Old Republic Blues

Galactica was a very old social entity. Very, very old. If one can say of Earth's history that much has been tried, one can say of the galaxy that it has experienced everything since the time of the space pioneers. It began when the Columi race discovered the means of interstellar travel. This happened, according to various estimates, about two million years ago. Since then, history has faltered in its grandiosity and descended into the usual interactions of thousands of different planets - trade, war, enslavement, extermination, making alliances, betrayal and intrigue. If the inhabitants of the galaxy had anything in common, it was their unwillingness to unite - xenophobia was extremely common as a tool for politicians to influence citizens. No one wanted to submit to anyone, and I understand them - in such a heterogeneous society it is impossible to have a common idea. Some were staunch democrats, almost on a genetic level. The Hutts were a slave system with a clan-aristocratic system. Togrut, for example - extremely social creatures and at the dawn of civilization lived in large families-clans, supporting each other, easily communicate with representatives of other families and in general with any reasonable, divided the prey equally between all family members. Dagi, on the contrary, are aggressive individualistic egoists, who need a family only in their early childhood, and because of their character and upbringing they have some problems when trying to talk even with their own kind, what to say about the other races ...

There is no need to talk about any social order. Each race has its own principles, its own rules, its own psychology, and its own destiny. The only, and most cohesive interracial society of the pre-Republican era is the endless Rakata Empire. The aggressive race enslaved all who were weaker than them and then their equals, evolving and improving. But they imposed their laws on the other races, laws seemingly not stupid or wrong, just alien. Here I am, when I wake up, I don't jump on my left foot. And if some boss said "you all have to jump in the morning," he'd be treated like a complete idiot. Even if he himself, as well as his entire race performs this ritual rigorously and sincerely believe that jumping brings them luck. From this point of view, the republic is a miracle of nature or the evolution of society. A myriad of worlds and an innumerable number of beings, physically and even more psychologically different from one another, conduct a relatively peaceful dialogue without attacking one another. Each system has its own laws and policies - plutocracy, feudalism, corporatocracy, dictatorship, colonial authoritarianism, democracy, tyranny, fascism... and many races before the founding of the republic believed that their way of thinking was the only right one, that their political system was the correct one, and that the rest of us simply could not understand or accept it. There were exceptions, of course, in the form of perfectly peaceful planets that did not seek power even over their neighbors, let alone the whole galaxy, but such sat quietly as mice under a broom. As a result, we have hundreds of ideologies that hundreds of trillions of intelligent people were willing to defend to their last breath. But the result was predictable - everyone fought everyone else, and tried to enslave, conquer, and impose their thinking. It didn't work - you can't fight nature, even the quietest tribes like the Gungans would go to war if an unknown green man came and told them that they now obey him and must live their lives the way he wants.

It was agreed that each system has its own power, its own regime, its own principles and social foundations, and the galactic senate will become an arena for throwing accusations at each other and a corral for politicians. The all-galactic war has been thirty-plus millennia since it developed into frequent border skirmishes between the systems that make up the Republic. Since the last reforms a thousand years ago, the Chancellor has not had much power, but what he has on the scale of one man is already very much. But the Senate prevails and has enormous power, while the Chancellor only serves them and sometimes separates them.

Inside, in the living room, there was a pseudo-king who was listening to the Jedi. I did not interrupt him, though both Qui-Gon and Ben noticed me. Qui-Gon seemed determined to end the conversation with words:

- Unfortunately, we don't have any leads, but we're trying to find him. The council took the threat of a sith assassin very seriously.

"The Queen" didn't say much, just nodded and the Jedi, with a bow, stepped back in my direction, and I was already standing near the very door to the servants' rooms. Ben kept up with the teacher, and we went inside. The servants were still with the fake queen, while here we had a real meeting - Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Amidala, myself, and our best iron Stirlitz - Tripio were present!

As we entered, Quigon shut the door tightly, and Ben sat down in the nearest chair.

In the meantime I ordered Threepio to stand aside and turned to Quigon:

- Well, if it's in your power, please tell me what happened...

- Anakin, for starters, why don't Padmé take a walk... or do her duties," said the Jedi with a glance at the "maid. Padme didn't seem to understand what was going on, so I immediately dispelled any doubts:

- Don't be, Qui-Gon, I have confidence in Padme.

- Yeah? Well, that's your right, but I wouldn't advise bringing in any unnecessary people.

- Padmé is not an outsider! Or at least she has a right to know what's going on," I said in a noncommittal tone. The queen herself "woke up" and immediately said:

- What is going on? What do you mean?

