Wes Janson spoke too soon...

[Corvus Raaf]

The Jewel of Corellia.

Coronet wasn't just a bustling urban metropolis located on the coast of the southernmost continent. Nor was simply a technologically advanced city with beautiful architecture.

And although Coronet's spaceport was second to none, these were none of the reasons Corvus was heading there. She was travelling because it was her home. She'd heard the reports that the One Sith were on their way. The Republic weren't ready to defend the planet - and although she sensed the presence of her former Master - this was not a journey to save the planet. That would have to come later.

She was going to say goodbye. Yes, the Jedi in her planned to return and save the city and the planet. But the Jedi in her was also drilled to plan for failure.


So she parked her ship as so many were going in the opposite direction and stepped out. She walked at normal speed but so many were going so fast, it looked as if she were in slow motion.

She took in the famous Treasure Ship Row - all boarded up. The mag-lev train system was silent. So she headed to the park she knew best. Across from the mall she'd visited six long years ago with her newly found big sister. It too was a combination of looted and closed down. She shook her head and then placed it in her hands. Her parent's and sibling's graves would be desecrated soon enough. She did not plan to wallow in grief - it just happened that way.

But as temperamental as the Force had been, it was tugging at her, not so much warning her but advising her. There was someone here. Looking up she felt the presence before she saw them. It was dark after all. It was a Light-sided aura and judging by its power, she was untrained. Corvus stood. Her robes would mark her out as a Jedi. And she waited, patiently.

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

She walked through the so familiar streets of the city that saw her bore and raised. Everyone was heading from one place to another, worried expressions plastered on their faces as they collected everything they could before heading to the spaceport and deserting Corellia.

She, on the other hand, moved slowly, trying to find one person in the massive mass of people, trying to find a needle in a haystack...her father. She was confused, she could always feel his presence, she didn't know why, but she always knew where he was and now something seemed to disturb this ability of hers. As though what had always helped her now refused to do so.

Knowing the Sith were about to invade her homeworld, that the Corellia she knew and loved would most surely remain only as a memory just added to the mix of emotions she couldn't help but feel. Her friends, her house, the hangar bay....everything would crumble into darkness and sorrow.

After some minutes, since walking while having to evade the hurried paces of the people had contributed to slowing her own, she arrived to the park across from the mall. Here there seemed to be less people but she suddenly felt the presence of someone in particularly, her green gaze was lifted quickly with new found hope that disappeared it disappeared, revealing the confused state of her mind, when she found a woman in dark brown cloak rather than her father.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

She was a girl not much younger than herself. Corvus laughed quietly. She spent the first half of her life thinking she was older than she was - always referring to people of her own age as young - and now, after six years of war, she was doing the opposite.

Corvus wasn't a teenager any more. She was 25 and every scar inflicted by the One Sith simply underlined her age. She was about the same height and build. Maybe a little lighter but time spent as a Jedi would add a little muscle to her frame. Not much, Corvus was often overlooked as thin, but muscles built for endurance didn't need to be big - and speed was more important to Corvus than power.

So she walked forward. She could sense the girl was lost - which was understandable given the circumstances - but more than that. She was clearly looking for someone or something. "Hello." She offered. Her voice calm and low. "How can I help?" There was no suggestion Corvus wasn't going to get involved, the only question was how. A young girl, alone in Coronet, her world torn apart by circumstance? Eleven years ago that was Corvus. She rubbed her left eye. It wasn't a tear - it must have been dust or something.

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

The young Corellian's green eyes were still locked on the Jedi Master, it seemed as though she had seen her before. Truth was, she knew she hadn't but still something felt familiar about her. The woman greeted her and as soon as the first words left her mouth she knew why she had this feeling, she was a Jedi.

Teaari had never seen a Jedi but had heard the descriptions of them one million times from one million people, the dark brown robes, the belt and the object that confirmed her discovery - the lightsaber attached to it. If the scenario was different she would have been excited of meeting a Jedi but in this occasion it only meant two things: that the Sith were coming and her time to find her father was coming to an end.

"Greetings," She answered, the gesture of nodding her head slightly accompanying her salute. "I am looking for my father but...he is no where to be found." She said, her gaze meeting the ground in defeat. For all she knew he had already left Corellia, most surely thinking she had done so also.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

At least Corvus hadn’t spooked her. Maybe her accent had helped. She’d spent over half her life in this city and she hadn’t lost the local twang.

“OK, let’s take this one step at a time. I have a few questions that might help. Firstly, are you a Padawan here at the local Academy? Secondly when did you last see your father?” She was going to add ‘what makes you think he might be gone’ but given the circumstances, that was an obvious one to answer.

