Darth Malak

"Malak had strength, and embraced it, saw his opportunity and took it."

- Darth Sion

Darth Malak was a Dark Lord of the Sith during the Jedi Civil War. As a famed Jedi Knight and General during the Mandalorian Wars, Malak drew closer and closer to the dark side of the Force, ultimately being seduced by Sith teachings imparted to him by his friend Revan. In his role as Revan's chosen apprentice, Darth Malak helped his master hunt down the devices that led to the Star Forge and contributed to the establishment of a powerful new Sith Empire that would go on to challenge the fragile Galactic Republic and Jedi Order both. After turning on and supposedly "killing" his former master Revan and usurping Revan's mantle in 3,957 BBY, Malak ruled the Sith unchallenged, brutally conquering territory after territory and taking on an apprentice of his own, Darth Bandon. His reign of terror was finally ended when Revan returned to the forefront of galactic events and, now a redeemed man, engaged him in a climatic lightsaber duel aboard the Star Forge. Revan defeated Malak, and Malak, seeing that Revan defeated him even with his comparably weak Light Side techniques. "I wonder what wouldv'e become of me if I had not chosen to follow you, Revan."

- Malak

Early life
"The Jedi Order moved too slowly for Revan and Malak; we were too cautious in their eyes. They always sought to learn far quicker than their Masters felt was prudent."

- Zhar Lestin

Little was known about Malak's childhood or many details of his past, including his planet of origin. His first entry in the annals of recorded history placed him on Coruscant as a young student of the Jedi Order. During his time there he befriended a fellow Padawan named Revan.

While Revan was acknowledged as having the greater potential&mdash;studying beneath a number of different masters in his pursuit of knowledge&mdash;Malak was himself extremely gifted, and like Revan, would often go to Jedi Master Zhar Lestin for training beyond that given to most Padawans. Though some masters voiced concern at the speed of his and Revan's progress, their dilligence paid off; by the outbreak of the Mandalorian Wars, both young men had already been promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight.

Jedi Knight


"Malak was the first to join his closest friend. Others soon followed&hellip;"

- Zhar Lestin

When the Mandalorians began a massive invasion of the Galactic Republic in 3,963 BBY, Malak and Revan grew restless. Though they wished for the Jedi Order to step into the conflict en masse and protect the Republic they were sworn to serve, the Jedi Council urged patience and strictly forbade such action. Even so, as the Mandalorian atrocities continued to mount, Revan could no longer restrain himself. 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, Malak 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. By the time they were done, they had persuaded an extremely large portion of the Jedi to follow them to war.

In the context of the war itself Malak, though lacking the genius of Revan, proved himself an incredibly capable war leader and he was swiftly promoted through the ranks. Indeed, he and Revan had soon risen so far as to find themselves with direct control of a third of the entire Republic fleet between them. With this new-found authority, they went on to spearhead the Republic war effort. Beneath their inspired leadership, the all-but-defeated Republic Navy began to push the Mandalorians back. The Jedi Masters they had left behind, however, 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 to ensure it, Malak and Revan met their enemies' brutal, merciless tactics with a ruthlessness of their own. 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.

This heroic reputation was finally cemented during the final battle of the war, where they defeated the Mandalorians and slew their leader, Mandalore the Ultimate, above Malachor V. 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 in some tragic disaster.

Sith Apprentice
"Once I served you, Revan&hellip;"

- Darth Malak

The truth was somewhat different. Revan had introduced Malak and the rest of his Jedi followers to Sith teachings that he had uncovered on Malachor V. Seduced to the dark side of the Force, they went on to twist the allegiance of the Republic forces under their command, building the foundations of what would eventually become a new Sith Empire.

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, though reluctant to accept the meager title of "apprentice", followed 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. 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:



"Once we pass beyond this door, we can never go back. The Order will surely banish us."

Such words did not dissuade Revan from continuing through the door to the Star Map, however, and as always, Malak followed shortly behind.

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&mdash;rather than following&mdash;the Mandalorian Wars. Even so, the unconfirmed sightings of Revan and Malak on numerous worlds throughout their year-long disappearance imply that they visited the majority of these planets after the Mandalorian Wars' conclusion.

