“Wait!” She stretched out her hand, desperately grasping for another that faded away into darkness. “No!” Engulfed in darkness, the image slowly faded from her mind.

Allera felt groggy and weak, as if waking up from a hundred years of sleep. She heard the wind blowing in through a window, rustling curtains and caressing her face as it passed through the room. She could hear the ocean nearby as its waves methodically crashed onto the shoreline. She then heard the pleading whisper of an adolescent girl nearby.

“I hope you’ll wake up soon,” came a soft voice. In response, Allera tried to open her eyes, but they were still weighted down from such a long sleep. “Where’s Kin-Su? What’s taking him so long?” The voice floated to her ears again. This time it was more panicked, more nervous.

Slowly, finally, Allera opened her ocean blue eyes. As they adjusted to the light pouring in from the window her surrounding began to materialize before her. She was in a small room with one window looking out at blue skies. She was lying on a bed, her raven black hair gently fluttering in the wind. A young girl, no more than thirteen, stood next to the bed and looked down on her with an expression that could only be described as a mix of awe, excitement, and anxiety.

“Where am I?” Allera managed to ask, her voice hoarse and broken from disuse.

“You’re in my parents’ home,” Tima shakily answered after taking a deep breath. “We’ve been looking after you. My brother left a while ago to get my parents. They should be here any minute.” The girl hesitated, took another deep breath to steady her voice then said, “I’m Tima. What’s your name?”

“Allera,” she answered as she stared out the window, wondering how she got there. “What planet is this?”

“Dantooine,” Tima answered.

“Ah yes,” Allera said as her last memory of flying to the tan planet flashed behind her eyes. But her stroll down memory lane came to an abrupt stop. Try as she might, Allera couldn’t remember anything past entering the coordinates for Dantooine into her ships navicomputer.

Not a moment later a little boy, not even eight years old, came running into the room with two adults in tow. One was a woman, an older version of Tima, wearing a simple brown dress and a dark blue apron over it. The other was a tall man with brown and gray hair and a calm, kind face. They walked over to the side of the bed while Kin-Su sat on the edge of the chair next to the bed.

“You’re finally awake,” The older version of Tima addressed Allera with a smile, relief showing in her face.

“Her name is Allera,” Tima informed the newcomers. “Isn’t that a pretty name, mother?”

“Yes it is,” her mother answered kindly, her eyes staying on Allera. “I am Creeta, and this is my husband Fen.” She gestured to the older man who stood at the foot of the bed, studying her. “How are you feeling, my dear?”

“Tired,” Allera replied, sitting herself up on the bed and leaning against the backboard. “But my energy is returning quickly. How long have I been asleep?”

“Well it’s been about a week since my husband found you lying unconscious in the old enclave.”

“Do you remember anything, child? Can you tell us some of your earliest memories?” Fen asked, walking to the side of the bed.

Allera thought for a moment as she looked out the window. “Let’s see,” she began slowly. “I was born on Alderaan, and left there to train at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. After the Mandalorian Wars broke out there were no Masters left to train me, so I traveled here to Dantooine in hopes of continuing my training there. Instead I became a deep space pilot, and continued learning about the Force on my own.”

“Good,” the man smiled, satisfied. “You have your long-term memories in tact. Now, how about something recent?”

“A few years after becoming a pilot I was on a mission in the Vivenda Sector. While there, I heard a rumor from another pilot that the Sith were about to attack Dantooine, so I flew back here as fast as I could. But I was too late – I found it in ruins. I left in search of the missing Jedi and was again in the Outer Rim when I heard a rumor that an exile had returned and was headed for Dantooine. I went to follow her, but that’s all I remember.”

Creeta was silent for a while and then gave her a warm smile. “At least you remember something, right?” she said sympathetically.

“When my wife and I found you” Fen began, thinking over his words. “You had cuts all over your arms and legs. And a few feet away was a man. There were no signs of life in him, so we let the local soldiers to deal with him. Do you remember traveling with someone else?”

Allera concentrated on her past, trying to remember if there had been anyone else on her ship, but again her memory failed her. “I’m sorry I don’t remember.”

