Xabiar's Note: The idea for this, like quite a few others, came while I was writing something else. The dossier of Daniel Skywalker raised quite a few questions as to the circumstances of his departure from the Jedi Council, and focused on his final odyssey across the galaxy. This series will answer the questions raised by his journey – some of them at least – and bring to light many secrets, powers, and agendas of those whose legacy still lingers in the galaxy, and through the Force.
SotP Tales - Prelude to Twilight
PART I
Dagobah - Vision of Deception
If Dagobah proved one thing, it was that even the most unassuming and backwater planet could be a haven for the Force. Irrespective of if one believed it had a will or not, few could deny that this remote swamp world had been home to some important moments, of which few knew about, and many more wouldn't believe.
Daniel Skywalker had been to this planet many times before. It was relaxing and fascinating to walk this small planet and listen. Echoes – so often impossible to hear on bustling worlds of life – and sound stood out with sharp clarity if one knew where to look. A window into the past he was privileged to see.
The cockpit of the X-wing hissed open and the foul stench of the swamp soon overwhelmed everything else. Wrinkling his nose, he stood and – with a swiftness that defied his age – jumped to the ground and landed with a muffled squish of mulch and mud. He grimaced as some swamp water splashed onto his pants.
There were aspects of this planet he would never appreciate. The sweltering humidity and grime in particular were going to make cleaning his starship later a chore, and also ensured that R2 despised this planet as well. On cue, the droid warbled from the astromech slot on the X-wing, clear disgust cutting through his sequence of beeps and electronic squeals.
He couldn't blame the droid. "You can always stay there. I won't mind."
The raspberry shot in response made him grin.
"Alright, but no more complaining."
R2-D2 warbled, but it was a resigned sound, if slightly bitter. As the droid was lowered to the ground, Daniel took a moment to listen to his surroundings. The sounds of insects; the screeching of mynocks; even the bubbling from life under the green water coalesced into a symphony of a healthy swamp environment.
Good. Nothing else was around.
It had been something he'd learned very early on when traveling to worlds strong in the Force – listen to the surroundings. The swamp unconsciously reacted to the Force, irrespective of light and dark. Everything would become unnaturally quiet as life became subservient to the power; sometimes lulling it into a trance; other times turning it violent. When he went closer to the cave, he knew this phenomenon would await him.
That is, unless someone decided to visit first.
R2 warbled a question.
"I'm not sure," Daniel admitted as they began walking the mushy ground; bootprints and wheel tracks marking their path, "but the last time I was drawn this strongly… well, you know. I changed. Maybe it will happen again."
A concerned string of beeps answered.
"For the better, I'm sure," Daniel reassured, patting his dome. "The Force called me here. It still is. I suppose we'll have to see what it has in store."
The droid's dome 'head' turned, and the cylinder body indicated his belt – or rather, what wasn't on it – with a questioning warble.
"I don't think I'll need it," Daniel answered, "If it becomes dangerous, I can protect myself. The nexus has only grown stronger."
While it was something he couldn't empirically confirm, he was certain he was correct. Force nexuses were something that the Order was wary of exploring, and he was one of the few to visit them with some degree of regularity. One of the more interesting theories he had considered was that Force nexuses gradually grew larger as time went on, or when a calamity happened.
Of course, it seemed to vary depending on the planet.
Yoda's death had amplified the nexus on this planet, and had turned it from one dominated by the dark side to one more… benign. Perhaps it was not that the nexus had grown more powerful, but that it had grown more… complete. This question bore more investigation, perhaps one of the last initiatives he starts. Undien would bluster about potential 'corruption,' but Daniel was beyond his concern anymore. Undien would do what he felt was right, regardless of the truth or lack thereof.
The end result from an arrogance of one who devoted themselves to personal power. An infectious disease that poisoned everyone around him.
It hurt to see what was happening to the Jedi.
Worse still was that no solution existed that would not lead to further pain and conflict. He'd pondered every contingency; he'd spoken with thousands of Jedi from Orthodox to Isolationist. There was simply no way there could be a universal solution. It was tempting to just leave; retire, and become one with the Force.
Leave it to the next generation to solve.
It was the easiest solution, but not the right one. Of that he was certain.
There is a solution. There is a way. I just have to find it.
Maybe this little odyssey would show him what to do. The Force had shown him the truth before, perhaps it would again. If not… then he would have to think long and hard about what to do next.
However, this was not the time. The Force had yet to let him down and this would not be the first time.
