Darth Malak

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Darth Malak was a Human male born on Quelii who took the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith during the Jedi Civil War. Before taking the name Malak, Alek Squinquargesimus, nicknamed Squint, was a famed Jedi Knight and military commander. During the Mandalorian Wars, Alek gained a reputation as a headstrong warrior who would recklessly charge into danger. He befriended Padawan Zayne Carrick, whom he assisted in bringing down the Jedi Covenant, shortly before taking the name Malak.

Malak eventually drew closer and closer to the dark side, ultimately being seduced by Sith teachings imparted to him by his closest friend, Revan. After the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars at Malachor V, the two twisted the allegiance of the Revanchists and Republic forces under their command, building the foundations of what would eventually become a new Sith Empire. In his role as Revan's chosen apprentice, Darth Malak helped his Master track down the Star Maps, devices that led to the Star Forge, an ancient superweapon built by the Rakata. A year after they had disappeared from known Republic space, they returned and declared war on the Republic, determined to end the "tyranny" of the Jedi Order.

At one point under Darth Revan's tutelage, Malak's entire jaw was removed by a lightsaber strike from Revan himself, forcing him to wear a large metal prosthesis cover over where his jaw had once been. Soon after, Malak betrayed his Master, ordering the guns of the Leviathan to fire on his flagship. Convinced that his former Master had died, Malak usurped his mantle and ruled the Sith unchallenged, brutally conquering territory after territory. He even took an apprentice of his own, a former Jedi named Darth Bandon.

It would not be long until the new Dark Lord of the Sith was proven wrong; the next year, he intercepted the Jedi Bastila Shan and an amnesiac Revan. After revealing to his former master that he was indeed the former Dark Lord, Malak and Revan dueled each other, but Bastila sacrificed herself so that he and his companions could escape.

The Sith Lord corrupted Shan, who he had once considered a threat. She eventually became his apprentice, replacing the slain Darth Bandon, whom Revan and hisc companions had previously killed. Now assisted by her battle meditation for the Sith, Malak considered his Sith Empire to be invincible. When the Republic fleet attacked the Star Forge above Rakata Prime, a redeemed Revan boarded the superweapon and confronted Malak in a lightsaber duel which resulted in the Dark Lord's defeat. With that, his reign as the Dark Lord ended, and the Republic was victorious.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Mandalorian Wars (3,976 BBY—3,960 BBY) 1.2.1 Recruiting for the Revanchists 1.2.2 Captured at Flashpoint 1.2.3 Adasca's plot 1.2.4 Return to Taris 1.2.5 Against the Jedi Covenant 1.2.6 The final battles 1.3 In search of the Star Forge 1.3.1 Sith Apprentice 1.4 Dark Lord of the Sith (3,957 BBY—3,956 BBY) 1.4.1 Betraying the Master 1.4.2 The search for Bastila 1.4.3 Revelation on the Leviathan 1.4.4 Training Bastila 1.4.5 The Star Forge 1.4.6 Final confrontation and death 1.5 Legacy 2 Personality and traits 3 Powers and abilities 4 Behind the scenes 5 Appearances 6 Sources 7 Notes and references 8 External links

Biography

Early life

Many details of Alek's time as a Padawan are a mystery, such as when he was born, or when he was accepted in the Order. What is known is the fact that he was born on Quelii^[1] in a village named Squinquargesimus^[7]. According to Alek, people from Quelii didn't have surnames, just names of their home villages; after he escaped Quelli, his home village's name ended up as his surname on the immigration records.^[7]

According to Deesra Luur Jada, a Twi'lek Jedi, he was trained on Dantooine.^[4] While there, Alek befriended a fellow Padawan named Revan. He and Revan would make occasional trips to Coruscant, the capital of the Republic, for additional training by the Jedi Master Zhar Lestin. Both Jedi thought that the Order moved too slowly and was too cautious in its decisions.^[2]

Mandalorian Wars (3,976 BBY—3,960 BBY)

When the Mandalorian threat arose, Alek and Revan were eager to journey to the Outer Rim to defeat the enemy of the Republic. Alek was the first to join Revan's cause, and others soon followed.^[2] In the year 3,964 BBY, Alek was one of a number of Jedi who chose to take a more proactive role in the ongoing Mandalorian Wars by participating in a scouting mission along the Outer Rim, just prior to the Mandalorian invasion of the Galactic Republic.^[6]

Led by Revan, whom Alek called his honorary "Master",^[8] he and his fellow Jedi investigated the Mandalorian threat along the Republic border against the wishes of the Jedi Council.^[9]

Recruiting for the Revanchists

On their way to the Outer Rim, they briefly stayed on the planet Taris in hopes of recruiting more Jedi from the local Jedi temple. While there, Alek met a Jedi named Zayne Carrick, the Padawan of Lucien Draay, son of Jedi Covenant leader Krynda Draay, and came to assist him when the Padawan was attempting to apprehend a criminal named Marn Hierogryph. The attempt failed, but the two Jedi conferred with each other; one subject among those discussed was the war. Not only did the Jedi High Council disapprove, the teachers on Taris told their students that the Jedi are supposed to defend against the Sith. Alek reminded Zayne that the threat of the Sith was over decades ago.^[6]

