Chapter 22: Dust to Dust

Main Hangar Bay, 6:00 am…

Caleb was just about to give the order to get into the shuttle when his comlink came to life, with Roman's voice coming through:

"Caleb, this is Roman! Be advised, we are coming in hot!"

Caleb breathed a sigh of relief as he said: "Is he dead?"

"Caleb, I can officially say that your daughter has been avenged. Elias is dead." Roman replied. "On a more serious note, both me and Seth are wounded. Seth will need immediate medical attention, as his wounds are life threatening."

Caleb frowned and said: "Haul ass, then. Get him here, and we can all get out of here."

"Will do. Roman out." Roman said.

Caleb allowed himself to relax before contacting Blaze: "Blaze, I got good news and bad news! Good news is, Roman. Seth and Tails are on the way. The bad news is, Seth is critically wounded. He will need urgent medical attention."

"I'm doing what I can here, Caleb. Things have gotten pretty complicated." Blaze replied.

"In what way?" Caleb inquired.

Blaze sighed. "The baby's in the breech position, which'll make this a lot harder than it should be. Thankfully, the worst has passed, and the baby's nearly out."

Caleb scowled. The birth of his grandson Eren had been a breech delivery, and had nearly killed his daughter. "Do what you can. But right now, I want the ramp lowered. Roman, Seth and Tails will likely want a quick exit."

"Understood." Blaze replied. Within a few seconds, the ramp began lowering.

Turning to the others, Caleb shouted: "Get in! Go, go, go!"

The people all obliged, and once the ramp was lowered, they began to enter the ship.

Silver was the last of this first wave of people to get into the shuttle, calling out to Blaze: "I'll get the ship warmed up!" As he entered.

Meanwhile, Caleb and the clones were now putting up a rear-guard, awaiting the arrival of Roman, Seth and Tails.

"Any minute now would be fucking nice!" Tusk shouted.

Caleb was about to mutter agreement, when suddenly, a familiar voice shouted:

"HEY!"

Caleb looked towards the voice, and his heart lifted.

Running as best they could towards Caleb and the clones, carrying a clearly wounded Seth between them, were Roman and Tails.

"Cover fire!" Caleb shouted as he leapt from cover, laying down fire for the Jedi's approach. As they drew closer, Caleb got a glimpse of Seth's wounds:

Two slashes, one from shoulder to hip, and the other across his abdomen, a stab wound that looked potentially fatal, and half of Seth's ear was missing, the other half being covered with dried blood.

Shaking his head, Caleb shouted: "Get him inside!"

Roman obliged, while Tails bounded on inside, finding himself greeted by the moans of pain from Ahsoka. "Get the ramp up!" Roman shouted over this. "And get us the fuck out of here!"

"On it!" Tails called out from the cockpit. Within moments, the entire group felt the ship lifting into the air and flying off.

As if on cue, a familiar sound came to Roman's ears:

The sound of a newborn baby crying.

His head snapped towards the scene, as did Seth, whose eyes were wide and brimming with tears.

Blaze looked over at the pair with a smile. "Just in time, as well." She said.

Seth pushed Roman away as he staggered towards Blaze, his mouth struggling to form words. "Is… is it okay?"

Ahsoka, who by now was holding her newborn child, looked up at Seth and nodded. "She's beautiful."

"It's a girl?" Seth asked as a multitude of emotions rushed through him: Joy, happiness, love, he could name them all.

Seth took a few more steps towards Ahsoka and their newborn daughter, when he suddenly keeled over, hitting the floor near Ahsoka.

Roman's eyes widened at this, as he scrambled over to Seth, helping him up and lying him down next to Ahsoka.

Blaze immediately got to checking his wounds, Roman close by.

"How is it?" He asked.

Blaze sighed. "He's fading. But if I work fast, I'll-"

Seth stopped her with a raised hand, before his head turned up to Ahsoka, motioning with his hands. "Give her here." He said faintly.

Blaze shook her head. "Seth, we've got to save-"

Seth pushed Blaze back as he forced himself into a sitting position, motioning for Ahsoka to hand him their newborn daughter.

