The blue-white tunnel of hyperspace collapsed around us, reality snapping back into focus with a disorienting lurch that always made my stomach drop slightly no matter how many times I experienced it. The swirling vortex of light gave way to the black void of space, and there, hanging against the star-field like a wound in the cosmos, was Atollon.
The planet looked harsh even from orbit. Its surface was a patchwork of angry reds and deep grays, volcanic activity painting the landscape in shades of fire and ash. Massive geological formations jutted from the surface like broken teeth, and I could see the faint shimmer of heat distortion even from this distance, the atmosphere itself seeming to ripple and warp with the thermal energy rising from below.
"That's... not inviting," Derren said from behind me, leaning forward to get a better look through the viewport. His voice carried that dry, understated tone he used when something was clearly terrible but he didn't want to admit it bothered him.
"It's a volcanic world," I said, my hands moving across the controls as I began our descent vector. "The surface is geologically active, lots of thermal vents, superheated winds, and unstable terrain. Not exactly a vacation destination."
"Why would anyone live here?" Derren asked, genuine confusion in his voice. "Or anything, for that matter?"
"Life finds a way," I replied, adjusting our angle of approach. "Even in the harshest environments, the Force sustains life. You'd be surprised what can adapt and thrive in places like this."
Anakin remained silent, his eyes fixed on the planet below. I could feel through our bond that he was already preparing himself mentally, centering his thoughts and emotions, readying himself for whatever we were about to face. That was one of the things I appreciated most about Anakin, when it mattered, when the situation demanded it, he could become absolutely focused and professional. Well professional isn't the word I use, maybe more serious.
The Resolute Dawn shuddered as we hit the upper atmosphere, the hull beginning to heat from friction as we descended through layers of increasingly dense air. The viewport filled with orange and red as flames licked across our shields, the ship's systems compensating automatically for the thermal stress. The ride grew rougher, turbulence buffeting us from side to side as pockets of superheated wind slammed against our hull like invisible fists.
"Hold on," I said, my hands steady on the controls despite the violent shaking. "It's going to get worse before it gets better."
And it did. The descent through Atollon's atmosphere was like falling through a storm of fire and fury. Wind shear caught us repeatedly, trying to spin us off course, while thermal updrafts from volcanic vents below created sudden pockets of extreme turbulence that made the ship buck and twist. The temperature readings on my console climbed steadily, the external sensors registering heat levels that would have been lethal to unprotected organic life. But I'd flown through worse.
Finally, we broke through the worst of it. The flames died away, the shaking subsided to a manageable level, and the viewport cleared to reveal the surface of Atollon in all its harsh, unforgiving glory.
Jagged rock formations stretched across the landscape as far as the eye could see, massive spires of stone that looked like they'd been thrust up from below by some tremendous geological force. The ground between them was cracked and broken, fissures running through the earth like scars, many of them glowing faintly with the red-orange light of magma flowing beneath the surface. Steam hissed from countless vents, creating a perpetual haze that hung over the landscape like a shroud.
"There," I said, pointing toward a relatively flat area near the edge of a massive rift valley. "That looks stable enough for landing."
I brought the ship down carefully, using the repulsorlifts to hover above the surface while I scanned for any signs of instability. The ground looked solid enough, though I could see cracks running through it, and several thermal vents were visible nearby, their steam rising in lazy columns that twisted and coiled in the wind.
Satisfied that we weren't about to land on top of a magma pocket, I eased the ship down. The landing struts touched the surface with a gentle thump, and I felt the ship settle slightly as its weight compressed the ash and dust beneath us. The engines powered down with a descending whine, and suddenly the only sound was the faint hiss of cooling metal and the distant rumble of geological activity.
"Well," I said, unbuckling my restraints and standing up. "Welcome to Atollon. Try not to die from heat stroke."
The ramp lowered with a hydraulic hiss, the sound echoing strangely in the thin, hot air. As the seal broke and the ramp descended, a wave of heat rolled into the ship like a physical thing, carrying with it the smell of sulfur and ash and something else.
Derren was the first to step out, and I watched with amusement as his face immediately contorted into an expression of pure disgust. He took two steps down the ramp, stopped, and turned back to look at us with an expression that clearly said he was reconsidering every life choice that had led him to this moment.
"Yeah, no," he said flatly, his voice carrying that deadpan tone that made it impossible to tell if he was joking or serious. "This place sucks. Why is it so hot? And what is that smell?"
I couldn't help but laugh as I followed him down the ramp. "Sulfur, mostly. Mixed with volcanic ash and probably some other minerals I can't identify. And it's hot because we're on a geologically active planet with significant volcanic activity. The heat you're feeling is coming from magma flows beneath the surface."
"I hate it," Derren said simply, pulling at the collar of his robes as if that would somehow help with the heat. "I officially hate this planet. Can we leave now?"
