Part 3

Hope dwindles across the galaxy. As the Empire's shadow lengthens, former Jedi turned Inquisitor Kael Asher has claimed an ancient holocron of immense power, seeking to remake the galaxy in his own image.

With their father dead and their family legacy in peril, brothers Edwin and Edric Kane pursue the corrupted mentor. But time grows short as Kael draws closer to unlocking the holocron's terrible secrets.

Together with their loyal companions, the brothers prepare for one final confrontation, knowing that the price of failure could tear the very fabric of reality apart...

Chapter 20 - Regroup

Edric helped Edwin move over to the couch into the living room with the whole crew in tow, his brother suppressing groans as he descended onto the furniture. Max took up position against a sofa's backrest, while Sid chose another one near the caf table to drop in and started fiddling with the tracker device. Seeing Edwin's struggle, Lyra promptly disappeared to try and rummage for some painkillers around the house.

Pausing as he scanned the room, Edric was thankful that nobody got seriously hurt. It dawned on him how much worse it could have been, how he could have diverged from the light. What would he have done with these people, his friends? Seeing how Master Asher did not hesitate to try and hurt him, even with how close they were… the Dark Side twisted him inside and out, leaving only traces of the true Kael that he knew. What if it happened to him too?

No, can't think like that, Edric tried to chase the thoughts away, yet every time he momentarily closed his eyes, that vision from the Force returned with his two selves locked in combat, rage erupting from him like a volcano breaking through ice. He'd felt that same fury during the fight with Kael, that terrible power begging to be unleashed. A fight he was clearly the underdog in. Every time. Every kriffing time, there was something he was missing. He kept replaying the duel—at least the moments his mind was clear enough to remember—only to realize how easy he made Kael's job. His master knew his every move, his every trick, even if they hadn't seen each other in years. He was still that same predictable Padawan, still fighting the same way, still losing the same battles. I have to be better, he thought.

"Whoah." Sid's awe cut through Edric's brooding. The young mechanic's eyes were wide, darting from artifact to artifact, lingering on the ancient texts and relics that lined the walls. "I feel really strange here," he said, his tone barely above a whisper. He muttered something under his breath—a prayer perhaps, in a language Edric didn't recognize, his fingers tracing patterns in the air as if following invisible currents. Edric caught Edwin's gaze and saw his own recognition mirrored there. His brother gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. The boy's Force sensitivity would have to wait. They had more pressing matters than explaining to Sid what's going on with him.

"So, on a scale of 'angry Wookiee' to 'angry rancor' how kriffed are we?" Max broke the silence that had stretched a touch too long. His timing was perfect as always, just as Lyra returned with medical supplies.

Edric slumped onto one of the old couches, sending a plume of dust into the air that made him sneeze. The cushions, though worn, still held that strange comfort only old furniture seemed to possess in the whole galaxy. "Remember that job on Nar Shaddaa?" he asked. "When that bounty turned out to be a Hutt's favorite dancer?"

"Oh stars," Max groaned, but there was a hint of fondness in his voice. "That was bad."

"This is much worse," Edric said, managing a weak smile. "At least the Hutts just wanted to feed us to their rancors. They weren't trying to reshape reality."

"Yeah, that sounds like the next level," Max conceded, scratching his chin. "Though I seem to recall you saying, and I quote, 'Don't worry Max, I've got a plan' right before you threw the bounty into the beast pit."

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Kid, there's a difference between 'working' and 'surviving by pure dumb luck.'"

The memories brought a bit of ease to Edric's mind as he remembered all the adventures he had gotten into with the bounty hunter. He might have lost one mentor, but there was another who didn't seem to plan to murder him in exchange for power. Hopefully not even for credits. At least he hoped so.

"Whatever this was, I hope you are joking," Edwin chimed in, wincing as he straightened slightly to take the painkillers Lyra handed him. "We can't just go charging after him unprepared."

"That's what I'm saying too, genius," Max said with a shrug. "Sounds like you need to get us up to speed on your whole family secret to help you though, so—"

"I think we all could use some rest first," Lyra cut in, her voice calm but firm. "Besides, Sid needs some time to do... whatever it is he's doing. Right?" Sid snapped out of what looked like a daydream, his wide eyes darting between the group.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah! I'll need a few hours to reverse the signal, set up a localizer algorithm, write a nav program, and—"

Max let out a loud, exaggerated yawn, cutting Sid off mid-sentence. The boy blinked at the bounty hunter, frowned, and muttered something under his breath before turning back to his work.

