Somewhere
Three stood in the spacious hall of the Star Dreadnought Devastator. Two Rakata were conversing while looking through a massive window at the void of space, while slightly to the side stood a girl who had once been human.
"Predor Skal'Nas, there have been no tidings from Predor Tul'Kar for a long time. Are you certain he does not require assistance?" the Rakata clarified with his master.
"I am certain. Let him prepare the ground for now."
"And if he betrays you?"
"That would only be for the best, as everything will already be prepared, and it will all fall to me. Truth be told, I hope for it and even count on it slightly."
"For in that case, all failures can be blamed on him!" the "inspired" Rakata finished.
"Yes. But that is only the tip, Rek'Tar."
"M?"
"If you have not noticed, a civil war is beginning among us. Members of the Arch-Predor caste were unable to divide the Star Forge. And if, against this backdrop, someone finds the Infinity Gate?"
"He would be able to enter the caste."
"Exactly. And moreover—rise even higher. For he who controls the Infinity Gate will control the entire Empire. These are limitless possibilities, Rek'Tar. And that is why the operation is proceeding in secret."
"You are a genius, Predor Skal'Nas. But… what if Tul'Kar does everything as planned?"
"He won't. He will certainly attempt to betray me. If not now, then a little later, to take my place. Therefore, in either scenario, you will take his place."
"I thank you, Skal'Nas."
"What is this…" the speaker's tone changed as space rippled beside him and a strange-looking man, clad in a black suit with red patterns, stepped out from nowhere. The Force emanating from him was overwhelming and caused both Rakata to feel fear. The war with the Kwa had been long ago, and since then, not a single adept wielding the Unifying Force had been found. And now, he stepped out before them right from the void.
"Forgive me, are you Skal'Nas?" the man clarified, at which the Rakata could only blink. "Excellent. We've had some luck." Beside him, new faces began to appear right from the air, all in identical suits. "Well, you masochists?" The man used the Force to draw Forcesabers from his belt into his hands and immediately activated them. "Meet your guests. We're from Tython, bitches!"
Shade Aero
Some time earlier
Acting "quickly" unfortunately did not work out. When the surviving members of the Council were gathered at Aneel Kesh, real debates began. Looking at this, I rubbed the bridge of my nose in misery, as everyone proposed a solution, but…
"SILENCE!" I barked, slamming my hand on the table and calling everyone to order. Every patience has its limits. "Everything you are proposing is complete nonsense! We have too little time to try and organize for resistance. Moreover, we are facing an entire galactic empire; we physically cannot stand against it, and when the master of our one-eyed friend realizes who he is dealing with, we won't have a chance at all."
"Then what do you propose?" the Krevaaki leaned forward.
"To pay a return visit of courtesy," I confess, I couldn't hold back a grin.
After my proposal, a suspicious silence fell over the hall. Someone looked on in shock, someone simply did not understand what they heard, and someone, it seemed, wanted to twirl a finger at their temple.
"And… how do you imagine this?" Enzer clarified, carefully choosing his words.
"The Infinity Gate lies beneath us. I propose to gather a squad of the strongest Rangers and go through it directly to Skal'Nas. His Force Hound is always with him, and we can track her with the help of a certain Zesh, just as they track him. Immediately after that, both Zesh and the Rakata must be executed, and the portal dismantled. In that case, those who know about us will be dead, re-tracking won't be possible, and the system will once again be safe."
"But… Shade, that will be a one-way trip."
"I know, Tsikuna. I am perfectly aware of that."
"We have too few professional Rangers left," the Krevaaki intervened.
"We don't need many. We already have two." I looked at my mother. "A few more—and that will be enough."
"Three," the Master of the Stav Kesh Temple intervened.
"Three then."
"But Shade, you are the only one who wields the Unifying Force." Tsikuna disagreed with my idea.
"No. I have at least two successors and a holocron on which I left all the necessary records. So my presence is no longer as critical as before."
"Aala, you tell him at least!" the Sith turned to her friend, but she only looked away. "This is madness. It is simply madness. This is all held together by white threads. What if you are captured?"
"It won't matter," I shake my head. "What matters is performing the set task. At any cost."
