Depa Billaba/Legends

"I know you will come for me, Mace. You should never have sent me to Haruun Kal. 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. I've gone sane. And nothing is more dangerous than a Jedi who is finally sane."

- Depa Billaba to Mace Windu

Depa Billaba was a Chalactan Jedi Master serving on the Jedi High Council during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. Orphaned by space pirates at an extremely young age, she was rescued by Jedi Master Mace Windu. Before her Jedi Trials, she was the Padawan learner of Mace Windu. During her career she went on missions to Nar Shaddaa and Asmeru.

By 32 BBY, Billaba was considered one of the most enlightened Jedi of her time and had earned her seat on the High Council. She also mastered the difficult Vaapad lightsaber form created by Mace Windu, becoming one of its few practitioners and one of only two masters of the form. Billaba served the Galactic Republic her entire life, until the Battle of Haruun Kal where she fell to the dark side.

Childhood and early years


When Billaba was very young, her family left their home planet of Chalacta in search of a new place to live. While traveling, the transport they were on was attacked by pirates, and in the ensuing fight Billaba's parents were killed. The infant girl and her sister, however, were saved from the space pirates by the respected Jedi Master Mace Windu. He brought the six-month-old Force-sensitive child to the Jedi Temple, and, when she was of age, took her as his Padawan. Windu was the creator of the lightsaber combat form Vaapad. Windu taught her all he knew, and she became as close to him as a daughter. Billaba's sister was also brought to the Temple, and given the name Sar Labooda.

Billaba embraced the teachings of the Chalactan Adepts, making her attuned to the minds and personalities of her peers. Decorating the bridge of her nose were the Chalactan Greater and Lesser Marks of Illumination, a testament to her spirituality.

Jedi Council member


Known for her wisdom, bravery, and loyalty, Billaba was widely considered to be one of the most enlightened Jedi of her time. As such, she became one of the youngest Jedi ever to be appointed to the High Council, selected around 33 BBY. Shortly before the Invasion of Naboo, Billaba was dispatched to Asmeru to investigate an attempt on the life of Supreme Chancellor Valorum. While on the planet, she and her fellow Jedi were attacked by Nebula Front terrorists, but fended them off.

Like her sister 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 two 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 to its wielder.

Mission to Asmeru
In 33 BBY Jedi Masters, Depa Billaba, Yaddle, Vergere, Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan went on a mission to Asmeru, wher they were attacked by the Nebula Front. The Jedi managed to defeat them and survived.

Naboo Crisis
In 32 BBY, Billaba, along with the other Jedi Masters on the Council, was confronted by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. She watched as Jinn requested that young Anakin Skywalker be tested for admission into the Jedi Order. She exchanged a look of surprise with Eeth Koth upon hearing of his strong connection to the Force. According to Jinn, the boy was the Chosen One of the Jedi prophecy. Depa was surprised to see how well Anakin could identify the images on the holoprojector that Mace Windu was holding towards himself. After testing the boy, the Council decided that the boy was not to be trained due to the emotional attachment to his mother. Following the Invasion of Naboo, Billaba attended the funeral of the maverick Jedi, along with Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Even Piell, Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth, Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin and later participated in the festivities that followed.

Mission to Nar Shaddaa
Shortly after the discovery of young Skywalker and the death of Jinn, Billaba embarked on a mission to rescue her former Master, Mace Windu, who had gone alone to Nar Shaddaa to investigate an animal smuggling ring. Journeying to the Smuggler's Moon, Billaba found Windu and reached him just as he was being surrounded by a large number of underworld thugs. After aiding him against the thugs, she helped him with his mission. They had saved the alewoman Aunuanna who claimed to have seen another Jedi that day, just then Quinlan Vos appeared and told them to complete their mission they would have to go to the bottommost regions of Nar Shaddaa. Aunuanna helped the Jedi by giving them her daughter's father's speeder saying it was the only way to reach the depths safely. On the way down the two Jedi were attacked by Vrblther's, Billaba lost control of the speeder and they crashed into the Circus Horrificus. Here they confronted Gargonn the Hutt, who unleashed deranged Akk dogs into the arena. When her former master failed in his attempt to calm the creatures through the force and was nearly killed, Depa reacted quickly and temporarily wounded one of the Akks with her lightsaber. Windu and Billaba killed an akk by stabbing it through the eyes at the same time. They then jumped up to Gargonns balcony and forced him to show them the manifestos of the Circus Horificus. Billaba believed they could force enough influence on Nar Shaddaa to stop any further violation of the Non-Sentient Creatures Transportation Act.

Clone Wars


"Her mind broke. Shattered. Lost in the dark."

- Mace Windu

When Mace Windu and 212 other Jedi journeyed to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi, his apprentice Anakin Skywalker, and Senator Padmé Amidala from execution by the Separatists, Billaba stayed at the Jedi Temple to safeguard the younglings while the other Jedi were away. Although she possessed considerable fighting prowess, Billaba was chosen to stay at the Temple as she was one of the principal instructors of young Jedi clans, such as the Bear Clan. Depa's sister, Sar Labooda was killed in the late stages of the battle.

