A New Player in the Force

I watched silently, letting the engineers and researchers of Sienar Design Systems, or at least this particular group of them, wander around Raven. They had various devices to scan and correlate readings with them, but so far they’d not made any attempt to slice off a section of her hull. That had happened with the first team Raith had assigned, and after barely restraining myself from introducing all of them to the business end of my beskad, and then having to calm down Fenrir, Raith had arrived.

After learning what’d transpired, he’d reassigned that team to another project elsewhere on the planet and fired the team leader. Raith had left orders that Raven was not to be harmed, or taken apart without my express permission, and that fucking hut’uun had ignored the order. Upon hearing about the incident, HK had suggested that he speak with this team leader and educate them on why a chain of command exists. I’d been tempted to allow it but decided against the idea in the end as it was Raith’s problem to handle. That was why whenever a team was examining Raven, one of myself, Simvyl, or HK was present.

A gentle growl had me lower my hand. “I know,” I said as I petted Fenrir’s head as the current team moved around Raven. This was the third team today, and fourteenth since the incident, to examine Raven, and there’d not been another issue since.

Now, there had been a few complaints, but those had been because of HK. After the incident with the first team, the droid had been vocal and descriptive in explaining what would happen to the first dumb meatbag to touch Raven without my consent. However, Raith had laughed those off, finding it amusing the way HK spoke; at least when the comments weren’t aimed at him. Force, he’d even said he might have a few experimental components that could be fitted to my droids. While I wasn’t holding out hope that he’d be willing to part with those, HK was curious about the options, as was R2.

The current team gathered near Raven’s cockpit, conversing about the various readings they’d taken, and I began to wonder if they’d finally found a method to enhance her. I understood that in a week it was unlikely they’d have definitive leads, but I was growing irritated at the lack of progress, or at least the lack of information given to me about the project. While there weren’t, as far as I knew, any critical events to handle in the next few months – bar, perhaps the quest linked to Sifo-Dyas, though I was unsure how that would play out now Dooku wasn’t in line to become Darth Tyrannus – I’d like to begin training Anakin, and retraining myself, with the various Force sects and other groups I wanted to visit.

The one upside of the downtime here was that it allowed me to focus heavily on Anakin’s lightsaber skills. I retained all my training there, and not being able to draw efficiently on the Force meant the few times we’d sparred, I’d not had to explain away why I was moving so slow.

Anakin had pestered me slightly about when he’d be building his lightsaber, but I’d explained that I’d only allow that once I felt he was ready. For now, he used a training saber I’d created from the spare parts in my Inventory while I retained my shoto. The blade wasn’t ideal for how I fought, but it would do until I fully rebuilt my lightsaber.

With one of the crystals that had given the blade its unique colour cracked, I had to determine how to either fix it or failing that, discover another crystal to use. I could, in theory, use the Mantle of the Force as my main crystal, but that choice resonated wrongly in the force.

Right now, Anakin wouldn’t be in Raven or elsewhere training with a lightsaber, but should, provided he’d not grown bored and taken R2 and Simvyl for a wander around the base, be involved in some form of mental training focused on starship and droid design. The boy had a gift for that, and Raith – after none-too-subtly testing Anakin on the voyage here – had arranged for him to take remote classes with an advanced design group SST had for gifted youngsters.

Raith had assured me that he had no intention of trying to steal Anakin away from the Jedi – which had made me laugh as Anakin wouldn’t care too much about the Order, only about being separated from me and our odd family – but claimed Anakin reminded him of himself as a youth. The discussions the pair had held had, as expected, gone so far over my head that I couldn’t even see them from where I stood, relatively speaking, at the bottom of the mountain they were scaling, but the pair had formed a bond. So much so that Anakin’s classroom was a converted office where he had free reign.

