Location: Peridea
Date: 4 ABY
The wind howled as Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati urged their steeds forward, their large, wolf-like mounts galloping through the rugged terrain of Peridea. The sky above them was overcast, and a low mist clung to the barren trees of the wilderness. Beside them, Grogu floated silently in his pod, eyes wide as they journeyed deeper into the heart of the ancient planet. His small form bobbed gently up and down with the movement, the occasional coo escaping his lips.
"Do you feel it?" Shin asked, her voice barely rising above the sound of the wind. She rode alongside Baylan, her eyes squinting at the horizon. The landscape before them stretched out like a vast, untamed ocean of stone and withered forests, the occasional jagged peak breaking the horizon.
Baylan nodded solemnly, his gaze forward. "Up north. It pulls us," he replied. His voice was deep, resonating with the weight of their mission. "It's not just any presence. It's something ancient. Something tied to the origins of this planet." Shin's eyes flickered with uncertainty.
They rode in silence after that, the rhythmic sound of the hooves striking the rocky ground beneath them the only noise, save for the occasional whirr of Grogu's pod. The child was content for now, his head swiveling as he watched the wild landscape pass by. He reached out from time to time, fascinated by the strange, twisted trees that seemed to bow toward them as they passed.
Hours into their journey, they came upon a group of the local tribesmen. They were friendly enough, their weathered faces and leather armor showing them to be hardy survivors of the harsh wilderness of Peridea. The tribe greeted them with cautious curiosity, and after some simple trading, Baylan offered up some of their rations in exchange for dried meat and fruits.
As the tribe moved on, Baylan inspected their newly acquired provisions, handing a few of the dried fruits to Grogu, who eagerly accepted them, cooing in delight.
Shin watched the small green creature eat with a bemused grin. "He seems easy to please."
Baylan gave her a sidelong glance. "He's simple in his needs. But don't let that fool you—there is much more to him than meets the eye."
Shin chuckled softly, but her eyes lingered on Grogu. There was something innocent in the way he marveled at the world, something that softened the edges of her otherwise hardened demeanor. She couldn't help but feel protective of the child, even if she didn't fully understand why.
The sun dipped low as night began to fall, and the three travelers made camp amidst the wilderness. Baylan set up a modest fire, the orange flames crackling softly in the cool night air. The dried meat and fruits they had traded for earlier were passed around, and they ate in companionable silence. The stars above were faintly visible through the mist, and the air had the bite of winter in it.
Grogu sat nestled near the fire, his eyes wide as he nibbled on another piece of dried meat. His small hands worked methodically, and every now and then, a delighted coo would escape him as he enjoyed his meal. Shin glanced at him with a small grin, finding an odd sense of peace in the creature's simple joys. It was rare to see something so pure, especially in the harsh world they lived in.
Baylan, however, remained focused. His eyes were trained on the distant peaks to the north, where the Force called to him. They were getting closer; he could feel it in his bones. The secrets of Peridea were within reach, and soon they would uncover the truth.
XX
The next few days were grueling as they continued northward, the terrain growing more rugged and challenging with each passing hour. The wilderness became increasingly unforgiving—rocky slopes gave way to sharp cliffs, and the trees thinned until there were only twisted remnants of life clinging to the barren earth. Yet the pull in the Force only grew stronger, guiding Baylan like an invisible hand.
On the third day, they finally reached the source of the calling. Nestled between two jagged mountain peaks was a sacred site, hidden from the eyes of most. The entrance was ancient, carved into the rock with symbols so worn and faded that they were nearly lost to time. But there was a faint hum of power in the air, something primal and untapped.
"This is it," Baylan said, his voice low and reverent.
Shin dismounted, her eyes scanning the sacred site. "What is this place?"
"The locals spoke of it," Baylan murmured. "They said the secret of the gods is hidden here. The Mortis gods, perhaps." He stepped closer to the entrance, his fingers tracing the symbols that adorned the stone. "These markings… They carry echoes of power. We are standing on a threshold."
Grogu floated closer, his wide eyes fixated on the entrance. He reached out with his small hands, cooing softly, as if he could sense the vast energies locked within. Shin placed a hand on his pod, gently lowering it.
"Stay back, little one," she said quietly. "Whatever this holds… we're not ready yet."
The entrance itself shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow. Cosmic energies seemed to swirl just beneath the surface, waiting to be awakened. Baylan stood before it, his presence imposing as he pressed his hand gently against the stone wall. The air around them vibrated, a low hum rising as Baylan began the ritual to unlock the chamber.
