Chapter Fifty Three:
Despite the lateness of the hour, Luke and Mara did not stop, nor did Bo. The Jedi Masters knew that Ignis and Ben would have to take breaks. That would slow them down and allow the adults to catch up.
This theory was proven correct when Bo picked up his speed as the scent he followed apparently grew stronger. Bo's body language shifted and he barked to no one in particular. Or, Luke guessed, the anooba was doing what he had been trained to do, and Luke simply did not understand what the anooba was trying to tell him.
When they got to an open area where a freight sled would park, the anooba abruptly stopped. Bo looked confused for a moment, and then he sat down, looking to Luke for further instructions.
"I think he lost the scent." Mara observed.
Luke took a look around, and Mara walked about. He inspected the ground where Bo had stopped, realizing that the dirt had been disturbed in a particular manner. Luke knelt to inspect it, and Bo shifted out of his way.
"Mara," Luke called. "Look at this."
Mara reappeared. "What is it?"
Luke indicated his find. "These footprints; look at the toe."
Mara did so and nodded. "Someone jumped."
"Hey!" A voice called out. "What are you doing here?"
Luke and Mara stood to find a Twilek approaching, suspicion clear in his expression. When he spotted Bo, the man stopped several paces away.
"We are looking for our son," Luke replied simply.
"I haven't seen any kids," the man answered. "Sorry."
"Was there a transport of some kind here?" Mara asked.
"Yeah, that would be my barge, which I use to move scrap to the chop shop," the stranger said, gesturing. "It is one level up. My brother owns it."
"How long ago did it leave?" Mara pressed.
The Twilek checked his wrist-chrono. "A couple of hours ago. It should be back tonight about midnight. Why?"
"We think someone stowed aboard," Mara replied. "Probably our son."
The man frowned. "Stowed away? But... hey, that might explain why my stuff got knocked around."
Luke tilted his head. "What stuff?"
"When my droid piloted the barge away, I thought it had knocked over a pile of my things, but maybe it was your kid instead." He led them to the spot. "Right here."
Mara knelt down. "You haven't walked around here, have you?"
"Well, yeah, I had to clean up the mess," the man groused.
Mara located tracks and followed them back to a stack of crates near the edge of the property. They matched the tracks her son and Ignis had been leaving behind.
"It was him," Mara said.
Luke turned to the man. "Do you have a transport we could borrow?"
The Twilek shook his head. "Sorry, all I have is that sled, and the nearest access to the next level by foot is an hour away."
Luke and Mara grimaced. The Force was vibrating anew with the sense of danger, only this time it was more urgent than earlier.
"We don't have that kind of time," Mara muttered, looking about.
At that moment a new sound reached them, and all three looked to find a gaggle of swoop bikes heading their way. The Twilek paled considerably and ran to get out of view, which action caused the two Jedi to share a look.
The two watched as most of the bikes leapt up to the next level above, completely ignoring the two humans standing in the open. However, two bikers did stop, and one dismounted.
"Hey Hakota!" the man shouted.
There was no answer, and the man advanced on what had to be the Twilek's office. "Hakota!"
"Who are you two?" the second biker demanded, eyeing Luke and Mara. Luke noted how the man's gaze lingered on Mara pointedly. However, Mara gave the man a look that clearly told him what she thought of his attention, and Luke smirked to himself. "Are you two new employees?"
The Force clearly warned them not to reveal why they were truly there, and Luke shook his head.
"No, we just got a little turned around is all." He informed the other.
"We stopped to ask for directions." Mara seconded.
"Well, if you know what's good for ya, you'll scram." The man jerked a thumb back the way he had come.
"Of course," Luke said, taking Mara's hand and playing the part of the innocent bystander. Mara read his thoughts, and came along willingly. When the attention left them, Luke and Mara hid themselves nearby, and waited, listening intently.
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They had been on the move again for a while, and Ignis could feel Ben trembling uncontrollably now. About thirty minutes ago, the boy had begun to struggle to keep putting any amount of weight on his ankle. But, to his credit, Ben said nothing, even though Ignis could clearly feel his pain in the Force.
Ignis knew they needed to stop, and Ben desperately needed to get off of his feet. To top it off, Ben's stomach was growling almost constantly, and the boy was working his mouth in a manner that Ignis recognized as thirst.
But Ignis would not trust the food or water down here, especially for Ben to consume. Still... Ben wasn't used to going hungry.
At long last they found an empty building tucked between two businesses. This time, Ignis made certain that it wasn't occupied at all, and when it appeared to be devoid of any and all furnishings, Ignis knew it was abandoned.
"We can camp out here tonight," Ignis murmured, carefully setting Ben down on the ground.
The younger boy whimpered as he sat, and once he was done moving he rested his head back against the wall. Ignis eyed the boy's ankle and knelt to check it. Ignis unwrapped the limb, and grimaced at the sight that greeted him. Ben's ankle was far more swollen now, and it was turning an unhealthy shade of purple, which indicated that there might be some bleeding.
Ignis looked to Ben, who gazed upon the limb also.
"Maybe I shouldn't have been so prideful earlier." Ben admitted sullenly. "I... I think I twisted it further when I landed. It really hurt when I landed on the ground from that sled."
Ignis carefully fingered the ankle, trying to determine if the bone was injured. But nothing felt out of place in that regard, so Ignis stopped. He wished he knew how to heal, or to at least take away some of Ben's pain.
"I'm sorry I have only been a hindrance," Ben muttered, shivering in the cold that he felt more keenly since they were no longer moving.
Both boys were dirty and sweaty, hungry and thirsty, but Ignis looked past all that. He focused on Ben.
"You are only ten, Ben. You don't have much field experience." Ignis reminded him gently. "So I hardly expect you to perform as perhaps Shmi would do if she were in your place."
Ben sighed. "I know. It's just hard to be so... dependent on you. You have already done so much for me, and I feel like I'm a problem."
Ignis tipped Ben's chin, noting for the first time the signs of a growing fever in the boy. "Have you heard me complain? Have you felt in the Force any irritation from me?"
Ben shook his head. "No."
"That's because I do not mind. I came with you willingly, Ben, because I care for you." Ignis looked down. "It is very difficult for me to admit that about anyone. I come from a loveless place, Ben. I have only felt it, truly felt it, from a rare few sources." Ignis sighed and began to wrap Ben's ankle again. "I have been hurt many times, and so I put up a series of walls and such around my heart to keep from getting hurt again. But you... you made it past all those barriers."
Ben was looking at Ignis anew, his eyes shining with cautious hope. "Who's hurt you?"
Ignis paused in wrapping the limb. "Many have done so, but the most prominent one I feel... was from my parents. They were the first to break my heart."
Ben gaped. "What did your parents do?"
Ignis sighed again, resuming the wrapping job, and completing it before he answered. He sat down beside Ben.