During the discussion, Alek told Zayne that sometimes one must enter the darkness in order to save the light. After hearing his thoughts, Alek opined to Zayne there needed to be more Jedi who thought the same as him, and tried, unsuccessfully, to recruit him. Zayne's reason for refusing were that his Masters thought that the Sith, not the Mandalorians, were the Jedi's business. Alek laughed and said that they could be Mandalorians with their boots at their Masters' throats, but to get the Jedi to notice them, they would have to paint their heads and babble about the dark side. Although Zayne was a less than promising student, Alek suspected that he would be a major player during the war.^[6]

The Jedi Covenant believed that one of their Padawans would fall to the dark side. Four Jedi in the group, all Jedi Consulars, envisioned a Sith Lord encased in red armor and armed with a red lightsaber, responsible for their own deaths. They assumed that the red figure symbolized one of their Padawans, each of whom was wearing a red environmental suit on the moon at that moment. Not hesitating to prevent the return of the Sith, the Masters killed their Padawans and blamed the deaths on Carrick.^[10][11]

Captured at Flashpoint

Soon after leaving Taris, Alek and his companions were left behind on the planet Suurja while their master investigated events on Onderon and Dxun.^[9] Roughly a week after his meeting with Carrick on Taris, he was captured during the Fourth Battle of Suurja by the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders,^[12] and taken to Flashpoint Station, an old Republic research station that the Mandalorians had captured a few months prior. There, he became the favorite test subject of a sadistic Mandalorian biologist named Demagol who was attempting to divine the source and nature of the Jedi's Force abilities.^[13]

Weeks later, Jarael, an Arkanian female who helped Zayne elude his Masters, arrived on the station, but Alek immediately knew the Mandalorians had mistaken her for a Jedi. When Demagol came to take her, he volunteered himself to be studied in her place and insisted that he had some abilities that Demagol had yet to discover.^[13]

After Alek was brought back to the holding area, Demagol wanted to waste no time in testing Jarael due to her unusual Arkanian features, but fortunately, Zayne Carrick and the rest of the crew of the Last Resort arrived to rescue her in the nick of time. Zayne pretended to be captured by the rogue Mandalorian Rohlan Dyre and was taken in her stead. When Demagol and Rohlan emerged, they announced that Zayne was dead.^[14]

However, after the Mandalorians were tricked into leaving the station during a false "Republic attack" masterminded by Marn Hierogryph, it was revealed that the Demagol that had emerged was actually Zayne. Before he and the rest of the freed Jedi prisoners escaped, Alek asked Zayne to join them once again but Zayne declined, saying that there was something he had to finish.^[14] Alek said his good-byes to Jarael and took the unconscious Demagol to Coruscant for trial, although en route, Demagol fell into a drug-induced coma and could not be awakened. Due to Demagol's mad experiments, doctors informed Alek that his hair would not grow back completely.^[15]

The Jedi Council urged patience and strictly forbade action as the war continued. Even so, as the Mandalorian atrocities continued to mount, Alek's friend and honorary "Master", known to the public as "the Revanchist", could no longer restrain himself.^[2] In an act of extreme audacity he not only disobeyed the Council in going to war but also, taking advantage of his reputation and popularity, convinced many other Jedi to join him in dissent. As Revan's closest friend, Alek was the first to do so and he traveled to worlds such as Dantooine to recruit even more Jedi to his and Revan's growing rebellion.^[16]

By the time they were done, they had persuaded an extremely large portion of the Jedi to follow them to war. While on a mission to Cathar, Alek, Revan, and the rest of the Jedi felt death in the Force when the Mandalorians dropped nuclear weapons on Serroco.^[17]

Adasca's plot

Following the journey to Cathar, Alek was sent to Omonoth as a representative for Revan's faction of the Jedi, who were responding to the invitation Lord Arkoh Adasca had placed with Revan. Prior to Alek's departure, several Jedi had experienced visions regarding the possible importance of Lord Adasca's discovery and the role it could play in the ongoing conflict. Alek was instructed by Revan to ensure this new danger was taken eliminated.^[15]

Upon his arrival aboard the Arkanian Legacy, Lord Adasca's flagship, Alek was reunited both with Jarael and with Rohlan, the rogue Mandalorian he had met at Flashpoint. During this time, Alek confided with Jarael that he did not believe Zayne Carrick was guilty of the charges levied against him. She attempted to make Alek see that Adasca was a madman but she was quickly interrupted and restrained by Adasca.^[15]

Later aboard the vessel, when Lord Adasca's plan for a destructive biological weapon was revealed, Alek reacted with disgust, feeling such a force was too powerful to be entrusted to any government. Adasca, the leader of Adascorp, felt otherwise, since immediately after his true intentions for the meeting were divulged, he indicated he wished to ally himself with the strongest suitor. Alek's disgust transformed into alarm and he lit his lightsaber when the final party to the negotiations announced his arrival via transmission.^[15]

