- "I love you."
"I've been waiting my whole life for you to say that." - ―Tualon Yaluna and the Thirteenth Sister
Tualon Yaluna was a Force-sensitive Twi'lek male Inquisitor who once served as a Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars, before being turned to the dark side of the Force. He was involved in a number of successful hunts for Jedi. However, his relationship with the Thirteenth Sister ultimately led him to be killed by Darth Vader.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Born on Ryloth, as a child, Yaluna's Force-sensitivity led him to be trained as a Jedi and he became friendly with fellow youngling Iskat Akaris. Unlike many of their peers, he did not turn against her after she accidentally brought a column down on her friend Tika during a training exercise. Yaluna was eventually taken as a Padawan by Jedi Master Bavoc Ansho, going on to establish himself as a capable slicer.[1]
In 22 BBY, when the High Council recalled most Jedi to the Temple at the height of the Separatist Crisis, Yaluna joined Akaris and other Padawans from his old clan in training duels. He reconnected with Akaris and watched her defeat her rival Charlin Plaka, later holding her back after she became too aggressive while sparring with Onielle.[1]
The Clone Wars[]
Geonosis[]
- "She was the only one of us who stayed behind. She did well."
- ―Tualon Yaluna, on Iskat Akaris
Yaluna and his fellow Padawans were soon sent with their masters to Geonosis as part of a Jedi assault team to rescue Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, his Padawan Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala. While en route, Yaluna and Akaris briefly compared their virtually non-existent combat experience. Led by Master Klefan Opus, their group infiltrated a tower at the edge of the Petranaki Arena. After Fvorn was killed in an ambush by Geonosian guards, Akaris saved Opus and Fvorn's friend Zeeth, cutting down a dozen of the enemy. When Charlin and Onielle began deride Akaris for the number of deaths, Yaluna and Master Ansho spoke up on her behalf, praising her actions.[1]
The group went on to successfully eliminate the Geonosian cannons and guards in the stands, allowing the rest of the assault team to engage the Separatist army in the arena. However, Akaris' master, Sember Vey, was killed during the fighting and she was forced to leave the body behind by Opus. After withdrawing from the battle by the way they had come, Yaluna and the rest of the group returned to Coruscant. On the shuttle, Ansho went over with Yaluna a new attack he wanted him to practice.[1]
Knighthood[]
- "No trials?"
"You've already faced the greatest trial of them all. Geonosis was a demanding teacher, and you both performed well." - ―Tualon Yaluna and Bavoc Ansho, on the former and Iskat Akaris' knighting
A few weeks later, Yaluna and Ansho were sparring when Akaris approached, requesting to join them. The conversation was interrupted by a summons to a meeting of the Order, which turned out to be a mass ceremony during which Yaluna and Akaris were knighted by Master Mace Windu, alongside other Padawans, including Charlin Plaka, Onielle and Anakin Skywalker. Both were surprised by the unorthodox nature of the proceeding and the lack of trials, but Ansho assured them both that they deserved the honor.[1]
Mission to Thule[]
- "Three Jedi traveled to Thule, but only two return."
