Chapter Text
Chapter One- Beginnings
Veran could have won the fight, but then no one would have learned anything and his secret would have been blown. He saw the training blade coming for his side. He knew he couldn’t block fast enough. He knew he had other options, but that would be over kill. Literally.
Though it was only a training blade, the impact still hurt, and Veran doubled over. Zesh, Veran’s “attacker,” immediately gave a triumphant cry, backed up, then brandished his training blade in a bunch of unnecessarily fancy moves.
“I finally got you!” Zesh said beaming as he swung his sword, rustling his padawan tunic and blonde hair.
Veran grabbed his side and stood up. That was embarrassing. “Ya, well, I let you get that in. I figure since you’re always being trained by Master Cal, it might be nice for you to know what a successful hit actually feels like.”
Zesh scrunched his nose in disapproval. Veran merely laughed to distract from his pulsating side. Zesh was only a sixteen year old padawan and Veran was twenty-one year old Jedi knight. If he hadn’t been so distracted thinking about his next deployment, he would have beat Zesh naturally, without having to make excuses, or resort to his “other option.”
“No offense, but how can you take out two Gundarks by yourself, but not be able to to block a teenager?” Jedi Master Proy, a coy looking Twi’lek, had apparently been silently judging the training session from afar, and now came to bring his input. Great, now there was a witness. He’d never hear the end of this.
“I was holding back,” Veran said, which was kinda true.
“Sure you were,” Proy chuckled, “Or perhaps you were too busy daydreaming about being off on another assignment.” Veran crossed his arms and tried to pout, but couldn’t help but break a small smile. Proy read him like a holo-recording. “I know your eager to get back out there, but the New Jedi Order can’t spread itself too thin galavanting across the galaxy. We take turns for a reason.”
“I know.” He did know, he just didn’t like it. He always felt useless waiting around the Jedi Temple.
“You could always help with the restoration project. This temple still isn’t near what it was like in the glory days.”
Veran nodded and looked at the mismatch temple around him. Some areas looked good as new with smooth metal and newly installed lights, while other areas still held onto to their corrosion and old plants. He liked that. It gave the place personality. It represented what everyone was striving for; a union of the old and new Jedi order. After the Empire was destroyed, Veran’s father, Luke Skywalker, had joined with the few other Jedi survivors and created the New Jedi Order. Though it’s purpose of being intergalactic peace keepers remained the same, Luke had done away with the ideals he thought weakened the old order. No marriage, reluctance to act, etc…Now the Jedi were small, but effective. They brought hope wherever they went to a galaxy struggling to find it’s feet again. Veran snapped out of his musings and looked down to check his chronometer.
“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Zesh chuckled, “You must have checked your chronometer at least seventeen times this morning. It’s not going to make them come any faster.”
“They’re late. Sorry, I’m going to see if father know’s what’s up,” Veran said starting into a jog. He ran through the training areas and straight to the conference room, almost running into an astromech on the way. His father was probably in the meditation chamber at this time in the morning.
As he suspected, Luke was sitting comfortably on a round chair in the meditation room. His once dirty blonde hair had turned brown with wisps of grey throughout and his beard matching. Everything in his attire was typical for a Jedi master, excluding the black glove he wore over his cybernetic hand.
Veran cleared his throat. Luke smiled and opened one eye.
“Yes?” Luke said. Veran was well aware that his father knew what he was going to ask.
Veran opened his hands in response. “You’re not worried in the least? It’s been over a day since they were supposed to arrive.”
“This is your uncle we’re talking about. When is he ever on time?” Luke stood up. “You know their fully capable of taking care of themselves. What we need to focus on is our own problems.”
Seeing the opportunity to change the subject to his advantage, Veran stepped closer.
“Do those problems require a newly appointed Jedi Knight?”
Luke raised an eyebrow, then caved in with a sigh.
“Actually, yes. I wasn’t going to tell you this until Han got here, but seeing as they’re more late than usual, I’ll tell you now.” Luke started walking to the conference table and activated it. A blue hologram showing the known galaxy appeared before them. Luke selected a planet covered in ice.
“Illum?” Veran said with surprise. “Haven’t been there since I got my kyber crystal.”
