The sun above Korriban was blazing hot, reflecting on the sand. Knarf squinted as he and Shadie exited the Sphere. He glanced down at his armour, the blue contrasting with the planet’s blazing orange hues.
            Before them stood Lady Gofaylia, looking eager. Knarf bowed politely and Shadie addressed the Sith leader.
            ‘Nice to meet you in person, Lady Gofaylia. I’m eager to chat with you!’ Knarf was certain Shadie’s words reflected Lady Gofaylia’s own eagerness.
            ‘Likewise,’ the Dark Council Head replied. They began walking towards the academy. ‘Your stay at Coruscant was pleasant, I presume, though it was brief?’
            ‘As it is always,’ said Shadie. ‘I took the opportunity to speak with my allies there regarding the Empire. They agreed to hold off on any attacks. The fact that Awgro is at large and a threat was a good reason for them to consider this temporary truce.’
            ‘That is excellent news, especially given we don’t know what Awgro may have learnt from Relsor,’ said Lady Gofaylia.
            ‘Those were my precise arguments,’ replied Shadie. Storimbu approached and bowed, following Shadie and Knarf as they spoke with Lady Gofaylia. ‘I also spoke with Mandalore regarding extending the temporary alliance we already had with the Empire, and–’
            ‘May I interject and ask how Void reacted when you told him of our potential alliance?’ Lady Gofaylia asked eagerly.
            ‘He was annoyed, incredulous,’ Knarf told her. ‘And he had one of those faces on.’
            ‘Oh, I know just the face!’ said Lady Gofaylia, looking satisfied.
            ‘Oh, by the way,’ Shadie turned to Knarf, ‘that massage Talyc gave me really did the trick.’
            ‘Oh, you weren’t really that achy, you just really wanted a massage!’ Knarf rolled his eyes.
            ‘Yes, and I insisted for a reason and Talyc delivered.’
            ‘Why?’
            ‘Only because you never want to give me one!’ Shadie turned to Lady Gofaylia. ‘Knarf doesn’t like that Talyc gave me such a lengthy massage.’
            Knarf felt his mouth crinkle into an expression of irritation. What did this have to do with the Empire!
            ‘Your clan leader?’ asked the Sith Lady. Shadie nodded. ‘He’s marrying Jedi Fane, is he not?’ Again Shadie nodded.
            ‘I don’t know why Knarf seems so jealous,’ said Storimbu, cocking an eyebrow at him, ‘it’s not like you and Talyc ever had any history or ever will. Not in that department.’
            ‘Exactly!’ said Shadie. She pointed at Knarf while looking at Lady Gofaylia. ‘That the face?’
            ‘Oh, yes! Lady Shadie, you deliver.’
            ‘I told you it was worth your while,’ said Shadie.
            Knarf dropped his shoulders shaking his head, as they walked up the steps of the academy. Shadie had done exactly as he might have done in such a situation to be in a potentially dangerous person’s good graces. It amused him as much as it annoyed him.
            ‘Now, tell me,’ said Lady Gofaylia, taking Shadie’s arm in a friendly manner, ‘what did Mandalore say?’
            The two ladies continued further on into the academy, while Knarf stayed with Storimbu, turning into another corridor by the entrance.
            ‘She does have a way with that woman, your wife,’ said Storimbu. ‘Good on her.’
            Knarf nodded. ‘Now listen,’ Knarf spoke at low level, ‘so you know Maranna?’ Storimbu nodded. ‘It appears she is more important than we anticipated. It is imperative that we find her. You see,’ Knarf lowered his voice even more, ‘she has a child. A Chiss child.’
            ‘Are you saying she was Relsor’s lover?’ asked Storimbu, matching Knarf’s whisper.
            ‘I am saying precisely that,’ replied Knarf.
            ‘Could this Chiss be a danger to the galaxy?’
            ‘Only if Awgro finds and trains the child. Right now, Maranna’s child could be anywhere between one and three years of age. They are both in grave danger if Awgro finds them. Thing is, there is no trace of them anywhere. We’ve got Mandalorians and Jedi alike searching for them and nothing yet.’
            ‘How did you find out about her and Relsor then?’ asked Storimbu.
            ‘Holorecording at Lord Void’s safe house,’ replied Knarf. ‘We need to find that child. We need to protect it from Awgro.’
            Storimbu nodded. ‘The Protectors of the Force are on it. We’ll help you find Maranna and the child, and we’ll search in all corners of the galaxy.’

