SotP Tales - Prelude to Twilight
Ahch-To - Vision of Corruption
Daniel disliked it when the Force was vague. As important as what he had seen on Dagobah was, he knew that trying to untangle it would be an arduous task – not unless he got help, and at this point, he was not ready for it.
The most concrete thing he had been able to discern was that the Jedi were under threat from something – which wasn't necessarily the Sith – and that Palavola was connected somehow. That alone made him wary, because there was simply no possible way to investigate that detail without arousing suspicion from someone.
That someone being a certain zabrak woman if he was especially unlucky.
He had been tempted to speak to Yaden, but decided it was too soon. He needed something stronger than a vision, and it wasn't out of the question that the current Eternal Watcher would speak to Palavola immediately instead of doing something quieter, which Daniel believed was necessary for now. No, not the time yet.
He still had other options; other nexuses of power to investigate.
Another of which he would visit soon, though not before meeting with a woman he knew he could trust.
"What you saw may not mean what you think," Lara'ritten said, cross-legged on a couch opposite the bed, her chin resting on one fist after he had finished telling what he'd seen. The tips of her lekku twitched, a subconscious habit of hers that revealed her true feelings, and that he had learned to interpret long ago as discomfort. " 'Always in motion is the future, and many possible futures there are.' "
The corners of his lips curled up at the quote, mildly amused. "I suspect Yoda never experienced something like this. And he wasn't right about everything."
"No, but I think we need to be… careful," she frowned, lekku signaling concern; her eyes distant before she snapped them back to his, "While visions are important, we shouldn't make decisions based on something we still don't understand."
"Which is why I'm waiting," Daniel agreed with a nod, "I thought about talking to Yaden, but…" He shook his head. "Too early. I'm hopeful the Force will show me something else; context or knowledge I missed before."
"It doesn't feel right," Lara said, more to herself, sighing as she stood and walked over to sit down beside him, "Palavola is not a typical Jedi, but she is perhaps one of the few on the Council I can trust." A pause as she thought about how true that statement was. "Or at least, one of the few who I know isn't focused on power, war, and influence."
"I know," Daniel agreed, sliding his arm around her shoulders and through her lekku, as she rested against him, her head on his shoulder, "But I was shown this for a reason. The Force does not lie."
"But it can deceive," Lara amended quietly, "It shows possibilities and revelations, some of which may never come to pass or which lack proper context. We must be careful we don't end up like the voss and trust the vision above all else."
"Perhaps, but I almost wish one was here now. Their affinity for visions is unmatched," Daniel mused, thinking on his previous visits to the enigmatic Mystics, "The future is fluid, but that does not mean action cannot be taken from what I learn. But as you said, we need to know more. It's why I came here."
"And was that the reason you asked me here?" Lara looked up with a small smile.
"No." Daniel gave her a quick kiss. "I wanted to see you."
"Well," Lara finally spoke after a few minutes, "I'm glad you asked. And that you told me. Visions are very personal; usually too much to share with others."
"They are," Daniel agreed, "And you're the only one I want to share it with."
"Flatterer," she snorted good-naturedly, "But thank you, Daniel."
He held her for a few minutes more, then sighed. "Putting this off won't change anything."
"You've never visited this one before," she mused to herself, recalling their many conversations on the topic.
"No, I came here once and didn't enter," he said grimly, "I didn't want to risk falling. The only place of equivalent darkness I've experienced was Korriban."
"And now would be different?"
He pursed his lips. "I don't think I have a choice. The Force calls, even now. There is something I need to see."
Lara gently pulled away and shifted to face him directly, pulled her knees up on the bed as she placed a teal hand over his own. "Let me come with you."
He blinked. "No. I don't want to risk you as well; especially not you. The Jedi cannot lose who you are; certainly not because of me."
"Daniel, I'm surrounded by darkness, corruption, and death every day inside and beyond the Order," Lara continued gently, but firmly, "My life is devoted to helping others when they need it, regardless of the risks. Let me help you now."
She had a point, but he was still leery. The nexus under Ahch-To was not benevolent or even neutral. It was purely of the dark side; a pit of rot and corruption that Jedi were quite rightfully warned away from. Only those strong in the Force were capable of protecting themselves from its call – a call which Daniel felt even now. A call he had felt the moment he had arrived on this planet.
Yet if there was anyone who could resist the call of the dark, it was Lara.
"Alright," he relented, "Knowing you, I doubt you would stay even if I asked."
She smiled. "I didn't earn my title by lingering on Manaan."
"Then we should get ready." Daniel stood, and called his lightsaber to his hand. "I'd prefer we complete this before anyone else starts asking questions."
The locals referred to it as the 'Calling.'
Every Jedi who came to Ahch-To felt this. It was subtle at first; a slight tug on the mind that most would associate with a planet strong in the Force. But the longer one stayed on the planet, the tug would become stronger and darker. It would begin manifesting in other ways after longer exposure: brief thoughts of harm or suicide, heightened emotions, violent outbursts, and worse.
Jedi who stayed on this planet needed to continually maintain their mental defenses to resist this draw. Those who did would become accustomed to it and eventually filter it out. Those who did not were either broken mentally or drawn to the heart of the planet. The nexus of power that rested near the Jedi Temple.
The closer one was to the nexus, the greater the draw was.
The local alien species who resided on the planet were not immune to this either. But unlike the Jedi, they did not concern themselves with worrying over it, or even protecting themselves. When one of their Caretakers succumbed to the Calling, it merely meant their time had come and they were permitted to perish without interference.
The call of the nexus appeared to drive those affected to pursue it no matter the obstacle or circumstance. Thus, the path to the nexus was littered with corpses – fauna and sapient beings alike – of those that followed the Calling. Caretakers who had thrown themselves off the edges of the cliffs to reach the nexus rotted on the sea-sprayed stone, several of which both Daniel and Lara walked past.
