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.’
* * *
Storimbu sat at one of the cantina tables playing a game of Sabaacc with his usual entourage og other Protectors. He kept glancing over at Maranna, who didn’t seem to know who he was, which was good. She knew his face, and perhaps recognised him from their brief meeting on Korriban many years back, and Storimbu had sensed she enjoyed chatting with him, but he never confirmed who he truly was. At the moment, Maranna was busy serving drinks.
Drashdae, the tall Pureblood woman of his team, nudged him with her elbow. ‘Sith at an angle.’
Storimbu looked about. He saw a few Reformed Sith approaching, a tall purple Chagrian and Awgro were walking side by side. They approached Maranna. Storimbu and the others eased their way towards them, slowly, subtly.
‘Maranna!’ said Awgro. She narrowed her eyes. ‘I see your son has been abandoned to the Jedi then.’
‘I haven’t abandoned my son, Awgro. He chose to remain with them.’
Maranna picked up some empty glasses from a vacant table. Awgro placed a firm hand on her wrist, gripping it tightly from the looks of things.
‘I think it would be wise if you came with us,’ he said.
‘Why would I do that? You can’t intimidate me, your powers are useless against me.’
‘Perhaps, but you don’t possess the Force abilities to thwart off brute force,’ said the imposing Chagrian.
‘But we do!’ Storimbu stepped forward, the others by his side. His lightsaber was at the ready, powered off, and pointing at Awgro. ‘Let her go, Awgro.’
‘Storimbu, you her new bodyguard or something?’ Awgro sneered. ‘I might have known you’d betray the Sith eventually. I know you’ve joined Shadie’s cause.’
‘I have a cause and purpose I can follow, and Shadie’s are worthy of my allegiance. We are no longer Followers of Kromus; we are not True Sith. You think the Reformed Sith know better, but no one understands and respects the Force itself as we do. We are the Protectors of the Force.’
‘And you serve Shadie?’ Mar Dalkars gave him a pointed glare. It figured Mar Dalkars would wind up helping Awgro; the Chagrian never liked the fact that Storimbu had become the new leader of the Followers of Kromus and not him.
‘We serve the Force. We protect it. It just so happens that she and her friends are the Healers of the Force. Our purposes align, nothing more.’ Storimbu took a step forward. ‘Now, let Maranna go and leave Nar Shaddaa.’
‘Oh, but Maranna knows things, and perhaps you do too,’ said Awgro. ‘Tell me, where is Shadie now? I know she left the Crypt. I need to find Fane and finish what I started. I need to find Talyc and kill him. I need to cripple Shadie so that I can take over the Crypt. Tell me, or I will destroy you all where you stand.’
People in the cantina had been noticing the commotion and a large Houk walked over to the table.
‘What’s going on here? You’re disrupting my workers! It’s costing me.’
Awgro shot a blast of lightning at the Houk and he went flying. Maranna screamed. Storimbu ignited his lightsaber, the pink hue contrasting with the others’ red blades, as did the others. He began duelling with the Chagrian.
‘Why do you follow a Sith who has no true purpose, Mar Dalkars?’ Storimbu asked the Chagrian. ‘Is this what Kromus’s teachings have led you to?’
‘Kromus’s teachings were skewed,’ replied Mar Dalkars.
‘You could still have joined the rest of the Followers to protect the Force,’ said Storimbu.
‘And have you lead me?’ Mar Dalkars clicked his tongue. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘I heard you say you have no leader, but Awgro acts like a leader who has not earned his title nor his place.’
‘You will learn your place,’ said Awgro.
Storimbu suddenly began feeling drained. He found himself unable to move and was pinned down. He looked around; the others were in the same precarious position as he was. His life was being drained out of him. A Reformed Sith grabbed Maranna.
‘So now, either you tell me where I can find my quarries, or Maranna can come with me, or I will torture you to your death,’ said Awgro.
‘Then torture me,’ Storimbu growled. ‘I have found a worthy cause. I will not betray those whose trust I have earned.’
‘And I will not go with you!’ Maranna said pointedly.
Awgro turned to his Sith. ‘Take them.’
Awgro’s lackeys dragged the Protectors and Maranna into a private chamber of the club. A security panel was used to raise an energy shield.
‘Now, we can’t be disturbed, nor can we disturb the patrons who have better things to do than to watch me torture you,’ said Awgro. He turned to his Sith. ‘Place them.’
Storimbu tortured by Awgro on Nar Shaddaa (from Connections in the Force, Story 11, Star Wars Fan-Fiction by Celinka Serre)
Storimbu was dragged to a strange contraption. He studied it carefully, wondering where it had come from. It had two pillars on either side and the Sith zapped it with dark side energy. Suddenly Storimbu found himself floating, held by the energy, unable to move his body, yet still able to move his head and fingers. That’s when he realised.
‘I recognise what this is,’ he said, ‘the others described it to me. You got this from Relsor’s ship, didn’t you?’
‘Makes you wonder what else I got from his ship,’ Awgro sneered.
