I sat frozen in the Void, my breaths shallow and ragged, my thoughts spiraling like debris caught in a maelstrom as I stared at the man across from me who claimed to be my future self. Every fiber of my being wanted to resist, to deny what my eyes were showing me, to reject the impossible reality standing before me in this timeless space between moments.
But my instincts, those deep, primal instincts told me with absolute certainty that what he was saying was true.
Even now, I could feel a connection forming between us, something deeper than mere recognition. It was like looking into a mirror that showed not just reflection but revelation, not just appearance but essence. The Force light I normally perceived around living beings, that golden bright radiance with its shadowy hue that I'd come to associate with my own presence, was gone. No, not gone, not yet. It was more like it was dying, flickering like a candle in its final moments before darkness claimed it completely.
He's dying.
The realization hit me impossibly hard, stealing what little breath I had left. This wasn't just some vision ,or Force ghost or temporal echo. This was me, a version of me that was now fading from life itself. The weight of that knowledge pressed down on my chest, making it hard to think, hard to breathe, hard to do anything but stare in mounting horror.
What the hell is going on here?
The older me smirked slightly behind his white locks, which I could now see had stains of red and black streaked through them like dried blood. Was that blood? The question formed in my mind but died before reaching my lips.
His face was mostly obscured by those dreadlocks that fell around his features like a curtain, but what I could see was scarred, weathered, marked by experiences I couldn't begin to imagine. His golden eye, my golden eye, stared at me with an intensity that made me want to look away, but I couldn't. I was transfixed, caught between terror and desperate need to understand.
"Good," he said, his voice carrying a weight that pressed against my very being like a physical force. "You searched within yourself, and you know what I say to be true. You can also tell my life is fading, which means we don't have much time."
My future self's voice was calm, measured, but underneath that control I could hear something else, exhaustion, resignation, and a bone-deep weariness that spoke of lost, of sacrifices made and prices paid. If he was me, but just older, how could he be so intimidating? What could he have faced to push him to change so drastically? What horrors had he witnessed to transform the person I was now into this hollow shell of determination and grim purpose?
"What I am about to show you will be a lot," he continued, his gaze never leaving mine. "But remember, we don't have much time, and what you see will hurt. It will even break you. You cannot look away no matter how painful, no matter how much you want to close your eyes and pretend you never saw it. These are the results of our actions, and you must accept them. Learn from me and be better, Cain. Be better than I was."
My eyes widened, but before I could respond, before I could ask any of the thousand questions burning in my mind, he lifted one hand and swept it through the air with a gesture that seemed both casual and impossibly significant. The Void realm shifted and morphed like a desert mirage, reality bending and twisting around us in ways that made my stomach lurch and my head spin.
The emptiness dissolved, replaced by images that flooded the darkness with color and light and terrible, terrible clarity. The first scene materialized almost instantly, solidifying from nothing into something so real I could feel it, smell it, taste it on the air.
Stone structures rose around us, ancient and weathered, their surfaces covered in intricate carvings that spoke of civilizations long past. Jungle vegetation crept along every surface, vines and moss and flowering plants that had reclaimed what sentient beings had built. Sunlight filtered through clouds above, casting everything in a warm, golden glow that should have been peaceful but instead felt ominous, like the calm before a storm.
I looked around in awe, my breath catching in my throat as I took in every detail. My older self was standing next to me with the same look of wonder and pain on his scarred face, and he said quietly, "Look there."
I turned my head in the direction he indicated, and my heart stopped.
I saw myself, or rather, the older me, the same one standing beside me but captured in this moment before he had reached that final, dying state. He wore an olive green muscle tank top that hugged his body well, showing off shoulders that were broad with lean muscle, arms that moved with such speed and precision they seemed to blur. His movements were economical, efficient, every motion serving a purpose as his lightsaber carved through the air with passionate lethality.
He had the same features I saw in the mirror every morning, but different somehow, harder, more defined, marked by time and experience in ways I couldn't quite articulate.
And the look on his face... he was stoically smiling, a expression of serene focus that spoke of someone completely in their element, doing exactly what they were meant to do. He stood within a massive stone temple, the architecture ancient and beautiful, carved with such skill that it seemed to have grown naturally from the jungle surrounding it. Multiple vines crept along weathered pillars, and sunlight filtered through gaps in the canopy above, creating patterns of light and shadow that danced across the training ground.
Then I recognized the stone sanctum, and my blood ran cold. How could I not recognize it? My past life, those countless hours reading Star Wars comics and novels, had ingrained this place into my memory forever. This was Yavin 4. The ancient Massassi temple, site of so many pivotal moments in galactic history.
And my older self wasn't alone.
Across from him stood a boy, and they were clearly sparring, my golden lightsaber with its black hue clashing against the boy's unique amber-green blade in a display of skill and power that took my breath away. The sound of their lightsabers meeting echoed through the temple, a rhythmic song of combat that spoke of countless hours of practice and perfect synchronization.
The boy was young, maybe early teens, or perhaps just shy of that. His short sandy-blonde hair clung to his forehead with sweat, with hints of a Padawan braid hanging behind his right ear. His skin was fair but tanned by constant training beneath Yavin's bright sun, and his eyes, Force, his eyes were so blue they seemed to glow, burned with intense focus and determination as he gripped his amber-green lightsaber with both hands.
The two of them moved with such speed and precision I thought they were blurs several times, their forms seeming to flicker in and out of existence as they pushed their bodies beyond normal human limits. Their lightsabers clashed back and forth again and again as they moved throughout the training area, their feet barely touching the ground before launching into the next attack, the next parry, the next counter.
As I watched them fight, I recognized the lightsaber techniques and philosophies blending seamlessly together. The boy's lightsaber met mine, met my future self's, in a display of Form II Makashi precision, those elegant thrusts and parries that spoke of dueling mastery. But then he would transition mid-strike into Form VII Vapaad, that aggressive, unpredictable style that channeled darkness without succumbing to it, before flowing into Form V Djem So's powerful counterattacks and Form IV Ataru's acrobatic maneuvers.