As Mandalore the Ultimate entered the Legacy, Alek leapt forward and ignited his lightsaber, in an attempt to kill Mandalore and end the war. Easily predicting the attack, Mandalore quickly struck him down with his newly made battle axe, knocking the young Jedi off his feet. While Mandalore and Adasca were discussing the Exogorth deal, Alek tried to convince Admiral Saul Karath to arrest them, but Karath would not take that risk while they were outnumbered.^[18]

When Adasca struck Jarael for talking in her wrist-comlink to Camper, Jarael's friend, known by now as Gorman Vandrayk, Alek ignited his lightsaber and put the blade near Adasca's throat, warning him not to hurt her again. He then deactivated the weapon, allowing the discussion to continue. He also expressed disbelief that Mandalore would offer Adasca a very powerful position in the Mandalorian war effort in exchange for the device controlling the exogorths, as well as Admiral Karath for offering Republic territory for the device.^[18]

When Zayne Carrick started a diversion, Alek immediately knew what was going on and participated in the brawl that erupted. Alek, along with Zayne, Lucien Draay, Carth Onasi, Admiral Karath, Jarael, Rohlan, and Commander Dallan Morvis, escaped the Legacy observation dome as the exogorths under the elderly scientist Gorman Vandrayk's command devoured it, killing Adasca.^[19]

While Karath, Morvis, and Onasi escaped on the Deadweight, the others searched for another ship desperately because Alek's ship was taken by civilians. Alek was later shocked that Lucien would deny them passage just to get to Zayne but fortunately, the arrival of the Moomo Williwaw, the starship of Dob and Del Moomo, intervened. Alek traveled with Zayne to Taris to help the Resistance there.^[19]

Return to Taris

When the Williwaw returned to Taris the ship was hassled by Mandalorians who had recently invaded the world. When Rohlan managed to get the Mandalorians to fly away from the ship, Alek gave the thumbs up to Zayne. Zayne was dressed in Mandalorian armor that he had acquired on the Legacy, and with the aid of a jet pack, rocketed down to the city below. After he did this, Alek and the crew flew off in the Williwaw.^[20]

Alek later engaged in a sparring match with Jarael, in which she bested him. The match brought the two closer together. He explained to her that the Jedi had refrained from emotional relationships since the Great Sith War. He wanted to have a romantic relationship with her, but she was reluctant since she hadn't gotten over her abuse by Adasca. Alek, unconvinced, told her to ask herself if it was the timing or if it was just him that she didn't want to have a relationship with.^[21]

Against the Jedi Covenant

Alek, along with Jarael and Rohlan, landed on Jebble in the Williwaw to rescue Zayne Carrick. A base had been set up on the planet for Mandalorian troops planning to capture Alderaan, but the Rakghoul plague had spread through the base, turning all of the Mandalorians into Rakghouls.^[22]

While they were leaving Jebble in the Williwaw, Mandalorians commanded by Cassus Fett arrived. In order to stop the plague from further spreading Zayne sent a message to Cassus Fett, warning him not to land his troops on the surface. Fett took the warning most seriously - when the Williwaw had left, he ordered a nuclear bombardment of the planet.^[22]

Changed by the apparent death of fellow Jedi Celeste Morne, who had seemingly died during the bombing, Zayne reminded Alek that he owed him a favor from Flashpoint Station, and asked Alek, with the rest of the crew of the Williwaw, to help stop the Jedi Covenant.^[22] Before they separated once again, Alek told him to bring evidence of what the Covenant was doing to the High Council.^[1]

Soon after, Lucien Draay, the former Master of Carrick, gained a seat on the Jedi High Council on Coruscant. In the Council Chamber before the other Masters, he claimed that the path sought by Revan was wrong– wrong for the Republic, and the Jedi. Therefore, his first motion was to order the recall, and, if necessary, the detention of the Revanchists, including Alek, as well as any renegade Jedi.^[1]

According to Zayne, while searching for Sith artifacts that were owned by the Covenant, Alek, along with Shel Jelavan, went on ahead for "his part of the plan".^[1] Shel and Alek sent out a holographic transmission to Masters Vandar Tokare and Vrook Lamar on Coruscant. However, due to the arrest warrant for the Revanchists, Alek went under the guise of "Captain Malak" and adorned blue tattoos on his head. Alek and Shel met up with Vandar and Vrook inside a cantina in the underlevels of Coruscant to discuss evidence pertaining to the Padawan Massacre of Taris.^[7]

Following the end of their testimony, they arrived at the rendezvous point to meet with Zayne and Gryph. Despite Alek's assurances of clearing Zayne's name, Vrook said that if they accused Krynda Draay, they would tear the Order apart saying that what they needed was one of the Masters to stand up and confess. At that moment, Xamar appeared with his lightsaber at Zayne and Gryph's throats.^[7]

Xamar ultimately handed Carrick and Hierogryph over to the Jedi, and agreed to go before the Council. He testified to the Councilors, telling them everything he knew about the Covenant's illegal activities, and agreed to accept whatever fate they decreed for him, with a single caveat: that Krynda be given full immunity if and when action was taken against the Covenant.^[23] After Alek himself testified for Zayne, he was sent to the Revanchists with a final warning and went under protest, taking the name "Malak" until the end of the war.^[24]

