Darth Vader (2017) 9

Darth Vader 9 is the ninth issue of the canon comic book series Star Wars: Darth Vader (2017). It was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli, and published on December 6, 2017 by Marvel Comics.
==Publisher's summary==
As the threat of the Jedi continues to menace the fledgling Empire, Vader finds himself on the trail of [a] Jedi his master has commanded him…to keep alive?
==Plot summary==
===Vader's arrival===
On Coruscant, Darth Vader travels on an airspeeder to the former Jedi Temple, which is guarded by Coruscant Guards and Coruscant underworld police. Clone Commander Fox informs him that the Temple has been sealed and asks Lord Vader what are is orders. Vader says that no one is allowed to enter or leave the Temple unless authorized by the Emperor or him.
Fox informs him that they have two full companies of Clone troopers plus a large contingent of the Coruscant Security Force. When Fox inquires about the nature of the threat they are facing, Lord Vader asks him whether he was involved with the implementation of Order 66. After Fox confirms this is the case, Vader remarks that he missed some.
===Settling old scores===
Meanwhile, Jedi Master Jocasta Nu confronts the Grand Inquisitor, demanding to know who he is and chastising him for defiling the Temple. A bitter Grand Inquisitor reminds Master Nu that she had denied his requests for access to the higher archives when he was still in the Jedi Order. After recognizing him, Master Nu denounces the Grand Inquisitor as a traitor. The Grand Inquisitor counters that the Jedi are now traitors and the engage in a lightsaber duel.
When Master Nu asks if he is a Sith, the Grand Inquisitor says not yet but close enough. The Inquisitor says he relishes in using his fury to fuel his dark side powers. When Master Nu asks why he would betray his brothers and sisters in the Force, the Grand Inquisitor says that the Jedi took him from his family as a child. Exposed only to the light side of the Force, the Inquisitor believed that the Jedi had always denied him something. The Grand Inquisitor says that his emptiness has been filled by the dark side.
When the Inquisitor expresses bitterness that Master Nu denied him access to the higher archives, she counters that the secrets within the Jedi Archives are deep, complex, strange and not for everyone. She explains that she denied his requests because she did not believe he was ready before hurling him aside. When Master Nu affirms her duties as a Jedi archivist, the Grand Inquisitor taunts her that the Jedi Order is gone and that there is nothing she can do to keep him from the knowledge that he desires.
A skilled lightsaber duelist, the Grand Inquisitor gains the upper hand and knocks Master Nu to the ground, separating her from her lightsaber. As he prepares to strike her down with his double-bladed spinning lightsaber, Master Nu embraces her fate, saying that she is one with the Force. However, the Grand Inquisitor is stopped by Darth Vader, who blocks his blade with his lightsaber.
===Sith versus Jedi===
The Grand Inquisitor demands to know why Lord Vader is stopping him from executing Master Nu. Remembering the Emperor's orders not to share information about Master Nu's importance with the Inquisitorius, Lord Vader merely replies that he does not wish for her to be executed. When the Grand Inquisitor demands to know why, Vader reiterates his orders. Not trusting Vader's loyalty, the Grand Inquisitor suggests that Lord Vader deactivate his lightsaber first as a sign of trust. Vader counters that he only demands the Inquisitor's obedience.
Taking advantage of Vader and the Grand Inquisitor's distraction, she uses the Force to hurl several holobooks at her opponents. Summoning the Force, Master Nu runs up a pillar and climbs onto the balcony. While the Inquisitor is knocked out, Vader continues the pursuit. He orders Master Nu to surrender, promising not to harm her. Through the Force, Master Nu senses that Vader is a genuine Sith who played a role in the Great Jedi Purge. Realizing that Vader wants her alive so that the Sith can obtain the secrets of the Archives, Master Nu initiates an authorization code ordering the Archives' computers to delete all information stored on their holobooks in order to deny the Jedi Order's secrets to the Sith.
Entering the Jedi Archive vault, Vader finds his path blocked by the security droid Cator, who recognizes him as Anakin Skywalker based on his bioscans. He tells Skywalker that his presence in the vault is not authorized and tells him to comply with Master Nu's procedures to request user privileges. Lord Vader hurls his lightsaber but the droid intercepts it. Identifying himself as a guardian-protector of a sensitive area within the Jedi Temple, Cator says that he is programmed to defend against any threat including Jedi lightsaber attacks. Recognizing Skywalker as a Sith based on his red lightsaber he orders him to leave.
Vader charges at the droid, ripping off his left arm. The droid strikes back by crushing one of his mechanical hands. Lord Vader finally destroys the droid by smashing its head with his fists. Meanwhile, Master Nu finds a lightsaber rifle within the vault and attacks Vader, knocking him to the ground. She vows that it is his turn.
==Media==
===Editions===
*UPC 759606086665; December 6, 2017; Marvel Comics
**00911; Cover A; Giuseppe Camuncoli, Francesco Mattina
===Cover gallery===
File:Darth_Vader_Dark_Lord_of_the_Sith_9.jpg|Cover A
File:DarthVader-DLotS-9-no.jpg|Cover A, unlettered
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Vol. 2 — Legacy's End
*Star Wars: Darth Vader - Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 1
*Star Wars: Darth Vader by Charles Soule Omnibus
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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