Reborn as Anakin

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***

The morning in the palace was already familiar. Bright, cosy, and no flies biting - that's how one might characterise the Duchess's palace. After stretching and stretching and getting dressed, I went to find Satine Kriz herself.

It was early in the morning, but the duchess, as it turned out, was already on her feet. I found the Duchess walking briskly about her business.

- Good morning, Satine," I called her attention to myself.

- Good morning to you, too, Anakin. How did you sleep?

- Fine. I should probably get going, unless I have something else to do.

- Have breakfast first," Satine hummed, "and by the way, I have a word to say....

- Okay," I nodded, "in that case, you have a good breakfast too," I hinted at her about last night's gluttony. Satine was embarrassed, but nodded and walked forward to the dining hall.

The table was set with only light dishes, the kind my cook makes for breakfast when he's in a hurry or when he gets paid.

After breakfast, I made sure that Satine ate well - I served her, in violation of etiquette, more and more, and she was not rude enough to refuse... After breakfast, I finally asked Satine:

- Did you want to talk about something?

- Not here, - the Duchess stood up and walked out, nodding for me to follow her. She walked along corridors she knew only to herself - the palace, like all of Keldabe, was a mad labyrinth. We came out, as far as I could tell, to her office. There were guards in power armour and massive beskar doors blocking the passage. The Duchess went inside, opening the doors with her card and closing the door behind her as I passed. I checked the office for a wire. There's one, I thought, finding a bug.

- Wait!" I raised my hand, stopping the duchess, and walked over to the desk and pulled out the bug. It was quite tiny, but not like my nanospies, much bigger....

- What? The duchess didn't understand.

- The bug. Under your desk, bugged.

- What? - Satine's eyes widened, - where?

- Here, - I put it on the table, - it's small ...

Satine came closer and examined it, bending over the desk.

- Yeah... you can hardly see it..." she nodded, "what is it? Whose is it?

- Do I know? - I shrugged," have you cleaned the office lately?

- What do you mean?

- I mean the tracking devices.

- A week ago... - Satine thought about it and in a couple of seconds called the head of security to her. He came quickly, and after explaining and handing him the bug, he got very excited, but judging by his emotions, he's not a traitor. When the door closed, I told Satine:

- He's not the traitor.

- How do you know?

- I can sense it," I shrugged, "Satine, Jedi can sense lies, but as the ability develops it increases. Those as experienced as Yoda by changes in emotion can anticipate the actions of their interlocutor and their thoughts, with remarkable accuracy. My experience is less, but the ability is greater. Otherwise I would not have solved personnel issues so quickly - it was enough to look into the soul of each to understand what kind of person he is and how he relates to me and the Empire ...

- I see, - sighed the Duchess, - I wish I had such abilities ...

- Alas, no. And besides, there is another side to this Power, so many of us are envious of ordinary people...

Satine nodded," Ben said the same thing. Well, if that's taken care of... by the way, you're helping me out again, Ani.

- Come on, Satine, we've talked about this," I said.

- No, I won't. And anyway, I have a serious proposal to you, - the duchess frowned.

- I'm sorry, what did you want to discuss?

- An important matter,' Satine said again.

- 'Well...' I stretched out.

- Well... Skywalker, I've been thinking," the Duchess got up the courage, "I suggest you join our clan.

- What? I don't understand. What clan?

- Kriz,' Satine said as a matter of course, 'think about it.

- Consider? - I thought about the sentence, but still not understanding where Satine was going with it, I asked: "Maybe you can explain to me what it means? What it means for you, for me, how it is possible and why it is necessary, and most importantly - who benefits from it?

- Oh," Satine sighed, "you're just like your son - you pile on the questions....

- Well, Shiai is my son," I shrugged. Though I felt a sense of déjà vu, I had heard it somewhere before.

