Friday, May 05, 2006

Edge of Victory: Conquest (of Jaina Solo...not!)

Kyp finds the Vong to be an evil which must be eradicated. In Edge of Victory: Conquest Kyp is depicted as pretty desperate. Luke has called the Jedi together for a meeting and Kyp is extremely angry. He is challenging Luke in ways that would be forbidden in the Old Order and that were still very questionable in the New.

“What would you have us do? “ Luke asked mildly.

“Defend ourselves, Fight evil in whatever guise it takes…And we don’t let the fight come to us…We go out and find the enemy. Offense against evil is defense.”

Kyp goes on to compare the current struggle to the struggle against the Empire. The conversation turns to their shared history of the Darkside. Kyp then is asked by Luke.
What are you saying, Kyp, that it is easy to return from the Darkside and that justifies the risk?”
“I am saying the line between dark and light isn’t as sharp as you’re trying to make it, or exactly where you want to put it
.”
Kyp continues with an analogy of a light saber attack and questions Luke’s philosophies quite skillfully. Luke is patient and stays to his own opinion. However, it is obvious Kyp has many Jedi supporters of his way of thinking.
Finally Kyp presses the point, “ When will you attack, Master Skywalker?”

As the arguments proceed Kyp also shows that he believes in honestly expressing your beliefs. He even gives Jacen credit for being true to himself when he attempted to deny the force. Kyp’s demeanor throughout this meeting is one of anger and fury. He will not back down from his beliefs which he holds to be the only truths. Luke is fearful that these passionate feelings may cause Kyp, and any Jedi to fall to the Darkside.

If we win the fight against the YV at the price of using Darkside powers it will be no victory.”
Kyp responds by rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. He states it was a mistake to attend the meeting and he had attended with hopes that Luke would be more decisive and willing to lead aggressively. But Luke is utterly convinced that Kyp’s stance is too close to the Darkside, and is it? I don’t think so. I honestly believe it is proactive defense.
He leaves the meeting and is followed out by Jaina and Anakin. Anakin is a huge admirer of Kyp. We see how the boy often takes the same stance of action over contemplation. Even Jaina pretty much believes the Jedi need to look out for their own and to use aggression may be necessary.

Kyp’s character arc bottoms out in the next novel, Edge of Victory : Rebirth. However it is interesting to note that Luke’s character is moving up his arc towards becoming aggressive. An arrest warrant was issued for Luke which caused him to flee Coruscant and go into hiding. He desires to speak with Kyp because now he wants to be more aggressive. As he tells Jaina, …”things are different now”.

This demonstrates Luke’s respect for Kyp and his desire to maintain Kyp as a member of the Jedi order. But why? What is Luke’s motivation? Does Luke want to actually listen to Kyp’s point of view or does he fear Kyp being persuasive enough to split the Order? Kyp has always had followers. He is an influential member and a Master in the Order. It is likely the latter reason, for Luke has placed a tracer on Kyp’s X-Wing and he tells Jaina, “Kyp worries me.”
Jaina heads out to Serpindal and locates Kyp and his group. What Jaina finds is the most uncharacteristically calm Kyp Durron ever. It almost makes you wonder, did he turn to the Darkside? He calmly hears why Jaina has come to find him and is bothered that Skywalker is running from arrest. He doesn’t express himself with any fury. All the while he talks to Jaina she keeps getting a funny feeling in her stomach. You wonder if he is mind influencing her. You never really know either.

Basically Kyp explains how he has been running recon over the past few months and how he believes the Vong have grown a super weapon capable of destroying star systems. He asks Jaina to use her military influence to get Antilles and Darklighter to use the squadrons and join with Kyp’s squadron to destroy the thing. He explains that , “what you saw over Serpindal was confidential, not something for crazy Kyp Durron to know. “ But he did see it because he had done a dangerous recon there using his extremely talented force skills to make hyperspace jumps into the system. Jaina agrees to help him and they find Wedge Antilles.
Kyp first flirts with Jaina in this novel…”Don’t worry, I prefer my friends uncooked. Especially my more attractive ones.”

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