Anakin followed us down the ramp, and I watched his reaction with interest. Unlike Derren, Anakin didn't complain or show any visible discomfort. Instead, he stretched his arms above his head, rolling his shoulders and flexing his mechanical hand with a series of soft clicks and whirs. When he lowered his arms, there was actually a small smile on his face.
"Really?" he said, looking around at the harsh landscape with something that might have been appreciation. "Feels pretty nice compared to Tatooine. At least there's no sand."
Derren shot him a look. "You grew up on a desert hellscape. Your standards are broken."
"My standards are fine," Anakin replied, his smirk widening. "You're just soft. This is nothing compared to the Dune Sea at midday. At least here you can breathe without getting sand in your lungs. Plus this planet has more water on it's surface then Tatooine."
"I can't breathe without getting sulfur in my lungs," Derren countered. "Is that better?"
I left them to their bickering, my attention already focused elsewhere. I had moved away from the ship while they were talking, drawn by something I could feel in the Force, a presence, something massive that called to me. I walked toward the edge of the cliff overlooking the massive rift valley, my boots crunching on the ash-covered ground, and stopped at a point where I could see the full expanse of the landscape before me.
The valley was enormous, stretching for kilometers in every direction, its depths lost in shadow and steam. Massive rock formations rose from its floor like the bones of some long-dead titan.
I dropped to one knee, resting my hand against the ground, feeling the warmth of the stone beneath my palm. The surface was rough, covered in a fine layer of ash and dust that clung to my skin. I could feel the vibration of the planet's geological activity through the ground, a constant low rumble that spoke of tremendous forces at work beneath the surface.
Then I reached up and removed my eyepatch, and the world shifted. The void world and the physical world then overlapped.
The landscape before me transformed. What had been rock and ash and steam became something else entirely, a tapestry of light and energy, of connections and flows that wove through everything like threads in an infinite web. I could see the Force-lights of every living thing, from the smallest microorganisms in the soil to the larger creatures that made their homes in this harsh environment.
The particles of the Living Force danced around me like fireflies, tiny points of light that moved and swirled in patterns too complex for the conscious mind to fully comprehend. I felt a pull, though I didn't yet know the full implications of what that meant.
I extended my awareness outward, searching, and feeling for the presence I knew was here. And then I found it.
The Bendu's Force-light dominated the valley like a sun, so massive and powerful that for a moment I couldn't process what I was seeing. It wasn't larger than Anakin's or mine, our potential in the Force was something unique, and something that defied normal measurement, but it was easily larger than Master Yoda's, larger than any other Force-user I had ever encountered except for the most powerful beings I knew.
But it was the color that made my breath catch in my throat.
Most Force-users appeared to me in familiar hues. Jedi typically manifested as shades of blue or green, their lights steady and calm, reflecting their connection to the Light Side of the Force. Sith were red, their lights flickering and unstable, fed by passion and anger and the Dark Side's corrupting influence. There were variations, of course, rare individuals whose connection to the Force manifested in unique ways.
Master Windu's Force-light was violet. Master Plo Koon's shifted between blue and yellow, the colors flowing and changing like water, reflecting his deep connection to both the Living Force and the Cosmic Force. Anakin's was silverish-white with a sky-blue hue, bright and pure and powerful beyond measure, the light of the Chosen One himself. My own was golden, warm and bright, though shadows that moved beneath the surface, hints of something I didn't fully understand.
Master Fay's Force-light was pure white, so bright and clear that it was almost painful to look at directly. Seris's was silver with a tinge of gold.
But the Bendu's Force-light was unlike anything I had ever seen.
It was pale gray, so faint it bordered on white, yet constantly shifting beneath the surface with subtle waves of darker and lighter shades. It reminded me of twilight, that brief moment between day and night when the world exists in a state of perfect balance, neither light nor dark but something in between. It was like looking at fog illuminated by moonlight, or smoke caught in the rays of a setting sun, or clouds at dawn when the first light of day begins to touch them but hasn't yet burned away the darkness of night.
The color shifted and flowed, never quite settling into one shade or another, always moving, always changing, yet somehow remaining perfectly balanced. The fundamental grayness that defined the Bendu's presence.
It felt ancient. Ancient in a way that transcended normal understanding of time. This was a being that had existed for millennia, that had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, that had seen the Force itself evolve and change across countless generations.
But more than that, it felt balanced. Perfectly, absolutely balanced. There was no pull toward light or dark, no lean toward one side or the other. The Bendu existed in perfect equilibrium, a living embodiment of the Force's true nature, neither Ashla nor Bogan, neither Jedi nor Sith, but something that encompassed both and transcended both simultaneously.
It was like looking at an immovable object in the Force, something so fundamentally stable and centered that nothing could shift it from its position. The Bendu didn't shine like Luke Skywalker's Force-light would one day. Instead, it simply was, present and powerful and eternal, but somehow unobtrusive, as if you would never notice it until the Bendu wanted you to.
