Ou way

Problems, problems, problems, problems...

The code teaches us not to perceive problems, that is, to treat them with a sensible indifference - problems? Nothing, they are either solvable, or we can do nothing anyway. It's not worth worrying about - it won't solve the problem, it will only make it worse.

Easy for you to say, huh? I'm a freshly appointed Jedi Master, of course, but I can't possibly think of absolutely all problems as such. Because there are some problems that, on the one hand, are not solvable, but on the other hand, you still have to do something. It's like a rhetorical question - there is a question, but no answer, no matter how much you look for it.

Toshi, oh, joy, she's knocked up!

Can you imagine? I, therefore, took off and flew, and she returned from a mission, went to Nova, and there she was diagnosed.

Problems, problems, problems...

And what did you think? As soon as Togruta learned this news, she immediately took a leave of absence, as the status of the master allowed and flew away for many years on a peaceful planet, away from wars and cataclysms. And that's my problem now, since I haven't been here in six or so years, which means what? It means that the little one is now five years old, even more. And all this time, Toshi Dan has been living like an ordinary housewife where there are no Togrut, on a remote planet that the Sith and smugglers and pirates ignore for lack of resources.

In fact, the galaxy has to eat something, right? So there are enough agricultural planets with a good climate, but no important trade.

I tried my best to keep my composure, but it wasn't every day that news like this fell on my head. Even if Ali had been knocked up that night, it would not have come as a surprise to me, for Tosya and I were not in love, except for affection and attraction... and mutual sympathy. For her, it's forbidden fruit, since I'm considered human...

I left Lex in a somnambulistic state - although he tried to reassure me. He said that he was less than that when he found out that his wife was knocked up, but it did not have the desired effect, rather the opposite!

I was twenty years old, that's all! Finding out at twenty that you were a daddy now was too shocking, especially about being a daddy for six years...

- Where can I meet her? - I asked Lex as soon as he finished drinking my tea.

- Believe me, she's happy to meet you herself. I hope you have a convincing reason for absence?

- Being on an unknown planet with powerful beings determined to train a little mortal is a convincing reason?

- I don't know," he shrugged, "even if you forgot your girlfriend's birthday while saving the galaxy, that might be sacrilege. I don't understand women.

- Nobody understands them. I think there are three great mysteries-the Universe, the Force, and the Woman...

- Ha, well said! - smiled Lex. - I'll have to remember that. She was looking for you, she terrorized the holocron, but it wouldn't tell her anything. Though the results were...

- Results?

- For the first time in history a great holocrone had told her to stop looking for trouble and to mind her own business... even ancient Jedi spirits have their limits of patience.

- She must have really pissed him off," I smiled. - So now what?

- What what? - Lex pretended not to understand. - Now you decide. I'll send a message to Master Dan about your return, but it's better if you meet him on neutral ground. You see, due to the customs of her people, she cannot appear in public with the child. It could have a negative effect on her reputation.

- I see," I bowed my head, "then will you let me know when and where to fly to?

- Of course. No, it's better if you meet me on Coruscant, but you won't show your face...

- All right," I nodded, "may I go?

- Go," Lex nodded, "and may the Force be with you.

- May the force be with us," I said mechanically as I left the office.

What a turnaround!

Now I couldn't sleep. I went back to the boat and lay down, but I couldn't sleep, I was too nervous. You bet I was - I'd missed so much! The thought of Toshi coming back here made me want to run away. Yes, child, but I didn't plan to be tied to this time! I didn't! And how could I, being a fairly conscientious and honest man, leave Toshi alone? This is beyond the realm of reason...

After lying on the bed for about an hour without deciding anything, I walked toward the hold. Looking sadly at Erdv who was following me, I asked my friend:

- "What do you think?

- I think you're worrying too much for some reason," the droid replied, "You won't change anything. And you won't solve anything until you talk to your female.

- You are right, my friend, you are right.

I headed for the training room. The droid followed me like a shadow, keeping up.

