Private Way of the Warrior

[Janos Sovv]

SEA OF SAND
PONEMAH TERMINAL
WESTERN REACHES

This planet was going to kill him. It reminded Hero of neighboring Jakku only without the charm. Ponemah could not be tamed enough to even settle but its Southern Pole was particularly inhospitable. He staggered across the dune sea using his sullustan senses to avoid active lava geysers and keeping his eyes fixed on the horizon for incoming waves of caustic sand some of which could dwarf him in scale. Worst of all were the sand worms. Every time he felt distant rumbling Padawan Sovv froze in fear some massive creature would be drawn by his own surface vibrations.

"Size matters not."

Hero mumbled the old mantra without much conviction. His studies under Auteme were fulfilling intellectually yet there was only so much the Shield of the Jedi could teach him about lightsaber forms and dueling techniques. She understood much concerning the theory of combat but could not provide him with practical lessons. There were other instructors on Coruscant of course. Indeed many were now hardened crusade veterans he could only be so fortunate to learn from. Still he dwelled on what his family had told him before his early training on Sullust. If he ever needed help he should contact Coren Starchaser .

Of course when he finally picked up the comlink Hero hadn't expected he would be fighting just to survive the journey. There was probably a lesson here somewhere but the ion storm permanently raging across Ponemah's sky above filled him with such dread that he could only concentrate on moving forward. He gripped his star compass tightly in one hand while it honed in on coordinates Master Starchaser had transmitted. Sovv spied a jagged mound of crumbling rock on the horizon. It was the only landmark he could see. Long before he started climbing the sullustan spotted a lone silhouette meditating atop its low peak.

"Grandfather Jaius warned me about your sense of humor. I should have taken him more seriously."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The Jedi were keepers of the peace, yes, but they were also among the best warriors the galaxy had seen. From the ancient Jedi and Mandalorian Wars, to the Clone Wars, and many wars in between, the tales and legends of the Jedi stated they were always more than peacekeepers. The Jedi of the Galactic Alliance, the current and the one that he helped form also spoke different than what even the oldest texts said. As a one time Grandmaster, and someone renown for his wars against the Sith, Coren Starchaser understood how war worked, but even more so, he understood how to focus and summon the Jedi fighting spirit.

When a Jedi reached out to him, and one by the last name Sovv, Coren Starchaser could not turn the being away. The Sovv family, like the Ven family of Dac were families that Coren Starchaser would move planets for. Old Alliance families, who stayed to lead and direct and protect the Alliance.

Sending out a Star Compass to Janos Sovv to direct him out into the Western Reaches was the first step. He knew Sovv was capable, but he had to see how capable. Ponemah was a world on the Rim of the galaxy, and for Coren, that was where he found himself more and more these days, removed from the wars of the Core but never far from any Jedi who needed him. He was watching the galaxy from afar, he would be on Kattada often, but more and more he found himself hunting down relics of the past.

His mind was on his family, on Celeste and the girls, on Jared and Kaia and Kyra, reaching out to them from the depths of space, to understand the events of the galaxy. It was an odd trick he had picked up, but he was turning away from that for the moment. He was here to provide a beacon, someone for Sovv to find, and then it would be Coren’s duty to ensure the Sovv line was ready to continue their role of defending the galaxy.

Janos Sovv

 

[Janos Sovv]

SEA OF SAND
PONEMAH TERMINAL
WESTERN REACHES

Were it not for his innate climbing skills Hero would have been too exhausted to reach Coren Starchaser . Instead of wasting energy on a powerful leap the sullustan scaled up rock as if ascending another sand dune. Sweat beaded off his brow, an impressive achievement even in such warm climates. He could endure physical hardship but Hero's light sensitive eyes were practically blinded by Ponemah's oppressive suns. For the sake of his family name the padawan would not show weakness.

"Master Starchaser."

Sovv bowed low before the Jedi's most legendary wayseeker.

"We met once before when I was a child."

He did not expect Coren to remember. There must have been thousands of formal occasions on Sullust a decade ago. Hero's grandfather had merely been President of the Sullustan Council and Assembly representative for his homeworld. Yet the chance encounter formed a lasting impression on a young Sovv still discovering his latent Force connection. Ever since he could remember Hero had wanted to be a Jedi Knight and now here he was standing before his adolescent inspiration.

