Talyc felt worse than he had when he had awakened as Relsor’s captive. His head hurt more than it had after Perce had probed his mind, and his stomach lurched more intensely than when he felt Relsor’s malady. He moaned in pain and with nausea.
            ‘Do you need a bucket?’
            Talyc opened his eyes and found Knarf sitting on an armchair, smiling sympathetically. He shook his head and sat up. He felt another wave of nausea.
            ‘Maybe,’ he said at last. ‘How did you get in here?’
            ‘Vax called me. The others are over in the other room,’ said Knarf.
            ‘Knarf, I’ve been stupid.’
            ‘I know. Vax told me.’ Knarf paused. ‘You’re lucky he cares for you so much to not take advantage. It must have been very difficult for him to resist your advances.’
            ‘Well, it didn’t seem like he was resisting much when I was kissing him and touching him,’ said Talyc, feeling a belch, but it helped let pass the sensation of nausea.
            ‘It’s okay,’ said Knarf. ‘You were very drunk, apparently.’
            ‘I’m never drinking again,’ said Talyc.
            ‘Where have I heard that before?’ teased Knarf.
            ‘I mean it. I need my head clear,’ said Talyc. ‘I need to figure out my feelings and my fears without it. You know how I get as much as I do. Every time I drink this much, someone tries to kill me, someone captures me, and I make a fool of myself or try to justify other emotions. From now on, no more. Nothing.’
            ‘You’re going to have to face those feelings and express them,’ said Knarf.
            ‘If I push Fane away,’ said Talyc, ‘it’s my choice, I’m choosing it. I’m not losing him, and he’s not leaving me. And then if he dies… I can’t think of that right now.’
            ‘You’re going to have to tell him what happened last night,’ said Knarf leaning forward. ‘He needs to know the truth. Before we leave for Mandalore.’
            Talyc nodded. ‘I know. He deserves to know that he was right; I was unfaithful.’
            ‘No, you were not,’ said Knarf. ‘You were possessed with the dark side, the drink, and you refused to address how you felt. It was a brief moment, but in the end, circumstances helped you to not be unfaithful in the way Vax had claimed you’d been.’
            ‘It’s still being unfaithful,’ said Talyc. ‘I know you and Shadie see it that way. You don’t have to soften the blow for me. You can tell me how it is.’
            Knarf nodded. He put a hand on Talyc’s shoulder. Talyc began to weep; Knarf took him in his arms.
            ‘Bes’laar, I’m such an idiot.’
            There was a shuffle at the room’s doorway. Talyc lifted his head and saw Fane standing by the entrance, slowly walking in.
            ‘You’re my idiot,’ he said with a wan smile.
            Talyc shook his head. Knarf got up and helped Talyc to his feet. He felt another wave of nausea, this time less intense. He looked at Knarf and nodded. Knarf nodded back and left the room.
            ‘I’ve said those words before,’ said Talyc, ‘and maybe I was your idiot then when you saved me, but not this time, not after what I’ve done.’ Talyc looked at the ground. ‘I wanted to hurt you, Fane, and give you what I thought you wanted.’ Talyc looked up at him. ‘I remember last night because I always remember when I drink. The only time I didn’t was when Relsor captured me.’ Talyc swallowed a belch. ‘No matter how much I drink, I never forget or drink into oblivion, and yet I try and try and try again. And last night was no different. I felt so hurt I wanted to inflict pain on you. That’s not right.’
            ‘I probably deserved that,’ said Fane.
            Talyc shook his head. ‘You didn’t deserve what I did.’
            They both stood silent for a moment.
            Talyc steeled himself. ‘I kissed Vax.’ Fane inhaled a sharp breath. ‘I…did a bit more than just kiss him,’ Talyc continued. ‘He turned me down. I wanted to forget the pain.’ Fane let out a slow breath and sat down on the bed. Talyc could tell that he was trying to control the shock and dismay that Talyc saw on Fane’s face. ‘In that moment, I wanted to forget you.’
            ‘I know that sober you didn’t want him,’ said Fane. ‘It’s like a spell from the dark side, or so Knarf was vaguely explaining earlier. Now I understand what he was talking about.’ He sighed. ‘I drove you to him by believing his lies in the first place.’
            ‘No, but…I…’ Talyc could not find the courage to say the words. ‘I’m too hungover to have this conversation right now.’ He began towards the doorway into the next room.
            ‘Talyc!’ Fane called out, standing up.
            ‘Don’t say it.’ Talyc put up his hands, turning back to face him. ‘You’ll leave me, Vax is right, and I can’t deal with that.’
            Fane shook his head. ‘I won’t leave you!’
            ‘We both know that you can’t promise me that. We both know that whether by your choosing or…his blade, you will be taken from me.’ Talyc wiped his eyes. ‘I’m going to Mandalore. I need to focus on my clan. I reckon I won’t see you again before the end.’ He could see Fane’s eyes swelling up with tears. ‘Fane, this is just easier for me, it’s just what I need to do.’
            Talyc stared at Fane for a moment longer, watching his tears run down his face.
            ‘Am I still your man?’ Fane asked softly.
            ‘I don’t know,’ said Talyc, feeling his heart break.