The ground trembled beneath their feet, and slowly, the massive stone door began to shift, sliding open with a grinding, ancient sound. A burst of light flooded out from within, cosmic energies swirling in brilliant patterns that reflected off the walls. The air was thick with the presence of the Force—strong, untamed, and powerful.
As the door fully opened, revealing a vast chamber bathed in the otherworldly glow, Baylan turned to Shin and Grogu.
"If I don't return by sunrise, you must leave without me."
Shin's expression tightened. "Master…"
Baylan's eyes were steady, calm. "There are forces here beyond your comprehension, Shin. But I understand your fear. Trust in me. And if I do not return, trust yourself to know when to move on."
Shin bit her lip, conflicted, but eventually nodded. "Understood."
Baylan offered her a small, rare smile. "Good. I have taught you well. You are strong, but there are things in this galaxy—things in this very chamber—that are beyond strength. Be patient in your pursuits, Shin. Rushing toward victory will only lead to downfall."
Grogu floated between them, sensing the weight of the moment. He reached out toward the swirling cosmic energies in the chamber, his fingers curling as if to grasp at the power he could feel.
Shin placed a hand on his pod, pulling him back slightly. "We wait."
Baylan gave a final glance at his apprentice and the child before stepping into the chamber. As he moved through the threshold, the stone door began to slide shut behind him, sealing the chamber once again with a soft, final thud.
Shin stood there, her hands clenched into fists as she stared at the entrance. Grogu cooed softly beside her, his wide eyes still fixated on the energies that shimmered in the air.
For now, all they could do was wait.
XX
The chamber was cold, its air thick with the ancient power of the Force. Baylan Skoll stood in its center, the walls around him glowing faintly with cosmic energies. His hand, still resting on the cold stone surface, trembled slightly as the portal opened before him, its surface shimmering like water. It was as though the Force itself had cracked the walls between time and memory, pulling him into something beyond himself.
With a deep breath, Baylan stepped through.
The world around him shifted, reality bending as images flooded his mind. At first, they were fragments—distant echoes of a life long lived.
He saw himself in his twenties, back in the Jedi Temple. His hands clutched a training saber as his Jedi Master guided him, correcting his stance, his movements, his thoughts. The Force had been so much simpler then. Clear. Uncomplicated.
But that life was ripped away.
The scene shifted. Fire. Screams. The clones turning on his master. Baylan fleeing, escaping Order 66 by the skin of his teeth. The Inner Rim world he had hidden on for years after, laying low as the galaxy twisted itself in the grip of the Empire.
Then, as quickly as the chaos began, it paused. A new image surfaced.
Shin Hati.
She was only a child, a small orphan girl, lost and alone in the ruins of another war-torn world. He remembered the moment he'd found her. Her face, dirtied and hardened by the reality of survival. He took her in, brought her to be trained. The same way his master had once done for him.
The memories swirled faster now—hazy moments of training her, guiding her. Their early jobs working for Morgan Elsbeth, building a rapport and trust in the shadows of the Empire.
Himself escaping the Empire's clutches mere days before the Battle of Yavin, slipping through the cracks as the galaxy shifted once more.
The images shifted again. A new vision.
Baylan saw Thrawn, standing on Atollon, speaking to the Bendu—a being beyond comprehension, neither dark nor light. The Bendu's voice echoed through the vision.
"You will be victorious. But compromise is necessary for the long term."
Victory. But at what cost? Baylan's thoughts twisted as the scene changed.
He saw Luke Skywalker aboard the Star Destroyer, severing Darth Vader's hand with his saber. The anguish in Luke's face as he fought his father. But there was more. A decision. A compromise.
Vader, no longer the unrelenting Sith Lord. But something more—something different. Baylan saw him working with the New Republic, compromising with them, warning them of the Grysk—a shadowy threat looming over the galaxy. And the Grysk, in turn, accused Thrawn of preventing their adaptation into the wider galaxy. Accusations of discrimination.
The future. The past. Everything was tangled in a web of power, conflict, and compromise.
And then, the vision changed once more.
Ahsoka Tano appeared, her form glowing in the faint light of the chamber.
Baylan's breath caught in his throat, his instincts sharpening. "Who are you?"
"My name is Ahsoka Tano."
