Paneau: capital city of Dalon
Rys'tihn Manor
5.4 APC

Though they had only gotten a few precious hours of rest, Elena slowly woke from her light slumber, her head still on Koril's shoulder just as they had fallen asleep together. She watched him carefully for a few moments, though, making sure he remained asleep. His heart rate was slow and steady as she wrapped herself in the moment, cherishing the feeling of his heart beating softly in her ear and under her palm resting atop his chest. He hadn't moved at all from his original position, and she was elated to sense that his mind had remained at peace, even in sleep. Her mere presence at his side was enough of an influence on his mood and his spirit that she hardly had to do anything else but lay beside him, and as much as she couldn't bear to disturb his tranquility, she needed some time with her own thoughts.

Before she moved, she gently extended her consciousness in the Force to his mind, using the calming effect she had on him to deepen his state of sleep and ensure that he wouldn't wake when she left. As a quick test, she carefully eased herself closer to him, planting a light yet earnest kiss on his warm, slightly parted lips. She waited a few moments, watching him for any signs that he was waking, but when none came, she smiled sincerely as she hadn't been able to for a long time. Obviously he needed the rest, but despite her own fatigue, she was still able to recharge herself quickly, only requiring a brief meditation. She took painstaking care to move gracefully and slowly, desperate to refrain from jarring him as she got up from their bed. Thankfully he remained undisturbed, though, and looking down on him again, she let go of a deep sigh of relief, delicately reaching out to him in the Force once more.

I'll be right here, I promise.

Though she wasn't sure how far she could go and maintain the connection between them, she didn't intend to leave him for long. The Manor was too busy with the staff and guards ambling about all day long, and even though it wasn't currently occupied by any Rys'tihns, the Retreat, too, was crawling with guards. Any other familiar places around Dalon would already have been swamped with civilians and officials alike by midday, severely limiting her choices for a place to find complete tranquility.

Except...the one place she hadn't visited for more than five years.

Without being entirely conscious of how she had arrived there or how long it had taken her, she found herself standing at the mouth of the Valley of the Royals, the deep, cavernous tomb where past Paneau monarchs and their families had been laid to rest for centuries. The Valley was far enough outside the main borders of the city that she could ignore the bustling activity of thousands of beings around it, affording her true solitude...even though her surroundings would possibly pain her and distract her more.

She had been secreted away to Hoth almost three years ago before spicers had assassinated Veon Banarecc, one of her closest friends and one of the first allies she had made on Paneau when she had arrived as a young Jedi Academy student. As the threat for further spicer attacks within the sector refused to wane, she had been denied the chance to even attend Veon's funeral, instead forced to remain hidden in order to protect her daughter before she was born. After returning home to Paneau with her newborn girl, she had focused on caring for Dirani, as well as for her husband who had seemingly suffered the loss of his Ghost Heir sister. Between the two of them, she had little time to herself before she accepted the mission to Montar, and she had yet to pay her last respects to Veon at his final resting place. It seemed as fitting a time as any while she could slip away mostly unnoticed for just a little while...

Two tall, armed, well-built Scepter Guards stood at attention on either side of her at the Valley's entrance, and though they were silent, she could feel their gazes on her, casually observing her. They must be part of a new visible guard presence at the city's Royal establishments, she surmised, reflecting the increased security Koril had enacted following the murder of the former king. She took in a slow, controlled breath, steeling herself for the deep emotions she was beginning to feel returning to her before she looked to one of the guards. Her voice shook despite her best efforts to control it.

"May I go inside?"

The guard nodded cordially, recognizing her as a Royal. "Of course, ma'am."

The Scepter Guards, a relatively new group formed specifically for protecting the young King Verojec, respected the inherent authority and honor the Royal Families of Paneau deserved. However, their mission was solely dedicated to Jec, just as the Edgepoint Squadron very nearly served the Rys'tihns exclusively. Only the Edgepoints and close Security Forces officer friends of Koril's addressed her as m'lady; though it had been two years, hearing ma'am directed at her caught her off guard momentarily. She recovered quickly, though, nodding her thanks graciously as she descended the broad stone steps into the cavern's darkness.