As she spoke, she placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. Pulling the Force to her, she sent a calming wave through the young girl’s body. It would help her nerves if nothing else. But despite news of the One Sith arrival being officially just a rumour, she knew how worried the girl would be. “And I’m Corvus by the way.” Titles could wait for later.

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

Teaari felt how the weight in her heart lightened and the turmoil in her mind dissipated after the Jedi placed her hand on her shoulder. She inhaled shortly but deeply and once she was sure she would be able to speak and give the right information she answered, "No, I am not a padawan. I had never seen a Jedi before actually, I live far away from the Academy and they don't frequent that area."

She proceeded, "The last time I saw my father was six days ago. He was hired by a spaceship to accompany them on a short trip, he asked me to stay and help at the hangar were we worked. He was supposed to return sometime today but with the rumors of - of the Sith invading Corellia the spaceport is completley crowded. I'm not even sure if the ship he is in will be landing, especially since everyone is leaving" She finished explaining, she did her best to keep her voice firm, she was a strong girl, her father had taught her better than to let uncertainty take the best of her.

Then the Jedi introduced herself and she answered by doing the same, "I'm Teaari...Teaari Tann".

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus could sense the girl relaxing and she also had a name. She led her to a nearby bench and sat her down - and then joined her.

“I landed not long ago - but I was only given permission because I’m a Jedi. Only military craft are being allowed to land right now. All of the space-lanes are being given up to traffic going in the opposite direction. So if your father’s off-world, then that’s the best place for him. Now Teeari, we need to make a decision - or rather you do. Staying here is not a good option and I don’t think your father will be landing any time soon. And…” she lowered her voice. “Yes, the One Sith are coming. I only came by to see the place again before I head off to help the Republic cause. Sadly with so many planets to assist, Corellia wasn’t a priority. But we’ll be back. I’ll be back.” Her eyes went misty again.

“But back to your decision. You’re coming with me, that much is certain. I can’t leave you here. But in terms of the choice…I was wondering if you would consider being my Padawan. Don’t decide now. We can chat more on my ship, OK?”

Corvus stood up and led Teeari back in the direction of the hangar. “Now is a good time to ask questions by the way.” And for the first time since she landed, she smiled.

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

Teaari sat on the bench, her hands resting on her lap. She didn't liked it, she wished for it to be different but the words of the Jedi Master were true, her father wasn't returning and the Sith would be taking over her home. She didn't want to leave her homeworld but not doing so wouldn't be an intelligent decision.

The information took a moment to sink in but Teaari immediately grabbed hold of her determination and decided to confront the truth rather than denying it. She sligthly lifted her head and gaze from the ground in a sudden movement when she was offered to become her padawan, confusion appearing again. How was that possible? She wasn't connected to the Force like Jedi were - or at least that was what she believed. She didn't ask yet though, just stood up and walked next to [member="Corvus Raaf"], heading to the hangar.

Once the Master said this was a good time to speak her doubts Teaari looked at her and asked, "But...why do you believe I can become a Jedi?" She said, confused tone in her voice. She many times had dreamed of becoming a Jedi but she thought that was what it would ever be, a dream, a fantasy.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus realised she’d spoken without thinking. If the Corellian Jedi hadn’t taken Teaari in, it was because she’d never been checked for her midi-chlorian count. “Teaari, you are what’s known as a Force-user. You can control the Force. Granted at the moment it’s a little temperamental due to the recent war - but you can use it. And I sense in you a Light-sided aura - which means you can choose to become a Jedi.”

“And I say choice because it is a challenging path. A rewarding one without doubt, but challenging none the less. I can show you how to connect to the Force, to teach you how to use a lightsaber and use the Force to perform a whole range of things that you could probably only dream about.”

“So tell me, what do you know about the Jedi?”

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

The young Corellian nodded in understanding of the Jedi Master's words. She had heard that the Jedi had rough times, especially nowadays. She had also heard of the Fallen Jedi as well, though not as much as though who belong to the Order. She found it hard to believe that she was like them, or more accurately, could be. Nevertheless, she trusted [member="Corvus Raaf"], something told her she was speaking the truth.

"I only know what I've been told by others, although their descriptions were sometimes very contradictory. Jedi are the guardians of the Galaxy, they follow a code and help people, specially the ones who can't do so themselves." She spoke, her gaze somehow lost on the ground as she recalled what she was told by the space travelers.

