Chapter 37: The Long Good bye
You finally did it, didn't you, Avy?
Merrit Fallenstar sat in the shadows of the Coop's Folly's cargo bay. Trying to keep up on his meditations, to follow the suggestions that Master Vey had offered.
Sadly, finding his center was the farthest thing from his mind. How could it be, after what had happened.
It had begun three days ago, after that, he thought it best that he make himself scarce.
We fled together, but…when it happened, when…whatever it was happened…
His eyes narrowed.
It was at that moment, that I truly realized how much I've changed.
He tried not to focus on it, but he could not deny it.
Some people were just too far gone, and now…
…he feared that he was in that camp.
They had fled Jomark quickly, after the destruction of Avaryss' pet HK droid, but they had not fled intact.
Twenty-three people has lost their lives when the droid triggered the self-destruct in the Sith troopers that had accompanied him. Seventeen more had been injured. People that had serve Coop well, good people, who might have been a bit rough around the edges, but not evil.
Not like Avy, he thought, and…not like me.
There had been no time, no chance for mourning or looking after the fallen. If the droid had had any back up waiting, they would have been on them in a matter of hours, so they had fled. Coop, his wife, and the people he had left. Vey was still in a kolto tank, as was Quire. Zhar and Bayla had come as well, while Cee Cee took the Knightfire alone, the creature that they had captured, the thing that had been a Bann noble, locked in one of the Fire's holding cages.
They would need to deal with that problem soon, question the thing, but first, Coop had wanted to get them somewhere safe. They had taken a roundabout path, hoping to throw off any pursuit, it seemed to have worked, but then, three days ago, it had happened.
He…he had never felt anything like it, and neither had any of the others.
We all felt it, he thought to himself, the others might not understand what came to pass, but I do.
He shook his head.
All the others knew was that something terrible had happened. It felt like…someone had seized the Force by the throat, and twisted until it almost broke. That was how Zhar had described it. Bayla had said it felt like someone had pushed her under frigid water, and held her there until she almost died…
Vey…she…
He shivered.
Vey had only just survived the experience.
She had still been submerged in the kolto tank when it happened, and even then, it had not been enough. The doctor had needed to pull her out of the tank, stabilize her the best he could. Yet, it had been a very near thing. Vey had almost died, becoming one with the Force, and if she had…
The light would have lost one of its true champions.
Merrit had felt no pain when it happened, for him the sensation had been…different, he felt…a sort of elation. It was through his connection to Avy; he had felt a sense of empowerment and cruel joy. Part of him welcomed it, the growing dark, and the power that it offered.
It had been a heady sensation, and considering how the others had reacted, what they sensed…
…he finally understood just how far gone he was.
It wasn't hard to guess what had happened.
Avy was finally making her move.
What the others had felt, and what he had sensed, was her using Hecaetus' keys, he was sure of it, and now…
…all could sense what the dark lord had truly become.
When he closed his eyes, he could almost see her, looking both beautiful and terrible at the same time. The wounds she had inflicted on him years ago seemed to burn as if they were new. The brand on his chest seemed to smoke.
He could see her sly smile, and hear her words.
"You know where you belong, my love. The dark side is your power now, just as it is mine. End your exile, and stop trying to be something you are not. The light has abandoned you, and only the darkness will now accept you. Come to me, my love, come to me…
"…it is the only way."
Hearing her voice, sensing what she had done, he wondered if she was right.
Had all his fighting these last few years been for naught?
Was he doomed to serve her, to be what she wanted?
Had he ever even had a choice at all?
So many questions and they filled him with an emptiness that he knew could only be filled with one thing.
He could stop right now, simply go to Bantoon and accept his place.
If he did…,would it stop? Could he keep Avy from doing any more harm?
He wanted to say yes, but he feared that his judgment was no longer sound.
It had NOT been since that day on Tatooine, in the cave.
The day he had opened himself up to the darkness.
