As Grandpa Lenin bequeathed us

* Jedi Temple, three months later

Dissatisfaction within the council grew as Chancellor Valorum deviated from his previous political line. Of course, everyone understood that all body movements were for the good of the Republic, but lately, the chancellor had increasingly resorted to the services of the Jedi. Incorruptible, ready to work under the toughest conditions, they were the perfect performers, if it weren't for one "but". The Jedi Order was never in the Chancellor's service.

Once again the twelve masters gathered in the meeting room, ready to kill some more time in discussion. To everyone's secret pleasure, events in the political arena of Coruscant have been more active lately than before. However, no visible changes have yet been achieved. Politics is one of the topics that can be talked about endlessly, so the meetings have become livelier. However, it had been a long time since the council had reached a consensus - some, like Evan Piell, liked the chancellor's determination, and he was not shy about expressing it. Unsurprisingly, he was lambasted by Master Windu more than once:

- But you missed the main point. The chancellor, though he was able to retain his power, further weakened his position - after the republic failed to deal with a handful of merchants, the authority of the senate was undermined. Plus, once the reporters got wind of Nut Ganrei's failure to be captured... and all this only resulted in large expenses and a fall in authority - Windu stuck to his point and didn't want to give up his position one bit.

- Perhaps, but what choice did he have? This Sith who had snuck into the Senate had been preparing to overthrow him for a long time. If he had been more careful, he would have been chancellor by now.

- That's no excuse for the chancellor to take on a cause he can't finish. He has only embarrassed himself with his Justice Corps - embarrassing to say, but there have been cases where armed merchants on Neimodia have forced Justice Corps ships to retreat. It's incomprehensible," Windu stood his ground.

- Exactly, colleague! Exactly! - Evan exclaimed. - That's what he's up to. The Justice Corps, clear as day, cannot defend the interests of the Republic even against a group of armed bandits.

- Valuable defeat it is," put in his five credits Master Yoda, with pleasure and usually silence, who has watched the masters argue to the hilt for more than a month.

- This is what I'm talking about," Evan genuinely did not understand why his companions were not getting the point.

- The Republic has lost a lot, and it is not a fact that the Chancellor has the ability to get it back," Ki Adi-Mundi said, turning his gaze to Windu.

- That's what I'm telling you. The chancellor has started a new crisis. And who knows how it will end. Besides, it's a shame the republic hasn't experienced in a long time. To think, a handful of merchants taking over an entire planet. And mind you, there's no war on the horizon," Windu said firmly.

- But we've dealt with that, haven't we? The Trade Federation was used by the Sith for their own purposes...

- Yes, but the general public doesn't know that. The Federation has been at odds with the senate for several years, and it ended in mutual slaps. There is nothing illogical about this for the average person. The increase in customs duties by the Senate, and in response, the invasion of Naboo by the Federation, and in response, the last argument in the form of administrative sanctions... No one has repealed the law banning private armies yet, and the evidence is there," said Yarael Poof.

- You can be blunt about it..." "Destroy them," Windu grimaced.

Plo Koon cut in:

- I wouldn't be so categorical. The Federation was only destroyed as a single organization. But the companies that used to be part of it are still in business. Except for the change in management and the loss of a representative in the Senate. But that's not the main point.

- Yes, it is a matter of principle. Besides, there are innumerable cargo ships that got away during the blockade of Neimodia, but were merely hijacked by their pilots," Master Poof was indignant.

- And that's another question for the Chancellor," Windu added.

- This is all going to end with the Senators getting bogged down in discussions, corruption, and the sharing of spoils again. If they decide to expand their Apparatus even further, it will inevitably lead to gerrymandering. In the end, the average citizen of the galaxy will hardly notice the changes," Plo Koon added as he looked around at everyone assembled.

- But the Sith is no longer in the Senate, nor should he be," Yoda said as he opened his eyes for a moment. "The other masters had forgotten all about him, and some thought the elder was dozing off on the sly.

- And that's all that matters to us. But the Chancellor is asking for the Order's help more and more," Windu grumbled grudgingly.

- "The Order may refuse the Chancellor..." said Poof.

- "Not at all! - Evan was indignant. - Who else can the Chancellor rely on but us? If we refuse him, we only put Finis Walorum in an already precarious position! And what happens if he is defeated?

