Lena Kendari

"“No, don’t you dare say she would be proud of me. She has no right to be proud of me, neither of you do. I had to use every scrap of training that she left unfinished to prove I was worthy of taking the trials. The only thing I can thank you for is helping me pass the trial of spirit - conquering all of the loss and the pain caused by you vanishing without even speaking to me.”"

- Lena Arano to Kai Darklighter, following Order 66 on Ossus

Early Life
Lena was born in 38 BBY in the Spice Mines of Kessel, Outer Rim. Her father was a dangerous and well known criminal named Mikra Arano, who was serving time for various crimes after finally being caught by Corsec and the Jedi Order. Her mother is thus unknown - randomly selected by Lena's father to carry his child. It is believed that Lena's mother was a struggling spice addict who was serving time on Kessel for drug smuggling, but her name and identity is completely unknown.

Lena's father, Mikra Arano was a Force sensitive, the child of a scorned Jedi Order reject who didn't pass their trials as a youngling. His Force sensitivity is widely believed to be the reason why he was successful in building a criminal empire, but eventually he was arrested for his crimes. After numerous attempts to break out of prison on Kessel, Mikra knew that he had to play the long game to gain his freedom. He selected Lena's mother at random, seduced her, and impregnated her. He intended to pass on his Force sensitivity, determined that his future child would be snatched up by the Jedi Order once born. With a child on the inside of the Jedi Order - he could keep in contact and build a relationship with them, convicing them that he had been wrongfully convicted. Thus, his child in the Jedi Order could use their influence to exonerate him of his crimes, letting him be free once again.

Lena was the product of this union. Within minutes of her birth, Lena's mother was killed without having a chance to hold her daughter. It is believed that Lena sensed the death of her mother - or the impression of distress in the room as she was born - which would lead to her wild nature as a young adult. Mikra Arano had his daughter - now all that he needed to do was reach out to the Jedi Order.

Mikra Arano struggled to plant an anonymous tip with the Jedi Order about Lena's existence. Around six months after Lena was born, Mikra finally made contact with the Jedi Order. A representative of the Jedi Order arrived within days, and after a lot of negotiating with Kessel authorities, Lena was taken from Kessel to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Now, it was a waiting game for Mikra Arano who would bide his time, gather his assets and contacts, then be released with a clean criminal record!

Jedi Temple Life - Infancy to Initiate
During Lena's infancy at the Jedi Temple, she became known as a very emotional and clingy child by the Jedi that helped out in the creche. Her volatile nature as a young child was closely monitored, setting up warning signs that she may not be a good candidate for a member of the Jedi Order. Her early assessments showed that she was easily frustrated and stubborn whilst playing with other children her age. She was placed on a list for possible immediate transfer to the Agricorps as soon as she was ready to start her training, in case she would be a bad influence on other students.

Around five years old, Lena left the early classes and joined the Bear Clan under the tutelage of Master Yoda. Due to her fiery personality, it was thought that a calm, wise Jedi Master like Master Yoda would be a positive influence on the young girl and set her on the right path. It was during her training with the Bear Clan that Lena's attitude seemed to get worse - where she was constantly talking back during lessons and asking too many questions. When running through lightsaber drills or lightly sparring with her classmates, she was very competitive and determined to succeed. Fortunately, Master Yoda was patient with her and found the centre of her troubled spirit - terrifying visions and feelings she had absorbed during her time on Kessel. Master Yoda discovered that Lena was an empath - easily able to absorb the feelings of those around her. Due to her awful surroundings when she was born and for the first six months of her life, darkness and frustration swirled at the centre of Lena's spirit. She would have to calm down and show developments with her patience and control, otherwise the youngling would be heading to the Agricorps.

Early Jedi Padawan Years
With a lot of patience, tutelage and guidance, Lena was able to graduate her Jedi Initiate years from the Bear Clan. After the discovery of her empathic abilities, Master Yoda was able to specialise her training - focusing on her gaining more control over her absorption of other's feelings. Though some of her stubborn streak remained, Lena did learn to work with her fellow Jedi Initiates and became less competitive - even helping out other younglings on occasion when they struggled with something. During her early classes, Lena developed a love for cultures and societies. She longed to join the Jedi Expansionary Core - exploring new worlds and discovering new worlds and species. She felt that her empathic abilities would give her an advantage in meeting new beings.