It made Edric let out a silent chuckle at the exchange, shaking his head at Max and his less than respectful behavior. His gaze drifted back to Edwin, who had leaned back in his seat, his eyelids looking heavier as the painkillers worked their magic.

The bounty hunter shifted his weight, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Sorry kids, but I need to know what exactly we are dealing with here. What's so special about this holocron of yours that your old master is willing to kill for it?"

The brother's eyes met again, with Edwin clearly weighing how much to share. After a moment, he sighed. "It's... a bit complicated."

"You're in luck, because I'm an expert at complicated things," Max pressed with a wink.

"The holocron can show the location of a gateway of sorts. To a place between places, where time has no meaning. The World Between Worlds, as folks called it. In the wrong hands, that knowledge could reshape reality itself in whatever way that Inquisitor wants it."

Max let out a low whistle. "Well, that's... significantly worse than I imagined."

"Which is another reason why we need to stop him," Lyra cut them off again. "But we're going to need help. Wherever your old master has taken that thing, he'll have Imperials protecting him. The five of us won't be enough, even with two Jedi. Or whatever it is you are."

"Rono," Max said, nodding slowly. "Your Partisans would jump at the chance to hit an Imperial target. They don't need to know about the holocron either—just that we're striking a blow against the Empire," Max explained, tilting his head at Edwin if he agreed with at least that much. Edric looked at his brother, who was fighting the painkiller's sedative effects and losing the battle judging by the length of his last few blinks.

Lyra stood, already moving toward the door. "I'll contact them. They trust me more than you," she added with a slight smirk at Max. "Coming?"

"What, you don't think I can charm Rono into it?" Max pushed away from the sofa with a grunt. "Fine, let's go make the call from the Beast. Better range up there anyway."

By the time the door closed behind them, Edric noticed his brother's eyelids closing, but judging by his breathing, he was still awake. With Sid also preoccupied with his work, he decided now was as good a time as any to express what he wanted the moment they ascended back from the stairs.

"Hey," Edric said quietly. "I'm… sorry. I should've been more careful back there."

Edwin cracked one eye open, studying Edric for a moment before offering a faint smile—one that was genuine despite the fatigue written all over his face. "Don't worry about it. I told you, you're stronger than you think. Would be nice if you finally believed it."

The warmth in Edwin's words caught Edric off guard, filling his chest with a comforting heat that wasn't the raging fire of anger or frustration, but something softer. He wasn't sure if Edwin's words were a side effect of the painkillers or a moment of unguarded honesty, but either way, they settled over Edric like a soothing balm—even without Edwin's Force abilities doing anything.

Edric gave a small nod. "Thanks."

Edwin's smile widened slightly, though his eyes were already starting to close again. The younger brother lingered for a moment longer before standing up, his mind swirling with thoughts that needed untangling. There was so much to process, so much to figure out—about Kael, the holocron, and even himself, just not inside. He needed some fresh air to untangle them all.

"I'll be outside if anyone needs me," he said to Sid, who just grunted as a form of acknowledgement.

Pushing the door open and stepping out, Edric inhaled deeply. The air was cooler, a welcome relief from the stale one inside. A gentle breeze swept across the plains, carrying with it the faint rustle of the tall grass swaying and the scent of dry earth and wildflowers. The sky above was vast and clear, a sea of endless blue broken only by the occasional streaks of white clouds.

As he walked, Edric's boots crunched softly against the dirt path as he put distance between himself and the house. He let the sounds of the environment surround him—the chirping of distant creatures, the whisper of the wind—and let the calm begin to seep into his frayed nerves.

He made his way up a gentle incline until he reached a small patch of tall grass beneath the shade of a lone, scraggly tree. The landscape stretched endlessly in all directions, a vast sea of green and gold rippling in the breeze. He observed how different it all was to what he was used to, all the noise, the pollution, the artificial lights and buildings he had seen on countless worlds already plundered for their natural resources. Working as a bounty hunter, they rarely saw planets like Dantooine, yet it all was more familiar than he expected, like an old friend who would welcome him whenever he showed up. It clearly left a significant impression even in his infant mind, and he could see why.

The tall blades danced gently around him as he sat cross-legged, the cool earth grounding him. He leaned back slightly, letting his gaze wander across the horizon. The sun was high, its rays gentle against his skin, but the breeze tempered the heat. His hand brushed idly against the blades of grass around him, the simple sensation bringing him into the present just enough to begin pulling his scattered thoughts into focus.

