Ussej Padric Bac II

"The real test of a hero is knowing when the greater good will be served by an evil act."

- Ussej Padric Bac II

Ussej Padric Bac II was born to a long line of legendary war heroes, politicians, Jedi Knights and Sith Lords. His ancestor, Jonathan Bac, was the first Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. His grandfather and great-grandfather were both Senators of Alderaan. His parents were Laili Jeyna Rendar, the sister of his uncle Kit Corwin Rendar, and Saint Ussej Padric Bac who went on to become the Shaman of the Whills. His mother and uncle originated from Corellia. His wife, Bara ErMez, would eventually give birth to a son named Ussej Padric Bac III, a legendary Bendu High Priest that brought about the Holy War during The Great Sovereign Crusades.

The second Bac to bear the name “Ussej Padric”, he fought in the final battle of the Great Rim Lines War on Dxun where he met a young Republic Colonel named Cos Jonathan Dashin who would later go on to be one of the most instrumental Supreme Chancellor’s in galactic history.

After he died on Dxun, the newly elected High Priest Neil Rendar analyzed the Jedi Bendu Prophecies and realized that Ussej was one of the Prophets of the Whills spoken of in the Prophecy of The Nine Prophets. His mistakes during his life helped to bring about an age of awakening for the Bendu Order. During this time, not only were there changes in appearance to a more formal and monk-like style, but also a change in the way that the Order viewed itself. The three men of the Bac Family helped them to realize what happens when pride gets the best of people, including those held in such high regard.

Birth
"May you live long, Ussej Padric Bac II, and may you greatly prosper from the love that your parents have for you, a love greater than anything I have ever seen before."

- Damien Nightblade

Ussej Padric Bac II was born on Telos IV to a long line of legendary war heroes, politicians, Jedi Knights and Sith Lords. His ancestor, Jonathan Bac, was the first Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. His parents were Ussej Padric Bac and Laili Jeyna Rendar, the sister of his uncle Kit Corwin Rendar. His mother and uncle came from Corellia, whereas his father came from the legendary Bac Family of Alderaan. Unlike most children, however, he was not born into a happy, fully functional family. At the time of his birth, his father and uncle had just been redeemed from the darkness of the Sith Empire and had helped the Galactic Republic regain control of Coruscant in the final battle of the Great Territorial War. His mother had been in labor for hours under the watchful eye of Damien Nightblade while his father was gone, but his father and uncle were able to make it back to Telos IV just in time for the birth. Ussej and Laili decided to name him Ussej Padric Bac II, calling him "Junior" for short.

One month after his birth, the group of escapees was picked up by a small ship in the Unknown Regions. Fearing for the life of the baby, his father and uncle prepared themselves for a fight were they to be boarded. However, they soon found out that the unknown people were not attackers, but rather they were members of a faction called the Bendu Order that were on a mission of exploration. Much to the group’s surprise, the Bendu were enthralled by the senior Ussej Padric Bac, though they would not say why until they were certain. They asked that the group return with them to their homeworld, Kal'Shabbol, and they agreed to make the two week long journey.

The Bendu
"They seem peaceful enough. Keep your eyes open, though, just in case."

- Ussej Padric Bac

After two weeks, they arrived on Kal'Shabbol and were amazed by the simplicity of their surroundings. The village surrounding what was called the Bendu Temple of Light looked like something out of ancient legends rather than a modern day city. The Bendu Order explained to them that the population valued tradition and that they believed that if you create a machine to do the work of a man then you take something away from the man. The new arrivals were greatly impressed.

The Bendu High Priest, Somus Malachor, invited the group to dinner so he could explain to them the history and philosophy of the Bendu Order. They were hesitant, but eventually agreed to attend as his guests. Over dinner, Malachor explained that he was a descendant of Zios Malachor, the first Bendu High Priest, who in turn was a descendant of The Skywalker, who Malachor explained was the first person to discover the Force of Others. The Skywalker was also the founder of the Jedi Bendu Order, a group that listed for thousands of years until a schism broke it into two, creating the Jedi Order and the Bendu Order. Malachor went on to explain their philosophies, and the senior Ussej finally felt that he had found a group with philosophies he agreed with. Along with Kit and Laili, he decided that they would stay and become part of the Bendu Order.

