Vaneé amidst volcanic exhalations
On the planet of Mustafar, deep beneath the surface, resided lava lakes from which emanated poisonous gases known as lava fumes. These fumes, when inhaled, played tricks on the mind, conjuring voices and visions reflecting fears and insecurities, manifesting as apparitions from the past. Prolonged exposure induced insanity in any organic sentient being. To mitigate this, repulsor vents were installed in indoor facilities, preventing inhalation. These fumes ascended to surface-level structures, with the highest concentrations near Fortress Vader and the Klegger Corp Mining Facility.
Following the demise of Darth Vader, mustafarians named Tuttel and Giggek made an attempt to bring down Fortress Vader. After damaging the castle, Vaneé, Vader's servant, upon exiting, was led by the lava fumes to believe that he was hearing his deceased master's voice. The voice, a product of the fumes, instructed Vaneé to revive Vader through a ritual requiring the capture of Milo Graf. This involved giving Milo a nightmare where zombie droids assaulted Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Jar Jar Binks on Rubinero during the Clone Wars. Subsequently, the Sith ritual enabled the possession of Graf's droid, CR-8R, and its transportation to Mustafar.
Subsequently, Vaneé, aided by the lava fumes, initiated a campaign of nightmares to draw individuals to Mustafar. Jaxxon T. Tumperakki, a smuggler, was subjected to a nightmare where the wookiee Chewbacca transformed into a monstrous being. Lina Graf, Milo's sister, after realizing her brother's disappearance, enlisted Jaxxon's help to journey to Mustafar and discover the origin of the nightmares. Thom Hudd, a Rebel, also experienced a nightmare induced by the lava fume ritual, in which he and Luke Skywalker battled the "Spirit of the Swamp." He and Skritt then decided to join Lina in her investigation into the source of these visions. En route to Mustafar, Lina Graf succumbed to sleep and was tormented by a nightmare orchestrated by Vaneé's ritual, featuring Anakin Skywalker at various stages of his life. In this nightmare, Lina encountered the damaged body of CR-8R and witnessed Milo becoming a resurrected version of Vader. Believing she had awakened, she was then attacked by a resurrected Vader, causing her to truly wake up. Upon landing, she remarked on the escalating intensity of the dreams.
Upon their arrival, Vaneé captured the Rebels and revealed his manipulation of the lava fumes to control their nightmares. His attempt to revive Vader with the vapors forced the group to confront their deepest fears. Vaneé mistakenly believed he had successfully transferred Vader's spirit into Lina's body, only for her to reveal that Vaneé had merely imagined Vader's voice, as Vader was what Vaneé feared most. The rebels then imprisoned Vaneé within the fumes, condemning him to a lifetime of torment.