Star Wars Jedi: The Haunting

Epilogue

2 weeks later, Cal surprisingly found that he was actually adjusting well to his new life.

Back when he was a teenager on Bracca, he had never thought that he would be content laying low and not fighting the Empire. Back then, he had been desperate to bring down the Empire, if it was the last thing he did. But after everything that had happened, he was not the same Cal anymore.

He wasn't missing the Mantis crew as much anymore, either. They had been good friends of his for a long time, and a part of him still longed for Merrin's company, but if they didn't want to be with him anymore, he couldn't make them. Besides, even if they were to reunite, too much had happened between them for things to ever get back to normal again. It just wouldn't be the same.

The good news was that Stephen had proven himself to be a great friend – and unlike the Mantis crew, he had allowed Cal to open up and be completely honest without judging him, trying to force him to be better, or becoming afraid. He had done what a friend should do – he had listened, which meant a lot to Cal. Not many people had listened to him before without judging him. This, amongst other things, convinced Cal to settle down and stay with Stephen.

Trilla stayed with him, too. The two of them had really warmed to each other lately, and he would consider her a friend now. Like Stephen, she had listened to him without judging him, and she had helped to convince him that bringing down the Empire wasn't necessary – after all, fighting them for years and years had never done him any good, and the Empire weren't bad people like he thought they were.

After Trilla had discarded his lightsaber and gun, he hadn't bothered to get new ones. Why did he need to be carrying any hand-held weapons around? The planet he was on was a peaceful one, and if he ever needed to defend himself, he had the Force, which was all he needed.

Although he hadn't healed fully yet, he had made a lot of progress, and, with Stephen and Trilla's help, was continuing to make more progress every day.

It had taken him years and years to find it, but he had done it.

Cal Kestis had finally found peace.