"But why not just drop a bomb?"
"Because a bomb won't delete the information from the servers," Mom replied. "Tsikuna, enough. The option Shade proposed is the only one. We have no others that would certainly work."
The Sith did not answer. She only bit her lip, while the other Masters simply accepted my idea. All that remained was to prepare. And that is what we did.
For an entire taked, we selected those who would go with us to the other side. It was difficult to select not only the strong and the whole, but also the morally ready, because after the losses, some simply had their screws loose. And getting uncontrollable maniacs is the last thing I need. The Rangers already had work above their heads, and here we were flying away, taking the strongest with us.
Dalien, meanwhile, was preparing the Infinity Gate with the scientists for a one-time and very rapid launch. The scientist himself tried not to cross paths with either me or my mother. To some extent, Dalien felt guilt before us, as the Rakata came precisely because of the activation of the Infinity Gate. And moreover, he lost a teacher, a friend, and a father in one person, and now, with his own hands, he was sending Mother and me on a one-way trip.
Catching the significantly gray-haired but still relatively energetic old man, I tried to convey to him that the Rakata would have come in any case, just later. And that there was no need to worry or feel any complex about his labors. Right now, he and his team were our key to salvation. And as for Mother and me… it was our choice. Besides, in current realities, it so happened that we were indeed the strongest combatants, and the road for us had been predetermined in advance.
Soon Gris arrived on Tython. Seeing a friend in this chaos was unimaginably pleasant, and even more so seeing him alive. Ska Gora, like Nox, had not been attacked, and everything was calm there, so you could say fresh forces had arrived. The Wookiee honestly tried to push into the squad, but he was not an initiate of Stav Kesh. Gris was closer to Vur Tepe, and therefore could not join us despite his ardent desire to participate in the fight.
But a Wookiee wouldn't be a Wookiee if he just gave up. So when the two of us sat in my room, reminiscing about the past, Gris made another attempt to get into the squad.
"No."
"Arrrrrg-arru?!"
"Because, Gris. I've buried enough friends to lead you to your death as well."
"Rr-r-ru, irrreea."
"I don't care!" I raise my voice at the Wookiee. "You stay here, and that's final."
"…"
"Gris… listen." Breathing out, I rub the bridge of my nose. "When all this ends, someone will need to restore order here. And you are not a Ranger or even a Raider; you are a Guardian. Your task is providing security. And I ask you, as a friend, provide it for my children. When I am gone, I have no doubt they will try to influence them. Besides you, Vessira, and Irbis, I have no one else to rely on here. Hadiya is not Je'daii, and her zone of influence does not extend to Tython, so she won't be able to help them here."
"Rurrrra?"
"Yes, I am talking about the tenth temple. Can I be calm?"
After staring at me, Gris nodded.
"Thank you."
After this conversation, Gris's fiancée somehow caught me and, in traditional Wookiee style, hugged me. She said nothing, nor was it required; the girl's emotions spoke better than any words. A little later, my ladies flew in, and now I had to stand before them. And while Hadiya took the venture more or less calmly… outwardly—inside she was being hammered like a ball in a basketball player's hands—Vessira, however…
It was hard with her. The Cathar had a natural hysteria, which is why it took an entire day just to comfort her. And then another to convey the necessity of the measures and that I must go. We simply have few who could enter the elite. From the whole system, barely seven beings were gathered who are considered the best combatants, and I am among them.
Naturally, Ves couldn't not attempt to go with me, but she herself understood she couldn't. Someone had to look after the children. Therefore, the tactic was changed, and instead of walking beside me, she tried to hold me back. As did Hadiya. But both girls understood—they had to let me go. Just as I had to let them go…
And that, for me, was the worst part. To admit to myself, I did not want to see them. Especially now. Simply because it was too painful. Simply because I don't want to. Yeah, destiny definitely has a sense of humor. The first time, life simply did not give me a chance to live happily. Physically, it wasn't there. But now, when I have achieved so much, when I have a family, loving women, friends…
And… and I must leave this life now. Leave it myself so they can live on. I wanted to say that all this wasn't real, that I would wake up and everything would be as before. When waking up in a warm bed, the girls lay beside me, when there was confidence in tomorrow. And the children…
When the day itself arrived, I was a little surprised at the sight of the other group members. As it turned out, looking at Mother and me, the others had made themselves similar suits. Dark tones, scarlet patterns on the armor, and everyone except me had red blades. Mine would have been colored too, but thanks to Ramira and her support, I was able to keep my emotions inside and not let the stone be saturated by them.