My future self pressed forward with what looked like controlled aggression, his movements a perfect fusion of styles that I recognized from my own training but refined to a degree I hadn't yet achieved. He was using our hybrid version of Vapaad merged with Djem So, but more polished, more deadly, blindingly fast on the offensive while maintaining perfect defensive awareness.
Then, in perfect synchronization, both fighters pulled out a second lightsaber.
The boy's second blade ignited with a brilliant yellow glow, and I gasped as my future self activated the Darksaber, its black blade outlined in white crackling energy, humming with a sound distinctly different from standard lightsabers.
No way. I actually have the Darksaber?
The thought barely had time to form before the sparring session continued with renewed intensity. Both combatants now wielded dual blades in the Jar'Kai style, their movements becoming even more complex and beautiful as they adapted to fighting with two weapons instead of one.
My future self was using our hybrid version of Vapaad with Djem So, but even more refined than my current one, he was blindingly fast on the offensive with strikes that came from impossible angles. The boy countered with speed and creativity I recognized as Makashi and Djem So, his movements looking so natural and elegant it was like watching a whirlwind given form and purpose.
The boy's technique wasn't as refined as my older self's, there were small imperfections in his footwork, minor hesitations in his transitions, but he was still amazing. His instincts were sharp, his reactions lightning-quick, and he kept pace with someone who was clearly a master of the art. He slipped under a strike with fluid grace, spun with perfect balance, and brought his blade up in a clean arc that my older self parried easily, almost casually.
I swear it felt like I was watching a recording of Anakin and me dueling, that same intensity and connection, that same push-and-pull of testing each other's limits.
My older self parried the boy's attack and broke his tempo with a subtle shift in positioning, causing the boy to stumble back slightly, his balance momentarily compromised.
"Again," my future self said, his voice carrying across the training ground with quiet authority as he gestured for the boy to attack once more.
The boy grinned, Force, that grin was so familiar it hurt, and nodded with enthusiasm. "Yes, Master," he said, and the attack began anew.
This time the boy came back faster, his strikes more precise, his movements more confident. He was learning, adapting, improving with every exchange in a way that was honestly scary to witness. This wasn't just talent, this was genius, the kind of natural aptitude that came along once in a generation.
My heart skipped a beat, and I found myself leaning forward, unable to look away. "Who is he?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "He looks so familiar."
My future self didn't look away from the vision, his expression unreadable behind those white dreadlocks. "That's my Padawan," he said quietly. "Jinn Skywalker."
My eyes widened so much I thought they might fall out of my head. "Jinn... Skywalker?" I looked at the boy again, really looked at him, and suddenly the features and presence in the Force were unmistakable. The way he moved, the intensity in his eyes, the determination in every strike, it was all there, clear as day once I knew what I was looking for. "That's Anakin's son? Wait, is that kid Luke?"
He nodded slowly, and I could see something painful flash across his features. "In the original timeline, yes, his name would have been Luke. But Anakin named him after his father figure. His full name is Jinn Skywalker."
Something warm spread through my chest despite the dread coiling there like a living thing. The name was perfect, a tribute to Qui-Gon Jinn, the man who had believed in Anakin when no one else would.
"That sounds just like him," I said, unable to keep the affection from my voice. Then I remembered what the Bendu had said to us on Atollon, those cryptic warnings about balance and choice and consequence. "Please tell me Anakin didn't fall and become Vader?"
"No, he didn't," my future self replied, and I felt a wave of relief so intense it made me dizzy. "It came close a few times, closer than I'd like to admit. We both did, before and after this moment. But to be honest..." He paused, and something dark crossed his features. "I would have rather dealt with Vader."
I raised an eyebrow, confusion replacing relief. He would have rather dealt with Vader? Who says that so casually? Just what the hell did they face that made Darth Vader seem like the preferable option?
Before I could ask what he meant, before I could demand answers to the questions piling up in my mind, the vision shifted slightly. The dueling stopped, and instead I saw my future self and Jinn meditating together. They were levitating in the air near a waterfall that cascaded from the stone temple structure, their bodies perfectly still, their breathing synchronized, their presence in the Force creating a harmony that was beautiful to witness.
As they meditated, more of the temple came into view, and I saw other figures moving through the space. More Jedi, or whatever they were calling themselves in this future—and several familiar faces that made my breath catch.
I saw Maul, surprisingly alive and whole. He was older, his features stern and weathered, but he moved with ease and confidence. And his lower half, it wasn't the mechanical. He had an organic body, fully restored, moving with the natural grace of someone who had never been cut in half by a Padawan on Naboo.
He was training what looked like Padawans, a group of younglings of various species, all of them mirroring his sequence of movements as he demonstrated lightsaber forms. Everyone moved so naturally and organically it felt like I was watching a carefully choreographed performance, each movement flowing into the next with perfect precision.
Then I saw what looked like soldiers, not clones, but a diverse group of different species. Humans, Twi'leks, Arkanians, Echani, and what I recognized as Dathomir Nightsisters from their distinctive features and bearing. They all wore the same black uniform with red lining, and something with a logo emblazoned on their chests. I squinted, trying to make out the letters: E.G.A.
But before I could puzzle out what that meant, I saw what looked like scholars or academics in the middle of a lecture, a holocron levitating in front of them as children and adults alike sat in rapt attention. I saw Force-users training civilians in meditation, martial arts, and what looked like healing techniques. I saw what appeared to be Jedi Knights in ceremonial armor mixed with traditional robes, speaking with soldiers and what looked like senators, political officials, or nobility.
It was a vision of something I'd been trying to build, but fully realized, functioning, thriving in ways I'd only dreamed about.
My future self spoke, his voice cutting through my observations. "The world you're seeing is Yavin 4. We fully moved the main academy here after purifying the spirit of Exar Kun."
"How did that go?" I asked, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice. "Who did he try to corrupt and take over? Did you or Anakin purify him?"
"Neither of us actually," my future self replied, and I could hear something like wonder in his voice. "It was Anakin's children when they were four years old, guided by a powerful spirit. They didn't destroy Kun's essence, they redeemed him. And in the process..." He paused, and pain flickered across his features. "They even saved me and Anakin, who were almost corrupted by Kun's spirit during the initial confrontation."
My eyes widened in shock. "Anakin and I were almost corrupted by Kun? How is that even possible?"
