Prologue

A couple of weeks after Shadie and Knarf’s wedding.

The Sphere touched down on the ice near a series of cavernous winding tunnels.  There was a snowstorm brewing and the wind had picked up.  Thankfully, the Jedi had brought extra garb for the occasion. After all, the Chiss planet of Csilla was hardly a vacation resort, and for obvious reasons.
            ‘This is the place where I met your friend,’ said Fane, stepping out of the Sphere.>
            ‘He sure knows how to pick his spots,’ said Knarf.  He put his helmet on. 
            Shadie placed her scarf up higher on her face.  ‘Lucky barves,’ she muttered under her breath.  She was only slightly annoyed.
            ‘If you want armour of your own, Shadie, just say the word,’ said Talyc.  ‘The environment regulators are the finest in the galaxy.’
            Shadie winced as a gust of wind hit her in the face, sending snow dust into her eyes.
            ‘I’ll consider it.’  She looked at Fane, who was already making his way towards one of the tunnels.
            ‘Down through here,’ he said.
            They followed Fane down the tunnel, away from the storm, and into the safety of the caves.  After descending a bit, they approached a door.  Feeling an inviting nudge in the Force, Shadie slowly opened it.
            Within the room stood a man; his back was to them. He was dressed in warm garb and cloaked with a dark cape and hood.  When he turned around, he wore a smile on his face and spoke in a warm voice.
            ‘Shadie.  At last, we meet again.’
            Shadie was surprised to see the old man’s face, yet a feeling of fondness came over her.
            ‘Master Usharr!’  She had once hated the man, but he had helped her, and she had only hated him because Kromus had poisoned her against him.  ‘I thought you were dead.’
            Usharr shook his head.  ‘I disappeared and hid my presence in the Force. I tried to find Kromus’s Holocron.’  He paused.  ‘It is good to see you. Even if you are now a Jedi, I can sense the passion within you.  It pleases me to know you have not forgotten my teachings.’
            ‘I could never forget them, even after Kromus turned me against you.  I have taken what I learnt at the academy and combined it with what Master Juun Kloh taught me.’
            ‘So you know this man quite well then?’ said Talyc.
            ‘He was the Head Master of the Sith Academy on Korriban for a time,’ said Shadie. 
            She walked to Usharr and gave him a hug, which was received with warmth.
            ‘Times have changed greatly. The Force, I can feel, is in need of healing, and I fear the Sith cannot achieve this feat without the help of Jedi,’ said Usharr.  ‘I feel animosity must end.’
            ‘What do you propose?’ asked Knarf, crossing his arms.  ‘The Sith Empire has aligned itself with the True Sith.’
            ‘I have a friend on the Dark Council; I may yet find a way for the Sith to help you.’          
            Fane nodded and Shadie could sense his approval of the idea. ‘You’ve met my apprentice, Fane?’ said Shadie. 
            Usharr nodded.  ‘This the man you rescued?’  He motioned his head towards Talyc.  ‘I can sense Perce’s signature all over him.’
            ‘You knew Perce?’ asked Talyc.  ‘He probed my mind.’
            ‘He was tortured by Relsor and Perce,’ said Knarf.  ‘I’m Knarf by the way.’
            ‘Yes, the source of Shadie’s passion,’ said Usharr.  He turned his attention back to Talyc.  ‘Knew Perce?  Sadly, yes.  He is an insufferable man and a failure to the Sith Empire.  No wonder he so readily jumped ship to Kromus’s side; I kicked him out of the academy.’
            Knarf laughed out loud.  ‘I knew it!’
            ‘We should catch up,’ said Shadie.  ‘Care to join us in our warm meditation Sphere?’ 
Usharr’s eyes grew wide, then he smiled and nodded.  He grabbed a few things and put them in a satchel.  ‘Lead the way.  I trust you, Shadie, though I’ll ask not to be taken to Tython or Coruscant; I have too many enemies among the Jedi.’
            ‘No problem,’ she replied, walking out of the dome-shaped shelter, ‘we’re going to Mandalore.’

“Protectors of the Force” is written by Celinka Serre (2021).

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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