"They abandoned me," Ignis said simply.
Ben knew that Ignis was holding back, but he didn't press the other. Instead Ben decided to open himself up to the other boy in turn. If Ignis could do it, why couldn't Ben do so?
"You know... I... I have always wanted a big brother," Ben murmured, twiddling his fingers nervously. "I wish I had someone older than me to look up to, someone who would be able to guide me and be a friend as only an older brother could."
Ignis looked to Ben, wondering where he was going with this.
"The thing is," Ben went on, "I wasn't willing to admit this until you came into our lives. I was cautious around you at first, but then I got to know you more."
Ignis looked down, shame eating away at him more heavily now, though he hid it well. "Ben..."
"I wish you were my brother!" Ben blurted out, unable to hold it in anymore. "There, I said it. I finally admitted it."
Ignis' throat closed, and he found himself unable to speak, but apparently Ben saw his expression, for he snuggled against Ignis once again.
"I love you as a brother, Ignis," Ben murmured.
Ignis' heart both clenched from guilt, and leapt for joy at that pronouncement. His parents had not said they loved him once they had left home to run from Vexa. He had been three when they'd started to run from the evil woman, but he could recall the last time his mother and father had admitted love for their child. But since then... there had been nothing at all verbally stated to him.
Ben was the first person in Ignis' life since the age of three to actually tell Ignis that he was loved. Ignis' chest heaved, and he struggled to maintain his composure. His eyes leaked a few tears, and since his throat remained closed, Ignis settled for giving Ben a hug to let him know he had heard.
Ben smiled and clung to Ignis in return, but the boy was shivering heavily, and his forehead was growing ever warmer. Ignis also noted the sheen of perspiration on Ben's exposed skin.
Grateful for some way to pull himself together, Ignis focused on Ben's needs. "I can try finding you a blanket, or at least a shirt for you to wear."
Ben's fear spiked, and he clung to Ignis in response. "I don't want to be alone down here! Not at all, not even for a few minutes!"
"Ben, you need to get warmed up." Ignis argued.
"Please don't go anywhere." Ben pled. "I only feel safe because you are here."
Ignis shook his head. "Ben, you are getting too cold."
"It's warmer next to you." Ben argued. "I will manage."
Ignis started to stand. "I won't be gone long."
When Ben tried to protest once more, Ignis put his foot down. "Ben, I am going to find you a blanket."
Ben sighed heavily, but he curled into himself and nodded. "Okay."
Ignis left the boy and went to the door that led outside. However, before he opened it, he caught movement outside, and Ignis heard something that made him freeze.
"...said that there were two boys here who match the description of the ones we are looking for. Apparently they have been trying to go topside."
"Why we after them again, Myke?" another guy asked.
"Because, you twit, they were also in our warehouse, messing with our stuff." The first— Myke— snapped. "They ruined the ships we've been trying to repair and even destroyed our office!"
Ignis stepped away from the door, and ducked behind one wall when the two men came to the windows of the abandoned house. Each peered in and Ignis remained absolutely still. Ben, seeing him, frowned, but Ignis sent him a warning look. Ben swallowed and remained silent and unmoving.
The two men tried the door, and when it opened, Ignis darted for Ben. Ignis picked him up before the other could protest. Then Ignis was hiding with Ben in the shadows, listening to the feet of the two men approaching.
"When I find the two who wrecked my warehouse," Myke was growling, "they will pay dearly. No one crosses me."
A lean man entered the room, followed by a stockier fellow with wispy hair. In Ignis' arms, Ben shook like a leaf as they appeared, but managed to remain quiet.
Ignis watched the men turn away from their position and walk toward the opposite end of the room where the boys had been sitting.
"Look here Boss," the stocky man said, pointing.
Ignis crept silently toward the door when their attention was focused on the floor, and was out it just as Myke investigated what the other had found.
"Someone's been in here," the stocky man went on. "The ground is even still warm."
"Good job, Jeon," Myke sounded pleased indeed.
Ignis was moving silently for the front door, and was almost to the portal when a third person suddenly started coming through it. Ignis stepped to the side, and the final man didn't see him at first.
Ignis slipped behind him, but Ben's ankle bumped the door frame, and he yelped. The newcomer whirled.
"Hey!"
Ignis pushed the man with the Force, shoving him backwards to crash into his two friends, who were responding to his raised voice.
"What is it Alaan?" Myke demanded.
"That's them Boss!" the third man shouted as Ignis sprinted away, Ben securely in his grasp.
He had a solid lead by the time the trio was out the door as well, and Ignis thought he just might get away clean when he heard a new sound.
"Ignis, they have some kind of creatures with them!" Ben warned Ignis, looking over the older boy's shoulder.
Ignis looked to see for himself, and found that there was a fourth person he hadn't noticed. This burly Gamorrean held the leashes of five sleek, black animals with a quartet of three-clawed feet and sharp teeth. All of the creatures were straining to get to Ignis and Ben.
"Those are vornskrs." Ignis ground out, picking up his pace. "They're going to be too fast for us to outrun. We need to find somewhere to take a stand from."
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"There you are Hakota." The first man snapped. "Where is my part?"
"My brother is still working on it," the Twilek man said nervously. "It will be ready by the end of this week."
"End of the week?!" the man growled, grabbing Hakota by the shirt. "I want it now!"
"B-but I could not get the components before now! The final piece was sent to my brother's shop. I promise it is on the top of our to-do list."
The man that had shooed Luke and Mara away tilted his ear as if to listen to something, and he stepped forward.
"Save this for later Symon: Myke is calling for reinforcements. They found those kids."
Symon turned away from Hakota to look at his friend, unaware of the two Jedi who had stiffened in shock.
"Just a second Taylen." Symon returned. "I want to collect my fee for Hakota not having my order ready yet."
Taylen shook his head. "Forget it, Symon; you can collect on the way home."
Symon wasn't listening, however, instead inspecting the piles of junk. Taylen stamped his foot impatiently at the other. Luke and Mara shared a thought across their bond, and then Luke crept closer to Symon while Mara prepared to jump Taylen.
Once Luke was in position, he sent a signal to Mara. As one, husband and wife leapt from their hiding places and went for the men. Luke was able to knock Symon out instantly, since his attention was so focused on his greedy pursuit.
Mara had a bit of a harder time with it, as Taylen somehow heard her coming. Mara saw an implant in his ear, and knew that his hearing had been tampered with. Mara ducked his first swinging arm, and punched him in the gut.
Taylen back-stepped, but blocked Mara's follow-up punches. Taylen kicked out at Mara, who leapt high to avoid it. When she landed, he was already grabbing for her, but his hands never made contact.
Suddenly a mass of grey fur was in the way, and the man was screaming as Bo bit down on his wrist. Shocked at the help from Bo, Mara actually froze for a moment.