Ahsoka obliged, handing the still bloody baby into Seth's arms.

The moment he laid eyes on his daughter, Seth let out a choked sob.

As he and Ahsoka had figured, their daughter was mixed race, a cross between human and Togruta, having inherited her mother's skin, but not the markings or montrals, instead having human ears. Seth imagined she'd have his hair. Grimacing in pain, his breath starting to grow ragged, Seth said: "Just like you." He said.

Roman watched this scene just as a loud explosion could be heard, and he felt the ship veer left. Turning away and entering the cockpit, Roman looked out of the side window, smiling as he saw what had happened.

The Star Destroyer they had only just been on had now exploded, likely killing everyone on board. Good riddance to bad rubbish, Roman thought, just as Tails exclaimed in shock, to which Roman looked to the right, scowling as he saw a new Star Destroyer had arrived, fresh out of hyperspace. Considering who Elias had been planning on journeying to meet, Roman already had an idea who was on board:

Vader.

He was driven from this when he heard a loud thud, followed by a gasp, as Ashley suddenly burst in.

"Roman, Tails, you need to come now." She said. Sighing, she added: "It's Seth." Her eyes told him the rest.

Roman's face fell as he registered this information, before he and Tails stepped out of the cockpit, to find a scene he had long wished he'd never seen.

Seth was now lying on the floor, with Ahsoka having knelt down and joined him.

Blaze was standing a bit away, holding Seth and Ahsoka's newborn daughter, who was crying herself.

Seth saw Roman and Tails, and forced himself to sit up, despite the obvious pain it took him to do so. "Get over here." He said.

Roman quickly obliged, gripping Seth's hand. "We're here, Seth." He said.

Seth's breath now came in strained, ragged gasps as he held onto life as tightly as possible. "Looks like this is a one-way trip for me, bud." He said weakly.

Roman shook his head, forcing tears back as he said: "Hold on, Seth. Your daughter needs you."

Seth let out a small breath as he said: "I know." He started coughing heavily, before falling back again.

Roman looked up at Ahsoka, whose eyes were shut against tears which fell anyway, dripping down on Seth's ruined chest.

Seth reached out with the last of his strength and brushed his hand against Ahsoka's cheek, chuckling as he said: "Don't cry, 'Soka. Soon, I'll be one with the Force."

Ahsoka shook her head. "I don't want you to become one with the Force!" She sobbed. "I want you to be alive. With me, and our daughter. Where you belong."

Seth laid his head back, as he said: "I don't have a choice." He said. "My time has come."

Roman's fury rose as he snarled: "Don't you fucking say that, Seth! There's always a fucking choice!" At this point, tears were also falling, which intensified as Seth said:

"Not this time…" He replied. His grip weakened as his strength began to desert him. His breath becoming more and more ragged, Seth gathered enough to say: "Promise me something, Roman."

Gripping Seth's hand harder, Roman asked: "Anything, Seth. Anything."

Seth's grip grew firmer as he said: "Promise me that you'll protect my daughter… Promise me you'll be the father I could never be."

Roman choked back a sob at this. He wanted to refuse, wanted to beg Seth to hold on until they could get him medical attention, but he knew it was too late. Bowing his head, Roman said: "I promise, Seth. I promise."

Seth nodded, and with his final breath, he whispered: "Thank you…" And just like that, his eyes closed as his head lolled back, his arms grew slack, and fell to the floor.

Seth Kerran, the friend Roman had risked so much for, was dead.

Roman blinked as he saw this, before his mouth fell open. His breath grew as laboured as Seth's had been just before he died, and his mouth opened, trying to form words that refused to come out. Until finally, the tears came flooding out, and Roman slumped onto his back, letting out a choked sob and a cry of "No!" as he finally burst into tears.

Ahsoka did the same, except she pressed her forehead against the head of Seth, her tears dripping upon his face.

As if she sensed what had just happened, Ahsoka's daughter began crying as well, saddened to no end that she no longer had a father, despite having known him mercifully for the last minutes of his life.