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I completely underestimated Kun's power, and how easily it is to fall to the dark side when you're confronted with something that knows exactly which buttons to push, which fears to exploit, which desires to amplify."
I noticed the look on my future self's face even though it was mostly covered by his dreadlocks. He had a somber expression, like he was remembering something painful even while showing me these visions, reliving trauma he'd thought he'd buried.
"I have a question," I said, trying to understand the logistics of what I was seeing. "Why Yavin? Did something happen to the temple on Tython?"
"No, well, not yet anyway," my future self replied, and those last two words sent a chill down my spine. "The Order was expanding, it technically grew to a large number when the Hybrid army came to Tython and all the Force-sensitives received training. Tython remained the heart of our Order. We send many Padawans and Force users there as a sort of pilgrimage, a return to the roots. Since we started going by 'The Je'daii Sages of the Dawn,' or the Je'daii for short."
"Wow, so you chose that name," I said, a smile tugging at my lips despite everything. "I was still stuck between the Je'daii of the Eternal Dawn or the Dawn Mystics, but that does sound so much better. More concise, and powerful."
"So why are you on Yavin then?" I asked, trying to piece together the timeline.
"I was sent here by Master Plo, who is the official Grandmaster at this time," my future self explained. "I was sent here for two purposes. One was to give me my first official Padawan and guide them into Knighthood so I could become a Jedi Master."
My eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you're still a Jedi Knight? How long have you... I mean, we been one? And why is he your first official Padawan?"
"I became a Jedi Knight right after I turned seventeen and dealt with Death Watch and Pre Vizsla. And the reason I never took a Padawan before was... complicated. Between the war to end slavery and organized crime, establishing the Eternal Galactic Alliance, that's the name of the new government we formed, spending a lot of time as Noctis and maintaining that secret identity, along with dealing with Dooku and Sidious and their constant attempts to ruin the Order and government at every turn... I had no time for a student."
He paused, and his expression darkened. "Plus, with our abilities to manipulate others as we see fit, the last thing I wanted was creating a student in my own image with little to no actual will of their own. I've seen what happens when powerful Force users create disciples rather than students, and I refused to become that."
He continued, his voice taking on a slightly lighter tone. "After the war was over, I spent some time as a wandering Knight through the stars, like Jedi of old. Then Master Plo said I needed to take more responsibility in the Order I founded. So he sent me here to oversee the school as the Head Master, along with Seris, Anakin, Maul, and a few others. He and Anakin surprised me by making me Jinn's master after seeing how we formed a connection so easily. Plo said, 'You are to be the Master of the Order, and once I step down or my time in the physical world is over, then you will be the Grandmaster.'"
I sighed while smiling, warmth spreading through my chest. "Yeah, that sounds like Master Plo. He gives us time and space, the freedom we need to grow and find our own path, but he always keeps us grounded. Always knows exactly what we need even when we don't."
"He does," my future self agreed, and I could hear the affection and respect in his voice.
"Are there any more temples?" I asked, my curiosity growing. "And how did the war go?"
"We established several schools and bases to be closer to different parts of the Mid and Outer Rim, since Tython was too far out of the way during the war," my older self said. "We reestablished the Dantooine Enclave school. And academies on Alpheridies, H'ratth, Ossus, Alaris Prime, Dathomir, and Dagobah."
That's a lot of planets. Dathomir and Dagobah? I never thought I'd hear you say that. I thought to myself, unable to voice the words.
"They're more like Je'daii Praxeums, specialized training centers," he explained. "I oversaw Dagobah's development for the last three years, and then I had Kar Vastor take over the site. I've been overseeing Yavin Four with Seris as my Head Mistress while she trains her Padawan."
"Wait, Kar Vastor?" I interrupted, my mind reeling. "Like Mace Windu's brother? The Force-sensitive warlord from Haruun Kal? How did you accomplish that?"
"I didn't accomplish it alone," my future self said, and something dark passed over his features. "I went there with Anakin, and I will say, even with both of us working together, that man pushed me and Anakin to our limit and beyond. More than Dooku ever did, even in our first or second encounters. I have never been so afraid in my life. I saw Anakin shaken for the first time since I'd known him. But he kept pushing forward and overcame that fear, which helped me to overcome that battle."
My eyes narrowed. I believed him. Vastor was one of the few beings in the Legends stories that was an absolute beast in combat, someone who could go toe-to-toe with Mace Windu himself and push the legendary Jedi Master to his limits.
Before I could ask my future self more about this future he was showing me, the image changed again.
I saw myself and Jinn talking, their conversation animated and warm, the bond between master and student clear in every gesture and expression. Then Seris stepped into view, and my breath caught in my throat.
She was older now, but she looked like she'd barely aged a day. Probably her Sephi and Echani genes hard at work She was still calm and reserved, but even more beautiful than I remembered, if that was even possible. Her silver-white hair was longer now, bound in a single elegant braid that fell down her back, and her pointed ears, those distinctive features that marked her heritage, were clearly visible.
Her presence was radiant and calming, like standing near a peaceful lake on a perfect day. She wore green robes with gold-like lining in the seams, the colors complementing her complexion and hair perfectly. She moved with grace and confidence, every step purposeful, every gesture elegant.
At her side walked a young girl with brown hair, her demeanor matching Seris's calm composure, but the girl had a brighter smile, more open and expressive. She looked so familiar it was unmistakable, the features, the bearing, the way she carried herself. Was that Leia?
Then I noticed something that made my heart clench. My future self next to me lifted his hand slightly, as if reaching for Seris as she walked past us in the vision. But he stopped himself, his hand falling back to his side, and I saw such longing and pain in that aborted gesture that it hurt to witness.
That's when I noticed the rings.
Seris had a silver ring around her ring finger with intricate engravings that caught the light. My future self had the same ring on his finger, and another one on a necklace along with the black Krayt dragon pearl. But that necklace was covered in blood, and the rings had so many scratches and dents, like they'd been through hell and back.
My eyes widened as my throat tightened. Don't tell me Seris... I didn't want to finish that thought. I didn't want to even consider the possibility that she might be. Instead, I forced myself to focus back on the vision, hoping to distract myself even if just a little bit longer from the terrible implications.
