Oryon had never been a man of faith. He knew that there were forces at work in the galaxy that were well beyond his understanding, but never had he earnestly considering the existence of a supreme being or beings that acted as omniscient caregivers to lesser mortals. The galaxy was built on science and logic and facts, and there was nothing that could not eventually be understood.

He knew that there were others in the clan that disagreed with him on this, notably Michael, whose opinion Oryon cared for quite a bit. While he was envious of his brother's peace and confidence that he found in his beliefs, Oryon himself had always secreted considered them a bit foolish. He had observed events that others would consider acts of heaven, or miracles. Yet every extraordinary event that had ever taken place had always been revealed to have a logical and scientific basis. Even the Force, which several of his clan wielded effortless and to magical effect, had a scientific, observable basis in fact. And this is where Oryon found his own peace and comfort. Nothing was beyond the realm of understanding.

But everything Oryon knew to be true had been called into question in the recent past. And now here he was, face to metaphorical face with a being that he knew Michael would have considered to be nothing less than a god. The original Halcyon, First Guardian of the Nexus, their namesake and source of all of their abilities, was now holding parley with Oryon in a mystical space between galaxies, at the very threshold of the Nexus of all space and time. It was enough to humble even the staunchest of unbelievers.

And yet, Oryon had never been one for humility.

"Go **** yourself."

The being called Halcyon recoiled slightly. "Excuse me?"

Oryon frowned. "You heard me."

He could feel the anger radiating off the ethereal being before him, but Halcyon kept his composure and responded with a soft tone. "I understand that you probably have some resentment built up towards your situation. I probably would, as well. But most would consider this to be a holy place, and perhaps some respect is in order?"

Oryon crossed his arms. "Don't give me that. If you are who you say you are, then you have a reason for bringing me here. If you were hoping for worship and adoration then you are even dumber than I expected."

Again, the faceless being took a moment to compose itself before responding. "I am like unto a god, Oryon. You live only by my compassion and grace. I brought you here for a grand opportunity that none in your galaxy have ever been offered. You have done myself a great service, and in doing so served the Nexus well. You are to be rewarded for your actions."

"Oh, is that right?" Oryon scowled and narrowed his one good eye. "Well, you have my express permission to take your reward and shove it up whatever orifices you still have."

The blue aura surrounding the heavenly being seemed to darken and change hue to a slightly purple-ish tone. "You are upset at the loss of your brothers. I understand. Great sacrifices are always difficult to process. But your clan served the Nexus, and their sacrifices will not be forgotten, for -"

"Cram it." Oryon gestured rudely. "We never 'served' the Nexus, or you. All we ever did was try to clean up the messes caused by your idiotic blunders into the lives of those better than you."

"Oryon..." The voice trembled slightly, and that purple-ish hue grew lighter. "Tread lightly. The wrath of gods is nothing for mortals to taunt."

"Eat me, nerf-herder."

The galaxy burned red as a mighty anger was stoked. A tendril of energy wrapped itself around Oryon's neck and lifted him up, bringing him close to the face of his host. Oryon's legs kicked futilely against the air, and his hands grasped at the intangible cord that tightened around his windpipe.

"I am Halcyon, the greatest and most powerful being you will ever encounter! You are MINE, Oryon. Mine to prosper, or mine to destroy! You are NOTHING before me, do you understand?"

Oryon choked against the pressure on his throat, and managed a weak croak.

Halcyon loosened the pressure and Oryon hovered in the air once again, breathing in heavy gasps.

The ethereal Halcyon seemed to calm himself, and the reddish hue faded back to blue. "You have much to learn, little Chiss."

Oryon growled and glared up at the impossibly large being. "And where was this rage before, when Zahavi fractured your precious timeline and murdered your followers?" He rose to his feet. "You're angry now? When you've got me here? You're so powerful and great, how come you didn't lift a finger to stop your people from dying?"

Halcyon drifted amongst the clouds rolling along in this blackness, and bowed his head. "It is unfortunate that Zahavi was able to abuse the timeline like he did. But this is why the Guardians exist, to correct such unfortunate circumstance."

"Don't give me that bantha-dung cop out nonsense. We were no guardians. You took that from us when you exiled us. Remember that? You scooped us up and dropped us out on the back porch so YOU wouldn't have to deal with us, didn't you?"

Halcyon raised a hand in a solemn gesture of peace. "All things happen for a reason, my child. You and the others were deposited in a galaxy that needed you, and time and time again you have proven that you were up to the task of protecting it."

Oryon crossed his arms again and spit. "I call shenanigans on that pile of bantha crap. All the problems we've been called to take care of never would have happened to this galaxy if some idiot with a complex hadn't decided to play god and move us around."

The reddish hue flared momentarily and then faded. "Careful, Oryon..."

Oryon continued, undeterred. "All of this suffering, all of this death, its all because of YOU, you know that, right? You and your insufferable incompetence. YOU dropped us here. YOU cocked around with the timeline, and then act all wounded when Zahavi attempted to do the same. All this blood? All this death and pain and suffering? It's all a direct result of your cosmically inept, world-class, record breaking buffoonery!"

"Thats ENOUGH!" The sky went red once again and Oryon felt himself gripped in an enormous fist, pressure squeezing him all around. He gasped as the air was forced out of his lungs, and he felt his ribs struggle against the weight pushed against them. It would not take much more to crush him completely.

"I do not wish your death, Oryon, which is why I saved you and brought you here. But I swear on the Nexus itself that you WILL learn respect."

Oryon fought for breath and returned the wrath that was projected onto him. "GO TO HELL!"

Immediately the pressure released and Oryon could breathe again. Halcyon began to turn his back. "Obviously you are unworthy of the gifts I offered. You shall be returned to your world and-"

"You'd better kill me."

Oryon pounded his chest, recovering his breath. Halcyon turned back to him in surprise. "What was that?"

Oryon scrambled to his feet and puffed out his chest. "You may not have pulled the trigger, but I hold you personally responsible for the deaths of the Halcyons that fell under Zahavi's control. If you let me go, I swear on everything I have ever believed in that I will find a way back here, and I WILL find a way to kill you."

The featureless, cosmic being turned back to Oryon with an amused tone. "You must be joking."

Oryon met the other's gaze. "Do I look like I'm ****ing joking?"

The two stared at each other silently for a moment.

"I could end you right now, Oryon. You must be aware of that."

"Then do it." Oryon was unfazed. "You've already proven that our lives mean nothing to you. So why bother? You can kill me now, and prove yourself to be the dirt-clod I already know you are, or you can dismiss me, and spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, waiting for the day when I crack the secrets of this place and come for you."

There was a harshness in his voice, an anger that Halcyon knew all too well. But beneath it, a great pain. A pain he had never heard in Oryon before in all his decades of watching them. It was this that gave the cosmic being pause. "What is it you want, Oryon?"

The Chiss folded his arms. "Fix the mistake. Bring them back."

Halcyon shook his head. "No, I cannot do that. The timeline has been perverted too much already."

"Oh, NOW you care about the timeline?" Oryon snorted. "You didn't seem to care all that much when Zahavi was screwing around with it."

Halcyon sighed. "It's not that simple. Their deaths have been written. Even Guardians must die, and their essence returns to the Nexus. Their bodies have passed on, to re-animate them would be an abomination, and they would have no memory of who they were. It is a pointless request."

Oryon dwelled on this for a moment. "Then we do it another way."

A few moments later, Oryon's plan had been proposed, and the cosmic being was nodding. "That would work, Oryon. We can do that." He looked down at the smaller man. "Such sacrifice. I am so proud of you."

Oryon turned his back. "I'm not doing it for you."

A flash of light.

A burning fire.

A feeling of falling.

And then only silence.

The next day, the Halcyon Academy was liberated. The control over the prisoners inside had been broken, and brothers and sisters in the cause rejoiced together, and mourned their losses. The students returned to their dormitories with heavy decisions to make. And the Halcyons gathered to grieve for the fallen.

Oryon was called in for inquiry to the High Council of the Phantom Legion to explain what had happened. He gave a truthful testimony, while omitting certain facts that might seem unbelievable to the uninitiated. After the inquiry, Oryon was pardoned for his past crimes and allowed membership once again in recognition for his part in defeating Zahavi.

Volaro was given command of the Academy, and assumed the role of Headmaster. It was not long before new students began to join, and classes resumed. The first class of the Academy elected to remain, and all would be granted admittance into the clan upon the completion of their first semester. They mourned the losses of the eight men who had died in the attack, and set up a memorial in their honor. The dedication ceremony was attended by all.

All but one.

Oryon had never been a man of faith. He knew that there were forces at work in the galaxy that were well beyond his understanding, and now knew the extent of the powers beyond. The galaxy was built on science and logic and facts, and given enough time and ambition, nothing was impossible.

Oryon fired up the engines of his ship and ascended into the night. He broke through the atmosphere and shot off into the blackest regions of space.

His brothers were out there. And he was going to bring them home.