Evaan Verlaine

"First among the legacies I pledge everything to preserve is the life of Your Highness."

- Evaan Verlaine, to Leia Organa

Evaan Verlaine was a human female pilot who served in the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the New Republic during the Galactic Civil War. She was born on Alderaan and was one of the few Alderaanian youths mentored by Queen Breha Organa, which cultivated a deep respect for the House of Organa. Verlaine, a committed royalist, followed in the footsteps of her homeworld's leaders and became a member of the Rebel Alliance, serving as a pilot.

After the Galactic Empire's deep space mobile battle station, the Death Star, destroyed Alderaan, Verlaine heard whispers that the Empire was hunting down surviving Alderaanians. Following the destruction of the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin, Verlaine pledged her loyalty to Princess Leia Organa. The two defied the orders of the Rebel leadership and set out on their own mission to find and protect surviving Alderaanians from the Empire. The two first made their way to the planet Naboo, where they took on a small group of Alderaanian citizens and had to inform them of their world's destruction, before heading for the planet Sullust.

Early life
"I was one of the lucky Alderaanians mentored directly by your mother. She taught me much about the heritage of Alderaan. What she never taught me&mdash;what she, rather, earned&mdash;was my lifelong respect for the throne."

- Evaan Verlaine, to Princess Leia Organa

Evaan Verlaine was born on the planet Alderaan many years before the Battle of Yavin. At a young age, she was one of only a few Alderaanian youths to be mentored by Queen Breha Organa, the planet's ruling monarch. Through her time with the queen, Verlaine learned much about the culture and heritage of her homeworld and formed a life-long respect for both the queen and House of Organa. She became a committed royalist, believing in the Alderaanian monarchy, and followed in the footsteps of the planet's leaders by joining the Alliance to Restore the Republic. .As a member of the Rebellion against the rule of the Galactic Empire, Verlaine became a Rebel pilot.

Battle of Scarif
In 0 BBY, Verlaine participated in the Battle of Scarif as Gold Three from Gold Squadron as part of the Rebel support forces attacking the Shield Gate above Scarif.

Assisting in the space battle as the fleet attacked the Shield Gate, Gold Squadron conducted several attack runs on the Shield Gate in an effort to weaken the shield. After several runs against the gate, the Squadron redirected their efforts against a couple of Star Destroyers.

Battle of Yavin
In 0 BBY, She served in the Great Temple of Massassi, the Rebel base on Yavin 4, when Alderaan was destroyed. The destruction, known to Alderaanian survivors as "the Disaster," was carried out by the Death Star, the Empire's deep space mobile battle station, and led to the death of Queen Organa and her husband, Viceroy Bail Organa, one of the founders of the Rebel Alliance. The Rebels gained a quick victory, however, when Princess Leia Organa, the queen's adoptive daughter, brought stolen Death Star schematics to Yavin 4. Once the plans were analyzed and a weakness in the station was discovered, a small fleet of Rebel starfighters launched the Battle of Yavin and destroyed the Death Star. Verlaine participated in the battle as Gold Three of Gold Squadron, eight BTL-A4 Y-wing assault starfighter/bomber led by Jon "Dutch" Vander. Unlike many of her fellow squadron members, the Alderaanian pilot survived the battle.

Leaving Yavin
"As we speak, the Imperials are hunting down all surviving Alderaanians.''" "All? How do you know?" "''Word travels through the Rebel forces. Too much so to simply be rumor."

- Evaan Verlaine and Leia Organa

After the Battle of Yavin, only a small group of the initial task force returned. Luke Skywalker, the pilot who fired the shot that destroyed the Death Star; and Han Solo, a smuggler who helped Organa bring the Death Star plans to the Rebel base and aided Skywalker in the battle, both received medals in a ceremony held in the Great Temple of Massassi. Verlaine was in attendance at the ceremony. After the medals were presented, Organa said a few words in remembrance of her parents and her homeworld. Her words were measured and lacked emotion, leading some of the assembled Rebels to refer to her as the "ice princess." When the ceremony ended, Verlaine remained behind and paid her respects to Queen Organa and Viceroy Organa at a memorial statue.

