Over the Hills and Far Away

[Coren Starchaser]

The Tequila Sunrise,
Dawn Treader Executive Hangar
Geosync Orbit Annaj
Fringe Federation

Inside the ancient YT-2000, was a man out of time. Coren Starchaser was working to find himself. Unlike his partner, he wanted to connect with his past. But it... wasn't coming. It was as if he was on another plane of existance from where he once was. His memory was... foggy at best. He knew the day to day notions and skills. He could fly, drink, fight, access the Force, but even that was weird. Almost like it was coming from a long way away, through a pinhole in a wall. And that was why he removed one of the Starchaser holocrons from the vault in the Dawn Treader. The Ardellian clan was glad he was taking it.

Time to find out what he was. Where he came from, and where he was going to go. It helped to know where you started. Even if the last time he listened to one of the history lessons he could access, it was odd, like seeing an entry written about your own species. But hearing entries of Coren Starchaser, that was something else.

And then there was apparently a similar name sake situation early early on. Around the time of the Galactic Civil War, back when legends were born, Vader, Thrawn, Palpatine. That story was interestingly similar to his own. A pilot, quartermaster and rogue Force user.

That was where the story began, but for the intention of learning, Coren was focusing on the recent histories, post plague. Where the Dawn Treader was either rediscovered or rechristened. He was feeling there was something bigger at work here, and it was the former. Mystic, as it was.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Three families, the Starchasers, Ardellians and McLeans had found each other again. Along the way they picked up other families, a Sith Lord, and a Hand of Krath, Be it through the Force, or luck, or a combination of the two and good writing, but the trio, Coren, Lily and Scall, had found one another, through events that lead them here. It felt... nostalgic, the way it was repeating. It was different, but still, similar. Pilots, and commanders of a hallowed Wing had come together to bring their form of justice to the galaxy, to follow a proper Imperial leader. Something in the vain of a Chiss, and not terribly dictated by the use of the Force, or lead of the Sith. Sure, there were Sith in the Wing, according to the holocron. Each family had their own... view.

Ardellians were the mystics. The McLeans were the sword, and the Starchasers bridged the gap between the pair, and the normal world. It was as if the families each fell into a role around one another. While Coren was interested in the other families, he knew that his focus was to bring himself up to speed with his story in the holocron.

His story was simple. Son of someone from the Jedi Order, an explorer. And taking to that life like a fish to water. It lead him to a life of a smuggler, running and living by the gun and it nearly killed him. Finding his way to the Imperial Space was what saved him. Gave him purpose, put him into a proper education with the Force. Learning from the Sith, but not taking the path of a Sith, nor a Krath, just working the dark line between the groups.

Tasked with keeping the order.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

That was the issue, truly. Keeping the order. There was a story as old as time between the heads of the Ardellians and McLeans and it made the whole team, the whole crew of the Treader and members of the Wing stronger, as much as it nearly killed them all on multiple times. It wasn't always the Starchaser line that helped fix the issue, but the last time? It was Coren that found the way out to Csillia, burning through a new hyperspace lane. And it was his contacts that kept the ship fueled, repaired and crewed.

A knack for wandering the stars (go figure), finding the right equipment, and making sure the energy of everyone was unified, that was the Starchaser legacy. And that was the real last entry about Coren. The next, after Csillia was rediscovered by the Warbird Wing, not for the galaxy, but for this war tribe, didn't have mention of the Starchaser line.

Shortly they came back into the history. Right around the time when Jared was ready for service. But still, no mention of Kelly or Coren.

That was a mystery.

Apparently the answers weren't in the holocron.

That was when the Gatekeeper appeared again, instead of showing images of the past.

"I do recognize you, Coren Starchaser. However... you're different." The being, who may have been an ancestor, but Coren had ignored that piece of data, peered at him. "Something has changed. But it is time for you to pick up the mantle again. Even if the galaxy at wide will not have a use for you, your destiny is not always on the larger scale. The Force will bring you back."

Whatever the frak that meant.

And that was when Coren could feel the Force open in the Holocron. Was this what he was looking for?

Too bad there wasn't a saved character sheet with his skillset left out for him to mimic. But the next few minutes, the communing of the holocron and himself allowed him a glimpse into what his future could hold. Powers around absorbing and draining and revitalizing using the Force, powers surrounding the use of seeking that which can not be readily seen, and powers to protect, to connect and powers to change the world around oneself. He would get there. He would earn the powers.

He would learn and own them. He already knew one was presenting itself. His ability to find that which others can't. That was Force Sense. It was good luck. It was all of those. And reaching out to the minds around him, connecting.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There was a lot going on. It still wasn't... right. He was going to need to work on this. But there was... more? Yes, more. Definitely more. He could feel more of the world around him, at least his ship. It was... it had been an extension of him. This old bucket, this hot-rod of a craft. He really was going to need to catalogue this ship for the future. And see if Kelly wanted to use it, not as her personal craft, but he could trust this vessel, and she was one he needed to protect.

(He just didn't understand to what extent yet)

He was feeling the ship, it wasn't living, but it was his. It was what he read about the lightsabers. The electricity jumping between the circuits, the guns, the spice... spice. Now that was something he could use. Just needed to... euh, that was probably very old spice.

He'd have to replace that. Nar Shaddaa trip soon.

Back to the task at hand. (Because Coren was never good at that.)

Hedonist.

And fragmented.

Like his thoughts.

All a shuttle.

All a dance.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

But then there was the focus. That was what this exercise was, wasn't it? The Gatekeeper nodded, not needing the reawakened Starchaser to even speak. He knew what he was feeling. The Force. Granted it was over the hills and far away. Like he was in a desert and needing to quench the body before it crumbled. That sort of desire for the Force. But reaching out to the world? That was... refreshing. It felt familiar, yet new.

Maybe it was the way the galaxy had moved on?

Apparently life went on after the thrill of living was gone.

And that was now all going to change. He was still Coren, he just needed to learn this galaxy. The new face. The who is who.

He reached out farther with the Force. Beyond the Sunrise, beyond the hangar, and to the whole of the Dawn Treader. The families who were the leaders of this ship had brought so much of the Force here. And they were finding others like them. Forcers who weren't looking to follow the Sith, nor the Krath, just the Dark Side. And get the mission done. Make the galaxy safer.

That was what the Warbird Wing stood for. Enforcing Imperial policy based on the government they were supporting. And Jared, as the leader of the ship, had selected the Fringe Federation. And from all accounts, it was a good move. Solid choice.

Now he needed to get into fighting shape if he was ever going to fly with the Wing, or support them even remotely how he had in the past.

And that meant the Force.