Bendu Training
"Training to become a Bendu is not an easy challenge. It demands a great deal from you physically, mentally and spiritually."

- Somus Malachor

The young Ussej was able to live a very normal Bendu childhood. While he was attending classes and playing with friends, his parents were off learning everything they could about the ways and the culture of the Bendu Order and the entire Ashlan Expanse. Laili did not wish to be trained in the ways of the Bendu Order, but rather she wanted to find a way to become active in larger affairs. She was told of a political crisis on Had Abaddon and, at her request, was appointed Ambassador to Had Abaddon to try to help calm the growing tyrannical movement. As she worked feverously, Ussej and Kit were training to become Bendu Priests, positions they were elected to after only three years of intense training. However, the two Ussej’s were able to form a great bond with one another and often spent down time together.

At the age of thirteen, the young Ussej became a Bendu Apprentice and was placed under the tutelage of his father. The first path in Bendu Training was to learn the history and philosophies of the Bendu Order, those sessions lasting from six months to one year. Seven months after he began learning the history, he overheard a conversation about his father where Malachor referred to the Prophecy of The Voyager. Ussej returned to his father and asked him what it was and he revealed that it was an ancient Bendu prophecy, one that The Skywalker had written. His father then said that he himself was supposedly the one who would fulfill that prophecy, though he was not sure if he believed it or not.

While he was training, his mother had been on Had Abaddon trying to negotiate with the tyrannical rebellion. Husen Al-Dubrir, the leader of the rebellion, told her that he would overthrow the democratically elected government. Laili told him that the Bendu Order would intervene if any action was taken against the government, but Al-Dubrir did not back down. Knowing she had no other choice, Laili left the planet and returned to Kal'Shabbol.

When she returned, Ussej was now fourteen and training in the art of the sword, as well as the powers of the Force of Others. He was asked to train by himself for a few days as his parents had to head into secret meetings with the Council of Priests. When the meetings were over, Ussej was told that he would be receiving a new master as his father was leaving for months and perhaps even years to infiltrate the rebellion on Had Abaddon and, hopefully, bring it down. Ussej was crushed that his father was abandoning him, and quickly turned to his mother for support even though she was the one who recommended her husband for the job.

Ussej continued his training while his father was away, becoming more and more proficient as his eighteen birthday drew closer and closer. He hoped to face his trials on his eighteenth birthday, though with his mind still conflicted due to his disdain for his father he was unsure if that would happen or not. On his seventeenth birthday, his father returned and reported that his mission was a failure and that Al-Dubrir had overthrown the government of Had Abaddon. Ussej could not believe that he had been left fatherless for three years for nothing and soon began to shut out everyone in his life, including his mother, simply so he could train.

Recklessness and Responsibility
"Do you really think my father will care about anything I do?"

- Ussej Padric Bac II

Days before he was slated to take his Trial of Will, Ussej is sent to the village of Jerlem to speak with the village leader, Johasn Segroll, about opening up better trade routes with the other villages on the planet. While at dinner at the Segroll Mansion, Ussej met the village leader’s daughter, Tesia. The two spent time with one another the next day and started to become greatly attracted to one another. Having never been exposed to a true relationship yet, Ussej felt that it was love at first site. The night before he left, the two made love as a way to say goodbye. The next morning, they said goodbye to one another as Ussej returned to the Bendu Temple of Light.

The day after he returned, Ussej prepared himself for his Trial of Will. For his task, he traveled down into the Well of Souls at the base of the Ashlan Mountains to find the first of three sacred stones that were to be grouped together to form a jewel that hangs at the neck of every Bendu Knight. Each jewel was different, giving every Bendu a unique crest of their own. As he repelled down the well, he discovered why it was called just that. The souls of the dark warriors killed one hundred thousand years before attacked him and he did not know how to defeat them. He did, however, have a theory. He dove through a small shaft and found the first of the sacred stones. As he held it out in front of him, the souls were scattered in all directions by its power, giving Ussej enough time to escape.