- Um... - I looked at the queen, and thinking that I could tell her everything beforehand, I answered:

- Bear with me, we'll tell you all about it in a moment. Qui-Gon? - I turned my attention to the Jedi, who had already sat down in the chair next to the apprentice's. I remained standing, glancing from Qui-Gon to Obi-Wan. The Jedi looked at each other and Qui-Gon began his story:

- After we parted, Obi-Wan and I went to the Jedi council. Masters Yoda and Windu were present and they listened to us carefully," Qui-Gon said in a measured, measured voice that made listening to him a pleasure, which Amidala did, "when I told them about your underground successes, they could hardly believe it, and they found the story about the Sith attacking us all the more strange. Most likely a Sith. We can't prove anything.

- Not yet," Obi-Wan added hurriedly, his youthful vigor keeping him quiet. Quigon glanced at his apprentice disapprovingly and continued:

- The full council had already assembled by then, so they listened to us once more. Oddly enough, Master Yoda believed in your abilities, as did most of the other masters. I hope your suspicions are justified...

- Don't doubt it, Qui-Gon. So the masters have gathered and decided to send you back to the queen? - I asked, knowing in advance the answer. Ben began to answer:

- They began a long discussion of the details, until...

- Until the chancellor requested that you two be sent back to protect the queen because the assassin might still be on the trail? - I interrupted Ben. The Jedi's gazes crossed over me, after which Quigon said:

- How do you know?

- I didn't know exactly, it just makes sense, doesn't it? If the senator hadn't asked for your help, the Order's council would probably still be discussing the details for a long time. There's a lot of talking going on... - I shook my head. - Well, if they sent you, it means that either the Council has objective reasons for that, or it's more likely that the Chancellor asked you. I understand he doesn't want to involve anyone else, he hopes to keep the case secret... and he already knows you. From what I've heard lately, it seems you're working undercover, guarding the queen from that Zabrak.

There was a silence. Qui-Gon thought intensely, staring at me, at his apprentice, at Amidala, and even at Tripio, who had the chance to look thoughtfully at the Jedi.

- This is strange," the Jedi finally snapped back, "you're doing too well for your age," Qui-Gon shook his head, leaving me to shake my hands and say, "No comment.

Padme had just "woken up" and started to question Qui-Gon:

- Master Qui-Gon, what are you here for, if not to protect the queen?

- To protect, among other things. By the way, Anakin, you promised you'd look after the queen in our absence. And you were off with Padmé, by the way," said Quigon, his eyes fixed on me.

- Thank you, Padmé helped. The answer is sorry, 'no comment,'" I threw my hands up again. Qui-Gon was unhappy that I had strayed from the "royal" persona, but only a little. Ben Kenobi, unlike his teacher, paid no attention at all to such a trifle, and I refused to comment on my behavior. Right, I promised to be with the queen, didn't I? So I've been with her all day. I broke the silence:

- First I suggest we see what Tripio can tell us.

- A translation droid? - Qui-Gon wondered.

- But, no. By the way, I built it, so it has so many useful features... You know, with sonic microphones and laser pickups. And other useful stuff.

- Oh, yeah? I wonder what happened while we were gone," said Kenobi, getting comfortable. But Padme was just now beginning to blaze with righteous indignation:

- "What do you mean, the sounders? Were you eavesdropping in the queen's chamber? - She glared angrily at Threepio. He stepped closer and answered her:

- "That is what my master ordered me to do. Shall I play the record? - He turned to me. I had to get up to put Padme back by the shoulder, with the words, "Trypio, turn it on.

And the tape started...

I didn't find much difference from the film - Palpatine tried to ride on the ears, gave a fiery speech about corruption and how badly the Chancellor was managing and that it was time to elect a new one - younger and more energetic. Palpatine cleverly avoided the natural question that the chancellor is an ally of Naboo and even turned the speech against the pseudo-king. When the recording ended, the room fell into silence for a minute. Qui-Gon was the first to respond:

- Yes, Anakin, I hoped to the last minute that your assumptions were wrong... But you were right, Palpatine is digging into the Chancellor, and he wants to use the young Amidala for his own purposes.

- It was predictable, Qui-Gon," I said. "I don't know much about him because I've only seen him once, but that's enough to tell you that he's very power-hungry.

- If your second conclusion comes true, too, I don't know how or what we'll do," Obi-Wan interjected. Padme decided to speak up:

- Well, what does that require Jedi intervention?

