«What is your name, Sunshine?
«Hadiya," I answered with a gushing fountain of suspicion, both on my face and in my emotions.
Hadiya... Hadiya. It's a familiar name, but I don't remember where it came from.
«I'm Shade. Nice to meet you. May I ask what a pretty girl like you is doing in a place like this? - she got embarrassed and looked away. - Well, I can see you're hiding from someone.
«I am. Hiding,' squeaked out quietly, wrapping herself in her cloak.
«Come on, come on, calm down. Look at me. Come on, get up," I reached out and took her hand. Reluctantly, the girl did get to her feet.
But just as I was about to go on and find out what the problem was, I heard a new voice.
«There she is! Catch! - a group of Xenos burst into the alley.
«Ouch!" exclaimed Hadiya, momentarily filled with fear, but instead of running away, she hid behind me. - Help! - burst from her breast an overflowing cry of the child's soul, and I was clung to like a drowning man in a circle of incommensurable hope.
Only now I noticed that with one hand she was just holding on to me, and with the other hand she grasped the handle of the pistol, which was hidden neatly behind her back. Interesting little girl I found... Toothy. But considering the planet, I'm not surprised at all.
«Calm down, everything is fine, - I wink and, stroking her head, instil calmness with the Force. I'll figure out what to do later, first I have to solve the problem with the strangers.
«Who the hell are you? - one of the four pursuers asked. A Twi'lek, a pair of Zabrak, and a human stood before me.
«A fucking tourist. Didn't you guys know it's wrong to hurt children? - I tilt my head slightly.
«I'm not a child..." Hadiya inserted an indignant comment, causing me to smile slightly.
«Boy, you don't even know who you're messing with.
«Um... An armed group of individuals?
«I mean her! - The Twi'lek jabbed a finger at Hadiya, but she only gripped her weapon tighter.
«Mm-hmm," I looked thoughtfully into those honest, honest eyes with the slyness hidden in them. Except that I could see the determination to stand to the end even without using the Force. - I'll tell you what. I'll deal with her myself, and I advise you to remove yourself to avoid injuries incompatible with life.
«What?!
«Get out of here," I sighed, turning half-turned to Hadiya and flicking her on the nose, winking and reintroducing calm. She's trembling, I don't even want to look at her.
«Are you out of your mind? - The man frowned, pointing the barrel of the gun. - Get out of my way, psycho.
«I'll give you three seconds," I left the girl behind me and walked straight towards them. It's strange, but nothing moved in my soul at all, it's like I'm on a walk.
«So what are you going to do?
«Three.
«Stab us with your sword? Ha! No.
«Two.
«Ridiculous! Get him!
«One.
With a sudden leap forwards, I punch the first one in the chest with my fist, warping the plates like paper. With a jerk of my arm, I throw up the arm of the second, the shot goes skyward, and he flies backwards with a leg kick.
The third one was slammed into the wall by the Force, forgetting to measure his strength, which caused him to be ground into mincemeat. I pulled the last one to myself and hit him in the forehead with my arm, which knocked the back of his head against a rock, throwing his legs upwards as he fell. No emotion. No disgust, no joy, just irritation at the rubbish underfoot and a slight satisfaction.
Assured of guaranteed neutralisation of the targets, I turn around to the enthusiastic little one. Really delighted, as if she had seen a miracle. Standing there, smiling, eyes flapping.
«Okay, okay. Come on, let's go," I picked up the stunned girl in my arms and ran down the next street, straight through the backstreets.
«You're Je'Dayi?! - she exclaimed, looking behind me in surprise. N-yes, there was no trace of fear left. I wonder who I've found on my head.
«Hush," I whisper, setting her on the ground just before she went outside and pulling the sleeping hood over her head: - Yes, I'm Je'Dayi.
«What else can you do?
«A lot of things," I step outside and pretend as if nothing had happened. - Hadiya, why aren't you scared?
«My father often kills the unwanted. - I was informed as if it were the weather. - I'm used to it," she shrugged.
«Well, scribe. And where does your father live?
«In the clan house. It's in the next town over.
«What are you doing here? - I squint at the little one, carefully hiding her face in her cloak from passers-by.
«He drove me," I was told sadly and resentfully from under the hood. But there was something else. A certain... fear and anger that I couldn't find a reason for. And it wasn't my father.
«Explain?
«He made a deal with another clan that required me to marry the son of the clan leader. In a year's time," they briefly explained their problem to me, taking my hand. And there was so much doom in those words that I wanted to howl. Because I was experiencing her sincere emotions as if they were my own.
A new mood swing had driven this little one into an abyss of despair that I, too, had been able to infect, despite my barriers. Sometimes, feeling others isn't the best ability.
«This one?" I pointed to the clan fortress at the end of the street behind me. The house of the Shi clan stood in the middle of the streets, as if it were in the centre of a spider's web, towering over the houses like a giant.
«Mm-hmm.
«Where are you going now?