Luke appeared and knocked Taylen out next. Bo let him go and turned to Mara, eyeing her intently and sniffing at her.
"I think he wants to be sure you're alright," Luke murmured, patting Bo on the head.
Mara softened. "Thank you Bo, but I had him."
Bo whuffed anyway and Mara got back to business.
"Let's go."
"I'll take Bo on the larger of the two bikes," Luke said, calling for the anooba, who leapt aboard easily.
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Ben sucked in a breath. "They're coming!"
Ignis heard them, and he skidded to a halt when he passed an outdoor junkyard full of large piles of debris. Ignis dove inside and wove amidst the miniature mountains, looking for some place to stash Ben.
"I can help you Ignis!" Ben insisted.
"Ben, these creatures hunt Force-sensitive things." Ignis warned him. "On their homeworld, they hunt with the Force, and are drawn to anything exuding it."
Ben made an 'O' sound and pointed to a large vehicle used to maneuver the junk about. "What about there?"
"Great idea." Ignis agreed, already shifting course.
The vornskrs entered the yard then, and Ignis heard them coming straight for them. Ignis felt a warning in the Force and realized that they would not make it to the vehicle in time. Dropping Ben, Ignis whipped around and threw up his hands, pushing out with the Force as all five vornskrs leapt for the humans.
The creatures yelped as they were flung backwards, but they were swift to recover.
During the lapse, Ignis grabbed the knife in his boot and flipped it over to hand the grip to Ben. "Protect yourself at all costs, okay?"
Ben took it hesitantly. "You mean... kill?"
Ignis heard the creatures coming back and turned around. "If it means you live... yes."
The vornskrs stopped a few feet from Ignis when Myke appeared and made a signaling whistle, his three goons tailing him. Those men fanned out to try flanking the pair of boys, and Ignis took note of their positions.
"You two owe me recompense." Myke ground out. "You ruined any chance I have of getting gout of the dumps that they call the underlevels!"
Ignis narrowed his eyes. "That was all me. You want revenge, fine, take it out on me. You will not touch the child."
Myke snorted. "You do not get to order me around."
Ignis didn't flinch. "You will not touch the boy." He warned in a tone that had sent grown men running.
"I will do whatever I want!" Myke bit out, snapping his fingers.
Instantly the vornskrs all leapt for Ignis and Ben again. Ignis whipped out his lightsaber and sliced the head off of the one who got closest to Ben first. It fell to the ground thickly, and Ignis used the Force to throw it's body into the next creature in line.
The others managed to get close to Ben before the red-head was able to react. He screamed in fear and dropped to the ground, which saved his life. The remaining creatures head-butted each other, and they yelped in pain, dropping to the ground.
Ignis ran to Ben and hauled him to his feet. "Get to that vehicle and lock yourself inside!"
"But what about you?" Ben asked.
"I'll be fine, now go!"
Ben nodded and moved as quickly as he could in that direction. Ignis heard footsteps and he turned; weapon up to bat away the blasterfire that came at him from close-range. Jeon had crept close to Ignis, and now he cried out as his own blasterfire came back at him, hitting him in the chest and leaving smoking holes.
As he crumpled to the ground, the Gamorrean and Alaan converged on Ignis at the same time. Ignis leapt up, but the Gamorrean managed to grab his ankle and yank him back to the ground. Ignis kicked at the snouted face as he fell, and the green-skinned Gamorrean squealed, releasing Ignis. That allowed the teenager to land somewhat on his feet.
Alaan grabbed Ignis by the arm, and Ignis twisted, backing into the man and pulling him over his shoulder. Alaan landed on his back, but kicked Ignis in the head where the tool had gotten him before. Ignis acutely felt the blow to his already injured head, and it stunned him for precious seconds.
Ignis heard Ben scream again, and Ignis pushed past his discomfort to find that the boy was once again being pursued by the vornskrs. One had cut the child off, leaving the other three to box him in against one of the largest, fattest piles of junk. With Ben's injured ankle, and his inability to walk well, he was an easy target. And the vornskrs knew that full well.
Ben, seeing no other alternative, started to climb the pile. The vornskrs, momentarily thrown by the unexpected maneuver, swiftly adapted and gave chase.
Ignis made to grab at one creature, when Alaan, who'd leapt to his feet during Ignis' distraction, attacked again. Ignis felt the warning in the Force, and he ducked the metal pipe that Alaan was using as a club.
Flashes of his childhood with Byrec threatened to surface, but Ignis ruthlessly locked them back down. He leapt over the next swing, and then caught the item in his hand, feeling its power all the way up his arm.
He grabbed another pipe, but instead of using it to defend himself, Ignis hurled it toward the vornskrs. It hit one in the head, making it stumble back down the pile. As it went down, it accidentally tripped up a second animal.
Ignis felt Alaan shift, since the pipe he held moved as well, and then Alaan was punching Ignis in the injured bicep. Ignis grunted, but kicked Alaan in the groin as if he had been kicking a ball. Alaan froze, his face tightening in agony, and he dropped to his knees.
Ignis didn't stick around to see what happened next. He raced for the vornskrs and Ben, the latter of which was now on his back and holding the knife before himself with a shaking hand. The closest vornskr snorted as if in derision and used a paw to swipe away the danger.
Ben cried out, and threw both hands up to halt the creature's follow-up bite towards Ben's throat. Ben actually did stop the vornskr for a moment, which allowed Ignis to take up a sharp spit of metal and hurl it with great accuracy into the vornskr's shoulder.
The animal howled in agony and fell away, moving back to the ground in order to try removing the shrapnel.
Ignis sensed the warning of danger and turned in time to see Myke swinging at him with a vibroknife in one hand, and a set of knuckle-claws in the other. Ignis used the Force grab the pipe that Alaan had been using, and blocked the first strikes. He felt the vibrations of the vibro-knife intensely through the metal, but Ignis pushed through it. He then had to suck his gut in and heave his middle back to avoid the claws.
Ignis heard Ben scream again and the teen, having no other choice, called his lightsaber back him. He released his pipe with one hand to catch it. It landed solidly, and Ignis threw it at Ben.
"Ben!" Ignis hollered. "Use my lightsaber! This is just like in our tutoring sessions!"
Ignis didn't see if Ben caught the hilt, because Myke came back in at Ignis. He swung alternately with the knife and the knuckle-claws, always trying to get Ignis in the gut. Each time, Ignis met the attacks, but Myke was physically larger and stronger, and so he was pushing Ignis steadily backwards.
However, this also brought Ignis closer to Ben. Ignis saw Ben straining for something, and realized that the boy had not caught the hilt of the lightsaber. Ignis only then saw that a vornskr had caught it in its mouth and now held it away from Ben. The child was instead seeking for anything to defend himself with.
