Aerin Magneta: Light Side

Aerin Magneta sat in her room, thinking. She was thinking of all the pain she had caused, as well as the pain inside her. She felt different, somehow - guilty. She had done some bad things, and now she was feeling terrible.

She was also feeling angry - an emotion she had felt a lot, mostly at those Sailor Jedi. But now, she realized, it isn't them who I should be angry with! Aerin thought of her so-called friends, the Sailor Sith. None of them really care about me! she thought. They just wanted to have someone on their side! They lied to me! They LIED!!

Aerin released her anger by crushing the molecules inside her comlink, using her magnetic powers. Then she hurled it across the room. It hit the ground in a smoldering heap.

She slumped to the floor, sobbing. She hiccupped loudly, not caring if the others heard her or not. They did.

"What's wrong?" demanded Keyla. She tossed her blue pigtails impatiently. "Tell me! Or do I have to beat it out of you?"

Just then, Emi appeared at her side. "Yeah, tell us, Aerin," she said, her tone as harsh and cold as stone.

"You really wanna hear it?" Aerin cried, turning her tear-streaked face toward them. "Okay. I'll tell ya. You never cared about me, you just wanted a loyal servant! Well, I ain't gonna stand for it! I'm leavin'!" She stood up and began packing her bags.

"WHAT? You can't leave!" Emi cried. "I won't allow it!" Then she began transforming, but Aerin escaped before she could.

Still angry, Aerin hurried down the hall, before the Sith could catch up with her.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Geri as Aerin bumped into her.

Aerin looked into the crazed girl's eyes. "Um, I'm goin' to the store," she lied.

"Then why do you have all your stuff?" Geri asked, her hands on her hips.

"Well..." Aerin couldn't think of anything to say. The girl might be crazy, but she wasn't stupid.

Aerin, thinking quickly, hurled a metal sculpture at Geri's head using her powers. The pretty but demented girl slumped to the floor. Then the silver-haired girl ran to the closet to get her cloak. It was maroon and way too large. It was also perfect for hiding.

Then, as if things couldn't get worse, Aerin bumped into someone else - Sith Lord Korriban! The tall white-haired man stood towering over the petite girl. "Where are you going?" he asked, his black eyes boring into her silver ones.

Aerin gulped. Maybe Geri was easy to get past, but him... "Well, I was just goin' to go... terrorize the Sailor brats." She tried to make her normally sweet-sounding, southern accented voice sound menacing.

"Sure." The tall Sith Lord shrugged.

Aerin could not believe her luck! She ran out the door, her heat beating loudly. Her feet pounded the sidewalks of Coruscant as she looked around. She needed a nice, dark, hidden cantina. All these were on the upper levels, so she decided to venture down into the lower levels. She looked at the dark, dingy, scummy lower levels. Anybody knew the lower levels were where the, um... unsavory types hung out.

She finally spotted a place that looked perfect - it was called Dasal's Place. She could hear the loud music from where she stood outside and smell the scents of all different drinks and foods. She opened the door, ready to begin a new life - or at least contemplate her current one. She didn't know it, but something inside that cantina was going to change her life forever.

Concealed under her hooded cloak, Aerin made her way across the crowded cantina. It was dark and smoky, and she could barely see a thing. She decided to sit in the back, where it was darker still. She just needed to be alone. Aerin let her head drop on the table. She was too tired to think - not to mention that her head was pounding. I think I’ll just rest a little while, she thought.

All of the sudden, Aerin felt a blaster being pushed to her head. “Don’t move,” a male voice growled. Aerin stayed right where she was.

“Oh no, another hold-up,” a voice said. Aerin cursed inwardly as the man pulled her up so she was facing him. She couldn’t make out the details, although she could tell he was tall and had dark - she didn’t know what color - hair.

“You’re coming with me,” he said, roughly shoving Aerin in front of him. She heard people screaming and jumping out of the way.

Why does everyone have to pick ME?!?! Aerin wondered to herself. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, she heard a voice.

“Hey! Put that young lady down!” cried a man.

“Hey pal, I have a blaster, you don’t, so beat it,” Aerin’s attacker said.

Then Aerin heard a sound- it was a humming sound. A lightsaber! she realized. Jedi use them!

The man with the lightsaber approached slowly. “Ooh, a Jedi, I’m so scared,” the man with the blaster said. Then he shot rapidly. The shots were deflected by the man with the lightsaber.

Aerin kicked the man holding her and began to run. She didn’t get very far because she tripped on her cloak. High heels and long cloaks don’t work! she reminded herself.

She heard a man scream just then. She didn’t know if it was her attacker or the Jedi, but one of them picked her up and began to run.

“Hey, put me down!” Aerin cried. She struggled, but the man was strong. Suddenly she felt very calm. She decided... to... relax...