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 prisoner. 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.

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&mdash;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. 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. They didn't.

Instead, Revan took control of the Star Forge for himself and, a year after their apparent disappearance, would return to known space at the head of a massive invasion fleet. Openly revealing themselves as Sith, Darth Revan and Malak and all those that followed them declared war on the Republic and the Jedi Order.

Though but the Dark Lord's apprentice, Darth Malak proved himself more than his masters' equal when it came to bloodlust and brutality. One such display being his ordering Saul Karath to destroy Telos IV, forever earning the wrath of Carth Onasi and other surviving Telosians. Though clearly a very powerful Sith Lord, as the Jedi Civil War progressed, the ambitious Darth Malak began to chafe under the dominion of another. So it was that the man who had once been Revan's staunchest ally and most loyal of friends began to eagerly await an opportunity to replace his Sith Master...

Dark Lord of the Sith


"Malak is the strongest of us, and the strongest always rules&hellip; at least until one who is stronger can take it from him."

- Yuthura Ban

The moment came when a Republic strike team, led by Jedi Padawan Bastila Shan, staged an assault on Revan's flagship. Separated from his master at the time, Malak ordered the guns of his own ship to fire on Revan's flagship in an attempt to slay both his master and the Jedi. Though he failed in this attempt on Revan's life, his master was incapacitated during the attack and, believing himself to have been successful, Malak assumed command of the Sith Empire, at last taking the mantle of Dark Lord for himself.

While the war against the Republic was going very well, he 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. Darth Malak expended tremendous resources in an attempt to locate and capture her.

Malak nearly succeeded when he blockaded the planet Taris. Although he had the planet destroyed to prevent Bastila's escape, she nonetheless was able to return unharmed to Dantooine on the Ebon Hawk being accompanied by her rescuers. Among these were three citizens of Taris, Mission Vao, Zaalbar and a Mandalorian named Canderous Ordo; the Republic pilot Carth Onasi; the utility droid T3-M4; and an amnesiac Revan. Calo Nord, a bounty hunter who had also escaped Taris' destruction, informed Malak of who had helped Bastila escape (it was Revan who had raced in a hazardous swoop tournament in order to free Bastila from the clutches of one of the street gangs of Taris, then fled the planet in the Ebon Hawk) and offered his services to find her. Calo was hired by Malak to track down the group, capture Bastila, and kill her companions, including Revan. Unfortunately, Calo didn't survive his next encounter with Revan.

Bastila and her companions left Dantooine in search of the source of Malak's power; the Star Forge. While on their search they were captured by the Sith and brought on board the Leviathan, while escaping the ship they encoutered Malak himself who revealed to Revan his true identity. Revan and Malak engaged in combat and Malak proved himself a powerful foe, eventually Bastila sacrificed herself to save Revan and was captured by Malak. He tortured Bastila with Force lightning and finally corrupted her to the dark side of the Force. Malak made her his new apprentice&mdash;replacing his previous apprentice, Darth Bandon, who had been slain recently by Revan.

It was not surprising that Malak's fate would be bound up tightly with Bastila's. The two were very much alike&mdash;courageous, arrogant, and ignored the warnings of their Jedi masters to beware the call of the dark side of the Force.

The true reason Malak chose Bastila for his apprentice was the unimaginable advantages the Sith Empire could gain from her Battle Meditation.

Death
"Im&hellip; impossible. I&hellip; I cannot be beaten. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith."

- Darth Malak



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. Fate&mdash;or the Force&mdash;handed Malak a stunning defeat. It would be he who would die when his former master, Revan, returned. During the battle, his old master boarded the Star Forge in the Ebon Hawk. Revan defeated an attack force of Forge droids, slew nearly all of Malak's Dark Jedi and Sith apprentices, convinced Bastila to return to the light side, and finally reached his old friend and the two engaged in a lightsaber duel in the Star Forge's Observation Tower. During their duel, Malak continually sucked the life-force from captured Jedi held in stasis to replenish his energies, but even this was not enough to defeat Revan. Revan, instead, freed as many of the Jedi as he could and allowed them to become one with the Force, shortening Malak's supply of energy. At last, Malak was cut down.

