Jahnn wanders back to Quesh, and meets Saya'ka for the first time since their initial acquainting years ago as students of their respective trades. Jahnn's already been through this planet once already and is annoyed to find things have already deteriorated back to the point that he and his soldier friend have to step in and salvage things for a second time...

Jahnn also doesn't like how Saya'ka's chosen beau has a more cuddly chest than Jahnn himself does.

Deep within the bowls of Belsavis, more evidence of the planet's previous Rakatan masters are found. Jahnn consults a glowing Life Day magic eight ball on the chances of seeing Saya'ka in something shoulderless and low-cut.

Answer unclear, try again later.

The team encounters a particularly unlucky (and mouthy) Sith who's run afoul the ferocious Esh-kha warriors who'd laid imprisoned in the Rakatan structures beneath this planet for centuries. They're kind of pissed about it.

Esh-kha < Sith.

Jahnn follows squad leader Saya'ka deeper into the Kakatan ruins of Belsavis, and discovers an actual, living Rakatan plugged into the computer apparatus running the show. Unable to free itself, it creates a hologram in order to communicate. Rather than plead for freedom, the centuries-old Rakatan just wants Jahnn to put down the jailbreak and return order to the Infinite Prison.

The team pursues a failsafe called the "Burning Way," which turns out to be a massive collection of machines built to permanently seal the lower levels of the prison, and prevent the maddened Esh-kha's escape.

As the huge holopod hums to life and speaks to the team, they realize that the massive structure here is apparently driven by its own artificial intelligence, which strikes me as severely redundant considering just one level up there was a person plugged into the system and running the show by pure brainpower. None of this distracts the group from their goal of the Burning Way, however.

The giant machines themselves have other plans, however, and plead their case to Saya'ka and her team to leave them intact after all... even though it means letting the Esh-kha escape. Jahnn doesn't have to say a thing, he knows which way Saya'ka's going to break...

And on Saya'ka's command the Burning Way is enacted. Turns out it's just a freaking smelter that pours down a few tons of molten metal over the entrance to the lowermost levels of the Rakatan prison. Not sure why such a dramatic name was necessary, really.

We meet our wayward Sith historian again, who stops just long enough to come as close to thanking us for helping him previously as a Sith ever can. Jahnn is 100% ready to leave this crazy planet.

Jannik butts heads with a hilariously transparently-evil Sith Ambasador while a naive Voss claims not to care what either camp does on his planet as long as it doesn't bother them. This is already ten kinds of messed-up and Jahnn can be heard muttering, " 's gonna be a long planet..."

Saya'ka, at least, remains focussed and avoids Jahnn's jaded outlook, and proves herself to be the better diplomat this time by respectfully poking fun at the Sith's ridiculous battle toga and asking him if his refrigerator is running. Jahnn is humbled by her ambassadorial prowess.

And they're off, riding out into the gold plains of Voss to confront the Gormak that have been giving the Voss natives so much trouble.

At the first outlying outpost, Jahnn gets an amazing view of Voss's moon rising in the distance. Note the rings. Gives me chills, actually, imagining a moon that big and/or close to its parent planet...

Jahnn continues to admire the moon-rise while waiting for the Major to finally finish in the lady's room. It's worth noting that this planet has a pale yellow hue to it just like Quesh does. And yet somehow, here it makes everything look crisp and autumn-smelling, while on Quesh it just made everything look like the inside of a toilet bowl. Go figure.

A pair of renegade Voss -- failed "Mystics," actually -- have fallen in with the Sith but are having doubts. Jahnn manages to bring them around before the Sith pitches a fit and tries to fry everyone; it goes about as well for him as one might expect when facing down a veteran Jedi and the CO of the Republic's single most elite combat unit.

The group checks in with Jannik, and for once it's good news: the Voss are coming around and have decided that we are some sort of prophecied Chosen Ones (TM) who are destined to end their conflict with the Gormak barbarians. Whatever, that's just Tuesday for Jahnn.

A trio of advisers to the Voss people's "Mystics" explain their centuries-spanning conflict with the Gormak, the planet's other, more physically powerful indeginous species. Note how the Voss all have colorful patterns evocative of tropical fish.

Saya'ka is sympathetic to the Voss's plight, but skeptical of their Mystics' purported future-seeing powers. Jahnn chooses not to comment and lets the Major make her point.

And in the ancient Temple of the Mystics, Jahnn discovers an item of great significance: space drugs. Far out, man.

Sampling the Voss's personal stash, Jahnn and Saya'ka find themselves on a yellow-tinged hallucinatory trip involving tropical fish-men asking them to predict their future, in the past.

The bad trip continues as Saya'ka attempts to operate a holocron while under the influence. The resultant crater was over 200 feet in diameter.

The Voss hallucinations insist that the team's drug-induced experience is a vision quest meant to anoint them as Mystics of the Voss, but our heroes know better. Sometimes it's just better to relax and come down off the high at your own pace.

The heroes explore the Gormak bunker, taking down several hostiles on the way. Did no one anywhere in the Republic's chain of Ambasadorial command ever stop to consider that it might be worth negotiating with the Gormak? Seeing as they represent at least 50% of the planet's intelligent life?

A troop of beligerent Voss soldiers had the same idea as Saya'ka and Jahnn, and were attempting to attack the bunker; they survived only thanks to Havok's intervention.

Finally, the goal is in sight. Jahnn has reservations about this whole exchange, but Saya'ka rushes in to confront the Gormak leader.

Jokull, leader of the Gormaks, confronts his attackers and delivers a surprise: he commands the same precognitive gifts as the Voss's Mystics. The Voss troops cry blasphemy but are quickly put in their place by some falling rocks. Jahnn, the only one here with experience in the metaphysical, cautions the Major not to underestimate this Gormak or dismiss his power.

Jahnn and his Verg student inspect some of the ancient markings along the Gormak's adopted headquarters. It's clear to them that the Jedi had a hand in building this place.

But with the Gormak defeated, the Empire exposed for what they are, and the Voss placated, it's time to move on. Jahnn and Kira enjoy one last view of the planet's many vistas.

A mid-air collision between their transports alerts Jahnn and Saya'ka to the fact that the space-cannabis might not be as completely flushed from their systems as they believed. They resolve to waste no more time and leave the planet, before they catch themselves uncontrollably arguing for legalization.

Saya'ka's CO, General Garza, turns up on Corellia too, working with the rest of the republic brass to route the invasion. Here she negotiates with some of the local contractors. She displays laughable ignorance on how to deal with Corellians.

She also looks like she's about two seconds from flipping that table and attacking whoever's on the other side; apparently the General doesn't like losing Nar Shadaa-rules Pazak.

Less than a minute after setting foot in the casino that's been renovated into the Republic's makeshift headquarters, Havok Squad is accosted by the first of this planet's troops to need someone else to do their job for them. Once again it's clear that only Saya'ka and Jahnn are actually doing any work here.

Lord Scourge looks on with bemusement as Jahnn hears the Republic troops out.

Jahnn meets his first Selonian. Since this is a pulp science fiction story, these fur-covered aliens are said to live in packs, carry primitive melee weapons, and hunt. You know, like wild animals. Because they have fur.

I read "I, Jedi" years ago and then pretended not to, so I'm aware that Corellian Selonians are usually portrayed as just as modern and socially developed as humans. There are Selonian cops, Selonian businesspeople, even Selonian fighter pilots. So I'm not really clear on why the race is depicted as a half-feral dumb animal species in this game.

Saya'ka checks in with more of the locals. It takes the poor Major some time to really understand that Corellians just do not trust a uniform.

Returning from mess with the troops, Jahnn is momentarily distracted by Saya'ka's absolutely adorable pout. The Major's discussing strategy points with her superiors and is incensed by the suggestion that the Industrial Sector be conceeded to the Imperials' invasion force.

The oversized Havok Squad checks back in with General Aves and a member of Corellia's Corsec police force.

The group is introduced via holocall to one of the Corellian senators who voted to sell the planet out to the Empire, but now wants to change sides and help the Rebellion after seeing what he's gotten himself into. Jahnn doesn't even have to speak, Saya'ka is vocal enough with her objections for both of them.

Still miffed at the brass's decision to work with and grant amnesty to one of the people who made this 1-million-body-count invasion happen, Saya'ka and Jahnn attempt to stifle themselves and hear the CO's plan.

One holocron for each statistic. Jahnn wonders briefly why in the world the Jedi Order would allow the military to keep such important relics aboard a space ship's museum.

But as Jahnn approaches, the holocrons hum to life and leave their pedistals, orbitting around the lost Jedi as the glow of their light begins to increase.

Note that the starfield background behind the door is a graphical error; it's supposed to show the corridor leading back to the engine room. I don't know. But the shot here of the holocrons suffusing Jahnn with their energy set to a starfield background does look a heck of a lot cooler.

And Jahnn is all, "I'm okay with this."

Big flash of light! That's how you know something Force-y has happened! Just like in the movies! Except not!

"All Attributes +10." Hot damn.

Jahnn and a couple of his guildies in Balance Foreshadowed. On the left is Gekendar, the guild's leader (also one of the coolest, most personable and well-read humans on earth). The guild's since fallen apart and gone defunct, but it was a great guild while it was running. I miss them.