R2 beeped, and Daniel nodded after listening for several seconds. "It is quieter."
The swamp, which at first had been dark and gloomy was growing more… comfortable. The shrill sounds of wildlife had lapsed into a comfortable silence; the mist changed from a sweltering humidity into a warm glow like from an oven on a cold day. The air seemed crisp and sharp, with the foul swamp being replaced by native scents of flowers. Daniel felt his awareness expand to feeling every insect and animal around him – creatures he knew he could dominate in moments.
This was the Force at its most pure. A power flowing through life around him; a power he could draw from or use in an instant. Stepping into the nucleus of the nexus was a comforting and familiar feeling; like wading into a warm pool of water. Though by now he knew that at least some of it was an illusion; a showcase of the duality of the Force.
R2 beeped expectantly at him as they reached the destination and faced the heart of the planet; an opening that swallowed all light, revealing nothing but pure darkness. Luke Skywalker had once described the cave containing the nexus as 'evil,' with the vegetation seeming to reflect this. Half-rotting vines which had overgrown the entrance, with insects consuming dead animals before it; the smell of death emanating from the mouth, promising a nightmare for all who entered, as color was sucked from the vicinity.
He wondered if Luke had been wrong, or if the cave had evolved afterwards. While he held a great respect for his ancestor, he was not correct on every aspect of the Force. Luke had been a believer in the separate duality of the Force, with two distinct sides. One light, one dark. One good, one corruptive. Whereas Daniel had a… broader view.
The cave reflected the expectations of those who entered it. He wondered if Yoda had known this.
"What's in there?"
"Only what you take with you."
Luke had interpreted this as his weapons, but Daniel now believed it was more than that. It was his expectations, his hopes, his fears, his loves and hatreds; his biases and beliefs. Luke Skywalker had expected to enter a cave of evil, and that was exactly what he had received. A dark vision of his future; a warning exposing the darkness within himself.
But Daniel saw the cave as an expression of the Force. Not light or dark, but a source of power teetering on the edge between them. A warm embrace hiding the allure of the shadow within. He saw an entrance at the mouth of the void, but surrounding it was lush green vines with flowers and other life growing on them.
A thin sheet of grass and broken twigs blanketed the ground, with small rodents and critters running across. But none of them went near the entrance. The world seemed brighter around the cave, which made the sheer blackness of the entrance all the more unsettling.
He rested his good hand on the dome of his loyal droid. "Wait here."
R2 beeped nervously.
"Don't worry," he assured the droid, letting the Force flow through him completely, "I shouldn't be long."
As he reached the mouth of shadow, he paused briefly, then stepped into the void.
In visions, one never knew what to expect. Sometimes, very little changed; sometimes, everything did.
This appeared to be the latter.
Daniel walked in the darkness for only a few seconds before the lighting turned dim, then bright, and he found himself in an oddly familiar setting. He scratched his chin as he looked around in what appeared to be his chambers on Ossus. Initially, everything seemed in order with some slight variations; a half-made bed for two, a nightstand with a lightsaber and datapad on it, a dresser that held his robes. But something immediately felt off.
It was not quite a hum, but an imperceptible sound that made everything around him seem surreal. Too lucid to be a dream, but too… light to be real. An odd artificial buoyancy; almost like that of a psychedelic drug where one retained their senses. A thoroughly odd sensation, though one he had experienced in visions before.
He called the lightsaber to his hand and immediately realized it could not be his. It did not fit in his hand at all; and was, in fact, clearly designed for a hand smaller and more delicate than his. A glance back to the bed and a curious idea took shape.
Lara…?
She would never design a lightsaber, but as he looked closer at it, he could see some touches that could clearly only come from her. Her family name, her favorite colors, yet those seemed… minor compared to what else he saw.
This lightsaber looked like it had been designed by an alien that thought it was Lara. Unknown markings and styles were integrated into the design, and he could instinctively tell it was designed for a form that Lara did not practice. Though her having a lightsaber at all was wrong, much less one that she could not use effectively.
Growing more uneasy he ignited the blade. A red-orange blade sprung out; unlike any lightsaber color he had seen before. The hum was deeper, drawing him to stare into a core which shifted from red to orange to black…
A shrouded face with twin glowing yellow eyes stared from the core of the blade accompanied with a rush of air.
