I sat on the couch in my private Coruscant apartment, feeling the weight of four pairs of eyes boring into me. Anakin, Barriss, Derren, and Seris stood before me in a semicircle, their expressions ranging from intense to unreadable.
The apartment was modest by Coruscant standards—a simple living space in one of the mid-levels, far enough from the Temple to offer privacy but close enough to reach quickly. I'd purchased it with earnings from my book series, one of many investments I'd made over the years. The walls were a soft gray, decorated with minimal furnishings: a couch, a few chairs, a small kitchen area, and a viewport showing the endless cityscape beyond.
But right now, the view didn't matter. The comfortable furniture didn't matter. Nothing mattered except the conversation we were about to have.
"Cain, we have something we want to discuss," Seris said, her voice carefully controlled.
Her stare was intense, but her face was stoically cold—that mask she wore when she was trying to hide her emotions. I couldn't read or feel the emotions of the others like I normally could, which had me nervous. They'd closed themselves off in the Force, creating barriers I couldn't penetrate without being invasive.
I didn't know why they'd wanted to meet at my private apartment instead of somewhere in the Temple, but the secrecy suggested this was serious. Very serious.
It had been six months since I'd told them about my so-called visions—about the Sith being part of the Republic, about why I hadn't told them or the Council, and especially about the clone army. When I'd finally opened up about everything, they'd been shocked and had questioned me relentlessly.
SIX MONTHS AGO....
The memory was still vivid in my mind. We'd been in one of the Temple's private meditation chambers, the five of us sitting in a circle on the floor. I'd finally decided they deserved to know the truth, or at least as much of it as I could safely share.
"You're saying there's going to be a war, and you're not trying to prevent it?" Barriss had asked, her dark blue eyes wide with disbelief.
"The Sith are behind its creation, while the Jedi are the ones who are going to suffer the most," Seris had said, her voice rising slightly. "Why not involve the Council or even tell someone you trust?"
I'd tried to explain, but the words had felt inadequate. "Because the Council won't listen. They'll hear the words of a child and dismiss them, even after the facts are there. They'll tell me to trust them and do as I'm told. But their way hasn't worked either."
"Cain, I know you're always thinking ahead, but I think you're really in over your head," Derren had said, sounding confused and frustrated. "Sith in the Senate, Jedi in a war with clones fighting against machines and the Outer Rim who want to be free from corrupt businesses and corrupt politicians. But it's all just part of the Sith's plan, and you've been secretly using your money from your book writings to get senators and officials from all the Rims to help you build a secret alliance against the Sith. That's a lot to take in, and you're only thirteen, man."
But it had been Anakin's question that had cut the deepest.
He'd stared at me without saying anything for a long moment, his indigo eyes searching my face. Then, quietly: "Are you telling me I was meant to become some great evil Sith? A pawn and a slave, just to find myself going from one master to the next, never knowing peace?"
His voice had cracked slightly on the last word.
"Did you become my friend just to stop me from becoming a monster?"
The pain in his voice had been like a physical blow. I'd seen the fear in his eyes, the fear that everything we'd built together had been a lie, that I'd been manipulating him from the start. I'd answered all of their questions one at a time, trying to make them understand.
"The Jedi, well, the Council to be more specific, are too rigid," I'd said. "I could tell and show them the truth. It doesn't mean they will listen. They hear the words of a child and ignore them, even after the facts are there. They say I should trust them and do as I am told. They hear the words come from a teenager and think I am naive, and tell me to trust them. But their way hasn't worked either."
I'd paused, feeling the frustration building in my chest.
"I made these choices and this path because the Jedi Order needs to evolve. A wise man once said: 'The future is not a river to carry us. It is the ocean in which we drown if we are not prepared.' And the Jedi are not ready, and neither is the galaxy. Or else none of these things would be allowed to happen. Slavery. Wars. Corruption. Greed. Starvation. The Jedi do nothing but listen to the Republic, an organization that has risen and fallen more times than the Jedi Order itself."
I'd paused and breathed in and out, trying to calm myself.
"Anakin, I became your friend because I saw your story and believed you deserved better. Everything I said and did was genuine. You're a great person who can do a lot for the galaxy. But I knew the current Jedi Order would hinder your growth. That's why I tried to speak to Qui-Gon."
