PART 16 – You are the Sue
The Jedi AcademyAfter the whole party banter thing, I swap my party again, this time to Carth and Mission. Leaving the ship with Mission at this point triggers a cutscene. I actually managed to save right before it.
Please ignore the Jedi intruding upon the screenshots.
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Lena? What… what are you doing here? Where’s Griff?Lena:
I’m just passing through. Griff and I broke up a few months after we left Taris together. Probably for the best. Your brother can be charming, Mission, but he’s bad news.:
Don’t you start trashing my brother, you cantina rat! Take that back or I’ll smack you so hard your head-tails will pop off!Lena:
Wha-?? Mission, what’s wrong with you? Why are you acting this way?:
You took her brother away and left her all alone on Taris!Lena:
You’ve got your facts a little backwards. Mission could have come with us if she wanted to! It was her choice to stay behind!:
You liar! Griff told me you didn’t want his little sister tagging along – that’s why he had to leave me behind!Lena:
Is that what the Hutt-spawn told you? I wanted you to come with us, Mission. I even offered to pay for your ticket! Why not? I paid for everything else while I was with that freeloader. But he told me you didn’t want to leave Taris. I said we wouldn’t even go then, but he said we’d come back and get you after we struck it rich on Tatooine – just another one of his lies!:
No – you’re the one who’s lying! Griff wouldn’t… he wouldn’t try to leave me behind!:
Why should we believe you, Lena?Lena:
Think about it. If Griff wasn’t trying to ditch you, Mission, then why didn’t he tell you where we were going? After we left Taris he told me looking after you was holding him back – Griff’s always looking to blame other people for his own problems. That’s why he abandoned you. He did the same thing to me, too, as soon as I ran out of money. He started blaming me for all his problems. Like it’s my fault his get-rich-quick schemes never work out!:
So where is Griff now?Lena:
Still on Tatooine, as far as I know. Not that I really care anymore. And if Mission was smart she’d forget about that no-good con artist!:
But Griff is my brother! I can’t just pretend he doesn’t exist! If he was here to defend himself Lena wouldn’t be saying all this bad stuff about him!Lena:
Hey, if you want to talk to Griff go ahead. Last I heard he was going to make a fortune working the Czerka Corp mines on Tatooine. But as far as I’m concerned he’s out of my life forever!:
Griff’s better off without you anyway, you table-dancing, brother-stealing home wrecker!Lena:
*sigh* I guess that’s my cue to leave, then. I didn’t mean to upset you, Mission. But one day you’ll see I’m right about your brother. I only hope it’s not too late by then.Well, that was something. But wait, now we get to talk to Mission about it some more!
:
I want to talk to you about your brother.:
Don’t tell me you believe Lena’s lies? Griff might be working as a miner on Tatooine, but the rest of her story is bantha poo-doo! You can’t trust someone like her. At least Griff’s free of her clutches. I’d like to go speak to the Czerka Corp rep on Tatooine, if we have the time. Maybe I can arrange to see my brother again.:
We’ll find your brother, Mission.:
I just hope he’s not in any kind of trouble when we do.That was surprisingly short. So, while we delay the inevitable, I might as well show off the Ebon Hawk. There are some scenes between companions there, if I remember right, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to show them all off. But there are none right now, so here’s what we can do there besides talking to people about their life stories:
:
Ha! Stimulants make a warrior out of even the weakest human! Here’s a speed boosting stimulant to help you get quicker.“Winners don’t do drugs. By the way, here’s some.” So if you can stand being mocked by Canderous, you can get free
drugs stims from him.
:
Beep-beep beeple beep-beep! Woop!T3 makes up for its blandness by making programming spikes.
:
All right, let’s see what I can do. I think I have enough parts for something. Just a moment. There you are. One grenade. Careful with it.Zaalbar will give one whole grenade. That’s as many as half a pair.
All these are free, but you can’t just keep asking infinitely. There is a cooldown on how long you must wait until they can give you another. This is good if there are no shops around, but that’s a rare thing. You are better off just buying these things.
[When you are ready to leave Dantooine, you can use the Galaxy Map to travel to other planets around the galaxy.]
[A destination is still stored in the Ebon Hawk’s computer from the last trip Davik made with it.]We’re not using it yet, though. The Ebon Hawk also has a secondary use in that you need to enter and leave it to change party members. The sequel adds a menu so you can change companions on the field, with certain limitations when it comes to locations.
And now we’ve stalled as much as possible, so let’s get this thing going.
I think it’s Vandar talking, but I don’t remember. If it’s not him it’s Dorak.
