Darth Vader's Apprentices: Choosing His Followers

For a character known for his relentless pursuit of power and control, Darth Vader has a surprisingly poignant and compassionate side that influenced his choices of apprentices. This article explores the lineage of his apprentices, starting with the original Starkiller to the new canonical framework.

Original Sith Apprentice: Starkiller - The Heartbreaking Truth

The character denoted as Starkiller, a title given to the orphaned son of a Jedi Knight, has a tragic and complex history. This individual was technically killed during the final days of the Jedi Purge, but after his father was executed, the boy, inspired by the Force (though his real name is uncertain), managed to save himself during a battle with Darth Vader.

Vader demonstrated a moment of humanity when, after realizing the boy's potential, he took the child in. During a critical moment of the engagement, the boy used the Force to draw Vader's lightsaber to himself. When rescue troops arrived, Vader acted swiftly to protect the boy by eliminating his own men. Despite the evident caring, it was the Sith side that ultimately prevailed as he killed his apprentice under Emperor Palpatine's orders.

After recognizing his son in the Starkiller character, Vader re-emerged as Anakin Skywalker once more. However, this was only a brief reunion as destiny led him to choose Luke Skywalker as his new apprentice, sharing the same motivation to mentor and guide a force-sensitive being as he once did for his own lost son.

The New Continuity: Sith Apprentices and the Road to Redemption

In the new timeline following the events of The Force Unleashed, Darth Vader does not have any known apprentices. The canonical storyline of the original The Force Unleashed is thus seen as an alternative timeline, not conforming to the established narrative.

However, in the old continuity, Vader's list of chosen disciples was vast and diverse. He took on several apprentices, driven by their raw force potential and the potential for them to complete his mission of spreading the dark side:

Galen Marek (Starkiller)

The first apprentice was Galen Marek, a potential successor known as Starkiller. Initially chosen for his raw force abilities, Marek's fate took a tragic turn. After Vader killed Marek's father, the boy was taken in as Vader's protégé. When Marek turned to the light side and later died, Vader sought another potential successor, taking on a clone of Marek.

Lumiya

Lumiya, a warrior and later a Sith apprentice, was an iconic figure. A deadly female assassin, she served as an Emperor's Hand, an elite cadre of assassins dedicated to protecting and serving the Emperor. Lumiya's role as a Sith apprentice extends beyond her service to the Emperor. She trained Darth Caedus, the grandson of Han Solo and Leia Organa, in the ways of the Sith.

Flint

Flint, another notable apprentice, was a Force-sensitive Stormtrooper. This apprentice had a unique origin as his father was a Jedi who fought in the Clone Wars. While Flint's story is less detailed, his background makes him a significant addition to the cadre of apprentices Vader sought out.

Conclusion

From Starkiller to Flint, Darth Vader's apprentices represent a journey of his own struggle with his dark side and the potential he sees in those around him. Despite the complexity and tragedy that haunted these relationships, Vader's choices were motivated by a deep-seated need to guide and mentor a force-sensitive being toward a particular path. This article has outlined the most prominent and important apprentices in the wider narrative of Star Wars, illuminating the significant role they played in the saga.