The Face of Fire and Evil

The nights on Coruscant were never all that dark. Artificial light spewed out of every building, penetrating the sky, practically illuminating the black of night.

Darth Maul’s presence had been requested by his master.

Maul allowed his mind to wander and jump to conclusions as he walked amongst the shadows towards the rendezvous with Darth Sidious.

He had long begged his master for an opportunity to attack the Jedi, could this be the time?

After thinking more clearly, he dispelled this notion. His master preached to him relentlessly that the time of the Sith is near, but not yet.

What could it be, he thought.

Darth Maul had been dispatched multiple times to handle weapons dealers, drug lords and the usual dregs of the Galaxy.

As his thoughts continued, they were suddenly splintered and thrown aside as he felt a presence. His master was near.

Augmenting his abilities through the powers of the Dark Side, Maul leapt several stories, reaching the level his master had been waiting.

Landing in complete silence, Darth Maul saw no more than 30 meters in front of him, his master with his back to him, overlooking the vast industrial fields of Coruscant.

Is he unaware of my presence? Unsure, Maul thought to approach Sidious in pure silence in hopes of impressing the Dark Lord.

With extreme care and precision, Darth Maul began his approach.

One step after another, his movements carefully planned out to make the least amount of sound possible.

When he was no more than 10 meters away, he stopped his advance though only for a moment.

Studying his master, he noted the blackness of his cloak.

It appeared even more bleak and charcoal-like than the pure darkness around him, almost as if his own presence was feeding off of the surrounding black.

Then, without warning, “Welcome Darth Maul, your ability to avoid detection is in need of some work.”

The figure turned around revealing the pasty white face crinkled with that statement as the corners of his mouth began to curl up and around to form a devious sneering smile.

“Yes, my lord,” Maul obediently replied as he descended to one knee.

“There is a group of smugglers who have revealed something of great interest to me.”

Letting his words sink in, Sidious paused for a moment.

The cool wind howled behind Maul, ruffling his own cloak.

Standing directly in front of him, his Master’s cloak remained still.

“A Sith artifact belonging to King Adas. You will track down these pirates and inflict on them the full wrath of the Dark Side of the force.”

Without even a delay, Darth Maul responded, “It will be done my Lord.”

“Go now, my apprentice. Leave none alive.” Sidious uttered as he raised his arm directly in front of Maul’s face.

***

Sand pelted the outsides of the ship. By all accounts, Ashas Ree was notorious for diabolical sandstorms responsible for creating and destroying the landscape.

Captain Anderaan Rawles, a former Corellian pilot, sat back in the lounge of his vintage customized XT class starfighter.

With enough cargo space to rob the half the vaults of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, Rawles was prepared for the day.

Along with his co-pilot Ella Tervault, a Twi’lek and the two helping hands, Xelin Bindar and Thorm Jendell, both human.

Just hours ago, Rawles and his team of pirates hit the jackpot.

The team that referred to themselves as auctioneers, sat comfortably on their ship, The Forbidden.

“How ’bout that Cap’n! Told ya we’d pull that one off!” Jendell said to Rawles.

“We did it! We actually did it! I’m still in shock,” Xelin Bindar stated.

Sitting there in the middle of The Forbidden’s crew was an ebony chest. Covered in dust and silver plated material, the chest was quite a sight.

It took all four crewmen to lug their finding up the ship’s ramp plus two separate breaks since Bindar demanded to check it over for any booby traps.

“Boys, it’s time to kick up our feet, this grab will have us owning the entire 500 Republica!” Ella Tervault yelled as the entire crew laughed in agreement.

As everyone began to settle down and quiet returned, with it came uncertainty.

As each one of The Forbidden’s crew stared down at the chest, a mood of nervousness took over.

All of them knew what they had done and all of them were just as shocked as the other.

What they had in their possession was an ancient Sith artifact.

More specifically, the ebony ax of the long deceased Sith Lord, King Adas.

It was Thorm Jendell’s idea in the fist place.

It had been seven years since he first heard the rumors about the ax and it took what seemed like an eternity to convince his Captain that they could pull it off.

Not only was it risky just to fly in to Sith space, but it was practically a zone of the Galaxy devoid of life.

Sith space was supposedly filled with evil, something the pirate were wary of.

The hard part was over and they had escaped unscathed.

Or so they thought.

***

Aboard his stealth capable ship the Scimitar, Darth Maul inputed the coordinates given to him by his master into the navigation computer.

The files on Ashas Ree his master provided him were impressive but what had Darth Maul completely mesmerized was the profile on King Adas.

Adas was a Sith Lord that was from Korriban and ruled on Ashas Ree.

One of the most powerful force users of all time, Adas’ weapon was an ancient battle-ax.

The weapon was two meters long and was close 100 kilograms.

Besides its lethality, the artifact was practically worth enough to purchase half the Galaxy.

Before Maul left for Ashas Ree, Darth Sidious told Maul something that he would never forget.

“Sith space is sacred, it is the birthplace of the Dark Side. These pathetic fools infiltrated our home and have something of ours. Go now my young apprentice, do our ancestors well and most importantly, show no mercy.”

The words “Show..no..mercy” echoed through Maul’s head.

The Scimitar received a custom hull that was made from the thickest metal designed to withstand ion blasts from oncoming starfighters let alone massive sandstorms.

Sith space was notorious for devastating storms and without the hull’s customization, Maul’s trip would be short.

As Darth Maul finished with the files given to him by his Master, he ventured off to his meditation chamber.

He was intellectually prepared for his mission, now it was time for him to get there mentally.

***

Bindar and Jendell were in the lounge playing dejarik, Tervault and Rawles were in the cockpit.

Worry within the crew was beginning to grow as the storm continued to rage.

“What’s with this planet?” Tervault said. “This damn storm has been raging for two days now.”

“It’s the evil, this whole planet is ripe with it,”  Captain Rawles returned. “At this rate, it’s never going to stop.”

Captain Anderaan Rawles was a man of principle a man of honor.

Ironically, this same man skipped out on the Corellian Navy after he knew he could quadruple his money by hunting for items across the Galaxy.

It didn’t take long for Rawles to find his first mate. Ella Torvault was trying to escape her own demons.

She was a perfect the role since she’d been all over the Galaxy too.

As for Xelin Bindar and Thorm Jendell, they were a totally different story.

Bindar was part of another smuggling ring when they encountered Republic agents.

Fortunately for Bindar, Rawles took an uncharacteristic chance on him and scooped him up just before he was canned.

As for Jendell, a classic tough guy drunk. Only this drunk knew a thing or two around a map.

That was the crew of The Forbidden and Captain Rawles was proud of each of them.

Outside the ship, the storm relentlessly continued.

Rawles was beginning to wonder if they would have to fly through the mess.

A beeping sound began going off in the control panel in front of Tervault.

“Uh Captain, I think we have company,” Tervault said with reluctance. “Am I seeing this correctly?”

With tension in the air, Rawles made his way over to Tervault and began tapping the glass covering the instrumentation.

“Are you sure this is calibrated correctly Ella,” he said with concern.