Dorak:
These ruins have long been known to us, but we believed them to be merely burial mounds. Perhaps they are more than we first suspected, if Reven and Malak found something there.:
What?? How would Bastila know if we shared a dream?Vandar:
She says that she felt your presence within the dream, the presence she has felt within you ever since…Vrook:
Master Vandar!Vandar:
… ever since Taris. It is not unknown for this to happen between two people strong in the Force. Bastila has described this shared dream to the Council in great detail. We feel it is more than a dream. It is a vision. The Force is acting through you as it acts through Bastila.:
I am having visions now?Zhar:
You and Bastila share a powerful connection to the Force… and each other. This is not unheard of. Connections often form between Master and student, but rarely does a bond develop so quickly.Vandar:
Whatever dangers may lie ahead, we cannot ignore the destiny that has brought you and Bastila here to us. Together.This is basically the game not-so-subtly beating over our heads that Bastila is a romance-able companion. We’re not doing that. I may actually do a cheat-assisted run after this LP is over so I can do a bonus update with all the “romances”.
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What are you talking about?Vandar:
You and she are linked, as is your fate to hers. Together, you two may be able to stop Darth Malak and the Sith.Vrook:
But do not let your head be filled with visions of glory and power! Such thoughts are the path to the dark side. The way of the light is long and difficult, as you must learn. Are you ready for such hardship?:
I will try my best.Vandar:
Understand that there is little choice in this matter, for you or us. Across the galaxy the numbers of our order dwindle. We have sent many Jedi in quest of a way to thwart Malak’s advance… many have not returned. The Sith hunt the Jedi down like animals, ambushing and assassinating our brothers wherever they are found. We fear it is only a matter of time until they discover even this hidden refuge.Hidden? Are you serious? There is nothing “hidden” about this place.
Vrook:
Other Jedi have fallen from the light and embraced the dark side, giving their allegiance to the Sith and Malak, their dark lord.:
Jedi are turning to the dark side?Vrook:
The lure of the Dark Side is not easy to resist. Malak’s power grows as more and more planets fall to his conquering armies.Zhar:
If Malak is not stopped the Republic will fall, and the Jedi will be hunted to extinction. The galaxy will enter a time of darkness and tyranny not seen for a thousand generations.Vandar:
The Council has decreed that you and Bastila must investigate the ancient ruins you dreamed of… once the Council deems you ready.Dorak:
Perhaps there you will find some clue, some explanation, of how Revan and Malak were corrupted. And perhaps there you shall find a way to stop them.:
I’m ready now. I accept this mission.Vrook:
The Force flows through you like no student we have ever seen. But you are willful and headstrong… a dangerous combination.Vandar:
Before we send you to investigate the ruins, you must be trained in the ways of the Jedi so that you can resist the darkness within yourself… within all of us. Otherwise you are doomed to fall.Remember that horrible thing I mentioned last update? We are going to be forcibly turned into a Jedi
Sue. The game does not let you even protest against that. Only against not doing the plot mission now.
Zhar:
We must begin your training at once. You have a destiny upon you that you must be prepared to face. The entire fate of the galaxy is upon you.Vrook:
I can only hope you will prove up to the task.Zhar:
You have done in weeks what many cannot do in years. I am honored to welcome you fully into the Jedi Order.:
I want to ask some questions, Master Zhar. Questions about Revan and Malak.Zhar:
Few mention those names anymore… but I suppose it is just as dangerous to deny they were ever part of the Order. When I was still on Coruscant Revan and Malak often came to me for additional training. In particular, Revan’s hunger to learn seemed insatiable. I should have recognized this as a warning sign. But I perceived the young Padawan’s lust for knowledge as simple exuberance and eagerness. Revan was my most promising pupil, one I felt sure would someday become a champion of the Jedi Order.:
What happened?Zhar:
The Jedi Order moved too slowly for Revan and Malak; we were too cautious in their eyes. They always sought to learn far quicker than their Masters felt was prudent. It is one thing to understand a lesson, but to truly comprehend it takes a wisdom that only comes with time. Several years ago, when the Mandalorian threat first arose, Revan and Malak were eager to journey to the Outer Rim to defeat the enemy of the Republic. But the Council felt it best if we moved with care and caution. The true threat, the Council feared, had not yet revealed itself. But Revan would not be dissuaded. Charismatic and powerful, it was inevitable many of the Order would flock to Revan’s seemingly noble cause. Malak was the first to join his closest friend. Others soon followed, many of our youngest and brightest, intent on saving the galaxy from the Mandalorian threat.:
What happened to this noble mission?Zhar:
They were foolish to disregard the Council’s wishes. I do not know what happened to Revan, Malak and their followers on the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim, but something corrupted them. Their ideas became twisted, their spirits were tainted and they fell to the dark side. There is a lesion in this, a lesson you would do well to take to heart: the dark side can corrupt even the most noble of Jedi.:
I will heed the lesson, Master Zhar.Zhar:
You have learned much, yet there is much more for you to still understand. The way of the Jedi must be entered into with a clear and focused mind. When you feel you are ready to continue your training, know that you can find me here.For whatever reason, asking about Revan and Malak ends with the dialogue ending despite we being unable to do anything at this point other than progressing the plot.
:
I am ready to continue my training.Zhar:
Soon your apprenticeship will end and you will be granted the title of Padawan, the lowest rank of those within the Jedi Order. Yet first you must prove yourself worthy. In the traditions and customs of our Order, as handed down from Master to pupil for a thousand generations, you must successfully complete three tests before you earn your place among the Jedi.:
What kind of tests are these?Zhar:
These tests will see if you have truly mastered the training you have been given, both mental and physical. Upon completing these tests you will pass from apprentice to Padawan, and join the ranks of the Jedi. First I will test your knowledge of the Jedi Code. These tenets must always guide your actions, in everything you do you must always be conscious of their wisdom. You must prove you have a Jedi’s understanding of the Code. Return when you feel you are ready for this challenge.Again with this dialogue abortion. Whomever designed this had some issues. Anyway, you need to check the terminal near your location for the code. I don’t bother, since I somehow still remembered it after however many years ago I last played this.
So let’s just skip the whole repeated dialogue and head for the tests.
:
I am ready for the tests, Master Zhar.He repeats the stuff he said about what kind of tests are these, rendering that conversation utterly useless. Yay. Just assume he said everything except the very last prhase. The test is just completing the code as Zhar says it.
Zhar:
There is no emotion…:
There is peace.Zhar:
There is no ignorance…:
There is knowledge.Zhar:
There is no passion…:
There is serenity.Zhar:
There is no chaos…:
There is harmony.Zhar:
There is no death…:
There is the Force.And so we’ve been successfully brainwashed.
Zhar:
You have learned your studies well, apprentice. It will not be long before you are a full member of our Order. But first you must pass the second test, and learn about the most prized possession of a Jedi, the very symbol of our Order: the lightsaber. The lightsaber is the traditional weapon of our Order. It is a symbol of a Jedi’s skill, dedication and authority, and each lightsaber is as individual as the Jedi who wields it. The blade is made of pure energy, focused by polished crystals in the hilt. As the second test, each Jedi must construct his lightsaber with his own hands. And now it is your time. Speak with Master Dorak and he will guide you through the choosing of a crystal.Let’s bother the other masters first.
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I would like to ask some questions.Vrook:
I suppose such desires are inevitable, though I fear you may seek knowledge for which you are not prepared. Yet I will do my best to guide your quest.:
You often seem angry with me, Master Vrook. Have I displeased you?Vrook:
If you find me overly critical, perhaps it is because you do not fully understand what is at stake. For fifteen thousand years the Republic has brought peace and stability to the galaxy. Now the Republic may be destroyed because we, the Jedi, have failed them. Revan and Malak were paragons of the ideals the Order seeks to uphold, yet succumbed to the temptations of the dark side. When Revan fell, Malak took up the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith. Should Malak be stopped, what is to stop another Jedi from taking his place? This is the burden we masters must carry. Only through strict training and relentless lessons can we prevent the Dark Master from being reborn. That is why the Order can brook no failure in our apprentices and pupils. That is why I can accept nothing but perfection from you. You would do well to focus more closely on your lessons. The Force is strong within you, but you need training and guidance in the ways of the Jedi, lest you suffer a fate similar to that of Revan.:
What can you tell me about Bastila.Vrook:
Bastila? The young Jedi holds great promise… and great danger. She can do much for both the Republic and the Council. Without her skill in Battle Mediation the Sith armada would have conquered the galaxy long ago. But despite her command of the Force Bastila is till young. She is a Jedi, but she has not attained the rank of Master. The Council would do well to remember this before we lay the fate of the galaxy on her slender shoulders.He then repeats the “you would do well to focus on your lessons” bit.
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is there anything you can tell me about Revan and Malak?Vrook:
Revan was once a promising Padawan. But ever eager to learn more about the Force, Revan sought knowledge of ancient Sith magics, foolishly ignoring the dangerous lure of the dark side. When the Mandalorian invasion came, Revan seized the opportunity it presented. Many Jedi flocked to the Outer Rim to follow the charismatic young Knight… and many fell under the sway of the dark side.:
What happened on the Outer Rim to corrupt Revan?Vrook:
I do not believe Revan and Malak were corrupted on the Outer Rim. They had begun their journey down to the dark path long before the Mandalorian threat appeared. Here on Dantooine they discovered a sinister cave, a place where the strength of the dark side overwhelms the light. Perhaps this discovery was what first corrupted them… or perhaps they sought the cave out because they were already corrupted. Whatever explanation, the Order was unable to turn them back to the light. Had the Council taken more decisive action in this matter, perhaps Revan and Malak could have been stopped. But in this we failed.And then, guess what, he repeats his little speech.