Continue Reading Chapter Eight

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Talyc sat drinking in the cantina, staring at his glass. A slim woman approached him.
            ‘You are Clan Leader Talyc Kandera, are you not?’
            ‘What is it to you?’ he asked.
            ‘Imperial Holo News Network,’ she said. ‘There’s a private party going on in there.’ She pointed at a room behind her that seemed to have an energy shield to keep intruders out. ‘I’d be honoured for an interview. I promise it will be worth your time.’
            ‘Why would you want to interview me?’
            ‘You were captured by Relsor, you hang around Jedi, and you’ve survived many ordeals. You are more famous than you know.’
            Talyc shrugged. He downed the remainder of his drink in one go. He stood, feeling a tad dizzy momentarily, but he wasn’t drunk enough to his liking yet.
            ‘It’s probably going to be a lot better than the day I’ve had,’ he said. ‘Make sure to serve me a double in your VIP room.’
            ‘Oh, wonderful, thank you so much. I promise it’ll be a momentous occasion!’
            The woman led him to the barrier. She entered a code and the energy shield lifted. Then she led him into the room and the energy shield went back down behind him. She led him to a table and invited him to sit down.
            ‘Before we begin,’ she said, ‘you have to meet this fan of yours.’
            Talyc looked up to see Awgro emerge from behind a Hutt lounger. His heart sank as it began to beat quickly. This had been a trap.
            ‘Osi’kyr!‘ He cursed himself for falling for it.
            ‘Talyc Kandera!’
            ‘Awgro Kandera.’
            ‘So you know my secret then?’ the Sith said. He ignited his lightsaber. The red glowed amidst the dim cantina lights. ‘Tonight, you will die, and I will finally be able to take over the Crypt from Shadie.’
            ‘Why do you want to be the Crypt’s master?’ asked Talyc. ‘You sure you’re not working for Relsor?’
            Awgro shook his head. ‘I work for me now. My Empire has abandoned me. Turned its back on me. But I am ambitious. With the power of the Crypt, I’ll be able to survive anything.’
            He took Talyc into a Force grip and Talyc was lifted off the ground. He was choking; he tried to breathe, but he could not find any air. He put a hand to his throat, trying to remove the invisible grip.
            Awgro inclined his head. ‘Shadie should have let me die. Usharr would still have put her in contact with Lord Void.’
            He let Talyc drop; Talyc gasped for air. Awgro sent him lightning and Talyc flew across the room. He felt the hot-cold sensation and he screamed in pain.
            ‘Why are you doing this, Awgro!’ Talyc squirmed and jerked on the ground.
            ‘I am doing this so that I can have the power to eliminate my former master. Once he is gone, once Relsor is gone, I can use the power of the Crypt to gain power and influence in the Empire. No more temporary alliances, no more truces, no more dilly-dallying, no more agreements or tip-toeing around the Republic and taking worlds that don’t matter. The Empire will be mine and the Republic will be crushed.’
            ‘So you don’t like how the Empire is run and you want to change it,’ Talyc managed. ‘I can understand that, there’s no reason why I have to be the one you kill to achieve your goals.’
            The lightning stopped. Talyc panted.