I’d entered the room a few times and found it a complete mess. Datapads were strewn everywhere, open on schematics that I struggled to make heads or tails of without reference, and Anakin had always had his head buried in whatever one had his current attention. The only way he realised I was there was when Fenrir pushed up against him for attention. I didn’t have any issue with Anakin getting lost in his work or passion, nor him having odd hours for some classes or discussions as I understood that Raith and those tutoring Anakin were fitting in the sessions around their work, and was glad he was getting pushed in ways I knew would help him, but that I could never manage.

Footsteps coming from behind had me turning, and I saw Rath approaching, a datapad in his hands. “Behave,” I said to Fenrir as I left him to go and meet our host. “Something the matter?” I asked, seeing the slightly worried expression he wore, which only grew greater when he glanced at Raven.

“Yes, though it’s about what I expected after the first few flights about Raven, and I could examine her inner workings,” he replied as he neared, and then held out the datapad for me to take. “The engineering teams are reporting that there’s not much they can do regarding adding weaponry to Raven. At least not without having to cut into her hull and hurt her in the process.”

As he’d explained that, I’d browsed the datapad. Much of it used terms beyond me, but it stated the same general thing as what Raith had said. “Aye, from what I can follow, this matches what the engineers at Mandalmotors told me.” I handed the pad back. “It was why your name was high on the list Dred Yomaget gave me for finding a second opinion.”

“Yes,” Raith began as he took back the pad. “Dred isn’t an engineer like me, but he knows who the best in the business are and doesn’t let ego or politics get in the way of making a deal.” He smirked slightly as he continued. “I’m sure the other names on that list were highly respected and sought-after engineers and designers?” I nodded, though I wasn’t going to mention the other names, and Raith had accepted that after prodding me a few times about it and not getting a response. That said, he had guessed the companies that many of those on the list worked for, so he probably knew most, if not all, of the names on the list. “I suspect that most would give you the same report I and Dred have. The only ones who wouldn’t, would be those uncaring about cutting up something as unique and special as Raven.”

“Any idea who might be of help?”

“I’d say several of those with an interest in bioengineering. Adasca comes to mind along with a few others. The internal arrangement of much of the circuitry is hardwired into Raven’s body in a way a normal engineer isn’t trained to understand.”

“I take it you don’t have such workers on staff?”

“At SDS? No. Some subdivisions do work in the required fields, but it isn’t an area SST focuses on. Nor have I given the subject much thought, at least until I met and then flew aboard Raven.” He glanced past me again, taking in the organic wonder. “Though if you give me a few years, I might have something that could work.”

I chuckled at his enthusiasm and knew Raven was going to be a pet project of his for some time. “Sadly, I don’t think we could encroach on your hospitality for that long.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind. Having a Jedi on-call to handle issues could be very advantageous for business,” he replied with laughter. “And something to hold over other CEOs during meetings.”

“Aye, I’m sure it would,” I replied as I laughed along with him, “however, the Force wouldn’t allow me to remain stationary for that long, nor do I think I could stand not doing anything.” I extended a hand. “Still, I’m thankful for you taking the time to examine her, and for helping Anakin with his interests.”

Raith waved away my hand. “Oh, just because I can’t add the weaponry you’d hoped for, at least not without hurting her, doesn’t mean I’m letting you leave without some improvements.” My head tilted slightly to the right, curious as to what he was thinking. “Weaponry is still doable, but it would require external hardpoints mounted on the few sections of her hull which aren’t organic. Missiles or automated turrets for example. However, it’s the internal circuity, at least what isn’t fused with her workings, where I can offer improvements. I might even have a few special projects that would be viable for a ship such as Raven. Ones that might help counter her inability to have your desired firepower.”

My brow rose as he spoke, wondering what he had in mind. The only example I could think of was the Scimitar’s cloak, and I had considered removing it from the Sith vessel before I’d stored it on Dagobah. In the end though, I’d rejected the idea. Not only would there likely be various traps and countermeasures to prevent the component's removal, but there was a chance the programming contained malicious coding that could infect Raven. Still, the idea of being able to come and go with sensors and eyeballs unable to easily track me was tempting as fuck.

“What exactly are yo…”

“CAM!”

