Flint

Flint was a male Human native to Belderone. The son of a Clone Wars-era Jedi Knight, Flint was chosen by Darth Vader as his fourth pupil and, after Vader's death, served the new Dark Lady of the Sith, Lumiya, until being redeemed by Vader's son, Luke Skywalker.

Early life
"He's going to get you into trouble someday, Zana, that boy of yours...He's his father all over again, and you know what that could mean..."

- Belderone waitress



Flint was the son of a Jedi Knight, Flint Torul and a woman named Zana. Flint's father was killed during the Clone Wars by General Grievous near the end of the Outer Rim Sieges. Whether the Jedi knew of his son or if he was a legitimate child is unknown, but Zana was forced to raise her young son alone. To support their small family, Flint had to begin work at a young age. Zana worked the evening shift as a waitress in a cantina while Flint worked in a localized Imperial factory that was specializing in the production of AT-ATs.

Although shifts at the factory were strictly enforced by the Empire, Flint constantly had his head in the clouds and dreamed of becoming a Jedi Knight like his father. Zana was in constant worry that Flint might miss his shifts at the factory, but her son's skill as a landspeeder pilot made sure that he was always on time. Flint's idealism also got on his best friend Barney's nerves. While Flint became excited at any change of scenery, even the occasional spacecraft that landed in the Belderone spaceport, Barney had to always be dragged along, not understanding the enthusiasm that Flint possessed.

During the height of the Galactic Civil War, the rebel heroes Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca arrived on Belderone in the Millennium Falcon. As was their custom, Flint and Barney went to see the craft's arrival. Flint became ecstatic when he saw that Skywalker had a lightsaber clipped to his belt. Although Flint was sure that Skywalker and he had something in common with both of their fathers being Jedi, Skywalker denied it, in part because he had just recently discovered his father's true identity as Darth Vader.

Following a Jedi
"He's everything we'd like to be...everything we're going to be, someday."

- Flint

Although Skywalker refused to acknowledge that he was a Jedi, Flint was confident that Skywalker would be the one to teach him to use the Force, and he led the rebels into the main city. Flint continued to follow Skywalker around, trying to work up the courage to ask the Jedi to train him. As Barney and Flint tried to casually spy on Skywalker a trio of Imperial assassins attempted to eliminate the rebel crew. The two friends watched as Skywalker's skills helped him easily eliminate the threat.

Now confident that Skywalker was a Jedi, Flint decided to show the rebels the AT-AT factory on the world, knowing that they would want to eliminate it to hinder the Imperials hold on the planet. However, when the group finally arrived at the factory they found it to be alive with troops, including several active AT-ATs that were making their way towards Flint's hometown. As the rebels signaled their allies to attack the monstrous machines, Flint and Barney jumped in a landspeeder and sped towards town in hopes of warning the general populace, especially Flint's unaware mother. Unfortunately, Flint's piloting skills failed him and he crashed the craft just on the outskirts of the city. Flint and Barney were both knocked unconscious.

Waking up the next morning, Flint found Barney still unconscious and believed him to be dead. One of the AT-ATs had managed to escape the rebel assault and had destroyed Flint's town. As Flint looked at his destroyed home, he realized that he hadn't been able to warn his mother in time, and sprinted into the city. Seeing his mother's cantina completely destroyed, he expected the worst. Among the wreckage Flint found his mother's lifeless body and broke down into a state of despair. He hadn't known how serious the situation was and blamed the rebels for allowing him to believe that he could make a difference.

Flint promised himself that he would become someone who mattered, someone who would show everyone that he wasn't worthless. As Flint spoke his promises out loud, Darth Vader arrived and recognized the power within Flint. He told the young man that he could make Flint someone of great importance and offered him a place by his side. Flint happily agreed and decided to join the Empire. Vader immediately made Flint into one of his many stormtroopers, promising that in time he would train him to use the Force.

Fall to the dark side
"Maybe…maybe he was never as interested in the Rebellion and the Empire…or good and evil…as he thought. Maybe all he ever really wanted was power. And it just took this to make him see it."

- Barney

Before long, Flint began to receive personal training from Darth Vader. Just as with Vader’s other illegitimate apprentices such as Lumiya and Tao, Flint was kept secret from Emperor Palpatine. Flint slowly developed his Force powers eventually mastering the art of telekinesis and was able to sail boulders through the air with ease. Unknown to Flint, Vader was preparing him for a showdown with Lumiya to determine who would become his Shadow Hand when he decided to overthrow Palpatine.

