Chain Reaction

Chapter 25 - Conclusion

Paige

"How is that even possible?"

Paige was seated on the floor in a squat, her hands on her temples, she did not know what to make of this newfound information.

"When you get older, you'd be surprised what's possible." Ester chuckled, dropping to sit down across the girl.

"You're a Jedi?"

Ester nodded with a smile.

"No offense, but, I thought you'd be..."

Paige trailed away, not knowing how to put it. Ester raised an eyebrow.

"You thought I'd be what?"

"Wiser?"

Ester broke into a laugh, and Paige's cheeks felt hot as she blushed, embarrassed at what she had just said.

"What, because I speak so freely does that come off as unwise? We're not all as uptight as the other masters." She chuckled.

Desperately wanting to change the topic, Paige asked another question.

"You said you had a little brother" She stated "Why did he not take me in?"

"He had other things in his plate. I didn't want you to have a caretaker whose attention would be divided. I wanted someone to put you first as I did." Ester responded.

"How did you meet my father? He was a Sith."

Sadness flashed in her mother's eyes, and she sighed.

"He wasn't always." She mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"He was a Jedi when we met." Her mother said, she leaned back, her hands placed on the floor behind her.

"Dooku used to be a Jedi?"

"Every bad person has a story of light behind them, little one."

Paige lowered her head in shame. Every time her mother spoke it was like a dagger to her heart, she felt like she was being scolded even though her mother did not look angry.

"That's why you came, isn't it?" Paige mumbled, shyly. "You came... after all this time, you chose now because I could destroy what's left of the light in the galaxy... And in me."

Ester leaned forwards and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Paige readied herself for a proper scolding now.

"I came because I wanted to." Ester said. "I always did. I kept finding ways to reach you, but you had barred your mind. Leia and that other girl's efforts gave me the access I needed to finally get to you."

Ester held her daughter's face in her hands and tilted it up.

"Look at me" she said, gently.

Paige looked into her mother's eyes and felt her warmth. She felt safe with her, she had lived for so long without a mother, she did not know how good it felt to have one.

"You are not evil." Her mother said. "No one is ever truly good or truly bad."

Paige's lower lip trembled, her eyes filled with tears, but she tried her best to not let them fall. Even now, she did not want to seem weak. Ester chuckled as she noticed her trying hard not to cry.

"You have your father's spirit." She said, her voice nostalgic. "Strength comes when you are honest with yourself, little one. Cry if you feel so."

That was the last straw, it was like a dam broke inside her and the tears began rushing down her cheeks and flowing almost endlessly. Ester pulled her into a warm embrace, stroking her hair.