The shouting of my name by Anakin cut me off mid-sentence, and I turned to see my Padawan rushing toward me. I didn’t need the Force to know he was excited, and the pad that he was waving in one hand reinforced that appearance. “Cam!”

“Yes, Anakin?” I asked in a more dignified manner as he raced closer. There was a bit of irritation at his interruption, but I knew I’d speak with Raith after Anakin was settled about what he had in mind. For now, my Padawan, the reason for his excitement, and his lack of manners were where my focus lay. “What required you to rush here in such a manner?”

Raith coughed, no doubt to hide a chuckle at the subtle telling-off I gave the boy, even as Anakin slowed down. His eyes widened as he saw Raith and I had been talking. “Oh, um…” his words were cut off as Fenrir raced toward him. “Fenrir!” He called out, trying desperately to avoid the tuk’ata’s attempts to lick his face.

I smirked, enjoying Fenrir unintentionally turning the tables on Anakin by interrupting him, but stayed silent. I wanted to see if Anakin would resume what I assumed was an apology, or if he’d blow right past it, and thus require more lessons on manners.

Eventually, Fenrir decided he’d greeted Anakin enough, and leaned back, wandering calmly to my side. The boy wiped his face. “Gross,” he muttered as some of the tuk’ata’s drool stuck to his robes before he then shook the arm; sending what wasn’t soaked into the material flying. “Sorry,” He said as he saw Raith take a step back to avoid being splattered. “And sorry for shouting.”

“While it’s good that you understand your mistake, I hope in future it isn’t repeated.” My voice, as much as I hadn’t planned it, had dropped deeper, mimicking one of my former Masters. I chuckled at the image that was created in my head before returning my attention to my ad. “Now, what made you rush here from your office?” I asked, glancing at Raith. “Has our host offered you a contract that you’ve decided to take, thus leaving me and the Order?”

“No! Never!” Anakin shouted enthusiastically, While Raith and Fenrir winced at his volume and tone, I laughed.

“I was teasing,” I said quickly, holding up a hand as an apology. It’s only been a few months since Shmi’s death, and while he was recovering, it seemed even hinting at his family changing again was a step too far for him. Still, the strength of conviction I felt in the Force when he spoke was an encouraging sign that his loyalty was to me; meaning the threat of him becoming Darth Vader was decreasing.

“Ah, um, sorry.”

“The pad?” Raith prodded, returning the conversation to its original track.

“Oh, right.” Anakin pushed the pad he’d been holding toward forward, displaying the screen.

It appeared to be a letter from his tutor; or one of them at any rate. While several of the terms used sounded unnecessarily wordy, and other sections made little sense to me, the gist was easy to determine. “Impressive,” I said, impressed with his performance.

“Indeed,” Raith agreed as he reached for the pad. “It seems,” he continued as he browsed more from the tutor, “that your professor feels you should attempt to implement some of your ideas.” He looked up from the pad, offering Anakin a wide smile. “I’ll have a workbench brought to your office, along with the relevant equipment.”

“Wizard!”

Raith laughed as he handed the pad back, before glancing at me. “Perhaps, if your Master will allow it, I might also bring some of the ideas I have for Raven to you. It would reassure me that at least one of you understands the systems I hope to install in your magnificent vessel.”

Anakin’s eyes widened almost comically, and I chuckled at the hopeful look he gave me. “It’s fine. While I understand Raven as a being, I’m happy to leave the mechanical side of her under Anakin’s observation.”

“Woo-hoo!” Anakin shouted, punching the air in delight. Fenrir howled at that, drawing the attention of many in the bay; several of whom took a step or two back at the reminder the massive beast was present. “Whoops. Sorry,” Anakin added sheepishly once Fenrir had stopped howling in support.

“There’s nothing wrong with being excited,” I said as I moved closer to him, “just try and remember where you are, and who else is present, hmm?” As I finished, I ruffled his hair. He frowned, disliking the gesture, but that only had me smiling more. It was nice to be on the other side of the gesture having had to endure it for several years from Fay.