“Something must have happened to you at that enclave,” Fen revealed his own thoughts. “I’m afraid that whatever happened between you and that man has left you with short-term memory loss. But perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to remember some things if you retrace your steps,” he added with a smile. “I’ll be glad to take you to the enclave to see if you can remember what happened that day, but not until you regain your strength, eh?” He walked towards the door. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office.”

Allera watched him walk out, thinking about what he had said. She wondered what could possibly have happened to cause her memory loss, and who the mysterious person was that they found near her. She pushed those thoughts aside when she spotted the little boy sitting in the chair next to the bed.

“Hello,” she greeted him with a warm smile. “What’s your name?”

“Kin-Su,” the boy squeaked as he got up from the chair and stood next to the bed. He fumbled with the bed sheets and kept his gaze down as he asked, “A-Are you a Jedi Knight?”

“No, I’m not,” she informed him calmly.

“But you have a laser sword!” Kin-Su exclaimed, looking up with wide eyes and pointing at something on the other side of the room. “Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon.”

Allera smiled at how innocent children were. Her gaze followed to where his finger pointed, finally resting on a silver rod, adorned with buttons and an intricate light blue detail, resting on a small dresser.

“I have trained with the Jedi, but I am not part of the Jedi Order,” she patiently explained. Kin-Su, Tima, and their mother looked confused, so she continued. “I can use the Force, but I have never dedicated myself to the Jedi code. My training ended abruptly when the Mandalorian Wars started, and I was left to train myself.” She felt a sliver of fear creep into Tima and her mother, and sensed their thoughts leading to the conclusion that she was a Sith Lord. “But I am not a Sith,” she cleared up. “I do not agree with their teachings, and I have made many enemies who are a part of the Sith faction.”

“So… you’re not a Jedi or a Sith,” Kin-Su summed up, skepticism creeping into his voice. “What are you?”

“I’m a deep space pilot, like I mentioned before. I helped the Republic with various missions during the wars,” Allera calmly explained. Then she turned to Creeta and asked, “What’s happened while I’ve been asleep?”

“Well,” Tima’s mother thought back. “From what I’ve heard, there was a battle on Telos between the Republic fleet and some Sith Lord. But the Republic won that fight, and they have since then restored peace on Telos, as well as Onderon and a few other planets affected by the wars.”

“So the Sith threat has been eliminated,” Allera surmised. “For now, anyways,” she added silently to herself. With the Sith threat gone for the present, she had time enough to focus her attention on the Exile. There were so many questions she needed an answer to, but where would she begin? Then she turned her attention back to Creeta. “Do you know what’s become of the Ebon Hawk and its crew?”

“Fen’s brother, Jakk, is a soldier in the Republic. He told us that the crew left for Malachor after the battle on Telos. That’s all anyone knows. Why they or anyone else would go to that forsaken planet is beyond me.”

Allera thought over Creeta’s words. So much has happened while she was unconscious. Thousands of questions flooded her mind once again as she thought about the fate of the Ebon Hawk and its crew. Looking back at Creeta, she pushed the thoughts from her mind for the time being. “Thank you for everything you’ve done Creeta.”

“We’re just glad you’re alive and awake,” Creeta smiled. “We were wondering if you would ever recover. But my husband is a good doctor and he pulled you through just fine. Well now, I must return to my work. Tima and Kin-Su will be here to help you if you need anything.” And with that she walked out of the room.

“Papa’s is the only doctor in this part of Dantooine,” Tima told Allera after her mother left. “His office is in the small village. Mama makes the best clothes around. People travel as far as Khoonda for her clothes. She even sells them to the traders and travelers that visit here.”

“Where exactly on Dantooine are we?” Allera asked her.

“We’re not too far from Khoonda. The small village down the road is the only real settlement on the planet. It sprang up overnight after that battle at Khoonda. It was built for merchants and pilots in the Outer Rim looking for some rest, and also to secure the new government on Dantooine. We moved closer to the village when they needed a doctor after the battle.”

Allera looked around the room and saw a bowl of clean water and a stack of cloths on the dresser next to her lightsaber. She thought back to the cuts on her arms and legs, not being able to remember how they got there or the pain that came with receiving the scars. “It must have been hard looking after me for so long.”

“It was at first,” Tima confirmed. “Your wounds had to be cleaned and dressed every few hours, but once they healed it became easier. Papa took good care of you, and your cuts healed quickly.”

