After months on the constant run, F rests beneath her Z-95 starfighter. It was a quiet, starry night on the planet Kerkoidia. Rei was fast asleep, and F's mind was too active to allow her to fall asleep. He checks to ensure she's alone and pulls out the data journal gifted by Bail Organa. She needed some way to tire out her mind, and one story came to mind. Despite hesitation and embarrassment, F wanted to record something. She presses the button and begins to speak.

"Long ago, on a faraway planet…a Jedi saves a lost child…"

Episode 0: The White Flare

[31 BBY] – [Somewhere at the edge of the galaxy]

A lush green planet with sparkling blue oceans lay on the outer rim, bordering wild space, known for centuries as simply Banchii.

It resided in the Inugg System, a quiet but prosperous star system nestled close enough to the Corellian Trade Spine, allowing the system to stay relatively connected to the rest of the galaxy. Peculiarly, Banchii was not one of these worlds to thrive from this position; to the captain of the Star Runner, Banchii was strangely quiet.

The captain of this ship, a YT-2400 Light Freighter, was renowned Professor Valco Vaan. Explorer, archaeologist, anthropologist, historian, and republic pathfinder. He steps away from his ship's telescope to double-check the scan from the ship's primary computer system. His handy companion droid, RE-1, or Rei, leaps onto the console.

Then, with her handmade vocal device, she talked. "Wow, well, what do you know," Rei said sarcastically, "the same gosh dang results we've seen for the last three blasting days!" Valco understood his droid's irritation. Rei would be cursing like a pirate if he allowed more colorful language in her speech programs.

"Alright, alright, I hear you." Taking a copy of the readings, Valco and Rei roam down the aged halls of the Runner. Past the ladder to the turrets, the workshop, and the boarding ramp, Valco approaches the guest quarters without even a knock. Sitting in a meditative position in the middle of a spacious room, Master Hitoshi, wrapped in his robes and gear, was utilizing his gift known across the galaxy as the Force.

He peeks open an eye, asking, "Yes, old friend?"

"Well, Hitoshi, as much as I love studying this planet's biomes, I…well…"

"You're not telling us something," Rei interjects.

"What she's trying to say," Valco continued, "is that you and I are looking for different things, aren't we?" He pulls out and shows the holopad with the latest findings. "I've used the best scanners analyzing everything, from the planet's electromagnetic field to animal activity. And yet, you're still searching for something." He squats down to Hitoshi's eye level and asks, "Mind filling me in on what spiritual nonsense told you to be here?"

Hitoshi sighs and stands up. "It is not nonsense," he reminded.

Valco smirked, "You know what I mean." Though he was used to it, Valco was still impressed at how Hitoshi could switch from a stoic master to a down-to-earth companion at the drop of a hat.

Plopping down on the pilot seats, Valco sits back in the captain's chair while Hitoshi tells him straightforwardly. "I saw a vision of a faraway planet, just like this one. The archives spoke of how it was lost from the Jedi two hundred years ago."

"Of course, it's a vision," Valco told Rei. "We're off to a great start, as usual."

Hitoshi continued, "I sensed a darkness…anger…sadness…pain. I assumed it was a signal of danger." Hitoshi pauses, looking down at the planet with a concerned gaze, "but now, I wonder if it was a cry for help."

"Let me guess the next part." Valco scoots forward. "You then took this to the high council, and they said no. Is that why I'm here and not a team of Jedi?"

"The opposite," Hitoshi corrects, "you see the high council has become more proactive after the blockade of Naboo." Both men pause upon remembering the earthshaking ramifications of the crisis. Not only did it see the dramatic election of Palpatine, but the death of a cherished member of the order. Hitoshi expression carries a melancholy air. "Losing Master Qui-Gon and Yaddle was terrible enough, but now we know the Sith were behind the plot."

"Maul…is just his name all the trade federation knew about him?"

"Indeed."

"But that Kenobi guy killed him. That should be the end of it, right?"

"Always two there are, a master and an apprentice," Hitoshi said, repeating Yoda's warning. "Due to this, the council is pursuing any lead on this potential second Sith."

"And that's why we're here," Valco said, the dots connecting in his head. "You think the presence of the dark side here is related to all this."

"It's only a hypothesis. When the council approved the mission, I worried it would be dangerous and requested a small team. Yoda, however, specifically recommended that I bring you." Hitoshi pats his friend's shoulder, continuing, "Quite the high regard."

Valco carried a cool, amused smirk. "Hmph, tell him I'm flattered by his praise."

The sarcasm and rolling of Valco's eyes were frequently seen whenever the council was brought up. "You never much cared about the council's opinion, do you?"

"I care more for your opinion than theirs. We've been through the worst scraps, yet you wanted to leave me out. That hurts, man."

"You are correct."

"But next time the Jedi bring me along to a mission, I'd rather it be a stronger lead than mere visions."

"Heh, fair enough," Hitoshi said with a light chuckle. "I do hope you forgive my rudeness for not sharing. This vision has made me forgetful of other matters, such as considering your feelings on this mission."

"No harm, no foul," Valco shrugs—the two turn when Rei projects a hologram of the planet. Red dots highlighted points of significance. "This planet has dozens of towns across its many biomes but nothing else. This, however…" Valco points to the section of the paper marked by a deep red, a sign of intense residual energy. "This is most unusual."

Hitoshi realizes that this location is the same place, and he feels a strong pulse of the Force.

"You see the cracks across the surface? They spanned over a few hundred kilometers over the radius of this area. It must be signs of earthquakes. Powerful ones, too."

"Yes. Yes, this area stood out to me, too. It must be connected to the vision. Let's investigate this further."

"Good to hear! I was getting tired of being cooped up." With a smirk, Valco prepares the engines and flies the ship down to the apparent source of this energy anomaly.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

Throughout their lives, both men have seen many natural disasters. What they stood on top of was unlike anything they had seen. Where they stood appeared to have been once the epicenter of a truly magnificent city. Covering a valley over eight hundred kilometers wide, it seemed like the type of place that over a million people could live in. It possessed many great towers, various districts, and gorgeous, jaw-dropping architecture.

At least, it would be jaw-dropping if not for the fact that a massive earthquake seemingly destroyed everything. The grounds of the city showed scars carved into the earth's crust. Then, a sight that disturbed the men was uncovering human skeletons buried beneath either burnt piles of wood or mounds of broken stone.

There were so many bodies that they didn't even bother to count.

Valco squats down as Hitoshi inspects the surroundings. Valco spots a starfighter children's toy littered with a bundle of brittle bones. Hitoshi places his hand on a broken pillar, brushing across its surface while concentrating on the energy around it. "Their screams," Hitoshi shuddered, "I can still sense the dread caused by their cries before they were suddenly silenced."