Because the Empire learned of the location of the Rebel base before the Battle of Yavin, Rebel General Jan Dodonna ordered the evacuation of the Great Temple. Verlaine and some of her fellow Rebels packed supplies in the base's hangar that would be loaded into the Rebel fleet that arrived at Yavin 4. While working, she and another Rebel discussed Organa's cold demeanor. The princess overheard them and approached, at which point the other Rebel quickly left, leaving Organa and Verlaine to talk on their own. Verlaine explained her loyalty to House of Organa and to the late queen, and she pledged her service to the princess, despite her initial reservations about how the princess was handling her duties in the aftermath of Alderaan's destruction. Verlaine also told Organa about rumors suggesting that the Empire was hunting down all surviving Alderaanians, rumors that Verlaine believed. Between Verlaine's concerns about Organa's leadership and the rumors, Organa decided to leave the Rebel base without a Rebel escort, in defiance of General Dodonna's orders, and find the surviving Alderaanians to protect them. Verlaine agreed to go with her in order to preserve their planet's culture.

Verlaine, Organa, and the astromech droid R2-D2, left Yavin 4 aboard a T-1 shuttle, which Verlaine piloted. Before they left, Organa sent a holographic recording to General Dodonna informing him of why she had to leave the Rebel base in violation of his orders. Verlaine disagreed with sending the message as she believed it would lead the Rebels to send their forces to stop them from leaving, a concern that was proven right when Skywalker and Wedge Antilles&mdash;the only two members of Red Squadron who survived the Battle of Yavin&mdash;intercepted the shuttle and ordered them to turn back. Verlaine and Artoo quietly worked out a strategy in which they would lead the X-wing pilots to believe that they had intercepted the shuttle and then release a part of the ship that the pilots would believe was an important part of the hyperdrive, but that was in actuality a decoy. They did not tell the princess, as the pilots were listening into their conversations. Organa was irate once the plan was enacted, believing that Verlaine had recklessly compromised the mission by damaging the ship when it struck Antilles' X-wing. However, when the fighters backed off to avoid the presumed damage, Verlaine jumped the ship into hyperspace.

Trouble on Naboo
"Is there anything you wish to share, pilot?''" "Just that&mdash;Ma'am, there's already a bounty on your head. And Naboo is the Emperor's homeworld. Hardly inconspicuous." "I agree, Evan. But this is necessary. I learned as a senator that there's an Alderaanian cloister down there, little-known but long-standing. If the Empire decides to wipe us all out, they'll start here. So we're going to find our brothers and sisters and get them off this world&mdash;if it kills us both, Evaan." "''Of course, ma'am."

- Organa and Verlaine discuss their arrival on Naboo

Once the ship was safely in hyperspace, Verlaine admitted to the princess that the maneuver was a trick. Organa thanked her for her efforts and the two made their way towards the planet Naboo. During the voyage, Organa and Verlaine briefly debated the latter's role in the princess' mission, with Organa making it clear that she wanted Verlaine to be an accomplice rather than a servant. Once the shuttle arrived over Naboo, Artoo sent out a signal that falsely identified them as Imperial auditors, as Organa believed that no authorities would question them due to not wanting to interact with auditors. Varlaine was skeptical of the plan, as there was a bounty on the princess' head and Naboo was the homeworld of the Emperor, Sheev Palpatine. Organa felt it important to try anyway as there was a cloister of Alderaanian musicians known as Melodic Order living on the planet, and she believed that the Empire would start the eradication of surviving Alderaanians with that particular group.

The shuttle landed at a dock in Theed, the capital city of Naboo. Organa identified herself under a false name, First Minister Solo, and demanded that all fees be charged to the Imperial Advisor's Office. Verlaine questioned this approach, wondering if it would have been simpler to pay cash credits and avoid attracting Imperial attention, but Organa told her that they did not have any money on them and would instead have live by their wits. The princess abruptly stopped talking upon seeing a mural of the late Padmé Amidala, who served as Queen of Naboo and later as its Senator during the Clone Wars. Organa recognized her somehow and Verlaine asked who it was, but the princess brushed it off.