«Nowhere," I was told a blatant lie to my face. - I don't know where to go, that's weird. That's not a lie in the slightest. - I managed to escape, but I have no friends or acquaintances here. The whole town's looking for me, and I don't even have any foam in my pocket. Where am I supposed to go?! - I was looked at with hope, resentment and indignation all at the same time. Hmmm... verdict - not telling the truth. All right.
«Firstly, calm down. It's not the end of the world to get married, it's not to end up in the jaws of a flintlock.
«A what?
«In the belly of the monster!
«I prefer the belly of the monster, you just don't know everything.
«I'll take your word for it. But when you think about it, where would you go? Home?
«No," Hadiya shook her head thoughtfully, and we stopped, but in another alley. - Dad can't help. We have to deal with the Shi clan. They've... made a series of ultimatums to Dad that he simply can't refuse. The Shi clan is stronger than us. Much stronger.
«Right. Okay, hold on.
I'm pulling out my communicator and dialling a number-letter combination. I just wish he'd answer.
«What?" Irbis' voice came from the speaker, menacing and irritated.
«Master, I need to ask you something.
«What is it? - he answered less threateningly.
«The question is private. - There was silence for a second.
«Now. - There were voices and murmuring on the other side, and in a minute he was back on the line. - What happened?
«Did you find out why things got so heated around here?
«Since when did you become so polite?
«Since I don't confuse work with personal animosity. So? - he exhaled deeply, but answered.
«Eh... I found out. Two clans have made an alliance. A serious one. But... I'd call it one-sided," I looked at Hadiya, who was listening intently to the conversation, "If it goes through, the Shi clan will gain a lot of influence, pushing the Ryo clan down. The other clans aren't too happy about that either. Not only that, but the wife of one of the sons of the clan head we came to visit has run away. Without her, the alliance will be shaky. If at all.
«I see.
«Why, did you find something?
At those words, I felt Hadiya tense up. And... She seemed to have already admitted defeat, lowering her eyes to the ground. She didn't know what to do, but to try to go after Je'Daya? That's not even funny. But judging by her emotions, if she had the chance, I'd be shot right now.
«No. Just chatting with the locals. Over and out.
«She-" I hear him call out, but the communicator goes out immediately, cutting the connection.
«Huh?" Hadiya looked at me with surprised eyes.
«What?
«You... You're not taking me back?
«No, - playing with the communicator, I look at this miracle, carefully thinking over what I'm doing.
«But why?! I'll be paid a lot of money.
«So?
«Erm...
Looking into those dumbfounded eyes, I chuckle unhappily. I think I broke it.
«Why are you looking at me like that?
«I don't understand. Why are you helping me?
«I just want to.
«Did someone hire you? - the little one squinted.
«No.
«Are you trying to put pressure on my clan?
«No.
«Then why? - I was given such a demanding look, expecting a trick, that it was physically impossible for me not to break the favour.
«I like you, kid, that's what! - I flicked you in the nose. - Not everything in this world is rotten, you know.
«Not everything? - Hadiya mumbled in a dazed tone, scratching her nose with a brush.
«Yes.
«And I thought... that the Je'daii were all arrogant and smug in their power.
«Ahem... Who told you that!
«Dad. A lot of people from the Ryo clan became Jae'Daii.
«Yeah. What a planet," I shook my head, sceptical of this fourteen-year-old wonder.
«What are you going to do?
«Let me think," I crossed my arms over my chest and crossed my fingers, scrutinising Hadiya. We can't leave her, she'll be lost. I bet they're looking for her, not just 'their own' but outsiders as well, just to have a way to put pressure on the other clans. Since she escaped recently, maybe the others haven't realised that such a figure is running around the city unguarded, but when they do... I'm afraid to imagine the pandemonium that will ensue. And then it's not far from a war.
Having estimated what kind of mess could be brewing here, I chuckle to myself. Well, I've been round the city. On the other hand, it's not surprising that Hadiya hid in the same bar; it's the closest to the clan house, and it's a long way to go when everyone's looking for you... Anyway, the girl doesn't know what to do.
On the other hand, I look at her, and something doesn't fit. I mean, she grew up here. Politics, intrigue and all that. She should know better than I do what a political marriage is, and her clan gets a huge kick out of being in contact with a stronger rival. So why did she run away? She's not stupid. She's not stupid, you can see it in her eyes, even though she's small.
Shit. What do we do? Who do I go to? You can't go to foreign clans, because they'll put pressure on Hadiya's clan, and they'll put obstacles in Shea's clan's way... If they don't give up the little girl for preferential treatment. You can't turn to your own clan either, they're really pinned down. Teacher will not help either... And not only him, here and now everything depends on my decision.
I didn't notice how I put my hand on the little girl's head, and began to soothingly stroke the nervous, writhing and crumpling paper with my fingers. Although... Considering that this girl can shoot you in the head, I'm starting to worry about my mental state and remarkable calmness. Maybe it's the bright side that's affecting me? Hmm.
But something has to be done. Somehow resolve the conflict that has arisen... Otherwise, it can only get worse from here on. All right, if I can't think this way, let's go the other way round. The Shea clan. What do I know about them? Nothing, except that it's trying to strengthen its position and squeeze out its opponent. Since this clan has become a stumbling block in the peaceful settlement of local disputes, it is the clan we have to deal with. But how?