She had as well heard that Jedi were cowards, selfish...that they wouldn't help no one unless themselves were threatened but Teaari had refused to believe this. She had refused to do so because she found the people who said those things untrustworthy and cruel, they were what they accused others to be.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened to Teaari;s words and nodded as they walked. “The Jedi Order are the guardians of peace and justice in the Galactic Republic. We serve the Republic and that means a lot of planets over a lot of space. But more importantly it means we’re not political. We don’t decide which planets to defend or people to liberate. The politicians do that. We simply do our duty.”

“And there are many Jedi throughout the galaxy but it’s fair to say we hold many views the same. But our Order has been linked to the Republic for thousands of years. The Code is a few lines of text but underneath it are a range of pillars and tenets. This you will learn as it allows you to live your life and make decisions as a Jedi should. I recite a line from one of the tenets every night before I could to sleep for example. I ask myself if there is truth between my heart and the Force. If the answer is yes, I can sleep well. And I always sleep well.” She smiled again.

“And don’t worry about your father, there are enough safe planets for him to go to. He won’t land here, I’m sure of that. Please continue to ask or share your thoughts.”

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

Teaari's gaze met that of Corvus when she spoke. She was truly interested in learning about the Jedi, she wanted to become one and help their cause, help to free the galaxy of the evils lurking it. She felt like by doing so she would find herself, she always tried to help other but couldn't do much in the situation that she was in, she and her father never had many things to spare and what they did, they gave.

A warm smile crept onto the lips of the young Corellian when [member="Corvus Raaf"] was done explaining, her words indeed relieved the worry that she felt for the well-being of the only family she had left. She had many questions to ask, there were many things she'd like to know but right now only one came to mind, one that would surely be a major faction for her to make the decision of whether she'd accept to become a Padawan or not.

"Has being a Jedi ever brought you suffering?....And if it has, was it worth it?" She asked.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Why did Padawans never ask the easy questions? “It depends what you mean by suffering. I have many scars - but I did not suffer in the sense you mean I suspect. And I have had to take lives - which has caused me the most suffering. Despite what people think, taking a life is the last option for a Jedi. It should mean that every other option has failed. But sometimes it is necessary.” She looked genuinely bothered when she reflected on this.

“But the greater suffering in my life has simply been through being a person. Most of my family is buried near here. I always struggled with being a person and never truly reconciled with them before they died. That caused more suffering than anything else if I’m honest.” She looked up at the sky for a few moments. “We should hurry,” she said and started to jog to the spaceport. “We don’t have much time.”

Corvus led them to the ship and rushed to the cockpit. “I’ll get us underway. Take a look around and join me when you’ve had a good look.” And Corvus started all the pre-flight checks and as soon as they were done, get them out of there and fast as she could.

[member="Teaari Tann"]

 

[Teaari Tann]

Teaari kept walking next to Corvus, she already knew that being a Jedi made having to end a life a possible outcome and of course she expected something like that to cause emotional pain. Nonetheless, she hadn't expected that most of the suffering the Jedi Master had been through was because of being a person....Teaari, as many people more for sure, sometimes forgot that Jedi also were people like them and that although they mastered them, they still felt, for example, the death of a close one.

The young Corellian started jogging also when she was told to make haste and a feeling of sorrow stroke her heart once more when she looked at the Corellian sky for what would surely be a last time in a long time.

"I am truly sorry to hear about what happened your family" She said, placing a hand on the Master's shoulder briefly before entering the ship. What she said she truly meant, Teaari had never met her mother and she still felt sadness because of her passing, especially because she could never thank her for bringing her to this word by being the daughter she knew she had deserved to have so she somewhat understood, though not completely, what the Master was speaking about.

She replaced her solemn expression with a small, kind smile, a gesture that helped her calm herself a little and dissipate some of the tension, "I'd rather stay here if it does not bother you, Master Jedi." She said. It was a beautiful ship with no doubt and there would never be any other place in a ship, maybe even in the whole galaxy, she liked better than the cockpit of a spaceship...that is if it didn't have a hangar bay.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus had no choice but to show the enormity of the risk they faced leaving the planet as he manoeuvred between other craft and cut quite a few corners to reach a spot to enter hyperspace just as the massive One Sith invasion fleet exited it.

Shaking her head she looked at Teaari. "I'm afraid it's started. I didn't want you to see that - but you will see even worse if you are to become a Jedi. Now, about that question - are you ready to give me an answer? I'm heading to Alderaan to help our efforts to liberate the planet and can drop you off on safe planet en route if you decide not to join the Order. Of course I'd like you to join but it has to be your decision."

[member="Teaari Tann"]