Lian sat before the holo monitor, speaking with the Grand Master, his head bowed and feeling tremendous worry for his friend. The two children were resting in the far corner of the room, sleeping soundly after a long day of practice and exercises.
            ‘Well, Shadie says they are laying low for now, until she can figure out how to awaken the Sphere,’ said Lian in a voice that sounded monotone even to him. ‘No news on any progress regarding…Fane’s state.’
            ‘You are naturally troubled by the news, as we all are,’ said Master Herl’unik.
            ‘Troubled? I’m worried,’ Lian admitted. ‘Fane will need all the help he can get to regain his Force abilities. I think he should have access to the hidden chamber at the Jedi Temple with its hidden Holocrons. There will be some in there that will help him a great deal.’
            ‘I don’t think that would be wise,’ said Master Herl’unik.
            ‘And why is that?’
            ‘You heard what Talyc said, even if Fane regains his memories, he still has lost his Force power.’
            ‘Which is why we need to help him regain it,’ Lian insiste.
            Master Herl’unik sighed. ‘Lian, Fane is no longer the Jedi he was a year ago. He is back to where he was so long ago. He is not a Jedi Knight anymore.’
            Lian pondered a moment. ‘You’re right, he’s not a Jedi Knight. He’s more, and would be it also by title had you granted it when he defeated Relsor.’
            ‘Lian, we’ve been through this in the past. I know you’re fond of your friend, but there were trials and too much going on. But what’s done is done. I’m afraid I cannot grant Fane access to those Holocrons. Even Masters need special permission from the Council, and only Council members have access.’
            ‘I’m granting special permission, and Fane would already be a master had you granted him that title when he deserved it the most.’ Lian was feeling annoyance and anger towards the unfair rules the Order had imposed on his friend.
            ‘Perhaps once Fane regains his memory and has remastered the Force–’
            ‘No!’ Lian stood up abruptly. He could hardly believe he was interrupting and talking back to the Grand Master, but enough was enough. ‘I stood by and said nothing while the Council treated Fane like a criminal on probation for years. But this is enough. Fane deserves the title of Jedi Master and he deserves access to the tools that will help him regain mastery of the Force more quickly and more easily.’
            ‘Jedi Master Lian,’ Master Herl’unik pointedly said, ‘may I remind you that Fane killed a Jedi master and turned to the dark side. We take such acts very seriously. The Council cannot grant the title of Master to a Jedi who has turned, even if he has redeemed himself.’
            Lian narrowed his eyes. ‘Except he hasn’t redeemed himself enough, not to you. It’s always, when this happens, or, when that happens, but never now. And, if I recall, you granted Shadie the title of Master, did you not?’
            ‘That was different; she was different. Shadie was Sith and turned towards the light, not the other way around. Perhaps if Fane proves himself–’
            ‘How many times is he going to have to prove himself in order to be worthy of the title? You think I don’t know who he killed? He killed my father!’ Lian shook his head. ‘Master Herl’unik, Fane has changed so much, he has grown so much.’
            ‘He’s not the same Jedi anymore!’
            ‘He saved the entire galaxy and nearly died for it!’ shouted Lian. He caught himself, not wanting to wake the children. ‘Just because his memory has failed and he has been propelled back to where he was mere months before he turned to the dark side, doesn’t mean he will again.’ Lian took a deep breath. ‘I am petitioning the Council to grant Fane the title of Jedi Master retroactively; from the moment he defeated Relsor. I have already sent my letter of petition to all other Council members. This call was a courtesy, and it has not gone the way I had intended it to go. I apologise for my heartiness, but I feel very strongly about this.’
            ‘Fane was already given many permissions, many exceptions–’
            ‘And so was I, and I’m a Council member!’ Lian looked over at the children who stirred and began to wake. ‘I need to go. Please consider my petition, Master Herl’unik. If I can forgive Fane his past wrongdoings, I see no reason why the Council couldn’t either.’
            ‘That too was different.’
            ‘How? The way you’ve been regarding Fane, honestly sometimes… It’s not fair.’
            ‘Lian, nothing is fair. Look around you; the imprisonment that comes with your immortality is proof of that. Fane was a Jedi and he turned to the dark side and killed his own master. It will take a lifetime for him to regain our trust.’
            ‘How many times will Fane need to save the galaxy before he earns your trust, Master Herl’unik? Will he finally have your approval once he’s dead? Think about that.’
            Lian chimed out. He sighed, slumping on his chair.
            ‘Daddy, are you okay?’
            ‘Yes, sweetheart, I’m just a little angry,’ replied Lian.
            ‘A little angry, he says,’ Thera said, looking at Renvir.
            ‘Why does a title matter?’ asked Renvir.
            ‘Oh, so you heard?’
            ‘Just a bit,’ Thera admitted.
            ‘Well, the title will give Fane access to a few things that can really help him.’
            ‘But what does the title do? If he healed the Force and he is worthy, what does a title matter when the Force recognises his deeds?’
            Lian tried to suppress a smile. The Chiss child had a point.
            ‘Papa didn’t understand that. Papa wanted more power; he wanted more titles because he wasn’t well. Fane sent him back into the Force to become the healing to negate the illness he was when he lived. Fane doesn’t need power or titles. He just needs to be.’
            Lian pondered that for a moment. ‘“Well, what do you know, the apprentice teaches the master.” My father told me that. You’re right. Although my petition still stands, the Council has been treating Fane unfairly. Something needs to be done. But for now, we wait for more news.’

* * *

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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