"Is that girl Leia?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
"Yes."
"Are you and Seris married?"
"Yes."
A smile tugged at my older self's lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. The expression was there and gone in an instant, replaced by that cold, distant gaze I was beginning to recognize.
"That's great," I said softly, trying to hold onto something positive. "How many children did we have?"
But he only looked down, and my stomach dropped.
"We didn't have any," he said quietly. "We were always busy with responsibilities to the Order or the galaxy. We were going to wait until Jinn and his sister reached Knighthood, and then we would go start our own family. But by the time we were ready..." His voice trailed off, and when he spoke again, it was barely above a whisper. "It was already too late. She had come."
The words hit me harder than I expected, like a physical blow to the chest. "She?" I said quietly, dread pooling in my stomach. He inclined his head, accepting the question. "Don't worry. I will tell you soon. Just give me a moment to see her one more time like this." He was looking at Seris in the vision with such longing, such pain, that I had to look away. "And if you saw what I'm about to show you, then you wouldn't want children to come into this galaxy. Only to suffer through hell."
The vision began to shift again, the air rippling like heat waves over desert sand.
The girl beside Seris stepped forward, laughing at something Jinn had said. Her presence was bright and warm, full of life and joy. Jinn followed her, and the two began talking, their voices carrying across the training ground in a moment of perfect peace.
"So that's really Leia?" I asked, needing confirmation.
"Yes. But in this timeline, she was named for her grandmother. Shmi Skywalker."
"That's so like Anakin," I said, warmth spreading through my chest. "Speaking of which, where is he?"
"He was on Coruscant visiting Padmé, who was the new Chancellor."
"Really?" I couldn't keep the surprise from my voice.
"Yes, but this time the Chancellor is a body of three," he explained. "This term she is one, while Bail Organa is the second and Mon Mothma is the third. A triumvirate system designed to prevent the concentration of power that led to Palpatine's rise."
The scene warped suddenly, violently, and I saw my future self's eyes widen in horror at what he was seeing. "No, not yet. Please."
Then I saw it, the moment everything changed.
Jinn, Shmi, and my future self in the vision suddenly staggered, all three of them clutching their heads as if struck by something invisible but devastating in the Force. Their mouths moved, but no sound came from the vision. I couldn't hear what they were saying, couldn't understand what was happening.
"I can't hear them," I said, confusion and fear rising in equal measure. "What was that?"
Then I saw chaos erupting around them. Children and adults who had been peacefully training or studying suddenly began screaming and attacking one another. They looked entranced, their eyes glazed over, their movements jerky and unnatural as some ignited their lightsabers while others fired their blasters. They began killing one another, cutting down friends and fellow students without hesitation or mercy.
My future self's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists. "This is where it all began."
"Began?" I whispered, horror crawling up my spine.
"The beginning of the End."
My stomach dropped, and I felt like I might be sick. "How did things get this bad? What did you... I mean, we do?"
He didn't answer with words. Instead, the vision shifted again, and what I saw next made my skin crawl.
An abyssal, swallowing darkness appeared, and from it crawled horror given form. Then a city materialized around the darkness, and I recognized the architecture, this was Corellia, the shipbuilding capital of the galaxy.
But it was Corellia transformed into a nightmare.
Cities lay in ruins, their elegant spires broken and crumbling, streets flooded with corpses and blood that ran in rivers between the buildings. People ran in terror, their screams echoing off the walls, and from the carnage emerged monsters I recognized from my past life's knowledge.
Rakghouls.
They surged through the wreckage, their twisted forms moving with terrible purpose. But they looked different from how I remembered them from the comics and games. Their flesh pulsed with black veins that seemed to writhe beneath their skin, and their movements were coordinated, organized, like they were being led by some intelligence rather than acting on pure instinct.
They tore into armored soldiers with claws and teeth, and as those soldiers fell, something horrifying happened. Moments later, they rose again. Blackened veins spread across their bodies like infection, bones snapping and reforming, skin ripping and healing in grotesque patterns as their bodies convulsed and transformed. Then they joined the horde as Rakghouls, turning on their former comrades with mindless hunger.
"What the hell..." I whispered, unable to look away. "That's the Rakghoul Plague, but it seems more twisted than I remembered."
"It is," my future self said grimly. "The Plague was corrupted into something even more unholy than mere Sith sorcery. Perfected by dark side alchemy and cosmic horror beyond comprehension."
Then I saw someone appear from the shadows, stepping into view with confident, predatory grace.
It was a human female. She was slender yet highly toned, her build speaking of both speed and strength. She had raven black hair styled in a practical warrior-style braid with strands falling across her face. Her complexion was fair but had a darkness to it, something unnatural that made my skin crawl. She had sharp facial features that took nothing away from her beauty, in fact, they enhanced it in a way that was deeply unsettling.
Her eyes were the most disturbing feature. Emerald green irises that seemed to glow with inner light, but the whites of her eyes were completely black, surrounding those green orbs like pools of void.
She wore a form-fitting, sleeveless light-metal chest plate contoured to her upper body. It featured a prominent gold-colored metal collar with red gems and decorative accent trim tracing her collarbone. Beneath the chest piece was a dark, form-fitting black sleeveless bodysuit. An armored micro-skirt protected her hips and upper thighs, and thigh-high dark fitted leather combat boots rested over matching dark leg coverings.
She raised her hand, and the Rakghouls suddenly stopped their rampage, freezing in place like puppets whose strings had been pulled taut. For the first time in this vision, I heard her speak, and her voice sent chills down my spine.
"My pets," she said, her voice carrying across the ruined city with unnatural clarity. "This world has now fallen, and like the many before it and the many more to come soon after, it belongs to her chosen vessel. I, the Mother, hereby conquer this world in the name of my Goddess of Chaos."
Then it began to rain, lightning flashing in the background as several colored lightsabers ignited in the distance. But behind her, as she smiled a predatory smile that showed too many teeth, several distant figures in dark armor with gray skin and black eyes appeared, a large army that seemed to stretch to the horizon.
She unclipped something from her hip and raised it to the sky. A yellow lightsaber ignited, its blade humming with power.