"We lost Josk Nivar during the mission." - ―Yoda and Tualon Yaluna
Arrival on Thule[]
The same day, Yaluna and Akaris were called to the Jellani Garden where they received their first assignment as Knights from Councillors Yoda and Adi Gallia. They were placed under the command of fellow Knight Josk Nivar on a mission to retrieve information from and then sabotage the Separatist droid factory on Thule. Yaluna was concerned by the Republic's priorities, believing that destroying the Thule installation was less consequential than stopping the Separatist attack on Praadost II. Gallia reminded him that the High Council was working closely with the Chancellor and Senate to determine the best way to stop the Separatists, and that as a Jedi, his role was to serve. On their way to the shuttle, Yaluna remembered that he had forgotten to say goodbye to Master Ansho and was briefly angered by Akaris' sardonic response. Accompanied by a company of clone troopers led by Captain Spider, the Jedi left for Thule.[1]
During the trip, the Jedi and Spider planned how to take down the factory, which was located in a deep canyon on the planet. They decided to land on the far end of the canyon and approach the facility on foot to avoid detection. Tualon and a few clones would infiltrate the installation where he would slice into the system and retrieve data on other Separatist droid factories. Meanwhile, Josk and Iskat would lead a large group to overload the power grid as soon as Tualon was out, crippling the facility.[1]
After landing in the canyon, the group hiked towards it for several hours, then spent the night in a cave in the canyon wall, which they discovered was connected to a larger chamber containing a stone altar. While attempting to get to sleep, Yaluna offered Akaris his condolences on the death of her master. Having had a good experience with Ansho, he was surprised when Akaris stated her belief that Sember Vey had only taken her as a Padawan out of pity. He also reassured her when she spoke of her misgivings over her actions on Geonosis.[1]
Nivar's death[]
The next morning, Spider's scouts had discovered four enemy cannons at the rim of the canyon overlooking the factory. Josk decided that the weapons would need to be taken out before they would be able to approach the facility and soon after, the Jedi scaled the two sides of the canyon while their clones stayed on the ground and covered their climb. However, after destroying one of the cannons on his side, Tualon learned via the comms that Nivar had fallen during the climb. Akaris warned him to look out for granite slugs and killer birds on the way back down, but insisted that they take out the last two cannons before descending to the canyon floor to check on Nivar, who was being tended by the clones.
They did so, and by the time they returned, Nivar was dead. Akaris explained that Nivar had accidentally disturbed the birds, which had attacked him. Yaluna was incredulous at the idea that Nivar would've simply let go and fallen until the clone medic mentioned that the physical evidence indicated that the birds were venomous and Nivar likely was paralyzed as he fell. With their former leader dead, Yaluna and Akaris decided to share joint command to see the rest of the mission through.[1]
The factory's destruction[]
Yaluna and his three clones quickly made their way inside the factory, where he successfully downloaded information on other Separatist factories. After they were out, Akaris contacted him to confirm that they were safe and to let her know when they reached the shuttle. Confused by her statements, Yaluna asked her what she was doing, a question she did not answer. She pinged him again when he, Spider, the clone reserves, and Nivar's body were on the shuttle, again leaving him in the dark on what was happening at the power grid. Akaris soon reached them, not long after one of her clones. When Spider asked her what had happened to the rest of her fifteen clones, Akaris explained that their intel had been wrong; the factory had actually been well defended. She and CT-0528 were the only survivors.[1]
When Yaluna asked Akaris how the two of them had managed to pull off the six-person task required to sabotage the power grid, she responded that she had improvised and that the factory wouldn't be operational much longer. She believed that the method wasn't as important as the result, an assessment Yaluna disagreed with as the power grid exploded, followed by the factory itself. Akaris was pleased by the result, stating that they had completed their mission, but Yaluna wasn't so sure, mentioning how Master Gallia had wanted the sabotage to be subtle, something that could be blamed on malfunctioning equipment. The disagreement soured their journey back to Coruscant, with Akaris arguing that the change in Separatist security necessitated her actions to make certain that the factory was taken out, rather than return to Coruscant with nothing but casualties. Disappointed that she hadn't involved him in her decision, Yaluna pointed out that they would have returned with the factory plans he had retrieved.[1]
Aftermath[]
After returning to the Jedi Temple, Yaluna and Akaris met with Masters Yoda and Gallia in the High Council Chamber. They explained Nivar's death and how they had shared command, Akaris describing the events inside the power grid that led her to blow it up. Gallia was unhappy about the factory's destruction, as it would be obvious that the Republic was behind it, particularly since a settlement of civilian workers was affected by the chain reaction. Additionally, the data obtained by Yaluna would be of less value with the Separatists now aware of the incursion. She also mentioned the damage caused to a local historical site.[1]
When Akaris realized that she was referring to the altar in the chamber the group had discovered, Yoda revealed that Thule had once been a Sith world. Gallia mentioned that Nivar's funeral would be arranged and reminded both Knights that, while they were no longer training under a Master, they could always reach out to other, more experienced Jedi for guidance. She dismissed Yaluna, who gave Akaris a meaningful look, anticipating the chiding she would receive for her actions on Thule. She ultimately was taken out of the field and assigned to the crèche to assist Master Kelleran Beq with the younglings.[1]
Interim missions[]
- "And then they took you out of the field for far too long, and we lost Zeeth and Ansho and so many more. People I've known all my life, gone in an instant, rejoining the Force from lonely planets scattered around a shattering galaxy."
- ―Tualon Yaluna, to Iskat Akaris
Months later, Yaluna, his former master Bavoc Ansho, and fellow Knight Charlin Plaka were dispatched on a mission to Kamino. On his way to the landing pads, he encountered Akaris and asked her if she would be joining them. Annoyed, she stated that she was stuck with the younglings as she was every day. Yaluna hesitated before telling her that she must doing good work, but she angrily retorted that they both knew that she was being punished. He attempted to encourage her to see things in a positive light but she shook him off, wishing him well. He found her behavior confusing.[1]
Sometime during the next few years, Yaluna went on an undercover mission to his homeworld of Ryloth, where he filed his teeth in the local tradition and learned to fish for glabos. Despite engaging in Twi'lek rituals, Yaluna felt an outsider and never considered it home. During this same time, Bavoc Ansho was killed in action and Yaluna took command of the company he and Akaris had accompanied to Thule.[1]
Mission to Olgothon 3[]
- "We're supposed to be a team. You don't need to be sneaky—"
"You wouldn't listen!"
"Then maybe we're both to blame. I need to listen better, and you need to cooperate more."
"But I was right."
"Iskat, you were lucky." - ―Tualon Yaluna and Iskat Akaris
Departure[]
A few years after Thule, the High Council placed Akaris back in the field and she joined Yaluna and his company on a mission to Olgothon 3 to find a slicer who could be useful to the war effort. The nature of their last encounter had left things tense between Yaluna and Akaris. She was displeased at the lack of information they had received and he berated her for not learning from Thule, explaining that mission intel was never perfect, requiring faith in the Force and one's training. After a brief disagreement, she saluted and called him "sir" but he told her not to do that as he was uncomfortable at being placed in charge of a peer.[1]
Yaluna then asked Akaris to confirm something that had been troubling him ever since Thule: whether she could have saved Josk Nivar. She pointed out how she was fortunate to save herself and was in no position to do anything for their former commander. Yaluna quickly apologized for bringing up painful memories, stating that she was difficult to read. She responded that it was simply because he had been avoiding her for the past two years. After they rehashed her frustration with their virtually non-existent intel, she asked him about his missions during the war and among other things, he told her about his time on Ryloth. Their tension was eased by this and their shared camaraderie with the clone troopers, the duo going on to spend time sparring during the rest of the trip.[1]
Arrival[]
As they approached Olgothon 3, their systems detected long-range missiles targeting them from the surface of the moon as well as an audio communication seeking identification. Yaluna stated that they were looking for fuel, a poorly conceived lie given that nearby Agaris was the only inhabited part of the system. The voice on the other end then warned them to leave the area or be destroyed. After a few more words with their counterpart, Yaluna decided that they would retreat behind Agaris, wait half a day, then attempt to approach Olgothon 3 from the other side and avoid the missile system.[1]
The next day, despite making it closer to the atmosphere, they were still detected and targeted by the weapons system and were hailed by the same person, who sardonically retorted when Yaluna again attempted to deceive them. He ignored Akaris' suggestion that they tell the truth and, after they received a final warning to leave, she proposed that they return to Coruscant, which frustrated Yaluna enough that he pounded his fist into a bulkhead, yelling that they would not go back empty-handed. When Akaris attempted to mention another idea, he rebuffed her, planning to contact the High Council for guidance. While he was attempting to do so, Akaris contacted their opponent and said that they were there to rescue someone named Ginntho, a move that perturbed Yaluna. However, the person on the other end responded favorably, willing to hear the Republic's offer. After Yaluna spoke his piece, their counterpart allowed them to land, sending them coordinates to meet at.[1]
Dealing with Ginntho[]
