Luke was alone with Yoda for quite some time. When he finally emerged, it was clear he was tired, emotionally and physically, but he also looked... lighter, like a heavy load had been lifted from his shoulder. A large part of me wanted to ask what they talked about, but there was absolutely no way I could without being insensitive and nosey. I trusted Luke to share if it was important, which would have to be enough.

  After the young Force-sensative sat down beside Miru, Chewie was called in, the large Wookie dragging Han Solo in with him, the ex-smuggler looking very conflicted. After that, it was Leia's turn, the young woman returning after a few minutes, looking troubled but not apocalyptically so. Once she emerged, Han, Chewie, and she were taken to temporary housing while Luke stayed behind with us.

  A good amount of the politicians and Rebel leaders also visited the Jedi Master, and I got a good look at who had joined us. I hadn't really been paying much attention to them when they arrived, focusing instead on Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewie, trusting my people to take care of them. Now, however, while I didn't recognize quite a few of them, I did spot Mon Mothma, Hera, and Jan Dodanna, all three of whom I greeted with solemn handshakes. To their credit, all of the invited Rebels treated the situation with the respect I had asked for. I had also not heard anything, worrying or otherwise, from the portion of my team who I had put in charge of the extra security.

  Time continued to pass, the rest of the day slipping by, then another day, then two more. Most of us spoke to Yoda a few more times, but never anything of depth beyond distant future plans. He seemed to be happy to chat, discussing everything from our growing farms to the weather. Unfortunately, all that time had a cost, and after nearly a week, Yoda's condition had grown steadily worse until finally, one afternoon, he called Luke, Ahsoka, Amescoll, and myself to his home.

  "Tired, I am," He admitted, his breathing strained. "Said my goodbyes, I have. Only one last thing, I wish to do. To see the sunset, one last time, it is."

  I reached down and gently put my hand on his shoulder, nodding reassuringly.

  "We can make that happen, Yoda. The sun sets in just a few hours. Would you like us to take you now?"

  He nodded, and with Ahsoka's help, we moved his frail form into the same repulsor pod he had been using for months now, laying him down so he could rest. Once he was settled and comfortable, we left his home, walking through the vigil that was still around his house. The Mandalorians, spotting Yoda as we left, followed behind us as we crossed the park. The vigil, a mix of Jedi, civilians, and a few Rebel leaders, followed after our escort, forming a parade behind us. As we walked, the parade grew, silent save the sound of feet on gravel and brickwork, as if they could sense that the time was approaching.

  Eventually, after walking through a chunk of the city, the parade only growing larger as we did, we made it to the upper level of the large mesa on which the city was built. Most of the area was still empty, save one corner, which held the city's large ship berths. With how much higher the second level was then it was than the level below, we could easily see over the growing city and over the forest that surrounded us. In the distance, over the horizon, the sun was slowly lowering, sliding towards sunset.

  After watching the sun for a while, Yoda spoke, sounding clearer than he had in days.

  "Many mistakes, I have made," he admitted, looking out over the city, the sun shining down on him. "Never imagine, did I, that I would see this with my own eyes. The start of something new for the Jedi, it is. Beautiful it is. Thanks to you and your people, it is."

  "It's not like it was a completely selfless act," I pointed out. "But I was happy to help either way. Despite the Order's flaws, each singular Jedi was only trying to help. They deserve a second chance."

  "To many, you have given that chance," Yoda responded. "Not just to the Jedi."

  With a slow, shaky hand, Yoda gestured to the Mandalorians, who, still dressed in their ancestral armor, stood ready as guards. When he pulled his hand back, he closed his eyes, letting out a cough, which continued for a few seconds before he shook his head.

  "Ashamed, I am to ask you," he started, looking over as Ahsoka and I, the both of us leaning on each other for support. "So much, you have done already. Continue to search, I ask you. Out there, more of us there are. Feel them, I can, hidden they are. Alone, they are."

  "I will keep looking," I said confidently. "I will gather as many of your people as I can. Offer them a home and protection."

