Chapter 56 – Aftermath
D201/0 ABY
After the battle had ended, King Thor ordered the Aesir to divide in three forces, the first being led Bor, Castiel and Seleyse to follow the enemy, ensuring that they didn't attack anymore worlds in this particular galaxy – the realm of Midgard. The second part would be commanded by his brothers Issho and Kuzan, to carry out a galaxy wide campaign to get rid of the demon and other monstrous remnants. He had then contacted his grandmother – Queen Amaya of Xadia, asking for an update.
Odin, his father was leading the third force in providing aid to the Twi'leks, along with the Republic. Thor wanted to join (still covered in white light, hiding his features and injuries, and oddly enough covering up any smells), but Odin refused immediately. Catching a hold of his son, who he pulled to a side, away from public eye while ordering Fenrir to lead the relief effort in his absence. They were followed by Hera, Kanan and Cham, as Odin took Thor to a secluded spot and said, "Thor, you are running on empty, it wouldn't be long before you collapse." Odin then turned to the three who had followed them, giving a slight nod to Hera, "Your father is terribly injured, I need to take him to a private med-bay."
Hera nodded at this, and asked Cham, "Can you guide us?" Cham hesitantly nodded at this; the image of Thor smiting Azazel was still fresh in his mind. He then called for a speeder, and took them all to a private med-bay in the Syndulla residence.
Once there, everyone got out of the speeder, except Thor who softly spoke, "I find myself unable to move." Odin then put his arms underneath Thor and carried his son to the med-bay. Once inside, Odin laid Thor on a bed and waved his hand, getting rid of the light to reveal the full extent of his injuries. Hera gasped at this, Cham looked visibly shocked, while Kanan's eyes had momentarily widened but he steadied himself.
Thor's face, was now significantly aged, his hair completely white, his left eye covered by a black eye-patch with strings. Thor's left arm was now a bloody stump, and on his chest and abdomen were two large smouldering holes, with the insides of his body visibly burnt. The smell of this had finally hit everyone in the room.
As the medical droid rushed over to Thor to start treating his many injuries, Cham with shock etched on his face spoke, "You fought like this!?"
"Not exactly, Cham.", Thor spoke coughing up blood.
"There will be a time for words, later.", Odin said. The medical droid now focused at Thor immediately asked everyone to leave.
D202/0 ABY
A day had passed since the battle of Ryloth ended – the people now calling it 'The Clash of Gods and Monsters'. There were many casualties of this battle and many Republic ships had been destroyed, but the number of dead Asgardian soldiers were highest. Of the eleven angels (who had survived Dantooine), now only six remained – Talia, Voris, Bendu, Fenrir, Tarre and Hulk. The latter two were being treated alongside other wounded aboard a Republic frigate. Meanwhile Odin and Fenrir had seen to the mass funeral of those who were no longer in the world of the living.
Waiting outside the private med-bay in the Syndulla residence were Cham and Odin. They both had just arrived, when they saw Kanan come from the kitchen, with four cups of caf in his hand. He offered to Odin and Cham; the former refused. The three then entered the med-bay and found Thor fast asleep, lightly snoring. They also saw Hera who was fast asleep sitting in a chair, with her head on Thor's bed.
The medical droid approached them and said, "I have never seen anyone like him before. With wounds of such intensity, bacta tank treatment is normally used. But his anatomy allows for an extraordinary healing factor, that I simply can't explain."
"So, he will be completely healed in a short time?", Cham asked.
"Yes.", the droid answered and was asked to leave by Cham.
Once the droid left, Cham turned to Odin and asked, "I have been told that he is your son. Is this true?"
Odin looked at Cham and answered, "He is my son. What is your connection to Thor?"
Hera who was awakened by this, answered, "He is my uncle."
"I see.", Odin answered, turning his eye towards Hera and Thor. A little while later, Thor's eye opened and he looked around. Cham then called for the med droid, who came in and checked Thor's vitals, and revealed its surprise at Thor's steady and stable levels.
