"What's your name, Sunshine?"
"Hadiya," she answered with suspicion gushing like a fountain—on her face and in her emotions alike.
Hadiya… Hadiya. A familiar name, but I couldn't remember where from.
"My name's Shade. Nice to meet you. May I ask what such a sweet girl is doing in a place like this?" She shrank back and looked away. "Come on—I can see you're hiding from someone."
"I… yeah. I'm hiding," she squeaked, barely audible, wrapping herself tighter in her cloak.
"There, there, calm down. Look at me. Come on—stand up." I held out a hand and took her palm. The girl hesitated, but she did get to her feet.
But just as I was about to continue and find out what the problem was, a new voice rang out.
"There she is! Get her!" A whole group of aliens burst straight into the alley.
"Oh!" Hadiya gasped, fear flooding her in an instant, but instead of running she ducked behind me. "Help!" The child's voice tore from her chest like a soul-scream, and she clung to me the way a drowning person clings to a lifesaver—with disproportionate Hope.
Only then did I notice: with one hand she was holding onto me, and with the other she'd grabbed the grip of a pistol tucked neatly behind her back. Interesting kid I'd stumbled onto… with teeth. But considering the planet, not surprising at all.
"Calm down. It's fine," I winked, patted her head, and pushed calm into her with the Force. I'd sort out the who and why later—first I had to deal with the outsiders.
"Who the hell are you?" one of the four pursuers demanded. A Twi'lek, two Zabrak, and a human stood in front of me.
"A tourist, damn it. Guys, didn't you know it's not nice to hurt kids?" I tilted my head slightly.
"I'm not a kid…" Hadiya muttered with offended indignation, and I smiled faintly.
"Buddy, you don't even know who you're messing with."
"Uh… an armed group of people?"
"I mean her!" the Twi'lek jabbed a finger at Hadiya, and she only tightened her grip on the weapon.
"Mmm." I studied those honest-honest eyes with a hidden little spark of cunning. But the resolve to stand her ground was readable even without the Force. "Here's how it's going to be. I'll deal with her myself, and I suggest you remove yourselves before you receive injuries incompatible with life."
"What?!"
"Get lost," I sighed, half-turning toward Hadiya, flicking her nose, winking, and pushing calm into her again. She's practically shaking—so much turmoil in that little soul I didn't even want to look too closely.
"Are you out of your mind?" the human frowned, leveling his pistol at me. "Get out of the way, psycho."
"Three seconds," I said, leaving the girl behind me and walking straight toward them. Strange—nothing stirred in my chest at all. It felt like a stroll.
"And what are you gonna do?"
"Three…"
"Skewer us with your sword? Ha! No—"
"Two…"
"…Funny! Get him!"
"One."
I lunged forward and drove my fist into the first one's chest, crumpling his plates like paper. With a sharp jerk, I threw the second's arm upward—his shot went into the sky, and he flew back from a kick.
I slammed the third into the wall with a Force push, forgetting to measure my strength—and ground the poor bastard into mince. I pulled the last one to me and, with my arm set to the side, struck him straight in the forehead; the Zabrak cracked the back of his head on stone too, legs flipping up as he fell. No emotions. No disgust, no joy—just irritation at the trash underfoot, and a faint sense of satisfaction.
Once I was sure the targets were neutralized, I turned to the little one—ecstatic. Truly ecstatic, like she'd seen a miracle. Standing there, smiling, blinking wide-eyed.
"All right. Let's go," I said, scooping the stunned girl up in my arms and running into the next street through back ways and nooks.
"You're a Jedaii?!" she blurted, peeking over my shoulder in amazement. Yeah—fear didn't leave a trace. The question is, who did I just find and put on my head?!
"Quiet," I hissed, setting her down right before we stepped out onto the street and pulling her hood back up. "Yes. I'm a Jedaii."
"What else can you do?"
"A lot." I stepped onto the street as if nothing had happened. "Hadiya, why weren't you scared?"
"Father often kills people who displease him," she said, like she was talking about the weather. "I'm used to it." She shrugged.
"Well, hell. And where does your father live?"
"In the clan house. It's in the next city."
"And what are you doing here?" I glanced at the little one, carefully hiding her face in her cloak from passersby.
"He brought me," she said from under the hood, with sadness and resentment. But there was something else there too. A kind of… fear and anger I couldn't place. And it definitely wasn't about her father.
"Explain."
"He made a deal with another clan. The condition is that I must marry the clan leader's son. In a year," she explained briefly, taking my hand. There was so much doom in those words I wanted to howl—because I was feeling her honest emotions as if they were my own.
That sudden mood swing dragged her into an abyss of despair—and infected me too, barriers or no barriers. Sometimes feeling others isn't the best gift.
"This one?" I pointed at the clan fortress visible behind us at the end of the street. The Shi clan house stood among the streets like the center of a web, towering over the buildings like a giant.
"Mm-hmm."
"So where are you going now?"
