The clone of Luke Skywalker, created by Joruus C'baoth to turn Skywalker to the dark side, instead provided the means by which Mara Jade could finally let go of her anger, and join the light side.

During their duel on Bespin, Darth Vader sliced off Luke Skywalker's right hand, sending it, and his lightsabre, falling into the depths of Cloud City. Believed lost by Skywalker, the hand and its weapon were eventually found. The hand was stored along with the lightsabre in the Emperor's private storehouse in Mt. Tantiss. When Joruus C'baoth became the Guardian of Wayland, he found the storehouse, and Luke's hand. Cell sample B-2332-54 was taken from the hand, and became the basis for the clone of Luke Skywalker.

The Empire maintained a series of working spaarti cloning cylinders in Mt. Tantiss, and it was within one of these that Luuke Skywalker was grown. Though cloning technology had advanced since the days of the Clone Wars, the process was not perfected. The creation and growth acceleration of Luuke was rushed, meaning the clone became mentally unstable. Luuke was given little independence, and was largely controlled by the mental influence Joruus C'baoth himself. That Joruus was also insane did not improve Luuke's chances.

Luuke was created as nothing more than a mindless killer, and he was tasked with the destruction of Luke Skywalker, should the Jedi refuse to join C'baoth. Then, Joruus would at least have one version of Skywalker as his apprentice. Luke faced the clone in the Mt. Tantiss throne room, when he, Mara Jade and the heroes of the Alliance staged an attack on Wayland. Using the lightsabre that was once Anakin Skywalker's, Luuke fought his 'parent' in a vicious battle across the throne room. C'baoth was able to control Luuke and battle his other enemies - a testament to his dark powers.

However, C'baoth could not stop the intervention of luck. Though C'baoth was able to disarm Han and Leia Organa Solo, Mara Jade managed to grab Leia's lightsabre. Confused, C'baoth let his guard down, and Mara launched into action. Luke had led his clone towards a panel of viewscreens, and baited Luuke into slicing one with his sabre. Sparks flew into the clone's face, causing him to cry out - the first sound he made during the entire battle. Turning in confusion, Luuke was killed by Mara. With the Emperor's last command now fufilled, in a fashion - to kill Luke Skywalker - Mara was free to kill C'baoth himself. Luuke's lightsabre was recovered by Luke, and presented to Mara as a gift.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page created: 04 April 2004