A’Sharad Hett began life as a complex and layered character within the Star Wars galaxy. Born on Tatooine, the son of the Jedi Knight Sharad Hett, A’Sharad grew up as a member of the Tusken Raiders, a group known for their harsh, nomadic lifestyle. This unique upbringing shaped both his early life as a Jedi and his eventual fall to the Dark Side.
Early Life and Jedi Training
A’Sharad Hett’s father, Sharad Hett, left the Jedi Order after becoming disillusioned and chose to live among the Tusken Raiders. A’Sharad was raised in this brutal culture, learning survival and combat skills from a young age. When bounty hunter Aurra Sing killed his father, A’Sharad was taken into the Jedi Order, where he was trained by Jedi Masters Ki-Adi-Mundi and An’ya Kuro, also known as the Dark Woman.
A’Sharad wielded a green lightsaber during his time as a Jedi, symbolizing his commitment to the Jedi Order and the Light Side of the Force. His combat skills were heavily influenced by his Tusken Raider heritage. Proficient in Form V, Djem So, A’Sharad’s lightsaber style emphasized aggressive, powerful strikes, making him a formidable warrior. The Tusken Raider traditions and martial arts only strengthened his fighting ability, blending perfectly with the Jedi teachings.
A Jedi General in the Clone Wars
As the Clone Wars raged across the galaxy, A’Sharad Hett served as a Jedi General. He led Republic troops against the Separatists in several key battles, proving himself to be an effective and fierce leader. However, the horrors of war began to wear down Hett’s belief in the Jedi Code. His Tusken upbringing, which valued strength and survival over peace, clashed with the Jedi ideals of non-attachment and serenity.
The brutal realities of war exposed Hett to the darker aspects of the galaxy. This, coupled with his Tusken background, led him to question whether the Jedi Order could truly bring peace to the galaxy. These seeds of doubt would later contribute to his eventual fall.
Surviving Order 66
After Emperor Palpatine executed Order 66, which called for the extermination of the Jedi, A’Sharad Hett was one of the few who managed to survive. Fleeing the clone troopers, he returned to his roots on Tatooine, resuming his life as a Tusken Raider leader. During this time of exile, A’Sharad distanced himself from the Jedi Order, which he now viewed as a failed institution.
The disillusionment with the Jedi Order and the fall of the Republic pushed A’Sharad further into isolation. His time as a Tusken Raider strengthened his resolve, but it also hardened his heart against the ideals he once upheld. This period of exile marked the beginning of his slow descent into darkness, ultimately leading him away from the Jedi teachings that once defined him.
The Fall: From Jedi to Darth Krayt
A’Sharad Hett’s transformation into Darth Krayt began when he encountered the spirit of XoXaan, one of the original Sith Lords. XoXaan saw potential in A’Sharad’s growing anger and frustration and offered him the knowledge of the Sith. The change was stark: the former Jedi who wielded a green lightsaber of peace embraced the crimson blade of the Dark Side. Believing that the Dark Side could bring the order and stability that the galaxy desperately needed, A’Sharad embraced the teachings of the Sith.
Shortly afterward, A’Sharad was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, a species of extragalactic invaders immune to most Force powers. The Yuuzhan Vong implanted parasites into his body, attempting to break his will. However, these torturous experiments only strengthened his resolve. He used the pain to fuel his connection to the Dark Side, ultimately emerging as Darth Krayt, a Sith Lord consumed by a desire to impose order on the galaxy through his rule.
Adopting the Sith name Darth Krayt, A’Sharad donned a set of armor crafted from Yuuzhan Vong organic technology. This armor, while granting him strength, also tortured him constantly, a physical reminder of his transformation and his rejection of his Jedi past. The parasites continued to weaken his connection to the Force, but through the Dark Side, Krayt suppressed their effects, maintaining his power and ambition.
The Rise of the One Sith
As Darth Krayt, A’Sharad Hett sought to reshape the Sith Order. Rejecting Darth Bane’s Rule of Two, which dictated that there could only be two Sith at any given time—a master and an apprentice—Krayt believed that the Sith needed unity, not rivalry. He formed the “One Sith” Order, where many Sith would serve under his leadership.
Krayt’s vision was to bring order to a chaotic galaxy through the power of the Sith. The One Sith thrived under his rule, growing in numbers and power. Krayt’s lightsaber, now a crimson blade, was a symbol of his complete break from his Jedi past and his new identity as a Sith Lord. He seized control of the galaxy by overthrowing the Fel Empire and declaring himself Emperor. His rule was marked by fear and domination, as the One Sith sought to impose their will on the galaxy without the constant backstabbing and betrayal that had historically plagued the Sith.
Lightsaber Mastery and Combat Style
Darth Krayt was a master of lightsaber combat, particularly skilled in Form V (Djem So), a form that focused on powerful, aggressive strikes. His combat style was a mix of Jedi and Tusken Raider techniques, making him an unpredictable and deadly opponent. His green lightsaber was replaced by a crimson one, a clear symbol of his fall from grace and his embrace of the Dark Side.
Despite the physical toll of his Yuuzhan Vong implants, Krayt was able to continue fighting with the strength of the Dark Side. His mastery of both lightsaber combat and the Force made him one of the most dangerous Sith Lords in galactic history.
Conflict with Cade Skywalker
Darth Krayt’s ambitions eventually brought him into conflict with Cade Skywalker, a descendant of Luke Skywalker. Cade, though initially reluctant to accept his Jedi heritage, became a key figure in the resistance against Krayt’s rule. Their fates were intertwined, with Cade struggling against both the temptations of the Dark Side and the legacy of the Skywalker family.
In their final confrontation, Cade’s connection to the Light Side of the Force and his determination to resist Krayt’s influence allowed him to defeat the Sith Lord. Cade struck down Darth Krayt, ending his reign and shattering the One Sith’s hold on the galaxy.
Legacy of Darth Krayt
Despite Darth Krayt’s death, his legacy lived on. The One Sith continued to influence galactic events long after his fall. Krayt’s rejection of the Rule of Two and his creation of the One Sith marked a significant departure from traditional Sith philosophy. His vision of a united Sith Order under a single leader would inspire future Sith Lords, though it also left the Sith fractured.
The story of A’Sharad Hett, who began as a Jedi wielding a green lightsaber but fell to the Dark Side, serves as a tragic reminder of how even the strongest convictions can be corrupted. Darth Krayt’s legacy continues to shape the Star Wars universe, serving as a powerful symbol of the thin line between light and dark, and the consequences of succumbing to the Dark Side.
