A Two-Edged Sword



A Two-Edged Sword, erroneously printed as Two-Edged Sword, is a short story in Star Wars Insider 85 written by Karen Traviss. It follows Darth Vader and Palpatine training clones for the stormtrooper corps and explores Vader's thoughts of betrayal and paranoia.

Plot
Vader is on Yinchorr training clones of Cuis in lightsaber combat, with the Emperor and Imperial lieutenant Erv Lekauf. In addition various Dark Jedi were cloned and trained, particularly the Emperor's Hand Sheyvan. Returning to Coruscant, the Sheyvan and the Cuis clones revolt on Palpatine's Lambda-class shuttle.

Vader makes his way to the revolt and overhears Sheyvan yelling out that Palpatine will betray them all. Vader disregards this and plans with Lekauf, Pepin, and Nele to storm the bulkhead with flamethrowers before Vader enters to finish them off. In the chaos Lekauf is burned by a backlash of fire, and is subsequently given bacta. After entering the bulkhead, Vader fights with Sheyvan and kills him. Lekauf survives and is able to return to his family on Coruscant; his injuries remind Vader of his former self.

Vader was so impressed by Lekauf's actions that he ordered more clones of the army lieutenant to be made.