The ship hung in the void between the stars, its systems operating in minimal power mode. Alex sat in his cabin with the neuro-interface on in augmented reality mode, surrounded by holographic projections of ancient Rakatan texts that slowly scrolled in the air around him. For the third week, he had been trying to decipher the deepest layers of information found in the mountain complex, and each new discovery forced him to re-evaluate everything he knew about the history of the galaxy.
Verena brought him another cup of kaff and sat down next to him, watching the dance of symbols in the bluish light of the projectors.
"You haven't slept much these past few days," she noted with concern. "What have you found that's keeping you up?"
Alex rubbed his tired eyes and pointed to one of the texts where strange hieroglyphs formed repeating patterns.
"See these phrases? 'Supreme Directives,' 'Prime Plan,' 'Lords of the Void.' They appear in every document related to important decisions of the Rakatan empire. At first, I thought they were just pompous titles of their rulers, but the deeper I dig, the more I realize – the Rakata were not independent."
He spread his hands, and the holograms rearranged themselves, showing a timeline of events.
"Look at the timeframe. The Rakata were a primitive race from the planet Lehon, and then suddenly – in just a few generations – they created an interstellar empire with technologies we still can't fully understand. This is impossible with natural development."
Verena leaned closer, examining the projections.
"You think someone helped them?"
"Not helped," Alex shook his head. "Controlled. Look here."
He highlighted a fragment of text describing the "sacred visions" of the Rakatan leaders.
"Every major decision of the empire was made after their rulers received 'divine revelations.' But the descriptions of these visions are too detailed, too technical. These are not mystical insights – they are instructions."
Alex stood up and began to pace the cabin, his mind working at its limit.
"The entire structure of the Rakatan empire was too efficient, too purposeful. They didn't just conquer worlds – they methodically destroyed certain types of civilizations while preserving others. As if someone was using them to cleanse the galaxy of unwanted elements."
"But who could possess such power?" Verena asked. "The Rakata were the most powerful race in galactic history."
"That's precisely the problem," Alex replied, stopping before one of the projections. "We always considered them the most powerful because we didn't see those who stood behind them."
He pointed to a series of documents describing the construction of Rakatan superstructures.
"Star Forges, prison planets, mass mind control systems – all of this required knowledge and resources that exceeded the capabilities of even an advanced civilization. But the Rakata built them as if following ready-made blueprints."
Alex activated another hologram, showing a map of the Rakatan empire's expansion.
"And look at the geography of their conquests. They avoided certain regions of space, as if these areas were forbidden. And in the documents, these zones are called 'Preserve Worlds of the Lords.'"
Verena felt a chill run down her spine.
"Do you think these 'Lords' still exist?"
"I don't know," Alex admitted honestly. "But their influence is still felt. The technologies that the Rakata used – they are based on principles they could not have invented themselves. Someone gave them this knowledge."
He brought up a new projection – a schematic of an ancient neuro-interface.
"These devices were not created for the Rakata to control others. They were created to control the Rakata themselves. Look at the design – it allows not only to transmit information to the brain but also to gain full access to the host's consciousness."
Verena realized the meaning of his words with horror.
"You mean to say that the Rakata themselves were puppets?"
"That's exactly what I think," Alex nodded. "Their entire empire was planned and directed by someone. They were simply executors of someone else's will, without even suspecting it."
He showed her a fragment of text describing the last days of the empire.
"Look what happened during the Great Collapse. The Rakata suddenly lost the ability to use the Force, and their technologies stopped working. But this didn't happen due to some illness or catastrophe. It happened simultaneously across the galaxy, as if someone simply 'turned them off.'"
"But why?" Verena didn't understand. "If these 'Lords' controlled such a powerful empire, why destroy it?"
Alex pondered, examining the chronological data.
"Perhaps the Rakata fulfilled their task. They cleansed the galaxy of certain species, created the necessary infrastructure, and prepared the ground for something else. And when their mission was completed, they were simply... switched off."
