Originally posted by Nephthys
What, is reflecting something like a blasterbolt not clear enough for you? Is there a way to do that non-damagingly?
Can it be, that you still ignore the entirety of the context? Since the author has ensured to compare Mace and Sidious to a "superconducting loop" it's pretty obvious that there is no damage done to anybody here, as energy simply flows through a superconductor. And yet, I still don't see the slightest hint for Mace draining power from Sidious to use it to boost his skills. Because "reflecting" doesn't mean "absorb and transform".
He's reflecting the fury back at Sidious while drawing it into his own body. And while its in his body, its boosting Windu. Just like a fountain in continously filled with water, so too is Windu continuously filled with darkside energy that he uses to boost himself.
Where does it say anything about Mace using the fury to boost himself?
Again: A superconductor doesn't use energy - the energy flows through. There is nothing in the source that says Mace does use any of the energy flowing through him. He draws it in and lets it fountain out again. Would he use it, he would consume it. Is there any water lost in a fountain or does it simple flow through again and again without being consumed? Understanding metaphors is such a useful skill when trying to interprete texts. 🙄
And pray tell, why would it specifically note that he's accepting Sidious' speed into himself if he isn't using it in some way. If it was just power then that might make sense, but speed? How do you loop speed? The text noting a physical attribute clearly indicates that vaapad works on a physical level.
Excuse me. That's clearly not what the text says:
"He accepted the furious speed of the Sith Lord, drew the shadow's rage and power into his inmost center-And let it fountain out again."
He's accepting the speed. What he "draws in" are the rage and the fury. What are "rage" and "fury" in context of a Dark Side using opponent? 😉
But why would it be in the loop if it does absolutely nothing? For that matter, if what you're saying is correct then what would the point of Vaapad be at all? If all it does is loop power then what good would that do without using it at all? Because by that logic then Windu wouldn't be using his own darkness either. And if he is, then why would he only benefit from his own power despite the fact that both his and Sidious' power are mingling in the superconductive loop. Your theory makes no sense.
The point of Vaapad is, that Mace can utilize the Dark Side in order to combat it. Without Vaapad, Mace would be forced to rely on the usual skills of a Jedi - much like Yoda later. And what does Yoda realize when fighting Sidious?
"The new Sith could not be destroyed with a lightsaber; they could not be burned away by any torch of the Force. The brighter his light, the darker their shadow. How could one win a war against the dark, when war itself had become the dark's own weapon?" - RotS novel.
Mace is capable of defeating Sidious, because he utilizes the same "source" of strength that Sidious is tapping into. And that's the only way to defeat Sidious, hence Yoda being incapable of doing so. When we finally see him fall (in RotJ) he is also taken out by one of his own kind, with emotions (the love for Luke) forcing Vader to turn against his master. Context.
Of course not, Sidious isn't using Vaapad afterall.
And Mace is still not draining / using energy not coming from within him.
Does a blasterbolt hurt the person its reflected back at?
Did you forget the part of the "superconducting loop"? The energy reflected would be reflected back again by Sidious, then again by Mace, then again by Sidious...and so forth.
You've never heard of fountains using water pressure to work?
Is the water consumed by the fountain or does it just flow through it?
It doesn't even need to be said. Theres no goddamn point in Vaapad if it doesn't use the darkness from Sidious.
See above.
They both add darkness into the loop and Windu draws from that loop. Saying that he would only benefit from his own darkness when both persons darkness makes up the loop is pants-on head retarded.
Where does it say that Windu draws anything from that loop? It says that the energy passes through him - like water through a fountain. The opponents are descriped as "superconducters", with the sole defining characteristic of a superconductor being, that energy simply flows through it unhindered. So where do you take the notion from, that Windu does take or use energy from that loop? There is nothing even hinting that, and the choice of words indicates the exact opposite: the power simply circles between the opponents.
And there is still more:
"The Force itself roiled and burst and crashed around them, boiling with power and lightspeed ricochets of lethal intent. And it was darkening. Anakin could feel how the Force fed upon the shadow's murderous exaltation; he could feel fury spray into the Force thoughsome poisonous abscess had crested in both their hearts. There was no Jedi restraint here."
Anakin, observing the fight from the outside, perceives both opponents at wielding the Dark Side, specifically noticing, that Windu - despite being a Jedi Master - fought without the restraint typical for a Jedi. Another point for the usefulness of Vaapad even without "siphoning energy".
Sidious is continuously referred to as the shadow throughout the book and it specifies 'the Sith Lord' early in the quote. GG.
Yes. Unfortunately for you, there is also this:
"The darkness in the Force was no hindrance to the shadow in the Chancellor's office; it was the darkness."
Sidious is declared to be the Darkness and vice versa. So when Mace draws in something belonging to "the shadow" - is it something that belongs to Sidious as a seperate entity, or does Stover speak about the Dark Side here? Context is so much fun when not ignored.