While Flip put the ship down in the indicated valley, Yaluna and Akaris discussed how likely the person was to be Ginntho, he reasoning that no one else would have reason to keep from approaching and she pointing out that a skilled slicer could fool their sensors with a false weapons program. When he attempted to berate her for going behind his back, she mentioned how he didn't listen to her and that she had been right, a result he concluded was only due to luck.[1]
As the two Jedi and twenty clones disembarked onto a grassy field, they and the ship were enclosed by a large plasma shield. An Anzellan riding inside the remains of a battle droid approached the perimeter and after the company lowered their weapons, Yaluna identified Akaris and himself as Jedi. The Anzellan revealed herself to be Ginntho and agreed to go with them, trusting the Jedi more than the Separatists. Concurring with Yaluna's concerns about the need to leave immediately, she went off to gather her possessions, cautioning them to stay where they were as the moon was hungry.[1]
Ginntho's warning was soon justified when the company was attacked two thraxsos, which Yaluna and Akaris quickly killed. The Anzellan soon returned and during the ride off the planet, the two Jedi spent time talking with Ginntho about her background, her work originally being that of a xenoanthropologist. During the conversation, she identified Akaris' unknown species as Pkorian and explained to them how she got into slicing.[1]
Yaluna was displeased with Akaris' insubordination and during the trip back to Coruscant warned her to let him do the talking when they made their report to the High Council. Masters Mace Windu and Yoda met them at the landing platform, the latter soon walking away with Ginntho to discuss the Republic's offer. Windu congratulated Yaluna and Akaris on a successful mission and asked if they there had been issues. Yaluna gave a general recap, but left out how Akaris defied his orders to contact Ginntho. Satisfied, Windu dismissed them, which came as a relief to Yaluna.[1]
Mission to Frong[]
- "If it is Grievous and we can take him into custody, it will strike a staggering blow to the Separatists. Grievous is dangerous, but you are all talanted, and we have great faith in you. If it is not Grievous, we need all the intel you can gather. And if you can stop the threat, all the better."
- ―Ki-Adi-Mundi, to Tualon Yaluna, Iskat Akaris and Sunghi Silpari
In 19 BBY, Yaluna, Akaris and Sunghi Silpari, a more recently promoted Knight, were called to the High Council Chamber, where they were briefed by Councillor Ki-Adi-Mundi. In response to a Separatist offensive in the Outer Rim, rumored to have been orchestrated by General Grievous, the trio were dispatched with Yaluna's company to Frong. They were ordered to eliminate the Separatist threat on the planet, and if he was there, to capture Grievous. Silpari was hesitant about engaging Grievous without a Master along and Akaris was again perturbed by the lack of intel for the mission, but the concerns of both were soon silenced by Mundi.[1]
While initially frosty with Akaris, the tedium of the five day journey soon led Yaluna to quietly rejoin her in sparring sessions. During one of their conversations, he refused to apologize for his actions after their last mission together, but conceded that the Jedi needed her more aggressive, instinctual and unorthodox style during the war. When Akaris pressed him, Yaluna admitted that he had taken credit for her success at Olgothon 3, in large part, so that she would be allowed to stay on the battlefield, where she worked best.[1]
On their approach to Frong, they noticed a path of destruction through a burnt forest and followed it as far as a village in flames, proceeding to land there. After spending several hours scouting the area on foot, the lack of enemy combatants and the freshness of the embers led the trio to conclude that Grievous, or whoever the Separatist commander was, had been there recently and could still be on the planet attacking another settlement. They called the ship and took a break while they waited for its arrival, planning to wait until morning and then proceed to a nearby city in the hopes of cutting Grievous off. During the interlude, Yaluna and Akaris practiced lightsaber forms while the clones ate and Silpari consulted her datapad.[1]
Iskat's betrayal[]
- "I'm sorry, Tualon, but every time I showed you who I was, you urged me to be someone else. Can't you feel it? The Jedi are dead. Everyone we knew is gone. The Jedi Order is ended. And I'm not joining them."
