Duel on Kalakar Six

In 0 BBY, a duel was fought on the moon Kalakar Six between the Sith Lords Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Maul was previously defeated decades prior to the duel by the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, who then took Anakin Skywalker, the boy who would become Vader, as his Padawan. Skywalker was eventually lured to the dark side of the Force by Maul's master Darth Sidious, who was also known publcly as Emperor Palpatine. By 0 BBY, three dark side adepts believed that a remnant of the light side remained in Vader, and that he was a threat to the future of the dark side. They either resurrected, cloned, or conjured a vision of Maul for the purpose of fighting Vader and lured him to Kalakar Six through false intelligence concerning the Death Star plans, which had been recently stolen by the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

Vader arrived on the volcanic moon with a unit of eight stormtroopers and entered a fortress to search for the plans. Maul and the adepts killed all of the stormtroopers, after which they revealed themselves to Vader, accused him of being an unfit apprentice to the Emperor, and challenged him to duel Maul. They began to fight with their lightsabers, with Vader using the Force to fire his dead trooper's rifles at Maul, and Maul attempting to knock Vader into the lava pit below them. Both combatants taunted each other throughout the duel, with Vader calling Maul an imposter and Maul claiming that Vader had too much of the light side in him to overcome Maul's hatred.

The duel proceeded to a rock platform floating in the magma, where Vader sliced through Maul's double-bladed lightsaber and Maul damaged Vader's helmet, knocking the cyborg Sith to his knees. As Maul stood behind Vader and prepared to strike a killing blow, Vader aimed his lightsaber into his own body, fatally stabbing Maul. In his last moments, Maul asked what Vader could hate enough to have defeated him, and Vader responded that it was himself. The adepts were shocked at their defeat and nearly struck down by Vader, but were instead killed by Palpatine, who had arrived at the fortress. Vader departed the moon to continue seeking the Death Star plans, and would ultimately return to the light and betray the Emperor, leading to both of their deaths.

Prelude

Paths of the Sith

The Zabrak Darth Maul, the Sith apprentice of Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious, fought the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi in a lightsaber duel on the planet Naboo^[6] in 32 BBY.^[7] Maul killed Jinn but was subsequently bisected by Kenobi and fell down a reactor shaft,^[6] presumed to be dead, although he actually survived.^[8] Kenobi was then promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight and took the child Anakin Skywalker as his apprentice.^[6] In 28 BBY, on the planet Ilum, Kenobi sent Skywalker into a cave to construct his first lightsaber, where the Padawan had a vision of Maul, a manifestation of his fears. The apparition taunted Skywalker, referencing his hatred for Maul for killing Jinn, encouraging his anger, and suggesting a desire for the power of the dark side of the Force. The vision of Maul then disappeared, while promising to return.^[5]

At some point prior to the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems,^[9] which began in 22 BBY,^[7] Sidious discovered the dark side-worshipping order called the Prophets of the Dark Side on the planet Dromund Kaas. He recruited the order into his service,^[9] while still aligning them with the Rule of Two, a practice established by the earlier Sith Lord Darth Bane, in which there would only be two Sith, a master and an apprentice.^[10] During the war, Maul was found alive by his brother, Savage Opress, on the planet Lotho Minor, and returned to the wider galaxy.^[8] Maul was later captured by Sidious, but was freed by his allies,^[11] although Sidious believed he was weakened to the point of no longer threatening his plans.^[12]

In 19 BBY, at the conclusion of the Clone Wars,^[7] Sidious, desiring a new apprentice, seduced Skywalker to the dark side of the Force, christening him as Darth Vader. Sidious, known publicly as Emperor Palpatine, also transformed the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire and enacted the Great Jedi Purge, eliminating a majority of the Jedi Order. Kenobi survived the initial purge and fought Vader on the volcanic planet Mustafar, where he left Vader dismembered and significantly burned. Vader's wife Padmé Amidala died shortly afterwards, having been choked by Vader and lost the will to live following his betrayal; her last words were that there was still goodness within her husband. Vader thereafter required cybernetic reconstruction and an armored suit to stay alive,^[13] which caused Palpatine to regard Vader as a disappointment and desire to train a new apprentice.^[7] Vader spent the following years as Palpatine's right hand man.^[14]

Kalakar Six

Eventually, a group of three dark side adepts based on the volcanic moon Kalakar Six believed that Vader was unsuited for the role of Sidious's apprentice due to a remnant of the light side, and so they used dark side abilities to either resurrect,^[2] clone, or create a vision of^[15] Maul, believing that the Zabrak would defeat Vader and take his place.^[2] In 0 BBY, plans for the Death Star, a planet-destroying superweapon, were stolen on the planet Toprawa by operatives of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, who were engaged in the Galactic Civil War with the Empire.^[7] The adepts leaked false information suggesting that the plans would be transferred to another courier on Kalakar Six, which was picked up by Imperial informants. At Palpatine's intstruction, Vader led a group of eight stormtroopers there aboard a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle. Their arrival was observed by the adepts, who assured themselves that their plans would come to pass soon.^[2]

