Episode One

I was born on a world beyond the reach of the Old Republic itself on a world which had become tidally locked with its parent star as one side of the planet itself baked into an uninhabitable and hellish place, while the side which had always remained facing away from the star itself had frozen and equally as devoid of life. Those like myself, whom had been unfortunate to have been born on this devastated and dying world, lived either beneath the surface of the frozen wastelands or in the only and barely habitable place on the surface, living in perpetual dawn as the sun would never move from above the horizon while the constant darkness existed on the opposite side of the thin line which wrapped around the planet itself. Those like myself, had struggled for vital supplies such as food and drinkable water on a daily basis, often fighting hand-to-hand with those whom lived beneath the surface for the limited supplies. Rarely would a vessel be unfortunate to find the hell of our world as often the vessel itself would have been torn apart by scavengers, as I once was, as they would search for anything usable, including vital supplies of food, water, medical supplies and even clothing.

In order to survive on a world which had no name other than 'Purgatory', as we had often called our home, only the strongest would survive by praying upon the weak and infirm, as I was considered. One such day, I had ran for my very life itself from a group of rival scavengers after locating a small bottle of drinkable water which was barely enough to sustain myself for even an hour, but the constant thirst for nourishing water had become so great that I had no choice but to steal from another. I was barely seven years old, short and weak from the lack of nourishment, surviving only off of what scraps I could find in the city itself. Covered in dirt, mud and I had no idea of what else had covered my body, even the tattered rags I had worn, I ran for my life as far and fast as my exhausted legs could carry me, hiding in holes and caves for days while taking small sips of the vital water supply I had stolen while eating whatever I could find along the way, often foraging for grubs and insects, although they where foul in their taste, it was all that I had known in my short and painful life.

My parents had tossed their young daughter aside to survive on my own, as would often happen on our world as resources had become so scarce, that even the smallest amount of food outweighed the family connections. I was four years old when I was cast aside as a sickly child, barely strong enough to last another month, let alone another year.

Exhausted, I ran for my very life while the sickness of what I had been eating had overtaken me, although what little water I had left in the bottle was my only life-line as I entered into what had been known as 'The Forbidden Zone', the constant frozen wastelands of eternal night. Barely insulated by the rags I was wearing and the mud and filth which had covered my body, I heard the horrific sounds of my pursuers as they closed upon my location in an almost endless pursuit. Fear gripped me along with the biting frozen air as I hid inside of a frozen cave, I saw their feet mere meters away from my hiding place while I fought with my own frozen body to remain silent for as long as possible. I heard their voices as many refused to continue into the frozen wastelands which had become home to the Subterranean species known to everyone as 'The Feared', a vicious fur covered blue species whom had adapted to the cold over the millennia of their existence, and although I had yet to see such a creature, I was as feared of them as I was of those chasing me for days.

Eventually those chasing me had either given up on their pursuit or written me off as either dead or taken by the creatures themselves and as they left, I remained silent for hours while almost frozen inside of the cave before I finally worked up the courage to leave the cave itself. But by then, I had forgotten the way back into the dawn as all directions had appeared as the same, the frozen ice and snow drift from the wastelands had covered the tracks of those once pursuing me. Turning slowly, I walked towards what I had believed to be my homeland. Wrapping my hands around my frozen body, I rubbed my chest in an attempt to keep my own heart beating and my lungs breathing in the frozen air which seemed to burn my lungs. Finally, the wind seemed to slow and the snow which had blown from the glaciers settled as the for the first time in my life, I saw the darkness of the sky above and the countless points of light looking down upon me as at first, I was terrified of what I saw however I felt warm inside once again until I saw a single speck of light in the distance which drew me towards it somehow.