The depressing mood was infectious, and soon, everyone else was either crying or trying not to cry.

Tails only caught a glimpse through the tears he was crying, but he could swear that he saw Shadow shedding a tear as well, in a rare sign of emotion for the obsidian hedgehog.

It was five painful minutes before Roman finally sat up, his eyes puffy and bloodshot from so much crying. He was still crying. With this, he looked at Blaze, who seemed to be crying for a different reason.

"I could have saved him." Blaze sobbed. "This is all my fault."

"No it isn't." Roman said, getting up. Looking at Seth's body, Roman said: "I should have sent him with Ashley and Caleb." Before walking to the ladder that led to the downstairs and climbing down it. Right now, all he wanted was to be alone.

At the same time, Star Destroyer Devastator…

Darth Vader eyed the collection of debris that was once a Star Destroyer with a seemingly emotionless face, imagining that if he sent out probe droids, one of them would find the former Grand Inquisitor's body floating in space, unless it had been vaporised in the explosion, a fate that Vader assumed was what had befallen the former Grand Inquisitor. Not that Vader cared what had happened to them. Either way, the Grand Inquisitor would have died for his failures.

"Lord Vader?"

Vader turned to find the Devastator's commander standing behind him. "Admiral Ozzel. What news?"

"Recovery ships have picked up an escape pod with several survivors inside. We have only just confirmed that neither of the Inquisitors are among the survivors."

Vader dismissively waved his hand. "The fate of the Inquisitors on board that Star Destroyer are no concern of mine anymore, admiral. They can and have been replaced." Vader then inquired: "Any information as to who the survivors are?"

"General Stannis Okada, Colonel Joffrey Stark, Frederick the Cat, and Alec Devron Otranto." Ozzel replied. "They are on their way here now."

Vader nodded dismissively as he folded his arms. "Tell them I await their report into what happened on that Star Destroyer. I would discover just how the Freedom Fighters managed to get on board."

Admiral Ozzell nodded and turned away, leaving Vader alone.

Vader once again turned to the visage of the debris that was once the Grand Inquisitor's flagship. He recalled how the former Grand Inquisitor had told him once that the Freedom Fighters were nothing more than a small band of dissidents that would be obliterated once their base was discovered. As he watched the debris of the Grand Inquisitor's Star Destroyer float about aimlessly in space, Vader began to seriously doubt the credibility and validity of the now deceased Grand Inquisitor's words. For Vader knew, 'a small band' of rebels would never be able to pull off something like this. He knew since he had tried once, but failed miserably.

He was driven once more from thought when Admiral Ozzel appeared.

"Lord Vader, the survivors are here."

Vader turned to see two dishevelled looking Imperial Officers, one fairly shaken up Mobian, and a hardly affected-at-all human. Looking again towards the debris of the Star Destroyer, he turned away and strode towards the survivors. They had some explaining to do.

Later, Angel Island Hangar, 7:30 am…

"Roman, we're here."

Roman looked up from where he was sat to see Ashley standing there, a saddened look crossing her face. "Thanks, Ash." Roman replied. He rose to his feet as he said: "Just give me a couple of seconds longer."

Ashley sighed as she nodded understanding.

Roman looked up and asked: "Are Ahsoka and the baby alright?"

Ashley nodded. "They're fine. Both are all cleaned up, and… well, they're as fine as they can be, given what happened."

Roman nodded appreciatively, and leaned against the wall, a clear look of guilt crossing his face.

Ashley recognised this and walked over. "Roman, what happened to Seth isn't your fault." She said.

Roman shook his head. "You're wrong." He said. "If I'd sent him away with you and Caleb…"

"Then we'd be mourning you and Tails, instead." Ashley said. "From what Tails told me, Seth saved your life during that duel. If he'd not been there, well, I don't want to think about what would have happened."

Roman looked away, which made Ashley change her tact.

"Sorry. That sounded selfish." Ashley said.