- Only that Palpatine is dangerous. Anakin suggested that he was directly connected to whoever tried to kill us on Tatooine. Which means he tried to get rid of the queen. When he failed to do so, he decided to use Queen Amidala in his intrigues - to get her at odds with the Chancellor," Qui-Gon replied, "obviously he wants to make an attempt to overthrow the Chancellor.

Padme listened in silence, and toward the end she was thinking seriously, and I continued in Qui-Gon's place:

- Besides, he's using force. Yes, definitely...

- So he's also... - Padme asked, looking at me, "this, what's his...

- Jedi? Oh, no, Padme, Jedi don't act that way, much less for their own personal gain. Of course, nothing is alien to the order, but the Jedi never got involved in politics. The one who attacked us on our departure from Tatooine is a Sith, and I sense a similar power in Palpatine. Yes, he is most likely a Sith and certainly belongs to the dark side of the force. The Sith have been enemies of the Jedi since the dawn of time, and they represent evil. Evil, anger, greed, power... And the Sith are very, very dangerous," I said. Padme thought again, and was forced to accept the rules of the game-the Sith are evil. At least, that's what I've been trying to convince the queen, and not without success. Threepio had already stepped aside when Qui-Gon concluded:

- To begin with, the queen should be cautioned against obeying him. The Sith will probably try to make his way as chancellor if he makes such a speech.

- I hope the chancellor doesn't let it go to waste. Qui-Gon, do you have any idea how we can expose him? - I asked, settling into a strange chair.

- No. We'll be near the queen for starters.

- But not at the meeting of the Senate," Obi-Wan said firmly.

- Not the Senate," Obi-Wan said firmly. "It's an open question, but I doubt he'll try to force the Queen's hand.

- Just stay close to her. At all times. Try to have at least one of you by the queen's side. I'm not sure, but he might try to kill Amidala again if he feels that she doesn't yield to his speeches.

- Quite possibly, by the way," Qui-Gon replied before Amidala could say anything, "your words make sense. Starting today, we're taking the queen under round-the-clock guard.

- But Panaka will probably protest," Ben said, looking at Amidala. She, reflecting, replied:

- No, I don't think so. He's a little over the top, of course, but he wouldn't mind the extra security.

- So it's settled," Qui-Gon said, patting himself on the knees, "Anakin, can you put Tripio and keep an eye on the queen's contacts?

- I doubt it, after all, Amidala doesn't always talk in that room, and a droid can't lurk around on her heels.

- Hmm... - Qui-Gon wondered. - Well, he's already done his task, now we'll keep an eye on the suspect.

Yoda was extremely thoughtful today. Not only was the trade federation behind the blockade of Naboo, but the knight sent out had found an incredibly gifted boy on the poor outlying planet, presumably conceived by midichlorians, that is, by force. Of course, the knight could sense if they were trying to trick him, so he could be believed. Windu was on Quigon's side, as was Yoda himself, and was just about to say something about the boy when Quigon dropped the second piece of news on them--the Sith attacked them on Tatooine. "Supposedly a Sith," Yoda corrected himself. No sooner had the council subsided from the uproar of the discussion than Quigon again blurted out the news to all present - supposedly Palpatine, the senator from Naboo, was behind the Sith, and he might even be a Sith himself, that boy felt. What a jigsaw puzzle indeed. But everyone is in their place-the Sith, the Naboo, the Trade Federation, and Quigon and his gifted boy. There was a ruckus in the council again - only Yoda and Windu remained calm and silent, not wanting to add to the noise. After everyone had calmed down a bit, Windu took the floor:

- "Quigon, you do realize that this is... hard to believe. - he asked.

- Yes, Master, but I was only retelling the boy's words. Of course, and also there has never been that Zabrak among the Jedi, and the methods, the clothing, the sword, the style... everything points to a Sith.

- Yes, we get it. There is, however, the possibility that we may have been misled...

- I'm sorry, but I don't see the point. - Qui-Gon shook his head. "If the assassins want to kill the queen, they'd be foolish to make such a spectacle of themselves.

- Yeah, and the Sith haven't been seen in centuries, either. - Windu nodded in agreement, "Maybe someone found the old Golokron.

- Golokron can't teach swordsmanship, much less how to use it so well. You need a tutor, and a Zabrak's style is nothing like that of the Temple. - Quigon answered.

- Is that so? Well, perhaps we should take the threat of an assassin seriously. But Senator? How can you explain that? - Windu asked.

- There is no explanation, Master Windu. Only what Anakin said-- that the Senator has the same dark power as the Sith who attacked us.