A second vornskr leapt at Ben, mouth agape and ready to chomp down on Ben's already injured ankle. Ignis threw up a hand and Force-shoved the creature away, but that allowed Myke to get under Ignis' defenses. He swiped at Ignis with his claws again, but instead of in the gut, he got Ignis on the arm that was already wounded.
Ignis felt the fire of the sharp claws, and cried out, snapping his attention back to Myke. He also saw— and heard— the arrival of several more of Myke's men. Ignis knew he was outnumbered greatly, and had he been alone, he would have retreated. But Ben was injured and still being harassed by the vornskrs, and Ignis was the only thing keeping the creatures from succeeding.
As for Ben, he could feel the fever spiking under the strain of surviving the vornskrs attacks. His ankle throbbed incessantly, since Ben had been forced to put weight on it in order to escape all the assaults.
He heard Ignis cry out, saw the fresh cuts on his arm— the bandage had been shredded and now hung in tatters from the bleeding arm— and Ben cringed. But to his astonishment, Ignis kept going. Ben watched as Ignis continued warding off Myke.
Ben knew he needed to help, but how? With his ankle and fever, he wasn't much good, and he was barely keeping ahead of the creatures that were hounding him. And each time they struck, Ben grew weaker from the exertion. He didn't honestly know how much longer he could keep this up.
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Luke and Mara both felt the Force ringing with the danger that Ben and Ignis were in. They were pushing their borrowed vehicles for all they were worth, but even so, there was only so much they could do about the distance.
It simply took time to get from one place to the next. Mara felt fear for the safety of her eldest son, whose pain and fear she could feel clear as day. What else she could feel was Ignis' grim determination that nothing would hurt Ben if he could help it.
Mara heard something from Bo, and she glanced over to see the anooba tilting his head this way and that as his acute hearing picked up on something. Then he began growling in frustration.
Luke, confused, slowed his vehicle somewhat, and Bo actually leapt from it. Mara and Luke shared a baffled look as Bo found the scent and then took off at a sprint towards the skirmish.
They were dumbfounded for a heartbeat before they resumed their own advance towards the scene.
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Ben saw the new arrivals racing in to help Myke, and Ben also saw the Gamorrean climbing Ben's pile to help his vornskrs. Ben cried out, looking for any way to help the situation. When a small amount of items shifted under Ben's legs, he had an idea.
Ben used his hands to pull at several pieces of junk until the pile began to come undone. That started a small avalanche, which the Gamorrean saw and tried to run away from. He succeeded, but then Ben's entire junk-mountain began to come undone, and Ben paled.
"Uh-oh..."
He cried out as he slid back toward the ground, parts and scraps falling with him. The vornskrs yelped, trying to flee the immediate danger. In the process, the one holding Ignis' lightsaber dropped it, and Ben managed to snatch it up.
Ben, knowing that he had to stay atop the junk-lanch or be buried alive, risked leaping off of the pile. He recalled Ignis' lesson on tuck and rolls, and did his best to do that. He managed it, but when his injured ankle made initial contact with the ground, it lit up with white-hot agony.
Ben hollered, and his roll landed him against the vornskr that Ignis had thrown the shrapnel into. That creature, and the one who had stayed with it to help, both turned on Ben, who screamed anew.
"Ignis!"
Ignis, in the midst of his duel with Myke— who was holding his own just fine— glanced over his shoulder. He'd of course heard the falling junk, and he'd seen Ben out of the corner of his eye. Now, Ignis grabbed at Ben instead of the animals.
He flung Ben away from the snapping jaws of the vornskrs, and Ben landed in a crumpled heap several feet behind Ignis' current position. Ignis noted the other gang members getting ever closer, and Ignis raked his brain with what to do.
He was outnumbered and all but pinned, with a crippled Ben to also protect. Ignis saw the newcomers draw out blasters and aim at Ben, since they didn't want to risk hitting Myke.
"Ben!" Ignis warned, stomp-kicking at Myke. He did get the man in the gut, and though Myke stumbled, he got Ignis again with the claws; the items raking fire down Ignis' other arm and leg.
Ben's head came up, and he saw the mortal danger he was in. Ignis started to run for him, but Myke tripped Ignis. Ignis rolled with the landing and came up ready, his resolve hardening like a diamond.
His eyes narrowed, and Ignis called the pipe back to his hand, as well as a second one to his other. It was time to put his ability to learn on the fly to the ultimate test. He had never fought a real-life battle with two blades in his grip, but he would do so now... or perish in an effort to save Ben.
As for Ben, he ignited the lightsaber, stood the best he could, and stared down the men aiming at him. Ignis spotted him and saw the fire of determination in Ben's gaze. Ignis felt a stab of pride, but it was short-lived as Myke came in at Ignis again.
Ignis drew on both his limited practice with Jar-Kai and the Force to help him. Myke came in at Ignis with the vibroblade and claws again, this time with more force. Ignis blocked every single attack, and even began to drive Myke back toward his own men. That caused some of them to cease fire lest they hit Myke, and Ignis felt inspiration strike.
Ben, meanwhile, drew on his training and the Force, and began to deflect blasterfire sent his way. There was a lot, even with Ignis' help, and Ben was swiftly becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blasts. But he gritted his teeth and dug in the best he could.
To make matters worse, the fallen pile of junk shifted and the three remaining vornskrs converged on Ben from behind. Ben heard one vornskr leap for him, and Ben twisted his body, which caused the animal overshoot him. Ben reacted before he could think twice and stabbed his blade into the creature's neck.
That animal cried out once and went limp. But the whole maneuver had also caused Ben's ankle to twist once more and he shrieked in pain. He somehow maintained his grasp on his weapon— though he was barely on his feet— and tried to deflect he blasterfire still coming his way.
He managed it, but his arms were shaking heavily, making it unsafe for him to be wielding the deadly lightsaber. He heard something behind him, and Ben knew the last two vornskrs were closing in on him.
Ben did his best to tamp down on his fear, even as Ignis managed to push Myke further into the midst of his men, which caused more of them to stop firing. However, the men no longer shooting at Ben also began to enclose Ignis, apparently thinking that the vornskrs would finish off the injured child with ease. Soon all their non-animal attackers were converging on Ignis, who lashed out as needed at anyone who got too close to him. But no one shot, so that they didn't accidentally hit their leader. No, they merely boxed Ignis in so he had no chance to escape.
Ben abruptly realized that Ignis was putting himself into the heart of all those men. He was doing it so that Ben had a chance to survive. It was the only explanation Ben could come up with. Why else would Ignis drive Myke like that in their duel?
Ben's attention shifted when the vornskrs came at him, their salivating jaws snapping in anticipation. Ben attempted to lift the lightsaber one more time, but he was too weak, and he finally lost his footing, landing on his back. The boy's ankle throbbed endlessly, shooting blinding pain through his body— it was literally affecting his vision now— and his fever was too high.