The day she manipulated me, he thought with a snarl, tried to drown me in her darkness…
After that…nothing had been the same. Their relationship had changed, it HAD become more intimate, but also darker.
It had made the upcoming conflict between them inevitable.
If I want to save Andur and Anj…I WILL have to face her.
Vey and his mother believed it was his destiny, but what if, in facing her, he chose to join her?
"How can it end any other way," Avaryss' voice seemed to echo through his thoughts.
"We are part of each other, my love. We are a single whole. We were born together, grew up together, and will, in all likelihood, die together. You cannot escape it…"
He could almost see Avaryss' sly smile.
"You…ARE…mine!"
He took a shuddering breath.
It was not an easy thing to accept. He had never wanted to be anything, but a Jedi, but now…now…
He wasn't sure anymore…about anything.
Years ago, when he had considered going off with her. He had thought it a just sacrifice. He could use their connection to keep her grounded. He thought he would be able to keep the darkness within her in check.
He had never considered that she would use their connection to corrupt him, and now that it was done, he feared there was no way back. He believed…
"You are thinking about her."
The voice echoed through the empty cargo bay. Bayla stood before him; her slender figure only just visible in the darkness.
Dressed in the same jumpsuit as the rest of Coop's people, she still cut a striking figure, even with her lightsaber and Paladina blaster on her hip.
He could feel her gaze. Her blue grey eyes were cold evaluating him.
He sighed and shook his head.
"It is a rare day when I don't think about her," he confessed, "But…knowing what you know, you can accept that, right?"
Bayla snorted and began to pace before him. He didn't rise from his meditations, or ask her what she wanted.
He could guess that too, after what had happened with the assassin droid.
He was pretty sure he knew what she wanted.
"You know Darth Avaryss," she said, a statement, not a question.
"I thought I did," he replied.
Bayla stopped pacing and stood before him.
"You knew her…intimately."
"Can't deny that, either," he shrugged.
Her eyes narrowed.
"I want to know about her, tell me everything."
He shook his head.
"Everything, huh?" he said, his voice amused.
"Everything," she repeated, "How she thinks. How she fights. How she sees others and the galaxy around her. Everything."
"And what would you do with this information? Arrest her? Take her before the senate in chains?"
Bayla's expression turned dangerous.
"Plant her in the garden of bones."
Merrit gave her an arched looked.
He knew what the garden of bones was, it was the place in the seas of Bantoon where the Bann executed criminals, drowning them and leaving their skeletons to sway in the waves until the sea consumed what was left.
"You want to kill her?"
"Shouldn't I?" Bayla asked.
Merrit shrugged.
"Others have tried, a lot of others."
"I have something they didn't have."
"Oh yeah, and what is that?"
She gave him a cruel smile.
"I have you."
He shrugged.
"That could help, maybe."
Bayla remained insistent.
"Tell me everything, Ritt. I need to know."
He sighed, and rose from his meditations, he stood above her, seeing his reflection in her eyes, the slight crimson glow on her face.
His eyes had been glowing brightly since Avaryss had used her keys. That glow reflected off the red lenses that hid his eyes from the rest of the galaxy.
Things are getting worse, he knew…
…and…so am I.
He removed the lenses, letting her see that glow in all its glory. It served to intimidate most beings he encountered.
Bae stood her group, unwilling to bend.
He shook his head. His eyes closed.
"I can feel your anger. It is simmering, right below the surface."
Her brow furrowed.
"Shouldn't I be angry?"
"You know where that can lead."
"For a Jedi, yes, but luckily, I'm no Jedi."
"The Paladina are not that different."
"Twenty-three people, Ritt. TWENTY-THREE! They were all killed because the Sith want me!"
He shook his head.
"Listen to me, Back-up. Those deaths, and all that have died, those deaths are because of Avaryss, those lives…what happened to them, it is not your fault."
"Whose fault is it then?"
He frowned.
