One moment the final incarnations of the Emperor were upon them, wreathed in power, radiating centuries worth of conquest. The next... nothing. Tenebrae and all that he had embodied simply ceased to be. Hardened to stone and scattered to dust, his soul forever cast from the Force itself. In his place lingered an odd reverberation, a raw sense of imbalance as the Force recoiled in confusion and disarray at the sudden power vacuum torn in its place. Scourge sensed a fraction of the Emperor's power as it dissipated—ancient and forbidding, almost as old as the stars themselves, laced in darkness. It was a pure, staggering manifestation of the Force and it had been extinguished. At long last.

All that remained were the timeless echoes of his victims. Everyone he'd murdered, betrayed, manipulated. Countless beings, both known and unknown to history. They now felt appeased at last. Free from bondage, free from the chains of horror. And from these ancient, battered echoes came a hum, not from anger or hatred. No, this was an open declaration of peace—a faint ripple of completion. So brief, so delicate that Scourge knew it would have been easy to miss. He let go and sought that tender, vulnerable sensation. Beguiled by its sincerity and the future it promised. All of it was welcome after knowing the eternal bile that were the final echoes of the Emperor.

And like distant, ethereal stars burning away their last flames, the spirits began to wink out, joining the eternity of the Force. Their ordeal ended.

Scourges eyes snapped open. A sharp gasp of air, returning to the cold, hard world of the living. His heart hammering in his chest. He felt his age, more than he had in years. Raw and weak. As though his spirit itself had been stretched to its breaking point. Every ounce of weariness he hadn't realized he'd ignored flooded through his body, washing out the strength in his very marrow. Old bones, new wounds.

"Welcome back, big guy." Kira's voice, full of grim relief. His vision was bleary. Nothing registered. Just a great smudge against the gray and shadows. For a short eternity that was his entire universe.

Then the fog began to clear, and details edged in, hazy and dark.

"Kira." His voice was hoarse and felt raw. "You live?"

"Ha." A bitter laugh, yet she smiled through it. "Yeah, we both made it. Never been happier to see that scowl of yours."

Scourge picked himself up off the cold tile, standing tall and proud once more. They registered one another with a cool gaze that spoke volumes, uncharacteristic warmth showing in his visage at the same time as hers. Until he shot her a sour glare as though in warning for her cheek. Kira pulled a face at him in a barely controlled display of mirth. He did his best not to roll his eyes and turned to view the varying degrees of disarray the others found themselves in.

At length he took stock of the faces around him. Most were on their feet—or in Theron's case, knee. Others still huddled close to the floor, unwilling to move as of yet. Regardless, they all wore expressions of haunted wonder, eyes still darting in curiosity. Still absorbing the magnitude of what they'd witnessed in their trance. Somehow they'd managed to pull it off. What had once seemed an impossible task became a feat of reality. And they'd survived it. Scourge didn't quite believe it himself. Despite those thoughts, it appeared everyone had woken from their shared trance. Save for two. His Jedi and the Grand Master.

Scourge went over to Rhiasen's side while Kira and the others that had ventured into this madness with them tended to their own. He dropped to one knee and felt the stirrings of life within her, deep in communion with Satele. This much he could tell, yet nothing more. What happened now was the will of the Force. Nothing to be done about it except wait.

Gently, he reached under her shoulders, then knees and lifted her small frame carefully, pulling her from the cold of the tile to his arms. Holding her with an unaccustomed reverence, letting a thin hint of pride linger in his eyes. They'd both gone to extraordinary lengths to bring this about. She'd done more than most could conceive of—for both Sith and Jedi. What awaited her upon the morrow... well. It remained to be seen. She'd changed his life, and this he would not forget.

Truly, his Jedi. One he admired. Respected. Cherished..and perhaps..