Ben ended up dropping the lightsaber, and for one heart-stopping second Ben thought that the blade would slice into him. But thank the Force for the failsafe that shut the blade off if it left a hand. The deactivated hilt landed next to Ben's head, and his heart thudded to know how close he'd come to being beheaded.
That was small consolation, however, when one vornskr snuck up on Ben and leapt atop him to hold him down. The second approached and was just about to clamp down on Ben's leg when suddenly that one looked to the side. In that same instant a grey blur latched onto the vornskr's throat, and the black creature yelped repeatedly, even as the grey figure's momentum pushed both of them off of Ben.
Ben heard vicious snarling, and then the vornskr fell silent. The one atop Ben growled angrily and leapt for the new threat. Ben heard the sounds of a different kind of skirmish, and he rolled his head to see Bo and the final vornskr going at each other as if they were the utmost rivals.
Ben gaped at the animal ferocity of it all, watching teeth and claws fly, as well as hearing yelps and growls being exchanged. He didn't get to watch from the ground for long, however, because from out of nowhere the Gamorrean appeared, and grabbed Ben up, placing a blaster nozzle to his temple.
Ben knew this was it, and he squeezed his eyes shut, his heart hammering in his chest. He hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to his family...
Ignis, seeing Bo, had instantly directed him to Ben, but now that Ben was at blaster point, Ignis' heart hammered. Despite his best efforts, Ben was still going to die! Ignis cried out in distress and delved deeper into the Force, attacking Myke with a renewed vigor.
He struck at Myke with his left pipe, saw a man come at him from behind and he knocked that guy to the ground with his second pipe. Ignis then took a hit to his gut from a different man, followed by a third man grabbing Ignis' legs.
Ignis, already off-balance, hit the ground hard, hearing and feeling his teeth clack together. One pipe flew from his hand, and Ignis twisted onto his back as best as he could while the man still held his legs. This allowed him to still defend himself at least somewhat.
Then two snap-hisses filled the air, and suddenly the gaggle of men surrounding Ignis was blown in all directions. One man's blaster dropped from his hand to strike the man holding Ignis in the head, and hat guy was knocked unconscious.
Luke and Mara, arriving on-scene, took one look at what had been happening and reacted simultaneously. They blasted the group of men surrounding Ignis, exposing the young man on the ground. That also allowed Mara to see Ben being held hostage.
Mara touched Luke's mind and then was off like a mother guru bear to help her cub. She steamrolled in the Gamorrean's direction, and Luke actually felt sorry for the green man. But only for a moment.
Ignis, drawing on his years of intense training with Vexa, struggled to his feet and sought for Ben. Upon seeing the Gamorrean holding Ben at blaster point— the being's finger on the trigger— Ignis started to reach out with the Force, but before he could do anything, the Gamorrean's arm stretched out to the side as if on its own.
Ignis only then saw Mara racing for the being holding her son hostage, and before the Gamorrean knew what had hit him, there was a lightsaber in his heart. The Gamorrean squealed in shock, looked to his chest... and crumpled to the ground. Ben went with him, but Mara freed the child before he could get choked.
"Mom!" Ben croaked, eyes spilling over as Mara dragged her injured son away from the dead Gamorrean.
Ignis didn't get to see what happened next, because the men around him were now getting back to their feet. Ignis, despite how much he hurt, grabbed up his two pipes once more and took up a ready stance.
Angrily, man of the various members of the gang began to come in at Ignis with anything they could use as a weapon. Ignis ducked the first person, and shouldered him into one of his friends.
Then, to his surprise, he felt someone land behind him, and a green glow faintly lit the area. Ignis glanced over his shoulder to find that Luke had leapt over the fray, and was now at his back. His lightsaber was lit and being used to defend Ignis.
Luke, his face set in concentration, easily deflected many of the attacks that came at Ignis' back, where he now was. He trusted his wife to take care of Ben, which he could see her doing, so Luke focused on Ignis.
Luke had to admit that he was impressed to see Ignis— who had been given no formal training in Jar Kai— wielding two pipes as if they were lightsabers. He wasn't doing it as well as a seasoned user of that form would, but nor was Ignis inept.
Luke felt a warning in the Force, and maneuvered his blade to protect his left shoulder. Meanwhile, he thrust a hand out and shoved a second man back into a pile of junk. The pile wobbled somewhat, and Luke thought it might start to collapse, but thankfully it did not.
Luke caught a brief glimpse of Bo going at it with the last vornskr, and then the man's attention was drawn by three men converging on Luke from the same number of directions. Luke took a step away from Ignis to allow him to better maneuver. When the man in front swiped at Luke with a vibrosword, Luke bent over backwards, both feeling and seeing the blade slice through the air over his face.
Then, without rising, Luke flipped left. He caught that assailant in the face with his boots and then came upright. He grabbed the man he'd just kicked, and shoved him with great force into the man who had been on Luke's right.
That left the man with the sword, and he came in at Luke with a vigor that would have probably made a normal person think twice. But Luke was a seasoned Jedi Master, one who had faced and survived Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Luke traded several swift blows with the younger man, before he got in under the other's defenses.
The man blanched and threw his hands up as if in surrender. Luke narrowed his eyes and started to lower his blade. The man made as if to leave, but Luke's eyes never left him, even as he sensed Ignis being set upon once more.
The man that Luke had disarmed suddenly spun about... and had in his grasp an illegal blaster, which he shot at Luke. The Jedi Master was alarmed to find some sort of black webbing spit from the blaster, and Luke had to do some fancy footwork to avoid it. The web caught someone else in the gang, who shrieked in agony as the web instantly fried him.
Luke grimaced and then felt his assailant preparing to shoot at Luke again. Without thinking, Luke grabbed up a piece of shrapnel from the nearest junk pile and hurled it into the nozzle of the weapon. To his dismay, the man had already fired, and since the nozzle was jammed, the weapon exploded in the man's hand, killing him.
In his own corner, Ignis heard a heavy chinking sound and he lifted his arm instinctively to protect his face. A length of chain wrapped itself about Ignis' arm and pulled hard.
Ignis, having little choice but to follow, ended up dropping that pipe. Next thing he knew, his was back against the man who'd chained him. Ignis used his free arm to elbow the man in the solar plexus, which he swiftly followed with a blow to the guy's instep. Next, Ignis elbowed the fool's nose and finally got him in the groin. The man hollered and fell back. Swiftly freeing himself of the chain, Ignis spun, grabbed the other man and used the guy's own chain to wrap about his neck. Just before the point of death, Ignis dropped him, only to be rammed into by two more guys.
Ignis saw over their shoulders as Mara got Ben into the safety of the vehicle that Ignis had been trying to get Ben into initially. She then entered the fray, taking out men in her attempt to get to Ignis also.
