"The Force led me to you," said a sharp-eared girl who looked to be about thirty. Golden locks, gray intelligent eyes, a sharp nose, and full lips... the full set, fit for a runway or the retinue of the healthiest Hutt. That's not even mentioning the pointed ears sticking out from her hair on the sides. And even the brown robes of a Jedi could not entirely hide the juicy figure of my interlocutor.
"Uh-huh," I replied distractedly.
Trying not to meet the eyes of this blessed one, I watched the scene where, under the command of Shorty, a crowd of Helldivers was loading a destroyed construction droid onto a Kodiak Shuttle. Initially, the crafty Jawa intended to take all the intact ones too, but the Jedi asked to leave the honest people tools for earning a living. Saying that we had already trashed half the city for them, so let them at least have the means to recover.
Watching this was entertaining. They had thrown a bunch of cables over the combat walker like it was an ox, and the fighters pushed with their hands, dragging the massive carcass up the ramp. From above, standing on the chest of the defeated foe, stood Shorty, actively waving her arms and showering the clumsy oafs—who had nothing but Liberty, girls, and booze on their minds—with curses...
"Amusing."
Saying nothing, Fay stood silently beside me, watching the procession with a slight smile. Hiding her palms in her sleeves, the girl... though she's likely old enough to be my great-great-great... many times "great" grandmother.
Fay's cheek twitched with annoyance, but she continued to maintain a positive expression. For a moment, I saw her eyes flash as soon as I actively began calculating her age, but then she clearly began to behave more focused and did not give herself away further.
"Or did she do that on purpose too? So that I would be convinced I could read her in moments particularly important to her?"
Now the Jedi's smile became even wider, while my inner circle standing nearby began to grumble. Well... a couple of them.
Glancing sideways, I observe the whispering of Miranda and Somnia, who were boring holes into the back of the space elf with both eyes. Clearly looking for a good opportunity to push her into a reactor core or something like that...
The sharp-eared one herself didn't care at all; she stood there with a ear-to-ear smile and just enjoyed everything that was happening, clearly reading us all easily. Well, no wonder, damn it. Thousands of years of experience or however many she has.
"The Force, then?" I finally managed to break out of my stupor and ask the question that interested me so much. "You talk as if it's alive..."
"I believe it is, and whether it is or not..." Turning to face me, Fay stepped closer, causing a real feline hiss to be heard behind my back. As far as I remember, Twi'leks can do that... "What difference does it make? The Force brought the three of us together, and together we can do a good deed for the entire galaxy."
"Every day, thousands of my fighters perform good deeds..."
"That is so," Fay interrupted me, tucking a stray lock behind her ear, after which she finally left my comfort zone, "but now we are talking about millions, if not billions of lives. Dozens, and possibly hundreds of planets will be under threat."
The weighty last sentence, spoken in a voice of steel, knocked everyone off balance. People looked at each other in surprise, and even Mordin, brought along with the Jedi, blinked his eyes as if he didn't realize the scale of what was happening.
"Aren't those numbers a bit large?" Doubts, damn them. "What kind of force is capable of..."
Here my gaze fell on Mordin. The toad-like alien stood there, constantly blinking, listening intently to our conversation. I remembered Fay's words when we met; she had introduced her companion as a virologist and medic...
"Shit..."
"I see you've guessed."
"Poisoning? An epidemic?" Questions swarmed in my head, and it became quiet around us. Stamping my foot, I weighed plans and options in my mind. "Helldivers are created to fight visible threats. Pirates, slavers, savages, and other bastards... We fight against criminals and enemies of Liberty, not diseases. What use..."
"I do not know. But through the blackness of space, from one planet to another, the Great One led me specifically to the two of you. It is you who must prevent a catastrophe that could result in a massive number of deaths." Frowning, Fay bowed her head, her bangs of golden hair obscuring her eyes. "I was only meant to bring you together, for I myself can do nothing to prevent this."
"Sounds amazing, of course. A magnificent plan, no doubt. Reliable as a Gamorrean watch." Waving my hands, I see the Helldivers gathered nearby, frozen and listening to us. "And you lot, don't you have work? I'll find some real quick! Somnia! I see people have way too much free time..."
As soon as I turned my attention to them, the Helldivers scattered like cockroaches. They quickly carried crates, hauled corpses into a pile, and looted bodies.
"The Force leads me to Candoria. That is where it will all happen." Standing beside me again, Fay spoke much more quietly and soulfully. The Jedi played her voice and body language very well, so one wanted to believe her every word. "I know you are overcome with doubt... But I ask you to trust me."
"I need to think," I said, waving a hand to give the command for takeoff. I was the first to jump into the Kodiak Shuttle, not waiting for or listening to Fay's last words. My head was a mess, but before acting on impulse, I had to make sure my new acquaintance wasn't insane. "Connect me to the Operative. Have him set up a channel with the Jedi Temple."
