A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… ™

"She's a bit older than we normally allow, but, I have to agree. I feel a great power within her, and she is very strong with the Force. I think it would be unwise not to allow her to train as a Jedi."

"...Agree, I do."

"However, Master Yoda, you seem still apprehensive about her. What troubles you?"

"Hmmm..hard to say. Great things in her, I sense, yes; but also great pain. A difficult path for her, I fear."

It was a typical day on Taris. Which meant it was awful. The yellow smog clung to the air as the heat only made it that much harder to breathe. Why people continued to live here was something he would never understand. However, Taris had become a symbol of victory and strength as it continued to be colonized and rebuilt despite its long history of being ravaged over and over. The Outer Rim was certainly a harsh place. Jedi Master Kit Fisto made his way through one of the slum areas of Taris having just finished his meeting with the senator. Although Taris had come to be a stable planet once again, it was in constant need of checking by the Republic. They were always in need of something to help support their people. Whenever he was sent to Taris to meet on behalf of the Republic he often found himself drawn to the lower cities of the planet. Anyone could see the mighty skyscrapers that towered in the central city, but it was the slums that held the majority of the population. Here the houses were actually old shipping containers and crashed starships from wars long past. Small shops and market booths lined the streets as people desperately worked to stave off starvation. Master Fisto had stopped at one of the local junk booths when a loud commotion caused him to make his way towards the source of the conflict. There he saw a little human girl, no more than a young child, running as fast as she could followed by two men who were shouting at her.

"Stop, you little thief!" one of the men yelled as he struggled to catch up to her.

As the girl ran even faster she turned her head around and stuck her tongue out at the two men who were fading farther away behind her. However, her carelessness got the best of her as she ran straight into Master Fisto.

"Oof!" the girl exclaimed as she hit the Jedi Master in the legs; dropping the food she had just held.

"Hello there," he said as he looked down at her with a smile.

The girl stared up with wide eyes. She had seen lots of different types of creatures on Taris but nothing like this. He had huge black eyes with no lids and long green tendrils instead of hair with skin the same color. As she stood staring up at him the two men who had been chasing her finally caught up.

"Thank you for stopping her," one of the men panted as he stooped over to catch his breath. "This is the second time we've caught her stealing from our booth."

"You can't just take whatever you want, Shri'La," the other man said. "Times are tough for everyone, but you have to pay all the same."

"You don't understand nothing!" the girl screamed as she tried to run away again, but she was held back by the strange tall creature she had just run into. "Lemme go!" she said as she pushed away from him.

"Just hold on for one moment, please," Master Fisto said as he struggled to keep her still. He bent down on his knees to meet her eyes. "Your name is Shri'La, is that right?"

"...yeah," she said as she kept her eyes towards the ground.

"My name is Kit Fisto, and I am a Jedi Master. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh my, a Jedi!" one of the men said. "It is an honor to-"

"Please," Master Fisto said as he raised his hand. "There is no need for any formalities. Now then, Shri'La, what seems to be causing your need to steal food?"

"..."

"I might be able to help if I am able."

"...there is nothing you can do."

Master Fisto stared at Shri'La for a moment before standing back up to look at the two men. "What exactly did you plan to do with her once you caught her?" he asked.

"Stealing is a pretty hefty penalty around here," the first man said. "But given her age, we would most likely give her a good whipping and take her back to her home and speak with whoever she lives with."

"NO!" Shri'La yelled.

Master Fisto looked down at her with a look of concern. He hadn't felt it at first, but this girl was definitely Force sensitive.

"I'm sorry, Shri'La," the second man said. "You have to accept the consequences of your actions."

Shri'La looked up at the one who called himself a Jedi with eyes that pleaded with him.

"Please," she whispered. "Don't let them take me to my home."

Master Fisto nodded to her with a slight smile. "I would be happy to take her to her home and speak with her parents for you."