- All right, I'll start again. Mandalorians are a nomadic people, with all the cultural traditions that go with it. We don't have a clear racial divide between Mandalorians and non-Mandalorians, and the traditions of adoption and fostering are quite developed. The government is divided into many clans, including mine, the Kriz clan. Although the clans themselves are divided into aristocratic and simple clans - in most cases, the clan representatives are still aristocrats who have received the title for military honours. The difference is simple - aristocrats can influence politics through aristocratic meetings, while the heads of simple clans have no influence. However, the title can also be bestowed on an ordinary warrior who has proven himself in battle.

- Interesting," I nodded, though I already knew that, "what is the meaning of your proposal?

- It's simple," Satine nodded, getting to the point, "it means that you will become a member of the Kriz Clan, that is, you will become one of us Mandalorians.

- The Jedi and Mandalorian codes don't seem to contradict each other," I nodded, "you can leave out who the Mandalorians are, I'm a little familiar with your history and culture.

- Wonderful," the Duchess smiled, "you've done a lot for me lately. A lot, and I can't even thank you enough. Well, really, what can I offer you?

- You have already offered me a lot, Satine, - I disagreed, - I have and always will have only two allies in the galaxy, which you helped me to get. My army and my navy.

- You sound like an old Mandalorian," Satine frowned.

- 'Well, I'm not talking about friends, am I? Besides, in this crazy galaxy you can't have it any other way.

- So be it," Satine disagreed, "okay, that's what we discussed... what do you think?

I wondered. It wasn't that easy, if you think about it, even though a Mandalorian doesn't have a lot of duties, but status... and besides, Satine is already in my plans as an ally - without her I would have to gather an army for several years.

- And how will it happen? - I asked.

- If you mean the ceremony itself, it's quick and painless. But it's a ceremony of acceptance into the clan. There are three kinds of ceremonies - adoption, wedding and fraternisation. The third one is just right in our case, as you're too old for a son, and for a husband....

- Satine, just take it for granted that I feel your feelings as clearly and instinctively as I feel a smell or a sound.

Satine looked at me unhappily, but took the information to heart. Yes, a man trying to hide his feelings looks a bit silly.

- You have to go through another ceremony before you can enter the clan. By Mandalorian law, you're a minor until you've gone through the ceremony of adulthood.

- And what is that? - I wondered.

- It requires that you be accepted as a Mandalorian. The ceremony is not so peaceful; it requires you to prove that you are worthy of being a Mandalorian. There is a different challenge for each age and each ability. Usually for children it's a bare-knuckle battle with an adult, but what can I think of for you..." Satine frowned. I agreed:

- 'Yes, it's a challenge. One-on-one without using force and weapons I'm maybe an average fighter. If using force and lightsaber, I can take down all your guardsmen.

- I don't like this tradition at all, but going against it is too much for me. So that's fine. If you agree, of course..." she sighed, worried about me. If her subordinates don't kill me... Ha, if you use acceleration, foresight, power vision and amplification, it's impossible to defeat me. In this state, a sword is just an addition to a Jedi, not necessary at all.

- Well... I agree. I don't know what it will cost me, but I agree.

Satine exhaled a sigh of relief and smiled:

- Good. In that case, the first ceremony will be held... when, by the way?

- Is this the one where you have to fight? Even now," I shrugged, "or whenever it's convenient for you...

- We can do it now," Satine nodded and called the head of security on the comlink. A few minutes later he entered the office, but against his expectations, Satine was not talking about the bug I had found.

- Satres, come closer," she asked, "I need to do a small favour for a friend of mine. Meet Emperor Koros, Anakin Skywalker," I nodded and Satine introduced us, "This is Satres, Captain of the Guard.

Sutres stretched even more as he looked at me, and I looked him over as well, a sturdily built Mandalorian who looked something like an aged Jango Fett.

- Satres, my friend wants to become one of us, Mando'ade. Will you help with the ceremony?

- Of course, Your Highness! - Sutres stretched even more.

- Excellent. Find a suitable place... I believe there is a hall in the north wing where the Guards train?

- 'That's right,' he replied, 'what exactly will it take?