Rei saw the pang in Valco's heart as he gently picked up the half-burnt toy. "Never seen an earthquake cause this much destruction," she said.

"Had to have been a ten-point magnitude." Valco tucks the toy safely in his green satchel before standing up, saying, "Rei, see if you can find any signs of survivors."

"I'll try." Rei scurries off, and Valco maintains his composure amidst all this ruin.

Hitoshi soon stood before a destroyed, modest forty-foot-tall statue. Valco joins him and finds his friend staring at a Jedi crest inscribed onto the figure's base. From what remained, Valco deduced that it was a statue of a woman with short hair wielding two lightsabers. "I've seen her before," Valco muttered.

"Lily Tora-Asi," Hitoshi answered, "a Jedi who once lived during the High Republic era. As a young knight, she helped protect this planet and its inhabitants from Nihil tyranny. Later, she played an important role in the Nihil's final defeat."

"But at a great cost," Valco said, "so the people built this in honor of this Jedi, but what does this have to do with your vision?"

"Not sure yet. Come, look at this." Hitoshi leads Valco a few paces forward to a pack of skeletons. What caught Valco's eyes immediately was the armor and weaponry on them.

Inspecting it more closely, he muttered, "carbon scoring on the armor…peculiar swords…this wasn't just a natural disaster, it was a battleground too."

"Yes, a truly heinous sight, my friend."

Valco picks up one of the swords. It was slightly curved, weighed almost nothing, and was so sharp that a mere touch was enough to cut his skin. "Damn!" he hissed, "What kind of metal is this? There's not even a single bit of rust on them. I want to say it's Beskar, but it's too lightweight, and why would Mandalorian iron be here in the first place?"

"That's because it isn't Beskar," Hitoshi corrects. "Not only are these designs not unlike any Mandalorian design I've seen, but I sense a tune within them."

"Tune? Like a song note?"

Hitoshi kneels beside Valco, hovering his hand over the metal. To him, waving his hand up and down the blade was like brushing against a piano's keys. All he had to do was press. When he did, the Force responded, allowing him to bend the metal and even grasp it in his hand. "I knew it," he whispered.

"Woah. Wait, know what? And how are you touching that without getting cut?"

"I've never seen anything like this, but it appears to be a metal attuned to the Force. The metal is nigh-untouchable to you, but to me, the Force allows me to harness it safely. Carrying it is almost like wielding a lightsaber."

Valco looks out to the ruins and the bones of many warriors. "This place is getting stranger by the minute. These people wielding magical metal suffered a cataclysm before deciding to fight a battle. Who would even attack them?"

"Whoever did this, they had done so out of hate," Hitoshi noted. "Why leave such rare metal like this behind? Much of the populace still wear jewelry and other precious metals."

"You're right, not a single sign of looting. No pirate I know would pass up on this bounty." Valco strokes his chin, pondering this whole mess. "Say, if vengeance is a factor, could the cataclysm have been tied to it, like for some plan? Weakening the defenses so that they can kill the rest easily?"

A nervous sweat drips down Hitoshi's forehead. "If so, the next question is if they've foreseen this catastrophe or, more worryingly, played a part in ensuring it happened."

"Regardless, if a Sith did this, they're sounding tougher by the minute. Perhaps they saw this city, ally of the Jedi and wielders of strange swords, and decided to enact its destruction. Leaving no survivors."

"That's a possibility…if this was the doings of an apprentice," Hitoshi said. "Look more closely. If we're dealing with a Sith Master, this is too destructive. A dark lord is powerful but also conniving about sowing chaos. An apprentice is short-sighted and eager to destroy. Thus, if the master survived, why switch from tactical maneuvers on Naboo to a brutal massacre on Banchii?"

"You got me."

Hitoshi forms the strange metal into a smooth ball, pocketing it before placing his hand on the floor. Feeling the large ripples of energy reverberating around them, he said, "A large presence in the Force lingers here, but where exactly? It's strong yet elusive, even to me."

"Hey!" Rei shouts, jumping on top of one of the rocks.

Valco asks, "What's the situation, RE-1?"

"I got good news, bad news, and worse news. The good news is that my scanner picked up footprints leading out of one of the city's gates. Across this area, those prints were the only traces I found of someone exiting the city."

"Whatever answers we can find concerning your Vision is out there then," Valco told Hitoshi.

"So, it seems. What's the bad news?"

"Bad news is the trail ends about a quarter of a mile past the exit. The rest of the prints faded due to the elements. Could take me days to retrace it."

"Leave that to me," Hitoshi said.

"Oh, good, because the worst news is that the ship's sensors picked up a signal, and it broke through the atmosphere."

Both men tense up at this concerning news. "Doesn't sound like any old civilian ship," Valco said, a nervous sweat on his brow. "The whole time studying this planet, we did not detect a ship across the system. So, why now?"

"Exactly. It can't be a coincidence," Rei said.

"I sense no signs of life from here," Hitoshi said, looking up at the sky. "But I do feel a disturbance. We're likely dealing with assassin droids, so we have no time to waste."

Hitoshi quickly approached the faint prints; he felt a tug of the Force somewhere in the direction they seemingly ran towards. However, Hitoshi still couldn't sense precisely where this dark anomaly was. Thus, a more unconventional means was required. "Magina, I call upon you," he whispered. Placing his hand beside the prints, he revibrated his energy into the planet, reaching out with the Force to establish a connection.

Soon, a bright blue glow shines from the palm of his hand.

"This never gets old," Valco smiled. A moment later, a dome of the planet's energy grows out of the ground, enveloping much of the surrounding area. Through the Force, or Magina as Hitoshi sometimes calls it, the Jedi Master created harmony with the planet's energy. Thus allowing them to witness what the world saw. In this case, a scene of the city's destruction played out around them.

"It's like seeing ghosts," Rei noted.

"I like to think of it as a recording, less creepy that way," Valco said.

All around them, civilians and warriors were scattered across a horrible firestorm. Sounds of fighting echoed from the distance, along with cries of utter anguish. After a while, all these terrible noises went deathly silent. Suddenly, a ghostly figure, seemingly a young woman, ran out of a plume of smoke with a cloak shrouding her face. She dashed for the city gate, but she wasn't leaving alone because clutched in her arms was a young child.

Before they could see more, the blue aura faded away and, with it, the planet's memory. Hitoshi gasps for air while a tear drips down to the soil. By his side, Valco asks, "Woah, you okay, Hito?"

