Epilogue

Shadie knocked on the garden’s door and waited a few minutes. She knocked again, using the Force to enhance the sound.
            ‘Are the two of you awake in there? Can I come in? Are you decent?’
            ‘Uh,’ came Fane’s voice. ‘Sort of.’
            ‘Good enough!’ Shadie strode in, showcasing the large platter she was holding. ‘Knarf made pancakes! I assume you two half-naked men worked up an appetite last night.’ She smiled. Both of them blushed. ‘Oh, come on, like we don’t all know what you two were up to. You’re married now! You wanted to officiate your marriage more intimately.’ Shadie sat down between the two of them, giggling in an amused fashion. ‘Why, look at the two of you.’
            ‘Does Knarf know you’re here, ogling us?’ laughed Talyc.
            ‘Imagine if she’d come in earlier!’ laughed Fane, exaggerating his tone of voice. ‘But I mean, look at you, Talyc, who wouldn’t like the view!’
            ‘I told Knarf I’d be joking about this very thing with you. I’m enjoying the view, but of course, no one’s–’
            ‘Better looking or more handsome than Knarf to you,’ said Fane, repeating as though having memorised a school’s rules. ‘We know! Now pass that over here, I’m starving.’
            Shadie giggled. ‘I’m so happy you’re back.’ She held the platter as her two friends dug in and began eating their breakfast. ‘Now, I’ve got your retraining all figured out, Fane.’
            ‘Of course,’ Fane said, his mouth full, ‘I wouldn’t expect anyone else to train me.’ He swallowed and grinned. ‘As it should be.’
            ‘This the part where you pull out your datapad with time stamps and a schedule?’ asked Talyc.
            ‘No, but close enough,’ said Shadie. ‘We can go to Tython for a bit, and Coruscant, and Lian’s grandfather can help on Ryloth.’
            ‘Have the Masters made a decision about my worthiness to becoming a master?’ asked Fane.
            ‘Fane, you are worthy and that is not in question,’ said Shadie. ‘They just disagree as to whether or not you should have master privileges and whatnot. If you ask me, I think Renvir was right. They fear power, and you are powerful.’
            ‘I want to stay in the Order, but I want them to accept me,’ said Fane.
            ‘I understand,’ replied Shadie. ‘Oh, while we’re on Ryloth, you two have to spend the night in one of the giant jungle flowers. It’s very… Well let’s just say Knarf and I, you know…’
            ‘Seriously, Shadie!’ said Talyc. ‘Are you really sharing with us a good spot to get frisky?’
            ‘Like you don’t enjoy knowing good spots to get frisky, Talyc.’ Shadie laughed.
            ‘Oh, I do! It’s just…’ He shrugged.
            ‘It’s just that usually I’m the one she tells and Knarf’s the one to tell you,’ said Fane.
            Talyc nodded, mumbling something with his mouth full.
            ‘Anyway, I shall leave you two to your breakfast,’ said Shadie. ‘Do try not to indulge in each other for too long. Others are waiting for you in the main chamber.’
            Shadie smiled, laughing. She put her arm around each of them and gave them each a kiss on the cheek. She jumped up and leapt over the rock, leaving them the platter, and walked to the door.
            Suddenly, the world around her was whirling as a dizzying sensation overcame her. Black speckled dots appeared in her vision. She took hold of the wall at the doorway to steady herself, reaching within herself to fight the sensation, trying to understand where it came from.