Anakin's eyes had opened slightly wider after hearing that name.
"He was the father you needed to grow into the man I know you can become. Obi-Wan is good, but not enough, not for what you need. So I wanted to be a friend who kept his friend on the straight and narrow. I wanted to make sure you never felt isolated or alone. I let you know that loving your mother or others is never a problem. And that if the Jedi Order doesn't fit you, then I will create a new one that will."
That had made everyone look at me with confusion.
"So you would leave the Jedi Order and start your own, without the Council's approval?" Seris had asked.
"Yes, I would," I'd said firmly. "I've been finding like-minded Jedi over the years. Some like Aayla Secura, Etain Tur-Mukan, Tholme, along with Serra Keto and Sha Koon. Even you all agree with some of my ways of doing things. I'm not saying it's perfect, but things need to change, and I can't do this alone. I need you guys to trust me and keep me from losing myself, because this isn't easy. Political fires and back-alley deals, that's not who I am. I'm a straightforward kind of guy. Point me toward the bad guys and show me why they became bad guys, and I will fight both."
Everyone had just looked at me as I'd finished talking.
"Cain, we just need some time to think," Barriss had said quietly.
PRESENT....
That had been about six months ago. Between training and missions that took weeks if not a month or two, we were never all at the Temple at the same time. Our schedules had been deliberately staggered by our masters, whether by coincidence or design, I wasn't sure.
Then suddenly, Seris had contacted me through our private comm channel, telling me everyone wanted to talk but not at the Temple. I'd told them we could use my apartment. And here we were. Seris went to retrieve something from near the door and came back with the soft hiss of the front door closing behind her. Everyone else still looked so serious, their expressions unreadable.
Then Seris and Barriss spoke together while holding the hidden item behind their backs. "Happy Birthday, Cain!" everyone said at once.
In that moment, my mind went blank. I felt like I couldn't think of anything to say, let alone move. My mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
"My birthday?" I finally managed. "But technically I don't have a birthday, remember? And aren't you guys still mad at me?"
Derren just chuckled, his easy grin breaking the tension. " It's the same time you came to the temple man. And I'm not gonna say I wasn't upset by the secrets you were hiding. But I understand why, and nothing you said was wrong. Especially the part about how others would treat you, being a kid trying to introduce change. Adults can suck at times."
Anakin stepped closer to me, a genuine smile on his face that reached his eyes. "You said a lot of true things, and after thinking about it for months, I can say I didn't like the way you started to do things. But I will admit that when I'm with you, I feel like anything is possible. I feel like if you were by my side, I could take on a whole army with just my lightsaber."
I smiled slightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Dude, I'm into girls, just so you know."
Anakin just laughed. "Same here. But I'm serious, you're a true friend and the closest thing to a brother I have besides Obi-Wan. So next time, trust me. Trust us."
I nodded, feeling emotion tighten my throat. "I will. This won't happen again."
Then Seris spoke, her voice carefully neutral but her ears twitching slightly, a tell I'd learned to recognize. "So you're saying the Sith have infiltrated the Republic Senate, and the Jedi need to change if not start over altogether. So who will run this new order, you?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Oh, hell no. I hate leading people, let alone teaching others unless I have to. I honestly see you guys as my equals, but starting and running a new order are two different things. I have plans and ideas, as you could tell from our dealings with Death Watch, they're not perfect. Plus, I don't think I'd be good as a leader. More like a wanderer who travels the galaxy and helps others. If I had you by my side, leading would be so much easier."
Seris's ears twitched more noticeably, and I could see the faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Well, you're not wrong. You should have at least told me about the Sith thing. I could have told my family so they could have had Corellian officials keep an ear to the ground."
I smiled. "I have a whole network of officials who are working with my secret identity already, including Corellia. But you're right, hopefully from now on, with your help, I can start to make more plans and put them into play."
Then Barriss interjected, her analytical mind cutting to the heart of the matter. "Of course, Cain. We are in this together now, but I do have one big question. What are you planning to do with the clone army?"
Everyone's eyes focused on me when she said that.
"Yeah, speaking of which, what is your big plan for all this?" Derren asked, his mouth half full of the cake they'd apparently brought. "Is it just to beat the Sith and stop this war from coming?"
Seris flicked his forehead with a sharp thwack. "Oww!"
