In our continuing series of Forum User generated editorials, we’d like to feature Iurus recent post Expectorating Unexpected Expectations . To read it, please click on the link, and then feel free to add to the discussion by going to the forum.

Expectorating Unexpected Expectations by Iurus

At the beginning of many series, we often do an in-depth discussion of several things we expect, and several things we hope to happen, taking the overall arc into account.

We’re one-third of the way into Fate of the Jedi, and beyond that, Abyss has largely thrown us for a loop, possibly changing our entire outlook on the series. Abeloth may not be a traditional villain, but she’s certainly the closest to such a thing we’ve been shown yet in the series, and we’re more in doubt about the role of the Sith than ever before.

So the question this thread asks, is what do you expect from what’s left of Fate of the Jedi?

My predictions:

1. Luke Skywalker Badassery to the 11th Degree

Sure, it could be argued that almost every novel has Luke Skywalker Badassery at its climax. Luke verbally pwned the Baran Do, Shocked the Aing-Tii, and cut up the leader of the Sith expedition. But the progression, even if it continues there, does not fit the pattern. Luke was impressive throughout the NJO, but his work against the Slayers and Shimmra was nothing short of spectacular. Similarly, neither Welk, Alema, nor the rest of the Gorog could touch Luke, but it wasn’t until the final battle that he dispatched both Lomi Plo and UnuThul as though taking a toy from a pair of children. Not really counting his weekly encounters with Caedus. So it only stands to reason that if his Badassery directly corresponds to the number of the novel in the first 8 books, he’ll take it up two notches above the expected (9+2=11) for the final confrontation with Abeloth, or her champion (UnuThul equivalent).

Abeloth has a physical body, as we saw in the Vestara sub-plot in Abyss. So, owing to the nature of Star Wars, it’s only natural that we see a duel between Luke and Abeloth in Book 9. Let’s take a look at this.

Like a Supreme Overlord in his Citadel or Lomi Plo among the Dark Nest, Abeloth is a force of nature. She draws off the Force potential of dozens of followers, and literally commands the flora and fauna of a world against her target. Naturally, she can’t be stuck on one planet for nine books. Rather, she’ll face Luke once, with all of this power, and again, somewhere far away, with some even more impressive power. There will be a sense of “back home, she’d be unstoppable,” but the argument will be moot, because if she stayed at home, the duel would never happen/she never would have become so powerful. Luke will wield all of his Jedi powers against this “Final Form” of Abeloth and, this being a Denning novel, will likely wield such powers as teleportation, battle-sight, and Electric Judgment against the unwitting Great Old One. Luke will win, just in time to head home to a Hero’s Welcome he would not have if he managed to decimate Abeloth now.

2. Jaina, Daughter of House Organa

Contrary to the beliefs of at least one person reading this, her involvement with the Also Badass family does not make Jaina any less of a Solo, a Skywalker, or an Organa. The last two novels, especially, have hinted at Jaina as being the leader of the War of Words with Daala. While this may take many fronts, it will end as such, a War of Words. Daala is not Onimi, or Palpatine, after all. If she’s not particularly grand, she’ll bring to the final battle what Borsk Fey’lya did many times, or if she’s particularly skilled she’ll tear the Jedi apart worse than she did in even her best speech to Luke. And then Jaina will prove she’s her mother’s daughter and that will be it. The Senate will throw rotten figurative tomatoes at Daala while giving Jaina a standing ovation. This can occur no earlier than the 8th book.

3. The Fate of the Sith

What do we know here? 1) The majority of the Sith Masters or whatever else they call themselves are neither Kyp Durron nor Kyle Katarn- perhaps at best, they’re Kenth Hamner. 2) The Sith will not win. 3) The Tribal Sith will not be prevalent in 100 years. 4) The Sith do not seem to merge with one another. So what’s left? The Sith are defeated, or their goals are changed. So… what happens? Either A) Some horrible accident somehow caused by Abeloth causes their entire culture to be destroyed or the more likely B) Their post-FotJ leader becomes aware of the error of his ways. The Sith culture is renamed the Keshiri culture and all traces of the Dark Side and Force teachings are removed in place of a Jedi Praxeum.

To see what others came up with in response to Iurus’ challenge, or to respond with your own - check out our message board at the link below.