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Talyc marched to the Grand Arena with Fane by his side. When they reached it, Fane took his hand and squeezed gently. He wished him luck and kissed him on the cheek.
            ‘See you on the other side,’ he said, and left.
            The arena was immense, and filled with tall and wide, rounded pillars. Decorative engravings marked some of the walls, which were all lined with statue busts of who Talyc assumed had been former Jedi masters. High above were seats that fanned out, though he could not see most of these.
            Talyc took a deep breath. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. He felt almost as nervous as he had when he had followed Fane out of the tavern and expressed his true feelings to him. His heart was pounding. He wanted to do well, he wanted to impress the Jedi, he wanted them to approve.
            He realised he already had their approval. He also realised he didn’t need it; Fane had made his choice and had let the Order know it. This had been Fane’s way of telling them he had chosen Talyc and that if they wanted him to choose them, they had to accept Talyc as his partner, even if he did not possess the Force.
            Talyc rolled his shoulders back, bringing them down, letting out one quick breath and shook his arms to loosen them up. Garbed in his armour, his helmet clipped to his belt, he entered the arena. It was empty, but his keen eyes noticed movement up above and he knew many were watching.
            A voice reverberated throughout the arena, as though coming from all around him. It was the voice of the Grand Master.
            ‘Talyc Kandera, you have fought many duels in your life. You have particular unique skills. But if you were to fight a duplicate of yourself, would you be able to defeat your doppelganger and be victorious? Duel now with one who has the same set of skills as you, one who has learnt from you.’
            Talyc saw Knarf emerge from behind one of the rounded pillars. Knarf wore his armour, helmet and all. Although he couldn’t see his face, by the manner with which Knarf moved and momentarily bobbed his head, Talyc knew he was amused. His friend nodded as though to wish him luck. Talyc nodded back and put his helmet on.
            ‘Sorry,’ said Knarf, ‘I don’t want to do this, but your armour might take a few nicks and grazes. I promise to pay for the repolishing if necessary.’
            Talyc’s Second ignited his orange lightsaber and whirled it around in a circular motion. Talyc took his vibroblade out and held it out in front of him, holding it with both hands, bending his knees.
            ‘Come at me, Bes’laar.’
            Talyc jumped as soon as he saw Knarf lift his leg, knowing he would pound the ground. He heard Knarf chuckle. Talyc took to leaping to Knarf’s flank. Knarf turned and struck at Talyc’s mid. Talyc blocked with the vibroblade, and ducked the next strike. He slashed at Knarf; the blade bounced off the armour, leaving a small nick at the knee joints.
            ‘Looks like you might need some repolishing as well, my friend!’ Talyc said.
            ‘I’m due for proper Mandalorian armour anyway,’ said Knarf.
            Talyc bent low and rolled away, coming to a standing position a bit farther than an arm’s length away from Knarf. The two men stood facing each other, studying each other. Talyc swung at Knarf as his friend blocked and cut low. Jumping, Talyc angled himself to strike at Knarf’s back, though he knew it didn’t do anything to Knarf.
            ‘That’s twice now,’ Talyc pointed out.
            Knarf hacked at Talyc’s head. He ducked and blocked but the lightsaber grazed the top of his helmet. He grunted. He was hoping to get out of here unscathed. Then again, Knarf was probably not the only one he would be fighting.
            Talyc quickly bent and rolled towards Knarf, hoping that he would come up behind him by rolling under his legs. The problem was, Knarf did the same. The two conked their helmets together and fell backwards. Talyc couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
            ‘Why did I teach you that again?’
            ‘So that I could adjust the manoeuvre once I’d mastered it and kill Perce?’
            ‘Right!’