First, we should defuse the situation between them and Hadiya's clan, by the way, what's it called? Ah, I'll deal with it later.
«Shade, do you really want to help?
«Hell, no, I'm gonna turn you in.
«But won't you get in trouble for amateur sleuthing? - the little one was concerned.
«Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I don't know.
«And you're so calm about this? This is your order, your Clan!
«We have a very different relationship than you, Hadiya. So don't confuse order with clan.
«Ah. And you're willing to stick your neck out for me?
«I'm just trying to solve a con-" I was suddenly hugged. With all the strength I could muster. - ...conflict. What are you doing?
«Thank you.
«You're not thanking me yet. I haven't solved anything yet.
«You haven't? - She looked up.
«Hmm, okay, let's skip that part.
«Mm-hmm," she rubbed her face happily against my chest. And then let go, stepped back, and, looking around, reached into my inside pocket.
«What are you doing?
«I'm just... I didn't say the whole problem.
«М?
«Why did I run away. It's just that the head of the Shi clan, right after you left, wants to kill my father, put me on drugs, and then kill me. That way, my entire clan will be legally and unopposed by the Shi clan. That's why I ran away. I have some jewellery," I was shown some jewellery taken out of a pocket, "which I can sell and buy tickets. I was thinking of buying a ticket and getting to my father.
«Why didn't you say so? - I raised an eyebrow. Yes... They didn't lie to me, but what they didn't tell me last time - that's for sure. I'll have to remember that for the future.
«I'm... I'm scared. I'm really scared. Trust has always been a problem in Chicago. But you-- For some reason, I trust you. And if you wanted to hurt me, you wouldn't go through with it.
«Is there any way you can prove what you're saying?
«Mm-hm..." Hadiya hesitated, chewing on her lower lip with nervousness. It was like jumping into the abyss. But the scales were on my side, so I said, "Yes. Here," and pulled out a communicator from another pocket. - I recorded the conversation. Do you want to hear it?
«Hadiya... - I sigh, and shake my head. The girl pulled her neck into her shoulders at my indignation. - Why are we still standing here?!
«А?
«Come on, let's go. Now we'll do good and do justice!
«But...
«But what?
«But you promised we'd--
«Calm down, you've given me an idea how to turn this around in your favour. Trust me, it'll be fine," I hold out my hand and smile, using the Force carefully but gently. - Just trust me. I'll talk to everyone myself, and I'll keep this little thing in my pocket.
«All right.
Taking my hand, we turned and walked back toward the clan house.
«Don't be afraid," I put my arm around her shoulders. - Don't be afraid of anything, as long as I'm around, no one will lay a finger on you. I promise.
«Thank you.
We walk, silent, I feel a glare on my face.
«What?
«Are you really gonna help me?
«I am.
«I find that hard to believe.
«So don't believe it, what's the big deal?
«I can't not believe it. I've always felt the people I talk to. You... You're different. - I've been stared at, especially by the lack of shoes. - Totally different.
«Is that a compliment?
«It's a statement of fact. You're also weird. Really, really weird. I can't figure you out. I can't understand why you're doing this. Are you insane?
«Heh, maybe. Just accept that there's a half-breed togrut who just decided to help.
«Kindness and mercy are weakness.
«And who told you that? Dad?
«Yeah.
«Well, congratulations, then I'm weak because I have both.
«You don't look weak. I saw you kill those mercenaries. There was no mercy, no pity.
«I honestly asked them to leave.
«And then you killed them.
«More like maimed them.
«You don't live with that kind of trauma. You must have hit them.
«Okay, okay, you're right. But if you look at it objectively, J'Daii has to treat a lot more than that," I thought back to my training. - Brrrrr.
«Have you ever killed before?
«No.
«And you're so calm?
«Yeah.
«You're really, really weird!
«I'm not arguing with you. But if it makes you feel any better. You see, my mum's a killer, and I was trained to be a killer. You don't have to feel sorry for the people you're going to kill. You must be ready to put down the sword. And never pity an enemy, because that's how you save a friend.
«You're talking to me about kindness? - She raised an eyebrow, which made me laugh.
«Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha... yes, I am telling you about kindness.
Our conversation was interrupted by Hadiya's rumbling tummy.
«Are you hungry?
«Mm-hmm," she lowered her eyes.
I looked around for a café or restaurant, or at least an eatery, and found something that looked like a café with a walk down to the basement.
«Come on, let's get something to eat.
«Is it okay that everyone's looking for me?
«I don't care. War is war, but lunch is on a schedule. And besides, I've already found you," I snicker. - So there won't be any problems. And if there are, it won't be with us.
«You're overconfident.
«Maybe I am. But it doesn't stop me from living! Come on, sunshine.
I put my arm around the girl and lightly flick her nose, causing her to smile.
«Well, that's a different look. Smile more often, it suits you.
«I'm smiling at you. I'm not going to smile at everyone, am I?