However, before this could take place, Vader died along with Palpatine at the Battle of Endor. Vader’s death affected Flint greatly. He had grown to love Vader and saw him as the father he never had. With his beloved mentor’s death, Flint retreated to the planet Vjun to grieve, eventually making his way to Bast Castle. In a state of despair, Flint was disturbed in his mourning by the arrival of Lumiya. After a fierce confrontation, Flint was defeated and taken on as Lumiya's first apprentice.

With the roles of master and apprentice decided, Lumiya ordered Flint to subjugate the Phelleem Sector while she prepared for the arrival of the Nagai and their imminent invasion. Flint was also given one final task, one which he was more than happy to accept, a mission to kill Luke Skywalker. Flint knew that Skywalker would eventually come to him as he and his men slowly conquered the Phelleem sector. Flint’s reputation eventually led to an identity as the Dark Lord of Belderone in which he wore extravagant armor and wielded a red-bladed lightsaber.

Reunion
"All I ever wanted, my whole life, was to become a Jedi Knight, and you…you--! I went to you, I wanted training. You didn’t just spurn me, I was beneath your notice."

- Flint

Flint’s campaign in the Phelleem sector eventually led to the planet Naldar and a series of brutal battles took place. The entire royal family of Naldar was wiped out except for young Princess Vila who left to find help from the Rebellion. Her starfighter landed on the forest moon of Endor, and Vila requested to be trained as a Jedi by Luke to save her people from Flint's forces. Luke, Leia, and Barney decided to accompany her to Naldar. During the trip, Luke Skywalker was warned by the Force ghosts of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Anakin Skywalker that only he could redeem Flint. Anakin pleaded with Luke to undo the damage to Flint that he had done as Vader and was now unable to undo himself.

Meanwhile, Flint waited for the rebel’s return, preparing an ambush for anyone that decided to rescue Naldar. Eventually Flint’s forces witnessed the arrival of the Millennium Falcon and surrounded the rebels. Flint told his men to stand down, and he personally confronted Luke, igniting his lightsaber. Luke and Flint engaged in furious duel, meeting each other blow for blow. Luke tried to reach out to Flint and convince him to turn away from the dark side, but Flint refused to listen. Eventually, one of Flint’s stormtroopers was able to hit Luke in the arm with a carefully placed blaster shot, ending the fight. Now with the upper hand, Flint revealed to the rest of the rebels that he and his forces had prepared an enormous energy cannon to destroy the rest of the city and that it was too late to stop its activation.



However, before Flint could signal his troops, his old friend Barney confronted him. Flint was shocked to see Barney still alive, and his resolve weakened. Barney asked Flint to turn away from the Empire and reexamine the atrocities that he had committed. The Dark Lord of Belderone found that he couldn’t continue in his actions any longer and began to repent. Unfortunately, a stormtrooper witnessed his betrayal and prepared to execute his disloyal commander. However, the Imperial blaster bolt meant for Flint was intercepted by Vila, mortally wounding her. With another death on his conscience, Flint could no longer serve the Empire, and in his last act as a Dark Lord, he self-destructed the energy cannon, killing his Imperial allies and winning the day for the Rebellion.

Redemption
After his defection and capture, Flint was kept in a cell of Mandalorian iron on an Alliance safeworld for many years, to overcome his traumatic experiences as a dark sider. He was eventually reformed and returned to Belderone to live out a simple life.

After the destruction of the Crystal Star in the Crseih system, the New Republic sought to find a new home for the dislocated and enslaved Firrerreo freed by Leia and Rillao. With a passionate plea, Flint persuaded the Belderonian people to accept the Firrerreos to their world, although the two groups would later develop a rivalry which the Yuuzhan Vong manipulated to lead to the mutual extinction of both peoples.

Death
Following the fall of the Disciples of Ragnos, Flint's body was found on Belderone, having apparently been stabbed through the throat by a lightsaber or lightwhip. It appeared that Lumiya had taken revenge on her former pupil, after having vowed to deal with his treachery many years before. Flint was replaced by Carnor Jax, who almost took Palpatine's place in the throne.

Appearances

 * Marvel Star Wars Annual 3: The Apprentice
 * Marvel Star Wars 92: The Dream