At what cost

II

Her grave sat on the edge of the plateau that overlooked the crumbling ruins of Fastoon, sometime in the several days after the genocide the fires had stopped, the sky clear of the red and black that blocked the sun, it was still a dark grey and rained ash sporadically.

The Capital lay in ruin, embers danced in the sky and individual smoke climbed through the many destroyed buildings, a shell of its former glory.

Kaden had managed to move his family away from the hustle and bustle of downtown despite his status, that house that he built with his own two hands spread over the place, a piece of bedframe was the only thing solid enough for a headstone.

It had hurt, a lot.

He had found his Omni Wrench, the one he had forged himself, still as clean and shiny the day he had made it, no amount of rubble being able to destroy it. The several scouts that had been looking for survivors no match for the unending fury Kaden had within him.

There had been enough food and water left to last them a week.

A week neither of the two Lombaxes wanted to stay.

Kaden was numb at that point, he didn't truly blame his friend for what had happened, and the only thing he wanted was to get his son far away from Polaris, maybe as far as Solana and at least try to get back at Tachyon.

There was nothing he wanted more than to kill him with his own hands, or die trying. Either way was a win to him.

It was eating up at him on the inside, he could've stopped this had he just killed the cragmite like the council wanted.

Alister had been silent the entire time, helping Kaden out with his son and occasionally giving a hand in making sure the ship was operational.

It was nearing Dusk as they spoke for the first time since burying his wife, the golden light of the day fading into the especially eerie night that threatened to swallow the remainder of the planet.

Kaden sat by the ship holding his son who has cawing loudly, mocking the crows that flew above them into the city below. A smile sat on Kaden's tired face for the first time in a week as he gently bounced the child on his knee.

Alister kicked out the makeshift fire they had been using for the past few days, gathered his belongings and hoisted it over his shoulder, the generals Wrench being used more as a cane.

The plan was simple enough, Kaden was going to leave and find a place to stay. Alister refusing the offer to leave, as far as he was concerned he was deserving of a death here.

Kaden didn't think as much but he was too tired to argue anymore.

I'm the one who deserves to die

"The offer still stands Al" Kaden Stood in front of his best friend, child sitting by the ship, messing around with his wrench and drawing in the ash covered dirt.

The silence was deafening, not even the wind dared make a sound.

Alister looked at his feet before pulling his friend into a one armed hug.

"Take care of yourself Kaden, I'll see you around."

Kaden tensed up at the hug but returned it with wet eyes.

"Goodbye."

With that Alister turned on his heel and made his way down into the ruined city below, not risking a glance back in case he took Kaden up on his offer.

Kaden sighed as he picked up his child, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to do.

Placing his son on his lap in the small ship he took off, not looking back at the ruin that lay below them.

Clutching his son tightly he set coordinates to the Solana galaxy, he was lucky that his ship had a warp drive good enough to take them the distance, cutting the two month trip down to only a few hours.

Plenty of time to think over what he was doing, how he was going to do it.

The kit in his lap shifted clutching at his torn bomber jacket, the sounds of light purring emanating from the ball of golden fluff.

Kaden sighed shakily as he shifted once more, the note he had written would be enough, he hoped.

He hated himself already about what he was going to do but he kept telling himself it was the right thing to do.

He will grow up safer.

The words sat funny in his head.

He let sleep take him for the first time in a day, the nightmares of soot and the stench of death playing foul in his brain, along with the thoughts of abandoning his son for a chance at Tachyon.

A selfless act for selfish reasons.