What is family? Is it the people you are born to? The ones that raised you? No. Family is a group of people, who have all suffered much loss, but still finding hope with each other. Family is the people you share a ship with. Family is the people who will protect you, and you will protect them. If anyone had asked Alayna what family meant to her, two week s ago…she would have responded with the Jedi Order. Now…?
Family was the Mandalorian who brought two night sisters, and his daughter on a mission you set up. A man who is filled with honor, and a love far bigger than she had seen in a long time. If at all. A man who would do anything to protect the lives on his ship, even if he had no reason too, and would keep himself and his daughter safer.
Family was a little girl, in her teens. Eyes wide with wonder, and excitement. A girl with a love and a passion for her craft, be it droids or just flying. She has survived many things already, and has come out stronger. Without you, she might not have survived the Rakghoul plague. But you knew of the hospital on Coruscant. You and the Nightsisters gave her a chance at life. That is more than some people had already.
Family was two Nightsisters and their weird magic. You didn’t agree with it. Thought it a gateway to the dark side. They proved you wrong though. They have shown control over such things. They have done everything to keep this family safe. Without them, that girl would have died because of you. They helped beyond anything. They didn’t have to. Why would they in any other situation. They weren’t bad people at all. You had much to learn from them, and a respect for their craft that only kept growing.
Family was the Padawan you train. One that you failed, where that failure filled your nights with terrors. She was here now though. She survived because of you going back for her. She was a sister to you. The Jedi might have all mostly been killed, but you saved a handful of them, and especially her. You would do anything for her, and hoped that despite everything…your training would help guide her.
Family was two clones that could have lost their minds. If they had followed the same path as the rest of your battalion, they would have killed you and everyone else on the ship. They didn’t though. They were there with you for a lot of things. Battles against the separatists, and the events on Cularin. They survived and still see you as their General. You know they would protect everyone on this ship.
So what was family? Family was the group that found themselves after horrible circumstances. Family was the people that could laugh, and help each other on this ship. The Jedi forbid attachments and took you at a young age from your biological family. But these people? They were your family. You would lay your life down for any of them.
Alayna had these thoughts while in her room on the ship, after their harrowing escape. If the Jedi heard her having such feelings and attachments, they would probably try to turn her away from such feelings. They would tell her “There was no Emotion, There was Peace.” And two weeks ago, she would agree with them. Now? She knew the code was flawed. They weren’t always right. That is what she would remember when around her family. They were the family she never truly had, until now.