The two couldn’t believe their eyes as the navigational indicator was displaying a ship approaching Ashas Ree’s atmosphere.

***

Fighting with the controls and losing, Darth maul was entering a storm more powerful than his wildest imagination.

Brownish-red sand swirled around, rocks bombarded the ship and Maul’s view was quickly becoming nonexistent.

Initially he sought to enter the planet’s system through autopilot but things changed quickly.

The Scimitar’s devices did not pick up the storm and thus blindsided them upon arrival.

He could feel the ship vigorously shaking and was indeed in danger, the winds were starting to tear at the reinforced hull.

Finally, Darth Maul fell deep into the force and honed in on winds directly surrounding the Scimitar. 

At last, Maul had enough.

He reached out and used the force to barricade the outside of the Scimitar. 

Fighting him, the winds did all it could but the power of the Dark Side prevailed.

Maul was through the storm and the Scimitar was on the ground.

There was hell to pay and Maul was the enforcer.

No one steals from the Sith.

***

The storm was finally settling down and just in the nick of time as far as Rawles was concerned.

“Let’s get out of here, now.” he said.

By this time, Rawles alerted the rest of the crew.

Panic was in the air.

***

Maul was a gifted assassin who had the power of the Dark Side to guide him.

What’s more, he was furious and ready to kill.

It’s only a matter of time, Maul kept thinking to himself.

Although the storm calmed down, Ashas Ree’s environment was treacherous.

Without the force, Darth Maul would be ripped apart.

Unlike the Jedi who allow the force to flow through them, the Sith felt for the force and once they had it, they seized it.

Using it for their own ambition, it only boosted Maul’s already potent tracking skill.

Maul suddenly snapped his head to his left. He sensed something familiar…fear.

He found them. He could feel them.

Maul took off on a dead sprint.

He knew he had to get to them before they took off.

***

“Why are these damn engines not turning?” Torvault frantically yelled.

“Come on come on!”

As Rawles was pacing around the cockpit thinking of what to do next, Jendell and Bindar ran in.

“Cap’n I think that sand is jammin’ up her engines! She won’t fly like this!” Jendell bursted out.

“We have no choice but to clear the engines,” said Torvault.

“We can do it, let me and Jendell go. We can get it done.” said Bindar.

Captain Rawles felt his crew’s eyes on him. He knew he had to make a decision.

He sifted through his options.

If he let two of his crew check out the engines and their pursuer approached them, their numbers would be cut in half.

But if he didn’t do anything for the engines, they would be sitting ducks.

Thinking everything through again and again, he came to a solution.

“No, everyone’s staying right here. The engines might be incapacitated for now, but The Forbidden’s weapons are still hot.” Rawles said with a bit of swagger in his voice.

With everyone on the same page, the ship’s crew took to their stations.

It was time to go to war.

***

Maul was trekking through the heavy sand as the wind continued to slash his tattooed face.

With every additional minute Maul was out in the elements, it added to his rage which only added to the smugglers inevitable punishment.

And then, he saw it. The ship was blasted with sand and looked to have sustained multiple dents through the storm.

The Sith’s intuition told him that danger was imminent.

He reached out with his senses to feel the ship’s crew.

Within the structure, he could see through the force four of them. They were all on edge with their heartbeats elevated.

The stench of fear was rampant.

Darth Maul, Dark Lord of the Sith and all his power wanted to make these smugglers squirm and feel his wrath.

He knew as long as the ship’s power was supplying the weapons systems, the operation was treacherous.

***

Each member of the crew was at their own respective stations, waiting for the slightest outside movement to let their guns rip.

Captain Rawles was manning the infrared auto-lock lasers, Ella Torvault had her hands on the electric repeater shank gun and Xelin Bindar and Thorm Jendell were controlling the rocket tanks.

All heavily armored stations for a ship of it’s size, The Forbidden was ready for anything.

***

Darth Maul was no more than 10 meters away from the front of the ship when a line of pure electric lashed out at him.

As if he knew if was going to happen before the trigger was even pulled, he dove safely out of the way.

Quickly picking himself up and retrieving his lightsaber, he realized why the ship was still grounded.

The engines were completely caked with sand from the unforgiving winds.

Maul smiled to himself and understood that his enemies were dead, they just didn’t know it yet.

***

“What is this guy? I shot him! I swear I did! He was right there!” Torvault couldn’t believe it, she was astonished at the speed of the creature dressed in black.

She could see he was just a man but he did very little to convince her that he was just that.

“Don’t worry about it Ella, stay positive. Fry him next time around.” Captain Rawles said, trying to encourage his co-pilot.

As Rawles finished speaking, his sensors blared on his panel. Apparently the defense shield was lowing power so rapidly that it would be out of commission within minutes.

Puzzled and confused, Rawles was at a loss for words on how their pursuer could possibly get under the ship’s hull without any of them being alerted.

The defense shield was an electrical net that covered the entire ship, it would fry anyone or anything that even so touched the outside metal.

But that was old news now, with it gone, Rawles knew the underbelly or more importantly, the electrical systems were exposed.

“I see ’em! I’ma burn this guy!” Jendell yelled as he and Bindar bombarded the black figure with rockets.

Through Rawles dash cam he saw it happen. The figure withdrew a red blade of sizzling energy and effortlessly deflected every single rocket thrown at him.

The last one careened off his blade straight towards Jendell and Bindar.

The last thing Rawles heard from his two shipmates was their screams.

The blast rocked the ship so hard that Ella Torvault was thrown to the deck.

Dazed by the fall, she fumbled with the controls when she returned to the module.

Her lack of precision would ultimately cost her as the energy blade flashed through the air spinning like a pinwheel.

The electric repeater shank gun was completely disabled as half of the machinery sat on the ground below the ship.

To Torvault’s dismay, the creature then sprinted straight forward her station and jumped up to the window.

His face was a piercing mix of red and black with jagged horns ascending out of it’s head.

The eyes are what Torvault would last see.

Deep pits of fire and hate burned intensely. She stared in shock as the assailant flashed his stained and dirtied teeth.

Then Torvault felt her throat start to close and her air supply run out.

Gasping for air as she clawed at her throat, her world began to fade to black. Ella Torvault was dead.

***

Darth Maul sneered at the lifeless body as his fell to the deck. He was ready to end this fight.

He ran towards to the gaping hole in the ship where the rocket gashed it open earlier.

With ease, he hurdled the broken metal and flew threw the hole. Darth Maul felt the Sith artifact within.

But before he could secure it, he had one last piece of business to attend to.

Locating the last remaining survivor on the ship, Darth Maul made his way toward the presence.

If there was ever one flaw to Darth Maul’s character, it was his overconfidence.

The chink in the armor was exposed as the last surviving crew member detonated half of the ship, sending Darth Maul into a blazing inferno.

The temperatures surrounding him were so hot that his black cloak disintegrated almost immediately.

Only through the dark powers of the Dark Side did Maul survive.

Now, he had it. Enough was enough he told himself, time to end this once and for all.

Darth Maul shot through the liquid metal that covered the melted walls and bulkhead as he quickly came upon the location of the last remaining survivor.

