Norra Wexley

Norra Wexley (née Susser) was a female rebel pilot from the planet Akiva who served in the Alliance to Restore the Republic and New Republic during the Galactic Civil War. Following the Battle of Endor, she returned to Akiva to reunite with her estranged teenage son Temmin Wexley but was drawn into a mission to rescue the captured New Republic pilot Wedge Antilles. Joining forces with Temmin, his B1 battle droid "Mister Bones", the bounty hunter Jas Emari, and the former Imperial loyalty officer Sinjir Rath Velus, Norra and her makeshift rebel band sparked an uprising against the Empire on Akiva, disrupted the Imperial Future Council, and helped rescue Wedge Antilles. While attempting to apprehend the Imperial Admiral Rae Sloane, her TIE fighter was hit by burning debris from Sloane's shuttle. After recovering from her injuries, Norra, her son, and their companions joined the New Republic soldier Jom Barell in hunting down Imperial war criminals.

Joining the Rebellion
Norra Wexley was from the planet of Akiva and lived in the capital of Myrra. She was married to Brentin Lore Wexley, who worked with the Rebel Alliance before the Rebel Alliance even formally existed. During the Age of the Empire, Norra and Brentin raised a son named Temmin. When Brentin was arrested and taken away by a group of stormtroopers, she was left to raise Temmin on her own. Missing her husband, who was never heard from again, she left her twelve year old son in the care of her older sister Esmelle and joined the Rebel Alliance. She always held out hope that her journeys would help her find her husband again.

Initially, her role in the Rebel Alliance was as a simple freighter pilot, ferrying people, cargo, or messages across the galaxy. However, before the Battle of Endor, Commander Wedge Antilles spoke to her, requesting that she fly with them in the battle because they desperately needed her piloting skills. She reluctantly accepted, and flew a BTL Y-wing starfighter in the battle as Gold Nine of Gold Squadron. Led by Lando Calrissian, she flew into the second Death Star, drawing the attention of many TIE fighters away from the Millennium Falcon but expecting to die in the process. Although she took a lot of fire and lost her astromech droid, she survived the battle. She received a medal for her service that day, although she was haunted by those memories for a long time afterwards.

A difficult reunion
Following the Battle of Endor, Norra returned to her homeworld of Akiva with the goal of reuniting with her son Temmin, whom she had not seen for the past three years, and taking him offworld. Since Akiva was still under Imperial occupation, she hitched a ride aboard the smuggler Owerto Naiucho's freighter Moth. On the way, the Moth was attacked by several TIE fighters. Following a brief dogfight, Norra took control of the ship and managed to evade the fighters and land near Akar Road on the outskirts of Myrra, where her home was located. After escaping the Imperials, Norra acknowledged that she was indeed a rebel pilot and convinced Owerto to fly her and her son offworld.

Norra's first stop was to visit her sister Esmelle and her wife Shirene. There, she learnt that Temmin was no longer staying with his aunts and had moved back to their former family home. Upon returning to her home, Norra discovered that Temmin had become a junk dealer and had turned their family home into a junk shop. Despite briefly embracing, Norra found that her fifteen year old son still resented her for leaving him behind to find Brentin and join the Rebellion. Due to his line of work, Temmin had frequent contact with underworld elements. He had just "incapacitated" three criminals who had been sent by the Sullustan crime lord Surat Nuat to punish her son for stealing supplies from a wrecked transport. In addition, Temmin had constructed a modified B1 battle droid named "Mister Bones" that served as his companion and bodyguard.

While trying to reason with her son, Norra received a distress call from Captain Wedge Antilles, who had been captured by the Empire while observing an emergency Imperial summit over Akiva. Believing that his mother was about to embark on another mission for the Rebellion, Temmin refused to talk to her anymore and retreated into the basement, locking the door behind him. Norra managed to unlock the door to the basement by playing a note on the family's valachord, the last relic of her husband. Inside the catacombs, she found a sullen Temmin.

While conversing with her son, Temmin revealed that he had mapped out the catacombs beneath Myrra over the past three years. After comforting Temmin, she told her son that she had come to take him away from Akiva. She tried to reason with Temmin by telling him that the Empire was occupying Akiva with stormtroopers and had imposed a blockade on the planet. Regarding Akiva as home and unwilling to give up his newly-found independence, Temmin refused to go with his master. Unable to reason with her son anymore, Norra injected him with a sleeping needle and dragged him back to Owerto's freighter. This decision proved timely because Surat soon dispatched bounty hunters to hunt her son down.

An unexpected detour
Upon arriving back at the Moth, she found that Owerto had been shot dead by marauding stormtroopers. As Norra was preparing the freighter for departure, Temmin woke up from his drug-induced sleep. She told him that they were preparing to leave Akiva. Lacking an astromech droid, Norra asked her son to act as a navigator and offered to guide him. Still unwilling to leave his droids and shops, Temmin that claimed he had a plan and then escaped the starship, only to run into a squad of stormtroopers. While angry with her son's action, Norra regretted giving not giving him a choice. Before the stormtroopers could corner them, Norra and her son escaped on a nearby speeder bike.

