As Tirin stands before the reactor, its chaotic energy thrumming violently through the room, he knows the fate of the entire island—and possibly more—rests on his shoulders. Summoning every ounce of his strength and skill, he plunges his consciousness into the Force, determined to avert the impending catastrophe.
With the reactor teetering on the brink of meltdown, Tirin frantically channels the Force, using Force Absorption to draw the reactor's excess energy into himself. The power surges through him like a storm, threatening to tear him apart. He grits his teeth, absorbing as much of the lethal energy as he can, his muscles quaking with the effort. But the sheer magnitude of the reactor's power is overwhelming, and he realizes he can't contain it all. His body begins to convulse and quiver, racked with immense pain.
Desperate, Tirin shifts to Force Manipulation, extending his senses into the reactor's systems. He repairs circuits, adjusts coolant levels, and realigns the magnetic field with surgical precision, but the reactor resists, its instability only growing stronger. Sweat pours down his face as he battles against the reactor's chaotic fluctuations.
The reactor's energy continues to build, pushing Tirin to his limits. He quickly switches to Force Drain, trying to siphon off the excess power. The chaotic energy floods into him, a raging torrent that threatens to overwhelm his senses. A sharp scream emanates from him as he strains his will against the power. He feels the strain on his body, the immense power cracking his resolve, but he knows he has to hold on.
Seeing that the reactor is still spiraling out of control, Tirin desperately uses Force Stasis, trying to freeze the core in time. The chaotic energy halts, momentarily suspended in a bubble of stasis. But the strain is immense—maintaining such control over the reactor's power drains him rapidly, and he knows this can only buy them a few precious seconds.
Realizing that time is running out and conventional methods are failing, Tirin reaches deep into the Force once more, his mind racing for a solution. His eyes catch the distant shimmer of the light atop the ocean through the ruined walls, and an idea forms—he will harness the sea itself.
Summoning all his remaining strength, Tirin extends his hands toward the distant shoreline. The Force ripples through him, flowing out like an invisible wave to connect with the vast body of water. He feels the cool embrace of the ocean in his mind, the immense power of the tides responding to his call. The ground beneath him trembles as the sea begins to obey.
With a fierce effort, Tirin pulls the ocean's waters toward him. The waves rise, swelling and growing, pulled by the sheer force of his will. The distant roar of the surf grows louder, and soon, a massive wall of water begins to surge toward the facility, crashing over the shattered walls like a tsunami unleashed.
The water floods the facility, pouring into every crack and crevice, rushing toward the reactor. The air fills with the hiss of steam as the cold seawater meets the burning heat of the reactor's core. Tirin can feel the temperature drop, the cooling effect of the water starting to take hold, but it's not enough to stabilize the reactor completely.
Tirin grits his teeth, pushing the water further, directing the torrents to engulf the reactor entirely. The facility groans under the pressure of the rushing water, the walls trembling as the sea forces its way inside swirling about the reactor. For a brief moment, it seems as though the water might do the impossible, quelling the reactor's fury.
But the energy within the core is too great, the damage too severe. The water slows the reactor's meltdown, but it cannot stop it. The sea's cooling embrace buys them only a little more time, and Tirin's vision begins to blur as the strain of his efforts takes its toll. He staggers, feeling his connection to the Force flickering as his strength wanes.
The facility is now a churning maelstrom of water and steam, the reactor still on the brink of disaster. Tirin knows there's nothing truly more he can do—the situation is beyond even his considerable power. He stumbles back, the weight of failure pressing down on him, as the reactor's energy surges once more, threatening to break free.
Realizing he can't absorb or contain all the energy, Tirin makes a split-second decision. He tries to release some of the energy he's absorbed, attempting to channel it out of his body and away from the reactor, and towards the skies abouve. But the energy, already chaotic and unstable, becomes even more volatile as it escapes his control.
A violent surge of power erupts from Tirin, sending arcs of raw energy crashing into the walls and ceiling. The room shakes violently, consoles explode in showers of sparks, and the very air hums with the raw power being unleashed. Tirin struggles to direct the flow, but the energy is too wild, too powerful to fully control.
Tirin's small form becomes engulfed in a blindingly bright light, a radiant aura that pulses with the immense energy he's struggling to control. His form is nearly lost within the resplendent glow of sheer power he wields in this desperate moment. The light shines with a fierce intensity, as if every ounce of his being is channeled into containing the chaos. His features blur, consumed by the brilliance, making him appear almost ethereal.
The reactor, now further destabilized by the violent display, surges with a force beyond Tirin's ability to contain. A final, overwhelming burst of energy lashes out, sending Tirin flying backward. The console in front of him shatters, and shrapnel tears through the air. Tirin cries out as several pieces of metal slices through his side, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
The room is left in chaos, filled with the smell of burning circuits and the crackle of residual energy. Tirin, clutching his bleeding side, tries to push himself up, but the pain and the exhaustion are too great. The reactor, though temporarily slowed by his efforts, is still on the verge of catastrophic failure.