- With the Sith missing, perhaps a new chancellor will be chosen. Younger and more energetic.

- And then everything will go back to normal. The projects will be shut down and the Senate will be mired in discussion again," Evan parried, "Finally someone decisive has emerged, but a swamp of greedy and corrupt senators who blatantly don't care about the people is dragging him down and preventing him from doing anything.

- Senators are always willing to forget about the common good, defending mostly the interests of their sponsors. Or, as Sith said: "The Senate is full of greedy, bickering delegates. They don't care about the good of the public," Poof quoted Senator Palpatine as saying that Finis has weight in the Senate because of the events that have occurred. But only in the Senate. Yes, and he will have to work hard to gain the trust of enough senators.

- Please, Master Poof, the Senate has been through this more than once or twice. And not even ten or a hundred times--there are two and a half thousand senators, their own microcosm under the dome of the senate building. Even if someone can bribe or sway ten, fifty, a hundred, two hundred senators to his side, no one can establish relations with the majority. It is a crowd, and any herd needs a shepherd. Otherwise there will be trouble," Evan said hotly. Master Piell was a vigorous man, and no one was surprised that he backed the chancellor. But it wasn't enough to make a big deal out of it, that was clear to everyone, including Evan Pielle.

- Are you sure that the Chancellor is fit for the role? Since the Ruusan Reform, the Senate has been mired in lies and corruption, and the corrupt senators have weakened the republic from within. And how do you think they will feel about Valorum, who seems to have opened his eyes and stopped acting like a boardroom ornament, and is sure to make attempts to deprive them of the ephemeral power they have? - Windu radiated skepticism with his whole appearance.

- Take your time, Master Windu. The Chancellor may be aggressive on the surface, but he is above all a politician. Many of the failures of recent years have been set up by the Sith, don't forget that, and don't underestimate the Chancellor. Valorum had the support of nearly three hundred senators who liked his decisiveness.

- All right, Hutt is with them, what do you hear from the Senate building?

- You mean the vote to pass the new program? - Poof clarified.

- Yes, Master.

- Just a moment," Poof stood up and walked toward where the communications terminal was. There he fiddled around for a while and in a minute came back, carrying several datapads in his hands. He handed them to the most active wranglers - Wind, Evan, Plo Koon. A minute later Master Piell exclaimed victoriously:

- There, I told you so, didn't I?

- What are you so happy about, Master Pielle?

- The chancellor is increasing his power! That's what Valorum should be doing. Oh, what a good man...

- Aren't words too loud, eh? All the Chancellor did was make a few speeches and push through a development plan for the Justice Corps.

- "Development plan." Ha, have you seen this plan? It's not the Senate anymore, so there's still hope for them. The plan includes replacing old ships, personnel changes, nearly doubling the size of the corps, and quality training for new recruits.

- Just don't let it end like it always does, Master Evan...

- Maybe it will. But it's a start. After the disgrace the entire senate received on Neimodia, they have no choice but to assemble themselves a small army. - Evan wouldn't give up.

- Well, that was expected and even logical. "The Neimodian disgrace went down in the annals of history as the peak of the Republic's powerlessness. The Senate must respond, or someone will get their vote...

*Planet Belkadan, Dalonbian Sector, Rove C. Vosk'eda Spaceport

Remember when Luke Skywalker said that Tatooine was at the very back... edge of the galaxy? That was coquetry. The planet Belkadan is really at the very edge of the galaxy. If you look at the galaxy from the outside, it would seem to be kept from going into galactic space by some miracle - at the edge of the spiral arm, the last planet - a couple of dwarf stars beyond, and that's it, finita, no more galaxy. The Dalonbian sector was, to put it mildly, a "Wasyuki village" by the standards of the galaxy. However, that's what the planet is known for - on the projection of the galaxy, it stands out from the rest of the mass because it is "extremely northern," that is, it is located at the very top.

- Ani, go see what's wrong with the damn hyperdrive! - Julian irritated.

We landed at the Rove C. Vosk'eda spaceport, which translated from the local word for... something. I have no desire to translate, and Citripio is not here with me, and the pilots nicknamed this port "Ruvi.