"Nowhere," she lied brazenly to my face. "I don't know where to go." Strange. And here—there wasn't a gram of lies. "I barely managed to escape, but I have no friends here, no acquaintances. The whole city is looking for me, and I don't even have a penny in my pocket. Where am I supposed to go?!" She looked at me with hope, resentment, and indignation all at once. Hm… verdict: she's not telling everything. All right.
"First, calm down. This isn't the end of the world—getting married isn't the same as ending up in a flint lizard's jaws."
"In whose?"
"In a monster's belly!"
"I'd prefer a monster's belly. You just don't know everything."
"I'll take your word for it. But if you think about it—where can you go? Home?"
"No." Thoughtful Hadiya shook her head as we stopped in another alley. "Dad can't help. We need to deal with Clan Shi. They… gave Father a set of ultimatum demands he simply can't refuse. Clan Shi is stronger than us. Much stronger."
"Got it. All right, wait…"
I pulled out my comlink and punched in an alphanumeric sequence. Please let him answer.
"What?" Irbis's voice came through—sharp and irritated.
"Master, I need to ask."
"What exactly?" Less harsh now.
"It's private." Silence hung for a second.
"Hold." Voices and movement sounded on his end, and a minute later he was back. "What happened?"
"Have you found out why things got so heated here?"
"Since when did you get so polite?"
"Since I stopped confusing work with personal dislike. So?" He exhaled deeply, but answered. "Sigh… yes, I found out. Two clans formed an alliance. A serious one. But… I'd call it one-sided." I glanced at Hadiya, listening closely. "If it goes through, Clan Shi gets a significant influx of influence and pushes Clan Ryo off the pedestal. The other clans aren't exactly thrilled either. But that's not all—one of the clan leader's sons' wives ran off from the clan we're visiting. Without her, the alliance will be… shaky. If it happens at all."
"Understood."
"And you—did you find something?"
At those words I felt Hadiya tense. And… it seemed like she'd already admitted defeat, eyes dropping to the ground. She didn't know what to do, and pushing against a Jedaii? That's not even funny. But judging by her emotions, if she had the chance, she'd shoot me in the head right now.
"No. Just talked to locals. End transmission."
"Sha—" I caught his call, but the comlink went dark, cutting him off.
"Huh?" Hadiya blinked at me in surprise.
"What?"
"You… you won't take me back?"
"No." I rolled the comlink in my hand, staring at the miracle and weighing what I was doing.
"But why?! They'll pay a lot for me."
"So what?"
"Uh…"
Looking into those stunned eyes, I gave a humorless grin. I think I broke her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I don't understand. Why are you helping me?"
"Because I want to."
"Someone hired you?" the little one narrowed her eyes.
"No."
"You want to pressure my clan?"
"No."
"Then why?" She pinned me with such a demanding stare, expecting a catch, that I physically couldn't resist ruining that cuteness.
"Because I like you, kid—that's why!" I flicked her nose. "Not everything in this world has rotted yet. Imagine that."
"Not… everything?" Hadiya mumbled in a dazed tone, rubbing her nose with her wrist.
"Yeah."
"And I thought… that all Jedaii are arrogant, self-satisfied beasts drunk on power."
"Khe—who told you that?!"
"Dad. And… a lot of people from Clan Ryo became Jedaii."
"Yeah… what a planet." I shook my head, giving that fourteen-year-old-looking miracle a skeptical once-over.
"So what are you going to do?"
"Let me think." I crossed my arms and tapped my fingers, studying Hadiya. I can't leave her—she'll disappear. I'd bet she's being hunted not only by "hers," but by others too, just to gain leverage on the clans. Since she ran recently, maybe word hasn't spread yet that such a piece is running around the city without guards—but when it does… I don't even want to imagine the stampede. And from there it's not far to war…
Estimating what kind of mess could boil up here, I smirked to myself. Yeah. Took a walk through the city, damn it. On the other hand, no wonder Hadiya hid in that same bar—it's closest to the clan house, and going far when everyone's looking for you… the girl herself doesn't know what to do.
But on the third hand, something doesn't add up. She grew up here. Politics, intrigue, all that. She should know what a political marriage is better than I do, and her clan is getting huge perks from contact with a stronger rival. So why did she run? She's not stupid. Definitely not—her eyes show it, even if she's little.
Damn it. So what do I do? Who do I go to? You can't go to other clans—they can pressure Hadiya's clan and also stick spokes into Clan Shi's wheels… if they don't just sell the kid out for preferences. You can't go to hers either—they're pinned hard. Master won't help either… and not just him—here and now everything depends on my decision.
I didn't even notice I'd put my hand on the little one's head and started soothingly stroking the nervous, shifting, paper-crumpling girl. Though… considering this girl can put a shot through your skull, I'm starting to worry about my mental state and this astonishing calm. Maybe it's the light side affecting me? Hm…
But something has to be done. This conflict needs to be resolved… otherwise it will only get worse. All right—if my thoughts won't go that way, we'll go from the other side. Clan Shi. What do I know about it? Nothing, except that it's trying to strengthen its position and push an opponent aside. Since this clan became the stumbling block for a peaceful settlement of local disputes, it's Clan Shi that needs dealing with. But how?