There was a lot of blame going around on that front. He was to blame for convincing Colonel Capistan to bring Avaryss into Survivor Squad. The Colonel was to blame for letting Avaryss seek out the keys during her time with Survivor Squad. Hell, if you wanted to get technical. Master Jas and Shyra were to blame for not killing Avaryss when they first met her, all those years ago. You could even blame Avaryss' master for murdering her family, that act had started her down the dark path.
Yes, there was a lot of blame to go around, but Bayla…no…
She had no real part in it.
"Pointing fingers is a waste of time," he said, replying to her question, "What matters now is how we respond to what is happening."
"Which is exactly why I need your help," Bayla reminded him. She drew in closer, put her hand on his arm.
"Help me," she said desperately, "please."
He looked down at her hand. He could not deny that he felt a surge of warmth at her touch now, a warmth that continued to burn within him, and had since Jomark. Had since they had kissed.
The thought made him shiver, not in disgust, but…in desire.
I'm sorry Master Jas; he thought to himself.
I guess I truly am weak.
He looked into her eyes, those blue grey eyes, so fierce and determined.
"Help me," she repeated, "Please…"
Her fingers tightened around his arm.
"I will give you anything."
He almost sneered.
Anything?
Her closeness, her begging. It was giving off prey signals.
The predator that Avaryss' had awoken in him responded to those with hunger.
He reached up and touched her face, she didn't pull away, if anything she leaned into his touch.
"You should be more careful," he said in a silky voice, "Some men might take advantage of such an offer. Some men…"
He didn't need to finish; she had spent enough time on the run to guess what such men might do.
He expected her to behave as she had when she was younger, to back away, and blush, sputtering that she had not meant…that.
She didn't she met his gaze, and gave him a sly smile of her own.
"Such men would be very forward, Mister Fallenstar. Considering what I am, few would take the risk, offending a Paladina knight."
Her words brought a cruel smile to his lips. He was starting to enjoy this game.
"No risk, no reward," he replied.
His finger traced her ear, making her shiver.
"Some rewards are more valuable than others," she answered with an excited sigh.
She met his golden gaze. Her fingers tightened on his arm.
"Rewards such as these…"
He shivered as she reached out with the Force, he felt her presence touch his mind.
What she showed him, was surprising. He had expected to be bombarded with images of desire and lust, something to tempt him into aiding her, what he saw was…not so straight forward, but no less intriguing.
He sighed, and let himself be carried away.
Merrit saw the two of them together, not…lost in their passions, but…lost in life. He saw visions of them training together, having meals together. He saw them sitting together in her chambers talking about what they were going to do with their lives, now that the fighting was over.
Somewhere in the distance, he heard his mother's voice.
"It is not ownership she is offering, my son. It is partnership. She is offering to share her life with you, and asking you to share yours with her. Would your Sith girl do that? Avaryss asks for surrender, that you belong to her."
He heard his mother laugh.
"Bayla is clever, like her father. I'm starting to like this one, Merrit."
He nodded slightly.
He understood.
Only in the end did she offer up images of them…lost in their desires. He recognized her bedroom in the palace, the two of them surrendering to their desires, their forms barely visible hidden by the gauzy curtains that surrounded her bed.
Then…just like that, it was gone, and the two of them were back aboard the Coop's Folly, facing each other.
Merrit gasped, feeling a strange sense of vertigo.
Bayla swayed slightly, causing him to reach out, and pull he close.
His master's daughter giggled.
"Whoa," she said, "thanks, it…um it has been a while since I did that, opened up my emotions to someone."
"An interesting offer, Back-up," he said.
She shrugged.
"Why does a reward have to be one sided?" she asked, "Why can't it improve the lives of two rather than one?"
He nodded.
That was one way of looking at it.
He smirked.
"That last image…was that meant to be the icing on the cake?"
She returned the smile.
"Intimacy breeds intimacy."
She put her arms around his neck.
"Besides…you are not the only one who can…want."
His desires flared, drawn out by her closeness, and the heat that flowed between them in the Force.
Their noses touched. She sighed and closed her eyes; he leaned in and…
"Princess Bayla?"