Satine gave me a sneering look and turned to Sutres and said: - 'A dozen of your best men.

- Two dozen," I said, "to be sure.

- Yes, - Sutres waited for the duchess's nod and left the office.

- Why did you get involved? - Satine attacked me, - ten is not enough for you?

- Come on, can't I show off in front of a girl already?

- You were just saying...

- I'm kidding," I smiled, "I'm going to fight. Oh, I haven't trained for a long time, my teacher would have killed me for being so lazy....

- Come on, I want to see it too... - the duchess stood up first, - especially since you won't find the way to the training hall.

The way was indeed long - Satin's palace is large, and the northern wing is already a difficult task to find. Erdva rode behind me, keeping up, but not interfering in the conversation either.

The training hall was a large room, a regular gymnasium, almost the same as the Jedi's, except it had a shooting gallery. The room was empty - Satres had already cleared the room. Satine entered first and stepped aside, looking at me expectantly.

- What?" I didn't understand.

- Let's see... we are pacifists, but we haven't learnt to fight, - the duchess grinned.

- If you want peace, prepare for war, - I nodded, - what should I do?

- Sutres is coming now, he will explain better than me.

Sutres did indeed come in a few minutes, and behind him came the guardsmen - all as one strong, tall, well-built guys, about twenty or thirty years old. I got ready, but Sutres didn't call the fight at once - after the Guardsmen came others, and others, and others... so, it looked like at least two hundred snouts.

- What's this? - Satine nodded at them.

- They wanted to see who was brave enough to challenge two dozen guardsmen, - said Satres, - and I can't stop them - it's tradition. By the way, does His Majesty have armour?

- Not yet," Satine shrugged, "we'll do without it. By the way, Anakin, it's a mandatory part of the code, so you'll have to wear armour....

- That's okay. I was just about to start designing armour, so I'll do your terms....

- Okay," Sutres pointed out, "the rules are simple. If you want to become one of us, you have to prove that you are worthy to be called a warrior, - judging by Satres' emotions, it was a ritual phrase, - there are three ways to do it. Defeat a warrior in battle, defeat an enemy in battle, or defeat a Mandalore in battle. There is no other way.

I nodded in agreement, not interfering with his monologue. Satres continued:

- Every Mandalorian must wear armour, speak Mando'a, protect himself and his family, raise his children as Mandalorians, help his clan, and appear when called upon by the Mandalore. Do you agree to be with us?

- I do.

- In that case, prove it," Sutres stepped away. I pulled a blindfold from my pocket and put it on, closing my eyes. They were too imperfect an organ of vision in my case, though the others took it with surprise or, rather, shock... though some of them thought that I was being flippant and had already mentally buried me... well, in that state I could see everything around me, not only in the present, but also in the future and the past - for a few seconds or so. So with my eyes closed, I'm much more dangerous. Satine turned away altogether, and the two came closer... silently, apparently wanting to scare me... Well, I too have a sense of humour or epatage. Let's have a laugh.

- You two are stomping too loudly... - I looked at them through the force, - besides, you, - I nodded towards the first one, - have an arrhythmia... Okay, I'll hit you hard, but carefully, - I threw off my outer clothes, which looked like a mixture of a jacket and a waistcoat, and remained in a tabard, remotely resembling a Japanese kimono, or rather a part of it.

The first one, the one with the arrhythmia, rushed at me - I was ready for it, and accelerating my movements, I ducked under the blow and grabbed him by his clothes and threw him over me, immediately catching a blow from the second fighter. His arm was immediately intercepted, and I, pushing it away, shifted to the side and rolled over. The first fighter stood up, and the second fighter kept his balance - the test of battle showed that they could not deal with me so easily. I didn't look in their direction, so much so that it seemed I really couldn't see them. The first one lunged at me again, but this time he wanted to use some kind of move. I prevented him by deflecting to the side, quickly entering his blind spot and hitting him in the torso and under the knee - he fell, as expected, only it took too long and the second one almost hit me, only this time with a faster movement and from a greater distance. I hit him in the torso three times, knocking him out of breath, and immediately rushed to the first one, just before the attack, changing the vector of movement and hitting him in the legs with a big hook. Rolling over, he met with the angry first, and then knocked him out with a blow to the head. The second wasn't so easy - I didn't knock him out of breath, so I had to take him seriously - anticipating his blow, I let it pass over my head and hit him almost without swinging under his breath. This one's ready.