"No, no. It's okay." Roman replied. Shaking his head, Roman said: "Honestly though, I'd give everything to be in Seth's place. I'd rather he let Elias kill me then save me. Then maybe, he'd still be alive."

Ashley cupped Roman's cheek as she answered: "Maybe. But don't tear yourself apart over it. Seth wouldn't want that."

Roman nodded as the ramp lowered, and people started coming down in order to exit.

Ahsoka came down first, holding her and Seth's baby daughter with one arm as she came down, immediately walking over to Roman and Ashley. "Everyone okay?" She asked.

Roman's expression told her the whole story, and her facial expression turned gentle. "Roman, for the record, I don't blame you for Seth's death." She said. "Now would I ever blame you for it."

Roman refused to be lifted from his mood, however, and said: "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ahsoka. But quite frankly, I don't deserve any absolution. Seth died on my watch, and as the commander of this mission, I deserve some of the blame."

"But not all of it." Ahsoka replied. "Be that as it may, I still don't blame you. Seth wouldn't want that. Not for his best friend."

Roman sighed before he looked up. "I guess so." He said. "But how are you holding up? He was your boyfriend."

Ahsoka sighed and said: "It's still sinking in. But I know that Seth wouldn't want me to beat myself up over it either. He'd want me to move on."

Roman frowned, but nodded, saying: "Let's go." With that, him, Ahsoka, and Ashley descended the ramp, finding the entire group gathered outside, facing away from Roman and the others. Guessing what was coming, Roman turned to Ahsoka. "Empire's Bane. Now." He said.

Ahsoka nodded, and walked towards the Empire's Bane, her daughter in her arms.

Roman watched her walk on as he turned again to the group, calling out: "I'll handle this, guys."

Those closest turned to see Roman approaching, and split, as did the others, until it revealed a person Roman was not too keen on seeing right now: Which just so happened to be a very angry Sally.

"You'd better have a good explanation for this one, Rome." She snarled.

Roman stepped further through the gap his team had made for him to pass through, looking at him expectantly. Looking around, Roman sighed. "Sally, I know you're mad, but-"

Sally fake-laughed before glaring straight at Roman: "Mad? Try furious. Have you any fucking idea how worried I was when I was woken up by Amy, who told me you and everyone here had gone off on a potential suicide mission!"

Roman scowled as Sally swore. Whenever she did that, it was usually when she was furious. "It's not suicide if the majority of us survived." Roman replied calmly. "We only lost two people."

"You still could have all died!" Sally snapped. "And what's worse, you disobeyed a direct order. I told you my decision on the matter was final, yet you went along and did it anyway!" Sally threw her hands up before adding: "Also, what the fuck were you thinking, putting Ahsoka at risk like you did? She's fucking pregnant, for fuck's sake!"

"Ahsoka came of her own free will." Roman retorted. "And she's not pregnant anymore. She went into labour during the mission, but I assure you, the baby was born safely."

Sally seemed to calm down slightly after that, before looking around at the people around her. "Okay." She said. "So, where is Seth? At least tell me you succeeded."

Roman's expression tightened as he turned to the cargo shuttle he had stolen for the mission, in which Seth's body still lay. "He was wounded during the escape." Roman said, fighting back tears. "He… he didn't make it."

Sally's inquisitive expression became one of sympathy as she said: "Roman, I'm so sor-"

"Sally, don't." Roman snapped. "If there's one thing I don't want right now, it's your sympathy. If you hadn't ruled out a rescue mission, we wouldn't be having this conversation!" Roman paused before saying: "I warned you the day you gave that order that if Seth died, his blood would be on your hands. And like it or not, but it is."

"I was doing what was best for the Freedom Fighters!" Sally shot back. "And it was your mission that Seth died on, so in a way, his blood is on your hands as well!"

