Legend states that the Gaaten orphanage was an establishment for displaced children from the Clone Wars, situated within an old building in a city on the planet of Gaaten. Among its residents were Samil, Gee'far, and Elish, all refugee children who possessed Force-sensitive abilities. During the Imperial Era, the Grand Inquisitor, who was the leader of the Inquisitorius, infiltrated the orphanage during the night to abduct these children. This led to the creation of a local legend about a monster haunting the orphanage. While the staff were unable to stop the Inquisitor's raids, he was eventually driven away by Kira Vantala, a survivor of the Great Jedi Purge, after Elish sought her assistance.
The Gaaten orphanage was housed inside an aging and dilapidated structure located in a city found on the planet Gaaten. The surrounding area was covered with the remnants and wreckage of ancient structures, with an abandoned temple located nearby. The orphanage's interior included a dormitory featuring several bunks where the children slept, along with a single window that offered a view of the ruins below. Additionally, there were classrooms and offices for the staff.
According to the story, the Gaaten orphanage was founded following the end of the Clone Wars in 19 BBY, with the purpose of providing shelter for children orphaned by the conflict. It provided lodging, educational opportunities, and formal schooling. Each season, Imperial transports would arrive, delivering more orphans discovered throughout the galaxy and collecting children selected for adoption.
Without the staff's knowledge, the Grand Inquisitor, the leader of the Imperial Inquisitorius, would occasionally visit the orphanage during his missions to kidnap Force-sensitive children. The Inquisitor would gain entry through the dormitory window, employing the Force to silence his target using his abilities, before capturing and removing them from the planet. Several children witnessed these events, leading to rumors of a monster abducting children, which the staff dismissed as mere childish fantasies.
By 4 BBY, the orphanage's staff operated in night and day shifts, overseen by an old woman responsible for the school's operations. During this period, Elish, a Force-sensitive girl from Malloran, was brought to the orphanage and became aware of the rumors. Utilizing her innate connection to the Force, she worked to soothe her fellow orphans, comforting them during nightmares and helping them overcome their fears of the supposed monster. Elish successfully fostered a positive atmosphere within the orphanage for a time after her arrival. This tranquility was shattered when a boy named Samil vanished during the night, leading to renewed rumors of the monster's return. Sensing Samil's Force sensitivity, Elish suspected this was the reason for his abduction and resolved to protect Gee'far, a fellow Force-sensitive Kessurian girl.
From that point forward, she stayed by Gee'far's side, growing close and forming a friendship. Soon, the Inquisitor returned, and Elish witnessed him entering the dormitory and taking Gee'far away. Noticing Elish, the Grand Inquisitor used the Force to silence her before departing, preventing her from alerting the staff. This time, the staff took Elish's account seriously, increasing night patrols and installing a new lock on the dormitory window. Realizing these measures would be insufficient, Elish visited the nearby temple and prayed for a Force-sensitive protector. Her prayers were answered when Kira Vantala, a former Jedi and survivor of the Great Jedi Purge, arrived on Gaaten and persuaded the staff to allow her to stay and safeguard the children.
Shortly after, Vantala sensed the Inquisitor's return to the planet, warning Elish and devising a plan to rescue her. That same night, the Inquisitor once again broke into the dormitory, silenced Elish, and carried her away. As he crossed the grounds, Vantala emerged from her hiding spot and confronted him, brandishing her lightsaber. The Inquisitor recognized her, dropped Elish, and engaged her in a duel, using the Force to disarm her. Elish managed to return the lightsaber to Vantala, who then slashed the Inquisitor with her blade and forced him into some ruins, causing him to flee in his wounded state.
Eventually, both the orphanage and the once-great city surrounding it crumbled into ruin.
The orphanage was featured in flashbacks within "The Orphanage," a short story penned by George Mann for the 2020 horror collection titled Dark Legends.