The words came over the Folly's loud speaker system, startling them both, and causing them to pull away from each other.
Merrit almost snarled in rage.
Damn it!
They were in the middle of something!
As angry as he was, part of him was also grateful.
The image of her in his arms returned, the one of them lost in their desires, the one with them looking upon each other with Sith eyes.
That fear remained, he could not escape it, especially now.
I can't do this, he realized.
I can't be weak.
Bayla pulled away from him, finding the nearest comm panel.
"I'm here," she said into it.
"We need you on the bridge, your ladyship," Coop's voice responded, "We have just emerged from hyperspace, and…we've got company."
"I'm on my way," she declared, she looked over at him, and motioned for him to follow.
Merrit fell in step beside her.
Company, Coop had said.
What type of company.
The Force offered no information, or warning, but he expected that what was coming was significant.
Events were moving faster now.
What was coming. Destiny was on the march.
It was best to be ready…
…for anything.
IOI
They arrived to find the Folly's bridge abuzz with activity. Coop sat in the captain's chair, staring out at the orange and green world before them. He didn't bother to look over his shoulder at them.
"Welcome to Traevis, kids," he said.
Merrit looked out the viewport, he had never heard of this world.
Coop looked at the comm officer.
"Any word from Adira?"
"Not since her initial warning, skipper," the man responded.
Coop nodded.
"So she is playing it smart, good girl."
Merrit frowned slightly.
If he remembered correctly, Adira was one of Coop's daughters with Kimora. She would be about their age now, maybe a little older.
"What is this place, uncle?" Bayla asked.
"My daughter's hold," he said, "Traevis is a pleasant enough world, by human standards. Clients of mine who need a bit of incentive to do business with me are sent here. It is easier to work with people who have indulged their appetites, and there is much to enjoy here, food, drink, well…you get the idea."
Merrit nodded.
Made sense.
"We got an unidentified ship in orbit; it has been here for about an hour. Adira has spoken to them, but they don't seem interested in leaving.
"Have you identified the ship?" Bayla asked.
Coop nodded, leaning back in his chair.
"It is in our registry, smuggling vessel. It's squawking the name, Amanda Fallow."
Merrit smiled.
Amanda Fallow? A Man to follow?
Cute.
He reached out with the Force, expecting to find the usual sense of greed and hardness of such crews.
He blinked in surprise.
No.
It…it couldn't be?
"Have they spotted us?" Coop asked the helmsman.
"Naw, Captain, we came out just outside their sensor range.
The old smuggler nodded, Merrit could guess what he was thinking.
Their little convoy was far from defenseless. Coop's Folly had weapons, as did the Knightfire, Of the other five ships that had fled Jomark, two were fighting ships. Including Tara Valenthyne's, Stolen Heart.
Not that fighting was necessary.
"We should hail them?" Merrit said.
"Not the smartest move, kid," Coop said, "If people are looking for you, looking for the Folly…"
"There are friends onboard that ship. We can trust them."
Coop glanced up and over at him.
"This is one of those Force-things, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Merrit replied.
Coop sighed.
"There are times that I miss you, Jas," he said under his breath.
Merrit said nothing.
He understood.
He still missed his master, too.
"Hail the Fallow," Coop ordered.
"Using our real name, or one of our aliases,' Cap?" the comm officer asked.
"Our name, if the ship is friendly, we might as well, be friendly."
The man opened the channel.
"Unidentified ship, this is the Coop's Folly, Gabe Cooper commanding, "We have you on sensors and are on approach to Traevis. Don't be shy over there, say hello."
Merrit smiled as he felt a touch from the Force, a familiar touch.
The comm crackled to life.
"Coop's Folly, this Shyra Viel of the Jedi Order aboard the Amanda Fallow, and as you can imagine…" an amused laugh came over the comm.
"I cannot help to be Shy; it is my name after all."
Coop chuckled.
"Master Shyra, good to hear your voice again. I have some friends aboard that might be interested in saying hello."
