Author's Note: This piece was written way before Disney bought Lucasfilm and I actually thought I had a chance of getting it published LOL But seeing as that likely won't happen, I decided to adapt this into its own separate fanfiction. It was largely inspired by a character I created when I was obsessed with the Star Wars: Battlefront game. Her name, SiriNai, was inspired by the EU character, Siri Tachi. In my imagination, SiriNai was a skilled general who accepted numerous medals at the Imperial Awards XD I hope y'all enjoy it <3

It was a soft spring day when I was brought into the universe. My mother recounted it often in my childhood - how little SiriNai came to this planet kicking and screaming and when she turned to tell my father it was a girl, all she saw was a swinging door and the sound of a ship flying away in the distance.

It wasn't a heartwarming tale but it kept me from asking too many questions my mother could not answer. However, the simple life we led would be interrupted when I was only five years of age in the form of my mother's remarriage to a man named Thurin Sorelle. He already had two children of his own from a previous marriage, Kassan and Ajiva. They were twins and only 2 years older than myself. I grew closer to my newfound family as the months passed by. Soon, the five of us were inseparable. Thurin taught all of us children how to fight, how to take care of ourselves. I loved every moment of the lessons he taught.

I wish I could say that it lasted, that semblance of joy and peace in my life. But just three years later, clone troopers showed up at our house. My step-father had been a clone once himself, having deserted when he ran off with his first wife, a nurse aboard the ship. Mother was terrified they would put him to death over his desertion. It was true that he was punished. But perhaps the worst of his punishment came in the form of never seeing us again. Mother kept up with the news reports of battles being waged across the galaxy but had no way of knowing his whereabouts.

But we stayed strong, the twins and I helping to take Mama's mind off the matter. It wasn't all tears and anguish, however. The twins and I had fun, playing laser-tag in the old barn behind the house and dress-up in the attic. And so it went on like this for the next five years until one day, we finally heard news of father in the form of an automated hologram message. It was from General Skywalker. He reported that TK227 (Thurin's assigned number) had been killed instantly in an explosion.

In that one moment, our entire existence changed. We were devastated. The others cried openly but I held my own sorrow inside like a soldier. That's what Thurin would have done. Afterward, Mother filed for the adoption papers for Kassan and Ajiva but even that could not be. The agency notified us that the twins' had a living relative that wished to adopt them - their mother's mother, Elsine Avarran, who resided in Coruscant.

It was only a couple of months and then the twins were shipped off to live with her. We had had no choice in the matter. Mother and I lived alone like that for a while, neither one of us mentioning step-dad or the twins. Later that year, new neighbors moved in across the field from us. Their son, Tighe Carver, soon became a close friend. We trained together like soldiers, unbeknownst to my mother. It was our own secret. Just four years later, mother re-married once again. He was a local farmer named Allwyn Novski. He was nice enough and I could tell my mother was content. But I knew she would never truly love him as she had Thurin.

When I finally reached the legal age in Naboo, I couldn't wait to leave and start my own life. I flew off that planet as fast as I could, just me and Tighe. Our first stop was Coruscant, to visit the twins. We found Ajiva at the marketplace, buying Deep-Fried Nuna Legs and Roasted Porg for her grandmother. She was overjoyed to see me again, quickly filling me in on all that I had missed. After years of living here in Coruscant, she had met a Corellian spice runner by the name of Irdev Motta. He had proposed marriage to her, promising to take her off this planet as soon as they wed. She agreed because she had wanted an escape from this planet.

But as soon as I offered to take her with me, I could see the relief flooding her face. She truly had not wanted to marry so young. I then introduced her to my friend, Tighe, before inquiring about Kassan. Her face fell then and I knew I had asked the wrong question.

"SiriNai, you didn't hear? Kassan joined the army," she informed me softly.

"What do you mean he joined the army? What army?" I asked, feeling like a stone was lodged in my chest where my heart should be.

"The clone army, of course. You know how much he favors dad. Believe it or not, the officers didn't question it too much. Truthfully, the war hasn't been going well for a while and they need recruits,"

"But why? Why did he join?"

