I finally finished Star Wars Jedi Survivor and after playing through the ending, my muse hit me with a new plot to continue Cal's journey which is much more different than the one I had going on in Redemption. Fret not, I will finish Redemption as well but currently my muse is unforgiving and making me write this one instead. It's been two years since I last updated Redemption and to my readers who are all eagerly awaiting an update, I apologize and promise I will update that one soon. I've come too far with that one to abandon it now *sweats*. I just happen to have real-life stuff that got to me and a lot has happened with work and other things. I mean, it took me a year to play Survivor after it first came out *sweats more*.
Anyways this new story will focus on Cal/Merrin as a pairing but I will also be adding two of my own OCs in as well for companions for the Mantis crew. After playing through Survivor and finding out about Tanalorr, I have a good idea of how I want this story to go.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars franchise or anything related to it aside from my OCs and plot.
Summary: With Tanalorr under their control, Cal and his crew focus their energy on contacting members of The Hidden Path to rebuild a new home. A fateful encounter with two surviving Jedi gives Cal the hope he needs to fight back against the Empire. Unbeknownst to him, this encounter would bring him closer to the dark side of the Force….
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Star Wars Jedi Survivor: Hope
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Chapter 1: Unlikely Allies
The Mantis leapt out of hyperspace to the familiar planet of Koboh hovering in the distance. The compass in Cal's hand had done its job of guiding them out of the Koboh Abyss safely and back to the galaxy they all knew. Now that they were sure Santari Khri's invention works, everyone was a lot more optimistic in rebuilding a new home for themselves on Tanalorr.
However, in order to do that, first they must locate the scattered members of The Hidden Path and guide them through the Abyss to their new home.
"Strap in, we're approaching Koboh," Greez said as he slowly brought the Mantis into Koboh's orbit.
Cal sat down in the co-pilot seat and prepared himself for landing. Merrin was chatting quietly with Kata in the back of the ship, most likely talking to the child about the death of her father Bode.
Taking the blaster out of his holster, Cal ran a hand over the metal surface of the weapon and exhaled a long breath. He should have sensed something from Bode since the latter was a Jedi, but from the first moment they met and became friends, Cal felt nothing from Bode. No wonder it was so easy for Bode to fool everyone into thinking he was an ally.
Until the betrayal on Jedha that led to the deaths of Eno Cordova and Cere Junda.
Even now Cal could still see the image of himself crading Cere's body just moments after Vader had pierced her through the chest with his lightsaber.
It was his naivety that led to the deaths of two Jedi Masters.
Though Greez repeatedly said it wasn't his fault but Bode's, a part of Cal was drowning in guilt and sorrow at his own failure to protect what should have been the legacy of the Jedi. Now, all that was left of the Archive were the three books Merrin managed to save.
"Hey, it's not your fault kid."
"Are you reading my mind now?" Cal inquired with a small smile as he looked at the Lateron.
"I know that look on your face Cal. I told you before, it's not your fault but Bode's. We were all too complacent and comfortable to realize he was working with the ISB."
The Mantis slowed down as they neared the landing pad of Rambler's Reach and touched down gently.
Pushing out of his seat, Cal grabbed his lightsaber and walked off the ship behind Merrin and Kata. The child was in awe at everything around her, most likely due to her being hidden in Nova Garon most of her life by her father. When she spotted a Nekko in the stables, Kata excitedly ran over and one of the prospectors introduced her to the two-legged creature.
"Do you want to ride one?" Cal asked as he noticed how excited she looked.
"Can I?" Kata's eyes lit up at the mention of riding a Nekko.
Reaching out with the Force gently, the Jedi Knight calmly tamed the Nekko and hoisted Kata up on its back. A laugh escaped her lips as Kata lightly grabbed hold of a bunch of feathers to steady herself. Merrin sat behind the girl to guide her around the ranch so she wouldn't fall.
"I'll be in Pyloon's Saloon."
"We'll see you there," Merrin called as she gently urged the Nekko forward.
The saloon was full of patrons as usual the moment Cal walked in. Greez was already in his usual spot talking to Monk. The others were chatting and having a good time, completely unaware of their surroundings.
BD-1 peeked over his shoulder and flattened its antennae
Beep. Boop. Fweeee.
"Yea, good idea buddy. Let's go check up on Zee."
The two headed upstairs to the upper level of the saloon and found Zee in her usual spot checking over the data discs Cal had picked up on his journey.
"Cal! I'm so glad to see you're back!" the droid said enthusiastically.
"Thanks Zee. We made it back thanks to the compass your master invented."
"I'm so glad to hear Master Khri's work has been completed after all these years! Oh, if only she was here to witness this scene."