Valin rushes to Tirin's side, eyes wide with concern as the facility shudders around them. "Tirin! We need to get out of here—now!"
Tirin, barely able to stand, shakes his head weakly. The weight of his failure presses down on him like a physical burden. "Go… leave me… I can't…"
But Valin won't take no for an answer. "Not a chance!" he growls. Ignoring Tirin's protests, he hoists the smaller, trembling form of his friend from the cold, churning water. The effort is immense—Tirin's body is limp, his energy spent, but Valin's resolve is unyielding.
The facility groans ominously, the reactor's imminent meltdown sending violent tremors through the ground. Water cascades around them as Valin struggles to find his footing, his muscles straining as he drags Tirin toward the exit. Every step feels like a battle against the raging forces that threaten to engulf them.
Just as they reach the shattered entrance, Tirin musters the last of his strength. Through sheer force of will, he extends a trembling hand, summoning a shield of pure Force energy. The air around them crackles with power as the shimmering barrier forms, a translucent dome that hums with energy.
Behind them, the reactor finally detonates, the core imploding with a blinding flash of light and a deafening roar. The shockwave tears through the island, obliterating everything in its path. But Tirin's Force shield holds firm, the energy of the blast washing over it like a tidal wave against a cliff. The barrier refracts the light in a stunning display of colors, a kaleidoscope of brilliance that contrasts sharply with the destruction it holds at bay.
Valin stumbles out of the collapsing facility, still carrying Tirin's fragile form, just as the shield begins to flicker and wane. They barely make it to safety as the shield finally gives way, the last remnants of Tirin's power dissipating into the air.
As the dust settles, Valin gently lays Tirin on the ground, his breath ragged, his body broken. The island is silent now, save for the crackling of dying flames and the distant rush of the sea. The mission was a success, but the cost was high.
Valin kneels beside his friend, his chest heaving with exertion, but his grip on Tirin's shoulder is firm. "You're not leaving me behind, not today," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.
The brilliant light that had once surrounded Tirin fades, leaving behind only the dim afterglow of their escape. Valin kneels beside Tirin, his chest heaving from exertion, but the sight before him brings a new kind of fear—one that grips his heart and won't let go.
Tirin's breath is shallow, his eyes half-lidded as he gazes up at Valin. His hand, trembling and weak, reaches up as if to say one last thing, but the words catch in his throat. The effort is too much. His fingers barely brush against Valin's arm before they go slack, falling limply to the ground.
For a moment, the world seems to stop. Tirin's chest stills, his breathing ceases, and a profound silence falls over the desolate island as those violet eyes fade off and gain a dull blank stare. Valin stares in disbelief, the realization hitting him like a physical blow.
"No… No, no, no!" Valin's voice cracks, raw with panic and emotion. "Tirin! Stay with me—don't you dare leave me!" His hands, usually so strong and sure, shake as he presses them against Tirin's chest, desperately trying to revive his fallen friend. The cold, damp ground beneath them is unforgiving, a harsh contrast to the warmth that is rapidly fading from Tirin's body.
Valin begins to perform CPR, his movements frantic, tears stinging his eyes as he pumps Tirin's chest and breathes for him. "Come on, Tirin… please…" he pleads, his voice breaking. "You can't give up now… we're almost home. You're stronger than this—don't you quit on me!"
He counts the compressions aloud, his voice growing more desperate with each passing second. "One… two… three… breathe!" But Tirin's body remains still, unresponsive, and a wave of helplessness crashes over Valin, threatening to drown him in despair. He presses harder, pushing his own fear and sorrow into each attempt to bring Tirin back. "Please… please, don't leave me…"
The memories of their battles together, the shared laughter, the unspoken bond—they all flash through Valin's mind in a chaotic blur. The thought of losing Tirin, of being alone in a galaxy that suddenly feels much colder and emptier, is unbearable. Tears spill down Valin's cheeks, mixing with the sweat and grime of the battlefield as he refuses to give up, his voice trembling with raw emotion.
"Tirin… I need you… I can't do this without you…" His words are barely more than a whisper now, choked with grief. He leans down, pressing his forehead against Tirin's, a final plea escaping his lips. "Please… come back…"
Lissa
and
Skyria Kyrtan
to complete their business. In the end the engineers might not be able to save the station. Even if they were there was a lot of work that would go into reconstructing the planetary shields. It was time to get things moving back in the direction of the Empire. Dac and Lothal would only be the first rebellions unless people were held responsible for their betrayals.