The thought was so chilling that Verena involuntarily shivered.
"What if they plan to find new executors? What if they've just been looking for a replacement all this time?"
"That's exactly what worries me," Alex admitted. "Look at the modern galaxy. The Empire is gaining strength, the resistance is being suppressed, order is being restored with an iron fist. Chaos is being replaced by strict control, and this may not be a coincidence."
He pointed to data on the spread of neuro-interface technologies in the modern galaxy.
"These technologies are becoming increasingly popular. They are used for training, entertainment, managing complex systems. But at their core, they are based on the same principles as the ancient Rakatan devices. What if this is part of the plan?"
Verena felt a prickle of unease at the thought that billions of beings across the galaxy might be using devices designed for mind control. Both she and Alex were puppets.
"We need to warn someone," she said. "The Rebel Alliance..."
"And what will we tell them?" Alex gave a bitter chuckle. "That ancient puppeteers are preparing a new batch of puppets using popular technologies? The Alliance has more pressing issues – fighting the Empire. And the Imperials... they are actively implementing neuro-interfaces in their systems."
He sat down again, feeling the weight of his discoveries.
"Besides, we don't know who exactly stood behind the Rakata. 'Lords of the Void' – it could be a metaphor, a code, or a name the Rakata themselves didn't understand. We need more information."
"Where can we find it?" Verena asked.
Alex thought, sifting through known sources of ancient knowledge in his mind.
"There are a few places... Ancient libraries on the fringes of the galaxy, private collections..." He paused, remembering one possibility. "Associate Professor Vell."
"Who is that?" Verena asked.
"My former professor at the Corellian Institute of Technology," Alex explained. "A specialist in ancient technologies and archaeological linguistics. If anyone can help decipher these texts completely, it's her."
He paused, and Verena saw doubt in his eyes.
"But?"
"But I don't know if she'll agree," Alex said quietly. "She's worked for the government before. Maybe she's still working for the Empire..."
Verena placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Alex, if what we've discovered is truly that important, we might not have a choice. Sometimes the past is the only key to the future."
Alex stood up and walked to the viewport, looking at the stars.
"Vell was a good person. An honest scientist who truly believed in the power of knowledge. She doesn't deserve to be at the center of something like this."
"What if she's already at the center?" Verena suggested gently. "What if her research has already led her to similar conclusions? Perhaps she needs help too."
Alex turned to her, and she saw an internal struggle in his eyes.
"Or what if her research is controlled by the same forces that once controlled the Rakata?" he said. "What if contacting her will only accelerate our exposure?"
Silence hung in the cabin, broken only by the quiet hum of the ship's systems. Both understood the magnitude of the dilemma – they needed expert help, but any request for assistance could attract the attention of the very forces they were trying to hide from.
"What about other Rakatan complexes?" Verena suggested. "If one survived, there might be others."
"Perhaps," Alex agreed. "But most of them were destroyed by the Rakata themselves during the empire's collapse. As if they were trying to erase all traces of their past."
He returned to the holograms and highlighted one of the most mysterious fragments.
"Or they were forced to do it."
Alex turned off the holograms and turned to Verena.
"For now, we have to act on our own. Study what we have, find patterns, understand the control mechanisms. And only then decide if it's worth seeking help."
"Where do we start?" Verena asked.
"We start with what we can check ourselves," Alex looked at the neuro-interfaces.
He began to collect data, copying the most important files to the workstations.
"And in the meantime, we must be prepared for our suspicions to be confirmed. If there are indeed forces in the galaxy that have been manipulating civilizations for millennia, they might be closer than we think. It will be difficult to resist them."
"But not impossible!" Verena said with determination. "There is always hope!"
Alex thought that there is always hope if there is someone willing to give that hope. He looked at the data they had collected.
"Time is working against us. If these forces truly exist and are preparing something, then every day of delay could be critical."