My mind shifted, wondering how my former Master was doing. She’d left about half a year ago with Satele Shan’s holocron in the hopes of rediscovering Tython. I’d not heard anything from her since the message she’d left informing me of her departure, but given I’d not felt a shift in the Force, I knew she was still alive and searching for the ancient, and multiple-times lost planet.

I wasn’t sure how things would change if she rediscovered the birthplace of the Jedi – and the homeworld of the precursor group the Je’daii – but I had little doubt it would alter much of what the Sith planned. Which was why, I hoped, she’d kept her attempt hidden from everyone on the Council, and why her message had made no mention of the voyage, nor had I mentioned the location when speaking with Dooku and others who might be aware of her intentions.

“Um,” Anakin’s voice drew my thoughts back to the present, “can I go back to my room?”

“Of course,” I replied, giving his hair a final ruffle. “Though take Fenrir for a walk first. He needs to stretch his legs and I’d rather not take him near the weapon testing section of this facility.” That was where HK and Simvyl were, and I knew the droid was enjoying – not that he’d ever admit to it – the chance to examine and test experimental weapons. Haran, I suspected that if any met his approval, he’d push me to see if we could take it with us, and failing that, might attempt to access and download the schematics.

“Okay. Come on Fenrir.” The tuk’ata looked my way for confirmation, and after a nod, headed off with my son. I shook my head, struggling still to process that I’d adopted Anakin fucking Skywalker, but it was what we, and the Force, wanted.

Seeing him walk beside the massive Sith war beast that towered over him – not that either acted like Fenrir was a born killer – I wondered what the future was going to hold for all of us. I didn’t know what dangers awaited us in the galaxy, or what threats, bar the ones I had been preparing for since arriving in this universe, lay in wait, but I felt that Anakin and I – along with our allies – would face it side-by-side. He was a focal point, a being placed here to determine the fate of the galaxy. I was an interloper, though one the Force had adapted to, and I felt now considered almost as important as Anakin to setting the direction of the galaxy’s near to medium-term future.

There would be challenges ahead for us, but I knew that, so long as I had the time to implement the training I had planned for all of us, then we’d be capable of facing them.

“Now,” I said as I turned to Raith and pushed thoughts of the future aside,” what are the options you were about to mention before Anakin’s unexpected arrival?”

… …

… …

I watched from the back of the converted cargo hold, leaning against the wall as Anakin trained. Most days, that training consisted of either going through velocities of the early forms, as I wanted to ensure he had the basics down of practising deflecting blaster bolts. Once we left this system – which amusingly was called the Orion System – and moved forward with our training, I knew we were at greater risk of being attacked by pirates and the like than running into other Force users, so getting Anakin able to at least deflect blaster bolts, if not redirect them back at attackers, was the main focus of his current training.

What I was lacking for that training was the small floating droids to train with, however I’d found an easy adaption. HK was more than happy to shoot at Anakin, seeing the benefit in training the boy and protecting the investment in one he now considered worthy of helping him improve. However, he was just one droid, and even dual-wielding and using some of his additional features, the angles he could shoot from where easy enough to predict and adapt to. That was why, as of this session, R2 was using a blaster.

Now, it wasn’t something permanent, being held by one of the small arms that extended from the astromech body, but the fact R2 didn’t have a good grip on the blaster – and was a frankly horrible shot – meant it was forcing Anakin to pay attention to each bolt. If it travelled at him, then he had to deflect or avoid it, if not, he could ignore it, and all that had to happen almost instantly given bolts, as low-powered as they were, moved at considerable velocity.

So far, though it was just the first session with multiple shooters, Anakin was doing well, and I could sense his enjoyment of the training. He was relying purely on Soresu for defence, and while that was working, I could see the subtle hints that he wanted to strike back; that being so passive and reactionary didn’t feel right for him. That, in many ways, was a relief, as while the Anakin in the other timeline had based his style on Djem So, I hadn’t been certain my Anakin would.