"I believe that I can sense at least one of them. Hello, Fenn?"
Merrit winced.
He hated having to key those he had known on what had happened since Survivor Base. He would have preferred to let Fenn Shadowstone be gone and forgotten.
Still, this was Shyra.
"Hey, Shyra." He answered, "Glad to hear your voice, after Survivor Base…"
"Yes, I know," his fellow Jedi growled, "Much has happened."
Merrit shook his head.
"That was a bit of understatement.
"What brings you out this way, Master Shyra?" Coop asked, "You still on order business?"
"I called out to her." A pained voice sang out behind them, "thank you for telling Zhar where we were going, Captain."
Merrit and Bayla turned, while Coop rotated his chair around.
Vey Ilo stood before them, looking more than unsteady, supported by her padawan.
"You're awake," Coop said, no small amount of surprise in voice.
Vey gave him a pained smile.
"I need to be," the ancient Jedi replied.
"Things are happening."
"Got your old padawan on the line, master," Coop said, "Would you like to speak with her?"
"Yes, but on the surface if you please, Captain."
Vey sighed.
"There are things that need to be said, things that must be discussed."
"Master," Zhar said, "Maybe this is not the best time. You need your rest."
She gave him a pained look.
"I will rest soon enough, Zhar, but for now…this needs to be done."
Coop nodded, and turned back to the comm officer.
"Give the Fallow the landing coordinates, and inform Adira that we are about to have guests."
"Aye, skipper."
Merrit and Bayla both approached Vey, the Jedi Maste sighed, but her expression looked hopeful.
"Now we are together," she said.
She gave them all a sad smile.
"Now…we start to put the wrong things right."
IOI
The ships touched down within the hour of their first meeting, and then…the reunion began.
Merrit had been happy to see Shyra again, it had been years, and he had feared her lost. He was not surprised to see Kort at her side, or to hear that she had joined the alliance.
What did surprise him was the presence of two others aboard the Fallow. Two large Sith of the old blood, or rather one very old Sith of the old blood, and a familiar half-blood.
He blinked at the sight.
"Temmin?"
The boy, no the man that had been his padawan stood before him, towering over him.
"Master Fenn?" he said, "I…I had thought you lost!"
Merrit nodded.
"Fenn was lost," he said, "He got lost in his darkness, and Merrit Fallenstar had to find his way back."
The bounty hunter sighed.
"You may refer to me as Merrit Fallenstar now, if you please. It is the name that I should have been born with, and have since I have embraced my heritage."
"Fallenstar?" Shyra said, "As in Mirax Fallenstar.
The bounty hunter nodded.
He was not surprised that Shyra would know his mother's name, Vey had worked with her during the first war after all.
As for Temm, he remained the dutiful student, former student.
The half-blood nodded.
"As you wish, master."
Merrit winced.
"I think we can forget the master thing, kid. Considering what a foul-up I was at it."
Temmin shook his head.
"You didn't fail me, master. Your training, it gave me what I needed to survive. I…I owe you everything."
"The son of my son is strong," the Sith who introduced himself as Gnar said, "You are to be commended, Master Fallenstar."
Merrit knew the old one's name too. He had heard many tales of the former Sith General who had opposed Survivor Squad during the Galactic War.
The fact that the man had defected and became an ally of sorts had been a major event in the history of the Squad.
As for stories, Shyra was quick to catch them up on what had happened recently, what had drawn them to this place.
She told them of the Staukhause raid, and the planet known as Death, and the pirate and former slaves that lived there. She also told them of the arrival of Zay, Avaryss' apprentice, and the death she wrought on the people of the town of Eulogy.
Seventy-three people had died in the girl's attack, most of them non-combatants. Temmin had blamed himself for those deaths, and had refused to leave until those who had lost their lives had been tended too. Shyra had not been happy, but she had understood.
Merrit shook his head.
He should have been surprised, but he wasn't Zay WAS Avy's apprentice after all.