Once the Imperial troops had landed on the moon, Vader explained the purpose of his mission to a stormtrooper captain, elaborating that they either needed to recover the plans or determine if their intelligence was false. Vader sensed a familiar presence, and then ordered two of the stormtroopers to accompany him to the nearby fortress while the others split into two-person teams to sweep the surrounding area. The stormtrooper captain ordered the others to communicate via comlink and rendezvous at their shuttle after two hours. Two other stormtroopers began complaining about the creepy atmosphere of Kalakar Six and were reprimanded by the captain, who insisted that Vader would not fail the Emperor nor tolerate failure from his subordinates.^[2]

The duel

Dead stormtroopers

While mid-sentence, Maul decapitated the captain with his double-bladed lightsaber. One of the stormtroopers spotted him and fired into the heavy fog. Maul leapt into the air onto rock mound, with the blaster-fire striking down another stormtrooper. One of the stormtroopers saw Maul's perch and fired, but he deflected their laser onto another trooper and then leapt down to impale them. Maul then disappeared from sight, and one of the remaining stormtroopers expressed shock that anyone could disappear so effectively before Maul impaled them in the abdomen. The remaining stormtrooper lost sight of their peers and asked for a response, receiving none. The Sith Lord stabbed the trooper from behind.^[2]

At the entrance to the fortress, Vader used the Force to telekinetically open its doors. Inside, he commented on the place's strength with the dark side, while one of his stormtrooper companions commented that the rebels could not have picked a more foreboding place to hide. This prompted the other stormtrooper to explain the history of Kalakar Six, claiming that a century earlier, an aristocrat named Baron Yorn had travelled there with his followers and built a fortress to conduct experiments with the dark side. A supply ship later arrived, and it was discovered that Yorn had gone insane, tearing out his eyes and tongue, and his followers had disappeared. The troopers discussed their feelings of unease and nausea before the one who told Yorn's tale started choking. The other stormtrooper pleaded with Vader, believing that he was telekinetically choking their peer, but also began choking as well while Vader stated that he was not responsible.^[2]

Dark side debates

Vader activated his lightsaber and demanded that his opponents reveal themselves. One of the adepts chastised the Sith for brandishing his weapon and addressed him by name. They explained that they had lured Vader to Kalakar Six and would not harm him. Vader questioned who they were, and the adepts responded that they were fellow adherents to the dark side. Vader then deduced that the intelligence about the Rebel presence had been a ruse to lure him, which the adepts confirmed. Vader questioned why they had killed all of his stormtroopers, and the adepts claimed that they were unnecessary and that all of those outside were dead too. They stated that they were only interested in Vader, as they found him wanting. Vader responded indignantly and challenged the adepts' right to question a Dark Lord of the Sith. The adepts responded that they had gathered secret Sith knowledge, known only otherwise to Vader and Palpatine, and declared that Vader was unworthy to be a Sith because of his past as Anakin Skywalker. Vader claimed that nothing of his Jedi self remained, while the adepts claimed that a spark of light remained. At this point, Maul observed the conversation silently from the shadows.^[2]

One of the adepts declared that Vader was not truly of Bane's lineage and unfit to serve the Emperor. Offended, Vader went to strike down the adepts, only to have his lightsaber blocked by Maul, whom he immediately recognised. The two began crossing blades until the adepts ordered Maul to stop. Vader questioned how Maul had been resurrected, to which the adepts claimed that there were ways to create and mold an individual if their hatred was strong enough. They believed that Maul would be a more fitting apprentice for the Emperor and that Vader had been tainted. Vader asked if the Emperor was aware of what was happening, which the adepts denied, although they believed Palpatine would approve once he learned of their deeds. One of the adepts claimed that Vader posed too great of a risk of the dark side, which should not rely upon the individual who had been trained by Kenobi, Maul's original killer.^[2]