«Why not? It's good for your own people, bad for other people's. Do you know how annoying it is when someone you hate smiles at you?
«I know," the little thing stretched its lips even more in an understanding face.
«There you go.
«I'll remember.
Stopping by the diner and sitting down at one of the end tables, I placed an order for a couple of dishes. Hadiya was still sitting with her hood up and her head down.
«Relax, we're going back anyway, what good is it if they see you now or later?
She lifted her head and gave me a thoughtful look, then nodded and pulled back her hood. Alas, I couldn't relax, but it was something.
To my surprise, no one even approached us while we were in the café. Apparently, no one could think that the most wanted girl in the city would be sitting in a café, not far from the clan's fortress house, from which she had escaped.
«Listen, how did it happen that you escaped just before our arrival? - I wondered, stirring the sweet powder in a glass of some herbal infusion.
«I knew that the Shi clan had called in the Je'Daiyes, so I prepared myself. I didn't get far, though; I could only run to the bar and sit through the first commotion. I'm surprised you got here so late, but it's for the best.
«So why did the Shea clan call us if you just escaped?
«To protect ourselves from the others. Allegedly, the Je'daii were there, saw everything, confirmed that everything was fair and consensual. And I couldn't disagree, they would have forced me to. I know... the proper way to coerce. I've seen it. And my original plan was to run away as soon as you got here. They wouldn't dare attack my father while you were here, because you must have heard what he said. And then, I was planning to warn him, transmit the recording, and expose the Shi clan to others, because that's too much arrogance even for us.
«How messed up is that? Hey, are you sure you're eight?
«Nope. I'm nine! Why?
«Your head's in the wrong place for your age.
«And there's no other way," she lifted her head carefully and looked at the street outside the window. - And anyway, my father trained me so that in the future I would take his place.
«Even so...
At that, I reached for the communicator, deciding to tweak the idea that had arisen.
«What's wrong? - Hadiya was worried.
«You just gave me food for thought.
«М?
Dialing a number on the communicator, I listen to the quiet hissing as Irbis's disgruntled voice rang out on the other side:
«What else?
«Master, I have some simply delightful news!
There is a quiet quack on the other side for some reason.
«Apprentice... - for some reason I thought Irbis wanted to swear, but held back. He doesn't believe in my good intentions. He doesn't! Well, not without reason. - What are you up to?
«Nothing much. And by the way, you're really going to like the news. It's unrelated.
«Well, oo-dee-wee," Irbis said in syllables, with interest.
«'I'm coming to the fortress soon, and with me the girl who ran away.
«Yes, that's really great news," I thought, or did he exhale with relief? - Some of the people here are going crazy, and you don't know how hard it was for me to calm them down. I still don't understand why everyone's so worked up over some girl.
«Maybe it's because she's tall. - I wink at the little one, and she frowns her nose and eyebrows at me. M-cute. Even Wes can't do that.
«Maybe, but I'd describe that behaviour as: "the house is on fire, get the water." By the way, do you know why?
«Me?! No, I don't. I don't know. But I have my suspicions that the story is not as straightforward as you've been told.
«How do you know what I've been told? - There was so much suspicion in his voice that even here I felt an echo of emotion. - I didn't tell you the details. It was superficial.
«I'll tell you when I get back. Just round them up and wait for us.
«Shade, what are you up to?
«What do you mean, what? To do our job, of course! We're here so there won't be a war? "I assure you, there will be no war," I add to myself: - "Because there will be meat."
«Well, well, well. And tell me, my dear "pupil", do you know anything about the detachment that was systematically smeared on the wall in one of the alleys?
«I know. There was a Force wielder. And Hadiya. Anyway, it's okay, I got the girl, she's no longer a threat.
«And how did you get there in such good time," Irbis sighed.
«Somehow.
«Are you all right?
«Yeah.
«Good. Waiting for you.
«Roger that. Over and out," and I dropped the signal, grinning at a concerned Hadiya.
«Shade?
«What?
«I know that look very well. What do you want to do?
«At first I thought I'd have a heart-to-heart with some people and nail them to the wall with your dirt, which shouldn't be too hard to do. But now... after what you've told me, I've decided to make a small adjustment.
«М?
«We came here to prevent a clan war. At least that's the official story. And there really won't be a war, because there won't be anyone to fight.
«Huh?" she waved her eyes, and I made sure no one was looking at us.
«Hadiya, what do you think would happen if one of the most powerful clans suddenly lost most, if not all, of its leadership?
«It would be chaos. And a lot of bickering. And yes - there will be no war, at least in war there are rules.
«And if the dirt comes out?
«Then everyone will eat this clan piece by piece, - it came to Hadiya. - Instead of a fight between clans, you want to feed one strong and guilty clan to everyone and take them over. There's no big fight, there's no top brass, there's no one in charge. We have to solve our own problems, and then there's this... It's the end of the clan, Shade!
«You know better, I don't give a damn.
«And if I claim what's mine, as the injured party, with my father's support... Then... Then things will be very different! - the girl almost jumped up and down from the table, forgetting to eat. - I... We can do so much!!!