"I'm fine. It was…such a painful memory, even for the planet." So strong that Hitoshi's tears weren't just his but Banchii's. To witness such brutality and death would be an agonizing experience for all.

"What did all that mean?" Rei asks.

Wiping the last of his tears, Hitoshi stands. "It means my hunch is correct. The dark energy I sensed before is one of anguish and fear, not hate or anger. It must be coming from these survivors."

A roar in the sky draws the trio's attention, and as they look up, they see a distant object soar miles away. "So fast," Valco said with worry, "too fast for a cargo ship but fast enough to be a combat ship."

The Jedi shows off his otherworldly skills by breaking into a breakneck sprint into the wilderness. "Come," he shouted, "we must hurry!"

"Right," Valco said. He whips out a remote and, with a button press, summons the speeder he took to get here. The automated speeder cruises up; he and Rei hop on before taking off after their friend.

/-/-/-/-/-/

Hitoshi has been sprinting beside Valco and Rei for an hour as they continue their search for these survivors. 'I sense it more now,' Hitoshi thought, 'we're close to the source, and hopefully the survivors as well. These survivors are strong enough to create a dark ripple.'

Valco whips out his binoculars and takes a quick scan of the sky. "No sign of that ship in this area. Don't know how long that'll last."

Their trek continued as they reached the depths of a jungle that stretched for miles. Upon crossing a creek, Hitoshi comes to a screeching halt, nearly catching Valco off guard. "Woah, what is it?"

Hitoshi approached dead trees, but from a glance, he could tell their deaths weren't natural. "These cut marks," he murmured, "these burns aren't of any fire but a lightsaber."

"Another battle?" Valco wondered.

"This was a chase," Hitoshi said, continuing his observations. He finds footprints, analyzing their footwork and technique. In his mind, it was like he could almost see the shadow of this attacker. "This isn't the work of some thug. Only a skilled student of the lightsaber arts could've performed such precise slashes."

"Has to be the Sith's work, but why? Why chase these two?"

"I don't know. Regardless, these main tracks stop here, but a smaller set of footprints deviated a while's back."

Insisting that they walk from here, the trio trek further in the jungle. The further they went, the stronger the presence of this abnormal energy. As they approached a small hillside, Hitoshi muttered, "They're close, but where?"

"Up here, I guess? Of course, it's up a hill," Valco sighed, already feeling his bones ache as he went up.

Hitoshi goes to follow him until he spots a shadow leaping across the canopy. His eyes glance back at his friend, where he finds a tripwire beside his ankles. "Watch out," he gasped. He was too late; Valco's ankle connected, and he would've fallen into the trap of spikes if Hitoshi hadn't saved him by pulling him away with the Force.

"Woah!" Valco shouts. He staggers back to Hitoshi's arms when the trio sees several shadows retreat across the tree branches. One shadow appeared larger than the others.

"That must be them," Hitoshi said as he quickly gave chase. "Wait!"

"Not the best first impressions," Valco muttered, cautiously running around the bed of spikes.

The trio dash up the hill, the shadowy figures proving to be much faster than they expected. Hitosh continued to reason with them, "We're not the enemy!" This did little to slow them down. Eventually, the chase led them to a sizable hole in the earth, and the figures leaped into the pit individually. Hitoshi narrowly misses them, but with the aid of the Force, he expands the hole enough for them to fit.

"Hey, this looks artificial," Rei observed as the three shifted into the tunnel.

"You're correct. I can sense this earthwork stretching for miles." Hitoshi brushes away his coat, unveiling a unique weapon. It appeared to be a metallic sheath with a sword sheathed within. However, this wasn't a mere sword, for he revealed the blade as a white-colored lightsaber upon drawing his weapon. Using it as a light source, Hitoshi continued their pursuit, straying away from dead ends or wrong turns, of which several they nearly came across.

Valco sighs in relief upon being led back to the surface. When they crawled out, they faced a large cave entrance on the side of a larger hill. "Hopefully, there's nowhere left to run," he said, panting from exhaustion.

Hitoshi puts away his weapon, raising his hands as he senses the dark presence nearing the cave entrance. The cave's darkness shrouded their presence, but he knew they were there. "Hello," he said, inching closer to the save, "we're not here to hurt you."

Suddenly, a significant bloom of wind escapes the cave like a giant's mouth, trying to blow them away. Valco and Rei were nearly blown off their feet, but Hitoshi stood steadfast. He sensed great anger within them, but it only masked the immense fear within their heart. "I know you're in pain, but that cold, scary power won't make it disappear."

In response, another strong gust of wind was blown out of the cave. "It's not working," Valco grunts. He remembers the toy in his pouch and figures it wouldn't hurt, trying to hand it back. "Maybe this will calm—" Valco said. His breath escapes him, and he falls to his knees. He could barely move as he gasped for air.

Hitoshi gasps in shock. 'They're choking him!' he thought. He sensed the user's hate skyrocket. 'They're so scared that they thought Valco was reaching for a weapon!' He could only think of one way to solve this peacefully: Hitoshi faces this cold, dark whirlwind and calls forth the Force. He stretches out his hand and becomes calm amid this storm, stretching out his aura through his feelings. The air whirls around him, and his energy resonates with the Force to create a calming wave.

Within a moment, Valco was freed from the deadly grasp. Hitoshi senses the whirlwind dies when its user's hate vanishes, and wonder briefly replaces it. "I hear the song too," Hitoshi announced, "you are not alone." Fear lingered in this Force user, causing them to scurry into the cave. The Jedi sighs, "At least they ceased attacking."

Valco coughed as he stood back up. "Argh, kriff. That was a little too close."

"Language, my friend," Hitoshi said, "I believe this person is a youngling. It would explain the outburst of strong emotions."

"You're kidding. With that kind of power? Not exactly normal thing for kids to do."

"Stay behind me for now."

Cautiously, Hitoshi and the others entered the cave, spotting a glint of blue eyes in the dark. He lowers his hand to his lightsaber, asking, "May I spare but a little light?" Though he senses their fear lingers, he sees them nod. Hitoshi grips his saber, and the white energy of his lightsaber illuminates the whole space.

The light reveals this mysterious person's identity, and what they see is heartbreaking.

Cowering in the corner of the space was a child no older than five years old. Their pale faces were smudged with dirt. Fear radiated from their eyes, which were so blue they looked like kyber. Their long, black hair was tangled and messy. They wore simple cotton robes with dirt and mud-stained on their torn sleeves. They quivered with a cloak shrouded around them; its dark outside color contrasted with the dark red color beneath it. The child clung to it as tightly as possible, as if it was their only shield against all the darkness. Buried beneath one of their hands was a specially made dagger.