It was a well-known fact that some of those who went over the edge died instantly. Others, much later.
The atmosphere around here had shifted from a crisp humidity to an oily slickness; his robes felt greasy and uncomfortable – despite the cool breeze. Lara wasn't faring any better. The path to the nexus was carved into stone along the mountain. Corpses of avian wildlife and the rodents of the planet also lined the steps; their minds having collapsed.
Their boots splashed into water, alien blood, and bodily fluids which congealed into a foul black substance that leaked out of the orifices of the corpses around them. They soon reached the bottom, where the entrance was a short distance away. Black vegetation and seaweed swamped the stone plateau they stood upon, everything dead or dying, punctuated with the stink of rotting fish.
"No one has entered here before, have they?" Lara asked quietly as they beheld the sea which roiled in continuous fury below them.
Waves, dozens of meters tall, slammed against the cliffs and ensured the walkway was slick with water while throwing up vegetation and fish to die before the nexus; no matter the climate of the rest of the planet, the ocean never ceased its maelstrom.
"No one from the modern Order," Daniel answered, thinking back, "There have been others who have entered before. But there was only one I remember who came back out. It was before the Temple was restored, and only the Caretakers kept records of the event. A young woman during the Third Imperial Civil War came and entered the nexus."
"I don't suppose you know who it was?" Lara kicked some black seaweed off her boots. "Surely this would have been recorded elsewhere, especially if she was a Jedi."
Daniel paused. "I'm not sure she was. The Caretakers called her a 'seeker.' That isn't what is important."
"What is?"
"The only thing she said to them about what she saw." Daniel looked to the direction of the entrance. "She told them it was a 'mirror.' "
On that foreboding note, they continued walking. Daniel gave up on trying to keep his boots clear of the black muck, and trudged onward; their footsteps eliciting squishes with every step taken. Puddles of black water flowed to the cliff's edge where the waves splashed, and both Jedi soon found themselves drenched as wave after wave sprayed them with chilling water.
That paled compared to the power that radiated from the direction ahead of them. Daniel grimaced as he resisted the screaming draw to rush forward and let the nexus embrace him. His stomach roiled and swirled, with nausea coming and going in equally sickening spurts. Lara was similarly not faring well; her face tight, with her lekku twitching violently; her entire being radiated with an urge to flee.
Lara suddenly stopped. "Daniel, look."
He tilted his head to see what she was quickly jogging toward. It only took him a second to see it – one of the alien Caretakers on the ground, and inching his way to the entrance of the nexus only meters ahead.
Rushing over, Daniel could immediately tell that the little stubby alien had been there for at least a day or more. It was a miracle that he wasn't already dead. But he had to be in unimaginable pain. His legs, as well as one arm and all of the fingers on both hands were bent in odd ways, and the legs were clearly shattered.
Black muck and dead seaweed covered him, the robes it wore were scraps; splinters of stone were jabbed into one eye, while the other was glassy. Yet it still kept pulling itself forward, millimeter by millimeter. It had been completely consumed by the Calling, and nothing else mattered but reaching the nexus.
"Hold him still," Lara said, falling to one knee as she placed a hand on the alien's forehead, "He's in bad shape."
"You don't say," Daniel said dryly, but reached out with the Force to first clear the excess vegetation and muck off of the alien, before pinning him in place. The alien gave a pitiful squeal, clearly distraught the two Jedi were keeping it from the nexus. "How did he survive?"
"A lucky fall, and limited internal damage," Lara said, standing and beginning to glow with power as she bowed her head, closed her eyes and folded her hands as if in prayer; a golden glow settling around her as she called upon the healing power of the Force, "This may take some time."
Her eyes opened, glowing with power, Lara placed one hand over the other and knelt to the chest of the alien and golden waves flowed from her into the body. The discipline of healing was not something Daniel had an affinity for, but it was nonetheless fascinating to observe. It drove doctors and medics mad because it defied all conventional wisdom and science.
But the Force itself was not something that could be easily defined by such.
Lara moved her hands over to the shattered legs, taking hold of, and pouring energy into them. Before his eyes he saw the bones straighten out and become whole again. Lara had once described the process to him as molding the body through the Force; reshaping it to what she desired. That, she explained, was the reason Jedi healers needed a thorough understanding of anatomy. It was extremely easy to make a mistake and affect the proportions of the body entirely; at least for broken bones, amputations, and other major injuries. Far simpler to heal internal and non-structural injuries.
It was slow going, as Lara took her time with each injury; expected, since she was putting a splintered body back together. Daniel lost track of time as he watched, though became aware that the call of the nexus had faded while in her presence. While she healed, she provided a counterbalance to the corruption and death around them.
Finally, she stood and looked over her handiwork. The alien was whole; physically at least. The glow surrounding Lara faded and she laced her fingers together. "His body is healed; his mind will need more time. I am not sure what to do with him now. Leaving him here is a mistake."
"Yes." Daniel looked to the beckoning gap where the nexus called. "His mind won't resist the nexus."
"Perhaps we should take him back to the Temple," Lara said, kneeling down, "The Jedi will be able to protect his mind."
"Or there is another solution." Daniel looked down, considering. "I can lock his mind in place. Put him into a deep slumber. It should hold until we emerge."
Lara looked up at him warily, her lekku signaling doubt. "Are you certain?"
"I'm confident," he admitted, "but around a nexus like this… nothing is completely certain. If we take him back, there will be questions on where we found him."
"And if we don't, he may die anyway." Lara shook her head. "No. We will take him back. This place has claimed many lives already; it will not claim this one."