  "Thank you," Yoda said, closing his eyes and bowing his head slightly. After a moment, he gestured for Luke to come closer, the young Rebel kneeling down beside one of his few mentors.

  "A heavy fate, the Force has for you," Yoda explained. "Unfair, it is, to ask of one so young. Believe in you, I do. Wrong, it was for me to deny your hope. Trust you, I do. Redeem him, you shall, with the help of your friends, and your determination."

  Luke's eyes went wide as Yoda talked, his eyes watering. He quickly wiped them, nodding rapidly.

  "Thank you, Master Yoda," He said. "Thank you for believing in me."

  Yoda smiled, patting Luke's hand before turning to look back over the city, the sun slowly sliding behind the horizon. The sun was setting, casting beautiful colors through the sky, a brilliant display of Nirn's natural wonder. For a long while, as the sun continued to lower, Yoda was quiet, watching the shifting colors.

  "On a swamp, I believed I would die," he admitted, his voice going soft. "Surrounded by friends and community, I never even hoped. My biggest mistake, perhaps. Lack of belief, of hope. Filled with it, I now am, for the future. Looking forward to it, I am. Watching, I will be."

  The sun continued to lower, the last rays of light shining along the horizon before finally going dark. For a moment, it was overwhelming before the stars began to shine through, our eyes adjusting to the darkness, revealing more and more. The moon was high above us, just the tiniest sliver of it glowing.

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  Yoda took one last breath, his cough gone, the strain gone, like a man freed of his burdens. Then, as he closed his eyes, Yoda faded, his body vanishing, the blankets and cloths that had covered him collapsing as he disappeared.

  Grandmaster Jedi Yoda had become one with the Force.

  A wave of muttering, of people seeking comfort in one another, washed over the crowd. Ahsoka and I held each other, while Miru and Luke held each other's hands. I could see Princess Leia and Han leaning against each other, though I wasn't sure either of them even realized. Chewbacca, who had been standing behind Yoda's repulsor pod, put his hand on the backrest, letting out a mournful howl, which echoed over the city.

  For a while, the city stood in silent solidarity, watching the night sky, watching the stars, as well as the glowing dots of the and other ships as they floated far above us. Finally, after the moment had passed and it was starting to get late, I gestured to the Mandalorians, who picked up pretty quick that it was time to begin dispersing the crowd. They stepped away to the outskirts and slowly started politely prodding people to return to their homes. They also directly escorted the Rebel politicians back to their temporary lodgings. Over time, when the crowd had shrunk significantly, I gave a look to Luke.

  "Come back with us to our home," I said, now holding Ahsoka's hand. "Now is not the kind of night that people should be alone."

  Luke agreed immediately, as did Leia. Han tried to beg off, but one look from Leia melted his resistance pretty quickly. Together, the large group returned to our home, and we spent the night enjoying some food and keeping each other company. It was nice to have others around, and while it was still a somber night, Ahsoka and I kept it from being too sad by telling stories of Yoda's adventures and life. Even managed to get a laugh out of the group, retelling how Yoda trolled Obi-wan with a bunch of younglings when he lost Kamino. Eventually, the group left, leaving Ahsoka and I to settle in for the night.

  A somber feeling hovered over the city the following day, as if the city itself recognized that its people were mourning. While it was slow to get started, I spent most of my time working with Amescoll and Nal to make sure the service and funeral were planned out and ready, before spending the rest of my time with Ahsoka.

  The day after the Jedi Amphitheater was completed, the service for Yoda was held. Several Jedi, mostly the masters, got up to make small speeches. A few addressed how much good Yoda did for the galaxy, and how he dedicated his life to helping those in need. Others touched on how dedicated he was to his people, always finding time to pass on nuggets of wisdom or a reassuring word. A few even recognized his more mischievous nature, telling stories about him making the younglings laugh or his tendency to worm jokes into his words that wouldn't occur to you until hours later.