She also had her holdout blaster in hand— set to stun— and was using it in concert with her indigo blade. The unique blue-purple blade was like an extension of her arm, and Mara easily deflected any shots fired at her. Every shot was redirected toward the one who had fired. Any who manage to dodge that were shot at by Mara.
Ignis, who was being pushed rapidly backwards, managed to keep his feet, but only because a third guy got in the way. That guy looked to Ignis, and grabbed the teen into a vice-like grip on his injured bicep. Ignis gritted his teeth, though he saw stars when the two who'd tried to knock him over took advantage of their buddy holding Ignis. They began to hit Ignis with their bare fists and Ignis— his physical strength waning— took it all.
Over the confusion of everything, Ignis saw Bo finally defeat the final vornskr. The anooba took a moment to regroup, panting hard. The poor creature had several bite marks, and was bleeding from the hip, but the animal only had eyes for Ignis.
In fact, Bo started to come to Ignis' aid, but he didn't make it two steps. Myke, seeing the exchanges between boy and animal, had snuck up on the anooba. When Bo wasn't paying attention, Myke leapt atop him from behind.
Ignis didn't notice Luke and Mara make quick work of the rest of the gang members. Nor did he see how Luke intervened in Ignis' behalf to deal with the men punching him. All he could see was Bo in mortal danger, and his heart hammered against his chest.
Bo yelped in surprise as he was forced to the ground. The anooba struggled, but Myke was too fast for him. He lifted his vibroknife...
"NO!" Ignis hollered in horror, and Luke's head snapped around to see what had grabbed Ignis' attention.
Thus it was that the two of them saw Bo get stabbed several times.
Something in Ignis snapped, and he suddenly was no longer being held by the only man Luke hadn't yet taken care of. Ignis' final assailant was on the ground before anyone could blink, and then Ignis was leaping over him, his vision red.
He dove at Myke with an outraged cry and tackled him off of Bo. The duo rolled several inches before they came to a halt, Ignis on top and throwing three vicious punches into Myke's face. Somehow Myke had managed to hold onto the knife, and he made to stab Ignis in the chest. Ignis caught the man's arm, twisted the blade effortlessly in the other's hand, and began to push it back at Myke's chest.
A struggle ensued between the two on which way the blade was going, and though Myke kept Ignis at bay for a time, Ignis held the upper hand. The blade shifted course slowly but surely, and Myke struggled to stop it.
"Ignis!" Luke cried, coming forward.
"Stay back!" Ignis snarled at Luke, his chest heaving and his entire frame shaking with fury, but his aim never wavered. The vibroknife inched ever closer to Myke's flesh, and Ignis held the man's gaze openly.
Myke actually swallowed at Ignis' expression, but he gritted his teeth and now used both of his arms to try and halt Ignis. The teenager pushed back, leaning his full weight on the blade now to overpower Myke even more.
"Ignis stop!" Luke was right next to Ignis now. "This isn't the way!"
Ignis shrugged away when Luke tried to touch him. "He killed Bo!"
Those words tore at Ignis' throat like glass, and his chest hitched. Suddenly his vision wasn't red any longer as grief followed hot on the heels of his anger.
"I know." Luke's voice was softer now. "But if you kill this man in anger like this... you will never be the same again. This will turn you into what you've been trying to not be."
Ignis finally tore his gaze from Myke to Luke, thinking about what he was saying. Ignis now stood on the edge of a fence, and his decision on which way to go would affect him for the rest of his life. Ignis had done everything he could to not be like Vexa, and had managed to do so thus far. It had been the one form of rebellion he had been able to get away with.
Ignis looked down again, seeing the tip of the blade just barely digging into Myke's chest. A tiny dribble of blood appeared...
"Ignis, please..." Luke knelt at Ignis' side. "Do not kill him."
Ignis breathed heavily, one hand tightening into more of a fist as he made his choice. He abruptly stood up off of Myke, who was promptly stunned by Mara. Ignis looked at the blade only momentarily before he dropped it.
Then he was stumbling back over to the unmoving form of Bo. Ignis fell to his knees at the anooba's side, tears already welling in his eyes as he looked upon the creature that had been his only friend for a long time while Ignis was with Vexa. Ignis hadn't met up with Anya until well after he'd befriended Bo.
Ignis' hands shook as he still sought for any signs of life from the anooba, but he found nothing.
"No..." Ignis stammered, his tears falling freely now. "No... oh, please no..."
But Bo remained unresponsive, and Ignis' heart broke once more. Uncaring of who would see, Ignis folded over Bo and sobbed outright.
Luke and Mara stood together amidst the mass of unmoving beings, most of which were dead. Luke had done his best to not kill, but many of their assailants had left him no choice. Luke gazed upon Ignis, his heart hurting for the young man.
Mara's attention was diverted by their son knocking on the glass of the vehicle he was still inside. She collected Ben, kissing his face and whispering words of love for her boy before carrying him back to where Luke was. Luke knelt and touched Ben's head in a fatherly manner as Mara set him down.
"Ben," Luke's voice cracked with emotion, "my dear boy..."
"Dad," Ben whispered back, though it was clear to Luke that Ben was somewhat delirious with fever. Even so, his son's gaze diverted to the weeping Ignis, and Ben sniffled, his own eyes moistening.
Luke checked Ben's lower leg, and grimaced in horror to find that the boy's foot was at an unnatural angle. Ben's ankle was also so swollen that the boy's pants were tearing at the site.
Luke looked to Mara. "I'll help Ignis. Please take Ben to the hospital."
"Okay," Mara said, picking her son up and walking away with him back to where she had left her swoop bike.
Luke followed to make certain the two got off without any more problems.
"I will meet you there. I love you both." Luke leaned his forehead on Ben's. "I love you so much, Ben."
"I love you too, Dad," Ben murmured. Luke was deeply concerned about Ben's health, and he backed away, allowing Mara to take off. Luke waited until they were high above him to return to Ignis.
The young man had picked Bo up at some point and now held the creature in his lap, uncaring of the blood getting on him. He now stroked Bo's fur with a tenderness that Luke had never seen from Ignis before. Ignis was whispering things in a language Luke did not know, but he didn't need to, since Luke understood that Ignis was speaking to Bo alone.
Ignis was no longer sobbing, but his eyes were still leaking like a faucet that hadn't been fully shut off. Luke remained standing for a few moments before he approached fully. Ignis didn't look up, and he didn't seem concerned at all about his own wellbeing, despite how heavily he was trembling.
Luke wondered how much rest the two boys had managed to get down here. They had been missing for nearly two days total, and had likely not eaten or drank anything during that time. Add to that the injuries both boys had already had before the battle Luke and Mara had arrived at, and Luke knew that Ignis was running on fumes.
Still, the young man's sheer stamina and strength of will astounded Luke, and he couldn't help the immense pride he felt for Ignis. He also felt an increasing of love, and that deep part of him still reacted to Ignis as if he were his own flesh and blood.