- ―Iskat Akaris, to Tualon Yaluna
At that moment, Captain Spider and his company proceeded to shoot down an oblivious Silpari and then encircle Yaluna and Akaris. The two were bewildered by the turn of events and Akaris stated that she could feel the deaths of other Jedi across the galaxy and asked Yaluna if he could feel it, a question he passed over, stating that the actions of the clones in front of them were all he needed to know. However, instead of opening fire on them, the clones soon lowered their blasters and Spider held out his holoprojector, which displayed a cloaked figure.[1]
The individual asked Akaris if she wished to take hold of her secret passions and to learn what the Jedi had hidden from her, including how they had been responsible for her mother's death. Confused, Yaluna asked Akaris what the questions referred to and who the being in the hologram was. She ignored him and, after a moment, stated that she wished to learn what had been concealed from her, after which the figure ordered Spider to bring her to him. Akaris asked what would happen to Yaluna, the reply being a command to Spider that all Jedi were to die under Order 66 before the holotransmission ended.[1]
Yaluna put his hand on his friend's shoulder and entreated her not to trust the promise she had been given, and to instead stand and fight by his side. Akaris removed his hand, telling him that he had never supported her attempts to be her true self, insisting that the Jedi were all dead and that she would not join them. As she was escorted to the ship by Spider and several clones, Yaluna begged her to reconsider, attempting to appeal to her guilt over leaving her dead master on Geonosis at the start of the war. Akaris shrugged off the plea, telling Yaluna goodbye and that while he was a true Jedi to the end, she likely never was. She also closed herself off from him in the Force. As the shuttle lifted off, Yaluna gave into hatred of Akaris for her betrayal, hoping that the ship would explode. He proceeded to fight the rest of the company, killing a number of clones until he was taken down by blaster bolts and collapsed unconscious. His rage kept him alive and despite their initial orders, the clones put Yaluna into custody and took him to Coruscant.[1]
Imperial Era[]
Becoming an Inquisitor[]
- "I was muttering, 'I hope she dies. I hope she dies.' That is a very un-Jedi thought, isn't it? To hope someone dies. And then I woke up in a dark room. In the chair, they told me that if I joined them, I would have my chance to kill you."
- ―Tualon Yaluna, to Iskat Akaris
Yaluna was tortured and eventually cracked, falling to the dark side after he was promised the opportunity to kill Akaris, and joining the Inquisitorius. The treatment he received left Yaluna with a damaged psyche, his hatred for Akaris and the brainwashed ideas in his head interspersed with moments of clarity. After receiving his uniform and lightsaber from the Grand Inquisitor, Yaluna headed into the main halls of Inquisitorius Headquarters; the first fellow Inquisitor he encountered was Akaris. Both were surprised to see the other and Yaluna remarked that she was foolish for having cut her beautiful hair short. When Akaris asked how he had ended up an Inquisitor, Yaluna told her what he could remember of his survival and torture, before his programming kicked back in as he reminded himself that he hated her. He also called her a coward for leaving him behind. Akaris responded that he must adapt to life as an Inquisitor or die, warning Yaluna that everything around them was a threat. She added that she was on her way to the dueling pit, stating that he likely wasn't much of a challenge for her.[1]
Yaluna followed Akaris into the pit, which was otherwise empty. She explained that there were no niceties and no rules when it came to fighting as an Inquisitor and that he didn't need to hold back as the Jedi had taught them. Akaris then asked if he had met any of the others, which Yaluna replied to in the negative, other than the Grand Inquisitor. His only understanding of their purpose was hating the Jedi and doing something about it. After Yaluna mentioned that he hadn't used his new lightsaber yet, Akaris ignited her blade, telling him that he would have to discover their methods for himself. Grinning in response, Yaluna took out his weapon and attacked her, but she evaded him and knocked him off his feet with a Force-pushed chunk of metal, an action which angered him with its cheapness. Yaluna's fury grew throughout their duel until Akaris caught him on the shoulder with her saber, at which point he let loose his emotions in a Force scream which temporarily immobilized her.[1]
While Yaluna struggled with recollections of his torture mixing in his brain, Akaris crawled away, asking where he had learned such an ability. Once Yaluna had balanced out, they continued the duel, his better control manifesting itself while they discussed his hate for Akaris and his memories of how she abandoned him, going so far as to close herself off from him in the Force. Akaris retorted that if she had stayed, he wouldn't have been willing to die for her. When Yaluna mentioned how on Frong, he had voiced his wish that she die and that he had joined the Inquisitorius solely for the chance to kill her, Akaris mocked him, saying that he hadn't tried very hard. Yaluna then mentioned that he now understood how repressed Akaris had felt by the Jedi after she had injured Tika and the freedom they now enjoyed in being themselves. Yaluna explained that the Force scream was the result of him letting loose all his hidden self and Akaris commented that it was good to let go.[1]
Stepping closer, Yaluna allowed Akaris to feel his passion for her, diverting her attention long enough for him to stab her in the chest, declaring them even and leaving her to die. However, he had missed both of her hearts and she eventually healed in the medical bay after time spent in a bacta tank. In the meantime, Yaluna survived the standard Inquisitor's test with Darth Vader and became familiar with his colleagues.[1]
Mission to Firrhana[]
- "Did they give us the same mission? I'm assuming if they wanted us to work together, the Grand Inquisitor would've mentioned it."
