The preparations were made with as much haste as possible, students and overseers alike fully cognizant of the gravity that the ceremony possessed. This was the first memorial service for a Qyaari Elder, one of their own leaders. Most students hadn't really given thought to the notion that the Qyaari leadership was vulnerable, let alone subject to the same fate that all known sentient life had to face. It was sobering, humbling, jarring, even. Some students had to be calmed down throughout the process, reassured that although this was a somber occasion, it was also one for reflecting on how much of an impact Voldon had in bringing about the Academy halls that they walked casually through between classes, the peace that Force users had across the galaxy in choosing their own path to fulfillment and re-establishing order in the vacuum of chaos that Bracknell threw the galaxy gleefully into. Being part of the "comforting" task force was something Yerbol had gotten used to since his arrival back on Zinuthra, but mentioning past events as a reminder of how far the Qyaari had come thanks in part to Voldon was a sublime experience, one that prompted much reflection on his part as well while arranging flowers the way he was told to by someone who had more experience in creating aesthetically pleasing bouquets(which, not so coincidentally in his mind, were the women) or helping some of the media personnel who had arrived early figure out where the restrooms were(that was a fair question, seeing as the atrium where one first entered was a massive space that branched out in several different directions). Dwelling on how he and Aria had their entire realities at the time shattered into fragments and scattered across the galaxy was sobering indeed, but the fact that they managed to recover from that and be a part of something so great, so restorative thanks to the efforts that Voldon was a part of made the Champion massively grateful for what the former Batlemaster had sacrificed. Even after his death, his legacy would be one of the foundational building blocks that the Qyaari can use to move forward and grow. He had told Voldon's casket as much, hoping that where Voldon's "presence" was that he had heard what Yerbol had said and knew that the Champion meant every word of it. 

When preparations were finally complete, Aliel gave them a "suggestion" to come greet the Chancellor, Matt agreeing:
"Cheriss' suggestion is a good one. Come on, you two." Yerbol snickered quietly, telling his spouse:
[i]I've got to think that there's a reason for this, right? Maybe because we're the only two Champions in existence right now and we're sort of their "Special Forces" unit? Maybe they feel better with us around because we represent what the Order can become? Or maybe we're just eye candy so no one notices Matt's graying hair. If that's the case, then I'd say they've got it all wrong. If they want eye candy,
 they might as well just leave me out of the picture. You're more than enough.[/i] He shot her a teasing glance alongside a gentle nudge as they proceeded towards the hangar, which currently had it's bay doors flung wide open to reveal the elegantly designed Z-Class ship that Saresh and the Alliance cabinet was emerging from along with several heavily armored and armed guards. The Qyaari and Alliance parties met at the hangar door threshold, Saresh offering  a firm handshake to each of the Force users as she said somberly:
"I wish that my visit were on better terms."
"I agree, Chancellor, but we appreciate you and the Cabinet's presence all the same." 
"Of course. The Alliance has lived up to it's name thanks to our relationship with the Qyaari. That's largely due to Voldon's presence with no disrespect meant to the other Elders, of course." 
"None taken, Chancellor. There was a reason we all decided that Voldon would be the first Presiding Elder. He was the voice we needed. Calm, collected and firm when he needed to be. Although there were times I wish he had spoken just a bit more...' A few slightly awkward (according to Yerbol anyway) chuckles before Matt spoke again:
"The service begins in about an hour. Let's get you to where you need to be." 

There were only so many seats in the garden, which forced many to resort to standing on the steps leading up towards the Academy facing the meditation garden. They were able to hear the sequence of events thanks to the earpiece slash microphone combination that those speaking received beforehand, sound traveling through miniature but powerful speakers planted in a circular pattern around the garden. The Elders, Alliance politicians and Champions were seated in two rows on a raised platform with Voldon's closed casket to the right hand side of the rows. Kira was nowhere to be found and when Yerbol asked Malu about where she was as they took their places, the Miraluka whispered:
"Not all of us can face the death of a loved one in such a public space." With Kira absent, the only two that spoke to the assembled audience were Matthew and the Chancellor, both of whom delivered short messages on the virtuous life that Voldon led and the impact that his actions will have on the future of the Qyaari. Matthew's address was well done, but it was almost hollow in comparison to the private ceremony held just a few hours earlier. He was happy the Elders had summoned them. 

It was Saresh's address, however, that piqued Yerbol's interest; more specifically, it was a string of thoughts near the end:
"Although Voldon has passed on, his legacy will continue to remain an example of how we as a governing body should always be servants of the people, not overlords. To act in the best interests of those we have the pleasure of serving, not to destroy their wills. The Alliance will continue to act in conjunction with the Qyaari to ensure galactic peace, to make the galaxy a harmonious, stable place for all who call it home." This naturally led to a burst of applause from the audience, Yerbol included, yet the Champion could feel something...strange as she spoke. The words felt almost forced, as if she were putting on a strained performance than speaking what was actually on her mind. Maybe it was him projecting his old feelings of mistrust onto her that came from his reminiscing about the old "Alliance", but he would bring up his feelings to Aria in private to see if she felt the same. 

Matthew concluded the service by summoning the pallbearers to carry Voldon's casket past the meditation garden to a shuttle waiting just a few hundred feet away where, according to Matthew, the casket would be flown to Ord Mantell and buried on a private plot of land that the former Battlemaster had purchased several years ago and swore that he would use one day as a place to retire and start up a small vegetable garden. This elicited a few chuckles from the audience, most of whom couldn't imagine a seasoned warrior of the Qyaari in a straw hat farming for bell peppers. 

The pallbearers, who included Matthew and Yerbol along with two Alliance soldiers, trudged to the shuttle and loaded the coffin as the assembled audience began to disperse towards the Academy, an announcement made before the ceremony telling any who wanted to stay that there would be a meal in the dining hall. It seemed like most would take them up on that offer. 
"Never thought I would see this day." Matt commented with a sad chortle, looking up at the departing shuttle for a lingering moment before examining the crowds moving slowly up the stone steps. 
"Voldon's death?" Yerbol suggested, to which Matt shook his head.
"I knew that Voldon would go out in some sacrificial manner. He was too bold to go quietly in the night. No, I just..." He blew out a sigh.
"I just never thought in my heart of hearts that we could pull this off." He motioned at the Academy.
"We have a flourishing student body, Knights who are maturing into the Force so rapidly that I almost feel like I need to take a class from them and a government that doesn't want to enslave Force users. Satele would've been proud of what we've accomplished." 
"I think so, too." Matt clapped a hand on the younger man's shoulder as he told him:
"We've got more work ahead of us though. This isn't the height of where the Qyaari could go, what the order can do; this is just the beginning."