"Now conquer this world in her name, my legion!" she commanded, and the Rakghouls roared in response, charging forward with the legions of black-armored humanoids following behind them.
My eyes widened as I watched the legion wipe out the defending Jedi and soldiers like they were nothing, like they were insects to be crushed beneath boots. I looked to my future self, horror and confusion warring in my chest.
"What the hell is this, and who the hell is that?"
My future self's voice was hollow, empty. "That was the fall of Corellia, and that woman was known as the Mother, one of the generals of the Chaos army."
I looked at the woman again, studying her features, and she looked so familiar, like I'd seen her somewhere before. Then her eyes moved, tracking across the vision until they locked directly onto mine. She was staring at me, seeing me somehow across time and space, and her smile widened.
That's when the scene changed, and I barely had time to process what I'd just witnessed.
When the vision settled, I saw Je'daii in battle armor along with soldiers fighting creatures that looked like zombies. They were pale-skinned with black veins spreading across their flesh, their eyes milky white and unseeing, their movements jerky and unnatural. They moved in hordes, overwhelming through sheer numbers, and when they bit or scratched the soldiers and Je'daii, those victims would scream and thrash before turning on their comrades moments later.
Those who were bitten and ripped apart were devoured by the infected, their screams cutting off abruptly. Moments later, they rose again, spewing black blood from their mouths, screaming praises to something unseen, something terrible.
Above them hovered a massive bio-sphere tower, pulsating like a living heart. The structure was organic and mechanical at once, covered in what looked like veins and technological components fused together in ways that defied understanding. And perched upon it, silhouetted against the dying light of the planet, was a creature.
It looked like a Krayt dragon, but so much larger, impossibly large, big enough to blot out the sun. And it had wings, massive leathery wings that stretched across the sky, casting everything below in shadow. Its hide was black as the void, seeming to absorb all light around it, creating an aura of darkness that was almost physical.
Someone rode upon its back, and even from this distance, I could feel their power in the Force.
It looked like a woman, but I couldn't see her face clearly. What I could see were yellow Sith-like eyes glowing in the shadow of a black hood that covered her features. She was human from what I could tell, slender but with a striking, intimidating physical presence that commanded attention.
She wore a flowing, hooded black robe with deep purple and silver accents. It included a structured, high-collared neckline, an ornamental silver belt, and long split-sleeves that revealed armored under-wraps beneath. Her skin was fair where I could see it, and dark brown hair was visible when the dying light of the planet hit her at certain angles.
I could feel she was powerful in the Force, incredibly powerful, on a level I'd rarely encountered. And for some reason I couldn't explain, I felt a weird connection to her, like I knew her and she knew me. But how? Why?
This woman clearly controlled the dragon as it reigned down black fire, bringing down starfighters and what looked like Mandalorians in their distinctive armor. The flames weren't normal fire, they burned with darkness itself, consuming everything they touched and leaving nothing but ash and shadow.
"Are those zombies? Is that a dragon? And who the hell is that woman?" I asked, my voice rising with each question. "She's so powerful in the Force. What the hell am I looking at?"
That's when the woman slowly descended from the dragon to the ground, her movements graceful and controlled. I saw in the distance as Nightsisters with their Force Magic weapons and Je'daii began to attack, weaving what looked like spells and techniques designed to counter dark side corruption.
Then I heard the woman speak, and her voice sounded familiar in a way that made my blood run cold. It had an echo to it, like multiple voices speaking in unison.
"You all dare to defy me, the Maiden of the Goddess?" she said, and I could hear amusement in her tone. "You think your pretty little spells and Force techniques can save you from her love and embrace?" She laughed, and the sound was wrong, twisted, like nails on a chalkboard mixed with wind chimes. "Hahahaha... So you will know her love, as I know it. Now, witches, embrace her love."
The woman opened her hand, and an army of zombies moved forward with several large eight-legged reptilian monsters emerging from the shadows of the red mist, which was turning black. They had flat, triangular heads, scales coated in a sickening greenish-black slime, and rows of razor-sharp teeth as they roared.
My future self's voice was hollow, defeated. "You're looking at hell."
Then the girl looked toward me and brought me close to her with a gesture, her face still covered in shadows. She spoke, but her words made no sense at first.
"It's not nice to peek at the spoilers," she said, her voice playful and cruel at once. "But don't worry, you will know her love soon enough." Then her eyes widened in what looked like recognition. "Father!"
That's when my future self grabbed my shoulder, and the vision accelerated again, images flashing by so quickly I could barely process them.
But what I saw in those rapid-fire glimpses slowly drove me toward madness.
I saw several people and what looked like Je'daii of different species going mad, clawing at one another, tearing off their own flesh with bare hands while smiling. Their lips moved, chanting the same phrase over and over, though I couldn't hear the words clearly.
"The Mother of Chaos loves me!" They were saying it over and over, their voices rising in a terrible chorus.
I saw several in the background engaged in an orgy of blood and carnage, mixing sex and madness and death in an unholy trinity. I saw pink-skinned humanoids with blue hair moaning as the pile of bodies grew around them. Those were Zeltrons, and the landscape became clearer, they were on a beach or coastal planet. Which meant this was Zeltros, the pleasure planet transformed into a nightmare.
I was so confused, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, and then I saw her, and my blood ran cold.
It was Barriss.
But her eyes were covered by a bloody cloth, and what looked like black blood dripped from beneath it, staining her face and robes. Her expression was serene, peaceful even, as carnage unfolded around her. So many people slaughtered one another in inhuman ways, tearing, biting, clawing, and she only smiled, that gentle smile I remembered from our training sessions together. Each person died with a clear look of pleasure on their faces, like they were experiencing ecstasy in their final moments.
"That's Barriss, but how... why is she like that?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Is she responsible for all this?"
"No," my future self said sharply, and I could hear anger in his voice. "She's only a victim. One of many I couldn't save."
My anger began to flare, hot and desperate. "Enough riddles and bullshit!" I shouted. "You're me, so be more direct! Not this vague shit! If the Force limits you, then cut through it. Tell me what I need to know!"
He looked at me for a long moment, and I saw something like approval in his eyes. Then he pointed behind me.
