Talyc stared, mouth agape, looking as nervous as he had on his wedding day. Knarf donned off the underwater suit and walked up to his friend. He gave him a sympathetic smile. Shadie spoke to the Sphere through the Force, looking very focused, but the Sphere was not responding.
‘What’s happening?’ Mrs. Holt whispered. Brenum began explaining.
Shadie, keeping her hands on the Sphere, turned her head towards the others.
‘It knows I’m here, but it’s still in defence mode. It won’t respond.’
‘But Fane’s in there!’ said Talyc. ‘He’s been gone all this time without…food or…’ Talyc swallowed hard. ‘What if–’
‘Talyc, that what-if game has only led me towards the dark side and towards fear and anger and hurt and despair,’ said Shadie. ‘Come.’ Talyc reluctantly approached. ‘Place your hands on the Sphere. It knows you. Speak to it.’
Shadie removed her hands from the Sphere and backed away. Talyc looked unsure of himself, but he spoke.
‘Sphere, please, I need to know that Fane is alive.’ There was nothing.
‘This is serious business,’ said Mrs. Holt. ‘What altercation did your friend end up in to be in this situation?’
‘Please,’ Talyc pleaded. ‘Fane, my man, my husband.’ Talyc’s words could barely be heard. ‘Please.’
Knarf wanted to say something encouraging, but he could not find the right words with which to comfort his friend. Before he could worry about it, the Sphere pulsed quickly, once, and everyone was thrown to the ground. Then, an opening appeared. Talyc ran in almost faster than Knarf could register, as though he had the Force. Knarf followed in, as did Shadie, Brenum and Trylia.
Knarf heard Void speak to Nriwe and Mrs. Holt. ‘Probably best not to overcrowd poor Fane.’
Talyc got down on his knees by Fane’s side. The Jedi was lying on a small mattress-looking platform that the Sphere had created, looking deep in slumber.
‘He’s in a healing trance,’ said Shadie.
Talyc took Fane’s hand as Knarf crouched on the other side of Fane, across from Talyc. The clan leader placed a hand on Fane’s cheek. Fane moaned softly and moved his head. He breathed in deeply. Slowly, the Jedi opened his eyes.
Talyc wiped his eyes and smiled. ‘Hey you,’ he said. ‘Fane, my man, you’re alive.’
Fane narrowed his eyes. ‘Of course, I’m alive.’
‘Not lost your sense of humour then,’ said Knarf, relieved.
Fane looked from Knarf to Talyc, and at Talyc holding his hand. He scowled. ‘I’m sorry. Do I know you?’
Knarf felt a lump in his throat and saw Talyc’s smile fade, and could only guess how Talyc was feeling. The clan leader let out a few short exhales.
‘Fane, it’s me, Talyc.’
‘I’m pretty sure I’d remember you had we met,’ said Fane, propping himself on his elbows.
Knarf didn’t miss the little flirtatious smile Fane flashed Talyc, but Talyc merely let go of Fane and fell back into a sitting position. The look of dismay on Talyc’s face was devastating to Knarf; Talyc looked more dismayed than Knarf had ever seen him in years.
‘Fane,’ said Shadie, ‘do you not remember what happened to you?’
Fane snapped his head at Shadie, eyes wide. ‘What are you doing here, Shadie.’
‘I’m here because I’m your friend,’ said Shadie, keeping a calm voice.
‘You’re no friend of mine,’ spat Fane.
Talyc shook his head. ‘This can’t be.’
‘Fane,’ said Trylia in a soothing voice, ‘what’s the last thing you remember?’
‘I remember sparring with Master Kloh,’ said Fane.
Knarf bowed his head. ‘How many years have been lost?’ he whispered.
‘I’m sorry, you are?’ asked Fane.
‘Fane,’ said Brenum, ‘I’m afraid something terrible has happened and you’ve lost your memory.’
‘Brenum, how?’ Fane looked about. ‘Where are we?’
Talyc stood abruptly and took a few steps back. He turned his back to the others, facing the Sphere’s wall. Knarf stood and walked to him. Talyc was shaking his head, tears filling his eyes.
‘I don’t know what Awgro did to him, but I’m going to kill him.’ Talyc clenched his teeth.
‘First, let’s find out what actually happened,’ said Knarf.
Talyc turned back to Fane. ‘Fane, I may not be Force-sensitive, but I will do everything in my power to help you remember who I am.’ Talyc took a few steps towards him.
‘I’m sorry, I have no recollection of you.’ Fane frowned apologetically. ‘The way you speak… Your tears. Please tell me, who are you?’
Talyc crouched by Fane’s side. ‘Your husband.’
Fane’s eyes grew wide. ‘My husband!’
Talyc nodded. ‘Do you not remember anything from the night they took you? We…’ Talyc looked down. ‘I’m sorry.’
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