Inside of a large cave, I saw a single fire burning as a shadow moved slowly around what I knew to be a small spacecraft. My heart pounded with excitement at seeing such a view before me, a view which I knew could be my salvation from the frozen hell of which my short life had become. The ice on which I lay upon collapsed beneath what weight I had causing me to fall down the ice embankment towards the cave itself. Trying not to scream to alert anyone nearby, I rolled uncontrollably towards the fire before I slid to a stop before the warmth of the fire, and at that moment, I heard a sound I had never before heard, an unusual hum which followed quickly by a strange green glow while a figure slowly walked towards me and fear instantly gripped me as I screamed in terror.

A large figure wearing a long black garment stood before me, breathing heavily. Illuminated by the fire and a long green light which had sprung from the figure's own hands, I attempted to crawl away as the ice beneath my body burned my hands and knees while I continued to scream in fear at what I had seen. Slowly the strange sound stopped as the green light disappeared while the figure knelt before slowly, I felt a strange calm overcome my body while the figure pulled back on the garment to reveal the face of a young male with an unusual look upon his face.

"It's okay, I'm not going to harm you. Can you understand me?"

I knew little of kindness in my painful and short life, but the look in his eyes and the way his lips moved made me feel warm as he extended his hand slowly towards me and for some reason, my hand moved towards his own. Taking my hand in his own, he slowly stood as I stood myself, fighting the fear which had once echoed through my body along with the biting cold as he led me towards the fire before removing his garment and placing it around my shoulders as I sat. instantly feeling the warmth of the garment, I pulled the garment around my frail form as I sighed with relief, for the first time in my life.

"You… have… food?" I said slowly, as the heat of the garment and fire slowly warmed my body.

"I do. Who are you? What is your name?"

"What is name mean?" I replied after a moment of silence.

"Carlin, that's my name. People call me Carlin. What do people call you?"

"Rat. People call me Rat…"

"I see. Where do you live? I can not believe that anyone would live on this frozen land"

"I… Live where I can" I said with a mouth full of food, for the first time in my life.

"Your parents, where are your parents?" He replied in shock.

"What does that mean?"

"A mother, a father. People who look after you… where are they?"

"Gone. They left long ago… I live with me now"

"Your parents abandoned you here?" He said with disgust.

"Not here. Here is the Forbidden Zone, home to the Feared. They take what they need"

After only eating so much as the smallest morsel of food which held more flavour than I had ever tasted, I felt instantly sick as my body had not been used to such flavours and the amount of food I had pushed into my mouth. He must have taken pity on me at that moment, the only kindness I had ever seen in my life as he took my hand and led me into the warmth of his vessel. Treating me with medicines from his own supplies, before I was permitted to clean myself. I had never seen water fall upon myself as I had on that day, it was warm and soothing on my frail form and after giving me clean garments, I saw myself for the first time in my own reflection as my eyes opened wide with shock at the young girl looking back at me, an image I had never seen before as I was clean for the first time in my life.

I had never known that the hair upon my head was long and golden in colour as it was normally mattered with filth and knotted after never being cleaned. My skin was pale and felt luxurious as I ran my hands up and down my arms, countless times before touching my face softly. My eyes where a pale shade of green which drew in my own gaze and for the first time in my life, I wore a soft and pleasant feeling garments which he had called a dress, not the usual rags which had become torn over the years. The urge to steal whatever I could from his vessel had still echoed within me, but having been shown the only kindness I had ever known, I fought that urge as deep down I knew that the only life before me would be back on that hell of a world. Leaving the confines of the room where he had left me, I walked through the small vessel towards what I knew to be the front of the ship, where often the person who would fly the ship would sit as slowly he turned with a gentle smile upon his face once again as he saw me for the first time.

"Do you feel better?"

"I do, thank you… Carlin. Why have you done this for me?" I said slowly, cautiously.

"You need help. Perhaps that is why the Force has brought me here, to help you?"

"Who is the Force?" I replied with interest, as my eyes searched for anything useful to steal.

"Not a who, but a what. I feel that you have a connection with the Force, it is strong with you as it is with my Master"

"Then you are a slave as I was, before I ran?" I said with a deep sigh.

