Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold

Chapter One - When I Grow Up

 Nine year old Mira Wren-Bridger sat on the metal floor of the Mandalorian fighter known as the 'Starbird.' It was the only thing besides memories that she had left of her parents. She was a smart, fierce little girl with long beautiful blue hair, just like her father. It was in a braid because when it was not tied up, it went down to her waist. She wore a mostly orange colored set of traditional Mandalorian armor, like her mother's.

Many people told her that she had curious eyes, and she agreed. They were of two different colors, one brown like her mother's and one blue like her father's. But, she didn't hate them. She just hated how they made Kanan and Hera sad. Over the years, their daughter Dawn had become Mira's best friend and in a way, her sister.

The two were only three years apart, and were inseparable. They did everything together, even though they had very different personalities, they were the best of friends. Dawn was twelve years old, and was very much both her mother and father's daughter. The young Twi'lek-Human hybrid lived to be in the sky, while Mira would prefer to only go up on her own terms with a jetpack. She couldn't fly yet anyways, and at least legally, neither could Dawn. Dawn was also very calm and liked following the rules, like her father.

Mira however, was always getting into trouble no matter where she was. Dawn was constantly looking after Mira, as if the young Mandalorian Jedi was left alone for even a minute, who knew what kind of trouble she would get into. To a stranger's eye, the blue haired girl was as happy as ever. But in reality, she was sad and lonely. She was only six when her parents died, and she had suffered more than anyone her age ever should.

She walked around proud and strong, but inside she was weak and empty. There was so much out there, so much in this galaxy that she longed to see. But she couldn't. She was dangerous just for existing, just for being born into this life. The daughter of a forbidden love, a Jedi and a Mandalorian.

The young girl walked down the halls of her parent's ship. If she listened closely, she could hear their kind voices talking to her. The memories hurt and made her sad, but they also made her feel indescribable joy. She would give anything to get them back and to have them standing in front of her now, the three of them smiling and laughing. That was how it should have been.

But there was nothing there for her, only the empty halls of the once happy ship. She entered her room, and flopped down on the blue and orange bed. The walls were painted navy blue, with several different spray painted art pieces decorating them. One of Mira's favorite pieces was a red starbird, drawn like her mother's. It was more simple, and with straight lines and edges at the wings. She also made sure to add part of the Jedi Order's old symbol into the design. It gave her a sense of belonging, and it gave her hope in this dark world.

The girl looked up at the ceiling, and saw the 'Galaxy of Paint.' It was painted by her mother many years ago. Every planet that the crew went to, she would add it on the ceiling of the 'Starbird." The woman did this for Mira, so that her daughter could continue the painting in her room. And Mira did continue it, but she always seemed to look back at the painting of Scarif. She hated that planet with every fiber of her being, because it was where her parents had died. And she didn't even know that it was happening until the transmission came through.

She still remembered their last words to her, filled with both joy and sadness. "Mira, you do g-great things for the rebellion." Her father said, his voice breaking. Her mother's voice was also breaking, and it was clear she was crying. "Y-you make us proud, okay?" Mira snapped back to reality, and her own voice echoed in her mind.

"I swear to you, I will."