- 10'653 TYA -
- Galuch -
(3rd Person POV)
"Say, Father, what are we doing here?" Valdor asks Primus as they appear on the planet Galuch.
"We are recruiting, son," Primus says.
"Recruiting? Who are we recruiting?" Valdor asks.
"The natives, of course," Primus says as he walks through the dense forest.
The planet has a diversity of 'bizarre' plants, fungi and animals that are dangerous for most species. But Primus walks through the usually dangerous forest as if he were born here, simply by following the voice telling him where to go. He has decided not to be bothered by the future and continues to recruit more members to the Je'daii.
"From what I can tell, the only 'natives' you are talking about are not truly native. They're colonists. Gossam Courivers is what they call themselves. But they are having trouble gaining a foothold here."
"Truly? Interesting." Primus says.
"Say... we're going in the wrong direction, are we not?" Valdor asks.
"What is the right direction, Valdor?"
"The one that leads to the correct destination."
"Haha, clever." Primus laughs.
...
"Say, Father, what is the way to move forward?" Valdor asks after a moment of silence.
"Usually, the direction you're eyes are looking. And by putting one foot after the other, it should work. At least for me." Primus says.
"I'm not talking about physical path. I'm talking about how to grow further in the Force. How can I grow without taking away from Mother? Wouldn't that be a bad thing?" Valdor asks, already used to his father's way of making light fun of them.
"Yes, you are right there. But also not really. Your mother is not something you can just take from; that would lead you to a rather sinister path. I would not recommend doing that." Primus says.
"Do you think Mother would punish us?"
"No. I would." Primus says seriously.
"What do I do then? I am afraid of falling to the Dark Side."
"Pfft, the dark side... what a ridiculous notion. As if there are just two sides to your mother." Primus says.
"You know what I mean."
"If you are afraid of falling, the only safety consists in deliberately jumping."
"What do you mean? Do I find myself by just going for it? That doesn't seem like a good idea."
"Anyone accepting the task of individuation is destined to descend into a deep pit and had better set about it with all the necessary precautions rather than risk falling into the hole backwards," Primus says cryptically.
"And for the stupid ones among us, who aren't as ancient as you?" Valdor asks.
"Individuation is the process of self-realisation, the discovery and experience of meaning and purpose in your life; how one finds oneself and becomes who one truly is," Primus explains.
"Finding myself? Did you go through the same process, Father?" Valdor asks.
"Naturally, son. Having been through the process myself, I have come to understand that taking up the task of individuation implies 'falling into holes'. This means having intervals of misery, depression, grieving, and maybe even a form of psychic paralysis."
"You? You had intervals of depression?" Valdor asks, surprised. For him and his siblings, Primus was this inexplicable man who could not die and had lived longer than they could understand. He was filled with understanding of the Force and the universe as a whole that rivalled their mother's, since she was the one to teach him in the first place.
"Of course. I was not always this old. And not every day is a good day on this journey. The bad news is you're falling through the air with nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is... there's no ground." Primus explains.
"So I should just enjoy the journey? Then what is the meaning of my life? Why did you create us? Just to waste time in your eternal existence?" Valdor asks.
"Everything depends on your thought process, Valdor. You are as unhappy or happy as you have convinced yourself to be. Why should I tell you the meaning of life? That is your job to find out. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted, and I enjoyed the time I spent with all my children. Besides, if you no longer want to live, that is also your choice."
"So it's about choice, then?" Valdor asks.
"In a way, yes. And now that you have realised it, you also are carrying a burden." Primus tells his son.
"Why a burden?"
"Because nothing is more difficult than being able to decide. But that makes it all the more precious."
"I see," Valdor says, thinking about his father's words.
After a few hours of walking, they finally make it to a large swamp area rich in the Force but not pure Force energy. Valdor observes his father simply standing there and waiting for something. He had understood long ago that there was usually a reason for his father's actions. But sometimes, he just seemed to do things for no real reason. It was strange, as his relationship to his mother was so intimate that it surpassed anything that they, as children, could ever understand. Time meant nothing to Primus, at least that's what it seemed; he had mastered the art of patience.
Finally, after a long time, the swamp started to stir, and from the depths several creatures rose. These are tall, bipedal, sentient species who might be considered strange and mysterious to observers. arms and legs ended in four large, webbed digits, with suction-cup fingertips. Growing from the underside of each arm is a shorter, smaller arm that ends in three large, agile fingers. Their heads consist of a thick mass of long, flexible tendrils with illuminated tips. The mouth and eyes, which glow bright red in some individuals, appear as black holes within that mass.
Valdor could feel something extraordinary about these creatures. All of them are Force-sensitive and deeply connected to the Living Force of this planet. However, he also feels that this might bring with it some problems.
"Father, what-"
'Greetings, Galuchians. I am known as the Listener and am here with a proposition.' Primus starts to speak in a strange, guttural, barking language unknown to Valdor. He understands it must be the language of this species. So he uses the Force to translate the language and understand what is being said.
'We have long awaited your return, oh ancient one.'
'Ah? You know me?' Primus asks.
'Naturally. We would remember the one who helped us in our time of need, when we were but an evolving race on our way to establishing a society, when you arrived. Our elders tell the legends of your arrival and help.'
