Epilogue

Lian had allowed the leaders from each faction to enter his chamber on the Crypt, accompanied by his friends. He trusted them all, so he saw no reason they could not enjoy the victory together with him. Besides, Lord Void had already been, and Lian preferred to have him as a guest than to have him arrive impromptu and in secret.
            Fane placed the Holocron on a small table. ‘I’ll leave this here for you,’ he said.
            ‘This Holocron may contain valuable information,’ said Lian. ‘I think, if there is any risk from it, I am the only one who is safe from that. I am willing to attempt to learn some of Relsor’s secrets, perchance it helps us protect the galaxy better.’
            ‘A fair point,’ said Master Herl’unik. ‘I trust your judgement. You are the healer of the galaxy after all.’
            ‘We don’t know what ill intent might also be hidden within this Holocron,’ said Lord Void.
            ‘Don’t worry,’ said Lian, ‘I’ll be careful. Anyway, I’m immortal. I’ve consulted with the Force-ghost of the Crypt’s former guardian, and such things as Holocrons cannot affect me. The only way I can die now is to trade places and give up my immortality to someone else. Otherwise, if the Crypt can be destroyed, well, Relsor tried that and it failed.’
            ‘I admit, I should like to know what’s on it,’ said Lord Void.
            ‘As would we all,’ said Master Herl’unik. ‘I would like to understand the mind of the one who sought to destroy the Force in order to control and rule the galaxy.’
            ‘Maybe some insight can’t harm us,’ said Mandalore. ‘But as Clan Kandera can vouch for, Holocrons can be very dangerous.’
            ‘Or very helpful,’ said Fane. ‘One of them did grant me the ability to regenerate, in a more assisted capacity, but it’s still thanks to the Holocron Lord Void and Usharr provided for me that I was able to survive my duel with Relsor.’
            ‘You know, Fane,’ said Master Herl’unik, ‘you make a fair point. Perhaps once Lian’s assessed the Holocron to ensure that it is safe, he can safeguard it while we each learn from it.’ He looked at Lord Void. ‘I’m sure we can negotiate on who gets to keep it.’
            ‘In the hands of Jedi Master Lian, I have no objections,’ said Lord Void.
            ‘You know,’ said Mandalore, ‘Mandalorians do like to keep trophies from some of their most iconic kills and bounties, just saying.’
            ‘I’ve got my most iconic bounty right here with me,’ said Fane.
            Knarf chuckled. ‘I think that places you in high ranks, Talyc!’ He nudged him with his elbow.
            ‘I meant within me,’ said Fane, ‘the accomplishment, the feat I survived.’
            ‘He means the bragging rights,’ said Shadie, folding her arms. ‘I’m proud of you too, Fane, we all are.’
            Fane blushed. ‘Thanks.’
            ‘Yeah, and it’s a good thing you survived,’ said Nriwe. ‘Talyc was going on about dying and being willing to give up his life, and if you died, his life would end, and he doesn’t want you not in it, and me needing to take up as leader of the clan in his absence, assuming Knarf died too.’ She sighed exaggeratedly while smiling. ‘It was getting annoying, but only because I’d be devastated to lose one of my best friends.’
            Talyc smiled and hugged his friend. ‘I’m sorry I put you through all that.’
            ‘Yeah, you better be!’
            Talyc turned to Lian. ‘She like this with you too?’
            Lian shrugged. ‘I’m staying out of this.’
            ‘Yes, take my advice,’ said Knarf, ‘sometimes it’s best to not agree and not to disagree at the same time.’ Shadie giggled.
            ‘So you going to tell me what that was all about, with all this crazy talk about life and death and whatnot with and without Fane?’ asked Nriwe.
            Talyc reached a hand for Fane who took it. ‘We’re getting married.’
            Nriwe gasped and wrapped her arms around both of them. Lian smiled.
            ‘I am very pleased for you,’ the blue Twi’lek healer told them. They deserved happiness, especially after this victory.
            ‘This passion fuels you, Jedi Fane,’ said Lord Void. ‘It serves you well.’
            ‘It heals the Force,’ said Master Herl’unik. ‘I must admit that some of the exceptions we have allowed to some Jedi in the Order have helped the galaxy and them. I will not deny one who can balance emotion and discipline in equal commitments the opportunity to continue to prove himself through this balance. It obviously has made him the Jedi he is today.’ He paused. ‘I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Fane. You were meant to serve the Force, and the Force you serve. Shadie taught you well.’
            Fane smiled. ‘I learnt quickly that the path my brother took was not the one I wished to embark on.’