***

Impossible he thought, impossible.

Captain Rawles thought he was safe and secure after making a tough decision to use half of his ship as a giant weapon in order to kill the mysterious creature.

But now he stared into the face of death itself.

At a loss for words, the last thing the good captain of The Forbidden saw was blinding red light edge straight toward his eyes.

***

Maul’s lightsaber impaled the shipmates head, right through the left eye.

Disgusted with this sloppiness, Darth Maul knew he’d have to improve if he were to ever face off against a Jedi Knight.

As he walked through what was left of the ship, Maul located the case.

He stood there and stared at the case as he felt the dark power emanating through it.

“Time to go” Maul said to himself. Another mission complete.

The Inquisitors, Ezra and the Direction of Star Wars Rebels

Last night, the third episode of season 2 aired for the exciting show of Star Wars Rebels.

There were some twists, nothing major that we didn’t see coming, but the major takeaway was the revealing of the “other” Inquisitor.

This new Inquisitor is known as the Seventh Sister and last night we got a little taste of what she can bring to the table.

Both Inquisitors, for the first time this season, met main characters Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren and Zeb Orrelios when they were scouting an abandoned Republic medical station.

What occurred from that point on surprised me.

Ezra put his life on the line to protect Sabine as the Seventh Sister was rapidly approaching the duo.

By destroying a door panel, he effectively cut himself off from Sabine or more importantly Sabine from their new enemy.

What I find most fascinating by Ezra is his growth and maturity. Now i’m not saying he’s grown and mature but his actions do remind me of another young Jedi…

That’s right, it’s Anakin Skywalker!

Can’t you see it? Don’t you see a resemblance in their origins and their behavior?

I thought about this comparison in the first season of the show but dismissed the notion since Anakin was one of the strongest ever and Ezra seemed minuscule in power compared to Skywalker.

But besides strength and ability, both characters have eerily similar personalities.

I think Ezra is still a bit more level headed than the dangerous and erratic young Anakin but still there are some similarities!

Basically sacrificing himself for Sabine’s safety is a very Anakin-like trait. I think this is the beginning of Mr. Bridger growing up and becoming more of a leader.

With that being said, the episode continues with the two Inquisitors taking Ezra and eventually Sabine captive in hopes of luring Kanan and more importantly Ahsoka to the station.

Now this is where I thought the episode took a weird turn in direction…

Basically, Zeb is able to free both Ezra and Sabine by tricking the Inquisitors into thinking Ahsoka and Kanan are en route.

What I find hard to believe and a bit discouraging is the fact that the Seventh Sister and the Fifth Brother were able to let two kids out of their grasp with very little effort.

Ezra is approximately 15 years old and Sabine is supposed to be only 16…with the Empire being so concerned with the Rebel movement and sending out not one but TWO Inquisitors, you’d think they’d be at least a bit more qualified.

To be fair, they did almost stop the mini ship that belonged to the Ghost.

The Inquisitors both used the power of the Dark Side to latch on to the Phantom and nearly brought the ship down.

Now if that did happen, honestly I would have a completely different tone right now.

Alas, it did not and two Inquisitors who were trained and briefed for hunting down Rebels by Darth Vader himself failed.

I mean, both Inquisitors looked awesome but seriously lacked in ability.

I guess we’ll find out!

As for the overall direction, I find it fascinating that the two of them are after Ahsoka.

Under the direction of Vader, it seems that we are going to inevitably see the apprentice face the master eventually.

Now THAT episode will be absolutely epic.

-Sith Pacify out

The Unfair Criticism of George Lucas

We all know George Lucas has had a tough last couple decades in the Star Wars world. It’s almost universally known that the prequels are not well liked and unfortunately it is Lucas who catches the heat.

Because this is a Star Wars blog, I’m going to strictly stick to Lucas’ involvement in Star Wars as opposed to his other projects.

Now then…on to George Lucas and his negative reputation.

But why? Does Lucas really deserve all of the criticism?

Honestly, he absolutely does not.

For starters, he is the maker of it all for us Star Wars fans which in itself should make him untouchable.

I think the problem for many fans is the lack of appreciation for George Lucas.

It’s puzzling to me that people hate Episodes I through III so intensely.

I’ve heard some theories about why and I can protest every single one.

A popular theme amongst the prequel-haters seems to be “Hayden Christensen was terrible.”

Now I know I’m here to defend George Lucas here but I think Mr. Christensen deserves someone in his corner as well.

His portrayal of Anakin Skywalker was so impressive that he really should have received more recognition, in my opinion at least.

What people seem to say about Christensen’s performance is that he was “too whiny and emotional”.

Well here’s a news flash to all of you who think along those lines…

The character of Anakin Skywalker is supposed to be painted in that light. Throughout his young life, he’s crushed under the immense pressure his name carries plus the fact that the entire galaxy is under fire and he is supposed to be the savior for the Jedi.

With that being said, somehow people fail to see the character’s personality and blame it on the actor.

Anakin is an emotional figure and goes off on tangents once in awhile because well, he’s fighting a battle in the real world and within his soul.

I think it’s just irresponsible to blame the actor for the unstable mental state of the character’s personality.

What’s more, all the backlash over Hayden Christensen seems to find its way back to George Lucas.

Of course, that’s a little bit more responsible since Lucas did create every character in the movie after all.

But forget the prequels for a moment. The original trilogy was so prolific that you would think that his reputation would be solidified for life but I guess not.

It just pains me to see a figure like George Lucas be mocked and ridiculed for three of the six iconic Star Wars movies that are essential to the entire story.

Even if you don’t like the movies (I don’t understand how), their importance to the plot is absolutely crucial.

Lucas deserves so much more credit than he receives for the original trilogy alone but for the prequels?

To have the vision back in 1977 of creating the original trilogy and then the three movies before them  16 years later is just out of this world!

Legacy

As the years go on and George Lucas is more and more out of the picture, I hope we honor him better.

The man is now in his 70’s and let’s face it, he won’t be around forever.

Let’s give George Lucas the credit he deserves.

Whether you liked the prequels or not, we all love Star Wars and George Lucas is the creator.

Although I believe that Star Wars is in good hands with Disney, it is and always will be bittersweet that Lucasfilm is no longer bound to its maker.

-Sith Pacify out

The Difference Between Luke and Anakin

Whether it’s the chosen one or the one who stood up to evil, they are arguably the two most powerful figures throughout Star Wars.

Yes, I’m talking about Anakin and Luke Skywalker.

Anakin, known as the chosen one, was said to bring balance to the force and eventually did but only after he brought the entire galaxy to the brink of oblivion.

I left out Anakin’s transformation into Vader for this piece since that was a completely different figure than Anakin including abilities, power, control and demand.

Luke on the other hand, had a much quieter journey to his status of power.

I’m going to strictly leave out any and all information within the expanded universe after ROTJ.

With that being said, Luke grew up on the quiet sun-bleached sands of Tatooine where he remained until his Aunt and Uncle were killed and he subsequently left with Ben Kenobi.

Luke would go on to drastically improve on his force abilities and finally reach his goal and become a Jedi.