The group made their way through the streets of Theed, where they were spotted by Lord Junn, an old friend of the princess'&mdash;who was secretly working for his own benefit, and had recognized Artoo's signal as a plant that effectively alerted the Imperials that the princess was on the planet. Organa introduced Verlaine to the man, and the Rebel pilot was cautious about the encounter, particularly with the princess having taken off the hood that had been obscuring her face from those who might have recognized her. Junn led the group to his palace, where he revealed that he knew why Verlaine and Organa were on Naboo and offered to put them into contact with the owner of Club Deeja, Mul Sanaka, where Melodic Order performed via hologram. Junn left the area to speak with Sanaka and quietly inform him of the princess' identity, and Verlaine took the opportunity to make her suspicions known and tell the princess that she was still worried about the bounty on Organa's head. Organa pressed Verlaine to trust her, but the pilot still had her doubts. When Junn returned, he told them that he had been in contact with Sanaka and that they could proceed to the club.

Verlaine and Organa made their way to Club Deeja in the Marina District of the city Keren. Their arrival attracted considerable attention and concern amongst the locals, who believed it to be an Imperial shuttle. Verlaine and Organa attempted to enter the club but were stopped by Sanaka, who claimed to believe that Organa was First Minister Solo and was there to collect the Alderaanians for the Empire. Snes, the club guard, forced them to hand over their weapons, at which point he revealed that he knew who Organa really was and ordered Verlaine and the princess to enter the club. Rather than comply, the princess attacked Snes, leading to a brawl in the club's entrance between Verlaine, Organa, and the guards. The two took out the guards and Sanaka nearly shot the princess, before a fellow Alderaanian, Uwa Pareece, knocked him unconscious and revealed that she too knew who the princess was.

Pareece, who had kept the news of the Disaster from the collective of Alderaanians she protected, led Verlaine and Organa into the club. Verlaine watched as Pareece revealed the truth to her people, and as Organa promised to protect them. The Alderaanian cloister agreed to join them, and Organa was able to barter a ship, named Lord Junn, from Junn in exchange for letting him live after his betrayal. The cruiser, big enough to carry the Alderaanians, followed Verlaine and Organa's shuttle as it made its way towards the planet Sullust in the Outer Rim Territories.

Trouble on Sullust
Verlaine and Organa were then taken to Sullust's Alderaan Enclave by a smuggler, Tivvy. There, they were taken to Preserver Jora Astane. Astane was at first suspicious that the princess was going to turn them to the Empire but Organa told her about her ship in orbit and how they were rescuing Alderaani survivors. Astane ordered Clovis to scan the ship, ignoring Veraine's comment to trust their princess. As Astane toured them the Enclave, they got in an argument. Verlaine accused Astane of being a hypocrite and ravaging what was left of Alderaan's culture. Their conversation was interrupted by the replay of a transmission between Lord Junn and an Imperial cruiser. Verlaine and Organa realized that their was a traitor in their midst aboard the ship but Astane accused them of being traitors, as they found out that the cruiser had entered the orbit. Astane's troops open fired on them and Verlaine protected Organa as they made their way to a computer to warn the Lord Junn of the incoming Imperials.

As more troops fired upon then R2 saved them and they escaped into a waterway. As they were studying the map Verlaine insisted Organa to not blame herself for what happened to Alderaan. The group then encountered Rockrenders who fed on dense minerals. R2 led the creatures to the stormtroopers who had infiltrated the enclave and were firing upon the Alderaanians. With their forces combined, all the Alderaanians defeated the Imperials and on Astane's command knelt before their princess.

Nien Nunb, a Sullustan smuggler, transported the Alderaanians' off Sullust. Verlaine later oversaw supplies and weapons being bought from Nunb's ship, the Mellcrawler, to the Lord Junn. She then took Nunb to meet with Organa, to express their gratitude. Organa awarded Nunb the Chalcedony waves from her late mother, Queen Breha Organa.

Rescue on Skaradosh
Verlaine then rescued Organa from Dreed and his storm troopers using Nunb's ship to past the Star Destroyer. Verlaine was then ordered by Organa to warn the Lord Junn of the Star Destroyer's coming. Verlaine and Organa were joined by thousands of other Alderaanian survivors. Verlaine and Organa then brought Tula back to her sister Tace. Verlaine then encouraged Organa to continue leading her people with Verlaine as her friend. Following their victory over the Empire, Verlaine celebrated alongside, Nunb, Organa and other Alderaanians. Before Organa left to return to the Rebel Allliance, Organa recommended that the Alderaanians elect a new princess to lead them and said that Verlaine should be the one elected.