After the first two came the second, they were much more organised and complicated. I had to use some acrobatics - when one of them bent down from the blow, I rolled over him and unexpectedly for the second number attacked, then immediately turned round and hit the first one in the side with my heel. The first was out, and the second was even more cautious in his approach to me, but I was not shoddy either. Instead of counterattack, usual for me, I went into attack, using foresight that would not get caught - straight as a crowbar blow did not reach the target - it was blocked, but immediately displaced along the body, I turned around and with all the force of the turn repeated the blow with a leg in the style of Chuck Norris. It helped - he calmed down, but was replaced by the third two players.

They were already eager to fight, but I realised that I could play with them for a long time and used all my skills. Yes, the Son taught me how to fight. What can a teacher who's over 100,000 years old teach you? A lot. I dodged the blow, and then I went past the two and went to their rear and started to hit them hard - the first one was hit in the side, and the second one I just jumped over, leaning on his shoulders with my hands and swung over, as if over a tourniquet and, not letting go, threw him over me, adding a strong blow under the breath, while he flew to the floor. Another deuce dropped out.

After them came another one, then another... by the tenth two, I was almost tired of the fight and began to improvise - I ducked under the blow of one and immediately turned on the spot and attacked the second, standing next to him. I wasn't going to jump like a Jedi, so my acrobatics were limited, but I could use acceleration and foresight. The first one was happy, thinking he'd caught me in a slow motion, but it was a trick - as soon as he reached out, I intercepted his arm and yanked him hard, using his punching power and hitting him in the head at the same time - the guard lost his balance, hung in the air for a moment and collapsed on the tatami.

The guys fought well, well-coordinated, and their reactions were good, and their movements were worked out, but they didn't work against anticipation, and in speed I easily evaded their blows and threw my own, rarely able to block. By the middle of the fight I was still showing off a bit, landing two blows on two opponents almost simultaneously so that both of them collapsed on the tatami at the same time.

- More, - I demanded in a demanding tone that came with the title of emperor. Another two came out. By the way, it's a great way to hone hand-to-hand combat, so I decided to take it while it lasts. I started to experiment and improvise - the first one got a light poke from me, which only made him angry, and the second one wanted to kick me, but the kick came out too slow - I intercepted him and hit him not even with my hand, but with my elbow under his ribs. It came out a strong blow and I immediately tested it on the first number - he came at me from the back, but I saw his blow clearly, so I turned around, intercepted his arm, and making half a turn around his axis, hit him with my elbow under the ribs. They're both out.

- What, we're out? - I asked snidely, - more! I was just beginning to taste....

This time the three of them came out, and with them I practised juyo techniques adapted for hand-to-hand combat - quick movement, swift strikes, both striking and straight punches. They were followed by another two, then another...

Great training. I had already begun to forget behind all this imperial nonsense, how wonderful it is just to fight from the heart, with good opponents. Adrenaline was in short supply, so I made up for all those months of boring business by fighting.

But I had an idea for a fighting style - if I combined Juyo's moves correctly, they could be used as a basis for a melee style. Ataru would also work as an acrobatic form - I took down a couple of Mandalorians with flying kicks, tried some karate moves I'd seen before on another pair, and even whistled on one's jaw while standing on his hands and kicking his legs while straightening up in a jump. By the end of this marathon, I was beginning to wonder if I should create my own fighting style. Another opponent came at me from the rear - he wanted to make a slash, but I jumped up in time, shifting to the side and landing, spring rushed to him before he woke up. He won't wake up, not in the next thirty minutes. I hit the last one lazily, for which I paid the price - he was faster than his comrades and escaped from my blow, almost hit me in the ribs, I was saved only by inhuman reaction and speed - rushing to him first, I hit him in the chest with my knee and elbowed him in the fall....

