Eelysa

"I'll be thinking of you. Get better. "I already am. Be careful. Don't take foolish risks." "Me? You're the one flying with Han Solo."

- Eelysa's parting words to Leia Organa Solo

Eelysa was a female Human Jedi Master within the Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order. Born on the planet Coruscant after Emperor Palpatine's death, she was discovered to be strong in the Force and came to the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 at a young age. She was trained by Master Skywalker and eventually achieved the rank of Jedi Knight under his tutelage. As a Jedi, she was assigned long-term intelligence missions to various corners of the galaxy, gathering information for the Jedi and working to help the New Republic. After many years in this role, Eelysa took an apprentice in the Barabel Saba Sebatyne, training her on her home planet of Barab I.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Eelysa worked alongside Sebatyne with the Wild Knights, a group of Jedi Knights that all had ties to Eelysa and her Barabel apprentice. In this capacity, Eelysa worked undercover on the planet Corellia, and she played an integral part in rooting out Yuuzhan Vong collaborators, such as CorDuro, who had allied themselves with the invaders. As the war waged on, Eelysa came into conflict with Yuuzhan Vong warriors, sustaining injuries that nearly killed her. Despite bouncing back from the near-fatal assault, she was killed in action on Corellia, a victim of the voxyn, genetically engineered creatures designed by the Yuuzhan Vong to hunt Jedi. Eelysa's death was felt by her apprentice, who informed Master Skywalker of the Jedi Master's death.

Early life
"What happened, Master Skywalker?" "A million people died a moment ago, all in great pain, and with great suddenness."

- Eelysa and Luke Skywalker

Eelysa was born shortly after the Emperor's death on the galactic capital of Coruscant. Neither of her parents were Force-sensitive, so it came as some surprise when she was revealed to be highly attuned to the Force. She was eventually recognized by Luke Skywalker and while still a child, she was brought to the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. While there, she began to develop into Jedi Knight under the personal tutelage of Master Skywalker. In 17 ABY, Eelysa was part of the youngest and most powerful class at the praxeum. During one training session, in which Skywalker was demonstrating his telkinetic abilities to six members of this class, the Jedi Master felt a great disturbance in the Force. Shocked and dismayed by the great loss of life, Skywalker temporarily lost control of the boulders, the trees and R2-D2 that he was levitating and crashed to the ground. Skywalker's students, including Eelysa, were troubled by this, not having felt the disturbance themselves. While three of the students went to retrieve R2, Eelysa ran to her Master's side, hoping to discover what had caused him to lose control. Skywalker told the young girl that a million people had just suddenly died. Unknown to both, this event was the first sign of the Almanian Uprising, and the Dark Jedi Kueller had just eliminated the population of Pydyr. Skywalker, concerned over the event, immediately ended his lessons for the time being and left for Corsucant to deal with the threat.

Sometime after the conclusion of this crisis, Eelysa completed her training at the Academy. While still a young teenager, she was chosen by Skywalker to undergo several year-long Intelligence missions. In this capacity, she went deep undercover, losing all contact with many of the people she had met at the Academy, including Han Solo. By this time, Eelysa had developed her own opinions on the nature of the Force, views which sometimes contrasted sharply with her Master's own views. Despite this professional disagreement, Skywalker trusted Eelysa and accepted her judgments during her undercover missions. These missions did not always have a specific goal in mind, and Eelysa would receive explicit instructions from Skywalker only after she had arrived at the location.