He was not fond of the implications if the wrong people began asking the right questions, but at the same time, they would eventually have to take him back. Perhaps better to do it now than later.
"Alright." Daniel grasped the alien in a telekinetic grip and slung him over his shoulder. "Let's get this one to safety. The nexus isn't going anywhere."
"Thank you," Lara said sincerely, her lekku showing relief that he was doing it. She apparently had been concerned he would insist upon continuing forward. "We're doing the right thing."
"I know we are," Daniel said as they began walking back, "Let's hope it's also the smart thing."
Several hours later they found themselves before the entrance to the nexus again.
"Is he still following us?" Lara asked, covertly flashing her eyes upwards to the path they had descended from.
"No," Daniel confirmed, dropping to one knee and peering down into the blackness, "He stopped when we reached the steps. He likely knew what we were doing."
Lara pursed her lips. "Should we have stopped him?"
"No, I recognize his techniques," Daniel dismissed, "Imperial Intelligence. Probably reconnaissance. Ultimately harmless right now. If they become a problem, I'll divert them somewhere else."
"I don't know." Lara chewed the bottom of her lip, joining him as she gazed into the abyss. "Taking an interest in you isn't a good sign."
"I doubt it's malicious." Daniel shrugged. "It's certainly not the first time. I'm the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Keeping tabs on people like me is understandable, and we've done it to them before as well. It would only be cause for concern if they sent an Inquisitor. A regular operative is not an issue."
"I'll trust you to handle it," Lara said, peering into the blackness. A few moments passed. "Jumping seems unwise."
"Agreed," Daniel said, frowning.
The pit was like the entrance to the Dagobah nexus; an impenetrable wall of darkness. Nothing came from it; no sound, sight, or smell. Just pitch-blackness. He picked up one of the dead fish that surrounded the pit and dropped it into the pit. No sound was heard, even after waiting a few seconds.
"Let me try something," Lara said, lowering a hand down and palm flat toward the pit.
The Force wavered as she drew upon the light; a light golden aura surrounding her and flowing around the extended hand. The light landed on the black pit and seemed to meet fierce resistance. Lara betrayed no strain outside a slight twitch of her eyes, and within a moment, the darkness dissipated and they could see below.
A clear pool was below them, one which also seemed to connect directly to the ocean. The light was dim, but there seemed to be land further in. At this Lara closed a fist and the light faded as her arm lowered. Near-instantly, the darkness once more shrouded the pit.
"There we go," Lara said, "Looks safe enough to jump."
"How are you?" Daniel asked, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Dispelling a nexus illusion isn't easy. Especially after you just finished healing that Caretaker."
"I'm fine," she answered, "The light is strong, even here. I cannot be exhausted so long as I'm connected to it."
"Let's hope it remains the same down there." Daniel braced himself. "I'll jump first."
"I'll be right behind you," she said.
Daniel took a breath, and jumped into the darkness, cocooning himself in a protective sheath of energy. He didn't completely trust what had been revealed, and if there was a surprise down here, he was going to be prepared for it. He fell for several seconds and then slammed into the water with a splash.
Though calling it water was a gross assumption.
Upon contact, he immediately knew it was a thinner variant of the sludge and muck that coated everything on the surface. Foul to all of his senses, he pushed himself up, adrenaline pumping as he felt things connecting to his body – slimy and adhesive. Ignoring them for the moment, he burst from the muck and swam to the edge and grasped it, resisting the urge to flinch as the strands of black muck seemingly woven together coating the rocks became alive somehow, wrapping itself loosely around his palm and fingers; inexplicably sticky and slimy to his fingertips.
With a grunt he ripped it up and shakily stood, feeling the things which had attached themselves to him grow at an impossible rate. He looked at them and grimaced in disgust. They were like eyeless and mouthless slugs or snakes; growths which had eaten through his clothes and bound themselves directly to the skin. More seemed to be crawling onto him from the ground, and with a start he realized that the ground was infested with the black and gray things that permeated the weaved muck.
They may not be real.
For all he knew, this could all be part of the vision.
It certainly felt real.
The Force was still with him, even here, and he reached to grab one of the black growths on his arm and tugged, resulting in it not budging in the slightest. He ran the tips of his fingers on where it met the skin, and it appeared to have completely grafted on. Resisting a shudder as the things continued to grow, he reached for his lightsaber to try and cut it off. He laid the sapphire blade on the growth, which cut through easily, but to his surprise seemed to do nothing, with it growing over the blade, and when he removed it, healed whole without a scratch.
That could be an issue. A splash and cough grabbed his attention as Lara also pulled herself out of the muck, covered in the sludge.
As she wiped the worst of it from her eyes, mouth, and lekku, he noticed there didn't seem to be any growths on her, and the infestation on the ground didn't cling to her as much.
She spat out some black water, eyes widening with shock when she saw him. "Daniel!"
"I'm alive," he told her, voice rougher and still feeling the creatures continue to grow across his chest, causing him to involuntarily shiver as it felt ice-cold, "You're lucky you didn't get any on you."
"Let me try to get them off."
She lifted a hand that glowed brightly and lowered it to one of the black growths on his arm, and he involuntarily jerked back, her hand as hot as a flaming brand. She hesitated, and at his nod, tried again and he could only withstand several seconds before it became too painful.
It wasn't just physical pain, but something he felt deep inside him; mental pain more splitting than any migraine. "I… I don't think that's going to work," he gasped, wincing as the growths seemed to dig deeper into his skin, "The lightsaber didn't do anything permanent either. This… might be part of it."
"A vision?"
"Maybe." He looked around the cave they found themselves in. Faint blue-gray light from no tangible source provided some illumination, though no clear direction presented itself. Just an endless expanse of the infested stone with the lake of black behind them. "I suppose we should start walking."
