A/N: I've only just started this series, and updates may be sporadic, but it's my hope that this will be a lengthy exploration of Mara's life. These will be chronological.

Details may be at times intentionally vague, but this first vignette takes place when Mara is approximately 6-8 years old.

If there are any specific moments/scenes you want included in this series, please let me know. I have no real outline of how this will develop, so I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks for reading.


Conversation

She screwed up her nose and turned her head.

"But I don't want to study."

"Mara, you must."

"No."

"You know how important this is."

"No it isn't."

"No? Then why does the Emperor wish you to learn?"

A pause. This was a trap and she was angry at herself for walking into it. Her tutor tried on a patient smile, but Mara could sense the steel beneath it. "The Emperor knows best what you need. Don't you believe that?"

"Yes."

"Then-"

"But why history and geography and science and...why can't I just do my target practice? I like blasters."

The tutor chuckled. Always kind. Always firm.

"Of course you do, Mara. You have a talent for marksmanship. The Emperor greatly approves. But in order to put those skills to use, you must have a target. And in order to accomplish your mission, you must know all about your target – where it comes from, what it knows, what it does. This knowledge will ensure your safety as well."

"Master says my safety is of no concern."

"True. We would all lay down our lives for the Empire. The Emperor himself has sacrificed so much for it. But how much better it would be to succeed in your goal while also staying alive!"

She frowned. Folded her arms over her chest. "I guess."

"The Emperor does not wish you to come to harm, young one. You are so very valuable to him."

Silence. Her scowl glided by degrees into something more neutral. Her tutor leaned closer. "We would never want to fail the Emperor, Mara. Never. You know what happens to people who disappoint him?"

A whisper. "I don't want to disappoint him. It's not that..."

"I know, Mara. I know. There are many things we must do that aren't enjoyable, things we would never do by choice. Teaching history is not my favorite way to spend time."

She met his eyes swiftly, surprised. "No?"

Another chuckle. "No. But I do it because I know how important it is. And in time you'll come to appreciate the necessity, too. I know you will. The Emperor knows, too."

She idly flipped through the pages of an ancient tome, still not interested, but resigned. "Yeah. The Emperor knows everything."

"That's right, Mara. He knows everything. That's why we want to obey him. He knows what we need, what the galaxy needs. It's so great a burden he bears for our sakes, Mara. We must do what we can to help him. We must not disappoint him."

'No' she mouthed, too absorbed in the snik-snik-snik of the falling pages to give a better answer.