I obediently went to the hyperdrive. Without my skilled and frankly cheating help, the hyperdrive wouldn't have lasted a month. The smaller the class, the greater the strain on the metals. And on the metals and fields the hyperdrive was built - inside are conductors for gamma rays. Then there are several kilometers of twisted wire made of complex alloys that conduct energy from the fusion reactor and form a special field that causes fluctuations in space and time. It was on these fields, similar to the magnetic fields around a live wire, that the hyperdrive worked. There was also a quantum field generator, but this field served as a kind of barrier, preventing the ship from being ejected back into normal space.

I habitually unscrewed the screws on the hyperdrive cover and pulled the multi-tonnage thing out of the slot. Yes, the thing was monstrously heavy - miles of wire, hull-screen, power supply system, and all that... Inside, I could feel the problems in the conductor metal again. The wire was receiving monstrous voltages from the fusion reactor during the jump, so that its composition deteriorated quickly - in terms of power it looked like changes in the currents flowing inside the wire, but the metals themselves were changing - from the inevitable heat and from currents of such power. I had to straighten and clean it - in half an hour the hyperdrive was not new, but rejuvenated. The alloy structure was restored, the distortions were corrected, and the multiton machine, as tall as I was, floated back into the slot.

- Hey, Ju, it's ready. Ju?

- Yeah, I got it. Let's go see the customer," Julian got up from his seat and left the deckhouse.

He'd gotten a little more mature lately, stopped smiling when he had the chance, and looked more like a serious man. A little more.

The planet was a paradise for smugglers-here the power of the Republic was very conditional, and the location of "somewhere out of the way," away from hyperspace routes, made it ideal. The cops didn't come here, or only if they were desperate. Then, yes, they might drop in for a peek. Smuggling had become more dangerous lately-the Justice Corps had received a shipment of heavily modified Marauders a month ago, paramilitary corvettes with good sensors that were hard to hide from. A hundred and fifty ships on a galactic scale is a drop in the bucket, of course, but they had already become a smuggler's joke, so people in our profession felt uncomfortable.

Lately I've been liking the smuggler's occupation less and less. After handing over the goods to the customer and returning to our Barloz, I closed myself in my cabin and, taking a datapad in my hands, searched for the information that was worrying me at the moment. What education do you think the famous Darth Vader had? А? I'll tell you a secret. None. In the Jedi temple, primary training in all school disciplines takes place from the age of four to thirteen, and then you become a Padawan. To learn, to wave a sword, and to do good. Of course, some people are still improving their erudition, but not by much. Strangely enough, I haven't seen any educational system in the galaxy, not in the movies or, so to speak, in the field. Luke Skywalker was a Tatooine farmer's son, and ended up easily being promoted to pilot, I was the same way - I didn't learn anything. In general - it seems that the mental education of young people was, to put it mildly, underdeveloped. I heard about the academies, and about other universities and schools, but for some reason, forcibly convinced that the force will justify everything, they did not hurry to develop.

It had only been three and a half months since I'd been a smuggler, and my lack of systematic education was already taking its toll - my lack of understanding was the most stressful part. The news from Coruscant was one thing more interesting than the other-no matter Sidious-the Chancellor wasn't frightened by some petty sectarian, but by the fact that he was really determined to pass a vote of no confidence. I understood this, as well as the fact that the state now reminded me of Russia in the 2000s - that the army was fucked up, the State Duma was steeped in corruption, and that the boss knew what the hell was going on "on the ground". And he took measures, but, as always, in my opinion, everything will end up in the Justice Corps being renamed in order to look like a stormy activity, saying a lot of big words about how we can build up the galaxy, opening some kind of "Skolkovo", and preventively stealing everything that is bad. However, maybe we can really change something, but not much - it will take decades of hard work to turn from the ruinous path. Or a revolution, which the unforgettable Sith made in the so-called "canon. But the former is preferable - Sith fell into the "L. Trotsky trap" - he craved power, while providing no more adequate political program than "as I want it, so it will be" or "let's bend everyone, and then we will think how to arrange the galaxy. At least I don't remember anything like a political idea or program or course from the movies. However, the amount of bureaucracy and corruption hardly decreased much with the arrival of the galactic empire - the smuggler Han Solo was still successfully smuggling, Jabba the Hutt never thought of dying, and would not complain about life, if it were not for one lady in an armored bra...