He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as he tried to find his balance. The hum of the Force around him was faint but steady, like the low, ever-present rhythm of a heartbeat. It was here, in the quiet embrace of the land, that he felt the echoes of his sanctuary, but he didn't even have to close his eyes to be there. The grass whispered secrets of home, each a memory he'd carried within himself all these years without knowing. He wished he could see his parents again, to thank them for their sacrifices and that they have done their duty. A duty he managed to screw up, like everything else.

It was maybe the will of the Force. Another trial. And if it was, he would have to face it like all others. Like the grass beneath him, he would bend but not break. Even if he got knocked down again, he would have to get up. Until the last moment his lungs drew air, he had to fight, because that's who he was and nobody could take that away. Not even his former master, not even a holocron.

The wind around him picked up, and Edric let his awareness expand with it, feeling its journey across the sea of grass, every eddy and current as it danced across the plains. He became one with its wild freedom, rode along as it swept through, flying and swaying the fields in its path until it dissipated. Life bloomed in his consciousness, tiny insects navigating their complex worlds, small creatures darting through secret paths underground, plants stretching toward the sun's embrace and energy. Each had its own song, its own rhythm, a symphony of existence that somehow made his own troubles seem smaller, more manageable.

Edric's breathing slowed to match the natural cadence around him. His shoulders loosened as he let the Force take away the burdens from it, the family legacy, the fear of losing his friends, the temptation of the darkness. Pieces remained, they settled into place like stones finding their rest in a wall, each one bearing its own weight without threatening to collapse the whole.

The rhythm of Dantooine took him over, and he let the Force empty his mind and heart from the day's events, allowing him to start anew.

Time lost meaning in meditation, the sun arcing overhead without his notice. A presence approached from behind, soft footsteps in the dry grass announcing Lyra's arrival after he sensed her familiar warmth in the Force.

"Don't go," Edric said without opening his eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt—"

"You're not." He turned, patting the ground beside him. Lyra hesitated for a moment before settling next to him, the grass parting around her like water.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Edric considered the question, watching the breeze picking up some dirt. "I think I will be, this time. Just needed to clear my head, that's all. Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in this cycle of failing, falling, getting back up... but it's all I've ever known. I can't—I won't stop." He paused, running a hand through his curls. "I saw them, you know. My parents." A small smile tugged at his lips. "Their image... it was like this sunset. Warm. Real."

The golden light painted Lyra's face in soft hues when Edric looked back at her. She drew her knees up to her chest.

"What about your mother? You never mentioned her," the boy asked.

Lyra's expression darkened slightly, turning head toward the horizon. Edric couldn't take his gaze off of her anymore, his focus was drawn entirely on this one person beside him. Dantooine shrank to be just the two of them in the whole universe.

"She left when I was young. Met some aristocrat who came to inspect our village. She was supposed to be his guide, but..." She picked at a blade of grass, tearing it into tiny pieces. "She chose him over us. Over her people. I promised myself I'd never be like her, never abandon my roots." Her voice grew quiet. "But now those roots are being torn up anyway. The Empire's chokehold on Tarnos is worse than ever. Sometimes I dream about taking it back, maybe with the Partisans' help..."

So much they both lost in this life already, and here they were, sitting together on a planet where all troubles of the galaxy seemed to be so insignificant in this moment. He would have given anything to make her feel better, to see that smile that causes that tingling sensation in his stomach that keeps catching him each time.

"Tell me about your village," Edric said softly. "What was it like? Before everything?"

A distant smile touched Lyra's lips. "It wasn't much, compared to places like Coruscant. But it was home. We lived near these massive doonium refineries, but behind our house, there was this small grove of trees. Dad and I would sit there in the evenings, watching light filter through the leaves." She laughed quietly. "He'd tell these absolutely terrible jokes while we cleaned our hunting gear."

"Worse than Max's?" Edric asked, drawing another chuckle from her.

"Different kind of terrible. Dad's were more... intentional. He knew they were awful, that was the point." Her eyes took on a faraway look. "The whole village would gather for festivals when the second moon was full. We'd string lights between the houses, and everyone would bring food to share. There was this old woman, Mai, who made these sweet pastries that would melt in your mouth." She paused, her voice softening. "She didn't make it out when the Separatists came."

Edric watched how her fingers absently traced patterns in the dirt as she spoke, the way her shoulders tensed slightly at certain memories before relaxing again. Every detail about her fascinated him—the tiny scar above her right eyebrow, the way she'd tuck her hair behind her ear when lost in thought.

