Dzik

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20+ chapter ahead. -----------------------------------------------

- Raine! - my mentor called out to me as our group left the classroom.

- Yes, Mentor Kajan," I turned to him.

- Did you read the books I sent you on the datapad?

- I've read them. But I'm still figuring it out.

- Is something wrong, Master Kajan? - The curator peeked into the classroom.

- No, no, Lairi, nothing's wrong. We're just talking about supplementary materials.

- Well, I'll leave you to it. You got it, Raine. You know where to go?

- History class, with mentor Radau.

After watching the woman leave the classroom, he turned to Kajan.

- So you've read it, then? - I nodded. - But I haven't figured it out yet. - Another nod. - And I was going to give you some more books.

- I don't mind," I said quickly. - I'm always up for it. There's so much in the Archives, you don't know what to look for.

- Yes, our Archives are a maze. In that case," he handed me a memory chip, "you can give it to me at the next lesson.

- Thank you, mentor," I bowed as I took the chip. - It would have taken me a long time to figure out what to read without you.

- That's why I'm sitting here," the man grinned. - Go on, run along. Catch up with your group.

So I ran. And since the conversation lasted very briefly, I caught up quickly.

The rest of the day passed as usual, but after school Lairi surprised me. After she had escorted the group down the corridor to their rooms, the tweezer called me aside.

We stood and talked. We looked at each other.

- I take it," the woman began, "you're into technology.

- Mmm... - I began to pick up the words. - My father is a technician. - And just in case something happens, I added. - Yeah, I like to... ...to mess around with machinery.

We were quiet some more.

- Okay, come with me.

After those words, I got curious. A great curiosity. I do not know what she was up to, but I was already curious.

After a couple of minutes, I caught up with the fact that I was being led to an elevator. Which means that wherever we're going, it's not on our "unling" fifth floor. Great, there's the elevator. Oh. Second floor. It gets more and more interesting. The second floor in the Temple could be called the technical floor, although that wouldn't be entirely correct. It's where the hangars, both planetary equipment and space equipment, are located. It is where the various warehouses, the large and small workshops, and the reception area for cargoes coming into the Temple are located. As well as a couple of "small" generators dedicated only to this floor. But the interesting thing is that I've already tried there... how do you say... ...to join the knowledge, but, alas, I was quickly sent away. You see, free admission there is only from eight years old. Aren't they assholes? By the way, when they turned me away, I was even a little surprised. Of course, there are places where no one is allowed to go, not counting private rooms, but I somehow got used to the fact that a lot of things are allowed here. I'll even say more-not much is forbidden in the Order at all. But very often you run into a lot of disapproval. If you want, you can do it, but the Order does not approve of it. But it becomes clear why they don't take adult Minds as Jedi. No, that's probably not the only reason, but nevertheless....

Think about it, the Jedi take either infants or very young children and then begin to raise them. And the fact that it is from this very early upbringing that a person's way of thinking is formed... ...a reasonable person, in this case... everyone knows. All you have to do is shake your head at the right moment, and voila - the mini-block is ready. I still remember a moment from my previous life, when, while walking from kindergarten, I saw a child I knew, but I couldn't remember his name. So I called him, "Hey, you," and even stretched out my hand, pointing at him, so that I knew exactly who he was. And he got it from his mother. She then said only a few words, I do not remember verbatim, but the meaning was simple - it is impolite to poke others with your finger and shout "hey, you. That was it. A lifelong block. I haven't liked those words at all since then. I've been rude often in my life, but I don't think I've ever addressed anyone that way since that incident. And that's just the moment I remember, but how many more were there? And I'm not saying that's a bad thing, the Jedi bring up really good people... reasonable. It's not bad, it's not good, it just is. But I can't get that kind of upbringing working for me anymore. One more thing to note. In a past life or two, I've come across the claim that Jedi are Light fanatics. Well, I can authoritatively say that I haven't seen anything like that. Yet. I've had very little contact with adult Jedi, not to mention mentors.

In the end, Lairi led me to the gate of a huge hangar, where there was a whole bunch of different planetary equipment. From a speederbike to something that looked like a bus. Vehicles of different races, droids of different models, workbenches, machinery disassembled for parts... I definitely like it here.

Stopping for a moment at the gate, Lairi glanced around the hangar and, finding someone to look at, went straight for one of the speeders.

- Hello, Dzik," she stopped beside the huge man. Bald, mustachioed, and, judging by the expression on his face, good-natured.