"I think I know who will be named the first Sith," I joke to myself, and I laugh, looking at this procession.
"Is everything ready?" I ask Mom, looking at her backpack. Since we were climbing into the unknown, it was decided to play it safe and bring something powerful along. And what do we have that's powerful and dangerous? A hypergate battery. Yes, it's drained and won't open a black hole anymore, but it can blow up—oh ho ho. Especially if it's detonated at the right time and in the right place, whether it's a reactor compartment, ammunition magazines, or a fuel line.
"Yes."
Then Terra breaks away from Vessira's hand and runs to me.
"Papa!"
"Terra…" Dropping to one knee, I hugged my girl. Pressing her hands to the mask, she removes it and looks into my eyes. "Now, no need, come here, my sweet." I press the girl to me, and she rubs against my cheek. "Don't cry, sweetie. I am going the way of the Force. Just like my father. Apparently, in our family, everyone has such a fate." I stroke my daughter's head.
"Papa…" This sweet creature clung to me. Like a tiny ray of light, instilling confidence and hope, melting a significantly frozen heart.
"Yes, it is a dangerous road, but I will try to return."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"I believe. I believe you will manage. Please take care of yourself… and return soon…"
"Certainly."
"I'll be waiting, Papa."
Releasing the child, I pass her to Vessira, who had approached. I must go. Cheering up and turning to the still-deactivated portal, I exchange glances with my mother. Nodding to each other, we moved forward, tuning into a working mood. Ahead of us lay a good fight, and it was necessary to make it so that someone would remember once and for all what it's like to raise a hand against a Tythonian.
"The way of the Force I tread, and in it peace I shall find," I began to hum quietly, approaching the portal arch, when suddenly Mom picked up:
"No, do not shed bitter tears, for I have stayed beside you, and though you see me not, know—the Force is within you."
"I will know that you stayed… sniff… I will know that you are with me," the sobbing thin voice of Terra came from behind our backs.
A step, and the floor trembled. Another step, and the transition flashed with a blue glow. Each step was taken heavily; hearing the emotions of my loved ones was unbearably hard, and the only desire was to be there, on the other side, as quickly as possible.
The Force Hound, Zesh, who was literally nailed to the console as a beacon, tried to shout something, but he couldn't. Being a conduit of the Unifying Force while being an adept of the dark—it's quite a feeling.
And then the portal was covered with a mesh, and we saw a blue veil. Without hesitating for a second, I was the first to enter the unknown and stepped out in a completely unfamiliar place. By the looks of it, it's a ship or a station…
"Hm…"
"Argz nar?!" I hear a surprised growling exclamation. Turning at the sound, I encounter a remarkable sight. Two Rakata stood by the window and looked at space, and beside them was… a human? Well… most likely, she once was. A white girl—in face, eyes, and hair. In strange light armor. Apparently, that very Force Hound—Trill.
"Forgive me, are you Skal'Nas?" I clarify with the most representative Rakata, at which he could only blink. In the Force, I heard an affirmative answer. "Excellent. We've had some luck." I smirk mentally and rub my hands as the others step out. "Well, you masochists?" I activate the blades, grinning maliciously. "Meet your guests. We're from Tython, bitches!"
With a Force pull, I draw the trio to me. Not expecting this, the xenos flew close enough to fall under the blades, but only the Rakata we didn't need lost his head. Trill and Skal'Nas managed to compose themselves and activate Forcesabers in flight. And while Trill managed to sidestep after the block, Skal'Nas could not boast the same, catching a boot to his face.
In the next second, Mom enters the battle, blocking Trill's Forcesaber and throwing her even further. To the disturbance in the Force, other Rakata immediately burst into the hall, apparently guards, but the Master of Stav Kesh and the others took care of them. Perhaps I am not in Battle Meld with the rest, but that does not prevent me or them from working harmoniously.
