The wind howled eerily across the frozen wasteland of Kerest. Nothingness. This was a place that had truly been forgotten by the rest of the galaxy, and Kardek could easily understand why as he slowly made his way through the deep snow, his feet making a crunching sound with every step. Even though this might be the last place you would want to be, Kardek felt a strange sense of belonging and peace in the isolation and the storm. It was as if the wind was singing the song of His soul.
Alpha, the IG-88 Assassin Droid who was his eternal companion, trudged alongside him. Quiet. Never speaking. The droid was an extension of Kardek, with very little in regards to its own personality beyond standard functionality. A Neural link had been constructed between them in a desperate attempt to save Kardek's life from a fatal head wound. Kardek could not survive without the droid. In a strange way, he had found companionship with Alpha. Even though, technically, Alpha was Kardek, Alpha had filled the role of a constant friend who could literally read his mind, yet never spoke a word. The perfect confidant.
The two approached the top of a hill. As Kardek looked out over the vast frozen dessert, He knew he had arrived at his destination. He wiped the frost away from his goggles and reached for his bag, pulling out his Mandalorian helmet. He held it out in front of him... it was as if he was staring at his past... And it was staring right back at him. His mind journeyed back through the years... all the way to that devastating and life-changing moment with his father laying dead on the cargo bay floor of Droken's Ship. He still remembered the shock... the numbness... the crippling fear. He remembered Droken, the Mandalorian bounty hunter, laying his hand on his shoulder and speaking to him in that gruff voice of his...
"You're my responsibility now Kardek"
All those years that Droken had taken him under his wing and taught him the bounty hunter trade. And how they had become friends... brothers. Kardek had even chosen to become a Mandalorian just like Droken and follow the way himself. But every memory he recalled was a mix of fondness... of love... of betrayal... and of deep pain and regret.
Kardek tried to wipe his glasses again, but realized it was his own tears, not the ice, that was fogging up his vision. Kardek quickly recollected himself and pushed down the deep swell of emotions that he was feeling. Everything... his memories, his past, his success, his achievements... they were all tainted and weighed down by something that was so heavy that it was almost difficult to breath...
Guilt.
Kardek Grabbed the spear from Alpha's back and pierced it down into the ice. He then took the helmet with both hands, and he placed it upon the spear. Ice was already beginning to form on the helmet as it was exposed to the elements. Alpha took a step back and stared at it. Finally, he cleared his throat, and looking down, he spoke...
"I'm on a different path now."
With that, Kardek and Alpha both turned and began to make the slow journey back to The Harbinger, Kardek's Ship. The helmet remained there, standing tall upon the hill, above the wasteland... a monument to the past... perhaps a symbol of the future.
Kardek never looked back.
Alpha, the IG-88 Assassin Droid who was his eternal companion, trudged alongside him. Quiet. Never speaking. The droid was an extension of Kardek, with very little in regards to its own personality beyond standard functionality. A Neural link had been constructed between them in a desperate attempt to save Kardek's life from a fatal head wound. Kardek could not survive without the droid. In a strange way, he had found companionship with Alpha. Even though, technically, Alpha was Kardek, Alpha had filled the role of a constant friend who could literally read his mind, yet never spoke a word. The perfect confidant.
The two approached the top of a hill. As Kardek looked out over the vast frozen dessert, He knew he had arrived at his destination. He wiped the frost away from his goggles and reached for his bag, pulling out his Mandalorian helmet. He held it out in front of him... it was as if he was staring at his past... And it was staring right back at him. His mind journeyed back through the years... all the way to that devastating and life-changing moment with his father laying dead on the cargo bay floor of Droken's Ship. He still remembered the shock... the numbness... the crippling fear. He remembered Droken, the Mandalorian bounty hunter, laying his hand on his shoulder and speaking to him in that gruff voice of his...
"You're my responsibility now Kardek"
All those years that Droken had taken him under his wing and taught him the bounty hunter trade. And how they had become friends... brothers. Kardek had even chosen to become a Mandalorian just like Droken and follow the way himself. But every memory he recalled was a mix of fondness... of love... of betrayal... and of deep pain and regret.
Kardek tried to wipe his glasses again, but realized it was his own tears, not the ice, that was fogging up his vision. Kardek quickly recollected himself and pushed down the deep swell of emotions that he was feeling. Everything... his memories, his past, his success, his achievements... they were all tainted and weighed down by something that was so heavy that it was almost difficult to breath...
Guilt.
Kardek Grabbed the spear from Alpha's back and pierced it down into the ice. He then took the helmet with both hands, and he placed it upon the spear. Ice was already beginning to form on the helmet as it was exposed to the elements. Alpha took a step back and stared at it. Finally, he cleared his throat, and looking down, he spoke...
"I'm on a different path now."
With that, Kardek and Alpha both turned and began to make the slow journey back to The Harbinger, Kardek's Ship. The helmet remained there, standing tall upon the hill, above the wasteland... a monument to the past... perhaps a symbol of the future.
Kardek never looked back.
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