"Don't speak with your mouth full," she said primly.
I realized I'd left out what this whole big plan was for anyway, the endgame beyond just stopping the Sith and preventing Order 66. They deserved to know the full scope of what I was trying to build.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Well, I want to take over the army and wage a war on the criminal syndicates and slavery," I said, watching their reactions carefully. "Start a new Jedi Order that works with the people directly, and off of Coruscant. Create a new unifying government between the Mid Rim, the Outer Rim, and the Core Worlds. I'm still thinking about names, but the United Galactic Alliance sounds good so far. That's basically everything, besides expanding into the Unknown Regions and advancing technology."
I looked back toward everyone, and they had questioning expressions on their faces—not hostile, but deeply confused.
"Cain, I need you to explain that before I say anything," Seris said slowly. "Why do you want the army to be built if it will be used to kill the Jedi?"
Oh right, I did actually leave out a lot of context. They're looking at me like I'm crazy.
"Sorry, I should be clear," I said, holding up my hands. "Instead of an army of clones from one guy—Jango Fett, in the original plan, I want it to be an army of hybrid clones from many different donors. Like Jedi, Mandalorians, even various alien species. Along with gene therapy to make them strong, smart, and long-lived."
I leaned forward, trying to convey the importance of this.
"They will be trained in more than just war, academics, engineering, medicine, agriculture, and all other facets of life. I want to use the army to fight the criminal organizations that have polluted our galaxy, and for them to also help make a better system for the people that will be long-lasting. I want to get rid of slavery. And when this war on crime is done, the clones will choose their own life."
Anakin's expression had grown serious as I spoke. Now he interjected, his voice carrying a weight that made everyone turn to look at him.
"But won't the clones basically be slaves for your crusade?" he asked quietly. "Not that I disagree with what you're trying to do. But I don't like the idea of slaves being used to free other slaves."
Good question, Anakin, you really are growing. In the original canon, he'd never expressed that the clone army was slavery, or if he had, it had been buried under the necessities of war. But he was the most empathetic about it because of his own experiences. I was glad to see this version of Anakin was different, more aware, more willing to question.
"You're not wrong, Anakin," I said seriously. "It is almost exactly slavery. The only difference is I want to offer the hybrid clones a choice on the path they want to walk. They will be bred for combat and advancement for galactic society, but they are also part of it. It is their duty, and when they are done serving, they will be free to pick whatever path they want."
I paused, making sure they understood.
"Should they choose not to fight, that is fine as well, but they will be paid workers to help with more clones, whether in construction, entertainment, farming, or training. I want to give them a choice as much as possible. It's not perfect, I know, but it's better than no choice at all. I don't want chained slaves. I want people who are willing to follow me because they believe in my ambitious dream."
Anakin stared at me, taking in everything I'd said. I could see him processing it, weighing it against his own experiences as a slave on Tatooine. Finally, he nodded slowly.
"It's not perfect," he said. "But it's better than what would have happened otherwise. At least they'll have a choice. At least they'll be treated as people, not property."
Then Seris spoke, her analytical mind moving to the next piece of the puzzle.
"What about this Galactic Alliance? Are you going to run it?"
I shook my head firmly. "No, I will not be running it. The Alliance will be led by a council of three. One is the Grandmaster of the new Jedi Order, the other two will be a military leader and a leader of the people. It doesn't matter if they are human or alien. But no businessmen or corporations."
"Why no businessmen?" Barriss asked, genuinely curious.
"Because businessmen and corporations are what corrupted the Republic in the first place," I said, feeling the frustration rise in my voice. "They bought senators, influenced policy, started wars for profit. The Trade Federation, the Banking Clan, the Techno Union, they're all part of the problem. In this new Alliance, economic power will not translate to political power."
I leaned back, trying to organize my thoughts.
"The three leaders will run and control the Alliance with the same amount of power, just with different uses. The Jedi Grandmaster will focus on spiritual guidance and protecting the people. The military leader will handle defense and security. The people's leader will handle governance and representation."
Barriss spoke next, her voice carrying a note of concern. "You said the Jedi listen too much to the Republic. So now you want them to run this new government. Won't that be even worse?"
I shook my head. "Barriss, have you ever heard of the Pius Dea Crusades?"
