Quinlan Vos

"Sir, you seem troubled.''" "''Well, Quinlan Vos has that effect."

- Commander Cody and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Quinlan Vos was a male human/Kiffar Jedi Master who lived during the final days of the Galactic Republic. He hailed from the planet Kiffu and became a member of the Jedi Order, where he developed into a maverick Jedi who garnered a reputation for bending the rules. He was renowned for his ability to perceive the memories of other beings by touching objects that those beings had come into contact with. Vos, an expert tracker as a result of his abilities, often took missions that dealt with the criminal underworld. On one such mission, he met Aayla Secura and took her as his Padawan.

During the Clone Wars, Vos teamed with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to track Ziro, a Hutt crime lord who escaped from prison on Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Republic. Vos deduced that Ziro had been freed by bounty hunter Cad Bane, which led Vos and Kenobi onto the trail of Ziro and the bounty hunter. Their mission took them to Nal Hutta, the Hutt homeworld, and eventually to Teth, where they discovered that Ziro had been killed. Although Bane, also on Teth, did not kill Ziro&mdash;the crime was committed by Ziro's former lover, Sy Snootles&mdash;the two Jedi attempted but failed to arrest him due to his criminal record.

Later in the war, having advanced to the rank of Jedi Master, Vos was partnered with Asajj Ventress, a former dark side assassin, to assassinate the Sith Lord Count Dooku, the brutal leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The duo was unsuccessful in their attempt. During the war's final days, Vos commanded Grand Army of the Republic forces on Boz Pity.

Early life and Jedi service
"It's forbidden for Jedi to form attachments, yet we are supposed to be compassionate." "It is nothing to be ashamed of, Ahsoka. I went through the same process when I was your age with my own master." "Really? You?" "He was like a father to me. I realized that for the greater good, I had to let him go."

- Aayla Secura and Ahsoka Tano, after Tano's master, Anakin Skywalker, was gravely wounded in battle

Quinlan Vos was born on the planet Kiffu in the years prior to the fall of the Galactic Republic. He became a member of the Jedi Order, becoming apprentice to Jedi Master Tholme. Although he was not born in the Jedi Temple, he considered it home for it was where he grew up. He ended and started fights in rooms meant for fighting and in some that weren't as well as sneak naps in its library. Vos eventually rose to the rank of Jedi Knight. Vos gained a reputation as a maverick who did not always follow the rules of Jedi life. He became renowned, however, for his ability to see the memories of other beings simply by touching an object that such beings had come into contact with. This allowed him to develop skills as an expert tracker, and, as a result, often took missions that dealt with the criminal underworld.

It was on one such mission that Vos met Aayla Secura, a Twi'lek who displayed a sensitivity to the powers of the Force. During the mission, Vos rescued Secura from a dangerous area on her homeworld of Ryloth. The maverick Jedi took Secura as his Padawan, and the two formed a close relationship. Secura later became a Jedi Knight.

Thirteen years before the Republic's fall, Vos was on a mission in Mos Espa, a spaceport settlement on the desert world of Tatooine. Coincidentally, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, were also on Tatooine; the two Jedi had chosen to land their vessel, carrying Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo, on Tatooine after it sustained damage while it escaped from the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo. Vos was present to witness one of the earliest meetings between Jinn and Anakin Skywalker, a young Mos Espa slave who Jinn would soon come to believe was the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force.

The hunt for Ziro
"I never did enjoy hanging out with you."

- A sarcastic Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Vos, as the two hung over a ledge following a fight with Cad Bane

Three years before the fall of the Republic, the Clone Wars were sparked during the Battle of Geonosis. During the Republic's war with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the crime lord Ziro the Hutt was imprisoned by the Republic in the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center on the capital planet of Coruscant. Ziro's crime was to conspire with Count Dooku, a Sith Lord and the political leader of the Separatist Alliance, in a plot to kidnap Rotta, the infant child of Ziro's nephew Jabba the Hutt; the plot was designed to implicate the Jedi Order in the kidnapping and intended death of the Huttlet, in order to convince the Hutt Clan to join the Separatist cause. The Hutt Clan later paid to have the bounty hunter Cad Bane break Ziro out of prison, so the Hutt criminal could be imprisoned by the Hutts and not reveal damaging information he had about the Grand Hutt Council to the Republic.

In order to return Ziro to Republic imprisonment, the Jedi Council assigned Vos and Kenobi, the latter of whom had become a Jedi Master, to track the Hutt criminal down and capture him. Before their mission began, Vos met Kenobi and Commander Cody, a clone trooper in the Grand Army of the Republic, at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Kenobi suspected that Jabba was behind the escape due to wanting revenge for his son's kidnapping, but Vos had information correctly stating that the Hutt Council was involved due to Ziro's damning information. The two Jedi left Coruscant and made their way to Nal Hutta, the Hutt homeworld, where Vos correctly believed that Ziro had been taken.

