Chik Apla

"What's gotten into you? You're gutter slime"

- Chala Venan

"Was gutter slime. I'm coming back into my own now. Good to be home"

- Chik Apla

Chik Apla was an Imperial commando from Coruscant. He was known as a member of the Emperor's Royal Guard, more than likely from the newly created guard under Admiral Daala. While in service, Apla had received a distinguishing scar that ran down his right temple. Apla was instrumental in Moff Derran Takkar's plan to ruin the highly publicized wedding of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade.

Biography
Chik Apla was an experienced Imperial veteran that served as an Imperial Royal Guard after their resurrection under Admiral Daala. Unfortunately, Apla's military days came to a close after the signing of the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty. With the total collapse of the Empire, Apla took up residence on the planet Dolis 3. Apla was bar buddies with several men on the planet, but money was hard to come by. Most of the men were in debt to each other through favors and loans, and they gathered in the bar to complain about the state of the Empire. Besides hanging around the bars, Apla had also become involved with the local Moff, Derran Takkar. Unknown to the Moff, Apla was carrying on an affair with the Takkar's wife, Anlys.



Around 20 ABY, Apla and his bar buddies received word that Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker were planning an elaborate wedding on Coruscant. At news of the wedding, the men began to assess their situation with one man declaring that the New Republic was now "untouchable". However, Moff Takkar disagreed. Walking into the bar, he proclaimed to the men that they could still do much to change their's and the Empire's situation. One resident of the bar was first to point out that it was easy for Takkar to talk when he was living comfortably with money that he had pilfered. Takkar responded by striking the man in the face and he fell to the bar floor. Takkar asked that the men in the bar join him in striking a blow at the New Republic. The men--while harboring ill will for Takkar's recruitment techniques--agreed to join Takkar's cause.

Takkar gave Apla and three other men, Chala Venan, Banner Sumptor and Iry Danta, a meeting place on Coruscant, and the group pooled their resources to get off Dolis 3 and rent a low-quality of apartment in the slums of the city. After arriving on Coruscant, Apla began to act more professionally, quieting the men and telling them not to speak their real names out loud. Takkar soon made contact with the group, giving them their assignments. Apla was assigned a surveillance job and immediately began spying on Mara Jade, following her movements and eavesdropping on her conversations. Finding the site of the wedding, Apla and his compatriots staked out the place, locating the best places of attack.



After a long day of work, Apla went with Danta and Sumptor to the Red Rancor. Ordering drinks, the trio occupied a booth to talk about their upcoming work. Unknown to them, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian were throwing a bachelor party for Skywalker at the bar. Surveying the situation, Apla and the group witnessed Luke and his companions get involved in a widespread barfight. During the fight, a drunken Trandoshan almost crushed Luke with a heavy table. Sumptor stopped the Trandoshan by tripping him before he could slam the table onto the Jedi. Apla and Danta were initially annoyed with Sumptor for "saving" Luke, but after Sumptor explained that having the Rebel hero die in a bar brawl was wrong, Apla agreed with the man saying that they had an Imperial standard to uphold. Unfortunately, Moff Takkar didn't see it the same way and reprimanded the men for not taking the initiative to eliminate Skywalker.

After this incident, Apla was assigned to Takkar's wife Anlys. Anlys planned to eliminate the dressmaker for the wedding, to throw the event into disarray. Anlys was very flirtatious with the former Royal Guard, suggesting that if he succeeded in accomplishing her goals she would love to "celebrate" with him. However, Apla doubted Anlys's ability to find the dressmaker but was surprised when Anlys's talents quickly uncovered the dressmaker, Jari'kyn. Apla found the address of the dressmaker and waited for Mara to arrive for her fitting. Dressed in full Royal Guard armor, Apla watched as Mara arrived for her fitting. Breaking into Jari'kyn's headquarters, he attacked Mara with a double bladed vibroblade, declaring that she needed to die for betraying the Empire. Unfortunately for Apla, Mara reacted with incredible speed, parrying his attacks and destroying his weapon.

Mara's counterattack knocked Apla unconscious, and he was taken into Republic custody. Apla suffered from internal injuries including a ruptured spleen and a bruised liver. Apla's armor also had little effect in protecting his body as he was also victim to a fractured skull and broken ribs. However, bacta was known to heal all of Apla's injuries, and it's likely that he suffered no long-lasting wounds. After Apla's fate reached the rest of the group, Anlys became unconsolable, crying for her lost love. Takkar and the group continued with the plan to ruin the wedding, but their attempt was grossly unsuccesful. It's likely that Apla remained in Republic custody.

Talents
Chik Apla was a talented knife thrower and weapons expert. Apla was able to pierce a beatle at some distance with a throwing knife, and was well versed in military procedure. Apla had retained a full suit of Royal Guard body armor complete with vibroblade, but the suit showed it's age with the cape suffering several holes in the fabric.



Behind the scenes

 * Apla's body armor is reminiscent of Carnor Jax's guard armor. Jax's armor and helmet were supposed to be reserved for the Master Instructor of the Emperor's Royal Guard. Because of Apla's possession of this suit of armor, it's likely that Apla was the Master Instructor for the new set of guards created under Admiral Daala.


 * The likeness for Chik Apla is most likely based off of Jack Nicholson.

Appearances

 * Union