Continue Reading Chapter Seven

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Knarf smiled. ‘Well, that sounds promising.’
            ‘It does,’ said Talyc. He was glad. ‘Thank you for taking some initiatives. I knew you’d make a good second leader.’
            Talyc was hungry and he suggested they go for a bite to eat. At the caf, he noticed that Fane wasn’t very chatty. When inquiring, Fane had shrugged him off, claiming he felt uneasy on Dromund Kaas. Talyc couldn’t blame him, Sith everywhere, rain all the time, the place was gloomy and a reminder of potential doom. Talyc banished the thoughts of doom from his mind and refused to address the feelings they garnered.
            When they were done eating and catching up, they walked towards the apartment complex. Lord Void had given Shadie, Knarf and Fane keys to an empty apartment where they could stay. Talyc would be allowed to join them provided guards were stationed outside their door.
            Once his friends were a bit more settled in, the four of them went to find Vax to inform him of the progress of their potential temporary alliance.
            The I.I. complex was empty at this later hour and few were walking about. Talyc found Vax sitting at a table, looking over a datapad. Vax beamed up at him and stood. Shadie was talking with Knarf and Fane, but Talyc wanted to share the news right away.
            ‘I’ve got good news,’ he said, walking up to Vax. ‘Lord Void has only to check in with the Dark Council as a formality, and then we should be good.’
            ‘That’s wonderful news!’ said Vax.
            ‘I suppose in a way we’ve got you to thank,’ said Talyc. ‘Things are looking up.’
            ‘Looking up indeed,’ said Vax. ‘Oh, come here.’ Vax took Talyc in a hug and held him tightly. ‘I’m so grateful we can have this despite everything else.’
            ‘So am I,’ said Talyc. He took Vax hand and squeezed, to show him he cared for this new friendship.
            Vax smiled and kissed him on the cheek before departing, which took Talyc aback momentarily. Talyc remembered how Vax did tend to give formal kisses to many back in the day.
            ‘I saw that!’ Talyc turned to see Fane looking at him with anger in his eyes. He shook his head. ‘You and Vax!’
            The implication of what Fane was saying set in and Talyc felt a rock in his stomach.
            ‘Fane, you’re imagining things,’ said Talyc.
            ‘Am I?’

* * *

Fane and Vax confrontation on Dromund Kaas (from The Future of the Force, Story 9, Star Wars Fan-Fiction by Celinka Serre)

Continue Reading Chapter Six

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Talyc sat with Vax in the cantina in Kaas City. They had just finished a game of Deejarik and Talyc had lost miserably. They were sipping some particularly good brandy, but the barkeep wouldn’t tell them where it was from. Talyc wondered if that meant he probably didn’t want to know.
            ‘I’ll expect a rematch,’ said Talyc.
            ‘I didn’t expect you to be so sour at losing a game of Deejarik,’ said Vax.
            ‘Hey, I have a reputation to uphold. I need to win back my score,’ laughed Talyc.
            ‘You’re just looking for an excuse to have a handsome face to look at while you’re pining over your man,’ Vax teased.
            ‘I’m not pining!’
            ‘At least you’re not denying my good looks,’ laughed Vax.
            ‘That would be difficult to do,’ said Talyc. ‘You are after all easy on the eyes.’
            ‘I’m not the only one,’ said Vax.
            Talyc looked at his glass, feeling himself blush. ‘That barkeep has a secret about this brandy and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.’
            ‘Don’t change the subject, Talyc. Admit it, you’ve enjoyed being by my side.’
            ‘Sure, I’ve had a ball of a time being a semi-captive,’ said Talyc with humoured sarcasm. Vax cocked his brow. ‘In all seriousness, I have enjoyed myself. It’s been like a vacation of sorts. Can’t remember the last time I had one of those. Even if I’m at home doing almost nothing, I’m still the clan leader and always busy with the clan.’
            ‘We make a good team,’ said Vax.
            ‘We’ve always made a good team,’ said Talyc.
            Vax’s comlink chimed and he checked his datapad. ‘The Minister requires to meet with me, and on my day off. I’m afraid I’m going to have to love you and leave you.’ Vax winced, catching himself, Talyc saw. ‘I’m sorry, that’s not the best expression to use, considering.’
            ‘It’s all right,’ said Talyc. ‘I know what you meant.’
            ‘I’m not leaving,’ said Vax.
            ‘Hardly,’ said Talyc, ‘you’re the one in charge of keeping an eye on me.’ Talyc chuckled. ‘Go to your meeting. I’ll be here or about.’
            Vax stood, backing away a bit, then he turned and left more briskly. Talyc finished his drink and then exited the cantina. He looked around Kaas City; it always looked the same. Then he saw a Sith meditation Sphere enter the atmosphere and his heart leapt. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At last, Lord Void had pulled through and had called upon Shadie and the others to come for him. Talyc hurried to the spaceport.

Continue Reading Chapter Five

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