There it was time to show a master class, and to stretch from the heart at the same time. I took the sword training crystal and immediately began practicing various juyo moves.

- She's flying," Erdva interrupted me after five minutes. - The Master told me to tell you.

- That fast?

- He must be in a big hurry...

- Oy-wey! - I got scared. - I'd better get some practice in.

- You will in four days," the droid ruined my mood even more.

Practice! Just practice. After half an hour of useless sword waving, my partner joined me. Just came up and asked if I needed help.

- I'd appreciate it," I nodded, "I'm Henia.

- And my name is Alyss," Alyss said his name with a sneeze on the end. The man, black, judging by his age and pigtail, was a Padawan.

- Let's see..." I got into a stance, and we sparred. Alyss attacked with almost no acceleration, starting with the second form. His punches were too slow. I was used to Son's blatantly monstrous, unreachable speed, so I easily parried Alyss's blows. He only flared up when I fought him off easily.

- Why don't you attack? - he asked after a moment.

- I could attack," I attacked, starting with a simple jujyu attack of quick movement and not too fast punches. I could have been faster, but I didn't see the point in taunting the Padawan. Alyss parried the first blow, but I continued to move and took a step back, ducking to let his sword pass over me and immediately lunged at the unprotected point. Alyss was defeated.

- Again," he asked, attacking me, now with his fourth form. Since the aim of the fight is to train, I did not use speed, but went into the seemingly illogical movements of the Juyo style - parry and immediately move away from the path of the new blow, squat with a lunge, but not forward, but backward, with a sideways roll. Alyss, trying to reach me, found that I, logically, was no longer where I was supposed to be.

- How do you do that? - He stopped.

- Elementary. Every style has strengths and weaknesses. The weakness of the fourth form is that it requires knowledge of your opponent's movements - too aggressive maneuvers leave no flexibility, and to counteract it you only have to make maneuvers that the fourth form user does not count on. Speed and unpredictability negate all of the fourth form's strengths.

- I see," he nodded, "shall we continue?

- I did," I raised my sword and launched myself into the attack, this time using a different technique that was stylized for the fourth form. We spent half an hour dancing with our swords, and I tried to build up the fight in such a way. I tried to structure the fight so that my opponent would benefit from the sparring experience. Toward the end, Alyss was out of breath, and I stopped the fight.

- I can go on," he said indignantly.

- I know. But there's no point, you've learned a lot, and if you take some time to analyze your fight, you'll gain useful experience. The power of any form of combat is not in the sword, but in who uses it and how it's used.

Alyss was apparently a little hurt, but only a little.

- Thank you," he replied, putting the sword away, "it was a good sparring session. I didn't hit you once, though.

- In time," I shrugged, "you'll be a skilled enough fighter someday, but it's a long and hard road.

- I know," he ruffled his short lock of coal-black hair, "thank you for the good sparring.

- You're welcome, that's why I came here," I nodded.

I looked around at the other courts. All of them were either junlings or padawans. There were hardly any adults with the younglings, just one for every fifty kids in the group. And he was just sitting in the corner, reading something on a datapad.

I decided to see how the kids were being trained here, so I went over there. I had no Jedi Master written on my forehead, especially since I was nineteen years old physically, so there was no reaction to my approach, except that a couple of the little ones looked at me, and even that was not very interesting.

There were all kinds of races here. The groups were separated by age-the youngest were about seven, waving their swords languidly, mimicking their first attack. The older ones were less lethargic and more focused. The oldest group was the teenagers, who were almost the maximum age for a youngling. These weren't so much fighting as they were showing off, or showing off to the girls, who were standing around watching their training.

I decided to sit here and watch, so I sat down and stayed.

The kids, of course, were active in bringing harm to each other's health. It's a good thing it's so hard to hurt someone with a training sword, because they were so enthusiastic. For about half an hour I sat watching this spectacle, thinking about my own things. After all that, I wanted to get some sleep - the clamor of voices and the hum of swords was so soothing... anyway, I went back to the ship.