“Yes, I’ve left a surveillance droid there for many years near the kyber caves, to make sure their are no unwanted visitors. Kyber crystals are very expensive on the black market and in the wrong hands, very dangerous.“ Luke’s countenance fell, no doubt thinking of the massacre of Alderaan. “We have to protect those caves for future generations. My surveillance droid picked up some activity out there. Not much, but consistent. I think someone’s scoping out the area and trying to get into the old temple there.” Luke pointed to a section on the planet “I want you to take Zesh out there and discourage any pillaging. That area is protected by the New Republic, but they’ve given us the authority to deal with pillagers.”
“They better,” a voice behind Veran said. He turned around to see his mother, Mara, entering the room. Her long red hair, something Veran had inherited, fell neatly on her Jedi robes, as she crossed the room and deactivated the hologram. “If it weren’t for Mon Mothma the New Republic would probably have claimed the whole planet. Then we would have had some problems”
“Nobodies perfect. Let’s be thankful for what the New Republic has given us.” Luke responded with a knowing smile.
Mara smiled back. “Absolutely, and pitch a hissy fit for what they haven’t. Anyway, I came in here to tell you two that the wait is over. I just got a transmission and they’re almost here.”
“Better late than never,” Luke mused, “We better go hear the ‘grand tale’ of why they were late.”
“Maybe this time it’ll be a bit more grand than last year’s Lothcat infestation.” Mara said as she rolled her eyes and joined Luke. Veran followed behind as they passed through the weaving temple halls. People were beginning to notice that they were going to receive visitors, and the new padawans were perking up. While Luke sent the Jedi to help all across the galaxy, they themselves rarely got visitors. Two large doors swung open, letting in sunlight and the fresh smell of forest. Right on queue, the distinct sound of old engine exhaust came cracking across the face of the temple, the sight of the Millennium Falcon following.
It was a wonder to Veran how that ship still flew. It was a piece of junk, but it held a lot of nostalgia and good memories for Veran. How many times had he played hide and seek in there as a child or lost to his father at holo-chess?
The Falcon touched down in front of the temple, a large clunk as it’s weight set down. Soon after the loading ramp opened and three familiar faces emerged. Han, Veran’s uncle, strafed down the ramp, not as fast as he once would, but still with vigor and swagger. His wife Leia, took her sweet time coming down, taking in the smells and sights around her. Last but not least came Veran’s cousin and partner in crime, Theo. Wearing an amalgamation of Jedi robes and smuggler gear, Theo had shaggy black hair and an intense gaze, always looking for risks to take, something he inherited from his father.
“What was it this time?” Luke said with a smile.
“You don’t want to know,” Leia answered. Han scoffed.
“At least not until were sitting around a roasting Minok. I need the right atmosphere for this one.” Han embraced Luke and Mara, then gave his signature grin to Veran. “I figured you would be half way across the galaxy by now.”
“Soon,” Veran answered. He walked past Han and shook his head at Theo. “Whatever held you up better not have got in the way of my request.”
Theo, taking his sweet time, cracked his knuckles, took something out of one of his belt pouches, and tossed it to Veran. “I’m hurt that you doubt me.”
Veran caught the metal piece. It was an old broken holocron. He examined the beautiful craftsmanship and incredible details. It was truly a treasure to see holocrons, even old ones. Most of the known holocrons were in the temple, collected by Luke years ago. Veran chuckled. “How do you do it Theo? You always get your hands on such rare stuff.”
“Luck I guess.”
“He scoured the old jedi temple on Curoscant from top to bottom for you.” Leia interjected. “I’m shocked he found anything after all these years”
“Ya, how did you get in?”
“Being royalty comes with perks,” Leia winked.
“Well, we don’t have any Minok’s to roast but I need a report nonetheless. Let’s go inside and get some food.” Luke ushered everyone inside. “I’d prefer to get all the boring details out of the way first.
Veran laid on his back with his hands behind his head. Luke and Han were talking about the specifics of Han’s reconnaissance and Mara and Leia were finishing off dinner. Thinking through the details of his next mission, Veran was too wound up to sit through meetings or eating and had escaped to the temple roof. Theo sat on the ground next to him. Theo wasn’t one to talk too much, but if there was one person he opened up to it was Veran. By looking at him one would think he was very stoic and logical, but if you were around him long enough, you’d soon realize that his parents biting humor, pride, and brash reactions were not lost on him.
“One of these days you’ll have to come with Dad and me on our excursions. I don’t know how you can stand being here for so long,” Theo said. He had in his hands a woodcarving that he was chipping away at with a vibro-dagger. He was very focused and Veran knew if he made him mess up, he’d get a slap in the face.
