And Vega Lights my Way

Chapter 15

Such is life, such is being, such is spirit, such is love.
All this sorrow, all this promise, all this pain.
But such is life, such is being, such is spirit, such is love.
Such is spirit, such is love. – Denver, "All this Joy"

Blue lightning hit Schurke's daughter without warning – a corruption of the Force being emitted by his son.

For Schurke, it was a moment of eternity; and yet, in that eternal moment, he knew what he had to do.

He saw Luke catch the lightning in his saber, and in that instant, he acted. With a leap that was tempered with more than a little faith, he spanned the distance between himself and Kay'leb and caught him in a fearsome embrace.

And now young Skywalker… You will die!

I am a Jedi, like my father before me…

Rage…

Pain…

A battle…

Not Genosis, not this time.

There is no pain…

In his mind's eye, he saw Darth Vader – Anakin – bear aloft the Emperor, saving his son…

Schurke held his son tightly – tighter.

"Hang on Kay'leb!"

"Pappa – I can't!"

The assault began afresh, and Schurke could feel the electricity coursing through both their bodies.

"I love you Kay'leb! Hang on!"

The bombardment continued, and yet the pain seemed to abate.

Is this death? It feels different than I expected…

Schurke felt himself growing weaker. He felt his son grow weaker in his arms.

Masters… if you are really there… help me save my son!

That welcome voice – the chorus of voices that had greeted him when he had first returned to the Temple –
began singing in his ear: softly at first, then slowly building to a glorious crescendo that was nearly deafening. It was like being filled with light.

Push back… push back…

We're here, Master Jedi…

"Do you hear that, Kay?" Schurke gasped. "Let the light fill you my son!"

Kay'leb didn't answer directly, but Schurke was sure he could feel the deliberate pressure of Kay'leb's hand on his back, light and reassuring.

Now the entity – the darkness – seemed to be fighting back, not willing to let go of its prize.

Open yourself to us, Schurke Canaille, the chorus implored him. Allow us…

It was like nothing Schurke had ever experienced. He could truly feel the Force – the Living Force – flow through his body and very soul; but while his living body rejoiced, his mechanical leg began to emit showers of sparks as the circuits overloaded.

"You won't be able to fix this one, Toboo!" he cried joyfully. "I think this time the old girl has had it!"

He felt Kay'leb's touch become an embrace. "Pappa?" he called, his voice still weak but very much his own. "Pappa, is it really you?"

Schurke felt as if he was falling… slipping away… but this time, it was only because his body was being overwhelmed. The choruses were fading as the energy began to dissipate back into the Force, and he knew that he and Kay'leb would soon follow, but into safety.

"Are you all right?" Someone – not Kay'leb – was kneeling next to him.

Toboo?

Blue eyes bored into his. "Master Canaille?"

Schurke reached up to touch Anakin's face – no, not Anakin…

"Luke," he murmured. "Where's Aubé?" He started to giggle uncontrollably. He felt too good to be upset about the fact that the young Jedi had disobeyed him.

Concern graced Luke's features. "She's at the Healer's center. Master Canaille – Kampher – is on her way there," I called for help. Are you all right, Master?"

Schurke began to laugh as a Medic knelt on the other side of him. Another pair of Medics were already loading Kay'leb onto a hand held travois. The sight of them brought Schurke to his senses momentarily.

"My son…"

"He'll be all right, sir," the Medic told him briskly as he checked a bag of fluids that was already being administered. "We'll get him to the Healer's center right away."

Schurke reached up weakly to touch his son as they carried him away, only to have it pushed down again.

"I'm sorry sir," The medic said as he prepared a hypo-spray. "The Master Healer said to give you this…"

Schurke's giggles became bursts of laughter. "In case you haven't noticed, my good man, I'm as fit as a rancor!"
He tried to climb off the travois, only to collapse into the waiting arms of the Medic and… Toboo.

Must have had too much Ale, Schurke thought as he stumbled back, completely unaware of the fact that his artificial leg wobbled unsteadily beneath him. I only hope Toboo and… handsome Healer boy here…

Wait….

He tried to protest as he felt the cold hiss of the hypo-spray. He didn't need anything to make him feel better! He felt…
fine! More than….

Luke caught him as he fell, lowering him to the travois as tenderly as he would a child.

As gently as he had lowered his father to his pyre.

This time, he only felt relief.