What They Offer

If you’re talking about power, Anakin Skywalker is at the very top in every single way.

Not just his command of the force but within his 6’1 frame, he was pure muscle and was acrobatically gifted which only enhanced his abilities that much more.

I would also argue that Anakin’s mental drive to take over battles and lightsaber duels allowed him to never be overmatched.

Of course his mental capabilities also had drawbacks since it boosted his confidence so severely that he would run blindly into fights without assessing the situation first. (Dooku)

In addition, Anakin was clearly the most competitive Star Wars character of all time. This drive allowed him to rise to the occasion at ALL times making his enemies feel his wrath.

As for lightsaber combat, Anakin was also extremely gifted.

I would put him right up there with Mace Windu as the most lethal duelist.

Anakin was not only one of the most deadly warriors, but also a gifted pilot.

Ironically, the only other being in the galaxy who could possibly match his piloting prowess was his own son.

Now, it’s time to breakdown Luke…

Because of his severe lack of training, a great deal of describing his competence will have to go off of potential since compared to Anakin, Luke did not have as much opportunities.

With that being said, it should be known that Luke might have been just as or even more dominant than Anakin.

Because Luke didn’t start to scratch the surface of his Jedi capabilities till his later teen years, I believe that that somehow made his force aptitude that much more potent.

In my opinion, Luke’s greatest characteristic was rising to the occasion no matter what the circumstances were.

Two examples of this are one, when he carved up the Death Star defenses and for the first time ever flying a T-65 X-wing starfighter having the ability to annihilate a structure designed for extermination.

Two, when Luke rushed to judgement and foolishly thought he could face Vader during the ESB.

Of course he lost much more than just the fight but think about it for a moment.

At the time, Luke was a young 22 year old who just discovered he was even force sensitive just three short years ago.

He had never fought another lightsaber combatant up to this point and yet he faced Darth Vader, the clear cut perennial duelist in the entire galaxy.

It’s almost inconceivable to think that a young, inexperienced boy who had little to no training was able to injure the menacing Darth Vader.

Luke’s ability to never let anything overwhelm him is extraordinary.

I would say Anakin had a bit of this as well but no where near the level of his son’s.

Luke stood at just 5’7 but packed quite a punch. Much like his father, he was a gifted acrobat, not quite to the level of Anakin but nonetheless he had that going for him as well.

Another powerful attribute of Luke’s was his ability to revert back to an inner calm within himself and use common sense.

Unlike Anakin who thought with his heart, Luke was very much able to stay calm and assess the situation.

Differences and Similarities 

Both Anakin and Luke are physical freaks. They both are top swordsmen that have lightning quick reflexes allowing them to best anyone opposing them.

When it comes to fighting, unlike Luke Anakin thinks through his heart.

There’s been countless examples throughout the show Star Wars: The Clone Wars as well as the movies where Anakin throws caution to the wind in order to intervene with fate and save a comrade.

Luke definitely has this attribute within him but nine out of ten times he’s able to do what’s best for the mission and for the team.

An example of Anakin going against the greater good is when he directly disobeys the Jedi Council’s orders and flies off to Tatooine to potentially save his mother.

Now that’s one of many examples that I could have named but it speaks volumes of his character.

As for Luke, an example of him staying levelheaded and keeping the mission as the main priority is the following.

When childhood friend, Biggs Darklighter is covering Luke as they make their attack run in ANH against the Empire’s super weapon and Biggs suddenly comes under fire by Vader and his henchmen, Luke stays the course.

I have to say, Anakin would have most definitely engaged Vader (if that were possible) in hopes of allowing his lifelong friend to survive.

Of course there are examples that go against what I’m saying but for the most part, Anakin follows his heart as Luke uses his head.

As for piloting, Anakin and Luke are exactly the same in fact they are practically replicas of each other as they’re unequivocally the best.

When it comes to piloting, there’s no debate. The Skywalker duo are as good as it comes.

Another similarity between Anakin and Luke is their lightsaber combat.

Both used (and mastered) Form V.

Utilizing their athleticism and maneuverability, both had no problem matching their opponents onslaughts with defensive counters.

What enhanced both of their lightsaber forms was their ability to call on the force.

With Anakin, I would describe a fight against the chosen one as a “perfect storm”, perfect for Anakin, that is.

When Anakin is entrenched in combat, he seems to have full control over every single atom that surrounds him and his opponent.

It looks as if he wrote the outcome of the duel and can rewrite or change the events at will.

Now in contrast to Luke, I would describe his fighting style as “quiet calm”.

Luke doesn’t go out of his way to make things happen, he doesn’t aggressively engage his opponent yet he allows his own skill to play out.

He believes in his craft and his silent confidence and bravado during through his fighting shows that.

However, if there was ever an instance where Luke went against the grain and who he is, it’s when he defeats Vader in ROTJ.

If I were to describe that fight and the combatants were not named, you would think Anakin was fighting some enemy.

But that simply was not the case.

Vader successfully baited Luke into coming out of hiding and engaging him. What he did not expect was Luke tapping into an unexpected inner will and strength, some would even say, the Dark Side…

What Does it Mean?

Anakin and Luke are very similar and yet very different.

Both have identical styles but intentions that are completely different.

Anakin fought for love as Luke fought for the team, for the Rebellion.

My official statement on these two are much like them both, similar and yet different.

I strongly believe that if Anakin resisted Palpatine and the Dark Side, he would have gone on to be undeniably the most powerful, important and fulfilled Jedi of all time.

As for Luke, I believe if he received the type of training that Anakin did, he too would go on to be the indisputable Jedi champion of all time in his own right.

Ironically, Anakin would fall into the shadows of pure malevolence and go on to do only for himself and his exalted Master.

Luke is another story in total. He begins his journey through the force believing that he must confront Vader to avenge his father yet discovers Vader is in fact his father and alters course.

Instead of attempting to defeat his father, he tries to turn him and bring him back to the light.

We all know the ending of this story as Luke ultimately resists the temptations of the Dark Side and self-proclaims himself a Jedi, like his father before him.

In the end, these are two forces to be reckoned with. Of that, there is no question.

-Sith Pacify out

My Analysis on the Force Awakens Trailers

Last night, we finally got to see the highly anticipated third trailer for The Force Awakens.

So, now that we saw it, what did we think?

The word that comes to my mind when describing the trailer is tantalizing. 

Look I think this was easily the best trailer. It touched on so many facets of intrigue and curiosity for Star Wars fans.

Yet at the same time, it descended us all in an unimaginable deeper mystery.

We still don’t know what’s going on or what is really happening but there are plenty of ideas and rumors out there.

Now I want to compare the three trailers because I think I’ve found some connections.

The second scene in the first trailer has BB-8 desperately rolling away from somewhere or something.

Next you see stormtroopers inside what looks like an Imperial transport ship as the ramp of the vehicle drops down.

The following scene is what makes me see a connection between the trailers…

Rey looks as if she is in a frantic hurry as she rides away on a speeder.

Now fast forward to the second trailer.

It begins with Rey riding the same speeder towards a downed Star Destroyer.

Next I want to jump to last night’s trailer, stay with me here, I think I’ve found a correlation.

In the beginning of the trailer, the second image shows Rey climbing some structure.

The next couple scenes have Rey continue to search this vast room as she appears to be scavenging.

Here’s the connection.

All of these images and scenes came at the same points in all three trailers. It is very plausible to say that Rey was traveling towards the downed Star Destroyer, she goes inside what looks like an old broken down hangar and is searching around.

I think what happens next is the Empire somehow discovers her presence. That would explain the stormtroopers who appear to be unloading for some kind of action.

Well, what if inside that Star Destroyer, there was some kind of ancient artifact that was being transported before the enormous structure was shot down?

It could very well be since Rey looks like she’s leaving in a hurry from the same area in the first trailer as if she is being pursued.

Another scene that could help explain my theory is the fact that the third trailer shows Rey and BB-8 calmly walking throughout the deserts of Jakku.

Now, if Rey and BB-8 were discovered to be doing something that the Empire didn’t want them to do, the scene in the first trailer that I described above fits perfectly into my theory.

What if BB-8 and Rey got separated? It would definitely make sense since the little droid is seen rolling away as fast as he can with the emotion of fear all over in the first trailer.

The next image I want to disscuss is during the second trailer when we see the Millennium Falcon flying into what looks like the old remains of the same downed Star Destroyer’s engine.

Could it be that Han and Chewie somehow also learn of Rey’s presence in the fallen ship and try to rescue her from the Empire’s clutches?

I’m not sure but the stills definitely seem to agree with the theory.

In the third trailer, after the quick image of what looks like a forest being obliterated, you see the Millennium Falcon involved in a dogfight with two TIE fighters.

Of course this is all speculation but hey, who knows. The pieces seem to fit and there’s nothing concrete on what exactly is going on in these scenes at this point.

Now for all three of the trailers, as of right now I don’t see a huge amount of scenes that seem like they could be explained if put together so I won’t go from image to image.

What I was Looking For

On my Twitter account last night after the trailer aired, I listed three things I wanted to see in the trailer.

As you can see, 2/3 of these were fulfilled.

I have a feeling that the character of Kylo Ren is going to be so epic and awesome that his he will inspire future Halloween costumes for years to come.

What made me even more satisfied however was the fact that we got to hear Ren’s voice.

We’ve seen some similarities between him and Darth Vader thus far but the mechanically enhanced voice now just adds even more wonder.

Not to mention the fact that Kylo Ren seemed to be mystified by the crushed and mutilated helmet of Vaders’ as we saw in the trailer.

That was just plain cool!

The next on my list of what I wanted to see was more of the main characters.

This was fulfilled for me as well as we got to see and hear a lot more of Han as he indulged us in a perfect display of acting prowess as he seemingly told Rey and Finn that everything about the Dark Side and Jedi is all true.

I loved that seen. Harrison Ford is fantastic and it gives me chills just thinking about watching him on the big screen once again delivering another A+ performance of Han Solo.

Although we didn’t see much, we did see more of Chewbacca and you know what? What we saw was enough and okay for me.

As for Leia, we finally saw her as she is visibly upset and very much distressed while being embraced by Han.

Honestly, I don’t even want to speculate on what this could mean but for Leia and Han to be this mournful, it can’t be good…

Now, the final part of my list that I hoped to see in the trailer was Luke.

Of course we know that he did not appear or even speak. (like he did in the second trailer)

In addition to not seeing Luke, over the weekend the official Star Wars poster was released and there was one mammoth takeaway from it…THERE’S NO LUKE!!

So before I panic and we all lose our minds, where the heck is Luke!?

There’s no way of knowing for sure but here are some theories…

If he is one of the centerpieces of the film (we all assume he is) and something drastic is to happen to him, maybe they are building up anticipation?

Another theory I thought of is, what if he is somehow mangled and disfigured?

Think about it, we haven’t seen his face in any of the trailers yet and the one figure that could be him is when we see someone touching the dome of R2-D2 with a mechanical hand.

As we saw in the original trilogy, there was a flesh colored appearance over the prosthetic that replaced his right hand but if he was badly injured somehow…who knows?

The figure is shrouded in what looks like the classic Jedi cloak with the hood pulled over to hide the face.

So really I’m not sure, purely speculation at this point.

End Game

So, to sum things up, the final trailer was everything it had to be and more.

It was amazing, it was fantastic and it was really awesome.

Although I didn’t think it could happen, I am even more psyched for the release of this film.

I don’t have much criticisms for the trailer in fact for the whole Force Awakens campaign as a whole I have nothing negative to say.

Disney did everything right to this point and there’s no reason to expect that not to continue.

-Sith Pacify out

The Third Trailer is Among Us…FINALLY!

At long last, Star Wars fans can rejoice as the third trailer for the most intensely anticipated movie of the last decade is set to release in less than two months.

It has been exactly 186 days since the second trailer was released and I believe I speak for everyone when I say…FINALLY!!

The trailer is set to be shown tonight during ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

A couple weeks ago, I predicted that the third trailer would be released during the events at Comic Con in New York CIty.

I thought that the atmosphere would be the perfect venue for such a big moment, clearly I was wrong.

Well, maybe I wasn’t wrong, Comic Con would have still been a great place for the trailer to surface but there’s something else, something that is amazing for all of us.

You see, the fact that the Star Wars decision makers, wherever they may reside (probably Coruscant) would be so bold to partner with a sports outlet means that they are very confident in their product and intend to branch out.

To maximize their advertising reach, Star Wars must reach out to different populations.

In other words, tonight is an attempt to garnish a following from different crowds.

Last year, Monday Night Football was ranked as the most watched cable series for its ninth year in a row…

There’s no reason to think that this year is no different, in fact, I would go so far to say that MNF is even more popular this year.

In 2014, MNF averaged just under 10 million viewers per showing.

Now, factor in the yesterday’s announcement of the trailer being shown during the game tonight and what do you get? A massive joining of fanbases.

I’ve said before, the marketing behind this campaign is phenomenal.

It seems to impress me every single step of the way.

When I expect Star Wars to maximize their potential for attracting more attention, they seem to go against my thinking and go an entire different route.

That being said, that alternate plan of action is even more brilliant than the first one!

Airing the third trailer on national TV during the most popular program in the country is just one of many fantastic decisions Disney has made for the franchise.

Let’s not forget the incredible secrecy Star Wars was able to establish during filming as well.

For something as popular and widespread as Star Wars to have practically zero information or material breached is mind boggling.

Especially in this day and age where almost every person in the civilized world carries a recording device in their pocket, this achievement is remarkable.

So, as we all count down the hours till we get to see the last footage till The Force Awakens is finally released, it is official, the here and now as well as the future of our beloved Star Wars, is in good hands.

-Sith Pacify out

Short Story Friday: Gentle Assassin

The sun was setting off in the distance as its rays leaked over the tree tops and sprayed the long concrete walkway.

Admiring the cool crisp weather, Count Dooku, leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, stood at the bottom of the steps leading to his massive Palace.