First, I should defuse the situation between them and Hadiya's clan—by the way, what's her clan called? Ah, I'll figure it out.
"Shade, do you… really want to help?"
"No, damn it—I'm going to hand you over right now."
"But won't you get in trouble for… freelance heroics?" the little one showed concern.
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Don't know."
"And you say that so calmly? That's your Order, your Clan!"
"We have very different relationships than you do, Hadiya. So don't confuse an Order with a clan."
"Oooh. And you're willing to risk yourself for me?"
"Consider it that I just want to resolve the con—" She suddenly hugged me. With all the strength she had. "—flict. And what are you doing?"
"Thank you."
"Too early to thank me. I haven't decided anything yet."
"Haven't you?" She lifted her eyes.
"Ahem. Fine—let's skip that."
"Mm-hmm." She rubbed her cheek against me happily. Then she pulled away, looked around, and reached into an inner pocket.
"What are you doing?"
"I… I didn't tell you the whole problem."
"Hm?"
"Why I ran. The head of Clan Shi—right after you leave—wants to kill my father, put me on drugs, then kill me. That way my whole clan will legally, without resistance, pass entirely to Clan Shi. That's why I ran. I have some jewelry," she showed me several ornaments pulled from her pocket, "that can be sold to buy tickets. I planned to buy a ticket and reach Father."
"And why didn't you say that immediately?" I raised a brow. Yeah… she wasn't lying, but she definitely held back. Note to self for the future.
"I… I'm afraid. I'm very afraid. On Shikaakwa it's always been hard with trust. But you… for some reason I trust you. And if you wanted to hurt me, you wouldn't have bothered with ceremony."
"And can you prove your words somehow?"
"Mmm…" Hadiya hesitated, chewing her lower lip in nerves. Like standing before a jump into an abyss. But the scale tipped in my favor, so: "Yes. Here." She pulled a comlink from another pocket. "I recorded the conversation. Want to listen?"
"Hadiya…" I sighed and shook my head. She visibly shrank into her shoulders at my displeasure. "Why are we still standing here?!"
"Huh?"
"Come on—let's go. We're about to do good and inflict justice!"
"B-b-but…" What "but"?
"But you promised that we…"
"Calm down. You just gave me an idea how to turn this in your favor. Trust me—everything will be fine." I held out my hand and smiled, carefully nudging her with the Force. "Just trust me. I'll talk to everyone myself, and this little thing can sit in my pocket for now."
"Okay."
Hand in hand, we turned and walked back toward the clan house.
"Don't be afraid." I caught her by the shoulders and hugged her. "Don't be afraid of anything. While I'm рядом, nobody will lay a finger on you. I promise."
"Th-thank you."
We walked in silence. I could feel her drilling me with her gaze.
"What?"
"Did you really decide to help?"
"I did."
"It's… hard to believe."
"Then don't believe. What's the problem?"
"I can't not believe. I always felt the people I spoke to. You… you're different." She looked me over, lingering on my lack of shoes. "Completely different."
"Is that a compliment?"
"An observation. And you're strange. Really, really strange. I can't read you. I can't understand why you're doing this. Are you insane?"
"Heh. Maybe. Just accept that there's a half-blood Tythonian Togruta who decided to help."
"Kindness and mercy are weakness."
"And who told you that? Dad?"
"Yes."
"Well congratulations—then I'm a weakling, because I have both."
"You don't look like a weakling. I saw how you killed those mercenaries. There was no mercy or pity."
"I honestly asked them to leave."
"And then you killed them."
"More like crippled them."
"People don't survive those injuries. You struck to kill."
"Fine, fine—you're right. But objectively, a Jedaii sometimes has to heal worse." I remembered training. "Brrr."
"Have you had to kill before?"
"No."
"And you're so calm?"
"Yes."
"You're so, so, so weird!"
"I'm not arguing. But if it makes it easier for you… you understand… my mother is an assassin, and I was taught like an assassin. You must not feel pity for the one you're going to kill. You must be ready to lower the raised sword. And never pity the enemy—because that's how you save a friend."
"And you talk to me about kindness?" She raised a brow, and I couldn't help laughing.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha… yes. I talk to you about kindness."
Then Hadiya's stomach growled, interrupting us.
"You want to eat?"
"Mm-hmm," she said, eyes down.
Looking around for a café, a restaurant, or at least a greasy spoon, I found something like a café with stairs down into a basement.
"Come on. Let's grab a bite."
"And is it okay that everyone's looking for me?"
"Don't care. War is war, but lunch is on schedule. Besides, I already 'found' you." I snorted. "So there won't be any problems. And if there are, they definitely won't be ours."
"You're too confident."
"Maybe. But it doesn't stop me from living. Come on, Sunshine."
I slipped an arm around the girl and lightly flicked her nose, drawing a smile.
