SWRC: Hidden Pasts (Book 2)

Chapter 11 The Many Dead Among Us.

When Neeran came to again, she thought she was the lone Force-Sensitive survivor on the Thought Bomb decimated plains on the planet of Ruusan.

Nothing else could be seen to have survived, but Neeran's mind wasn't on the planet.

It was only on her battalion.

And the results were horrifying.

The emotions of the planet and her battalion came crashing down upon Neeran as she curled up in a ball and screamed.

It was the only thing she could do to numb the pain.

Eventually, Neeran's screams were reduced to gasps and sobs that caused her to start talking to herself.

"Why did this happen guys?"

.

"They were all too young for war. They had their whole lives ahead of them as Jedi Trainees."

.

"They all would have made great Jedi someday."

.

"Am I losing it again? Or am I already lost?"

.

"Neeran?" asked a curious voice behind her.

"All it took was one hitch in the programming of the A.I bubble shield, Zach," said Neeran, looking up at the sky with a tear stained face. "One tiny fuck up. And now they're all gone, forever."

Neeran balled her hand into a fist and slammed it on the ground.

"Why couldn't I fucking save them?! Why couldn't I save one goddamn person in this whole hell hole?!"

Tears started pouring down Neeran's face as drop ships were heard overhead.

"How long have we been here Zach?" asked Neeran. "Years? Days? Hours? Seconds?"

Zach was silent as Neeran continued.

"And what was the point?"

.

"What was the fucking point in any of this!?"

Zach didn't reply to anything Neeran said.

There was nothing to be said on his half.

Neeran just continued to stare up at the sky as the drops ships came and went with survivors who hadn't been Force-sensitive and had survived the Thought Bombs effects.

"Why are we Jedi?" asked Neeran suddenly.

Zach was surprised by her question.

"Why are we Jedi if all we've ever done is kill people or be responsible in the actions that killed them?" continued Neeran. "How many have died because of you and me? How many have died because of our species?"

"I can't answer any of those Neeran," replied Zach truthfully.

"How many more will die before this nightmare ends, Shakkuri?"

"I can't answer that either Neeran," replied Zach. "But I know that we could definitely try and prevent anymore deaths by our hands, but Death is only a natural part of everyone's life."

"Not ours," whispered Neeran. "But I understand what you're saying."

Suddenly, Neeran sensed the spirits of everyone who had been in her battalion. Behind her, Neeran saw everyone from her battalion behind her smiling at her.

Neeran was left speechless as the spirits of all the children in her battalion all went into her onyx necklace that she wore around her neck. Neeran looked at the necklace and smiled a tear-filled smile mixed with sadness and joy.

"Thank you," she whispered, pulling the necklace close to her cheek. "I'll never forget you."