They did so, the corruption on the ground clinging to their boots with every step. As minutes passed, Daniel felt he was gradually being poisoned, though he wasn't convinced it would be enough to kill him. It was a seeping effect; he became slowly aware of small bodily changes. Touch and feeling vanishing on parts affected, a slowing heart rate, slowed breathing, his body slowing in general.
"You got those in the water, right?" Lara asked, glancing toward him even as she lifted a hand; creating a small ball of golden illumination that hovered above them.
"Yes, and some on the land, I think," Daniel answered as another wave of nausea wracked his body, "I don't know how you avoided them."
"I—" she began, then stopped; her lekku flicking caution, "Look."
Daniel looked ahead and saw a glass pane that seemed to arise from nowhere. Staring back out at him was an alien – a chiss, free of growths or changes. Something about him was vaguely familiar, but Daniel couldn't place it. They approached closer, and Daniel saw that the person in the glass was imitating him completely.
A mirror.
He paused, lifted a hand, and the reflection did the same. Looking around, he saw more mirrors had arisen, each of them containing a different person or alien.
"Do you recognize them?" Lara asked quietly.
"They are familiar," he answered, deciding to continue forward, even as everywhere he looked, more mirrors arose, "They're…" he trailed off as he made the connection, copies of individuals he thought were just copies, but seeing a kaminoan suddenly made the situation make sense.
He was beginning to piece together something of what was happening.
"They're people I've killed," he said aloud, "Clones, traitors, kaminoans, Sith, everyone."
The figures in the mirror stopped imitating him, and instead stared at the couple; eyes unblinking and saying nothing. They silently watched; judged as both continued.
"So many," Lara noted softly as they walked.
"More obvious when in one place," Daniel said grimly.
"Perhaps," she admitted, "But you didn't fight directly in the Uprising. You came after."
He pursed his lips. "Yes. I did."
The mirrors faded behind them after minutes of walking, and soon there was only one in the distance, and this one was different from the rest. There was no victim of his past inside, but Daniel as he stood now. The black growth had consumed his left arm which he no longer felt, while grayish growths had spread across his chest, around his neck, and on part of his face. It seemed that they had stopped growing, thankfully, but he still looked like a monstrous version of himself.
Looking into the mirror, he realized several other details. The black corruption on the ground was clinging and trying to grow up his boots, though didn't quite manage to pass the ankles. The eye closest to the gray growths glowed yellow, while the right was still normal. His skin had grown unnaturally pale too, though not to the extent of a Sith or corpse.
In contrast, Lara looked almost normal aside from the muck which coated her robes. She looked around at the seemingly endless expanse. "What do we do now?"
"We continue," Daniel said firmly, lifting his corrupted arm and balling the hand into a fist. With the Force empowering him, he knew what he needed to do. He jabbed the fist at the mirror and it shattered into dust.
Immediately, the true vision revealed itself to them.
Harsh red light shone down upon the steps of the Jedi Temple of Coruscant as the air grew humid. But it was not the Temple that Daniel and Lara were familiar with, but one which was afflicted with the corruption that had permeated the nexus. It was not disrepair and decay so much as an infestation. The ground was slick with black fluid and muck, with the black corruption spider-webbing along the stones.
The statues and the pathway to the Temple was cracked and infested with the black and gray growths, giving the impression of it acting as a glue that held the pieces together, causing the statues and temple in the distance to weep black liquid which ran down in small streams to join the puddles of muck.
The sound of aircraft and the bustling of millions going about their day was oddly muted, with sound itself seeming to seep away; though what it was replaced with Daniel almost had to strain to hear. It was low; perhaps a gurgle or growl. Sometimes it seemed to emanate from the corruption, and sometimes it seemed to have no source. There were a few seconds when Daniel felt he could hear a name or some kind of message coming through.
Likely another illusion.
Daniel's skin that was infected felt slick and hot, and a quick glance down confirmed that black liquid was also leaking from his fingertips and running down his body; the red light from above giving the illusion of dark blood falling from his hands. Above, the Coruscant skylines seemed to still exist, though they were blurred; a part of the vision which was clearly unimportant.
The true focus was before them.
Armored Jedi were marching down the walkways and out of the Temple entrance to waiting transport ships where more military officials and soldiers were waiting. Daniel and Lana stood in the midst of the legions, seemingly ignored for now. All the Jedi were affected by the growths that plagued him to an extent; some only marginally, with gray growths around their chests or shoulders, while others had half of their bodies covered in the black parasites.
More noticeable was what connected all of them together; masses of intangible strings and strands between the growths like those on the ground, mostly around the ankles which grew and contracted in perfect sync with the marching; never placing their hosts in danger of entanglement.
Taking a closer look, he saw that they were primarily of the Militant Order, interspersed with Justicars, Sages, and some Shadows. The growths had torn their garments and broken their armor, yet they continued onward, oblivious as what remained was stitched together by the black and gray strands.
The smell of burning oil and fire, along with other foul smells of rot and death filled the air, though there was no source for them he could see. Lara looked around; her face distraught as she beheld the situation around them; one which they were still being ignored by.
"Daniel," she said quietly, "Look at the strands."
Daniel cocked his head and took a closer look. Unlike his first assumption, the strands were not simply static but were… flowing as if gravity was pulling them; though it was clearly not the case here. Despite this, the mass of the strands didn't seem to be lessening, though the implication was clear.
"A source exists," he said aloud, though quietly, not knowing what could spook the infected around him.
"One we should probably find," Lara agreed, and together they began walking on the slick stone pathway.
Daniel had a suspicion of what he would find, and a minute later they saw the Battlemaster standing in the center of his marching legions, arms behind his back as he observed the march to this war.