Vos and Kenobi arrived on Nal Hutta and landed at the palace of Gardulla the Hutt, where Ziro was being held, and were brought before the Grand Hutt Council. Vos confronted the Council with the theory that they broke Ziro out of prison, a theory that the Hutts expressed offense over, despite its accuracy. As the Hutts spoke to Kenobi, who assured them that they meant no harm to the Council, Vos picked up a glass that Ziro had used and was able to sense his memories, telling him that the Hutt had been in the palace. Vos told Kenobi what he had discovered as the two left the Council chambers and the Jedi made their way into the prison, where they soon discovered that Ziro had escaped.

Using Vos' expert tracking skills, Vos and Kenobi ventured through the swamps of Nal Hutta on the trail of Ziro and his lover, the musician Sy Snootles, who had helped him escape&mdash;and, unknown to Ziro or the Jedi, was being paid by Jabba to bring Ziro's diary of damaging information to him. Kenobi wondered why Ziro would still be on Nal Hutta, suspecting that the Hutt may have left the planet, but Vos sensed that Ziro was still on the Hutt homeworld. While on the hunt, Kenobi was attacked by a dragonsnake, a fearsome creature that lived in the swamps. The Jedi Master killed the large carnivore, leaving Vos to quip that Kenobi was wasting precious time in the hunt for the Hutt escapee. The trail led the Jedi, who discovered that Cad Bane was also searching for the Hutt, towards the home of Ziro's mother, Mama. Vos and Kenobi learned that Ziro had stolen Mama's starship and that Bane had arrived soon thereafter and forced her to divulge what she knew about her son's activities. Kenobi assured her that he and Vos did not want to kill her son, and she revealed that Ziro was making his way to the jungle planet Teth&mdash;where Ziro had hidden his diary.

The Jedi arrived on Teth to find Bane standing over Ziro's corpse, though, when confronted, the bounty hunter rightly insisted that he was not responsible for the murder. Bane attempted to leave, but Kenobi and Vos fought to capture him for his crimes against the Republic, including holding the Galactic Senate hostage as part of his plot to free Ziro. This led to a fight between the Jedi and Bane, with Bane able to hold his own against the two Jedi. The Jedi chased Bane across large rock formations that were in the area, and at one point the bounty hunter was able to gain possession of Vos' lightsaber and use it against Kenobi. Bane grabbed Kenobi's arm during the fight and electrocuted him, but Kenobi was soon saved by Vos, who used jet boots to fly towards Bane and fight him mid-air. The bounty hunter evaded the Jedi Knight and, despite Vos and Kenobi's efforts, flew to his ship and escaped from Teth. Their mission to recover Ziro and capture Bane ended in failure.

Yoda's vision
Later in the war, Grand Master Yoda set out on a journey to unlock the secrets of immortality, which would allow him to retain his consciousness after death. This journey led him to a mysterious planet, the origin of life itself. He was put through a number of trials by five Force Priestesses, who tested Yoda to determine if he was worthy of their secrets. During the trials, Yoda saw a vision of an idyllic Jedi Order, one that had not become corrupted by years of warfare. Amongst the many Jedi Yoda saw in the peaceful time was Vos, who spoke with Jedi Master Saesee Tiin. The vision ended once Yoda remembered that what he was seeing was not real, but rather an illusion conjured on the Force planet.

Working with Ventress
"What is this?" "It's called a 'tackle.'" "Who. Are. You." "Relax. I've got this one, honey." "Honey?"

- Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress

Some time later, Vos, having advanced to the rank of Jedi Master, was assigned to team with Asajj Ventress to assassinate Count Dooku. Ventress, who had become a bounty hunter, was once Dooku's dark side acolyte and assassin, before Dooku cast her aside on the orders of Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith. The alliance between Vos and Ventress, forged by the Jedi Council, was designed to bring both the light side and dark side together to kill the Count of Serenno, although the Council did not want Ventress to know she was aiding the Jedi.

Vos's first challenge was to locate Ventress. He did this by traveling to Level 1313 of Coruscant in order to get information as to her location. While there he spoke with the bounty hunter Boba Fett who hinted that his former partner was hunting a Volpai named Moregi on Pantora. After a series of conflicts and misunderstandings, Ventress, believing Vos to be a competent if irritating bounty hunter, agreed to form a partnership. The two spent several weeks aboard Ventress's ship, the Banshee, training and conducting missions.

The duo eventually took a job to rescue the wife and children of Marg Krim, the leader of the Pyke Syndicate. Krim's wife, son, and daughter were returned by Vos and Ventress after they were rescued from The Black Sun Syndicate, although Black Sun returned to Oba Diah to "finish the job." Vos knew that the Pikes would not stand a chance and wanted to help, although Ventress knew that they could do nothing to help against a fleet and put the ship into hyperspace.