Duel of the apprentices

Vader challenged the adepts on whether they believed either he or Palpatine would tolerate their actions. The adepts responded that Maul would defeat Vader to Palpatine's approval. One of them suggested that Vader could strike the adepts down and refuse the duel, but claimed that would weaken him in Palpatine's eyes and would leave Vader wondering if Maul was truly stronger than him. Vader declared that he would kill Maul and charged towards him. As their lightsabers clashed, Vader claimed that Maul was dead and that the one before him was a sham, an insult Maul redirected towards Vader while also calling him a Jedi as he kicked him in the head. Maul stepped backward as he taunted Vader about a small piece of the light that Vader refused to extinguish, while claiming that his own darkness and hatred were unending as they locked sabers again. Vader responded that he would show the power of the dark side and used the Force to fire one of the dead stormtroopers' blasters at Maul. The Zabrak deflected the bolts and stated Vader's "toy soldiers" could not help him before Force pushing the stormtroopers into the magma pit below them.^[2]

Vader responded that he did not require help to destroy an "imposter" and began striking at Maul again. Maul taunted him by stating that Vader wore a mask and hid his unworthiness to be a Sith, suggesting rhetorically that Vader was truly the imposter. At that point, the duel had moved on to a bridge over the lava pit, and one of the suspension ropes was cut. Maul leapt over Vader and expressed surprise at how well Vader had stood his ground before slashing the remaining ropes to send Vader into the magma pit. The cyborg grabbed a rope and dropped onto solid ground beneath him. Maul acknowledged that Vader had landed with grace while still calling him a Jedi. Vader leapt over to where Maul had landed, so Maul jumped to block his lightsaber midair, leaving both on the opposite sides of a lava river.^[2]

Taunts

Maul began reciting a lesson from Palpatine about how one should never break a fall, as being prepared to do so meant one was preparing for a fall, which was not an option for the Sith. He also concluded that "There is no pain where strength lies," to which Vader responded that Maul had been taught well by his master, although Vader claimed to have learned his lessons more effectively. Simultaneously, Vader telekinetically through a segment of the fallen bridge at Maul, causing him to leap upwards. Maul goaded Vader to follow him, which he did so as the duel continued on a chunk of rock atop the magma. One of the adepts expressed surprise, as Vader and Maul had been more evenly matched than they anticipated. The other adepts claimed that Maul would be victorious as he was driven by pure hatred, while there was too much of the light in Vader. Maul's saber then cut across Vader's armor across his abdomen before Maul leapt onto a different rock. As Vader winced in pain, Maul taunted him to follow and finish their combat.^[2]

Vader agreed that they would finish the duel and leapt over. As they continued clashing their blades, Maul questioned how Vader could be a fitting servant for Palpatine, as he appeared to be more machine than man. After leaping under one of Vader's strikes, Maul asked how could a machine hate or defeat him. After kicking near Vader's head, he also reminded Vader that he had killed Jinn, Kenobi's master, to which Vader countered that Kenobi had killed Maul once before. At that moment, Vader sliced through Maul's lightsaber, but the Zabrak Sith activated both ends of his weapon and began striking, damaging Vader's helmet.^[2]

Vader victorious

Vader dropped his lightsaber and fell to his knees as Maul declared that Palpatine would now have a worthy Sith apprentice. Maul turned behind to look at a lava fall, which the ground they were standing on was floating towards, and asserted that there would be no Jedi pyre for Vader, addressing him as "Skywalker." Maul held up part of his lightsaber to kill Vader and proclaimed that Vader's hatred was not enough to defeat him. As he did so, Vader Force pulled his deactivated lightsaber into his hands, aiming the blade into his own body. He activated it, with the blade passing through his abdomen and hitting Maul.^[2]

In his final moments, Maul questioned what Vader could hate enough to defeat him, to which Vader replied "myself." Maul fell to the ground and Vader leapt off before the landmass fell down the lava fall. The shocked adepts were near the fall's edge and wondered how they could have miscalculated. Vader told them that they had brought doom upon themselves, but as he swung his lightsaber, the three were electrocuted to death by Palpatine, who had arrived with several Royal Guards. Palpatine commented on Vader's survival and expressed approval.^[2]

Aftermath

Vader bowed and queried how Palpatine had arrived on Kalakar Six, and his master stated that his shuttle had followed Vader's. The Emperor had hoped that Vader would be retrieving the stolen Death Star plans, and deduced that they were not present. Vader explained that the adepts had lured him to the moon and that they had recreated Maul. Palpatine responded that it was possible for some to resurrect others and claimed that the three adepts were heretics who believed they could provide him with a superior apprentice. Vader asked if Palpatine was aware of what the adepts were trying to do, which Palpatine denied before insisting that Vader join him to continue their efforts to recover the plans. The apprentice paused for a moment before following his master.^[2]