Around 28 BBY, when Lena was ten years old, she was finally chosen as the Padawan to Jedi Master Blar-Ori-Jamuu, a Cerean male whose first padawan had just past their trials. Master Blar-Ori was known as a kind and patient being, common to his Cerean species. With his advanced age, he had been hoping to retire from active duty and retreat to Cerea, back to his family, to help the dwindling Cerean population prosper. However, upon overhearing a discussion of assignments for Jedi Younglings and the difficulty trying to find Initiate Arano a master - Master Blar-Ori felt a calling from the Force. He offered to take on Lena's training whilst an appropriate master was found, one closer to her age.

Lena stayed under Master Blar-Ori’s tutelage for far longer than planned. Until around the age of seventeen, Lena would serve the Order as Master Blar-Ori’s apprentice, truly growing into herself and her abilities. She was not the easiest student, often having a mind of her own and acting out her approach to situations, rather than listening to guidance. However, she had a deep rooted respect for her master, and Master Blar-Ori observed that the best way for Lena to learn from her mistakes was for her to fail, then come to him for guidance on where she went wrong. He always tried to be patient with her, knowing that even the smallest of negative emotions could send her on a downward spiral. Through years of one on one training, Lena was becoming a promising student.

However, some of Master Blar-Ori’s influences were not always positive. Often, the ageing Jedi Master was called back to Cerea by his wives - sanctioned by the Jedi Council due to Cerea’s low birth rates. He would take Lena with him on these excursions between assignments, and she would learn of her master’s attachments. Jedi were not celibate, but were forbidden to form deep relationships and attachments. Seeing her master interact with his many wives and children, Lena was often filled with a feeling of loneliness. She had repressed memories of a shattered family, but her mind would never let her delve deep to access them. Her inner turmoil and outside influence from Master Blar-Ori would make Lena more susceptible to attachments as she got older.

In 22 BBY, just after Lena’s eighteenth birthday, rumours were swirling about a secessionist movement from the Galactic Republic. With political unrest rife within the Senate, it was inevitable for the Jedi Order to get involved. Upon the call for Jedi Knights to be summoned to Geonosis to rescue Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Senator Padmè Amidala, Master Blar-Ori’s demeanour completely changed. He ordered Lena to stay at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, whilst she believed that he was joining the Jedi Knights on Geonosis. In truth, Master Blar-Ori was deeply troubled by the Jedi Order’s supposed ease to go to war with the newly formed Confederacy of Independent Systems. He informed the Jedi Council of his retirement from the Order and retreated to Cerea.

Lena would not know about what happened to Master Blar-Ori until days after the conflict, thinking him to be part of the heavy casualties from that battle. Lena would be deeply hurt by Master Blar-Ori’s sudden retirement from the Order without prior warning to her. She would delete any messages he sent apologising for not completing her studies.

It would not be long before Lena was reassigned to a new master - a human female Jedi Knight named Keisha Farlander. Master Farlander was recently knighted, her trials having been rushed through due to the loss of Jedi Knights from the Battle of Geonosis.

Betrayed and back to being emotionally volatile, Lena and Master Farlander would be on difficult footing as the Clone Wars began.

The Invasion of Colla Four - 22 BBY
Two months after the Battle Of Geonosis, Lena and her new master - Jedi Knight Keisha Farlander - were assigned their first mission together as master and apprentice. This also meant it was Lena's first time serving on the front lines with the Grand Army of the Republic - formed up of clone troopers. She already had an uneasy relationship with her master, Keisha Farlander, but was also thrown in at the deep end with lots of new beings to get to know. Master Farlander was granted the rank of Jedi General and given her own battalion - the 843rd Battalion. Lena became a Jedi Commander due to her rank as a padawan, but did not feel confident with leadership, especially when her emotions were a struggle already. She didn't know how she would be responsible for her own safety, let alone that of clone troopers.

