Warning: The following chapter contains scenes depicting torture and violence, which may be triggering to some readers. Reading discretion is advised.

The Coruscant spaceport was busy; Shadie had a hard time finding Talyc’s Force signature. He had undoubtedly been here, but they would have to retrace their steps back and go from there. There were too many Force signatures and presences in this area to find Talyc’s.

‘I don’t understand,’ said Fane. ‘If someone’s presence can be sensed, how is it we’re not finding Talyc’s.’

‘Because he’s not here,’ said Shadie. ‘Not anymore. If he were here right now, we’d be able to find his Force signature, but if he was weak when he was here, then his presence would have already been faint in the Force, and thus any lingering presence, days later, would be gone.’

‘Then we need to go to the Temple,’ said Fane.

‘I agree.’

They travelled to the hallways where Shadie had intercepted Master Herl’unik. She found Talyc’s Force signature.

Fane gasped. ‘He was upset. I can feel it. He was alarmed and hurt.’ Fane looked up at Shadie. ‘I hurt him.’

‘I fear someone has hurt him, but not you, Fane.’

They followed the lingering signature of the Force presence through the halls and into the streets of Coruscant, all the way to a turbolift. They took the lift down. It led down many levels, down to one of the lower districts, a slummier area, though it was much higher than Coruscant’s lowest districts. They followed the Force signature that seemed to change from hurt to angry.

They arrived at a tapcaf. The sign read: “Open all day. Open all night.” They noticed some flickering lights as they entered. The place was scarcely furnished and only two patrons sat at opposite ends of the tapcaf. A burley man came to greet them.

‘Do you serve drinks?’ asked Shadie.

‘I do! What’s your poison?’

‘Whatever your special is. One for me and one for my friend here,’ Shadie pointed at Fane who was studying the place, ‘and one for yourself.’

‘Ah, you’re too kind.’ The burley fellow poured them their drinks, as Shadie and Fane sat at the bar. Shadie placed a generous amount of credichips on the counter. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’ the man asked.

‘To sharing information,’ said Shadie. She gestured towards her lightsaber. ‘We’re Jedi. We’re looking for someone who might have come here for some drinks the other night. I have it in good faith that he was in here until late.’

‘What’s he look like?’ asked the man from behind the counter.

‘Mandalorian,’ said Fane. ‘Purple and brown armour.’ He showed him a holo image of Talyc.
The man thought for a moment. ‘I heard of a man with this said armour coming in here the other night. Left without paying.’

‘Easily fixed,’ said Shadie, adding more credits to the pile she’d already placed on the counter.

‘Also left with my waitress,’ continued the man.

‘What?’ said Fane, slamming a hand on the counter and standing.

‘Fane!’ Shadie said firmly. He took a breath at her warning and sat back down. ‘Can we speak to this waitress of yours?’

‘No,’ said the man shrugging. ‘I haven’t seen her since the other day. It’s as though she just…’ he shrugged, ‘disappeared.’

Shadie saw Fane blush, as though realising he’d jumped to conclusions and now understood this waitress must have been the one to capture Talyc.

‘She was a new hire too,’ the man said. ‘Must have gotten a better offer somewhere else.’

‘Got a description for this waitress?’ asked Shadie.

‘Tall, Mirialan, dark green, lime hues in all the right areas, very beautiful. She’s got a face tattoo, some lines and some dots, shapes, you know how they are.’

‘Thank you!’ Shadie added a few more credits. She stood and exited the tapcaf.

‘Some lines and some dots?’ said Fane, standing right outside the entrance, glancing around the area. ‘Because that narrows the pool to identifying her among all other Mirialans.’

‘Well, at least now we know what happened,’ said Shadie. ‘Somewhat. We just need to figure out where she took him.’

‘Or who she is,’ said Fane.

‘Fane, I promised you we’d find him. We’ll find him.’ Though Shadie was beginning to be a little unsure herself.

It was clear there had been something in Talyc’s drink for the waitress to be able to overpower him, otherwise he would have fought her off, and there would have been marks in the tapcaf or around the area to indicate a fight, had there been one. It seemed patrons so seldom visited this place; there had not been a fight for ages. Other than graffiti and old laser burn marks, the area was clean.

After searching the surrounding areas for Talyc’s signature in the Force, they lost it. It had become too faint, too weak. So they returned to the Temple to give an account to Master Herl’unik, who seemed concerned to know about the disappearance and the strange occurrences. Then Shadie and Fane returned to Mandalore.

Continue reading Chapter Two

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

Perhaps you’ll also enjoy Stardust Destinies I: Variate Facing; fantasy action-adventure taking place in a realm strong with magic where prophecies are dictated by dragons. https://binkyproductions.com/stardustdestinies

Warning: The following chapter contains scenes depicting torture and violence, which may be triggering to some readers. Reading discretion is advised.

Talyc regained consciousness and for a brief moment, he thought he was back home on Mandalore. He reached out to touch Fane, and reality set in again: he couldn’t move, he was not on Mandalore, he was in some sort of Force stasis barrier, and he felt pain all over his body from the previous day’s tortures. He tried to move, tried to free himself, knowing it was no use, but unable to fight off the need to fight.

‘Aargh!’

He screamed from anger, as desperation set itself within him. He did not know how long he’d been out; he did not know how long ago he’d been captured. All he knew was pain and torment. He had failed; failed his clan, failed Mandalore, failed Fane.

The door opened and in walked Perce, followed almost immediately by Relsor.

‘Good morning,’ said Perce a little too pleasantly for Talyc’s liking. He clasped his hands behind his back. ‘I heard you were awake.’ He chuckled to himself. He cocked his head. ‘Don’t be so down, today will bear more fruit, I’m sure.’

‘He’ll come for me, he’ll save me.’

‘Who’s that?’ said Perce. ‘Because the last time I checked, your Jedi lover had returned to the Jedi Order. He’s abandoned you; he doesn’t care what happens to you. Was it not because of him you were out drinking in the first place? Why has he not searched for you yet? He would have found you by now.’

‘You lie,’ said Talyc. ‘I know him.’

‘So do we,’ said Relsor.

Talyc knew they were playing games with his mind. He had been convinced that Fane had meant to finish with him, but he also knew that Fane, regardless of his decision, would not let him die if he knew what was happening to him. He also knew his friends too well. Knarf would not let any ill come to Talyc; he was his best friend. And where Knarf went, Shadie went, and where Shadie went, Brenum and Trylia also went, and hopefully Fane too. Talyc just wanted to see his face, just ask him, just so he’d know. If there were just a way for them to know what had happened to him…

Continue reading the Prologue

Read Chapter One

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

Perhaps you’ll also enjoy Stardust Destinies I: Variate Facing; fantasy action-adventure taking place in a realm strong with magic where prophecies are dictated by dragons. https://binkyproductions.com/stardustdestinies