"Krrr t-t-tk ark?!" the Rakata spat something in amazement.
Ignoring it, I grip my blades. Switching off the left one, I hang it on my belt and calmly walk toward the Rakata like an iceberg toward a ship. An attempt to fry me with lightning met a block from the active blade. An attempt to crush me with Force pressure failed due to the barrier, as did a push.
In the end, the Rakata simply tried to pierce me with a Forcesaber. Deflecting the blade aside, I lunge forward, grab the Rakata by the collar, and headbutt him right in the nose. Taking advantage of the enemy's second of disorientation, I grip the blade and sever his arm up to the shoulder, and then clip his eye as well.
Punching the screaming face, I turn to Mother to help, but it's no longer needed. Right before my eyes, Mom catches Trill by the arm, pulls her toward her, and with a strike of Force Lightning diverts her blade aside. The girl didn't even have time to understand as a deactivated blade was placed under her chin. A short flash of weapon activation, and the body falls to the floor.
"Mom, I'll take care of him, help at the entrance." I nod toward the fight. Noticing a shadow slip past me, which burst into the fight like a hurricane, I pull the Rakata to me. "Come here, freak." I grab Skal'Nas by the eye. "Look at me! Where are we now?! Ship, space station, what's around?"
First, I saw, and even felt, that I would hear not the answer I wanted, but something in me stopped him. Focusing his gaze on my mask, he no doubt saw in the visor the torment of his slave and preferred to go for cooperation immediately. Well, the fact that I simultaneously dropped images of his brother on his head with a sledgehammer, and how he suffered—that was just to finish him.
"My… personal dreadnought. Orbit of Kashyyyk. I am monitoring the terraforming of the planet."
"Right… Who else besides you and Tul'Kar knows about Tython?"
"No one… no one knows."
"Why?"
"Currently… there are problems in the Empire. Our greatest achievement—the Star Forge—served as discord among the upper ranks. I reasoned…" the Rakata broke off, and I had to use the Force to correct the flight trajectories of the body halves of some guard.
"Well?" I squeeze the eye.
"I… I reasoned that such a discovery as the Infinity Gate would allow me to break through to the top. For he who controls the Gate will control the entire Empire. We tried from the very beginning to open their secret, but so far we have not found a single working specimen. Besides, we are limited; our hyperdrives do not allow us to fly to uninhabited systems. And this knowledge, it is priceless. Therefore, I reported nothing to anyone."
"Information carriers. Where did you enter the data about Tython and the Infinity Gate?"
"Only my personal information crystal. In my cabin, in the safe." Releasing my hand, I strike the Rakata, dropping him to the floor.
"Well?" the Master of the Stav Kesh Temple ran up, with Mom.
"Information crystal in his safe," I nod at the Rakata.
"So what are we waiting for?!"
"Wait. We are on a dreadnought."
"And?"
"Wiping the tracks simply by detonating a charge won't work; the vessel might stand. We need to split up. Mom and I will place a charge in the reactor; luckily, it stinks up the whole place. And you take care of the safe."
"Understood."
"Report on readiness."
"Let's go, Mom."
So, splitting from the group, we stepped into the corridor and went in different directions. On leaving the hall, our people had managed to pull ahead significantly, killing at least a couple of dozen Rakata.
Reaching the first bulkhead, I try to open it properly, but it doesn't work. A device operating on the Dark Side of the Force needs a similar operator, so Mom opened the door.
"Hello!" I greet a small squad of ordinary Rakata on the other side of the passage. But before I could do anything, that same door closed. "Eh… eh?!" Mom and I exchanged a glance.
"How ill-bred," Mom snorted. Thrusting our hands forward, the two of us simply tore out the pressure door, pinning everyone who stood behind it.
Running right over the door, we orient on the source of the Dark Side. Generally, the corridors of this vessel reminded me of some oval something, as if one should not run but swim here, only water is missing. On the other hand, as far as I know from the Kwa holocron, the Rakata are amphibians, so it's all logical. But what I didn't know and didn't even suspect was the STINK. Concentrated emotional stink, from which one wanted at least to wash. Shikaakwa against this background looked like just a luxury resort where flowers are fragrant. I don't know how I would manage without having the ability to block the background of others' emotions in my arsenal.