- Is that so? - Master Yoda said, before Windu could even say anything, and continued when the Jedi masters' eyes were focused on him, "We must be very careful not to let any danger pass us by. I sense that you did not just meet with the boy; it was destined to happen.

- But, Master, could it not have been an accident, or even the design of those who attempted to assassinate the Nabuan queen? - Windu asked, to the cheers and nods of the others.

- Who knows, maybe so, maybe not. Accidents like that rarely happen to the Gifted, and if they were to be believed that he was conceived by force, they would not happen at all.

Then, before the Grand Master could finish his sentence, the Secretary of the Order's Council came through the door and, making an apologetic face, said:

- Sorry to interrupt you, the council has an urgent message from the chancellor.

Quigon remained silent as Yoda looked at him disapprovingly. The message was on paper, in a white paper envelope, which the secretary held out to Yoda. In such matters, the Chancellor preferred not to trust messengers or electronic communications, which was rather far-sighted of him. Accepting the envelope, Yoda printed it out and read the printed text. He hesitated for a moment. There was a look of impatience and interest in the board.

- Is that so? Have you told the Chancellor that you suspect the Senator? - Yoda asked.

- No, Master, Anakin asked the chancellor to stay when he told him about his suspicions, so we learned about it at the same time. - Quigon replied nonchalantly.

- "The Chancellor asks me to send you, to guard the Queen and 'bring clarity to some senators' that would," quoted the Master of the Order. Go back to the queen and that senator, and look after the senator and the boy, that will be my decision. What will the masters say? - Yoda asked a question that could be considered rhetorical. The masters, of course, did not object.

The secretary had already left so quietly that he seemed to have evaporated. Quigon bowed briefly to the entire council and walked back out, receiving Yoda's admonition and wish for strength.

The Council ended as chaotically as it began-Yoda quieted all the masters, and they took turns discussing their concerns, from the appearance of some Sith-like mind to the boy and his strange powers.

I didn't sleep well. The warm, soft bed in my own, my own room, and all the worries of the day gone by did the trick - I wandered around until one o'clock in the morning, only to fall asleep. I woke up late in the morning, about eleven o'clock, but I had a good night's sleep until my bones ached. The first thing I did was to remember everything that had happened yesterday. I got dressed in my new clothes, took a shower, and then, like a white man, went out for "breakfast", which should be called lunch.

Mom was right there, reading something on her tablet.

- Good morning, Mom! Where are Padme and the Jedi?

- Morning, Ani. You're so sleepy. Here they are, the queen flew off to the senate and left us here. - Said Mother.

"Fine," I thought, and went to the main room occupied by the queen. There I found the Jedi sitting on the couch, sipping something from large white cups. Quigon greeted me with a smile, saying:

- Good morning, Anakin. So, are you ready for new achievements?

- You could say that. - I answered doubtfully.

The Queen's double stately, as befits a "queen", entered her flying podium and took a seat in the Senate. Palpatine settled himself behind the queen's shoulder and, losing his guard, waited for the meeting to begin. Soon everyone was assembled, and Chancellor Finis Valorum, expecting a catch from some of the senators present, opened the emergency special session.

- Gentlemen of the senators! I have summoned you to resolve the issue that has arisen in connection with the unexpected aggressive actions of the trade federation! - he said into the microphone in a well-pitched voice. Whispers spread through the dark giant hall of the Senate, and the chancellor, satisfied with the produced effect, continued to forge the iron: - Recently the Trade Federation fleet together with an army of droids invaded the peaceful planet of Naboo, establishing a blockade and threatening the queen of Naboo with punishment in case of insubordination! The reason for this is that the king of the trade federation wants to conclude an extremely humiliating treaty for Naboo to export plasma, a treaty that can't be called anything other than plunder! A peaceful planet cannot resist such well-organized piracy, and we must take action before the "trade" federation ruins Naboo and takes on the other planets. There is no other word for the Trade Federation's methods than "piracy. I propose that we strip the Trade Federation of all its rights and recognize its activities as piracy! Previously, we tried to limit the influence of the Trade Federation by more peaceful methods, but their response was aggression against a peaceful planet and the hasty arming of their supposedly cargo ships. The Viceroy of the Trade Federation is unwilling to submit to the Republic and has no doubt used force. Either we prevent the threat now, or the Federation will use aggression against those unable to defend themselves.