- More!" I asked with a happy smile, but to my surprise no one came out.

- Hey, is there anyone alive out there? I can hear you," I grinned. Again no one came out and I took off the bandage. The freshest ones were lying against the wall, and my earlier victims were bent over them-they'd already moved away. The row looked like a rural hospital where a hundred patients had been brought in, all stacked in a single row along the wall for many metres ahead. Satine and Satres were standing separately - Satine was staring at me like I was the twenty-first wonder of the galaxy, and Satres seemed to have aged twenty years and slumped his shoulders. I walked over to them, glancing only briefly at the column of recliners.

- Sutres, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hit everyone, I just got carried away... it's been too long since I've fought strong opponents, and my fists were itching.

- It's alright," he replied dejectedly, "I'm sorry, your majesty... Your highness? - he drew Satine's attention, ''Your Highness? Let's just get the ceremony over with... it's already been three hours since it started.....

- Three hours? - I was surprised, three hours?

- Yes," Sutres nodded.

- I think I've lost track of time," I sighed heavily, "I'm really getting carried away... Satine?

- А? - she finally turned her attention to me.

- Are we done with this?

- Yes, yes," the Duchess nodded, "Satres?

- Just a second... the ceremony requires that the one you defeated or witnessed the victory be present... - Sutres walked to the centre of the hall and commanded something in Mandalorian. Several dozen walkers rose and headed in our direction. Some of them had bruises under their eyes and on their faces.

- We need to finish the ceremony... well, you have proven your courage and valour, so we accept you," Sutres stepped away from me, and the guardsmen who came out echoed his words.

- That's it," Sutres nodded to me, "now the test is passed. Congratulations. Do you speak Mandalorian?

- No. But I have an army and fleet of millions of Mandalorians in my empire, so it shouldn't be hard to find a teacher... especially since it's rare to hear common Mandalorian," I grinned, "at least I'll know what they're saying about me behind my back.

- Oh," Sutres nodded, "in that case, your majesty, I won't bother you," Sutres went to his subordinates, and under his loud commands they quickly evacuated the beaten men to the infirmary.

I picked up my pre-fight clothes and made my way to Satine, leading her out behind me.

- Anakin, what's that supposed to mean? - She asked me, pointing behind me where the training room remained.

- Mean what exactly?

- You should have beaten one at least and that would have been it, the ceremony would have been over!

- Satine," I stopped and approached her and took her by the shoulders, "I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but you have no idea how good it feels to actually fight. Not that I'm bloodthirsty, but it's a man's nature, it can't be changed by anything. Without fighting, men are a herd of amorphous, weak-willed, infantile creatures who don't even deserve the right to be called men, just creatures who waste their lives aimlessly on pleasure. It's hard to explain - it's as much in a man's nature as it is in a woman's nature to take care of children.

- 'All right,' Satine blushed, and there was a cackling sound from behind her.

- Am I disturbing you? - Sutres asked. I was having such a good fight that I even forgot to check the space around me.

- No, not at all," I stepped away from Satres, whom I was holding by the shoulders. Behind Sutres' back were other guardsmen carrying their lying comrades - some I had hit hard, but gently, without killing or crippling....

Sutres walked on, and Satine, as soon as the Guardsmen were gone, turned even more pink:

- Ani, what kind of rumours will spread around the palace now?

- Spit on them, - I shrugged my shoulders, - only the truth matters, and rumours... they were, are and will be, there's no escaping them.

- I guess... you're right," she nodded hesitantly, "I'm sorry, I'm a bit under the impression," Satine was embarrassed, "come on, you probably want to rest, don't you?

- No, not at all," I refused, "I'm a Jedi. An adept of the light side of the force, and the light side of the force is also distinguished by the fact that with its help you can get rid of fatigue... - I got in line with the Duchess, - once with Tosi, that's my teacher and Shiaya's mother, in the forests we were running after a pack of Sharks all day long and nothing....