"By the maker. This must be the city's sole survivor." Rei observed.

Valco sighs with sadness in his heart. "Poor kid."

With sorrowful eyes, Hitoshi delicately approaches the child, asking, "Little one, do you need help?"

Confused and scared, the kid shuts their eyes and uses the Force to make the ceiling tremble.

Rei spots cracks forming. "They're trying to collapse it!"

Hitoshi hands his lightsaber to Valco as he attempts to calm the child. "Little one, stop. We're not the bad guys," he calmly urged. The child shook their head, refusing to trust him. "Please, you're hurting yourself. If you don't stop, we're all going to die." The trembling didn't stop as the child attempted to run deeper into the cave.

Sensing the rocks will collapse on top of the child, Hitoshi stops them with a hug. "I know you're scared; I know," he said with immense worry. "But please, we only want to help, I promise!"

Kicking and whimpering, the child swings their knife at Hitoshi, screaming, "Liar!" The kid gasps upon seeing the Jedi grip the blade with his left hand. Blood streamed down the edge and onto the kid's fingers. Frightened at first, the child's heart became overwhelmed with anguish and guilt upon the sight of blood.

Hitoshi, despite the pain, remained calm. "You're safe, little one," he said reassuringly, "We would never hurt you. The dark has already taken too much from you. I promise you that we are friends."

The frightened child lets go of the knife and holds Hitoshi's right blood-stained hand. Though caution remained, their heart sensed no danger from the man. Surrounding him was an aura filled with security, integrity, and warmth. This made the child feel more guilty about his wound. Waving their hand over it, they closed their eyes and whispered, "Pain, pain, fly away."

"Gracious for the help," Hitoshi thanked. He subtly wraps his wound with cloth, so they huff in relief when the child opens their eyes. "You're a kind soul."

The child briefly beams at the compliment. Realizing right then how earnest the man's words were, their eyes quietly ask if he's truly a friend.

Picking it up, Hitoshi nods over a hand, "Friends."

Tears well up in the child's eyes as they tightly hug Hitoshi and cry on his robes. He returns the hug, not saying a word. Let the child let all their fears pour out.

"Can't imagine what they've been through. Must've lost everything back there," Valco whispered as he watched. Valco has seen many cruel things, but he always hated that cruelty be inflicted on kids.

For minutes, the child cried in the Jedi's embrace, and after a long time, the kid felt warmth return to their heart. They were not alone.

"You're safe now," Hitoshi whispered, "everything's going to be alright." The child understands, nodding as they calm down, Hitoshi helping brush away the child's tears.

"You," they murmured, "you have it…the white flare."

"White flare?"

"This must be what their culture calls the Force. Like yours calling it Magina, Hitoshi."

"That's right, little one. I am a Jedi. With the aid of the white flare, we travel the stars to help and protect all life."

"Coool!"

"Yes, pretty cool indeed," "What do you prefer to be called?"

The child glances away with a nervous scratch of their head, thinking. "I…no b-boy," she muttered. She was tense, but confidence was within in their words.

Hitoshi nods, asking again, "And what is your name?"

The child hesitated, but eventually, she looked him in the eyes and declared, "…F!"

Valco raised an eyebrow. "Just…F?"

F pouts angrily. "F!" she shouts, thrusting her hands upward.

Hitoshi inquires, "Is this a name you made for yourself?"

F smiled and nodded excitedly. "F!"

Valco smirked, "Guess a kid would name themselves that." His look earned another angry pout from F as she stomped her foot and puffed her cheeks.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, F. You have a lovely name." F's cheeks flare up as she smiles at the compliment. "I'm Hitoshi, and this is my friend, Valco, and his colleague Rei."

F introduces herself by waving at the small droid and sticking her tongue at Valco.

"Who gave you this cloak?" His suspicions were confirmed when the child's tears threatened to return. They stopped when she covered her face with the cloak's hood, and she slowly calmed down.

"Whoever saved them didn't make it," Valco whispered to Hitoshi.

As much as the object brought her grief, it was clear F also felt comforted. Hitoshi sensed that the cloak made her feel stronger and would protect her from anything. Sensing her emotional temper, he asks, "F, are you alone?"

Brushing the cloak off her face, the child took a breath and shook her head. Not a moment later, chirping is heard all around them. Tiny burrows within the cave's walls break open, and dozens of little creatures leap out to surround them. The lightsaber's light reveals them to be small, avian-like creatures with many different colored feathers. They each wore wool shawls, with many even wearing metal hats. Their small arms wielded a mixture of daggers, torches, rocks, and bows with arrows with metal tips.

Their leader, a red-feathered bird missing an eye, cries, "Chi-Chi!"

The small army readies their arrows, but the child murmurs something to the chief before they can fire. Seeing her insistence, the chief Avian orders their weapons to be lowered. "Chi," he huffed. With a wave of his arm, the chief signals were clear, and many flights across the depths of the cave wall lit up. The trio could see glimpses of avian families nested in huts.

"Fascinating," Rei said.

"You said it. These must be the native Banchiians. The first people of this world before other species began immigrating," Valco deduces, "look to be thriving too. They must be clever little jerks to craft spike traps."

"Chi!" the chief chirps angrily.

"What?! It's true."

"Valco, let bygones be bygones. They were merely protecting themselves," Hitoshi said.

"You're right. At least this species doesn't act like Ewoks." Valco shivers from a memory of that species. "Fuzzy little monsters. Eeeee!"

"Have they been taking good care of you?" Hitoshi asks the child.

F nods, grabbing and hugging the chief Banchiian. Several Banchiians gather around F, chirping in their language if she is okay. F briefly speaks in their language while accepting snacks to make her feel better.

Hitoshi smiles at the sight. "Chief. Thank you for caring for this child in their time of need. Your people must be truly kind."

Valco hands Hitoshi his lightsaber and whispers, "So, this is the source of that darkness your vision showed? A little kid?"

"Seems so," Hitoshi whispered, "Sensing that we mean no harm must've calmed F down because I now sense a sliver of the dark side."

"If you don't mind me asking, how strong in the Force is F?"

"We'd need to do a midi-chlorian count to get a clear answer, but as of now, I'm not too sure."

"What? How?" Rei asks.

"Would you believe me if I said F is weaker than the younglings at the temple?"

Valco nearly flinched from Hitoshi's blunt answer. "What?! No, I wouldn't believe it. Need I remind you of how they nearly broke my neck a minute ago."

"Indeed, a technique deeply tied to the dark side."

Rei inquires, "What are you saying?"

