A swan song for Galen Erso, his final thoughts and vindication upon his death on the platform
DISCLAIMED: I own none of the characters mentioned. I do not own the rights to Star Wars or any of their characters, creations or plot lines. Enjoy.
He lay there in the rain, and let the droplets roll down his face. Let the chill cling to his skin and let her cling to his body. Not long now, he thought. Not long now. He dragged his gaze up to look her in the eyes. This woman formed from stardust. His little girl, fully grown. His heart was broken with longing, shrapnel sliced his soul from the mortar bombs the Empire crashed into his life. His family, collateral from the choices he made. Each day saw a sworn enemy staring back at him in the mirror, Imperial garb stained red with the blood of his loved ones. His wife. His daughter. His stardust. And he longed to atone. Can a dying man earn redemption after his work is done? Is there truly no gray area to abide by? Good men go to war, and watch the world burn with hate in their eyes, for they have dashed their morals to the floor and torched the world they loved. They do so because they know that had they not, the world would not burn. It would die. There's no coming back from what they faced. He made a choice, and it killed him every day he dug this grave for his decency. Revenge and justice intermingle and became indistinguishable in this good man's war. Was it revenge, placing his flaw in their design? Was it justice? It was done to save those that he himself could not. As Galen lay dying on the storm soaked platform, he stared one last time into his daughter's face, and said his silent goodbye. He gave it all for her, so she would live. His final bow. His swan song. A breath escaped him in a sigh. His body sank in her arms. Galen Erso looked his last, and last he breathed no more. Her echoing sobs drowned in the rain as his body burned in the conflict. This final push from beyond the grave would seal his legacy. The vindication of a dead man, at rest, at peace. At last, he was redeemed.