"See? Whole different look. Smile more often—it suits you."
"I'm smiling at you. I'm not going to smile at everyone."
"Why not? To your own—joy. To strangers—spite. You know how infuriating the smile of someone you hate is?"
"I kno-o-ow," the little thing stretched her lips even wider, face full of understanding.
"There you go."
"I'll remember."
We stepped into the café and took one of the tables near the edge. I ordered a couple dishes. Hadiya kept her hood up, head lowered.
"Relax already. We're going back anyway—what's the difference if someone sees you now or later?"
She lifted her head and studied me thoughtfully, nodded at something, and took off her hood. Sadly, relaxing didn't work—but it was something.
To my surprise, while we stayed in the café, nobody even approached us. Apparently the thought that the most wanted girl in the city would be casually sitting in a café near the fortress-house she'd run from never crossed anyone's mind.
"Listen, how did it work out so perfectly that you escaped right before our arrival?" I asked, stirring sweet powder into a cup of some herbal infusion.
"I knew Clan Shi called for Jedaii support, so I prepared. Правда, I didn't manage to get far—I only made it to the bar and waited out the first noise. I'm actually surprised you arrived so late, but it's even better."
"Then why did Clan Shi call us if you'd only just run?"
"To cover themselves from others. Like—'the Jedaii were here, everyone saw, everyone confirmed it was honest and by mutual consent.' And I couldn't refuse—they'd force me. I know how to force people properly. I've seen it. I planned to run right after you landed. Because while you're here, they won't dare attack my father—because you were also supposed to hear his words. And then I was counting on warning him, passing him the recording, and exposing Clan Shi in front of the others, because it's too big an audacity even for us."
"That's a mess. Listen—are you sure you're eight?"
"Nope. I'm nine! Why?"
"Your brain works way above your age."
"Here it has to," she said, carefully lifting her chin and looking at the street visible through the window. "And besides—Dad trained me so that one day I'd take his place."
"Even that…"
I reached for my comlink, deciding to adjust the idea forming.
"What is it?" Hadiya worried.
"You just gave me something to think about."
"Hm?"
I dialed and listened to the faint hiss until Irbis's dissatisfied voice came through.
"What now?"
"Master, I have absolutely wonderful news!"
On the other end someone gave a quiet snort.
"Student…" It felt like Irbis wanted to swear, but restrained himself. He doesn't believe in my bright intentions. Doesn't believe! Yeah—understandably. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing special. And, by the way, you'll genuinely like the news. No hook."
"Well, amaze me," Irbis said, drawn out by syllables, interested.
"I'm coming back to the fortress soon—and I'll have the runaway girl with me."
"Yes, that really is great news." Did he exhale with relief? "Some people here are literally losing their minds—you have no idea how much effort it took to calm everyone down. Honestly, I still don't understand why everyone's so frantic over some girl."
"Maybe because she's a high-value piece?" I winked at the little one; she scrunched her nose and brows. Cute. Even Vess can't do it like that.
"Maybe. But I'd describe the behavior as: 'the house is on fire, bring water.' By the way—do you have any idea why?"
"Me? Why, I'm not aware at all. But I have a suspicion this story isn't as unambiguous as they told you…"
"And how do you know what they told me?" Suspicion poured into his voice so hard I felt the echo of his emotions even here. "I didn't go into details with you. Just the surface."
"I'll tell you when I'm back. Just gather them and wait for us."
"Shade, what are you planning?"
"What do you mean 'what'? To do our job, of course! We're here so a war doesn't break out, right? I assure you, there won't be any war." And to myself I added: Because there'll be slaughter.
"Uh-huh. And tell me, my dear 'student'—you wouldn't happen to know anything about the squad that got methodically smeared across a wall in one of the alleys, would you?"
"I do. There was a Force-user. And Hadiya. Anyway, everything's fine—the girl is with me now, she's no longer in danger."
"And how did you just happen to be there in time," Irbis sighed.
"Somehow."
"You yourself okay?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'll be waiting."
"Copy. End transmission." I cut the signal, smirking at the intrigued Hadiya.
"Shade?"
"What?"
"That look… I know that look very well. What do you want to do?"
"At first I thought I'd have a heart-to-heart with certain people and pin them to the wall using your kompromat, since that wouldn't be hard. But now… after what you told me, I decided to make a small adjustment."
"Hm?"
"We came here so a clan war doesn't break out. At least that's the official version. And there really won't be a war—because there won't be anyone left to fight."
"Huh?" She blinked, and I made sure again nobody was looking at us.
"Hadiya, what do you think will happen if one of the most influential clans suddenly loses, if not all, then most of its leadership?"
"There will be… chaos. And a lot of shouting. And yes… no war. In war at least there are rules."
"And if kompromat suddenly surfaces?"
"Then everyone will start eating that clan in pieces," Hadiya caught on. "I get it! Instead of a fight between clans, you want to feed everyone one single strong—and guilty—clan, and keep them busy. There won't be a big fight, the top is gone, nobody to command. They'll have to solve their own problems, and then this… This is the end of Clan Shi, Shade!"