The final battles

The entrance of Revan and his Jedi into the war marked its turning point. Revan's clever military strategies and tactics coupled with Malak's courage and fiery determination saw the pair becoming the foremost heroes of the conflict. Claiming victory time after time, they were propelled through the ranks of the Republic military and were eventually given direct control of a full third of the Republic's fleet. With his newfound authority, Revan spearheaded the Republic war effort and began to steadily push the Mandalorians back,^[2] and, though he lacked the military genius of Revan, Malak proved himself an incredibly capable war leader and was swiftly promoted through the ranks. He would eventually gain a reputation as a headstrong warrior, one who would recklessly charge into danger.^[25]

Together, Revan and Malak liberated Taris, fought Cassus Fett—Mandalore's primary strategist—at Jaga's Cluster, and defeated much of the Mandalorian army at Althir. Yet, despite such victories, there were concerns raised over the Jedi's behavior. Though Revan's tactics were near flawless and Malak's righteous fury unmatched, the pair began to adopt very similar characteristics to the Mandalorians they were fighting, growing to despise weakness and indecisiveness in all its forms.^[2]

The Jedi Masters they had left behind believed that Revan, Malak, and the Jedi that had joined them were only offering easy solutions to the galaxy's problems, fearing that much woe would result from their recklessness. Their fears were not without foundation. Over the war's course, Malak and Revan changed much from the idealistic men that had first broken away from the Jedi Council. Ultimate victory became all that mattered to them, and in order to ensure it, Malak and Revan met their enemies' brutal, merciless tactics with a ruthlessness of their own.^[2]

Developing a cold, calculating disposition uncharacteristic of Jedi, "moral shortcuts" became the norm under their leadership, as did a number of other unsavory acts. If a world had no strategic significance, then it had no significance, regardless of the cost in sentient life. Though there were doubtless those who frowned upon such actions, the vast majority of the galaxy cared only that Revan and Malak were winning the war for them and hailed them as heroes.^[2] This heroic reputation was finally cemented during the final battle of the war, where Revan forced a final confrontation with the Mandalorians over Malachor V. His plan was to unleash the recently constructed Mass Shadow Generator on the planet, wiping out the majority of the Mandalorian fleet, as well as those Republic forces and Jedi who were not fervently loyal to him.^[16]

Trusting the device's activation to a capable Jedi General who would later become known as the Jedi Exile^[16], Revan battled and killed Mandalore the Ultimate himself.^[2] The battle resulted in catastrophic losses on both sides. In the end, many Jedi were twisted to the dark side, and the once proud Mandalorian clans were crippled, just as Revan had intended. After having utterly crushed their opponents, however, the by now legendary Jedi Knights did not return. Instead they led the remainder of their forces into the Unknown Regions, claiming to be hunting down surviving Mandalorians. For months afterwards, nothing was heard from them, and the Republic feared its heroes lost.^[2]

In search of the Star Forge

The truth was somewhat different. Revan had introduced Malak and the other Jedi who followed them to Sith teachings that he had uncovered on Malachor V^[26], causing him to fall to the dark side. Under Revan's leadership, they went on to twist the allegiance of the Republic forces and Jedi Knights under their command, building the foundations of what would eventually become a new Sith Empire.^[2]

Thoroughly committed to uniting the galaxy beneath his authority, Revan was determined to uncover the secret location of an ancient superweapon known as the Star Forge, a relic of the Infinite Empire of the Rakata. Malak followed his Master in his wake. Though whether or not they did so during or after the wars remains unknown, the first world the pair visited on their quest for the Star Forge was Dantooine.^[2]

Skillfully avoiding detection by the Jedi, they delved into the old burial mounds located near the Jedi Enclave. After successfully passing the "trials" set for them by the guard droid that had been left behind by the so called "builders," they were given access to a Star Map. However, moments before they crossed the threshold that would lead them to this prize, Malak, still new to the dark side, warned Revan of the consequences.^[2]

Such words did not dissuade Revan from continuing through the door to the Star Map, however. Though a part of Malak yearned to return to the Jedi Order, he remained at his friend's side, knowing that once he crossed the threshold, there would be no chance of ever going back to the life he once had.^[2]

After examining the Star Map on Dantooine, Revan and Malak would go on to uncover Star Maps on Tatooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan, and Korriban. Though the order in which they did so is unknown, Bastila Shan was aware that Malak and Revan had both visited Korriban at least once when they were known as Jedi, suggesting that they may have gone to this planet during—rather than following—the Mandalorian Wars. Even so, the unconfirmed sightings of Revan and Malak on numerous worlds throughout their year-long disappearance implied that they visited the majority of these planets after the Mandalorian Wars' conclusion.^[2]

Sith Apprentice

Despite Revan and Malak's lack of connection to the Sith species, they drew knowledge from the Sith tombs on Korriban and declared themselves Darth Revan and Darth Malak, Malak being Revan's Sith apprentice.^[4]

With the information obtained from the five Star Maps, Revan and Malak were able to travel to the previously-unknown Rakata system; yet upon their arrival, the pair immediately crashed on Rakata Prime. Shortly after, they were attacked by the primitive Black Rakata, who attempted to take them prisoners.^[2]

