Depa Billaba/Legends

"I know you will come for me, Mace. You should never have sent me here. And I should never have come. But what's done can never be undone. I know you think I've gone mad. I haven't. What's happened to me is worse."

- Depa Billaba

Depa Billaba was a Chalactan Jedi Master serving on the Jedi Council during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. Before her trials, she had been the Padawan learner of Jedi Master Mace Windu.

Biography
The respected Windu saved her from the space pirates that killed her parents. He brought the six-month old Force-sensitive child to the temple and took her as his Padawan when she was of age. Mace, the creator of Vaapad, taught her all he knew and she became as close as a daughter. Depa embraced the teachings of the Chalactan Adepts, making her attuned to the minds and personalities of her peers in the Jedi Council Chamber. Decorating the bridge of her nose were Chalcactan marks of illumination, testament to her spirituality. She was a calm but powerful presence on the High Council. During the Battle of Geonosis, Billaba had looked after the "younglings," while the other Jedi were dispatched to fight.

Like her close relative, fellow Jedi Sar Labooda, Billaba was a soft-spoken spiritual individual, but capable enough to take quick action if need be. A consummate lightsaber duelist, she mastered the Juyo form of lightsaber combat, and was also one of only three Jedi to master Vaapad, a series of techniques that was widely regarded to complete the Juyo lightsaber form, but also posed a grave spiritual threat for its wielder. According to Mace, Depa's bladework has already surpassed the Vaapad he created. Though her nature seemed to be perfectly suited for this test, Billaba turned to the dark side of the Force during an assignment on Haruun Kal, Mace's birth planet. Mace Windu tried to save her, but after an attempt to take her own life, she remained in a coma for the rest of the war.

The seat she left vacant after she fell into a coma was eventually given to Obi-Wan Kenobi along with the title of Jedi Master. Depa's fate during the Great Jedi Purge is unknown, but is presumed dead during the raid of the Jedi Temple.

Behind the scenes

 * In The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Depa Billaba was played by Dipika O'Neill Joti. She was voiced by Diane Michelle in the game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns.
 * There is some inconsistency with regards to Depa's background. It is known that she was trained by Mace Windu, and that he rescued her when he was a Padawan and she a six-month old infant, requiring there to be at least ten to fifteen years difference in their ages. However various comics have placed Billaba on the Jedi Council as far back as 44 BBY. This would seem to be in error, as in light of Windu's birthdate of 72 BBY, this would require Depa to join the Council while far younger than Anakin Skywalker's 22 years of age, described in Revenge of the Sith as being the youngest Jedi to sit on the Council.

Appearances

 * Yaddle's Tale: The One Below
 * Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War
 * Children of the Force
 * Jedi Council: Acts of War
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Republic: Emissaries to Malastare
 * Star Wars Republic: The Hunt for Aurra Sing
 * Jedi Apprentice Special Edition 2: The Followers
 * Zam Wesell
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
 * Shatterpoint
 * Star Wars Republic: Show of Force
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novelization