"That is very kind of you, Master Jedi, but we really need to-"

"There is no need for you to come along," Master Fisto said as he waved his hand in front of the men.

"Well, actually," the man said suddenly confused, "we don't need to come along with you."

"We will be on our way then," the Jedi said as he took Shri'La's hand. "And here is a little something for your troubles." He then handed both men a few of his own Republic credits.

"Thank you, Master Jedi!"

"May peace go with you," Master Fisto said as he and Shri'La headed towards her home.

They walked for what seemed like forever. The silence was not uncomfortable though. Shri'La, although still apprehensive, felt at ease with him for some reason. However, that feeling seemed to fade with every step they took closer to her home. She, in her young mind, thought of all the ways she could distract this...Jedi so that she could get away from him. She wasn't afraid of him so much, but what he would do when he found out she had no parents at home. She was an orphan...and she knew what happened to orphans on this planet.

"I can sense your uneasiness, young one," Master Fisto finally said.

"...I'm not afraid of anything," Shri'La said with as much defiance as she could muster.

Master Fisto chuckled. "You do not need to fear me. Whatever lies at your home I can assure you that I will not tell those men who were just chasing you."

Shri'La stopped in her tracks as Master Fisto stared down at her. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. "It's not the men I fear…."

"Then what is it you fear? Listen to your feelings, young one, and they will guide you," Master Fisto said as he knelt down once again to meet her in the eyes.

"My feelings?"

"That little voice inside your head and heart."

"...I am afraid of being taken to the orphanage."

Master Fisto suddenly began to realize just how severe the situation was, but he wanted to make sure of his assumptions. "Are you alone?"

"Yes...my mother has died."

"And your father?"

"Mother said he left on a mission soon after I was born. He never returned."

"How long have you been without your mother?"

"A week or so…"

Master Fisto stood up and closed his eyes, deep in thought.

"Please," Shri'La begged. "Just let me go back to my home. Forget anything ever happened."

Master Fisto opened his eyes and looked down at her. Her seafoam green eyes were full of determination. He had no doubt she would learn to survive on her own, but at what cost? Such a waste of a youngling with such potential in the Force.

"I am afraid I cannot do that…" he said slowly.

Her eyes widened as she took a step back from him.

"I won't let you take me to the orphanage! I will not work my life away hoping someone will adopt me! They never do!" She shouted. Tears began to form in her eyes once again, but this time they were brought on by anger not sadness. "They always tell them they'll be adopted, but no one wants an orphan. The city dwellers don't care for us, and no one here can afford more mouths. You work till you're too old then you're on your own again. And for what?"

"I...didn't realize the situation was so dire here," Master Fisto said with genuine shock at her outburst.

"Yeah, well...now you know," Shri'La said as she turned away from him. "I will be better on my own so please just leave…"

Master Fisto placed a hand on her shoulder as he closed the gap between them she had created. "Shri'La," he said. "What if I told you I believe you have a gift?"

Shri'La turned her head to glance at him behind her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"We Jedi are beings who have special abilities. We are able to listen to and feel the Force. The Force is all around us. It is the energy that connects all living beings and the galaxy together. And, I believe you have this ability too."

Shri'La had now turned all the way around to face him. She stared up at him intently. Was he asking her to come along with him? What else would she have to lose if she did? Anything was better than ending up at the orphanage.

"What if I don't have this power? How can you be so sure?" she asked.

"I can sense it in you very clearly. However, a simple blood test can help us determine for sure if you are in fact Force sensitive or not; it does not hurt," he replied. "If you are so you would qualify for training at the Jedi Temple. You would have much to learn, yes. Most younglings come to the Jedi Order as mere infants, but you are still young enough that I don't anticipate you having a problem catching up to your peers."

But what if I come with you and you are wrong?" she insisted. "I do not wish to come back here. What would happen to me then?"