"I need someone to show me my place in all this."

Tentatively the sullustan held out his first lightsaber in symbolic offering. It was a crude industrial looking thing and yet its mechanisms were incorporated with an engineer's eye well beyond most students. He knew everything there was to know about its function except for how to properly wield it. Hero wanted to believe his master when she said there was always a better way but his grandfather had taught him a long time ago that if he wanted justice he should be willing to fight for it.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Working with Sullustans was second nature to the Corellian. As one of the honorary generals of the Sullustan Home Guard, and one of the founders of the First Galactic Alliance in the current era, he had lived for a long time on the crag world of Sullust. Working with them, and having his first mate being of the people, he was more than happy to test the beings from the world. And as the being was a friend and a Jedi, he wasn’t going to just allow him to walk into training. He wanted to make sure the Sovv was worth the time.

He knew that Hero most likely was. But he needed to see the Padawan in action.

From his spot on the hill, the Jedi Master could feel the heat from the suns, and was using that to ensure his own mind and body were found in a meditative trance, of a sorts. As he felt Janos Sovv arrive, and then heard the being, the Jedi opened his blue eyes to survey the Padawan. He wanted to keep a stoic face, but a grin came onto his features as the Padawan spoke more.

“I recall, I have very fond memories working with your family. Jaius was among my closest of friends.” He took a second as his mind drifted to the late President with somber remembrance. Eyeing the lightsaber, it was clear that Hero was not Jaius, for better or worse.

“And you sought me out? Does the New Jedi Order know you have?” Coren didn’t think there was an issue or bad blood between him and the reforged New Jedi Order, but teaching a Padawan could become an issue depending on things the Wayseeker may not realize.

 

[Janos Sovv]

SEA OF SAND
PONEMAH TERMINAL
WESTERN REACHES

"My master is...aware of her own limitations."

Hero seemed reluctant to say more. He knew the New Jedi Order could be sensitive about their limited resources and zealous philosophies. Learning to wield a lightsaber was about more to the sullustan than standing up for an ideal. This was his family's legacy. He could not fail Sullust. His people valued their traditions. Their bloodlines had formed an alliance before. He saw the same memories influence Coren Starchaser and knew this was the right decision.

"I don't need you to teach me the ways of the Force. My order values initiative. You've survived more battles than anyone."

At least Coren seemed happy to see him. He was pretty sure that was a human smile anyway. Far younger and far more uncertain than his namesake, Padawan Sovv at least shared the elder politician's quiet stoicism. They were both thoughtful creatures. His black eyes seemed penetrating with the same kind of fiery intensity behind them. Even though he was exhausted Hero remained too proud to complain.

"Grandfather always said your dedication to the light was unlike anything he'd ever seen. When I face my Trials I want to be ready. I..."

I cannot fail him.

"Will you you help me?" he asked instead.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The New Jedi Order of Coruscant was different than the one of Sullust. Different paths, different mannerisms, but a dedication to the war against the dark. He could, and did, respect that. The changes since the fall of his own Order, he became a wayseeker and was working with all Jedi. The Silvers helped provide him a ground to teach more of the Force, and he allowed the leadership of the New Jedi Order to know where he was, for those seeking his own instruction. Helping one who he was tied to, one whose family had proved themselves was incredibly important.

The galaxy was made of families, it always had, but there were those who stood out from the crowd of their own family. He wasn’t quite aware of why Hero was seeking him out, well, not until he began speaking. A self-satisfied grin came across his face. The Jedi Master stood, sand colored cloak over a blend of leathers and mesh underlay.

“You’ve heard a lot of legends about me, Hero. Surviving is important, but there has been great loss in my past.”

Coruscant, Sullust, Fondor… As he spoke, he could feel the souls lost from the Shadows Fall operation. Endgame, to the Alliance. But the drive and focus coming off of Hero quickly pulled him back from that.

“I can not promise it will be easy. I know your Master, and I know that means you have a solid base. But trials of combat and the body will push your resolve in the Force to its limits.” He took the Corellian Star, his lightsaber pike from his belt and extended the dark end, the songsteel end of the pike. He held it in a reverse grip.

“Have you begun instruction in the forms?”

Janos Sovv