"For the same reason I got engaged to Irdev. It's a way off this planet. Away from grandmother and back to you and Mama."

We both fell into a hushed silence then as I absorbed this news. Although it was not voiced, we both knew the gravity of the situation. He could get killed out there - any of them could.

As soon as fuel was found for the ship, Tighe, Ajiva, and I launched into lightspeed, headed for my requested location of Kamino. No one asked why I wanted to go there and I didn't announce my intentions voluntarily. The watery planet came into view before several minutes later, we were touching down on a landing pad in the pouring rain.

Finally, Tighe turned in his seat to face me, "Okay. So what are we doing here, Siri?"

Hesitating for only a moment, I blurted, "I have something to tell you two."

Tighe and Ajiva waited expectantly, not questioning this. After taking a deep breath (and a sip of Juri Juice), I laid all cards on the table. Very slowly, I removed the cap I had been wearing to reveal my normally cascading brown hair had been shorn to the scalp.

"I've joined the clone army."

"SiriNai! What have you done?!" Ajiva exploded, "Do you know you could get killed out there or taken prisoner by the Separatists?!"

"Yeah and what about Kassan? If I could find him, I could watch his back. And..." I trailed off.

"And what?!"

"And...I really wanted to join. To make father proud."

All the anger seemed to deflate from Ajiva then and she wrapped me in a hug, "He would be already."

But when we broke apart, I noticed Tighe had disappeared. I knew he was hurt by my decision and that it had come as a shock to him. Knowing they wouldn't leave just yet, I pressed a button on the wall of the ship and the ramp extended outward. Striding down it and into the torrential rain, I was greeted by Taun We, Lama Su, and Heu Lei - the Kaminoans who owned these training facilities. They promised that my non-clone identity would remain a secret just as it would for the other recruits. As I was led to my new room, I couldn't help but feel happy and a bit anxious. Welcome to the next five months of my life, I thought to myself.

I knew it was time for the hardest part now - saying goodbye the ones that meant the most in my life. Ajiva was happy for me, despite her many tears. But Tighe...was another story entirely. Ajiva went to the cockpit in order to afford us a bit of privacy.

"Tighe," I began softly, "I have to do this, it's what I love. You can't stop me,"

He then turned to face me, his luminescent gazing boring into that of my own.

"I'm not trying to stop you. I just...didn't think you'd leave so soon. But I always knew you would join up someday,"

"But that's not the part that's bothering you. I know you and that's not it," I pointed out as he avoided my eyes.

He shook his head, "It doesn't matter. Not anymore. I just thought...I thought one day something would happen between us..."

My eyes widened in surprise. This was...not what I'd been expecting.

"Tighe. I...I don't know what to say,"

"There's no point now."

"Ti-"

"No, you know what? Save it. You never cared about me anyway."

"Tighe! You know I care about you,"

"Not that way,"

"Just listen to me!"

"No! I've had it with you! You-you just don't understand. If you felt the same way I do, you'd know-"

Taking us both by surprise, I did the first thing that came into my mind. My lips collided into his in one moment that seemed to last forever. But as soon as we broke apart, I began to question my own actions. Perhaps it had been a mistake. But before I could begin to feel embarrassed and sorry for myself, Tighe did the most wonderful thing. He kissed me back, cupping my face in his hands gently. This time when we broke apart, we were both grinning.

"I never knew you felt the same way."

"Neither did I."

We both laughed and my eyes fluttered shut as he took me in his arms. As the rain pounded on the windowpanes, I felt a heaviness in my heart. I hated letting this go...

"Siri?" Tighe asked softly, running his fingers through my hair.

"Hmm?" I mumbled, breathing in the scent of him.

"Be careful out there...and...don't forget me."

"Tighe, how could I ever forget you?"

"Just...remember me. Alright?"

Leaning back to look up into the familiar face that I loved so much before pressing a sweet kiss to his lips, I promised, "I will never forget you."

And no matter what life threw my way, I knew this one fact would remain true. Because one day, I would return to him and to my family. I would return as the soldier I was always meant to be in this life, someone to be proud of.