Dagobah

After my prompt departure to Dagobah, I found myself wondering a bit on what I would find on the planet.

It is a very odd place after all. Overgrown, and nature is overpowering. The resident sentient species are also of an interest to me. 8 meter tall forest giants that have worm-like bodies. Although they have limbs. A reclusive species, known for their music, simple crafts, and music.

The Tash.

It would novel to actually meet one. As for hunting one? I won't hunt them. It would be pointless and dishonorable. I have never even heard a whiff of them ever fighting anything. Nor heard of them fashioning even simple weapons. I would much rather converse with one.

I had used a scout ship to travel this time. As I entered the system and saw the planet from far orbit, I could already feel the presence of the Force.

Not a normal presence either. The Living Force was absurdly powerful. As if the planet was literally alive itself. Perhaps it is, as it would not be the first living planet I have heard of. The Force makes such things possible.

I stop gazing and descend. Not by ship, or drop pod. I simply go to a side door and float out.

"It has been a while since I've done this", I mutter as I float away from my ship.

I had come here to attain balance once more between the Sides. Floating freely in space, looking at the countless stars as gravity pulls me into a fall. There is something about gazing at stars, that simultaneously gives me peace, and desire. The slow fall into mid orbit and further gave me a feeling of relaxation. As I just let myself go.

After a while, I broke through close orbit. Then I began to pierce through the atmosphere. My armor held up easily of course.

I fell through the clouds, hundreds of meters. When I was close to the surface, flipped upright and activated my armor's thrusters. I landed on solid ground with a thud.

The world was extremely humid, warm, and foggy all over. The ground, although solid, was mushy. Moss was everywhere and grand trees covered my vision.

Now all I have to do is pick a direction and walk. What'll happen, will happen in time. I am interested in what the Force has in store for me.

As I was on my leisurely walk through nature, I noticed something odd.

My armor is gone, as are my weapons. I am only wearing my skinsuit and have been left with Destined Death. I didn't even realize I've had the equipment removed or when.

I click my mandibles, "Well, guess this is the start."

"Indeed it is the start...Bido.", I heard from a disembodied voice I could not locate.

I say aloud, "Well? What shall I need to learn first then?"

"First, you must learn...POWER", upon hearing the last word, I can place where the voice is as it collected itself.

I turn around and see a full Dark Side Version of myself. I snicker, "Is this not a bit too cliche?"

"Hehehe, cliche it may be Bido. Although, it's effectiveness remains constant.", Dark Bido says back to me. It then draws a wretched version of Destined Death, with red blades.

I draw the original, and the black blades of my light-glaive come to life. "The lesson is power? Well, let's see what you mean by power?"

Dark Bido snarls and rushes me in a focused rage. He swings the glaive from above. I deflect and Force Push him back. Well, it barely makes him back up an inch. Then we're back to crossing weapons. As expected, Dark Bido is capable of the same glaive arts as me. It can spin it has well as me, guide it, and put as much strength into it as me. Even more strength since it is a full Dark Side version of me.

However, I soon find flaws. Such a direct and explosive way of fighting is fearless. Fearless, as in there is not too much worry on self protection. Not to mention, I did not simply manhandle Master Windu for shits and giggles. I exchanged enough with him, to figure out the premise of Vapad. At this point, it is integrated into my fighting style, and I can use it when I need to.

So I began, and the Dark Side power flowing through Dark Bido; began to be used against it.

Eventually, it got too much. Dark Bido leapt back and attempted to overpower me with Force abilities. It shot a red storm of lightning from its fingers. As I've mentioned before, even the Dark Side as a flow. Its just that it is so chaotic, most can never even get a hint at it. I put away Destined Death and draw the lightning into my hands.

Even though I know of the flow, I never claimed to be a master at using it. The lightning was much, much harder to take over than I thought it would be. The sheer amount made it hard to catch the flow. I was barely grasping at it, keeping myself from turning to ash. I was still suffering electrical burns and zaps through the system. However, near-death moments like this, encourage quick growth. It is an absolute law of existence. 

So my understanding of the flow, increased the more I tried to control the lightning storm being used against me. I don't know how much time had passed, but enough time for me to get familiar enough with the Dark Side flow to reduce my damage taken to zero.