In the course of the run, we periodically encountered one or two Rakata or their slaves. Sometimes we crossed paths with a combat group of five or six faces, but all of them were left behind either fried or hacked into pieces.
"Another squad!" I warn Mother about the group ahead.
"More, fewer—they'll all die," she growled, drawing blades from her belt.
"This time more," I shake my head.
And exactly. Turning the corner, we encountered not just ordinary representatives of their people. Somehow these creatures reminded me of Flesh Raiders, but in some intermediate variant.
The first to dash forward, with a lunge on the right leg, breaking through the barrier with all my strength, I smash two Rakata into the wall. Right through me, Mom flies and whacks with a shockwave on the turn. Some fell, some stood, and someone even flew away, taking a couple more with them.
Taking advantage of the moment, I lunge forward and, after blocking a Force pike, sever it in half with the second blade. Mom again breaks ahead and blocks Force Lightning with blades. Throwing Forcesabers in an arc, I pierce both Rakata with them.
Before the bodies could fall, Mom applies a doppelganger and, in the image of three Je'daii, rushes between the Rakata, dealing strike after strike. Drawing the blades, I catch up to her, finishing off the survivors on the move and, jumping from behind her back, land right on a Rakata, pinning him to the floor with blades. Switching off the blades, I stand up and take a step back, letting two Force Pikes pass by me at once. As soon as they passed, I raise my hands, from which clumps of fire erupt.
It was a surprise when both "clients" survived the hit to the head, but they didn't get a chance to recover. In a jump with a turn, I take both heads off their shoulders, turning my back to a third opponent and blocking a strike to the back with blades.
Nothing had to be done with him; a thrown blade flew overhead, piercing the Rakata's head and remaining in it.
"Last one," I comment, glancing at Mother.
"Let's go."
"Wait. We can take a shortcut here." I nod at the wall, behind which a spacious room was felt. Approaching closer, I pierce it with a blade and cut a neat circular hole. A small Force burst, and the "puck" flies inside like a cork from a bottle.
On this side, we were met by freight-carrying dazed slaves and an abundance of boxes with square containers.
"Apparently, a warehouse," Mom looked at me.
"No matter." I activate the blades. "Out of sight!"
I didn't have to repeat it twice; the folk preferred to scatter to the nooks and not show themselves, giving us an unhindered opportunity to pass through the warehouse. But before we could go far, we found ourselves surrounded not by a squad, but by a full garrison.
"Wait. There are too many of them ahead." I stop Mom, who intended to open the door.
"And where to? Behind there are even more."
"M…" Biting my lip, I estimate the thickness of the metal beneath us. "Down is not an option; the floor is too thick, we'll be sawing for a long time."
"Through?"
"Fine, let's go." I nod and wait for the door to open.
"Locked!"
"Pf," I snort and, by the already familiar method, begin to break the door, and when Mom joins me, we tear it out by the root.
The new skirmish turned out harder than the previous ones. This time the Rakata did not skimp. It got to the point where there were clever types who activated grenades on themselves and, blade at the ready, threw themselves into close combat. Others tried to reach us with blaster weapons from afar, shooting through the corridors. Because of this, progress slowed significantly, and opponents only became more numerous.
"Ai!" I hear Mother's exclamation. Gripping the arm of the Rakata I was fighting, I pull him toward me and cut off his head. Immediately after that, I turn to Mother and, with a Force pull on myself, draw her opponent, splitting him in half.
Tearing a panel from the wall and shielding myself from shots with it, I move to Mother.
"How are you?"
"Fine." Placing a hand to her side, she applied Force Healing and muffled the sensitivity of nerve endings. "Shade, what will we do? I don't think we can break through." Here an explosion boomed beside us. "The fire is too heavy, and there are only more of them."
I did not answer. Only looked aside, considering the situation, but, sensing the approach of another "kamikaze," I turn to Mother:
"Just stay behind me."
