Chapter 25 – Talking to the Other Self

Onika was taken to the medical ward of the Resolute.

Onika is an empty spot, the middle of nowhere. Onika takes a few steps forward and hears a voice identical to her.

"Wow! Is that... me?" the voice said.

Onika looked back and saw her own figure, from 3 years ago. "Yes!"

"So... I didn't know I would be so stylish, but at the same time so outworn."

Onika laughs. "It's the effects of war, my dear me! I wished to join this party. I wanted it!"

"If I knew I would be like this in the future, I would choose to be just a medic in our battalion."

"And what about Ahsoka?"

"Oh, about her... she's a good person. I regret trying to conspire against her."

"What?", Onika from 3 years ago gasps.

"I just realized it was just a dumb, idiot jealousy. Also, I realized that I shouldn't try to prove to everyone I'm a good person, that I shouldn't worry about being noticed by everyone, and that I shouldn't be too competitive."

"Uh, talk to you, I mean... myself, was too horrible."

"Don't say that... if I could, I would fix everything."

"Okay... bye."

"Oh, one more thing!", Onika says. "I feel ashamed of you... very, very ashamed. I didn't know I was a such horrible person."

Onika walked ahead.

"There's no way out of here. You are in your own mind, so you can not escape from yourself."

Onika ignored the voice of her other self.

Onika saw the spirit of Qui-Gon in front.

"I have a choice of what I decide to do now?" Onika asked.

"Onika, you are a young girl, you have to continue. Your battalion, your sisters need you."

"So many other people needed me, but I could not save them." Onika said, in a despairing tone. "When I lost other soldiers, I felt the pain of losing people that I think are important."

"I understand your pain, Onika."

"I just wanted... to take them back with me. Doing them back to life."

"That's impossible, Onika."

"Where are we? Is this my mind?"

"No. As you are unconscious, because of that drugs. You are alive, but disconnected from real life."

"This sounds a bit dramatic, don't you think? But what will happen when I wake up?"

Qui-Gon was silent.

"I think all this does not make sense, right?"

Qui-Gon looked to Onika.

"I think that if I wake up from the coma, I think this is all my paranoia." Onika said

"No, little one. This is not what will happen."

"Okay, but when will I wake up? Stay here is strange, empty and boring.", Onika looks around the void. "I did too many wrong things in my life. I feel disappointed in myself..."

Shany sat in a chair beside the bed of her sister, looking at her electrocardiogram.

"She will wake up from the coma, Kix?" Shany asked.

"Yes. Just be patient." Kix said.

"I wonder how she is on the inside."

Kix looked at his commander-girlfriend and hugged her. "Have faith, Shany."

Anakin enters the medical ward. Shany and Kix move away to a respectful distance.

"What happened to Onika?" Anakin asked.

Kix and Shany were silent.

"I do not believe. Onika-"

"It was for a good cause. She risked to save 15 people." Shany said.

"Of course, I noticed the last bit of paint on her face. Onika at least didn't destroy anything there. Gotta say I'm proud of her."

"Really distressful, she is in a deep coma."

Anakin sat beside the Onika's bed, and whispered in her ear.

"Onika, if you are listening to me, I just wanted you to know that I am very proud to have you as a 'niece', Commander, Major, and who knows, Lieutenant and Colonel."

"I have to go, little one." Qui-Gon said.

"I think we also have to go. This reflexion moment is kinda... weird, and stressful... I didn't know I was so problematic." Onika said.

"All right. Your uncle is very proud of you." Qui-Gon said. His spirit became a swarm of yellow butterflies, who Onika saw in her conscious thought.

Onika opened her eyes and blinked a few times, noticing the light in the medical ward. Onika removed the Oxygen mask and sat on the bed.

"I had a strange... experience." Onika said.

"Onika, I'm really glad you're okay." Anakin said.

"I did every single thing that you can not imagine."

"I think I know. And this time, you're to be congratulated."

"Never in my life will invade buildings. For nothing in this life."

"Only if you think that is really necessary."