On the planet Tao, Lop, a child of the Empire's forced labor camps, and her droid, TD, race through the streets, where they are forced to steal to survive.

When a kind man, clan leader Yasaburō, and his daughter Ochō, find the hungry orphan, they invite her to join their family despite the patriarch's initial hesitations. Free from her chains, the trio take a family photo.

Seven years later, the Empire's occupation has left the planet in ruins and its people on the verge of rebellion. Lop awakens after an explosion to find her father and sister fighting in the street.

Lop tries to persuade them to stop fighting, but it's no use. Ochō believes they must side with the Empire for protection. Yasaburō is prepared to fight for his planet's freedom.

As Imperial soldiers arrive, most of the workers scatter. Lop and Ochō jump in a landspeeder and drive off. Lop tries to convince her sister to see their father's point of view, but soon discovers she's too late.

Believing she's acting in the best interest of the household, Ochō meets with an Imperial officer and Lop discovers her sister is already working for the Empire. As the successor of the Yasaburō clan, and for the future of her planet, Ochō slices off her hair and joins the officer, leaving Lop holding her sister's braid.

Back at home, Lop tries once more to reason with her father, who is planning to set off explosives to drive the Empire out. Lop vows to protect their planet and bring her family together once more.

To give his daughter strength, Yasaburō leads her to a sacred room to apologize for putting her sister before her and bestow a precious heirloom to the adopted girl. The floor suddenly illuminates with symbols and Yasaburō tells Lop of their family.

Hundreds of years before, a Jedi came to the world and entrusted his ancient weapon to one of Yasaburō's ancestors. On this day, Yasaburō gifts it to Lop, a symbol of the bond between parent and child, whether joined by blood or choice. Lop respectfully accepts the offering and the mantle as heir and head of the family.

Yasaburō departs to meet with Ochō once more. After nightfall, an explosion rocks the Imperial stronghold in the city center. The rebel attack has begun.

Lop races to her family. Her father and sister are fighting again, this time with swords. When Yasaburō is distracted by Lop's arrival, Ochō strikes him down, blinding him.

Yasaburō begs Lop to save her sister, but this time it is Ochō who protests the girl's inclusion as family. He urges Ochō to disassociate herself from the Empire. "I can't turn back now!" she screams.

As Ochō leaps forward to strike her father, Lop puts herself between the two, igniting the laser sword. Ochō is astonished. "The treasured family sword!?" she says. "The successor is me!"

The sisters battle. As Ochō lashes out angrily, Lop tries to reason with her. When her droid is destroyed in the process, Lop finds strength in the Force and defeats her sister.

Or so she thinks. With a glare, her sister flees on an Imperial ship and Lop is left with only her memories.