            ‘My father would celebrate your victory, Fane,’ said Lian. ‘It was your dip towards the dark side that allowed us our connection through the Force, that allowed us to save lives together, and for you to become the Jedi you are, able to defeat Relsor. He would tell you that you became exactly who you were meant to become and he was a vital instrument to that happening. I am so happy you survived. Believe me, I can’t praise you enough.’
            ‘Your friendship means so much to me, Lian.’ Fane hugged him. Lian felt immense joy. He wiped a tear, feeling a sudden wave of relief wash over him, letting the fear he’d cast aside release from his mind. Fane beamed at him and the two shared a knowing smile.
            Lian’s friends lingered a while longer, then the leaders and his friends made their way out, and went to celebrate on Mandalore. Lian knew the Grand Master would return to Coruscant and that Lord Void would return to Dromund Kaas. Since Lian was not sure if the Holocron was entirely safe, he had bade Nriwe and Thera join their friends on Mandalore to celebrate. He knew it would do his wife some good to be among her clanmates and close friends.
            Lian meditated and centred himself before attempting to unlock the Holocron’s secrets. He stood and placed his hands on it. He needn’t use the Force, for it activated on its own.
            Immediately the holoimage of Relsor appeared before him, above the Holocron.
            ‘Jedi Master Lian, if you are seeing this, then the Holocron has safely reached you. It was made with beskar, for I knew you safeguarded Jassahmi’s lightsaber, and that it would make its way to you. I have imbued it with your blood from our duel on Mandalore.’
            Lian wasn’t sure he liked the idea that Relsor had kept Lian’s severed lekku, or at least had collected his blood form it.
            ‘Do not worry,’ Relsor’s holo went on, ‘this is a recording, and I have not found the same secrets Kromus found. Nor the same ones Perce found before losing the Holocron that gave him regeneration abilities. Not that it would matter, if Fane strikes me down, he knows where to aim to ensure my death.’
            Relsor inclined his head. ‘You must be wondering why I have gone through this elaborate plan. When I heard from the secret recordings from Gourd and Kromus about my creation, my conception, I sensed a lie, even through the recordings. My Uncle always had a twitch in his eye when he lied about something that mattered and weighed heavily. He was a good liar, but I quickly learnt to detect his lies.’
            Lian took a few steps back, letting it sink in. He could feel Relsor had found something big, or at least that was big enough for him to entrust it to him.
            ‘I began searching for the truth about my creation. I found that truth, hidden deep in archives known by few, archives unaccessed and protected by passwords and codes to slice that would give Knarf a run for his credits. My Uncle, always the devious one, and yet, he was not the only one in my family to hide secrets and who knew how to lie well.
            ‘I found out who my parents were,’ continued Relsor’s holorecording. ‘Given the circumstances, there is only one in this galaxy whom I now know will use this knowledge wisely. We are enemies, or were if I am dead, but I respect you and what you represent. As the Guardian of the Crypt, you guard the Force, and what I have found affects it.
            ‘You might not know this, but if a Chiss has a child with a human, the child is Chiss. I am unsure how it works with other species, but I know this about humans and Chiss. My mother was Chiss. Now deceased. My father,’ Relsor paused dramatically, ‘was not Chiss, as I was led to believe, nor was he killed when my mother was killed, as Gourd had claimed. My father is human and very much alive.’
            Relsor paused in the holorecording and Lian pondered at the significance. This human must have significance and there was a reason Relsor was entrusting this to Lian.
            ‘My father, the human who created me through Sith alchemy, is a member of the Dark Council. In fact, he is the Head of it. His name: Lord Void.’
            If the recording was saying anything else, Lian had tuned it out. Lord Void had created Relsor? Lord Void was Relsor’s father? Lian could hardly believe it. And yet he realised that Relsor was sharing the information contained within the secret documents he had found. If this was true, this could have dire consequences. If it wasn’t, well he had an idea how to find out the truth.
            He needed to meditate and ponder on this information. This was big news for him, and Lian felt this knowledge would ripple through the Force and change much, but how it would change it, he could not predict.
            He knelt and cleared his mind, and he focused on the Force and the truth.

To be continued…

“The Future of the Force” is written by Celinka Serre (2022).

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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