As The World Caves In: An Avengers / Star Wars Story

the darkside's call

**Don't skip ahead to read translations or risk spoilers**

As he walked away, I felt a deep sadness mixed with a remembrance of a story someone once had told him. I rubbed my forearm on my pants, but I couldn't help but remind myself how the Jedi's purpose was to inspire hope among others. A diminishing hope was all that was left. Turning my head to face the red waves passing by, I was mesmerized by its movements. In a galaxy torn apart by war, you forget what you are truly fighting for.

I laughed softly to myself, what was I fighting for? To save another planet? Its something I would have done during the wars. The wars. Perhaps, in my search to forget, I dreamed of remembering, of being reminded. I did not want the era of Jedi to end, not with me. Not with the slaughter.

        I sat back in the chair and crossed my legs. Shutting my eyes, I focused on the Force. I needed to break through the barrier, get below the surface. The first layer was typical. I could sense the lifeforms on the ship, more familiar to me now that I had connected with them. Korg and Miek were in the cargo hold, and Loki, some fancy quarters. I could feel the energy flow from my master's kyber crystal and from my own lightsabre. It was a deep hum, but my master's was slightly higher pitched. There was a small bouquet on board, forgotten behind a box. Their energy was depleting as they died from a lack of sunlight and water. I wondered how long they had been there for them to still be alive?

Flowers.

I focused my mind on them, searching for the cause of their pain. Once, only a short time ago, a man had boarded this ship in hopes of escaping to his wife again, but the Grandmaster had caught him. His flowers were all that remained of his heartbreak and suffering. The suffering.

        So, so much suffering. My neck twitched as I watched the younglings die before me, as I watched my master fall. They came in flashes.

        I watched as my master screamed as a young, reckless Jedi Knight stabbed her through the heart. My own hammered within my chest. I am sorry.

        I, standing before my fallen friend. Unable to save him despite everything he had done for me during our days of training. After that initial meeting, I was never able to sense his presence again. I am sorry.

        I saw Byph's hand fall after reaching for any sort of relief from his pain. I am sorry.

        I saw him facing me on that train, blaster's raised to me, ready to fire. Despite everything he had done to save me, and I him. But at that moment, I could not. I could not save him as he called me a murderer. A traitor. I am sorry.

        I watched as a girl placed a handprint on the crude headstone she had built for her master's belongings. I am sorry.

The girl reached her only hand to the braid tied within her head, symbolizing the padawan she would always be. Never a master. Never a knight. She had failed at protecting the most innocent. She grasped the braid and pulled. She was undeserving of it being cut. The beads tied into her head exploded, white and yellow falling along the floor. She swore an oath to keep others alive but had killed so many in the process. I am sorry.

The words filled my head. Only three. Repeating over and over and over. I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry...

The images shattered in my mind. I threw my head to the side, willing myself to look away, but I couldn't. The nightmares followed my mind. Then I saw him. Standing there, so close to me but his mind was so far. His voice, he was shouting at me. Calling my name, but I couldn't hear him over the words.