It seemed that his former lover sowed death and destruction where ever she touched.
Temmin believing himself responsible for the attack had chosen to leave with Shyra, lest Avaryss' forces return Gnar had accompanied him, Gnar and two others, the first was a Wookie named Rufo, the same one that the Survivors had saved in the last days of their existence, the other was a blond girl named Switch.
The bounty hunter watched his student, the way he looked at the girl.
It was not hard to see that the two were more than friends.
The Fallow had been between systems when they had felt Avaryss using the keys. After that, Shyra had felt her master reach out to her through the Force, giving her the name of this world, a name given to Vey by her student Zhar.
And it was here that their stories had converged.
A story that seemed to have a happy ending, for Shyra at least.
The beast-woman Jedi smiled when she realized that they had Bayla Istillo with them.
"We have been looking for you, your highness. The alliance sends its regards."
"It is good to see a friendly face, Master Jedi," the princess said, "We have been surrounded by enemies lately."
As Coop left to speak with his daughter and see about quarters for everyone, Vey requested that all the Force sensitives join her, to catch up, and plan their next move.
"You will all have parts to play," Vey informed them.
Traevis was a temperate world, no so different from Survivor base, or Dantooine.
Merrit felt comfortable here.
Coop's daughter's base, or perhaps it could be called a resort, was built on a shore of a deep blue lake. The planets multiple moons orbited over head as the planet's sun set in the east.
Vey smiled slightly as she marched their small party away from the base, and out along the shore.
Merrit followed closely with Bayla at his side. Shyra walked with Temmin, with Gnar bringing up the rear. Zhar helped Vey walk as she led the way. The Jedi Master seemed to be improving as they drew deeper into the natural beauty of the world.
The Force was strong here, that was good.
It would help the Jedi Master recover. Through the Force, she was glowing like a star.
"Any idea what this is about?"
Merrit shook his head.
He couldn't guess.
The group walked for nearly twenty minutes, when Vey finally called them to a halt.
She turned and gestured for them all to gather round. They all obeyed without question, even Gnar, who was not a Jedi.
Vey stood with her back to the lake, the sun setting behind her.
She gave them all a tired smile.
"It has been a long time, but finally…we are here."
Gnar crossed his arms over his chest.
"Have you foreseen our coming here, Master Jedi?"
"I have always been here, General Gnar, and have known that it was only a matter of time before I came to this place."
Vey giggled.
"It is strange, I've…I've seen this place many times in my mind. So many times over the centuries, and now that I'm finally here…"
She shook her head.
"It has been a long time coming, and I'm grateful to be here, with all of you."
Merrit gave her an arched look.
He didn't like where this was going.
Vey turned to him.
"We have all felt it, the rending in the Force. You know what happened, don't you, Merrit? You know who and what is responsible."
"Avaryss and her keys," he answered, "The keys of Hecaetus."
"They are an abomination," the Jedi Master said, "They must be destroyed or more worlds will suffer."
She turned to the group.
"That task, it falls to you now. Everyone here has been drawn to this moment, this one doom…
The Jedi shook her head.
"I underestimated Darth Avaryss. Jas Dar Bynn underestimated her. Unless, she is stopped, the Dark Lord of the Sith will control the wills of everyone in the galaxy. Worlds will become a place of darkness; this entire galaxy will become a place of darkness."
"We can stop her, master," Shyra growled, " We WILL stop her together!"
"I know," Vey said happily, "Yet, there is much darkness still ahead. You will all be tested. Dark Lords do not fall easily. Exar Kun didn't fall easy. Darth Revan didn't. Darth Traya didn't."
She shuddered and almost seemed to fall, Zhar was there in a moment, steadying her.
She gave him a grateful look.
She again turned the Force wielders before her. Jedi, Sith old blood, Paladina, pirate, bounty hunter.
"You have survived, and in doing so, have become what the galaxy needs. Today, Survivor Squad is reborn, and with your return, the failure of Darth Avaryss begins to take shape."