I then turned the storm against Dark Bido. It could not do what I did. so It was zapped into ashes. I did not relax at my victory though. As that was merely a Force construct. Such things can be reformed easily.

"Good, now you know a part of what real power is...", A voice says from behind me.

A regular doppelganger of me was behind me.

I chuckle, "Appearing behind me, another cliche."

It smiles, "Well, it is fun. Now on to the next part."

It disappears, and day begins to change. Everything then begins to get faster. I realize what is happening. Time is being accelerated. 

"What is the lesson now?", I mumble.

With nothing else apparent to do, I sit down in a meditative position, and observe. I begin to watch. I watch as animals walk by, the seasons change, flora changing, and the stars shifting.

As time passed, I stopped caring when I see animal be born and die. I stopped caring when the seasons changed, when trees grew, and died. When the swamp grew and retreated.

At times, time went back to normal, or even slowed, to show some things in detail.

Finally, I gasp and stand up in panic.

"Fuck, I almost lost my mind!", I shout in terror.

I calm back down, and go back to the meditative sitting. This time, I held onto it. Before, and at first, the fast and various passage of time was wonderous to me.

This time, time passed, but I did not lose my care. 

Throughout the passage of time, I kept myself from being indifferent. Which elicited and strange reaction from me.

I got up, and started to affect things. I would go around the planet. Whenever I felt a tug. I would do an action. I would even find myself where I needed to be as well. Like a smooth teleportation. A diseased tree would be healed. An overpopulated species, would be culled.

I started to use the Light Side and the Dark Side to temper the balance of the planet as time went on. After an untold amount of time doing this, time stopped.

The doppelganger appeared again. This time, right in front of me.

"Now, that should be the last part you needed. You resisted time, and remained yourself. Then you brought the planet into balance, and kept it like that. You became one with the Force, although you were heavily assisted. To achieve that in reality, would be incredibly daunting to do while alive.

Now for your last lesson, to gain the last insight into the Force. So that you will remain in balance.

The world fades out in a flash and I am back to where I first was. My armor and equipment is on me again too. It has all been returned.

I then hear the shuffling of foliage and the thud of grand footsteps.

A Tash comes out of the trees, and walks up to me. The giant is old, this I can tell. As skin coloration and patterns are indicative of age. He has a long string instrument strapped on his back.

He looks down at me and speaks in deep voice that carries far and rumbles the ground.

"You are the visitor that seeks to attain real balance. Balanced you are, I can see. However, to remain in balance. You must learn how to play the songs together. Rather than be good at switching what you play. I am Hansho"

"Follow me young predator...", Hansho said as he turned to walk.

I followed.

His gait was long and his steps, were rather fast. I had to do a light run to keep up with his pace.

When it was dark, we stopped as we had reached the destination. A strong, and large tree that had some clearing around it.

There was a simple shelter built at its base, with rugs laid out over the ground. Simple houseware was around. Hansho sat down upon a pillow that was large enough to cushion his giant butt.

Then he pointed to some tools, "Use to build an instrument for yourself. To learn the music, you must have an instrument."

I asked, "What instrument should I build?"

He shrugged, "Whatever you think would be best for you. You have no lips, so an instrument that require breath may not be good. Your fingers have hard, thick, and long nails befitting a predator. Instruments that require strumming may work well."

I mumble, "So, strings then..."

I thought for a moment, before deciding on what I would make. A string instrument. Strings were made of guts before people used wire or synthetic material. I have no access to wire or synthetic material. Therefore, I'll make do with guts.

As for what guts I will use? Well, I am going to get the guts from a Dragonsnake. A snake with a draconic head and two clawed arms, a strong tail for swimming and slithering. An apex ground predator. They are not hard to find if you know where to look. So I ran to where there was thick swamp.

I stopped at its edge, and crouched. I then tapped the water with my finger multiple times, sending ripples out. I tossed stones and sticks when that didn't work. I splashed some more.

Finally, a Dragonsnake answered. I saw the water slightly displace as it was approaches me beneath the surface. It thought it was sneaky. I kept crouched, but ready so to not make it rethink its actions.

It stopped at the edge, and then exploded out of the water at me with jaws open. Now, I was expecting a 5-6 meter beast. 

"Not good!", I growl out as I hold the jaws of the Dragonsnake open. It was not 5-6 meters long. It was 9-11 meters long. So it came out much faster than I thought. 