  Eventually, it was my turn to speak, the last one of the lot. I made my way to the podium at the base of the quarter circle amphitheater. The sun was shining through the environmental barrier, which was thankfully keeping everyone cool. As I looked out over the open space, spotting familiar faces all through the crowd, I let out a long breath before finally speaking.

  "In just the short months that he had been with us, Yoda had become a cornerstone of this city. He knew his time was short, and he chose to spend the last months of his life here, helping us, training the Jedi, learning about our Mandalorians, and passing some of his timeless wisdom," I pointed out with a bittersweet smile. "He knew his time was coming, and he chose to spend it with us. A precious gift that we will never forget."

  I paused, looking up at the sky for a moment before looking back down and catching Ahsoka's eyes. She smiled, nodding encouragingly before I continued.

  "Yoda was many things to many people. A teacher, a savior, a student, a peer, and a leader," I said, looking up at the crowd, eyes scanning the top row of people. "with the life he lived and the amount of time he had, it's not surprising that he had made many roles."

  I paused again, taking another long breath and looking out over the audience before resuming.

  "When someone like that dies, someone who has touched the lives of so many people, it can be like losing your foundation," I explained, watching people nod in agreement. "Suddenly, things don't feel so stable. Suddenly, things don't feel so certain."

  I looked toward the Rebel politicians, all of whom sat and listened respectfully, though I could see Mon Mothma, Dodanna, and Hera were all genuinely mourning, at least.

  "The galaxy is a hard place to live in right now. The Outer and Mid Rims are suffering and have been for some time. The Empire rules the core and its neighbors with an iron first, squeeze the people dry, working them to the bone," I said, scanning the crowd, watching several of the Rebel leaders nodding in agreement. "And now, with Grand Master Yoda gone, it is just a bit darker. One of our guiding lights, a pillar among us, holding us up, has left us."

  That statement seemed to resonate with the crowd, enough that I could see people visibly shrinking back.

  "But that is why we must strive to stand taller, even if it may seem darker, even if it feels uncertain, unstable," I explained, pulling people back and grabbing their attention. "Because together, we can hold this world steady and be the vanguard into the future. Together, we can forge ahead through darkness, through whatever this galaxy may throw at us. Together, the sky is the limit."

  I looked again at the crowd, my eyes finding my team, Corvak, and his people, as well as some of the captains of our ships.

  "Yoda believed in us, believed in our future, believed that we could make a difference and change the fate of this galaxy. We may have lost him today, but a part of him is still with each of us, in his teachings, in his advice, in our memories. He believed that all of us had such grand potential. And now, with a pillar gone, it's time for us to stand up, honor his memory and stand together. For Vercopa, for the Jedi, for the Skyforged Vanguard, for the galaxy."

  I stepped down off the stage as the crowd applauded. It was subdued and quiet, but as I walked to retake my seat, I could see that many people were sitting just a bit straighter, their eyes just a little more open, less clouded.

  Later, at the final stages of the service, we made our way to the outskirts of the latest building area, where new homes would soon be built, and a new park was already in place. There, we burned Yoda's final robes in a funeral pyre as a stand-in for his body, which had faded away to nothing. It was a quiet, almost wordless affair, with Luke carrying the flame, using it to light the pyre. The ceremonial burning was standard for Jedi who passed, and now we performed it as a final farewell, the large fire lighting up the small gathering, this particular part only open to those who knew Yoda well. When there was nothing left but ash, we stirred the soil with shovels before planting a Uneti tree sapling, marking a spot in the park where generations could come to relax and meditate.

  The following afternoon, the Rebel delegation left, once again riding home on the . While I was sad to see Luke leave, and I would have liked to have more time talking with Leia, Han, and Chewie, I was not sad to see the rest of the Rebel delegation leave. Despite being heavily focused on other things, their presence was a constant stressor, and them being gone was a relief. I was confident that Nirn was still secure, but having them here was still not something I enjoyed.

  By the end of the next day, the city was starting to return to its normal pace, the solemn feeling fading slowly as people returned to their daily lives.