Zayne Carrick

"You're Zayne Carrick, right? Your Master sent me to look for you. He said to follow the trail of debris."

- Squint

Zayne Carrick was a young Padawan learner in the Jedi Order during the Mandalorian Wars who wielded a yellow lightsaber.

Early life
He was brought to the Jedi Order when he was several years old, coming from a family where he had four siblings. Although Jedi Master Vandar Tokare described Zayne's ability in the Force as "marginal," Zayne was accepted to the Jedi Training Academy on Dantooine. It was hoped that Zayne's ability to quickly form kinships would blossom with Jedi training.

Padawan on Taris
By 3,964 BBY, Zayne was being instructed by Jedi Master Lucien Draay at the Jedi Temple on the city-world of Taris. Here Zayne's ability to form friendships was demonstrated by his emotional attraction to Shel Jelavan, the sister of his best friend Shad. Yet Zayne struggled to keep up with his fellow Padawans on Taris; his clumsiness with the Force was often evidenced in his ongoing pursuit of the black-marketeer Marn Hierogryph, or Gryph.

Zayne was interested in the rapidly spreading Mandalorian Wars and other issues affecting the Jedi Order, but he felt isolated on Taris and doubted his ability to become a Jedi Knight. However, he received encouragement from the Padawan Squint. While passing through Taris with his Master on their way to the Outer Rim frontlines, Squint told Zayne that he was to become a bigger player than he thought.

However, Squint's advice to Zayne that "sometimes you have to enter the darkness to save the light" boded ill for the future. Jedi Master Q'anilia sensed a dark change in the Force just after Squint spoke to Zayne. Indeed, the Jedi Masters on Taris were apparently worried that one of their Padawans would turn to the dark side. The Masters' fears led them to desperate measures; for as Zayne noted, they hated the Sith&mdash;and hatred was an emotion forbidden to the Jedi. In consultation with a female associate on Coruscant, the Jedi Masters of Taris carried out Padawan Massacres of Taris, slaying all of the Padawans but Zayne, who was running late. Zayne discovered his masters in the midst of their crime and managed to escape.

Jedi on the run
On the run from the Jedi Masters he once served, Zayne had no choice but to flee into the seedy Lower City of Taris with Gryph, whom he had finally succeeded in capturing. Meanwhile, the Jedi Masters successfully framed Zayne and Gryph for the massacre. Gryph led Zayne to Junk Junction, where they encountered the aging mechanic Perero and his friend Jarael. Jarael was suspicious of the fugitive duo and attacked Zayne, upstaging the young Jedi with her electrostaff skills, even in the face of Zayne's lightsaber. Though initially both Jarael and Perero refused to help Zayne (Jarael because of Zayne's indirect role in convincing Lhosan Industries to leave Taris, and Perero because of Gryph's failure to pay him for their last transaction). However, when a force led by Constable Sowrs and Master Draay arrived on the scene, Jarael and Perero allowed Zayne and Gryph to escape with them on their ship Last Resort. The group planned to retrace Zayne's steps, returning to every world where he was trained.

Behind the scenes
Many fans have speculated about Zayne's future. If the Jedi Masters' fears turn out to be accurate, there is a possibility that Zayne could become one of the characters from the Knights of the Old Republic games. In particular, many fans predict that Zayne may become the Jedi Exile.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 0: Crossroads
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement