Once a male Human hailing from the Shumari world, Tao underwent training to become a Jedi Knight. He was among a select few Jedi who managed to evade the infamous Order 66, thus escaping the initial slaughter of the Jedi Order. Fate, however, had other plans, as the Galactic Empire eventually discovered Tao and his fellow survivors. A task force, under the command of Darth Vader, a formidable Dark Lord of the Sith, attacked them. Tao emerged as the sole survivor of this deadly encounter, spared by Vader himself, who then took him on as his apprentice.
Vader, concealing his actions from his own Master, Emperor Palpatine, subjected Tao to various trials designed to push him toward the dark side of the Force. Despite these efforts, Tao never fully succumbed to the dark side's influence. When Vader discovered the existence of his son, Luke Skywalker, he abandoned Tao. Nevertheless, the Emperor learned of Tao's existence and compelled Vader to inflict a mortal wound upon the young man. Wracked with a rare moment of remorse, Vader returned Tao to Shumari, intending for him to die on his homeworld. There, a deranged Tusken Raider ambushed Vader, nearly overwhelming the Dark Lord. Tao, summoning his last reserves of strength, intervened, saving his Master's life. Finally releasing the anger that had consumed him, Tao died in the desolate lands of his home.
In the Outer Rim Territories' Parmel sector, on the planet of Shumari, lived Tao, a Human male. During the Galactic Empire's reign over the galaxy, he belonged to a small Jedi community. The Empire, having outlawed the Jedi, relentlessly hunted them. Despite this, a bearded Jedi trained Tao. As the Galactic Civil War unfolded, the Empire detected the Jedi presence on Shumari. Consequently, they launched a mission to conquer the planet, addressing both rebel and Jedi activities. The Imperials dispatched several Star Destroyers to orbit Shumari, subjecting it to a devastating orbital bombardment.
Simultaneously, the Jedi on the planet fought against stormtrooper legions under the command of Darth Vader, a [Jedi Knight](/article/jedi_knight-legends] turned member of the Order of the Sith Lords. Vader personally killed numerous Jedi, while others were overwhelmed by stormtroopers. Tao and his Master directly confronted Vader. During the ensuing battle, Vader killed Tao's Master. Witnessing this, Tao succumbed to anger, desiring to fight the Sith Lord. However, Vader sensed Tao's hate and anger in the Force and decided to spare him, intending to make him his secret apprentice. As Vader and Tao left, the Imperial fleet unleashed a massive bombardment, obliterating the planet's surface.
In the wake of Shumari's destruction, Vader sought to indoctrinate Tao into the ways of the dark side. Despite Tao's demonstrated skills, which included defeating Noghri Death Commandos unarmed on Honoghr during training (a feat matched only by Galen Marek, Vader's previous apprentice—codenamed Starkiller—and Ennix Devian), Vader couldn't fully break him. Meanwhile, Vader was summoned to address the Battle of Yavin, which resulted in the destruction of the Death Star superweapon. Upon returning to Coruscant, the Dark Lord faced the displeasure of his Master, Emperor [Palpatine](/article/palpatine-legends], who was furious about the Death Star's destruction. Following this encounter, Vader, filled with anger and frustration, retreated to his meditation chamber, where Tao confronted him. Enraged by the events in the Yavin system, Vader demanded that Tao attack him with unrestrained anger. However, Tao couldn't fully embrace rage, earning Vader's disapproval for lacking sufficient hatred to be a Sith. Attempting to push Tao further, Vader reminded him of all he had lost—his homeworld, Master, friends, and family. Despite Vader's provocations, Tao couldn't comprehend why his master demanded such anger. Vader's explanation, that only the strong deserved to survive, prompted Tao to vow to become strong.
Shortly after this training session, Vader discovered the identity of the Rebel pilot who had destroyed the Death Star—his son, Luke Skywalker. Uncertain of how to proceed, Vader meditated on this revelation, only to be interrupted by Tao. Despite Tao's claim of readiness, Vader dismissed him, citing his weakness and granting him freedom to roam the galaxy. Shocked and betrayed, Tao questioned why Vader hadn't simply allowed him to die on Shumari, but received no response.
Tao's freedom was short-lived. He was soon captured by Palpatine and brought before Vader aboard the newly commissioned Executor, a Super Star Destroyer, by the Emperor's Royal Guards. Palpatine, angered by Vader's betrayal in concealing his apprentice, demanded that Vader kill Tao. Reluctantly, Palpatine seized control of Vader's limbs, forcing him to strike Tao across the chest with his lightsaber. Though not immediately fatal, the blow mortally wounded Tao. Driven by an unknown impulse, Vader returned Tao to his homeworld of Shumari, carrying the dying boy to his birthplace. Vader expected Tao to hate him. However, Tao thanked him for allowing him to die on his homeworld, shocking Vader. Before losing consciousness, Tao assured Vader that there was still good within him and pleaded with him not to succumb to the Emperor's hatred. As Tao faded, Vader experienced remorse for the first time in years.
Vader's moment of sorrow was abruptly interrupted by a Tusken Raider wielding a modified gaderffii, seeking revenge for the destruction of his village on Tatooine. The Tusken quickly gained the upper hand, damaging Vader's helmet and forcing him to his knees. Vader sensed the dark side embodied in the Tusken's rage and hatred. The Tusken revealed that his gaderffii housed two lightsabers. Just as he was about to kill Vader, Tao, summoning his last strength, used his lightsaber to kill the Tusken instantly. Moments later, Tao passed into the Force, but not before urging Vader to release his anger. Overwhelmed by remorse, Vader screamed in anger and frustration at the events he had allowed to unfold.
Before departing Shumari, Vader erected a simple monument in Tao's honor, carving his name into a stone tablet, the last man-made structure on the desolate planet.
Tao was an exceptionally driven and skilled individual with significant Force potential. Following his Master's death, Darth Vader took Tao, attempting to turn him to the dark side. While Tao harbored considerable anger regarding the destruction of his homeworld and the deaths of his loved ones, he couldn't fully embrace the dark side and meet Vader's expectations. Consequently, Vader rejected Tao as his apprentice and was later forced by Palpatine to inflict a mortal wound upon him. Ultimately, Tao held no animosity towards Vader and saved his life on Shumari, imploring him to end his hatred.
During the Empire's invasion of Shumari, Tao, along with his Jedi Master, survived the initial onslaught that killed other Jedi. He was a skilled lightsaber swordsman and possessed sufficient raw Force power to attract Vader's attention. However, Tao never fully harnessed this potential for the dark side, disappointing his Master with his lack of hatred.
Tao's debut occurred in the story Perfect Evil, featured in issues Black and Silver of Star Wars Manga. Initially labeled as Infinities, the stories were considered non-canonical. However, Leland Chee's comments on StarWars.com on November 6, 2006 described their continuity as "a bit fuzzy," suggesting uncertain canonicity. In 2008, a French edition of Black and Silver was published, clearly labeled as Infinities, confirming their non-canon status. The planet Shumari was later referenced in The Essential Atlas, including the Shumari system in its appendix. According to Jason Fry, this inclusion doesn't imply canonicity beyond geography. Despite the manga's non-canonicity, Tao was mentioned in Part 2 of the StarWars.com Blog "The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire."
In 2006, Abel G. Peña planned an article, Vader's Legacy, focusing on Darth Vader's legacy, including Tao. However, Lucasfilm Ltd. canceled this article.