Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac

"Two thumbs way up!"

- Kevin Arthur, TheStarWarsRP.Com

Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac is a fan novel set within the Alternative Star Wars Saga written by Brandon Rhea. The first novel of the Shadows of the Jedi Trilogy, the novel is based on the Role-Plays of TheStarWarsRP.Com. The novel takes place during the final year of the Great Territorial War and deals primarily with the Ussej Padric Bac and his relationship with Laili Jeyna Rendar, as well as his relationships with Kit Corwin Rendar and Damien Nightblade. Because the end of the Great Territorial War was never Role-Played, the novel serves as a closing of sorts to a year’s worth of Role-Playing. It also serves as a prelude to events that happen later in the universe of the Alternative Star Wars Saga.

The author devotes much of the novel to the internal conflict that Ussej Padric Bac must deal with as he transforms into one of the Star Wars Saga’s most mysterious and influential icons, as well as the transformation of relationships with many other characters that will play a pivotal role in events to come. The novel deals solely with original characters who, along with their descendants, will play major roles in galactic affairs later in the Alternative Star Wars Saga.

Summary

 * See Ussej Padric Bac

Excerpt
Jedi Knight Estamme Eerar had long been a respected member of the Jedi Order, leading legions of Jedi Knights in countless battles during the ongoing war. Estamme had once been a Sith Lord but was redeemed by his fellow Jedi and reinstated as a Jedi Knight once he passed a short training cycle. He would still train under Jedi Master Lance Al’Kan, from time to time, though as he attempted to become a great Jedi Master like his friends.

Estamme began his descent down the grand staircase away from the Jedi Temple, noticing Laili standing at the bottom. He thought nothing of her, as he knew not who she was, but he soon felt the presence of the bounty hunter following her. He threw his hood over his head to masking his face and as he quickened his pace his cloaked billowed outward in the evening breeze.

“Stay calm,” he told her while grabbing her arm, taking her completely be surprise. “Follow me. You’re being followed.”

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

As they quickly moved away, the bounty hunter ran to a nearby security room with a different approach in mind. After disposing of the guards that were operating the controls, he removed a computer chip from his belt pocket and placed it inside the computer. An image of Laili and Estamme moving through the streets flashed to life on the viewscreen.

“It seems I’ll be collecting my bounty after all,” Chiroke noted, grinning at the image of the Jedi Knight before him.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Fearing that the man who grabbed her was an attacker or a rapist, Laili threw her arm around his neck and quickly pulled it back, cutting off the flow of oxygen to Estamme’s lungs. She pulled harder and harder in an attempt to knock him out, but she spotted the lightsaber on his belt. Not sensing any reason to be suspicious of the hilt, she let him go. He fell to the ground, his face purple, and held his throat as the pain subsided.

“Sorry, but I had to be sure,” she said, her words sincere. “But, I don’t think it’s me he’s after. You’re the one in danger here, Jedi. You had better watch out or he might just collect that bounty that’s on your head.”

“He’s after anyone with Force Sensitivity, miss,” he said, smiling at her naivety through his hood. “Even if you are just aiding a Jedi or are simply with a Jedi, the Sith will consider you an enemy. So, if you would please follow me, we can get out of this mess.”

He placed his hand out and Laili took it. Her eyes quickly glanced in the direction of where the would-be assassin had last been seen before turning back to the young Jedi Knight, making no further remarks as she followed him. Without warning, he jerked her closer to him and wrapped his arm around her. Drawing the powers of the Force into him like a waterfall flowing freely into a deep pool, he suddenly unleashed its power and launched himself supernaturally high into the sky, landing on the roof of a nearby building. He repeated the skill over and over as he leaped from rooftop to rooftop, cognizant of the fact that Laili was still hanging onto him. As they moved closer to the Jedi Temple, he set her down on a small air vent as a bench.

“Now,” he said, throwing back his hood. “What’s a nice young girl like you doing wandering the nighttime streets of Coruscant by herself?”

“You could have warned me before grabbing me like that,” she said, almost angrily as she smoothed her hair back, a bit taken aback at what had just occurred. Her eyes met his as she stood, glaring at him. She turned, taking a deep breath. Right now, anger would not solve anything or make anything better. She had a job to do and she wasn’t about to risk failing her task.

“I didn’t come here to be hit on by Jedi, that’s for damn sure,” she snapped. “I want information on Kit Corwin Rendar, a one-time Jedi Master.” She quickly turned to face him, her resolve as firm as her gaze upon him. The Jedi would certainly have trouble getting rid of her before her questions were asked.

“Hitting on you,” he asked as he looked at her, not sure what to make of all that was happening. “I’m sorry, miss, but although many Jedi have defied the Jedi Code recently and fallen in love, I am not one of those people. As far as Master Rendar goes....yes, he was once a Jedi Master. He was a very calm, peaceful and trustworthy man. But, something went wrong in his mind. He fell to the Dark Side of the Force and became Darth Ravinos, the Apprentice and trusted right arm of the Dark Lordess Viea.”