:
My training is going well.Vrook:
It appears that soon you will achieve the rank of Padawan. Master Zhar is most impressed with your progress. But I cannot help but wonder if you move forward too quickly.And so we discover that Vrook, despite his hostility, is the only truly sensible Council member. Which is why he (spoilers) returns in the sequel.
:
I’d like to ask you some questions.Vandar:
A Jedi must ever be seeking knowledge. What is it you wish to know?:
What can you tell me about Bastila?Vandar:
Bastila will be a great Jedi someday. Even among the Masters and the Council it is rare to find one so skilled in the art of Battle Meditation. Bastila was there when Revan was slain. Did you know that?You mean when she put him down after Malak’s ship knocked him out?
:
Carth mentioned something about it.Vandar:
Bastila herself does not like to talk about it. She was accompanying the strike team that confronted Revan when the Dark Lord was destroyed. Her role in the death of such a promising young Jedi as Revan upset her greatly. But Bastila knew she had to set her personal feelings aside for the sake of the galaxy and the Republic. The Force is strong with her now, and without her skill in Battle Meditation we would have lost this war long ago. The way ahead will be difficult for young Bastila… and for you. But you must draw strength from each other. May the Force be with you. Is there anything else you would like to know?:
Master Vrook doesn’t seem to like me very much…Vandar:
Master Vrook may seem harsh and critical, but he understands the dangers that lie in your path. He wants you and Bastila to be fully prepared when you finally face Lord Malak.Like Vrook, Vandar likes to repeat himself. “The way ahead will be…” in this case. So, next question.
:
Is there anything you can tell me about Revan and Malak?Vandar:
I knew Revan as a promising young pupil. Revan was strong in the Force, but also headstrong and proud. Such traits are not unusual in a Padawan. Perhaps that was why I did not see the true extent of the danger. Many of the young Jedi admired Revan, including Malak. When Revan set off to challenge the Mandalorians, Malak was the first to join the cause.:
And they beat my people so easily in battle…Vandar:
And when Revan fell to the dark side it was inevitable Malak would fall as well.:
So Revan was stronger than Malak?Vandar:
Revan was always the leader, the more powerful of the pair. When Revan fell we had hoped the Sith threat was ended. But Malak quickly assumed Revan’s role, and has embraced the dark side power as fully as his old master ever did. Now Malak leads the Sith armada against the Republic. Hate and vengeance for his master’s death draw Malak even further down the path of the dark side, fueling his powers until they surpass those of his old master’s. Only you and Bastila together can stop Malak now.Let’s get the last bit of today’s plot done so the update can be wrapped up.
Dorak:
The time has come for you to choose the color of your lightsaber. This color also reflects your demeanor and position within the Order.:
What positions are there?Dorak:
Blue is the color of the Jedi Guardian. This Jedi battles against the forces of evil and the dark side. They focus more on combat training and use of the lightsaber. Yellow is the color of the Jedi Sentinel. This Jedi ferrets out deceit and injustice, bringing it to light. They focus less on combat and more on other skills and abilities. Green is the color of the Jedi Consular. This Jedi seeks to bring balance to the universe. They mediate between other groups, using their powers to end conflict and preserve peace.I’ll post the stats for each class in a bonus update. But I’m afraid what class we choose won’t be up to a vote, though. It also allows us to end up with a rather amusing dialogue, as you’ll see.
:
I want to be a Jedi Guardian!Dorak:
Indeed. We shall see. I will now ask you questions, and your responses will indicate which class you lean most towards. A woman and her small child are beset by a desperate-looking group of thugs. They are menacing her with weapons and she screams to you for help. What do you do?:
Attack the thugs.Dorak:
Hm… Indeed. Very well, on to the next question. You are in combat with a Dark Jedi allied with the Sith. There is a pause in the combat. What do you do?:
Attack him again.Dorak:
Yes, I suspected as much. Now for the next question. There is a locked door and your goal lies on the other side. What do you do?:
Smash the door down.Dorak:
I am beginning to see a pattern here, apprentice. I have a feeling about what you would be best at. But first, the final question. You are the head of an Enclave on a contested world. The Dark Jedi have infiltrated and are causing unrest across the planet. What do you do?:
Hunt them down.Dorak:
Yes, I though as much. As I suspected, you would be most suitable as a Jedi Guardian. Which color and path do you believe yourself most suited to, apprentice?“But wait, though I asked you all those questions, let’s ignore all that and just tell me what you want to be.” I also can’t help but imagine Dorak being sarcastic when commenting on the answers.
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Blue. The path of the Jedi Guardian.Dorak:
Here is a blue crystal for your lightsaber. Go speak to Master Zhar again and he will instruct you in how to construct it.So now we are truly a Jedi Sue.
And we’ll wrap up here.