Shadows of Bankor

/screenwipe in

Mahon’s body had been cleaned before being placed on the pyre, there was no place to keep a body long term at the base. She kept her hood up to hide her features as she watched Yusandr light the pyre.

Liua shed tears pulling her poncho close to her.

The Senator bowed her head for the hero, and the beach was filled with resistance agents paying their respects for the man who gave everything for the cause. Not just an artist but a hero.

Oraka stood next to Valus who also went hooded, his eyes filled with shame. The woman turned from the scene she would need to grieve on her own, Mahon died a hero believing in something greater than himself.

She had to make it right, even if she was alone. The pyre burned brilliantly in the soft rain.

Neela would find one standing with her as she turned away. A large woman, who's gaze had moved from the pyre to look at her. She could feel the womans pain, and knew there was only one thing to say.

"You are not alone, Neela. We are here with you, and he remains with you."

Qareme Torth wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:56 pm

Neela would find one standing with her as she turned away. A large woman, who's gaze had moved from the pyre to look at her. She could feel the womans pain, and knew there was only one thing to say.

"You are not alone, Neela. We are here with you, and he remains with you."

She had been truly awful to this woman, nearly killed her and still she showed more poise than she could muster. She wanted to… she put the thought aside and said, “Does not make it any easier, but thank you Qareme.”

“I think you asked me for my name once, it’s Neela, though you probably know that now.”

She glanced back at the Resistance and added, “I hurt a lot of these people.”

Petrus watched, his expression somber, as the flames begin to rise. Mahon was not the first member of the resistance to die, and he would not be the last. But his life touched many others.

It had been Mahon that lead them to Oraka, changing their destiny forever. It had been Mahon that let them reach Neela. How might have things been different, if he had never been? What might be different now, that he was gone?

Gone, but not forgotten. Living on in them, and in the Force.

He was near enough to reach out, giving Liua's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Dove kept to the edge of the gathering, clutching the edges of her thermal cloak wrapped around herself. Mahon had been her friend, her contact, even a fun flirt at some point, and now he was gone...

She knew from what Petrus had said earlier that she shouldn't take the blame on herself, but it didn't stop the feeling. Mahon had died, as did the other prisoner she didn't even know, and she hadn't been able to save them.

Survivor's guilt is a real thing...

Neela Takee wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:59 pm

She had been truly awful to this woman, nearly killed her and still she showed more poise than she could muster. She wanted to… she put the thought aside and said, “Does not make it any easier, but thank you Qareme.”

“I think you asked me for my name once, it’s Neela, though probably know that now.”

She glanced back at the Resistance and added, “I hurt a lot of these people.”

"You did, and many will not be able to forgive you. At least not for some time. That path is a long one, and can only begin once you have forgiven yourself."

Qareme gazed at the fire again.

"That is for tomorrow though. For tonight, mourn. Remember the good and the bad. I did not know the man, but I believe he did not regret what he did. His actions were to keep the candle of hope lit, so that light can remain in defiance of the darkness. We can only be inspired by his actions."

"But he was my candle," she muttered.

Petrus Karath wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:00 pm

Petrus watched, his expression somber, as the flames begin to rise. Mahon was not the first member of the resistance to die, and he would not be the last. But his life touched many others.

It had been Mahon that lead them to Oraka, changing their destiny forever. It had been Mahon that let them reach Neela. How might have things been different, if he had never been? What might be different now, that he was gone?

Gone, but not forgotten. Living on in them, and in the Force.

He was near enough to reach out, giving Liua's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Liua fought back the tears and said, "We have to win now."

Oh Mahon...

Their times together had been brief, but she would always remember his kindness and his talent. The day they had spent in his studio. Being part of his process of working through his pain. A hug.

The Force had led him to them, and through him they had found that they were not alone, that there was still hope despite all the pain in this galaxy.

He had died a hero. Perhaps not what he was expecting, but he had been a hero nonetheless. It was tragic, but he had given everything for what he believed in.

She held Liua as she cried, a few tears of her own joining those of her sister. With her free hand she reached for Petrus.

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:13 pm

Liua fought back the tears and said, "We have to win now."

"He brought us together. We will push back the darkness, and we will always remember what he did."

Qareme lowered her head respectfully, understanding the womans pain.

"If he could speak with you, what advice he would give you?"

Verse was there, despite the many burns and injuries still plaguing her. The occasion was too solemn, too important to miss because of a little pain. She could not lay in some make-shift clinic bed while others laid on a pyre in her stead. Not just pain, but the sadness might've been enough to bring tears to anyone.

Not Verse. She had a calm look to her despite it all. Mahon had not died in vain, he had died saving another. His death was a tragedy, but with his sacrifice he had let hope survive. She could not respond to that with tears; it deserved better than that.

Qareme Torth wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:17 pm

Qareme lowered her head respectfully, understanding the womans pain.

"If he could speak with you, what advice he would give you?"

“Probably just tell me to cheer up and have a drink,” she said dryly.

Xanna Teevou wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:15 pm

She held Liua as she cried, a few tears of her own joining those of her sister. With her free hand she reached for Petrus.