That still scared Luke; but in this moment, Luke pushed that aside and allowed himself to simply love Ignis in his hour of need.
At some point, Ignis turned anguished eyes on Luke. "Why does everyone I love... go away?"
Luke's heart cracked at the utter loneliness in Ignis' voice, and Luke could feel it wafting from Ignis like steam from a kettle. Luke knelt at Ignis' side and touched his head tenderly.
"Oh Ignis..." Luke whispered, wishing that he could take away Ignis' suffering. Luke tried to say more, but for some reason, words failed him. Ignis didn't seem to care, however, and his focus shifted.
"I am not leaving Bo down here," Ignis said in a rough voice. "If I have to walk him topside I will."
Luke shook his head lightly. "There's no need for that. We will manage."
Ignis sniffled, nodded once, and returned his gaze to Bo. "I can't believe he's gone."
Luke gently touched the anooba's head. "The ones we love are never truly gone. They always live in our hearts and memories."
Ignis looked to Luke with a tortured gaze. "But that doesn't take away the sting of their sudden absence."
"No, it doesn't." Luke allowed. "But in time, that knowledge may bring you comfort."
Ignis didn't answer, didn't move for a while longer, but at last the practical side of him won over, and he struggled to his feet. He tried to lift Bo physically, but couldn't, and as he lifted his hand to use the Force, Luke stopped him.
"I'll carry Bo," Luke murmured.
"Thank you," Ignis replied as Luke hefted the anooba's body and carried him over to the bike. Ignis sat on the second seat and accepted Bo from Luke.
Luke took the driver's position and craned his neck to look at Ignis. "Hold on to my waist with one arm please."
Ignis didn't argue, grabbing hold the best he could. Luke drove them away, and the ride was made in silence. Luke was surprised when, partway through the ride, Ignis rested his head against Luke's back. Luke flew them to the hospital, seeing Mara's swoop already parked and unoccupied. Luke parked beside it and dismounted.
Ignis looked to the hospital and then clung tighter to Bo. "Please do not let them take Bo away. I want to give him a burial."
Luke hesitated. "I will do what I can, Ignis."
Ignis shook his head. "No. Promise that Bo will get a burial."
Luke considered. "There is nowhere to bury him. However, I would be willing to do a private pyre in the Jedi Temple for Bo."
Ignis blinked, stunned. "You would do that for him?"
"I would do so for the both of you." Luke corrected gently. "Bo saved Ben's life after helping us find him. He's also been a friend to my children." Luke placed a gentle hand on Ignis' shoulder. "And you mean a great deal to me, Ignis."
Ignis looked away, something passing through his gaze that Luke did not understand. But Ignis finally nodded. "Okay, I accept."
He allowed Luke to take the animal again. When they entered the hospital, Luke convinced one medic to place Bo in stasis until the anooba could be taken care of further. Ignis refused to accept any care, however, until the deal was finished.
Only then did he allow the medics to help him.
00000
Shmi, Emry and Anya were brought to the hospital by Leia, who also had Kodai. But Emry and Shmi had to restrain themselves once they were directed to Ben's room. Neither girl saw Anya ask after Ignis and then follow the Skywalkers.
Emry and Shmi both wanted to race to their brother's room, but they managed not to. As soon as they were inside his door, however, they were greeted with Ben's face already looking in their direction.
"Ben!" Emry all but shrieked, surging forward before anyone could stop her, and flinging her arms around her twin brother.
The twins embraced, though Ben's was weaker. His fever had been reduced greatly, and his ankle was in a cast, but he was still weary. Shmi approached also, and though she did not fall on Ben like Emry had, she did take her turn to hug him.
"Oh Ben!" Shmi murmured before she pulled back and punched him gently in the shoulder. "Don't you ever do that to us again, you hear?!"
Ben cracked a smile, but his stomach growled forcefully, and he grimaced. "I'm glad to see you both as well."
Mara turned to Leia, who appeared then with Kodai. Luke hovered near his children a bit longer before he decided to let them be.
Luke also approached Leia with a grateful smile. "I can't thank you enough, Leia."
Leia offered a half-smile, and Luke aw through her political mask instantly.
"What is it?" he inquired softly.
Leia hesitated, looking to the children. "I don't want to ruin the moment."
Mara, also sensing Leia's mood, drew closer, Kodai securely in her arms. "Leia, you are not a bother, ever."
Leia closed her eyes momentarily. "Han hasn't returned home yet. Normally I don't fret, but this time it's different."
Luke straightened. "Go on."
"He was due back while you were all in the underlevels." Leia admitted. "He sent me a message telling me that he was on his way home. But he's not contacted me since, and no one has seen Lando, Chewie or Lumpy either. They all went with him."
Luke remembered Han's trip and he frowned. "Do you think something happened to him?"
Leia sighed. "I can feel it in my gut. Or maybe that's just me worrying for him."
Mara shook her head. "Your gut has never steered you wrong before, Leia."
"But he did mention wanting to do two things." Leia countered. "He agreed to focus only on one this time, but maybe he changed his mind."
Luke and Mara shared look. "Well, let us know if he still doesn't contact you or show up."
Leia nodded, accepting Luke's offered hug. "I will. I'm sure Han just... couldn't wait after all."
Luke smiled softly. "Well, we all know how stubborn he can be."
Leia snorted a laugh. "Yes we do."
Shmi appeared at Mara's side then, looking around. "Hey, where did Anya go?"
"I think she wanted to see Ignis," Leia answered. "She went into a different room."
Shmi nodded, but Luke stopped her when she tried to leave. Shmi looked to him, startled.
"Not right now, Shmi," Luke said gently. "Ignis and Anya will need some time."
"But I..." Shmi began to protest, but Mara interjected.
"Shmi."
Her tone told Shmi that she was utterly serious, and Shmi looked between her parents.
"What happened?"
Luke looked down. "Ignis lost someone dear to him."
00000
Anya entered Ignis' room, a smile on her face. "Well, you survived yet another crazy adventure."
She stopped when she saw Ignis, staring out his window as if he hadn't even noticed her entrance, nor heard her. His face was slack, and his sense in the Force muted. Anya stared at him, and when she approached the bed, he still didn't react.
Concerned anew, Anya gingerly touched his arm, and Ignis finally moved. He turned his face, and Anya only then saw the deep well of sorrow in his gaze. Anya swallowed, unsure that she wanted to know why Ignis was so sad.
"Hey," she murmured anyway, taking his hand. "What's the matter?"
Ignis looked into her eyes and then shut his briefly, fresh tears leaking out. He squeezed her hand gently and tugged her to sit on the edge of his bed. He then sat up, and when he spoke, Anya almost didn't hear him.
"Anya," his voice shook with emotion, "Bo is dead."
Anya stared at him, unable to compute that, and she took a shuddering breath once it sank in.
"No he isn't," Anya whispered in denial.