The last time she had stepped foot in the Valley had been at Queen Tascit's funeral following the Dalon Palace collapse, and it felt to her like that had been an eternity ago. That whole month had been nothing but a painful blur in her memory, worsened by the realization that Elena herself had been so ineffectual in the aftermath. So much catastrophic death and destruction she hadn't experienced before had rendered her almost useless; in shock, she couldn't think long enough to decide how she could best put her talents to work, so she instead looked to others to lead the recovery efforts. She stayed at Koril's side after he had sustained grievous injuries in a rescue attempt, and even as the Paneau laid their Queen to rest, Elena had only participated as an observer.

After Veon's death, though, she hadn't even been on Paneau.

As she finally reached its lowest level, her heavy boots echoed through the vast tomb as light clicks on the stone, joining a medley of subtle drips of water that fell at uneven intervals into small pools collecting about the floor. The Valley itself wasn't far removed from the Polu River, and she assumed that those same waters had carved the ancient cavern thousands of years before it had been diverted to its present course. But the air didn't smell...moldy, or rotten, like she would have expected a formation of such magnitude to, nevermind the fact that it served as a burial ground for an untold number of Paneau. Perhaps its atmosphere was carefully regulated to guard against just that.

Glowing orbs softly illuminated metallic plates attached to the walls of the cave, identifying the Royal entombed behind it. She passed a hundred or more Ordeels on her right, lined up in neat rows stretching from the floor to the ceiling a half kilometer above her head. They had been buried in sequence, and she could tell those high up in the darkness were still Ordeels because of the color of the lights; each Royal family was represented by a distinguishing color within the tomb. The Ordeels' plates glowed a quiet, pure emerald green, and just beside the green began a line of blue-lighted plates, indicating the transition of power and the beginning of the Gedall ruling line. Taking a few more steps further, the date she could read on the Gedall plate at her eye level was more than five hundred years old, and it was quickly followed by another transition nearby. Delicate fuchsia orbs continued down the wall of the cavern for the Ot'rio monarchs, and then -

"Elena?"

The young man's voice up ahead of her in the darkness startled a gasp out of her. Her eyes had already adjusted to the dim lighting, but she had been so inwardly focused, so intent on processing her own thoughts, she hadn't even sensed her company just meters away.

"Jec!" she breathed in alarm, fumbling for words in her surprise. "I - I didn't know you were down here! They didn't tell me -"

"It's okay," he answered, calmly shaking his head with a broad smile and a warm, friendly tone. "I wasn't going to stay much longer, anyway."

From a small, movable bench placed just in front of a row of amber lights, Jec stood as she stepped closer to him, and again, her breath caught in her chest. Though she had spoken with the young Banarecc king dozens of times during her time spent away from Paneau, it had been almost two years since she had seen him in person...or against a scale reference of any kind. The boy she had once known as young as seven years old, had seen grow up before her eyes as he took on the burdens of an entire planet at twelve, now easily towered a head taller than her, perhaps more; how could she have also missed his elongated, more defined facial features?

Her reaction must have been completely patent, making him blush as he shrugged. "I'll be eighteen next month, you know."

Though still recovering, she laughed lightly as she looked him over, a little surprised to see him dressed in one of his finest garments in such a damp, murky place. Precious amber jewels were sewn into his deep purple suit, and they decreased in size as they descended from his shoulders to his waist where a golden sash was tied, its ends gracefully hanging at his left side. He had worn a similar suit a few years ago to a benefit concert they had attended together, but despite his much lankier frame, he looked less like a young man and more like a true king...and the more she studied his face, the more of his father she saw in him.

She was unsure how his smile could be much bigger as he stepped even closer to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I am so happy you're home."

Appreciating his warm hug, she returned it. "So am I. I was away far too long this time."

After he released her and stepped back, his smile remained. "Of all my advisers, you're the only one everyone missed while you were gone."

Elena laughed, certain he was exaggerating. "Even Aemon?"

But he nodded firmly. "Even Aemon."

Aemon Glorn was one of Jec's older advisers, and he was also one of the few holdovers from the previous king's staff. Aemon often disagreed with Jec's newer policies because of how they differed from Veon's, but he still remained a valuable link to his father's reign that Jec couldn't afford to lose.

Though she maintained her smile, too, she let it fade a bit as she continued. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll go -"

"Really, Elena," Jec pleaded, still grinning, "don't worry about it. I just come here every once in a while to talk to Dad."