Leaving the barrier to cover her, on a turn I leap out at a pair of kamikazes. I leapt out with a doppelganger, so both were confused about where the real me was. Blocking a Force pike from the first, I slice him perfectly from bottom to top, and with a jump, avoiding a shot, I sever his partner's head. Before the head could even fly a couple of centimeters from the body, I use the Force to send the body right to the end of the corridor. An explosion boomed, shots quieted and, taking the opportunity, I rush forward.
Bursting into the ranks of the dazed slaves and Rakata, I arrange a massacre, which Mom immediately joins. I just pushed like a tank, strengthening my own blade with the Unifying Force, cutting through the enemy's together with their owners, which managed to sow fear even in the eyes of the Flesh Raiders. True, because there were too many of them, and in a tight space, I expose myself a little. When a threat was felt from three sides at once, I avoid a Force Pike, block a second, cutting through a third together with its master, but catch a blaster bolt in the shoulder from the back.
The pain momentarily broke concentration, which is why four shots immediately hit my chest, dropping me to the floor, and a Forcesaber was raised above me.
"Shade!" Mom cried, with a wild shout releasing a strongest Force Burst in all directions, smashing those standing into the walls, and then immediately adding to them with a blaster grabbed from the floor. "Shade, how are you?" she asked with concern, running up.
"He-he-he… alive," I answer through laughter. At the same time, remembering how I argued with Rakhnar about armor. After receiving the Force Forging technology oriented on the Unifying Force, I reforged my armor. And now it saved my life. Yes, blasters pierced it—pierced it in all places—but the wounds received can be called heavy burns, not holes.
"Get up, son, we're almost there…" Grabbing Mom by the arm, I lunge to my feet, acting on the nerve endings at the impact sites and applying Unifying Force Healing.
Adjusting the mask, charred in places from explosions, I fall in behind Mother.
"Aala! Shade!" suddenly the comlink came to life.
"Here."
"We have performed the task; both the crystal and the Rakata are destroyed."
"Understood. Get out now."
"What?"
"We've almost reached the reactor. We'll place the charge now and try to get out too."
"Understood. May the Force be with you!"
"May the Force be with you. Until we meet in the Force, brother."
The comlink went silent, and I looked at Mom.
"Do you think we can get out?" Mom asked, stepping over a corpse.
"It's worth a try though," I shrug. "Besides, we are in the orbit of the planet."
"Then we'll kick some more," Mom nodded seriously.
Descending several floors down, we were in the reactor room. Killing the engineers and a few guards was a matter of seconds. The Rakatan ship's reactor was a massive core in a small hangar, hanging and spinning between two spikes at a distance of a meter from each. The glowing sphere itself emanated the Dark Side of the Force like a generator, which was absorbed by the ship like water by a sponge. Otherwise, there were several terminals, technical panels, and lamps built into the walls and ceiling.
Taking off the backpack, Mom left it behind a terminal.
"I'm setting ten minutes; that should be enough," she commented, arming the bomb. After this, any attempt at deactivation or even an attempt to lift it will lead to an immediate explosion. And so that no extra questions would arise, the backpack was covered by a couple of corpses. Well, for ten minutes this "disguise" should be enough.
Only, saying "get out" is easier than doing. Because already at the first turn we were met by Flesh Raiders, of whom there were like dirt. Apparently, some had managed to get through and called their friends.
"Withdraw!" I shout to Mother, reflecting some shots with a blade and taking others on tutaminis.
Turning around, we tried to get out through the same path we ran here, but that too was all blocked.
"Options, Shade?"
"I'm thinking."
"I have no ideas."
"But I do," I smirk and, piercing the wall with a laser blade, make a hole. "Once you said—for a Je'daii there are no obstacles."
"Well, yeah."
"And also, I know another saying. The road is where I walk."
Sawing out a passage, I knock out the "puck," and I'm the first to fly inside. The run continued. Time was ticking; we had to hurry. In the end, we simply ignored any skirmishes, trying to slip past the blocks. But everything comes to an end, and our luck came to an end too.
