Several Days Later
I stand on the beach outside the compound. The sun is setting on the water, and I watch in silence. From behind, I can hear someone walking towards me, but I don’t turn. “Caalin.”
I stop a few feet behind Hayden. I don’t speak right away, but also take a moment to appreciate the sunset. “I just wanted to... check up on you. See how you were before I... left.”
I half turn. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. I’ve talked it over with Zar’kun and Alice, and I feel it’s time I take on an important mission on behalf of our fledgling Jedi Order. A mission only I can accomplish.”
“This has to do with the Sith Purebloods, doesn’t it?”
I nod. “With the Imperium rising, I fear what few Elder Bloods remain will easily be swept into their ranks. If that happens, my race will surely die out for good. I know they have a history of darkness, but I want to at least offer them an alternative while there is still time.”
“Hmm. Pacifist Sith. Never thought I’d see the day.” I turn fully to face Caalin. “Salazar Greshh wanted to preserve the old race too. You can’t save those who don’t want to be saved.”
“You sure about that? You seemed pretty unwilling to be saved, but yet here you are now.” I smile. “You know, you’d make a good example for those youths who think it’s too late to abandon the dark side. You should come with me. They’d listen to you.”
I think it over for a moment. “Nah, I think I’m done with adventures. Maybe one day, if your insane plan works out, I’ll reconsider. But for now... I want to keep my feet firmly on the ground.”
“It that case... may the Force be with you, Hayden Twilight. May you find your well deserved peace.”
“You too, Caalin. You too.” I turn back to the sunset. I can feel him linger a few more moments behind me before turning and leaving. I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. I knew he harbored feelings for me, and I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a few times when I might have reciprocated, but I knew deep down it never would have worked out. He still had a destiny before him, and I would only be holding him back.
Meanwhile, I am upstairs in my room, going through my backpack full of equipment. I would be shipping back out to rejoin SIS in a few weeks, once the last of the chaos had settled down and I’d had a good amount of RNR with my family. Gods new I’d earned it.
On my desk top, my holo communicator buzzes, and I see the ID is that of Ava Cadera. I stare at the device, listening to it continuously buzz. I want to answer it, but something in me holds back. The painful memory of Ava’s insanity on Coruscant, and how toxic our relationship had become near the end. Grandpa insisted it wasn’t her fault; that it was a side effect of Sucal’s corruption, but I didn’t know how much I believed that. Ava was too strong to be so easily manipulated like that. I was afraid the darkness was always in her, and the corruption had just brought it out onto the surface.
The comm continues to buzz, and after a few more moments hesitation, I fight past my reluctance and press the button to accept the call. The imagine of Ava appears, bruised and leaning on a crutch. Despite this, she looks good. Her hair has grown out a bit since last time I saw her. The hardness that had overtaken her demeanor before had gone, and for the first time in a while, I could see the woman behind the Mandalorian.
She smiles shyly, and I can’t help but smile back. “Hey.”