Noise is probably an understatement-an uproar erupted in the senate that cut off all attempts to reach the senators for several minutes. Valorum covered his eyes in silence until the senators stopped making noise, and continued in a quieter but more persuasive tone:

- The Trade Federation has degenerated into a handful of criminals, driven by their greed and threatening the financial relations of our planets! They set blatantly inflated tariffs, profiting from our trade, and now they have turned almost to robbery, threatening a peaceful planet with reprisals if they don't sign up to export their resources for nearly free. Having tasted the profits of Naboo, they will continue to attack planets, taking advantage of the fact that the Senate has no fear of serious measures!

The chancellor fell silent as the pod of one of the senators flew forward, repulsors blaring. He turned out to be a Dag, a representative of a belligerent race not the most important in the galactic senate.

- But then how can we conduct trade deals, eh? We have a treaty with the Trade Federation! - Dag exclaimed, fearlessly climbing to the very edge of his podium.

- I understand you, but we must stop crimes of greed - I propose we disband the trade federation and form a galactic trade body reporting directly to the senate. That way we'll avoid problems with inflated tariffs and besides..." the chancellor smiled at the dag, "the income from this body will go not into the pockets of some king of some federation, not even represented in the senate, but to us. Our planets. Of course, you will have to pay a commission to those who will sell your goods, but the rates will be set in common, and will be fair to all races. In the end, you'll be selling the same things as before, only more expensive.

From somewhere below came a tribune of Keldorians. A senator from that unattractive race, through the sound emitters of the mask said:

- Won't this cause extraordinary inflation? At the moment, the Trade Federation is closely tied to our trade, and a sudden cessation would cause serious losses.

- I believe we can resolve this issue. All races that depend on trade will get the goods they need in an emergency before we can advance our galactic trade body. - The Chancellor replied.

There was silence on the podium of the Nabuan delegation. The pseudo queen was pleased that the chancellor had taken the brunt of the negotiations, but Palpatine... The senator from Naboo, who had not expected the chancellor, as a soft man, to start pushing such hard methods was discouraged. Things ended up turning against him - besides the trade federation, of course, the Sith overlord had connections, but the trade federation was the most convenient for further plans. How could a vote of no confidence be passed now? After all, it was expected that the Senate would take a long time to negotiate the situation, and in the meantime the Trade Federation, obeying the order of the Sith, would start shooting the Nabuanian inhabitants. The queen would not stand for that and was forced to return while he, Darth Sidious, took his place as supreme chancellor of the Republic.

But the situation turned in a completely unexpected way - most of the senators represented small races that do not have the power to defend themselves and the chancellor taught the news so that the votes of these "small" are already in his pocket. And along with the promise to share the profits that the Trade Federation used to take for itself... it's impossible to refuse. What's more, they have already begun to discuss the details of the new trade body. And as always, more hateful bureaucracy. Privately, Senator Palpatine approved of the Chancellor's resolute methods, but was extremely angry at Valorum for spoiling the entire combination with his aggression. Now, sensing an opportunity to increase profits, the major races would also vote yes...

The vote was almost unanimous. The trade federation was over. The bought and just supporters of the Federation were barely noticeable against those who agreed with the expansion of the piracy law and the destruction of the Trade Federation. Chancellor Valorum smiled as the results of the vote came up on the holodisplay in his podium. True, there is now a new problem, with an almost complete lack of armed forces to destroy the federation. They are unlikely to resist, after all, they are traders and most would prefer to bend over and join the new trade body - technicians, pilots, ships... "should I send the Jedi?" - thought the Chancellor and smiled at his thoughts, remembering the boy who started it all.

Yoda left the council chamber thoughtful, so none of the masters of the order dared to distract him with their momentary problems. Lately the old Jedi felt that he was getting tired of everything that was so actively going on in the galaxy - the boy's appearance, the Sith, the blockade of the planet Naboo by the Trade Federation, the suspicions falling on the senator from Naboo...