As it seemed he preferred the more reactive role in combat, I knew it wouldn’t be long until I began showing him some velocities of the two Form V variants. While Shien enabled one to use the incoming bolts to counterattack, it sacrificed some of the defensive certainty of Soresu, which for some Jedi could be an issue. It wasn’t for me, even if my style was based around Makashi, I disliked being on the defensive throughout a battle, nor it seemed, would my ad'ika.

I smirked and shook my head, still coming to terms with the fact Anakin was now my son. Oh, the Jedi and Republic might have issues with it, but by Mandalorian law, he was my son and heir, and others would just have to accept that.

Anakin stepped forward, pushing one of HK’s bolts away – and I had to lean to one side to avoid it scraping me – and I felt the hints of frustration within the boy. His desire to strike back, to do something, easy to read in his posture and within the Force. While that was understandable, and not unlike myself at his age, I knew he needed to temper that feeling. At least until he had a solid base in the Form V variants. Anakin had incredible potential, more so than even me, but he was young, rash, and overeager.

I understood that, when I’d been a Padawan, I’d been similar, but I’d managed – most of the time – to temper the excitement of early youth. Or at least, once a little older, find other outlets for my energy. Scratching my chin, even as HK forced Anakin back by increasing his rate of fire, my thoughts turned to those I was closest to but weren’t currently travelling with me.

Serra was the first to come to mind, and I wondered how her training was going with Windu. That she’d been placed in isolation after the death of Drallig, in an attempt to help her recover from the emotional backlash of her Master’s death, made sense. At least from a Jedi’s perspective. However, Windu restricting her access to everyone within the Order until he was satisfied with her recovery was unsettling. I didn’t think Windu planned to turn her against me, but I felt he and the rest of the High Council were concerned by how close we’d become; so much so that she’d snuck out of the Temple – with help from Bo-Katan and Satine – and come to Naboo. A choice that had cost the Jedi their Battlemaster, though Master Koth had already filled the position.

Bo-Katan And Naz should both be back on Mandalore, no doubt finding ways to get into trouble. I was uncertain where things were heading with them, or when I’d next meet them, but I suspected it wouldn’t be a massive amount of time until one or both reappeared.

After that, my thoughts turned to Padme, and I wondered how she was doing leading Naboo’s rebuilding. The last I’d spoken to her the Naboo people had begun work on stripping and selling the parts of the Lucrehulk that had been left in orbit; ignoring the wishes of the Trade Federation to cease such actions as much of the technology on the vessel was their proprietary property. The Senate, as slow-moving and filled with lackeys of the Federation as it was, wasn’t giving that idea much voice as the Co-Chancellors ensured the Federation remained under an apparently close microscope, while the courts were unwilling to accept the Federation’s attempts at injunctions. What probably didn’t help there was that the two other Lucrehulks had vanished from public sight. One was known to have been taken by the Mandalorians, and they weren’t telling anyone where it was held, while the Lokella’s system was isolated and off the grid enough that only those in the know knew its location, and thus ensured the Lucrehulk they’d taken was far from sight.

Thinking of a Queen turned my thoughts to a Princess, and I remembered Miraj. The Zygerrian heir was, the last time I’d spoken to her, doing well. it seemed her interest in me had grown after news of the Battle of Naboo, and my role in leading the planet’s liberation had reached the Holonet. Given the Zygerrians were a proud race – their beliefs in slavery notwithstanding – who respected power and dominance, that wasn’t a surprise. It was, however, another way to slowly change the thinking of the princess, and potentially ensure that whenever galactic war erupted her people, and their small empire, sided with whichever group I fought for.

A grunt from Anakin brought my attention back to the training area, and I saw that Anakin had stumbled back. He was shaking one of his legs even as he moved, using the training lightsaber I’d constructed for him, to deflect one of R2’s semi-wild bolts away.

“Enough!” I called out, figuring Anakin taking another bolt, the fifth in five minutes, was a good place to end the session. He’d been training for over two hours, and it was clear he was starting to struggle.

