The darkness was vast, blanketing, and absolute. Oma struggled to see, her emotions fueling her fear. Then like a comforting hand she felt the Force within her. There is no emotion, only peace. She called out to her light saber, and pressed the trigger the instant it flew into her hand. Suddenly the unending darkness was driven back, as a slender beam of light exploded from within. Like a vile creature the darkness shrank back from the stunning light; it withered and shrank. Then as if it were alive, the darkness swarmed back, enveloping the light in an instant. Oma's fear overpowered her resolve, and she screamed.

She woke up continuing her scream. It took a moment for her to recognize the humble quarters that she had known for most of her life. Placing her feet over her bed, Oma ran a smooth hand through her damp blonde hair. She stripped of her sweat soaked tunic, and stepped into the refresher. The warm water cascaded of her body, calming her still beating heart. She had the same recurring dream for two months. Reluctant to sleep anymore she had remained awake for more than ten days. The weariness, however, had finally had the better of her, and she decided to take a quick nap. As she recalled the dream, she shuddered, regretting that she had given in to such a trivial thing as fatigue.

Some Jedi im turning out to be. She rhythmically hit her head on the stone wall, as if to expel the dream from her head. As she slowed her heart, the warm water soothingly subsided her frustration.

Oma closed her weary eyes, the echoing droplets reminding her of that fateful day all those years ago. She had grown up in the beautiful fields of Dantooine: a child of the farm. As a young girl she had hidden from her siblings in the sprawling golden ocean of foliage. Amongst the waving yellow reeds, her hair had given her excellent camouflage as her brothers tried to catch her. As always she waited for them to give up and call her out. She waited, waiting for the tell-tale voices of her brothers. After hours in the ever-darkening fields she finally came out, furious that she had been forgotten.

A storm loomed over the horizon, the wind stirring the fertile dirt. Oma shivered as she ran, crossing the ill-kept road between the fields and homestead. Scowling, and repeating what few curses a six-year-old knew, Oma strolled up the ancient porch stairs and to the front door. She slammed it open, rattling the old windows throughout the house. The little girl stood waiting for her parents to realize she was home. For seconds she heard nothing, and finally she heard a creak.

Oma felt a shiver run down a spine. "...Mommy ? " She turned the corner, looking down a darkened corridor. Lightning flashed outside, the following thunder reverberating through the house. In the flashing light she saw a dark shape.

"Is that you mommy?"

The shape moved, rising to its full height. The black-armored ReconTrooper raised his carbine, setting it from stun to kill. A flash of light revealed his blood stained gloves, and a vibro blade buried to the hilt in an unmoving body. The body of Oma's mother. Her scream was drowned out by the thunder. Out of fear she spun, and barged right into the second trooper. Cold metallic gloves closed around her small wrists, bounding them together. She struggled futilely as she was led towards the doorway.

As she was led outside, she caught a glimpse of the bodies of her brothers, their hands clasped together in deaths grip. The two troopers guided her to a larger group, gathered over a man. As she got closer Oma realized the bruised, and beaten man on his knees was her father. He had the glazed over, shocked look of a man who had lost all meaning to life. The lead trooper turned to him.

In a muffled, inhuman voice he interrogated the broken man, "Where is the Rebellion base? Tell me now and I may spare your daughter." Oma's father turned towards her his eyes filled with hope.

"Please, for the last time, I have no idea what you're--without hesitation the storm trooper un-holstered his blaster and fired right between the pleading mans eyes.. Thick black blood splattered across Oma's face. The smoking corpse fell to the ground, collapsing atop the feet of the lead trooper. He kicked it off, wiping his boot on the dead mans back.

Rain began to fall, forming rivers that washed the blood away from Oma's face. She fell to her knees cradling what was left of her fathers head in her lap. Her tears mixed in with the rain, blurring her vision.

One more stormtrooper came out from inside the house and joined his black-clad comrades. He addressed the leader, "Commander, Sir, after a thorough search we were unable to uncover anything that might be related to the Rebel insurgency, or anything about the abandoned base." He turned and looked at Oma, "I think we made a mistake, sir."

"That was a necessary precaution, for the sake of the Empire," answered the Commander.

"Sir, what about the farm?"

Without a glance the Commander replied, "Burn it to the ground, and take care of the girl." The trooper saluted, and turned to Oma, slowly raising his carbine and setting it to kill.