He fell silent, immersed in thought about another aspect of the problem. Suddenly, a new thought struck him, making him sit up sharply in his chair.
"The Jedi," he said quietly, and there was something close to horror in his voice.
"What?" Verena didn't understand.
"The Jedi and the Sith. Users of the Force." Alex began to frantically bring up new data. "Think about it logically. There are quadrillions of sentient beings in the galaxy, but Force-sensitives are negligible. During the height of the Republic, there were only about ten thousand Jedi for the entire galaxy. Ten thousand out of quadrillions!"
Verena began to grasp the direction of his thoughts.
"You think this is not a coincidence?"
"It's strange," Alex activated a projection showing the distribution of Force-sensitives across the galaxy. "Such rarity of abilities cannot be natural. It looks like... like artificial limitation."
He stood up and began to pace the cabin, his thoughts working at their limit.
"What if the Force is not a natural phenomenon? What if it's a control tool created by the same 'Lords' who controlled the Rakata? Think about it: Force-users have always played a key role in galactic events. Jedi as guardians of peace, Sith as destroyers – but both have always been at the center of the most important historical moments."
Alex stopped, his face paling with realization.
"What if they are also puppets? What if this eternal struggle between light and darkness is just a play, performed according to someone else's script?"
Verena felt nauseous at the thought that even the legendary Jedi could have been pawns in someone else's game.
"But the Jedi protected the innocent, fought for justice..."
"Yes, but look at the result," Alex brought up a timeline of galactic conflicts. "Every war between the light and dark sides ends with a change in the galaxy's political structure. The fall of the Old Republic, the rise of the Empire, the rebellions... As if someone is using the conflict of Force-users to redraw the map of power."
Suddenly, a memory struck Alex, making him freeze in place.
"Midi-chlorians," he whispered.
"What?"
"Remember when I told you about my past? When I was twenty, I underwent a Force sensitivity test. I had about three thousand midi-chlorians then – slightly above average, but not enough for training."
"I once met a Jedi, he told me they take from seven thousand."
"You knew a Jedi?"
"Very little, we flew together from Corellia. Nothing much to tell."
Alex walked to the ship's medical terminal.
He activated the diagnostic scanner and placed his hand on the reader. After a few minutes of waiting, the result appeared on the screen.
"Eleven thousand four hundred and thirty-eight," Alex read, staring at the numbers. "This is... strange. Before the flight, I had a check-up, and I had the usual three thousand."
He looked at Verena.
"Come on, let's check you too."
The result came quite quickly.
"Nine thousand..."
They were silent for several minutes.
"Something happened to us on that planet. We could be considered gifted, but I don't understand what to do with it."
Verena came closer, studying the readings.
"But you don't feel the Force, right?"
"Nothing," Alex shook his head. "Absolutely nothing so far. And that's strange. If I have enough midi-chlorians, why don't I feel what Jedi are supposed to feel?"
He thought, considering possible explanations.
"What if midi-chlorians are not the source of Force abilities, but... receivers? What if they serve to receive signals from some external source? And what if this source can be turned on and off at will?"
If Force abilities were controlled externally, then every Jedi and Sith was potentially vulnerable to manipulation.
"This would explain a lot," Alex continued. "Why some Jedi children don't inherit their parents' abilities. Why the Force sometimes 'awakens' in adults. Why it can suddenly weaken or disappear."
He brought up data on the Rakatan collapse.
"And this would explain what happened to the Rakata. They were also Force-sensitive, using it to power their technologies. And then they suddenly lost this ability simultaneously across the galaxy."
"Someone 'turned them off'," Verena finished.
"Exactly. And if the same mechanism works with modern Force-users..."
Alex didn't finish the sentence, but both understood. If Jedi and Sith received their abilities from the same source that once powered the Rakata, then they were just as vulnerable to a sudden shutdown.