"Ah… the apprentice of Skywalker?" Baylan's voice carried a certain edge. He had heard of her, the stories whispered in the dark corners of the galaxy. "I assume you know what became of him."
Ahsoka's eyes softened, though there was a weight behind them. "You are aware of his fall. But unaware of his change. He is currently on a journey of redemption."
Baylan scoffed, his voice low and firm. "Some beings are unworthy of redemption, Lady Tano."
Ahsoka's gaze was unwavering. "The Force has granted Anakin this opportunity, Baylan. Perhaps you could help in the process instead of remaining a wanderer."
Baylan's expression hardened. "Not with Vader."
Ahsoka nodded slightly, understanding his conviction. "Perhaps not with him. But what about his son, Luke? He is currently building an order—not bound to the light or the dark, but balanced in the Force. To protect the galaxy from threats both known and unknown. This is of concern to you, yes?"
Baylan hesitated for the briefest moment, his eyes narrowing. "I am concerned with this endless cycle—war, reconstruction, more war. I seek power to end it."
Ahsoka's voice softened, gentle but firm. "Perhaps power is not the solution, Baylan. But compromise. Cooperation with others."
"Other Force sensitives?" Baylan's voice was skeptical.
Ahsoka nodded. "Luke's new order is small, but growing. They are creating temples—places of balance where Force sensitives of all paths can learn. Where they can join together to face greater threats."
Baylan's brow furrowed. His mind drifted to Shin. He had always imagined a future for her, a path where she would not be alone. A path where she belonged. But he knew the dangers of the galaxy. The unknown threats that lurked in the shadows.
"We must use this portal," Baylan said, his voice resolute. "It contains power. Power we could use to defeat these threats."
Ahsoka's expression shifted slightly, her eyes filled with a deep understanding. "There is always a reason not to use such power, Baylan. Relying too much on it leads to dependency. Your strength, your wisdom… these are what will guide you. Not the relics of the past."
"Don't give me that," Baylan snapped, his tone growing harsher. "There were Jedi Masters on the Council who hid their abilities—powers they could have taught to prevent their downfall."
Ahsoka shook her head gently. "Not everyone is meant to hold so much power."
"I disagree," Baylan said firmly, his voice filled with conviction.
Ahsoka studied him for a long moment before speaking. "Very well. What do you propose as a compromise?"
Baylan's eyes narrowed. "This new order you speak of—what does it offer?"
"It's small, still forming," Ahsoka explained, "but they are creating two main temples for Force sensitives to join. A place where all sides of the Force can come together."
"And if I take this opportunity… will I have the ability to influence the teachings?"
"To a degree," Ahsoka answered, her voice even.
Baylan fell silent, his mind whirling. He believed in his cause, believed in power as a solution to the galaxy's never-ending conflict. But perhaps… perhaps there was another way. A way to ensure Shin's future. A way to end the cycle of destruction and rebirth.
"Very well," Baylan said slowly, his decision made. "I will seek what you speak of."
Ahsoka smiled softly. "Good. The opportunity will present itself, naturally. When it does… remember this conversation. Good luck, Baylan Skoll."
They bowed to one another in mutual respect, and slowly, the vision began to fade. The light of the portal dimmed, leaving Baylan standing alone in the cosmic chamber once more. The portal before him shimmered slightly, offering him a way out.
With one final glance at the chamber, Baylan stepped through.
XX
The cold air of Peridea hit him as he emerged from the ancient chamber, the world feeling starkly real once again. Shin and Grogu stood waiting, their eyes wide with surprise.
"Master?" Shin asked, her voice filled with a mix of relief and curiosity.
Baylan allowed a rare grin to cross his face as he patted his apprentice's shoulder. "Let's go, my apprentice. When Morgan is ready, we will reach out to others."
Shin's expression remained puzzled. "What did you see in the portal?"
Baylan's eyes softened slightly. "A vision. Instruction. On what comes next for us."
Shin nodded slowly, her curiosity still evident. "I see, Master. What do we need to do now?"
"Just wait," Baylan said calmly. "Be patient. The opportunity to act will come in its own time."
With that, he wrapped his arm around his apprentice's shoulders, pulling her close. Grogu's pod floated behind them, the small creature cooing softly as they began their journey back through the wilderness of Peridea.
In that moment, Baylan felt a sense of clarity he hadn't felt in years. He had found a new purpose—one that was not solely driven by power, but by the hope for something greater. Something for Shin. Something for the galaxy.