"A warm welcome.", Thor said, "How long have I been asleep?", he asked as sat up on his bed with Hera's help, as the med droid turned to leave.
"Nearly 24 hours.", Cham answered.
"How are you feeling?", Hera asked.
"Like I could fight Surtre.", Thor answered.
"Surtre?", Hera asked.
"King of the fire giants.", Thor said.
"So, there are frost giants and fire giants?", Kanan asked with a smile.
"Along with storm giants and earth giants.", Thor said smiling.
"No water giants?", Hera asked with a smile.
"Exterminated by the frost giants.", Odin answered humourlessly.
"Do you still want to strangle me Cham?", Thor asked turning his eye towards Cham.
"No.", came the answer, "But I do have a question, if you always had such power, then why did you let my sister and my nephew die."
Thor didn't answer this, instead looked down. Hera then got up and said, "Get out."
"This is my home,", Cham retorted, "and I have a right to know."
"This is also my home and I am telling you…", Hera said angrily.
"Hera, it's alright.", Thor interrupted placing his hand on her. "You saw the two men I was fighting Cham?"
"Briefly.", came the answer.
"One of them was my brother – Baldur.", Thor said and then looked at Odin, "If you are uncomfortable, then I shall stop."
"I will take your leave. Fenrir wanted to talk to me about something.", Odin said and left, his tone deliberately free of emotion.
"Baldur had used a blood binding magic to place our father under his control.", Thor said after Odin had left. This new information surprised Hera and Kanan.
"How does this answer my question?", Cham asked menacingly.
"Baldur used my father to strip me off my powers, Cham. He then used him to exile me.", Thor said his features fierce and angry. "The day I had disappeared from Ryloth, my brother paid me a visit with the intention to kill me, Noir and our children.", Thor continued, "I was helpless, powerless to stop his onslaught. It was by some miracle that Hera survived this ordeal."
Cham was taken aback by this, but he said, "So did you, and then left your only daughter behind as an orphan."
"Cham, that's not true.", Kanan said.
"Stay out of this, Master Jedi. This is a matter of our family.", Cham spoke.
Hera started to speak, but Thor interrupted her, "HE. IS. FAMILY."
"I want you leave, now.", Hera said fiercely to Cham. Cham then grimaced and left.
"When did you find out?", Hera asked him.
"On the day you found my warship.", Thor answered.
"How long Thor, how long was he under that spell?", Kanan asked.
"318 years.", Thor answered melancholically. "The worst part is that father loved him most. His favourite, the star of his eye."
"Then why? Why would he do something so appalling?", Hera asked.
"I do not know.", Thor said. He then smiled slightly and said, "Onto something merrier. When is the big day?", Thor looked at both Hera and Kanan. Kanan smiled a little at this, but Hera didn't understand.
"Big day?", Hera asked.
Thor sighed, "When are you two getting married?", Thor asked slowly. Hera was flustered at this, while Kanan looked at her with a smile.
"We're in the middle of a war!", Hera said nervously, blushing profusely.
"Why wait?", Thor asked.
"Dad!", Hera said.
"He's got a point.", Kanan said, while Hera glared at him.
"Your mother had that similar glare.", Thor said reminiscently. He then sighed and said, "As the Allfather I can officiate the wedding, right now, if you so desire."
Odin sat with his grandson – Fenrir near a riverbed, on a secluded spot. "Where is your armour?", Odin asked.
"I'll tell you… if you promise not to get angry.", Fenrir said.
Odin then placed his hand on Fenrir's head, ruffled his hair, annoying Fenrir and said, "I promise not to get angry Fenrir. I will be a little annoyed though."
"Like how you would get with dad, occasionally.", Fenrir said with a grin.
"Yes, like how I would get with Loki.", Odin replied with sadly.
"I pawned it off.", Fenrir answered, glaring at the water.
"Why?", Odin asked gently.
"I believed that atleast this way, it might encourage him to return.", Fenrir said, still glaring and trying not to tear up.
Odin placed his hand across Fenrir's shoulder and said, "Loki will return. After leaving Asgard, I went searching for him, you and Heimdall, but I got a message from him through the force, stating that he would be back in the next two decades or so."
