"From the thousandth time, Graciella. No!"
"You never let me do anything!"
"This isn't a vacation, sweetheart. THIS IS WAR."
"Don't you think I know that! I can't keep watching you and Mom go fight them when I know I can help. NOw please let me go with you."
"No. And that's final."
The girl turned and bolted off, shouting behind her, "I hate you!"
She brought herself deeper and deeper into the forest, when she heard a voice cry out.
Stop, child…
She froze in her steps. "Who's there?"
Over here…
Her eyes found a cave, and she began to walk cautiously towards it. "Hello?"
Yes… That's it...Come closer… Come-
"NO!" Another voice cried out.
SHe turned back towards the direction she came. "Mom?" She reached out through their bond. All she felt was pain. "No...Dad…" She bolted towards the base, running faster as her mother's screams grew louder.
Once she reached her mother, she found the woman curled up on the floor, legs pressed against her chest, rocking back and forth.
"Mom…"
A hand fell on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Elle," her uncle said. "There was an accident."
"No," she argued, throwing his hand from my shoulder. "No, Uncle Finn, no." she shook her head, fighting back tears. "This is a joke. He's getting back at me. Tell him to stop. This isn't funny."
"Elle…"
"No," she sobbed. "NO!"
As he went to pull her into his arms, she pulled away and back towards the forest again, running and running until she collapsed, finding herself at the cave again.
Her head screamed for her not to go in, but the Force drew her closer and closer until…
The world around her turned to white.
As the light began to dim, she found herself in the middle of a garden. Slowly raising herself up, she took in her surroundings, quickly realizing she had no idea where she was.
"You there, hault!"
She raised her hands. "Where the kriff am I?"
"The garden of the Jedi. State your name and business." The man demanded.
"What planet am I on?"
"Coruscant. Why do you ask?"
There haven't been Jedi on Coruscant since…
"My name is...Shara…" she lied. If the man was a Jedi, hopefully he didn't see through her lie. "I need help…"
"With what exactly, young one? Food, money?"
She shook her head. "No, I need a Jedi's help."
His eyes widened, and he beckoned her to follow him. After telling her to wait on the steps, the man went inside, quickly returning with three others who dressed similarly to him.
"What is it that you seek, young lady?" the dark-skinned man asked.
Feeling all strength leave my body, I fell to my knees. "I know I'm too old. But I've lived far too long suppressing my abilities. I don't want to be a Jedi, I don't want to be a Sith. I just want to know how to use them and control them."
~:~