However, after the pair displayed their Force powers, the natives were quickly cowed into submission. Though Revan initially negotiated with The One, who led the Black Rakata, he switched to winning the favor of the Elders after it became apparent that none among the Black Rakata had relevant information pertaining to the Star Forge.^[2]

Unlike their violent introduction to the Black Rakata, Revan and Malak approached the Elders in peace, learning from them much of the Rakata and their old empire—and of the disruptor field that had caused their ship to crash. Increasingly aware of the abhorrence the Elders held for their species' violent past, Revan and Malak styled themselves as servants of the light, searching for a way to destroy the Star Forge.^[2]

After having gained their trust, the Elders gave Revan and Malak access to the temple, and thanking them, the pair promised to destroy the Star Forge and return. Instead, Revan took control of the Star Forge for himself and in 3,959 BBY, a year after their apparent disappearance, would return to known space at the head of a massive invasion fleet. Openly revealing themselves as Sith Lords, they and all those that followed them declared war on the Republic and the Jedi Order^[2], beginning a twenty-year campaign to end the "tyranny" of the Jedi Council once and for all.^[27]

During this time, Revan constructed HK-47, an assassin droid. When Malak asked the droid what he thought of him, he "informed him of his meatbag status". Revan found the term amusing and programmed HK to call all organics such.^[2]

At one point under Darth Revan's tutelage, Alek saw his Master as being too kind, resulting in tension that culminated in a lightsaber duel, in which Alek's entire jaw was removed by a lightsaber strike from Revan himself.^[28] He was forced to wear a large metal prosthesis cover over where his jaw had once been. A portion of the device allowed Alek to talk, but his voice now reverberated with a gruff electronic tone, creating a very disconcerting effect because his jaw prosthesis was unable to move.^[2]

Though clearly a very powerful Sith Lord, as the war progressed, the ambitious Darth Malak began to chafe under the dominion of Revan. The man who had once been Revan's staunchest ally and most loyal friend began to eagerly await an opportunity to replace his Sith Master.^[2]

Dark Lord of the Sith (3,957 BBY—3,956 BBY)

Betraying the Master

The moment to take Revan's place came when in 3,957 BBY, the Jedi Council sent a strike team, of which Bastila Shan was part of, aiming to capture Revan. Her team had just managed to corner Revan on the bridge of his flagship when Malak, separated from his Master, ordered the guns of the Leviathan to fire on Revan's flagship in attempt to slay both his Master and the Jedi, specifically Bastila because of her Battle Meditation.^[2]

Unknown to Malak, Bastila saved the life of Revan and brought him to the Jedi Council, where his mind was reprogrammed. Though he failed in this attempt on Revan's life, his Master had been incapacitated during the attack and, believing himself to have been successful, Darth Malak assumed command of the Sith Empire, at last taking the mantle of Dark Lord for himself.^[2]

A small part of Malak always regretted betrayed his Master from afar, and he knew there would be some who thought and claimed that he had acted out of fear, not wanting to face Revan, as Revan himself would later say.^[2]

The search for Bastila

Although his stratagems and tactics centered around brute force, and were, according to G0-T0, "painfully obvious",^[16] the sheer size of his armadas allowed him to win many crushing victories over the battered and heavily outnumbered Republic forces.^[2] He trained a former Jedi in the ways of the Force whose quest for power had set him apart from his fellow students.^[25] It was not long before rumors began to spread that Malak's apprentice, who would be known as Darth Bandon, would challenge him for the right to rule, as was the manner of the Sith. The result of this revolt, however, is unknown.^[29]

Jedi that were not killed by Malak's Sith forces fell from the light and gave their allegiance to the Dark Lord. More and more planets fell to his forces, and the Dark Lord ordered the destruction of Telos IV^[16]. While the war against the Republic was going very well, Malak feared Bastila's rare gift with battle meditation, a Force power that enabled her to strengthen the Republic forces' resolve and coordinate their fighting effort while sapping the will of their enemies. Her skill with this ability surpassed even the powerful Masters of the Order, making her a grave threat to the entire Sith war effort.^[2]

Darth Malak expended tremendous resources in an attempt to locate and capture her. Malak nearly succeeded when his apprentice, Darth Bandon, led an attack on Bastila's ship, the Endar Spire. Bastila, among other Republic soldiers, was forced to evacuate via an escape pod. She crashed into the lower levels of Taris, and, to prevent her from leaving, Malak blockaded the planet. Later becoming impatient, and not wanting Bastila to escape, he ordered Admiral Saul Karath to destroy the planet, proving himself more than his former Masters' equal when it came to bloodlust and brutality. The admiral tentatively agreed. Bastila nonetheless was able to return unharmed to Dantooine on the Ebon Hawk being accompanied by her rescuers. Under the Jedi Enclave's orders, they began a search for the Star Forge.^[2]