I paused, thinking he meant me, but then I saw the world around us shifting again. I turned, and my world shattered.
I saw a dark world of rain and forest. The sky was black with storm clouds, and rain hammered down in sheets that made it hard to see. But through the downpour, I could make out the Tython Temple in the distance, and my heart broke.
It was in ruins, smoking and crumbling, its elegant spires broken and collapsed. Ships were taking off at great speed, fleeing the planet in a desperate evacuation.
In the foreground, I saw Master Plo Koon and Maul fighting side by side against those same dark legions of gray-skinned, black-armored humanoids. They led a large group of Je'daii and soldiers through the forest, fighting a desperate rearguard action to buy time for the evacuation.
Maul was wielding a double-bladed yellow lightsaber, the weapon spinning in his hands with deadly precision. Master Plo moved beside him with his blue blade, and together they were magnificent.
Plo fought like a mystical sage, his movements flowing and graceful, seeming to anticipate attacks before they came. He was untouchable, his blade deflecting strikes with minimal effort, his footwork carrying him through the battlefield like he was dancing rather than fighting for his life. He would use Electric Judgment, that rare light-side Force lightning, and it had a devastating effect on the enemies, causing them to convulse and fall.
Maul fought like a demon on the battlefield, his movements aggressive and brutal, his double-bladed lightsaber carving through enemies with savage efficiency. He would leap and spin, his blade a wheel of yellow death, cutting down multiple opponents with each pass.
Together, Plo and Maul carved through the enemies, their styles complementing each other perfectly. But they kept coming, wave after wave, and the others were not faring as well. Je'daii and soldiers fell around them, overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Maul noticed this, his eyes scanning the battlefield, and he called out, "Master, the temple has fallen! We should fall back to the ships! We're too exposed out here!"
Plo Koon's voice was calm despite the chaos. "We have to hold the line. If they get closer to the landing zone, they will have us trapped and unable to escape. Cain and Anakin aren't here yet."
But then Plo saw the next wave approaching from the distance, a massive horde that made the previous attacks look like scouting parties. He looked to Maul, and I saw the decision form in his eyes.
"Maul, my Padawan," Plo said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "I hereby name you a Je'daii Knight."
Maul's eyes widened in shock. "But Master, I haven't completed my training yet! I'm not, "
Plo placed his hands on Maul's shoulders, and I could see the affection and pride in that gesture. "Maul, you are more than ready. You have been ready for some time. Now take the rest back to the temple and help the evacuation until Cain can arrive."
Maul looked at Plo, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. "But what about you, Master? You don't think you can hold them off by yourself?"
Plo's voice was gentle but firm. "I will do what I must, and the Force tells me that everything will be well, because I have students like you and Cain who make this old master proud. Now go."
Maul hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded reluctantly. He ran back toward the temple with the rest of the group, and Plo turned to face the next wave alone.
I watched in horror as Master Plo Koon stood his ground against countless enemies. He glowed with bright Force light, his presence in the Force becoming a beacon that pushed back the darkness. He carved through the enemy with his lightsaber, his movements never slowing, never faltering.
Then he raised his hand to the sky as he was about to be overwhelmed by the countless numbers of enemies that didn't stop coming, some of them rising again even after being cut down. Lightning gathered in the clouds above, responding to his call, and then he unleashed Electric Judgment on a scale I'd never imagined possible.
The lightning came down from the sky in a massive column of golden energy, spreading out across the forest, engulfing everything in its path. The enemies screamed as the light consumed them, their bodies convulsing and falling, and for a moment, it seemed like Plo might actually hold them off.
But there were too many. Even as hundreds fell, thousands more pressed forward.
The vision shifted, and I saw my future self holding Master Plo in his arms. Plo was dying, his breathing shallow and labored, his strength fading with each passing moment. I could see tears streaming down my future self's face as he begged Plo to hold on.
"Cain..." Plo's voice was barely a whisper. "You're now the Grandmaster of the Order... Please save the... May... the... Force be..."
Then Plo went limp, then his body disappeared, and becoming one with the Force.
Before I could even digest what I'd just witnessed, before I could process the loss of someone who had been like a father to me, the vision shifted again.
I saw my future self along with Anakin and Seris running down a corridor. It looked like they were in a giant starship, the walls shaking with impacts, alarms blaring. When I looked down the hall where they'd run from, I saw Derren.
He looked so different, so strong and so hollow at the same time. His eyes had a haunted quality, like he'd seen things that had broken something fundamental inside him. Then I realized he was standing alone, fighting against a tide of monstrous legions.
I finally recognized them immediately.
They were Yuuzhan Vong!
My eyes widened in shock. But it was still too early for the Vong to be in the galaxy, they shouldn't arrive for decades yet. And they looked different from how I remembered them from my past life's knowledge. Black veins covered their bodies, and their movements were demonic, unnatural. Some were crawling on all fours, some on the walls and ceiling, defying gravity. Some were spewing black liquid from their mouths that sizzled and burned where it landed.
What the fuck is going on here?
Right as everyone prepared to make a stand, Derren roared defiance and Force-pushed everyone through a corridor as a blast door was closing behind them. My future self in the vision screamed his name, but Derren just fought against dozens of the Vong without giving ground, no matter how wounded he got. His white lightsaber moved in blurs, carving through the Vong with desperate fury.
But then they began to overwhelm him, little by little, dragging him down through sheer numbers. But Derren didn't stop, he fought and fought, refusing to yield even as his body failed him. He looked back at the others through the viewport in the blast door.
He smiled as his eyes began to blacken, with black veins running across his face. "I'm leaving things to you guys. Take care of them, Ice Princess. And Anakin, Cain, go save Barriss, and give those bitches and their goddess hell."
Then he charged forward, and moments later, a powerful explosion could be felt and seen through the corridor, the blast door buckling from the force of it.
Anakin collapsed to his knees beside Seris, who had tears falling down her face. My older self roared in anger, the Force shaking the very hall as tears ran down his face.
"Derren!" he screamed, and the anguish in that cry made my chest hurt.
I looked to my older self next to me, and tears started to form in my eyes. But the vision shifted again before I could say anything.
