The host of Jedi took a cautious step forward, holding their lightsabers at the ready. They were careful not to step on the skeletons. Knarf looked at Shadie, she looked focused. She turned to him, her face reflecting the green hue of her lightsaber; she held it as one blade. She changed it to her left hand and reached towards him to take his right hand. He did the same, switching his lightsaber from his left to right hand — Knarf was left-handed, though his training allowed him to be adept using both hands —  and he took Shadie’s hand.
Shadie took the lead a bit, but still held Knarf. They walked slowly and cautiously. They were perhaps midway across the long corridor when they heard the voice, recognising it from the previous whispers.

‘Who dares to trespass into my domain?’ No one answered, they simply kept on forward. ‘Speak, or be cut down with the power of dark side.’

‘I am called Shadie or Eidahs, I am the Lady of the Crypt, and I am accompanied by those with whom I share my power.’

‘Yes, yes, I can feel you. Come, come, young ones, come to my domain.’

He sounded hungry for power, for Force energy. Knarf held Shadie’s hand ever more tightly, as they all kept on towards the chamber. When they came to the door, it rolled open for them.

* * *

            The room they entered was very large and circular; it’s ceiling, a dome. It was dimly lit by torches that looked ancient. A dark marble floor, almost black, lay in tiles that formed a circular low platform closer to the centre of the room, the rest of it was made of stone. There seemed to be a makeshift bed and some sort of encampment at the far end. In the middle of the platform, yet farther back than its exact centre, was a throne that looked like it was part of an altar. Shadie had never seen anything like it; nothing in neither Sith records nor Jedi archives had spoken of it either.

On the throne sat a cloaked and hooded figure.

‘You are the true Master of the Crypt, are you not?’ asked Shadie. She stood with the others on the platform; they still held their lightsabers aloft and lit. She made a quick curt bow of respect.

The being stood from the throne and took a step towards her.

‘No,’ he said. ‘I am its creator.’

He cast off his hood to reveal his face; he was a Pure-Blood Sith, one from the line of the ancient Sith species. His face was of a burgundy-red, several protrusions stuck out, as this species often had on their faces, with several golden rings. His hair was black and long.

‘You have passed the trials, Darth Shadie, Jedi Eidahs, Lady of the Crypt; you have gained the power I have bestowed upon you, the power I allow all masters of this place to wield. It is not borrowed but earned. Have you earned your right to hone this power?’

‘I have done all I could to prove my worth,’ said Shadie. ‘I was chosen by the protector of this place, the Sphere, long before I ever claimed it. It chose me for my power, chose me because I am both light and dark. I have created abilities no other, Jedi or Sith, has ever performed. I believe all this earns me this right.’

‘Very well,’ he said. ‘Now you have claimed it, you have gained power. You realise that having this power will not take away the power this Crypt’s former master wields?’

‘I understand that, yes,’ Shadie replied, nodding.

The being stared at Shadie for some time, then he turned to stare at the others, one by one.

Continure reading Chapter Six

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Shadie stood looking out at the vast field that lay near the city’s central area taking it all in. She would not be returning to Mandalore for quite some time. Fane stood next to her. Knarf had gone to speak with Mandalore before their departure.

Fane had a travelling bag; he had packed some essentials he might need after the rescue mission. Shadie also had a bag, but she would leave it aboard the Krayt Dragon. She wouldn’t need those things until after, once she would return from her capture.

Shadie took a deep breath.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Fane. Shadie turned her head to look at him. He had his head bowed.

‘Fane, this isn’t your fault. Relsor is a persistent Sith. He will go to any lengths to capture me. At least this way, it can be on my terms.’

‘I know. I just feel sorry for everything.’

‘I can understand that.’

Shadie took Fane’s hand and held it as a parent would their child’s. After a moment, Fane pointed with his other hand to a spot somewhere in the meadow.

‘There,’ he said. ‘That’s where we shared our first kiss.’ Shadie smiled. Fane blushed.

‘More than just a kiss, I gather,’ said Shadie. She pointed at a spot herself. ‘Over there,’ she said. ‘It’s quite comfortable.’

Fane laughed. ‘What is this galaxy coming to when a Jedi and his master are discussing locations where they each…’ He laughed again.

‘I’ll be worried the day we stop joking about the natural flow of life that makes us feel the desires we feel for the men whom we love,’ said Shadie.

‘Speaking of which,’ said Fane, cocking his head; Knarf was approaching. He smiled at them and came to stand next to Shadie, taking her hand and interlacing his fingers with hers. ‘And so?’

‘Everything is sorted,’ said Knarf. ‘Mandalore cannot lend any ships right away, due to the possible threat which could very well be real. The thought of more superlasers is devastating. He will be in contact with Supreme Chancellor Emain, though, and in the event ships are needed, he will provide what he can.’ Knarf paused. ‘Mandalore recognises that, even if the Jedi Order is not, the Republic is getting itself involved in the rescue mission of one of his top clan leaders. Supreme Chancellor Emain acknowledges a temporary alliance for the time of this war, and the Republic’s semi-debt to Mandalore. Relsor and Perce pose a great threat to the entire galaxy, aiding each other can only help us defeat them.’

‘Master Herl’unik is aware that we are going to the Crypt,’ said Shadie, ‘and he sanctioned that part, but he wants no part in the rescue mission. I believe he is afraid. He does not know that Lian will be coming with us.’

‘He hasn’t told him?’ said Knarf, sounding a little surprised.

‘No,’ said Shadie. ‘Lian prefers it that way.’ She paused, feeling the warmth of Knarf’s hand in hers as he stood to her right, while she hoped she brought warmth to Fane through their still held hands. ‘He will deal with the rest of the Council once he, Fane, and Talyc are safely back on Tython.’

The Krayt Dragon could be seen streak through the sky as it came towards them and it settled in the meadow nearby. When the landing ramp had descended, the three Mando-Jedi walked up the ramp to join their friends inside.

Continue reading Chapter Five

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

Talyc was startled awake by the feeling that his insides were burning, yet freezing; lightning. He shouted out in pain as his body felt the sensations running through every limb. He balled his hands into fists, as though trying to hold onto something. He opened his eyes when the lightning had stopped.
He saw Perce standing before him, looking up with condescension, hands clasped behind his back.

‘Should have know it was you,’ said Talyc. ‘Your lightning is different from Relsor’s.’

‘Is that so?’

‘It seems, I don’t know, less refined.’

‘That makes it sound like a bad thing,’ said Perce.

‘Not at all,’ said Talyc. ‘Refined goods taste better, but aren’t as good or pure as the unrefined stuff you can get, like spice. It’s truer to the natural essence of what it’s supposed to be when it’s unrefined.’

‘Ah, I understand,’ said Perce. ‘But your meagre attempt at complimenting my skills do not detract from the fact that I cannot slice into your encrypted files and I require the codes. I am giving you the chance to give them to me verbally.’

‘How else would I give them?’ Talyc was confused.

‘I don’t know if you would survive the procedure, but as I did to the Republic’s Supreme Chancellor, I can use the Force to extract them from your mind.’

Talyc felt dread at that. He had come to a dead end. If he did not give him the codes, Perce would use his technique, he would suffer and maybe die, and then Perce would know that the encrypted files are not of interest to him. If Talyc gave him the codes, he would only delay the inevitable wrath of the True Sith who stood before him, as he would soon find out the files contained nothing.

Perce took a few steps towards Talyc and placed a hand on his head.

‘I’ll take the silence as your permission to probe your mind,’ said Perce.

‘As if you need my permission,’ Talyc retorted. It was too late to decide anything now, the Sith had already decided Talyc’s fate.

‘Perce! Stop that now!’ Relsor marched into the room. His tone had been authoritarian and his face was stern. ‘We need him alive, and you do not know if he would survive your mind probing.’

Perce narrowed his eyes. His fingers gripped Talyc’s head more tightly. He let go and took a few steps back. He was not happy at all. Talyc clocked the exchange of looks Perce and Relsor shared. So there was discord in the True Sith partnership, the duo had come to a disagreement.

‘We shall try a different method first,’ said Relsor. He walked up to Talyc and placed a hand on his left shoulder. Talyc braced himself but the surge of pain never came. ‘Give Perce the access codes to the encrypted files.’

Talyc said nothing. He felt a surge of dark side energy run through his body from his shoulder as purple light glowed around the Chiss’s blue hand. Talyc screamed in pain, but did not give them any codes. Relsor stopped. He ignited his lightsaber and held it next to Talyc’s face. Talyc knew Relsor needed him alive; he would not kill him.

‘The access codes,’ said Relsor.

‘If you kill me, Fane and Shadie and the others won’t come for me, they’ll sense my death. You won’t have Shadie.’

‘I am very well aware of that, Clan Leader Talyc,’ Relsor said in a very backhanded tone. ‘I have no intention of killing you, but perhaps I can maim you.’ He angled his lightsaber. Talyc felt the heat of it not only on his face, but on his shoulder as well. ‘Normally beskar would protect a Mandalorian from a lightsaber such as mine, but that hole in your armour is very inviting and perfectly reachable. Perhaps Knarf can share camaraderie with you over lost limbs.’

Relsor touched the tip of his blade to Talyc’s shoulder, just enough of it to the part of skin that was exposed from the damaged beskar armour. It was hot, it pained Talyc, and he grunted, and reflexively closed his mouth, clenching his teeth.

Relsor lifted the lightsaber straight up, ready to strike Talyc’s arm.

‘Five-four-five-six-three-Kay-Ae-En-Dee-Ee-Ar-Ae-seven-five-nine-five-Tee-eight-four-two-nine-five!’ He paused, breathing heavily and slowly. ‘You need to make sure you’ve selected the Encrypt File option, the decrypt option will not work.’

‘Splendid!’ said Perce.

Continue reading Chapter Four

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

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