Soon after, Calo Nord, a bounty hunter who had also escaped Taris's destruction, was hired by Malak to track down the group, capture Bastila, and kill her companions. One of her companions, however, was revealed by Nord and Karath to be Revan, Malak's old Master, whom he had long believed dead. Despite the bounty hunter's galaxywide reputation, he did not survive his next encounter with Revan. After Nord's death, Admiral Karath informed Malak of the bounty hunter's failure. Malak told Karath that no mere bounty hunter could stand against a Jedi, and, as to not make the same mistake again, he sent his Sith apprentice, ordering him to find Bastila and to bring her to him alive, if at all possible. However, Bandon failed in his efforts to capture Bastila, however, and was killed by Revan after he and his companions found the fourth Star Map.^[2]

Revelation on the Leviathan

While on their search for the fifth and final one, they were captured by the Sith and brought on board the Leviathan, Darth Malak's flagship. After Revan, Bastila, and Carth Onasi had killed Admiral Karath, Malak arrived just before they made their way to the docking bay, hindering them from escaping.^[2]

After discovering that Revan still had no knowledge of his time as the Dark Lord, Malak was amused and told him his true identity, which had been wiped by the Jedi. Revan was shocked by the revelation. Bastila clarified the fact, saying she was part of the Jedi strike team sent to capture him.^[2]

Following their brief discussion, Malak created a stasis field around Bastila and Carth and prepared to end his former Master. Revan fought valiantly, proving himself a capable swordsman. Malak had always regretted betraying his Master from afar, for because of it others claimed that he was a coward, but now he had been given a second chance to prove himself. Bastila, however, eventually sacrificed herself so that Revan and Carth could escape. Malak easily defeated and captured her.^[2]

Training Bastila

Malak attempted to make Bastila his apprentice and tortured her with Force lightning. She was at first firm, saying that torture would never turn her, but Malak replied saying that instead of merely torture, it was a taste of the power of the dark side, which could be hers. He eventually succeeded in breaking her and finally turned her to the dark side, making her his new apprentice, and replacing the previously slain Darth Bandon.^[2]

The true reason Malak chose Bastila to be his apprentice was the unimaginable advantage the Sith Empire could gain from her Battle Meditation. It was not surprising that Malak's fate would be bound up tightly with Bastila's. The two were very much alike: courageous, arrogant, and they both ignored the warnings of their Jedi Masters to beware the call of the dark side.^[2]

The Star Forge

The preparations for the Star Forge were nearing completion. Every day it added new ships to the Sith fleet, and operated at three hundred percent of what the Sith Army projected. The fleet merely awaiting Malak's instructions, and the Dark Lord was confident that they would be invincible once Bastila joined her Battle Meditation to it. Malak was already planning for after the what he assumed would be a victory to begin the final conquest of the core worlds and crushing the Republic forever.^[2]

Finally, reaching the end of their journey, the heroes on the quest for the Star Forge called in the Republic fleet to attack the Sith. For a while, it looked as if Malak would be able to destroy his foes in a single, glorious day. When the Jedi penetrated their defenses, Malak was not surprised. He ordered one of his Dark Jedi to dispatch the Star Forge battle droids to deal with them, but he underestimated the Jedi, with that same Dark Jedi soon bringing news of the droids' failure. Malak was at first surprised that any Jedi could stand against an army of Star Forge droids, but then he was told that Revan was with the Jedi. Though he knew they would not kill him, he dispatched the Sith troops and Dark Jedi on the Star Forge against Revan so that they would slow him down enough for Malak to fully prepare the Star Forge's defenses.^[2]

He summoned his new apprentice, Bastila, and told her that Revan was on the Star Forge. She feared Revan’s power, but Malak said that if she defeated him she would prove herself worthy of being his apprentice. Bastila said she would not fail him again. After their conversation, Malak later mused that Bastila be able to defeat Revan, but even if she failed it would give Malak the necessary time to prepare his defenses.^[2]

After defeating an attack force of Forge droids, killing nearly all of Malak's Dark Jedi and Sith forces, and convincing Bastila to return to the light side, Revan confronted Malak who, upon his arrival, used the Force to choke two Jedi prisoners. He then threw his lightsaber into one and blasted the other with Force lightning, effectively killing both. Revan then told Malak that if he surrendered the Jedi might show him mercy, but Malak replied that the wiping one of one’s identity was no act of mercy, and that he would rather die. He then unleashed the unlimited army of Star Forge battle droids upon Revan and escaped to the Star Forge's observation tower.^[2]

Final confrontation and death

Revan, however, managed to stop the droids from attacking and followed Malak to the observation tower. Realizing that Revan had become much stronger than he ever was as the Dark Lord, Darth Malak said that he could break his former Master's will and make Revan his apprentice, seeing as how he would be a far greater asset to him than even Bastila and her Battle Meditation. He then theorized that perhaps Revan was too powerful to be his apprentice, and that when and if Revan became stronger than him, he would betray him, as he himself had betrayed Revan. The former Dark Lord said that he would never turn to the dark side again, which Malak said were "foolish words".^[2]

After this, they began a lightsaber duel, in which the victor, unlike in their previous duels,^[30] would decide the fate of the galaxy. Revan proved himself to be a better lightsaber duelist, almost defeating Malak, but Malak withdrew from battle, explaining to Revan that he could not be defeated. He told Revan that he had brought the bodies of Jedi from the Jedi Academy on Dantooine to the Star Forge, but instead of letting them become one with the Force, he drained the life from them, transferring it to himself. It was not enough to defeat Revan, however. He freed as many Jedi as he could and allowed them to become one with the Force, shortening Malak’s supply of energy.^[2]

