If you’re reading this article, chances are pretty good that you’re aware that Paul Kemp’s new novel, Crosscurrent, will be released within the next week. Now, I have to imagine that the average reader of that novel will not have played Jedi Knight : Jedi Academy, a PC, Mac and Xbox game originally released back in 2003. And yet, given that Jaden Korr will be starring in Kemp’s novel, I thought I might devote this column to setting the stage for Korr’s entrance.

The game features a fair amount of customization (for the time at least) as far as who Korr (your character) is and what they look like. So, in essence, Jaden Korr is either a male/female human, a female Twi’lek, Kel Dor male, Zabrak female or a Rodian male. Later, Jaden was later officially recognized as a male human for canonical reasons so I’ll stick with that assumption from here on out. Jaden is one of several new students to Luke’s Jedi Academy on Yavin IV, however, he is unique in that he had already built his own lightsaber prior to joining the Jedi.

As the shuttle carrying the recruits approached the Temple, however, they found themselves under fire. Jaden and new found friend, Rosh Penin, leave the shuttle to investigate what shot them down. What they find is a woman later revealed to be Tavion wielding an ancient scepter. Jaden is knocked unconscious, only to awaken to find Kyle Katarn and Luke Skywalker.

Jaden and Rosh are apprenticed to Kyle who runs them through a training regimen at the Temple. Despite some misbehavior by Rosh, Jaden finishes the course and continues his training. Soon after, Jaden and Kyle embark on a number of missions throughout the galaxy, doing various good works and the like; all while Luke investigates the events surrounding the shuttle crash. After completing an appropriate number of missions, Luke calls all of the Jedi to him and announces that his records have been sliced and that the slicer had stolen the locations of many so-called Force nexuses throughout the galaxy. The Jedi are assigned various locations to investigate and Jaden travels to Hoth, where Luke once saw Obi-Wan Kenobi.

On Hoth, Jaden finds that he can’t sense anything out of place. Before he can leave, however, he discovers the Imperial Remnant guarding the remains of Echo Base. Jaden infiltrates the base and finds Tavion’s apprentice, a red Twi’lek named Alora. Following a short battle (which Jaden has more or less won), Alora escapes. Jaden returns to the Academy only to discover that Rosh has gone missing at Byss. While Kyle attempts to track Rosh down, Jaden (who has been promoted to an Apprentice) continues taking on mercy missions throughout the galaxy.

Once again, Luke calls the Jedi together and announces that he wishes the students to investigate other Force nexuses not mentioned in his journals (such as Dagobah). This time, however, the Jedi will travel in pairs in an attempt to not lose another apprentice. Kyle and Jaden travel to Vjun, the home of Darth Vader’s Bast Castle. After fighting their way inside, Jaden finds Rosh working with the Disciples of Ragnos and clearly in the grips of the Dark Side. Jaden succeeded in killing two cultists working with Rosh and had finally disarmed Rosh when Tavion arrives, destroying Jaden’s lightsaber and trapping him and Kyle underneath a pile of rock.

The two escape and return to the Academy where Luke bestows the title of Jedi Knight upon Jaden for his actions. Kyle, however, warns Jaden of his anger towards Rosh, reminding him that he must not fall to the dark side. Following another series of missions throughout the galaxy (seeing the pattern here?), Luke calls the Jedi together once more and announces his findings. The Disciples of Ragnos, led by Tavion, are using an ancient scepter to drain Force energy from the environment so that the ancient Sith Lord, Marka Ragnos, may return to life. Obviously they can’t let this happen and the academy mobilizes for an assault on Korriban.

First, however, Jaden and Kyle head to Taspir III upon hearing a distress call from Rosh. They arrive and Jaden manages to find Rosh within the facility. Rosh, seemingly in the company of Tavion’s apprentice, Alora, begs Jaden’s forgiveness. Jaden, believing Rosh’s message to be a trap, threatens to kill Rosh. With the guidance of Kyle, however, Jaden renounces his anger towards his former friend and battles Alora (but not before she succeeds in de-arming Rosh). Leaving Rosh with Kyle, Jaden flew to Korriban and joined the on-going battle with the Disciples of Ragnos.

Following a long-running battle through Sith ruins, Jaden finally reached the tomb where Ragnos slept, just as Tavion was beginning the resurrection. The two battled, with Jaden emerging the clear victor. Before Jaden can stop her, however, Tavion partially revived Marka Ragnos who immediately possessed her body. Jaden once again leapt into battle with the Ancient Sith Lord, finally banishing him back to his tomb and destroying the scepter that had enabled his revival. Jaden sealed the tomb as he left and informed Luke and Kyle of his success. The two senior Jedi proclaimed Jaden Korr a true Jedi Knight with a strong future before him.

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