Steve Rogers had spent the better part of three days in the guest quarters provided by the Jedi Temple, struggling with a task that seemed increasingly impossible. Aayla Secura had thoughtfully provided him with a comprehensive text on galactic history, and while he appreciated the gesture, the sheer scope of the material was overwhelming.
Before arriving in this galaxy, Steve had considered Earth's history to be vast and complex—thousands of years of human civilization, countless wars, political movements, and cultural developments that required serious study to understand. But galactic history was something else entirely. The book covered millions of years across thousands of worlds, involving hundreds of different species and civilizations that had risen and fallen long before Earth's recorded history had even begun.
Steve set the heavy tome aside and rubbed his temples, feeling the onset of what might have been the first headache of his enhanced life. The serum that had transformed him into Captain America had improved virtually every aspect of his physiology, but apparently it couldn't help him process information on such an incomprehensible scale.
Sam and Scott certainly weren't spending their time buried in historical texts. They had disappeared early each morning and returned late each evening, though fortunately without causing any diplomatic incidents. Steve suspected they were exploring the Temple or the surrounding city-planet, getting a practical education in galactic civilization that probably served them better than his academic approach.
Deciding that fresh air might help clear his mind, Steve ventured out of his quarters to look for his teammates. As expected, their rooms were empty, so he began wandering the Temple's corridors without any particular destination in mind.
The Jedi Temple was an architectural marvel that seemed to blend function with spiritual purpose. Every corridor and chamber was designed to promote contemplation and inner peace, with subtle lighting and flowing lines that created an atmosphere of tranquility. After several minutes of aimless wandering, Steve discovered a massive garden filled with plant life unlike anything he had ever seen on Earth.
The diversity was staggering—trees with crystalline leaves that chimed softly in the breeze, flowering vines that seemed to glow with their own inner light, and ground cover that responded to his footsteps with gentle bioluminescent pulses. The air itself felt different here, carrying a sense of peace and balance that seemed to settle into his bones.
"You seem lost," came a gentle female voice from somewhere among the exotic flora.
Steve turned and saw a figure sitting beneath what appeared to be a tree, though as he looked more closely, he realized that the distinction between the woman and the plant wasn't entirely clear. She seemed to be part of the tree itself, her bark-like skin and branching appendages creating a seamless integration with the natural environment.
"You carry yourself like a traveler," she continued, rising gracefully from her seated position, "but no—not a traveler. You're a warrior. A warrior carrying contradictions and burdens that weigh heavily on your spirit."
Steve realized he was looking at a Neti, a plant-based species he had read about in Aayla's history book. Unlike the subtle wrongness he had sensed in Chancellor Palpatine, this being radiated the same calm wisdom he had experienced with Master Yoda—ancient, peaceful, and profoundly good.
"Is my inner state really that obvious?" Steve asked with genuine curiosity.
The Neti smiled, a surprisingly human expression on her alien features. "The easier it is to read someone's heart, the purer that person tends to be. You are a truly rare individual, Captain Rogers—a noble warrior in the truest sense."
"You can call me Steve," he replied, impressed by her perceptiveness.
"I am T'ra Saa," she replied with a slight bow. "Steve, you seem troubled by something beyond the obvious challenges of your situation."
"I've been trying to understand... well, everything, I suppose."
T'ra Saa gestured toward the tree where she had been sitting. "Would you like to join me? Sometimes the best way to find clarity is to stop trying so hard to force understanding."
Steve hesitated briefly, then followed her to the tree and settled into a cross-legged position, placing his hands on his knees and closing his eyes. The simple act of stillness seemed to help organize his chaotic thoughts.
After several minutes of peaceful silence, he opened his eyes. "Thank you for the suggestion, T'ra Saa. I think I needed that."
"When I see someone in need of guidance, offering assistance is both my duty as a member of the Jedi Order and my calling as a servant of the Force," she replied with genuine warmth.
Steve closed his eyes again, letting one particular concept roll around in his mind. "The Force," he said aloud. "I've heard virtually every Jedi, and even some clones and senators, reference it. What exactly is it? From an outsider's perspective, it seems almost like a religion."
Instead of answering immediately, T'ra Saa extended her hand toward a nearby branch. A single leaf detached itself and began floating toward her palm, suspended by an invisible energy that seemed to respond to her will alone.
