Chapter 15: A Night Falls
-.-.-.-
"Plans are fragile things, and life often dashes expectations to the ground." ―Kriea
"A man must do what he must... Even if his stand is against the fall of eternal night." ―Nevil "Nightswan" Cygni
-.-.-.-
The Rebel group walked through the entrance of the hangar bay to no reaction. The door whooshed closed behind them.
Kimmund hesitated and assessed the area, scanning the actions of Imperial personnel and every droid in sight. But he detected no threat. Through his suspicion and anxiety, he gingerly continued to lead them toward their shuttle.
Don't react… just be as you normally would…
Routine supply escort… yes, nothing unusual here…
Though outwardly, he maintained the Imperial pomp and rigidity required of his station, inwardly Kimmund was shaking. Because of his stature in rank, he was aware of the consequences of his actions today should they fail, not only for himself, but for the others around him… for the others relying on him.
Consequences for those who never thought to doubt him. Tephan.
Sweat dripped down from his forehead beneath his helmet. His left eye stung as a drop trickled into the delicate orb.
Eyes back and forth- Blink, blink, blink-
Keep moving forward- Step left, right, left, right-
Scan the area- Someone approaches-
Threat? - Assess…
Three maintenance technicians followed by an Imperial astromech approached them on their path. The techs carried bags of spare parts and recycled bits of crumpled metals. They almost shyly averted their gaze as they approached and walked by Kimmund, and Kanan and Kallus pushing the repulsorlift.
That was a different look than the familiar wonderstruck respect he would normally get as the leader of the First Legion. Their eyes held terror... suspicion... No, Kimmund was weary of the looks he got from them... it was surely something born from Major Ottkreg's ship-wide alert.
Kimmund glanced back at them and saw that their pace had obviously quickened. Kimmund shook his head, took in a deep breath, and accelerated his own pace, returning his gaze forward. There it was, the Rebels' Imperial shuttle seemingly refueled and ready to go. Kimmund was increasingly on edge the closer they got to the craft.
Stormtroopers logged equipment and stored supply crates on the far side of the hangar. They seemed oblivious to their presence though. And in front of them just off their right, another maintenance technician sat on the ground in a pout, her hands inside a partly dismantled droid. Her forehead and uniform was covered in grime and oil from the droid having spectacularly malfunctioned all over the floor.
"Bwrhh whao whaaaa," Chopper warbled nervously as they passed the sight.
Kimmund glanced over his shoulder at Chopper's small distress. Before he was able to hush the droid, a shrill and pompously familiar voice sounded over the loudspeaker.
"Commander Kimmund…"
Kimmund halted in place, Kallus and Kanan abruptly pulling and sliding the repulsorlift to a stop behind the Commander. The voice echoed off the titanium hangar walls with a clipped and ear-piercing whine. It made the spine shiver. And yet it was conspicuously commanding and authoritative at the same time.
"You and your… group of Rebels, halt precisely where you are."
Major Ottkreg…
There was a malicious excitement to the trill of the loyalty officer's voice.
The hangar bay paused and grew excessively quieter at the word Rebels, save for the constant sound of ship machinery and droids going about their programming. Kimmund knew he shouldn't have stopped moving, but that was a part of his basic, instinctual Imperial conditioning that was so ingrained within him and yet unbroken still in his rebellion.
Kanan and Kallus were frozen behind the Commander of the First Legion. They glanced at each other and felt immediately exposed, and Chopper shifted nervously beside them. The maintenance technician working on the malfunctioned droid stood up and slowly backed away.
Kimmund took a moment to steel himself, keeping his gaze straight while considering his options. He took a deep breath and just stared at the Rebels' Imperial shuttle. They were so close…
He had walked them directly into a trap.
Commander Kimmund slowly turned around and faced the traffic control nest overlooking the hangar bay. There he was, a figure sure to be Major Ottkreg holding a microphone up to his mouth. A sneering smile curved up the Loyalty Officer's face and wrinkled his cruel eyes.