Reeling from their failed mission, Quinlan revealed to Ventress that he was a Jedi, a fact that she was already aware of. He finally revealed to her the full details of who he was and what his mission was to accomplish. Having come to respect Vos and seeing a potential way to finally get revenge on her former master, Ventress agreed to aid him in his mission, but insisted that assassinating Dooku would not be possible without the aid of the dark side.

To guide him in his teachings, Ventress piloted them to her former homeworld, Dathomir. While there, she guided Vos in how to utilize his emotions to strengthen his bonds with the dark side. In particular, she encouraged him to channel his hatred by revealing that it was Dooku who murdered his former master Tholme. Giving into his emotions and his attraction to Ventress, Vos kissed his partner turned teacher and the two quickly began to fall in love. After Ventress's informant from inside the Confederacy told her the time to make their move was soon, she had Quinlan take another test. She tasked Vos in the murder of a monstrous creature known as The Sleeper, the last of its kind. Despite some initial hesitancy, Vos completed the trial and proved himself in Ventress's eyes.

The two would-be assassins finally set out on their mission. They left for the Confederate capital, Raxus, where they planned to ambush Dooku at a formal gathering. Despite complications regarding the presence of the Confederate General Grievous, the two carried out their plan. However, they quickly found themselves overwhelmed by Confederate forces. In a moment of desperation, Ventress was forced to flee leaving her lover in Dooku's custody.

Agent of the dark side
"Remember... you always have a choice to be better. You always have a choice to... to pick the right path. Even if that choice comes a little late."

- Asajj Ventress to Quinlan Vos

Vos underwent extended torture and psychological manipulation while Dooku's prisoner. Sensing the darkness already growing within him, the Sith Lord sought to manipulate Vos into becoming his latest apprentice and a tool against the Jedi. His final stroke was the revelation that it was in fact Ventress who was responsible for the death of Vos's former master. His trust in his former lover broken, Vos succumbed to Dooku's ways.

With Vos's loyalty assured, Dooku began laying the seeds for a complex revenge plot. Meanwhile, Ventress launched a desperate rescue mission with the aid of her former bounty hunting allies. Vos overwhelmed by hatred and by Dooku's mind games lashed out at his would be rescuer, revealing himself to now be an agent of the dark side. Heartbroken, Ventress was forced to leave Serenno empty handed.

Now Dooku's servant and consumed by the dark side, Vos began a new life as the deadly Separatist Lieutenant, Admiral Enigma. With Dooku's oversight Vos utilized his familiarity with the Republic Military to orchestrate a series of military victories, quickly becoming one of the the Confederacy's most feared operatives. Recognizing that the Jedi Order would soon discover the truth of Enigma's identity, Vos and his new master orchestrated Dooku's plan. Teaming up with Ventress, the Jedi Order launched a mission to capture Enigma and hopefully rescue Vos. The strike team discovered the former Jedi battered and broken in a prison cell aboard Enigma's flagship. Despite Ventress's protestations to the contrary, Vos's former Jedi allies believed his deception and welcomed him back to the Order.

However, Vos's quick reintroduction into the Jedi Order simply acted as a means to an end. Still actively serving Dooku and the Separatists, Vos repeatedly sabotaged operations for both the Jedi and Republic military. While the truth behind his intentions remained a subject of debate among the Jedi Council, Master Yoda ultimately discerned that Vos had indeed fallen after interacting with the former Jedi personally. As a final test of faith, the Jedi Council once again tasked Vos with the assassination of Dooku. Vos, seeing this as an opportunity to defeat Darth Tyranus and learn the identity of his mysterious master, accepted the mission and used the opportunity as an attempt to reconcile with Ventress, asking her to follow him secretly on his mission.

Unknown to him, the Jedi Order, expecting deception, sent Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Vos' former friend, Desh, to tail him. Vos quickly defeated Dooku and demanded an audience with Darth Sidious, before both Sith were promptly captured by the Jedi. However, Vos quickly escaped killing Desh and bringing Dooku with him as a hostage. Both were rescued by a horrified Ventress, before being drawn into the growing Second Battle of Christophsis.

Shot down in the ensuing crossfire, the three were forced to find cover on the crystal planet. Pursued by Republic forces, a wounded Dooku guided both Vos and Ventress to a Separatist stronghold. As promised, Dooku attempted to provide Vos with an audience with his master, but the conversation was cut short by the repeated efforts of the Republic military. After an artillery blast left Ventress wounded, Dooku seized the opportunity to kill both of his former apprentices in one fell swoop. However, in a moment of self sacrifice, Ventress dove in front of a lethal blast of Dooku's force lightning, saving her love from certain death. Enraged and broken by her sacrifice, Vos defeated Dooku in a fit of passion. Before striking the killing blow, Vos experienced a final moment of clarity and spared the Sith Lord's life. Ventress spent her final moments in her lover's arms declaring her devotion to him even in death and reassured him that the path to redemption was not outside his reach.