His gaze was stern almost expecting.

In fact, the Count of Serenno was indeed expecting someone.

His young apprentice, Asajj Ventress was en route and he was growing impatient.

Dooku enjoyed his training and shaping of Ventress. He often instructed the young Sith one thing and expected another.

He expected her force abilities to show her his true intentions.

But now it was getting late and Dooku’s patients were running thin.

***

A mix of darkish green leaves and vines whipped by her face as she practically glided just above the land.

Using the force to augment her speed, Asajj Ventress knew her presence was expected, even though she was instructed to rendezvous with  her master in a little over two hours.

Difficult to predict and impossible to plan for, her master trained her to always expect the unexpected, and today was no different.

Her senses were telling her that Dooku was getting restless which meant Ventress had to hurry.

Taking it up a notch, she began to jump from place to place in an attempt to get to her destination faster.

Six meters here, nine meters there seven meters over there, Ventress was zooming through the Serenno forest.

She was close now, all that stood in her way of being in the line of her master’s sight was seven giant trees that were six feet in diameter.

Sparing no time, she took a mighty leap and landed no more than 10 meters away from the end of the forest, planted her feet firmly in the cool ground and cleared her mind.

At that instant she tapped deep into the Dark Side and allowed her past experiences of painful memories, times of sadness and heartbreak to pull her deep into the force.

She saw nothing but red, as fury and pure hate filled her heart. Ventress let out a blast of pure energy through the force that sent the humongous trees flying through the air, clearing her path.

In the near distance, Dooku sensed it before it happened.

He felt the massive output of relentless energy followed by the first row of the trees in the Serenno forest launched.

Staring to the sky, with his hands evenly clasped behind his back, Dooku calmly watched as chunks of wood and clumps of soil rained down on the stone deck.

Like a meteor shot out of the space, Asajj Ventress came crashing down directly in front of her master, already kneeling on one knee with her head bowed.

“Master?” She said with a half-smile.

Dooku slowly lowered his gaze to meet his apprentices, “We have little time for games Ventress, this act of showing up when you decide to is getting tired.”

“Yes my lord,” She responded.

Eager to continue his plans, Dooku said, “The Confederacy’s manufacturing plants on Charros IV is in danger. I have received word from my master that the Republic is launching a full offensive. We will match them in firepower and outnumber them three to one.”

“It will be your responsibility to covertly make your way to the Republic staging area and sabotage the heavy machinery that will be used in the ambush,” Dooku bluntly stated.

Ventress lifted her head, with a blank expression on her face she simply said, “Consider it done, my lord.”

***

Piercing through the blackness of space, Ventress was in deep meditation, anticipating the events of what was to come.

She had her mission.

She was to land in a hangar hidden to the Republic that was designed for diplomats visiting Charros’ government.

The hangar was seized by the CIS when the planet was hijacked by the Separatists and was now a key strategic point to an impending battle.

As her Ginivex-class starfighter eased to the floor, she remained in the cockpit and meditated.

She was a master assassin, with the power of the Dark Side to guide her, Asajj Ventress was in her element.

All at once, she flashed her eyes open, activated the craft’s hatch and burst through in the air.

When she hit the ground, she was already running. The sky was gray, the trees were leafless and the Sith apprentice was picking up speed as she bolted through the Charros forest.

It didn’t take long for her to find a path towards the Republic staging ground. She looked on as tracks of heavy machinery of the Grand Army of the Republic winded down, through the forest.

Right at that moment, the currents in the force lashed out as her as a warning, she could feel the immediate danger through the force as she froze and observed her surroundings.

The air was still and all was quiet when she saw no more than 15 meters away, a Republic scout marking the land for the imminent attack.

“Too easy,” she told herself as the corners of her mouth curled to form an evil smile.

Launching herself through the air, she ignited her twin lightsabers and rapidly approached the lone trooper.

At the last second, the clone turned around, looked up and saw her. He was too late. Reflecting on his visor, she could see her own reflection and her own wicked smile plastered on her face.

Altogether, Ventress gracefully landed on the forest floor while the clone’s body and head audibly did the same.

There was no time to admire her craft however as she continued her pursuit for the staging area.

***

Count Dooku lowered himself to the ground on one knee as he bowed his head.

“My lord?” Dooku formally stated.

Above the Count was a large hologram of a dark figure with a pasty white face, covered from just above the nose by a black hood, the image was surrounded by darkness.

For a moment, the figure just hovered there without saying anything.

Then with a slow deliberate almost angry tone,”Darth Tyranus, a predicament has arisen.”

“A pair of Jedi are leading the assault on the CIS factories of Charros IV.”

Dooku tilted his head towards the image and said,” Ventress will dispose of them with ease, my lord.”

Almost impatient, the shrouded figure retorded,”Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker are the Jedi leading the assault.”

His voice was sharp and bitter.

Struggling with what to say, Dooku did his best to respond.

But without warning, the opposing figure ended the transmission.

The last image Dooku saw was a flash of teeth in a fury-filled scowl.

***

Hydraulic engines and clanking and clashing metal filled the air. Republic AT-TE and HAVw A6 Juggernauts dominated the landscape.

Asajj Ventress was taken aback at the sight but almost instantly regained composure.

The Republic forces were flexing their might with all this fire power. Ventress was unsure if she could ravage the machinery in time.

As she was plotting her first move, her next discovery left her in shock.

Walking side by side, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were quarreling over what seemed to be a childish argument.

“Master, with all do respect, I was on my way but you wanted all of those battle droids destroyed,” Skywalker said.

“Oh please Anakin, just admit you were taking your time. There was more than sufficient time for someone of your caliber to get the job done,” Kenobi returned.

“What are these idiots doing here,” Ventress said to herself as she grinded her teeth in anger.

She had many battles in the past with Jedi and almost all of them she emerged victorious.

But with Kenobi/Skywalker, she was lucky to escape with her life.

Now she had no choice, her master gave her a mission and failure was not an option.

Easing out of the tree line, Ventress crept towards the first giant vehicle.

She planted the charges right next to the fueling apparatus and moved on.

One by one she sabotaged the Republic equipment as she heard the clone commander issue the order for the assault to begin.

Many Republic and Confederate spies/assassins were good at what they did but Asajj Ventress was the best.

Retreating back towards the camouflaging tree line, her advance was blocked.

“Hello there,” Obi-Wan Kenobi sarcastically welcomed Ventress.

“Oh Kenobi, you can put an end to the charade. You are a pest that will never catch a hint!” Ventress said through gritted teeth.

“Charming as always,” Kenobi replied with a smiile.

To Kenobi’s surprise, Ventress returned his smile and said,”You’re too late to stop me this time.”

With that, Ventress took off in a dead sprint, leaving the Jedi Master behind her.

Abruptly, a figure came crashing down in front of her, knocking the Sith down.

“I should have known our presence would draw out a coward like yourself,” said a stern-faced Anakin.

But instead of Ventress jumping to engage Skywalker in a duel as he expected, she took another course of action.

“Leave me, you imbecile!” Ventress shieked almost frantically.