"I'm tracking a Jedi. That's her ship."
"Who is it?"
"Sorry, but that's proprietary information." - ―Iskat Akaris and Tualon Yaluna
By the time Akaris had recovered, Yaluna was sent on his first Jedi-hunting mission and he tracked his female target to Firrhana. Not long after he landed, Akaris arrived aboard the Scythe with a contingent of Purge Troopers, also searching for Jedi on the planet. Yaluna sent her his coordinates and when Akaris set down and asked why, he explained that he needed to make sure she wouldn't interfere with his mission, stating that he was otherwise uninterested in killing her. Yaluna also ignored Akaris' comment on the similarities between Firrhana and Thule, telling her that the past was dead. Suspicious of each other, they refused to give each other the little information they each had on their respective targets, both unclear as to whether they had separate missions. Yaluna wished Akaris happy hunting, telling her to stay out of his way and warning her not leave the ship among the native fungus too long, lest Vader kill her for losing it to the hungry morass. She flipped him off before getting back on board and departing the area.[1]
Sometime later, Akaris contacted Yaluna to inform him that she had found and eliminated her targets as well as his, which earned her the title of Thirteenth Sister. Yaluna was unsurprised when Akaris proved unwilling to let him take credit for the death of his prey by giving him the lightsaber, although she invited him to try. Yaluna considered the idea, but ultimately decided that while he didn't want to fight her, he was still interested in her. Akaris told him that if they were going to pursue a relationship, it had to be legitimate. Akaris also warned him not to let the competitive nature of their job come between them. Yaluna accepted her terms, stating that he was capable of earning his Inquisitorial title on his own and looking forward to seeing how she might be seduced.[1]
Relationship with the Thirteenth Sister[]
- "I've told you how I feel. I guess now I've proven it."
- ―Tualon Yaluna, to the Thirteenth Sister
Sometime later, Yaluna earned his title and began a physical relationship with the Thirteenth Sister, which they kept hidden from their peers lest their mutual affection be interpreted as weakness. As she had dictated, the duo kept their work and love lives as separate as possible, and in the latter case, they were never anything but equals. During this time, Yaluna eventually professed his love for the Thirteenth Sister, which she stated that she had waited her whole life to hear.[1]
Meanwhile, the couple maintained the outward appearance of two coworkers who got along and sparred well together, although they genuinely could be just as cruel and heartless as their colleagues. The two also carried on a tradition the Thirteenth Sister had begun with her first hunt, that of drinking a toast of the local beverage to the Jedi they killed after each successful mission, a ritual their fellow Inquisitors never joined in on, several considering it childish.[1]
Hunt for Eeth Koth[]
- "Any thoughts on how we approach this? This city's not exactly small. Lots of places to hide."