I swallowed hard, feeling a nervousness I hadn't expected. Standing here, perceiving the Bendu's true nature through the Force, I felt something I rarely experienced anymore.
Awe....Pure, genuine awe at something greater than myself.
Anakin approached quietly, his footsteps barely audible over the wind. He crouched beside me, his presence in the Force a comforting warmth at my side. "You see something."
I nodded, not taking my eyes off the horizon, still perceiving the Bendu's Force-light in the distance. "Yeah. I do." My voice came out more nervous than I intended.
Anakin must have heard it too, because I felt his attention sharpen, his focus narrowing on me. Through our bond, I could sense his concern, his curiosity, and something else, a protective instinct that had grown stronger over the years we'd spent as brothers. "You nervous?" he asked.
I nodded again. "...A little."
That alone told them everything. Anakin and Derren both knew me well enough to understand what that admission meant. I didn't get nervous easily. I left the Jedi without looking back, bult my own group of Force-users, I had faced down Count Dooku, and had made decisions that started to reshape the galaxy. If I was nervous about meeting the Bendu, then this was serious.
"Well, it's a good thing we're here with you then," Derren said, and I could hear the smile in his voice even without looking at him. His tone was light, trying to ease the tension, but I could feel through the Force that he was taking this seriously too.
I stood, replacing my eyepatch and turning to face them both. The physical world snapped back into focus, the Force-lights fading from my perception as I closed off that deeper level of awareness. Anakin and Derren stood side by side, both of them looking at me with expressions of trust and readiness.
I couldn't help but smirk. "Come on, you two. Follow me."
We descended into the valley, navigating narrow stone paths that wound between massive rock formations. The terrain was treacherous, the ground uneven and covered in loose ash that shifted beneath our feet.
As we moved deeper into the valley, I began to notice movement along the rocks around us. At first, it was just shadows, barely visible against the gray stone. But as we continued forward, the shapes became clearer, more defined, and I felt both Anakin and Derren tense beside me as they realized what they were seeing.
Krykna. The Atollon spiders.
They emerged from crevices in the rock, their six legs clicking softly against the stone as they moved into position around us. They were large, easily the size of a speeder bike, with bodies covered in white and gray chitin that blended almost perfectly with the volcanic rock. Their beaked mouths opened and closed with soft clicking sounds, and their fanged pedipalps twitched as they tasted the air, sensing our presence.
I remember these guys from the Rebel TV show, and I even did a little reading on them over the years. Krykna were highly territorial predators, their hides resistant to blaster fire, their venom capable of paralyzing prey many times their size. They were also incredibly sensitive to emotions, particularly negative emotions like fear and aggression. They could sense disturbances in the Force, and they responded to threats with overwhelming violence.
But they could also sense peace.
I felt Anakin and Derren both reach for their lightsabers, their hands moving to their belts in practiced, instinctive motions. The krykna responded immediately, their bodies tensing, their legs spreading wider in defensive postures. More of them appeared from the rocks above and below, surrounding us on all sides, their clicking growing louder and more agitated.
I raised my hand, my voice calm and steady. "No. Don't."
Both of them froze, their hands hovering over their weapons but not drawing them. I could feel their confusion through the Force, their instinctive desire to defend themselves warring with their trust in my judgment.
"That won't be necessary. Just... be at peace, and trust the Force. These creatures are highly sensitive to negative emotions. They can feel fear, aggression, hostility. If we approach them with those feelings, they'll attack. But if we approach them with peace and calm, they'll let us pass."
Anakin raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "You want us to be at peace in the Force with giant alien spiders ready to eat us right there?"
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I simply looked back at them and smiled, trying to project confidence and calm through our bonds. Then I turned back around and walked forward, my stride confident, my mind relaxed and centered in the Force.
I reached out with my awareness, touching the consciousness of the krykna around me. They weren't intelligent in the way sentient beings were, but they had their own kind of awareness and that let them sense that I meant no harm, that I was simply passing through their territory with respect and peace.
The krykna closest to me shifted, its body relaxing slightly, its pedipalps lowering from their aggressive position. I walked past it, maintaining that sense of calm and harmony, and it didn't move to attack. It simply watched me pass, its multiple eyes tracking my movement but showing no hostility.
Behind me, I heard Anakin mutter something under his breath, then felt him and Derren begin to follow. I could sense their nervousness through the Force, their natural wariness of the predators surrounding us, but they were doing their best to maintain the calm I had demonstrated. They trusted me, and that trust allowed them to push past their instinctive fear.
The krykna let them pass.
We walked through the valley in silence, surrounded on all sides by the massive arachnids, but none of them attacked. They simply watched us, their bodies relaxed, their clicking soft and almost curious rather than aggressive. It was a strange experience, walking through a nest of apex predators without fear, trusting in the Force to guide us safely through.