Dooku ultimately escaped in the chaos of the battle, but Vos's actions of mercy were witnessed by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan advocated for Vos's reinstatement in the Jedi Order, which was granted with some hesitancy. Together both attended Ventress's funeral on Dathomir, where Vos buried her in the traditional way of her people.

Final battles
"Saleucami has fallen, and Master Vos has moved his troops to Boz Pity."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi, near the end of the war

The last days of the Clone Wars saw Vos leading military forces in the Grand Army of the Republic. After the fall of the planet Saleucami, Vos moved his troops to Boz Pity. Vos would then join the fight on Kashyyyk, strategizing alongside the Wookiee Chieftain Tarfful. Shortly thereafter, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine&mdash;secretly Darth Sidious&mdash;transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, the Jedi Order was destroyed, and the Clone Wars came to an end.

Personality and traits
"That Jedi has quite a reputation." "You may be overstating it, Cody. Let's just say he's crazy."

- Commander Cody and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Quinlan Vos was a human /Kiffar male with black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. He had yellow tattoos on his face and left arm. Vos wore clothing that differed from typical Jedi apparel, including black garb while on Tatooine. During the hunt for Ziro, he wore a traditional Jedi tunic, but it was sleeveless and was complimented by armor on his shoulder and lower arms.

Vos displayed a sarcastic personality and was known as a maverick who did not always follow the rules of Jedi life. He displayed these tendencies while working with Kenobi to find Ziro, cracking jokes and preferring to stick to his own methods for operating on a mission, including his confrontational tone with the Grand Hutt Council. As a teacher, he formed a close bond with his Padawan, Aayla Secura, who had to learn to let her master go in order to move on with her life as a Jedi Knight.

Powers and abilities
"Well, since you're suddenly so interested in my tracking abilities, they went this way." "I never doubted you."

- Quinlan Vos and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while on the hunt for Ziro

Vos was renowned for his psychometry, the ability to sense the memories of other beings by touching objects that they had come into contact with. This allowed the maverick Jedi Knight to become an expert tracker, which he utilized by taking on missions that delved into the galaxy's criminal underworld. His dealings with criminals gave him an understanding of how the underworld operated, which helped him to deduce the true nature of Ziro's escape from Republic imprisonment and how the Hutt Council factored into the situation. During the hunt for Ziro, he displayed a prowess with a lightsaber, teaming with Kenobi to take on the infamous bounty hunter Cad Bane.

Behind the scenes
"In much the same way that Aayla Secura caught Lucas' eye enough to prompt the director to include the comic's character in Episode II, Lucas was intrigued by Quinlan Vos."

- Pablo Hidalgo

Quinlan Vos was based on a background character who appeared in the streets of Mos Espa in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, written and directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas. The character was created, based on this appearance, by author John Ostrander and artist Jan Duursema. Ostrander created the character's name by patterning it off of Qui-Gon Jinn's name, as Ostrander wanted a name with the same number of syllables. Vos went on to prominently appear in a number of Star Wars Legends stories, including Star Wars: Republic. The background character was officially retconned as being Vos in the official Star Wars canon.

The character, as fleshed out in the Expanded Universe, eventually caught Lucas' eye. The director was intrigued by Vos and decided to include him in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. The character was scripted to appear on the planet Kashyyyk, the Wookiee homeworld, during the execution of Order 66, but the scene was cut before the scene was shot or an actor was cast. An animatic featuring Vos was developed, however, and a passing reference to the character remained in the final film.

Vos later appeared in "Hunt for Ziro," the ninth episode of the third season of the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in which he was voiced by Al Rodrigo. Vos was previously slated to appear in the first season episode "Bombad Jedi," where where he would have been working undercover and using his Force abilities to help Jar Jar Binks appear to be a Jedi. His appearance was cut because, at the time, the production had a limited ability and limited amount of time with which to create new character models.

Although "Hunt for Ziro" was Vos' only appearance on The Clone Wars, he was slated to be part of a number of episodes featuring a team-up between him and Asajj Ventress. The episodes, eight in total, formed a single story arc and were written by Katie Lucas. The character was slated to receive a new design for the episodes, which would have seen him wearing a darker set of armor, including twin blaster pistols, described by the production as "Quinlan Vos B Bounty Hunter Disguise." Though the eight episodes were never produced due to the show's cancellation in 2013, the episodes, including Vos' role as a main character in the arc, formed the basis of the novel Dark Disciple. The novel allowed for a greater exploration of the characters, including the psychology of Vos and Ventress. Dark Disciple, written by Christie Golden, was released on July 7, 2015.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Dark Disciple
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Dark Disciple
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith