As the stranger spoke her name Ran's eyes narrowed in a squint. There was familiarity in their voice. It paused the Jedi Master. It kept her from taking another step. Then she turned at the hiss of the helmet. The stranger's face revealed.
"Serina." Ran said softly, almost inaudibly. Her breath was stolen from her, a lump formed in her throat. Ran had gone white in shock, as white as her green skin would allow. There was a ghost in front of her.
How? Why? I do not- I do not understand. There was no ghost. The young woman's face was perfectly preserved. It was just as Ran remembered her on that day. The day she failed Serina Calis. A day she regretted more than any other in her life.
"It is not a story." Ran whispered.
"It- It is my greatest regret," She said through a short ragged breath struggling to catch her voice, her breath, and calm.
"That I did not cross swords with Aadihr for you." Ran shook her head and took a single step toward Serina.
"I was blinded by my assumptions. That day was wrong. He was wrong. I was wrong. Valery was wrong." Ran shed a single tear.
"I did my best for you. I really did." Ran said feeling conflicted as to whether or not the words that came from her mouth were indeed the truth.
She looked to Serina, to Jonyna, to Aiden, and to the ground. There was shame, and more. Conflicting emotions.