Scourge cradled her slight form against his armored chest, her head lolled to his shoulder as he allowed himself an indulgent moment of emotion. He pulled her up and softly leaned down a fraction to press his forehead to hers, closing his eyes against the world that still carried on despite this change in the Force. There he lingered. Feeling her heartbeat against his arm, her breathing. Gentle exhales warm on the bridge of his nose. Her presence that still glowed, now strengthened. The assurance that she yet lived brought a curious feeling of ease to his old heart. So too did the knowledge of his Emperor's demise.

At last. At last he'd fulfilled the task the Force demanded of him. It felt... good. Not something that happened often with a being such as he, yet he chose to entertain it for however short the time. He stayed that way, enjoying the moment. Basking in the soft rhythm of the breath that brushed past his features. Letting everything else fall away. There was no guilt, no doubt, no regret. At least, nothing to weigh against the rest of his long, wretched life. This had been his penance to make amends and he was glad that he had been able to see it through. He owed his life to her, twice over.

How odd a sentiment... and how far he'd fallen.

"So." Kira's amused voice. He didn't respond. Rather he raised his head away from Rhiasen's face and looked down at Kira. "She's finally worn you down, has she?" Kira's knowing tone was jovial.

He looked her over, cocking a brow ridge in curious challenge, keeping silent. However, she said no more and continued onto the task at hand, informing him that they were to escort Satele and her students. Lana would follow behind to retrieve Rhiasen. Leaving any remaining clean up for the Republic, Alliance or the Jedi. After their actions this night, none would gainsay it.

Cradling Rhiasen securely against himself, Scourge waited until all but Kira had filed out and turned a sideways glance to her. It was not missed, and she returned his gaze.

"He's gone." Her tone was unusually tender. A true statement that was rife with meaning. She glanced up at the doorway leading out from the inner sanctum into the vaulted chamber ahead and took her leave. Scourge followed her at a slow, even pace. "An Emperor free galaxy.. Can't say that's anything I'd expected in my lifetime, or the next," she remarked quietly. "Feels weird, actually."

Scourge almost inclined his head in agreement with a gentle hum. Yes. Indeed, it was strange and wholly unknown territory now, a step towards a brand new era. "Weird. Yes, that is one word for it."

Kira went on, gazing thoughtfully at nothing in particular. "You know, I can actually hear myself think again."

"I noticed the lack of chatter," he deadpanned.

She rolled her eyes with a shake of her head, half smile spreading across her face. They arrived at the hangar before their little interlude was broken. Rhiasen shifted a little in Scourge's embrace, gently, a movement to better seek his warmth. To that he looked down and could feel her almost rousing from her meditative trance, nuzzling into his armor without realising. He chuffed, unable to hide his amusement, but careful not to disrupt her.

"Hmm.." Kira chanced a quizzical look at Scourge, eyebrows climbing. A glint to her eyes, a glint to her Cheshire grin. The corners of his lips twitched upwards ever so slightly, and she nearly burst into a bout of good-natured chuckles. However, Kira traded those in for her trademark impish smile instead.

Scourge glowered at her as though to say, 'Whatever inane remark comes out of your mouth next...' but there wasn't any malice to it, his expression had softened for a fleeting second, just a blink, really, before he hid the genuinity of his emotions behind the usual callous mask, and that seemed to tickle her all the more.

Kira merely nodded her head toward the entrance of Lana's shuttle, her grin lingering. Scourge growled at her with a scornful air and turned to enter the shuttle. She did not follow and briefly parted ways to go deal with their own people.

Scourge carried Rhiasen into the ship and sat her down against the wall of the cockpit, settling her onto the floor with care, taking his leave afterwards so Lana might take his place. She gave him a curious look.

"There is an important task I must see to. Look after her." was his final request as he paused. They stood not exactly eye to eye, given his height and the short stature of the female Sith lord, but she stood tall nonetheless.
Lana glanced at him, "I'll be sure she'll stay out of trouble while I sort things out." Then she softened and added, "She'll be well cared for."

A short nod and a murmur of his gratitude was all he could give, turning his back and walking away to join Kira. Eager to leave this miserable ship, and remnants of the Emperor behind.