"When was this?", Fenrir asked.
"Almost two decades ago.", Odin answered.
Fenrir then looked down. Odin sensing the change in his behaviour asked, "Something else on your mind?"
"Yes, there is something else, grandfather.", Fenrir said.
"Then tell me.", Odin said.
"Have you met Sabine?", Fenrir asked.
"I haven't.", Odin answered.
"She is sort of like Hera's adopted daughter, and coincidentally – she is Tarre's descendant.", Fenrir said.
"Go on.", Odin said.
"She told me that she had accidently touched Uncle Issho's sword, but dropped it immediately. Now Bruce and I told her that there would be no repercussions, but um… I fear there may have been.", Fenrir said.
"You fear, or you know?", Odin asked.
"Mostly fear.", Fenrir said.
"Is she a force-wielder?", Odin asked.
"No.", Fenrir said.
"Issho's sword is made of Uru, I had it forged for him, to allow him better control of his abilities. There will be some changes in her.", Odin then paused.
"What will these changes be?", Fenrir asked.
"Nothing life-threatening, but they will be life altering. Her connection to the force will deepen, strengthened with every passing day. Within a few months she would become a force wielder.", Odin said.
"Hmm,", Fenrir said, "She is surrounded by force wielders."
"Then she will have all the guidance she needs.", Odin said.
Aboard the medical frigate, Tarre had just woken up. His cybernetic arm had been removed by Ahsoka, when he was asleep. Tarre found his connection to the force was still severed. As panic set upon him, he took a deep breath and used his other senses to discern his surroundings.
"You're up.", he heard Ahsoka's voice to his left and turned his head towards the source of her voice.
"I am. Where am I?", Tarre asked.
"You're aboard a medical frigate Lord Viszla.", Tarre heard another voice, in front of him.
"Is that you Countess Wren?", Tarre asked.
"It is.", Ursa replied.
Tarre nodded and said, "It's just Tarre now, I haven't been a lord in… well a long time."
"To the mandalorians, you will always be a lord.", Ursa said.
"Lord Viszla… that sounds awfully weird.", came a voice from Tarre's right.
Turning towards it Tarre asked, "Bruce? What the hell are you doing here?"
"When Hulk decided to jump on that celestial, he got wounded, and as we share a body, so we also share the wounds. Unfortunately, those wounds haven't healed.", Bruce said.
"I'm confused, aren't you and Hulk the same person?", Ketsu's voice came.
"Before you answer that," Tarre interrupted Bruce who had opened his mouth, "Who else is here?"
"You and Bruce are the only patients here. Countess Wren, Sabine, Ezra, Ketsu and I are here as visitors along with Chopper.", Ahsoka answered.
"Adgt't g sense par? (Can't you sense them?)", Bruce asked in Enochian, while the others had a confused expression.
"In basic?", Sabine asked.
Tarre shook his head.
"Just a friendly insult.", Bruce said, waving his bandaged hands. He then looked at Ketsu and said, "Now the answer to your question – Hulk and I are two separate beings trapped in the same body. I am a genius scientist and Hulk is a walking talking enema with the intelligence of a toddler."
"Enema?", everyone but Tarre asked.
"Hulk has even more colourful terms for you Bruce.", Tarre said. At that precise moment Chopper started to quickly beep, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it and you really want to show it, clap your hands, clap your hands." Ezra smacked his dome, Chopper in turn zapped him and exited the room.
"Ar droid trian atraah loki ah parm lap tia money. (That droid would give Loki a run for his money.)", Bruce spoke in enochian.
"How long have we been out of commission?", Tarre asked.
"One day.", Sabine answered and started to fill them in about the events of the day.
Back in Syndulla residence, Kanan had excused himself after Thor's question. He was enjoying watching Hera squirm, but didn't want to push her too far. He had left with the excuse to find Zeb. As he was leaving, he heard Thor ask them both, "I saw the Ghost was damaged. Has its repair begun?"
"The Ghost has already been repaired. A group of your soldiers did it in record time.", Kanan said with a smile. He then left the father and daughter duo.
"You made a great choice.", Thor said, looking at Hera.
"I know.", Hera said. Her expression turned serious and she said, "Dad… I want to share some things with you."
Thor nodded, encouraging her and Hera told him about the vision she received from Issho, the disaster on Naboo, her and Kanan's trip in Fenrir's mind (she had left out the part about fat-Thor, though), the subsequent invasion of Mandalore, her talk with Bor – telling her about Thor's life hanging by a thread and not knowing what had happened, until Bor assured her that Thor was safe and well. As she spoke, she sat on the bed and Thor put his arm around her, pulling her close, in a hug. As she finished, she realised that she had been crying and that the tears had stained Thor's bandages. Hera started to stand again, wiping her eyes and said, "We need to change them."
Thor placed his hand on her head, like he did when she was a child and had a nightmare. "Hera, have a seat."
"But…", Hera started.
"They can wait.", Thor gave a sad smile, "You have done so much, gone through so much. Hera, your mother and I, we couldn't be prouder of you. What you have gone through, will be enough to drive anyone crazy, but you never let weaken your resolve."
"Honestly dad, I don't think I could have stayed sane without my family. Before we found you and before we found Tarre, I had come very close to losing Kanan.", Hera said.
"I know, you had told me.", Thor said.
"We lost you on Scarif, then Naboo – we nearly lost Tarre and Fenrir…", she started to hyperventilate.
Thor raised her head, looked her in the eyes and she felt a sense of calm wash over her. "Breath. Breath.", he said.
Hera took a few deep breaths, while Thor maintained their eye contact, calming her. "How do you deal with such crazy things on a regular basis?"
Thor looked at the ground briefly and said, "I don't know. There was a time when I had completely gone insane, I told you about it a little. I had my family and friends bring me back, without them I..."
A moment passed, before Hera opened her mouth and hesitantly said, "There is something else."
Thor nodded and said, "Tell me." Hera then explained about how she had seen the smiling face of a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and about the same height and built as Hera. At this Thor's eye widened and he gasped. Hera then said, "She looked a lot like you."
Thor was shocked at this, his mouth slightly open, his face showing clear signs of grief and sadness. Thor avoided Hera's concerned eyes, looking at his hand instead. "Who was she?", he heard Hera ask softly.
A while passed before Thor answered, still looking at his hand, "Angelica. My first child, born 25 million years ago."
"What?", Hera asked. She was shocked by this, but was curious like a child.
"You saw her?", Thor asked looking at her.
Hera was briefly reminded of Bor, when she had told him about her meeting with Buri. "Yes.", she nodded. "What happened to her?"
Thor looked down shamefully, "I wasn't there when she needed me most.", he spoke so softly, "She died.", his voice now breaking.
Hera hugged her father, wanting to know more about her mysterious sister, but realised that this wasn't the right time.
(A/N: The language is Ryl)
Thor then raised his head, "Do laboo ar vorcahan. Do tao a'norkunan xaeo tohso ar dec, vurur bo ji t'o si'mora vil si'romr ohsis ar nie cei. Do si'klohkalan, vil veo turo'iy – Bea si'kalnad san or yei dey xaeo rao. (I need to confess. I tried bringing her back to life, consorting with the most evil and vile creatures to do so. I failed, and as punishment – God forbid me from ever seeing her again.)" Looking down again he said, "If you hate me for this, if you wish to never speak to me again, I…I understand."
Now it was Hera's turn to raise Thor's head, "I don't hate you for anything. Don't ever think that I will turn my back on you, no matter what." A moment passed after which she asked, "What was she like? Who was her mother?"
"She was like you in every possible way. She loved flying.", Thor said reminiscently, "She had no mother. A mad scientist was hellbent on cloning me and so he created her. Angelica was my clone.", Thor answered.
"Did mother know about this?", Hera asked gently.
Thor nodded, "Noir knew everything about me. I made it a point to never keep any secrets from her."