- ―Tualon Yaluna, to the Fifth Brother and the Thirteenth Sister
Years later, Yaluna was sent to a desert planet on a mission to hunt former Jedi Master Eeth Koth alongside Darth Vader, the Fifth Brother, and[4] the Thirteenth Sister.[1] Koth had been banished from the Jedi High Council and had avoided Order 66 and the initial onslaught of the Great Jedi Purge. Vader confronted Koth shortly after his wife Mira had given birth to their baby, and Koth pleaded to be spared as he was now only a priest for the Church of the Ganthic Enlightenment. When Koth was unable to persuade Vader, he told Mira and the newborn baby to escape as he dueled Vader. During the fight, Vader ordered the three Inquisitors to recover the baby for Project Harvester.[4]
To cover more ground while searching the city, the Inquisitors decided to split up. While Yaluna and Fifth Brother were unsuccessful, the Thirteenth Sister used the Force to locate the child. Just as Mira was about to board her father's shuttle, the Thirteenth Sister cornered her. Mira begged the Inquisitor to let her escape, and was allowed to board the shuttle as the Fifth Brother and Yaluna arrived. He asked why Mira and the child had been allowed to escape, commenting that Vader would find out. As Tualon watched, Akaris used the Force to move the baby out of the shuttle, letting Mira live so that she could suffer from the loss of her child and not trust in anyone.[4]
The three Inquisitors returned to find Vader still dueling Koth, and informed him that the infant had been captured, showing him the baby. Distracted by the Inquisitors and seeing his child, Koth was stabbed in the back and killed by Vader, who then took the baby from the Inquisitors. Vader and the Inquisitors left the planet, and returned to Inquisitorius Headquarters on a Zeta-class shuttle, the Thirteenth Sister bringing back dust juice for her and Yaluna to toast with. On their arrival, they were met by the Grand Inquisitor, to whom Vader praised the efforts of the group, before handing the infant off to a group of Kallidahin caretakers.[4]
Going rogue and death[]
- "I'm sorry."
"It's all right. I don't think either one of us expected to die in bed. Not after the choices we've made. And at least now we'll be fr--" - ―Thirteenth Sister and Tualon Yaluna, before their deaths
While celebrating the death of Koth, Yaluna and the Thirteenth Sister found the dust juice an unappealing beverage and he expressed the hope that their next mission would take them to Corellia or Alderaan, which had much better drinks to offer. Together, they wondered what Vader would do once there were no Jedi left to kill, with Yaluna stating that he was sure that Vader would find someone else to kill.[4] As Yaluna drank more dust juice, his control over his feelings for the Thirteenth Sister lessened and Vader picked up on them.[1] The Sith Lord proceeded to test Yaluna and the Thirteenth Sister by stepping over to their table and igniting his lightsaber.[5]
Upon witnessing Vader's action against the two Inquisitors, the Grand Inquisitor asked his master if what he was doing was a test or an indication of more training, which the Sith Lord denied while swung his lightsaber at the Thirteenth Sister. Yaluna immediately threw up his own weapon to stop Vader's blade, telling his lover to run, which she did. As they dueled, Vader commented that his sense of their connection was thus proven correct and that such an attachment was a weakness. He also told Yaluna that Eeth Koth's death should have served as a lesson before using the Force to slam the Inquisitor into a wall. Recovering, Yaluna asked the Sith Lord what the Thirteenth Sister had done wrong, only to hear that it was not his concern, only that he had done it too. Yaluna proceeded to run after the Thirteenth Sister while Vader declined the help of the Grand Inquisitor and the other Inquisitors before pursuing the couple.[5]
After catching up with the Thirteenth Sister, Yaluna asked her if she knew why Vader was attacking them, which she denied, stating that their former master never needed a reason. When she expressed her disbelief that Yaluna had gotten in Vader's way to save her, he replied that he had proven the love he had professed for her. While the Thirteenth Sister admitted he had, she pointed out that it was a stupid idea as the Sith Lord would now come to take them out. With no other options, the two Inquisitors resolved to murder Vader and then escape from the Empire. Meanwhile, Vader and two Imperial shock troopers followed them aboard an EasyRide passenger airspeeder. The Inquisitors managed to destroy the airspeeder by throwing their lightsabers at it, leading Vader to jump to another speeder, then fall from it as the couple redirected their blades to disable it, sending the vehicle into a nearby park.[5]
Aboard another airspeeder accompanied by a droid, Yaluna told Akaris that Vader was still coming for them, in yet another speeder. The Thirteenth Sister reiterated that together they could kill the Sith Lord and Yaluna used the Force to throw a vehicle at Vader, who responded by sending it back at them although he missed. As the Sith Lord jumped towards them, the couple Force-pulled a statue down at Vader, which sent him sprawling onto an adjacent balcony. As they leaped over to join him, Yaluna expressed his surprise that they had managed to beat the Sith Lord, with the Thirteenth Sister reminding her lover that Vader was still alive. As she raised her weapon to kill Vader, the Sith Lord used the Force to levitate the Inquisitors. As Akaris told him that she was sorry, Yaluna replied that it was all right as neither one of them expected to die in bed after the choices they made, telling her that at least they would now be free. Yaluna's last words were cut off as Vader used the Force to drive their lightsabers into each other, killing the couple instantly.[5]
Legacy[]
After the chase, Vader reported the actions of Yaluna and the Thirteenth Sister to the Emperor in the Imperial Palace. When Sidious asked him about evidence of the Thirteenth Sister's treachery, Vader told him that she ensnared Yaluna as part of her "plan" to build a coalition against them. The Emperor, however, was furious with Vader as, during the chase, one of the airspeeders had crushed Senator Maklooq, who was important to his schemes, and had been trysting in a nearby park. This, in combination with the destruction caused by Vader and the rogue Inquisitors, led Sidious to relocate the headquarters of the Inquisitorius off-world[5] to Fortress Inquisitorius on the moon Nur.[6]
Personality and traits[]
- "I'm sure he'll keep himself busy. A guy like that…he'll always find someone to kill."