Next, I saw Mandalore being consumed. Corrupted flora strangled the planet, twisting it into something alive and hostile. A colossal structure loomed above the atmosphere, tethered to the world like a parasite feeding on its host. Zombies consumed the planet as civilians and Jedi ran for ships to escape.
But I saw two people holding back the horde as the others escaped. It was Josa and Sheera, who was wielding a pink lightsaber. They were desperately fighting side by side with Mandalorians, but they were clearly being overwhelmed slowly. Some of the dead were rising and joining the army of zombies, and the living were running out of ammunition and energy.
All I could see was blasters blazing until the horde swallowed Josa whole. As she was being consumed, she screamed, "It's up to you, Sephi boy!" Then a huge explosion consumed her and her group, taking dozens of zombies with them.
I saw Sheera fall with a smile next to Obi-Wan as she tossed her lightsaber to him and said, "Tell Cain and Seris I love them both so much."
Obi-Wan nodded, tears streaming down his face, and he cut off her head as she was starting to turn, black veins spreading across her skin.
Satine was wielding a weapon beside him in the middle of a Vong attack. They were protecting a group of children escaping with what looked like a blonde-haired Je'daii woman. She looked just like Satine but had Obi-Wan's hair and features, wearing House Kryze Mandalorian armor.
She looked pained to leave them, but I heard Obi-Wan tell her to go while he stayed with Satine, who was wounded and bleeding. "She said she wants to die on her home that she fought hard to rebuild," Obi-Wan said, his voice breaking. "Go, Olivia. Me and your mother love you. Now protect the young, and know the Force will be with you always."
The woman, Olivia, their daughter, shed a tear, and the ship departed. Not long after, the two died together, struck down by Vong warriors as they made their final stand.
The visions just kept going, faster and faster, each one more horrifying than the last.
Bo-Katan with an eye patch over one eye wielded the Darksaber beside Jango and Boba Fett. Their warriors died around them, and the dead rose to join the enemy. Jango and Bo turned, leaping into the horde to give Boba a chance to escape with the Darksaber, their sacrifice buying precious seconds.
I saw myself fighting beside Anakin and a figure with two red lightsabers, someone who looked like Anakin with fair-tanned skin, but with white hair and my golden eyes. He was handsome with sharp features, and he moved with the confidence of someone who had mastered the dark side without being consumed by it.
The three of us carved through a path of bodies that went on for miles, our lightsabers never stopping, never slowing.
Then the mysterious figure spoke, and I recognized the voice immediately.
"Well now, boys, I guess this is one of the few times the Jedi and Sith must unite. Shall we call for a truce?" He said it with a wicked smile, clearly enjoying the irony.
My future vision self said, "Remember this, Palpatine, or whatever you're going by these days, this is the only reason I've allowed you to live this long. Now shut up, tell your armies to help mine, and fight."
The man smiled wider. "Well said, Cain. Now let's stop this entity."
Anakin, Palpatine, and I carved our path through what looked like a never-ending army of Vong, zombies, and their Jedi-hunter monsters, fighting side by side against a common enemy that threatened to consume everything.
I saw Ahsoka fleeing with Anakin's children along with other younglings and a few Je'daii, vanishing into hyperspace toward an unknown galaxy, carrying the hope of survival.
I saw who I recognized as Thrawn, wounded and bloodied, ordering planetary destruction from a Chiss warship. It looked like it was aiming for a planet orbiting Tython, preparing to glass it rather than let it fall to the enemy.
I saw Mother Talzin and the witches of Dathomir unleashing Force magic against an impossible tide of Vong and zombie hordes. I watched as Talzin and some of her fellow Nightsisters were consumed, their screams cutting off abruptly as the darkness swallowed them.
I saw Maul standing shoulder to shoulder with clone veterans, Rex, Cody, and Wolffe, and their clone armies of gray-beards, veterans who had fought for decades. One by one, they fell to hordes of monsters sent by the Vong and rose again as enemies. Maul fought on alone, standing atop a mountain of corpses, screaming defiance and fighting on until he stood dead on that pile, not consumed or corrupted but died from sheer exhaustion after fighting for days without stopping.
The Vong and their commanders and priestesses bowed in what looked like respect for a fallen warrior. They did not convert him or desecrate his body, but burned him in a pyre of fire, honoring his strength.
Then I saw it, the thing that made me fall to my knees.
I saw Seris lying lifeless in my future self's arms, her silver hair spread around her like a halo, her face peaceful in death. Anakin stood alone as a horde of Vong, Rakghouls, and zombies approached, his indigo lightsaber ignited and blazing with defiant light.
"Go, Cain," he told my future self, his voice steady despite everything. "I will hold them off. Make sure this hell never happens."
I saw my future self, his gut torn open and bleeding, staggering into the World Between Worlds as the portal sealed behind him, leaving Anakin alone.
Anakin ran into the horde, a giant light glowing from him as he carved through the army, his presence in the Force becoming a supernova that pushed back the darkness for precious moments.
Then the visions ended.
I fell to my knees in the Void, tears streaming nonstop down my face. My chest felt hollow, crushed beneath the weight of everything I'd just witnessed. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but kneel there and sob.
"What... how did this happen?" I choked out between gasps. "How could all that happen?"
My future self stood before me, and then I saw her, and it all made sense. My god, it all made sense, and I NEVER SAW IT UNTIL NOW!
I saw the corpse of Seris appear behind my older self, and begin to hold my future self from behind, her arms wrapping around him in what should have been a comforting embrace. But her silver hair began to move wildly, writhing like it was alive, and her slender hands that were caressing his scarred torso began to elongate into eerie tendrils that wriggled around him like serpents.
Her face shifted, her beautiful features melting and reforming. Her silver eyes that I loved so much began to melt away until her sockets expanded, becoming empty as the abyss itself. Her smile widened unnaturally, stretching from ear to ear in a way that no human face should be able to move. Her teeth sharpened and stretched until they were thin like needles.
I recognized her instantly as she held my future self, who looked like he was in so much pain but couldn't move, couldn't escape her embrace.
"Abeloth."
She spoke, her voice carrying an almost never-ending echo, like a thousand voices speaking in unison across infinite distances.