Continue reading Chapter Seven

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Shadie and Knarf were sitting outside on the stone parapet, by the academy’s entrance, looking down at the acolytes. They were accompanied by Storimbu who was waiting for some of the other Protectors of the Force.
            ‘I quite like our new name, I must say,’ he said. ‘I much prefer it to many others that have existed. We stand for something bigger than us, greater than two factions, greater than the dark side or the light side. We stand for the Force.’
            ‘Well, given how Relsor put the Force in peril,’ said Knarf, ‘it’s quite significant.’
            ‘It reminds us all how it doesn’t matter what side of the credichip you’re on,’ said Shadie, ‘that none can exist if the Force is destroyed.’ Her datapad chimed and she checked it. ‘Hmm, Master Herl’unik requires our presence on Coruscant for a few days.’ She read more of the message. ‘Details of which I am not at liberty to say.’
            ‘I understand,’ said Storimbu. ‘I, along with the others, will be here when you return. You will return, right?’
            ‘Of course. My training has only just begun for my targeted Life Drain of self-seeping, how ever you want to call it.’
            Storimbu laughed. ‘We’ll find a more…eloquent name for it.’
            ‘Yeah, it does need work,’ said Knarf, grinning.
            Shadie shook her head. She beckoned her husband to follow as she bid farewell to Storimbu. When she and Knarf arrived at Usharr’s office, he was speaking to someone on the holomonitor.
            ‘Well you can ask her yourself then,’ he said.
            ‘Who can ask me what?’ Shadie came round the desk and saw that Lady Gofaylia was on the line.
            ‘Shadie, Darth or Jedi, how ever you may call yourself, I would like to know what benefit the Sith Empire has in allowing you to remain on Korriban?’
            ‘Well, while I would never betray my other allies, it could have its benefits to have us as your ally. You know, not necessarily Mandalore, but Clan Kandera. I could, for example, negotiate with my other allies to stop them from targeting key worlds of your Empire. We do have a common enemy in Awgro, may I remind you. If the Empire aligned itself with my clan, then whatever I discovered about him that I would be willing to share with my other allies, I could also share with you.’
            ‘That puts us on the same level as your other allies,’ Lady Gofaylia pointed out.
            ‘And you expect me to put you above the others?’ Shadie said incredulously. ‘I don’t put any of my allies above the others. Consider yourself lucky I view you as an equal.’
            ‘But I am–’
            ‘A superior? Not mine.’ Lady Gofaylia crossed her arms and scowled. Shadie could almost sense her annoyance. ‘Listen,’ Shadie went on, ‘we need to head to Coruscant for a few days. When we return, why don’t you come meet with us? We can discuss this possibility further. You allow me to return and ensure no harm comes to me, and I make sure none of my other allies put you or your Empire in peril.’ Shadie inclined her head. Then added quickly. ‘For a reasonable amount of time.’
            ‘Lord Void is now your ally but he is my enemy now.’
            ‘Yes, and? Fane is my ally and he saved your Empire from utter and complete destruction. Usharr is my ally and he and Lord Void helped us expose Relsor to you, thus helping the Empire further, minimising its losses. We have common ground and people, it is natural we may also have non-common ground and people. No alliance is perfect.’
            Lady Gofaylia narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she pondered for a moment.
            ‘My love,’ said Knarf, ‘you do realise that if you have even a morsel of an alliance with Lady Gofaylia, Lord Void is going to go mad with annoyance.’
            ‘Very well, then!’ Lady Gofaylia answered quickly before Shadie could say anything else. ‘We will discuss further upon your return. I look forward to speaking with you both and making an acquaintance with your Sphere. Good day to you!’ Lady Gofaylia chimed out.
            Shadie blinked as she and Usharr stared at her husband in disbelief, the Sith master slowly turning his head towards him and bearing an amused smile upon his face.
            ‘Agent Knarf, it seems you have sliced the code in appealing to Lady Gofaylia’s ego. Well done!’
            ‘Bah, lucky guess.’
            ‘She really doesn’t like Void, does she?’ Shadie couldn’t help but feel amused.
            ‘We’re going to have to milk this, you know,’ said Knarf.
            ‘My love! Not too much.’ Shadie giggled and shook her head. ‘Void is really going to hate this.’
            ‘Bah, he’ll understand the necessity,’ said Knarf.
            Shadie could hardly believe it and she laughed some more as she and Knarf made their preparations for their departure.

Continue reading Chapter Six

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