“Papa says you heal faster than most people,” Kin-Su piped in.

Allera studied her arms and saw the slightest hints of scars on them. “Thank the Force,” she said quietly. She quietly thanked herself for choosing to continue her education in the Force after she was denied a Master. If she hadn’t learned the power of Force Heal, she might not have faired so well. Invigorated by this thought, Allera got the sudden urge to feel the earth beneath her feet again. She had been out of the universe for too long. She looked up at the siblings and smiled. “I think I need some fresh air. Let’s go outside.”

“But you just woke up,” Tima protested, shock appearing on her face. “You should rest first.”

“I am well rested,” Allera told her. Tima stood at the edge of the bed for a while, finally giving in when Allera added, “I have been sleeping for a week, you know.”

“Your clothes are here,” Tima said, pulling out a drawer in the dresser and taking out a stack of clothes. She set the stack at the foot of the bed, then turned and ushered Kin-Su out of the room. “We’ll wait outside,” she said, and then exited and closed the door behind her.

Allera changed into her clothes: a grey tank top with a square collar and light blue trimming, and grey pants that tucked into brown industrial boots. On top of that she put on a robe that looked like the ones that Jedi wore, but it was grey to signify that she was not a part of the Order. On her head she placed a light blue headband to hold back her dark locks. Finally dressed, she inspected herself in the mirror hanging above the dresser.

“Well at least this looks familiar,” she mused to herself. Leaving her utility belt with her laser gun and lightsaber on the dresser, she joined Tima and Kin-Su.

Allera was dazzled by how bright it was outside. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when they finally did she saw a beautiful clear blue sky and an almost endless sea of tan grass underneath it. There were large, leafy trees dotting the landscape, inviting her to sit in their shades. There were plateaus here and there, almost touching each other but leaving enough room between themselves to create a passage large enough for people and animals to walk through.

“How old are you Allera?” Tima asked as they walked down the path that winded towards the beach behind the house. “That is, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m 22,” Allera answered, taking in the scenery. Although she could see the oceans while approaching the planet, se had never been to Dantooine’s shores before.

“What’s Alderaan like?” Kin-Su asked.

“It’s a peaceful place,” Allera answered, remembering her home planet. “The people are friendly, but most care only about politics. There are adundant green valleys, tall, snowcapped mountains, and shiny blue oceans. It was a beautiful place to grow up.”

“Is it true that Alderaan has never had any weapons,” Kin-Su said. “Even during the wars?”

“Most of the people of Alderaan are peaceful,” Allera explained. “Many who live there wish to avoid conflict. They rely heavily on the Republic for protection. But they do have military defenses and weapons just in case.” As she spoke she thought back to the days when she was a Padawan on Coruscant. Her teachers were so patient when they answered the younglings’ never-ending questions. That must be where she got her patience from. “How do you know so much, Kin-Su?”

“He loves to read,” Tima answered for him. “Ever since he learned how to read, he’s spent most of his time with his nose in a datapad.” Just then Allera stopped and looked around. “What is it?” Tima asked.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” she answered, searching the landscape around them. “It’s like someone or something is stalking us.” She felt a coldness creeping into her senses – a darkness. The presence felt familiar, but she couldn’t remember why.

“Don’t worry,” Kin-Su assured her when they continued walking. Allera though kept her mind on alert. “No one would try to attack us. Mama and Papa are friends with a Jedi Knight, and he keeps us safe around here. No one would attack a Jedi Knight because they’ll lose!” Kin-Su exclaimed enthusiastically. “They fight with laser swords and protect you from all the bad guys!” Kin-Su then made swooshing sounds and pretended to fight an imaginary enemy with an invisible sword. Tima laughed as they watched him defeat his invisible opponent.

“Bravo!” Tima yelled as Kin-Su took a bow.

“Your parents know a Jedi?” Allera asked curiously. More questions filled her mind as her curiosity of this proclaimed Jedi increased. She silently wondered if anyone had ever had so many unanswered questions at one time than she had right then.

“It’s a bit of a secret,” Tima explained quietly. “Kin-Su shouldn’t have spoken so openly about him like that,” she reproached her brother. “Not many people know about him because most settlers are wary of anyone who can use the Force. I think it has something to do with that attack on the enclave a few years ago.”