A lump formed in Storimbu’s throat, thinking about the dreaded superlasers he had seen devastate worlds first-hand. He had seen what they could do, and he hoped that Awgro’s insinuation was merely taunting.
Mar Dalkars secured Maranna within a containment field box, so she could not aid anyone. She was close enough to watch what was happening to those who had been protecting her or had been meant to protect her, yet far enough that the Force defect would not negate any of the Force abilities being thrown Storimbu’s way. Storimbu knew that she could not deflect Force powers done to others, only those done around her, but if Awgro wanted to inflict the most pain to Storimbu, he knew Maranna in close proximity might make some tendrils of lightning snake away. Storimbu knew Awgro wouldn’t want that happening.
‘Anyone wants to save their leader, then speak up and tell me what I wish to know!’ Awgro called out loudly.
‘Never!’ the others yelled.
The Reformed Sith seized most of the Protectors and drained them enough that they could not find the strength to fight back. They were being guarded, but Storimbu motioned with his head and hands so that they would know not to say or try anything. Awgro didn’t know how many of them there truly were, nor did he know that Storimbu had Protectors among Awgro’s Reformed Sith, and Storimbu was willing to take the brunt of it all.
‘Why are you protecting me?’ Maranna whispered to him, as Awgro overlooked the others.
‘Shadie asked me to keep you safe; that is what I am doing,’ said Storimbu.
‘Why take this torture? Relsor built these devices; I know what they can do and how they can amplify the pain inflicted upon you. Why take it? Tell them what you know.’
‘I’ll take the torture any day over handing you over to him or revealing the secrets that protect my allies.’
‘You are very dedicated to your cause, it is…admirable,’ said Maranna. Storimbu turned his head to look at her. ‘You are admirable. Thank you.’
‘How you ever were able to be with someone like Relsor, I’ll never know, but you are not who I thought you were, you are not as stern as Shadie said you were. You are just a mother protecting her child. Well, I am a devoted servant of the Force, protecting my friends and my cause.’
Maranna smiled meagrely and nodded. Awgro returned.
‘All right, I’m going to enjoy this,’ he said. ‘I watched Relsor do it many times, torture others while they writhed under the pain of his torture. Maranna, your lover was a genius to invent these.’
‘How did you get your hands on them?’ she asked. ‘His ship was destroyed.’
‘The True Sith salvaged what they could,’ said Awgro. He turned back to Storimbu and sent him a bolt of lightning while choking and draining him. Storimbu screamed in pain, trying to move and yet he could not. ‘Tell me, where are Fane and Talyc?’
‘I will never tell you what I know. These secrets are mine. I will die before I betray my allies.’
‘This is going to be a long night for you, Storimbu!’ Awgro laughed sinisterly.
He sent dark side energy, draining more of Storimbu’s life energy. Storimbu felt weak. He could imagine what his new friends had gone through, but this was Awgro, a mere wannabe Sith, not Relsor. Storimbu knew that what he was suffering was nothing compared to what some of the others had suffered.
He screamed, letting the pain writhe through him, squirming with anger, yet allowing it to be. He shouted out, letting the scream help the pain fade away, using the Force to attenuate it. He screamed louder and louder as more lightning came until finally, he screamed so loud, his head lolling back, that the Sith accompanying Awgro collapsed onto the ground, stunned and disoriented.
Awgro snarled and chuckled. ‘I didn’t know you were a master of Force Scream.’ He looked at the others. ‘Come on, get up before he does it again, drain him of the Force. Now!’
‘Awgro, you want to be powerful; you act like a leader, as Shadie says, but you’re not one.’ Storimbu looked on him with disdain. ‘Relsor at least had all these abilities on his own, you need to give out orders in order to achieve a minuscule fraction of the power Relsor had. You obviously want to be like him, but no one can be him.’
Storimbu screamed in pain as lightning hit him, this time unable to attenuate the sensation of burning and cold running through his body. His flesh felt like it was on fire. He looked at the others, who were being kept docile, but who were as dedicated as he was and looked as resolved as he felt.
‘Why are you letting him do this to you?’ Maranna pleaded. ‘You don’t have to do this!’
Storimbu struggled to speak. ‘I am not betraying my cause.’
‘I’ve seen this kind of resolve in so few others,’ said Maranna. ‘It got most of them killed.’
‘Then I will die,’ he gritted his teeth, letting out a pained grown, ‘and my friends will remain safe.’
‘Save yourself!’ cried Maranna.
‘If I do that,’ said Storimbu, wincing, as lightning danced across his body, ‘I betray the Force. Awgro will kill Talyc, he will become Master of the Crypt, and who knows what unbalance that will cause.’
Storimbu writhed and yelped. He grunted as life was being drained from him again.
‘Awgro is desperate, he truly wants this information, more of a reason not to give it to him!’ Storimbu felt a hold on his throat and began croaking.
‘Please reconsider!’ pleaded Maranna.
‘What…do….you…care?’ Awgro loosened his grip. Storimbu panted. ‘We are not allies, Maranna. Why do you care what happens to me?’