Before he could continue with the story any further, the two were blasted away from one another. Thrown into separate buildings, they looked up only to see Chiroke hovering above them, a rocket launcher resting in his arms.

“Just thought I might drop in,” she said sarcastically. “I always like starting parties with a bang, don’t you?”

Another rocket from the arms of the bounty hunter landed just near Estamme, sending him through the air to land head first on the hard surface. A large gash opened on his head, blood streaming outwards. A third rocket flew out towards Laili, but with his last ounce of strength Estamme called upon the Force to throw a large metal object into its path, destroying the rocket before it had a chance to hit her. Laili jumped up and ran around a corner for cover, hoping that the bounty hunter who had flown away to reload would not see her.

Another Jedi, a Zabrak named Matchek Al-Dubrir, jumped down from a higher rooftop to survey what had happened. Matchek had just recently become a Jedi Knight, and he was not about to let anything happen to anyone on his watch. If he was truly to be a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy, he couldn’t let anything happen on his doorstep.

“What’s going on,” he asked before spotting Estamme on the ground, unconscious. He turned in the other direction to see Laili in the corner, hiding with a blaster in her hands. He threw Estamme over his shoulder before running to pick up Laili as well. They jumped to further rooftops, hoping to avoid the bounty hunter that was stalking them.

“How exciting your life must be,” Laili said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “However, jumping from rooftop to rooftop isn’t exactly my idea of fun.”

Ignoring her, Matchek set both of his companions down on the surface below. He settled next to Estamme, calling upon the powers of the Light Side of the Force. The world about him swirled into pools of white light and with cupped hands he took from the pools, allowing the light to fall freely from his palms and unto the young Jedi Knight’s wound.

“What,” Estamme asked groggily, regaining consciousness as his memories flooded back into his mind. “I thought....I thought I was....”

“It’s okay,” Matchek told him, smiling. “I’ve healed you. You’ll be fine now.”

The group looked up to see the bounty hunter aiming his disrupter towards them. Estamme leaped in front of Laili, blocking the bounty hunter’s view of the young girl.

“Get away, now,” Estamme yelled as he manipulated the Force to send Chiroke flying backwards into the surrounding buildings. “Run, as fast as you can. Don’t worry about us, we can handle a lowly bounty hunter.”

Though she feared for her two companions, Laili quickly ran off to the side and slid under a dumpster. She would rather be fighting with them, but she saw no use in arguing with them now. However, if she was to die tonight, it would be with her blaster in her hand. She had vowed long ago that she would go out in a blaze of glory, whatever the reason may be, and she didn’t intend on giving up on that vow now. At least, not here....not when she was so close.

Reviews
''Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac follows the adventures, pitfalls, challenges and wonderful things that come into the life of an original character named Ussej Padric Bac. This novel was Role-Played in 2005 and contains only original characters. The characters are very well written and interesting. They have plenty of background information and are well fleshed out without ever straying near the dreaded territory of Mary Sue-dom.

Like many Star Wars stories, this alternate universe tale has a wide scope and mythical feel. Themes of love, betrayal, friendship and the Dark Side are intricately woven through the well moving plot. Look forward to lots of adventure, a bit of angest and plenty of classic Star Wars action.'' - "Jaina", the Dark Lord's Council

Dramatis Personae

 * Ussej Padric Bac
 * Laili Jeyna Rendar
 * Kit Corwin Rendar
 * Ussej Padric Bac II
 * Damien Nightblade
 * Remer Ather
 * Mathias Helsdain
 * Arael EbonClaw
 * Empress Viea
 * Darth Apocalus
 * Darth Invidius
 * Boreguard Madet
 * Mandalore the Conqueror
 * Ranka Darkbroode
 * Dexon Kyjar
 * Estamme Eerar
 * Enishi Xagan
 * Aarma Madet
 * Commander Katarn
 * Lieutenant Kaan
 * Corwin Rendar
 * Jeyna Rendar
 * The Skywalker
 * Jonathan Bac
 * Revan
 * Darth Malak
 * Jaxia Veers
 * Bao-Dur
 * Darth Traya
 * Darth Nihilus
 * Darth Sion
 * Darth Myst
 * Darth Sin
 * Darth Boli
 * Darth Midknight
 * Darth Woe
 * Darth Devlin
 * Shara Qel-Droma
 * Kyra Maans
 * Matron Lirreka

Locations

 * Coruscant
 * Telos IV
 * Corellia
 * Onderon
 * Kashyyyk
 * Manaan
 * Korriban
 * Malachor V
 * Pho Ph’eah
 * Nem’vaar
 * Shaderon

Starships and Vehicles

 * Laili's Rose
 * The Outrider
 * The Golden Way
 * The Nightsider

Behind the Scenes

 * "Ussej" is a respelling of "Jesus".
 * The novel began as an Role-Play in 2005, the title character being Role-Played by Brandon Rhea.
 * Ussej Padric Bac was originally desinged to be RPd as a false Chosen One, but that idea was later dropped. However, the idea that Ussej was a false Chosen One still remains in the backstory of his youth.