Julian and I had already made a decent fortune for smugglers - thanks to my giftedness I managed to avoid dubious deals and save significantly on repairs, and the high-class hyperdrive and unassuming look of the whole ship did its job - we were hired by the same clients more than once. After a few well-executed smuggling assignments, we were well established, so a month ago we were contacted by criminal organizations. Of course, they did not take me seriously, but Julian managed to prove himself well. This state of affairs was more than satisfactory to me. I found a suitable crystal for my lightsaber as a gift for myself-not cheap, but acceptable, especially considering that the legal channels for selling such crystals were probably monitored by the Jedi.

But I decided to leave the assembling of the new sword for later - I had no time for it now, and I had enough other things to worry about besides work. And I was going to solve one of them right now by searching the holonet for information on educational institutions. As grandfather Lenin said... yes, you understand - Padme at fourteen had already graduated from some educational institution and managed to become a queen, and I'm not even scratching my ten... or rather almost eleven - there is reason to think about it. Although, by the way, there was also a bit of competition - you know, unpleasant, coming from the bottom to yield a girl of noble blood - between us is already a gap, no need to increase it. Even though I hinted at her all sorts of things, but to yield... never!

And that meant one thing - it was time, at last, to find some institution. In contrast to the usual "me-film" behavior, I was even a little afraid of remaining a dreary darkness and had an unpleasant feeling when some common knowledge was news to me - there was a feeling that the very slave I had not squeezed out of me.

The holonet offered the widest choice, just like the Internet. "For your money, whatever you want," it read between the lines about all sorts of frills in training at yet another academy.

As far as I understood, the point was that the farther from the central worlds, the less prestigious the education. The only exceptions were the academies on planets inhabited by insectoids, the insect-like races. For the most part, they were more technically advanced - insectoid ships were much more valued because they were superior in quality and technical characteristics. Droids too, computers, and all other technology. The Droideks were a creation of the Insectoid race - unlike ordinary droids, not only could they move quickly while rolling, but they also managed to fit a deflector in them, which was unthinkable for a droid with such a small size. Their low prevalence in the galaxy can only be explained by the exorbitantly high price of their equipment, due to which they all acquired the label "a toy for the rich.

The first place on the cost and prestige of training was shared by five academies, founded at the beginning of the Republican era, and existing for decades: the Higher Technical Academy of the Republic, located on Coruscant, the Legal Academy of the Republic, there, the Financial and Legal Academy of Muunlist, the Academy of Shipbuilding on the planet Rendili and the Alderaan Royal Academy. Specializing, as one could easily tell from the names, in either technology or politics-these two areas promise the greatest profits and are the most demanding of the qualifications of the employee. The requirements were interesting - the age of the candidate did not play any role - at admission the intellectual capacities of the applicant were evaluated, and only after that a verdict was made - to be a student or not.

As far as I understood from the explanations, all the doors in the republic were open to a graduate of one of these universities. Of course, they're lying; they don't just let neophytes in for no reason. However, I'm not looking for a warm place to live: there are more interesting things to do.

It's logical that being left to myself I don't get any pleasure from being dragged around the galaxy as a smuggler - anyway it's better to move forward rather than hang up on one step of the social ladder - in order to turn from a silent statistic watching the developments around to an active participant, you should not sit still and wait until the opportunity arises to change something, but work and work. Then, as one man once said, profits will flow in.

The latter was chosen as the upcoming university - both a prestigious and high-quality place of study, and accepted everyone who could pay, and suitable for the level of intelligence. Of course, I did not consider myself a fool. Standing up and reclining the datapad on the bed, I left the quarters and made my way to Julian. Ju was in the wheelhouse, so I sat down in my seat and watched him in silence until he got tired of it.

- What do you want, Ani?

- Ju, here's the thing... well, I'm leaving.

- What? What do you mean you're leaving? Going where? Julian was genuinely surprised.

- I mean, I'm getting out of the business. I've had enough of smuggling and repairing, and it's been dangerous lately - the justice system's gone wild...

- You don't say... Wait, are you serious?

- I can't be more serious. Besides, I've got things to do, and they're just as important.