Norra and Temmin fled through the streets of Myrra on the speeder bike and managed to lose their Imperial pursuers. After they had traveled a distance, Temmin handed the controls of the bike to his mother and maneuvered his way to the back. Before she could protest, Temmin told her to meet him at Aunt Esmelle's house before jumping off. With some difficulty, Norra managed to brake her speeder and pivot the vehicle back around. Norra then made her way back to Temmin's shop where she encountered one of Surat's henchmen, Toomata Wree. After shooting Tooms in the stomach, she interrogated the Abednedo and learned that Temmin had been captured by Surat.

Norra drove her bala-bala speeder to the Alcazar, Surat's cantina and criminal compound, to rescue her son. Fortunately for her, Temmin was rescued by the Zabrak bounty hunter Jas Emari and the former Imperial loyalty officer Sinjir Rath Velus; the former of whom had a score to settle with Surat and had enlisted Sinjir to help her. Following a struggle, Jas and Sinjir managed to save Temmin from having his tongue cut out by Surat. Temmin's droid Mister Bones also entered the fray and killed several of Surat's enforcers and some Imperial personnel frequenting the cantina. Norra arrived just in time to pick up her son, Sinjir, and Jas.

Forming a rebel band
After rescuing her son, Norra retreated to the home of her sister Esmelle. While conversing with Jas and Sinjir, she learned that Jas was collecting a New Republic bounty on the Imperial banker and slaver Arsin Crassus and had enlisted Sinjir's help to do so. From Emari, Norra learned that several high-ranking Imperial officials known as the Imperial Future Council were convening an emergency summit at Satrap Isstra Dirus's palace. In return, Norra informed Jas that the Empire had captured her commander Wedge. Jas tried to convince Norra to help her attack the Empire and rescue Wedge at the same time. Despite her strong sense of duty to the Republic, Norra decided to leave Akiva with her son and alert the New Republic fleet.

Jas disagreed and countered that leaving Akiva would cause the New Republic to miss an opportunity to capture the Imperials and to rescue Commander Wedge. Norra's son Temmin then joined the conversation and offered to assist Jas in return for a cut of the bounty. Norra reluctantly agreed to help Norra in return for getting passage off Akiva. Shortly later, they were joined by a battered and damaged Mister Bones, who had survived the fight with Surat's men.

The following morning, while gazing from the rooftop of Esmelle's home, she saw Imperial turbolaser fire striking a descending ship and witnessed an object flying from the ship. This object turned out to be Sergeant major Jom Barell, who was part of a New Republic Special Forces unit that had parachuted into Akiva. Norra then chatted with her sister about Temmin's close relationship with Mister Bones. When Norra expressed her scepticism that one could befriend a droid, Esmelle pointed out that Bones had protected Temmin from bullies and had been his long-time companion after Norra had left on her trip. When Norra insisted that she was trying to make up for the time that she had spent away from her son, Esmelle dismissed her involvement in the Rebellion as a "crusade." Norra then responded that war was coming to Akiva and disparaged her sister for her ambivalence.

Upon returning to the kitchen, Norra stumbled into a heated conversation between Jas and Sinjir. Overhearing their conversation, she learned that Sinjir had been an Imperial loyalty officer during the Battle of Endor. Giving in to her hatred of the Empire, Norra attacked Sinjir but was restrained by Jas, who held a blaster to her head. The bounty hunter urged Norra to make peace with Sinjir and pointed out that he had indeed defected from the Empire. Realizing that Sinjir as an Imperial officer could access Imperial installations, Norra came up with a plan to disrupt the Imperial summit and rescue Antilles at the same time.

A narrow brush with death
Working with Jas Emari, Sinjir, and Temmin, Norra came up with a plan to inspire a popular uprising on Akiva as a means of achieving their two main goals. While Temmin, Sinjir, and Mister Bones hijacked an Imperial communications station and uploaded a New Republic propaganda broadcast, she and Jas made their way back to her former family home. There, Emari killed several unidentified intruders who had been lying in wait for her and her son. Shortly later, Norra found two Imperial TIE fighters stabled on the rooftop of the old Karyvinhouse Plantation, the home of the pro-Imperial aristocratic family, the Karyvin clan.

During a brief confrontation, Norra killed the TIE fighter pilot NK-409 with her blaster before being attacked by his comrade, who lunged at her but fell off the rooftop to his death. Norra then commandeered one of the TIE fighters and ascended into the skies. Using her stolen TIE fighter, she shot down one of the TIE fighters menacing her son and Sinjir at the top of the comm station. Mister Bones dealt with the second fighter by cannon-balling into the cockpit and taking out the pilot. Norra was soon pursued by two more TIE fighters but managed to shoot one down, causing it to collide with the second TIE.

Norra then flew her TIE fighter to the Satrap's palace where the Imperial Future Council was meeting. She managed to destroy several parked Imperial shuttles but her fighter was shot down by a turbolaser emplacement. Fortunately, Norra managed to eject herself out of the craft. She then found her son and their companions at a tavern called Pok's Place; who believed she had perished aboard her TIE fighter. After comforting her son, Norra informed her comrades that TIE fighters indeed carried ejector seats. Through this experience, Temmin came to appreciate his mother more. Her son's droid Bones was also expressed relief that her "existence had not been reduced to scattered atoms."

Walking into a trap
Having transmitted their propaganda broadcast urging the people of Akiva to rise up against the Empire, the rebels then put their plan to infiltrate the Satrap's palace into action. Temmin, who was familiar with the underground catacombs beneath Myrra, agreed to guide the band there. While collecting his maps from his "hidey-hole-nook-and-cubby", Temmin secretly contacted Surat and offered to trade Norra and Sinjir, who were wanted by the Empire, in return for obtaining safe passage for him, his mother, and Mister Bones offworld. Surat accepted Temmin's offer but double-crossed the boy by negotiating another deal with Admiral Rae Sloane, who was interested in Norra.

While waiting for her son to fetch the maps, Norra conversed with Sinjir, who admitted that he had committed morally reprehensible acts while serving the Empire. After Sinjir recounted the story of his encounter with the Gunnery Officer Rilo Tang, he reiterated that he was neither for the Empire or the Rebellion but was only looking out for himself. Norra and Sinjir concurred that they could not trust him. Shortly later, Temmin returned with a flimsiplast map and recounted the dangers of traveling through the underground caverns. When her son expressed her skepticism about the New Republic's promises, Norra urged her cynical son to believe in hope. Before leaving, Sinjir helped Temmin to open the box containing the mysterious cargo he had earlier stolen from Surat. Surat's cargo turned out to be a box of data cube.

As they traveled through the catacombs, Norra and her companions stumbled upon an old battlefield that was still littered with the remains of fallen Jedi, battle droids, and weapons. During the journey, Norra took the opportunity to ask her son whether he trusted Sinjir. When Temmin asked her why she trusted the bounty hunter Jas over the former Imperial office, Norra responded that a bounty hunter lived by a certain code. Temmin also took the opportunity to apologize to his mother for his hostile behavior towards her earlier. When Temmin admitted that he lacked her passion for the New Republic, she reassured him that he was still a kid and had more than enough to worry about. After embracing each other, they were rejoined by Jas and Sinjir, who had finally caught up with them.

Norra's party eventually stumbled upon a wrecked former Separatist droid factory where they were attacked by several Uugteen, primitive near-human creatures that inhabited the labyrinths beneath Myrra. The rebels managed to escape after Temmin ignited a box of detonators. After escaping the Uugteen, Temmin led the team through the old Banking Clan building which brought them to the entrance of the satrap's palace. Shortly after arriving, the party was captured by Admiral Sloane and a contingent of stormtroopers, who took them into custody. Inside the palace, Temmin revealed his secret deal with Surat. However, Surat double-crossed the boy by allowing Sloane to arrest Norra. When Temmin protested, Rae ordered him to leave but he refused and attempted to call Mister Bones for help. However, Sloane destroyed the droid and ordered her stormtroopers to throw Temmin off the palace's rooftop.

Uprising on Akiva
As a mob of Akivans besieged Satrap Isstra's palace, Admiral Sloane ordered her men to take Norra, Sinjir, and Jas Emai aboard the Imperial slaver Crassus' yacht Golden Harp. She also witnessed her commander Captain Wedge Antilles being wheeled aboard a hovering table onto the yacht. Wedge managed to flash a weak smile as he was led into a separate compartment. When Norra asked Sinjir what the Imperials would do with them, he replied that the Empire might exchange her as part of a peace settlement. When Jas commented that her son's "betrayal" had not been her fault, Sinjir responded that Temmin was her son. Despite Temmin's misguided actions, she still hoped that her son would be safe. Jas supported her by pointing out that Temmin was a survivor.

Admiral Sloane planned to take the Golden Harp to the Imperial Star Destroyer Vigilance. However, a New Republic fleet emerged from hyperspace and attacked the Imperial fleet. The Golden Harp was soon hit by enemy fire. In the midst of the fighting, Temmin managed to infiltrate the yacht and used a maintenance hatch to reach the chamber where Norra, Sinjir, and Jas were being held. Meanwhile, Norra watched as Sinjir and Jas struggled with one of their captors, Grand Moff Valco Pandion. This scuffle ended with Jas holding Pandion at gunpoint. Amidst the scuffle, Temmin managed to free Norra and Emari from their restraints. Before a fight could break out between Jas and the stormtroopers, the yacht crash-landed on the hangar bay of the Vigilance.