Puzzled and confused, Obi-Wan caught up with Anakin saying,”It appears our friend is in a hurry.”

Ventress then made a desperate attempt to rid herself of the Jedi as she smashed the ground with a shockwave of pure surging dark energy.

Sensing impending danger, the two Jedi went into motion.

Anakin and Obi-Wan augmented their abilities as they launched themselves away from the area as a massive explosion detonated.

Enormous scraps of metal flew in all directions as clone troopers succumbed to the explosion, igniting into clone fire balls.

Before the Jedi even reacted, Ventress was on the move.

She didn’t even attempt to look back as she felt a wave of heat at her back as the putrid stench of gasoline filled the air.

Ventress knew her strike was a direct hit, her mission was done.

She had little interest in reengaging her Jedi adversaries and desired to leave the planet as soon as possible.

Unfortunately for Ventress, Kenobi and Skywalker had another idea.

Ventress, who already finished her mission, knew if she could take the two Jedi Generals away from the battle, the Separatist factories would have a much higher chance of survival.

As she sensed the Jedi tandem rapidly approaching behind her, Ventress stuck her foot in the ground, pivoted towards the Jedi and unleashed her dual lightsabers.

“Come and get it boys,” Ventress said egging on her pursuers.

Confident in her ability and with a burning hatred in her heart for Jedi, Asajj Ventress had a passion for disposing their kind.

This time would be like no other.

Ventress thought of herself as unstoppable, the Jedi were about to get a taste of the Gentle Assassin.

Star Wars Rebels Season Two Premiere Reaction

Season two of Star Wars Rebels is upon us!

Tonight the season premiere aired and I have to say, it set up some alluring storylines to look for as the show progresses.

As I said last night in my preview of season two, I’m most looking forward to seeing what happens between Ahsoka and Vader.

Something is going to happen, that’s for sure.

Whether that be Ahsoka seeks him out or she just utilizes her knowledge of the dark lord to the Rebels advantage, it’s hard to say really.

Personally, I think that they’re both on a crash course to meet in a duel together but the outcome and the results are still undetermined.

The other major storyline of the season is the clones have returned!

Of course there’s Captain Rex, a hero from one of my favorite shows Star Wars The Clone Wars but also Commanders Wolffe and Gregor.

All three of these characters boost very different personalities but they play very well into the plot.

In addition to the plot, I think that the show is also trying to show that these characters who served together under extreme measures of conformity, have their own contrasting identities.

Commander Rex seems to be the only clone out of the three who is more or less the same from the Clone Wars, except maybe just a bit more edgier.

As for Commanders Wolffe and Gregor, they’re extremely different from Rex and even from each other.

For starters, Wolffe is very tense. As we see in the first scene that introduces the clones to us, it’s Wolffe who fires upon Kanan and company.

Rex eventually calms him down but the fun is just beginning as we meet Gregor…

Something is clearly wrong with him as he’s not afraid to show us his craziness.

As the episode goes on, the issues with Commander Wolffe take a turn for the worse as he admits to ignoring Ahsoka’s transmissions as well as contacting the Empire in hopes that the mighty Imperials will allow Wolffe and his fellow clones to keep on keeping on.

Since all clones from the Clone Wars were somehow “decommissioned”, he hopes that his efforts will secure their futures.

This of course poses a major problem but I guess we will find out what happens next time.

As for Gregor…he ends up using Zeb as bait for a giant creature known as a Jooper.

Something very interesting in the episode is when the clones touch on Order 66…

Kanan at first has some very tense moments with Rex and hey, who can blame him! After all, it was the clone troopers who turned on the Jedi and practically wiped them all out was it not??

Anyways, Rex says that they were able to take out the chips embedded in their heads as he points to a scar on the right side of his dome.

It’s a great scene and it really helps us fans understand how they were able to rebel against what they were programmed to do.

The episode comes to an end as everyone realizes that a Imperial probe droid has been watching them and attempts to escape.

If it wasn’t for Rex’s sharp shooting, all of them would be in a world of trouble.

Maybe that calmed down Kanan and the rest of them over Wolffe’s betrayal (odd if it did) but they seemed to all rejoice together.

All in all, the season debut wasn’t anything super spectacular but it stayed the course and laid the groundwork for the rest of the season.

My only gripe with Star Wars Rebels is how short the episodes are. I know The Clone Wars was only 30 minutes as well but it just feels like it should be longer.

With that being said, I look forward to next week’s episode!

Same time next week everyone, let’s hope it’s a good one!

-Sith Pacify out

The Return of Ahsoka and Star Wars Rebels

1. 

This Wednesday, the second season of Star Wars Rebels is set to debut.

With the familiar characters returning, the focus will be on a certain ex-Jedi Padawan.

No, not Kanan Jarrus but Ahsoka Tano, former apprentice to disgraced Jedi and all-powerful Sith, Darth Vader.

This story line has Star Wars Rebels picking up steam and gaining more of a following than when it first debuted last year.

Ahsoka’s first appearance was of course in Star Wars Clone Wars, but her exit from the show has long been a mystery to Star Wars fans everywhere.

Some rumors said that she was killed in the Jedi Purge others said she went into hiding to be never heard of again.

Well now we know, Ahsoka Tano has returned in the Star Wars universe, ready to give us all closure.

What really got me excited for the second season of Star Wars Rebels was the recognition between Vader and Ahsoka when they both realized, they’re indeed alive.

That scene gave me chills…

To see Vader acknowledge something from his past life as a Jedi is so fascinating. But to see that be his apprentice who he fondly called Snips, now that’s just awesome entertainment.

It’s almost inconceivable to think of Ahsoka coming to harms way by the hands of her former master or what’s left of him…

You have to remember that Vader is NOT Anakin and that he has repeatedly gone to extreme lengths to annihilate the remnants from his scarred past.

I hate to imagine what is to come of Ahsoka, but I think Vader will have something to say about it.

Some other story lines that the show will offer is regarding the growth of Ezra Bridger, the potential-laden boy under Kanan as well as the Rebel movement and its progress.

Recently I finished Paul S. Kemp’s masterpiece of a book Lords of the Sith. 

The book follows the Empire’s occupation on the planet of Ryloth, Hera Syndulla’s home world.

As the book progresses, you learn that there is a response to the Empire as the birth of the Rebellion is seen through the Free Ryloth Movement. 

The leader of the movement is none other than Hera’s father, Cham Syndulla.

SPOILER ALERT

In the end, Cham survives the merciless blade of Darth Vader and goes on to live another day. It will be absolutely fascinating to see if he makes an appearance.

If you haven’t read Lords of the Sith, I highly recommend it. Not only does it have an amazing story but it helps give insight on character’s personalities such as the Emperor, Vader and the beginning of what will eventually be the Rebellion.

Since the last Inquisitor was killed at the end of last season, rumors of a new villain or villains have surfaced.

The last Inquisitor was a complete badass so I am looking forwards to whoever takes his place.

The final story line that I will be following on Wednesday night is the long awaited appearance of the clones.

More specifically, Captain Rex and company.

This is one of the most beloved characters from the Clone Wars era and his returning presence is truly awesome.