Dju sighed heavily, and with a look of a tired man said:

- I guessed that sooner or later this would happen...

- Why would you do that?

- You do not look like a homeless boy, sorry, not for you this job. Although... where else am I going to find a flight attendant like you?

- You'll find one. I'm not the only one. - I tried to cheer my friend up as much as I could.

- I understand, but it'll be harder without you...

- Don't get into any trouble, and it'll get easier. I've already upgraded your ship so much, you could make good money on it.

- I understand. The sensors alone are worth a fortune. Well, if you don't change your mind...

- No, Ju. I won't.

- All right, then. - Julian bit his lips nervously, and I, taking advantage of the pause, asked:

- Well, if you don't mind, could you take me to Alderaan?

- What were you doing there?

- The Academy is there. I wish to study.

- Study? Well..." Julian seemed surprised that I wanted to study rather than fool around in the galaxy.

I was in the middle of a conversation with Julian, who was taking me to Alderaan, and since our home was here on the ship, we were leaving in two hours, with only the groceries left to go. But Ju took care of that - I'm not an expert in culinary matters.

After entering hyperspace, all we have to do is wait. It's a good time to meditate-the trip to Alderaan will take at least three days-after all, I had to quit smuggling in the middle of the galaxy.

It's the perfect time for meditation and leisurely study. Just enough time to prepare myself for admission. With any luck, of course.

Erdva habitually popped into my quarters, but seeing that I was meditating, drove on without saying anything. He knows, iron, that I am unlikely to answer him in this state. In the time we've been working together, I've gotten to know Julian and Erdwah better, and our old Barloz, along with the new hyperdrives.

It takes money and a head on your shoulders to learn on Alderaan. I have both, and more... a dormitory is available, and there's even a chance of employment in the government of the Republic if I can study diligently. Meditation is a wonderful state for reflection and, of course, for the manipulation of power. I was able to manipulate metals in meditation only when I was on Tatooine a year ago, on a level that I don't even notice now - hands in pockets, eyes tired after a long flight, wish - lift a multi-ton hyperdrive, concentrate - here it is as in the palm of my hand - no problem to repair it. Rastu, however. I had a lot of work to do as a flight mechanic, so I didn't complain about the lack of practice - I had to work on the wiring there or on something to clean and re-solder, and so on day after day.

After I got the hang of it, I noticed that all of this was happening without the crutches I had used before-no visualization or vision of power-I could feel power when I needed it, and without any unnecessary, transitional forms. The will was the main conduit for it - or rather, the force executed my will, if it was expressed correctly - through the use of the force. Or rather, the will was not directed at the object or subject of manipulation, but at the force itself, with the desired action. In the end, everything I wanted from the force happened. Wanted the hyperdrive to go up in the air? Please, it did. Concentrated on its contents? There, voila, you have it all in the palm of your hand. The only thing I don't understand is, can all Jedi do this, or me? Apparently, all of them. Yoda once said that the only difference between a rock and a starship is perception-it makes no difference to the force. In its scale, a pebble or a starship is nothing more than a grain of sand in the sea. It is not enough just to wish that a starship would rise in the air with the help of force - it is necessary to believe yourself, to feel that there is no difference, then it is only possible to achieve success.

The method has been tested, and after several experiments was found to be correct.

* Naboo, Tid.

The work of the staff of the royal palace of Naboo did not stop at night - even before dawn the cooks worked, so that the queen and officials had a fresh hot breakfast on the table after waking up, the technicians in the hangars were not sleeping - in case some of the officials need to be taken to the neighboring city in the morning. The halls and corridors of the huge building were cleaned at night by droids and servants, while the palace guards were routinely vigilant around the clock to make sure nothing unforeseen happened.

Padme Amidala, queen of Naboo, awoke.

She'd had to sit with the makeup artists since morning while they worked on her face - ceremonial makeup was to be worn at all times. After enduring the hateful procedure, the young queen went out to breakfast, accompanied by her guards. She was beginning to worry about what had happened to Anakin, but there was no one to ask such questions - no one but Anakin himself knew where he was and when he would send more word, if at all.

She had been so busy lately that she had no time to think about other things, and if it hadn't been for Shmi, Padmé would have forgotten all about the boy. But no, Shmi had a few heart-to-heart talks with Ronar Kim, the Jedi the Council had sent her.

