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- "I am a Jedi, like my father before me."
- ―Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker was a legendary Jedi Knight during the time of the Galactic Civil War. The son of fallen Jedi Knight turned Lord of the Sith Anakin Skywalker and former queen of Naboo Padme Amidala. He was the twin brother of Princess Leia Organa.
Luke began as a simple farm boy with dreams of being something greater. A chance purchase of two droids would begin his journeys into a galactic hero.
Biography
Early life
Luke as an infant.
- "It's a boy."
"Luke." - ―A medical droid and Padmé Amidala
A Human male, Luke Skywalker was the son of senator of Naboo Padmé Amidala and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and the twin brother of Leia Organa. Following the establishment of the Galactic Empire and her husband's fall to the dark side of the Force, Amidala was taken to a medical facility on the asteroid Polis Massa by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to give birth. Before dying in labor, Amidala named her twins Luke and Leia, respectively. To protect the children from the Empire and the now-Sith Lord Darth Vader, senator Bail Organa agreed to adopt Leia together with his wife, the queen of Alderaan. Kenobi took Luke and brought him to the planet Tatooine, where the Lars family took care of the infant.[3]
The Adventure Begins
Leaving Tatooine
- "I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing for me here now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."
- ―Luke Skywalker to Obi-Wan Kenobi
Luke receives his father's lightsaber from Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The purchase of two droids by Skywalker's uncle changed the youth's life forever. With the discovery of a desperate message to Obi-Wan Kenobi contained within the astromech droid R2-D2, Skywalker soon found himself in the company of Kenobi after being attacked by Sand People. Kenobi then revealed to Skywalker that he had once been a Jedi Knight who served in the Clone Wars with Skywalker's father. He went on to inform Skywalker that his father was no cargo pilot, but a Jedi Knight struck down by Darth Vader.[1]
Soon after, Skywalker and Kenobi came upon a group of slaughtered Jawas—the same ones who sold the droids to Owen Lars. Luke deduced from learning that Imperial stormtroopers were responsible that they might have looked into the sales records of the droids, and rushed home in the hopes of saving his aunt and uncle. Upon quickly returning home, Skywalker discovered that he was too late: his aunt and uncle had been murdered by Imperial stormtroopers looking for R2-D2 and C-3PO. With his family dead, he agreed to accompany Kenobi to Alderaan to deliver the astromech, who was carrying the plans for the Death Star, to Bail Organa at the behest of Organa's daughter, Princess Leia Organa. The two traveled to the Chalmun's Cantina to obtain passage off the planet and met Han Solo and his first mate Chewbacca. Skywalker nearly had a fatal run-in with Ponda Baba in the cantina. Obi-Wan brokered a deal to pay Solo two thousand credits up front plus fifteen more when they arrived on Alderaan. Luke sold his speeder to pay for the two thousand up front.[1]
Death Star Rescue
Luke rescuing Leia Organa inside the Death Star.
- "Luke, we're gonna have company!"
- ―Han Solo to Luke Skywalker
After departing Mos Eisley Skywalker, Kenobi, Solo and Chewbacca set course for Alderaan. While they reached the coordinates they came out of hyperspace into an asteroid field. The Empire had destroyed the planet. They approached what looked to be a small moon but was in fact the Death Star.
The tractor beam carried them toward the station, they had no choice but to cut power and let the Empire take them. They hid themselves in small smuggling compartments under the floor of the Millennium Falcon. They found out that the Princess of Alderaan, Leia Organa was being held on the Station so Luke Devised a plan to rescue her while Obi-Wan deactivated the tractor beam.
Luke, Han and Chewie made their way to the detention area pretending the Wookiee was their prisoner. When they got to the cell blocks a fire fight ensued. Luke went to find Leia as Han and Chewie braced for the incoming troops. As Luke brought the princess out of her cell they were met with laser fire. After a brief argument over how to escape, Leia blew a hole in a wall. They all jumped down the chute. They all ended up in the trash compacter.
Eventually, the group escaped the Death Star, but only after Kenobi sacrificed himself in a duel with Darth Vader. They traveled to the hidden Rebel base on Yavin 4, even though the Death Star was tracking them. It was then that Solo received his reward for rescuing Organa and prepared to leave the group. Skywalker attempted to persuade him to stay and help them against the Empire but Solo refused, deeply disappointing him.