Daniel instantly threw the lightsaber away and it clattered into the wall, deactivating instantly. He stared at it warily, cautiously. He felt a rush of power and the lightsaber flew toward him and affixed itself on his belt. He pursed his lips and placed a hand on it to take it off, and jerked his hand back as his glove smoked, as if he had touched a red-hot iron.
A test then. Pushing the pain away, he gripped the lightsaber, ignoring the red-hot fire and directed crushing energy to the blade to shatter the hilt and crystal within. Several agonizing seconds later, the pain vanished, and he watched the lightsaber crumble to dust. His glove essentially ruined, he took it off and pursed his lips at the raw flesh.
Clearly a metaphorical vision, he thought grimly as he applied some bacta to the palm, Wonderful.
That finished, he walked to the dresser and opened it up. He was grateful he did so, as he saw he wouldn't exactly fit in if he left this room as he was dressed now. The clothing inside was almost nothing like what he was wearing now. Instead of the traditional tan, brown, or black robes they were instead a shimmering white-silver. A touch confirmed that they were made from a silk-like substance instead of cloth.
What caught his interest was what was embroidered on them. An emblem he did not recognize was stitched in red along the shoulders, while golden characters were placed on the sleeves and chest. It had to be ceremonial, as there were components for actual armor set right beside it. This robe also had a higher collar, no hood, and a cape of all things. Definitely not Jedi robes.
The embroidered characters though… he blinked in surprise as he took a closer look. None of it made sense. It was a mixture of ancient languages… so it seemed. He saw Old Tythonian, Gree, Sithese, Rakatan, and a few others even older than that he had barely passing knowledge in. None of which should go together, yet were arranged in such a way as to barely provide a stitched together translation.
What he put together chilled him.
DANIEL SKYWALKER – HIGH SHADOW OF THE ASCENDANT
That he had a role in this vision was not a comfort. While it was possible it was a mistranslation, he did not like the implications of such a title. The individuals he had passively sensed around him – initially assuming were Jedi – now he wondered if they were something else. There was only one way to learn – proceed further, and to do so, he had to blend in.
Changing into the foreign robes, he stepped outside, and into an occupation.
Ossus had never been the most opulent of the Jedi Praxeums. While it had been restored from its previous destruction, it was rather plain; with only simple stone architecture and minor decorations, mostly of plants and waterfalls. Modest lighting had illuminated it; all to emphasize a focus on serving the Force the Jedi were presumed to hold.
The lies we tell ourselves, Daniel mused as he thought about how few Jedi actually believed that these days; himself included.
Right now, it didn't matter, as the Ossus Praxeum in this vision had clearly been overhauled into something else.
Bright yellow lighting illuminated the hallways which had received additions of stone statues of Jedi of various species with lightsabers raised over those who walked underneath. Something was horribly wrong with the statues however, as the heads were not simple, but a graphic mixture of two heads of various species fused together, with the faces morphed into clear, bright smiles. Banners with gibberish of the mixture of languages he had seen hung from the walls. More hung under the ceiling, and a red and golden rug extended through the center of the hallway.
The Force hummed around him, growing more intense now that he had stepped deeper into this vision. Aside from the spectacle, what most caught his eye were the soldiers who stood as… guards? They didn't appear to be hostile, but stood along the hallway interspersed, as well as the entrances of his quarters and to the common area of the temple.
While he could not tell for certain… these guards seemed familiar; their posture, stance, and equipment triggered something in his memory. Their armor was unknown, of course. White and heavy, with an alien emblem emblazoned in gold on their armor with what looked like a modified Chiss Ascendancy emblem on the opposite side. Was that what they were supposed to be? Unfortunately, he couldn't see their faces to confirm.
Further confused, he began walking and the soldiers immediately fell to one knee in submission. Daniel tried not to act like this was a surprise to him, but he didn't know how he did act here. No one stopped him, so he continued onward, not wanting to raise suspicion. Many more questions arose as he entered the commons; completely uncertain as to what would happen next.
As he stepped into it, he felt a perceptible shift in the vision. The Force grew unnaturally strong around him; everything seemed heightened; a clarity in a way that was impossible to ignore. The intangible wrongness which had started as a seed when he had entered, had sprouted tenfold now, and he soon saw why.
The commons were not empty; but, in fact, were quite crowded. More of the familiar armored soldiers lined the walls, and there were other Jedi in the room in the same style of robes he now wore. The language he heard was an affront to his ears, as everyone spoke the same mishmash of languages as if it were normal and natural; eyes closed, he let it wash over him and he filtered most of it away as he saw the next distressing detail.
