Eager to meet his captor, Luke learned that the dark side nexus he had sensed was none other than the cloned reincarnation of Emperor Palpatine himself.
—The New Essential Chronology
The key to Luke's turning is the moment when he and Leia realize the Emperor is no longer defined by his physical form, but has become a chaotic nexus of dark energies that swell and burst open the fabric of space, tearing apart everything in the vicinity, human and machine.
—Dark Empire Endnotes
Originally posted by The_Tempest👆
The actual text in DE calls him a dark nexus too.
After Luke arrived on Byss, it was also stated that the energy of the Dark Side 'intensified' as he began approaching Palpatine:
http://i.imgur.com/bYfRXOF.jpg
Proof the above statement was in reference to Palpatine:
http://i.imgur.com/lTgDn4S.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tkDGqPt.jpg
And as we know, Byss itself is already one of the most powerful Dark Side nexus-points in the universe:
http://i.imgur.com/gWH51Mz.jpg
So it can be argued that Palpatine himself represented a greater Dark Side nexus/focal point than the entire planet. 🙂
Originally posted by Galan007
👆After Luke arrived on Byss, it was also stated that the energy of the Dark Side 'intensified' as he began approaching Palpatine:
http://i.imgur.com/bYfRXOF.jpgProof the above statement was in reference to Palpatine:
http://i.imgur.com/lTgDn4S.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tkDGqPt.jpgAnd as we know, Byss itself is already one of the most powerful Dark Side nexus-points in the universe:
http://i.imgur.com/gWH51Mz.jpgSo it can be argued that Palpatine himself represented a greater Dark Side nexus/focal point than the entire planet. 🙂
And the entire planet in DE is more intense than Sidious as RotJ, who was already a galaxy-wide dark side beacon and nexus:
http://static1.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11128/111282615/5395373-sidious+augments+dark+side+devotees.png
And even as of RotS Sidious is affecting the Jedi's ability to call on the Force on a galactic scale. Note how this is attributed to his personal power, and not the ritual he had concocted with Plagueis years yearlier:
For a decade, there was no physical signs of the remaining Dark Lord, but evidence of his power began to appear.
The Jedi ability to use the Force inexplicably began to diminish.
–Databank (old): The Jedi Order
So this might give you an idea how powerful DE Sidious is before he entered the clone body. It was even stated he could tear apart the very fabric of reality simply by existing:
The key to Luke's turning is the moment when he and Leia realize the Emperor is no longer defined by his physical form, but has become a chaotic nexus of dark energies that swell and burst open the fabric of space, tearing apart everything in the vicinity, human and machine.
–Dark Empire endnotes
And he became even more powerful after he yransferred himself to his clone:
Luke knew that without clones to inhabit, Palpatine's spirit would be consigned forever to the void. But Palpatine was able to transfer himself at the last moment. Within a new clone body, the Emperor was more powerful than ever.
–Handbook 3: Dark Empire
And even more powerful in DE II:
[URL]http://static1.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11128/111282615/5283422-sidous+is+more+powerful+than+ever.png[/I]
All incarnations of Darth Sidious are some of the most powerful nexi the mythos has ever known, and I hope this pits into perspective just how powerful he truly is.
Just because you are a living dark side nexus that doesn't make you a god. It just means you are so evil and selfish that your own soul is perverted(lost forever in the embrace of darkness)
When Veitch says Palpatine's so powerful in Dark Empire, he means that he is so 'destructive' and morally twisted.
