Ether's Judgement Chapter II
No… not Connel, he murmured, agony flooding his chest as he felt a wave of grief wash over him. He wished to intervene, to change the course of fate, but he was trapped in this painful moment of a possible future..
As the vision continued, he witnessed Chrysa, his beloved wife, moving through her despair like a specter lost in grief. Her face was distorted by anguish, and soon, he saw the flicker of darkness clouding her once-bright spirit. She fell back towards the Dark Side, consumed by her sorrow and rage. She lost him once, and was losing him again. She couldn't take it.
This can’t be how it ends for them, Caltin implored, desperation lacing his voice. This isn’t supposed to happen!
Isn’t it? Alyscia pressed gently. You have to understand, this is the consequence of your choices. You weren’t there to protect them. You couldn’t even save yourself, from something you shouldn't have had to think about.
Fury and disbelief clawed at him. Wait? Do you mean to tell me that you’re trying to blame me for their deaths? I did what I had to do. I had to survive! Everything I did, EVERYTHING I did was for others. I always put myself last!
Yet the old Caltin would have survived that blast from the Mandalorian dreadnought, she reminded him, her tone piercing through his defenses. He would have sensed the danger and dodged it. He would have continued the fight.
The weight of her words landed heavily upon him, and he felt the truth radiating from her. He saw flickers of his past self: the confident Jedi who stood resilient in the face of adversity. The man who could call upon the Force in harmony with his spirit, dodging blaster fire and standing unwavering against darkness. That man would never have allowed himself to be so vulnerable.
Your transformation put a barrier between you and the Force, Alyscia continued, sorrow woven into her voice. And while you fought bravely, it came at a terrible cost. What should have helped you, took more away from you than what you had originally suffered from.
Caltin's breath caught, the truth finally beginning to pierce through the layers of denial he'd built. I… I failed them, I failed everyone he whispered, the realization crushing him under its weight.He had let his guard down, allowing his fears and doubts to consume him. Now, he saw the consequences of his actions, the lives lost, and the trust shattered. It was time to confront his past and find redemption.
Alyscia stepped closer, her presence a soothing balm in the midst of his turmoil. You must accept this failure to heal. Reclaim your strength, not just for yourself but for them. You carry a legacy, and you still have the chance to honor it. You didn’t fail. I won’t let my daddy fail. Putting a hand on his arm, she gave him the smirk reserved only for him.
The vision faded, leaving Caltin standing in a vast expanse of light. The ache of his family’s loss lingered, but a flicker of determination ignited within him. He wouldn’t allow their deaths to be in vain. He would not live in the shadow of regret any longer.
I’m not done, he vowed, the conviction firm in his heart. I never cared about the opinion of anyone outside my family, be it blood or sworn. I won’t now. I’m going to get that back, all of it. Even if I didn't matter to many before, if I don't matter to any now, that is not who I am, never has been and never will be.
Alyscia nodded, her eyes shining with pride and hope. There you are, Father. Use this moment to guide your next steps; the journey ahead is yours to shape.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Caltin felt the ties of the Force strengthening once more, ready to face whatever lay ahead.Caltin struggled to grasp the reality of his situation, his thoughts a jumbled whirlwind. How could he have failed to dodge a simple shot? A strike that seemed so trivial yet had cost him everything. The shame gnawed at him, mingling with the pain of loss and confusion. How could I have let this happen? I’ve trained for years... I should have been able to sense it coming.
Alyscia regarded him with a mixture of compassion and wisdom, her presence steady and reassuring. You were losing your connection to the Force, Father. The energy that binds us all—it was slipping away from you. That dreadnaught’s shot was just a reminder of what you had let go, she said gently.
But I thought I had control, Caltin replied, frustration rippling through his words. I thought I could manage it this time. I could manage it... I felt strong. I—
You relied too much on that change, Alyscia interrupted, her voice firm yet soothing. What transformed you initially—the pain, the anger—it was a temporary fix. A band-aid placed over a wound that you never really healed. It was never meant to last forever.
He looked down, grappling with the realization that stung like fresh wounds. So, you’re saying that even though I could handle it before... now... I became dependent on it... a crutch? His voice wavered as he considered the implications.
Yes, she affirmed softly. Even if unwittingly, you allowed it to dictate your actions. It distorted your perception, made you doubt the very skills you trained to hone. As odd as that is for me to say, you relied on something you once promised yourself you never would. You’ve faced darkness before, all of your life; you know better. True strength comes from embracing the entirety of the Force, not just the parts that make you feel powerful.
Caltin felt the weight of her words settle in his heart. The journey he had taken, the choices he made—they were his own to own, but they had created a distance between him and the Light. The realization that his past missteps had cost him so dearly was painful, but there was a flicker of hope within those lessons.