But next to Major Ottkreg was another figure, nervously wringing their hands together. Poor boy, Kimmund thought. He recognized the Imperial Officer to be Lieutenant Jace.
Kimmund released a tired sigh and reached for his comm at his belt. He projected his voice as true to himself, a tired veteran ready for rest, ready for peace.
"This is First Legion business Major Ottkreg. You know not about what you speak," Kimmund said bitterly.
Ottkreg chuckled.
"Nonsense. You have committed treason against our Emperor and you will stand down."
A group of stormtroopers emerged through the hangar bay entrance with their blasters at the ready. The stormtroopers logging supply crates across the way also alerted to the situation.
"You are mistaken," Kimmund insisted.
"This doesn't look good, Kimmund," Kallus hissed.
"I realize that," Kimmund muttered.
As Kimmund muttered his response, Kallus also saw over Kimmund's shoulder, Rex and Sabine appear on the shuttle's ramp. Rex pointed his blaster rifle at the ready, and Sabine held her blaster pistol in one hand. Her other hand held a device.
Everything happened in slow motion as Kallus watched Sabine press down on the device.
Kimmund opened his mouth to speak to Major Ottkreg again, oblivious to Sabine and Rex behind him, but found himself interrupted by a flash of blinding white light. Roaring thunder quickly followed and fire erupted in a string of deafening bursts around them. Tie Fighters and Walkers lining the hangar walls turned into balls of flame, and everyone ducked to the ground for cover.
Major Ottkreg's smirk faded as he watched the explosions erupt in sequence across the hangar bay. He had a spectacularly perfect view of the destruction from the traffic control nest.
Ottkreg's face reddened as it scrunched into an angry fury. His voice screeched into the microphone, rivaling the decibel level of the chaos down below. "Stop those Rebels!"
"Come on!" Sabine yelled over comm. "Get to the shuttle!"
Blaster fire streamed through the air as Rex and Sabine returned fire with the remaining stormtroopers. Kimmund saw there were too many, and he was too far away now to help Kanan and Kallus push the repulsorlift.
"Go!" Kimmund yelled to them. "I'll cover you!"
Kimmund rolled to his feet and scrambled to cover. He ducked behind crates of doonium and fired at the stormtroopers, diverting some of their attention toward himself. More were arriving through the hangar doors.
"You break for the shuttle as soon as you hear the engines!" Kallus yelled back to Kimmund.
Kimmund glanced back between exchanging fire with his former compatriots. "Just go!"
"Chop go ahead, prep the shuttle! You can go faster than us!" Kanan yelled to Chopper as he pushed himself up from the ground. Chopper warbled acknowledgement and sped off.
Kanan joined Kallus, and they shoved the repulsorlift toward the shuttle. They were almost to the ramp, but Kanan suddenly felt a surge through the Force.
Swirlings in the Force… Malice. Hatred.
It was a distant aura. He also felt a more immediate threat. Kanan removed his helmet and turned toward the hangar bay entrance.
"Kanan what…," Kallus started, but he was interrupted by three stormtroopers appearing suddenly in front of the lift with raised weapons.
Kallus didn't have any time to react, but Rukh was ready, having scouted ahead. Two stormtroopers began flailing as an invisible spectre subdued them. The other flinched and was taken down by Sabine.
Kanan steeled himself and ignited his lightsaber, placing it ceremoniously in front of his face as he stepped forward.
"It's a Jedi! Focus on the Jedi!" Stormtroopers exclaimed.
Kanan fluidly deflected blaster bolts meant for him and those behind him.
Rukh decloaked. He scanned the battle with fierce eyes and then looked at Kallus, who was frozen. "Get him on board!" Rukh growled, sweeping a hand up toward the ramp.
"Rukh!" Sabine exclaimed, surprised and happy to see him.
"I'll ask later," Rex said as he huffed down the ramp to help Kallus push the lift up into the shuttle. He eyed Chopper with a smirk as the droid warbled sarcastically from inside the shuttle. The droid was busy sifting through the shuttle's systems, trying to get the shield up. "Jump in the pilot's seat Sabine; you and Chop get us ready to go!"
