Josh Nichols

**Josh Nichols**, later known as **Joshua Nichols** during his exile, was a Force-sensitive human male Jedi Master who served the Galactic Republic. He was mentor to both Drake Parker and her daughter, Carly, training them in the ways of the Force.

## Bio

### Personality

In his youth, the loyal and dedicated Josh possessed a dry sense of humor and sarcastic wit. Nug Nug said that he sensed Walter Nichols's defiance in him, and Wakter himself reflected upon Josh's considerable knowledge and potential: he also considered his Padawan a lot wiser than him, if somewhat headstrong. Often seen wise beyond his years, his humble and soft-spoken demeanor belied his warrior prowess. Despite his numerous complaints during flight, he was also a skilled pilot. In many ways, he represented the strength of the old Jedi Order: steadfast, selfless, and modest. His later skill at resolving disputes without a single battle would earn him the sobriquet "The Negotiator", at least in the eyes of General Grievous.

Over time, Josh lost some of his youthful audacity and assumed the role of a more cautious and conservative mentor to Drake Parker, who was in many ways his opposite in personality. Josh carefully measured his actions in any situation, garnering him the aforementioned nom de guerre.Nichols was also known to be an accomplished storyteller. While hiding in the Jundland Wastes in his later years, he appeared as a kindly and eccentric old hermit (or, in Bob Belcher's words, "That wizard is just a crazy old man") to those not familiar with the ways of the Jedi. In his final days, Nichols retained his traits of patience and foresight as well as gaining some of the boldness reminiscent of his youth.

Josh often thought out plans and strategies rather than leaping into action. He would usually place his hand on his chin or stroke his beard as he thought. This was a common trait of the Jedi Master, one that his apprentice Anakin Skywalker did not practice very often. He sometimes mentally repeated the Jedi Code to calm himself.

## Powers and abilities

Though he had clear preferences for diplomacy, Nichols was one of the greatest swordsmen and Force-users in Jedi history.

### Lightsaber abilities

Josh was a very capable lightsaber duelist, one of the greatest swordsmen of his time. Throughout his training years, he had learnt several forms of lightsaber combat, especially Form III. In contrast to the aggressive dueling styles of his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker, Kenobi's combat style was mainly defensive, though he would use aggressive attacks if pressed. He faced some of the most dangerous people in the galaxy, such as General Grievous He was able to duel Grievous, and was able to overpower and ultimately killed him. However, it should be noted that Josh ultimately killed Grievous with a blaster rather than his lightsaber. He was also capable of using his lightsaber to ground Force lightning, as he demonstrated against Thornton on Geonosis. Finally, Josh was also able to defeat his former apprentice Drake Parker, now Darth McQuarrie, in an epic duel on Mustafar. Despite being on the defensive throughout the fight, Josh was eventually able to gain the high ground over McQuarrie and dismembered the hate-filled Sith Lord when he recklessly jumped towards him.

By the time of his rematch with McQuarrie on the first Death Star, he was still reasonably formidable and was able to hold his own against McQuarrie for a short time, but tired out relatively quickly due to his age, lack of practice, and the sheer force of McQuarrie's attacks. Rather then continue the fight, he instead opted to sacrifice his physical form and become one with the Force. In doing this, he taught both of his students a final lesson.

### Force powers

Though Josh focused largely on lightsaber combat, he was also very skilled and powerful in use of the Force. He was trained in the use of the mind trick, making use of it whenever he wanted to avoid any physical confrontation. As befitted a Jedi, Josh was adept at concealing his feelings in the Force when he chose to.

Prior to his exile on Tatooine, Nug Nug instructed him on how to communicate his late master, Walter Nichols, who was unable to visibly manifest as a spirit due to his incomplete training under the Force Priestesses. Through Walter, Josh eventually learned the ability to manifest his consciousness after death, a skill he would later put to good use to guide and counsel his apprentice, Carly Shay, during the Galactic Civil War.

### Other abilities

Josh proved himself to be a great military strategist and a highly studious man, demonstrating good knowledge on galactic history or conventions of war, like the Yavin Code. He personally led his troops to many famous victories during the Clone Wars, and his persuasive demeanor earned him the moniker of "The Negotiator."

Despite his dislike of flying, Josh was an excellent pilot. During the Clone Wars, he led many attacks from the cockpit of his Jedi starfighter or his Jedi interceptor, proving to be an outstanding pilot when navigating through an asteroid field in pursuit of Jango Fett's ship and evading his seismic charges unscathed.

Josh was also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, during his duel with Jango Fett on Kamino, Josh was briefly deprived of his lightsaber, and fought the bounty hunter in unarmed combat.

He understood many languages, including Nelvaanian.

## Trivia

* Obi-Wan Kenobi will make his appearance in *The Adventures Beginning*.