"What about you?" she asked suddenly. "If you hadn't been taken to the Jedi, do you think you would have grown up here?"

"Maybe," Edric said, looking out over the plains. "Though honestly? I'm glad I didn't. If I had, I might never have met you."

A slight blush colored Lyra's cheeks. "Careful," she said with a hint of playfulness. "You're starting to sound like one of those aristocrats with their fancy words."

"Me? Never," Edric grinned. "I'm just a simple outlaw these days, remember?"

Lyra looked at the sea of grass for a brief moment. "I hope I can see Tarnos again the way I remember it," she whispered.

"I'll help you," Edric promised without hesitation. "Whatever it takes. Until the end."

Lyra grinned again and shook her head slightly. "You are still an impossible idealist, you know."

"Oh, I know," Edric replied with a mischievous smirk. "I've grown up in a cult after all, you said it yourself," They sat in silence for a few seconds before Edric's smile faded. A sudden pit formed in his gut. When the former Padawan spoke again, it was almost a whisper.

"Down there, I was at my worst. And thinking of you…your laugh, Lyra. It helped me find my way back from that darkness."

Lyra turned to him, the setting sun caught in her eyes, turning them to liquid emerald. Edric found himself lost in them once again. Her features softened, and the boy's breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful—not just physically, but in her strength, her determination, her eternal fire.

Something passed between them, perhaps an unknown property of the Force, but Edric felt its pull stronger than ever. An unspoken current that drew them closer, inch by inch. Lyra's eyes shimmered as she put a hand on Edric's bearded cheek. Her palm was warm, rough by a life lived in fights. It was still soothing, like a pillow Edric could rest his head, his burdens on.

Their faces were mere breaths apart, he could feel the heat of her skin when Sid's voice shattered the moment.

"I've got it!" he shouted, running toward them through the grass. "I've found the signal!"

Edric and Lyra jerked apart, the spell broken. But something lingered in the air between them, a promise of things yet unsaid. They exchanged a final glance, before standing up.

Sid was already out of breath by the time he reached them and he held up a hand to gather his strength.

"Relax, Sid. Just slowly," Edric instructed as the kid finally took a large inhale that somewhat brought his hyperventilation under control.

"Phew, thought you guys were closer," he said and for some reason his eyes narrowed, scanning both Edric and Lyra. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No!" the two of them said in unison, and Edric scratched the back of his neck as he felt his ears in flames.

"What did you find?" Lyra finally asked to divert the conversation, much to Edric's relief. Sid's eyes darted between them for another moment before he let it go.

"I managed to reverse the tracker's signal. Got the location too, he went to a planet called Prakith. Max and Edwin are already trying to find out more," Sid explained in one quick breath.

"Let's get inside then," Lyra suggested.

By the time Edric and the others arrived back at the house, voices were already drifting from the study. Max and Edwin stood hunched over a holotable, their faces bathed in the blue glow of a galactic map, while Rono's flickering form hovered above them like a restless ghost.

"—could always use a genius like him," Rono was saying as the trio stepped within earshot. Max and Edwin glanced up in greeting, Edwin straightening slightly despite the lingering grogginess in his movements. Whether he was recovering or just stubbornly ignoring the pain, Edric couldn't tell.

"Did we interrupt something?" Lyra asked, folding her arms as she stepped into the room.

"Oh, not much," Max replied casually, shooting a grin toward Sid. "Rono was just trying to poach the kid from us."

"Poach?" Sid asked, with confusion painted on his face.

"I wouldn't call it poaching," Rono said, sighing with a touch of theatrical exasperation. "I'm just saying, the kid's a tech genius. And it's not like you haven't poached from my network before."

"Details," Max waved off the comment, clearly enjoying the exchange.

Edric decided to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Sid mentioned we have a location?" His tone was clipped, cutting through the playful banter. While he appreciated Sid's skills, Edric felt uneasy about the way everyone kept talking about him like he was an asset rather than a person. Especially with the looming question of how—and when—to tell Sid about his Force sensitivity.

Max took the cue and adjusted the holotable's controls, zooming into the galactic map. The web of stars and hyperspace lanes stretched and shifted until the Deep Core came into focus, the clustered region glowing like a tangled mass of light. A red dot pulsed quietly amidst the density, drawing everyone's attention.

"Prakith," Max said, leaning back and gesturing at the dot. "Empire-controlled planet in the Deep Core. Tough nut to crack."