When we finally emerged from the densest concentration of krykna, Anakin and Derren both caught up to me, their expressions showing a mixture of relief and amazement.
"That was..." Derren started.
"Terrifying?" Anakin finished. "Because that was terrifying. I've fought Crime Lords and the occasional battle droid, and pirates and all kinds of things, but walking through a nest of giant spiders without my lightsaber drawn might be the scariest thing I've done."
I chuckled, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. "You both did well. That's an important lesson, not every threat needs to be met with violence. Sometimes, the best way to handle a dangerous situation is to approach it with peace and understanding."
"Easy for you to say, Master Plo's student." Derren muttered. "You're someone who can apparently make friends with anything."
"It's don't make friends with everyone," I corrected gently. "It's about respecting all life, even life that seems dangerous or hostile. The krykna aren't evil or malicious. They're just protecting their territory and responding to what they perceive as threats. When we showed them we weren't a threat, they had no reason to attack us."
Anakin nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "I see what you mean. It's... the Force connects all living things, right? So if we approach other life with respect and peace, that connection can bridge the gap between us."
"Exactly. That's one of the fundamental principles I want our new group to embrace. We're not separate from the rest of the galaxy, we're part of it. Every living thing, from the smallest microbe to the largest creature, is connected through the Force. When we remember that, when we act from that understanding, we can accomplish things that would be impossible through force alone."
We continued walking, the conversation falling into comfortable silence as we navigated the last stretch of the valley. The terrain began to change, the loose ash giving way to more solid rock, the fissures becoming less frequent. Ahead of us, I could see a massive stone formation, an enormous boulder that dominated the landscape like a small mountain.
I stopped, my eyes fixed on the formation, and I felt a smile tug at my lips. We were here.
Anakin frowned, looking at the boulder with confusion. "Okay... now what?"
"We're here," I said simply.
Derren squinted at the massive rock formation, then looked at me with an expression of pure skepticism. "What, is the Bendu a giant boulder? Because I've got to tell you, that would be disappointing after everything you've built him up to be."
I shook my head, my smile widening. "No, not a boulder."
The ground began to tremble.
It started as a faint vibration, barely noticeable at first, but it quickly grew stronger. The ash beneath our feet began to shift and dance, small stones bouncing and rolling as the tremor intensified. The "boulder" in front of us shifted, and I heard both Anakin and Derren suck in sharp breaths as they realized what they were seeing.
Stone cracked and slid away as something enormous rose from the earth itself. What we had taken for a natural rock formation was actually a living being, so massive and so perfectly camouflaged that it had been invisible until it chose to reveal itself. A towering figure unfolded, rising higher and higher, until it stood as tall as a cliff face and as broad as a fortress.
The Bendu.
His skin was the color of weathered stone, gray and rough and ancient. His body was massive and solid, built like a mountain given life and consciousness. His arms were thick as tree trunks, his hands large enough to crush a speeder with ease.
But it was his face that captured my attention. A massive beard hung from his chin, white and flowing, reaching down to his chest. His features were carved by time itself, every line and wrinkle speaking of ages beyond counting. And his eyes, white, pupilless eyes that glowed faintly with an inner light, opened slowly, fixing on us with an awareness that was both ancient and immediate.
I heard Anakin whisper something under his breath, a curse or a prayer, I couldn't tell which. Derren had gone completely still, his mouth hanging open slightly, all his usual sarcasm and humor forgotten in the face of something so impossibly vast and powerful.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in awe too. I had known intellectually that the Bendu was large. But seeing him in person, standing before this living mountain, feeling the weight of his presence in both the physical world and the Force, it was overwhelming in a way I hadn't fully anticipated.
Anakin broke the silence first, and I could hear the forced casualness in his voice as he tried to process what he was seeing. "Okay... you were right. He's big." He paused, then added with a slight smirk, "Actually, I think 'big' is an understatement."
Derren chuckled, though it sounded slightly strained. "The guy is huge. Like, 'could step on us and not notice' huge."
The Bendu's gaze moved slowly across the three of us with an intensity that made me feel like I was being examined down to my very soul. When he spoke, his voice rolled across the valley like distant thunder, deep and resonant and carrying the weight of ages.
"Hello there, Cain. Anakin. Derren."
Derren's jaw dropped. "...You know who I am?"
The Bendu inclined his massive head slightly, the movement slow and deliberate. "Yes, Derren Talvos. I know of you three. Just as I know of the Chosen One before me." His gaze shifted to Anakin.
Anakin crossed his arms, his expression shifting into that confident smirk. "Yeah, that checks out. I didn't think we were famous all the way out here."
The Bendu's gaze settled on Anakin.
"I know much of you, Skywalker," the Bendu said. "I knew what your future once was, and how little it has changed."