"No Little-One. Not a slave, a student… my Master is a Jedi, and she has been instructing me in the ways of the Force since I was not much older then you are now"

"Jedi are not real. Only stories told by many…"

"We are real Little-One! If you come with me, you can be trained in the ways of the Force. You may never fear another again. We will teach you how to defend yourself and survive…"

"I can survive, I have for my whole life" I replied, instantly.

"But from what you have told me, it is not living. Scrounging for scraps of food, even now I can see your eyes looking for something to steal. If you wish to stay here? I will leave you with what you need to survive. But if you come with me? You will never fear another again. We will all protect you and train you, you could become a powerful Jedi, I sense that potential within you Little-One"

"My name, is Rat!" I growled, instantly.

"Rat, is not a name… it is a horrible thing to call another. My mother, was named Selar… It means Beauty on my home world"

"Selar? It is beautiful. I like it"

"Then the name, is yours for as long as you want"

Kindness was as alien to me as the many species throughout the galaxy which I would later encounter, as was the soft and comfortable bed I had slept in as Carlin had given me his own. For the first time in my life, I slept for hours, almost a full day with the fear of being attacked, what little belongings that I had being stolen or being taken by The Feared. After awakening, I once again ate as much food as I could fit into my frail body as we travelled through the stars themselves for days as my strength grew, my stomach for the first time in my life was full and more shockingly to myself, I had began to put on weight as hunger and thirst was no longer an issue for me, just a distant and horrible memory. I would spend as much time as I could in what he had called a shower, and unimaginable luxury which I had enjoyed along with the clothing he had given to me, cutting many of his own clothing to fit me, I could never have imagined such a life, nor the simple pleasure of a hot meal. Finally arriving on his home world, a vast and endless city which had encompassed an entire planet. Although I was afraid of what life could lay before me, I stayed by his side afraid to leave his protection until I saw a tall and beautiful woman. Her short, black hair flowed in the warm breeze as she walked towards me and knelt before me with a pleasant smile which calmed my nerves as I stepped out from behind him.

"Hello Saris, Carlin has spoken of you. My name is Sharlon. You are safe here" Her soft and soothing voice said slowly.

"Are, you… real?"

"I am as real as you are Saris, you do not need to be afraid, no one will harm you"

"You are… what is the word, Beautiful" I said in awe, as I looked up at the tall woman before me.

"As are you… The Council is eager to meet you, I see that my Padawan was correct about you, you do have a powerful connection. Tell me, how do you feel?"

"Warm, not hungry or thirsty" I replied slowly, as it was all that I knew.

"Tell me Saris, what do you know of the Jedi?"

"Only stories, and what Carlin had told me"

"Master Sharlon, she has shown great potential in the past days. Her connection runs deep, I believe that she could one day, become a powerful ally to the Order" Carlin replied, as I looked up into his eyes.

"We will see, but I do sense potential. Your discovery, was the will of the Force, Saris. If you will please follow me? I will personally escort you to the Council itself"

I spent several hours being almost interrogated by the Council itself until eventually, I was granted permission to be trained in the ways of the Force and even though I had no idea of what that had meant, I felt happy. Although with my then limited intellect, my first instructions where basic such as reading, writing and mathematic skills, something of which I had quickly begun to learn before I was granted a Master to train me, the newly ordained Master Carlin, the man whom had discovered me on that hellish world. What I had not known at the time was that my fate had been sealed a four weeks later, Master Qui-Gonn Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi had discovered a young Human boy on a distant world, later to be trained as a Jedi himself after the death of Master Jinn and trained by master Kenobi himself. It had appeared as if our paths had been set upon a collision course as we had trained side-by-side for months before our paths had separated, often remerging on occasion across the Galaxy and eventually, ten years later, My Master and myself had joined with as many Jedi as could be found to assist with the recovery of Master Kenobi and his Padawan, Skywalker on Genosis itself. But my worst nightmares had come to pass as my Master had fallen in battle in defence of Kenobi and Skywalker, with my training incomplete and upon my return to the Council Chamber along with my Master's body, Sharlon herself had taken over my training at her own demands and became my instructor.

