A melodic chime pulled me back into the waking world. Struggling to open my eyes and not yet fully conscious, I sat up and sank into meditation. The Force surged through my body, bringing with it the freshness and vigor of a new day, or perhaps not a day; the only evidence that time was still moving was a small clock display at the edge of the monitor.
My gaze drifted across the room until it caught on the bracer lying at the far edge of the desk. I needed to finish what I started yesterday. The Regulations weren't going to read themselves, and it wouldn't hurt to map out my itinerary for today. Given the station's size, getting lost was a distinct possibility.
Tapping the sensor panel, I began to study the layout in more detail. The scale of the station was staggering once again. It likely occupied the area of a small city, and its height could rival the tallest skyscrapers of my old world.
Well, I'll save the awe for later, I thought. I had two days and needed to use them with maximum benefit. Now, there was an archive around here somewhere... found it. A relatively small room on our floor. Perfect. And where was my personal meditation chamber? Hmm, interesting, the facilities for personal training and meditation were located between floors in a specialized "pocket," specifically in the most remote part of the station.
Even with my capabilities, the commute alone could take a couple of hours if I wanted to visit every necessary location. And if I started running haphazardly from one room to another... it was frightening to think how much time would be wasted. Wait, why should I do this myself?
"X, do you copy?"
"Listening, Fifth Son."
"Plot an optimal route between the marked zones."
"Acknowledged. Route plotted."
Splendid. One less headache. Now, for the Regulations...
Twenty minutes later, I collapsed back onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The list of rules consisted of no fewer than five hundred points: what was recommended, what was forbidden, what was permitted. A list of punishments for violations, and something else I simply hadn't finished reading. It was all written in such dry prose that my head felt like it was filling with cotton, and sleep beckoned.
How did Kamma manage to get through this on the first day? It's not like we had an abundance of free time.
My reflections were interrupted by a growl from my stomach. It was time to fuel up; I doubted I'd get another chance for a proper meal today. Whistling a catchy tune I'd once heard in the brothel, I set off in search of food. To my immense relief, the local galley truly did issue field rations twenty-four hours a day.
Aside from me, there were a few guys in the hall talking in hushed tones. Preoccupied with my food, I didn't immediately notice the Force becoming increasingly restless. Every second, irritation radiated from them more clearly, and their conversation quickly escalated into a heated row.
"...I'm telling you, join us, you idiot!"
"I don't want to! And what are you going to do about it? I'm stronger than anyone in your group. What can you village children possibly do against a former member of the Temple? I'll toss you all aside and barely break a sweat."
"Why, I'll—!"
Before he could finish, one of the loudmouths was sent flying several meters, scattering tables and chairs in his wake. Considering the matter settled, the former youngling turned and headed for the exit. A mistake. A plate went sailing at his head. The boy managed to flinch, but a thin trickle of blood made it clear the projectile had grazed him.
A slight ripple in the Force made me turn around. Several priestesses in red robes stood in the doorway, heads tilted, watching the fight but making no move to stop it.
But they weren't alone. Tucked away in the shadow of a bulkhead was a small female figure, intently observing the scene. A blue-skinned Twi'lek was watching the brawl without blinking, rapidly scribbling something on a datapad.
If not for a chance glance, I likely wouldn't have noticed her. Even through the Force, her presence felt faint. Interesting, very interesting, I noted. I'd have to think about that later.
Best not to linger. If I had the time, I'd stay to see how it ended, not for the brawl itself (watching such primitive scraps was boring and uninformative), but to see when the priestesses would intervene and to track the girl. But right now, I had more important matters.
I decided it was better to meditate and gather my thoughts, then head to the archive.
I walked briskly through the identical corridors, occasionally checking the map. But my mind was occupied by something else: how to maintain my place in the rankings.
One part of me insisted that my strength was more than enough to crush these insignificant insects and rise to the top. But there was another part.
Stronger.
It whispered entirely different thoughts. Yes, I was likely more powerful than most; I had more survival experience. But in Force manipulation and lightsaber combat, the former younglings likely surpassed me. I had learned a lot in a month, but they had been trained since early childhood. Their general foundation, I suspected, was also better than mine.
So what was I to do? Likely nothing for now. I needed to understand how the station lived, what the order was, and after gathering data, create a work schedule. And I absolutely had to bury myself in the archive to study what the Master had told me.
I realized now that this specific information would allow me to develop faster. I had to suppress my arrogance and start from the premise that everyone here was a rival. Underestimating an opponent leads irreversibly to defeat. And the Emperor does not forgive mistakes.
My musings were interrupted by a wave of primal terror that washed over me. Instinctively, I leaped back into the depths of the turbolift, my hand frantically searching for a blaster or a lightsaber.