In her role as a Jedi agent, Eelysa spent several years completing missions. While undercover, New Republic Intelligence kept tabs on Eelysa, recording the many missions that she had undertaken. Based on their reports, they believed the young Jedi Knight had completed close to five missions. Among these included breaking slaver rings in the Outer Rim Territories, making contact with the Chiss, and working against the Diversity Alliance. It was during one of these missions that she arrived on the planet Barab I. She discovered a Force-sensitive Barabel, Saba Sebatyne, who she took as her apprentice. This action was contested by Master Skywalker, who believed that Barabels did not have the appropriate temperament to become Jedi. However, Eelysa disagreed, claiming that if Wookiees such as Lowbacca could become Jedi, then Barabel could as well. Unable to send the Barabel back to the Jedi Praxeum due to her undercover mission and Skywalker's objections, she trained Sebatyne on the Barabel's home planet. Eelysa spent years training the Barabel, causing a close bond to form between the two. However, she was eventually chased off the planet by a hunting-pack that had subscribed to the Anti-Human doctrines of the Diversity Alliance. Sometime after this, Eelysa also came upon the failed Jedi student, Izal Waz, who had halted his studies due to his crippling salt addiction. She was able to help the Arcona overcome his addiction, bringing him back on the path to Knighthood. Sebatyne, who Eelysa eventually promoted to Jedi Knight, took over Waz's training shortly thereafter. Sebatyne was eventually training other pupils of her own, including her son, Tesar Sebatyne and his hatchmates, Bela Hara and Krasov Hara.

Yuuzhan Vong War
"Thanks again. I don't know that Izal and the Barabels would have gotten me out of there without you." "Without me, I don't know that they would've needed to."

- Eelysa thanks Han Solo for rescuing her

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Eelysa and several of her apprentices, including Waz and Sebatyne, were deployed on Corellia. The group maintained a fighter squadron, known as the Wild Knights, but Eelysa did not usually fly with the squadron. In order to keep a low profile, the Jedi Knights made their base at the abandoned Cinnabar Moon Retreat. While on Corellia, Eelysa uncovered a conspiracy involving CorDuro and CorSec, who were collaborating with the Yuuzhan Vong. CorDuro was misappropriating resources meant for refugees, and as part of their collaboration with the Yuuzhan Vong, they planned to turn over samples of bacta so that they could study its usage. Eelysa and her apprentices discovered the rendezvous point and planned to disrupt the meeting before their plan was disrupted.

Three weeks after the Fall of Duro, while working undercover, Eelysa was discovered by several Yuuzhan Vong Warriors and injured in combat, sustaining thoracic lacerations. Although not killed by the Yuuzhan Vong, Eelysa had to undergo treatment in a bacta tank at a local medcenter. While there, she was in danger of being discovered by the Peace Brigade, which had formed as a response to Warmaster Tsavong Lah's decree that they would stop their invasion if the galaxy would surrender all Jedi. As a result, she was admitted anonymously by Izal Waz and kept a secret by the Jedi-sympathizer, Doctor Jasper Nimbi. Despite these precautions, three Peace Brigaders, Roxi Barl, Gad Sluggins and Dex, who were searching for Leia Organa Solo, a fellow Jedi, nearly discovered Eelysa. Luckily for the Jedi, she was saved by the intervention of Han Solo, who noticed the Peace Brigaders searching the medcenter. During the firefight, Eelysa aided her rescuer by using the Force to distract the Jedi hunters and even used her lightsaber to eliminate Dex.

Solo was grateful for the assist, and when Dr. Nimbi suggested that the Solos take Eelysa with them on their departure, Solo played along. Hoping to get Eelysa out of the medcenter, Solo and his wife, with the help of Izal Waz, claimed that the recovering Eelysa was their daughter, Jaina Solo. Although Thrackan Sal-Solo, the new Governor-General of Corellia, did not believe the ruse, Solo's threats of disgracing Sal-Solo in front of the local media allowed them to leave with Eelysa in tow. The Solo's bought the bacta tank from the medcenter, allowing Eelysa to recover within the device while they escaped the world. However, before they left with the portable bacta tank, Sal-Solo specified that the tank should only be filled with generic bacta, not the premium strain that came from the capital of Coronet. The Solos, tailed by Izal Waz and CorSec personnel, made their way back to the docking bay where they had parked the Millennium Falcon. The Solos took on Waz as an extra pilot after he introduced himself and the group left Corellia with Eelysa. Unknown to the Solos, Waz allowed several other Jedi onto the Falcon, the Hara sisters and Tesar Sebatyne, who were under orders from their master to protect Eelysa.

Escape
"As good as new, but I'm not going to the new base. I'm on my way back to Corellia." "Will you be safe?" "As safe there as anyplace."

