Danse Macabre/Part 17

Narasi thought the depth of her anguish had given it a voice in the real world until she realized people were already wailing when she turned and came through the door. The realization that Tirien was dying behind her and she was just letting it happen felt like knives slipped through her ribs; the wound in her shoulder didn't come close to this kind of burn. She pushed through the gathering crowd; when they resisted, she put her Zygerrian strength into it, slapping people off their feet and striking them to the floor. "Get out of my way!"

There were angry protests and startled cries, but Narasi shoved her way through until she heard her own name. "Narasi."

"Not now!" she snarled. A Republic soldier stepped into her path; Narasi dropped him with the Force and sent him sliding across the marble floor.

"Narasi!"

"I HAVE TO HELP!"

A hand caught her shoulder. Narasi tried to jerk free, but Kenza slipped in with effortless grace and wrapped her arms around Narasi, hugged her and holding her in place. "Narasi, it's too late. It's over."

Narasi looked, and her heart sank. Khofin of Knylenn knelt beside Chancellor Phnyong, his face filled with horror, his hands trembling as they hovered over the Jedi Master. Raven Kaivalt was trying to tend to a senator who was foaming at the mouth, but his face showed his powerless frustration. Soldiers tried to restore order as twitching bodies slowed into stillness…all except the last Blue Guard standing, who stood not far from Khofin, his force pike clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white, his eyes staring a thousand meters beneath his helmet.

And Phnyong lay there in their midst, still and silent and shrunken in death.

Narasi retched, and Kenza hugged her. "Narasi, it's not your fault. You did everything you could."

"I was supposed to save him…" Narasi whispered. "Tirien…"

"Where is Tirien?"

But Narasi's mind raced ahead of Kenza's, and she forced herself free before the Miraluka could get a tight grip again. Racing back the way she had come, she begged the Force, please, please, not Tirien too, please not too late…

He sat on the stone bench where she had left him, his yellow eyes open but glazed over. Kenza was at Narasi's side in seconds, and she bolted to the bench, laying her hands on Tirien's chest and back. "Tirien!"

Whatever she did gave him some relief—his eyes didn't clear, but he sucked down a rattling breath. "The Chancellor…"

"Too late, Tirien."

Tirien looked at Narasi; she felt him sense more than see her. "The antidote…you have to…Senator Iltek…no, no, Prince…Prince Taylo…Kenza, what…what admirals are…"

Kenza's jaw was rigid; she was too distraught to reply. Narasi thought of all the important people dying inside, wondering if any of them were still hanging on enough to be saved, even if Tirien could choose one while condemning the rest. She didn't know.

She didn't care.

"Sorry, Master," she whispered, then stabbed the needle straight into his chest.

Tirien gasped and Kenza lurched back, but Narasi pressed the jewel on the end of the stick—a little plunger to inject the miraculous, invaluable fluid inside. Tirien couldn't even raise his arms to fight her off; Narasi left the stick in for a long time before she pulled it out and pressed a hand over Tirien's chest to jam the blood flow. "Please, c'mon, please…"

She kept begging, though she didn't know whose or what's help she implored. Kenza held one of her hands, leaving the other on Tirien's back, and Narasi sensed her channeling him healing energy. Narasi could only stare into his clouded eyes as his breath rattled and his coughs grew weaker and his skin started to turn purple.

Then, slowly, his eyes cleared.

Narasi grabbed his hands, eyes wide, trying to help; she had no clue how to do what Kenza was doing, and nothing close to the focus required even if she had. She just squeezed his hands and tried with all her heart to will him to be better. "That's it…come on, Master, you can do it…"

"Come back to us, Tirien," Kenza breathed; she pressed both hands to Tirien's torso again, and gradually his breathing slowed, his wet hacks softening to coughs, the rattling quieting in his heaving breaths. He closed his eyes, but after a few moments he threaded his fingers through Narasi's and gave her a weak squeeze back.

She sobbed and threw her arms around him, and Tirien coughed again. "Not that much better yet…"

Narasi laughed hysterically, and for one second relief was all she knew. Then Kenza got to her feet and said, "Tirien, can you stand?"

He managed it with both their help, limping into the ballroom with his arm over Narasi's shoulders. This time the crowd gave way at once, and Narasi's ears backed as the quiet registered. It was the quiet of the tomb, for they had walked into a marble mausoleum.

Dozens of bodies lay around the floor, their faces twisted in expressions of pain and shock. A few dates and friends clung to them and cried, but there were no more twitches. Narasi looked and saw Prince Taylo, still slumped against the overturned table but unmoving now, his eyes closed over lips turned blue and caked with froth. She remembered his gallant smile, flying across the dance floor in his arms minutes ago that felt like years, and her eyes filled with tears. She turned and buried her face in Tirien's chest.

He patted her hair for a moment, but then steered her back gently; his arms still shook a little. His gait stiff and unsteady, he followed Kenza to the edge of the room, where Raven Kaivalt knelt before the Chancellor's body. Doli Umbgul was there too, though clutching a wound in his side, and To'ong Fuf; Narasi didn't see Dijir F'rat. Kenza stepped forward and knelt as well, taking Raven's hand.

Tirien led Narasi forward without a word; she knelt between him and Kenza, holding their hands as the grief hung upon them like a pall in the Force overtook them, until at last only Kenza didn't cry.