The day truly was perfect.
The melodic hymn of the birds filled the cool air, and the slight breeze playfully rustled up the boy’s scarlet hair, tickling his neck. He let out a giggle, his hair was soft as a feather. He pushed his sister’s stroller along the bumpy ground, taking care to avoid the mazes of cracks and rubble. The rest of his family strolled beside him, his mother humming along to the chorus of sound, voice nearly as sweet. His father smiled softly, and took his wife’s hand in his own. His brother, only a year older than him, helped guide the stroller. The boy could barely see over the top of the stroller, so together the two helped navigate their sister along the most comfortable route possible.
The sky was blue. It seemed like it was almost always grey, but today it was as blue as his eyes, with not a single cloud in the sky. It was daunting, almost dizzying to look up into the endless ocean of azure. The boy couldn’t believe that past all the blue, there was an endless expanse of heavenly stars, and even other planets with people and families just like his own.
One day, I hope I get to visit them.
The boy loved moments like this, when the whole family could spend time together. He peeked down at his sister, she was probably too young to understand what was going on.
One day, the boy thought, I’ll show you all the love this family has to give you. I can’t wait until you’re old enough to play games with Brother and I. We’ll play all day, and we’ll be the happiest kids in the world.
It’ll be great.
They walked through a local park, although it was much more grey than green. The fountain, which once spouted out water that shimmered like crystals, was now filled with filthy rainwater and trash. The swing sets were rusted and unused, and no other families graced the park with their presence. But none of that mattered to the boy. All that mattered was that his family got to spend a nice afternoon together.
The boy lifted his sister from the stroller, and carefully placed her in a swing meant for holding younger children. He didn't push very hard, lest he risk frightening her. Hearing her youthful giggle made the brothers smile bright- even the eldest sibling's eyes were bright, after normally seeing sunken and withdrawn.
"If only these days would last forever," the brother said.
As they left the park, not one of them saw the figure in the shadows watch them go.
Dinner wasn’t much, only a few slices of fruit for the boy and his brother. His father didn’t eat anything, which made the boy worry. This was the third night in a row. The boy tried to offer his father one of his slices, but he politely declined.
“You need to eat son,” he said.
“Don’t worry about me. I eat when I’m at work.”
His father had been fired from his last job, the one at the building he told them not to go to. He started working as a construction worker, but apparently it didn’t pay very well. And Mother couldn’t work, or else no one would be able to take care of the kids. But in four years the boy’s brother would be ten, and he could start helping around the house and their mother could find a job.
It’ll all work out, the boy thought.
Suddenly the door was forced open, slamming against the wall and ripping free from it’s hinges. Three strange men ran in, guns pointed and fingers on the trigger. His father shouted something and charged at the intruders, before being struck to the ground. One of the men ran to the table where the rest of the family sat in fear, and ripped the boy’s sister from his mother’s arms. She tried to fight back, begging and pleading them not to take her away. The assailant hit her with the end of his gun, breaking her nose and forcing the back of her chair to the ground.
And as quickly as they had come, they left. The boy’s father grabbed something from his bag, and chased after them. The boy and his brother sat in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what had happened. Their mother lied on the ground, sobbing while chilly air blew through their broken door. A moment later, they heard the distant sound of sirens and gunshots. A few minutes later they were told that their father had been shot dead and no one knew where their sister was taken.
The boy continued comprehend what happened. Confusion, despair, what were these feelings?
She can't be gone, we were playing on the swings an hour ago.
She can't be gone.
An hour later, the boy felt cold.
Allies:
Nida Perl
Enemies:
Kyra Perl
Thirdas Heavenshield
Lark watched Kyra and Thirdas flee the encounter, they were desperate, a bit unhinged after facing the reality that Nida wasn't under their control. She had chosen this path for herself. They had an opportunity to reunite as a family, and they couldn't do it. He couldn't help but feel a bit of resentment towards them. How dare they rip away the bond they had? Did Nida truly mean so little to them that they could not even spare a few moments to heed her words? But despite the abhorrent hatred he felt towards them, Lark kept his weapon sheathed. He was almost certain he'd be able to finish them off, but he had made a promise to Nida.
I wish you both well, he thought towards them.
He didn't know what might have happened if they had taken Nida. Lark had already had both his siblings stolen from him, but there wasn't anything he could have done as a child. But now he had the strength the protect the people he cared for. He'd harvest every power the galaxy offered in order to see his goals realized.
And then the end of the world broke the horizon.
It was beautiful. A herald of the end, a sign that all of Myrkr was preparing to face the only aspect of life that all were equal in. Lark couldn't take his eyes off it. But they weren't filled with the same wonder that one might show when gazing at their lover or a marvelous sunset, his expression was more akin to passive amusement. He welcomed the asteroid to his home with open arms, it was only fitting that Lark's return spelled ruination for the whole planet. Let it become nothing more than a memory, an ashen tomb so desolate even the ghosts sought to escape it. He thought of letting himself be taken by the blaze of chaos that was only moments away, to bury himself in the embers of the place that introduced him to laughter, to joy and love, and to misery and heartbreak. It sounded comforting, Lark could just softly close his eyes and rest here forever. He was meant to die here once before. Perhaps this was the universe correcting itself.
But Lark would not bend to the will of the cosmos. Nida grabbed his wrist, urging him towards one of the evacuating shuttles. He gave one final look to the land that built him, forged him into this complex amalgam of personas. The asteroid would do to all of Myrkr what he had done to his hometown all those years ago. Lark had not launched the asteroid, but it was his will.
Goodbye, old friend. May the ghosts from that night find good company amongst your cinders.
He turned away from the apocalypse dismissively, letting Nida guide him towards the retreating Sith forces. Dropships were beginning to take to the air, surviving soldiers raced to secure a spot of safety, though some were bound to remain stranded. When silence fell on Myrkr, it would be impossible to differentiate their ashes from any of the other innumerable specks of dust. But the two of them would not count themselves among that number.
"Hang on," he said smoothly. A comfortable presence enveloped them like a snug blanket, and Lark lifted them off the ground with the Force. It felt wonderful to finally have a true grasp of his powers. He guided them towards a ship hovering a few meters above them, whose ramp had not yet closed. Together, they landed with the elegance of the most powerful birds of prey.
Lark wished they could enjoy a dramatic moment on the ramp while the world ended below them, but spots of darkness cloaked the sky and the intoxicating aroma of impending annihilation overwhelmed his senses. So they rushed in, and the ramp sealed the ship shut. A little over a dozen soldiers lay exhausted, it wasn't lost on Lark that despite the fact that he had never so much as drawn his sword, there was a whole battle that had been raging while he and Nida fought their own wars.
That feeling of graciousness that she was still by his side was felt more than any other. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, both to help her and make sure she was actually there.
"What you did takes tremendous strength and willpower. I'm proud of you, Nida." The ship rocked, but Lark did not waver.
"How are you feeling?"
Mazrim Caide/Taim
