Chapter 25

Dxun/ 16 BBY/ 3 years after Contingency Order: 66

For a full week, no one was allowed permission to enter Sev's home in the compound of Clan Ordo. Everyone had tried and asked for admission, even Arvon, the Clan's craftsman. Keilbourn had gone back every day and knocked on the door. Never a single sound or reply came from inside but the door was always locked. Vheh'yaims all had installed doors for security, but among the clan, the doors were usually kept open and instead a canvas drape would separate the inside from the out. Keilbourn grew more worried than ever before. This wasn't the first time Sev had had his fits of depression and closed himself away. After the fifth day of his personal exile, Keilbourn had decided enough was enough. He had disappeared without a single clue of where he had gone. Before he had left, he tasked Falin to stay posted at the door, keep watch for any sign of activity. In the absence of her husband, Iella took it upon herself to continue to try and get through to him. On the morning of the seventh day, the sky was in a temperamental downpour of rain. All throughout the week, the sun was held at bay by the overcast of grey. Thunder had dominated the sky all night long, it was the roar before the unleashing of the storm. The wind finally subsided in the morning but the torrent of rain pounded the mud soaked grass of the compound. Despite the terrible conditions, there Falin sat by the door. Drops of rain dripped and rolled off his armor. Late in the night, Cautiss had come to keep him company, as both felt they were rather close to the former Commando. As to the reason of Sev's exile, neither of them fully understood; but that didn't matter. Sev was their clan-brother and had proved it through selfless deeds for them both time and time again. In front of him, Falin thought he heard the sloshing of footsteps. He opened his eyes and looked up to find Iella walking towards the hut. Over her heavy tunic, she wore a poncho to fend off the rain. Held out in front of her in one hand was a thermos in the form of a metal canister. In her other she held a covered plate.

"Vaar'tur," she greeted. Falin nodded in response. "Still nothing?" she asked.

"Nope. My bet is if he didn't sleep at all last night, he is now," he suggested. She watched the door with worry. Miniscule traces of frustration mingled in her gaze. She sighed and turned back to Falin still sitting in the mud beside the door.

"I brought you some Ve'shym soup," she said holding out the metal thermos. Falin grinned from behind his helmet and received it graciously. He removed his red Beskar helmet and laid it in his lap. As the rain landed, it beaded and bounced from the top of his buzzed head but soaked the red bandana he wore around his brow. "I also brought this for him," she added, indicating the covered plate. "It's almost been a week, I doubt he's eaten anything." Falin glanced at the plate briefly.

"You think it'll work?" he asked before taking a sip of the steaming, thick orange soup. Unconvinced she shrugged as she eyed the door.

"Can't say, but I'll give it a try." Iella inched closer to the door and knocked. She waited, but no answer came. She knocked again on the wooden door.

"Sev?" she called through, hoping he was at least in front room. "Sev it's me, Iella. She paused and waited. "I've got some food for you. You haven't eaten anything for almost a week. Please open just, just open the door." You don't have to talk," she said convincingly. Another pause of silence formed between the one sided conversation, filled by the tapping of rain on the mud. "Please, we just want to see you." She fell silent again. Falin's gaze flicked from her to the door. The pause was long, almost a minute. Iella tried to think of more to say, to try and lure him from his hole. But nothing came to mind. She knew even less than Falin did about Sev's depression and doubted she could actually be of any real help. Unlike spear hunting and sneaking through the woods unnoticed, counseling was not one of her strengths.

"Sorry, Iella," Falin said consolingly. "Maybe next time." She frowned then turned away, discouraged. From behind her through the tap of the rain, a latching sound called back to her. Falin snapped his focus to the door just as she did. Before their very eyes, the door slightly folded inwards. She sighed with relief, reassured against the worst possible scenario which played in her mind.

"Falin, why don't you go rest inside the guardhouse, I'll take it from here for a while," she suggested. The red clad Ordo Aran nodded as he stood up and stretched with the half drank thermos still steaming in his hand.

"Sure." He then sauntered off across the compound. Iella lightly pushed the door inward as she stepped through the canvas drape. The hut was dark, both in lighting and feel. A deep silent, well of sadness just hung in the atmosphere inside. Strewn about the floor and furniture was his Beskar, thrown carelessly aside. Bits of unfinished blaster modifications littered the tables. The inside was more like the nest of a temperamental beast than the home of a disciplined soldier. Sev didn't acknowledge her entrance as he sat on the edge of a chair, his head bowed low with his hands folded on the back of his neck. He didn't move a single inch; Iella could hardly even tell that he was breathing. She advanced slowly with tiny, cautious steps. There was still a lot about Sev that she still didn't know; his temper was one.