What do I do now? he asked, vulnerability etched in his voice. This was a difficult pill to swallow...
... everything was indeed... his fault.
As the vision continued, he witnessed Chrysa, his beloved wife, moving through her despair like a specter lost in grief. Her face was distorted by anguish, and soon, he saw the flicker of darkness clouding her once-bright spirit. She fell back towards the Dark Side, consumed by her sorrow and rage. She lost him once, and was losing him again. She couldn't take it.
This can’t be how it ends for them, Caltin implored, desperation lacing his voice. This isn’t supposed to happen!
Isn’t it? Alyscia pressed gently. You have to understand, this is the consequence of your choices. You weren’t there to protect them. You couldn’t even save yourself, from something you shouldn't have had to think about.
Fury and disbelief clawed at him. Wait? Do you mean to tell me that you’re trying to blame me for their deaths? I did what I had to do. I had to survive! Everything I did, EVERYTHING I did was for others. I always put myself last!
Yet the old Caltin would have survived that blast from the Mandalorian dreadnought, she reminded him, her tone piercing through his defenses. He would have sensed the danger and dodged it. He would have continued the fight.
The weight of her words landed heavily upon him, and he felt the truth radiating from her. He saw flickers of his past self: the confident Jedi who stood resilient in the face of adversity. The man who could call upon the Force in harmony with his spirit, dodging blaster fire and standing unwavering against darkness. That man would never have allowed himself to be so vulnerable.
Your transformation put a barrier between you and the Force, Alyscia continued, sorrow woven into her voice. And while you fought bravely, it came at a terrible cost. What should have helped you, took more away from you than what you had originally suffered from.
Caltin's breath caught, the truth finally beginning to pierce through the layers of denial he'd built. I… I failed them, I failed everyone he whispered, the realization crushing him under its weight.He had let his guard down, allowing his fears and doubts to consume him. Now, he saw the consequences of his actions, the lives lost, and the trust shattered. It was time to confront his past and find redemption.
Alyscia stepped closer, her presence a soothing balm in the midst of his turmoil. You must accept this failure to heal. Reclaim your strength, not just for yourself but for them. You carry a legacy, and you still have the chance to honor it. You didn’t fail. I won’t let my daddy fail. Putting a hand on his arm, she gave him the smirk reserved only for him.
The vision faded, leaving Caltin standing in a vast expanse of light. The ache of his family’s loss lingered, but a flicker of determination ignited within him. He wouldn’t allow their deaths to be in vain. He would not live in the shadow of regret any longer.
I’m not done, he vowed, the conviction firm in his heart. I never cared about the opinion of anyone outside my family, be it blood or sworn. I won’t now. I’m going to get that back, all of it. Even if I didn't matter to many before, if I don't matter to any now, that is not who I am, never has been and never will be.
Alyscia nodded, her eyes shining with pride and hope. There you are, Father. Use this moment to guide your next steps; the journey ahead is yours to shape.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Caltin felt the ties of the Force strengthening once more, ready to face whatever lay ahead.Caltin struggled to grasp the reality of his situation, his thoughts a jumbled whirlwind. How could he have failed to dodge a simple shot? A strike that seemed so trivial yet had cost him everything. The shame gnawed at him, mingling with the pain of loss and confusion. How could I have let this happen? I’ve trained for years... I should have been able to sense it coming.
Alyscia regarded him with a mixture of compassion and wisdom, her presence steady and reassuring. You were losing your connection to the Force, Father. The energy that binds us all—it was slipping away from you. That dreadnaught’s shot was just a reminder of what you had let go, she said gently.
But I thought I had control, Caltin replied, frustration rippling through his words. I thought I could manage it this time. I could manage it... I felt strong. I—
You relied too much on that change, Alyscia interrupted, her voice firm yet soothing. What transformed you initially—the pain, the anger—it was a temporary fix. A band-aid placed over a wound that you never really healed. It was never meant to last forever.
He looked down, grappling with the realization that stung like fresh wounds. So, you’re saying that even though I could handle it before... now... I became dependent on it... a crutch? His voice wavered as he considered the implications.
Yes, she affirmed softly. Even if unwittingly, you allowed it to dictate your actions. It distorted your perception, made you doubt the very skills you trained to hone. As odd as that is for me to say, you relied on something you once promised yourself you never would. You’ve faced darkness before, all of your life; you know better. True strength comes from embracing the entirety of the Force, not just the parts that make you feel powerful.
Caltin felt the weight of her words settle in his heart. The journey he had taken, the choices he made—they were his own to own, but they had created a distance between him and the Light. The realization that his past missteps had cost him so dearly was painful, but there was a flicker of hope within those lessons.
What do I do now? he asked, vulnerability etched in his voice. This was a difficult pill to swallow...
... everything was indeed... his fault.