None of the Jedi had faces.
Where they should be, there was instead only blurriness, as if the head was enshrined in a layer of invisible smoke. Daniel tried not to stare, and as he did so, the face of the Jedi he was looking at became clearer, but the proportions seemed all wrong; as if there was an impostor trying to wear the face of someone else. There was an inherent fakeness to all of it, and the moment he looked away, the face returned to blankness.
In the center of the commons, before the dual circular staircases that led to the Council Chambers was a towering statue of… someone. Someone that seemed familiar.
He frowned, approaching closer. It was in the style of the statues he had seen before, carved out of gray stone, portraying a woman in flowing robes, a lightsaber held to her side, and a hand outstretched in a welcoming gesture. But it was the face; the mixture of two heads in graphic detail that made him look away, a zabrak and something he could not identify. The detail was exceptional, too exceptional for his liking. Seeing a plaque, he walked up to it hoping it would provide an answer.
It did, and the cold fell upon him again.
SARESH PALAVOLA – ASCENDANT LORD OF…
The final word he couldn't make out on first glance. It seemed to be a name, but it was difficult to piece it together. Vor… Vorilis… Orialis… Voralis… with the incoherent mashing of languages, picking out a word like this would take time, and he felt that time was not something he had right now. Still, 'Ascendant Lord'… that was a title that seemed familiar to him, but certainly not one that he could apply to Palavola.
Then he heard it.
"Daniel!" The voice was flat and made his hair stand up on end, perhaps due to being the first time he had been addressed in the vision.
He turned and his heart sank when he saw who it was – or rather, who it was supposed to be. If her blue skin and head-tails hadn't given it away, it was her signature in the Force that told him this was Lara'ritten. Though it was also not her; she felt different; wrong. Her face was missing like the others, and when it manifested a few seconds later, it also didn't fit.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked, her voice becoming more like he remembered, but with an alien undercurrent he couldn't identify.
He forced a smile, opened his mouth to speak and realized that the cacophony of languages came to him instinctively. "No, no, of course not. Why do you ask?"
It felt utterly alien to speak; words not written for the human mouth.
"The meeting is to start in a few minutes," she said as if it were obvious, "You are usually there well before it begins. When you didn't show, I wondered if something had happened."
"I…" Daniel began, then nodded, "No, just took a bit longer today. Let's go."
"Did you bring my lightsaber?" she asked, almost expectantly.
"No." He paused. "No, I… forgot it."
"Daniel," she sighed, sounding almost like someone real, "you promised you would help me be better about that."
"I know," he said, feeling oddly guilty about something he had never promised, "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, I shouldn't rely on you like that. It's not fair to you," she extended a hand, with an odd look on her face; almost sinister. He took it and she squeezed, her hand warm and almost comforting. "Come on, they are waiting. Today will be an important day."
The Jedi Council Chambers were surprisingly preserved compared to what he had expected; though it wasn't the composition of the Chambers that he knew would raise the most questions, but who sat upon them. Upon entering them, he immediately saw that the Council – or what appeared to remain of it – was suffering from the same thing that plagued the other Jedi he had seen.
"Skywalker. Good," the individual in black armor – who Daniel believed was Shartan – said from his seat in a voice like Lara's; initially flat and alien, "We can begin."
The others in the room who were also standing took their seats. Daniel attempted to gauge just who was here now that the faces were beginning to manifest, even if all of them looked… off. He saw no trace of Undien, Dal, Tocrum, or Odan, though he did see Pon here, though he was changed as well. Everyone else, including Mateil and Yaden were present, along with four new individuals he didn't recognize; replacements for the Jedi now missing.
Two chiss, a mirialan, and another human from the looks of it, though, unlike the others, their faces refused to fully manifest, and the more he looked, the more they seemed to switch what they were; from one species to another. It became too distracting after a few long seconds, and he looked away to the single empty seat who he presumed was for Palavola, who was conspicuously absent.
He decided it was worth asking a question. "Do we know if Palavola is joining us?"
"Ascendant Lord Palavola will be indisposed until Imperial Space is pacified," one of the formless Councilors rasped, "She trusts our judgment to not weaken the Jedi in her absence."
Daniel bowed his head to play along. "Of course."
"I thought we had been assured the Imperials would integrate without issue," Yaden interjected, fingers laced together, "It came from the Imperial Anchor, after all."
