One by one, Tycho's oldest and closest friends arrived at the Celchu household. They had all come to do what they hadn't been able to with Wedge just over a year before--say goodbye.
It was just a matter of time, they knew, before the disease took Tycho. It was fatal in all cases, but death could be forestalled for a time with treatment in some. He'd responded well to that treatment at first, giving them all hope that he would be with them for a few more years at least. If nothing else, Tycho was a fighter--he wouldn't let the disease just take him--but it was inevitable, and the time had come when their friend would lose this last battle.
Hobbie arrived alone, his wife staying behind to take care of the business they'd started together. She would join him in a few days if someone could be found to look after it. She knew that Hobbie had to come, though, and sent him to his friend's side.
Iella and her daughter Syal arrived shortly after Hobbie. Iella had grown a little grayer since Wedge's death, but her strength of character and her close family kept her going. But now Tycho's illness was taking a further toll on her, and she looked tired and gaunt.
Mirax and Corran were last to arrive. Corran's role as a Jedi had taken him half-way across the galaxy, but Winter's message caught up to him. He and Mirax had turned around immediately to head back, hoping to arrive before the inevitable occurred. Their luck held, as they arrived only two days after Wes, Mirax having set some kind of speed record in their journey.
The friends gathered in the living area of the Celchu household, Syal helping Adalee to get refreshments from the kitchen while former Rogues and friends reconnected with each other. Winter remained anxiously on watch with her husband in the bedroom. Every now and then Tycho would regain consciousness, and she never wanted him to wake up in pain and alone. Some of the group joined her for short periods, but they mostly left the couple alone, letting Winter sit quietly with her husband, holding his hand and tending to his fever.
A heavy silence had fallen over the living room, the last topic of conversation being about Wes's shuttle business. But now it had ended, and no one seemed to know what to talk about next. Corran started to fidget, and eventually had to get up to his feet and cross the room, letting some of his anxious energy bleed into his movements.
"You ok, Corran?" Wes asked from where he sat against the wall, perched on a kitchen chair. It was leaning back on two legs, delicately balanced.
Corran turned, his back to the window that looked out on the front garden of the small house. He took a deep breath, trying to settle his mind. "Yeah, I guess. It's just... Yeah, I'm ok." His eyes fell, studying the grain in the flooring. How can I tell them?
"You sure?" Wes pressed, letting his chair drop to all fours, before also climbing to his feet and moving over to join Corran by the window. "You seem more edgy than I've seen you in a while. Even considering..." He motioned with his head towards the hall that led to the bedroom.
The former Rogue shook his head, unable to look directly at Wes. "It's nothing, nothing I want to talk about. Don't worry about it."
"Ok, now I'm worried," Mirax chimed in, also moving to stand by her husband. She took his hand. "What is it?"
Corran sighed. "It's just...hard to explain... You see, being who--or what--I am..."
"You can feel it," Iella whispered. "Just like with Wedge." She seemed surprised as all the faces in the room turned towards her, as if she hadn't even realized she'd spoken out loud. They all slowly turned back to Corran, however, waiting for a confirmation or denial.
"Yes, I can," he admitted quietly, knowing that he couldn't hide it now. He glanced towards the kitchen to make sure Adalee wasn't within earshot. "It's not the same, but something like it. I can feel..." He closed his eyes, and let his senses expand outwards. "Pain is what I mostly feel. And Tycho...fading beneath it. Like... Like water evaporating in the sunlight. " His eyes opened again as he shut his mind off as much as he could from the misery that was emanating from the bedroom. He wouldn't tell them just how much agony he could sense They didn't need to know; it wouldn't help anything if they did.
Corran looked around the room as silence descended on the group again. He saw Hobbie tuck an arm around Iella, and she leaned on him for support. Wes stood silently by as Mirax slipped her arm around Corran's waist. He put his arm around her shoulders, kissed the top of her head, and held her close. He tried not to imagine what it would be like if Mirax was the one in the bedroom, with him sitting on the bed, watching and feeling her life fade away.
Adalee and Syal came back into the room, stopping short at the entrance. They obviously could sense a subtle shift in the air. Wes was the first to move, going to take the tray of cups from Adalee, and life seemed to start moving again.