Ignis looked down. "I wish it wasn't true, but he's gone, Anya."
Anya heard the honesty, sensed it in the Force, and knew that he would never have said this if it wasn't the case. Her throat closed, and Anya placed her free hand to her mouth, shaking her head in despair.
"How?" she asked tremulously.
"He saved Ben," Ignis said, "and won, but then the leader of the gang Ben and I accidentally upset... stabbed him to death."
Anya gasped, and the horror hit her hard. Ignis, sensing this and needing comfort himself, drew Anya to lie beside him on the bed, her atop the sheet and him beneath it. But they snuggled together to grieve the loss of their dear friend.
00000
Once everyone was back home and things had settled down again, as promised, Luke set up Bo's private funeral. Ignis and Anya were of course there, though Ignis had gone early so he could clean Bo up. When he finished preparing Bo's body, Ignis took two small shanks of the anooba's hair and braided both. One he intended to add to the necklace Anya had given him. The other braid he gave to Anya once she was there.
She accepted it with a word of thanks, and then took Ignis' hand for support, standing as near to him as possible. Ignis welcomed her hand in his, and gave his support in return.
The Skywalker family was all present, dressed in nice outfits and ready to bid farewell to the anooba. Luke stood by the controls that would lower the pyre into the chamber below, where the body would be burned.
It was a hero's funeral, Ignis knew; one befitting the loyal anooba.
"Would you like to say anything?" Luke asked of Anya and Ignis.
Anya nodded, kneeling down and laying a flower on the anooba's side. "You were a great friend, Bo, when I had no one else. You kept me sane when the loneliness got overbearing. Thank you. I love you so much, and I will miss you."
She stood, and it was Ignis' turn. He tried to maintain a stiff upper lip, but he just couldn't. He too knelt beside Bo and placed a hand on the animal's fur.
"You were the best friend a lonely, broken boy could have asked for," Ignis whispered, so quietly that the others almost couldn't hear. "Before I reunited with Anya, all I had was you, Buddy. I loved you so much. I was always scared to lose you, but we always came out on the other side. You are a hero, Bo. You will always be in my heart." He ran a hand down the anooba's head. "Run free now, Bo. You are at peace."
Ignis bent down and kissed the anooba's head, and then stood, his tears returning once more. Anya turned into Ignis once Bo was lowered and the fire began, burying her face into his shoulder. Ignis held her openly, weeping with her, but unable to look away.
Slowly the Skywalkers trickled from the room, starting with the youngest and Mara, and then Shmi. Luke lingered a bit more to support the teenagers, but finally he sensed it was time for him to go too, which he did.
When it was just Anya and Ignis, Anya tightened her hold on Ignis and whispered in his ear.
"What are we going to do now, Ignis?"
"Carry on," Ignis murmured back. "It's the best we can do to honor his memory."
"The room will feel so empty without him, though." Anya admitted.
"I know how that feels." Ignis told her, rubbing her back. "It will be hard for a few days, and you may not be able to sleep for the first one or two. But eventually the sorrow will ease, and you will slowly begin to function at your full emotional capacity again."
Anya realized he was talking about when he'd given Bo up so the anooba could be with Anya. She had never fully realized just what Ignis had sacrificed for her benefit, and never once had he complained. Anya tightened her hold on Ignis, and stayed until she felt like she could not be in the room any longer.
Ignis let her go, but he remained in the room long after the fire had cooled, refusing to leave until he felt ready to do so. Ignis idly played with the fur in his fingers, memories of Bo and him crossing his mind. The barest of smiles touched his lips as he did so.
Ignis did not know how much time had passed, but at long last he felt like he could walk away. His heart was still heavy, however, and he hurt deeply from Bo's loss. With a deep breath he exited, and saw that it was now dark outside. Ignis looked up to find that only Luke was there, sitting patiently.
When Luke saw Ignis, he smiled softly, waiting to speak until Ignis was nearby. "I sent everyone home. I also offered to let Anya stay the night so she isn't so alone. She's welcome to stay a few nights if need be."
Ignis smiled gratefully, but could not find his voice. He simply stood there, with Luke remaining blessedly patient and open. At some point it all grew to be too much for Ignis, and he sat down beside Luke. Without a word, Ignis gingerly, timidly, leaned against Luke.
Luke did not reject him; instead he simply wrapped an arm about Ignis, and held the young man as Ignis needed. Ignis closed his eyes and allowed himself to be comforted.
Then, to Ignis' utter shock, Luke actually kissed him lightly on the head. "I'm sorry for your loss, Ignis."
Ignis sat upright, completely taken aback. Luke had just... just...
Just kissed him as if he were his son. Ignis honestly did not know how to react in that moment, but he was pretty sure his facial expression said enough, for Luke merely offered an understanding smile.
Ignis finally gave up trying to understand everything in that moment and leaned into Luke once more. But his heart was a little lighter now.
"I have you to thank for Ben's life," Luke murmured. "If you had not leapt after him, there would have been no need for Bo to later save him."
Ignis gazed at the floor. "I couldn't just let him fall to his death."
"I know," Luke replied in the same soft tone. "I am not going to bother asking how you knew how to do what you did. I simply wished to thank you privately. I will never be able to adequately thank you. Both for that... and for your sacrifice in my family's behalf."
Ignis knew he meant Bo, and he nodded his understanding. "You don't need to thank me."
Please don't, he added mentally.
Luke knew better, but nor did he feel like arguing, so he dropped the current conversation thread. "Are you ready to go?"
"Actually," Ignis sat up and looked to Luke seriously, "I have one request, if I may."
Luke nodded. "Alright."
Ignis closed his eyes. "...if I end up with my master again, please, take care of Anya for me. Don't let her be so alone anymore, and make sure she lives an actual life, and doesn't waste it waiting for me."
Luke frowned lightly and took Ignis' face in his hands, waiting until the young man was looking at him again. "Is there something you aren't telling me?"
"Yes." Ignis admitted. "I can sense that my time to... go back to her... is very near. I don't want to go back, but I will if I must."
Luke gazed at Ignis, sensed a shift in the young man. And Luke also sensed that there was a deep fear and uncertainty within Ignis that had nothing to do with his master. Perhaps it was something that had been born of the moment that had been shared between Ignis and Shmi?
"Ignis..." Luke began hesitantly, but he really didn't know what he wanted to say.
Ignis thinned his lips and cut Luke off. "Please promise me!"
Luke sighed gently. "I will do what I can to help her."
"Thank you," Ignis stood, his fingers returning to the shank of fur. "Thank you for everything."
Luke did not like the way Ignis was acting, and yet he hesitated to say anything further. Ignis shook himself and started to walk for the main area of the Jedi Temple.
"Thank you for waiting here for me, by the way," Ignis murmured once Luke had caught up.
"You're welcome," Luke replied simply.