The lift had brought me to the required floor, but its appearance... The corridor, fashioned from black material with a faint, glowing red backlight, stretched into the unknown. My footsteps echoed hollowly throughout the hall.
The Dark Side literally saturated everything here. I had only felt it this concentrated on the lower levels of the Jedi Temple, and even then... there, it was suppressed by the Light. Here, the Darkness was the undisputed mistress.
It felt as though a faint whisper emanated from the walls, the voices of millions of sentients begging for mercy and clemency. But the sensation wasn't constant; no... it was replaced by a feeling of rage and the thrill of battle. The desire to destroy one's enemy. Muffled cries of fury and the screams of the wounded.
Involuntarily, my hands wanted to clench into fists so hard my nails would tear the skin; then I felt the urge to wrap my arms around my shoulders and huddle in a corner, praying for it all to end as soon as possible.
The Force here drowned out everything else. Previously, I could sense other sentients, at least their direction. I knew they were nearby. In this place, I couldn't feel anything except the all-encompassing Darkness. It was like walking in total pitch, hearing and seeing absolutely nothing.
It was terrifying to feel like the only sentient being in this place. It wasn't just the Force that inspired dread; the architecture itself kept me in a state of constant tension.
The walls, slanting slightly inward, seemed to reach up for miles, yet at the same time, it felt as though the ceiling was about to crush me into the floor. Stone slabs paved the floor, riddled with numerous cracks and pits. In several of them, the distinct scorch marks of a lightsaber were visible.
To top it all off, the technology decided to stop working. I had to wander, relying solely on my senses. I had ventured so deep into this broken labyrinth that I no longer knew where my journey had begun.
Where was the military precision and clarity? I hadn't encountered this many forks anywhere. Even a seemingly straight corridor could change direction multiple times. Asymmetrical growths protruded from the walls. In some places, similar small pyramids rose from the floor. I had to constantly watch my step to avoid catching myself on a sharp edge.
After five minutes of wandering the floor, I was so keyed up that I was ready to lunge at anyone who might unexpectedly appear around a corner.
At some point, I had to admit it: the path was lost. I was turned around and had absolutely no idea where I was.
Exhausted, I leaned against the wall and slid down. A spike pricked my back unpleasantly, but I didn't care. I was so tired. This relatively short walk had drained me as if I'd spent a whole day running through a desert, chasing the wind.
Maybe I should just leave it all like this? They won't just abandon me here, will they? The Force will protect, suggest, and guide those who come after me. I just need to trust it. For now, I can stay here, detach from everything, and just wait...
No!
With a jerk, I stood up, tearing my hand on a sharp edge of the wall in the process. The Force is merely a tool that will help me achieve my goals. I command it; it does not command me. That is how the Emperor acts; that is what my Master does. It is merely an instrument in our hands, leading us to true power!
The fear I felt was replaced by anger, and with it came new strength. No cursed ruins were going to hold me. Raising my hand, I focused on the Force, commanding it to submit to me.
I felt a nearly insurmountable resistance. It was like trying to punch a hole through a cliffside with bare hands. But slowly, millimeter by millimeter, I reclaimed my right to be here.
I don't know how long I stood there, concentrating and trying to subjugate that which cannot be understood. It required nearly all my strength, both mental and physical. A trickle of blood ran down my chin, my hands twitched convulsively, and my eyes felt as though they'd been scrubbed with sand.
But it was a small price to pay. I did it! The Dark Side, which had previously attacked me and tried to break me, now... it wasn't that it obeyed me, but it gave me far more freedom. I sensed everything I had before, but now it was perceived differently. Not as an acid corroding me, but as a source capable of replenishing my strength. At the same time, I felt that at any moment, a wave could crash over me and sweep me away.
To exert even a modicum of control over it, I had to remain in constant concentration. Any sign of weakness could throw me back to the start of this path.
My pace slowed significantly. My brain was simmering from the strain; I had to maintain focus while trying to determine the direction of my path.
But now the Dark Side didn't shroud my vision so thickly. Very faintly, I sensed the location of my destination. I had to wander through this grim labyrinth for a long time before I finally reached my goal.
Massive dark doors stood before me. However, they were in no hurry to open. Despite all my attempts to trigger the sensor, the stone remained motionless.
A pity; I had hoped things would be simpler. Extending my hands, I put all my strength into trying to lift the slab blocking my way. I started several times, and several times I collapsed, drained. The door was too heavy. It would rise barely half a meter, and I didn't have enough Force for more.
I would have to take a risk. To come this far, to endure so much, just to turn back at the finish line? Never.
The stone slab trembled and slowly began to crawl upward. I was on my knees, practically flush against it. A little more, and my forehead would have touched the cold, rough surface of the door. A little more, a little more... Now!
My body, coiled like a spring, lunged forward. With the dregs of my strength, I managed to hold the stone just long enough to avoid being crushed.