To see Clones, especially one of Rex’s reputation in the time of the Empire is just..cool!

It will be fantastically captivating to see what is talked about with the clones and the infamous Order 66.

I can’t wait to see what happens in this new and upcoming season but one thing is for sure, Star Wars Rebels is back and ready to deliver.

-Sith Pacify out

Short Story Saturday: Loyalty to the Shadows

Whether it was the middle of the day or in the thick of night, it was impossible to tell.

Inside the gargantuan structure known as the Death Star II, the weather and the time of day were both clumped together and thrown to the wayside.

Captain Rantin Duurs was preparing for his shift.

It had been two weeks since his graduation from the Imperial Royal Guard Academy on Yinchorr.

Since his time here on the Death Star, he had not seen the Emperor.

Though no one knew for sure, rumors circling the base said that the man in charge of the Empire was on a distant planet on the Outer Rim collecting artifacts.

But now he had returned to the Death Star and it was Duurs time to protect the Dark Lord.

Because he was a part of the illustrious Royal Guard, the Empire provided him with a more spacious quarters than the other personnel.

Duurs picked up his headdress and examined the blood red color. The metallic helmet and jet-black visor was polished so extensively that he could clearly see every wrinkle and crease throughout his face.

Captain Duurs had been a seasoned veteran in the Imperial Military before he was hand picked for the Imperial Royal Guard Academy. He was respected and he was prepared for what ever came his way.

But for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, Duurs felt a strange feeling in his core, nervousness.

The Captain stared at his battle-hardened hands. Multiple scars lined his knuckles and former gashes that had healed into dark miniature craters.

He recalled battles that he endured, enemies that he mutilated, Rebel bases he led raiding charges against.

He was Captain Duurs, a force to be reckoned with. No old evil man was going to intimidate him!

Duurs threw on his crimson robe, lifted his force pike and donned the headdress. As he slowly lowered the helmet over his head, he observed the change the visor had on his surroundings.

He noticed an eerie darkness came over the comforts of his room almost as if the sun’s rays were shielded from a planet’s surface, preventing warmth and leaving frigid cold.

The Royal Guard was ready. It was time to meet the Emperor.

Upon entering the Royal Guardsmen lift that directly went from the guard’s quarters to the Emperor’s personal office, Duurs felt his hands trembling, his nerves were getting to him again.

The first thing Duurs noticed as he stepped through the elevator doors was the lavished decor. Black and gray marbled plates intricately lined the floor with labyrinth-like designs on the walls.

The hall was deathly quiet, as if no one had been in the corridor for years.

As the Captain walked towards the Emperor’s office, he felt a certain crispness in the air, almost as if something unnatural dwelled in these parts.

Finally, Captain Duurs stood before the massive twin doors that held the Royal Guard he was replacing as well as the Emperor.

Duurs applied the sophisticated 28 digit key code in the security pad as the doors slowly swung open.

An elongated room came into view behind the mammoth doors, the ceiling must have stood 30 maybe 40 feet high.

Towering bookcases took up the walls and stretched from the bottom of the floor all the way to the never ending ceiling.

Then, he saw him. Sitting behind a desk made from kriin-wood, the most expensive of its kind in the universe, a hooded figure that emanated an icy cold. Underneath his cowl, the figure had pale skin as white as a stormtrooper’s armor.

The skin was loose and hung off the bone, looking like death itself.

What drew Duurs attention the most was the figure’s face or lack there of. The darkness under the hood was so black that it looked like it was feeding off of the surrounding light.

Consuming the light, adding to its own darkness while leaving gray nothingness behind.

Upon the desk sat ancient artifacts and busts of what looked like ancient warriors.

Duurs walked forward to stand at attention across from one of the two Royal Guards on duty so he could begin the process for the ceremonial release.

Duurs stood before the opposing guard as the man began to snap to attention. The guard took one step forward, pivoted, then stared straight towards the Emperor. The guard took a deep bow and held the Emperor’s gaze.

Then in one sudden swift motion, The guard did a 180 degree pivot and exited the room.

As Duurs stood guard, facing the Emperor, the man in the black hood continued his silent motionless manner, staring back at the Captain.

As hours passed, nothing changed. Until the Captain heard footsteps…

Suddenly, the mammoth doors began opening. What Duurs saw next had him in awe.

In strode a figure dressed in all black standing over seven feet tall with a flowing cape behind him.

What was in the figure’s arm was even more shocking.

Desperately trying to free his way from the creature was a much smaller Imperial Officer. You could practically see the fear radiating off of the man’s body as he clawed and ripped at the man in the black’s grip.

Duurs identified the massive black figure as none other than the infamous Darth Vader.

Within Captain Duurs time serving the Empire, he never saw Vader in person but heard stories that portrayed the cyborg-like man to be a creature from hell.

Story upon story depicted Vader as a butcherer of men, a ravaging mangler and a destroyer of life.

Yes, Duurs was well aware that the Imperial Officer in his grasp was likely never to see the light of day again.

As Vader continued to walk towards the Emperor, he picked up the officer by the neck and effortlessly tossed the officer with one hand forward.

“The trader, you have requested,” Darth Vader said to the Emperor in a mechanical voice.

Then, Duurs saw him. For the first time, the Emperor lifted himself from his chair and rose to his full height. He must have been no taller than 5’6.

The Emperor slowly lifted his head, allowing the light to permeate the darkness within his hood.

“Ah yes, the scum of the galaxy,” exclaimed the Emperor in a calm but stern tone.

Hearing the voice of the Emperor made Duurs’ skin crawl, there was something strangely disturbingly creepy about his voice.

As the Emperor finished speaking, silence returned except for the cold machine like breathing of Vader’s.

Finally, it was time for the terrified officer to speak.

“My Lord! I am innocent! I have been framed my Lord! I would never betray the Empire I…,” suddenly the man’s voice came to a screeching halt.

Vader towered over the fallen officer with a pinching sign.

“Release him, my friend,” said the Emperor. “I have different plans for this traitor.”

Gasping for breath, the Officer turned his head to look directly at the Emperor, “Thank you my Lord!.”

The Emperor then slowly leaned back grabbed something that must have been leaning against his desk. He then stared down at the Officer and gave a devious sneer as he lowered his head, allowing the darkness to reclaim the darkness surrounding him.

It was at this moment, Captain Duurs of the Royal Guard would learn how evil his leaders truly were.

“Guards, our traitor needs disciplining. Would you be so kind to, show him the Imperial way?” said the Emperor while giving a heinous grin showing yellow stained teeth.

Captain Duurs felt the beads of sweat drip down his back as he and his fellow Royal Guardsman made the walk towards the Imperial Officer.

Duurs knew what he was about to do, he wouldn’t be proud of himself, but what other choice did he have?

At that moment, the Officer futilely pleaded for his life as Captain Duurs and the other guard gradually and painfully roasted the flesh of the Officer through their force pike’s electrocution.

As he continued to prod the man, Duurs could see the charred and blistered skin slowly become more and more decrepit.

This was his duty, this was his life.

For glory, for the Empire.