"And with your leadership, master, we will not fail." Shyra said.
Vey giggled again.
"I will be with you, all of you, but not at your side."
A single tear ran down her cheek.
"This…this is amazing. I've always known this day would come, and even now, I am using all my strength to remain in this moment, this final moment in time."
Zhar looked at her, his eyes widening, finally realizing why they were here.
"Master?"
She lay her hand on his shoulder.
"You will not be alone, my student. When the student is ready, the master will appear."
She looked at Shyra.
"You are ready, Shyra. I will need you to take up this charge. The boy needs you, and you will need him. The master needs the apprentice, and the apprentice needs the master."
Shyra's eyes widened.
"Master! NO!"
"Don't…please," Vey said gently. She reached out and stroked Zhar's cheek.
"You can trust Shyra, dear boy. She understands what you must face, and you must offer her your strength. She will need to go into a dark place, and will need your light, and you will need hers."
The boy looked about to cry.
"As…as you say, my master."
Vey looked at her former student.
"Do you accept this charge, Shyra?"
She whimpered, but she nodded.
She knew what was expected of her.
Vey turned to Gnar and Temmin.
"The desire for vengeance will be strong, but remember, even a soul drawn to the darkness is not necessarily lost forever. Gnar found the light in the loss of his son, and in the father's sacrifice Temmin found his own strength.
"Watch out for each other, and watch out for others."
Temmin nodded, he didn't know Vey like the other's did, but he understood what was being asked.
Gnar chuckled.
"Me? A survivor? A most unexpected development that. The Force has a strange sense of humor does it not Jedi?"
"Oh yes," Vey agreed.
Finally she turned to Merrit and Bayla, the girl had tears in her eyes, and even Merrit could not deny the stinging in his own.
She gave them both a concerned look.
"It will fall to you two to walk into the heart of darkness. Avaryss will be drawn to you, and you to her. I…I cannot say that you will defeat her, but you stand the best chance. You will be tested. The darkness will reach out for you."
"What if it already has its hold?" Merrit asked.
Vey smiled again.
"Then you will need to be extra careful then, yes?"
He nodded.
Yes.
So be it.
Bayla went to her, knelt at her feet.
"Master, what you are asking, I don't know…"
"Remember your father's teachings, girl. You have tried to distance yourself from them in the past, but now, you will need them most of all. Keep them in your heart, and stay close to those you care about, those you know you must protect."
Vey touched her forehead.
"Do that, and you have chance, the darkness retreats before love and compassion, remember that."
Vey helped the girl back to her feet. She stepped back, next to Merrit.
He found his hand in hers.
He needed that, they both did.
Vey sighed.
"I was not strong enough to endure what Avaryss did, but know that I don't blame her. This moment, this fate was always mine. I have watched for centuries as those around me entered the Force. I was always the one left behind, and now…finally…I can rest. I will see them again."
She turned her back, watching the setting sun. She was not afraid, merely nervous…a child's excitement at going on a grand adventure.
"One last good bye," Vey whispered, "My life…the very long good bye."
"I'm sorry," Bayla said, "If I had not come to you…"
"This was always my destiny, child. Do not blame yourself. Rejoyce that I have come to this point, a natural end to all my work. I'm happy.
They stood around her, the new Survivors, they watched as the light faded.
Vey let out a tired sigh.
"Strong am I, in the Force, but not that strong. Not strong enough to remain any longer, but in rest, to become more powerful than even I could possibly imagine."
She giggled again.
"Finally…rest."
Vey let out one last tired sigh.
She started to fall.
Zhar went to catch her.
The last rays of the sun disappeared beneath the horizon.
The boy was on his knees, holding only empty robes, empty robes and a lightsaber.
The light side surged welcoming the presence of one of eldest of the Jedi.
Merrit wiped at his face. Bayla leaned against him. As Shyra howled to the stars, honoring the passing of one of the light's great champions.
Twilight had passed.
Night had fallen, but hope remained…
…survivors reborn.