***
"Fay? Master Fay, you mean?"
Looking up from clearly very important business, Yan looked me in the eye for the first time since the conversation began. His furrowed brows almost met at the bridge of his nose, and his sharp gaze burned right through me.
Dooku had aged. Not much, but there was noticeably more gray in his hair, and wrinkles had begun to creep into all the corners of his face, adding even more age to him. The strong hands, which used to be full of power, had lost some of their former color, and his nails had thickened, gradually becoming a bit sharper and yellower.
It was the year 47 BBY, if I hadn't ruined anything with my appearance... Well, it's easier to say what I haven't changed. We hadn't seen this Jedi for several years, although we maintained a fairly active correspondence in which we often held disputes on various topics, mostly about Republic legislation, the Senate, Democracy...
Dooku is a complex man. Stubborn, proud, a bit narcissistic, but one thing you can't take away from him—he's smart. An extremely intelligent and well-read sentient, every conversation with whom makes me a little smarter too... or at least keeps me from completely degenerating.
"Yeah, that's the one." Seeing the lack of an answer and the persistent gaze, I exhale heavily, leaning back in my chair and starting to list. "Cute face, pointed ears, hair made of gold, and an aura of kindness and forgiveness toward the whole world. Didn't see a saber..."
"That is her. Almost certainly." Cupping his chin with his fingers, Yan followed my example and sat more comfortably, although due to the limitations of the holo-link, it was quite difficult to tell. "I am surprised she came to you..."
"Excuse me?"
"Ha, let's be honest. You look more like a gang of cutthroats than models of fighters for justice." Snorting, Dooku folded his arms over his chest. The corners of his lips twitched at the next sentence. "The entire network is already full of videos of your soldiers, especially with unprepared interviews or even during battle."
"Well..."
"Inarticulate, reckless, stubborn, stupid, and insanely loyal." Another dissatisfied snort. "Are you aware that at Rendili University, in the philology department, they are seriously analyzing the verbal blunders of your Helldivers, hmm?"
"Oh, enough, I had enough of your lectures last time," I said, waving off the amused Count, who hid his amusement behind furrowed brows. I threw my hands behind my head, staring at the ceiling. "Just tell me about my question... Can she be trusted?"
"I do not know..."
"What?" I almost fall off my chair when Dooku says this in a sad but serious voice. "You don't know? She's one of yours? An old veteran..."
"Don't say that in front of her, or she might give you a thrashing, even if she is a pacifist. Consider that she spent hundreds of years in the Outer Rim; she surely knows how to fight."
"..."
"You've already done something like that, haven't you? And why am I not surprised?"
The question asked into the air remained unanswered.
"Master Fay... how should I put it—is an unusual Jedi. She relies on The Force in her entire life. She listens to it, is guided by it... The Great One is in her every step and action." Concentrating and closing his eyes, Dooku laced his fingers at face level, leaning his elbows on the table. "Something is definitely going to happen on Candoria... But what exactly? Perhaps, for everything to turn out well, you and all your Helldivers will have to die from this virus? Or perhaps the entire planet must drown in blood so that the galaxy remains saved..."
"Can't there be any more pleasant options?" Well, I was naturally a bit taken aback. Telling me about all sorts of horrors... What is he even hoping for? Is he going to scare me now, and what if I just go and shoot her? Which is exactly what I told Dooku.
"Do not be hasty. There may be other options where you won't have to do anything at all, and the mere fact of your presence on the planet will already change something." Finishing his improvised speech, Yan tapped his index finger on the table, then added. "I would trust her intuition. Legends of her exploits circulate in the Order."
"Some fucking sorcery. These Jedi tricks of yours..."
My answer was skeptically pursed lips and eyes full of skepticism and silent reproach.
"If that is all you wished to discuss."
"Basically, yes..."
Before I could continue, Yan said a hasty goodbye, then unilaterally cut the connection, leaving me with a blue flickering hologram in the form of a crest. Sitting like that for almost a minute, I stared intently at the flashing icon.
"How strange..."
And it wasn't the first time. Communication by correspondence proceeded in a normal mode, but in person or via holo-link... Yan had acted this way more than once. It was clear he had plenty of business, but...
Dooku was changing. Was it age affecting him, or was he beginning to sink deeper into the cesspool called politics? Having been chosen by the Order as its representative in the Senate, Yan was becoming increasingly closed off and detached.
He smiled less, grumbled more, and sometimes just accompanied every question with only a silent raising of his eyebrows.
It seemed my old acquaintance was starting to slowly become disillusioned with the Jedi and the Republic. Or a certain interesting character in the Senate had started pouring poison into his ear...
"Well, we'll see."
***
"So, what do you think?"