"Maybe, but at least I made a fucking effort!" Roman fired back. "Seth was my best friend, and had I followed your orders, Seth would be on Mustafar by now, being tortured to death by Darth Vader himself!" Roman paused again before saying: "And then, we'd all be to blame. Years from now, if that had been the case, the history books won't be praising you. All they'll be doing is blaming you fully for involuntarily condemning Seth to death!" Roman shook his head as he added: "And then they'll ask the question: 'hey, how come Roman the Fox didn't pull his head out of his ass and do something'?" Roman folded his arms as he added: "That's not how I want to be remembered. I want to be remembered as the person that had the balls to go out there and rescue Seth, rather than one of the people who sat back and condemned him to a slow and painful death!"

"Oh, and I also wish to say that I can officially brag to Sonic that I had the balls to defy his wife, but he didn't." Shadow said with a smirk.

Sally sent him into silence with a harsh glare before eyeing Roman. "Be that as it may, however you want to spin it, my decision benefitted the Freedom Fighters. Because if I'd authorised a mission to rescue Seth, we'd have taken heavier losses. And I'd prefer it if that didn't happen. That's why I made the choice to rule out a rescue mission for Seth."

"Well in case it hasn't sunk in, my best friend is dead because of your fucking choice!" Roman snapped. Backing away from Sally, he allowed some tears to fall. "What happened to us, Sally?" He asked. "We used to be one of the best groups out there, ready to tackle any challenge, fight any foe, rescue any of our friends that needed it!" Roman folded his arms. "Seth was one of those friends. He needed our help, but you vetoed any action being taken, leaving it to me to do it myself!" Roman's tone grew angrier as he said: "That's not the Freedom Fighters I used to know. The Freedom Fighters I used to know would have jumped at the best chance to rescue Seth, including you!" Roman paused as he shook his head, saying: "The fact that you didn't even want to try to rescue him is disgusting. As is the fact that the other Freedom Fighters save for Tails, chose to obey your orders, instead of rescuing their friend!"

"Well if the Freedom Fighters disgust you so much, then maybe you shouldn't be a Freedom Fighter!" Sally shouted in reply.

The entire group gasped as those words left Sally's mouth. She had never said something like that to any of them. Ever.

Roman's face turned to one of hurt as Sally's words hit home, and then to one of anger.

Upon realising what she had just said, Sally said: "Roman…"

"No, Sally. I understand." Roman said, his voice steely calm, as it was when he was on the very cusp of completely losing his temper. "Because I disobeyed your orders, and because I don't fit in with whatever vision you currently have for the Freedom Fighters, you want me gone."

Sally shook her head. "Roman, I didn't mean that, I-"

"I what, Sally?" Roman snarled, making her back away. "I meant something else? Because it's pretty clear to me that you no longer want me around. And don't give me the 'I didn't mean it' crap. You meant it." Turning to Shatter and Tusk, Roman said: "Get to the Empire's Bane. We're leaving."

Sally came forward, her tone becoming pleading: "Roman, please. I-"

Roman silenced her with a cautionary hand. "No need to explain what you've said Sally. I understand perfectly."

"No you don't, Roman!" Sally exploded, as she fought back tears. "I wasn't thinking when I said that!"

"Well, it came from somewhere, and I doubt it came from anywhere but your head!" Roman snapped. "You want me gone, fine. I'm leaving." At this he turned away, facing Ashley. "You coming?" He asked.

Ashley sighed. "Wherever you go, I'll go with you." She said.

Sally turned to Ashley. "You're going too?" She asked, her voice becoming desperate.

Ashley scowled. "You brought this on yourself, Sally. Every decision you made up to this point has been nothing short of stupid. Your decisions didn't benefit the Freedom Fighters; instead you've split them down the middle!" Ashley sighed as she said: "There was a time where I thought I'd be a Freedom Fighter for life. Where I'd follow you to the ends of the galaxy. But now, with what's happened, I can't allow myself to think it will all be alright. Like it or not, your decisions contributed to Seth's death more than you think. And a leader that costs lives intentionally is a leader I refuse to follow." With that, she turned away from Sally and walked away, passing Roman, who was in the middle of a talk with Tails:

"I know you're disgusted as well by what's happened, bud." Roman said. "But I don't want your friendship with Sonic to end over what happened today. Plus, with what happened, the Freedom Fighters are going to need a Jedi by their side more than ever."