And so it ended as Malak somehow always knew it must: in darkness.

As he lay dying, his mortal wounds dealt to him by his one-time best friend, he couldn't help but wonder: what if their positions had been reversed? If fate decreed he be captured by the Jedi would he have possessed the strength to return to the light as Revan did? What would his life have been like had he been able to do so?

He tried to blame Revan for his dark fate, but then admitted that in the end, the only person he had to blame for his life was himself. 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.

His final words were the truest he had ever spoken:

"I wanted to be Master of the Sith and ruler of the galaxy. But that destiny was not mine, Revan. It might have been yours, perhaps... but never mine. And in the end, as the darkness takes me, I am nothing."

- Darth Malak to Revan

In the end, Malak's story was a tragic one. He was one of the most gifted and respected Jedi in the Order, and had a long friendship with Revan. But by taking the path of the dark side, he lost that respect and friendship he once had in a mad quest for power&mdash;trading it in for fear, hatred, and eventually death.

Legacy


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 the past. The first vision encountered was that of a young Jedi Knight 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. The Exile prevailed, and made it through the tomb alive after experiencing several more visions. It should be noted, however, that the vision of Malak duels with a red lightsaber, despite the fact that the vision was derived from before Malak's fall to the dark side.

Personality and traits
"Your predecessor once made the mistake of questioning my orders, Admiral. Surely you are not so foolish as to make the same mistake?"

- Darth Malak to Saul Karath



Malak was a bald, pale-skinned Human who stood at an impressive two meters in height. His head was adorned with tattoos, and later in his life a large metal shield covered his face from the nose down. The shield was a prosthetic made necessary by a ghastly lightsaber injury that completely severed his lower jaw, which occurred at an unknown point in his life (possibly after he went to war and fell to the dark side as in the Jedi Exile's visions from the cave he had no injury to the face). One view held by some fans (though one without any supporting evidence) is that Revan himself dealt the blow that severed Malak's lower jaw after Malak publicly challenged Revan's authority. The injury served to remind Malak that Revan was still very much the one in power. A portion of this device allowed him 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.

During his time as 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, 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 sabers. The hilt was identical to that of the short lightsabers.

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 purple-bladed lightsaber. This may have been the same lightsaber he used when he was a Jedi Knight. 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.
 * Like many Sith Lords before and after him, Malak's name could be derived from real words&mdash;mala is Latin for "jawbone." It should be noted, however, that lead designer Drew Karpyshyn has stated that they had the name before the concept of the missing jaw-bone came up. Similarly, the word mal means "bad" in various romance languages such as Spanish and French, and is similar to the word malice, possibly in reference to Malak's fall to the dark side of the Force.
 * It is also likely that the name is taken from the chinese word "malaqiuse" meaning one with no jaw, and since Darth means "dark", he is a"dark one with no jaw".
 * It is also possible that the name is taken from the Greek word "Malakas", a slang word of various meanings, often used to describe aversion to another person.
 * Unlike later Dark Lords of the Sith, Malak (and Revan) did not choose new Sith monikers, but instead used their real names.
 * While Revan's ability and destiny bore similarities to Darth Vader, Malak's physical aspect bore similarities to the infamous Dark Lord also. Both Malak and Vader had cybernetic implants and spoke with a metallic voice. According to Lead Designer James Ohlen, the Malak/Vader similarity was like the Ebon Hawk/Millennium Falcon similarity.




 * Interestingly, one of the items 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.
 * It has been speculated that Malak was the red-armored Sith with a red lightsaber whom four Jedi Masters from the Covenant saw in their visions, which&mdash;after they decided that this Sith was a future version of one of their own Padawans&mdash;led them to commit the Padawan Massacre of Taris. It should also be noted that Malak and Zayne Carrick (the only Padawan to survive the massacre) are sufficiently different in appearance and background to establish them as separate personae. The red environmental suit from this vision is later given to Alek, who is also speculated as possibly being Malak.
 * An Easter egg in the ending of Knights of the Old Republic allows the player to transform Malak into a green-skinned Twi'lek dancer and skip the final battle.

Appearances

 * Shadows and Light
 * Knights of the Old Republic: Opportunities
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Notes and references
Darth Malak Darth Malak