The mission was a dangerous one - invading the world of Colla Four, a planet in the Inner Rim - home to the dangerous species, the Colicoids, as well as a droideka foundry. An advanced scout force - the 551st Scout Team - had headed to the world ahead of the rest of the Republic fleet - led by nautolan Jedi Master Riah Adler, her padawan and Jedi Knight Kai Darklighter, as well as a Gand Findsman - Mori. The mission was being led by the brilliant strategist, Jedi Master Senu Meji - a Jedi that Lena greatly respected upon first meeting him. He was being assisted by an ARC trooper - CC-1036, known as Captain Thrix - who had been promoted to the role after his actions during the Battle of Geonosis. The last member of the team was a mysterious Jedi Padawan by the name of Laothin Kendari.

Together, the 843rd Battalion, the 391st Attack Squadron and their Jedi and Republic comrades headed to Colla Four. During the journey, Jedi Knight Keisha Farlander was contacted by Jedi Knight Kai Darklighter - part of the advanced forces on Colla Four. He warned of concern about a spy in amongst the Republic forces, with possible links to the Separatists due to surprise attacks on the hidden Republic outposts around the droideka foundry. Lena was part of the initial investigation into the leak, but the identity of the spy was not discovered until the Republic forces landed on Colla Four. The Republic dropships were attacked upon landing, taking down many of their ships, clone troopers and supplies. Jedi Knight Kai Darklighter's suspicions had been correct - a spy within the ranks had given away their location, leading to the ambush. During the battle, Lena would come across a clone trooper who claimed to be ARC Trooper CC-1036, who had been ambushed as part of the 551st Scout Team who had come to Colla Four ahead of the battle. Lena's empathic abilities helped her confirm the clone trooper's identity, and Captain Thrix was taken in for questioning by Jedi Knight Kai Darklighter and Jedi Master Senu Meji. This would be the start of a close friendship between Lena and Thrix, that would eventually lead to something more.

Ultimately, the Republic forces were successful in their attack and destroyed the droideka foundry, but not without great losses. Jedi Mori and Jedi Master Riah Adler were lost during the conflict, as well as many of the clone troopers. Wounded and scarred, the Republic forces headed back to Coruscant for their next assignment.

Downtime Danger - 22 BBY


Two months after the Invasion of Colla Four, Lena was finally granted some downtime from the battle. Her master, Jedi Knight Keisha Farlander, encouraged Lena to stay in the Jedi Temple to continue her studies whilst she had a brief assignment in the Galactic Senate. Outside of combat, Master Farlander was a diplomat - the complete opposite to the interests that Lena was developing. Tensions were still rife with master and padawan, but Lena did respect her master - so agreed to stay behind whilst Master Farlander was in and out of the Galactic Senate for Outer Rim relief talks. Lena did spend some of her time in the Jedi Archives, researching ancient cultures that caught her interest, but as soon as she learned that the 843rd battalion had also been granted leave - she left the Temple to meet with them.

Since the Invasion of Colla Four, Lena had developed a great relationship with the clones of the battalion. They had even started to sport teal accents on their armour, representative of the blue and green lightsabers that she and her master carried. In particular, Lena was close to the clone commandos of Vod Squad - CC-6372 (Adenn), CC-7283 (Aran), CC-1548 (Besbe) and CC-1139 (Orar). They were still debriefing from their last mission, so Lena was meeting with the trooper she had become the closest to of all - ARC Trooper Captain CC-1036, Thrix. Perhaps, more than just friendship.

What was meant to be a few drinks between Captain and Commander turn into an all night drinking affair, with the pair being ushered out of the bar in the early hours of the morning as 79s is closing. In their drunken stupor, Lena and Thrix did not notice the gang of rough beings watching them stagger out of the bar. Just before the pair could hop into a hovertaxi to head back to the barracks, they were stunned and hauled off by the gang.

Lena was unconscious for most of the night, only waking up when she heard shouting and scuffling. She was being held in a cell, and awoke to see Thrix thrown into it. She rushed over to him, seeing that he had taken a brutal beating. He was more concerned about her welfare, but revealed he had taken the beating for a reason - intel gathering. The thugs who had taken them were inexperienced and not dangerous gang members, but they had taken the pair of them for a bounty. They planned to kill Thrix, as he was an invaluable clone, but they figured that Lena was a Jedi - their get rich quick scheme.

Contradictory to everything that Thrix said, Lena didn’t think he was invaluable - the complete opposite. After scolding him for taking such a beating, she would admit her feelings for him. The ARC trooper was stunned but the feelings were reciprocated. Talks about attachment could wait for later - as they needed to escape. Lena and Thrix bided their time, but were able to trick their captors and escape, contacting Republic authorities to have the gang arrested. Little did Lena know, but the kidnapping had happened at command of her father, Mikra Arano, who wanted to test his daughter’s abilities.

Thrix and Lena would return to the nearest clone barracks to be treated for their injuries. After long discussions, the pair started an official relationship - being mindful of their duties and Lena’s membership to the Jedi Order.

Betrayal at Qiilura - 22 BBY
In late 22 BBY, a small task force from the 843rd Attack Battallion comprised of clone commando force Vod Squad, ARC trooper Thrix, Lena, her master, Jedi Knight Keisha Farlander, were sent to agricultural world of Qiilura to provide aid after the Republic had driven off a Separatist occupation in the system. The 843rd were there to drop off supplies to the locals after their trade routes had been stopped by the Separatist blockade and to help an Advance Recon Forces squad - Trigha Squad - to clear up remaining hired mercenaries who had been terrorising the locals on the ground.

Following an ambush by the trandoshan mercenaries hired by the Separatists, Lena met with the commander of Trigha Squad - Commander Tressen - after they saved each other’s lives during the battle with the trandoshans. During the clear up of the battle, Lena’s master, Keisha, would receive an urgent transmission from the Jedi Temple. With their captives in tow, Commander Tressen led the group to his base camp to receive the mission. The mission was an extension to their stay on Qiilura, investigating the crash site of a Republic cruiser that was supposedly missing following the defeat of the Separatist blockade.

After receiving the co-ordinates for the crash site, the Jedi, Vod Squad, ARC Trooper Thrix, Commander Tressen and some of Trigha Squad split from the 843rd and took a single walker to the mountainous regions of the planet. The forces split into an advanced party on foot - comprised of Master Farlander, ARC Trooper Thrix and Clone Captain Targo - as the walker was slower moving in the rough terrain. The walker would arrive much later than the advanced party on foot and uncover a disastrous scene - not a Republic crash site, but rather a crashed Separatist dreadnaught, buried deep in the snow! There was also no sign of the advanced forces.

The crew from the walker hurried in to investigate the crash site, searching for their lost companions. A mysterious figure appeared on their scanners, showing limited life signs like they had suffered an injury. A member of the team chased after the mysterious being, revealing them as a mandalorian. Vod Squad tried to reach out, but the Mandalorian did not respond to their communications, perhaps not knowing who was trying to contact them. However, during the chase, an old system was tripped in the Separatist dreadnaught that awakened the defence systems throughout the ship. The Mandalorian escaped, but the Republic forces were surrounded and had to surrender.

Hours later, the Republic forces awoke to find themselves separated from their battalion, in prison cells and adrift in space. Lena was reunited with Thrix, who revealed that he, Master Farlander and Captain Targo had fallen into the same trap. Commander Tressen and Master Farlander had been hauled off for questioning. It was during their conversation that Lena was overwhelmed by deep, dark feelings that rushed through the ship. An evil presence was aboard - Count Dooku - after learning that Jedi and elite commando forces had been captured.

It would be a dangerous, difficult escape, but the Republic forces would band together and eventually escape Separatist custody.

The Malastare Infection Crisis - 20 BBY
Early into the third year of the Clone Wars,