The group of Jedi stumbled out of the Sphere. Lian struggled to move forward but insisted he could walk.  Fane joined Shadie to hold him up.
            ‘I’m fine, I can walk,’ said Lian.  He stumbled forward, dropping to one knee and cursed in Huttese.
            ‘You don’t have to prove anything to us, Lian,’ said Talyc.  ‘I’m sure if this Sith thinks you’re worthy, it won’t have anything to do with your strength here or lack thereof.’
            Lian looked up at the Mandalorian and smiled.  ‘I appreciate…’  He felt a pang of pain and grunted, clenching his teeth.
            Shadie put her hand on the door, and Lian saw it roll into the wall.  He had heard much about this place, yet never realised how heavy the dark side felt here, nor how dim it was.  He hoped it would not alter his being.   And yet, however strong the dark side was here, Lian did not feel stifled by it; whatever his fears, it seemed to allow for his light.
            Everyone hurried through each chamber and Brenum pushed the top of a sarcophagus.  The platform began to descend, turning slowly, as had been described to Lian before. 
            Brenum pressed his lips together.  ‘I should never have agreed to help rid the atmosphere of starfighters,’ he said.  ‘My place was by your side and I failed you.’
            ‘No one has failed me,’ insisted Lian.
            ‘If anyone’s to blame,’ said Fane, ‘it’s me.  I just don’t get it!  I’m supposed to be able to be immune to Relsor’s stasis attacks.  Now another Kloh will die because of me and my inability to–’
            ‘Fane!’ Lian put sternness in his voice.  ‘Stop that right now.  You and I were meant to work together within the Force, but you are not ready to defeat Relsor and that is not your fault.’  Lian had a bit more strength now, but he knew it wouldn’t last for long.
            ‘I can’t even connect to Relsor without you, Lian,’ said Fane solemnly.
            ‘That’s because the Force connects us; that does not make you weak,’ replied Lian.
            Trylia tended to Lian’s lekku; she had mended it in the Sphere. Though he still felt the wound tingle painfully, it was a lot less intense than it had been prior to their flight to the Crypt.
            ‘The wound has stopped bleeding but it’s still raw,’ said Trylia.  ‘Shall I change the bandage?’
            ‘No,’ said Lian.  ‘Remove it.  I want your Sith friend to see me as I am, in my full vulnerability.’
            They arrived at the bottom level and helped Lian to the chamber where sat the ancient Pureblood Sith. 

Lian struggles with a severed lekku (from Protectors of the Force, Story 7, Star Wars Fan-Fiction by Celinka Serre)

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Continue Reading Chapter Eleven

Read the Epilogue

Catch up on previous Star Wars Fan-Fiction from the Shadie story series.

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