Flying into a hangar for ground equipment, we encountered a full garrison, and this time there was physically nowhere to go. Jerking aside, I manage to grab Mom by the shoulder and pull her after me. Before we could even hide behind the containers, the shooting had already begun.
"Fine, you're right," I agree with Mother, having hidden behind a container and catching fragments with the Force. "Now it's really bad."
"As if it were different before."
"Heh. But look what a ruckus we've made here!"
"Yes, we've given them a proper light."
Here a chill ran down my back.
"Argh… Mom."
"What, Shade?"
"Hold on."
Seconds stretched into eternity, and then we felt the explosion. The ship shook so hard that everyone who was on their feet collapsed to the floor. Even secured equipment broke loose from its mountings. Immediately the alarm turned on, bulkheads groaned, and the hull wailed piteously. Only, the consequences were not limited to a single explosion. With a loud crack and howl of metal, I felt how the ship lost its gravity point and began to list.
"Imagine that, we're alive!" Mom noted, clinging to a protrusion on a container.
"Not for long. Move! I don't care about anyone. The aviation hangar is next; we've almost made it out." I shout, estimating the ship's layout. At least, that's how it was on its smaller siblings we fought at home.
The first to leap out from behind cover, I take several shots on tutaminis and on the move cut through the shooters, charging the next ones with Force Lightning. I ran first, Mom after me. Where an ordinary person would have already died, we were still living and fighting. The ship groaned and exploded, but the Flesh Raiders and slaves did not care. The task to kill us was a fixed idea for them. The Rakata had worked well on them—only rage, no fear, no instinct for self-preservation.
Only someone very clever broke all our cards, opening fire from a Rakatan walker right inside the hangar. I was thrown by an explosive wave into the wall, smacking onto the floor. Yes… Je'daii are truly hardy creatures, verified personally. Despite the pain and scorch marks, pumped with the Force to the gills, with adrenaline raging in the blood, I leap to my feet.
While I was looking around, while I was figuring out what was what, Mom had already managed to saw the walker's legs and use the Force to smash the bulkhead with them. Only she turned out to be so engrossed, and the opponents so many, that she was unable to avoid the hit.
First, a hit of Force Lightning flew into her. Then a Flesh Raider immediately dealt a strike with a Forcesaber, severing her left arm at the forearm level, and the next into her back, piercing the left lung. But the final strike was stopped by my block.
"Suck it, s-s-rshrak," I growl and, leading the blade away, with a vertical sweep I slice the Flesh Raider.
Turning around, I crouch beside Mother.
"Mom, how are you?"
"All… no fighter," she smiled sadly, lifting her charred mask, thereby showing me her face. "Go, son."
"Yeah, right. No need to play a drama for me, now come on, up!" Lifting her, I throw the whole arm over my neck.
"Idiot… kha-kha… we won't get away."
"Bet?"
"It's useless kha… to argue with you."
"Exactly. So shut up and endure! There is only a little left. I won't let you stumble on the final dash."
Griping her more tightly, we ran. Since there was only a tiny bit to the hangar, we did indeed manage to reach it. The hangar itself consisted of separate sections, each designed for one vehicle.
In one of such "sections" stood a small elongated oval shuttle, which was now being hastily prepared for departure. Jumping into it, I cut down the passengers I came across, and reach the pilot's seat.
"Get the shuttle out!" Placing a deactivated blade to the Rakata's head, I nod at the pressure door.
The pilot did not understand me and tried to be stubborn, for which he was immediately killed, and Mom took his place.
"Can you handle it?"
"Kha-kha… Yes. Control is intuitive, kha… we fly similar ones," she commented, preparing the ship. The flaps closed, the hangar opened, ejecting oxygen into space. A second, and the shuttle shoots into space like a stone from a slingshot.
Already outside, we saw that the ship that was detonated had broken in half and was now falling to the planet.
"Not bad, though…" I hum to myself. "Though, to confess, I expected more."
"Take us away, anywhere." Sitting beside Mother on the floor, I breathe out with relief. We made it out…
If we're lucky, we might even be able to return home. I think… I can find Tython by the "kindred" thread linking me and Ves. Though… it's unlikely this little ship is capable of hyperspace jumps; most likely, we'll have to change.
