Diamond in the Rough

Kinosaki Renako sighed with relief. It was just a dream! The horrible blaster fire, the screams of pain -

Then, with a start, she realized it was real! She had been stunned, and was just now waking up.

“What’ll we do with the kid?” She heard voices, but couldn’t see anything through the smoke. She also couldn’t move - there was too much rubble on top of her.

“Help... me,” she said weakly.

Renako felt the heap of rubble being lifted off of her delicate body. Amazingly, not one bone had been broken. She looked up, her black bangs obscuring her vision. She saw two men. “Who are you?” she whispered.

The shorter man just laughed. “You’re coming with us,” the other one said.

“But, Tercel-” the shorter man said. “Shut up, Jace.” Tercel looked like he had a plan. “Have you heard this kid sing?” he asked. “Oh, yeah, good idea,” Jace said.

Renako asked, “What have you done with my parents?”

“We... took care of them,” Tercel said and laughed wickedly. Renako gasped. “Sorry we have to do this,” he said and aimed his blaster...

“Where am I?” Renako asked. Then she remembered it all and began to cry.

“Stop cryin’, kid!” ordered Jace. Renako whimpered and tried to hold it in.

“How would you like to be a star?” Tercel asked, coming in. “We could go to Coruscant tomorrow. You could sing in the club Coruscant Corner.” Rena-chan just shook her head. This enraged Tercel. “Well, I already made arrangements - you’re going to go!” He stormed out of the room.

Renako curled up, hugging her knees. A tear trickled down her cheek.

“Kid, if you cry again I’ll blast ya,” said Jace.

Renako knew he wouldn’t, since she was too valuable to them. They only bothered with her to get credits. Renako wanted to be valuable, but not in that way.

“We’re here!” cried Jace.

Renako gasped. Coruscant was the most beautiful city she’d ever seen - much more beautiful than Nar Shaddaa, her former home.

“Now to find the place...” Tercel muttered, pulling Renako along. She ran, despite her uncomfortable black heels. Jace and Tercel insisted she dress up, OR ELSE. She wore a strapless white dress and elbow-length white gloves.

“Here it is,” Tercel said, looking up at Coruscant Corner. The neon purple lights shone into the night.

Renako stepped in. She could hear the other acts preforming already. She noticed three girls at a table who were looking at her oddly. She thought the black-haired one looked vaguely familiar -

“You’re up next!” cried Jace, staring into her unusual eyes - one yellow and one green. Renako never sang unless she felt like it- and right now she definitely didn’t feel like it. But she knew she had better, or else maybe they would do something to her!

“Here she is, everyone, a bright new star - Kinosaki Renako!”

Renako stepped onto the stage. Strangely, she wasn’t at all nervous - when she sang, she never was. She began to sing her favorite song, “Dreams,” by Jila Sand of Tatooine. It was a slow song, and she had the prettiest, sweetest voice of anyone the audience had ever heard. She finished to thunderous applause. People threw flowers at her feet. Jace and Tercel quickly pushed her along, off the stage.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“We got to go to the recording studio. You’ll make us a million!” they cried. But Renako broke free, running to the girls at the table. She felt drawn to them, as if she knew them. Especially the black-haired girl...

But, much to her dismay, they weren’t there anymore. She looked around, in a panic. It was a matter of seconds before Tercel and Jace found her...

“Renako! Over here!” cried a voice. She wondered how they knew her name, but followed. She was met with the three girls at the table, but now they were wearing different outfits.

“Come on,” one said. She had auburn hair in loopy braids. She led Rena-chan to a ship, rather beat-up-looking but well-taken-care-of. The four girls ran up to it and were greeted by a young man with streaked hair. “Don’t ask questions, just trust me,” said the girl as they boarded the ship. It quickly took off.

When they were safe the girl said, “I am Sailor Bespin. This is Sailor Shooting Star-” She pointed to a girl with purple hair. “-and this is Sailor Kessel.” That was the girl who looked so familiar to Renako. “You are Sailor Chibi Kessel,” said Sailor Bespin. She handed her a wand with an emerald at the end. “Hold this up and say, ‘Chibi Kessel Power Make Up’.”

“Chibi Kessel Power Make Up,” Renako said. She didn’t actually say it; she sang it. Suddenly she was wearing a yellow and green outfit with black boots. “What happened?” she asked. Then she knew. “I am Sailor Chibi Kessel, Senshi of Power and Kindness!”

“You are also the Guardian of Song,” Sailor Bespin said. She handed her a staff with a golden glaive on the end. “You hold this and sing out. Then your enemies get all confused. Also your attacks are ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Banshee Scream’. You’ll know, when you need to use them.”

Then Sailor Kessel stood up. I need to talk to you. Renako heard the voice, but her mouth didn’t move.

“How does she do that?” asked Sailor Chibi Kessel.

“Telepathy,” answered Sailor Shooting Star.

Renako, I am Pikapika Koumi-

“Pikapika?” asked Sailor Chibi Kessel. “That was my old last name! Before I was adopted - I was found when I was one...”

We are sisters, then, Sailor Kessel said.

“I have a sister? Wow...” Sailor Chibi Kessel hugged Sailor Kessel. “I thought I had no family...” Tears glistened in her eyes.

“Welcome to the Sailor Jedi, Chibi Kessel,” they all said.