Silent Reckonings [Yord Fandar x OC]

Chapter 28

Elara and Master Sol sprinted through the dense forest, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they searched desperately for their companions. The faint glow of their lightsabers flickered through the foliage, casting eerie shadows on the trees. The sounds of the earlier battle seemed to echo in their ears, a grim reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.

They skidded to a halt when they stumbled upon the scene of devastation: Jecki and Yord lay unconscious, their bodies sprawled on the forest floor. Elara's heart lurched as she saw Yord's prone form. Trembling uncontrollably, she rushed to his side, her breath catching in her throat. She knelt beside him, her hands shaking as she checked his pulse. Relief washed over her when she felt the steady rhythm beneath her fingers.

Master Sol moved quickly to Jecki's side, his face etched with concern. He gently examined the padawan, who had a gash on her forehead bleeding profusely. Master Sol's expression hardened as he felt Jecki's pulse—it was faint but present. He looked up, his gaze scanning the surrounding darkness.

"Osha!" Master Sol called out, but the only response was the rustling of leaves in the wind. His concern grew; Osha's absence was unsettling.

Just then, two Jedi crew members from the ship arrived, their faces flushed and breathless. They had sprinted from the ship upon receiving Jecki's distress call through her comlink. The crew members immediately set to work, carefully lifting Jecki and Yord's unconscious bodies. Elara, seeing their struggle, hurried to help with Yord's weight, her anxiety making her movements frantic.

As they worked, Elara noticed Master Norin stirring nearby. She called out his name, her voice urgent. Master Norin, though visibly weary, quickly rose and joined the effort, assisting the Jedi crew with Yord's body.

Elara turned to Master Sol, her face etched with worry. "Where are you going?"

Master Sol's gaze was resolute. "I'm going to find Osha. She's still out there."

Elara's eyes widened with concern. "Let me help—"

"No," Master Sol interrupted firmly. "You need to get back to the ship. Help with the injured Jedi and contact for reinforcement. We'll need more hands to carry everyone back."

Reluctantly, Elara nodded. Master Sol gave her a reassuring nod before disappearing into the deeper forest, his figure swallowed by the shadows.

Elara swiftly returned to the Jedi crew, her focus shifting to the task at hand. Using the Force, she cleared a path through the tangled branches and undergrowth, making their progress smoother. Her mind raced with worry, but she pushed her fears aside, focusing on the immediate task of getting her comrades to safety.

After nearly an hour of painstaking effort, they reached the ship. The medical team was already preparing for the incoming casualties. The injured Jedi were carefully moved to the medical bay, where first aid was administered immediately. Elara's heart ached as she watched the medics work, her own hands trembling slightly as she helped where she could.

The ship's interior buzzed with urgent activity. Elara, though exhausted, continued to assist the medics and coordinate with the ship's crew, trying to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded. The eerie calm of the forest was now a distant memory, replaced by the tense atmosphere aboard the ship.

As the first aid efforts continued, Elara couldn't shake the feeling of impending dread. She had seen Yord and Jecki injured, and Master Sol still searching for Osha.

•••

Elara sat on the cold floor outside the medbay, her knees drawn to her chest as she waited for any news about Yord. Her emotions were a storm inside her, churning and swelling until she could no longer contain them. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her body shaking with the force of her sobs. The deep wound in her left arm bled as she absentmindedly picked at it, the physical pain a distant echo compared to the turmoil within.

She felt as though her world had been shattered. She had finally met her father, a figure she had secretly longed to know for years. But the encounter was nothing like she had hoped. Instead of comfort, she found herself drowning in confusion and fear. Was he lying? Was it all true? The uncertainty gnawed at her, each unanswered question a dagger to her heart.

Overcome with anger and despair, she started slapping herself. The sharp stings on her cheeks were a distraction, a desperate attempt to focus on something other than the unbearable weight of her emotions. Each slap was harder than the last, her hands shaking with rage and self-loathing.

"Why?" she sobbed, her voice breaking. "Why did he have to be my father? Why now? Why like this?"

Her cries echoed through the hallway, but she barely heard them. All she could feel was the overwhelming pain, the betrayal, and the anger. Her face was soon smeared with blood from the gashes her own hands had caused. She couldn't stop. It was as if punishing herself might somehow make sense of the chaos inside her.

"Stop that at once," Master Norin's stern voice cut through her self-destructive haze.

Elara looked up, her vision blurred by tears. The sight of her master's stern face brought a fresh wave of emotion, and she began to sob uncontrollably. "Master..." she whispered, her voice trembling and weak.

Without hesitation, Master Norin knelt down and embraced her. Elara hadn't known this side of him. To her, he had always been a distant master, seemingly uninterested in creating a bond with her. But now, his embrace felt like a lifeline. She clung to him, her tears soaking his robes. Her sobs grew louder, each one wracking her body with a force that left her breathless.

"I can't... I can't take this," she cried, her voice muffled against his chest. "I finally meet him, and he's a monster. What does that make me?"

"You are not him, Padawan. Your two are different beings," Master Norin comforted her and held her tightly, his own heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. " You will always have the light within your heart."

He had known about her father's identity, a secret he had kept for years. Elara's mother had confessed to him during his first visit when they learned of Elara's Force sensitivity. The Jedi Council had been hesitant to accept Elara, given her age, but Master Norin had insisted, fearing for her safety because of her father's dark affiliations. Elara's mother had been equally reluctant, constantly fleeing and changing planets to escape her pursuer. Master Norin had promised to keep Elara safe, and now the weight of that promise felt like a burden.

Master Sol arrived and saw Elara crying in her master's embrace. He stood silently, a look of deep concern on his face.

The door to the medbay opened, and the Jedi healer stepped out. "Master Sol, Master Norin,"
The Jedi healer acknowledges the two men, "Jecki and Yord are stable," he announced. "Yord's broken arm is being repaired by the medical droids."

Master Sol thanked the healer, who nodded and returned to the medbay.

Reaching into his pocket, Master Sol pulled out a cloth and handed it to Elara. Her eyes were swollen, and tears continued to fall. She accepted the cloth and gingerly wiped her tears, wincing as she accidentally brushed against the deep wound on her left arm.

Master Sol, noticing her injury, crouched down and gently took her arm. Using the Force, he began to close the wound. It still hurt, but the bleeding stopped.

"You've had an overwhelming day, Elara," Master Sol said softly. "You need to rest."

"But Yord-" she began, her voice trembling. She did not want to leave without knowing what had happened to him.

"We'll wake you when Jecki and Yord wake up," Master Norin intervened. "You need to regain your strength."

Elara nodded weakly. Master Norin helped her to stand, but her knees buckled from the exhaustion of the day's events.

"I'll accompany her to her quarters," Master Norin said to Master Sol. "Then we'll call the council."

Together, they walked slowly through the ship's corridors. Elara leaned heavily on Master Norin, her steps unsteady. Her thoughts were a chaotic mix of fear, anger, and confusion, but for now, she allowed herself to be led, seeking comfort in the presence of those who cared for her.

•••

Author's note:

I think she might have some daddy issues...?