It took me several minutes just to come to my senses and catch my breath. I had no strength left at all; for a while, even moving a finger was a significant challenge.
Once I had rested, I managed to get to my knees and inspect the room's interior.
Well, it was certainly better in here. The influence of the Force hadn't vanished, but it had weakened, and handling a smaller volume was easier in every sense.
A red lamp cast a wide strip of light across the floor. A small, perfectly circular dais was located exactly in the center of the square room. The far corners of the space were lost in gloom, and again, those sharp angles were everywhere. though, thank the Force, not as many.
With an exhausted sigh, I flopped onto the dais, crossed my legs, and immersed myself in the Force. The Dark Side tried once more to swallow me whole, but I managed to resist. It would serve me; it would not rule me.
For a long time, nothing happened. My consciousness wandered, trying to find a solution to the problem or at least a hint of the right path. But there was nothing, only echoes of vague events from the future and the past filled my mind.
Irritated, I leaned back and stared at the dark ceiling, which reflected red glimmers. My head was simultaneously empty and filled with self-disgust at such a waste of time. Irritation bled into anger. Attempts to gather my thoughts ended in failure. Every second, I wanted more and more to just go and do something. Why waste time on these useless reflections!
A lightbulb seemed to go off in my head. That was it! Every time during intense combat, the Dark Side filled me; it gave me strength but clouded my judgment. Sitting up properly, I began to replay the recent fight in my mind.
Unfortunately, my memory couldn't recall every detail perfectly, but certain moments of the battle were etched quite clearly.
Yes, exactly! Sibar didn't have a perfect defense; I could clearly see several holes in his guard now, but then... then my mind was clouded. I definitely could have overwhelmed him; a little more, and his defense would have fallen. But my movements were too predictable, too linear.
There was no "monster" in me, but no fully rational being either. The former would have torn the Padawan apart, destroyed him with brute force. The latter would have outsmarted him, lured him into a trap, or at least not acted so bluntly.
Right now, I was neither. A strange mix of two opposites. But I already knew that one of those paths wouldn't allow me to reach my full potential. And I had proof: the Grand Inquisitor. He was strong, strikingly strong, but not a beast. His words were rational; his intellect stood above animal instincts. And the Emperor, he was calculating; at the very start of a game, he already knew how to bring it to a favorable conclusion!
Now, I think I'm beginning to understand the words about managing emotions. Not control, but a total immersion in them, to know all the power of the Dark Side while simultaneously directing it with one's will.
Otherwise, things would go very poorly. A change in consciousness was already visible in the young acolytes; today's fight flared up far too quickly, and then there was this division into groups. Like animals huddling in packs for collective survival.
I didn't like any of it.
It was time to return to that frantic working rhythm the Master had kept me in.
Decision made! I was heading to the archive now. I hoped most of the information the Grand Inquisitor told me about would be there. I just had to avoid drawing attention with my knowledge. It would be very unfortunate if I let my Mentor down.
The return journey required much less strength, yet I arrived at the lift exhausted regardless. So much so that I nearly stepped on a body sprawled on the ground.
The girl was curled into a ball in one of the many corners, shaking all over. Even without the Force, it was obvious she was in a state of terrible panic.
Thin shoulders quivered, eyes darted nervously back and forth, hands never stopped moving. Glancing at her sleeve, I noticed the number three. Hmm, curious, how did she manage to reach her rank if she couldn't withstand this?
"Hey, do you need help? I can carry you to the lift, it's not far." Even though my own legs were barely moving, having such a high-ranking debtor could be useful. "Do you hear me?"
Her teeth were chattering a frantic rhythm, and her eyes could barely focus on me.
"Yeah, you're completely out of it. What am I supposed to do with you?"
"Leave her; she has to survive this herself."
If I could have, I would have jumped back in surprise, but in my current state, it only came out as a small step back. The rest of my strength went into not falling over.
Kamma stepped out from around the corner, swaying. His face had taken on a grayish-blue tint.
With his arms spread awkwardly, he rocked from side to side, trying to maintain some semblance of balance. Limping heavily on one leg, he had to practically move the second one with his hands. Small drops of blood were visible on the floor in the dim light of the lamps, marking where he had just stepped.
"Not a problem, but why do you say that?"
It was clear that speaking was an effort for him. Coming closer, he leaned one hand against the wall, his expression suggesting he was using all his might to keep the contents of his stomach from making an appearance.
"It's the rule of all Sith rituals. Everyone acts independently, or they unite to destroy an enemy. Perhaps this is part of the test. I won't guarantee that we aren't being watched. I doubt the Emperor needs those who can show compassion to rivals and enemies. We..."
He was interrupted by a dull groan from the floor. Struggling to lift herself, two toxic green eyes filled with pain and rage stared at us. Her face was clearly thin, but it was hard to see behind a mop of orange hair.
