Cere Junda

> "We will always struggle. But that is the test. It's the choice to keep fighting that makes us who we are."
> ― Cere Junda, to Cal Kestis
>
>

**Cere Junda**, a Force-sensitive human female, was a former Jedi Knight and Seeker who mentored Padawan Cal Kestis in the ways of the Force during the reign of the Galactic Empire. At one time, she served as the Padawan of the scholarly Jedi Master Eno Cordova before taking Trilla Suduri as her apprentice. In the aftermath of Order 66, Junda severed her connection to the Force and disappeared into hiding, while Suduri fell to the dark side of the Force and joined the Imperial Inquisitorius as the Second Sister. Determined to overthrow the regime that all but annihilated her fellow Jedi, Junda dedicated herself to the secret restoration of the Jedi Order.

After years of living in seclusion, during which time she partnered with Greez Dritus, Junda rescued Cal Kestis on the planet Bracca, where her fallen apprentice was attempting to kill the Jedi fugitive. She and Kestis embarked on a quest to recover a Jedi holocron which contained the names of Force-sensitive children across the galaxy. During their time together, she took it upon herself to complete his training and gave her old lightsaber to Kestis, who used it in conjunction with his first master's lightsaber to create a weapon of his own on Ilum. Though they eventually recovered the holocron following a deadly duel against the Sith Lord Darth Vader, Junda and Kestis decided to destroy it so it couldn't fall into the Empire's hands.

Years later, Junda and her crew were attempting to reconnect with other Jedi such as Jarik Shan, who had recently gained galactic-wide fame for his attack on the Empire's capital. After learning the Empire tracked Shan to Dxun, they swiftly traveled there and aided him in a battle against Darth Vader. Following this, they traveled with Shan to the rebel base on Atollon, where they officially joined the Rebel Alliance, though she passed on as a Force spirit during the final battle with Suduri during the Liberation of Lothal.

## **Powers and abilities**

> "Yes. Strong with the dark side. I feel it inside of her."
> ― Darth Vader
>
>

As a former Jedi Knight, Junda possessed the Force-sensitivity and skills required for such a position. While she cut herself off from the Force shortly following the Great Jedi Purge, due to the trauma inflicted upon her by the Galactic Empire, Junda was a powerful Jedi. She possessed skill in lightsaber combat, and could create a Force barrier similar in appearance and potency to a ray shield, a barrier that was capable of stopping Darth Vader's lightsaber briefly. Junda was also a fine marksman, capable of using a blaster to great effect; when using a lightsaber and a blaster side by side, Junda easily handled a multitude of Purge Troopers, soldiers trained to kill Jedi. To her own horror, however, she was also quite strong with the dark side of the Force, capable of inflicting mass destruction and killing a multitude of people when giving in to despair, fear and rage. Junda was notably capable of bringing the incredibly powerful Vader literally to his knees with the power of the dark side and hold him down for a brief period of time, something the Sith Lord was greatly impressed by.

## **Appearances**

* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 41: Ghosts of Geonosis Pt 1" (first mentioned)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 45: The Challenge" (indirect mention only)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 47: Vader's Vendetta" (first appearance)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 48: Against All Odds"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 49: Goodbye, For Now"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 50: Through Imperial Eyes"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 51: Secret Cargo" (indirect mention only in a flashback)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 69: Wolves of Dume Pt 2" (main story and recap)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 70: Wolves of Dume Pt 3"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 72: World Between Worlds" (mentioned only)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 73: A Fool's Hope"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 74: Taking a Gamble"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 75: Liberation of Lothal" (main story and recap)