- Hello to you too, Safi. What brings you here? - He looked at me.

- Here," they put a hand on my head, "this youngling shows interest in technology. I thought it might be useful and interesting for him to be here. I wanted to ask you to keep an eye on him.

- Hmm. Is the youngling interested in repulsors? - The man muttered.

Why do you care about repulsors?

- I'm interested," I said. And for some reason I added: - My father is a technician.

After I said that, the man thought about something, squinting at Lairi.

- So, will you keep an eye on me? - The woman broke the silence.

- Of course I will. "If the father's a techie," he glanced at the Twi'lek, "how can I not do something about it?

- Fine. In that case, I'll be going," said the woman. - Don't stay out too late," he glanced in my direction.

- Of course, Mentor Lairi," I answered.

- Dzik," I nodded to the technician.

- Safi," I nodded back, and then the woman headed for the exit.

"Well, pretty girl," I thought to myself, "the deflection is defended.

No matter how I looked at it, she had no reason to drag me here. Only as an apology for the balloon I'd been fiddling with for so long.

- Well, kid, let's get acquainted. You can call me Zik. I'm senior technician, foreman of the sixty-third technician brigade. What's your name?

- Rayne. Rain Dacari. Can I ask you a question?

- Shoot.

- You've been always looking at the mentor Lairi. Why?

- A? Hmm. How shall I put it? You see, the Order does not approve of contact with the outside world," he began cautiously. - Friends, loved ones... parents.

- Yes, I'm aware of that.

- Heh. I'm aware of that. Anyway, I was surprised that you talk about it so freely and Safi doesn't react to it in any way. You're lucky to have her. Okay, come on, let's not talk about sad things. Come on, I'll show you the insides of the X-34. It's a great speeder in every way. Except for the price.

I recognize the speeder. Even though I watched the third episode of that movie a long time ago.

- And how much does it cost? - I asked the bouncer.

- Over ten thousand credits, man.

Wow. Half of Han Solo's ship. And Luke and Obi-Wan sold theirs for a couple thousand. Clearly it would have been worth less at the time, plus the fact that it wasn't new. But two thousand credits? Or am I wrong? Kenobi said it wasn't much, didn't he? Ugh, what difference does it make now?

On the whole, I liked Dzik. He was big and good-natured, and he didn't make a big deal out of the fact that I was only five, but he didn't talk to me like I was an adult, either. He introduced me to his crew, half of whom were brats, and boasted of his droid, R3-T1, who looked much the same as I remembered R2-D2. And there was a lot to brag about, by the way - the R3 series droids were produced in limited numbers and only to certain entities that had permission to do so. I doubt that would stop many, but the fact remained that they were rare. Dzik was just lucky enough to work at the Temple, so he got them through connections. He didn't even have to upgrade it, he told me. He just optimized it for himself.

After that day I had to rewrite the schedule of my free time and what I set aside for myself after lights out. I even thought that I could reduce my daily meditation time with some of my classes. The same Technology. But I realized that I would not be allowed to do it in class, and I did not want to offend the teachers. After all, an offended teacher is, in addition to the cancellation of some indulgences and a good attitude, also quite dangerous. In the end I had to go up to Lairi and ask her if meditation was useful at all. And she answered. I had to ask her again. I was not ready for such in-depth philosophical topics. From what I was able to understand, it appeared that meditation... or rather, through meditation, the Jedi was expanding his connection to the Force. Notice that it wasn't enhancing, it was expanding. Meditation allowed you to understand yourself and your surroundings, which in turn allowed you to use more Jedi techniques. And better, too. As for the "better" part, it was the training that came first. Of course, there was more to meditation than that, but that was what kept me from cutting back on my time allotted to it.

And then there was Ahsoka, who is Tano.

I don't know how, I don't know why, but she found the room I was living in. I wouldn't say that the girl had taken up residence with us, but she visited often enough. And since I was mostly meditating in my room, that was the part of my development that was in danger of being derailed. It's a good thing I didn't live alone and managed to transfer her attention to the others, which, except for Rama, our young militant, didn't make anyone happy. And Ahsoka turned out to be quite a stubborn person, and it didn't take long to get rid of her. One time I couldn't stand it, and I was rude to her. God, if I'd only known where that would lead. Fucking animals. The whole room roared, except for me. Ahsoka started it, Palatt got in on it, and then Rama got in on it.... One by one the kids started crying, making me feel like a monster in the middle of a wrinkled flower bed. An annoyed monster.