* Four days later *

This is it, this is it! The Master did not summon me, but made an appointment aboard my ship. Anyway, he just came to me to let me know he was coming. I, at that moment, had tasted the delights of Coruscant cuisine and was engaged in another activity that requires talent and practice, namely cooking.

When the master arrived, I quickly set a table with tea and desserts, and then waited for him. Lex didn't have to wait long; he came down, as Erdva told me, three minutes after the announcement of the meeting.

He stepped aboard the crown for the first time, inspecting it with disapproval:

- A Jedi should not suffer from junk," he said disapprovingly.

- That's true," I agreed, "I'm just using what I have. Besides, I don't cling to money, so I don't mind having to spend it.

- See for yourself," he shook his head, "what am I doing here? Your family's already here, when I got word that they were entering the atmosphere, I came straight to you.

- So..." I frowned.

- Told her to look for your ship in the hangar. I think you have a lot to talk about.

- And you, Master...

- I'll be going now," he stepped aside, "I came to tell you in person, not trusting the means of communication.

- Thank you," I nodded, "thank you for your support and...

- Come on," he waved his hand, "I've got five little brats, so I know what you mean. The first time is always hard, but after that it'll be easier.

I pictured myself surrounded by little kids... No, no, I don't think so!

Apparently, Lex saw my face clearly and laughed and left the ship. I'm so screwed!

Tosi's ship flew into the hangar ten minutes later, flew in, and immediately began searching for me. It didn't take long - the silhouette of the "Crown" was pretty recognizable. It landed five meters from the Crown's ramp and immediately released its own. I, swallowing, went to meet the offspring...

The meeting went like on a spy bridge - on one side was Tosi's ship and herself, on the other side was me.

Tosi came down first, at a leisurely pace, and entered my ship. She looked a little different-her lekku was a little longer, reaching to her waist, her figure a little firmer, her waist not the same as before...

- Toshi... it's good to see you! - I greeted her.

- Me too, you can't imagine how, - she smiled, - will you invite me in? - she nodded at the entrance to my ship.

- Yes, yes, of course..." I stepped aside, "come in.

She walked past me, and I followed her. We walked through the wardroom to my captain's cabin. There Tosi finally relaxed and leaned over and grabbed me, clutching me in her arms.

- You idiot! - I've been here all day and he's gone, and I don't hear a peep out of him.

- Well..." I put my arm around her waist, "I'm sorry. It happened, it was not up to me. Especially because I was put conditions: either I do not come back at all, or in six years.

- Who? - she broke away from me, and continued to hug me, - who set it?

- Well..." I bowed my head, "an old man. He demanded that I study with him. Of course, I didn't pass up the opportunity, so I stayed.

- Eh, Henia, if you had known what was going on here," she looked sadly into my eyes, "would you have flown away?

- No, if I had known, I wouldn't have flown away. Alone, at least.

Toshi hugged me once more, and pressed against my shoulder.

- "You're an asshole, Henia!

- I know," I said guiltily, "you'll forgive me, won't you?

- Well..." She hesitated, or pretended to, "of course. Oh, I wanted to tell you so much!

- Tell me," I nodded, letting Tosya out of my arms.

- It slipped my mind," she smiled nonchalantly. - "But nothing. Eh, why were we so ... uh ... how to say ... short-sighted?

- Young, Toshi. I'd say we were young. Though we are very young now, but even more so then.

- That's comforting," she sat down on the bed, "and besides, I had to change my whole life because of what happened. Didn't the Master tell you?

- That you were pregnant? - Yes, he did.

- This 'pregnant' is called Shia, for your information! - she said proudly. - And he's the spitting image of his father.

- What news..." I shook my head, "I came to say goodbye because I found my way home, and then I found out this...

- I can't help it," Toshi shrugged, rubbing the end of her lekku, "and you can tell me you had nothing to do with it.

- No, it's not, it's very much to do with me. Why, yes, it is. It's just the kind of news I can't wait to say goodbye to this time, and here you are.

- I see," Tosi nodded, "it was a surprise to me, too.