Aerin opened her eyes. Where am I? she wondered. Her cloak had been taken off, now she was wearing the red jumpsuit she had on underneath it. Her shoes were also gone. “Hey - anybody!” she cried. She was in a ship of some kind, a very good one compared with some she’d seen. Its walls were polished neatly and everything was in order. She heard the sound of boots walking on the shiny floor and held her breath. Who could it be?

A man entered the room. He wore Jedi robes and a smile on his face. Which was very good looking, by the way. He had shaggy, dark purple hair and sparkling diamond-like eyes.

“Who are you?” Aerin asked, her heart beating quickly.

“My name is Jerel d’ Laria, and I’m a Jedi Knight,” the handsome man replied. “I saved you from that guy in the cantina, remember? I thought you would appreciate it. Right now we’re going to the Jedi Temple. They can help you.”

Aerin frowned. The guy sure was talkative for a Jedi. And she wondered something... “How did you know I needed help?” she asked, her silver eyes narrowing.

“Well,” he said, looking sheepish, “I kind of... um... did a mind probe?”

Aerin thought he was so adorable, she wanted to go up and hug him! But she knew that would make things a little more complicated.

“Hey wait - don’t those Sailor Senshi live there?” Aerin asked.

“Yes,” Jerel said slowly. “Why would you want to know?”

“No reason,” Aerin said, not looking into his eyes. She didn’t know how she was going to get out of this one... “Another thing - can I have my shoes back?” The Jedi laughed and shook his head.

Soon they landed at the Jedi Temple. Aerin cautiously got out of the Jedi Knight’s ship and looked around for any of the senshi. She didn’t see any, and that made her feel a little better.

“Okay, I’ll show you where Master Yoda is, and he can meet you, okay?” Jerel asked. Aerin just nodded.

Suddenly she heard loud, obnoxious giggling. She just knew it was the senshi.

“Mika, you shouldn’t be so clumsy!” a girl with long brown hair laughed.

The blond girl on the floor pouted and said, “I can’t help it Lysthea! I’ll never be graceful.”

Aerin gasped. Those were senshi, she’d know them anywhere! She was determined not to start beating them or something, so she shut her mouth and walked by.

“Hey, that girl looks so familiar,” Mika said, sitting up.

“Yeah, she does. I wonder who she-” Lysthea stopped. “NOW I know! She’s Aerin Magneta - also known as Sailor Sith Firrerre.”

“But why would she be here - with a Jedi?” Mika asked.

“A cute one, too,” Lysthea said. Then she added, “Mika, we’d better transform and follow them - just in case.”

Soon Mika and Lysthea were Sailors Yavin IV and Broxan. They ran down the hall, trying to catch up with the Sith and the Jedi.

“So, do you want to come here and be a Jedi?” Jerel asked.

Aerin, still slightly shaken-up from her encounter with the senshi, said, “I could be a Jedi?”

“Well, I sensed the Force in you when I first met you,” Jerel said. “I was surprised you didn’t use it.”

Aerin bit her lip and looked at the ground. She was reluctant to tell him she had been affiliated with the Sith.

Suddenly she knew what she needed to do - go to the senshi. She needed to talk to them.

“I have ta go,” she said, quickly running. “I’ll be back! Wait for me!”

Jerel just stood there, shaking his head as he watched her go.

Aerin stamped her foot angrily when she saw that the senshi were gone. I’ll just have to find them somewhere else, she thought.

Finally, Aerin spotted a senshi that looked very familiar. She had red-orange hair and was very pretty. She was sitting with two other girls - a blonde and a blue-haired one.

Aerin hung back to see what the girls were saying. She gathered up her courage and approached the girls. “Um...” was all she could say.

The redhead’s eyes widened. “Oh my - Aerin - transform, people!”

The other senshi began to transform, but they were stopped.

“I promise, I’m not here ta hurt you. I just wanted to... talk,” Aerin said.

The blond one put her hand on her blaster and didn’t take her eyes off Aerin.

Aerin told them the whole story, about how she wasn’t a Sith anymore and was found by Jerel. “And so,” she said, “I’m not sure if I want to be a senshi. I’d rather make my living some other way - I’m just not sure what. I know I have a special gift, but...” She raised her eyes to look at the senshi.

“I understand,” Ippin said softly. “You would rather be alone and not handle the pressures, right?”

“Well,” Aerin said, “maybe I could be a lone senshi - like Sailor V was?”

Ippin and Priire looked really confused, but Kyoko nodded.

“Also, I’m not sure what will happen if I try to transform - will I be Sith Firrerre or just Firrerre? I’m... so confused...”

“Well, the only way to find out is to try,” Kyoko said.

Aerin pulled out her wand and said, “Firrerre Magnetic Power, Make UP!!!”, omitting the “Sith.” Silver light washed over her, and when the transformation was done, everyone gasped. Her fuku was now all silver, with no red.

“I guess I’m the Silver Soldier,” she said, wondering how those words came out of her mouth.