‘Because there are few who have ever cared what happens to me,’ she said. ‘I know who you truly are. I knew who you were and I enjoyed knowing you were there. I am alone in this galaxy, except, while you watched over me, I felt less alone. Only one other person has ever made me feel comfort like that.’
Storimbu looked up at her, sudden realisation coming to him, her words weighing heavily as did her gaze, eyes full of sorrow.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, low. ‘You lost the person who cared about you.’
‘And as conflicted as I feel, I’m about to lose another.’
Storimbu was dropped from the contraption and he hit the floor hard.
‘I am not your enemy, Maranna,’ he struggled to say. ‘You need not feel conflict about–’
Storimbu screamed as more lightning hit him. Maranna screamed in a high-pitched tone.
Awgro loomed above Storimbu. Mar Dalkars approached.
‘There is one thing I managed to steal from Relsor before leaving the ship,’ said Mar Dalkars, ‘before anyone even boarded the ship.’
He reached to his side and ignited a lightwhip with a crackling snap-hiss.
‘No!’ Maranna half-whispered.
Storimbu’s eyes widened. He rolled to the side just in time to dodge the whip as it crackled next to his face. Mar Dalkars whipped again and slashed Storimbu across the chest, creating a great gash of cauterized flesh. Storimbu screamed in agony. The pain was beyond any lightsaber wound he had ever felt in his entire life.
Storimbu tried to stand and then fell back onto his hands and knees. Awgro ignited his lightsaber and the Chagrian raised the whip again.
‘Final chance, Storimbu,’ said Awgro. ‘Tell me, or you die now!’
‘Then I die!’ Storimbu said defiantly, gritting his teeth.
‘Such dedication, a pity.’
Awgro and Mar Dalkars moved in unison to strike but stopped short when Maranna shouted out in a high-pitched tone.
‘Manaan!’
Storimbu snapped his head to her. Awgro and Mar Dalkars paused and looked at her.
‘They’re on Manaan,’ she said, voice level.
‘You knew?’ asked Storimbu, feeling deceived.
‘I overheard.’ Maranna’s eyes were pleading. Storimbu felt anger building up inside of him. ‘Sorry I didn’t stop them sooner.’
‘Stop them?’ Storimbu raised his voice. ‘Pain, I can take; death, I can face. You have betrayed us!’
Maranna’s eyes grew wide. ‘I didn’t want them to kill you. Please, let’s talk about this.’
‘No!’ This came from Awgro. ‘There will be no talking.’ He turned to Mar Dalkars ‘Take her, she’s coming with us.’
‘What? You said either we told you, or I came, not both. I’ve told you now. Please!’
‘Maranna!’ shouted Storimbu, as the Reformed Sith began dragging her out of the room. He tried to reach out with the Force, but could not grip her to pull her free of her captors. ‘Do you realise what you’ve done? If Awgro retakes the Crypt, then who knows what he’ll do to your son.’ He softened his voice, standing up with effort. ‘You’ve just put your son’s life in jeopardy.’
Maranna didn’t answer. Storimbu swayed and fell again, feeling weak, yet feeling the Force and life return to him, fuelled ever more by his anger. The others were released from their docile states. The Reformed Sith left with Maranna shouting towards Storimbu.
‘Foolish, stupid woman!’ Storimbu snarled.
‘You are injured, you need medical help,’ Kafter said.
‘We need to warn Shadie,’ said Storimbu. He closed his eyes.
‘So Maranna knew all along more than she was letting on,’ said Drashdae.
‘Should have guessed, should have a closer eye on her,’ said the Kaleesh who always followed the other two.
Storimbu narrowed his eyes. ‘She betrayed us. I had no idea she knew they were on Manaan. Maybe the others knew she knew, but no one banked on her betrayal.’
‘She saved your life, though,’ said Kafter. ‘She is not our enemy either.’
‘If she is not our enemy then she should have let me die!’ Storimbu growled. He took a deep breath. ‘I am grateful to be alive, however.’
‘We are too,’ said the Kaleesh.
‘Shadie will be grateful too,’ said Kafter, giving Storimbu a pointed look.
‘I know.’ Storimbu took out his datapad and began typing in a message of warning to Shadie. He tried to stand, but dizziness overcame him before he was swept into the darkness of a healing trance.
“Connections in the Force” is written by Celinka Serre (2023).
Disclaimer: The Characters in this Fan-Fiction are new and have original names. The story is an original written work. The story is derivative and consistent of Fan-Fiction since it borrows the franchise world of Star Wars. Certain jargon and places, or concepts mentioned, along with the SW Old Republic universe belong to Lucasfilm Ltd. and Disney. No characters or story lines from the films are used. No story lines or characters from the games or books are used. A handful of characters from the games may be referenced, but are not the main focus in this fanfic story. This fan-fiction story falls under Fair Use.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
You might also enjoy other SWTOR fanfics, Dragon Age Fan-Fiction short stories, Mass Effect Fan-Fiction, or Stardust Destinies the High Fantasy Fiction series.
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