"That's for you to judge. I don't care in the slightest."
"And if I also demand what's mine as the injured party, with Father's support… then… then everything will be completely different!" The girl was practically bouncing out of her seat, forgetting about food. "Then I… we… we can get so much!!!"
"Quiet. Calm down."
"Shade… you… you…" She stared at me with eyes full of awe, like I'd just pulled the moon from the sky. "My clan… and Father… and me… we'll all get so much!"
"I said quiet," I reined her in when people started glancing our way. A slight touch of the Force and the interest vanished. Yeah—what do you expect, a child happy about treats?
"Sorry… but you don't understand what you're going to do. What the consequences will be!"
"I don't need to. I'm satisfied that everyone will be busy, and you won't be threatened anymore. At least not directly. And if you are—we can easily stay a little longer."
"I… I promise I won't forget this," Hadiya promised seriously, eyes burning.
"Calm down or I'll tie you up, gag you, and carry you like that," I snapped.
"I can't… it's so exciting. And you… can you really do this?"
"Yes, Hadiya. I can."
After I filled the little one with hope, we finished our meal and went back outside.
I switched to asking her about her interests, trying to keep her talking. With the conversation, and a little pressure from the Force, Hadiya calmed down and could believe in me—and more than that, she started showing interest herself, hopping between topics.
I heard about torture, executions, proper protection rackets—and how many "primitive" banking schemes she listed, whew. And this miracle—on old measures fourteen by looks. What can I say? Welcome to Shikaakwa! And I was still complaining that home wasn't boring. I admit I was wrong: everywhere has its own atmosphere. At home—Force storms, toothy beasts, training on a "drop dead or die" schedule. Here—intrigue, contract killings, racketeering, and so on. Isn't it beautiful?
For a moment I wanted to snicker maliciously and shout something like, "More Cheese for the Cheese God!" Heh. Halfway there, another search group did try to pick a fight with us—but…
"Great. Now we'll take her back," the group leader stepped forward—a seasoned guy around forty, leather jacket, pistols on his hips. An axe handle stuck up behind his back.
"Excuse me, but this young talent is under my PERSONAL protection, and it will remain so until I PERSONALLY hand her over into the hands of Clan Shi's leader," I said, placing a hand on Hadiya's shoulder, pulling her back, and immediately stepping in front.
"Don't take too much on yourself, Tythonian. This isn't where you're from."
"Exactly. This isn't where I'm from—and I'm not one of you. So it's in your best interests to step aside before I treat this as a threat to my ward's life." I casually placed my second hand on the pommel of the forcesaber at my belt.
"Hrr, ptoo!" The big man spat at my feet, drilling me with his eyes. "Fine, have it your way—but we're going with you."
"As you like."
I put an arm around the girl—she'd nearly reached the edge of hysterics—and kept her close. Hadiya didn't let go of me for even a second, pressing in as tightly as she could, glancing at the guards. Why they wanted to deliver her personally was guessable. Most likely they'd been briefed on the "details" the girl was carrying, with a direct order to destroy all evidence. Of course, I could be wrong and it could be simpler—they just want to show off. Doesn't matter. While the little one is near, nobody touches her. Period.
A couple more hiccups followed. Other squads that spotted us tried their luck too, but it worked out—the members of the first squad managed to tell their companions and fellow soldiers that everything was fine and to leave it for now. I learned the reason for that laxness at the entrance to Clan Shi's fortress.
When we approached the gates, a krevaak came out to meet us—a rather rare representative of its kind. A red, chitinous anthropomorphic creature, vaguely insect-faced, but with tentacles instead of arms and legs. These types, as far as I know, have a certain penchant for stealth; they speak little, if they speak at all, try not to be seen, and generally, as they'd say in Odessa: "These are extremely suspicious dudes."
"Welcome to the House of Shi," the individual addressed me in growling sounds, in broken Togruti, with not a hint of emotion in voice or any expression on that chitin face. "I am Ashurzanarak—your point of contact for clan security. I was told you found Hadiya. I see that is so. Your effort will be rewarded, Master Jedaii." A short gesture with his right tentacle, and soldiers trailing him like shadows, holding pikes, stepped forward to take Hadiya into custody—but I blocked them.
The krevaak looked at me; in his emotions surprise flared, mixed with confusion.
"Ashurzanarak, I regret to disappoint you, but due to certain circumstances involving this girl's life, I must personally deliver her to your clan's leaders. While I was in the city, attempts were made to eliminate her more than once, so I cannot be at ease until I personally hand her over from my hands to theirs."
"This is unacceptable," the krevaak shook his head, anger slipping through his emotions. "You are obligated to hand her to me."
"I'm obligated to nobody," I said, placing a hand on the little one's head. "And until I am assured the girl is not in danger, nobody will even dare touch her." To underline my words, I pressed the atmosphere slightly with the Force.
After hesitating and staring me down, the very, very angry krevaak came to a decision.