As Jec turned to look at the wall beside them where golden lights were gently glowing atop Banarecc family plates, Elena's expression immediately faltered and fell though his remained the same. Her gaze followed his and found the plate with Veon's name, the last and most recent Royal buried in the Valley. Though she had momentarily been able to ignore it as she reunited with Jec unexpectedly, her heart was again heavy with grief and sadness as she stood before Veon's grave, the reality of his death paining her more than she had anticipated. Picking up on her distress, Jec gently pulled her to sit beside him on the bench, gracefully stooping to sit himself despite his awkward lankiness. He remained silent at her side, watching her a bit worriedly, but her cheeks flushed with embarrassment that she had reacted so transparently in front of him; his was not the company with which to share her sorrow.

Swallowing hard to force down her emotions, she kept her voice light. "What do you talk to him about?"

Without any hint of unease about the topic, he even smiled a bit as he shrugged. "A little bit of everything, really." He paused a moment, though, glancing to the side with a distant gaze. "Today was...different, though. Special."

Though she was curious, she didn't press any further for fear of delving too deeply into his personal matters he wasn't prepared to share. Jec had endured so many losses and disasters in his young life, yet his spirit remained so hopeful and happy; Elena didn't dare force him into any discussion that wasn't absolutely necessary.

He surprised her, though, as he continued without a prompt, smiling meekly as if he were reluctant to confess. "...in my head, I know that he's gone. I know that he can't answer me. But it still wouldn't feel right to me, and my heart would never rest...if I didn't get his approval first."

Almost afraid to ask what he meant, she waited, her brows furrowed as her breath frozen in her chest...

Closing his eyes briefly, his smile widened with bated exhilaration. "...I want to ask Seyiri to be my queen."

It would be several seconds before Elena finally breathed again, her smile matching his even though tears formed in her eyes. Seyiri Ordeel, a fellow Royal and longtime friend of Jec's, had been spending an increasing amount of time at the Banarecc Estate, which Elena had noticed even before taking on the Montar mission. The two had been close since their early schooldays at the Dalon Provincial Academy, and though they hadn't been public about a relationship, Elena had suspected for a while.

"Oh, Jec," she managed in between a hybrid laugh and happy sob, "I am very certain...that he wouldn't have objected at all."

Appreciating her confirmation, he nodded his thanks, looking to the floor with fond thoughts of her. "She'll be a good queen for Paneau. She's smart, and she knows how to keep the Business Board in line."

Elena barely managed to refrain from rolling her eyes, grinning in agreement. Of all the new Royal Advisory Boards, the Business Board members had been the most...demanding recently for some reason. Seyiri's father, Kellan Ordeel remained the board's leader, as he had been since Jec had taken the Crown almost five years ago, but it was Seyiri's voice they heeded most consistently. Though Elena hadn't seen her for two years, the girl had most certainly become a beautiful young woman, if the completely captivated look on Jec's face was any indication.

Still so excited about the news, Elena beamed with pride at him, her eyes glistening with unshed happy tears. As Jec looked up at her and met her gaze once more, he smiled shyly with surprise, not expecting her reaction. She simply shook her head, unable to blink without forcing a tear to fall.

"You have grown up so much... I can hardly believe it. Eighteen is not possible." She paused with a light laugh. "Do you know how old that makes me?"

Jec laughed, too. "You're not old. We're not that far apart in age."

Her smile remained. "Do you remember the first time we met?"

Suddenly stumped by her question, he shrugged apologetically. "No, I don't think so."

"I do," she continued affectionately. "I'll never forget it." She took a moment to prepare her thoughts, recalling the day as clearly as if it had been yesterday...

"I had hardly been on Paneau more than four standard hours. I had just recited a memorized list of an insane number of supplies Veon had promised to the Jedi Academy. Poorly recited. At fifteen, I wasn't much of anything, nowhere near Jedi material. I pretty much could have just asked for the supplies and left within a half hour, having failed one less mission. But Veon showed an interest in me for some reason I still can't fathom. And then, just as we were almost finished...in run these two little kids, chasing each other."

Remembering, as well, Jec smiled, shaking his head with a laugh. "Li had taken my pet ruki, and I was trying to make her give it back. She didn't think I was going to follow her into Dad's meeting room..."

Elena grinned. "He was deeply embarrassed, but it made me laugh. It reminded me of how my younger brother used to do the same thing to me." She paused again, her tone becoming more somber. "I might not have had a reason to stay if you hadn't followed her."

Though she hadn't been explicit, he understood her meaning. Not long after the two siblings had interrupted Elena's meeting with Veon, the Huxnel Invasion had begun. Had she not seen her brother and herself in them, she might have left Paneau to its fate.