Anakin's smirk vanished. I felt his confusion spike, followed quickly by a growing sense of unease. "What do you mean, 'how little it has changed'?"
The Bendu was silent for a long moment, his white eyes never leaving Anakin's face. When he spoke again, his words fell like hammer blows, each one carrying terrible weight and certainty.
"And I know that Cain's influence has changed only a little for you. You will still fall to the darkness, becoming the Dark Invader. But you will still bring balance to the Force. But not in the way it was originally supposed to be done. You haven't lost your darkest future... but only postponed it."
The world seemed to stop.
Anakin's eyes widened, his face going pale beneath his tan. I felt shock and denial and fear crash through our bond like a tidal wave, so intense it nearly staggered me. "What did you just say?"
My own mind was racing, thoughts tumbling over each other in a chaotic mess as I tried to process what the Bendu had just revealed. That can't be. I know no one, not even me, is above falling to the Dark Side. Luke Skywalker and Revan are proof of that. But how does it happen now? Does Padmé die?
Then my mind narrowed, focusing on one thought with laser intensity. Sidious. It always came back to Sidious. The puppet master, the hidden threat, the cancer at the heart of the Republic. As long as he lived, as long as he pulled his strings and manipulated events from the shadows, Anakin would never be truly safe from the darkness.
"You stand between paths," the Bendu said, his voice calm and measured, as if he were discussing the weather rather than delivering a prophecy of doom. "Your connection to the Force is unmatched, but power does not prevent one from falling. Anyone can fall. You may still descend into darkness at any time... just as you may yet rise into light again. Balance is a constant motion. Like your choices, it must be consistent but open to great change and growth. Or you may cause an even worse future than the one I saw before."
Anakin bristled, his hands clenching into fists at his sides."Wait! Who are you to judge me?"
"I am the Bendu," the being replied, his tone unchanged, still carrying that same calm certainty. "The one who stands between the Ashla and the Bogan. And I do not judge. I merely see and speak the truth. Truth I give to you freely."
"Why?" Anakin demanded, his voice sharp with frustration and barely contained emotion. "Why tell me this? What's the point of knowing a future I can't change?"
"To bring balance to the Force," the Bendu said simply, as if that explained everything.
I watched silently, taking it all in, still amazed and somewhat overwhelmed by the entire situation. The Bendu was just like how I remembered him from Star Wars Rebels,ancient, wise, cryptic, and absolutely terrifying in his clarity and directness. I just hadn't expected him to be so blunt with Anakin, to lay out the truth so starkly without any attempt to soften the blow.
Then the Bendu turned to me, and I felt the full weight of his attention settle on my shoulders like a physical burden. "You asked me through your teachers to join your new praxeum," he said. "To help guide it as one of its leaders."
Okay, Cain, it's time to impress. I took a deep breath, centering myself, calling on every bit of diplomatic skill and persuasive ability I had developed over the years. Remember, this being is like Yoda but much larger, much older, and possibly even wiser. You need to make your case clearly and respectfully.
I exhaled slowly, meeting the Bendu's white eyes with as much confidence as I could muster. "Yes, I did. I believe one as wise as you can offer so much to our budding Order. We want to return to the old ways of learning, listening, and walking alongside the Force. Without forgetting the lessons of the past, we hope to forge a path for the future. So will you please come and help lead us to a new age?"
I figured I knew what was coming, but it didn't hurt to have hope. If the Bendu could help in any way, I would be happy. Even if he just offered guidance or wisdom from afar, it would be valuable beyond measure.
The Bendu's ancient gaze looked down on the three of us, and I felt the weight of his consideration, the sense that he was measuring not just my words but my intentions, my heart, my very soul.
"I will not," the Bendu said.
I nodded, trying to keep the disappointment from showing on my face. "I thought so. But... can I ask why?"
The Bendu looked to the sky, his white eyes gazing distantly into space, past the atmosphere, past the stars themselves, as if he could see something far beyond the physical realm. "It is not time. I am not needed."
I frowned, frustration beginning to build in my chest. Great, this mystical shit again. "What does that even mean?"
But the Bendu didn't answer. He simply continued to gaze upward, and I realized he wasn't going to elaborate. So I pressed on, trying a different approach.
"What about guiding and helping others find balance in the Force? Can you do that?"
The Bendu looked back at me, and I thought I saw something that might have been amusement in those ancient eyes. "I already am. Those who need to find me will find me."
I just blinked, frustration mounting to the point where I couldn't even speak. What kind of answer was that? How was that helpful? How was anyone supposed to find him if they didn't know where to look or what they were looking for?
"Look at yourself," the Bendu said, his voice gentle but firm. "And at your friends. You came here seeking my guidance and help, and am I not giving it? Did I not advise young Skywalker?"
I lowered my gaze, feeling the truth of his words even as they frustrated me. He was right, of course. We had come seeking wisdom, and he had given it, just not in the form I had expected or wanted. "...Will you at least come to Tython?" I asked quietly, one last attempt to secure his presence near our new temple.