- Eelysa and Han Solo discuss her return to active duty

As the Millennium Falcon left Corellia, Solo plotted a course for Commenor, but they were set upon by Peace Brigade starfighters. Eelysa's protectors revealed themselves to the Solos and convinced the group to make a course for a rendezvous near Corellia where Eelysa could be cared for. Despite escaping the Peace Brigade, Sebatyne was not at the rendezvous point, and the group waited a full day for their contact to arrive. The generic bacta within Eelysa's bacta tank became contaminated, causing the bacta to become murky with fluids. As a result, she went into a healing trance to avoid fatal poisoning. The rendezvous point was actually the place where CorDuro was planning to turn over the bacta samples to the Yuuzhan Vong, and the extended wait was due to a delay in the meeting time. Eventually, the CorDuro ship, the Star Roamer appeared alongside a Yuuzhan Vong corvette analog, and Saba Sebatyne's squadron, the Wild Knights attacked. With the Millennium Falcon's help, the ship was captured and the bacta confiscated. Eelysa was treated with a new supply of bacta from the captured ship and was able to recover.

After obtaining the bacta, Eelysa and her group returned to their Cinnabar Moon base, where both Eelysa and Leia, who had sustained massive injuries to her legs during the Fall of Duro, recovered from their wounds. After emerging from the bacta tank, Eelysa spoke with the Solos several times, helping them to understand Barabel customs and aiding Leia in her recovery. Eventually, Eelysa noticed as mysterious task force sniffing around the system, and believing the base to be compromised, she suggested that her group abandon the Cinnabar Moon Retreat and seek a more secure location. While the Wild Knights prepared to change bases, Eelysa prepared to return to Corellia. Although her allies were worried that she was returning to the field too soon, Eelysa was adamant that she keep an eye on Thrackan Sal-Solo's Centerpoint Party and their goal of reactivating Centerpoint Station. While back on Corellia, Eelysa continued to monitor the situation and made regular report back to Master Luke Skywalker.

Death
"Eelysa, something caught her." "Something?" "This one doesn't know, but she is gone. Eelysa is no more."

- Saba Sebatyne and Luke Skywalker

Although still undercover during her duties on the planet Corellia, Eelysa was once again discovered by the Yuuzhan Vong. A bio-engineered creature designed to hunt Jedi, a voxyn, sensed Eelysa's Force-sensitivity and was able to corner her. During the struggle with the beast, Eelysa radiated her fear to her apprentices, and Sebatyne communicated the feeling to Luke Skywalker at a secret rendezvous point. However, Eelysa was unable to fend off the beast, and she fell in combat. Her death was felt by her apprentices, which affected them greatly. Although others in the Jedi Order, such as Danni Quee believed that Eelysa's death might negatively impact Sebatyne, the Barabel continued to fight in the Yuuzhan Vong War, performing her duties alongside the other Jedi. Skywalker's belief that Barabels could not be effectively trained as Jedi was eventually changed due to the competence of Eelysa's Barabel apprentices, and he admitted that he had been wrong. Eelysa's legacy was eventually honored in her apprentice, Saba Sebatyne, who became a Jedi Master and even served on the Jedi Council with Skywalker.

Personality and traits
"Perhaps they have found out, or perhaps it is something else, but Eelysa is frightened." "Frightened? That doesn't sound like Eelysa.""

- Saba Sebatyne and Luke Skywalker

Eelysa was a well-trained Jedi Knight who was distinguishable by her dark brown hair and slender figure. Even at an early age, she was noted for her strong Force-sensitivity, enough so that she was admitted into the Jedi Praxeum while still a young girl. Her Master, Luke Skywalker, was surprised by her natural abilities, believing that her sensitivity to the Force was pure, and untainted by the evil that existed in the galaxy. Although Eelysa taught her apprentices the value of patience and listening quietly, a trait instilled in her by the long training exercises of her master, she was known to voice her grievances when she disagreed with her Master. Skywalker's belief that Barabels could not be trained to be Jedi was opposed by Eelysa, who proved her master wrong by training a Barabel apprentice who eventually became a member of Skywalker's Jedi Council. Additionally, Eelysa was a compassionate individual, radiating good intentions and warm feelings towards those around her. During the Yuuzhan Vong War, this trait helped comfort Leia Organa Solo, who had been feeling depressed over her relationship with her husband at the time. This hope for the best caused her to take Izal Waz as her apprentice, even though he had become addicted to salt and had already dropped out of the Jedi Order. This optimism was rewarded when Waz completed his training, vindicating Eelysa's faith in him.

