Kir Kanos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Star Wars character | |
| Kir Kanos | |
|---|---|
 Kir Kanos, former Royal Guardsman |
|
| Position | Royal Imperial Guardsmen |
| Homeworld | Coruscant |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Affiliation | Galactic Empire, Imperial Royal Guard |
| Portrayed by | N/A |
Kir Kanos is a fictional character from the Star Wars Expanded Universe, featured in the Dark Horse Crimson Empire comic series.
As a member of Royal Imperial Guard, Kir Kanos went through higher training and conditioning in the hidden grounds on the planet Yinchorr. He proved himself to be the best of his peers during his training- he became a master in the deadly Echani fighting styles, and was an undauntable and powerful adversary with a force pike. It was during his training that he developed his uncompromising loyalty to the New Order of the Galactic Empire.
Many of his fellow Guardsmen stood by his side and recognized him as one of the most powerful entities in securing the future of the Galactic Empire. Even after the defeat at Endor, Kanos and his likeminded red-robed Guardsmen were intent on upholding the principles of Palpatine's New Order. For a short time, their perseverance was rewarded; the Emperor had returned to the galaxy as a clone of his former self. Unfortunately for Kanos and the Royal Guardsmen, however, Palpatine's return was cut short by his final defeat at Onderon by Jedi Knights Luke Skywalker and Empatojayos Brand.
Carnor Jax, one of Kanos' fellow Guards, an Imperial Sovereign Protector, no less, betrayed his oath to the Empire and sabotaged Palpatine's subsequent clones; he had contacted elements unhappy with the distribution of power in Palpatine's Empire, and solicited funds. These funds went to bribe the Emperor's physician into subtly genetically sabotaging all of Palpatine's clones, a certain doom. Unbeknownst to the other Royal Guardsmen who were mourning the death of their Emperor on Yinchorr, Jax was beginning to set his treacherous plan in motion. The traitor had sent a wave of Stormtroopers to descend upon the unsuspecting loyalists.
It was revealed that one of the two Guardsmen with the Emperor when he died on Onderon had survived, and had overheard an interrogation of the Emperor's physician. As he attempted to return to Yinchorr to tell his brethren of who exactly had betrayed them, however, he had been attacked by Imperial forces. Jax's troops then attacked in overwhelming numbers. Every remaining Guard was slaughtered, save one: Kir Kanos.
Kanos channeled his fury into revenge. In Kanos's eyes, the selfish remnants of the Empire were comprised of arrogant officers who had long forgotten their duties and commitment to the Empire. The swift revenge he enacted on Carnor Jax made him an enemy of the Imperial Interim Council.
To escape the sight of the Imperial Remnant, Kanos took on the moniker of Kenix Kil (in the secret language of the Royal Guard, an anagram of Kir Kanos) and became a bounty hunter, aiding in his avoidance of the hunters who were after him. As a newfound assassin, Kanos disposed of Emperor-to-be Xandel Carivus.