"Not really," she admitted. "It sounds familiar, but I don't remember the details."
Then Seris spoke, her voice taking on the tone she used when reciting historical facts. "The Pius Dea Crusades were a series of devastating, human-centric wars that lasted for nearly a thousand years. These crusades were led by a militant religious sect known as the Pius Dea. They took control of the Galactic Republic's government and used its military for xenophobic campaigns against non-humans."
I nodded. "Exactly. Have you ever heard of Biel Ductavis?"
Seris nodded. "He was a Jedi Master and a key figure in the history of the Old Republic, particularly during and immediately after the crusades. During that time in history, the Jedi Order grew disillusioned with the Republic and initially renounced its allegiance, choosing to fight against the crusade independently."
She paused, her gray eyes thoughtful.
"After the Jedi fought and defeated the Pius Dea forces, they arrested the sect's Supreme Chancellor. Ductavis was installed as the leader of the Galactic Republic to help rebuild the government. He is regarded as a successful and positive example of a Jedi taking on a political leadership role."
"Exactly," I said, feeling excited that she understood. "There is a good example there. There are some other examples throughout history, but I'm saying we should be a guiding light. No more politics for politics' sake. We reflect on the Force before making any serious moves. While the other leaders worry about politics and logistics, we will worry about the people of the galaxy. The way it should have always been."
I stood up, pacing slightly as the words poured out.
"The current Jedi Order has failed because it serves the Republic instead of the people. We've become enforcers of the status quo, peacekeepers for a government that allows slavery, corruption, and suffering to flourish. We've become so detached from the people we're supposed to protect that we live in an ivory tower on Coruscant, making decisions based on political expediency rather than what's right."
Barriss just stared, seeing the fire lit in my golden eyes.
"The old Jedi, the ones before the Ruusan Reformation, they understood this," I continued. "They served the people directly. They established temples on worlds throughout the galaxy, not just on Coruscant. They studied all aspects of the Force, not just the light side. They understood that true balance meant acknowledging both sides without being consumed by either."
I turned to face them all.
"That's what I want to build. A Jedi Order that remembers what we're supposed to be. Not politicians. Not soldiers. But guardians. Protectors. Teachers. People who understand that the Force is more than just light and dark—it's everything in between."
Barriss stood up slowly, her dark blue eyes shining with something that might have been hope. "Okay, Cain. I hear what you're saying, and I am on board as well."
I smiled and hugged Barriss, feeling genuine gratitude. "Thanks, I appreciate it."
That's when Seris tapped my shoulder and coughed softly. "Ahem... I'm also on board with you as well. I mean, I always was, I just wanted the others to be as well." She gestured her arms open, showing me she was waiting for a hug. Her face was slightly turned away, and I could see she was blushing, her ears twitching rapidly.
I smiled brightly. She was so cute, acting all shy. I brought her in for a close, strong hug. I could feel everyone's eyes on us as they smiled knowingly. Seris held on tight to me, her face pressed against my chest, her eyes closed. I could feel her heartbeat through the Force, rapid and warm.
Then Anakin spoke, breaking the moment gently. "So what's going to be different about this order you want to make, and where will it be?"
I looked at him, still hugging Seris, who held on tight with her eyes closed.
"In the order I want to form, you will be able to be married and have families in and out of the order," I said, feeling Seris's grip tighten slightly at those words. "You will be able to learn all aspects of the Force, light and dark, and learn how to not let your emotions control you and how to not fall to the dark side. To stay in true balance."
I paused, gathering my thoughts.
"The current Jedi Code says 'There is no emotion, there is peace.' But that's a lie. There is emotion. Denying it doesn't make it go away, it just makes it fester. The old Jedi understood this. They said 'Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force.'"
Derren's eyes widened. "I've never heard that version of the Code before."
"That's because it was suppressed after the Ruusan Reformation," I explained. "The Jedi became afraid of emotion, afraid of passion, afraid of anything that might lead to the dark side. So they created a Code that denied fundamental aspects of being alive. And in doing so, they created Jedi who were detached, cold, unable to truly connect with the people they were supposed to serve."
I looked at each of them in turn.
"I want to create an order where Jedi are allowed to be people. Where we acknowledge our emotions and learn to master them, rather than suppress them. Where we study the dark side to understand it, not to use it for evil, but to recognize it in ourselves and others. Where we can love without fear of attachment, because we understand that love and attachment are not the same thing."