"Take what I say next with a grain of salt," Hitoshi emphasized, "but it could be that the dark side comes to F more naturally than the light. I'm unsure if what happened a year ago is responsible or if they were born like this."

"Really? Hmmm…well, I kinda see the logic," Valco said as he sat beside Hitoshi. "Hey. Could that be the reason why the Sith attacked? To snatch up F and make them an apprentice?"

"After Maul's death, that's a possibility, my friend. It'd also explain the disturbance I felt with that ship earlier." Hitoshi returns this gaze to F, enjoying her snacks while the Banchiian children talk to her while playing with her hair. Hitoshi can't image a good kid like F getting snatched by the Sith. The thought of her undergoing brutal training was a frightful one. He maintained his composure as he continued, "Valco, if I saw a vision of F, chances are that the Sith has too. Even now, I can sense the dark side within F just waiting to explode again."

"E-explode? You mean they can't control it?"

"I don't know." Hitoshi kneels at F's eye level. He hesitates to ask but to best understand and care for F, Hitoshi must learn one more crucial piece. "F," she said with slight trepidation, "can you tell us what exactly happened to your home?"

F tenses up upon sensing his intention. That fearful gaze returns as she grips her cloak. She wanted to share; he was her friend now, but a pit of terror from this memory was stopping her.

"Forgive me. I know it's still a sensitive topic for you. I only ask because the planet showed me a glimpse of that terrible day."

F's eyes peek up in surprise. "The planet?"

"Yes. We've been to the city you called home. We've seen the death, the suffering inflicted on your people. I only ask to know who is responsible and bring them to justice."

"Jus…tice," F murmured. It was a new word for her, but the conviction in Hitoshi's eyes told her how serious he was.

"Do you feel like speaking later, or prefer I stop asking? There's no wrong answer."

F gripped her cloak, answering with, "It's okay."

"Very well, but feel free to stop anytime. Firstly, it wasn't merely an earthquake that destroyed your home, yes?"

"Yes."

"Was it one person or many?"

"M-many, but…" F shivers as fear grips her mind over a memory seared into her consciousness. She almost stopped, but the bit of courage in her encouraged her to continue. "One of them…scary. Strong with the black current."

'That must be the dark side,' Hitoshi thought.

"Is that the same power within you?"

"Uh-huh," F replied with a shamed expression.

"F, you're not scary," Hitoshi reassured. "Now, the real scary one. Do you remember what they looked like?"

As much as F trembled, she muttered, "S-she…"

"She?"

"She…her eyes…gold eyes." F's eyes widen, staring off into the distance as if the person she's talking about was in the room with them. An imposing shadowy figure surrounded by fire and brimstone. "Dark hair…Scary strong…with r-red blade!"

"G-gold eyes?!" Rei shrieked.

"A singular red blade," Hitoshi notes while a nervous sweat falls down his cheek.

"They confirmed it then. Who else could it be but a Sith," Valco whispered to Rei. "Master or not, this Sith decided to salt the earth of a ruined city and kill the survivors, save for them."

"This scary woman, is she hunting you?"

F shuts her eyes, peeking with one eye to see the visage of the Sith fade away for now. "I…don't know."

Valco asks, "What do you mean? You should be able to sense her. Any Force-sensitive could for someone so powerful."

"Only in dreams," F replied. "Her and a monster, but I think she doesn't see me."

"In dreams, you say," Hitoshi said, curiously stroking his beard. "I see. That's most troubling. Do you think the black current is the cause of these dreams?"

"Uh-huh."

"Are you afraid of it?"

"Y-yes," F said, trembling. She hugs her cloak tighter than ever, saying, "Asa…Asami promised she be back, that she make it go away, but…" F tries to fight back the tears, to be brave, but tears are already staining the cloak. Hitoshi sensed F's anguish. The pain of this loss, of this memory, was greater than that of the Sith. F clings to his arm as he tries his best to comfort her. "I miss Asa!" she cried, mucus and tears pouring out. "I want my sister! You have the white flare. Bring her back!"

With a heavyweight in his heart, Hitoshi told the bitter truth. "I'm so sorry, F. No one can return your sister. She's one with the planet now, at peace."

F sobbed, "But who will make it go away? The monster hurts me every night, and my friends can't help. No one can! I'm so scared; I want it to go away!"

F trembled in his arms, the shadow of the dark side growing as it fed off her fear. It was a pitiful and dire sight to witness. Hitoshi looks to the Banchiian chief. The bird shakes his head with no idea how to help the child. The Jedi sensed these creatures did everything to tend to F's condition, but none were force-sensitive. They could only do so much, especially F's nightmares.

Rei asks the question running through everyone's heads. "What are we gonna do?"

F catches the others by surprise with a startled gasp. When she looks outside, Hitoshi senses a warning of great danger. "They're here." He quickly hands F to Valco as two medium-sized spacecraft land behind the thick foliage. "Everyone, retreat deeper inside until it's safe. Valco makes sure nothing happens to F, understand?"

The group follows his orders and rushes further inside. F, however, briefly pulled away from Valco and ran to Hitoshi with anxious eyes.

"I'll be right back, little one."

His reassurance did little to calm F down. "No! You're going to die! Do go away like Asa!"

"F, this is my duty," he explained, "as a Jedi, it's up to me to guard life, and that's what I'm going to do."

Valco grabs F again as Hitoshi steps out of the cave's entrance. "Don't worry, kid. While Hitoshi is the kind of man not to harm a fly, he will swat the spider chasing the fly if necessary."

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

F remembers very few people who possessed the gift, and Hitoshi was perhaps the strongest user she ever sensed.

Watching as he stepped out to the grassy field, Hitoshi's entire composure shifted. Hitoshi's prime demeanor to anybody is one of welcoming. His smile was frequently warm, and his posture conveyed a sense of wisdom and patience. All this was true, but so was the other side of the Jedi Master. Now, his smile was gone, his whole expression replaced with a hardened scowl with eyes keen and analytical of his enemy. He stops, the palm of his left hand resting on his lightsaber as the wind flutters his brown cloak.

"Let's go, kid," Valco urged. When F's stubbornness kept her from moving, he relents, "Fine, but stay behind Rei and me. Don't do anything rash."

Out of the brush came eight HK-85 assassin droids. Their grey and brown metal bodies moved precisely, indicating their adapt speed from their advanced motor systems. Each droid holstered a blaster rifle, pistol, and electrostaffs. A mere glance showed how tough their bodies were, likely to tank several blasts. F shivered in worry as the droids moved into a U-shaped formation, partially surrounding Hitoshi.

"Jedi," the leader said, "you are harboring a valuable target. For that, you must be eliminated."

