On Tuesday, Dan Robinson arrived at work in a little different uniform.

As a promotion for the release of the new “Star Wars Battlefront” video game at Best Buy, Robinson donned his movie-quality stormtrooper costume and greeted customers at the door of the Kalispell store.

Some people stopped for “selfies” with Robinson while others returned to their vehicles to bring a real camera back into the store.

Robinson, who is about 6-foot-3 with his helmet on, stood dutifully next to the promotional sign and looked as if he was ready for an intergalactic shootout.

“I don’t have many excuses around here to do it,” said Robinson, who works in the Geek Squad department at Best Buy.

Robinson and the costume are enlisted in the 501st Legion, a global group of Star Wars super fans who wear the costumes for various events. This usually includes science fiction conventions, parades and often visiting children’s hospitals and reaching out to less fortunate or disabled fans.

Robinson said he has mixed feelings about the new game: He’s spending more time playing “Fallout 4,” which also was released this month. He said he’s much more excited about the new film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” that opens on Dec. 18.

The dark-side soldier is a longtime fan of the Star Wars franchise. He was born in 1977, the year the original “Star Wars” movie was released. His license plate reads “Jedi Dan,” although he said he’s neutral about the dark and light sides of the Force.

“I like both sides,” he said. “The bad guys have cooler costumes, though.”

Robinson came to Kalispell six years ago after serving as global manager of a software development company in San Diego. That’s where he first got into the 501st after attending a convention in Los Angeles.

After enlisting, Robinson received a kit to build the costume and stitch it to his size. Other costumes are available, such as Darth Vader or clonetroopers, but Robinson is staying true to the original trilogy with the stormtrooper outfit.

“Once I got everything together it cost about $700,” Robinson said. “I’d like to get into a Vader, but the cost of a decent Vader is ridiculous: $3,000 to $4,000.”

The group isn’t officially affiliated with LucasFilm, but Robinson said the 501st organization has always had a good relationship with the entertainment company that created the Star Wars saga.

The stormtrooper legion participates in all events free of charge and members must maintain the good image of the Star Wars franchise. That means no causing problems in public or even being seen with alcohol in hand.

Robinson said violating the code leads to a judicial-type hearing where the 501st chief executive officer is the judge and the elected officials within the organization are the prosecutors.

“You stick to the code or else you can get kicked out,” he said.

But there have been exceptions. One time at a recruitment party for LucasFilm’s animation division, a company representative invited him behind the bar to mix drinks.

“I was like, ‘This isn’t a trick, right?’” Robinson said. It seems like a galaxy far, far away where a stormtrooper is pouring your whiskey or beer, but it happened.

Robinson said he misses the opportunities to put on charitable events.

He said he’s the only stormtrooper in the Flathead Valley and the closest 501st members are in Missoula and Billings. He’s now a part of the Timberline Garrison, the battalion that covers all of Montana and Idaho members of the 501st.

While in California, Robinson and other troopers surprised a 7-year-old boy at his home. The boy, a diehard Star Wars fan, had lost the use of his right arm.

“We got a bunch of costume characters together; I was actually dressed up as a Jedi for that one,” Robinson said. “We showed up at random in a big surprise. It was the parents’ idea.”

The boy’s face lit up like Alderaan after it was hit by the Death Star’s ray gun. It was one of several charitable visits Robinson has been proud to be a part of.

“It’s so rewarding to go to a children’s hospital,” Robinson said. “Sometimes it’s heartbreaking, but it’s still so awesome to do for them.”

While Robinson is the only stormtrooper stationed in Kalispell, he said two friends joined him in recently ordering the new edition of the stormtrooper costume. Once he’s got a small squadron, Robinson plans to begin doing charitable events in the area. It’s part of the code of the 501st, but it also ties into his feelings of human duty.

His identification number, TK2924, has a specific origin:

“To honor my daughter,” Robinson said. “I lost a daughter in the late ’90s. She was born on Oct. 29 and my birthday is Feb. 24. That’s where the 2924 comes from; it is her and me.”

In the months and years to come, in the very galaxy in which we exist, Robinson will continue to honor his late daughter by spreading intergalactic magic to children and other fans.

That’s all despite his alignment with the dark side of the force.

“What are you going to do? You’re under orders,” Robinson said with a smile.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.