"What's the difference?" Barriss asked softly.
"Love is selfless," I said. "Attachment is selfish. Love wants what's best for the other person, even if it means letting them go. Attachment wants to possess, to control, to keep. The Jedi fear attachment so much that they've forbidden love entirely. But that's thrown out the baby with the bathwater."
Seris finally lifted her head from my chest, looking up at me with her gray eyes shining. "And the temples?" she asked. "You said the first temple will be somewhere specific?"
I nodded, feeling the weight of what I was about to reveal. "The first temple will be on Tython," I said. "When I find it again, at least. Then we will branch out to other worlds of significance to the Jedi and the Force and establish temples there."
"WHAT?" everyone said in surprise, their voices overlapping. Even Seris lifted her head from my chest in shock, her eyes wide.
"Tython?" Anakin said, his voice filled with disbelief. "The birthplace of the Jedi Order? But that's been lost for thousands of years! No one knows where it is!"
"I'll find it," I said with quiet confidence. "The Force will guide me there when the time is right."
Derren was shaking his head in amazement. "Cain, do you realize what you're saying? Tython isn't just some random planet. It's where the first Jedi learned to use the Force. It's where the ancient Je'daii Order studied both the light and the dark in balance. If you could actually find it..."
"It would change everything," Barriss finished, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded. "Exactly. Tython represents what the Jedi were supposed to be, before the schisms, before the dogma, before we lost our way. The Je'daii Order understood balance in a way we've forgotten. They studied Ashla and Bogan, the light and the dark, as two sides of the same coin. They understood that true mastery of the Force meant understanding both."
"But the Je'daii Order fell," Seris pointed out. "They had a schism that led to the creation of the Jedi and the Sith."
"Because they lost their balance," I said. "Some fell too far into the light, becoming rigid and dogmatic. Others fell too far into the dark, becoming consumed by passion and power. The schism happened because they forgot the fundamental truth, that balance requires constant vigilance, constant self-awareness, constant choice."
I looked at each of them.
"That's what I want to teach. Not that the dark side is good or that we should use it freely. But that it exists within all of us, and denying it only gives it power. We need to acknowledge it, understand it, and choose the light anyway. Not because we're afraid of the dark, but because we genuinely believe the light is the better path."
Anakin was staring at me with an intensity that was almost uncomfortable.
"You're talking about walking a tightrope," he said quietly. "One misstep and you fall."
"Yes," I admitted. "But isn't that what life is? The current Jedi Code tries to eliminate the tightrope by denying half of existence. But you can't eliminate the dark side any more than you can eliminate shadow. Where there is light, there will always be shadow. The question is whether we acknowledge it or pretend it doesn't exist."
Derren spoke up, his voice thoughtful. "So you're saying the new order will teach Jedi to use dark side techniques?"
"No," I said firmly. "I'm saying the new order will teach Jedi to understand the dark side. To recognize it in themselves and others. To study it academically, philosophically, so they can better resist it and help others resist it. There's a difference between understanding something and using it."
I paused, trying to find the right words.
"Think of it like studying poison. A healer needs to understand how poisons work, their effects, their symptoms, their antidotes. That doesn't mean the healer uses poison to harm people. It means they're better equipped to save people who've been poisoned. The dark side is the same. If we understand how it works, how it corrupts, how it tempts, we're better equipped to resist it and help others resist it."
Barriss nodded slowly. "That... actually makes sense. The current approach is like refusing to study diseases because we're afraid of getting sick. But how can we heal if we don't understand what we're healing?"
"Exactly," I said, feeling relieved that she understood.
Seris spoke up, her voice carrying a note of concern. "But Cain, this is dangerous. What you're proposing goes against everything the Jedi have taught for a thousand years. The Council will never approve."
"I know," I said quietly. "That's why we'll have to do it without their approval. That's why we'll establish the new order away from Coruscant, away from the Republic's influence. We'll start small, just us and a few others who believe in the vision. And we'll grow from there."
"Who else have you talked to about this?" Anakin asked.
"A few," I admitted. "Master Fay understands, she's from an era when the Jedi were different, more connected to the Force itself rather than to political institutions. Quinlan Vos has expressed interest, though he's cautious. Aayla Secura is sympathetic. And there are others, younger Jedi who feel the same frustration with the current order that we do."