"Fine. I will escort you. Your colleague is currently in audience anyway."
So, encouraging the little one, I took her hand and followed Ashurzanarak. Interesting: my words and determination to protect her made her, if not relax, then at least stop radiating the fear of someone awaiting death. My actions and words worked better than the Force.
As we walked through the fortress corridors, I looked around. I can't imagine how Hadiya managed to escape from here alone, but…
A quick glance at Hadiya.
Apparently the little one isn't as simple as I might have assumed. Hadiya gives me strange impressions—not because of her behavior, but because of my memory. I remember that name. I remember it mattered, that there were global events tied to it. But what those events are, or when they'll happen, I have no idea. Better to insure myself ahead of time by befriending one of the people from those events—and what that leads to, we'll see.
Besides, from what I've learned, Hadiya may be a vicious little thing ready to kill, but at the same time she preserved a sliver of kindness and faith in others. Maybe something worthwhile will grow in this snake pit. At least I can help it along.
Meanwhile, after passing the gloomy, monotonous corridors of yellow stone, we entered the clan's council chamber itself. There I was met by the clan head himself, a couple of his sons, guards, and…
"Shade!"
"Hello again, Master. Allow me to present—Hadiya." I stepped aside, presenting the little one. "A most charming creature. Sweet, kind, and very fond of 'Sweet Joy'! A delight, in a word."
Irbis only shook his head, but the others reacted strangely to my tirade. They stood smiling, like they were "happy," but hiding emotions from a specialized empath is a joke of a task. Ugh… it feels like standing next to an open sewer, honestly.
"And now, since everyone is gathered, then…" Without dragging it out, I threw forcesabers at both of the clan head's sons—they didn't even have time to open their mouths.
Not giving the guards time to react, I slammed Ashurzanarak into the wall, snapping the krevaak into a mush that burst out from under shattered chitin. In the other direction flew a simple chain lightning, striking four targets in sequence and missing the fifth—who could only have been Irbis.
Another pass of my hand—and two guards behind the clan head took small fireballs to the chest, leaving wounds like blaster impacts. After finishing the guards, I raised a hand and seized the clan head in a choking grip, lifting him off the ground.
"Shade!!!" Irbis finally snapped out of it—everything happened too fast. "What are you doing?!"
"What do you mean what? Our job!"
"Have you completely lost it?!" Irbis flew toward me, ready to fight. I even felt a light Force suggestion probing me.
"Calm down. Everything's going to plan," my steady voice and gaze managed to sober the master a little.
"What plan, Bogan?!"
"Ours, Irbis. Ours." Then, considering how that sounded, I added: "Hadiya's and mine."
A shot thundered. I saw the wheezing body in my grip stop struggling. We both looked at Hadiya.
"What? Wipe them all out. We don't need tongues."
"I told you—delight," I said, elbowing Irbis. "Hadiya, you can trust him like you trust me, so tell him everything. And I'll go occupy the soldiers rushing here." I pulled the forcesabers to me and headed for the exit. With that noise, reinforcements would be coming no matter what.
And sure enough. In the corridor, the complex's security committee was already rushing toward me. Grinning, I produced two ghostly doubles and, reinforcing my own body with the Force, surged forward. The world seemed to slow; the soldiers started firing unbearably slowly, not even understanding where I was—the real one.
Crashing into their formation and weaving among them, I delivered blow after blow, ending lives. Once I took Hadiya's side, there was no going back. And as Mother said: don't spare the enemy—save the friend. So I cleared the corridor completely. And what can ordinary people do against a Force-gifted killer?
Strike with lightning here, crush a bunch into the wall with a Force push there, take this one's head off. And it wasn't just that everything happened at speeds inaccessible to a common citizen—in case of caution I periodically split off a doppelganger to throw off any aim that might appear.
Once I had to use Tutaminis—literally catching a blaster bolt in my hand—then pinning the shooter to the wall with a forcesaber like a butterfly. The whole fight went too fast, like this was the infamous difference between a Jedaii and a mortal.
I shook blood from the blade, dispersed the doubles, and after confirming it was quiet for the moment, returned to the room. While I was gone, Hadiya brought Irbis up to speed, and he looked at us differently now. At Hadiya—with understanding. At me… well, a hard conversation is definitely ahead, but at least he doesn't want to kill me.
What happened next can be described with a single word: trash fire. Having removed ourselves from the intrigues and placed everything on Hadiya—by her own initiative, as the one who knew what to do next—Master and I watched her stir up an anthill.
No, of course we first withdrew farther away from the clan house; too many people were already gathering there. But then… Hadiya met her father, an emergency clan council took place, where Clan Shi were declared the worst goats imaginable and that it was давно time to put them in their place—and now there was such a perfect excuse. Moreover, by a happy coincidence, the clan was beheaded. There was literally nobody to defend its interests, at least right now. After some whispering, everyone unanimously decided to eat the competitor.
Hadiya's clan, as the injured party—and not a particularly strong clan compared to the others—received one of the most solid chunks, so the girl and her father walked around like cats who'd found a запас of sour cream.