"No."
Anakin scoffed, his frustration with the entire situation finally boiling over. "So you dragged him all the way out here, just to say no?"
"No," the Bendu replied, his gaze shifting to Anakin. "I called him here to give him an answer and a message. He brought you with him."
I stiffened, my attention sharpening. " What message?"
"The chaos moves in shadow," the Bendu intoned, his words rolling across the valley like thunder. "A horde of nightmares gathers unseen. Your light alone will not be enough. Nor will the Chosen One's. You must gather the light, old, new, and forgotten, to cleanse the chaos. But you will discover truth in the darkness, as you lose your light."
Anakin frowned, his confusion evident. "What does that even mean?"
Derren shrugged, his expression showing the same bewilderment. "I don't know, but none of that sounds comforting."
It sounded like a Force prophecy, I thought, my mind already working to parse the cryptic language and symbolic imagery. The chaos in shadow, that had to be the Sith, or perhaps something even darker. A horde of nightmares gathering unseen, the clone army maybe? The droid army? Something else entirely? And what did it mean that I would discover truth in darkness while losing my light?
The Bendu continued. "Only with those who walked the skies before, and those who will walk after. With the riders of the Sun. Led by the warriors from the world of beauty. Uniting the forgotten legends of old with the present will give the power to restore balance in the galaxy and in thyself."
Then silence fell, heavy and oppressive, as we all tried to process what we had just heard.
"...What does that even mean?" Derren asked, his voice small and uncertain.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and sighed, feeling a headache beginning to form behind my eyes. "Don't bother asking. Force beings as powerful and old as him never give straight answers." I muttered under my breath.
I swear the Sith are less of a headache. Even if you can't trust them, they're at least pragmatic and straightforward enough. Either a prideful monologue or breaking you with a dark truth is always easier to understand than this cryptic mystical nonsense.
But giving someone a mystical lecture and hoping they have an epiphany and come to the answer themselves has gotten a lot of people killed throughout history. Sometimes, clarity and directness were more valuable than wisdom wrapped in riddles.
Anakin shook his head, frustration evident in every line of his body. "Yeah, forget this. I'm heading back to the ship. Thanks for the warning, big guy. I will take it to heart." I could tell that Anakin meant that, despite his frustration. He just needed time to process everything.
"So am I," Derren said quickly, already turning to leave. But as he took his first step, the Bendu spoke again, his words stopping both of them in their tracks.
"I have more words for you two as well."
They paused, both of them sighing in unison, their shoulders slumping slightly. But they turned back, waiting, because despite their frustration, they knew better than to ignore the wisdom of a being like the Bendu.
"Anakin," the Bendu said, his voice softening slightly, taking on a tone that was almost gentle. "Love is your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness. You have learned to love without clinging to the power of owning someone. But you must enforce it, especially when you have to give up everything to protect that love."
Anakin swallowed hard, his confusion evident. "What does that even mean?"
The Bendu turned to Derren, and I felt a shift in the Force, something profound and knowing that made my breath catch. "You walk a path few will ever understand. Your heart is true. Your reasons will remain unseen by many... but know this: your friends will love you to the very end. The missions you take upon yourself are not overlooked, and you will find peace and love."
My eyes widened. Does the Bendu know?
Derren's eyes widened as he looked at me, and I could see the question in his gaze, the uncertainty and fear and hope all mixed together.
Anakin stood there looking confused, clearly not understanding what the Bendu had meant by his words to Derren. He looked between us, trying to puzzle it out, but I could tell he wasn't making the connection.
I stepped forward, facing both of them, realizing I had never told them one crucial piece of information about the Bendu. "Just so you two know," I said, my voice carrying clearly across the space between us. "He has powerful Force sight, the ability to see the future and read his visions. What he's telling you isn't just wisdom or advice, it's based on what he's seen."
Anakin turned stiffly, his face pale. "Yeah... I'm heading back to the ship." His voice was tight, controlled, but I could feel the turmoil beneath the surface through our bond.
Derren turned to leave without saying a word, his expression unreadable, but I could sense that he was deeply affected by what the Bendu had said.
The two of them walked away, leaving me alone with the Bendu. I watched them go, making sure they were far enough away that they wouldn't overhear what I was about to ask.
Then I turned back to the massive being before me, gathering my courage for the question I needed to ask.
"Do you know?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
The Bendu paused, his white eyes fixing on me. "About your soul not being from this universe?" he said, his voice carrying no judgment, only statement of fact. "I do. And more."
My jaw tightened, my heart beginning to race. He knew. Of course he knew. A being with his level of Force sight, his connection to the deeper mysteries of the Force, how could he not know? "Does it last?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "Or does it at least work? What I'm trying to do for the galaxy... and my plans for the future?"