Against the orders and constant reminders of both Master Sharlon and the Council itself, I had rarely trusted the Clone Army as created by the new Chancellor of the Republic. I believed that the Clones where highly dangerous and needed to be monitored closely as each of the many hundreds of thousands of troopers where cloned from a single person, a single person, a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter believed to have been aligned with Count Dooku himself, a known Sith Lord. Having voiced my opinions to those closest to me, including my childhood sparring partner, Anakin Skywalker. I was summarily called before the Jedi Council itself to explain my actions… My real story begins here…

I was seventeen standard years old, although I had no idea of my date of birth, I used the date when I was rescued from my hellish life as my date of birth, the date when I was free to one day become a Knight of the Republic itself. Standing in the Circle of the Council Chambers before both Holograms and those whom had attended in person with Sharlon stood before me, I was granted the chance to explain myself to those around me which had included a man I had become friends with, Master Obi-Wan himself.

"Saris, your true feelings have been made clear to this Council, however your mistrust of this Council and the Order has become troublesome" Master Kenobi said slowly.

"I meant no harm in voicing my personal opinions Master. I believe in this Council and the Republic, however the Clone Troopers are dangerous, I can feel it. Is it not a coincidence that the Clone Army was available when needed and in such great numbers? Even now there are millions more waiting to be released from their tanks"

"Saris, you have a great potential, however you are young and have little experience with…"

"Don't patronise me Sharlon! As much as I owe you for assisting me when needed, along with the members of this Council for agreeing to my training, I cannot stand by and watch as the Clone Army created in the image of a known Sith Sympathiser is permitted to continue. We have lost more of this order since the creation of that said Army, our numbers are dwindling faster then that had done in centuries. How many more deaths will it take before you pay attention to what I have to say Masters?" I declared before the Council itself.

"I have worked along side the Clone Army since its creation, six months ago, I see no sign of danger from them" Sharlon replied, as she sighed deeply while looked down into my eyes.

I felt isolated in a room full of my own kind, the Order of Knights of which I had sworn my life to defend and protect. When my personal Lightsaber had been broken during the Battle of Genosis, my late Master Carlin's last act was to throw me his own weapon before being killed by a Battle Droid, a weapon of which I carried with pride since that day and had served me well since. Holding his personal weapon in my hands, I felt a sadness quickly pass over me before vanishing into nothingness while I placed the weapon itself into Sharlon's hands with a polite bow of respect and a long silence before I finally spoke.

"I see now that I am alone in my beliefs. And as such, I can no longer continue to serve an order which does not, nor will not listen to what I have to say. The Clone Army is a danger to our existence Masters, I beg this of you, do not trust them, any of them… Monitor them and at the first sign of duplicity, shut them down anyway that you can…"

"You realise what you are saying Padawan?" Mace Windu said as he stood slowly and walked towards me.

"Yes Master Windu, I understand what I am saying… I will continue to live up to the codes of the Order which I have sworn myself to defend. However, I would imagine that you of all people would understand what I am saying, what I have been saying since the creation of this Army. Forgive me sir for what I must do now, May the Force Protect you all… I will now take my leave of this Order"

"Saris, reconsider your options?" Sharlon said slowly as she stepped towards me.

"Since I had arrived here Sharlon, you have been like a mother to me, and I thank you for your guidance and understanding, But I must now leave… I will be there when I am needed the most, on that, I give you my word. Good by my friends"

Leaving the Council Chambers and the Temple of the Jedi, I had never believed that it would be for the last time, I could never have imagined the death and destruction which would follow in years to come as the order would be destroyed. But it had seemed that not one person had listened to me as almost three years later, the entire order of the Jedi would be wiped out by the Clone Army and the Sith Lord which had always been in command of the Army itself.