“Helping the younglings and restoring the temple distract me. It’s not bad.” Veran answered.
“True, I guess sometimes I miss the peace here.” Theo looked out at the countless stars. Veran laughed and rolled his eyes.
“Ya right. You like the danger and you know it,” Veran said punching Theo in the side. He forgot to check if Theo was still working on his sculpture, and immediately retracted his arm. Luckily he wasn’t and Veran only got a raised eyebrow from Theo.
Theo continued to sculpt. A bit of silence filled the space between them. Veran reached out in the force and felt uneasiness in Theo. He decided not to prod him, but Theo switched that.
“You still doing it?” Theo finally said, his voice more serious. Veran shifted, but kept his composure.
“Yes,” was all Veran responded with. He wished he could give a different answer but it was what it was. The quite came back again.
“Does Luke know?”
“No.” If his dad did know, it would probably break his heart, or make him go into a fit of rage. “Do you still do your thing?”
“Yes.”
“Does Han know?”
“Probably. I don’t know.” Theo didn’t sound too concerned about it. “He may not be force sensitive but he has his instincts.”
More silence.
Veran sighed.
“Do you want to stop?” Theo said. He was pressing more than usual, but Veran couldn’t blame him or say it wasn’t welcome. He was the only who knew his secret, meaning he was the only one Veran could open up to.
“Yes, no, I don’t know.” Veran ran his hand through his hair, “It’s hard you know. It comes so naturally to me, and without it I’m not very good.”
“You’re fine.”
Veran sat up to get his point across better. “No, I stink and it sucks. But I love my dad and I don’t want to let him down. I now it goes against what he teaches, and he’d never be caught dead doing it himself.”
“So…”
“So… I don’t know. I want to be the Jedi that my dad is striving to create. He’s right and I want to protect what he’s built. I just wonder if I can really be a part of it.” Veran rubbed his temples. “So many people have left this temple, given up on the hope of being a Jedi, afraid of the responsibilities.”
“You cried for three days when Aila left.”
“I did not!” Veran cried indignantly, “I was just mildly upset. I was twelve. Either way the point stands, she left. They all did.”
“The galaxy is a big and crazy place. It needs all the light it can get. You may be flickering, but sometimes that’s all that’s needed.”
Veran turned his head to Theo with the expression of a stunned Womp rat.
“Well aren’t you philosophical today. I didn’t know such wisdom was hiding in your stale mind.”
Theo only answered with a grunt. Veran took that as ‘your welcome.’ He got to his feet and wiped off his pants. In two bounds he had force jumped from the temple roof and onto solid ground. Theo was in no hurry to follow.
Veran was about to step inside and join the rest of the family, when his mind was pricked by something. He looked around, sensing something, but like always he could see nothing. Like always something seemed off, but the feeling didn’t go away.
“Tch,” Veran said to himself as he ignored it and entered the temple, “Go away.”
After a day of recuperation and good company, Veran was still eager to commence his mission. Preceding a heartfelt goodbye from his mother and aunt, and a chide from his uncle for not taking him along, Veran had wrangled Zesh onboard their starship The Sojourner. Soon Veran found himself in hyperspace on route to Illum. He was reading old logs on the Mandolorian Wars when Zesh came to the cockpit and slouched into the seat next to him. He was fiddling with the hilt of his lightsaber.
“You really shouldn’t do that you know. You’re bound to get a lightsaber through the face.” Veran warned.
“Don’t worry, I’ll aim it at the ship controls.” Zesh sighed. “Every time I leave the temple I get anxious. Guess it makes me homesick.”
Veran decided to hep district him and looked up from the holo-logs. “You don’t talk about your family much. You’re from the Reformed Imperial Colonies right? What was that like?”
“Well, after the Empire became the New Republic, many people still held onto the traditions of the Empire, recent and old. They made colonies under the New Republic but with the culture of the Empire. It was pretty good for me. My dad is a senator so we were pretty good off.” A sense of worry came from Zesh. Veran picked up on this and decided to probe.
“Do you wish you never came to the temple?”
“Of course not! I want to make a difference and it was my choice to come. I just… worry about who I left behind. I’m not so sure my parents think that being a Jedi is the highest calling I could pursue.”
“Wanted to send you to the little senators academy huh?”
“Yes, ugh, that would have been awful.” Zesh chuckled to himself, “Probably would have gotten thrown out.”
“For obsessive and unnecessary questions no doubt.” They both laughed. “I’m sure you’ll get a visit from your parents soon. Until then, we have pillagers to scare off.”