"Well... well... what do we have here? You're trying to spoil the ending of your story. Naughty, naughty..." She was looking at my future self with something like affection mixed with cruel amusement.
"I thought you figured it out by now that when it was your turn, there is nothing you can do to change anything. All you could do was enjoy the time I gave you."
"Fuck you," my older self said, his voice filled with defiance even in his dying moments.
I was staring at them, confused about what was going on, trying to understand the relationship between them.
Then Abeloth looked back at me and smiled that grotesque, horrifying smile. "Hello again, Cain. Or should I say, nice to meet you? Sorry, I've done this so many times my sense of time has gotten a little warped." She laughed, her wide mouth moving and cackling like a demonic creature's wail.
"I don't understand what the hell is going on," I said, my voice shaking.
Abeloth smiled wider, if that was even possible. "I guess your handsome self over here didn't tell you yet. Well, considering I am the thing that is keeping him alive right now, I should just do it in his stead."
My eyes narrowed. I was having a hard time understanding what it was I needed to know, but something told me I already knew and was just not trying to form the thought, not wanting to accept the terrible truth.
"Well, to make an extremely long story short," Abeloth began, her voice taking on a lecturing tone, "you and I have done this song and dance around ten thousand times. You see, I don't know what caused a beautiful thing like you to exist, but I am happy you do. Your unnatural connection to the Beyond Shadows has linked us."
My eyes widened in horror at what I was hearing.
She continued, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Thanks to this link, I have seen your memories of your past life, and I have gained a long list of ways to escape my prison even just momentarily. I build my armies differently, or I attack from different angles. Most of the time, I wait for the Ones of Mortis, my children and husband, to die like they did in your past life memories, and then I take over the galaxy. But not right away. I treat it like a game. I want to see all the ways I can destroy things, and I think I like this, what do you call it? Ah yes, playthrough, to be my favorite."
I was shivering, my entire body trembling with horror and rage and despair. "So you're saying..."
Suddenly, her head elongated, stretching toward my face until it was mere centimeters away, and I was looking into the abyss of her eyes, seeing infinity and madness staring back at me.
"Yes, Cain," she said, her voice a whisper that echoed through my soul. "It is because of you that I am able to do all of this. It is because of you I have spread my influence and love in ways never seen before. And I owe it all to you. Just for being born and existing."
"How?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "How have you been able to do this so many times?"
"How?" She pulled back slightly, using her elongated finger to scratch her chin in a mockery of thoughtfulness. "Just wait for you to get desperate and go to the World Between Worlds to send my memories back to the version of me imprisoned. And when the world resets, I awaken. But sometimes you don't survive that long. You either die early for whatever reason, or sometimes you just leave the galaxy with your friends and family, and I restart anyway. Those versions of you were so boring."
"Why do all this if you've already won?" I said, anger rising in my voice. "Why treat life like a game?"
"Because it's fun," she said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Don't worry, sometimes I go further back in time and live a life as a normal person until their body expires. I have no powers or abilities, but I enjoy not being trapped. Hell, most of the cults and movements you ever heard about in history were my doing, just killing time. I had no real power, but it was so fun to be free."
"Your a monster of the highest degree," I whispered, and she laughed at that.
"Don't pout, Cain," she said, her voice taking on a mockingly cheerful tone. "You have plenty of time until I come. I am still trapped in my prison, so I can only send a sliver of my essence to do my bidding, and even then, I'm still restricted in how much influence I have."
Then she looked to my older self and said, "Well, I grow bored of this. Tell him what you need to and let's be done with this."
My older version looked at me, struggling against her grip, and said with what strength he had left, "Cain, find the ancient Forge. Find the Ones. Do not hesitate to end Vizsla and unite Mandalore. And do not hold back on loving Seris. Love her, embrace her, tell her the truth, and... and may the Force..."
Snap.
Abeloth snapped his neck right in front of me, the sound echoing through the Void like a gunshot. She turned her grotesque face to me, that terrible smile still stretching across her features.
"See you soon, Cain."
My eyes widened as the Void went silent. My future self's body disappeared, fading into nothing, and I was back in my quarters on Tython. I looked at my hands, and I felt nothing. I didn't know how to feel. My mind was blank, overwhelmed, unable to process everything I'd just witnessed.
I stood up slowly, my legs shaking, and walked out of my room. I walked down the dark corridors of the temple, my feet carrying me without conscious thought. I knew where I was going. I needed to see her. I needed to be with her.
I reached Seris's room and knocked, the sound seeming too loud in the quiet hallway.
When Seris opened the door, she looked at me with surprise. "Cain, it's pretty late. What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
I stood there for a moment, just looking at her, memorizing every detail of her face. Then I said, my voice barely steady, "May I please come in? I have something to tell you, and I don't want to be alone. I want to be with you."
Seris's ears twitched from hearing that, and her cheeks went red. "Sure, you can come in, Cain."
She led me inside, and the door closed behind us. As we sat on the bed, she offered me some tea or water, and I shook my head. I couldn't drink anything right now. I could barely breathe.
I held her hands in mine, and then, like a dam breaking, I told her everything. From how I woke in this world, from what I knew about my abilities to influence others, to how I knew things about this universe that I shouldn't know. I told her about what just happened with the vision of my older self and Abeloth. I explained what Abeloth was, who the Ones were, and most importantly, I explained how I felt about everything and how afraid I was.
I laid my heart bare in her hands to do with as she pleased, holding nothing back, hiding nothing. When I finished, she said nothing for a long, almost eternity-like minute.
Then she kissed me, and I kissed her back. No more words were said the rest of that night. As we embraced one another and made love, slowly I felt my fears melt away, not forgotten, but quieted. Because I knew in this moment, as Seris's and my bodies became one, I knew without words that she accepted me. All of me. Everything I was and everything I'd told her.
As I gazed into her eyes afterward, she said the words that brought forth my tears.
"Cain, I love you, and I have always loved you. And you are not alone. We will face this together."
"I love you too, Seris," I said, my voice breaking. "And I swear to never lie or hide anything from you again."
She held me as I cried, her presence a anchor in the storm of my emotions, and for the first time since the vision, I felt like maybe, just maybe, we had a chance to change the future I'd been shown.