- ―Tualon Yaluna, on Darth Vader
Tualon Yaluna was a male black-skinned Twi'lek with orange eyes.[4] He was an orthodox and amiable Jedi, maintaining control of his feelings by suppressing his darker instincts. His insistence on protocol led to conflict with Iskat Akaris. After surviving Order 66 and undergoing torture by the Inquisitorius, his emotions were let loose and his personality became more twisted, most notably defined by hatred for the Jedi and passion for the Thirteenth Sister.[1] Like most Inquisitors, he was cruel, showing no hesitation over kidnapping a child and celebrating the death of Koth. He appeared to have a friendly relationship with other Inquisitors, but was still fearful of Darth Vader.[4] Tualon's feelings for the Thirteenth Sister prompted him to protect her when the Sith Lord attempted to cut her down. His act subsequently made him an enemy of Vader but he managed to survive long enough to catch up with the Thirteenth Sister and, together, plot to kill the Sith Lord so they could be free.[5]
Powers and abilities[]
Tualon Yaluna was talented in lightsaber combat, having been trained to knighthood, his master regularly finding new drills to challenge him. Yaluna's sword skills were put to the test as part of a group of Jedi involved in taking out enemy guards and cannon at the First Battle of Geonosis. Yaluna was limber enough to readily scale the side of a canyon with climbing spikes and his slicing skills were sufficient to steal information from Separatist databanks. After joining the Inquisitorius, Yaluna was considered by Iskat Akaris to be a capable duelist and he later proved as much by surviving the obligatory fight with their master, Darth Vader. Yaluna unwittingly used a Force scream on Akaris[1] and was also capable of Force jumps and telekinesis of speeders as demonstrated when he and Akaris were pursued by Darth Vader across Coruscant.[5]
Equipment[]
As a Jedi, Yaluna wielded a green-bladed lightsaber. Later, as an Inquisitor, he wore a standard gray and black outfit, with the Imperial crest on his shoulder plates. Yaluna also utilized a facial apparatus during combat, as well as a double-bladed spinning lightsaber.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
Tualon Yaluna first appeared in Darth Vader (2017) 19, a 2018 canon comic written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli.[4] He was first identified in the 2022 novel Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade, written by Delilah S. Dawson.[1]
Appearances[]
- Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade (First identified as Yaluna, simultaneous with audiobook)
- Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade audiobook
- Darth Vader (2017) 19 (First appearance)
- Darth Vader (2017) 20
Sources[]
- "Coruscant" — Star Wars Encyclopedia (Indirect mention only)
- "Darth Maul and Other Followers of the Dark Side" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Clone Wars Ignite in Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade – Exclusive First Excerpt on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as Tualon)
- Shop the Galaxy's Finest Star Wars Exclusives at SDCC 2023 on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- 5 Behind-the-Pages Secrets of Star Wars: Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire (Indirect mention only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.58 1.59 1.60 1.61 Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade
- ↑ According to Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade, Yaluna was part of a group of Padawans ranging in age from thirteen to twenty years old as of 22 BBY.
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Darth Vader (2017) 20, including the death of Tualon Yaluna on Coruscant, to 14 BBY.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 Darth Vader (2017) 19
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Darth Vader (2017) 20
- ↑ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order