When it All Goes Wrong
Part Four
by Nigel


Chris stood above the small mound of stones that served as a marker for Andrea's grave. Atop it sat her scarred and burned battle helmet, pointing toward the setting sun. Beneath the pile was a spade of topsoil turned over the few ashes that were the remainder of her presence, the crater from which they originated thirty meters away.

It had taken him and Nigel a month to discover this spot, relying on Nigel's Force abilities alone. Their only solace came from the Galaxy-wide retreat of the Vong, and even that was not enough to heal Chris' grieving heart.

Nigel had left hours ago. He had left Chris a ship, saying Andrea still lingered on the spot. Chris knew what she wanted, and remained, first watching her graved, and then watching a sun set one last time with her, a bouquet of her favorite flowers held loosely in hands limp with loss as a tear rolled down a cheek.

The primary slipped below the horizon, and twilight was upon the two minds, the first of the stars coming out as the first tear fell. The rosy orange horizon and the dark sky filling with stars glistened at opposites as the tear fell to the ground.

He knelt beside her grave, setting the flowers below her helmet at an angle in Corellian tradition, whispering, "Good bye, my love." The finale to his farewell, "And now that we have had one last sunset together, you may rest in peace," unspoken, he knew she had heard it anyway. His eyes were resting upon the name on the helmet when a soft, chill breeze freed him of his reverie, the breeze caressing his bangs gently and he smiled sadly.

He knelt there until the breeze faded away. He stood, the tears all but vanquished by the softness of Andrea's last touch. All things that could be said were said, and it was time for him to leave. He walked away from the marker, the knee-high blades of crimson grass stubbornly resisting his short trek, but unable to do so adequately.

He stopped at the ramp of the ship Nigel had given him, looking up at it. It was a YT-2400, plated in chrome with the name stenciled in dark green on the upper hull and along the side of the ship. Enkidu, it said. He said it to himself a couple times, then smiled, deciding he liked it. Without looking back, he shouldered his duffel and walked up the ramp into his new ship.


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