But while the Jedi were only somewhat infected, the growths had consumed Zevro Shartan to the point where he was barely recognizable. Thick black coils wrapped around his arms, other growths had consumed his chest to where only pieces of armor were left. His cape that flickered in the hot wind was made more of strands than cloth.
His face had been covered to the point that only his eyes were visible; shining red, echoing the light above. Daniel was not positive, but he would not have been surprised if the growths had added to Shartan's already imposing height. Daniel had long known there was a darkness within Shartan… but absolutely nothing like this.
"Battlemaster," Daniel greeted calmly, walking up.
"Skywalker," Shartan's voice had changed, an oily echo to the deep baritone, "You're not supposed to be here."
There were several ways that could be taken considering where they were. "Perhaps not, Shartan," Daniel answered, crossing his arms, "But here I am all the same."
A sound of displeasure emanated from Shartan. "This will be resolved shortly, Skywalker. It does not concern you."
"Considering what is around us now, we are owed an explanation," Lara interrupted coldly, eyes narrowing. There were few people she legitimately despised, but Shartan was number one on that list. "Remember who you are speaking to."
"Silence, Ritten," Shartan sneered, lifting a flat, mutated palm before her in dismissal, "Go back to the Outer Rim and heal the degenerates you coddle so much."
"Explain this, Shartan, now," Daniel interrupted, "The Council did not sanction this."
"This is no war, Skywalker," Shartan clarified, turning his red eyes to Daniel's own, "Corellian radicals have been carrying out escalating raids against Alliance targets for the past month; yesterday, they took control of the government with a number of defectors and are declaring Corellian independence. Alliance High Command has requested the assistance of the Militant Order to end this revolt, and as an ally, I intend to ensure they are successful."
"And how are you going to do that?" Lara demanded, lekku communicating skepticism.
Shartan extended a hand and the lightsaber that hung from it flew into the snug palm which engulfed the hilt in gray growth and ignited. The scarlet blade taken centuries ago from the Knights of Ren shone bright before the Jedi reflecting the blood light around them. "Methodically, Lara. We have grown tired of the Corellians believing they are entitled to more than the rest of the Alliance; their tolerance of radicals is not a new phenomenon. We will root out the radicals, dissidents, and traitors street by street and ensure no rebellion arises again."
"Raids? Millions will be caught in the middle!" Lara exclaimed with righteous anger and flashing eyes as she took a step forward, "I know you better than to think this will be done with delicacy."
"Corellia has been treated with velvet gloves for centuries," Shartan retorted, sheathing his lightsaber, "They are a rebellious and dissident people. Today their insurgency ends. If many die, so be it. The stability of the Alliance is worth more than a single world." He took a step toward Lara, his form towering over her. "You may remain blind to the threats we face, but I am not. Go. I am done with you."
"As far as I am concerned," Lara refused to relent, maintaining eye contact, "The greatest threat now to the Alliance is you."
Shartan just chuckled, a low rumble before he shook his head, and marched forward with the rest of his soldiers. As he left, Daniel noticed the thousands of strands that connected to him with each step; each one with the corruption flowing outwards – not the opposite. The source. Or a source.
With his back turned, he was exposed.
Purge the source.
End the corruption.
His hand fell unconsciously to his lightsaber. Gritting his teeth, Daniel shook his head and let the urge pass. That was what the vision wanted him to do, but he wouldn't give in that easily. It would need to try harder.
Lara was still staring after him, anger written on her face.
"Lara." He put his uninfected hand on her shoulder. "It's not real."
"Perhaps not," Lara said mutely, growing just a little less stiff, "but that is exactly what he would say. That is how he would justify it. That is what he would support. That was Shartan, and it always has been."
"Yes…" Daniel turned to the entrance and kept walking, Lara beside him. "I knew he was on the edge, but I didn't realize he was so far gone. He is no Sith."
"One does not need to be Sith to fall, Daniel," Lara said, almost bitterly, "If Shartan has not fallen, he is only waiting for a reason."
Daniel simply nodded, and they continued onward. He didn't know what he was going to find, but this vision had shown him that the rot within the Order was far more pervasive than even he had originally presumed. A corruption even he was clearly not immune to; a darkness which existed in everyone to an extent. Though not Lara, it seemed.
Curious.
The interior of the Temple was in no better shape, nor were the Jedi who inhabited it. The grand structure seen by so many as a beacon of light and justice now showed the corruption within. Perhaps this was the Jedi at their worst; when all had fallen. What he considered a worse alternative was that this was not a reflection of the future, but the present.
Could corruption on this scale even be reversed?
"Ah, Master Skywalker!"
Daniel turned and saw a surprise. Both Paala Tocrum and Taitho Dal were walking up. Tocrum was unsurprisingly corrupted, though not to the extent Shartan had been. Growths covered his body, and his pupils shown yellow, but his face was untouched, though slightly ghoulish as black fluid leaked from his eyes, ears, and the corners of his mouth.
Dal though…
Daniel was legitimately surprised. He was as corrupted as Shartan, if not more. His body was consumed by the growths, and visible footsteps of fluid followed him where he'd walked. He was unrecognizable, if not for the distinct mon calamari head. Daniel looked at him in near-horror, though quickly hid that under a mask of neutrality.
What is your secret, Dal?
"Master Tocrum, Master Dal," Daniel answered warily, giving a short bow, "A pleasure."
"Indeed, just in time to send off our fine soldiers," Tocrum said jovially, "Again, Master Skywalker, while I have nothing but respect for our colleague, I do wish he curtailed his unilateral actions at times."
"Indeed," Dal sounded nothing like he normally did, his watery voice now raspy and dry, "This required consultation with the Council. Not him and Mateil taking matters into their own hands."