Norra, her son, Sinjir, and Jas managed to survive the crash but Crassus, and most of the stormtroopers aboard the yacht were killed. Jas also managed to secure General Jylia Shale and the Imperial advisor Yupe Tashu. However, Admiral Sloane managed to escape on a Lambda-class shuttle. With the Inflictor under attack from the New Republic fleet, Norra instructed the others to evacuate Wedge and the Imperials onto a shuttle. Despite Temmin's pleas, she stole a TIE fighter and took it into the battle to chase down Sloane's shuttle. Meanwhile, Pandion managed to infiltrate Sloane's shuttle but the Admiral overpowered him and jettisoned him with the main body before fleeing into hyperspace in the cockpit section. The shuttle's wreckage collided with Norra's TIE fighter, knocking her unconscious.

Reconciliation
Following the Battle of Akiva, Norra was rescued from her wrecked TIE fighter by New Republic forces and taken to Hanna City on Chandrila for medical treatment. There, she was reunited with her son Temmin, who hugged her. A few days later, she was visited by Admiral Gial Ackbar and Captain Antilles, who presented her with a second medal for her service on Akiva. After recovering, Norra returned to her homeworld of Akiva, which had since joined the New Republic. Due to their shared adventures, Temmin came to appreciate his mother's sacrifices more and reconciled with her.

As a gesture of reconciliation, Norra and her son undertook a "family project" to repair Mister Bones, using spareparts from Esmelle and Shirene's basement. Temmin informed her that Surat's stolen data cubes had enabled the New Republic to crack down on his crime syndicate and uncover the Empire's dealings with the Hutts and other crime syndicates across the galaxy. Both also resolved to continue their search for Brentin. Later, Norra, Temmin, Bones, Sinjir, and Jas Emari joined forces with Sergeant Jom Barell to hunt down Imperial fugitives across the galaxy.

Personality and traits
Norra Wexley was a human woman with long silver hair. She was a loving wife and mother to her husband Brentin and son Temmin. She and Brentin were sympathetic to the Rebel Alliance with her husband carrying messages for the Rebellion before it had even broken out. Norra was greatly distressed when the Empire arrested her husband and developed a hatred for the Empire as a result. Her love for Brentin led her to leave her son Temmin in the care of her aunt Esmelle and to travel offworld to find her husband. In the process, Norra was caught up in the Galactic Civil War and joined the Rebel Alliance.

Norra characterized her decision to join the Rebel Alliance as one "made less in her head and more in her gut." She rationalized this decision by regarding her fears, worries, and emotions as anchors that held her to an old way of thinking. While Norra felt guilty about leaving her son behind to join the Rebellion, she justified it by telling herself that she was playing a role in fighting the Galactic Empire. Despite her involvement in the Rebellion, Norfa never forgot about her son and husband and vowed to reunite with her family. Norra was a strong and headstrong woman, a trait that was inherited by her son Temmin.

While a strong believer in the rebel cause, Norra was troubled by the guilt of not fulfilling her duties as a parent to Temmin. Norra understood her son's anger and bitterness towards her for leaving him on Akiva to find Brentin. Following the Battle of Endor, she returned to Akiva to take her son offworld. After returning, she discovered that Temmin had become an independent businessman specializing in junk dealing. As a mother, Norra was concerned by her son's dangerous dealings with criminal elements. After Temmin rebuffed her attempts on two occasions to leave Akiva, mother and son were able to reconcile after the two join forces to fight the Empire on Akiva and rescue Captain Wedge Antilles.

Though Norra was initially skeptical that Temmin's modified battle droid Mister Bones could be his friend, she gained a more sympathetic appraisal of the droid after Bones assisted her rebel cell and expressed affection for her after Norra survived a near death encounter. Following the Battle of Akiva, Norra and her son undertook a "family project" to repair Bones as a gesture of reconciliation. Norra was brave, adventurous, and reckless. On two occasions, she risked her own life by piloting a TIE fighter to attack the Empire.

Skills and abilities
Norra Wexley was a good pilot who could fly various starships including a freighter and a TIE fighter. She was also a competent mechanic and once assisted her son Temmin in rebuilding his droid Mister Bones. Due to her involvement in the Rebellion, Norra knew how to wield a blaster and could also engage in physical combat.

Behind the scenes
Norra Wexley along with her son Temmin first appeared as a major point-of view characters in Chuck Wendig's novel Aftermath, which was first released in September 2015 as part of the multimedia Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Norra and Temmin later appeared in the sequel Aftermath: Life Debt, which was released in July 2016.

Appearances

 * Aftermath
 * Aftermath: Life Debt