Who: Jacen Solo and his second ghost (clue's in the icon!) What: A former Sith has a lot of ghosts really... When: December 19th, night Where: At the front gate of the Hyperion Rating: Mid. Status: Complete as a narrative, open for tags
Vergere had been unsettling, but things could have been worse. The Fosh Sith had a knack for confusing Jacen, making him question things in difficult ways and as much as what she had done had set him on the path to being Caedus, at the same time she had saved him from what, at the time, would have been an even worse fate and in doing so had helped saved the galaxy from the Vong. Without her, he would never have survived to achieve the Balance that had helped them drive back the invaders.
It was with that in mind that the Jedi went out on patrol, making himself focus on the mundane. The night was uneventful, as though the city knew that its citizens weren't able to cope with the trials of a demon uprising just then. And Vergere, it seemed, had remained blissfully quiet, enough that Jacen had felt optimistic as he returned to the place he called home.
A redheaded woman, dressed in black leathers, was waiting for him at the gate, arms folded and lips curved into a smirk and a look in her eyes that spoke of an inner strength he doubted he would ever understand. But this was not his wife, not Tenel Ka waiting for him, this was a sight that sent a stab of emotional pain through his heart.
"Aunt Mara."
"Hello, Jacen."
They stood watching each other for a while. She looked exactly as he remembered the last time he'd seen her. When he had killed his own aunt, his final sacrifice in becoming a Sith. He had loved her, that was sort of the point. If he hadn't, it wouldn't have been a true sacrifice, wouldn't have meant anything. And he had grieved for her death.
"Well," his aunt broke the silence. "This is a strange situation you find yourself in. LA. Married. And this whole balance thing you've got working for you. It's interesting, it really is."
"Are you really here to comment on my life?" he looked at her bemused, wondering what the point of this whole thing was. If Vergere had been here to confuse him, why was Mara here?
"Why not?" The Jedi Master shrugged. "Not much else to do when you're dead. Well, except for you, obviously."
"What?" Jacen glanced at her sharply, Vergere's words echoing in his head. You are already dead, little Solo. Was that the theme of this? His death?
Mara sighed with what was almost a sad smile before she stepped closer to Jacen. "You were dead. For a second and for an eternity. You died before you came here. And you know that, you've just forgotten it, pressed it down with the life you have here. But all the living in this world won't take away what you know to be true."
Jacen felt as though he could barely breathe, the traces of memory tickling at his brain. Memory of that place, away from life. Mara simply smiled, the serene smile of one at peace with the Force. A peace he knew he would never gain. "I'm sorry," he found himself unable to look at her. He still believed in what he had done, the choices he had been forced to make. But the sharp sting of grief was still there.
"I know."
The voice lingered in the air long after the vision of Mara had drifted away.