"Merely remnants," the second formless Councilor said, "The majority has fully integrated, and the leadership has been converted. These dissidents flee to the Outer Rim, even as they are pursued. It is only a matter of time now."
"I have assigned War Commander Skywalker to pursue the Imperial dissidents," Shartan stated. "When she has finished pacifying the Mandalorians, she will take her forces and bring the sector under our control."
Daniel kept his face straight as he heard that. Since he was here, that only meant there was only one other Skywalker it could be…
"You're sending Alana?" he asked cautiously, trying to phrase it as a natural prodding.
"Do you take issue?" Shartan demanded, an odd note in his voice, "I believe she is ideally suited to this operation."
"No, carry on," Daniel said in a toneless voice, a cold numbness coming over him.
Alana was certainly one of the most powerful and skilled Sentinels in the Order… but hearing that she would be suited toward crushing dissident forces was… wrong. She was an ideal Jedi Knight, not someone who sought violence like others in the Militant Order.
Though, as he had privately noted, she had an aggressiveness which could be pushed by a manipulative actor. Most of the malicious entities in the Jedi knew better than to risk corrupting her, but she was certainly at risk – and far too trusting and stubborn – for her own good.
It was concerning, and his concern only grew as the other Councilors continued talking.
"On that note, more deviants have been captured," Mateil added, a hand under his chin, "Deserters, mostly. The number of prisons we possess is diminishing. More need to be created if their bodies are to be preserved."
"Execute those who remain for now," Shartan commanded, "They are unnecessary. The priority is immediate stability."
There was a short chorus of agreement as Daniel observed with fascinated horror; himself a lone man surrounded by strangers and the insane.
"Skywalker," Shartan looked to him, "Have any additional targets been assigned? Despite Yaden's assurances, he is not Palavola, and I am unsure if there are still traitors in our midst."
Daniel hesitated a few moments, then shook his head. "None which have been provided to me."
"Strange," Shartan leaned back in his chair, "Very well then. We continue forward."
"Time is growing shorter," a formless Councilor interjected, "The Ascendant Lord has confirmed that He is coming shortly. This galaxy must be completely pacified for His arrival."
"Proactivity is necessary then," Pon said in a dull voice, looking to Daniel, "I know you are opposed to this, but we have waited long enough. Removal of the opposition is necessary. Negotiation has failed; they will not integrate willingly."
Daniel did not know what this specter of his friend was referring to, but he knew that it was not something he would willingly do. "Absolutely not."
A sound like hissing came from Pon whose face blurred. "It will be an order soon. The Ascendant Lord will not tolerate further refusal."
"Daniel, he's right," Lara implored, placing a hand on his arm, "More will die if this conflict is not ended soon."
He looked at her alien face with complete neutrality. "A few deaths for galactic peace."
"Exactly," she affirmed, also confirming this was not the woman he cared for, "And then war will end forever."
The statement sounded preposterous to him for a variety of reasons, but he sensed that she meant – or at least believed – every word. A quick sense around the room seemed to echo her sentiments. An end to war… there was too much context he was missing to even begin to understand if what she was proposing had any merit.
"I will consider it," he said slowly, lacing his fingers together, wondering if he was failing a test of the vision, "That is all I will promise."
"Some progress," Shartan grunted, "I was certain Palavola was going to have to order you."
"He understands the necessity of order before His arrival," the third of the formless Councilors finally spoke, "The Anchors have been clear, and it is time we heed their warnings."
"Indeed," the fourth formless rested their hand on their knees, "The most critical development has been addressed, let us continue with what remains."
The meeting felt like it lasted for hours. It was exhausting; a mental balance of maintaining the façade and trying to piece together what to say or react to from incomplete information, partial context, and the words of others. But he had made it through, with the vision continuing onward.
He felt there was something further in store.
Now he stood on an outdoor platform, looking out over the Ossus landscape and Temple grounds. Once, they had largely been untouched; with lush wildlife and a few locations for training arenas. Now, more of the stone statues lined red paths from the temple to the rest of the planet as far as he could see.
Barracks and smaller temples dotted the landscape, while squads of soldiers led by armored or robed Jedi marched along the paths. The Force still hummed throughout the planet like it always had. Now though, there was an undercurrent of rawness that had not existed before; a bloodlust and single-mindedness which tainted the well of power on this planet.
Adega Besh was setting on the horizon as he looked over what the Jedi had become.
