Knights of the Old Republic 9
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #9: Flashpoint Interlude: Homecoming marks the ninth installment in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comic book saga. Notably, this is the first issue that stands alone as a single story.
Synopsis from the Publisher
In this self-contained narrative set within the Old Republic era, prepare for the unveiling of concealed intentions and a past rife with turmoil, exploring themes of apprehension, abandonment, and treachery! Following the conclusion of the great Sith War, a singular Jedi dedicated herself to training only the most gifted seers, with the aim of anticipating and averting the Sith's resurgence. However, her intense focus on this mission led to negligence in other areas, allowing sinister influences to infiltrate the Jedi Order. Now, a chain of events has been set in motion that cannot be reversed, with consequences that will reshape the destiny of the entire galaxy!
Summary of Events
We begin with a memory: Lucien Draay's mother, Krynda, visits her young son, who is being cared for by a droid nurse named Ninebeedee.
Presently, Lucien, along with the other four Tarisian Jedi Masters Xamar, Raana Tey, Q'Anilia, and Feln, make their way to Coruscant. To their surprise, the gates of the Draay Estate are closed. Xamar informs Lucien that the Jedi High Council is worried about the Jedi Order's limited ability to track down the fugitive Zayne Carrick. Draay reminds the Administrator of his duties and dispatches an associate to keep an eye on their progress. Draay declines to send Tey. Ninebeedee advises Lucien to await contact from his mother. Q'Anilia is puzzled by Krynda's reluctance to meet with them.
A flashback from thirty years prior shows Lucien secretly listening as Haazen introduces a Force-sensitive child named Q'anilia. Back at the Jedi High Council, Master Vrook Lamar scolds the Revanchist for involving the Jedi Order in the Mandalorian Wars. The Revanchist is instructed to rescue Jedi Knights and Padawans who were captured on Suurja. After the Revanchist departs, Lucien speaks with him, expressing his agreement with the Revanchist's actions.
Another flashback, set twenty-five years in the past, depicts a teenage Lucien expressing his frustration with his mother's refusal to let him train with the other Padawans. Krynda dismisses her son, citing his lack of her second sight and comparing him unfavorably to his deceased father. When Lucien defends his father, Krynda angrily leaves. Haazen assures Lucien that he is not a failed Padawan, explaining that his mother blames herself for failing to foresee the rise of the Sith Lord Exar Kun.
Returning to the present, Master Lamar reprimands Lucien and his fellow Masters for their failure to protect their Padawans. Vandar Tokare, communicating via hologram, accepts responsibility for assigning the Padawans to the Masters before they were ready. Lucien also claims responsibility for the Padawan's deaths but denies that it spurred the recent Mandalorian attacks. Despite the Mandalorian threat, Lucien urges the Jedi to focus on preventing the resurgence of the Sith. He requests that the Council allow him and his Jedi Masters to lead the search for Zayne. Master Lamar denies Lucien's request and reassigns the Jedi Covenant members to different posts.
Xamar questions his fellow Masters about their decision not to reveal everything they had foreseen regarding Zayne. Feln is offended, while Raana expresses frustration that the Council is disregarding their prophecies about the Sith invasion. Q'anilia warns that she sees more challenges ahead and that the Mandalorian invasion could distract the Jedi. Despite the Council's orders, Lucien is determined to continue their pursuit of Zayne.
A flashback from twenty years ago shows Lucien sparring with his younger Covenant colleagues in a lightsaber training session, defeating them. His mother stops the session, telling Haazen that she will not allow her son to harm her students. Haazen defends Lucien, saying that he is the warrior that his father was. Krynda defends the foresight abilities of her Padawans, but Hazen is skeptical. Haazen agrees to use the Draay family wealth and connections to help Krynda's seers but requests Lucien's help in dealing with "higher issues."
Back in the present, Lucien arrives at his family estate. Haazen angrily confronts Lucien, stating that he was supposed to bring the Padawans to Coruscant for evaluation, not kill them. Lucien replies that he assessed the situation and acted as Haazen would have wanted. Haazen scolds Lucien for nearly exposing the Jedi Covenant's actions. When Lucien asks about his mother's location, Haazen shifts the conversation to Lucien's failure to mention Zayne's unique connection to the Force in his reports.
Haazen belittles Lucien's abilities as a Jedi Master, describing him as a failed Padawan. Haazen reiterates his orders to bring Zayne back alive, but Lucien argues that killing him will prevent the nightmare he has foreseen. Haazen then removes his cloak, revealing his scarred body and mechanical limbs. Haazen states that he is a veteran of the Great Sith War and knows how to address the Sith threat better than Lucien or his mother.
When Lucien demands to know his mother's whereabouts, Haazen ignores him and repeats his orders. Lucien angrily accuses Haazen of withholding information. Lucien leaves the Draay estate, carrying his dark secret.
Chronological Notes
Originally slated as Issue #10 of the Knights of the Old Republic Comic series, Issue 10 was moved up to issue 9 to give Dustin Weaver additional time to finalize Flashpoint. The original order was restored for the English trade paperback release, but not for the German version.
According to John Jackson Miller, the events of this issue occur on the same day as those of issue #10.