Son of Öetrago

Posted on Wed Apr 22nd, 2026 @ 10:37pm by Bomoor Thort & Bruta Thort

1,746 words; about a 9 minute read

Chapter: Chapter IX: The First Verse
Location: Old Elenca Settlement, Öetrago
Timeline: Late Day Four, concurrent with "Thane of Caanus"
Tags: Öetrago, Elenca Settlement, Family, Father–son relationship, Force Bond, Homecoming, Reflection, Memorial

The grove had never fully recovered.

What remained of the great tree rose behind the stone monument like a wounded beast: a twisted stump split clean down the middle, its inner fibres charred and splayed outward from the blast that had torn it apart. While the centre of the Elenca settlement had been cleared of all signs of battle, this tree was chosen to remain as a reminder of the wound the people of this place felt and echoing the divide that had formed from that wound.

The wind moved across the now-exposed field with a low, mournful note, carrying the cold across the open ground and stirring the dry, brittle leaves that still clung to the smaller trees around it. The settlement lay silent beyond what was its centre. The broken outlines of the remaining swellings softened by distance and the late light.

Bomoor and Bruta stood before the monument, the names carved into its surface catching the pale sun. They had travelled here together with Thane from the Dunari's Delight station, speaking little, having all decided to come together to this place of significance to them all. When the Caanan had left to attend to his crystal, father and son had been left together to reflect on the events that brought them to this point. They had spent the last day orbiting one another, finding excuses to be elsewhere, to be busy, to avoid the conversation that now pressed quietly between them.

Bomoor broke the silence first.

"Thank you… for everything you’ve done," he said, voice low, "I know it must have been strange. Mentis contacting you out of nowhere. And then us arriving like...well, strangers."

Bruta gave a light snort, "Strangers? On the contrary. You’ve no idea how much of a following you’ve earned on Öetrago. Why, I feel like I’m meeting my hero."

Bomoor let out a dry chuckle, "That’s kind of you. But I think I'd rather just be your son, rather than your hero." His gaze dropped to the stone, "You’ve been mine, though. You saved Thane’s life. He’s… like a brother to me. I only wish my mother had met him as well."

The wind shifted, brushing cold across his face. The silence that followed was heavier than before.

When Bomoor spoke again, his breath was quicker, uneven, "I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to save her." His eyes fixed on the great fractured tree, remembering the great explosion that had taken her, the fight with Voq, the moment he had ripped the cyborg apart. His chest tightened, breath coming faster as the memory surged.

Bruta’s hand came to rest on his hump. A steadying gesture. Bomoor stiffened at the contact but didn’t pull away.

"Your mother," Bruta said softly, "Had the same connection to the universe that you do. She was with you more than you know... and you with her. We don’t always get to choose when we say goodbye. But we should never blame ourselves for the time we didn’t get. You loved her. She loved you. That is enough."

Bomoor’s dark eyes glistened as they held back tears, "I’m not sure I did know that... and I don’t know if it makes it better or worse. I spent so long thinking you’d both moved on. In the Order... they... I just had to believe that."

He straightened, the tears drying into something harder, "Just more lies from the Jedi."

Bruta withdrew slightly, guilt flickering across his features, "I pushed for your time in the Order. I thought it would give you a future but I realise now I was just buying into the golden façade the Third Republic paints."

He lingered, as though deciding how deeply to apologise, before straightening again, "But I’m sure there were good moments too. The bond you’ve formed with Thane - that seems worth cherishing."

Bomoor tilted his head, a faint smile returning, "Yes, he has been one of few things I would not wish to trade. But now... well, you have no idea how deep that bond goes."

Bruta hesitated, his political poker face falling only slightly, "Oh. I… didn’t realise. I know relationships are frowned upon in the Order. I can see why..."

Bomoor barked a laugh, the tension breaking. "No, no. Not like that. He’s family. In the Force, I mean. Like a... well, it’s complicated."

Bruta laughed too, shaking his head, "I’m still not sure I understand. But I’m glad you have someone who gives you strength."

Bomoor considered that, then nodded, "He does. And I should be more open to that strength. Especially now."

His expression shifted suddenly, eyes narrowing toward the distant hut. Bruta noticed, asking, "What is it?"

"Thane," Bomoor murmured, "He’s bleeding his crystal. I can feel his resolve. He’s imposing his will on it and some of it is bleeding through to me," He exhaled, calmer, "It’s good. It’ll make him strong again. His crystal should reflect who he is."