«Calm down, calm down.
«Shade... You... You... You're... - they looked at me with such admiring eyes, as if I had just taken the moon out of the sky. - My clan... And my father... And me... We're all going to get so much!
«Quiet, I'm telling you," I cut her off when they started to squint at us, but a slight Force effect and the interest disappeared. Yeah, well, what do you take from a kid who's happy to eat goodies?
«I'm sorry... But you have no idea what you're about to do. The consequences!
«I don't have to. I'm fine with the fact that everyone will be busy and you'll be safe. At least not directly. And even if it is, it's no problem for us to stay a little longer.
«I... I promise I won't forget it," Hadiya promised seriously, her eyes burning.
«Calm down, or I'll tie you up, gag you, and carry you like this," I said.
«I can't. It's so exciting. And you-- Can you really do this?
«Yes, Hadiya, I can.
So, giving the little one hope, we finished our snack and went back outside.
Changing the subject to asking the girl about her interests, I tried to keep her quiet. Over the conversation, with a little pressure from the Force, Hadiya more or less calmed down and was able to believe in me and, even more, began to show interest herself, going over different topics.
I heard about torture, and about executions, and about proper roofing, and how many variants of "primitive" bank frauds she tried, ugh! And this miracle...vishchu looks, by old standards, fourteen years old. What can I say? Welcome to Chicago! And I was complaining that I wasn't bored at home. I'll admit I was wrong. Every place has its own atmosphere, so to speak. Back home, it's Force storms, catfighters, dead-or-dead training. Here, intrigue, contract killings, racketeering and so on are the order of the day. Isn't it beautiful?
For a moment, I wanted to chuckle and shout something like: "More Cheese, God Cheese!". Heh. Halfway through the journey, another search party got to us, but all that would have been fine, but....
«All right, now we'll take her back, - the group commander - an old man of forty years old, in a leather jacket and pistols on his hips - came forward. An axe handle was visible behind his back.
«I'm sorry, but this young talent is under my PERSONAL protection, and so it will be until I PERSONALLY hand her over to the head of the Shi clan," he said, putting a hand on Hadiya's shoulder, pulling her back and immediately blocking her.
«Don't take too much on yourself, Tythonian. This isn't the place.
«Exactly. It's not there, and I'm not one of yours. So it's in your best interest to get out of my way before I consider this a threat to my client's life," I said as I placed my other hand unobtrusively on the hilt of the sword on my belt.
«Hr, ugh! - The big man spat under his feet, glaring at me. - Have it your way, but we're still coming with you.
«As you wish.
Having hugged the girl, who had reached the brink of hysteria, I lead her beside me. Hadiya didn't let go of me for a second, snuggling as tightly as she could, glancing at the guards. Why they were anxious to deliver her personally, I could guess. Most likely they'd just been privy to the 'details' the girl was carrying and there was a direct order to destroy all evidence. Of course, I could be wrong, and everything could be much more prosaic, the guys just want to serve, but I do not care. As long as the little one's around, she's safe, full stop.
A couple more troubles arose afterwards, other squads noticed us and also tried their luck, but everything went well, the members of the first squad were able to convey to their companions and colleagues that everything is fine and let it stay as it is. I learnt the reason for this relaxation when entering the Shi clan's fortress.
As we approached the entrance, a Krevaak came out to meet us. A rather rare member of its species. A red chitinous anthropomorphic creature that looks remotely like an insect, but has tentacles instead of arms and legs. These types are also, as far as I know, notable for their secretive nature, which means they don't talk much, if at all, try to stay out of sight, and in general, as they would say in Odessa, "They are extremely suspicious.
«Welcome to the House of Shea," the individual addressed me in crooked Togrutian with a growling sound, without a shadow of emotion in his voice or any facial expression on his chitinous face. - I am Ashurzanarak, your Clan security representative. I was told you found Hadiya. I see that you have. Your diligence will be rewarded, Master Je'Dayi," he gestured with his right tentacle, and the shadowy soldiers with pikes following him stepped forward to take Hadiya into custody, but I blocked the way. The small one herself was still nervous despite my best efforts, but determination and faith in me did the trick.
Krevaak looked at me, and surprise mixed with incomprehension flashed in his emotions.
«Ashurzanarak, I must disappoint you, but due to some circumstances surrounding this girl's life, I must personally deliver her to the leaders of your clan. While I have been in the city, there have been numerous attempts to eliminate her, so I cannot rest easy until I have personally handed her over, so to speak.
«That is unacceptable," Krevaak shook his head, anger slipping into his emotions. - You owe it to me.
«I don't owe anyone or anything," I put my hand on the small one's head. - And until I am satisfied that the girl is safe, no one will dare to touch her," and, to confirm my words, I pressed the atmosphere a little with the Force.
After a bit of writhing and glaring at me, the very, very angry Krevaak came to a definite decision.
«All right. I'll accompany you. Your colleague is just at the reception anyway.