"That is for you to discover," the Bendu said, his tone gentle but firm. "Walk your path regardless of what I have seen."
I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. I had expected as much, but it didn't hurt to ask. Well, I guess that's as much as I was going to get anyway. These ancient Force beings never gave straight answers when it came to the future, probably because they understood better than anyone how fragile and changeable the future truly was.
I turned to leave, bowing my head slightly in respect. "Thank you."
"One more thing," the Bendu said, and something in his voice made me stop, made every instinct I had suddenly scream that what he was about to say was important.
I paused, turning back to face him.
"Cain," the Bendu said. "Your life is not simply yours. Your power to gather those around you and influence them is not simply your presence."
I looked at him, my eyes narrowing, confusion and the first stirrings of unease beginning to build in my chest. "What do you mean?"
"Your master has yet to tell you, but I should warn you," the Bendu continued, his white eyes never leaving my face. "Since I am one of the few not influenced by your power, I will warn you."
My heart began to race, adrenaline flooding my system as alarm bells started ringing in my mind. What the hell is he talking about? What power? What influence?
The Bendu's next words hit me like a physical blow, each one landing with devastating impact.
"Your existence is that of a contradiction. You are a wound in the Force, and the wound attracts those connected to the Force to you like a black hole. And through your ability to use the power of the Beyond Shadows, you can bring out the untouched potential in those around you. These abilities work together perfectly, and allow you to form a bond with them and control and influence their very being."
Wait. Wait. Did he just say the Beyond Shadows? And that I'm a wound in the Force? Like Darth Nihilus? Like the Exile from Knights of the Old Republic II?
"What do you mean, Bendu?" I asked, my voice coming out more strained than I intended. "How am I a wound in the Force? How can I use the Beyond Shadows? And what do you mean I influence their very being?"
The Bendu just looked at me quietly, his expression unreadable,.
"Your power allows you to shape those around you that you form a bond with," he said, each word falling like a stone into still water, creating ripples that spread outward infinitely. "To bend the Force and influence it and them as you may see fit. It is a power that should not exist. Because of it and you, it has become a beacon in the abyss. Your power might one day get you killed along with the entire universe."
I just stood there, my mind reeling, questioning everything I thought I knew about myself and my relationships. Is he saying people don't follow me because I'm me, but because of this power? Does that mean I'm just bending everyone to my will without even knowing it? Have I been manipulating my friends, my allies, everyone I've formed a bond with, without even realizing it?
But I do know one thing, this guy will not give me any more straight answers. He's already said more than I expected, revealed more than I probably had any right to know. Pushing for more details would be pointless.
But damn, this is a fucking revelation that I don't know what to do with. The implications were staggering, terrifying, and I could feel my sense of self beginning to crack under the weight of it.
But it does make sense now that I look at it. Master Windu is the least flexible person I know, rigid in his adherence to the Code, the Council's, and the Republic's authority. So are some of the other Jedi who followed me to Tython, they were the ones who should have been most resistant to change, most opposed to my vision of a new Order. But they followed me anyway, and now I'm wondering if that was truly their choice or if I somehow influenced them without knowing it.
Is the Bendu saying that if I really want something, it will happen? That my desires and intentions shape reality around me through this power I didn't even know I had? But why is he immune to my influence and not the others? Even Anakin has been my closest friend and now brother, is that genuine, or is it because of this power?
I know the Bendu won't give me any more straightforward answers. But I am curious about one thing, one question that might actually get a direct response.
"My high Force sensitivity," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Is it because of my soul being in this body, or because of this power?"
The Bendu shook his massive head slowly. "Your ability is symbiotic. It only works because of your contradictory nature. It does not give you your high potential, and neither does your connection to the Beyond Shadows, but you do drive alot of power it and can touch it easily, that does allow you to reach higher feats quicker. No, your sensitivity comes from your body's lineage. Far past the Mandalorians and the Sephi people. But it is connected to why you are a wound in the Force. That is all I can tell you."
I then noticed something through my shatterpoint sight, which I had unconsciously activated during this conversation. The Bendu seemed weaker in this moment for some reason, his Force-light dimmer than it had been before, as if speaking these truths had cost him something. I don't know what's going on, but I have a lot to reflect on.
But right now, I'm too busy to stop and ponder on it. I have a mission to complete, allies to meet, plans to execute. The existential crisis about my nature and my influence on others would have to wait.
I bowed deeply, showing the respect that this ancient being deserved. "Thank you, Bendu. I will take your words to heart and seek the answers myself. And now that I know more of myself, I will be careful in my decisions going forward."
I turned to leave, my heart heavy with these new revelations, my mind already beginning to spiral through the implications and questions that would haunt me for days to come.
Behind me, the Bendu gazed skyward, his voice carrying across the valley one last time, though I wasn't sure if he was speaking to me or to the Force itself.