"To the Hutt's mother with both of you." It was clear every word was a struggle. "And get... cough... cough..." After coughing, she spat blood onto the floor. "...as far away from here as possible. Otherwise, as the Force is my witness, I'll..."
She didn't finish, overtaken by another fit of coughing.
"You see? No one here needs help or compassion. We all know who we serve and we cannot let him down. Let the weak decide their own fate; their life and death are in their hands. Those who die are unworthy of the Empire. So don't stand in the way..."
Finishing his piece, he swayed away, muttering something under his breath.
My thoughts were jumbled; thinking or drawing conclusions was physically difficult. I needed to reach the lift first, then everything else.
Moving my legs slowly, step by step, I closed the distance. My gaze was fixed on the floor because otherwise, I started to feel nauseous or my head would spin.
Thus, I didn't see it coming; my forehead literally collided with the cold metal walls of the lift. As soon as the doors slid open, my body's momentum carried me a few steps inside, and then I slid down the wall.
For the first few seconds as the lift descended, I just enjoyed the void in my head. It felt as though I'd been carrying a massive boulder up a mountain, and now it had suddenly vanished, allowing me to finally straighten my back and breathe fresh air.
However, I wasn't allowed to enjoy that wonderful feeling for long. Through the Force, I clearly sensed three gifted individuals approaching. Or rather, they were waiting for me at the lift shaft. And I felt it slightly more clearly than before.
A faint smile touched my lips; it hadn't been for nothing. But it vanished instantly. I was frankly in no condition to engage in any conflict. Right now, a mere sneeze could knock me over, let alone a fist. In that minute, only my mind had rested slightly, certainly not my body!
Gathering all the remaining will I had into a fist, I stood up. No one could be allowed to see my helplessness here and now. And just in time. The lift doors slid aside, allowing me to inspect the welcoming committee.
And who do we have here? Oh, I even recognize some of them. It's the boy and the blue-skinned Twi'lek, the ones who went after number one. And this... some alien I've seen but don't know. It seemed he used to try to keep to himself.
They were all animatedly inspecting the wall, trying to look uninterested, but they were doing a very poor job of it. As I stepped out of the lift, the Twi'lek turned and "accidentally" bumped into me.
"Oh! Sorry. We haven't met yet, have we? How great that we ran into each other here by chance. I'm Tifa, and you are..."
I don't believe her. And I don't have the strength to engage in dialogue with them. I needed to get to the medbay as quickly as possible; it was closer than the archive or my room. I hoped I could at least catch my breath there.
Silently, I tried to brush past her and leave as quickly as possible. But a hand gripped me firmly.
"It's impolite to leave when someone is speaking to you."
The little runt was holding me by the wrist, specifically the one that was injured. Though, calling him a runt was a stretch; he was half a head taller than me and broader in the shoulders. And right now, I couldn't do a thing against him.
My last reserves were spent on not grimacing. I couldn't show weakness now. The very fact that I had been grabbed was already bad.
"A pity. I hope you'll have more time to teach me a lesson in manners. Good day."
"You're not going anywhere until she's finished talking to you. You hear me and you understand me!"
Bitch! I was so done with everything. Some jerk was preventing me from reaching my coveted rest and dared to make demands of me! Who did he think he was?! I didn't care if there was a fight, I didn't care if I got punished. I just wanted to deal with my business as quickly as possible.
Turning around, I stared straight into the eyes of this arrogant boy.
"Now you listen to me. Right now, I dream of only one thing: finishing my business and going to rest. With every second of this conversation, you are delaying that moment. You want to start a fight? Fine, you'll have your fight. But believe me, even now I have more than enough strength to turn your face into a bloody mess. Make no mistake, I will hit only you, and I will hit you with everything I've got. And pray to the Force that the priestesses show up faster than your face undergoes irreversible changes. I'm sure a torn-off nose is much more problematic to restore than knitting broken bones back together."
There must have been something in my gaze, because he stepped back abruptly.
"Alright, that's enough, boys. I see you're not in the mood right now. Fine, no problem, let's do it another time. When would it be convenient for you to meet with me?"
"In about seventeen hours, in the galley."
"Wonderful." She beamed as if she'd won an entire planet in a lottery. "I'll look forward to our meeting. I won't keep you any longer."
Nodding, I started down the corridor. Now my reserves were truly spent. I felt that I could fall at any moment and not get back up. I couldn't do that in front of this trio!
Faintly, but clearly, a parting shot hit me in the back:
"Arrogant bastard."
I'll remember that, but all that is for later. The saving doors opened before me. The smell of some medicine hit my nose.
"Hello, how can I help you..."
I didn't hear the end of the sentence as my body collapsed onto one of the cots.
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