So, cheering up the little one, I take her by the hand and lead her after Ashurzanarak. Interestingly, from my words and determination to cover the girl that began to, well, if not relax, then at least stopped phonating with the fear of a suicide bomber. Still, my actions and words had the desired effect, much more than the Force.
As we walked along the corridors of the fortress, I looked around. I couldn't imagine how Hadiya had managed to escape on her own, but....
I cast a quick glance at Hadiya.
Apparently she's not as simple as I thought. Hadiya gives me strange impressions in general, not even because of her behaviour, but because of my memory. I remember the name. I remember that it was important, that there were some global events associated with it. But I have no idea what those events are, nor when they will be. And it will be better to be reinsured in advance, having made friends with one of the characters of those events, and what it will lead to - we'll see.
Moreover, as I was able to find out, though Hadiya is a bitch, ready to kill, but at the same time, she has retained a bit of kindness and faith in his neighbour. And something worthy will grow up in this shithole. At least, I can contribute to it.
In the meantime, after passing the gloomy and monotonous corridors of yellow stone, we entered the clan meeting hall. Here I was met directly by the clan head, a couple of his sons, guards, and...
«Shade!
«Hello again, Master. Let me introduce you to Hadiya," I took a step to the side, introducing the little one. - A most charming creature. Sweet, kind, and she loves Sweet Joy. Adorable, in a word.
Irbis only shook his head, but the others reacted strangely to my rant. Standing there, smiling, sort of "rejoicing", but at the same time hiding emotions from the profile empath - such a task. Eh... It's like standing next to an open sewer, honestly.
«And now, now that everyone's here, then..." I threw my swords at the two sons of the head of the Shi clan before they could even open their mouths.
Without giving the guards a second thought, I slammed Ashurzanarak into the wall, breaking the krevaak into the mush that spurted from beneath the broken chitin. A simple chain lightning bolt flew in the other direction, hitting four targets in a row without touching the fifth, which could have been Irbis.
Another pass of his hand, and small fireballs flew into a pair of guards behind the head of the Shi clan, leaving a mark in his chest, as if from a plasma hit. Finished with the guards, I raise my hand and take the clan head himself in a choke hold, lifting him off the ground.
«Shade!!! - Irbis finally came to his senses, so fast had all these events happened. - What are you doing?!
«What do you mean what? Our job!
«Are you out of your mind?! - Irbis came flying towards me. Irbis, ready to fight. And I even had time to feel the slight compulsion with which he probed me.
«Calm down, everything is going according to plan, - my calm voice and look managed to sober up the master a little.
«What plan, Bogan?!
«Ours, Irbis. Ours," I add, after I've worked out what it sounds like: - with Hadiya.
A gunshot rang out, and I saw the wheezing body in my grip stop struggling. We looked at Hadiya in sync.
«What? All of them, we don't need tongues.
«I'm telling you, it's beautiful. - When I let go of the body, I elbow Irbis. - Hadiya, you can trust him as much as me, so tell him everything. I'm going to keep the fighters busy," I draw my swords and head for the exit. With all this noise, reinforcements are bound to come rushing in.
And they are. In the corridor, the complex's security committee was flying towards me. I smirked, spawning two ghostly doppelgangers and reinforcing my own body with the Force. The world seemed to slow down, and the soldiers began to shoot incredibly slowly, not even realising where I was.
Flying into the formation and manoeuvring between them, I strike blow after blow, cutting off lives. Once I've taken Hadiya's side, there's no turning back. And as my mother used to say, "spare not an enemy, save a friend." So I've cleared the corridor completely. And what can ordinary people do against a power-gifted assassin?
A lightning bolt here, a bunch of people crushed into the wall with a throw, this one's head cut off. And not only that everything was happening at speeds inaccessible to ordinary people, for the sake of reassurance I periodically separated the doppelganger from me to drop the aiming scope, if there is such a thing.
Once I had to use the Tutaminis technique, literally catching a laser shot with my hand and then nailing the shooter to the wall with my sword as well as a butterfly. The whole fight went by too fast, which was the difference between Je'Daii and a mere mortal.
After shaking the blood off my sword, dispelling the doppelgangers, and making sure everything was quiet for now, I returned to my room. During my absence, Hadiya had brought Irbis up to speed, and he was looking at us with a different eye. At Hadiya with understanding, at me... Well, we'll have a hard conversation ahead, but at least he doesn't want to kill us.
But what happened next can be characterised by one word: Thrash. Having removed ourselves from the intrigue and put everything on Hadiya as the one who knows what to do next, again on her own initiative, the Teacher and I watched her stirring up the anthill.
No, of course, we first got away from the clan house, because there were already too many people there, but then... Hadiya met with her father, there was an unscheduled clan council, where the Shi clan was made to look like the last goats and it was high time to lay siege to them, and here was such a perfect occasion. Moreover, by a fortunate coincidence, the clan was beheaded. There is no one to defend its interests physically, right now at least, and after a bit of gossiping, the people unanimously decided to eat the competitor.
Hadiya's clan, as the injured party and, in principle, not a particularly strong clan against the background of the others, was given one of the most solid pieces, because of which both the girl and her father walked like cats that had received a year's supply of sour cream.
I had a private conversation with her, in which I was told about my mental abilities, lack of subordination, my unbearable character and that I was a psycho who had just walked on the edge.- Master, but wasn't the result worth it?
«You could have at least warned me! I almost lost my breath when you slaughtered the top clan members!
«I'm sorry, but I didn't think it was the kind of information that could be transmitted through a normal communicator. Just to be on the safe side, so to speak.
Irbis glared at me and was forced to admit he was right. And the bottom line. So he managed to keep the offence quiet, but it still didn't affect our relationship very much. And the most offensive thing for him, but at the same time warming my soul, was the fact that Irbis was dragged all over the councils, meetings and other clan gatherings as a neutral or third person who confirmed the conclusion of this or that deal. And looking at that, I sat there like that goblin, rubbing my hands together and snorting, "Heh-heh-heh, revenge is so sweet!" But I should not have organised a survival test, I never complained about my memory, I always remember everything.
Meanwhile, there was something for me to do. The Shi clan, or rather what was left of it, was very upset with us. Hadiya and her father in the first place, and when you have nothing to lose, you can go crazy. So I was put as the girl's temporary bodyguard while Irbis ran around with her father.
Luckily for me, Hadiya herself wasn't involved in the big game, leaving her as viceroy of the clan, but that was enough for me. The little one was fussing, running around, always doing something and making such a ruckus in the fortress that it was a sight to behold. There the company was squeezed out, here the staff was replenished, there the papers for the fuel plant were to be drawn up, the staff of the Security Service had to be checked and updated. In general, in her nine years - although it looked like fourteen - Hadiya was able to impress me with her knowledge and talents.
I especially liked her way of negotiating. I'd once witnessed her eliminate a former director of a small subsidiary company and put a gun to his head, offering to change the roof on favourable terms. Really favourable, she is not a beast after all, the other thing is that the refusal was not taken into account. In this uncomplicated way, her clan was able to bite off and digest even more than was agreed upon between the clans at the meeting.
No, I always knew that with a kind word and a gun you can achieve much more than just a kind word... But this lady was not averse to grabbing me by the balls, so much so that you would want to shoot yourself. Who did I save?!
«Hadiya, don't you think that's a bit much? - I'm sitting on the steps next to the "throne of the clan head", looking after the Zabrak who disappeared out the door.
«What's wrong? - She exclaimed in surprise, instantly changing from anger to mercy. That's another trait of hers, she didn't even raise her voice at me, while she speaks to her subordinates in the spirit of "ice queen". Or "total bitch," I've heard that one before.
«I think he figured it out when you mentioned the dirt. I don't know why you brought up the fact that his family is basically under your thumb.
«The safer the insurance, the safer the back," Hadiya said, getting up from the throne chair. - Look, I understand, but I think a bodyguard sitting on the steps near the throne with a bored look on his face is not what the guests expect to see?
«What do I care about them? - I turn to Hadiya, and she sits down beside me. There was no one else in the small hall but us. Hadiya has a peculiar attitude to personal safety and sends everyone away as long as I'm around.
«So... The retinue colours the king, you know?
«Are you saying I'm a disgrace to you?
«No, not at all," she smiled, averting her gaze. - It's just, it's a little weird," I was glared at. - And that's not taking your clothes into account.
«So what? It's comfortable. Do you know how bored I get at your events?
«Hmm? - she tilted her head.
«Unlike you, I'm very good at sensing the emotions of those I'm around. I'm an empath. It's my nature. Even for a Je'daii, it's rare. And I can't help but feel those around me. So much lies, deceit, anger... I must admit, I'm sick of this swamp, and if it were up to me, I'd put all your business associates under the knife. They're annoying.
«Even me?
«You, oddly enough, are different. Yes, you are cruel, calculating, sometimes openly tyrannical, not shy to let blood or put pressure on someone through his family ... But at the same time - you have a certain code of honour. And I like that. You're a smart girl, Hadiya, and despite all that, you're kind. When you have a chance to do something, you just leave it as a fallback. You've got so much dirt on half your servants," I nodded at the door, "that they'd be slaughtered in the nearest back alley. But at the same time, you are sparing.
«No power is built on tyranny alone," she shrugged, moving closer. - If everyone hates you, they'll slaughter you.
«Just because of that?
«No. I just don't see the point in shedding blood for nothing. Thanks, Shade, by the way.- For what?
«After meeting you, I've been rethinking my code. Actually, I've had experience with the J'Dayas before. More than one. And I thought you were all arrogant snobs. That you were wallowing in your ignorance, that you looked down on everyone. I had no doubt that when you arrived, you would try your best to find me and hand me back to the clan, without even investigating the circumstances. It's a lot easier than getting involved in inter-clan squabbles.
«Well... There's no such thing as reasonable, you know? There's good personalities and bad personalities everywhere. You're a decent enough person for Chickagoo.
«And so are you," she sat closer. - And I'm very glad I met you," she said, shifting her position and hugging me. - Thank you. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I thought so badly of you.