The droids lowered their blasters, though Anakin remained in a ready stance for a short while longer. That made me smile, as it meant the lesson about not lowering his guard too early, or trusting an opponent would stop when they’d said they would, was sinking in. I was sure the Jedi might consider my tactics and training in this as excessive, but given trust had to be earned and not just given, I’d rather have Anakin ready and able to defend himself than leave himself open to a trick. The Mandalorians, on the other hand, would see my training as smart and expected.

Anakin continued to watch HK as the droid moved away and only slipped from a ready stance once it was clear the assassin droid wasn’t lulling him into a false sense of security. Even as he made his way to me, the lightsaber remained lit, ready to snap to work if needed. The one thing that did catch my attention was that he was only focusing on the obvious threat of HK, and not that of R2. Now, with the blaster barely held in a grasping limb, the astromech was unlikely to manage a shot that would trouble the boy, but Anakin’s focusing only on one target, and not those that might be less obvious, was another flaw to correct. As was the fact R2 was currently, still nothing more than a standard astromech.

I had plans to acquire components and allow Anakin to install them into the droid, upgrading the astromech into a threat to anyone who dismissed him due to his size and shape. HK had already made several suggestions for alterations, and while getting a phrik-based outer casing for the astromech was the obvious choice, the other suggestions ranged from possible to downright insane.

“Why’d you make me stop?” Anakin asked once he was close to me, the training blade powering down. “I’m doing fine.”

“So well, that HK has managed to strike you five times in five minutes,” I replied with a smile, amused at his reaction. The more philosophical parts of learning about the Force, and even some of the standard techniques, held little interest to him. But point him at a machine, or give him a lightsaber and ask him to train, and he’d do so until he literally dropped from exhaustion. While I’d taught him the basics of using the Force to replenish and restore your body when pushed to your limits, I couldn’t truly teach the lesson as the way I’d done it before Natural Selection wasn’t normal, or natural. I was slowly fumbling my way into learning how to do so, but I knew I had a long way to go. It was why our first destination after leaving this system was to a Force sect specialising in using the Force in that way. “Perhaps it’s time to shift your training toward less combat-oriented uses of the Force?” I suggested while tapping my chin.

“No!” Anakin snapped, reaching forward to grasp my arm. “I, um,” he continued, worried he’d overstepped only for me to start laughing.

“Haran! It’s too easy to tease you,” I said, lowering the hand and ruffling his hair. “While one day we will have to turn your training toward non-combat or technical matters, I don’t think we’re there yet.” Anakin was relieved to hear that. “However, I think that I’d been focusing too much on your training as a Force user, and not as a Mandalorian. Therefore, once we leave this system, outside of any training we do to learn with Force sects, I’m going to insist we begin your training there.”

“But why?” He whined only to blink, seemingly surprised at his reaction. “I mean, I get that I’ll be like you, a Mandalorian Jedi. But why can’t I just use my lightsaber?”

“First, that’s a training lightsaber and if you struck someone with it, the worst you could do is stun them.” As I spoke I lifted my shoto blade from its clip at my side. “You aren’t ready to build your lightsaber, just as I feel I’m not in a position to rebuild the one destroyed on Naboo.” I wasn’t sure how I was going to go about it, but I wanted to see if there was any way I could repair the damaged miniature crystal that had formed half of the focusing point of my blade and gave it the unusual dual-colour blade. If not, then I’d have to see where the Force guided me, what sort of crystal would replace the damaged one, and what changes that would bring to my lightsaber.

“Second, it’s highly likely that, for the next year or so, we’ll be travelling as Mandalorians and not Jedi. Because of that, and that many would consider a Mandalorian an easier target than a Jedi – with many hating either or both groups – I won’t have you entering any location unarmed or untrained. Which is why, once we leave this system, I’d be shifting your training to something more akin to the Mando’ade.”

