Legacy of the Shadow of the Jedi | REMAKE |

4. Cult of The Dark Whisper

|| Location: Bryx sector, Anzat system , Anzat||

|| Timeline: 100 BBY ||

The sun was high in the sky over Anzat, casting sharp shadows across the rocky terrain as Master Tholme and I circled each other. My lightsaber hummed softly in my hand, its steady blue glow a source of focus and calm. The years of training had refined my practice of Soresu, shaping me into a patient, deliberate fighter. Master Tholme's lessons had pushed me to my limits and beyond, teaching me to anticipate, to endure, and to respond with precision.

"Remember, Kodo," Tholme said, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand battles fought. "Soresu is not just about defense—it's about outlasting your opponent, about wearing them down until they make a mistake."

I nodded, tightening my grip on the hilt of my lightsaber. The air between us seemed to thrum with tension, every movement a potential strike, every breath a preparation for the next attack. But before we could engage, a sharp beep from Tholme's comm device broke the silence.

He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he deactivated his lightsaber and reached for the comm. I followed suit, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Interruptions during training were rare, especially on Anzat, where we were far removed from the galaxy's constant demands. This had to be important.

Tholme's expression hardened as he listened to the message, his features carved from stone. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I could feel the shift in the Force—a subtle tremor, like a disturbance in a still pond. Something was wrong.

He ended the transmission and turned to me, his gaze serious. "Kodo, we've received a Priority 1 request from the Jedi High Council. There's been a report of a dark side cult harboring a stolen Sith artifact on the planet Jandoon, in the Corva sector."

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Sith. The ancient enemies of the Jedi, shrouded in darkness and fear. I'd studied their history, their rise and fall, but the thought of encountering something tied to them—something that still carried their taint—was unsettling.

"What's our mission, Master?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We're to investigate the cult, recover the artifact, and neutralize any threat they pose. The Council fears that this artifact might be more than just a relic—it could be something powerful, something dangerous."

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I pushed the fear aside, focusing on the task at hand. This was part of my training too—facing the unknown, standing firm in the face of danger. But there was a small part of me, buried deep, that couldn't help but wonder what we might find on Jandoon. The dark side was more than just a concept, more than just an enemy. It was a force, a presence that could twist and corrupt even the strongest minds. And now, we were being sent to confront it.

"When do we leave?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Immediately," Tholme replied. "Prepare yourself, Kodo. This mission will test you in ways our training never could."

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. As I deactivated my lightsaber and clipped it to my belt, I couldn't help but glance at the horizon, where the sun was beginning its slow descent. The peace and isolation of Anzat felt like a distant memory already, replaced by the looming shadow of what awaited us on Jandoon.

This was no longer just training. This was real. And I had to be ready.

The journey to Jandoon was long, the silence in the ship only broken by the steady hum of the hyperdrive. I stared out the viewport, watching the stars blur into streaks of light, my thoughts swirling with a mix of excitement and unease. Master Tholme had briefed me on our mission, but there was a question that gnawed at me, one that had lingered in my mind since we received the call from the High Council.