Zesh contemplated for a bit, still messing with his lightsaber, then returned to the back of the ship. A little knot tied its way into Veran’s stomach. Somehow he felt like what he said didn’t help much. His father probably would have reassured him and given wisdom to set Zesh for life. Veran made a mental note to work on his wisdom dispensing later.
Within an hour the icy atmosphere of Illum was in view through the Sojourner’s cockpit. Veran landed the ship a good ways away from the Jedi temple. The intended landing area had been changed so much though the years it was impossible to land there anymore. Veran and Zesh dressed appropriately then lowered the ramp. Immediately, cold air blasted past the ship opening, discouraging any to approach. Veran looked at Zesh, who was grimacing at the blizzard as if in a attempt to intimidate it.
“Come on. You can suck it up.” Veran responded.
Ice crunched under Veran’s boots as he stepped on the planet’s surface. The wind bit and barked at them as they made their way to the temple. The only way Veran could tell where he was going was by the scanner he was gripping. It showed only ice formations ahead.
Soon the scanner was detecting a large structure deep in the ice. Why the temple wasn’t around a place with kyber crystals that was warm, was a question that Veran irritatingly pondered as he trudged forward. The wind seemed to pick up and push harder. The air felt thinner.
Veran took a step forward, but felt an unearthly chill through his body. It was not the cold, but something he could feel in the Force. Instead of stopping, he pressed on faster. Whatever it was, Veran was sure it would pass. Temple’s like these tended to give one strange premonitions.
Soon they made it to the only visible sign of a structure, an ornate door buried in ice, already open with snow pilling in. Luke was right. Someone had come uninvited. Veran proceeded though with Zesh close behind. He pushed back his hood and opened his mouth in surprise. The inside of the temple was vast and majestic. A still and silent scene preserved from an age long gone. Unlike the temple back home everything was perfectly preserved. The smooth engraved walls spanned in front of Veran and invited him to behold their secrets. The muffled sound of the wind outside contrasted with the eerie emptiness before Veran.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” Zesh whispered.
“Me too, but we came here to do a job. Let’s go.” Varan started his trek into the temple with as much fake confidence as he could muster. The ice had closed off pathways and threatened them with large icicles overhead. They had to be creative and work their way through tight spaces and large ravines.
“Any ghosts around Veran?” Zesh said examining every nook and cranny, “You’re like haunted right?”
Veran gave Zesh a raised eyebrow. He hated that his reputation was preceding him. “I’m not haunted, I just sense things that aren’t there and sometimes I see some force ghosts watching me.”
“What do they say?”
“Nothing. That’s the weird part they just watch me with judgment in their eyes.”
“Don’t force ghosts usually… I don’t know… help Jedi.” Zesh slightly tripped over a groove in the ground and continued walking.
“Ya, well not me. It’s happened since I was a child so I’m used to it.” Veran cut through some ice to open a doorway.
“You Skywalkers. Doesn’t Theo have something weird about him too?”
“What did I say about questions,” Veran smiled.
He entered another icy hallway, when he suddenly felt the chill again, and stopped in his tracks.
“You ok?” Zesh inquired.
“Something’s off. Something’s missing.” Veran looked ahead, feeling like something should be there.
“I don’t sense anything.” Zesh said peering ahead as well.
“Exactly.”
Veran turned around.
Behind him stood a man.
Veran grabbed Zesh, backed up, and ignited his two lightsabers. The man, dressed all in black robes and sporting an intense sneer on his hollow face, merely examined them. Veran entered a battle stance as Zesh ignited his own lightsaber.
“You’re trespassing. Leave.” Veran threatened. The man had no reaction to the lightsabers. That wasn’t a good sign. He studied Veran’s face intently, then gave a slight menacing smile.
“Veran Skywalker.” The man’s voice was deep and sounded like it was mixed with the roar of an engine. “How fortunate.”
“How do you know my name?” Veran said. He was tempted to attack the man and take control of the situation, but that wasn’t the Jedi way. Sometimes he really wanted to strike first.
“We are similar, you and I. Members of an extinct order, climbing back into the light of the galaxy.” The man reached in his robes, and to Veran’s surprise, took out what looked like a lightsaber. A sense of intense dread, settle into Veran’s mind.
It couldn’t be.