Malak was eventually brought to his knees, mortally wounded. Amazed that he had been defeated, Malak began to regret turning to the dark side. Revan told him that it was the way of the dark side; that all things die in the end. Malak told Revan that maybe there was more truth in the Jedi Code than he ever believed, and wondered what would have happened if their positions had been reversed; if he had been captured by the Jedi and returned to the light. Revan apologized to Malak for starting him down the path of the dark side, but reminded Malak that he had chosen to continue it.^[2]

Humbled and belittled by that knowledge, and bested by Revan despite all his clever plans and conquests, Malak realized that nothing he had ever done would compare to the accomplishments of his former Master, at last acknowledging his inferiority. Malak died with sorrow and regret over his deeds, and without hatred or malice towards his one-time closest friend. His corpse was consumed by the flames of the dying Star Forge as the Republic fleet fired on the ancient superweapon.^[2]

Legacy

The atrocities that Darth Malak committed would naturally overshadow his good deeds as a Jedi Knight in galactic history. Although Revan was remembered, and even admired by some for his unmatched tactical genius and subtleties, Malak was remembered as something of a brute who left the galaxy in quite a mess, whereas many thought the situation would have been completely different if Revan had remained as the Dark Lord. While Revan's strategies would have led to a stronger and more unified galaxy, Malak's genocidal reign only caused a greater destabilization of the galaxy and nearly destroyed all of Revan's original goals, with the exception of creating a stronger and more unified Republic in case he failed to conquer the galaxy.^[16]

Revan's tactics in galactic conquest included relying on the Star Forge only to a certain extent, sparing worlds with military and economic significance from the brutality of conquest, killing off political and military figures who were destabilizing the galaxy, and converting many to his cause rather than simply annihilating them outright. Malak, on the other hand, used tactics that were painfully obvious compared to that of his Master's. Instead of utilizing the same strategic brilliance exhibited by Revan, he relied on overwhelming the enemy with brutality and numbers^[16].

In the end, the massacre and blind destruction that Malak caused, in comparison to his Master's far better and thought-out goals, would forever paint Malak as a tyrannical monster who, despite all his attempts to gain absolute power, was ultimately inferior in every aspect compared to Revan.^[2]

Although Malak was gone, Revan's final duel with him would not be the last anyone ever saw of him. While exploring a shyrack cave on Korriban, the Jedi Exile discovered a tomb where she encountered visions from her past. The first vision encountered was that of the young Malak, before his fall to the dark side. As the Exile looked on, Malak slowly lured several Jedi to his side, including Bastila Shan. When the Exile refused to join him, Malak and the other visions attacked. She prevailed, and made it through the tomb alive after experiencing several more visions, including one of Malak's former Sith Master, Revan.^[16]

Personality and traits

Malak was a pale-skinned human who stood an impressive two meters in height. Malak's head was adorned with blue tattoos. He later wore a large metal shield that covered his face from the nose down. The shield was a prosthesis made necessary by a ghastly lightsaber injury that completely severed his lower jaw,^[3] inflicted by none other than his Sith Master, Darth Revan^[27]. A portion of this device allowed Malak to talk, but his voice now reverberated with a gruff electronic tone, creating a very disconcerting effect since his jaw prosthesis didn't move. When Malak spoke, the only hint of emotion came from his cruel, sunken eyes.^[2]

During his time as the Dark Lord of the Sith, Malak wore a set of skin-tight red-orange body armor that showed off his powerful and imposing physique, draped in a cape of black cloth. He was also thought to have had in his possession a powerful Sith sword recovered from Korriban^[31][32], although he rarely used it in combat. Darth Malak also used a special lightsaber that produced a red blade, longer than the one produced by standard lightsabers. The hilt was identical to that of a shoto.^[2]

As a Jedi, Alek Squinquargesimus was an optimistic young Jedi with a distinctive sense of justice, which he shared with his friend and Master, Revan. Because of his opinion of the passiveness of the Jedi Order, he joined Revan's campaign against the Mandalorians, thinking that the Order would not be able to solve the conflict.^[2] For him, the option to enter the darkness to save the light was not excluded, if it was required.^[6] Even when being tortured by Demagol, Alek did not lose his humor.^[13]

Since Malak's legacy would be painted in galactic history as a brutal and murdering conqueror, his past as a noble and honorable member of the Jedi Order would naturally be overshadowed by the atrocity and destruction he committed as the Dark Lord of the Sith. Although he excelled at and even relished warfare, his initial intentions for leaving the Jedi and joining the Mandalorian Wars were of good intentions.^[2]

Not only was Alek proud to stand at his closest friend's side in defense of the Republic, he sought to defend the ideals of the Republic, such as freedom and justice, and believed that in doing so, he was fulfilling what the Jedi Council failed to do: defending the peoples of the Republic that the Jedi had sworn to protect.^[2]

