I nodded.
"Your teacher is a proponent of the idea that 'the end justifies the means.' I can even imagine how you negotiated."
"HEY! Do you even know that you shouldn't say that to a girl. Uncultured! You compared me to... To... But I've never done anything like that. It's just that my mentor thinks any element can be used in negotiations. For some preoccupied people, it's enough to see it just once..."
"Rather than hear it a hundred times," I finished the sentence for her.
At the edge of my consciousness, I felt movement... Mila Karnur? And why do I feel her movement? Wrapped only in a towel, with drops of water on her exposed skin, the girl emerged from the bathroom...
"Ah," she sighed languidly.
"Warm water – created by the Gods. How great it is to shower with a regular shower, not the one on the ship."
"L-L-Light!" Rela exclaimed, pointing at Mila.
"Who is that?!"
"A human woman... " I explained impassively.
"Or rather, a girl."
"Light!" Mila exclaimed shyly, staring at Rela.
"Who is that?!"
"A woman of the Twi'lek race, or rather – a girl," I continued impassively, though my eyes were studying Mila's exposed parts.
"Rela, meet Mila Karnur – she's helping us with our mission, with my master, and Mila Karnur – this is Rela, my classmate, we were in the same clan."
"Classmate?" Mila asked.
"In what sense is she helping?" Rela asked, scrutinizing Mila.
"In the normal sense!" Mila replied, even a little louder than necessary.
"Light saved me from slavery and now I'm helping him find my little brother!"
"Seriously?" Rela asked, looking her up and down arrogantly.
"And how can she help, Light?"
I think I made a mistake somewhere. But where? And how can I rewind?
"Calm down," I sighed heavily.
"Our mission is important, Rela, so we asked Mila for help. Something like that."
"I-I see," Rela drawled, glaring at Mila.
"Go get dressed, helper... Ow!" she was hit on the back of the head.
"In my quarters – I give the orders," Lorm Decer said in a stern voice, having just entered our room.
"You don't have to rush," he smiled benevolently at Mila, which made her wince and hurry to my room, where she had left her things.
"And what are you doing here?" he asked Rela.
"I... I," Rela pouted offendedly, holding her head. You can't use the Force on your own people, especially from behind.
"I came to visit Light... We studied together. And... Well, to tell you about our other friends."
"Visited?"
"Uh-huh..."
"Told?"
"Uh-huh... I mean, no!" she caught herself.
"In short, Light, just so you know – Maru and Vers died on missions, along with their Knights. So... And Fimor said he was about to become a Knight under his master, Qui-Gon..."
"Wait, wait, Vers and Maru died?" I asked. Just like that, people I knew...
"Well, yes. Didn't Qin tell you? Didn't you see him?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter anymore..."
I see. So she came here to calm her nerves somehow... After all, she, Versaria, and Maru were close friends. Well, and Fimor, it's not surprising, really.
"And what about Gol?" I asked.
"Our fluffy one independently decided to leave the Order. He returned to Kashyyyk, to his parents, I think," well. Our graduating class has changed drastically. Vers and Maru died. I'll have to find out why. Gol left the Order. Qin... Well, with him everything is clear, all our meetings usually end in duels, I can't even have a normal conversation with him. Well, and Fimor... He's about to become a Knight.
"Qui-Gon?" Lorm asked sarcastically, interrupting Rela.
"Dooku's protégé?"
"Master?"
"You're free to go, girl, now that you've said what you needed to say," he waved his hand towards the door, and Rela left.
"Your friend Fimor is the ideal Jedi for the Council. Obedient, smart, doesn't get into anything much. So the question of his knighting is not even up for debate. It's already decided. But at the same time, about two years ago, when your group was just broken up, Qui-Gon started training a boy named Xanatos," I shuddered, remembering Xanatos from Telos.
"He paid attention to him, even in front of his student. And it seems to be a permissible topic," Lorm sat down in front of me.
"To pay attention to a future student. But Qui-Gon overdid it with his praise and, as a result, I fear we'll get not a second Count Dooku, but another arrogant idiot."
"Really?" I asked.
"I'm afraid so. The boy is talented, almost as good as you," and he's a year younger than me, according to canon. So Fimor should be older than me, but this moment is slightly changed here...
"But mentally he's worse than you. Well. That's Qui-Gon's problem now," though it might become mine, "so it doesn't concern you. In two days, we're flying to Selvaris. I spoke with Shadow, who is busy with Shilazh and Tyron. So far, she hasn't been able to find them. So I ask you, Light, be attentive! You are strong, but what's the use if you're an idiot?"
***
A trading megacomplex on Coruscant, one of many. Its visitors bustled back and forth. The huge number of people, aliens, and even droids created a truly magnificent crowd, in which any assassin could hide so as not to be noticed. And in this crowd were we: Mila Karnur and I... The girl carried two bags of purchased clothing in her hands. I wonder when she'll have time to wear it? Considering that we'll be on the road the whole time...
"Here, let's go into a cafe," the girl said, pointing to one of the establishments. We weren't short on funds. I received a stable income from the patent for the BB droid series, and Mila's family wasn't poor, although the brother and sister, by all appearances, were competing in the game "who can spend their inheritance more foolishly."
But at the same time, it was very pleasant to spend time with the girl. It gave me a feeling of... Soulful warmth. If sex with Zela gave me physical warmth, my body was pleasantly pleased, then with Mila – I enjoyed it mentally. After having lunch in the cafe, I decided to take her to one of the panoramic views of Coruscant, where we could see this great city-planet... I wisely decided not to go to the lower levels with her, but to go higher and look at Coruscant itself – that's clearly a good thing, especially with a girl.
On the roof of the observation tower, which was not inferior in height to the Jedi Order's tower, one of the four, Mila was literally breathless. It was her first time so high up, and she admired the streams of speeders below, the burning lights of evening Coruscant, and the setting star beyond the horizon. She liked Coruscant... We descended, filled with impressions, and ordered a speeder to the Temple... When will I ever get to rest like this again? The platform was almost empty, very few sentient beings, and it still seems to me that Mila is deciding something, at least her face looked overly tense... Finally, when a speeder landed in front of us, she just took and kissed me... What?
"Thank you," Mila said shyly, blushing, which made me feel tender.
"You can't thank me like that in the Temple."
"Um," I scratched the back of my head, looking into the girl's eyes.
"And why did you decide to thank me like that?"
"I... You liked me," the girl informed me.
"And Zela... She told me a lot about how to thank a man," I'll kill that Togruta. What is she doing?!
"But I thought it was too early for that and... Well, here."
"It is indeed too early for that, Mila," I said to the girl, looking into her eyes.
"But... I'm really not inferior to Zela," why did she take my phrase as me comparing her to Zela? Female logic, damn it.
"And that's not what I meant..." I immediately stopped, looking at Mila.
"Well, I..."
"Just be quiet," Mila Karnur suddenly moved closer to me and sealed my lips with a kiss...