'Me? Hito is in danger…because of me?'

His hand on his lightsaber remains still, his gaze locked on the droid leader before him. "The Force has brought us together, but that does not mean this must end only one way. Leave now and live, or fight and face your destiny."

"Destiny?" The droids communicate with each other in droidspeak.

F felt danger looming closer. 'Don't die! Don't die! Don't die!' She gasps when the droids give their answer.

"Our destiny, Jedi, is to kill. The maker wills it."

"So be it," he sighs. His palm squeezes his lightsaber handle upon hearing the clicking of their blasters.

To F, seeing Hitoshi unleash his lightsaber was like seeing a lightning flash. The blade moved so fast that she didn't see him deflect several shots at the droids. Rather than their armor, though, the shots destroyed several of their blaster rifles.

"Clever as always," Valco smirked.

Hitoshi's speed surpassed the droids by a mile. When the Jedi charged to attack, F saw only a blur, and in a split second, one of the droids was cut down. Before F could react, he slices another in half. 'C-cool!' F thought. The way he fought reminded her of her sister in a good way. Like Asami, Hitoshi's fighting was swift and precise, never reveling in the battle or his power. F jumps when Hitoshi's saber clashes with three droids.

Their staff swung in a synchronized manner to try to overwhelm the Jedi. Despite their numbers advantage, Hitoshi kept up with their attacks by swiftly parrying and staying light on his feet. 'So fast! His boots are barely touching the ground!' F thought. However, it quickly became clear this was merely a distraction. Hitoshi and the others spot the three other droids dashing the cave.

"Kriff!" Valco unholsters his long-blaster rifle and aims down his sights.

'Nonono! Stay away,' F panicked. There it was again, the coldness within freezing her hands, enticing her to use it.

Hitoshi dashed around his three opponents in the blink of an eye, cutting each down with one large slash of his long blade. F snaps out of it, watching intently as Hitoshi uses the Force to fling chopped-up droid parts at the remaining assailants. The accelerated speed of these projectiles tore through one of the droids. F compared the sight to seeing leaves getting shredded apart. The remaining two stopped deflecting the incoming projectiles, but this was enough time for Hitoshi to dash up to one of them and cut them in half.

"Phew, good. This last one should be nothing to him," Valco said.

F couldn't believe the spectacular display that was happening. Within a minute, the Jedi master disposed of seven assassin droids without suffering a scratch. She was more intrigued by who the Jedi were and how Hitoshi became strong. 'Maybe…maybe he can even teach—' F stops her train of thought when the last droid's chest opens, revealing a powerful bomb.

"Get out of there, Hitoshi!" Valco and Rei shout, recognizing the threat.

However, Hitoshi deals with the threat by quick use of the Force. He suspends the droid into the air and, thrusting his arm upward, launches it high into the sky. He didn't let go of his grasp; he couldn't risk the droid detonating on its own volition. Once high enough, he clenches his fist and detonates the bomb. Though it exploded at a safe distance, the blast could be heard for miles. So strong was the bomb that Hitoshi and the others shielded their eyes from the dust and wind kicked up by the explosion.

Despite Hitoshi's efforts, F still sensed danger in the air. She's the first to spot the droid Hitoshi just sliced in half to remain active. While Hitoshi disposed of the bomb, the remaining damaged droid was almost within reach of a blaster pistol. "Stop!" F shouts, running past Valco and reaching out her hand. Her scream distracted Hitoshi further as he turned to her instead of the droid. The assassin grabbed the blaster and aimed at Hitoshi's heart.

The trigger is nearly squeezed but halts. The droid is frozen in place, but not by Hitoshi.

Hate stained F's heart as she used the dark side to stop the droid from killing her friend. Unable to hold it for long, she glared intensely at it to crush the blaster and its arm.

"No," Hitoshi uttered, shocked over the sudden growth of dark side power. He runs to F's side, but she doesn't acknowledge him. "F, stop! It's over, let the droid go!"

F barely heard a word. She lifts the broken droid; tears open its chest before going for the head.

He begins shaking her shoulders. "F, you think your sister would want you to do this?!"

F gasped, stopping the second she crushed the droid's head like a grape. Now clear of mind, F shivers over what she has done. "Y-you were gonna die," she whimpered, "It called to me…said it will save you."

"And though it, you gave into hate, did you?"

F looks away in shame. "I'm so sorry! I can't fight without it!"

'Sadly, they're not entirely wrong,' Hitoshi thought. 'Just now, they became impressively strong, but only through the dark side. Right now, without the dark side, their connection to the Force is greatly weaker. That's the nature of the dark, always easier and quicker to use.'

"Go," F sobbed, "go away…I don't wanna hurt you too."

Hitoshi almost couldn't believe what the child was saying. Though, with the potential dark power at her fingertips, anyone would fear what they could do, whether it'd be in their control. He won't let it end like this. The Sith will keep coming after F if they leave, and letting this child fear themselves for the rest of the days is unacceptable to him.

No child should feel so alone. At times like this, F should get help from a community who shares her experience and traits. Hitoshi knew of one such community who's willing to offer that help.

"Hitoshi," Valco said, walking up to them. "After everything we saw, I know what you're thinking. The way I see it, there is only one sensible choice."

"I know." Hitoshi gently holds F's hand, helping her calm down. When she finally looks at him, he offers her the most important decision in her life. "Little one, there is another way to help you. There is always another way. My people, the Jedi Order, are a community deeply connected with the white flare or, as we call it, the Force. We help those like you master your connection with the Force, finding inner peace and balance."

F listened more intensely the further Hitoshi shared. "Even destroy the black current?"

"We cannot destroy it, but we can help extinguish its self-destructive aspects until it's nothing but a tiny flame. You can learn how to achieve this…by coming with Valco, Rei, and I."

F's eyes glow with wonder. "M-me…with you!? Wait, you can't stay?"

"Staying here means ignoring other important duties amongst the stars. I have a responsibility to help many other people, people like you. You must also understand that the one who destroyed your home is still after you. It's why these droids attacked and why they will keep coming."

F sensed it. She sensed the earnestness behind Hitoshi's conviction. He firmly believed every word he said. The question next was whether F trusted him enough to believe it.

"F," Hitoshi continued, "I want you to know this is entirely your choice. I know the Banchiians still mean a lot to you. I know you still feel connected to this world. I only offer this choice because it is your best option to keep you safe. A child shouldn't live in such fear."

F stared at her fists, clenching her sister's cloak. "Jedi…they're just like me?"

"Yes. Hundreds of children like you are there, and thousands of adults who will guide and protect you."