Normally, Daniel believed that Lara would have voiced begrudging agreement, but here she held her tongue, likely spooked by the corruption.
"I agree," Daniel finally said, clasping his hands before him, "We must not become segregated like this. We act as a singular unit, especially with decisions like this."
"It is his insubordination that is an issue, not necessarily his actions." Dal lifted a dripping hand. "I believe most of us agree that the stability of the Alliance is paramount for the safety and prosperity of the Order. While regrettable, incidents like Corellia must be stopped quickly before violence spreads. If history has shown us anything, it is that unchecked rebellions can bring down even the strongest of governments."
"Well said," Tocrum agreed vigorously, patting his colleague on the shoulder; a move that Dal seemed to regard with contempt, "Undien made a valiant attempt to reason with the dissidents, but it predictably went nowhere. A shame, but it cannot be said he did not try."
"And what exactly did his negotiation consist of?" Lara asked pointedly, "Surrender or die?"
"Ah, Lara, Lara," Tocrum shook his head with a good-natured chuckle, "You boil down points so succinctly. In the end, negotiation is very simple, and is merely inflated with pretty words and masterful wordplay. Tell me, what is the alternative? How do we deal with terrorists such as these?"
"They do not act without reason." Lara crossed her arms. "Not from Corellia. The Alliance is merely reaping what they sow, and it will backfire in the future. Violence here won't solve it."
"My dear, I would advise you look to history, as I'm sure Master Dal would agree," Tocrum lightly chided, "Diplomacy has been tried many times, and do you know what ultimately brings about change?" He smiled. "It is conflict. Negotiation failed with the First Order. It failed with the kaminoans. It failed here. Diplomacy requires two to dance, dear Lara. One-sided diplomacy is a mere bandage to a festering wound. It is the tool of the civilized, of which sadly these dissidents are simpleminded barbarians, as most of their ilk are. Do not worry, I suspect there will be many to heal when all is said and done."
"Let us hope that we will move into a more peaceful age where such actions are unneeded," Dal interjected, rubbing his chin, "I too hope for the galaxy you wish, Lara, but your compassion has always been your undoing. To pretend we do not live in this harsh galaxy is naïve."
"And sometimes, that compassion is what is needed," Daniel said calmly, "A change instead of perpetuating cycles of violence."
"True in some cases, Skywalker," Dal conceded, almost mocking, "but not where it matters."
Daniel felt it was time they moved on; he had a feeling he knew where this vision was leading him. Facing these two though, the dark thought whispered to him. Corrupt. Fallen. Remove them. Cleanse this Order of the rot.
There is no choice.
They cannot be saved.
They cannot be redeemed.
They have fallen.
They will not rise again.
"Undien," Daniel said, trying to shut the dark voice within him, "Where is he?"
"Below," Dal said, "Reviewing what is to come."
"Thank you, Masters." Daniel gave a short bow. "I will see you shortly."
"We shall see, Grand Master," Tocrum said with a foreboding smile, "We will always be here."
Daniel and Lara walked away, feeling the eyes of the corrupted Jedi boring into them from behind, even as they began descending the stairs to the lower levels.
There were no more Jedi as they descended the stairs to the lowest levels, but the black corruption grew more prevalent; seeping from the cracks in the foundations, flowing steadily from above, with strands falling from the ceiling and flickering in nonexistent wind. Almost waiting for something to latch onto.
The air turned to a colder humidity; a decidedly unpleasant sensation, even if half of his body couldn't feel it at this point. The floor was no longer merely riddled with the growths and strands – a thin puddle of black sludge coated it. Each step resulted in a slurping and sticking noise that both of them did their best to tune out.
The only other sound was that disgusting gurgle that thrummed on the edge of perception. It was at once clear and opaque. There was a word hidden within, Daniel was certain of it, but he could not make it out. The cadence like a death rattle that took every breath to get out. Was it a name? A command? The Force was clearly trying to tell him something, but there were no answers in the echoes.
The lower levels of the Coruscant Temple were mostly libraries; principally on history and politics, but knowledge nonetheless. Many a time he had come here to read and learn in peace. The libraries now were decaying like the rest of the temple. The books and datapads were coated in muck, the smell of mold more prominent.
"He's ahead," Daniel said quietly as he sensed a presence that felt like Undien's but was not completely perfect.
Not even a vision could correctly mimic unique presences perfectly. It was a small room ahead which was typically used for meetings of all types; diplomatic, military, and academics utilized them many times, as had both Daniel and Undien before.
"What will you do?" Lara asked.
"Talk. For now," Daniel answered, "I think we're reaching the end."
He could see Undien within now, looking at a holoprojector of a blank planet, a datapad resting nearby. He paid no attention as Daniel stepped past the threshold but the instant he did so, Lara yelped in surprise as the entrance sprouted strands which cut them off, growing thicker by the second until there was a small and pulsing wall between them.
Daniel wasn't alarmed; not yet. It appeared this part of the vision was meant just for him. Turning away from the entrance, he appraised Undien who had still not acknowledged him. The growths had similarly affected the older Jedi as well, though Daniel noticed something more peculiar about his. They were prevalent throughout his body, consuming one whole arm, and large portions of the remaining limbs. His torso was similarly engulfed, as well as part of his face, though most of it was still exposed.
But the growths were of the gray variant, not pure black. Also, unlike others, thick cords of black hung from the ceiling, connecting to his body, turning the corruption around where they were connected black; a poison that intended to eventually spread.
"Skywalker," his voice was largely normal, if a bit rougher, "Welcome."
"Undien," he said, looking around the barren room, "You've been busy."
"You've seen what has taken place here," Undien turned to properly face him, "Tell me what you think, Grand Master."