Petrus took her hand, giving it a squeeze. Just as before, both to reassure her, and to comfort himself. And whether she wanted to pull him into the hug with Liua, or just hold his hand, he would be happy for it.

As Xanna and Liua spoke softly, Petrus smiled. "Yeah. It's sad, letting go. But..." He swallowed. "I'm not afraid. I have hope."

Neela Takee wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:21 pm

“Probably just tell me to cheer up and have a drink,” she said dryly.

There was a small smile at that.

"I had not the chance to speak with him. Tell me about him."

“I hate speeches,” Yusandr said to the group.

“Mahon was a friend, a good friend, and he wasn't a soldier but he never was afraid to risk his neck for the cause. Those malakas took him from us, but we’ll make it right. They thought they could break us, but if we have one tenth the courage of Mahon then the Imps better be kriffing shaking in their boots because we are coming for them.”

“May the Force be with us,” she said confidently and then tossed her torch on the now blazing pyre in the soft rain.

Funerals weren't really something Astin attended often. Mostly due to the fact that he tended to move around quite a bit. Still he had heard a bit about Mahon, and he'd seemed like a good man so he came.

Standing in the back of the crowd he sipped on a beer he had purchased while in town and watched the proceedings. He wasn't really sure what to feel about this after all, as he hardly knew the man. It wasn't righteous anger that was for sure though

She wondered what they would do going forward from here. Neela and Valus both. It wasn't her place to start talking about crimes committed, as she knew her own list was pretty long and drenched in red as well, but... would they have to face justice for what they did?

Even if they had been working within the Imperial Law, it didn't make the things they had done right.

Now that's hypocritical thinking, Dove. She scoffed at herself trying to think of things like justice and what was right. At least those two could do much to make up for it if it meant they were now on their side, and would use their knowledge to fight the Empire. And maybe their story could be a light of hope to others in the same situation as they had been.

Qareme Torth wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:30 pm

There was a small smile at that.

"I had not the chance to speak with him. Tell me about him."

Neela said, “He was an artist, the best I ever knew and he was very kind. He was terrible with money and responsibility but he always meant well even when he did wrong he meant well. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was brave, brave beyond reason.”

“And I loved him.”

Dove Gray wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:14 pm

She wondered what they would do going forward from here. Neela and Valus both. It wasn't her place to start talking about crimes committed, as she knew her own list was pretty long and drenched in red as well, but... would they have to face justice for what they did?

Even if they had been working within the Imperial Law, it didn't make the things they had done right.

Now that's hypocritical thinking, Dove. She scoffed at herself trying to think of things like justice and what was right. At least those two could do much to make up for it if it meant they were now on their side, and would use their knowledge to fight the Empire. And maybe their story could be a light of hope to others in the same situation as they had been.

Dak arrived at the funeral dog tired but there with a few still healing blaster burns. He hadn't known Mahon well but the man had seemed like good people and he had given his life to save a good woman that the resistance needed. He died like a hero by all accounts.

He moved up next to Dove "did you know him well?" He asked in a somber tone appropriate to the occasion.

"He was my friend," she said with a strained voice. "One of the first people I got to know here on Bankor... someone who stood against the Empire even if he wasn't a fighter. We'd sometimes waste away a night drinking, playing music..."

Dove sighed, a heavy sigh burdened with guilt. "I was the fighter, not him. And he died... because I couldn't save him. Because I messed up."

Neela Takee wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:20 pm

Neela said, “He was an artist, the best I ever knew and he was very kind. He was terrible with money and responsibility but he always meant well even when he did wrong he meant well. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was brave, brave beyond reason.”

“And I loved him.”

"He sounds like a brilliant man. An artist as well, so I am sure his life lives on through his art. I can see why he meant so much to you, and I know he loved you too" Qareme paused as the speech was made, before speaking again.

"Have you tried art?"

Dove Gray wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:31 pm

"He was my friend," she said with a strained voice. "One of the first people I got to know here on Bankor... someone who stood against the Empire even if he wasn't a fighter. We'd sometimes waste away a night drinking, playing music..."

Dove sighed, a heavy sigh burdened with guilt. "I was the fighter, not him. And he died... because I couldn't save him. Because I messed up."

Dak placed an arm around her that was intended to be comforting "Hey I heard about what happened on that rooftop, he gave his life for Yusandr. You guys were facing someone who was incredibly powerful, you shouldnt be hard on yourself for that Dove. Dont think about the lives we lost think about all those prisoners you saved Yusander, Hin, ......the inquisitor or I guess Valus from what I've heard. You and that team did amazing work Dove." He would gently give her a squeeze with the arm around her.

Qareme Torth wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:32 pm

"He sounds like a brilliant man. An artist as well, so I am sure his life lives on through his art. I can see why he meant so much to you, and I know he loved you too" Qareme paused as the speech was made, before speaking again.

"Have you tried art?"

"No," was the reply but now she was thinking maybe she should.

"Petrus had been intending to show me how to sketch. I am certain he would not mind showing another, if you would join us. We can learn together" Qareme offered.

"I would like that if he will have me," she said quietly.