As for me, a private conversation was held in which I was told about my intellect, my lack of subordination, my unbearable character, and that I'm a psycho who just walked the edge.
"Master, but wasn't the result worth it?"
"You could have warned me at least! I nearly died when you cut down the clan leadership!"
"I'm sorry, but I considered that not the kind of information that can be sent over an ordinary comlink. For obvious reasons."
After staring me down, Irbis had to admit I was right—and that the final outcome was right too. He managed to smooth over the resentment, but it still affected our relationship.
The most painful thing for him—but warming my soul—was that Irbis got dragged everywhere to councils, negotiations, and other clan gatherings as a neutral third party, confirming one deal or another. Watching it, I sat like a goblin rubbing my hands and snorting: "Heh-heh-heh, revenge is so sweet!" Serves him right for staging survival exams. My memory has never failed me—I always remember everything.
Meanwhile, I had work too. Clan Shi—or what was left of it—was very offended at us. First at Hadiya and her father, and when you have nothing left to lose, you can go insane. So I was assigned as the girl's temporary bodyguard, while Irbis ran around with her father.
Luckily for me, they didn't pull Hadiya into the big game itself, leaving her as the clan's acting head—but even that was enough. The little one bustled, ran, constantly did something, and kicked up such a ruckus in the fortress it was a pleasure to watch. Here—take over a company. There—expand staff. Here—paperwork for a fuel plant. Security staff needs checking and обновление. In short, at nine years old… though she looked fourteen, Hadiya amazed me with her knowledge and talents.
I especially liked her negotiation style. Once I witnessed her remove the former director of a small дочерняя company, then put a pistol to the successor with an offer to switch protection to terms beneficial to all. Truly beneficial—she's not a зверь, after all. Only refusal wasn't considered. By this simple method, her clan managed to bite off and digest even more than had been agreed among the clans at the council.
No, I always knew that with a kind word and a pistol you can get far more than with a kind word alone… but this lady was also happy to grab you by the balls so hard you'd want to shoot yourself. Who did I save?!
"Hadiya, don't you think that's already too much?" I asked, sitting on the steps near the "clan head's throne," watching a Zabrak vanish behind the doors.
"What's wrong?" she exclaimed in surprise, instantly shifting from wrath to mercy. Another of her traits: with me she never even raised her voice, while with subordinates she spoke like an "ice queen." Or "a complete bitch"—that happened too.
"I think he understood everything the moment you mentioned kompromat. Why you also mentioned that his family is basically under your thumb, I can't wrap my head around."
"The more reliable the insurance, the safer the rear," Hadiya replied instructively, rising from the throne-chair. "Listen, I understand everything, but don't you think a bodyguard sitting on the steps beside the throne with a bored expression isn't what guests expect to see?"
"And what do I care about them?" I turned to Hadiya; she sat down next to me. In the small hall there was no one but us. Hadiya treats personal security… oddly, and as long as I'm nearby, she sends everyone away.
"Well… the retinue adorns the king, you know?"
"You mean I'm your shame?"
"Of course not." She smiled, looking away. "It just looks a little strange." She measured me with her gaze. "And that's without even counting your clothes."
"So what? The important thing is it's comfortable. Besides, do you know how bored I am at your events?"
"Mmm?" She tilted her head.
"Unlike you, I can feel emotions very well. I'm an empath by nature. Even for a Jedaii it's rare. And I can't not feel those around me. So much lying, treachery, anger… honestly, I'm nauseated by this swamp. If it were up to me, I'd put all your business 'partners' to the knife. They piss me off."
"Even me?"
"You're… strangely, different. Yes, you're cruel, calculating, sometimes you outright tyrannize people for no reason, you don't hesitate to spill blood or pressure someone through their family… but at the same time… you have a kind of honor code. And I like that. You're a smart girl, Hadiya—and despite everything I listed, you're kind. If you have the option to do something, you just keep it as a backup. On half your servants"—I nodded toward the doors—"you'd have enough kompromat that they'd be cut up in the nearest alley. But at the same time, you spare them."
"No власть is built on tyranny alone," she shrugged, sliding closer. "If everyone hates you, your own people will cut your throat."
"Only because of that?"
"No. I just don't see the point in spilling blood for nothing. By the way, Shade—thank you."
"For what?"
"After meeting you, I reconsidered my… code. I've met Jedaii before. More than once. And I thought you were all arrogant snobs. That you drowned in your ignorance, that you looked down on everyone. I had no doubt that when you arrived, you'd do everything to find me and hand me back to the clan without even learning all the circumstances. It's easier than getting involved in interclan conflicts."
"Well… разум varies, you know. Everywhere has good people and not so good ones. And compared to Shikaakwa, you're a decent person."
"And you are too." She scooted closer. "And I'm very glad I met you." With those words, she changed position and hugged me. "Thank you. And I'm sorry. Sorry I thought so badly of you."
