Exerpt from I, Jedi,
Luke, "...the deal we offered to the Survivors is really a lot like the chance Kyp has been given. In dedicating his life to being a Jedi you know Kyp is really under something of a life sentance."
Corran, "I know, and it'll be hard labor, too. Killing him wouldn't make the galaxy any better, so this is likely the best solution. Doesn't mean I like it and doesn't mean my inability to come up with a better solution isn't frustrating."
Luke, "All we can do is our best."
Simple Tricks, the Zeth Fost alias: Kyp Durron was obviously tagged with a name of origin and meaning. He chose the name Zeth, obviously, in rememberence of his fallen brother. Remember? The one he is guilty for killing? I needn't go in to detail. The name 'Fost' when said outloud most likely sounds like 'Faust'. Most of you are probably aware of the play 'Faust', which tells the tale of a Dr. Faustus; a magician and alchemist in German legend who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for power and knowledge. On the other hand, Kyp Durron was a young Jedi who sold himself to the darkside in exchange for power. Knowledge. And revenge. Resulting in the death of his brother, Zeth, and many others. Zeth Fost. There's your food for thought for the day ;)
Leviathan, Kyp's Jedi 'talent': It's easy to note how the Jedi comics and books are high in symbolism. Maybe that's just Anderson's writing style. Here's something I picked out while reading Leviathan. To defeat the first monster of Corbos, Kyp recalls Streen's specialty in the weather aspects of the force and calls down devastating lightening, defeating the first monster. Streen's extra ability, I believe, is mentioned to underscore a point of the Jedi Academy Trilogy. Each Jedi, or some Jedi at least, specialize naturally in certain aspects of the force. This is emphasized in the comic heavily. Streen controls the elements, Kirana Ti controls the physical aspects of the force, etc. But, you know, probably the most obvious character trait *Kyp* possesses is this; He is a haunted young man. Raised in a prison, he escaped only to commit a grueling act which marked him as one of the most monsterous beings to weild the Force. He is never free, now. He lives each day aware of the things he has done, the blood on his hands.. did you stop to think that his force specialty (and his penance), is to be over-sensitive to the life residues of departed creatures? To feel the pain of tormented souls (much like the one's he killed) and to be tortured until he takes action to put them at peace. It's right in his face, all day and all night. It's ironic isn't it? The picture the comics paint of Kyp show him more emotionally stable in the aftermath of the three novels. You can tell he has moved on, because he's active and supportive and unconditionally devoute to others at the Academy. When on Corbos, camping out in the rooms of the slain miners, he draws his knees up to his chest, wraps his arms around them and tucks his head under. He can't sleep, but his friend Dorsk 82 sleeps soundly despite the murder that has recently gone on. He's restless and he goes on and on about the voices he hears, the screaming, about how they won't leave him alone and they won't be silent and how he must avenge them to silence them (hey, that's wierd, because he names his future Jedi Squadron the Dozen and Two Avengers, Luke made a comment that he didn't understand why Kyp would name a two-jedi squadron so aggressively, but Kyp has never been an ordianry apprentice, huh? Hah!). He nearly gets cracked in two as he puts forth an astounding effort to destroy these two leviathan T-Rex type soul eating creatures, just to put the spirits of the dead at rest. So there ya have it. Kyp Durron, force expert and wizard of the suffering. Ya seen The Sixth Sense? Yeah, that's what I'm on about. Let's call it his penance. So.. the question is.. through this penance.. does Kyp finally redeem himself through his actions? Or by slipping into the seduction of the darkside, only highten his toll? Time will tell.
Zeth Durron - stormtrooper 2112: What an honourable young man! His spirit melted the ice in Kyp's spine! so I figure we owe him a moment of silence for being a huge part of untying Kyp from the dark side. (I say for good; Stackpole doesn't. To each his own, I guess.) *silence* "Now I am the Lord of the Sith," Kyp said. With that admission he felt a cold strength creep up his back bone as if his spine had turned into a column of ice.' -Dark Apprentice
"I am dead," the image of Zeth said, "but only you can keep my memory strong. Thank you for freeing me, brother." The image of Zeth embraced Kyp with a brief, tingling rustle of warmth that melted the ice in Kyp's spine. Then the spirit vanished, and Kyp found himself alone again, in a musty, empty temple that no longer held any power over him.' -Champions of the Force
There you go! I rest my case.
*pays her tribute to Zeth*
I can only wonder what Zeth meant by Kyp having freed him. Best I can assume is from the Imps. But, then, Saltan valoramosa n telval mord, no?
-by Jessica