The Path of a Jedi Book 2 (The Bad Batch x Reader)

Chapter 42: Hunter's POV

(Y/N) paused on the hologram. Hunter's breath stopped, wondering what could possibly have made the general so nervous. In reality it was only seconds, but to him an eternity had passed before she started speaking again.

"I told you once about the world between worlds, where I went when I died," she began, "and although I can honestly say I told you the truth, I never told you all of it."

She took a deep breath, "I saw so many possibilities, ones bathed in darkness, ones shining with light and happiness, but there was one, it was like a dream," she smiled in the distance thinking of the memory. "We were all happy, all of us, together, like the war came to a peaceful end and there wasn't a care in the world. Everyone was smiling, everyone was happy, it was like nothing in the world could touch their bubble of peace."

She sighed, "but the best part was we were not alone, we had a son." Hunter's head shot straight up at the words, disbelief and shock written all over his face. He instantly pictured a perfect little family, the love of his life at his side, a young boy running around, playful giggles echoing in his ears. "We named him Kai, because he was born in fire, and Hunter he was so handsome, so perfect," she smiled distantly, chuckling, "and full of trouble of course, like his father."

Hunter laughed lightly to himself, "more like his mother," he breathed out, although no one could hear him.

(Y/N) sighed again, bringing herself back to reality and looking at Hunter once more, "I'm sorry I never told you, it was only a dream. You have no idea how badly I wanted to follow that passage, how badly I wanted it to be real." He could tell that her heart was hurting, even now, certainly because she had come to realize she would have to go on alone. "I almost chose that path, I had one foot in the mirror, ready to embrace it, but then I heard your cries from the real world, and I turned away from it," she explained, "part of me wished I would have just walked right through, I wonder if I had, if I would have saved you all from the danger you now face."

She reached her hand out in the hologram. Hunter reached for it, letting the image settle on his hand, although he yearned to feel her real touch. "This life is no longer in the cards, my love," she continued, pulling her hand back, "but it will always be my idea of a heaven, it will always be the one dream I can never have."

A tear rolled down her cheek, but she held Hunter's eyes again, "but you can, you can have that life if you want it. Move on, find a new life, raise Omega and leave the war behind, leave me behind." Her voice cracked with sadness, "I want you to live the life you wanted, I want you to move on and forget about me, I need you to be safe and I need you to be happy."

"The others will follow your leadership," she continued, "you can lead them to a life that I cannot, you can find them peace when I cannot." Hunter shook his head in agony as he thought of his dead brothers, obviously she could not have known that they would not be with them, but it still hurt to be reminded that he was on his own.

A tear rolled down Hunter's face as he listened, "I know one day, we will meet again, in this plane or the next. I will love you forever, Hunter." She smiled one final time before she reached down and the hologram disappeared.

Hunter sat on his knees still staring at where the hologram was moments ago, "how am I supposed to forget you," he whispered to himself, "how am I supposed to do this alone?"