Daniel lowered his hands and clasped one over the other as he appraised his political rival for the Order. "The Order is going down a dark path."
Undien's lips twitched. "A narrow-minded perspective, Skywalker. I thought you would understand. You are seeing the future, Grand Master. A strong Order, a strong Alliance, and a united galaxy. Admirable goals, are they not?"
"Strength is not the only goal," Daniel refuted with a shake of his head, "Power that is not tempered will eventually be abused against the powerless. First it is the dissident protestors, soon it will be the Imperium; the Mandalorians. Eventually it will be turned on the remainder of the galaxy who do not submit."
"Such a path is not certain, Skywalker," Undien clasped his hands behind his back; steel in his voice, "It is preferable to the alternative. You would neuter the Jedi from what I have forged them into. It is because of me that we have been granted the means to ensure our survival, and that of the Alliance. The politics you deride so much has forged alliances that have never been enjoyed by our Order. We have been given the opportunity to shape the galaxy into what it needs to be; one of peace and prosperity for the Jedi and our allies."
He narrowed his eyes. "But that vision cannot be achieved on our own; nor should it, else we are no better than Sith. I gather allies for this, Skywalker. Allies we will need. If anything, we should be joined in this quest. Would you rather we bend the galaxy by force like Shartan? That we watch the Alliance slowly decay like the Old Republic? That we muzzle our voice and lessen our influence to pander to the shrieking critics? Is that better, Skywalker?"
"As you said, paths are not certain, Undien," Daniel said calmly, "We are Jedi. We are guardians of peace and justice, allies to the citizens of the galaxy, be they Alliance, Imperial, or neither. We strive for peace, transparency, and honesty. We serve the galaxy; our purpose is not to control it. We are to be peacekeepers, not soldiers."
"So you believe." Undien's smile was thin and mocking. "Have you considered that you could be wrong? That we should become more?" his voice turned more considerate, something he utilized when trying to convince someone of something, "The Order has evolved, Daniel, and there is a reason for this. You know better than to believe your naïve spiel. The galaxy does not behave as you wish it did. For the first time, we have corrected the mistakes that have plagued our Order, and become stronger for it."
"None of what I said requires the Jedi to lessen their reach," Daniel disputed, "We merely refuse to become partisan; to perpetuate the cycles of corruption that have taken control of the Senate. History will not look kindly upon us when it falls, and when it is revealed we supported those who ruled, and thrived through them."
"And cede the galaxy to the Imperium? The Mandalorians? The Consortium?" Undien briefly snorted. "You lack willingness or perspective to see the truth, Skywalker. The Jedi have played a passive role for much of galactic history, believing our place was to be advisors, pawns, and mouthpieces for the Republic for thousands of years, and initially the Alliance. We have been subservient, and what has the galaxy accomplished when the Jedi were in this state?"
He looked around, and seemed to motion to the corruption. "They become infested. Weak. Corrupt. They bring the galaxy to ruin gradually until the cycle resets. The Old Republic is a monument to failure, only propped up by the fear and incompetence of those who rose to oppose them. You know the histories; I will not repeat them. The Alliance today would have shattered if we had not stepped in, if I had not used our gifts to ensure the Alliance remained in power. Remained the dominant force of this galaxy. No, Skywalker, I will not apologize for playing the necessary game of politics to steer the Alliance to victory."
Undien went silent for a few seconds, then cocked his head, appraising Daniel. "Do you think I am ignorant of who I associate with; with what I continue to allow to endure? What I have perpetuated?"
Daniel shook his head. "No."
"I do everything for a very simple reason," Undien insisted, extending a corrupted hand imploringly, "To protect our Order, to the Alliance we both have dedicated our lives to protecting. We have nearly been extinguished many times before, but no more. I will do whatever is necessary to prevent our extinction at the hands of the Sith or any others who threaten what both of us have built. No matter the cost, it is for the good of the galaxy – and the Jedi."
"And what if you're wrong?" Daniel challenged, "Instead of bringing change, you will merely participate in the same actions which have brought about the fall of others? What makes you different? What if your actions lead to what you are trying to prevent?"
"Look at what I have accomplished, Skywalker," Undien gestured around him, straightening, "I have made my mark on the Jedi; I have found a message of truth that resonates with millions of our own Order and beyond. I have turned the Jedi into a political and military power the galaxy has not known. I am not wrong. The Jedi, the Alliance, if they fall, it will not be because of me."
He will not relent. He can never relent.
Undien paced to the end of the holotable, and gave a heavy sigh. "You should understand, Skywalker," he said quietly, "You and I once had similar mindsets. You purged the galaxy of threats to the Jedi; to the Alliance. Were all of those necessary?"
"Some were," Daniel answered slowly, "Many were not."
"And because of what you did, they will never return to threaten us." Undien nodded. "Answer me truthfully, Skywalker, do you truly regret what you did? Was your entire life before you changed a manifestation of the corruption you fear so much now?"
Daniel hesitated for a moment. "Not all of it. It is not my motivations I regret, but the actions I took to execute them."
"Men like us do not live with clean hands." Undien inclined his head. "But it was for the right reasons. That is ultimately what matters. Even now, if you knew there was an imminent threat to those you cared about; to what you cared about." Undien took a step closer to him. "Would you wait, or would you act?"
Daniel remained silent as Undien took another step forward. "Perhaps that is the greatest difference between us, Skywalker. You see what I am doing to the Jedi; you observe, yet you do nothing. It is either because you know within yourself that I am right, or that you lack the conviction to do what must be done to prevent the corruption you fear taking hold." He lifted a hand and the lightsaber on Daniel's belt flew off – which he instinctively caught.