Bruta nodded, though clearly out of his depth, "If you say so. I’m just glad I can help in any small way."

The wind moved through the grove again, carrying the faint scent of ash and old soil. The ruined stump creaked softly as the air passed through its split heart.

Bomoor spoke after a moment, "There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. That young Twi’lek girl who hugged me when I woke... that was Jiljoo, wasn’t it? I knew her as a child. She was on a dossier that Hul provided us."

Bruta brightened, "Yes - she was the first person I met when I returned to the Elenca. Remembered you instantly. Attached herself to me soon after, Mother knows why," he feigned a playful irritation, then chuckled, "Somehow she and I, along with a few others, ended up taking on GalactaWerks. We didn’t know the full extent of it at the time but somehow we raised a small rebellion from it. She’s a strong young woman. Still fighting for the cause... for Mumin’s cause."

His tone dimmed. He pointed to a name on the stone, "Not everyone who fought beside us was so lucky. Mr Senob gave his life for a free Öetrago. Just before your mother."

He straightened, voice firm, "We must ensure their sacrifice leads to a better tomorrow for the true Öetragans. The ones who believe in community, not in selling out to the Company."

Bomoor’s posture mirrored his, "I won’t disappear again. I’ll fight with you when we are all strong enough again. And Thane… he won’t forget what the people of this sector have done for him."

Bruta stared at the stone for a long moment before speaking, still facing forward, "It’s good to have my son back. It doesn’t erase losing Mumin. But it eases it, knowing the child we created has come home. I’ll be here for you, Bomoor. I’ll make up for the years we lost."

Bomoor nodded, voice quiet, "It’s a comfort to me too. Perhaps, before Thane and I move on, you could show me more. About our family. Our history."

Bruta chuckled, "Careful what you wish for. My sister Marga still runs the family farm on Übal. She’ll have you working the fields the moment she sees another healthy Thort. But yes, I’d love to take you to meet her and her twins."

Bomoor's body was lightening, the tension easing between them at last.

Bruta gestured vaguely toward the horizon, "You know… if you ever stay longer than a day, there’s more to see on Öetrago than the grasslands here. The rainforests in Dunio are still some of the richest in the sector; the Kalco herd has several old Ithorian temples hidden within the jungle with some relics dating back to Ithor itself. Beautiful places. Quiet. You’d like them."

Bomoor smiled faintly, "I have read a bit about them. They say you can commune directly with Mother Jungle there, right?"

"Oh yes," Bruta said, warming to the topic, "And if you go north, the Squalu herd will show you their seed vault - largest in the galaxy, they say. They guard it like treasure. And the islands out east… Partom herd builds these ridiculous sea yachts out of oily wood. They have the oddest smell but glide on the water like a dream."

Bomoor let out a soft chuckle, "You make it sound like one of those holiday packages on the HoloNet."

Bruta shrugged, amused, "Well, someone has to convince you to come home properly and I wouldn't be a good representative if I didn't know a thing or too about what makes this planet great. I even know some good spots on Clak'dor too and if you ever want to..."

Bomoor opened his mouths to interrupt but the words stalled. His gaze drifted past Bruta, toward Mumin's distant hut where Thane had disappeared. A subtle tightening in the Bond pulled at his awareness, a shift like a breath settling into place.

His father noticed too and stopped his sales pitch, turning to look with him.

Bomoor stated simply, "He’s finished."

"Ah. Then I suppose the field trip is over," Bruta sighed. He took a few steps, then paused and looked back, "I’m glad we talked. And I’m proud of the man you’ve become. It took real strength to decide the Jedi weren’t right for you. Your life is your own again."

He walked away in the direction of their shuttle, his silhouette framed against the broken grove.

Bomoor remained a moment longer.

The Bond had settled now: no longer tugging, no longer strained. Thane’s presence felt grounded, centred, as if the act of bleeding the crystal had aligned something in both of them. The calm that radiated through the connection echoed faintly in Bomoor’s own chest, smoothing the last edges of his earlier turmoil.

For the first time in a long while, he felt steady. Not alone. Not divided between past and present.

He lifted his gaze and there, emerging from the path between the huts, was Thane. Walking slowly, purposefully, the faint glow of his implant catching the dying light.

They were ready to continue.

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