"But I'm not a Jedi." Tails replied. "Not yet."

Roman knelt down, for Tails was still shorter than him, as he replied: "Yes you are, Tails. You may not realise it, but when we struck down Elias, you showed me that you're ready. You no longer need any training." Reaching out, Roman placed his hand on Tails' shoulder. "Your training is complete. Fuck ceremony, and fuck the traditions. I officially name you a Jedi Knight."

Tails bowed his head. "So what now?" He asked.

"Now, you go home. Get some sleep. You earned it." Roman replied.

Tails sadly nodded before turning to leave, flashing Sally a bitter look before he turned and left.

Roman looked over the rest of the group and said: "Anyone else want to come with?"

It wasn't long before Cassian and his remaining men came forward. "The only reason we joined was to save our friend, Seth. Now he's gone… I see no reason to stay here." Cassian said.

Roman nodded, motioning for them to come aboard. "Get Seth's body, first." Roman said as they approached. "Before we go, we're giving him a proper funeral."

Cassian and one of his remaining men, that being Thane, nodded and proceeded to head over to the cargo shuttle.

Roman looked and saw that Sally was walking away, hearing her quietly sobbing. "Sally!" He called out.

Sally turned, her eyes tearful and her face gaunt with hurt. "What?" She demanded.

Roman frowned. "I want to say I'll be back, but I won't make any promises." He said, before turning to head up the ramp into the Empire's Bane, just as he heard Sally shout back:

"If I never see you again, it'll be a thousand years too soon!"

Roman's eyes began filling with tears, which he wiped away as he headed up the ramp into the Empire's Bane. "We're all aboard, Ahsoka." He said via his comlink. "Take us away."

Within moments, the Empire's Bane lifted off, and sailed out of the Freedom Fighter hangar, off into the unknown.

Moments later, main cockpit…

Roman stepped into the cockpit to find Ahsoka and Cassian at the piloting controls, the former feeding her daughter.

"So what now?" Ahsoka asked.

Roman frowned and sat down. "We head down to the countryside around Mobotropolis, and there, we build a pyre for Seth. And then, we give him a funeral he'd approve of. After that, we get the heck off of this planet. There're too many memories here for us to stay."

Ahsoka nodded, before saying "His body's where me and him used to sleep, if you want to know."

Roman nodded as he stood up and walked towards the sleeping quarters, stepping into the room in question, nearly turning away as fresh tears threatened to fall.

Seth lay on the bed he and Ahsoka had once shared, much of his body covered with a white sheet save for his head. A deathly pallor had come over his skin, as it did when a human died, and his eyes were closed.

Roman forced himself to move closer, as he sat by Seth's body, keeping his eyes on the body. It felt unnatural to Roman to see Seth this way, no longer as full of life as he had been when he had been alive. Without thinking, he spoke: "It still hasn't sunk in… that you're actually gone. Granted, it's been a few hours, but, the pain hasn't gone away." Roman bowed his head as fresh tears finally fell. "Neither has the guilt." He said. "If only I was in your place." He added. "It should be me where you are, and you where I am!" Roman shouted. Calming down a little, Roman said: "It isn't fair." He said, feeling like a five year old complaining to his parents. "You still had your whole life ahead of you, and you just became a father." Roman leaned back and folded his arms. "You deserve to be a father far more than I do, right now. If I couldn't stop you from dying, then how the fuck am I supposed to protect a baby girl?!" Roman choked back a sob and said: "I know what you'd say: 'It's not your fault', but-"

"And he'd be right."

Roman looked up and towards the speaker, that being Ahsoka, who was standing in the doorway, her daughter now asleep.

Walking towards Roman, Ahsoka looked down at her dead boyfriend's body before looking back at Roman, saying: "I said this when we left the cargo shuttle: What happened to Seth was not your fault."

Roman frowned. "Maybe it wasn't. But, that still doesn't change how unfair it is!" He shouted. "It should've been me." He said. "It should be me lying there, not Seth. He deserved better than this."