"Uh?…"
"I doubted you to the end. I looked for a catch. But there wasn't one. You… you're sincere, you understand? You're always real. You never pretend. You don't make faces unless it's a joke, you don't try to be sly, you speak directly, as it is. Yes, of course, you can deceive too—but it's more like disinformation than a lie. Like then, when you spoke to your master and were afraid the connection could be monitored. And even if you look strange, even if you have mood swings, even if you're the most insane creature in the world—I'm still very glad I met you."
"Well…"
I was genuinely a bit lost. Hadiya pressed against my shoulder, radiating confusion, remorse, happiness, and a sliver of uncertainty.
"Hadiya, what's wrong with you? I don't recognize you. Where's that little bitch who orders people around left and right?" I stood and pulled her up with me, lifting her face by the chin.
"She's asleep," Hadiya grumbled, burying her face in my chest. "And she doesn't want to wake up."
"Heh."
So we sat like that. I stroked her head, comforting Shikaakwa's little nightmare, while she quietly sniffed against my chest, letting go of what had накопилось and settling into a kind of peace.
***
Somewhere. Communications Center
In a darkened room lit only by a hologram, a Noghri stood. A bit tired, shoulders slightly lowered, but with a resolute gaze. Before him, in the Temple Master's chair, sat the hologram of a woman—a Sith.
"Master…" the Noghri bowed.
"May the Force be with you, Irbis," the woman nodded. "So, how are you?"
"Hard," the Noghri exhaled. "As humans say—if I had hair, it would've turned gray long ago."
"Is it that bad?"
"Worse. Much worse."
"I'm listening."
"Shade is completely uncontrollable. Destructive. Mood swings." The master looked aside, thoughtfully tapping fingers on the chair arm. "And at the start of our arrival here, he… did something… I thought he'd finally gone completely insane—though where could he go, more than he already is?"
"Hm…"
"But it turns out there is somewhere."
"What did he do?"
"Nearly started an interclan кровавая бойня. Pitied the girl. And even my comment about millions didn't move him. Sometimes I'm afraid of him."
"Mmm…"
"Master, may I ask?" The Sith nodded. "I don't understand. I simply don't understand how he finished training. How he wasn't expelled. How the instructors endured him. How he wasn't exiled to one of the moons in the end???"
"Precisely for all the reasons you just named," the Sith smiled faintly. "Tell me, Irbis. You can feel his balance is disrupted. One side or the other constantly tries to take over—like a seesaw. Correct?"
"Yes, Master," the Noghri answered quietly, not understanding where she was going.
"And have you ever thought why that happens?"
"Uh… because of… disrupted… balance?" the Noghri suggested uncertainly, watching the master's expression.
"No. It's the opposite. He has perfect balance between the dark and light side." The Sith's smile widened; she leaned forward, resting her head on her fists.
"W… what?" The Noghri started to grasp the problem. "B-but h-how does he even function?"
"That's exactly what I want to find out. Aala knows about his problem, so she shielded him from Padawan Kesh. There he would either break, or be exiled to a moon—which is the same thing. In Qigong Kesh he was under my oversight, and for good reason. When he approached the line, I buried him in training so thoroughly that he simply had no time for anything else—and he himself only welcomed it. Now the only advice I can give is: be patient, gather your will, and always be beside him. Always, Irbis. And if you keep him busy with something, it will be even better."
"Master, you should have warned me about that in advance," the Noghri protested, hands on hips.
"Irbis, it's a secret known only to four. You, me, Aala, and Uval. The others think as you did. The Council must not learn it ahead of time, do you hear me?"
"I… understood you, Master. But Master of Qigong—surely this is… too much," the Sith raised a brow. "For him? Why not enlighten Shade himself, at least?"
"To avoid an accident. Besides, it's too late to change anything." The woman jerked her head. "The Force chose a path for him, Irbis. He agreed with it, though he doesn't understand it. All that remains for us is to wait. Wait and observe."
"I understand…" the Noghri lowered his head.
"But there is something else you must know."
"I'm listening."
"Back then, Aala was in the room with us. She doesn't know it, but it was through my efforts that the Council assigned you as Shade's teacher."
"Ah…"
"Aala wanted to continue his training personally, but she cannot raise a hand against her son if he breaks." The Sith jerked her head, ignoring the Noghri's impulse. "The Council considered a candidate from Stav Kesh—Shade is a боевик. You were appointed as someone I can rely on, and someone who has Force suggestion at the proper level."
"Master… I understand you."
"I have to go, Irbis. If something goes wrong, you know what to do. I'm counting on you."
"Of course, Master."
"May the Force be with you," the Sith said, and the screen went dark.
For a while, the Noghri stood by the projector, digesting what he'd heard. Taking a deep breath in and out, the young master turned and walked toward the exit of the communications center. He didn't dare open the door—his nerves were fraying, his heart pounding. Now it was clear what was wrong with his student… but drawing air into his lungs, the Noghri opened the passage and stepped forward, as if it led not into a corridor, but at least off a cliff.