«Э?
«I doubted you until the last moment. I was looking for a catch. But there wasn't. You're-- You're genuine, you know? You're always real. You never pretend. You don't grimace unless it's a joke, you don't try to be sly, you just tell it like it is. Yeah, sure, you can lie too, but it's more like misinformation than lying. Like when you were talking to your teacher, when you were afraid the connection might be tapped. And even if you look strange, even if you have mood swings, even if you're the craziest creature in the world, I'm still very glad I met you.
«Well...
I was even somewhat confused. Hadiya pressed against my shoulder and phoned with confusion, remorse, happiness, and a dash of uncertainty.
«Hadiya, what are you doing? I don't recognise you, where's that bitch who's building people up left and right? - I stand up and pull her behind me, lifting her face to me by the chin.
«She's asleep," Hadiya mumbled, burying her face in my chest. - 'And she doesn't want to wake up.
«Heh.
We sat like that. I was stroking her head, comforting Chikaga's little nightmare, and she was sniffling softly against my chest, letting go of the pressure and coming to some sort of peace.
***
Somewhere. Communications Centre
Nogri stood in the darkened room, illuminated only by the hologram. A little tired, with his shoulders slumped, but a determined look nonetheless. And in front of him, in the Temple Master's chair, sat a hologram of a Sith woman.
«Master...," Nogri bowed.
«May the Force be with you, Irbis," the woman nodded. - How are you?
«It's hard," Nogri exhaled. - As people say, if I had hair, I'd have turned grey a long time ago.
«Is it that bad?
«Worse. It's a lot worse.
«I'm listening.
«Shade is completely out of control. Destructive. He has mood swings," the Master looked away from me and ran her fingers over the arm of the chair. - And at the beginning of our arrival here, he did this... I thought he'd gone completely insane, though how much more so?
«Hmm.
«But as it turns out, he has.
«What did he do?
«Almost started an inter-clan massacre. I felt sorry for the girl. And my remark about the millions didn't even touch him. I'm sometimes wary of him.
«Mm-hmm.
«Master, may I ask you a question? - Sith nodded. - I don't understand. I just don't understand how he finished his studies? How did he not get expelled? How did his teachers put up with him? How he wasn't eventually exiled to one of the moons in the first place????
«Exactly for all of the reasons you mentioned above," the Sith smiled with the edges of her lips. - Tell me, Irbis. You feel the balance is off. One side or the other is always tearing upwards, like a seesaw. Isn't that right?
«Yes, Master," the noghri answered quietly, not understanding where the teacher was going.
«Have you ever wondered why that happens?
«Um... because of... disturbance of... balance? - Nogri suggested uncertainly, looking at the expression on Master's face.
«No. It's quite the opposite. He has a perfect balance between his dark and light sides," Sith's smile grew wider, and the woman leaned forward and propped her head up with her fists.
«Huh... Huh? - Nogri began to understand the essence of the problem. - N-n-but how is he even thinking?
«That's what I'm trying to find out. Aala knows about his problem, that's why she's kept him away from Padawan Kesh. He'd either break down or be exiled to the moon, which is the same thing. In Qigong Kesh, he was in my care, and for good reason. When he came up to the line, I kept him so busy with his training that he had no time for anything but them, and he was all for it. Now, the only thing I can advise is to be patient, gather your will, and always be there for him. Always, Irbis. And if you can keep him busy, that would be good.
«Master, such things should be warned in advance," the noghri said, his hands at his sides.
«Irbis, this is a secret to which only four are privy. You, me, Aala and Uval. The others believe as you did. The Council must not find out about this before it happens, do you hear me?
«I... Understood, Master. But Master Qikuna, isn't this... Isn't this... Too," Sith raised an eyebrow, "to him? Why not at least initiate Shade himself?
«To avoid an accident. Besides, it's too late to change anything," the woman jerked her head. - The Force has chosen the path for him, Irbis, and he has accepted it, though he doesn't realise it himself. All we can do is wait. Wait and watch.
«I understand..." Nogri lowered his head.
«But there is something else you must know.
«I'm listening.
«Back in the room, Aala was with us. She doesn't know, but it was through my efforts that the council appointed you as Shade's teacher.
«А....
«Aala wanted to continue his training herself, but she can't raise her hand against her son if he snapped," Sith jerked her head, ignoring the noghri's impulse. - The Council itself was considering a candidate from Stav Kesh, because Shade was a fighter. You've been appointed as someone I can rely on, and someone who has a good grasp of Force Imprinting.
«Master, I hear you.
«I must run, Irbis. If anything goes wrong, you know what to do. I'm counting on you.
«Of course, Master.
«May the Force be with you," the Sith said goodbye, and the screen went out.
Nogri stood near the projector for a while longer, digesting what he had heard. Taking a deep breath, the young master turned around and walked towards the exit of the communication centre. He hesitated to open the door, nerves fraying, heart pounding. It was clear now what was wrong with his apprentice... Finally, gathering air into his chest, the nogri opened the passage and stepped forward as if it led not into a corridor, but at least into a cliff.
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