Trylia followed Relsor and Perce onto the flagship at a reluctant pace, feeling saddened.  Relsor urged her along as they marched to Relsor’s multi-purpose viewport room. It had really become his main command centre, more efficient than his bridge, well hidden from typical target areas, and thus she knew that any enemy shooting at the flagship would not easily kill its commanding Sith Lord.  Even if the bridge were destroyed, Relsor could still have the ship do anything the bridge would have commanded it to do, and he could deploy his shuttle from nearby as well. Trylia took note, just in case.
            It felt strange to be back on his ship.  She looked around, walking slowly.  She expected it would take a few hours before the others found her.
            ‘You’re going to have to be more pleasant company,’ said Perce.
            ‘And why is that?’ asked Trylia, affronted.
            ‘Because we have to tolerate your presence.’
            ‘Perhaps you must tolerate her presence,’ said Relsor, ‘whereas I relish in it.’
            ‘It figures you’d say that,’ said Perce, voicing Trylia’s exact thoughts. ‘Make no mistake, though,’ Perce went on, getting right in her face, ‘that if you lie, if you deceive us in any way, we will know, and I will kill you, even if he kills me for it.’  Trylia glared at him.  Perce chuckled.  ‘Of course, he won’t kill me, because I can’t die.’
            Relsor looked at Perce.  ‘You can regenerate.  There is a difference.’
            ‘Tisk, tisk, Relsor. Don’t be such a spoilsport.’  Perce looked back at Trylia.  ‘Just mark my words.’
            ‘Are you going to let him talk to me like this?’ she said looking at Relsor.
            ‘You can’t walk in here, as our prisoner,’ said Perce, ‘and expect to be treated as the perfect little Jedi you think you are.  Oh, but you’re not perfect, because the Jedi don’t allow attachments.  Yet, you and Shadie, and all your friends, make the exception.’  His voice took a menacing tone.  ‘If I have to endure your prissy little whining voice–’
            ‘Then what?’ Relsor demanded.  ‘There’s nothing you can do about it, Perce.’
            Perce turned his head towards Relsor. ‘You are testing my endurance.’ He turned back to Trylia.  ‘There’s just something about you I don’t like and can’t stand.’
            ‘Then it’s a good thing you won’t have to stand me for much longer,’ Trylia shot back, mimicking his tone.
            Both Relsor and Perce looked at each other.  Trylia suddenly realised her mistake and cursed herself for having been goaded into revealing her secrets so readily.  She felt her face turn hot.
            ‘You know,’ said Relsor, ‘there is something quite appealing to me when I see your Togruta face blush.  The thing is, I would prefer it to be for different reasons.  Now, tell me what you meant by that comment, and,’ he looked at Perce, ‘do not lie, or I just might let him kill you.’
            Trylia gulped.  She looked at Relsor.  ‘There is a tracking device on the hull of your ship.’ She looked down, closing her eyes in shame.
            ‘Well, well, how interesting,’ said Perce, sneering with pride.  ‘This is why you were so willing to sacrifice yourself for poor old Brenum.’
            ‘Enough!’  Relsor looked at Trylia.  He cupped his hand on her chin and lifted it.  ‘Is that the only thing on my hull?’
            ‘As far as I know, yes.’
            Relsor backed away.  He tapped his comlink.  ‘Awgro, command room, now!’  They waited a few moments before the Sith apprentice arrived.  ‘Tell me, Awgro, how is it a tracking beacon has made its way onto the hull of my ship and I didn’t hear anything about it?’
            ‘I was not aware there was any such device on the hull,’ replied Awgro slickly. ‘A Republic envoy flew by the ship, it was a quick flyby and then they were back in hyperspace before I could shoot them down. You were briefed on this.’ He paused. Relsor kept staring at him. ‘Nothing showed up on the scans.’
            ‘Then I know exactly where it is.’  Relsor stood taller.  ‘Awgro, arrange that meeting with the Dark Council.  Perce, the ship is yours.  Trylia, you and I are going for a walk…on the ship’s hull.’
            ‘Me?’
            ‘Yes. Your Republic, your responsibility to help me find the tracking device.’
            ‘But you said you knew where it was!’
            ‘I did. And you’re going to assist me.’ Relsor turned and began at a quick pace.  ‘Come on, we’ve no time to waste.’

Continue Reading Chapter Three

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

Shadie, Knarf, Usharr, and Fane stood with Talyc as he gave instructions to Nriwe for the clan. The barve kept reminding her of things she probably already knew.
            ‘Don’t worry, I can look out for the clan when you’re not there, you know,’ said Nriwe.  ‘I have done it before. Multiple times.’
            ‘I know.’  Talyc bowed his head.  ‘I worry I’ve let the clan down.’
            ‘You haven’t,’ she replied.
            ‘I haven’t failed all of you?’ Talyc asked. Nriwe gave him a sardonic look.  Knarf put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.  Talyc looked at him.  ‘I just worry.’
            ‘So does Shadie,’ said Knarf, smiling.  He looked at his wife who nodded in agreement.  ‘You’re a good clan leader, Talyc, and a fine Mandalorian.’
            Talyc smiled.  ‘And you’re a good friend, Bes’laar.’
            Nriwe’s comlink chimed and she looked at her datapad.  She giggled. ‘Remember to bring a bottle of Tarisian ale for Lian,’ she said.
            ‘How do you know he wants that?’ asked Fane, giving her a mock-suspicious glance.
            ‘Oh, he just messaged me.’
            ‘What?’ exclaimed Shadie, curiosity on her face. 
            ‘Shall I tell him you’re on your way?’
            ‘Since when do you exchange private messages with Lian?’ asked Knarf, amused.
            ‘Well, we got chatting and he wants to confide in people who aren’t his closest friends,’ said Nriwe. ‘He doesn’t want you to feel bad for saving his life, but he’s still adjusting to his new life and he just needs a sympathetic ear.’
            ‘We’re sympathetic!’ said Fane.  He looked bemused.
            ‘I’m sure Lian considers your friendship more important than to complain to you about his woes,’ said Knarf. 
            Nriwe put her datapad away.  ‘I told him you were leaving soon.’
            ‘Oh, okay,’ said Shadie.  ‘You sure there’s nothing more going on between you two?’
            Nriwe blushed.  ‘I don’t think he wants that right now.’
            Talyc pointed her way. ‘Now if there’s one thing I do well is gathering information and I’ll find out for you, because I know you, Nriwe, and I can tell–’ 
            She shook her head. ‘Get going. I’ll be fine. The clan will be fine.’
            Talyc began going through a few more details and Knarf had to pull him away. When they reached the docking area, the Krayt Dragon seemed already prepped for takeoff.  Brenum was at the controls, waiting patiently, and Trylia waved from behind the cockpit viewport.  Once everything was loaded onto the ship, they were off into hyperspace.

* * *

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