Rono's hologram flickered briefly before stabilizing. "One of our cells managed to slice into a transport's logs—it's a goldmine of intel. They've been moving artifacts, texts, and anything tied to the Force there for months."

Edwin, still leaning against the table, added with a faint slur that betrayed the lingering effects of his painkillers. "The terrain is practically built for defense. Volcanic mountains everywhere, strongholds carved into the bedrock, and underground caverns that stretch for kilometers. Getting in won't be easy."

The image on the holotable shifted again as Max zoomed in further, revealing a fortress carved into the side of a massive mountain. Its towers rose like jagged claws from the rock, its walls almost seamless with the surrounding terrain. The landing pad jutted out like a precarious ledge, clearly an Imperial addition.

"This," Max said, tapping the image, "is where Sid thinks your dear-old master is hiding out."

Edric studied the fortress closely. Its sheer walls, steep cliffs, and isolated location were enough to make any infiltration seem suicidal. The Empire had clearly gone out of its way to fortify the site. "Looks impenetrable," he muttered, scratching at the stubble on his chin as he mentally tried to map out options. "The walls are too steep, and there's no way to scale this without getting noticed."

Rono's image flickered again. "There's more. Your Inquisitor hasn't just been hiding out—he's been gathering troops. A faction loyal to him specifically, not the Empire at large. We intercepted some comms. Whatever they're working on is top-secret, even by the Empire's standards. That makes it valuable."

"The fortress isn't just defended by troops," Edwin said, manipulating the hologram to highlight key points. "Look at these energy readings. Shield generators here and here. Anti-aircraft batteries on every tower. And these mountains..." He traced the jagged peaks with his finger. "They create a natural bottleneck. Any approaching ships would be sitting targets."

"Sounds like a party," Lyra muttered under her breath, her arms still folded.

"Which is why we've called you right away, old pal," Max chimed in with his trademark grin at Rono. "You love this kind of challenge."

Rono snorted, his holographic form shaking slightly. "I'm no womp rat, Daxer. I know when you're trying to sweet-talk me into one of your schemes. But you're not wrong—this target's tempting. A splinter group of loyalists is a weak point. The fortress itself is a problem, but if we're careful, it might not be insurmountable."

"So," Lyra said, leaning forward to study the fortress layout, "what's our approach?"

"A frontal assault would be suicide," Edwin noted, nodding at the holo. "Even with Rono's squad, those shield generators and turrets would tear us apart before we got close."

"Unless..." Max drawled, a familiar glint in his eye that made Edric groan internally. It usually meant an absolutely insane idea was coming. "Unless that's exactly what we want them to think we're doing."

Rono's hologram flickered as he nodded slowly. "A diversion. My teams could split into smaller groups, hit multiple points simultaneously. Make them think we're launching a full-scale Partisan assault."

"While they're scrambling to defend against a larger force..." Edric began, catching on.

"We slip in through their blind spot," Edwin finished. He manipulated the hologram, zooming in on a particular section of the mountain. "Look here. These caverns you mentioned—if they're as extensive as your intel say, there might be access points into the fortress itself. The Empire probably sealed them off, but..."

"But they'd be too focused on the external threat to watch their basement," Max said with a grin. "Kid, your brother might be onto something."

"The real question is," Lyra interjected, "how do we find Kael once we're inside? This place is massive."

Edric exchanged a look with Edwin. "We'll know. Someone like that... it'll be like a beacon to us."

"Assuming he doesn't sense you first," Sid pointed out, making everyone turn to him. He shrugged. "What? You all keep talking about the Force like it's a one-way street."

"The boy's right," Edwin said. "We'll need to move fast once we're in. No room for hesitation."

"Then it's settled," Rono's voice crackled through the interference. "My teams will create chaos, draw their forces out. The rest of you find a way in through the caverns. But remember - we'll only be able to keep them distracted for so long."

"What about the Beast?" Max asked. "We'll need a quick exit."

"I can handle that," Sid said, his usual enthusiasm returning. "If I modify the shields and reroute power from the secondary systems, we might be able to withstand their defenses long enough for a pickup."

Edric looked around at his companions—his friends. His family. Each of them willing to risk everything on this mission. "Alright," he said quietly. "We've got one shot at this. Let's make it count."

Rono's image flickered again, "Me and my team are already en route. We'll rendezvous at your coordinates in six hours," he said and cut the connection.

Edric's eyes lingered on the image of the fortress, his gut twisting. Kael was waiting for them there, he could feel it in the Force, a black hole of power and rage calling to him like a challenge.