I walked across the cabin and sat on the other side of the bed, looking at Toshi thoughtfully:

- I don't even know what to do now. I... I have no idea how to behave in this situation. Well, I mean, the six years went by fast for me-I trained from morning till night and almost didn't notice how the time went by.

- And how to behave? - Tosi didn't understand. - Behave as you did before. Be yourself. But I didn't come here just to see you.

- Yeah? - I didn't understand. - Then what is it?

- We need to have a serious talk," Toshi frowned her eyebrows, and the white pigments on her swarthy skin moved. It looked... comical.

- That's usually where trouble starts," I informed her.

- That depends," Togruta said mockingly, "if your son is trouble to you...

- No, of course," I said indignantly, "it's just a phrase. What did you want to talk about? - I got out of bed, though, and gestured for Tosya to come to the table. The table set in the dining room with tea came in handy. We sat down and sipped our tea before Toshi continued:

- You know... it hasn't been easy for me all these years. For a Togruta, a half-blood child is a sentence. If any Togrut had seen me, much less identified me... if anyone had found out, I wouldn't have had a future career or a peaceful life.

- It's... not a good practice," I said, picking my words carefully, "But you've lived somehow, haven't you?

- Of course," Toshi nodded, "your money was enough to not need anything, and the Jedi Master's salary was still there. It was enough to keep my finances in check. I bought a small farm, some droids... Quite a peaceful place. But still, to live in constant fear of being discovered, or just to suffer from hiding something... It's horrible.

- I'm sorry," I said sadly, "I wish I'd been around.

- How could you help? - Tosi asked herself a question. - I don't think you could have done anything to change the situation.

- I could have done something, I disagreed.

- You can do now," Tosi set her cup aside, "have you found your way home?

- Yes, I could fly away right now.

- That's good," she nodded slightly, "you can take Shiay with you.

- What?" I didn't understand. - With you? Another time?

- Exactly," she nodded more vigorously, "Shii was already growing up without a father. He needs you now. I've begun to teach him a lot of things, but that's not it. Besides, it was hard to explain to him why he doesn't live with us. I bet he doesn't really know what "daddy" is.

That... that was a punch below the belt. I didn't know my father either, and from what my mother had said, I didn't think I wanted to know who he was. The words made me sink into my own memories for a while. Mom worked day and night to get us through, and then I helped her, too. I guess I didn't know what it was like to have a father either. That's exactly what I told Tosi:

- All right, honey, I'll take him. I understand Shia as no one else does. My mother once told me that I didn't have a father at all.

- Yes, I remember," she nodded, taking another cup of tea, "I thought you might need convincing longer... Well, there's a war going on here, and you can't be discriminated against for having a half-blood son, but I can't go back to Shili and they'll take the clan name away...

- I see," I nodded again. Can I... can I see him?

- Of course," Toshi smiled.

She stood up and went quickly to her ship.

Unlike our meeting, the meeting with my son was even more conspiratorial - he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a hood covering his face. Apparently, it wasn't the first time Shia had appeared in public in this disguise. Toshi led him by the arm to my ship, where I immediately closed the ramp behind us.

- Shii," Toshi turned to the boy, "meet your daddy...

The little one took off his hood. The only thing I noticed was his brown skin, a little lighter than Toshi's, but still brown.

Vi, he really does look like me. We stared at each other for about a minute-the kid was blond, with blue eyes, just like me, only I had sharper features, and Shia's face was brightened by pigments... just like Toshi's. Only the face was one-to-one human, really, with some of Toshi's features...

The further "nya-nya-mimi" can be skipped, since the kid wouldn't understand such an address, I got right to the point:

- I'm glad that we finally saw each other, let's go to the cabin, - I led the family. The baby's emotions are a cocktail, not like Tosya's.... Together we reached the kitchen, a rather spacious room. Vip-yacht travelers rarely have unpretentious eating habits, and some carry live cooks with them rather than droids or dry rations. Toshi helped Shia into a chair and sat down next to her:

- Well, I thought you'd at least say hello," she seemed offended. - Why aren't you family? Henia, do you have anything to eat?

