Mysha Zhao

"We know many trades, yet there is one that we excel at beyond all other species. We are warriors, of the highest caliber, who live and die on the battlefield. Death and destruction is our major export. Lives will always be lost, but they are lost doing what we are trained to do, what we are designed to do. Trying to avoid our purpose is pointless, for as a species, we are disposed to combat, and this cannot be altered. What can be altered, however, is our conduct and our prey. We are not animals, and it is time we proved it."

- Mysha to the Ash'rak Clans; post Battle of Mozia

Mysha Zhao was a legendary Ash'rak Shadow Marshal who defeated the Sith Lord Darth Azazel, and helped bring the Great Purging to a peaceable conclusion and established an essential coalition with the. Fabricated in 7 BBY and instructed to become a bodyguard and military advisor to his creator, he was raised on Paschendale by the Sith Lord himself, whose side at which he would remain throughout both his childhood and early adulthood. In 22 ABY, at which time Azazel had began to display dementia, Zhao's life would be altered forever when he was captured and than befriended by the Anastasia Jade. When Jade subsequently proved herself to him by besting him in personal combat, the two became involved and proceeded to develop a close bond. Zhao later rejoined his master on the front lines, to whom he was ostensibly still loyal, while he cooperated with Jade to assassinate Azazel.

Over the next few years, he fought alongside Azazel in some of the most important battles of the Great Purging. Occasionally, he was able to preclude certain events from materializing, but his closeness to Azazel and his ultimate endgoal prevented him from truly interfering in anything. In 26 ABY, he single-handedly obliterated Azazel's efforts to produce a devastating biological weapon, which the Sith planned to unleash against the enitre galaxy. One year later, he fought in the Battle of Anakaa, where he finally succeeded in his ultimate goal. Imputable to Zhao, Azazel was killed, and his forces were delt a crippling blow. One year later, the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances was established. Over the next decade, Zhao helped keep peace throughout the galaxy, as he endeavored to straighten out his fellow Ash'rak. In 37 ABY, he became Arbiter of the Shadow Marshals, and later assembled a coalition with the New Jedi Order, becoming close allies with in particular. In 39 ABY, he married Anastasia Jade, with whom he had fallen in love, and convinced her to leave the Jedi Order and lead the Shadow Marshals by his side.

When the broke out, Zhao had successfully eliminated practically every Ash'rak whom still believed in the old ways. By the time assumed control of the, he had sired a son with his new wife, whom he would proceed to train as his successor. Although he assisted the New Jedi Order on several important missions, he was reluctant to involve his people in the conflict, and so did not truly support either side. After his wife was killed by Alastair Dumorne when the Shadow Marshals attempted to assassinate him, Zhao disappeared into the in pursuit of Dumorne and was presumed lost to the dark side by his previous allies.

Personality and traits
Psychologically, Zhao was considered to have been a imperfect comtemplation of Azazel; calm underneath pressure and highly intelligent, he exhibited few differences in his personality and skills to differentiate him from his father. Similar to his father, he was compassionate and honorable, especially with those who had proven themselves to him. Though he was usually never unnecessarily ruthless, Zhao believed that respect was earned by persisting through hardships and demonstrating admirable prowess, particularly of battle.

Following the termination of hostilities between the Ash'rak and the denizens of the galaxy, he was responsible for enforcing a kind of equilibrium by subtly twisting his people to his will, ensuring that relative peacefulness and cooperation continued throughout the Ash'rak Clans. Although some could address his actions as a duplication of the path his father had traveled, he did not believe himself to be evil, but if someone did something to disrupt his established order, they could expect to witness his almost unparalleled combat prowess in person.

As he favored stealth and subtly, Zhao was rarely seen outside of his Spectre Armor. Standing at exactly one-point eighty-five meters, he was frequently described by those able to distinguish him apart from the environment as neither ordinary nor memorable, yet something between the two. Several scars marked his body, but any he felt would be recognized as a distinctive feature would rapidly be erased from his flesh. Physically, he was constantly in peak condition, even as he aged, and he regularly exercised with several fighting styles to help himself stay sharp for anything he encountered in the galaxy. Aside from his armor, he also wore a black cloak, as well as a cowl, the unofficial style of the Shadow Marshals.

Dissimilar to Azazel, Zhao was not detached from the world he controlled. He dwelt within the ecology and actively endeavored to preserve the balance of power. On several occasions, he was responsible for viciously hunting down and personally eliminating those criminals who were able to escape the ordinary military. Though he rarely interposed himself in the daily operation of a Clan, once he could determine that anyone was a truly respectable threat to continued peace and stability, he hunted them down with a vengence.

Throughout his existence, Zhao was constantly on the battlefront. He had both survived and excelled in his designated profession through not only his inherent abilities, but also by constant vigilance and his naturally subtle and challenging intelligence. He had little patience for polite niceties and even less for incompetence. He was quiet, instinctive, and incredibly observant, most often watching situations from the exterior rather than involving himself, unless of course it concerned him directly.

However, to achieve the iron discipline he felt was necessary for his continued existence, Zhao had to constrain certain parts of himself. He had became his work through time, in a fashion Externally, however, this was not always apparent. Similar to Azazel, he both appreciated and had a powerful sense of humor; he could be extremely witty at times, and he frequently utilized humor to make light of tense situations, a habit which could have the affect of making him appear foolish to those not close to him. To Zhao, his galaxy only made sense when he was enshrouded within his Spectre Armor, with his lightsaber in his hands, a trusty pistol at his side, and had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the adrenaline stimulation of battle.

Behind the scenes

 * Mysha Zhao's first name was a direct reference to actor . Collins was an admired actor by the author, who was highly impressed particularly by the man's performance as the character of on the CW television show . Though the author's character's name is spelled differently, Mysha Zhao's first name was intended as an inclination towards this superb actor.