“It must be your destiny,” Ippin whispered.

Aerin detransformed and continued talking. “I don’t think I want to be a Jedi either - I’m just not sure.”

By then Ippin had contacted all the telepathic senshi and spread the message about Aerin.

The next day, as Aerin was getting ready to leave, Annika ran up to her. “Hey, Aerin,” she said breathlessly, “I have to tell you something. I saw this guy in Coruscant Cantina, and he was talking about a ‘beautiful, silver-haired child’ called Aerin!”

“What - how would he know - me?” Aerin asked, confused.

“I don’t know,” Annika said. “And he spoke in this accent I’ve never heard before - wait, yes I have. It was just like Sailor Concord Dawn...”

“Who’s-” Aerin began, but then she remembered the girl from Germany. Her silver eyes went wide, and she felt faint. “Oh my gosh, Annika - he’s my father!” she cried, tearing past the white-haired girl and out the door.

“Ooo-kay,” Annika said slowly, then chased after Aerin.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Annika asked breathlessly, catching up to Aerin. “I wish Kirana was here so we could teleport,” she mumbled.

“I have to find him, Annika. What did he look like?” Aerin asked.

“Well, he had blond hair and-” she began.

“That’s him, I know it,” Aerin whispered excitedly. “I have to go in there and let him see me! I have to!”

“All right, Aerin,” Annika said. “But don’t be all disappointed if it isn’t him.”

“It will be,” Aerin said confidently.

The two girls walked into the cantina, keeping an eye out for the mysterious man.

“He’s not here,” Aerin whispered, close to tears.

“I’m sorry, Aerin,” Annika said, hugging her.

Just then, they heard a voice. “Hey, who are you two pretty girls looking for?”

“Hm? Oh...” Aerin trailed off in horror as she realized she didn’t even know her father’s name! Tears came to her eyes as Annika comforted her. “I - I don’t know his name. But I have a picture...” she sniffled and handed the man the picture of her father she always carried.

“I’ve seen that man!” he exclaimed. “His name is Kurt Magneta and he went to Nar Shaddaa. He’s a smuggler, you see. Here’s his address...”

Hope flowed through Aerin’s heart as she turned to Annika. “Pleeeeease?” she begged.

Annika smiled. “Of course, Aerin,” she said. They thanked the man and left for Annika’s ship, the Silver Swan.

On their way to Nar Shaddaa, Aerin stayed quiet. She was thinking of how to approach her father - show him the picture? Or would he know her?

“We’re here,” Annika announced. Aerin gulped and followed the white-odangoed girl down the ramp.

It took a while, but the girls finally spotted Aerin’s father. He was talking to a strange-looking alien. The alien waved and walked away.

Aerin whispered to Annika, “That’s him.”

“Doesn’t he look a bit young to be your father?” Annika whispered back. “I mean, he looks just like the picture...”

“I was thinking that too,” Aerin whispered back. Then she gathered up her courage and calmly walked toward him.

His blue eyes changed from sad to extremely happy and surprised. “Are you - I mean - Aerin!” he exclaimed.

“Daddy!” she cried and threw herself into his arms.

“I knew you would come back to your home galaxy one day!” Kurt cried happily as he hugged his daughter.

Aerin blinked in surprise. “What did you say?” she asked softly.

“Aerin, you were born on Naboo. Your mother had gone to Earth and met me there. Then she took me here, and you were born. Soon, though, she decided to leave me - she didn’t like my smuggling ways - and she took you. I was devastated, but I didn’t know how to get back to Earth. She never told you about your true homeworld, she wanted you all to herself. But I always knew that, somehow, we would meet again.”

“I ran away from home, Daddy,” Aerin said. “I couldn’t stand Mama - she was so mean to me! Everyone was, just because I’m... you know... different.” She looked up at him with innocent eyes. “So I was brought here by Keyla, a Sith - she somehow lied to me and sucked me into her trap. I fell for it. But don’t worry, I’m not with the Sith anymore.”

“Um, I have a question,” Annika piped up, raising her hand. “If you don’t mind my asking - how do you still look the same, after all these years?”

“Well,” Kurt said, “I met this wizard who gave me eternal youth. Me and my daughter.”

“You mean, I have eternal youth too?” Aerin asked.

“Well, this is what I mean. We still get older, we just always look young.”

“Oh.” Aerin nodded. “I know what I want to do,” she said suddenly. “I want to stay here, with my father. It’s the best life for me.”

“All right, Aerin,” Annika said. “We’ll miss you. I hope to hear from you!” She waved and got into her ship.

“I finally found my destiny,” Aerin said. “The place I’m supposed to be. My dream of wanting to belong - has come true. I...” She wiped away her tears.

“I’m overjoyed, Aerin,” Kurt said. “I thought I would never see my dear child again. But here you are, right in front of me! I can hardly believe it.”

Aerin stood there hugging him for a very long time.