* Ashen Devout -- A Star Wars™ tale *

*- Return to the Light, -*

Months had passed since the battle over Sorna—the devastating clash that saw the Burning Blade unleashed, the SEU's enemies driven to retreat, and the mysterious disappearance of Vas. Yet, the echoes of that battle still reverberated through the galaxy. The CSC and Black Arrow had licked their wounds, regrouping in the outer systems, while the SEU had withdrawn into a quiet, ominous silence.

Sorna had become a fortress world, its surface brimming with the labor of reconstruction. Towers of metal and stone rose from the charred ruins, standing tall like monoliths of defiance. The planetary shields had been doubled, and the SEU forces swarmed the surface and skies in preparation for whatever would come next. The Pyre floated in orbit, an ever-watchful sentinel, while the Burning Blade remained docked in the oversea shipyard—a god of war, sleeping just below the surface of the waters, its glowing orange engravings dimmed in the depths.

But despite the flurry of activity around him, Etan Dõermir had become consumed by a singular obsession. Vas was still missing.

In the months since the victory, the silence surrounding Vas had grown unbearable, filling Etan's thoughts with an ever-growing sense of doubt. He was a man of action, not patience, and the absence of answers gnawed at him like a festering wound. His mind replayed every moment leading up to Vas' disappearance, trying to find some missed clue, some hidden meaning. But there was nothing—just the emptiness where his closest friend and confidant once stood.

Today marked the fourth expedition sent into the far reaches of the galaxy—another search party, another desperate attempt to find Vas or at least discover what had become of him. For Etan, it was no longer about simple loyalty; it had become something deeper, a need for closure, for understanding. Vas' absence left a void, one that no victory, no conquest, could fill.

Standing alone in the war room of the Pyre, Etan gazed at the holographic display projected before him. Dozens of scouting ships, elite pilots, and tracking teams had been dispatched, each scouring a different region of space, following leads—rumors, whispers, anything that might offer a trace of his missing friend. The galaxy was vast, but Etan would leave no corner of it unchecked.

Stone entered the room, his boots echoing against the metallic floor. His expression, as always, was one of stoic resolve, though the wear of months of rebuilding and endless searching had taken its toll.
"Supreme Commander," he greeted, bowing his head in respect.
"The latest search teams are ready to depart. They're combing the outer sectors this time, sectors Vas was last known to have had contacts in. We’re covering as much ground as possible."

Etan didn't respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on the flickering map, the glowing lines of hyperspace lanes and planetary systems reflecting in the cool blue of his visor. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and grim.
“It’s not enough, Stone. He’s out there, somewhere. I can feel it.”

Stone stepped forward, folding his arms.
"We’ve searched every traceable lead. If Vas is still alive, he’s made it his business to stay hidden. If not…”

Etan’s head snapped toward him, his eyes hard.
“He’s alive. I don’t care what the data says, what the odds are. Vas wouldn’t just disappear. Not without reason.”

Stone was silent for a moment, watching the hologram’s slow rotation. His respect for Vas had always been tempered by the man’s unpredictability. But it was clear this was different for Etan. For months, the Supreme Commander had remained sharp, but underneath the ruthless leadership was the weight of this unresolved mystery.

“You know Vas better than anyone,” Stone said at last.
“But we need to be prepared for the possibility that something—"

“No,” Etan cut him off, his tone steely, unyielding.
“There’s no possibility. He’s alive, and he’s hiding something.” His fists clenched at his sides.
"Something I intend to uncover.”