"I brought you a hot plate, thought you'd be hungry," she said softly. He still didn't move. "Thanks for opening the door. It's good to see you," she smiled. "We've all been really worried. A few of us actually had considered the worse."

"I thought we didn't have to talk," he said without looking her way. Iella nearly jumped with surprise. Him to actually reply was not at all what she expected. His voice was cracked and groggy from lack of use but held no sign of anger.

"No, you're right," she quickly replied as she laid the plate down on the table. "I'm sorry it's just that, Keilbourn is missing. He left without even telling me and he hasn't answered any of my transmissions." A brief pause filled between them and again, Sev surprised her.

"Your husband's a good man, you haven't got anything to worry about." With her large green eyes, she fixed him with a concerned stare.

"But he does. He's worried about you," she said. "And so am I. Please help me to understand," she pleaded, advancing towards him. Sev's head turned and he stared right back at her. His bloodshot eyes were deep, deeper than a well dug in the earth and they conveyed much. Barukka's abandonment and Boss' death were both heavy blows but just like everything else, he'd closed it off. Swallowed that pain deep inside and locked it away; that was the way he dealt with things. But the lock had been broken and all that emotion and grief flooded through him, filling his entire being. It wasn't till Fixer refused to leave with them that Sev finally understood Boss' final request; and realized that he couldn't do it. He had nothing. No purpose any longer. All his life he'd had a purpose. In the beginning it was the War. Then it was to do good as a mercenary for righteous causes. What did he have now? He had Barukka; in a way, she was the one that gave a purpose to his career. But now she was gone too; he had nothing. Staring at Iella, he considered saying something, anything to try and explain his grief. But what would she understand. Though she was a kind hearted person and a fierce warrior, she was also fairly naive. She knew very little about life outside of the compound; what would she know about purpose?

"If that's why you're here then you might as well leave," he said heavily. Sev turned his head back around, staring again at the floor. Iella sighed as she started to turn away. Though he was in bad shape, whether she liked it or not, this was progress. The canvas suddenly shifted and was lifted up to the corner as Keilbourn walked inside the hut. He was fully clad in his Beskar as he stepped forward. In his arm was a tight bundle, held closely to his chest.

"Keilbourn?" Iella exclaimed. From behind his helmet, he breathed heavily.

"You have no idea how hard it was to get this," he said quietly. Iella's wide eyes looked him up and down, pausing on the bundle.

"What is that?" she demanded with a prickly tone. Keilbourn looked from her to his brother still seated with his head down, disinterested by what was happening around him. With slow, gentle steps, Keilbourn approached.

"Sev, there's someone here I'd like you to meet," he said softly. After a slight hesitation, Sev's head shifted from under his hands. Then he sat up, looking first from Keilbourn then to the bundle. He paused as he gaped at it, slowly easing onto his feet. Keilbourn gently held the bundle out in front of him for Sev to take. With hesitant hands, he cradled the bundle. "She's yours, Sev," Keilbourn grinned. Sev looked down at the tiny face in the midst of the bundle of soft blankets, stripped off his very bed on the Cuy'val Dar. Her eyes were closed and little lips slightly pursed as she slept soundly. As he held her, he felt slight rise and fall of her stomach as she breathed peacefully. With a face of pure bewilderment, he looked up at Keilbourn who'd removed his helmet and ruffled his black hair.

"How? I mean, Barukka?" he stuttered. Keilbourn's joyful face dropped to a grave expression.

"I went back for her, but she's just too far gone. She's gone down this path I doubt she'll ever come back from." Sev's looked back down at the baby solemnly. "But I found her," Keilbourn continued. "This is your child, your daughter, Sev. And believe when I say you don't want her growing up like that." Sev gazed back up at him. His expression still solemn. Before Keilbourn's very eyes however, a smile edged through the sullen look of grief.

"Thank you," Sev said. Keilbourn smiled back.

"Of course." He turned around and approached his wife, embracing her closely.

"So I'm already an aunt," she mused as she looked up at him. He laughed and smiled back.

"Yep. Now what do you say we go home and make him an uncle?" Iella smiled mischievously as he leaned in for a kiss. She then stepped out of the hut, beckoning for him to follow. Keilbourn reached the curtain then looked back at Sev. With a smile bigger than any he'd ever seen on him, Sev gazed upon his daughter with wonder and absolute joy. "You going to be alright?" Keilbourn asked. Sev looked back up at him.

"I am now," he answered.

"So what are you going to name her?" he asked with a grin. Sev looked back down at his daughter and paused for a long moment.

"There was always a name we both liked," he said slowly while still in thought. "Fe'ey." Keilbourn nodded with approval before turning back outside the hut. The brief lift of the canvas, allowed the sun to shine inside; the rain had stopped and the storm was over.