I looked at them seriously.
"But I need you four. You're not just my friends, you're the foundation of what I'm trying to build. Anakin, you have the raw power and the compassion to be a great Jedi, but the current order will try to suppress both. Seris, you have the wisdom and the balance to help guide others. Barriss, you have the analytical mind and the dedication to help structure the new order. And Derren, you have the groundedness and the perspective to keep us all honest."
Derren grinned. "So I'm the reality check?"
"Someone has to be," I said with a smile.
Anakin stood up, his expression serious. "Cain, I'm with you. I've felt for a long time that something was wrong with the way the Jedi do things. The way they treated my mother, the way they look down on attachment, the way they serve politicians instead of people. If you're trying to build something better, I want to be part of it."
Barriss stood as well. "I'm in. The Jedi are supposed to be healers, but we've become soldiers. We're supposed to serve the Force, but we serve the Republic. Something needs to change."
Derren stretched and stood, his easy grin in place. "Well, I'm not about to let you guys have all the fun. Besides, someone needs to make sure you don't take yourselves too seriously."
Seris was the last to stand. She looked at me with those gray eyes that seemed to see straight through me.
"I'm with you, Cain," she said softly. "I always have been. But promise me something."
"Anything," I said.
"Promise me you won't lose yourself in this. Promise me that in trying to save the galaxy, you won't forget to save yourself."
I felt emotion tighten my throat. She understood, she always understood, the cost of what I was trying to do. "I promise," I said. "That's why I need you all. To keep me grounded. To remind me what I'm fighting for."
We stood there in a circle, the five of us, and I felt the Force flowing between us, and that connection we'd always had, that bond that made us stronger together than we could ever be apart.
"So," Derren said, breaking the moment with his characteristic humor, "when do we start this revolution?"
I laughed. "It's not a revolution. It's a reformation. And we've already started. Every mission we go on, every person we help, every time we choose compassion over dogma, that's the new order being born."
"But Tython," Anakin said, bringing us back to the revelation. "How are you going to find it? It's been lost for millennia. The hyperspace routes are gone. The coordinates are lost."
"The Force will guide me," I said with quiet confidence. "When the time is right, I'll know where to go. The Force has been guiding me all along, through visions, through instinct, through connections like the one we share. It will show me the way to Tython when we're ready."
"And what will we find there?" Barriss asked.
"I don't know," I admitted. "Ancient temples, maybe. Holocrons from the Je'daii Order. Knowledge that's been lost for thousands of years. But more than that, I think we'll find understanding. The Je'daii understood balance in a way we've forgotten. If we can rediscover that knowledge, we can build something truly new."
Seris squeezed my hand. "It's a beautiful dream, Cain."
"It's more than a dream," I said. "It's a necessity. The Sith are coming. War is coming. The Republic is going to fall, and the Jedi Order with it. If we don't build something new, something better, then everything will be lost."
"No pressure, then," Derren said with a wry grin.
I smiled despite the weight of what we were discussing. "No pressure at all."
Anakin looked at the others, then back at me. "So what's our next step?"
"We continue our training," I said. "We continue our missions. We continue building our network of allies and resources. And when the time comes, when the war starts and the Sith reveal themselves, we'll be ready. We'll have an alternative. A place for Jedi who want something different. A new order built on the principles the Jedi have forgotten."
"And the clone army?" Barriss asked. "When do we start working on that?"
"Soon," I said. "I have contacts on Kamino, people who owe me favors. When the time is right, I'll make my move. But we need to be careful. The Sith are watching. One wrong move and everything falls apart."
"Then we don't make any wrong moves," Seris said firmly.
I looked at her, at all of them, and felt a surge of gratitude and hope.
"Together," I said.
"Together," they echoed.
Then Derren broke the moment by gesturing to the cake they'd brought. "So, are we going to eat this cake or what? Because I'm starving, and Seris already hit me once for eating with my mouth full."
Everyone laughed, the tension breaking like a wave against the shore. As we sat down to share the cake, a simple chocolate creation with "Happy Birthday Cain" written in icing and basic, galactic script. I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope. Real, genuine hope that maybe, just maybe, we could actually pull this off.