Jec's smile, while appreciative, was muted. "I'm glad you stayed."

She nodded. "I am, too."

Without intending to, her gaze found the two plates on the wall above Veon's belonging to Li and Tascit, bringing back even more memories of the Banarecc family when she had first met them all more than ten years ago...

"How is Koril?"

The abrupt change in topic was actually a welcome one, even though it saddened her a little. At least it brought her back to the present, however more painful it might be.

"He's...better. I've helped him some, but...we still have a lot to work on."

Jec seemed to consider her answer carefully as he studied her pensive expression, continuing quietly only after a long, heavy silence between them. "He never neglected his duties, Elena. He may not have been terribly...talkative, but Paneau itself was never compromised."

She maintained her gaze on the rocky floor in front of her, desperate to keep her voice from breaking with emotion. "That is...a relief to hear, especially from you."

"I don't want to see him like that again, though."

The tone in Jec's voice wasn't one of condemning authority; he spoke only out of genuine concern, worried about his friend who hadn't been himself for a long time. Finally looking up at him, Elena nodded strongly once more.

"He'll get better. With some sleep, some meditation...he'll be back up to speed in a few days."

Jec's expression lightened, and he even smiled again as their conversation lulled in the quiet cavern. He seemed content enough with her assertion, even though she couldn't promise him it wouldn't happen a second time. As she reached out to Koril to test how their connection had fared over the distance...she recognized the signs of his stirring consciousness. He was still asleep, but he would soon be waking up, and she needed to be at his side when he did.

"I'd better get back to him," she told Jec quietly as she stood from the bench. "I left him sleeping, but you know how well he listens to me." He stood with her, still smiling as he extended his hand toward the staircase behind them.

"I'll walk with you to the top."

Paneau: capital city of Dalon
Dalon Medical Center
Surgical Suite 23-A4

The cold, sterile smell of the surgical suite was nothing new to Rech. Though he was properly scrubbed in for the procedure, he was only present as a precaution. In the center of the room, the young woman under Dr. Paduri's skilled hands had a bleeding disorder, so as the surgeon deftly repaired the woman's torn intestines after a landspeeder accident, Rech watched quietly as he carefully remained out of the way. He was a decent enough Jedi Healer that he could have repaired the tears himself, but he didn't mind his position. He could work almost anywhere around the city, not just at the main Med Center, and he was rarely tied to one place for long, going wherever he was needed most.

On this rare occasion, though, he had spent almost all of his day at Dalon's central hospital, where the majority of the trauma cases in the surrounding area were sent. Only aware of the day's late hour by the chrono on the wall, he knew his shift would be up as soon as Dr. Paduri's procedure was completed. He was maybe just a standard hour from returning home, and though the day had been long, he was very much looking forward to seeing his wife.

Dr. Paduri was casually chatting with his nurses on either side of him, indicating to Rech how confident the surgeon remained after having already been working on the young woman for more than an hour. He was one of the most experienced and most respected among the trauma team, and unlike some of the other doctors, Paduri actually encouraged Rech's participation, even in the simplest of procedures. Some felt intimidated by Rech's ability to save their patients without any formal medical training like what they had gone through, but he understood their reservations and honored their wishes. He at least had a good friend in Dr. Paduri and a few others.

Still observing the procedure, he almost hadn't noticed that a new nurse had stepped in hastily, holding a loose mask over her face without tying it. When her gaze searched for him instead of Dr. Paduri, he stepped closer to her, anticipating being called elsewhere.

"Mr. Natiyr," she spoke quickly, "your wife is downstairs."

A little relieved it wasn't an urgent need, he nodded. "Tell her I'll be down to see her once this last procedure's finished."

Rech had begun to return to his previous stance, but the nurse continued with insistence.

"No, Sir, you don't understand... She was brought in a few minutes ago. She's being admitted."

Stunned, Rech looked back at the nurse, unsure that he had heard her correctly. "...what?" He could only see her eyes over the mask she held in place over her nose and mouth, and she seemed reluctant to repeat what she had said, her worry well apparent in her gaze. At a complete loss for words, Rech turned to Dr. Paduri, meeting his concerned gaze, as well.

"Go on," Paduri instructed sympathetically with a steady nod. "We're almost done here."

Hardly able to nod his thanks for his dismissal, Rech left with the nurse numbly, stripping his own mask off his face in shock as they made their way to the ground level.