He was still not entirely sure what had happened, but he knew that the Force was showing a Jedi Order that embraced the power it had sought for so long – or became the servant of another; one more powerful than even the Order. Though not, he suspected, a Sith. There was another entity at work here, but it was clear that at least part of this had been carried out willingly.
It was interesting that neither Undien, nor any of his allies, were part of it.
It made him wonder.
What should we really fear?
He felt the illusion of Lara come up behind him and put her arm around him. "A beautiful sight, isn't it?"
Daniel placed his own arm around her, not looking at her face. "It reminds me of what once was," he said quietly, "Before."
"Much has changed," Lara agreed, "but it's almost over, and the galaxy will know eternal peace."
"I hope so," Daniel meant that, even in this illusion, "That is the only outcome that can be worth the price."
They stood together for a while in silence, leaning on each other.
"Daniel?" Lara asked, almost hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"I think it's time."
He dropped his arm from her shoulder and turned, confused. "For what?"
"I've thought about what you said in the meeting," Lara answered, cocking her head to look up at him, "I… thought it might mean you're ready."
He didn't say anything yet, and just watched as she pulled out a small box; one that was black and lined with silver markings he could not identify. There was… something he sensed inside it; a desire; a wanting. What was in the box was… alive. There was no other plausible explanation, but he couldn't understand how that was possible.
"I know you're wary; I was too," Lara said, stepping closer, as he resisted the urge to step away, "but there's nothing to be frightened of. It… completed me. This will complete you too. It will give you a comfort and understanding you've never known."
"This feels wrong," he shook his head.
"Daniel, do you trust me?" She took his hand and placed it over the box, which felt warm.
A slight hesitation. "Yes."
"This is the right thing to do," she insisted, "I promise. Join us. Help us bring peace to this galaxy… forever."
He could not completely deny that he felt the allure. All it would take was to open the box and he wouldn't have to worry anymore; the doubt would leave, and he would have the assurance those around him possessed. He knew that the box, or whatever was in it, would mean the end.
A single sacrifice for eternal peace.
Eternal control for infinite power.
Infinite authority for singular purpose.
Mantras which whispered of the cost. What was being offered could be a trap, or it could be the solution.
He knew that this was the test, and he could only do what he felt was right.
Daniel put his free hand under Lara's, and moved it away. "No, Lara. I won't do this. I will find another way."
He was unsure what would happen next, and Lara stepped back as if struck. Her face morphed into an expression of contempt, no longer even trying to be someone she was not. "So be it, Daniel. Your time will come eventually."
At that, she turned and stormed away.
Immediately, the atmosphere of the vision changed. Wind picked up and the light turned from a warm orange to deep red. He turned back to look over the Ossus grounds, and saw an assembled army before him, legions that spanned as far as he could see. The smell of blood, machinery, and rot reached his nostrils and upon closer inspection, he saw that some of the soldiers were bloodied, wounded, or possibly dead.
"It does not matter how much you resist," a new voice spoke, deeper and slower than ones he had heard before. This one he could understand with perfect clarity right away. "You are but one against the Infinite."
"Sometimes," Daniel began, turning to face the new voice, "one is all it takes."
The figure before him was presumably Palavola, but instead of even a blurred face, there was nothing but blackness. This was not her, but whatever had dominated her. Hands were clasped together before her Jedi robes, while palpable contempt radiated from her. "Not this time, Jedi. You should have known better than to interfere."
"Better to try, than allow this to fester," Daniel clasped his own hands behind his back, "Strike me down if you wish; I will be beyond your reach."
The voice coming from the void became amused as a hand lifted before him. Daniel felt the Force clamp around his body, pinning it in place with a magnitude he couldn't even begin to break.
"Do not fear, Jedi," it hissed, "I do not need to kill you to make use of your body. You still have a role to play, and it is past time you started."
With a gesture, it threw him off the platform and the vision plunged into darkness as Daniel freefalled for close to a minute before reality came back to him in a rush, and he slammed into the mud and swamp of Dagobah. R2 gave an alarmed beep and rolled over to him and Daniel picked himself up, brushing off the twigs and mud with his hands.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he told the droid, looking back to the mouth of the cave which was as pitch-black as before.
R2 gave a questioning warble.
"Yes… I think so."
Daniel was not completely sure what he had seen, but it was clear the Force had shown him something important. There was something which threatened the Jedi Order, and Palavola seemed heavily connected to it.
"Come on," he told the droid with a grunt, what he had seen weighing heavily on his mind, "Let's go. I need to do some research."