Liberation of Kashyyyk
"I am a pilot for the New Republic, yes. But I am an Alderaanian first and a Republic pilot second. You command me and I will comply, Princess. "I won't command you. I'm asking as a friend."

- Evaan and Princess Leia decide to go to Kashyyyk

Following the Battle of Endor, Evaan joined the New Republic's Starfleet. In 5 ABY, Evaan was stationed at Hanna City Spaceport on Chandrila, the capital of the New Republic; the successor to the Rebel Alliance. After the slicer Conder Kyl informed Princess Leia that the Empire had unleashed an orbital bombardment of the planet Kashyyyk in response to a Wookiee uprising orchestrated by Leia's husband Han Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca, Leia managed to convince Evaan to fly her on the freighter Millennium Falcon to the Kashyyyk system by appealing to her Alderaanian patriotism.

Evaan served as Leia's co-pilot during a brief space battle with three Imperial Star Destroyers above Kashyyyk. Evaan and Leia were reinforced by Captain Wedge Antilles' Phantom Squadron and Admiral Ackbar's cruiser Home One. After Solo and Chewie managed to hijack the Star Destroyer Dominion and destroy the Vitiator, the remaining Star Destroyer Neutralizer capitulated to the New Republic; ending the Imperial occupation of Kashyyyk. Evaan and Leia then flew into the Dominion hangar where Leia reunited with Han.

Personality and traits
"...you refuse to speak to me frankly even though I ask you to. Why? Look around you. What are you afraid of at this point?''" "Of forgetting. Addressing you in this manner... It is just not how things are&mdash;were done. And should that not be remembered'', then another piece of Alderaanian culture will die, and how many do we possibly have now to spare?"

- Leia Organa and Verlaine

Evaan Verlaine was a human female with blonde hair, light brown eyes, and light skin. She was mentored by the Queen of Alderaan herself and, as a result, had a strong reverence towards the throne of Alderaan. The queen earned Verlaine's respect, and Verlaine became a strong royalist as a result. Even after the destruction of Alderaan, Verlaine pledged her loyalty to Princess Organa, seeing her as the rightful queen and leader of the remnants of the Alderaanian people. Though Organa objected to such treatment, Verlaine believed it was important to maintain one of the few parts of Alderaanian culture that survived the Disaster. That included the safety of the princess; during their mission to save Melodic Order on Naboo, Verlaine raised a number of concerns to how Organa was conducting the mission, including how the princess would put herself into potential jeopardy.

Evaan regarded herself as an Alderaanian pilot first and a New Republic pilot second. Her friendship and respect for Princess Leia led her to accompany her on the Millennium Falcon during a dangerous mission to Kashyyyk.

Skills and abilities
Verlaine was a skilled pilot in the Rebel Alliance. She was able to pilot the T-1 shuttle away from Yavin 4 on her mission with Organa, tricking seasoned pilots Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles in the process. The maneuver she used to escape the two X-wing pilots left Skywalker impressed. She also had effective combat skills, demonstrated in such situations as eliminating at least one Besalisk guard outside of Club Deeja on Naboo. Evaan was also a competent co-pilot who once flew the Millennium Falcon with Princess Leia.

Behind the scenes
Evaan Verlaine was created for the 2015 Marvel comic book mini-series Star Wars: Princess Leia, written by Mark Waid and with art by Terry Dodson. She first appeared in Princess Leia, Part I, in which she was identified only as Evaan, and her surname was revealed in Princess Leia, Part II. In designing the look of the character, Dodson worked off a suggestion from Waid to make Verlaine Organa's "physical opposite: tall, blonde, and blue eyed." He added angles to her face in order to draw a contrast to Organa's look, but at the same time he wanted there to be some level of consistency between the two characters. He gave them both hairstyles that he attributed to Alderaan, based on the Northern European look that Organa had in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Evaan Verlaine is not seen physically in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope however it was confirmed in later sources that she was the Y-wing pilot who survived the Battle of Yavin.

Verlaine later made a cameo appearance in Chuck Wendig's 2016 novel Aftermath: Life Debt, the second installment in The Aftermath Trilogy.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Force Arena
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
 * Princess Leia, Part I
 * Princess Leia, Part II
 * Princess Leia, Part III
 * Princess Leia, Part IV
 * Princess Leia, Part V
 * Aftermath: Life Debt