Ahsoka walked up and placed her hand on Roman's shoulder. "Seth deserved a lot of things, Roman." She said. "But he was well aware that he wouldn't attain all of them. One of his favourite sayings was that you can deserve a lot of things, but even then, you're only likely to attain a few. True, he deserved to be a father. You and I both know that he'd have been a great one." Ahsoka paused before adding: "But let me tell you something: Don't sell yourself short because you failed to save Seth. I saw how you were with Caleb's grandson Eren, and I've seen how you are with the younger members of Angel Island's community. I know for a fact that you'll be a fantastic father when the time comes for you and Ashley. And while you're not exactly her father, you'll be good to my daughter, too."

Roman nodded as for the first time since Seth had died, a smile came to his face. "Have you thought of a name yet?" He asked.

Ahsoka nodded. "Seth wanted to name her after my mother if the baby was a girl, which she is. So that'll be her name: Ashla Kerran."

Roman smiled. "A beautiful name." He said, as the pair exited the room. There was much to do.

That night, a hill overlooking Mobotropolis, 21:00 pm…

Everyone watched solemnly as the funeral pyre burnt, its flames a signal to anyone watching that respects were being paid to the dead, and painting those that watched in a fiery red light.

It was upon this pyre that the body of Seth Kerran lay, his armour cleaned and polished, looking as new upon him as it had been when he had first worn it. His hair had been freshly combed, and his hands were over his chest. He looked almost as if he was sleeping peacefully. Only that sleep would be eternal, and Seth would never again rise.

Roman watched this with a bowed head, tears steadily falling down his face. He still wished that it was him on that pyre, and not Seth. He always would, there was no doubt about it.

He looked to Ahsoka, who was standing next to him and gently crying as she watched the body of the man she loved burn. Ashla was asleep in her crib back on the Empire's Bane, safe and sound.

Reaching out, Roman placed a comforting hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, soon feeling her hand on his. "He's finally at peace." Roman said, blinking back tears as he said it. "As much as it hurts to admit it, he's finally at peace now. With his mom. With Roth… with everyone else we've lost to the fucking Empire."

Ahsoka nodded and looked at Roman. "You still feel guilty?" She asked.

Roman sighed as fresh tears fell. "Quite frankly, I'll always feel guilty for Seth's death." Roman replied. "Just like I'll always think it should be me on that pyre right now." Pulling Ahsoka closer, as he did with Ashley, who was to his right, Roman said: "I've lost good friends to the Empire before. But… but none have affected me quite as much as losing Seth has."

"True." Ashley said, laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around him. "But broken hearts can mend. New people will come, and fill the holes that the deaths of those we love will inevitably leave."

Roman frowned. "Perhaps." He said. "But no-one will ever fill the hole that Seth's left behind." With that, he turned and headed on back towards the Empire's Bane. Never before had he felt so loved, yet felt so alone.

And there it is. The end to one of the best stories I've ever written in my opinion.

And to be honest, I was crying as I was writing the chapter. Having lost people I'm close to, I know precisely how it feels to lose someone you love, as will those that read this. I only hope that Seth's death will touch the hearts of everyone who takes the time of day to read this.

Either way, I assure you, Seth will return, in a soon to be produced fanfiction series centred around him during the Clone Wars: How he and Roman grew so close, how he fell in love with Ahsoka, all will be revealed within that series.

Either way, I plan on taking a brief hiatus from fanfiction writing to focus on other interests, but rest assured, I will return with the final fanfiction in my Star Wars and Sonic the Hedgehog Series in due time.

With that said, thank you all for taking the time to read this fanfiction. if you enjoyed it, then leave a review in the appropriate section, letting me know what it is that you enjoyed about it, and what you feel I could do better with future fanfictions. In the event that you really enjoyed it, then favourite the story, and me, so you will be notified whenever I publish the final instalment in my Star Wars and Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfiction Series.

Again, thank you for reading, and I will see you at some point with the final of my Star Wars and Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfiction Series:

A Jedi's Final Stand.

T-Rock14