Undien was close enough now that an ignited blade would impale his heart. "Make a choice, Skywalker," Undien hissed, "Do not deride what I have accomplished if you lack the will to oppose it. If you feel so strongly that your vision for the Jedi is correct, then act on it!"
Another telekinetic tug pulled the hilt ever closer.
He has corrupted the Order. The source must be removed.
"Prove your conviction. Or leave if you will not do what is necessary!"
One life for the Order. For the good of the Order.
His thumb was close to the trigger, and he knew it would be over. But another, softer voice pieced the roiling violent thoughts.
Look closer.
His eyes drew to the black coils which hung that connected to Undien; the corruption flowed downwards, not from him. Not from a source. He is not it. Not truly.
Daniel knew what he needed to do now. With a grunt he broke free of Undien and ignited both ends of his lightsaber and flung it upwards, watching as the sky-blue blade severed the cords which connected to Undien. The blade flew back to his hand mere seconds later, which he deactivated and hooked onto his belt. Undien fell to one knee in shock, as the coils began withering.
As they receded, the sound became a roar that vibrated Daniel's very core. It was enough for him to tease out the word: 'naal.' It held no meaning, and the sound returned to a quiet gurgle as the coils shriveled into nothingness and shadow.
"Come now, Skywalker," he said, standing up with a smile, as the gray growths on his body blackening, "It isn't that easy. This is who I am now, and you cannot change that."
"Perhaps," Daniel answered calmly, "But you are not lost, Undien. Not completely."
"Remain in your delusion, Skywalker," Undien sneered, "You cannot change anything. You cannot change me."
"Maybe it's impossible," Daniel admitted, "but there is still hope."
Undien snarled, and the growths turned into a black deep as the void as they consumed his body, and with a flash everything around Daniel ceased to exist. A rush of wind blasted him, colder than Hoth, and he came back to reality, falling to his knees in a dark, damp cave. Lara was immediately beside him, putting an arm around him to help him up.
"I'm back," he said before she could ask, "I'm fine."
"You've stood there for almost an hour," she said with a sigh, pulling him into a hug, and he realized that he could feel his body now, "It ended for me when we separated."
"Yes…" Daniel grimaced. "I—"
"Not here," Lara hushed him, looking to the water where the opening to exit was above, "Let's get out of here."
"I won't argue with that." Daniel grimaced. "I've had enough of this place."
He shared the confrontation with Undien as they walked back, able to summarize it before they reached the Temple and entered the privacy of his chambers. Few noticed their return under the cover of darkness, though Daniel noted that their Imperial tail had attempted to covertly follow once they'd entered the Temple grounds. He'd have to handle that before he left.
"Does this mean what I think it does?" Lara wondered quietly, locking the door.
"I'm not sure." Daniel placed his lightsaber on the dresser and sat on the bed, staring forward; thinking. "What is clear is that the corruption within the Order is worse than I assumed. It is being perpetuated by many; though the worst sources… they may not be who we thought they were."
"Sith?" Lara said the forbidden word aloud, sitting opposite him on a chair.
It was a topic of conspiracy and paranoia common among the HoloNet conspiracy theorists, some of which young Jedi listened to and perpetuated through the rumor mill, though no one took such allegations seriously. It was common knowledge among the Council and their respective leadership that the Sith still existed… but were diminished. Certainly not powerful enough to threaten the Jedi.
Or so they thought. This vision threw doubt on that assumption.
"I'm not sure," Daniel admitted, "I don't think we should jump to that conclusion… yet. We know they exist, but it could be simpler than that. Sith is a label; an ideology. Power, greed, hate, control… these don't need labels. I don't doubt the possibility of Sith infiltrating the Order exists, but I sincerely doubt there are any on the Council."
"If there were," Lara said grimly, "Then things would become… bad."
"Catastrophic," Daniel corrected, "A Sith that could manage to reach such a rank is either an excellent actor… or is not pretending. Both show the Order has drastically failed."
Both Jedi pondered that, Lara's brow furrowing as her lekku twitched.
"I do not doubt, however, that there are certain members who have their agenda separate from the Order," he added after a few moments, "Undien may consider himself a patriot, as does Shartan. Dal, Tocrum, the others… not as much. Regardless, this warrants investigation of some kind. Specifically, Undien's allies. I think they have a larger influence on him that we assume."
"Undien leads his cohort." Lara frowned at the insinuated whitewashing. "He is not blameless."
"No, he is not," Daniel agreed, "But at the same time, I wonder how many of his allies are using him, or how much he relies on them. How much he has been influenced."
"Is that what we do about this?" Lara asked, lacing her fingers together, "Have Yaden perform investigations? Become more aggressive? Act on our own?"
"We both need to sleep and meditate on this," Daniel suggested, briefly closing his eyes, "One misstep and we could both be in real danger – and fail to find a solution. It's not enough yet; my journey, at least, is not over. Not nearly. For now, you need to keep quiet about this."
"I will keep it to myself until you consider your journey complete," she said slowly, "You have my word."
"Thank you." Daniel bowed his head. "I don't like keeping this to ourselves either, but for now it's necessary."
"Where to next?" Lara wondered after a few moments, appraising him, then scowled. "I hate to suggest it… but the Mystics may be helpful, so long as we take their biases into account. Interpreting these visions ourselves is… risky. Neither of us know enough to do it safely. I've read enough to know that we could end up making things worse if we act."
"Agreed. And I intend to speak to them," Daniel confirmed thoughtfully, "But not yet. There is somewhere else I need to visit first. Perhaps it will give me some more answers or set me on the correct path."
Lara cocked her head, lekku signaling confusion. "Where?"
"Korriban," his voice turned melancholy; tinged with sorrow, "I think there's someone who may be able to help us."