"Like you!" F said with a smile.

"Heh, yes. Like me. And just like me, the order strives to ensure the community we foster is a safe space for all. Offer anything you may require; build environments you feel comfortable in and enroll you in groups that'll help widen your perspective."

"Believe me, kid," Valco said, "there is no safer place in the galaxy than the Jedi Temple."

The chief and several other Banchiians strolled up to Valco with a serious question. "Chi-chi?"

"They wanna know if you speak the truth," F translates.

"I swear on my life," Valco said with no hesitation.

"The temple hasn't faced an attack for centuries," Rei added.

With everything said, Hitoshi sits back and waits for F's answer. 'Whatever it might be, I must honor it," he thought.

In what felt like the longest minute of their life, F thought about this choice. The Jedi sounded immensely strong and kind. The Jedi showed as much honor as the school Asami, and her were raised in. The Jedi had tons of kids like them, a thought that was scary but also nice. The Jedi had Hitoshi, and to F, she felt she could trust Hitoshi.

F takes a steady breath and gives her answer with determination. "I…I wanna be a Jedi. I wanna know how to fight the black current. I wanna learn about the Force, like my sister did."

Hitoshi gives a solemn nod. He offers his hand, and F takes it. "Then it shall be done, F."

The Banchiians take off their helmets, holding them to their chests—a sign of respect they convey to F's decision. The chief approaches F and bids farewell. "Chi…chi-chi."

"Thank you," F said, scooping up the chief for a farewell hug. "Thank you for saving me."

"Che-chi"

"I know I'm always welcomed back," F said with a sad smile. After the long hug, both let go, and the chief returned to his people. F waved her hand in farewell, "Chi-Chi."

"What they say?" Rei whispered.

"I think that's between them," Valco responded.

F wipes her eyes and faces the trio. "I'm ready."

With Hitoshi beside her, F rode with them back to their ship. It was the biggest ship she had seen yet. F was so distracted by how cool it looked that she nearly forgot about the others. Following them inside the pilot seats, Valco and Hitoshi settle in while Rei and F sit behind them.

"Alright, Kid, this ride might take a while. So, the first rule of my ship: don't touch anythi—"

The sudden hissing sound of a fuselage pipe bursting startles Valco. He turns to see F turning a knob.

"Sorry," she murmured, turning it back to make the sound stop.

"Kriff, off to a great start."

"Language, my friend."

F stares out the window, holding Hitoshi's hand tightly as the ship lifts off. Banchii, the only world she knew, faded away as the ship soared past the clouds until there was nothing but space. The sadness of being away from home was briefly gone upon seeing so many stars. "So many…" she said in utter awe. Her eyes reflected the stars before them, and her jaw dropped.

"Ready to jump," Valco announced.

"Hold on, F," Hitoshi said.

With a switch flip, a string of lights slowly brightens up and forms a swirling vortex of blue light.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

[Coruscant, The Jedi Grand Temple]

Nothing about this world of steel and stone was like Banchii. Upon touching down on the temple's main landing pad and seeing several aliens before her, F shielded her eyes and hid behind Hitoshi.

"It's alright, F. They're Jedi, like me."

Using her sister's cloak, F tries looking again, but seeing an Ithorian and Moyn instantly makes her look away.

"Who's this child, Master Hitoshi," the Ithorian Jedi asks.

"Their name is F. I found them during my expedition to the Inugg System. We stopped a group of HK-assassin droids from kidnapping them."

"And the Sith?"

"I'll report that to the High Council immediately."

"Wise decision."

F clung to Hitoshi's hand as she followed him into the temple. She sensed many passing them by while hearing chatter in several languages she had never heard.

"You're sticking out like a sore thumb, kid," Valco whispered.

"I know this is all new," Hitoshi assured, "but there is nothing to fear."

F tries to look again and is dazzled by the sheer scale of the Temple's interior. Grand windows poured in light that radiated every space, giving a soft, warm glow. Wide pathways leading to other rooms crisscrossed above them. Columns made of gleaming marble held the whole temple together. Colossal statues of precious metal littered the grand hall, honoring Jedi foundational to the Order.

They briefly stop upon F coming across an ancient statue. "Who's that?"

"Ah, that's Master Toul," Valco explained, "He and his partner Ara were the last heroes of the Old Republic. After the final Jedi-Sith War, this was erected in his honor, while another for Ara is at the grand museum of the capital. I can take ya if you're curious."

"It'll have to be for another time," Hitoshi said, continuing their walk. F stared at the statue of Toul until they left the grand hall.

F was so mesmerized by the entire place that she nearly didn't notice other Jedi passing them. It was startling initially, but the longer she looked, the more curious she got. There was a Jedi covered in hair and spoke in roars. There was a Jedi with blue skin who had two big tendrils sticking out the back of their head. There was a Jedi whose head looked like a fish and another who had horns protruding from their head. None of which she ever imagined to be real. This was by far the freakiest day in F's life.

No matter where they went, it seemed there was never a dull moment. They pass by classes of younglings being taught academics. Training rooms where Padawans spar. A grand library where knights read up on old text. Meditation chambers where masters contemplated the universe.

"Shame your first day is a quiet one," Valco said.

Flabbergasted, F said loudly, "THIS is a quiet day?!"

The group approached an elevator guarded by warriors in white masks. "The grand council is currently in session," he informs. "They're waiting for you, Master Hitoshi."

"You two go on ahead," Rei said.

"Yeah, I can't stand this kind of meeting. Always bores me out of my mind," Valco explained. "You're gonna do great, kid."

F follows Hitoshi into the elevator, anxious as they soar to the top of the temple's central spire. "What if they find me scary?"

"Why would anyone be scared of you?"

The elevator comes to a smooth stop, and the doors open. Walking through a chamber, the two are allowed to face the council. Despite never meeting these people, F believed these Jedi to be immensely strong with the Force. Most surprising, the strongest amongst them was the strangest-looking Jedi she'd ever seen: a small, walking, talking green frogman.

"Welcome, Master Hitoshi, Caretaker of First Knowledge," Yoda spoke almost jovially. "Your expedition found what you sought?"

"It did, though it was not what I expected." Hitoshi sees F hiding behind him. "It's okay," he encourages.

F nervously steps forward and faces the council members. Some were confused by her presence, while others wondered about her story. Yoda's eyebrows perk up at seeing F intently looking at her curiously.

"Hitoshi," Mace Windu spoke, "who's this child, and why are they here?"

"This is F, and they are the sole survivor of a horrible disaster," he explained. The council listened intently as Hitoshi retold his findings. The destruction of Banchii's grandest city. The statue of the Jedi Lily Tora-Asi. Evidence of a Sith behind the destruction and, finally, his encounter with F and saving them from assassin droids.

Upon finishing his recount, the council whispered amongst themselves.

"So, the old rumor was true?" Yareel Poof whispered to Oppo Rancisis. "Lily disappeared in Banchii after the Nihil were defeated?"

"First Naboo, and now this," Shaak Ti sighed to Adi Gallia. "More people will die if this Sith keeps roaming the galaxy."

"What of the child," Plo Koon posits to Ki-Adi-Mundi, "training them, even at this age, will be difficult."

Yoda and Mace cease the discussion when both raise their hands. "Hitoshi," Mace said, "would you kindly ask F to wait outside for a moment?"

"Did I say something?" F muttered.

"No, F, you've been very good," Hitoshi assured, "this is simply a discussion for adults. Don't fret; it'll only be a minute." F nods and walks to the chamber.

Once the door shut, Mace continued, "The Council, thank you for finding this valuable information. We are most grateful also to hear that the Sith plot to snatch the child was thwarted. Still, we're now back to square one on finding this Sith."

"We still have a few leads," Depa Billaba said, "the same idea of this Sith's identity."

"But is this vague description of a Sith Lady all the child remembers?" Even Piell asks.

"It appears so. I sensed some of their memories are blocked."

"A coping mechanism for the mind, I presume?" Adi Gallia asked.

"Yes. Simply remembering the Sith nearly sent F into a panic. I advise against questioning them further."

"Of course," Mace agreed.

"The child's home," Yoda spoke, "gifted with the Force, were they? Hmm?"

"From what F shared, it appears their sister and former master had it. Their descriptions of how some warriors fought matched those with the Jedi arts, but that's about it."

Mace asks, "Did they possess any lightsabers?"

"Only F's Master did," Hitoshi reveals, "two green lightsabers. Heirlooms, they described. Said they were very old."

"Lily's lightsabers," Oppo whispered to Yoda.

"I have no confirmation, but it's a strong theory," Hitoshi shared.

"Possibly," Yoda nods, remembering the prodigy Jedi, "tied to Banchii, she always was. A second home it became after the storm of the Nihil vanished. It's guardian she was, and all the life it harbored."

"If they're heirlooms," Hitoshi said, "could it be possible that F is related to—"

"Lily? No, never," Yoda firmly denies. "Children, Lily never believed in having, Jedi or not. The child's relation to Lily, I do not know. Upon gazing into the child's eyes, however. Memories of the past appear suddenly; they do."

The Council was silent, unsure how to interpret his last words. Even Yoda himself is still determining its meaning. Going nowhere, Mace asked, "Did you recover these lightsabers?"

"I could not. While on the way here, F spoke of their sister carrying one of the lightsabers as they ran into the jungle. This was lost after Asami sacrificed herself. As for the other, it's either lost or destroyed."

"Hopefully not in the Sith's clutches," Mace said. "In any case, we will continue cooperating with the Council of First Knowledge on finding the Sith."

"Of course. So, what of F?"

Saesee Tiin asks, "Did you conduct a test?"

"I did." Hitoshi pulls out the device, which projects F's midi-chlorine count.

"This…this doesn't add up," Adi Gallia said, "it's barely passable. Far below the average initiates."

"And yet they were strong enough with the Force to crush an armored droid," Coleman Trebor said.

"I theorize F is somehow naturally susceptible to the dark side," Hitoshi explained, "enhancing their power substantially."

"Yet, refuse it, they do," Yoda observed.

"F does try. Last I checked, cases like F are extremely rare. This might be the first time in a thousand years."

Shaak Ti asks, "But why didn't the Kyber memory crystal show force-sensitive children on Banchii?"

Plo Koon answers, "It only shows known Force-sensitive. It only knows what we know."

"It doesn't matter anymore either," Mace said, "F's here now with the desire to become a Jedi. Am I correct?"

"They're determined. I can sense it," Hitoshi supports.

"That…will be tricky," Ki-Aid Mundi sighed.

"They're already quite old," Eeth Koth said.

"Skywalker was inducted at nearly twice F's age," Hitoshi says.

"Under special circumstances," Eeth countered, "after Qui-Gon's passing, we felt it best to honor his final wish. That's not even getting into the prophecy."

"That's a debate for another time," Mace said. "As for the child, Hitoshi, I won't mince words and say this will be easy for them. What's presented is not in any clear violation of the Code, and we must help anyone in need. Just know that the less connected they are with the Force, the more difficult it'll be, and that's not even factoring in this rare trait they possess."

Hitoshi knew all this, but hearing it from the council was difficult. "What says you, Master Yoda?"

Since he last spoke, Yoda has shut his eyes, his mind entering a meditative trance. Upon realizing this, the council stayed quiet until Yoda finally opened his eyes. "Difficult to tell, their future is," he said. Not a great first sign. He turns to Hitoshi and requests only one answer, "Do you, Master Hitoshi, believe in F's promise?"

Hitoshi bows his head and gets on one knee, "I do."

"And will they finish what they begin?"

"I believe they will."

After a moment of silence, Yoda's signature chuckling is heard. "All which needed to be said," he giggled.

Mace sighs with trepidation before saying, "I agree. Does anyone else?"

Of the twelve members, Yoda and Mace raised their hands. Plo Koon soon followed. Shaak Ti confidently raised her hand. Coleman raised his hand with an approving nod. Depa and Ki-Adi thought it over longer before agreeing to induct F into the Order. Though the rest disagreed, the majority ruling and Hitoshi's status as Caretaker of another council meant only one thing.

"Call them forth," Yoda insisted.

Hitoshi leads F back into the room, and she nervously awaits their response.

"Youngling," Yoda spoke, "by the will of the Council and the will of the Force, a Jedi you now are."

Shock overtook F's expression. A thrilling excitement rose within her, and she beamed with glee. "I…I passed?"

"That's right," Mace said, "your orientation and training will begin tomorrow. After we examine your health and give you a proper meal, of course."

F practically jumped joyfully, rushing to Hitoshi's side and hugging him. "I did, Hito! I did it! Hahaha!"

"That you did, F," he said with a warm smile, "You won't be alone anymore."


A/N: I hope you enjoyed this surprise chapter, along with all the callbacks and references to High Republic, Visions, and other Star Wars media. It's fun to explore this era of Star Wars between Ep. I and Ep. II. I wanted to tell this story for months, and it was so satisfying to finally tell it, both Hitoshi's story and F's. In case you're wondering, the parts where F isn't there were told later by Hitoshi when F was older.