"Her body goes to the sea."

Thane looked over to his left and watched the Hanar monks flash with light as they sang sadly. Since the Hanar communicated by bioluminescence there were extra flickers of light to accompany the regular flashes to express happiness, anger and sorrow. They glowed softly, expressing the deep sorrow of the death and sang of Irikah's soul finding the Enkindlers.

Of course, Thane believed she would find her way into the arms of Kalihira but he respected the Hanar too much to interrupt the ceremony for a personal belief. Irikah had spoken of the Enkindlers often and he knew she had more faith in that philosophy than he did. So it seemed fitting that Irikah was given to the deep this way.

He coughed as the rain poured down on him but he would not move. A week had passed since the day he returned and he visited Regit-Samalyn during that time. Between the questioning by Hanar security and funeral arrangements, Thane didn't have much time to go back and check on the results. He stood and watched as Irikah's seaweed wrapped body was taken from the platform and the Hanar attendants lowered her into the water. The large stoned added extra weight and her body began to slowly disappear under the watery grave.

"Her fire is gone to be Rekindled anew." Their sad voices rang.

"Mother! Let her go!"

Thane was shaken as Kolyat's high pitched scream made his head ache. Everyone turned to look at the small boy-Drell and Hanar alike- and watched with dread as he sprinted off towards the unforgiving waves of sea. Irikah's sister, Tayla, cried out to him and tried to catch him but it was Thane that got to him first. He hefted the boy up and carried him to a safe distance; it would have been easier if Kolyat wasn't fighting him the entire time.

"Let me go! You don't care, you don't care!"

Thane set Kolyat down but instantly had to grip his arms tightly as the boy continued to fight him. "I want Mother, I don't want you!"

Tayla joined them. "Kolyat, I know you miss her—we all do—but your father is just—"

"No help at all," Kolyat spat. His tiny fists pounded at Thane's chest, hitting him with all the strength that he had. "Stop them! Don't let them take her away! Why weren't you—" Kolyat burst into tears, sobbing with a pain and loss that Thane was not able to match. His own parents had died of old age, nothing else, and their passing across the sea was simply setting them to rest. Again, Thane was left outside from Kolyat's world and tried to console him in the best way he could.

"She….is at peace now," he said softly. He did not believe it but he hoped Kolyat would.

Kolyat continued to weep and cry out softly for Irikah, the warm rains of Kahje mixing with his tears. Thane could only stand there and pat his shoulder, hating himself as his son cried tears for both their sakes. It was Tayla that finally interrupted them and did what Thane had not thought of. She knelt down and pulled the boy into a warm embrace, hugging him tightly as he continued to sob.

"I want my mom, Auntie Tayla!"

"I know, dear, I know," Tayla sniffed. "I want her too. We're going back home now, do you want to go with your father?"

Kolyat tightened his hug, clinging to Tayla. "NO!"

Tayla looked over her shoulder and her husband was there, ready to support his wife. "I'll take him home," he offered. "Come on, Kolyat…come with Uncle Yannis."

Kolyat sniffed and only left Tayla to grab hold of Yannis' hand and they walked off toward the cars. Thane felt even worse than before as he watched his son being led away. Not only was he unable to protect his wife but now he couldn't even comfort his son. It wasn't entirely his fault; he was completely socially inept and empathy was never a useful skill when snapping someone's neck.

"Tayla…I…" Thane began softly.

Her hug took him off guard and she held him onto him as tightly as she had Kolyat. "I know this is hard for you, Thane. You were away on business so there was no way you could have known."

Yes, away on business. He was always away on business, wasn't he? Irikah never told her family what Thane actually did but instead created a story that involved corporate sales and meetings that had him traveling across the galaxy. It was a romantic idea she had concocted and it gave Thane sympathy from her family that he felt he didn't deserve.

He pulled away from her; too ashamed to look in her eyes so close to her sister's. "I thank you for your concern but I…I will be fine. Kolyat needs the most attention now."

Tayla nodded. "He's taking this very hard but he'll be fine with time. I know you need to work but maybe you could stay with us…we don't have much room but you're welcome."

"No, I think not. Kolyat seems to be better off without me…"

"Don't say that, Thane," Tayla gasped, "he loves you!"

Thane gave her a slight bow of apology. "Of course, I'm just having difficulty right now. I have business to take care of off world and I'll be able to return to him."

Tayla's brow ridges lowered in a disappointed frown but she didn't argue. "Of course, Thane. Kolyat is more than welcome in our house. Will you be leaving tonight?"

"Yes, I'm afraid I must."

Tayla's frown deepened. "I….yes, I understand. Travel safely, Thane."

Thane quickly left the platform and out of the rain since his chest was beginning to ache. He wasn't sure if it was because of the humid environment or the pain of not being able to comfort his own son. It was a heaviness in his heart that Thane was experiencing for the first time in his life and he hated it.

It was guilt.