Chapter 5 A Fistful Of Stardust

• Act V: Your own Personal Hell
• Jaxson had lost count of how many times he had relived Nicole and Maya getting ripped away from him forever. Time was meaningless. It could have been a few hours or a few decades. The simulation had become his new reality. He had grown accustomed to it. But that didn't make it any easier watching his wife and child be vaporized over and over again. He felt just as guilty every time. Guilty for being powerless to stop it. Guilty for not being there with them. Guilty for not feeling the pain they felt.
• Each time the simulation reset, Jaxson found himself waking up next to Natalie. He had ten hours to spend with them before the program brought them back to the apartment, he lost control and was forced to watch them die, again.
• Over time, Jaxson had made many beautiful memories with his family. He spent more quality time with them than when they were alive. Watching the sunset with Nicole, a radiant aura seemed to envelop her. Her long brown locks cascaded gracefully down her back, catching the sunlight in a mesmerizing dance. The vibrant blue of her eyes held a sparkle that could rival the stars themselves. Their eyes locked, and time stood still. Memories of their first encounter rushed back, a torrent of emotions overwhelming his senses. Love and admiration surged within him, reigniting the spark that had brought them together.
• Maya was the spitting image of Natalie, with the same blue eyes and brown hair. She was a bright and curious child, always asking questions and eager to learn. He took them to the park, where Maya would run around and play on the swings while Natalie watched over her. He cooked them dinner, making their favorite meals and laughing at Maya's silly jokes. He even taught Maya how to ride a bike. His hands lightly grasped the back of her seat, offering support and reassurance. Step by step, they ventured forward, each pedal pushing them closer to triumph. Though time was limited, he made every moment count only to lose everything he had gained at the end of the day.
• In a strange way, Jaxson had come to accept his situation. He told himself that Natalie and Maya weren't real, that it was just a simulation and he was just deluding himself. He was the only one feeling the pleasure. And he was the only one really feeling the pain. In the depths of his soul, a relentless torment clawed at his conscience. Every day, he carried the weight of their absence, unable to release himself from the suffocating grip of guilt. This became his perpetual penance, a relentless reminder of his perceived inability to rescue them.
• Jaxson sat at the dinner table with Natalie and Maya, like so many other times. A lump formed in his throat, his voice caught in the grip of unspoken emotions. He watched them, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within him. Their laughter echoed through the room, mingling with the warmth of their conversations. They reveled in the present moment, oblivious to the impending darkness that weighed heavily on his heart. Jaxson savored every moment, knowing that if his plan worked, he would never see them again.
• He had been studying the program for some time now. A simulation so elaborate as the one Remy had made for him had to take a few shortcuts, otherwise it would burn out the holo-suite processors. That's where he would find glitches that he could exploit. Loose threads in an intricately woven tapestry. Start pulling on the right ones, and it will all unravel.
• He knew what he had to do to break the cycle. Everything was laid out. After dinner, Jaxson kissed Nicole and Maya on the forehead, telling them how much he loved them. A bittersweet smile stretched across his lips, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. With a determined tone, he excused himself from the table.
• As he turned away, the soft murmur of Maya's innocent question floated into his ears, “Mommy, why is Daddy crying?”
• Natalie replied softly, “Sometimes, people cry when they're happy, sweetheart.”
• As soon as he was out of sight, Jaxson called up a control panel. He tapped a few controls and it was done. The safety mechanism that prevented him from dying in the simulation was turned off. There was no going back now.
• As the simulation reset, Jaxson dropped to his knees. He closed his eyes and embraced what was about to come. Like clockwork, the explosion went off, as it had countless times before. But this time he was in control. While he couldn't stop the death of his family, what he could do was not let himself be trapped by it. He was finally able to forgive himself. As he was engulfed by the blast, he felt himself disintegrating. But he didn't feel any pain. He figured, they didn't either. A serene calm washed over him, and the chaos had vanished. Everything blew out to a blinding white, before fading to black.
• This time around, Jaxson didn't wake up. The cycle was broken.
• #
• Jaxson Reed's body went limp in the holo-suite, the vitals on the monitor ceased their rhythmic dance. As his life's flickering embers faded into oblivion, a weight that had burdened him for years faded away. The haunting specters of guilt and remorse over his family's tragic demise relinquished their grip on his soul.
• The corrupting influence of power has left its mark on the world of Cassiopeia and the characters that inhabit it. Jaxson's journey is just one example of the high price that must be paid for justice.
• As we reflect on Jaxson's story, we are left with an unsettling glimpse into our world and those who govern it. We witness a world where the powerful manipulate justice like a pawn on a chessboard, where morality becomes a hazy spectrum and the boundaries between righteousness and wickedness blur. In this tumultuous landscape, the weight of our choices echoes in the recesses of our souls, casting a dark shadow upon our very existence.
• But even in darkness, there is hope. Embracing death, Jaxson Reed was able to find the redemption he sought for so long, not realizing that salvation lay within him all along. In the end, he too managed to find his "fistful of stardust".
• So as we close the book on Jaxson's story, let the echoes of justice reverberate in our minds, the burden of guilt be lifted from our shoulders, and the flickering ember of redemption illuminate our path. Within the tapestry of our contemplation, we unravel the enigmas of the universe, discovering that profound truths often lie hidden within our very souls, whispering their secrets to those willing to listen.