Like Revan, Alek could not stand by and do nothing while civilians and soldiers died by the millions in the war. Believing the Council had failed to uphold the Jedi Order's solemn vow as the "guardians of peace and justice", Alek not only joined Revan, but greatly aided him in recruiting hundreds of like-minded Jedi that had become disillusioned and resentful of the Council's leadership.^[2]

Even after his initial fall to the dark side, a part of Malak still held true to the Jedi. At the beginning of Darth Revan's quest to find the Star Forge, Malak became filled with fear and regret, knowing that if he followed Revan any further, he would forever forsake his commitment to the Jedi and the Republic. Yet despite even further corruption by the dark side, especially after he betrayed Revan, Malak was never fully able to rid himself of the good in him. Moments before he died from wounds inflicted by a redeemed Revan, Malak finally allowed himself to let go of his hate and anger.^[2]

Reflecting on what his life could have been like if he had not been corrupted by Revan or if he had the strength to forsake the dark side and return to the light, as Revan did. Malak died with sorrow and regret over his deeds, and without hatred or malice towards his one-time closest friend.^[2]

Powers and abilities

Being a Jedi Guardian, Darth Malak was one of the most skilled lightsaber duelists of his time. He spoke and comprehended several languages, including Basic and the Sith language.^[32] Contrasting his Sith Master, Malak used brute force rather than strategy to defeat his enemies, as demonstrated when he ordered the destruction of Taris.^[2]

The Dark Lord practiced Force powers including Force choke, Force lightning, Force whirlwind, Force stasis field, and Force Immunity. He could also use the Force to leap large distances in order to get to his enemy. During his time as a Sith, Malak was especially proficient in Force lightning, which he used continually and with ease while torturing Bastila Shan and dueling his former Master for the last time.^[2]

Malak could use the Force to choke more than one person at a time; he demonstrated this ability to Revan when he simultaneously choked two Jedi that he had captured just before their final confrotation. Immediately after that, he also displayed his ability to throw his lightsaber, igniting and throwing his lightsaber at one of the captured Jedi's chest, killing him. He used this ability extensively during his and Revan's final duel.^[2]

Behind the scenes

In the Exile's vision of Malak in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Malak wields a red-bladed lightsaber^[16], although in the Knights of the Old Republic comics he wields a blue one^[5]. According to the official player's guide, Malak's lightsaber can be found at some point in the game, but only in the Xbox version. The PC version of the game has him wielding a red saber.

Malak is the Arabic and Hebrew word for "angel", or "messenger of God". While such a name might seem incongruous with Darth Malak's role as Sith Lord, he could be seen as a fallen angel due to his Jedi beginnings. However, other etymological factors may have been important when choosing the name.

When the Semitic consonant stem "m-l-k" is rendered in Hebrew, it becomes a word for "king," "melech". This honorific would be fitting for an individual claiming a royal title such as "Dark Lord." The Chinese word malaqiuse means, surprisingly, "one with no jaw". Similarly, mala is Latin for "jawbone." It should be noted, however, that Lead Writer Drew Karpyshyn has stated that the design team created the name "Darth Malak" before they decided to give the character a jaw injury.

The Latin root mal- means "bad" or "evil" in various romance languages such as Spanish and French, and is the base of similar words such as malice; an appropriate word to associate with a Sith Lord. The name also resembles the Greek word "Malakas", a slang word with various meanings, often used to describe aversion to another person.

According to Lead Designer James Ohlen, Darth Malak's and Darth Vader's similarity was, like the similarity of the names Ebon Hawk versus Millennium Falcon, intended to hark back to the early days of Star Wars.^[source?]

An item that can be found in Knights of the Old Republic II is "Darth Malak's Armor," which is categorized as "light," and greatly differs in appearance with the armor Malak is seen wearing in the first game.^[16]

An Easter egg in the ending of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic allows the player to transform Malak into a green-skinned Twi'lek dancer and skip the final battle.^[2]

Darth Malak's appearance in promotional artwork has been somewhat inconsistent. While Knights of the Old Republic and certain other art work potray Malak with a sickly head, yellow scleras and brown irises, other artwork, including Celebration IV's exclusive bust of Malak, portray his head as being extremely pale and having white scleras and gray irises.

In the files for Malak as a Jedi in Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Malak is misspelled as Malek.^[2]

In the Q&A for the twenty-ninth issue of the Knights of the Old Republic comic series, John Jackson Miller said that the comics would "speak to the matter of Revan and Malak—perhaps sooner than you may think."^[1] Also, in production notes for the same issue, he said that now we know where Malak was from, that there would be more information to come.^[33]

Appearances

• Shadows and Light (Vision to Duron Qel-Droma)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 0: Crossroads (First identified as Squint)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 6: Commencement, Part 6
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 8: Flashpoint, Part 2
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 10: Flashpoint, Part 3 (First identified as Alek)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 14: Days of Fear, Part 2 (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 15: Days of Fear, Part 3
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Daze of Hate
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 22: Knights of Suffering, Part 1
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 23: Knights of Suffering, Part 2
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 28: Vector, Part 4
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 29: Exalted, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 31: Turnabout
• Sta