* * *


            ‘Shadie, you okay?’ asked Fane, his mouth still full.
            Shadie swayed, not answering and then fell to the ground.
            ‘Shadie!’ cried Talyc. He grabbed his helmet and called for Knarf. ‘Shadie’s collapsed!’
            He and Fane hurried to the door. Fane took Shadie’s hand and felt a pulse.
            ‘Well, she’s alive, whatever’s happening.’
            The two remained by her side until others arrived.
            ‘My love!’ Knarf cried upon seeing her. He ran towards them. He lifted her head up gently, cradling her in his arms. ‘What’s happened?’
            ‘I don’t know,’ said Fane. ‘One minute she’s with us, laughing and joking, serving us breakfast. Then she went to leave and she just…fell unconscious.’
            ‘Awgro!’ said Void. His face was contorted with disdain.
            ‘You think?’ asked Knarf, sounding gravely worried.
            ‘I know so. Though I do not know what he has done, it must be his doing.’
            ‘We need to get her downstairs,’ said Knarf.
            Fane looked from Knarf to Void to Talyc, then at the others. He’d only just returned, he didn’t want Shadie to come to harm’s way.
            ‘I was going to officially ask her to be my master again,’ said Fane, standing, and steadying himself. ‘She just told us her whole plan to help me retrain. I wanted us to do something special in honour of old times.’
            ‘I know,’ said Knarf. ‘She was looking forward to it. She herself said it would be like old times.’
            Knarf gently picked Shadie up off the ground, still cradling her, leaning her head on his shoulder.
            ‘She doesn’t look like she’s in pain,’ said Talyc. He placed a hand on her forehead. ‘She has no fever. She doesn’t look pale.’
            ‘I don’t like this,’ said Void. ‘I fear for her.’
            ‘None of us like this, Void.’ Fane placed a hand on Void’s shoulder to show that he understood the feeling and felt the same.
            ‘Well, perhaps all the masters can help,’ said Knarf. ‘We have the power of the Jedi Council on our side right now, and this is the Crypt. The Lady of the Crypt ought to be able to survive anything here at the core of her power source.’
            They brought Shadie down to the main chamber and placed her on a bed. As Knarf and Talyc explained what happened to the masters, Fane sat next to Shadie and took her hand.
            ‘You helped save me,’ he whispered to her. ‘I’m going to help save you. I promise.’

* * *


            Shadie awoke, her head spinning. Eyes still closed, she took a few deep breaths to steady herself and regain her bearings. That’s when she realised she was being held captive somewhere. She tried to move and realised she could not.
            She opened her eyes. Awgro stood before her.
            ‘Ah, you’re awake. I was beginning to worry.’
            ‘Awgro!’ Shadie said, then stopped. ‘My voice!’
            She looked around and saw what she could of herself. She was wearing plain clothes, nothing she had seen on anyone recently, but certainly not what she had been wearing at the Crypt. And her fingers were longer and more slender, which was another indication to what Awgro had done.
            ‘I’m not in my body.’
            ‘Very good,’ said Awgro. ‘I’ve switched you with someone. Temporarily.’
            ‘So that’s what you did with my blood,’ said Shadie. ‘The voice sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. With my intonations and mannerism, this voice is a bit different from its original speaker. Am I even making sense?’ She looked about, quelling her nerves. ‘Nice contraption. It’s not like I’ve never been in one of these before. We both know who designed them.’ Awgro grinned. ‘Though Relsor’s ship was more interesting than these boring walls. So tell me, what’s the point of this?’
            Awgro gave no reply but merely grinned.
            ‘You know, whoever’s in my body is going to wake up, and the others, they’re going to know right away that it’s not me.’
            ‘Perhaps, but I don’t need her to be in your body for long,’ said Awgro. ‘Just long enough to gather the information I need and then to come here as you. I need you in the flesh, and well, you wouldn’t have come of your own accord.’
            ‘Why switch her with me though, of all people?’
            ‘Let’s just say I’ve changed tactics,’ Awgro sneered. ‘It’s clear getting to Talyc isn’t going to be possible anymore, despite everything I’ve tried.’
            ‘And you couldn’t do it?’ asked Shadie. ‘This switch?’
            ‘I wasn’t going to let you into my body and risk you making me surrender, or put you into the body of another Force-user,’ said Awgro. ‘Whereas your body…has so much power and potential, I’m sure my…agent…will have no difficulties in obtaining the information I require.’
            ‘Which is?’
            ‘Relsor discovered a room you have not,’ said Awgro. ‘He told me about it. Did you know that the power of the Crypt can be transferred through an elaborate ritual?’
            ‘That’s why you need me in the flesh, and that’s why me for this,’ said Shadie, realisation coming to her. Her heart quickened, as she began to lose her composure. ‘You’re going to have me transfer the power of the Crypt to you.’
            ‘Yes, and there is nothing you can do about it now because you are stuck in another body while your body will comply.’
            ‘Are you so sure?’
            ‘Oh, she has no choice, not unless she wants both of you to die.’ Awgro sneered. ‘Enjoy your stay, Shadie.’
            He left the large room.
            Her heart pounding, Shadie yelled after him, calling his name, and realised she could not enhance the volume of her voice. Fear settled into her heart, she was completely helpless, and all she could do was wait.

To be continued…

“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.

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