Hero for the Rebellion
- "Great shot, kid; that was one in a million!"
- ―Han Solo to Luke Skywalker after the destruction of the Death Star
Yavin
Skywalker took part in the Battle of Yavin, witnessing the death of many compatriots, including close friend Biggs Darklighter. After the death of the two squadron leaders, he took it upon himself to lead the final assault. With the timely arrival of the Millennium Falcon and the guidance of Kenobi's spirit, Skywalker took a single shot and used the Force to direct his proton torpedoes to their target, destroying the station. For this action he, Chewbacca, and Han Solo were awarded the Medal of Bravery.
Hoth
Three years later, while Luke was taking a patrol of the icy world of Hoth, probe droids hit the surface that Skywalker believed to be meteors. As he went to investigate the site he was attacked by a Wampa snow monster. After escaping the creature he was visited by a vision of Obi-Wan who told him to go to the Dagobah system to learn from Jedi Master Yoda. After recuperating at Echo base, he took part in the Battle of Hoth. During the battle he lost his gunner, Dak. He figured out that the AT-ATs armor was too strong for their speeder's blasters and that they needed to be taken out from the legs using harpoons and tow cables. Soon after taking out one of the walkers he was shot down. Narrowly escaping from certain death, he managed to ascend to underneath one of the walkers and destroyed it by cutting a hole and tossing a bomb inside the walker. Following the battle he headed to Dagobah in search of Yoda.
Jedi Training
Once young Skywalker arrived on the swampy world, his X-Wing crashed in the murky waters. Feeling uneasy about the place, he quickly made camp. He soon met a strange creature, unbeknownst to him was the Jedi Master he was sent to find. After a quick scuffle, Luke was taken to the home of the little, green being. Once there, Skywalker questioned how long it would be until he met the Jedi Master. After showing his impatience, Yoda revealed him himself.
The young Jedi began his training by running through the swamp with Yoda on his back. He listened to everything he had to say. After ending Skywalker's physical training he ventured into the Cave of Dark Side and faced his worst fear. Fighting Darth Vader, after defeating him, realizing that it was him behind the mask. He had failed this test.
While practicing his focus, lifting rocks, boxes and his droid R2-D2, he was distracted by his ship sinking and a vision of his friends in danger. Yoda tried to convince Luke to stay but he would not listen. He promised to return and finish what he started.
Vader's Trap
- "Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father."
"He told me enough! He told me you killed him!"
"No. I am your father." - ―Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker
Luke duels with Darth Vader on Bespin.
Skywalker arrived at Cloud City and, with blaster drawn, moved in to rescue his friends. He was shot at by boba Fett and ambushed by a group of stormtrooperss and Imperial officers. He briefly spotted Organa being used as a human shield by a Imperial officer. As she was dragged away, Leia attempted to warn him that he was walking into a "trap". While attempting to pursue them, Skywalker's path was diverted to the carbon-freeze chamber where Darth Vader awaited him.[2]
Skywalker engaged the Dark Lord in a fierce duel. Vader proved his superiority in his customized Form V swordplay, executing cho mai and Dun Möch. After severing Skywalker's hand from his body, Vader attempted to seduce the weakened Jedi to the dark side of the Force, offering Skywalker the chance to destroy the Emperor and "bring order to the galaxy." In his efforts to sway Skywalker from his defiant refusals, Vader then revealed his identity as Skywalker's father.[2]
Faced with this shocking and horrifying claim and the even more fearsome temptation to join Vader, Skywalker found the moral courage to choose death instead by throwing himself down a long shaft. He was sucked through an opening portal at the bottom of the chamber, then through another one which led out of the floating city. Skywalker grabbed onto a weather vane, preventing a fall to his death. Weak and helpless, Skywalker at first called out for Kenobi, but failed to contact him. He then reached out to Organa with the Force, and soon the Millennium Falcon, with Lando Calrissian, Organa, Chewbacca, and the droids onboard, arrived to rescue him. After reuniting with the Rebel fleet, Skywalker received his cybernetic hand aboard the Redemption.[2]
Rescuing a Friend