I also had something ready for that training, but I’d yet to give it to him. I’d been planning to hold onto it for his birthday, but that was still several months away, and I knew we’d not be here for that long. Bo hadn’t liked not being present when I gave Anakin what I had stored for him, and that I wasn’t giving it to him instantly, but she’d accepted my judgement. I was his parent while she was the fun-loving – or battle-crazy depending on your opinion – aunt.

“Contemplative: I do hope, Master, that you would be willing to listen to some of my suggestions regarding the young builder’s education.”

“I’ll be relying on you for help, HK, don’t worry,” I replied, smiling at the assassin droid. “Just make sure that whatever training you suggest has a good chance of not getting Anakin killed.”

“Cautionary: No training, at least one worthy of being implemented, is without danger, Master. Addendum: However, I will consider how to ensure the young builder isn’t permanently damaged or killed by what I offer, Master.” R2 beeped out a question. “Answer: Yes, you may help, though I am unsure if your memory core is sufficiently advanced to compute anything useful.” R2 rolled forward, the sounds coming from him more confrontational, which made me chuckle. “Correction: Obviously I meant your current configuration lacks the capacity, though I’m sure the Master will have you upgraded before we depart.”

“I’m sure Anakin and Raith can think of ways to improve you, R2,” I agreed, earning a nod from Anakin. “If you’re both good, we’ll see what, if anything, Raith is willing to sell to help improve you further.”

“Appeasement: We shall be on our best behaviour, Master.” R2 beeped and rocked in agreement. “The meatbag hosting us is remarkably creative. For a meatbag.”

I laughed and shook my head at HK’s opinion of Raith. Turning, I saw that Anakin looked paler than when I’d spoken with HK. “Hey,” I said, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “remember, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one facing a crazy assassin droid.”

“Correction: A highly skilled and capable assassin droid, young builder. Explanation: While your primitive mind is unable to comprehend my higher process, rest assured that I know, and have, hundreds of ways that would result in your death without any proof linking me to the action.”

“Anyway,” I cut in before Anakin could consider what HK was suggesting, “you’re wrong to say I’ve not faced an assassin droid across from me in a training exercise. I’ve trained considerably with HK to keep my skills sharp. Though, at least when speaking of him as a sparring opponent, HK is lacking when compared to the Krayt Dragon.”

“Observation: While I still find that event hard to compute, the amount of evidence to support your battle forces me to accept the obvious, Master.” HK’s head tilted to one side. “Musing: I am curious how you would do in such a situation now, or if I might have more suitable methods to engage such a beast than directly challenging it.”

“Ignoring that I didn’t intend to challenge the beast as I did, I think I’d do a lot better. For one, I’d have all of you, Fenrir, and Simvyl to help.”

“Assessment: Perhaps a collection with too many parts to make the hunt fair, Master.”

“As you well know, there’s no such thing as a fair fight. There’s only not enough firepower or not enough targets.”

HK chuckled, which was always an odd sound to hear from a droid. “Amusement: That is the correct answer, Master. Appeasement: I look forward to when we might hunt a dragon, or similar such beast, together.”

“As do I, HK. As do I.” I turned and looked back at Anakin. “You need the training, Anakin. I won’t let you step into the galaxy unprepared to defend yourself from those who want to hurt you. To hurt us.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, and he moved forward as if planning to resume his training.

“Wait.” He turned back to me. “While you can resume sparring soon, there’s something I’d like to explain before you do.” I tapped at the interface in my beskar limb; a similar computer to that in a vambrace hidden inside the protective metal. “I need you to tell me what this is?” I said as the arm displayed a small hologram from the top of my wrist.

“That’s a blaster,” he replied, sounding as if I’d suddenly lost my sanity.

“It is, but what else can you tell me about it?” He frowned, confused by the question and I smirked. “Who made it? How much power does a clip have? How much does it cost unmodified? What’s its rate of fire in the various modes?”

Anakin stepped closer, examining the hologram carefully. I did likewise as I’d pulled this blaster up quickly, not bothering to select it too carefully and thus making Anakin think I was somehow aware of what it was before it was displayed. “Looks like an EE model,” he replied after about half a minute while giving me an annoyed shrug. “Why does this matter?”