Padme didn't tell anyone, but she was very happy that they sent him - Ronar was the son of the senator from Naboo, Vidar Kim, who had been deposed by Palpatine. What was remarkable to the queen was that Ronar's father was killed by a hired assassin, and Vidar Kim's successor was Palpatine, who was known to be a fan of using political assassination to his advantage. Strange as it may seem, Ronar was a friend of the Naberry family and was never eager to do his Jedi duty of informing the council of everything that could and everything that could not be done, unquestioningly. Padme had time to appreciate Master Yoda's intelligence more than once - the old schemer had managed to find the very Jedi who would satisfy both the council and the Naboans, and he would not look like a black sheep in front of the queen, among the Naboan nobility. Also, Amidala had no doubt that Yoda had guessed - Ronar, to put it mildly, was in no mood to do anything for the council other than a direct order to "protect the queen." Ronar treated the fact that a certain boy was hiding from the Order with truly Jedi minded indifference, even praised his resourcefulness - not everyone would want to sacrifice their freedom to the Order, especially since with Anakin's midi-chlorian level, it was problematic to escape the prospect of being apprenticed and leaving the Order.

After a few intimate conversations, Ronar convinced Shmi that the boy had done what he wanted and that his actions were justified. With difficulty, but Shmi agreed that Anakin had his reasons for doing so.

During her time in the palace, Shmi managed to get along surprisingly well with Padme, making sure she was always there for her. She stood out, of course, among the twin maids, but no one would think of transferring Shmi to another position - she and the queen had become friends in her short time at the palace, strange as it might seem.

In the evening, without her makeup, Padme found her in her room, fiercely rummaging through her belongings. The bed was strewn with dresses, skirts, pants, and other clothes.

- Padme? - Shmi spotted the queen who had entered and turned to her, holding a traditional Nabuan-style suit in her hand.

- Shmi, what is this mess? - The girl was surprised.

- Oh, this... do you think this will fit? - Shmi held the blouse against her, pinning it at the waist. Padme looked at her doubtfully, but Shmi, understanding in her own way, discarded this one and took the next one, also pinning it," and this one?

- This one's okay.

- "Normal?" - Shmi Skywalker frowned and reached further.

- Shmi! What's with the holiday? Why are you dressed up?

- Oh, Ed finally asked me out. I hinted for a week before he decided to...

- "Ed?" Isn't he the one who's been fiddling with ships?

- The one from Tide Machine Works. - Nodded Shmi.

- "Yeah...

- What?" He nodded.

- Oh, no, it's nothing. It's just... weird that it took him so long. I'm tired of watching you make eyes at him, and all he does is stare with amorous eyes and see nothing...

- What can you do, men can be surprisingly blind..." smiled Shmi, twisting in front of the mirror.

Padme sat down on the bed, moving her clothes, and looked at her maid of honor, who was now far away from her daily cares.

- Well, how much do I look like?

- Shmi... how old are you?

- Thirty-one. Why?

- Well, you look about twenty-eight. No more than that. You're in the midst of youth. - Nabery smiled. Shmi, looking at Padme doubtfully-she had a slightly worse opinion of herself. Skywalker did look young, considering she had taken care of her appearance on Naboo, and Naboo's temperate climate had done its job. Her skin was smooth, her eyes cheerful, her figure "still."

- Don't exaggerate. I mean, don't underestimate. 30's well deserved.

- No, I don't think so. Come on, you look great in that! - Naberri smiled, and Shmi grabbed her clothes and began to change. Like a well-mannered girl Padme immediately turned away. It didn't take Skywalker long. In a minute she was wearing pants and a blouse with traditional Nabuan patterns.

- Where on earth did he take you? - Padme asked, looking around Skywalker.

- To the theater. You people are cultured, you can tell..." smiled Shmi, looking at herself in the mirror.

- "Yes, we are. - Padme agreed, and walked out of Shmi's room first, wishing her good luck at the meeting. Judging by the time - and it was evening - Padme thought it best not to look for Shmi until tomorrow night. She warned the head of her servants, who was impersonating her, while "Padme's maid" went to see Shmi Skywalker...