Resting my feet on a cleaning droid, despite the latter's dissatisfied beeping, I address my gathered friends. Everyone was here today, which was a pleasant surprise, and thus many issues could be resolved.
"Are we really going to rush into some shithole because of that girl's words?"
"She's almost a thousand years old or so..."
"Pff, that doesn't change things." Snorting with dissatisfaction, Miranda crossed her arms over her chest, closing herself off from everyone. But under my gaze, the girl hesitated and after a couple of seconds still explained her distrust and attitude. "It sounds like some kind of nonsense. Alone, unarmed, in the Outer Rim..."
Bending a finger for every argument, Mira grew more and more heated.
"It all sounds like some kind of fairy tale. I think she's lying to us or someone much more powerful is behind her." Snorting one last time, the Twi'lek preferred not to meet my eyes anymore and only "quietly" mumble under her breath. "Old hag... Great savior, my foot."
Smiling at this pantomime, I turn to the others.
"She's likely holding something back, though she might not know everything herself. Still, this Force of theirs is some real murky business," Arkam was much more tactful, which was even more surprising given his combative and explosive character. Waving his fingers in the air, as if experiencing uncertainty in how exactly to name our new acquaintance, the Mandalorian finally gave up and said it as it was. "The girl herself is somehow not of this world. And you can't rely on her in a fight. Mordin is at least smart; he immediately criticized our developments in combat substances and non-lethal means as talentless junk..."
"Damned frog."
Ignoring Shorty's remark, Sula leaned on the table.
"In any case. We don't have much work right now, and no large-scale actions are foreseen, so we might as well fly out and take a look. Why sit and guess? We're supposed to be Helldivers, not the Senate. Let's fly and find out. Dooku said she's a decent girl, so we'll check what her word is worth in practice."
Nodding decisively, the Mandalorian leaned back in his chair, showing with his whole appearance that this was his final decision.
"As you command, so it shall be." The Zabrak brothers spoke predictably, then continued working on the reports sent to their datapads.
"We should prepare better... Then we won't be afraid of even the best virus. Boxes, filters, means for cleaning and sealing, armor..." Brag Fesat chattered, stuttering and actively typing something into a tablet.
Shorty just waved her hand. The Jawa's attention was now consumed by the construction droids found on Socorro, so I wasn't counting on a constructive opinion. And so there remained the last and most important person in my circle, on whose opinion it depended whether we would fly to Candoria or not.
"Phew," exhaling long, Somnia massaged her temples. Closing her eyes, the girl thought for a couple of minutes while everyone else went about their business. A couple of times she raised her eyelids and we met eyes, holding a silent dialogue only between the two of us.
"Do you think it's worth it?"
Arching her right eyebrow, the girl stretched tiredly.
"We'll see."
I smiled softly.
"It could be a biological weapon or some kind of disease..."
She looked at me like I was an idiot. My dear deputy was hinting at what I had been thinking myself earlier. We are soldiers, not doctors.
"Only I will fly there..."
I already thought we had come to a consensus, but the last silent assertion was clearly unnecessary.
"No. It's too dangerous." Standing up from the table, Somnia looked around at everyone gathered, finally stopping her gaze on me. "We cannot take such a risk; I am against it..."
"So, two against, one for." Smiling contentedly, Mira stroked her own lekku. "I will personally kick that..."
"No. I'll do it myself." Smiling warmly at the suspiciously squinting Somnia, I wave my hands conciliatingly. "Everything will be fine..."
***
The engines roared gutturally. Freedom Rider tilted and started directly into the atmosphere, trying to get away from the planet as quickly as possible, avoiding detection.
Flipping a couple of switches, I convinced myself one last time that I was doing the right thing. A premonition whispered to me that I should follow Fay and trust her, but proving it to the others? Or crudely shutting everyone up with orders, forcing them to obey? I couldn't. They are still my friends, so I'd rather risk myself and then listen to accusations and scolding than get silent and dissatisfied agreement—capable of laying a much wider crack in the relationship.
Mordin stirred behind my back. The toad-like xeno was carefully digging through records, checking the ship's inventory and grumbling dissatisfiedly every time expectations were not met.
Somewhere in the depths of the ship, the laughter and conversations of the single squad of Helldivers I had taken with me could be heard.
And in the next seat...
"You did the right thing." Placing a hand on my shoulder, Fay gave me one of her very best and kindest smiles. For a moment it was a bit creepy, because I stared at her face like a pimply teenager... Brr. "They will understand and forgive."
"If only that were my only concern." Grumbling under my breath, with difficulty, I pull my gaze away from this strange woman who, by her very appearance, makes one listen to her and trust her. "There are too few of us. One ship is not enough for a quarantine or evacuation of a planet..."
"And I said nothing of ships." Returning to her seat with a mysterious smile, the girl adjusted her hair. "Only the three of us... And no one else."
***
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