He looked at his hands, imagining the microscopic organisms in his blood.
"Eleven and a half thousand midi-chlorians, but I don't feel anything. And you?"
Verena shook her head and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"We need more data," Alex said resolutely. "And we need to be very careful. If we are right, then our research could attract the attention of those who prefer to remain in the shadows."
He looked at the stars outside the viewport, wondering how many of the visible worlds were already under the invisible control of ancient forces. And how much time they had before these forces noticed two researchers who had started asking questions.
Alex reactivated the diagnostic systems, this time focusing on analyzing his own modifications. The data slowly loaded onto the screen, detailing every change made to his psyche over the years.
"Show me the specific directives," he muttered, delving into the files. "What exactly were they trying to change in me?"
Verena came closer, watching the flow of information.
"What are you looking for?"
"Commands. Hidden instructions. Something that could make me act against my will," Alex replied, scrolling through long lists of procedures.
But the more he studied the data, the more surprised he was. There were no direct commands or directives. Instead, subtle adjustments to emotional responses, minor changes in information processing, modifications to impulsivity.
"Strange," he said, and his voice sounded almost... disappointed? "There's nothing here like behavior programming. Just... personality settings."
The screen displayed graphs of his emotional patterns before and after processing. A 31% reduction in anxiety, a 28% decrease in impulsivity, a 15% increase in analytical abilities.
"They weren't trying to turn me into a robot," Alex realized, and a strange relief spread through his chest. Why did he feel relief? "They just... optimized my psyche for a certain type of activity."
Verena studied the data next to him, and her lekku hung loosely.
"What about you?" he asked, switching to Verena's files.
Her data was even more telling. The therapeutic procedures were aimed at healing trauma, restoring the ability to trust, and forming healthy relationships.
Alex thought, looking at his hands. Somewhere deep in his consciousness, a thought flickered – shouldn't they be more angry, more indignant that their minds had been manipulated?
But the thought dissolved as quickly as it appeared, drowned in a wave of rational explanations.
"The question is – is it worth trying to fix it?" he continued, and the logic of his words seemed impeccable. "Who knows what will happen to my mind if I try to reverse the changes myself. Right now, I need a cool head for what awaits us."
"Absolutely," Verena agreed. "It's better to leave things as they are, at least for now. We have more important things to do."
Alex turned back to the Rakatan data he had obtained during the connection to the planetary system. Among the technical specifications and administrative codes, he found what he was looking for – coordinates of other objects.
"Look," he said, highlighting a fragment of data. "It mentions the 'Production Complex Alpha-7.' Judging by the description, this is where the Rakata manufactured their neuro-interfaces and other control devices."
He quickly translated the coordinates into the modern navigation system.
"Kash-Mirak system, in the Unknown Regions. About one hundred and fifty light-years from here."
Verena studied the additional information.
"And what might be there now?"
"If the complex survived, then perhaps the production facilities have been preserved there. Or, more importantly, detailed schematics and specifications of mind control devices," Alex replied, saving the coordinates in the navigation system.
He looked at the data about the complex more closely.
"Interesting. It says here that the complex was 'sealed until the time of the Great Rebirth.' It sounds as if the Rakata planned to return someday."
"Or someone planned to use it instead of them," Verena added grimly.
Alex nodded, feeling the pieces of the puzzle begin to form a disturbing picture.
"If modern neuro-interfaces are indeed based on Rakatan technologies, then this production complex may hold the keys to understanding the entire control system."
He stood up and walked to the viewport, looking at the stars.
"We need to get there. But first, we should prepare. If the complex is truly active, anything could be waiting for us."
Verena approached him.
"Do you think it could be dangerous?"
"Anything related to the Rakata is dangerous by definition," Alex replied. "But we have no choice. If we want to understand the scale of the threat and find a way to counter it, we need the full picture."
He turned to her.
"Prepare the ship for hyperspace jump. We're heading to Production Complex Alpha-7."