"It will be a long, bloody road for you... but you can walk it. You are not alone. He will guide you. And maybe you will help him find peace and redemption. The peace that he could not find thousands of years ago."
I paused for just a moment, those words registering in my mind. He? Who was he talking about?
But I didn't turn back. I didn't ask. I simply continued walking, making my way back through the valley, past the krykna who watched me pass with their multiple eyes, up the narrow stone paths toward where our ship waited.
When I finally stepped back aboard the Resolute Dawn, I found Anakin lounged in the co-pilot seat, his boots up on the console, fast asleep. His face was peaceful in sleep, but I could still sense the turmoil beneath the surface through our bond, the questions and fears that the Bendu's words had awakened.
Derren was in the pilot's seat, his hands moving across the controls with practiced ease, preparing the ship for departure. He must have taken over the controls after they returned, giving Anakin space to process everything in his own way.
I moved quietly through the cockpit, not wanting to disturb Anakin, and made my way to the meditation chamber in the back. Maul was there, still unconscious, still restrained with heavy binders, still heavily sedated. He muttered in his sleep, words I couldn't quite make out, his Force presence flickering and unstable even in unconsciousness.
I settled into a meditation pose, trying to center myself, trying to process everything the Bendu had revealed. But my mind kept circling back to the same questions, the same fears, the same terrible uncertainty about who I was and what I had done.
That's when the comm console pinged, the sound cutting through my spiraling thoughts like a lifeline. I heard Anakin jolt awake in the cockpit, his boots hitting the floor with a thump, and Derren's voice calling back to me.
"Cain, we've got an incoming transmission. It's Bo-Katan."
I stood quickly, grateful for the distraction, and made my way back to the cockpit. Derren had already answered the call, and a blue hologram flickered to life above the comm console, resolving into the familiar armored form of Bo-Katam.
"Cain, do you read me?" Her voice was crisp and professional, but I could hear the underlying tension, the strain of someone who had just completed a difficult and dangerous mission.
"I read you," I said, moving to stand where she could see me clearly. "What's your status on Kamino?"
"The facility is under full lockdown," Bo-Katan reported, her tone carrying satisfaction despite the tension. "The scientists are secured. Clone production has been halted. We placed fake explosives all around the facility to keep the ARC troopers busy, they're too focused on trying to disarm them to cause us any real trouble. The Mandalorians are being held and are secure. Now we wait for you for the next step." She paused. "Believe me, it wasn't easy at all, but we managed somehow."
I smiled, feeling genuine pride and gratitude for what she and her team had accomplished. "Excellent work, Bo. Thank you. When this is all over, you and your people get a feast and some spending money to go buy whatever you need."
I heard small cheers in the background from that, the sound of Mandalorian warriors celebrating a successful mission and the promise of reward.
"Don't celebrate just yet," Bo-Katan added, her tone becoming more serious. She lifted something into view, a small glass containment unit. The Ysalamiri. "We still need to secure these babies so you and the others won't be affected by them before arriving. Not to mention," Bo continued, "you still need to convince the Kaminoans to take your side in all this. They're not happy about the lockdown, and they're demanding to speak with whoever's in charge."
I smiled at how helpful this woman was, how competent and reliable she had proven to be. "Bo... your team is worth every credit you suck out of me."
She laughed at that, a genuine sound of amusement. "Damn right we are. Now get here so we can finish this."
I moved to the navigation console, my fingers flying across the controls as I rerouted the ship's coordinates to Kamino. "We're en route," I said. "ETA four hours."
The transmission cut, the hologram flickering out of existence, leaving us alone in the cockpit with the hum of the ship's systems and the weight of everything that had happened.
I moved back into the pilot's seat, settling in and beginning the pre-jump calculations. My mind was still heavy with the Bendu's revelations, still processing the implications of what I had learned about myself. But I forced myself to focus on the present, on the mission ahead.
What the hell am I going to do with all this information? The question echoed in my mind, but I pushed it aside. No, Cain, focus. You have a mission to finish, and you need to be clear-headed for this.
I knew that Seris had passed Talzin's test on Dathomir, I could feel it through our bond, sense her satisfaction and the new alliance she had secured. Now, with Kamino under our control, the hybrid army project was closer to becoming reality. We were so close to achieving our goals, so close to having the pieces in place to face what was coming.
I just need to trust the Force and stay focused on my goals. We're so close I can taste it.
"Buckle up, everyone," I called out, my hands moving across the controls with practiced ease. "We're jumping to hyperspace."
Anakin secured his restraints, his expression still troubled but focused. Derren did the same, his hands steady on the co-pilot controls. And I felt Maul's presence below, still unconscious, and secured, still waiting for whatever fate we had planned for him.
I pulled the hyperspace lever, and the stars stretched into lines of light as the Resolute Dawn leaped forward, carrying us toward Kamino.