But that's what I thought, exactly until the moment the ship began to pull.
"Sh-shit! Mom, what is it? Mom!" Leaping to the pilot's seat, I try to bring her to consciousness. The ship was flying into the void and was completely uncontrollable.
"Forgive me… Shade…" she whispered, losing consciousness.
Pulling Mom out of the seat, I try to bring her to consciousness, but it's useless. The wounds were making themselves felt, and the Force supporting life in her was gradually melting, like snow in the sun.
"Mom, no! Just you dare—I'll get you from the other side! We made it out. We succeeded! Come on, wake up. We can return home… Mom!" Taking off her mask, I continue the attempts to bring her around, applying all efforts to Force Healing, but it doesn't work. The sense of life was inexorably fading.
Finding medicines in the shuttle, I curse through my teeth. They were exclusively for Rakata.
"Damn…" Throwing the kit away, I return to Mother. Out of desperation, I connect my and her aura and try in the most radical way, running the Unifying Force through her, to heal the body. And I even succeed, but the weakened mind cannot withstand such and in the end dies. And after it, the body dies too.
"Mom…"
Collapsing without strength nearby, I place my hands on the face mask. Offense and despair gripped my heart. We made it out. We won. But she didn't have enough strength… Looking at her, I pull her to me and take her in my arms. Placing her head on my left forearm, and taking her by the hand, I just sat there.
I don't know how much time passed; just at some point I noticed that generally my affairs were no better and, perhaps, I would soon join her. There are no supplies on the shuttle, I cannot control it, and we are flying into open space. The prospect of dying of suffocation doesn't threaten me yet—the systems are working properly—rather of dehydration or hunger. Though… there, in the compartment, a pair of corpses are lying…
"No, I haven't gone so crazy yet as to eat that," I shake my head. Sighing, and taking myself in hand, I remove the mask from my face and kiss Mother on the forehead.
"Until we meet in the Force, Mom. I think we'll see each other soon, but I'll try to kick some more."
Releasing her, I move to the pilot's seat. The attempt to interact with the ship expectedly failed, so I really am in trouble. Sitting and thinking a little over what to do, I return to the "passengers." Rummaging through the containers in search of something useful, I was only able to be convinced of the absence of anything at all useful in my realities. I might as well step out into space and walk as far as that same Kashyyyk.
Only one exit remains—to try and enter a hibernation trance. Of course, I haven't done this before, but there's a first time for everything. In any case, it won't be worse. He-he-he, indeed, it can't be worse anymore.
"Forgive me, Terra. Papa won't be coming home," I whisper, looking into space.
However, before going, it wouldn't hurt to prepare the room. First, I got rid of the Rakata corpses using pyrokinesis. Sitting beside decomposing bodies is a dubious pleasure. With pyrokinesis, I carefully went over the surfaces, cleaning off the blood. After them, I returned to Mother.
Laying her out carefully, I return the mask to her face, and on her chest, I fold the Forcesabers.
"Rest peacefully, Mom."
Placing my palm over her hand, I apply pyrokinesis. Quite quickly, but without fire, her body gradually smoldered, falling as ash. The skin turned black, the fabric faded, and after a few minutes, only ash remained of her.
"Strange," I notice that the Forcesabers and the Mask lie on the ash. And while I had no complaints about the blades, the mask… it looked as if it had only just been made. Listening to the Force, I feel how Mother's energy wafts from it.
"So, decided to stay and watch over me?" I smirk, feeling the link of the mask with her spirit. "Thanks, Mom."
Picking up the blades, I hang them on my belt, as I do her mask. I sit in the pilot's seat myself and, looking at space, slowly submerge into meditation. As I submerged, I felt that I was not alone. The feeling linking me and Vessira was departing; I was releasing it myself. As Mom once said, "it is better to reconcile with loss than to live with an unfulfillable hope." I also released the thread linking me with the children.
When the body went numb, it seemed to me that this was not enough, and the submersion continued. I was going deeper and deeper, and could no longer think as before. My head turned as if into very viscous jelly, and my mind turned out to be on the verge of dream and reality. Excellent… Let's go further. Another step… the next…
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan