Beginnings
Alderaan
Three year old Ashla stood behind her mother, clutching the soft toy close to her chest that went everywhere with her. Her brother, Alek, loved to tease her about the toy. Sometimes he would steal it and hide it away, laughing, but she always managed to find it. His face would turn red when she could make it float to her out its hiding place, causing her to laugh.
Today, they were at the market selling the fruit they would pick in the mornings, as they did every afternoon. It was their job now that Father had left them. Mama said he was a Hero, that he died protecting the Republic...died protecting them.
Meriwether turned and motioned for the children to be quiet. She saw the Jedi Knights getting closer. She had very little time. She pulled Alek aside quickly. "Alek, listen very carefully. It's very important that you remember to keep the fact that Ashla is your sister a secret. If the Jedi discovers that I have lied to them about her parentage, she could be separated from you and sent to another temple. You might never see her again. She's so young...so small…you have to protect her. For me."
Nine year old Alek nodded solemnly. "Yes, mother. I promise."
"Good," Meriwether said. "Alright, take your sister aside and play quietly while I talk to the Jedi."
Alek pulled his sister by the hand, promising to play catch with her. They watched from afar while their mother smiled and talked with the two Jedi Knights.
#
She sat huddled next to Alek, shivering in the cold common area of the Jedi's starship. She could hear the Jedi talking, their voices echoing down from the cockpit.
"It is a shame that none of the other villagers would speak to us, Zhar." It was the small green man talking. "It would have been beneficial to verify the mother's story."
"We have no reason to doubt her, Vandar." TheTwi'lek Jedi said. "I sensed no deception in the Force, and the children look nothing alike. They feel closely connected, but that is to be expected if the young girl had been staying with them for any length of time."
"Mhhmm…"
Ashla squeezed her eyes shut as she tried not to think about their mother and how much she missed her. She trembled under Alek's protective arm.
Alek pulled her closer, "space is cold, Ash. You'll get used to it."
She turned her large brown eyes up to him and nodded. He was her big brother. He always took care of her while their mother was working. Now that they were going with the Jedi, he promised he would always be there for her. Mama said the Jedi would be able to teach them things she couldn't. They were supposed to teach her about the Force, whatever that was, and how to use it. Thinking about their mother made her sad and made her miss her stuffed toy cat that the Jedi wouldn't allow her to bring. She buried her face against him.
The small green alien man, who introduced himself as Jedi Master Vandar, walked towards the pair of children seated in the common area. He smiled warmly at them as he handed a blanket to Alek. "We should be in Dantooine by morning, younglings."
Ashla found herself peeking out from under Alek's arm at the small green man whose eyes twinkled at her. Despite the heaviness she felt from missing her mother, she couldn't help herself from smiling back at him. He wiggled his ears up and down, causing her to erupt in giggles.
#
Coruscant Jedi Temple - eleven years later
Ashla Meriwether smiled at the young man from across the mess hall at one of the far tables. What was his name? She had seen him before, she was sure of it. He was Master Lyria's padawan apprentice...Corr. Yes, she was sure of it. Corr Adis from the Jedi enclave on Alderaan.
"What are you smiling about?" Alek Squinquargesimus asked as he set his tray down next to hers. He followed the direction of her gaze to a young man, about his age - twenty or so - with light brown hair and expressive blue eyes. "Hmm...or should I say, who?" He scowled at the young man in question.
"Really, Squint." Ashla rolled her eyes. "I'm fourteen now. You can stop being so overprotective."
"Stop calling me that," he snipped as he stabbed the ronto steak on his plate with his fork. "Besides, you're my baby sister. That's never going to happen."
Her smile slipped as Corr glanced from her to Alek, then back to her. A frown darkened her face as Corr rose from his seat, and went to sit down next to another girl on the far side of the mess hall. She turned to Alek and glared at him. "Look at what you did. He'll never talk to me now."
Alek smiled, immensely pleased with himself. "Good. Jedi aren't supposed to have relationships. Didn't Master Vandar teach that to you? It's wise you learn this lesson now."
"Oh? Is that so, brother?" She hissed, as quietly as she could, as she leaned close to him. They had been careful over the years to make sure their secret was kept under tabs. As far as they knew, no one at the temple suspected that they were siblings. In the past, she loved that Alek was always looking out for her. However, lately she was beginning to look forward to the Council sending him out on his first assignment, just so she could get away from her overbearing big brother.
"I wonder what Jaesa would say to that? In fact, why don't you ask her tonight when you visit her bedchamber?"
Alek almost choked on the piece of steak he had just swallowed. "How, by the Force, do you know about Jaesa?"
"I'm young, not daft." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I see how you are with her. Besides, I'm not the only person who noticed. Meetra told me."
"Meetra?!" Alek dropped his fork onto his plate. "Meetra knows?"
"Yes, and she was heartbroken, by the way...you fiend." She was still angry with him at how he had stomped on Meetra's feelings.
"Ash." Alek stared at his sister, who was - if he could admit it to himself - no longer a girl. She was growing into a woman, and he had noticed way too often lately how she could turn the heads of many of the males, and females, if he were honest. "You need not concern yourself with my relationships. And, besides, Meetra shouldn't have confided in you. That was supposed to have been Meetra and myself."
"Yeah, well, she's my friend, too."
Alek sighed. "Yes, I know. Trust me, I know." Meetra was a sore spot between the two of them. He could kick himself for getting involved with his sister's friend, but what was done was done. "You should heed my advice when it comes to this, sister. I'm only trying to keep you safe."
Ashla let out a hmph. "You're not going to be by my side all the time, Alek. Soon you'll be sent out on an assignment and won't be here to watch my back all the time."
"All the better that you listen to me now then." Alek picked up his fork and resumed eating. She could tell by the tight set of his jaw that he was done discussing it. "Besides, isn't it time for you to report to your Master? You know that Master Vandar doesn't like it when you keep him waiting, padawan."
She glared at him as he smirked down at his tray, knowing that his jab got to her. "You only made Knight before me because you're older, Squint. You know, as well as I do, that if I were older - I would be knighted by now, too! Probably before you!"
His smirk deepened. "But you're not, little sister. Now, run along to your master."
She gripped her tray tightly in her hands as she stomped from the mess hall, ignoring the curious glances from the other Jedi as she passed.
#
Senate Tower - Coruscant
She helped the young Senator to stand as the assassin ran away. "Are you harmed, Senator Kim?"
He shook his head. "No. Thankfully, you arrived just in time, Master Jedi."
Ashla smiled. "No need to thank me, sir. I'm just doing my job."
"Well, I'm glad you showed up when you did." Senator Kim leaned close to her. He was so close she could feel the heat from his breath against her cheek. "And, that they sent such a lovely Jedi to help me."
Ashla clipped her lightsaber back onto her belt. "Like I said, sir. I'm just doing my job. I'll see you to your office now."
She felt his eyes boring into her back as she escorted the young Senator back to his office in the Senate Tower on Coruscant. She paused at his door and waited for him to enter.
"Would you like to come in for a drink, Master Jedi?"
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the Senator, who stood a little too close to her for her comfort. He was a handsome man: tall, broad shouldered with long brown hair and blue eyes that were startling against his dark skin tone. He seemed to know the effect he had on women, and enjoyed it.
With a cringe, she realized who he reminded her of...Alek.
She shook her head as she met his heavy gaze. "No, thank you."
"Hmph, suit yourself, Jedi."
She heard the sounds of glassware clinking together as she wished Alek was there with her. The Senator would not be so bold then, she thought. This is ridiculous. I am twenty-one years old now, for Force's sake. I can take care of myself. I don't need Alek holding my hand anymore.
Belatedly, she realized that the Senator had been talking. The man was droning on and on about some conflict in the Outer Rim. "What was that, sir?"
"I dare say, woman - you Jedi really do have your head in the clouds all the time! I was asking when you Jedi were going to do something about those bloody Mandalorians. My subjects in the Outer Rim are sick and tired of being terrorized by them."
Ashla turned to face the dark haired Senator with concern shining in her warm brown eyes. "I had no idea it was getting that bad, sir. I am only a Knight and not privy to the inner workings of the Jedi Council."
He threw back his glass of whiskey, then poured another. He looked up, his eyes questioning if she had changed her mind about the drink. At her slight shake of her head, he shrugged, then ignored her as he settled himself down at his desk and began responding to correspondences.
Ashla stood in the doorway, pondering his words. Were the Jedi going to do anything about the Mandalorians? She decided she was going to find out.
#
"Alek, you don't have to do this," Ashla stated again as she picked up her bag. "The Council refused my request, if you come with me...then we'll both get in trouble."
Alek followed her to the starship that was waiting in the spaceport. "I can't believe you think I'm really going to just let you go traipsing off to the Outer Rim to fight in some war and not come with you!"
"That's exactly what I think, Alek! Now, go back to the Temple!" Ashla swung around to face her brother.
"No," he said simply as he walked up the ramp and stood before her. "Now that that's settled, let's go."
She glared at him. "You are so damned stubborn, Alek!" She was just about to walk up the ramp when she felt Meetra close by in the Force. She whirled around at him, causing him to stubble backwards. "Did you tell Meetra?" she hissed angrily.
"I might have mentioned that I was coming with you," he said sheepishly.
She swore under her breath at him as she saw Meetra round the corner, with several other Jedi Knights. "Meetra, what are you all doing here?"
"We heard the Council denied your request, Ash. You'll need help. We're coming with you."
"All of you?" Ashla looked at the small group assembled before her. "You know we could all face expulsion from the Order for our actions."
"The Mandalorians are threatening to overtake the Outer Rim. You are doing what is right. Wasn't that what we were taught? To follow the will of the Force? To defend the Republic?" Meetra cocked her head to the side as she met Ashla's eyes.
Ashla swallowed. "Yes, it was."
Meetra smiled. "Then, we're coming with you."