Star Wars has not been without controversy even from its beginning, whether it be Luke and Leia’s kiss or the destruction of Alderaan. In my column, I will strive to defend its controversial authors, ideas, or characters–to the best of my ability. My intent is to bring these issues to light and see the rationale behind them.

This month’s case is the puzzling Vergere. She is known for promoting the Potentium view of the Force and recently has been accused of being a Sith. Read on and discover why Vergere is not a Sith but not a Jedi either.

IN DEFENSE OF VERGERE

“I am Vergere. What are you?” Vergere asked in Matthew Stover’s Traitor. In the years since the NJO arc, much has been made about this odd bird. She was ruthless but kind. She questioned but always had the answers. She was a teacher but eager to learn. She trained for survival but sacrificed her life for Jacen Solo. Much has been made about her belief, this heretical view of the Force. So controversial that she has been re-created in the image of a Sith.

What evidence does the prosecution have against my client? The word of a dead Sith, Lumiya. The last time we saw Lumiya she was known as Shira Brie. As Shira Brie, Lumiya infiltrated the Rebel Alliance as a hot shot pilot. She befriended and grew to love Luke Skywalker and he seemed to return her feelings. She sabotaged the Rebel’s flight system; getting Luke investigated and stripped of rank for her “death.” Luke discovers her true identity and apprenticeship under Darth Vader. For Lumiya spying wasn’t a job but an art form.

In Betrayal, the Dark Lady of the Sith Lumiya used psychological warfare to turn Jacen Solo by slandering his beloved mentor. Lumiya claimed that Vergere, ever the thinker, grew disillusioned with the Old Jedi Order and trained under Count Dooku and Palpatine. Under his tutelage, Vergere discovered Palpatine’s lust for power and greed even attempting to kill him to fulfill the Rule of Two created by Darth Bane. Yet Palpatine lives and tracks her but Vergere goes to Zonama Sekot and eventually leaves with the Vuzzhan Vong scouts. Upon the return of the Vong invasion fleet, she councils the captured former Jedi Hett, who is introduced to the Embrace of Pain. Vergere tells Hett to use the pain to break free, but instead Hett and she part ways so that he can become the feared Sith lord known as Darth Krayt. And yet the argument is that Vergere wanted all along for Jacen to become a Sith Lord. Right?

It’s a great story but not the whole truth.

In my introduction, I spoke of Vergere’s heretical view of the Force—the Force Potentium but simple knowledge of Sith lore will show that the Potentium doesn’t have dark origins. The Force Potentium teaches that the Force is neutral—no dark, no light. Essentially, the only darkness we have to fear is within ourselves. The Sith believe the dark side is real and willingly embrace it via their disordered emotions, using it exclusively to achieve their selfish ends.

Vergere sacrificed her life for her apprentice because Jacen Solo had a special destiny. Was Jacen’s special destiny to be a Sith? No, Vergere tells Luke in Destiny’s Way that Jacen’s fate is tied to the Vong:

Vergere: “I believe that Jacen is intimately connected with the fate of the Yuuzhan Vong.”

Skywalker: “He can destroy them?”

Vergere: “Destroy them. Save them. Transform them. Perhaps all three.”

In The Unifying Force, Jacen defeated Omini by using the Force’s full spectrum; going beyond good and evil, going beyond the doctrinal divides of Jedi and Sith. Afterwards, Jacen studied all the Force traditions, searching for answers but never finding any. He is restless until the fateful meeting with Lumiya. Lumiya gives him a purpose as the new Sith lord.

If Vergere isn’t a Sith, then what in the name of Waru is she? In Traitor, Vergere said that she is neither Jedi or Sith but in Destiny’s Way, things get murky. Vergere acted more like an old school Jedi: she doesn’t like Luke associating with the Chief of State, dislikes the ceremony for the newly inducted Jedi Knights and accuses Skywalker of creating a Jedi dynasty by not shunning and promoting attachments.

In short, Vergere is an enigma. She is ruthless but kind. She questioned but always had the answers. She was a teacher but eager to learn. She trained for survival but sacrificed her life for Jacen Solo.

Is she a Sith? No. Is she a Jedi? Not really. Vergere always had a vision about what the Force should be and had no qualms using Force traditions to suit her needs. What she truly wanted was an apprentice that was like her—a mix of both Jedi and Sith but not loyal to either tradition. Unfortunately both men became Sith Lords but I doubt she would’ve desired that given her philosophical views. She wanted both men to go beyond family, friends, any worldly desires or ambitions, preconceived notions but to be themselves, to simply choose and act.

Jacen Solo stared into eyes as blank as the encompassing space. He whispered, “What are you?” (Traitor, pg. 11)

Star Wars fans might have to grapple that this question cannot be answered. Given Star Wars’ history of stale one-dimensional villains, the enigmatic Vergere is not only welcome but also refreshing.