"The Force is the source of power for all Jedi," she explained as the leaf danced in the air above her hand. "It exists everywhere throughout the galaxy, connecting all living things. It is the energy that flows through every form of life, binding the universe together. We Jedi are servants of the Force and guardians of the life it sustains. I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me. Through the Force, we find balance, purpose, and our connection to something greater than ourselves."
Steve understood each individual word she spoke, but when combined, they described something that seemed to transcend his ability to comprehend. The vague impression he formed was that the Force these Jedi described was similar to how people on Earth might describe God—an omnipresent, omnipotent force that guided and connected all existence. If he hadn't known with certainty that he was in a different galaxy entirely, he might have assumed they were talking about the same divine presence by a different name.
"Earlier, some of the Jedi mentioned that they couldn't sense the Force around me and my teammates," Steve said. "What does that mean?"
T'ra Saa's expression grew thoughtful, as if she were considering how to explain something fundamentally incomprehensible. "The Force has placed what we might call a barrier around you and your companions. While the Force clearly brought you here for a purpose, you yourselves carry no Force sensitivity. You and your friends come from a realm that exists completely outside the Force's influence—a reality we can barely imagine."
"A world without the Force?" Steve asked, trying to understand the implications.
"A world without the Force, without the temptation of the dark side, without the constant struggle between light and shadow that defines existence in our galaxy," T'ra Saa confirmed.
"The dark side?" Steve asked, noting the ominous way she spoke the words.
Before T'ra Saa could respond, another voice interrupted their conversation.
"Master Saa," came a familiar female voice.
Steve turned to see Aayla Secura approaching through the garden, her blue skin seeming to glow softly in the filtered light.
"Aayla," Steve said with genuine pleasure. "Good to see you again."
The Twi'lek Jedi smiled with an almost playful expression. "The feeling is mutual, Steve. I hope you're finding the Temple accommodating."
She turned to address the Neti Master. "Master Saa, I came to say goodbye."
"You're leaving?" T'ra Saa asked, her voice carrying a note of concern.
Aayla nodded. "Commander Bly and the 327th Star Corps are ready for deployment. We're being sent to Hypori."
"Hypori?" T'ra Saa's frown deepened. "That's deep in Separatist-controlled space. The entire system is heavily fortified."
"I won't be going alone," Aayla assured her. "Masters Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti, and K'Kruhk will be leading the operation with me. Our combined forces should be more than sufficient for the mission."
"If that's the case, then perhaps my concerns are unfounded," T'ra Saa conceded, though she still looked troubled.
The two Jedi embraced briefly, then Aayla nodded respectfully to Steve before departing to prepare for her mission.
After Aayla left, T'ra Saa sighed deeply. "This war has brought so much suffering to the people of our galaxy. So many brave beings sent to distant worlds, many never to return."
"I understand that feeling," Steve replied, his voice heavy with the memory of countless friends lost in battles across time and space. "In every war I've fought, we've had to make compromises with our principles. We've had to do things that kept us awake at night, questioning whether the ends truly justified the means. War is indeed terrible, but sometimes it's the only way to protect innocent people and preserve the possibility of peace."
"If someone like you had joined the Jedi Order years ago," T'ra Saa said thoughtfully, "perhaps this war could have been avoided entirely. Perhaps you could have helped guide us back to our original purpose."
"Original purpose?" Steve asked, intrigued. "Has the Jedi Order changed significantly over time?"
The question seemed to touch on something profound and troubling for the ancient Neti. "It's a long and complicated story, one that you'll understand better as you spend more time among us. Let me just say that the Jedi Order of today is not quite the same organization it was in centuries past."
She gazed into the distance, her expression carrying the weight of millennia. "I believe that beings like you and your companions may represent the galaxy's—and the Jedi Order's—best hope for redemption and renewal."
Steve shrugged, his natural humility asserting itself. "I'm just trying to do what's right and get my team home safely. Saving an entire galaxy seems a bit beyond my capabilities."
T'ra Saa smiled with an expression that suggested she knew something he didn't. "Oh, Steve Rogers, I have a feeling you'll not only accept that challenge when the time comes, but you'll succeed in ways that will surprise even yourself."
As the afternoon light filtered through the exotic canopy above them, Steve found himself wondering if perhaps the ancient Jedi Master was right. After all, he had never set out to become a symbol of hope for his own world, but somehow that's exactly what had happened.