- Toshi? - Surprised asked Satine, - you did not tell me... ah, sorry, if it's personal....

- It's okay," I shrugged, "I already know a lot of personal things about you, so why not tell me a little about myself? After I made the hyperjump, I was thrown into normal space, near Mandalore, but... three thousand years earlier. I mean, in the distant, distant past...

- I don't get it," Satine shook her head, "that's not what you said, is it?

- I did. I made up the second version here to avoid unnecessary questions. I just tweaked it a bit so they wouldn't ask. I was thrown out 3,000 years earlier, that's when I joined the Jedi. That's where I met the Togruta, who became my teacher. We lived together for a year on Shili, and then I flew off to study with other teachers, and Tosi, as it turned out, got pregnant... you know, a year in the forest... and besides, as I said, a man without problems, that is, if he is completely safe and fed, becomes weak-willed and characterless, loses interest in procreation, and our life was the complete opposite. Hunting and danger, hard training... it's no wonder that by the end of it we had little self-restraint," I sighed heavily, "then I left almost immediately, and didn't return until six years later. That's when I got word that I had a son... for some reason Tosi kept him, though at the time, and even now, half-blood Togrutians have a bad reputation among Togrutians... Just before I went back, at the time I found my way back, she flew in and brought Shiai. We were at the Jedi Temple, in the hangar, in my yacht. One night we spent together, and the morning she left...and yes I flew back.... Though I would have liked to stay - we loved each other....

- I'm sorry," Satine said, "it's a sad story.

- Why not?" I shrugged, "we had a good time together, and Shiai is an unexpected but not unwanted child for me. It's a nice surprise from my beloved..." I grinned, "Okay, let's close the subject. Tosi died many millennia ago from old age... or rather she went into power, just like Alessia.

Satine was silent for a long time and we walked to her chambers, where she plopped down in a chair.

- One more ceremony to go. But here you will need armour for sure.

- In that case, give me some beskar, just enough for the armour, I'll make myself a set....

- I'll get right on it," Satine nodded, and in five minutes we had good Mandalorian armour. I didn't change it, I just modified it with the help of my power to fit my size. There was no helmet, thank God, I didn't need that bucket on my head.

- Can we get started? - I asked, while Satine watched me manipulate the armour.

- А? Yes, just a second... - she disappeared into her room, and after half an hour, during which I had time to put on the armour I had brought, she came out. She looked different - without make-up and... in armour.

- If you tell anyone," Satine said threateningly, though she was rather embarrassed by her appearance.

- I won't. What do you need?

- The smallest of things, she waved her hand.

By the way, in good armour she really looked much more attractive - thin and light armour did not hide the figure, with waist and long legs of the duchess, as it was only with cuffs, the rest - a special fabric, dense, almost tight.

The duchess said something in her own language, and after asking if I agreed to join her clan and become her brother, she nodded in satisfaction and congratulated me on the completed ceremony. She immediately ran back to her room, returning five minutes later in her traditional clothes.

- Well, that's it," the duchess sighed, "you're one of the Kriz now. Only you don't have a title - it only comes with promotion, and you can't appoint an emperor as a viscount.

- Nonsense," I shrugged, "by the way, what is this ceremony?

- Oh, it's called "name and soul". We've sorted out the spirit, but the name... theoretically, you can take a new Mandalorian name if you want.

- No, why? - I shrugged, "Is that it?

- No, you can take a double name if you want. That's something I'm already advising you, since if you're a Skywalker and part of the Kriz clan, it'll cause resentment....

- No problem.

The Duchess summoned a maid and taking my ID - passport card - from me, gave it to her, with the instruction to change my surname. Judging by the rounded eyes of the maid, she was surprised very, very much, but obediently took my passport.

- It will be ready in half an hour," Satine nodded.

- It's finished," I stretched.

It had been a crazy day. I had missed days like this so much lately!