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- "Wil? Wil, where are you going? Come back!"
- ―Gideon to his brother, Wilhuff Tarkin
According to a story told by the Espirion Saan, Gideon was a human male from the Outer Rim planet Eriadu who was the brother of the future Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin. One day, while still a child, Gideon joined their father and brother on an expedition to the planet Eadu in search of the ore lommite. However, while left unsupervised, Gideon injured their ankle in a ravine and was unable to get back up. Gideon called out to his brother, Wilhuff Tarkin, to fetch their father for assistance, as local creatures were preparing to attack the boy. Tarkin disregarded Gideon's plea and headed back to their ship.
Many years later, in 0 BBY, Wilhuff had a series of visions involving his late brother during the final moments before his death on the Death Star battle station. At some point between 21 ABY and 35 ABY, Saan told the story about Gideon and Tarkin to human Company 77 member Fry in the ruins of the second Death Star.
Biography[]
Death[]
- "Wil, you have to help me. I fell…hurt my ankle. I can't get back up."
- ―Gideon, to Wilhuff Tarkin
Gideon was Wilhuff Tarkin's (pictured) alleged brother.
According to a story the Espirion[3] woman[4] Saan told,[3] a human male member of[1] the Eriaduan[5] Tarkin family named Gideon joined their father and their brother Wilhuff Tarkin on a trip to[1] the planet[6] Eadu[1] many years before 0 BBY.[2] After traveling to Eadu from their home[1] planet[5] Eriadu, the family performed a survey of Eadu's surface, hoping to find[1] the ore[5] lommite. Gideon and Tarkin, who were children at the time, went off on their own in the rain, with Gideon eventually falling in a crevice in the ground and hurting their ankle.[1]
After hearing Gideon's cries for help, Tarkin located Gideon, who could not get out of the ravine without help. When Gideon suggested getting their father for help, Tarkin claimed their father was busy and ignored Gideon's request despite their warning that there were creatures in the crevice. As Tarkin abandoned Gideon in the ravine and ignored his brother's cries for him to come back, the creatures attacked and killed Gideon. Tarkin returned alone to the starship and met up with his father, who revealed that the survey had failed. After noticing Tarkin was alone, the man demanded he tell him where his brother was, with Tarkin only smiling in response.[1]
Legacy[]
- "Wil?"
- ―Gideon's voice calls out to Tarkin
Tarkin's victims, including Gideon, appear to him in his final moments before his death.
Many years later, in 0 BBY,[2] Tarkin was a Grand Moff of the Galactic Empire and was on the Death Star battle station.[1] According to Saan's story,[3] Tarkin heard his brother's voice call out his nickname, Wil, while in one of the station's corridors. After turning and briefly spotting a vision of Gideon running through the corridor, Tarkin asked a nearby lieutenant if anyone had come by and ordered them to search that section of the station. Tarkin soon had another vision where he was on Eadu and speaking to his father. His father asked him where Gideon was, before the vision ended with one of the creatures that killed Gideon attacking Tarkin. Later, during the Battle of Yavin, Tarkin had one final vision of all his victims standing before him, including Gideon, who appeared corpse-like and was holding[1] Imperial advanced weapons research director[6] Orson Krennic's hand. The space station was then destroyed by the Rebel Alliance, killing Tarkin.[1]
At some point between 21 ABY and 35 ABY,[7] while within the ruins of the second Death Star on the moon Kef Bir, the Espirion Saan told the story that included Gideon to Fry, a human member of Company 77 who had defected from the First Order regime.[3]
Personality and traits[]
- "Wil, please. There are…there are things down here."
- ―Gideon to Tarkin, on the creatures in the crevice
Gideon had red hair and light skin. The boy was terrified of the creatures on Eadu and was desperate for Wilhuff's help.[1]
Equipment[]
Gideon wore a long red hooded jacket with red pants and red boots.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
In the current Star Wars canon continuity, Gideon appeared in "The Haunting of Grand Moff Tarkin," a comic story[1] depicted as an in-universe tale told by Saan.[3] The story was written by Cavan Scott, illustrated by Ingo Römling, and published by Dark Horse Comics in the 2023 graphic novel Tales from the Death Star.[1] In the Star Wars Legends continuity, Gideon Tarkin was first mentioned in[8] the 1994[9] sourcebook Cracken's Rebel Operatives.[8]
Appearances[]
- "The Haunting of Grand Moff Tarkin" — Tales from the Death Star (First appearance)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 "The Haunting of Grand Moff Tarkin" — Tales from the Death Star
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Haunting of Grand Moff Tarkin" establishes that its events on Eadu, including Gideon's death, take place "many years" before its events concurrent to the Battle of Yavin, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 0 BBY.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Nightmares Long Remembered" — Tales from the Death Star
- ↑ "The Creature from the Trash Compactor" — Tales from the Death Star
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tarkin
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization
- ↑ "Nightmares Long Remembered" takes place between the formation of the First Order, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 21 ABY, and Jannah leaving Kef Bir, which Timelines dates to 35 ABY.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cracken's Rebel Operatives
- ↑
Cracken's Rebel Operatives in the StarWars.com Cargo Bay (original site is defunct)