"It matters because every blaster, even those in the same series, has different statistics,” I explained slowly, not annoyed at his attitude. “This, for example, is an EE-2 blaster carbine. The power cell gives a base capacity of three hundred bolts, though this can drop to a hundred depending on the mode used. In standard configuration, it works either in burst fire of five bolts, or suppression fire of twenty bolts. The hundred bolt capacity comes into play when placed on single shot, as that generates a more powerful bolt but at the cost of a greatly reduced rate of fire.” As I spoke, Anakin’s brow rose, while I swore HK watched on in amusement. “The base model has a muzzle velocity of eighty-two kilometres per second, meaning at four hundred meters – which is a decent distance away – you’ve got around four thousand eight hundred eighty microseconds to recognize the blaster, remember all this information, and then prepare to engage who or whatever is wielding it."

By the time I finished that piece, Anakin looked shocked and impressed with what I’d said. Which, to him, it was. For me, with Eidetic Memory, it was as simple as remembering what I had for breakfast. I’d not learnt the details of every blaster in the galaxy – as that would be a pain to do and a general waste of time – but I had the details for the top five thousand for each type of blaster memorised, meaning it took me no time to be certain of the blaster the arm had displayed.

“Once you realise what blasters your enemies are wielding, and the specifics of their weaponry – such as how this carbine is best used on the burst-fire mode – then, with whatever time you have left, there are four things you, as someone who can draw on the Force, can do.” First,” I held up a finger, “you can move your body to avoid the bolts, or ensure your lightsaber is in a position to deflect them away. Second, if you know how to, you can redirect the bolts. Ideally, you send them back at the shooter, but if not then toward secondary targets or towards something that could alter a battlefield to your advantage. A steam pipe for example.” Anakin nodded, taking in what I was saying. “This is where I expect you to be by the time you turn twelve.” I expected him there earlier, but I didn’t want to push him too hard, not when he currently had other focuses. “Third, and this is more advanced, as a Force user, you can draw upon the Force to protect yourself. This can be something like generating a barrier to shield yourself or altering the air to slow the bolt down enough to make one of the earlier options more applicable. It’s even possible for the most powerful and skilled Force users to stop the bolt in its tracks.”

“Observation: Throughout my operational lifetime I’ve seen a handful of Jedi and Sith use such a technique, Master. While it is an impressive display of power, they can usually be overcome with a sufficient number of bolts. Ideally fired by multiple shooters using differing blaster types.”

“Or, to see why the third option is flawed, the fourth choice is to not be anywhere near the bolts when they’re meant to reach you.” Anakin opened his mouth, but I raised a hand to cut off whatever comment he had. “Yes, I know the last two require using the Force in ways you don’t know, but they’re also – depending on how the fourth option is taken – flashier than the first two, and a greater drain on the Force user. One day, you’ll learn techniques to do those, but I can assure you that the first two are the most common, and practical, methods of dealing with blaster-wielding opponents.”

“Okay.” While Anakin’s interest lay in using a lightsaber, it was obvious he was curious about the other methods. Probably ones like Phase and Teleport, and I’d show him how to use them, but only after I re-learnt how to do so myself. While I didn’t have restrictions on those powers like Shatterpoint, I lacked any clear training for how the powers were meant to work. Until I understood the science and logic that went into them, I had no intention of attempting them again. The risk that something dire would happen if I wasn’t sure of what I was doing outweighed my desire to have them back in my arsenal.

“Good, now back you go,” I said, giving him a gentle push on the back. I watched as he moved back to the centre of the room, his eyes already tracking the droids, and the lightsaber igniting in his hands. “Oh HK,” the droid stopped as I spoke to him, “increase your rate of fire by twenty per cent.”

“Answer: With pleasure, Master,” the droid replied as Anakin stared at me, not believing I’d told HK to make the training harder.

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