Word of the duel between Maul and Vader managed to travel off Kalakar Six as a rumor.^[16] Meanwhile, Vader tracked the Death Star plans to the consular ship Tantive IV above the Outer Rim planet Tatooine^[17] thanks to information his 501st Legion was able to recover from the raid on Polis Massa.^[18] However, the plans were taken away from the ship, ultimately leading to the Death Star's destruction at the Battle of Yavin.^[17] In 4 ABY,^[7] as the adepts had predicted,^[2] Vader returned to the light to save his son, Luke Skywalker, by killing the Emperor, although Vader also died as a result.^[19]

Behind the scenes

"Resurrection"

The duel on Kalakar Six was created for the comic story "Resurrection," written by Ron Marz and illustrated by Rick Leonardi for publication in the ninth issue of the series Star Wars Tales.^[2] The duel was first mentioned in a preview of comics planned for release in September of 2001 that was published on StarWars.com on June 7 of that year, which included the issue's cover art depicting the duel.^[21] The comic was later published by Dark Horse Comics on October 10, 2001.^[20] The issue features a satirical introduction comic in which assistant editor Philip Simon gives a tour of the office where Marz, Leonardi, and inker Terry Austin—depicted as Jawas—work on the duel. Simon discusses the apparently high pain thresholds of both combatants given their past experiences.^[2]

An alternate photographic cover design was also released, which presented the duel as a combat sport-style promotional poster, accompanied by a blurb that took the tone of a sports announcer.^[20] Lee Dawson, writing for the "Comics Link" department of the fifty-fifth issue of the Star Wars Insider magazine,^[22] first shipped to subscribers on August 7, 2001^[23] felt that the duel was the ultimate Star Wars showdown and encapsulated the exciting possibilities offered by the Tales series.^[22] The duel was chosen as one of the top twenty most memorable moments of the Star Wars Legends in an article written by Abel G. Peña and Enrique Guerrero published in the eighty-third issue of Insider,^[24] first published to subscribers on July 20, 2005.^[25]

Continuity

The events of "Resurrection" were referred to as non-canon within issues of Star Wars Insider in the initial years following its publication, beginning with the "Comics Link" department in Insider 55, which identified it as "non-continuity."^[22] Subsequent editions of magazine also referred to the duel as "imaginary"^[26] and as a "possible history Infinities" story.^[27] The 2004 reference book Star Wars: Panel to Panel, edited by Randy Stradley, also referred to the comic as Infinities.^[28]

In the "Ask the Master" department of the eighty-fifth issue of Insider,^[29] first shipped to subscribers on November 14, 2005,^[30] a fan asked whether the duel took place after Maul's death in the comic "Old Wounds"—published in the graphic novel anthology Star Wars: Visionaries on April 2, 2005^[31]—where he was shot by^[29] the moisture farmer^[17] Owen Lars^[29] in 16 BBY.^[32] Author Pablo Hidalgo responded that the events of both "Resurrection" and "Old Wounds" were considered non-canon.^[29]

However, Holocron continuity database keeper Leland Chee suggested that the events of "Resurrection" were canon in a StarWars.com blog on January 19, 2006. He stated that it was still ambiguous whether the "real" Maul had fought Vader, and that his resurrection could have been brought about through Sith magic, cloning, or that it may have been a vision like the one had by Luke Skywalker in^[15] the Cave of Evil in the 1980 original trilogy film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.^[33] Chee later stated on June 4, 2006 that stories published in Star Wars Tales were considered S-canon if they were not intentionally comedic or outrageous, and were elevated to C-canon if referenced in another source.^[34]

The duel was later mentioned in Kalakar Six's entry in the 2008 reference book The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, which stated that the moon was "reputedly" the site of a duel between Maul and Vader.^[16] Although the characters in "Resurrection" refer to Maul's death at Kenobi's hands,^[2] the Zabrak was later revealed to have survived his injuries on Naboo in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, beginning with the episode "Witches of the Mist," which aired on January 21, 2011.^[35] This article treats the duel as canon within the Star Wars Legends continuity.

Appearances

• "Resurrection" — Star Wars Tales 9 (First appearance)

Sources

• September 2001 Comics on StarWars.com (original site is defunct) (First mentioned) (First pictured)
• "Comics Link" — Star Wars Insider 55
• "Comics Link" — Star Wars Insider 58
• "Comics Link" — Star Wars Insider 69
• "Comics Link" — Star Wars Insider 75
• Star Wars: Panel to Panel
• "20 Most Memorable Moments of the Expanded Universe" — Star Wars Insider 83
• "Ask the Master" — Star Wars Insider 85
• Movie Characters killed in the EU on Keeper of the Holocron — Leland Chee's StarWars.com Blog (original site is defunct)
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 194 ("Kalakar Six")
• Star Wars Art: Comics
• "Authors of the Expanded Universe: The Legend of Dark Horse" — Star Wars Insider 154

Notes and references