Eelysa was now known to fly a starfighter into combat, and although her apprentices and their Wild Knight squadron often flew into battle, Eelysa did not usually join them. She was well-versed in a variety of languages, and she could speak Barabel, Selonian, and Cheunh. During her missions she had also learned to read and write Selonian. While working as an undercover agent, Eelysa was known for her toughness and strength, returning to active duty almost immediately after her recovery from a near-fatal Yuuzhan Vong attack. This trait was noted by her apprentices and her master, and when she radiated fear during her final battle with a voxyn, those that knew her immediately believed her to be in grave danger as a result. Eelysa's close bond with her apprentice gave them a close connection, and Saba could easily pick up on the emotions of her master. This bond was closer than that shared between Eelysa and Master Skywalker, and during her death, Saba felt much greater anguish over her passing than Skywalker.

Powers and abilities
"Forgive this one. Jedi Eelysa taught her the wisdom of waiting."

- Saba Sebatyne

Eelysa was strong in the Force and according to her master, was untainted by the poisons around her. She could radiate strong feelings of hope to those nearby, encouraging them with her love and support. During the Yuuzhan Vong War, she was able to go into a healing trance, using the Force to sustain her body even after the bacta within her bacta tank had become contaminated over prolonged use. She was able to use the Jedi mind trick and could even perform battlemind. She had some ability to predict the future and was skilled in telekinesis. Eelysa carried a lightsaber and was able to telekinetically control it, which she did against Peace Brigade soldiers. However, her skill was unable to overcome Yuuzhan Vong warriors, causing her to be grievously injured, and she was unable to fend off the attacks of the Jedi-hunting voxyn, leading to her death.

Behind the scenes
Eelysa was created by Kristine Kathryn Rusch for the 1996 novel, The New Rebellion. In the book, Eelysa is introduced as a young member of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy and is identified as being born after the Battle of Endor. Her appearance in the novel was later referenced in The Star Wars Encyclopedia and A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Third Edition in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Eelysa reappeared in the novels when author Troy Denning used the character in The New Jedi Order book series, first appearing in the eBook Recovery. This story, which was a lead up to the full-length novel, Star by Star, revealed that the character had become a Jedi Knight and was now teaching apprentices of her own. However, in Star by Star, the character was killed off in an off-screen reference when one of her apprentices, Saba Sebatyne, felt her master's death. The character's death was referenced two more times in the book series, in Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream and Destiny's Way.

Further information on Eelysa's activities was later revealed by Daniel Wallace in two reference articles, Making a Full Recovery, a companion to the eBook, on the Wizards of the Coast website, and Who's Who in the New Jedi Order in Star Wars Insider 57. These articles revealed her activities between The New Rebellion and Recovery, clarifying that she had been deep undercover during that time. The character was referenced several more times in later reference books, in The New Essential Chronology and The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, which served to summarize her activities in the novels.

In the short reference article, Making a Full Recovery, Eelysa is mentioned to have gone on undercover missions for the Jedi for approximately "a dozen or so years". However, this does not fit the timeline, as Eelysa is shown to be in training at the Jedi Praxeum in 17 ABY, and she dies in 27 ABY, leaving no room for twelve years of these missions to take place. The author of the article, Daniel Wallace, clarified on the Jedi Council Forums that the "dozen or so years" reference is in error and should be seen as just a vague approximation.

Appearances

 * The New Rebellion
 * Recovery
 * Star by Star
 * Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
 * Destiny's Way

Notes and references
Eelysa Eelysa Илиса