One year later Skywalker would return to his homeplanet of Tatooine to set the plan into motion that would lead to the esue of his friend Han Solo. After, C-3PO, Leia and Lando were already in the palace playing their parts, he appeared to the mighty Jabba. Demanding that Jabba give up his friend, Jabba refused and Luke was dropped into a pit to fight a rancor beast. After a bit of a struggle, Skywalker managed to escape the clutches of the beast and throw a rock at the controls for the pit door and crush the monster. This angered the Hutt which lead to him setting Han and Luke up for execution by being eating by the Sarlacc pit. [4]
Once at the site of the Sarlacc, Luke and Han were given a chance to beg for their lives. Han only had insults to give to the Hutt gangster. While Luke gave a warning, "Free us or Die." A stare down commenced which lead to an all out skirmish many of Jabba's men were killed in the assault including bounty hunter Boba Fett who fell into the Sarlacc. [4]
Keeping the Promise
Luke returned to Dagobah to finish what he had started with Master Yoda. When he arrived, Yoda was very ill, on the verge on death. Yoda told him that he must confront Vader one more time to complete his training. When asked if Vader was the young Jedi's real father, Yoda replied with, "Your father he is." Not sure what to make of this news and saddened of the passing of Master Yoda, Luke left the hut. Outside he was visited by the ghost of Obi-Wan who preceded to tell the young man that not only was Darth Vader his father but that he had a twin sister as well. This information surprised the young man, realizing that there was more to him that he had known. He had a destiny to fulfill.
Endor's Test
- "Now, go, my son. Leave me."
"No. You're coming with me. I will not leave you here. I've got to save you!"
"You already have, Luke. You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister… you were right." - ―Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker
Skywalker on Endor
Luke rejoined the Rebel Fleet after his meeting with the spirit of Obi-Wan. The plan had been set, a squad lead by Han Solo would man an assault on the shield generator to the second Death Star on the forest moon of Endor while the fleet would amass a huge assault on the station. It seemed risky but it was the only way the Alliance could ensure a victory over the Empire. Skywalker joined Han's strike team, sensing his father's presence aboard the Super Star Destroyer he feared he should not have come. The others dismissed his concerns, and proceeded with the mission. However, thanks to Skywalker merely accompanying the mission, Vader was able to detect the presence of the Rebels in the shuttle in which they infiltrated the forest moon, but allowed them to land so he could deal with them himself. When they arrived on the moon, they were noticed by Imperial Scout Troopers. Both Organa and Skywalker pursued them on speeder bikes through the dense forest. At one point in the chase they got separated.
Upon learning of her disappearance, Solo, Skywalker, Chewbacca, and the droids went looking for her, but were captured by a tribe of Ewoks. Skywalker managed to avoid a conflict with the Ewoks by ingeniously rescuing the party. The had C-3PO, whom the Ewoks thought to be a god, tell the small forest-dwellers that he would become angry and use his magic if his friends were not set free. Not taking his words to heart, the Ewoks continued with their plan. Luke used the Force to levitate 3PO into the air and convinced the Ewoks to let them go. Skywalker knew that he had to confront Vader. In the Ewok village, Skywalker revealed to Organa her true familial heritage and resolved to face Vader. Not long after, Skywalker surrendered to Vader in an attempt to bring the Dark Lord back to the light side, but he ultimately became a prisoner of the Emperor.[4]
While on board the Death Star, he was constantly challenged by The Emperor to use his anger and strike him down. Luke kept his emotions in check and when he had his back against the wall, he was forced to face his father in a duel. Throughout the duel Vader try to persuade his son to join him on the Dark Side of the Force. Luke refused, when Vader figured out that Luke had a sister, and thought that she would join him, Luke broke out in a vicious rage. Attacking his father with a anger he never knew was inside him. It came to an end when Luke cut off his father's hand just as Vader had removed his one year ago. As Vader laid wounded, Palpatine tried to convince Luke to kill his father. Luke would refuse. Luke was then struck him with Force Lightning. Vader stood up and looked at what his son was going through. With a loud yell of "NO!" he threw the Emporer down the reactor shaft to his death.
Appearances
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First appearance)
- Heir to the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII
Sources
Nien Nunb in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (Picture only)- Rebel Alliance in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (Picture only)
- Luke Skywalker in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
