Private Poor Wayfaring Stranger

[Tulan Kor]

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.


Quiet. It was quiet. Maybe that's what he wanted.

Thirdas Heavenshield ​

Thirdas was asleep. He was a man, after all. He needed to sleep. But tonight, instead of the dreams of fatherhood, bravery, his father, his wife, something else happened. There was a beach. A quiet beach, an impressive planet, a mixture of rising and setting suns. It was both ethereal and real, quiet yet filled with noise. But no danger was here. It was peaceful. It was still in some ways, gently moving in others.

And at the edge of the water, wearing khaki shorts and a cotton button-up shirt, was Tulan Kor. Alive. No scars. No armor. He looked younger, healthier. Like when Thirdas had first met him all those years ago. Tulan took a deep breath, turning as Thirdas found himself here, with him. Tulan smiled, taking his hand out his pocket and pointing it the younger man.

"You know, you're doing better at this fatherhood thing than I thought you would've. Look at you." A pause, a smile. A glance up and down at the man he'd become. "Look at what you've done with Nida and your family." Another happy smile. Happier than he'd ever been, at least, happier than Thirdas had ever seen him.

"The galaxy seems scary now, doesn't it, my friend?"

​

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

Thirdas found himself staring out towards an endless ocean, its waves lapping the white beach without the incessant crashing. He looked down to his right to see an arm and a leg of flesh and blood in place of cybernetic prosthetics, assured then that it was indeed a dream. He was always whole inside his dreams. Farther down the beach was a sight that cemented it even more.

He approached the man cautiously, the sensation of feeling the warm sand between his toes hitting him harder than he'd care to admit. Still, his focus remained on the man. In his disbelief, he'd not recognised him until but a dozen few away, at which point there was no longer any use denying it. Thirdas stepped right up to the man that was Tulan Kor and stood there, staring.

Staring at his friend. His brother. His mentor and once-superior officer. He was there, seemingly in the flesh, young and vigorous as when he busied himself by breaking in another rookie. And he smiled, brighter and wider than he'd ever witnessed the man smile.

By the time Tulan opened his mouth to offer praise, Thirdas felt his knees begin to give out and stumbled forwards into his comrade, clinging to him like a child, tears in his eyes. He felt real.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out, sobbing as he sunk to his knees, still clinging to him. "I could have saved you—I should've found a way...! Never leave a man behind!" Giving himself a moment to compose himself, the sobbing turned to soft whimpers and sniffs. He looked up at Tulan, face red with fresh grief. "You taught me that, Gunny. I'm only here because of you."

 

[Tulan Kor]

​

He didn't chastise. He didn't belittle the man for collapsing. He let the grief fill the air, letting Thirdas say his piece. There wasn't anger there, and he smiled again. He helped him to his feet instead.

"No. You couldn't have. My train ran out of track, kid. Just like yours will, and everyone else's."

He took a deep breath, looking at his old protege. "Not like I ended up in a bad place, hm?" Tulan looked around, taking in another deep breath of ocean air. The breeze was light and gentle. A perfect place.

"I made my choice, Thirdas. It's time to let all that go, you hear me?" A single finger was placed on Thirdas' chest. Despite being considerably shorter than Thirdas, Tulan seemed to stand heads and shoulders taller than most men. Perhaps it was his training, his reputation, or just his presence. He tapped Thirdas' chest with his finger, reassuringly.

"I died because it was my time. Not because of what you did or didn't do."

Another warm smile.

"Besides. You got another Tulan to worry about, now."

He grinned, laughing, patting Thirdas on the shoulder. Tulan did not know about the other Tulan during his life. He couldn't have. So, the question was presented to Thirdas:

Was this really Tulan, or was this his dream?

Thirdas Heavenshield​

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

Thirdas came to his senses and got back on his feet, aided by his old sergeant. Again the man smiled, easing the burden on his heart every time. He looked around at the beautiful scenery—a veritable paradise to most people. "Aye, not a bad place at all," he nodded in agreement.