"I assure you," he replied, "if my intuition is wrong and you are not Force sensitive then we will contact one of the orphanages on Coruscant and..."

"But I-" Shri'La began to protest.

"My dear Shri'La," Master Fisto said as he placed a hand on her head. "The orphanages there do not force labor on the orphans, and many families are always looking to adopt. I promise, if you are destined for an orphanage, you will find a family there. However, I am certain your destiny lies within the Jedi Order."

Shri'La looked up at him through her bangs which now covered her eyes from his tousling of her red hair. His smile was genuine. She knew she could trust him.

"...okay," she said. "I will come with you to this Jedi Temple. But before I go, may I return to my home for a few things?"

"Jedi do not need possessions or to hold on to the lives they have given up," Master Fisto solemnly spoke.

"..."

"In time, you will learn these things. All you need will be provided at the temple."

"Alright….I will trust what you said," she replied with slight hesitation.

"Then shall we depart for Coruscant? My matters here are done, however, I have learned far more from you than I ever have from the senator."

"That's because he only represents the city dwellers."

"Perhaps you are right… and wise beyond your years. I believe you will go far in the order."

Master Fisto offered her another smile which seemed somehow less genuine this time. Shri'La decided not to question it anymore. She had made her decision and she would not turn back now. Master Fisto's mind, however, was racing. He knew she was far older than the Order usually allowed to begin training, but her abilities seemed far too great to let go to waste on this backward planet. Fate had been cruel to abandon her here, but his meeting of her was of no coincidence either. He would see her become a Jedi. He would convince the Council some how…

"Wow! Is this your ship?!" Shri'La exclaimed as they entered the hangar and made their way towards Master Fisto's starship.

"She is indeed," answered Master Fisto. "She is not much to look at, but she has been good to me," he said as he gave the ship a pat.

"I've never seen any ships that weren't broken into pieces except the ones we sometimes see taking off from the city. Let alone fly in one!" she said excitedly. "But, I thought Jedi weren't supposed to have possessions…"

"Haha," laughed Master Fisto. "Nothing gets past you does it, young one? All Jedi ships are commissioned through the Jedi Council who receive them from the Republic. We ourselves are neutral on all accounts, but we serve the Republic. In times of peace we are negotiators, ambassadors, and humanitarians. In time of war we are peacekeepers and, if need be, fighters. We live to keep the galaxy at peace."

"Those in the slums say the Republic has abandoned Taris."

"I don't believe so at all! I was here just today to discuss matters to get much needed aid for the people."

"I'm sure the slum will see none of it…"

"...Perhaps you are right, once again. However, it is of no fault of the Republic. They can only act when the senator or representative of a planet call on them for their needs. I will bring this up with the Council for investigation."

Shri'La smiled as she made her way into the starship. "Thank you."

"We shall be taking off in five minutes," Master Fisto informed her. "Please prepare yourself."

As Shri'La watched Master Fisto push numerous buttons and flip switches she began to imagine her life at this Jedi Temple he spoke of. Would she make any friends? Did she even have what it would take to do this training to become a Jedi? It was like starting her life all over. She looked out the window as the ship slowly began to take flight. The swamps near where she had lived looked so far from the city.

"Goodbye, mom," she said as she remembered how she had buried her mother not long after finding her dead. Her mother did the best she could for her, but she paid for it with her health. She was from a middle class family from a planet called Corellia. Her mother had talked of it often. She was just not raised to live such a life on Taris in the slums. Fate had once again claimed another life on the desolate planet.

As the ground grew farther away and the sky closer soon they were above the smog as Shri'La gasped at the sight of a clear sky full of stars. She placed her hand on the window next to her as she looked out in wonderment. Living on Taris one never saw the sky at night through the smog that seemed to never end.

"It's so beautiful…" she said to herself quietly as she continued to gaze out into the vastness of space.

Master Fisto smiled to himself upon hearing her as he prepared to jump into hyperspace. "To Coruscant."