However, this still worked. As I proceeded to drag the Dragonsnake out of the water by the jaws.

I got it pulled out of the water, but then I was sent flying back as a sound...explosion hit me. I hit the ground and get up in a beat.

"That came from the mouth. Such an ability was unknown. Interesting.", I think aloud.

I clack my mandibles and charge.

It swipes at me with the right arm. I duck under my attaching a wire to its arm. I jump over the head and wrap the wire around the other arm. I pull and successfully tie them up.

I then get blown back again by another sound blast. I get with another growl and unfurl a single plasma canon. I run toward the maw. The Dragonsnake opens its mouth to bite. Which is what I wanted. I shoot a plasma shot into the throat. IT doesn't kill the creature, only makes it reel back in pain. No more sound attacks.

I leap up and land on it head. I then take out Destined Glaive, and slashed the spinal neck bones.

The Dragonsnake then goes limp. Life leaves its bodies.

"Now I got my guts, and a new skull.", I say with satisfaction.

I take what I need right here. Rather than just take the whole body back.

Then I return to Hansho. With guts, bones and a skull in hand. He says nothing, but nods slightly.

I set the skull aside and begin to make the instrument. I begin the entire process of turning the guts into viable strings. Then I used the bone to make the actual instrument, along with some wood. 

As for what I am making? I am making a harp.

As while I was human, my then mother would play the harp. Not a small harp either, a full sized one that was as big as a person. One of the few memories I've carried with me to this day.

With fingers like mine, strumming would be easy.

It took days to properly make the harp. When I was done, the still giant took out his own instrument. It was a long and hollow board. It had strings attached long end to long end across the top.

He says, "Now, you learn the music."

What followed was Hansho playing. The music he played resonated with the Force. He started with a gentle tune, Light Side based.

With my completed Dragonsnake harp, I tried to play the same tune. It took a while, but I got it.

Then he kept increasing the complexity and resonance with the Light Side as I got better. The music's resonance was getting closer and closer to the flow of the Light Side. After days, we reached the resonance required to have reached the flow of the Light Side. Then Hansho did something crazy. He controlled the flow through music. As a snake charmer would to a snake.

I was chocked, but got over it to learn this...Force Charming.

Days later, I got it and we were practicing it. When we reached a good point of mastery, the music changed. It was no longer soothing, orderly, or pleasantly melodic.

It turned heavy, erratic, and dreadful. It resonated with the Dark Side. I quickly changed the tune to match it. Then I began the same process as I did with the Light Side. 

It again took days to achieve the same level in resonance.

At this point, Hansho spoke, "Now...combine."

Hansho then combined the different tunes. When I tried to do the same, I fumbled it hard at first. Then I struggled immensely for days just to get a basic combination to happen while keeping the resonance with the Force.

Once I got the basic tunes combined, I made steady progress. Although not as fast as when I was only doing one side of the Force.

When we got to 100% resonance with the Force through the musical combination of the Light and Dark tunes. Hansho stopped. I didn't notice and kept playing.

I kept playing as I felt myself become at ease. Not at peace, or ecstasy. I simply feeling at ease with everything. Like it was fine to not be at peace, or not be impassioned. Then I realized that I was feeling, normal.

I stopped playing. I turned to Hansho, only to find that he was gone along with all his stuff.

"Wow, to be completely balanced in the Force, is to be normal. The Jedi and Sith would lose their minds if they found out that end of the path is normality. To be in turmoil over some issue while at the same time finding peace in small moments that keep you going. To find serenity through pain and suffering. To offset your anger with compassion, hate with love. All things any normal denizen of the galaxy does everyday. To sustain life through feeding on the dead. Killing to live. Living to kill. Emotion to be tempered by logic. Logic to be used to pave the way for passion.

Just like when I was bringing the planet into balance. It wasn't normal for things to be out of balance. So putting it in balance made the planet normal. This applies to other planets. Korriban isn't normal. Tython isn't normal.

Ultimate power and balance is to just be okay with being normal and living through normality. It makes sense really. Jedi can't handle emotion, they are weak to it. Sith can't be at peace, it puts them in unease, makes them panic. They are powerless and weak towards things normal people deal with their entire lives.

Haven't said this in a long time, but fuck me sideways....it makes too much sense."

I sat there in empty contemplation for a short while.