Fuse should have been an option instead of Vik because Vik doesn't care about anyone but himself. Also, it would have been such a good place for Fuse to get a redemption ark. He already recognized that he fucked up and if we're like "Oh we need an explosive expert" why not give Fuse a second chance? Because Aric is correct here in that Vik doesn't belong and we're basically being like "Oh you were dishonorably discharged just kidding you gotta come with me on this dangerous mission." I also personally really don't vibe with Vik either. But if we're going to have someone who doesn't clash with the team why not have Fuse come back? As a character I potentially already know his flaws, I know his past, I know him. The others can not get along with him because he was a traitor. He has that clash and the level of distrust that they are also presenting here with Vik.
I have a lot of thoughts so I'm gonna add a little line so I'm not just "hey here's a wall of text" lol
For Vik-
He doesn't get along with Aric- because he doesn't follow orders and he doesn't actually want to be apart of the team.
He probably doesn't get along with M1-4X because that is the most Republic loving droid I've ever met and Vik is just here for himself. Yeah he uses that energy against the imperials but it's still
I can almost guarantee he doesn't get along with Elara Dorne because she is the most by the book companion. It's been a minute since I've played the trooper story but I bet he'd make some comments about her defecting from the Empire. Or her accent. Just like almost everyone on Taris was doing when we recruit her.
I personally don't see any growth happening with Vik because he doesn't want to.
BUT for Fuse he does. He wants that growth.
Aric will not get along with him and will distrust him until Fuse proves himself loyal again. Something major likely would have to happen for Aric to fully trust Fuse again but if Fuse puts in the work Aric will eventually trust him.
I'm not sure how M1-4X would react to Fuse. Fuse would have to help with the demoralization issue or something. But I do believe that it's another Fuse has to earn this companion's trust.
Once a level of trust was established I believe that Elara Dorne and Fuse would likely bond over the betrayal of their governments. They both have defected from their home governments. And Fuse has realized the error of his ways.
The companion quest/dialogue through out the Trooper story would be him addressing the hurt of the betrayal that he and the original Havoc squad had gone through. The abandonment of the senate. Also, the atrocities that he witnessed. It would also give the Trooper the option of reestablishing and working through Fuse's betrayal.
Now I get that there's a choice to either save Fuse or go after the bomb schematics that the he designed. If you don't save Fuse he wouldn't be an option. But that could easily be replaced with either saving civilians from a bombing or going after the schematics. Because that had kind of been the whole theme on Tatooine. You still have a moral choice to make in the story so you can either get your light side/ dark side.
I may or may not have fanfic thoughts about this trooper so I may explore this as a thought. But I have SO MANY fanfics that I've started and I'm like "this is going to be a long fic" and I'm like oh snap I gotta write the next chapter. They're not even all on my AO3.
It occurred to me awhile back that there is no good reason why any of our OCs should trust the service droids assigned to them. In every case, they may have alternative motivations and hostile intentions.
1) Jedi Knight / Jedi Consular - These droids are issued to you along with your ship on Coruscant. In the case of the JC, you get it from the council direcly. In the case of the JK, you get it from General Var Suthra. But even in the case of the future Hero of Tython, the Defender ships are specifically issued to Jedi. There is every expectation that the C2-N2 droid could be reporting your activities to the council. (Say, for example, if you choose to romance a companion.) The JK model could also be reporting to Var Suthra.
2) Smuggler - This droid was the property of Skavak. SKAVAK. The guy who stole your ship. The antagonist for all of Chapter One. C2-N2 claims that he serves whoever owns the ship. But its not like we can confirm that! He's just standing there. I mean, for all we know, he could be reporting on us to Skavak. (Or Risha, for that matter.)
3) Trooper - This droid could/should be reporting to Garza. Just think on that.
4) Sith Warrior - The droid - like the ship - is provided by Baras. 'Nuff said.
5) Sith Inquisitor - The droid - like the ship - is provided by Zash. 'Nuff said.
6) Imperial Agent - The droid - like the ship - is provided by Keeper and Imperial Intelligence. Whose job it is to spy on people. Now you can actually confront 2V about this likelihood, and he'll tell you that his photoreceptors (eyes) are not equipped for that level of detail. That is... not a strong defense.
7) Bounty Hunter - You stole this droid. And the ship it was on. After murdering the droid's master. I mean... 🤐
So yeah. These guys are a problem. Let’s shove them out the first airlock we see.
