Stauz Czycz, hailing from a world obliterated by the Galactic Empire, was a soldier driven by vengeance. Blaming Darth Vader directly for the devastation, he dedicated his entire existence to retribution, reinventing himself as the mercenary known as Awarru Tark.
Czycz experienced unimaginable loss when the Empire annihilated his homeworld. Despite his valiant efforts, Czycz was condemned to live knowing his home was gone and his family perished. Though Palpatine issued the order for the massacre, Czycz focused his hatred on Darth Vader, the commander of the assault. Channeling his life's purpose into exacting revenge, Czycz underwent extensive surgical procedures, receiving numerous mechanical implants and weaponry, and altering his appearance to resemble a dark-haired Human. Thus, Czycz transformed into Awarru Tark.
To confront Vader, Tark pursued a career as a bounty hunter. Displaying exceptional skill, he earned, in Vader's words, a '"reputation for results"'. This reputation ultimately secured Tark a place on Vader's list of mercenary invitees when the Sith Lord offered a bounty for Han Solo and Leia Organa following the Battle of Hoth. Tark deliberately arrived late, citing customs delays on Myrkr. Meeting with Darth Vader in the observation suite of the Star Destroyer Avenger, Tark initially apologized for his tardiness. Vader, misinterpreting Tark's murderous glee at finally confronting his target as typical killer bravado, dismissed Tark's "posturing" and demanded they proceed with their business. Tark agreed, throwing four small detonators at the suite's entrance, sealing the door.
Shedding his cloak, Tark lunged at Vader, attacking with twin energy blades extending from his forearms. Vader deflected the initial assault with his lightsaber, but Tark swiftly leaped over Vader, striking him from behind and landing a blow on Vader's back.
Vader spun around to parry, blocking Tark's attacks but leaving himself vulnerable to a sudden kick. After knocking Vader against the wall, Tark attempted a follow-up barrage, but Vader evaded it, resulting in Tark only hitting the Sith Lord's helmet. In desperation, Vader used a Force push to slam Tark against the chamber ceiling, pinning him telekinetically. Tark countered by dropping a series of detonators on Vader, disrupting his concentration. Freed from his confinement, Tark descended and charged Vader. Darth Vader released his lightsaber and seized Tark's wrists, turning the mercenary's energy blades back towards his own face. Overwhelmed, Tark activated a concealed mechanical weapon within his body.
Tark's lower face and jaw exploded outward, revealing a gaping, toothy maw surrounded by insect-like pincers, while his hands and torso split open to unleash a swarm of tiny mechanical tendrils, each tipped with hooked and barbed blades. As Tark's blades tore through Vader's armor, the Sith Lord telepathically breached Tark's mind. Discovering Tark's history as a soldier consumed by vengeance, Vader was momentarily paralyzed by Tark's intense rage. However, the mental assault also caused Tark to lose control, allowing Vader enough time to use the Force to disable a force-field generator implanted in Tark's body and reclaim his stolen lightsaber.
As a single tear rolled down Stauz Czycz's Human eye, Darth Vader beheaded him.
Czycz's pre-"transformation" personality is unknown, but afterward, he was defined by his obsessive desire to avenge himself against Darth Vader. Willing to go to any length, and believing he had nothing left to lose, Czycz subjected himself to incredibly extreme and likely painful cybernetic enhancements, sacrificing his former self for the sake of revenge. As a mercenary, he gained notoriety for his ability to deliver results, suggesting ruthlessness and determination. In essence, he was the ideal bounty hunter. In person, he was courteous and prompt, explaining his actions and intending to carry out his business. In the Force, Vader sensed an aura of predatory hunger, initially mistaking it for the typical mindset of a killer.
Czycz dedicated so much of himself to ensuring Vader's death that the Sith Lord viewed him more as a living weapon than a man. However, in the end, Czycz appeared to regain a semblance of his former self, Vader's mental intrusion forcing him to relive his most agonizing memories, causing him to shed a tear just before his death. The reason for this tear, whether regret or a profound sense of failure, remains a mystery.
Equipped with his cyborg enhancements, Stauz Czycz was a formidable adversary. By projecting twin energy blades from his forearms, he was capable of engaging Darth Vader, a master lightsaber duelist, in combat. He demonstrated superhuman speed and agility, enough to give the Sith Lord pause. The blades could deflect a lightsaber and easily shred the armorweave fabric of Vader's cape, though they could not penetrate Vader's helmet. Czycz's melee combat skills were sufficient to force Vader to rely on telekinesis.
Another of his augmentations included a vast array of mechanical tendrils within his body, each tipped with a hooked and barbed metal claw. When forced into a defensive position, Czycz could cause his flesh to rupture, unleashing the claws in a massive swarm to tear apart a chosen target. They could carve through Darth Vader's armor in mere seconds.
In addition to the abilities granted by his augmentations, Czycz also favored using small detonators in combat, either throwing them at opponents or using them to seal entrances and exits.
Stauz Czycz appears in "Moment of Doubt," a comic story featured in Star Wars Tales 4. The character was initially created by writer Lovern Kindzierski and artists Robert Teranishi and Dave McCaig.
Moment of Doubt is set during the timeframe of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. Although Czycz encounters Vader on the Avenger, Vader's flagship is typically the Executor in most other stories during this period.