Summertime War
Not long after the Battle of Geonosis, which marked the start of the Clone Wars, Billaba was dispatched to Mace Windu's home planet of Haruun Kal to stop Separatist activity and possibly recruit Korunnai militia to aid the Republic. She became a leader of the Upland Liberation Front (ULF), along with Kar Vastor, but was tormented by nightmares and by the atrocities she had witnessed in the brutal jungle war. Though her nature seemed to be perfectly suited for this test, Billaba turned to the dark side of the Force in 22 BBY due to the horrific nature of the guerrilla war and the influence of Kar Vastor. Eventually, a message composed by Billaba was delivered to Yoda and Windu, who were quite concerned for Billaba's condition.



Mace Windu journeyed to Haruun Kal and tried to save her, but Billaba was weakened under the influence of Vastor, and had committed war crimes while leading the ULF. Significantly, her Chalactan Mark of Greater Illumination had been torn out somehow, signifying a lack of spiritual strength and clarity to Windu. Windu took himself hostage in order to reach her, after enduring a series of ordeals and attacks to reach her. He arrested her and had intended to take her to safety, but a massive militia attack forced Billaba into combat, which was the peak of her final turn to the dark side.

Defending against the militia, Windu, Billaba, and some of the Korunnai decided to take the fight to the enemy and hijacked enemy gunships. Receiving aid from clone trooper reinforcements, Billaba and Windu led an assault on the main militia base. After seizing the control bunker in the capital city of Pelek Baw, Billaba, Vastor, and his Akk Guards sealed themselves inside and waited for Mace Windu to return from his mission to find Lorz Geptun, the leader of the militia.



Having found and brought Geptun back with him, Windu found Billaba and believed she was dead, but she was faking and attacked him, as the clone troopers battled Vastor and his Akk guards. Windu later said she would have won the following duel easily, but quick thinking on his part caused her to inadvertently destroy the Vulture droids that were creating fear, despair and anger&mdash;which she had been feeding off of. Realizing what she had done, Billaba attempted to take her own life, and, although prevented from doing so by Nick Rostu, she remained in a coma for the rest of the war.

Post-Haruun-Kal
The Council seat Billaba left vacant after she fell into a coma was eventually given to Obi-Wan Kenobi along with the title of Jedi Master. Her fate later is unknown, but as she was still in the coma during the Great Jedi Purge, her chances of having survived the raid on the Jedi Temple were very slim.

Depa Billiba was the second-to-last member on the old High Council to have fallen to the dark side. The one who succeeded her was a recent member, Anakin Skywalker, who had been transformed by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (alias [{Darth]] Sidious) into the feared Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Personality and traits
"I use the Night, and the Night uses me."

- Depa Billaba

Due to her Chalactan spirituality and Jedi training, Billaba was known for being contemplative and an excellent problem solver. Her unique mental conditioning gave her virtual immunity to torture. As a Jedi Knight, Billaba was noble, brave, and wise beyond her years, leading to her young appointment to the Jedi Council. She was soft-spoken and spiritual. After turning to the Dark Side on Haruun Kal, she almost could not walk. She went insane, and eventually attacked Master Windu. However she came to her senses before she killed the Jedi Master and tried to kill herself. Master Windu considered her to be like his daughter and Billaba felt that the Jedi Master was like her father. She believed that she had something of a life debt to Windu for saving her, and would do anything to protect him.

Despite Depa Billaba's Jedi training she had a deep seeded fear and hatred of pirates, she seemed to go quiet and tense whenever they were mentioned.

Powers and abilities
Depa Billaba was an exceptionally skilled Jedi and during one of their missions Mace Windu believed her abilities with a lightsaber surpassed his own. She was virtually immune to torture and was quite gifted in the Force having been trained as a Jedi Consular. Billaba was able to use Form VII: Vapaad to a degree that was rivaled only by Mace Windu and Windu even believed that she would have defeated him on Haruun Kal if not for his quick thinking.

Portrayal


In The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Depa Billaba was played by Dipika O'Neill Joti. Her facial markings were inspired by Dipika O'Neill Joti herself, as these are Dipika's real life piercings. She was voiced by Diane Michelle in the game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns and by Amanda Moody in Star Wars: Obi-Wan.

Her lightsaber can be seen in a variety of different colours. Her action figure holds a blue saber, on her mission to Nar Shaddaa she used a pink saber, in the Summertime War on Haruun Kal she used a green saber, in Jedi Council: Acts of War she wields a scarlet saber and in some artwork she is seen with a golden or yellow saber.

Continuity
Depa accidentally appears in the video game Galactic Battlegrounds. Initially, Sar Labooda was intended to be Depa Billaba, but the appearance was marked as too dissimilar compared to the original actress in Episode I, so the new character was created. The Billaba appearing in the video game should have been Sar Labooda, but the retcon may not have been known by the game creators.

The game also mistakenly shows Depa present at the Battle of Geonosis even though she was not.

Appearances

 * Jedi Council: Acts of War
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Episode I Adventures 1: Search for the Lost Jedi
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Star Wars: Obi-Wan
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Star Wars Episode I: I Am a Jedi
 * Star Wars: Republic 13: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Republic 17: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 5
 * Star Wars: Republic 18: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 6
 * Star Wars: Republic: The Hunt for Aurra Sing
 * Star Wars: Republic 39: The Stark Hyperspace War, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Republic 41: The Devaronian Version, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Republic: Rite of Passage
 * Jedi Apprentice Special Edition: The Followers
 * Star Wars: Zam Wesell
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
 * Shatterpoint
 * Star Wars: Republic 61: Dead Ends
 * Star Wars: Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * Star Wars: Republic: Show of Force
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novel
 * Star Wars: Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * Star Wars: Republic: Show of Force
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novel

Notes and references
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