Darth Vader
(Anakin Skywalker)
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Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, epitomized the Emperor�s New Order. Standing two meters tall and dressed in flowing black robes and black body armor, Vader was a tangible evil and symbol of the Emperor�s doctrine of rule through fear and terror. He was the servant and emissary of the Emperor, and later commanded the vast fleet charged with finding and destroying the Rebel Alliance. Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, expert fighter pilot, fought bravely during the Clone Wars alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa. It was Obi-Wan who suggested he look into the Force. Anakin had been displaying a natural penchant towards the mystical and Obi-Wan hoped to develop him into a full strength Jedi Knight. This sounded just fine to Anakin. He was amazed at the power that the Force held. They began an extensive training routine that would last for years. Very soon, however, Anakin became overanxious. Obi-Wan wasn't teaching him fast enough and he wanted more. A meeting with Senator Palpatine quickly turned to a more personal nature as the small politician described to Anakin the wonders of the dark side and the incredible power it holds. Anakin saw the advantages such power could afford him and his pregnant wife. It didn't take much to convince Anakin to abandon Obi-Wan's teachings and embrace Palpatine, soon to be the Emperor, as his new master. Ambitious and headstrong, he stepped into the dark side�s embrace and became Darth Vader. Obi-Wan saw the change sweep over Anakin and tried desperately to turn him back from the shadows. But Anakin wouldn't hear it; he was too far gone. Their discussion turned violent and soon the two were fighting with the same passion they had in the Wars. They were fairly evenly matched, but Obi-Wan had more experience with the Force behind him. It was mere luck that Obi-Wan was able to back Anakin into an open pit of molten lava. But this didn't kill him. Obi-Wan pulled him out a breath away from death in full demonstration of the good side of the Force. Anakin underwent extensive cybernetic surgery. His shattered body, however, had to be sustained by life-supporting armor. while Obi-Wan helped Anakin�s wife and newborn twins escape into hiding - Luke to Tatooine, and Leia and her mother to Alderaan. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, helped the Emperor hunt down and exterminate the Jedi Knights during the last days of the Old Republic and the opening moments of the Empire. Later, he was sent to help Goverment Tarkin develop the original Death Star battle station. Once the Rebellion demonstrated that it posed a significant threat to the New Order, Lord Vader was put in charge of the Imperial fleet assigned to find and destroy the Alliance leaders. The mission took on personal significance when Vader discovered that the Rebel�s newest ally was his own son, Luke Skywalker. Both the Emperor and Vader wanted to convert young Skywalker to the dark side, but Vader had his own agenda. He wanted himself and Luke to rule the galaxy side by side as father and son. The first time that father and son met was on Cloud City. Luke rejected Vader�s claims and offers, electing to fight him. But Vader was too powerful for the still-developing young Jedi. Luke barely escaped with his life, though he lost his right hand to his father�s lightsaber. Vader was confronted by his son a second time at Endor. Luke did not arrive as a half-trained apprentice Jedi this time, but as a full-fledged Jedi Knight. Luke�s faith in his father�s innate goodness won the day, bringing Anakin out of the darkness of Darth Vader and back into the light. He saved Luke and destroyed the Emperor, but at the cost of his own life. Vader�s final act - as Anakin and not as the Dark Lord of the Sith - was to look upon his son and tell him that he was right. |