"I'm sure she'd be proud of you Zee," Cal responded with a smile.
The droid waved her hand happily in the air and went back to studying the disc to decipher any data hidden within.
Seeing how everyone was currently busy with their own thing, Cal glanced at BD and decided to head outside for some fresh air to clear his head.
Frantic footsteps echoed in the air as two silhouettes rushed through the wildlife to escape their pursuers. Dead leaves crunched underneath their shoes followed by twigs snapping every so often. One figure was injured in the abdomen, a steady stream of blood flowed out of the wound and dripping onto the ground.
"Hang on a bit more Teldass," his companion urged.
"Who are these raiders…they're relentless."
The two of them had arrived on Koboh in hopes of remaining incognito and starting a new life together but the moment they stepped out of their ship, the duo found themselves at the receiving end of threats from people calling themselves the Bedlam Raiders.
They demanded the two to hand over anything of value as a tax of sorts, but when Arsel and Teldass said they had nothing of value, the raiders refused to believe them and attacked.
Now they were running from the raiders.
"Up ahead! I see a cave!"
The duo escaped deep into the cave and waited for their attackers to give up. They held their breaths and paused, hearing footsteps getting closer and closer to the cave until the noise suddenly ceased.
A loud roar rumbled from outside and the raiders were sent scattering as a Bilemaw charged at them from below the waterfall, angry that its territory had been encroached upon.
"I'll go check," Arsel said quietly.
She crept towards the entrance and noticed the raiders were fighting one of the wildlife, which meant they were most likely safe for now.
That was until one of the raiders knocked over a pillar and sent a bunch of stone tumbling onto the creature, rendering it unconscious and lying on the ground. Their attention turned back to Arsel and the Togruta cursed quietly inside her mind.
"Back off now," she growled angrily.
"Who are you to stop us?" one of the raiders sneered, taunting her with his weapon.
Arsel wished it didn't have to come to this.
Reaching around her waist and lifting the loose belt that hung around the fabric of her pants, the Togruta unhooked her weapon and ignited it. A beam of pure blue hummed loudly in the air as she pointed her weapon at her pursuers.
"Is that a lightsaber!?"
"She's a Jedi!"
"You messed with the wrong Togruta," she said and lunged forward.
Cal was in the middle of taking in the scenery and clearing his mind when he felt a pull in the Force. Thinking it was just a figment of his imagination, the Jedi Knight closed his eyes and focused on meditating again but found himself unable to.
Beep?
"Yea. I felt something BD. Something in the Force is being called on."
Opening his eyes, Cal got up and focused on sensing his surroundings. A flash of light in the distance drew his attention and he jumped off the cliff he had been resting on.
"Up ahead," he said.
Boop! Beep!
"No. I don't think it's something dangerous…"
Following the brief flash of light he saw; Cal ran towards the direction of the waterfall where he knew a cave was nearby. The closer he approached, the stronger the disturbance in the Force became.
Then he heard it.
The distinctive hum of a lightsaber.
Had one of the Inquisitors found their way to Koboh and tracked him down!?
Beep beep!
"Hang on buddy."
Hiding behind a rock, Cal peered around and noticed a figure fighting off several Bedlam Raiders. It was a Togruta female wielding a lightsaber with grace as she cut down the enemies attacking her with ease.
Cal's eyes widened.
Another Jedi!
The last raider fell with a thud on the ground as Arsel breathed heavily. She stared at the lifeless bodies laying before her feet briefly, then switched off her lightsaber and hung it back on her belt.
She had hoped to keep her identity a secret, but these raiders forced her hand.
At least no one else was around to witness the battle thankfully.
With their attackers now dead around her, Arsel turned around and ran back into the cave to her companion. Teldass was still in the same position on the floor, his hand pressed against the wound on his abdomen.
"Tel! Hang on, let me heal you now."
Reaching a hand over the wound, Arsel closed her eyes and focused. The Force reacted to her call and the wound on Teldass began to heal until new skin had grown over the area.
"I'm fine now Arsel," Teldass said as he slowly sat up.
Footsteps approached from behind and the duo's instincts kicked in as a blue and yellow lightsaber were ignited simultaneously.
"Wait! I'm not your enemy!" the stranger called out in the darkness.
"Who are you!? Show yourself!" Arsel demanded.
The duo were shocked when a blue lightsaber stared back at them in the darkness.
"A Jedi…"
To be continued...
Thoughts? Comments?
Arsel is a Togruta female Jedi Knight wielding a blue lightsaber
Teldass is a Tholothian male Jedi Knight wielding a yellow lightsaber