Requiem

[Svo'k Lynd]

*His pupils expanded a bit in the darker setting of the ship, sweat on his brow, he felt cold, but could feel the energy of Luka, Zhi, and now Ashlin assisting. He focused on Luka, he moved his head down to try and get the attention of the ranking healer who was focusing on his wound. For some odd reason, the pain had dulled and Svo’k moved his right arm to gently tug on Luka’s sleeve, Svo’k’s hand sliding down Luka’s arm and coming to rest on his son’s healing hands.*

“I’m…glad…you’re here…Luka.”

*He tried to summon the energy to smile at his son, his son that he could not be possibly be more proud of, he was happy that it was him here with him here now. Of course there was Zhi, and Ashlin, the latter of which he did hold close in his heart as well, but Luka was different. He took in a deep breath as he felt the energy of the healers pouring into him, but there was also a presence in the ship a presence about him that enveloped him and his entire being. He felt it’s warmth cover him like a warm blanket, he knew then what he had always known. The Force was his guide, and although he had gone against it and ignored it for a portion of his life he had done his best to follow it’s advice for the last many years and decades. It was he who had felt the slight nudge at the edge of his aura, it was not a command but a mere suggestion and one that he had decided long ago that once he felt it he would not fight it any longer.

He smiled at his son and at Ashlin he raised his right hand to run it gently down Luka’s cheek.*

“You can stop now my son, you’ve done your job, just remember no one is ever really gone.”

*Svo’k looked at Ashlin softly for a moment.*

“Tell your mother that the Force called me home, and I gave up ignoring it a long time ago.“

*Once more he poured the rest of his energy into Luka and offered him a warm smile and pulled him close into a warm embrace.*

“I’ll always be with you Luka….”

*The Jedi Knight felt his aura slowly drift away from his body as he gave himself freely to the Force and trusted in whatever plans it had for him...*

[Luka Balmore]

Luka worked furiously over his Father with the assistance of Zhi and Ashlin, everything appeared to be coming together and despite the seriousness of the wound it was clear to Luka that from a physical and medical standpoint Svo'k was out of danger. He dared to let himself breathe a sigh of relief for moment as he wiped the sweat away for a moment and then something unexpected alarming happened, he glanced at Zhi who gave him a look as he slowly felt Svok's aura shift. Every Jedi in the room would have felt it, especially those working over him as they were intrinsically connected to them. Luka moved his hands around and searched for every viable cause, he found nothing, but only a sense of peace present in Svo'k that he had never fully felt before.

"Zhi, Ash, keep him stable while I..."

He felt Svo'k's hand togging on his sleeve and then his hands came to rest on Luka's. The blue eyed Jedi Master stopped for a moment and looked down at his father who hand then raised his hand gently stroked Luka's cheek. He heard speak slowly at first but then it was almost as if he had a renewed energy. He couldn't believe the words at first. Telling him he was glad he was here, and that he could stop now. Those were the words of a dying man, but medically he wasn't dying, he couldn't be, Luka again moved quickly and once again found nothing as he used all of his diagnostic skills and abilities to try and ascertain what was going. He could stop now, he felt it. He swallowed hard and listened to Svo'k speak. His heart sank, but there was a strange sense of calm peace about the moment. He nodded quietly as Svo'k spoke to Ashlin and then he felt Svo'k pull him down in a warm embrace and he heard the reassuring words...

"Father...I know."

Luka wrapped his arms tight around Svo'k for a long moment until he felt Svo'k finally drift away, in a slow and almost poetic moment Svo'k's body was gone his robes remained as Luka fell lightly to the floor, tears streaming down his face he felt Ashlin's hand on his back and Zhi's arm around him as he sat there for a long moment in silence.