Commander Kimmund took a moment and knelt behind his cover, looking back at the Rebels. He saw Kanan with his lightsaber ignited and deflecting blaster bolts as he slowly backed toward the shuttle ramp. To see a Jedi in action up close…
Rukh caught Kimmund's gaze and nodded. A new respect was found between them despite their antagonistic history.
Kimmund grunted and activated his comm again. "Lieutenant Jace, do you copy?!"
Static answered. Laser bolts came close to Kimmund's cover, and he quickly returned fire. "I know you can hear me Lieutenant!"
"Y-yes sir, I can hear you," Jace meekly responded.
The poor lad probably didn't know what to think. Kimmund felt for the guy. "You must listen to me! I am the Commander of the First Legion, and you know I answer directly to Lord Vader. You must allow that shuttle to take off at all costs! You must-"
Kimmund dropped his comm and yelled in pain as a stray laser bolt hit him in his left bicep. He flinched away from the trajectory and scooted over more into cover. He groaned in painful frustration and gingerly rested his arm across his lap. He stretched for his dropped commlink with his right hand.
-.-.-.-
Chaos was erupting in the hangar down below Lieutenant Jace and Major Ottkreg. Wild flashes of light from explosions and blasterfire lit the control nest with bright flares. The light revealed the contrast of Jace's fearful demeanor of surprise and confusion to that of Major Ottkreg's pure outrage.
Major Ottkreg turned toward Lieutenant Jace and pointed at him with fury. "Don't you dare listen to that traitor. You lock that shuttle down immediately! It is not to leave this hangar bay!"
At the same time, Kimmund's strained voice emitted over their commlinks again.
"You must allow that shuttle to takeoff. First. Legion. Authority," Kimmund continued through pained and insistent inflection.
Lieutenant Jace hesitated. The Commander of the the First Legion a traitor? Commander Kimmund answered directly to Lord Vader, and, well, Vader answered to no one except the Emperor, least of all Major Ottkreg.
"I…," Lieutenant Jace stuttered.
Major Ottkreg smoothly, with vile anger, unhooked and pointed his blaster pistol at Lieutenant Jace. "I gave you a direct order Lieutenant."
-.-.-.-
Sabine flipped controls and pressed a button sequence to begin the shuttle's engine startup sequence. Chopper finally got the shuttle's shield working, and it began absorbing the stormtroopers' blasterfire with hollow thuds. This allowed Kanan to relax, and he shut down his lightsaber.
Kanan reached out to the Force and felt the battle around him, heard the stormtroopers yelling, some panicked. He focused beyond the thuds impacting the shuttle's shield, felt the heat of fire around them.
There it was. An approaching malice, one filled with a shattered darkness and focused on their obliteration.
But then, there was a closer pang in the Force. Kanan's sense vibrated as he sensed Kimmund's state of mind. It was a mind content yet turmoiled. Injured yet free.
Kanan saw that Kimmund had been hit by blasterfire in the arm and needed help. The Stormtrooper Commander turned Rebel hunkered down in his cover and only returned fire with his right hand. Kanan felt for a path to reach him.
Between lulls in blasterfire, Kimmund saw Kanan focused on him and knew what the Jedi was thinking. It was too risky. Kimmund shook his head and motioned to the shuttle as he flinched away from more blasterfire.
"Kanan we need help with the boxes!" Kallus yelled from inside the shuttle. Ezra.
"Up the ramp!" Rex yelled, tugging on Kanan's shoulder.
-.-.-.-
Kanan helped Rex and Kallus lift the last of the boxes. A wide eyed and alert Ezra sat up beside Thrawn, whose eyes were closed with furrowed brow.
"You alright?" Kanan asked, leaning down and reaching for Ezra's shoulder.
"Yeah…" Ezra seemed disoriented.
"Whoa he doesn't look so good," Rex said, stunned at seeing Grand Admiral Thrawn at all, much less in this state.
"How's he doing Ezra?" Kallus asked, kneeling down next to the repulsorlift near Thrawn's head. Ezra noticed he seemed to assess both him and the Chiss with the eyes of a medic.
Kanan stepped back and gave Kallus room as he began to fumble with the mechanical ventilator. Kallus unhooked the bag Ezra was using and reconnected the mechanical ventilator to Thrawn's breathing tube, allowing Ezra to rest.
Upon hearing the mechanical ventilator begin to make noise, Sabine glanced back. She narrowed her eyes as she saw Ezra place a hand on Thrawn's forehead.
Distrust? Disgust? Sabine didn't know what she felt, or what she should feel, at the sight of an Imperial Grand Admiral in such a state. And at Ezra's reaction to him.
But she saw Thrawn's message and Rukh's reaction to him. Sabine felt some disgust at her own gut reaction, but knew it would take a lot of effort from both Thrawn personally and herself for her to change and ever trust him.
"He woke up once along the way," Ezra said to Kallus. "And I think he's sort of alert now with the explosions and all."
A commotion broke out at the foot of the ramp. Kanan flinched toward the noise, igniting his lightsaber. He felt Rex react as well as he raised his blaster rifle. Before the Jedi and the former Clone Captain could react though, the two stormtroopers were beat down and knocked unconscious. Kanan relaxed. Sounds of heavy breathing and footfalls sounded as someone then unseen walked up the ramp.
Rex startled as Rukh shimmered out of his cloak and walked onto the shuttle between he and Kanan.
"You need to watch your flank," Rukh groaned as his warrior eyes scanned everyone on the shuttle.
The battle in the hangar bay suddenly muffled and faded away, the ventilator though vibrantly audible in its rhythm. Rukh's brow creased as his gaze found Thrawn, and he took in the sight of his master, unresponsive on the repulsorlift. A pang of guilt, anger and regret overwhelmed him.
Kanan sensed Rukh's feelings as they were pronounced and raw. By Ezra's small intake of breath, his padawan felt it too, but there was no denying the change in the warrior's demeanor for the rest of them on the shuttle.
Rukh's shoulders relaxed, and he slowly stepped forward, securing his electrostaff over his back. Kallus saw his destination, the pained look in his eye and stepped away from the repulsorlift, giving Rukh room alone at Thrawn's side.
Rukh glanced up at Ezra with hesitant and sparkling eyes. He was glad to see Ezra alright and thankful for him taking care of his master, but there was a deep sadness there as well. Ezra removed his hand from Thrawn's forehead and returned an empathetically mellow smile.
And thus Ezra witnessed their reunion.
Rukh leaned forward, careful not to disturb Thrawn's bare right arm resting on the lift's cool surface, covered in secured tubing and IV. He hovered over Thrawn's still face, and Rukh reached for his left hand laying lax across his torso, holding it steady.
"Thrawn," Rukh began quietly. Thrawn stirred, his brow furrowing. Rukh's brow raised and became slightly pleading. "Can you hear me?"
Crimson orbs slowly fluttered open, and Rukh breathed a sigh mixed with a sad relief. Thrawn's eyes once again pulsed with a struggling focus, but became steady after a moment. The Chiss's brow narrowed with emotion upon recognizing Rukh, crimson eyes becoming glassy.
Thrawn willed his fingers to move with great effort and returned Rukh's squeeze with what little strength he had. Ezra thought he saw Thrawn's lips flinch in a small smile around the breathing tube.
"Mitth'raw'nuruodo," Rukh said in reverence. "Ch'ah k'ir nah tovun'csivci csah ch'ah ch'ah." «I do not release myself.»
Rukh's eyes began to well up as he smiled sadly, and Thrawn's sparkled with increasing emotion and understanding. Rukh saw the message…
A darkened Specter emerged from billowing smoke and flame at the entrance to the hangar bay. Sabine saw it appear through the cockpit viewport, and her heart dropped with dread.
"Uh, guys?!" Sabine yelled, voice shaking. She fumbled for a device on her belt. A red lightsaber ignited from the dark form. "We have a problem!"
Sabine found the device and pressed down. More explosions erupted in the hangar bay.
"I should go back for Kimmund," Kanan said quickly.
"No," Rukh huffed at Kanan, his gaze shifting away from Thrawn for but a moment. "I'll go…" Rukh found Thrawn's crimson eyes once again, and knowingly held them with perhaps a double meaning. "…you need to get him out."
Thrawn scrunched his brow and subtly shook his head at Rukh. No, not for me…
"I have my own shuttle, hidden, Chiss design," Rukh continued. "Kimmund and I will get out together."
Explosions continued to erupt in chain reactions through out the hangar. "What did you do?" Kallus wistfully asked, making his way to peek over Sabine's shoulder.
"Rex and I just went on a routine patrol of the hangar bay while you were gone," Sabine said, grunting as she primed the shuttle's throttle. The engines began to roar to life.
"Placed explosives where we could," Rex added.
Rukh's gaze was locked with Thrawn's, his grip steady in Thrawn's weak hand. Ezra suddenly realized Rukh wore the face of one who was saying goodbye.
"Nan'eo ch'abeiuh," Rukh said heavily. He rose his brow in emphasis with his words. "Ch'eo ch'acevi." «Never goodbye… My friend.»
Thrawn's eyes flinched with touching sadness. He shook his head in another small protest and seemed to struggle against his breathing tube as if he tried to speak. Not… for… me…
Rukh looked up and caught Ezra's glassy eyes. "Promise me you'll take care of him," Rukh said.
Ezra swallowed his empathetic emotion. "I promise," Ezra breathed.
Rukh breathed a sigh of relief and looked back down to Thrawn. Thrawn didn't seem to want to accept the implication of what Rukh had told him in their beautiful language, crimson eyes pleading. Rukh simply returned a sad smile to his master, eyes threatening to spill over. He squeezed Thrawn's hand firmly one last time and then tore it from his grasp, stepping back.
Thrawn tried to track Rukh backing away, his fingers twitching where his hand once was.
Pleading and heartbreak between these brothers erupted in the Force. It was loud for Ezra, and he replaced Rukh's hand with his own in Thrawn's grasp, trying to offer what comfort he could. Ezra felt Thrawn slightly squeeze back in return, but the Chiss's eyes began to flutter, nearing the limit of his cling to awareness. His eyes closed with his release on consciousness, and Ezra saw it was slightly wet with emotion, upon the cerulean skin around where his crimson orbs once glowed.
"Go! Get out of here!" Rukh said as he swiped at his face. He activated his cloak when he reached the foot of the ramp.
-.-.-.-
A voice of malice boomed over the battlefield, and Kimmund immediately recognized the voice of his superior.
"Commander. Kimmund."
Lord Vader.
Kimmund glanced back at the Rebels' Imperial Shuttle. Too late now. The distance was too great. He would never make it out with Lord Vader here.
One of his tired sighs expelled from his nose, and he looked to his left bicep. Now that was a lot blood. Well, maybe not a lot, but Kimmund still blanched at the sight. He would never admit it but the little blood around Thrawn's IV line had made him queasy. This…
Kimmund groaned and tried to ignore it.
More explosions. A scream full of hatred bellowed. The smoldering leg of a Walker was thrown across the hangar as if it were a tree branch.
Kimmund watched the shuttle ramp close and lift off with triumph. Yes! Go! But his triumph quickly turned to dread as the craft shuddered, suspended in the air. It froze in place, the metal groaning. Another bellow of hatred rippled along the current of a strange magnetic energy that flowed through the aura of the hangar's battlefield. Vader was holding the shuttle back with the Force.
"Hold on!" Kanan yelled.
Everyone shifted and tried to catch their balance. Kallus and Kanan slammed against the pilot-side wall, while Rex clung to the back of the copilot seat. At the same time, Ezra held Thrawn and himself secure on the repulsorlift, the lift having been magnetically anchored to the floor. Thrawn was unresponsive again though, his arm with the IV and tubing shifting sluggishly off the lift with the momentum of the shuttle. Chopper warbled and clucked anxiously, and Ezra shivered.
Kimmund had to do something. They didn't come this far to fail. He didn't sacrifice this much to fail. The Commander of the First Legion turned Rebel Fighter steeled himself and moved to get up. This was it. But once Kimmund got his feet underneath him in a crouch, he was surprised to find Rukh decloak in the midst of a run, sprinting toward him with his electrostaff at the ready.
The sight of Rukh bounding into battle straight at him was both terrifying and mesmerizing.
Rukh jumped, used Kimmund's right shoulder as a spring and launched himself into the air toward Lord Vader. A grand battle cry reverberated over the battlefield as Rukh brought his staff up to striking position in the air. Stormtroopers seemed taken in awe. His yell mixed beautifully with the magnetic aura of the Force, creating a deep, vibrating hum that resonated within the hearts of all within the hangar. What a glorious sight for Kimmund, watching the fierce Noghri bound spectacularly through smoke and flame.
But Vader saw him as well.
Double vision: electro-strike to helmet, torso, shin-
Vader turned his grip in the Force toward Rukh and paralyzed him in the air mid-jump. Rukh struggled to break free of the invisible hold, groaning, but he accomplished that which he had intended.
The shuttle was free.
"We're free!" Sabine exclaimed, astonished.
"Punch it!" Rex yelled.
Sabine whipped the throttle forward.
Kimmund smiled underneath his helmet as he watched the Rebels escape with Thrawn through the forcefield of the Devastator's hangar bay.
Rukh yelled in pain as Vader held him in the air. Kimmund whipped his head back and saw Rukh grabbing at invisible evils.
"Let him go!" Kimmund yelled fiercely.
Kimmund stood in full combat readiness despite his arm, and rotated toward Lord Vader, his former leader. He heard a muffled pulse that was sure to be a blaster as he advanced and noticed a flash of light erupt in the traffic control nest. Kimmund depressed the trigger of his blaster rifle, ultimately ensuring his condemnation.
Double vision: multiple bolts coming at torso, torso, head, torso, torso, torso-
Vader released Rukh to the metallic floor with a harsh thud, and deflected Kimmund's blasterfire with his crimson lightsaber. Rukh rolled quickly to his feet, ignoring the pain, and charged Vader with another echoed cry.
Double vision: electro-strike to torso, thigh, torso-
Vader redirected his lightsaber and parried Rukh's quick strikes from his electrostaff.
Kimmund didn't want to hit Rukh and hesitated to find a clear shot on Vader. Come on, Rukh, give me an opening…
Rukh sidestepped and rolled away from a strike. There…
Kimmund squared the Dark Lord in the sights of his blaster rifle and moved his finger to pull the trigger. Two harsh, high-powered blaster bolts thundered over the sounds of battle. They were quick in their rebuke.
But they weren't from Kimmund.
The bolts were from a DLT-19D long range heavy blaster rifle... First Legion issue.
Kimmund didn't feel the pain, not right away. It was merely this blinding numbness that suddenly enveloped his chest. It was confusing at first. He took in a stuttering and labored breath, and found it tougher than it should have been to do so.
The shots were precise, grouped close together. No doubt a product of his First Legion, Kimmund thought.
Was it odd that Kimmund was proud? His squad did well and fulfilled their duty efficiently, as he had personally trained them to do so. To protect their quarry, at all costs.
Kimmund staggered to his left, but caught himself. Breathing was tougher than it should have been, and he coughed. He let out an involuntary cry as the pain began to emerge. The aim of his blaster rifle failed, and he looked down to his chest.
Rukh, on his knees after rolling away from Vader's saber strike, saw the red on Kimmund's white armor. More regret haunted Rukh's eyes, and a realization surfaced that this was a trap from which they would likely not escape. The Commander of the First Legion fought to stay on his feet but faltered.
Vader saw Rukh's hesitation and thrust his lightsaber forward with the intention of running it through Rukh's chest. Rukh didn't react however and smirked when Vader's lightsaber shut off. Once again, Rukh witnessed the surprise of Lord Vader with his own eyes.
Rukh wore armor made of cortosis. Rukh shoved his electrostaff through the air and struck out at Vader with newfound vigor.
Kimmund's knees buckled, and he found himself staring at the high ceiling of the hangar bay. Sound began to fade.
A woman's voice. Terrified. Scared. Pleading. "No! I ordered you to stun!"
A stormtrooper with First Legion markings appeared over Kimmund. They removed their helmet revealing a woman. Her face was scrunched in sorrow. Tephan.
He could tell she was calling his name, but sound was muffled. Her eyes were pleading and overflowing.
She removed Kimmund's helmet, wanting to look him in his eyes again. Tephan found glassy orbs filled with resigned remorse holding her gaze. With the helmet off sound became somewhat discernible, and he cringed at the sound of his own breathing. His breathing was heavy, and blood seeped freely from his chest, escaping the side of his mouth.
Tephan stuttered in sorrow, tears mixing with the sweat of battle on her face. Her voice was small. "Why did you do that?" Tephan sorrowed.
A question that encompassed so many actions and decisions Kimmund had made that day…
Kimmund just narrowed his eyes and joined her in sorrow. Tephan grabbed his hand and pressed on his chest.
"It was… the right thing to do," Kimmund struggled.
"I could have made it right," she pleaded. "I could have helped if you just told me what was going on; we could have worked out whatever… whatever-"
"Shhh," Kimmund comforted in his sorrowful pain. He sluggishly raised a hand to her face. "I know…" he smiled "That's why… I did what I did."
Tephan shook her head, leaning into his touch, and her nose scrunched as her breath hitched. He always protected her as she protected him through their career together.
Kimmund was struggling. He looked into Tephan's eyes and tried to bathe himself in their beautiful light one last time, taking in every memory, every moment they experienced together. He found a peace there. A balance.
"Forgive me- one…" a breath "…day…" And Kimmund's eyes slowly unfocused with the release of a last breath.
Tephan caught his hand before it fell completely from her face. Her eyes went wide and her mouth opened but no sound erupted. She shook him and realizing he was gone, gave in fully to raw sorrow. "No no no no, please!"
Rukh heard her pleading across the hangar with dropped heart. Vader reignited his lightsaber and tore the electrostaff out of Rukh's hands with the Force, flinging it away. In the same movement he froze Rukh in place.
"This dance has gone on long enough," Vader said with malice.
The Dark Lord threw Rukh through a wall of flame.
Rukh landed harshly against a wall, flames almost too hot nearby. His electrostaff was nowhere to be seen. Bones were surly broken again, and he helplessly watched from the floor as Vader walked though the wall of flame. A dark silhouette.
But Rukh noticed he landed next to his cloaked Chiss shuttle. Fortunate. Lucky. Rukh pulled a device from his armor, making Vader stop his advance. This device ensured Chiss technology wouldn't be turned over to the hands of any enemy. Perhaps he could take out Vader with it as well…
Rukh smirked and pressed down on the device, content with his fate. Vader reached out, and vision flashed white.
"In darkness, cold.
In light, cold.
The old sun brings no heat.
But there is heat in breath and life.
In life, there is the Force.
In the Force, there is life.
And the Force is eternal."
―Sunset Prayer, Guardians of the Whills
-.-.-.-
"My flesh and bone
This bleeding heart
That's in my hands I fell apart"
- Flesh and Bone by Black Math
-.-
Songs that hold the essence of An Eye of a Giant and A Night Falls:
"Tessa" by Steve Jablonsky || "Never Goodbye" by Max Richter || "Sacrifice" by Steve Jablonsky