The Tragic Story of a Clone Trooper Who Tried To Be Darth Vader’s Friend

Darth Vader was known for being cruel and showing no mercy. Everywhere he went in the galaxy, he struck fear into the hearts of enemies and allies alike. But did you know that, in Star Wars Legends, a former clone trooper befriended him?

Read on to learn more about the story of Hock Malsuum, the clone who tried to be Darth Vader’s friend.

Who Was Hock Malsuum?

Hock Malsuum was a former clone trooper appearing in the Legends-era comic miniseries Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows.

Originally known as CT-5539, Hock was born and raised on Kamino along with the rest of his clone brothers. He saw action in many campaigns throughout the Clone Wars, once even taking command of a battle when his Jedi general was killed.

Later in the war, he was injured and left for dead. This led him to hate the Jedi, who he came to see as weak.

An injured Hock met some farmers in a city on the planet Malsuum. The farmers took him in, and when he recovered, he worked as a farmer along with them.

Over the next couple of years, he heard stories of a dark warrior who had arisen within the new Galactic Empire. The stories intrigued him; he wanted to believe that a strong figure came to replace the Jedi and bring order to the galaxy.

His curiosity got the better of him; he left the farmers to become a soldier in the dark warrior’s army.

How Did Hock Earn Darth Vader’s Trust?

Hock joined the 501st Division, commanded by the dark warrior, Darth Vader. Though he had not fired a blaster in a couple of years, he returned to his old life and made a name for himself among the ranks.

He was a scrappy and talented fighter who did whatever it took to win a battle. His daring feats and leadership qualities captured Vader’s attention, and the Dark Lord promoted Hock to the commander.

Hock was sent to take part in the Shrouded Offensive, a campaign to defeat a Separatist stronghold on the planet Ostor. However, the battle ended disastrously after its commanding officer, General Rohn, ordered his men into a trap.

Hock attempted to reason with the General, trying to convince him of the trap, before snapping his neck when he refused to pull the troops back. Hock returned to the battle to find all of his men dead.

Following the battle, Vader confronted him, and Hock pointed out Vader’s own failings in the battle: he felt Vader should have led the campaign himself instead of putting Rohn in charge, and that he should have ordered reconnaissance before the battle.

Vader recognized Hock was right and that he, Vader, made crucial mistakes. As such, he made a deal with Hock that the two of them would place all the blame for the failed battle on General Rohn’s shoulders.

They were both called to report to Emperor Palpatine on the battle, and they each held up their end of the agreement. As such, neither of them received punishment.

Following this experience, Vader placed his hand on Hock’s shoulder, suggesting he now viewed him as a friend he could trust. He then stated that Hock was the only soldier he could trust to fight alongside him in the coming battles.

What Happened on Ostor?

Hock soon returned to Ostor, this time with Vader leading the campaign. Hock led his troops from the air; however, his starfighter was soon shot down.

He awoke in a medical bay and discovered there were no guards in sight, as every able-bodied soldier was fighting in the battle. Having a look around, he discovered the leaders of the Separatists in the command center.

Hock contemplated killing them but realized that they weren’t going to fight back; they told him they were only fighting because their people desired a freedom they could never have as part of the Empire.

Hock disabled the shield generator, allowing Vader and his troops to overrun the base. He reunited with Vader after fighting and killing a Separatist fighter named Kaddak, who he recognized in surprise was a former clone trooper like himself.

Hock watched in horror as Vader destroyed all life in the base–not just the soldiers, but also the unarmed women and children. Returning briefly to the command center, he discovered the Separatist leaders were dead and had been killed without a fight.

When Hock and Vader reached the medical bay, Hock tried to convince the people to surrender, hoping Vader would spare them. Instead, all of the injured stood in defiance of the Empire, and Vader cut them down.

Unable to take more of the senseless killing, Hock begged Vader to stop–and he did, temporarily. But, as Hock realized, Vader was ruthless; most likely, he only stopped long enough to decide which person to kill next.

This experience shattered Hock’s respect for Vader; though Vader allowed him to live, he realized that the man was a monster and that he could no longer serve as his commander or his friend.

What Became of Hock?

Hock left the Stormtrooper Corps, going into hiding so Vader could never find him. He took up life as a farmer once more, marrying a woman named Telia, and eventually becoming a father.

However, the shadow of Vader’s mask haunted him, which he would often imagine seeing. He spent the rest of his life afraid Vader would one day track him down.

This never happened, and despite the fear, he lived a relatively peaceful life for the rest of his days.

Conclusion

Hock Malsuum is a character from a comic miniseries in Star Wars Legends. He began as a clone trooper, came to hate the Jedi, and gained Darth Vader’s trust as a dependable commander and friend.

However, Hock was horrified when he saw how ruthless Vader could be. He left his life as a soldier behind, becoming a farmer. Hock married and had a child, but he spent the rest of his life living in fear of Vader’s retribution.

Sarah Hood

Sarah Hood is a freelance content writer and editor with a love for all things Star Wars. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, singing, and spending time in the great outdoors.