Starkiller, born as Galen Marek, was a Human male who was unusually strong in the Force. Kidnapped as a child by Darth Vader, Marek became his secret apprentice as well as his assassin, dealing with Vader's enemies and being trained by the Dark Lord in both lightsaber combat and Force powers. After a series of events that culminated in Darth Vader's death aboard the first Death Star, Marek replaced the cyborg as the apprentice of the Emperor.