'So you remember that. Truly impressive. I am glad you managed to establish a functioning society here on the planet, and I wonder whether you are interested in joining the Order I have created.' Primus asks them.
'The elders would like to hear your proposition, oh ancient one. If you are willing to accompany us?' they ask.
'But of course. May I introduce you to one of my sons, Valdor? Should you agree, he will be the one to introduce you to my Order.' Primus says.
'Well met, Valdor, son of the Ancient One. You are welcome here.'
...
"What are you doing, Valdor? Answer them." Primus says.
"I-I'm trying to speak, but it doesn't work," Valdor whispers.
"Huh? Wait a moment..." Primus closes his eyes and then grimaces. "Well, it seems your mother's a bit cross with me. Let me just..."
...
"Good, now try again," Primus says.
"Why would it not work for me if she's cross with you?" Valdor asks.
"Because you have been neglecting her and following me. Don't get me wrong, Valdor, I like your devotion, but you shouldn't forget your mother either. Try to find a middle ground."
'Good, we're ready. Let us go.' Valdor says.
'Very well. Please follow us,' the Galuchians say, sinking into the moor with Primus and Valdor following them to meet their elders and get them to join the Je'daii Order. With Primus, that was mostly a formality and nothing more. The Galuchians would surely join them.
.
- Tython -
The rebuilding has been ongoing, and after five years, normality has somewhat returned to the planet and the Tython System. However, one of Primus' children overlooked changes in the works. The aristocratic families had to part with large areas on different planets in the Tython System, and Primus was using those now. Only he and his children knew what for. But on Tython itself, a few other things had also changed.
"Come on, Hawk Ryo. I feel... we have to go there. Something is waiting for us down there."
"You know it's forbidden, Daegon. You know it is, and just because they promoted you from Ranger to Master, doesn't mean you can ignore those rules." Hawk Ryo says to his best friend.
"I'm not ignoring the rules, Hawk, it's just... I have this feeling, the urge to go down there for some reason. I can't explain it, but I'll go."
Daegon Lok decided to explore the Chasm, a planetary rift below the Temple of Science, Anil Kesh. Brash and overconfident in his power, Lok ignores the fact that the Chasm messes with the minds of those who enter. He felt a great pull towards the Chasm. Daegon and Hawk make their way downwards and feel the swirling energies start to engulf them as they go deeper. After a while though...
"Daegon, do you feel a buzzing in your head as well? I think we've gone far enough on this run. Let's head back and look over the data." Hawk says.
"Only the bottom is far enough. I can feel it, I'm getting closer." Daegon responds, feeling the calling grow stronger.
"We said we were going to take this in stages, be smart about it, Daegon." Hawk cautions his friend, but fails.
"Let's be brave about it. I.. wait. I'm seeing something... figures forming in the mist!" Daegon says.
Daegon starts to see figures forming in the mist. A Force vision overcomes his senses.
"A creature with a single red eye... leading an army... a sword of flame... destruction... fire... death!"
As Daegon stares into the void, he sees a vision, and as he screams in shock and fear, a voice makes its way to his mind. A deep voice, unlike anything he has ever heard. Whispering of things to come, danger and destruction, similar to what he has just seen.
~Come, Daegon. Come to the bottom~
"Daegon. NO!" Hawk Ryo shouts and stops his friend from moving further down.
"Hawk! Look! Don't you see it?!"
"We're getting out of here!" Hawk says, firing his jetpack to shoot back to the surface.
"Let me go! Let me go! I need to go further!"
Daegon arrives before the Council and tells them all about his vision. He warns them of what he saw, the blades of pure fire, the death and destruction and the dark figure waiting for him. But the reaction is the one that has settled long ago. The politicians who sat in the council were not willing to accept what he was saying and put it off as him being corrupted by the dark side.
"You have entered the Chasm, which has been deemed too dangerous by the Supreme Grandmaster himself and have tasted too much of the darkness. You are to leave Tython and will spend your time on the moon, Bogan in exile, where you will meditate on the Force and restore your inner balance."
"You refuse to believe what I saw?! You're all fools, useless and corrupt. Where's the Supreme Grandmaster? I demand to speak with him right now. He will surely believe me." Daegon shouts.
"The Supreme Grandmaster is off-world, right now. He has not deemed it necessary to inform us of the location he went to," one of the council members says.
"Daegon Lok, you and Ranger Hawk Ryo are to go to Bogan, effective immediately."
So Daegon Lok and his friend Hawk Ryo were brought to the moon Bogan, one of Tython's many moons, but only one of the two that the Je'daii could actually see. The two friends couldn't see one another, and it was made sure that they didn't have contact, but that wasn't what bothered Daegon. It was the hooded figure that stood in his way, with a large staff in hand.
"Tell me, Daegon Lok... do you desire strength? Do you want to know how to stop the approaching army and be the one to fight them? To lead the Je'daii against the threat and come out victorious? Do you want to learn how to use your fear and restlessness and turn it into power?"
The deep voice of the figure is the same one he heard in the Chasm. Daegon sees himself leading his people against the army he saw and nods his head.
"I do..." he says and instinctively, without realising it, kneels.
_____________________________________
Things are going to get interesting, at least in my opinion.
See you all next week.