* Chancellor's Office *

The Supreme Chancellor of the Republic was as thoughtful as the Master of the Jedi Order. After receiving evidence that Palpatine wanted to replace him as Chancellor, or put his own man in, Valorum was glad to have some way out of the situation. A detailed study of the situation with the trade federation yielded unexpected results - the senate was hungry for bread and circuses, or rather hungry for active action. The Trade Federation was the largest association in the galaxy, but it did not cover even a quarter of all the deals made - the galaxy is too big, but no one can embrace the immensity. Increasing the tax on trade routes only caused aggression from the viceroy, and that the Senate did not want to tolerate - disobedience to the law and refusal to pay taxes can be equated with rebellion, and blockade of a peaceful planet in order to force the queen to sign a treaty - piracy or banditry. Of course, the feared trade federation and its allies planets, or rather their representatives would easily get rid of the chancellor, so the choice was simple - either Valorum gets rid of the federation, or the senate gets rid of Valorum first and then the federation. On top of that, the Chancellor felt a hard job ahead that he had to, just had to do, so the thoughts were one gloomier than the other. The Chancellor had the Justice Corps, incapable of decisive military action, and he had the Jedi Order - very willful, but dutiful and eager, and most importantly able to carry the good with lightsabers everywhere. The Federation, as the accelerated interrogation of some officials suspected of bribery showed, had an armed and combat-ready merchant fleet capable of giving battle to both the Order and the entire Republic. The only saving grace was that the merchant federation consisted of smaller companies, many of which had their own administration, much at odds with the viceroy. Of course, much has changed since the Neimodians came to power, but the main thing remains the same: a handful of speculative merchants who seek only profit. Why would they fight for the Federation? But there haven't been major wars in centuries, and the army hasn't existed as a class since the Ruusan Reform, so the Senate was defenseless against even such a Federation fleet. Who could they count on? Barely half a percent of the planets they used to do business with-most would simply accept the new rules of the game and send the Federation away.

After thinking about it, the chancellor took a white piece of paper out of his desk and inserted it into the printer. Opening a program on his computer, he began to write an outline of a letter to Master Yoda. Half an hour later, the letter was finished, and checked several times as well - after all, this was the first time in his career that Chancellor Valorum was making such an important request to a Jedi.

* Queen Amidala's Chambers, Anakin Skywalker

It turned out that while Quigon was talking to the council, Obi-Wan Kenobi had time to go to the training areas of the Junglings and check out the Jedi master who was training the Junglings, a whole training droid, complete with a training sword.

As I ate my breakfast, Ben and Quigon looked at each other and pulled out all this stuff without talking. Quigon said:

- Anakin, this is normal training for younglings. Come on, put the bandage on. - Quigon handed me a silken ribbon. As he tied it over my eyes, I asked, trying to get my bearings:

- What's next?

- You can leave your lightsaber on your belt, Obi-Wan took his training sword from the temple. Quigon held out his sword to me. I felt it, so I reached out and took the sword, immediately activating it.

- What next?

- Stand in the middle of the room. Yeah, that's it..." Ben said as he sat down on the couch.

I crossed to the middle of the room, standing a meter and a half or two from the nearest chair, and already guessed what it was.

Words were difficult, almost impossible, to describe the feeling of power. I could see the whole room, and Ben sitting with a smirk in his chair, and Quigon, who shook his head disapprovingly, after which the "young Padawan" portrayed seriousness. It all looked like some alternate five senses-as if I were looking around at three hundred and sixty degrees, or rather the entire sphere around me, and seeing everything around me in gray and white tones, as if in an old non-color movie. These gray-and-white tones were characteristic of inanimate but power-soaked matter. The sensations of the past and the future were so palpable, as if before I was looking at the world with one eye and seeing a two-dimensional image, but now another dimension had been added to everything I was seeing: time. Past and future in a small range.

Before the droid fired, I saw that shot in the near future and simply put the sword there, in the path of the discharge tracer. The sword absorbed the first shot and immediately I saw the second, carefully and unhurriedly parrying it as well.

Quigon smiled behind me and sat back in his chair, taking the remote control to the droid in his hands.

After a minute of such amusement, I saw that Padme was about to enter the room, so I deactivated the droid and removed the blindfold, turning toward the door:

- Hello, Padme!

The Jedi, hearing this, turned their heads toward the opening door. Padme just walked in and said:

- Anakin? Where did you come from...

- Never mind. So what's going on in the Senate? - I asked the question I was immediately interested in. Before Padme could say the next phrase, which I heard with a fading sense of "time dimension," I said, "I'll get it. So, what is it about the Senate?

Padme fell silent, and I went to pour the tea she wanted. While I was fiddling with the kettle, which was right there, Padme, with a wary, or even worried, look at my back, answered:

- To the servants' room, then. Quigon, Obi-Wan, in case you're wondering.

- We get it. - Quigon nodded, taking the flying droid with him, and Obi-Wan got to his feet and walked towards the servants' room.

The Queen of Naboo had her own tea, Nabuan, which I honestly did not like very much, but in the absence of a stamped one... and besides, important news is better heard over a cup of tea, not like Luke Skywalker - hanging from some repulsor crap over the abyss...