With the first stone safely with him, Ussej began his long ascent into the Ashlan Mountains. His first stop within the mountains was the ruins of an ancient Jedi Bendu monastery. Within the one hundred thousand year old ruins, he found the second of the three stones. By the time he left the lower levels of the ruins, the sun had set and the temperature dropped dramatically. However, because he was determined to complete his quest as soon as possible, he did not stop for sleep or warmth. Instead, he traveled into the harsh, cold snow. When he finally reached the top, he made his way to the Holy Ridge of The Skywalker and found his third stone. Once he had it, he placed each peace upon an alter at the edge of the ridge. The stones fused together and the symbol it created was stunning. With a flash of light, he found himself just outside the Bendu Temple of Light and proceeded to show the Council of Priests that he had completed the task.

As his final trial, the Trial of Fear, was being prepared, Tesia contacted him and asked him to meet her in Jerlem. He immediately flew to the village and embraced her, as he could tell that she was shaken up about something. She told him that she was pregnant and he was the father. Neither of them wanted to care for a child at that point in their lives, so they decided to turn to a practice that was shunned by the religious beliefs of the Bendu Order as well as the laws of Kal'Shabbol: abortion. They searched for a doctor who would be willing to perform the operation for a hefty price and, within hours, it was done. Ussej said goodbye to Tesia once again and returned to the Bendu Temple of Light, distraught that he might have made a terrible mistake.

Two days after the operation, Ussej faced his Trial of Fear. His father administered it, and the images he faced came and went quickly. What Ussej saw first was the night that he and Tesia made love and the second and final image was that of the abortion from only days before. Ussej had tried desperately to try to fear something more than the abortion, though he was unable to. Once the images disappeared, his father was furious that he would break such a sacred rule of the Bendu Order, as well as a law of Kal'Shabbol. However, Ussej defended himself saying that his recklessness and stupidity was a result of his father not being there for three years and then spending so much time working once he returned, a comment that stung the heart of the Bendu Priest.

Later that day, Ussej was forced to testify before the Council of Priests about the incident. He told them that he had met a woman, who he refused to name, when he was sent to Jerlem and they made love three nights later, just before he returned. He continued by saying that he had found out about the pregnancy two days before his Trial of Fear and the abortion had been completed in hours. The Council of Priests was shocked and appalled and immediately sentenced Ussej to spend time in prison. His father supported that sentence, though Laili pleaded with her husband to help set things right.

Tesia found out about Ussej’s imprisonment and traveled to the Bendu Temple of Light to see him. He told her that the Council of Priests did not know that it was her and that it was stay that way. However, Tesia reminded Ussej that they had indeed broken the law and it did not matter whether or not they agreed with it. She reminded him that if he was to be a Bendu Knight then he would have to take responsibility for all of his actions, including the bad ones. Ussej knew she was right and they both agreed to testify once more before the Council of Priests and face whatever sentence they were to hand out.

After they testified before the Council of Priests, Ussej and Tesia were taken into an anti-chamber to await sentencing. Ussej admitted that he was skeptical at first about whether or not he truly loved Tesia when he first met her, but told her that over the past few weeks he had grown to love her, especially in the face of sentencing. Tesia told him that she had felt the exact same way. Though he did not have a ring, Ussej kneeled down and asked Tesia if she would marry him whenever they were through with whatever punishment the Council of Priests was to give them. Tesia said yes, just as a guard told them that the decision had been made and that they were to return to the chambers. When they did, the Council of Priests announced that Ussej had been pardoned, thanks to the efforts of his father, but would not yet receive Knighthood. Tesia, however, was to be expelled from Kal'Shabbol. She asked where she was supposed to go, but the Somus Malachor told her that it was up to the grace of God and her own free will to choose where she would go.

True Love


Days after his thirty-ninth birthday, Ussej II traveled to the small village of Vattica and met a woman named Bara ErMez. One year later, they exchanged vows and became husband and wife. Two months later, Bara found out she was pregnant. They were thrilled, but the memory of his relationship with Jaxia haunted him. However, he soon put it in the past and focused on the future.

Paternal Love
Nine months later, a terrible began ravaging the area surrounding the Bendu Temple of Light and the Ashlan Mountains. During the storm, Bara went into labor. After hours of despair, Ussej realized that the storm was meant for him. He climbed to the Holy Ridge atop the Ashlan Mountains and sacrificed himself to save his family and friends. At the same moment of Ussej’s supposed death, Bara gave birth to a baby boy. This joyous event was marked by sadness as Laili, Kit and Ussej II were devastated by the loss of a father, a husband and a friend but they soon came to terms with his sacrifice. At that moment, Ussej II decreed that all first born males in the Bac family would carry the name of his father, so he and Bara named their son Ussej Padric Bac III.

The Impact of Words
Within the following years, Ussej II watched both Laili and Kit pass away of old age. While tragic, he fully understood the circle of life and knew that he would one day see them again. When Kit passed, Ussej II was selected to be his replacement as one of only two Bendu High Priests. But, there was always a six month transition period before becoming a High Priest. During this transition period, it was discovered that an ancient Jedi Bendu artifact was somehow on Dxun. Ussej II and Bara volunteered to retrieve it, and the Council of Priests agreed to let them go. Before leaving, Ussej II had a conversation with his five year old son about responsibility and his final words to him would remain with the young boy for the rest of his life: “The real test of a hero is knowing when the greater good will be served by an evil act.”

The Battle of Dxun
The trip to Dxun took two months in the modified hyperdrive engine of Laili’s Rose. However, they soon found themselves caught up in the Battle of Dxun, the final battle of The Great Rim Lines War. Thinking he was better than the rest, Ussej II valiantly fought, with the Jedi Order, against the forces of the Mandalorians and Sith. However, he was soon shot and was captured by the Mandalorians. As he and Bara were being taken away, he naturally assumed that the Jedi would try to help him. However, that was not the case. They were brought back to the Mandalorian Base as Prisoners of War. The Mandalorians believed Ussej II to be a Jedi Knight, though he told them that he was not and that he knew nothing about what was going on. After deciding that he was not worth the effort they were putting into finding out information about the Jedi Order, Ussej II was promptly beheaded by Mandalore himself in front of Bara. She tried to run, and was chased by a group of Mandalorians. They reached the edge of a cliff and, when she tried to dodge a Mandalorian bullet, she lost her footing and fell hundreds of feet to her death.

Aftermath
At the moment of his death, Ussej II found himself surrounded by the lush landscape of Ashlan Four. He found his father sitting amongst the gardens and the two shared a joyous reunion. Ussej revealed that Ussej II had been put through a test, much like he had, to see if he could handle what was necessary to be a prophet of The Skywalker. Ussej II passed, and was granted eternal life. Ussej also told his son that Ussej III would be tested when he was ready, thus completing the circle of the hero, the prophet and the savior.

Fate
Though he no longer walked among the living, the legacy of Ussej Padric Bac II lived on within his son. When Ussej Padric Bac III launched his part of The Great Sovereign Crusades thirty-five years after his father’s death, he never forgot his father’s last words to him. They always ran through him, reminding him that good would come from the struggle he was now locked in. Those nineteen simple words defined an entire generation. That is the legacy of Ussej Padric Bac II, and it is something that was never forgotten by the Bendu Order nor would it ever be.

Behind the Scenes

 * He is featured in Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac' as well as its two sequels
 * In the mind of his creator, he is portrayed by actor James McAvoy when he is young and Joaquin Phoenix towards the end of his mortal life.
 * "Ussej" is a respelling of "Jesus"
 * He is the only one of the three main Bac family members that has not been RPd
 * The name of the two main villages mentioned are based on places on Earth. "Jurlem" is short for Jerusalem and "Vattica" is a re-working of Vatican City.

Appearances

 * The Beginning: The Legend of The Skywalker
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac
 * Star Wars: The End of Life As We Know It
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac II
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac III
 * Lettow: The Curse of Carden Mannux
 * Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Beginning