He felt Tulan's finger pressed against his chest, though not out of scolding or beratement for having failed him in some way. It was to emphasise the seriousness of his tone and message: Tulan was truly at peace, having gone out on his own terms while saving the capital world of the galaxy. Had Thirdas had his way, Tulan would have had statues raised to honour his friend's sacrifice. As it was, none would ever know his name. There wasn't even a body to bury.

Thirdas didn't question how he could possibly know about his boy, for it mattered little.

"Tulan... He's kind and gentle, much like his mother. Soldiering would suit him ill, I think. Our little girl, on the other hand," he finally grinned. "Gods, you should see her, the firebrand! Can't grow up soon enough that she might see some real adventure. Guess she takes after her old man in that regard, huh?"

He shared a laugh with his old friend, as if no time had passed at all and they were simply talking about life. But the smile faded fast, and he turned to Tulan with a heavy heart.

"What you said before, about the galaxy being a scary place now... You're right. Before, I could throw myself at anything standing in my way without a care, because what did I have to lose but my life? All those battles, and I would have gladly given my life so that any of my troopers might come home. I thought myself expendable. Now?"

He bent over to pick up a few smooth pebbles and started skipping rocks.

"I have Nida. I have my children. I have a home. All those horrors you and I faced... I don't think I could ever go back to that life. I'd never want to."

Another rock skipped against the oncoming waves.

"Are you happy, Gunny? Wherever you are?"

Tulan Kor ​

 

[Tulan Kor]

Thirdas Heavenshield


​

"Don't think of it as happy or sad after you're gone, kid. It just is. I'm at peace- hard to describe. You'll see, one day. We'll see each other again." Tulan crouched beside him, watching Thirdas skip rocks for a little while. He let the tranquility of the place take where words could've been said. This place was beyond perfect- every detail seemed to be tailor-made to be as peaceful, tranquil as possible. Behind them, forests without gnats and creepy-crawly bugs. Sand that was cool underneath your feet but warm enough to enjoy. No harsh sounds, no cawing birds.

Perfect, utter peace.

"You never asked, why. Maybe that thought never crossed your mind, Thirdas. Why I did what I did. Why I gave up my whole life, my wife, my identity, my safety, everything- to do what I did. You never had to, and you never guessed."

He grabbed one of the stones, skipping them with Thirdas.

"The why, is why I got you to come here, Thirdas." He said, flicking one with a modicum of effort. With Tulan's youth and vigor restored, the rock bounced and skipped happily.

"Why I asked for a favor to get you here." A smirk. Maybe a joke. Or maybe just acknowledgement of what he had to do to speak to Thirdas- or maybe Thirdas was speaking to himself, for Tulan.

"I did the things I did so people like you and Nida could start a life. But I've been watching, Thirdas. Things are gettin' worse. And the galaxy will need something much more than big guns and plucky attitudes and hotshot pilots."

Another skip.

"People are gonna need heroes, Thirdas. Men who are willing to fight, to face it all, and risk what they have. Truth is, Thirdas- there ain't nobody in the galaxy without something to lose. You lost me, I lost you when I died, I lost Nida, I lost any chance I had at redemption. Despite all that-"

A flick, and the stone went flying.

"I did it."

He turned and stood up straight, placing his hands on his hips, walking ahead of Thirdas, looking out to the ocean.

"Cause I knew if I didn't use what I could do for the galaxy, for all them people, the Alliance, the Republic, the Silver Jedi- well. Then they'd be lost, they'd suffer. That's the life, Thirdas. It's making sure everyone else gets to. So everyone else gets to have kids, grow up in peace, with a happy wife. "

He stopped, letting a silence fill the air. He let Thirdas process his words.

"I only ask of you, Thirdas. Can't and won't give you orders anymore. But the galaxy needs men like you, it'll need you to be that man again. Because what's comin' ain't gonna stop until all the galaxy burns or falls in line. And I know damn well there'll come a point where you can't say no and they're at your doorstep. So I'mma ask you, just to think about it-"

He stepped forward, looking up at his old friend.

"If your peace is worth a lot of people not havin' any."