Accepting this explanation for now, they walked on in silence as Allera lost herself in her memories.

She had just flown over the Jedi enclave; shocked and appalled at the sight. The enclave was in ruins, with huge holes in the ground and sections of the walls blasted away. “I’m too late,” Allera thought. She set her ship down and hurried onto the grounds. There was smoke rising from the building. Allera used a Jedi trick she had learned to sense if there was anyone left alive in the ruins. But she sensed nothing. A small tear ran down her cheeks as she stood before the remains. “This can’t be happening,” she thought. “What happened to all the Jedi here?”

She made her way through the rubble to the library, and searched for clues that could tell her what happened to the missing Jedi. There on the ground amongst a pile of rubble was Master Vandar’s holocron. She picked it up and watched his short message. “We have just learned that the Sith are coming to attack us. We must warn the locals, and evacuate the enclave. I fear the worst is yet to come. We will-” The holocron ended abruptly, damaged by the bombardment.

“I must find him,” Allera thought to herself, pocketing the holocron. Racing back to her ship, she set her course for Coruscant.

“I don’t think we’ve ever walked this far before,” Tima said suddenly, bringing Allera out of her daze. The three stopped and looked around, and then turned to head back home.

“Who’s that?” Kin-Su asked. In the distance was a hooded figure in a black cloak. His eyes were a scarlet red, and in his hand was a short silver rod. Suddenly the feeling of dread came rushing back to Allera, filling her senses. Had she been on alert and not lost in thought, she would have sensed him sneaking up behind them.

“He’s been stalking us,” Allera said as she shielded the two behind her. Her instincts kicked in as the hooded man took a step towards them. She looked around the beach for a weapon to use and spotted a long piece of drift wood next to a large rock near the cliff. She gave a small groan of annoyance as she remembered leaving her lightsaber behind.

“This will have to do,” Allera mumbled as she herded the other two behind the rock and picked up the driftwood. “Stay behind the rock,” she ordered them in a serious voice as she stepped between them and the mysterious man.

“Maybe he’s a Jedi,” Kin-Su whispered hopefully.

“I don’t think so, Kin-Su,” Tima replied. Then a red beam emitted from the man’s silver rod.

The mysterious man gave an ugly, evil smile as he stepped closer and took a stance. Allera stood her ground, unwavering courage and years of experience showing on her face. She called upon her training, both as a Padawan and as a deep space pilot. It seemed an eternity before someone finally moved.

The man suddenly lunged at Allera, swinging his red sword at her. She moved to block, but the sword cut right through the wood and sliced into her arm. Allera shrieked with pain, but stood her ground. On the second strike, she ducked and, using what was left of the driftwood, expertly executed a counterstrike right into the man’s wrists. This knocked his lightsaber out of his grasp, and it flew into the air.

Allera reached up for the laser sword as the man grabbed his throbbing wrist. Even though the sword was out of reach, it seemed to magically fly towards Allera. The two onlookers thought that she would get cut up by the red beam, and cringed with fear. But instead, she caught the hilt.

She brought the sword down and held it threateningly at her enemy’s neck. Had the kids not been there, she might have ended his life. But they weren’t the only reason she stopped herself. She needed answers, answers this Sith might be able to provide. The man, whose hood had now fallen off his head, was a Cathar with green marks on his face. He growled at Allera and extended his hand out in front of him, the palm facing her. His sudden movement caught her off guard and, before she could react, Allera was sent flying backwards, hitting the rock and dropping the driftwood. Tima and Kin-Su scrambled to her side, trying to help her up.

“I’m okay,” Allera groaned painfully. Just as the laser sword went flying out of her hand towards the Sith, another cloaked person landed in between them and the Cathar. He shed off his brown cloak, revealing a tan outfit – a Jedi outfit – and a man with blonde hair.

“It’s okay,” Tima said in awe as she looked on. “It’s the Disciple, that Jedi we told you about.”

The Sith grimaced in annoyance, and then lunged at the Jedi. The Disciple took out a silver hilt, much like the Sith’s – except his emitted a yellow beam of light. When the Cathar attacked him, he parried and the two beams collided with a crash.