- Of course," I turned to the stasis chamber, which I called by no other name than "refrigerator," and took out a snack and put it on the table. - Okay, let's get this straight. Toshi, have you told Shia what happens next?

- No. Not yet," she lowered her gaze to her plate.

- In that case, I'll do it.

- Next? - The boy didn't understand. - Mother?

- Listen to your father, Shia," she picked up her glass of tea. The boy turned to me.

- Dad, what are you talking about?

- Mom just wants to tell you that from now on you will fly with me. Far, very far away. I don't think you'll ever see your mother again...

The boy remained shocked by the news, but quickly switched to other topics, namely, flooding me with questions:

- Dad, did you really go to school with Mom?

- I did.

- You're a Jedi, aren't you?

- Master Jedi, just like your mom," I nodded, "so now you don't have a pedigree, you just have fire! - I smirked.

- And where are we going?

- I'll tell you later. I'll tell you that it's far away.

- Why can't we stay here?

- There are reasons for that, too. Unfortunately, we won't be able to live like everyone else..." I looked at Tosya, who nodded at me.

- Are you going to teach me, like my mom?

- I will! Stop, no more questions! - I recoiled at Tosya's laugh.

- A very curious boy," she commented, "and very stubborn, but it passes quickly.

- I see," I nodded.

The rest of the dinner was spent talking about Shia. The boy himself was escorted to the guest quarters, where he promptly fell asleep...

- Well," Toshi came out of the cabin after putting her son to bed, "he fell asleep.

- I see... yes, I didn't expect a boy like that. He's a tough one.

- Yeah. Just like you.

- It's more from you," I countered, "you're a real quiet one.

- Well..." Toshi smiled as I came up behind her and put my arm around her waist, "I won't be long. At least there's no point in waiting too long to say goodbye....

- And judging by your hands, you really want to say goodbye..." she said playfully, "you're burning with desire...

I did not answer and finally managed to kiss her on the neck. Turning around, Tosi herself dipped her lips into mine, and we did not look, not stopping the kiss, moved in the direction of my quarters. The bed there was big!

* The next day *

The goodbye was indeed something else. After our last night together, I was finally able to leave. I handed the rest of the money, which was quite a large sum, to Tosi, as it would most likely be invalid in my time. Tosi thanked me and in the morning, just looked into the cabin, where Shia was sleeping peacefully.

- Will you come in? - I asked, nodding at the cabin, which was half-dark and the faint sniffing of a sleeping child could be heard.

- No," Toshi shook her head, "it's... hard. I'll never see you again. Not you, not our son. If I start to say goodbye, I'll wish it would never end, and I'll only hurt myself.

- Our wishes don't always come true, but are you sure? - I leaned against the wall, looking at her face. Toshi would have cried, except she was too good at controlling herself, like all the adepts of Juyo.

- I'm sure she was.

I hugged her goodbye, after which Toshi, giving me one last quick kiss, asked me to take care of Shia and returned to her ship. Which immediately took off. I returned to the bridge with a heavy weight on my mind - Toshi was depressed to say the least. The atmosphere of a hard farewell hovered on the ship. But I had already felt something similar when Ali died. Hopelessness, loss, loss... Then I looked the same way as Toshi does now - there is no way out, everything has already happened, but it is necessary to part with a loved one, and for good. It leaves a heavy burden on your soul, but you can find the strength and purpose to go on living.

- Erdva, take over the controls," I began the preflight check of the ship, "start all systems, close the hatch, start the reactor, activate the hyperdrive circuits.

- Roger that. Launch complete.

I moved the repulsor control lever. The ship rose gently over the surface of the hangar.

- Tell Lex... Tell him I said goodbye. Also, tell him to tell Toshi when she comes back that I love her. Sooner or later we will meet again.

- Message sent.

Nothing else kept me in the temple, or on Coruscant, or in this time at all.

I pressed the throttle and the ship shot out of the hangar and into the sky.