The man ignited his lightsaber, and the red glow bounced of the surrounding ice, setting a terrible aura around the man. Veran, grasped his blade tighter, his eyes fixed the ominous red color, a color that had instilled fear into his mind from a young age. It was like coming face to face with a fairytale, or a nightmare.
“You know what this blade represents? Good.” The man took a step forward. “You will soon have one of your own, and it will be your companion of justice, as is mine.”
Another step and the Sith had covered the distance between them. Veran blocked, but had no time to think before another attack came. Veran was beset by a continuous barrage. The only relief came when Zesh attacked, splitting the Sith’s attention.
Even distracted the Sith’s attacks were precise and powerful. No wasted movement. No sign of a struggle.
The fight soon started to turn against him. He could feel his defense weakening and his strength fading. He breaths got harder and his muscles stiffer.
Veran had to get Zesh to safety. But how?
A prick of fear shot through Veran, reminding him that this was real, making him stare into the possibility of death.
He would have to use it.
Doubt covered the fear, making him hesitate. The Sith cared not for his hesitation, and growing annoyed at their defiance, unleashed a new level of rage that tore at Veran indiscriminately, breaking ever so slightly his controlled facade. Veran’s mind responded by shutting everything out, including reason.
He had no choice.
His vision narrowed and his pulse quickened. Heat rose in his chest and simmered in his mind. He looked for another opening from Zesh. Surprise was his weapon now and he had only one shot. Zesh was pushed back by an attack from the Sith.
Veran stretched out his fingers, a sizzling sensation traveling through his arm and bursting at the end. Lightening reached out from his hands, grasping at the Sith. Unprepared, the Sith took the initial blast and stumbled backwards.
The lighting stopped for only a moment as Veran took a breathe, catching Zesh’s shocked expression and the Sith’s amusement. Veran, reached down in himself and let the lighting loose again. The Sith used the Force to abate the flow of lightning. Stepping forward, he resisted and pushed back. Fear, rose in Veran again and he couldn’t maintain the lighting.
The electricity vanished and the Sith closed the distance. Before Veran could react, one of his lightsabers was thrown out of his hand.
Instead of attacking, the Sith reached out his hand in front of Veran’s face.
Veran’s whole sense of being was thrown and a splitting pain seared through his mind. Grabbing his head in pain, he felt the impact as his knees fell to the icy ground. Everything grew compressed and his thoughts became distant.
He felt the Sith invading and consuming his mind. Reaching into every space and pushing it back into his skull.
Suddenly he was snapped back and opened his eyes. A weakness fell all over Veran and he fell his hands. The Sith stood before him, confusion in his tone.
“You resisted,” the Sith said, “How curious. The blood of a Skywalker is strong indeed. No one has ever been able to resist my abilities.”
“What did you do to me?” Veran panted.
“Nothing, though my intention was to bring you to me. To force you to your correct place in the universe. To turn you to the dark side.”
“That’s impossible.” Veran tried to to get up, but his body forced him back down.
“Oh, it’s quite possible.” Veran saw the Sith’s feet shift towards Zesh. Veran looked up, and using the force, the Sith pulled Zesh to his side and disarmed him.
“No!” Veran screamed, “Don’t touch him!”
“This is how things are going to play out. I need you, so you will do what I say without question. This ‘rebirth’ of the Jedi, so thoughtfully concocted by your father, is over. The true age of the Sith is already upon us.” Holding Zesh in place the Sith reached out his hand again. “There is a holocron, deep in the vault of the ruins you call your Jedi Temple. Using technology of the past, Luke Skywalker has sealed it. The only key to this vault, is a Skywalker.” Veran’s eyes widened. How did the the Sith know about the vault? “Comply and I will spare all those at the temple. Refuse, and my Sith Order will not only slaughter the weak, but I will capture and turn everyone remaining padawan and Jedi Knight to the dark side.”
A terrible scream, burst from Zesh’s throat. He grabbed his head and writhed in pain. Veran could feel the force being distorted around Zesh and felt his pain as his own. His stomach twisted and he cried out. The cold air around seamed nothing compared to the void that was forming Zesh. Black veins spread out around his eyes and his skin grew pale.
The pain stopped.
Zesh opened his eyes, and to Veran’s horror, they were yellow. Zesh looked around, as if the world around him had completely changed. Veran didn’t want to believe it. He couldn’t process it.
The Sith slowly walked to Veran and dropped to one knee.
“Do you understand now?”
Veran looked to the side. The visage of an unknown force ghost stood watching him, silent as always, waiting for Veran’s next move.