Gaeriel Captison

As a member of the influential Captison family of Bakura, Gaeriel Captison enjoyed a life of privilege. Her father, Dol Captison, and her uncle, Yeorg Captison, were both Bakuran Senators, which sparked the young Captison's interest in politics. From an early age, Captison embraced the faith of her family and became a follower of the Cosmic Balance religion. Her life's course was determined in 3 BBY when her parents presented her with a white feather on her birthday, symbolizing her path toward higher education and a potential senatorial election. In contrast, her younger sister, Ylanda, received a golden bowl and immediately began a life of poverty and starvation to maintain universal balance.

In 2 BBY, Captison secured a position in the Bakur Senatorial Academy, an institution dedicated to preparing politically inclined students for future roles in the Bakuran Senate. As the academy was situated in Salis D'aar, the capital city of Bakura, she resided with her uncle Yeorg and aunt Tiree for the four years she spent at the Academy. During this period, Yeorg was elected Prime Minister of Bakura, and in 1 BBY, Captison was elected to the Senate—presumably either to replace the next senator who retired, or to immediately fill an open seat as soon as she graduated.

In 1 ABY, the Galactic Empire launched an invasion of Bakura, annexing the planet. Captison's parents, who were members of the resistance, were killed in the crossfire between Imperial and Bakuran forces. Already a follower of the Cosmic Balance, the deaths of her parents made her even more spiritual.

Captison spent the year 3 ABY pursuing postgraduate studies in government on Imperial Center; it was the only planet where such work was authorized, by order of Emperor Palpatine. Upon her return to Bakura in 4 ABY, she assumed a seat in the Senate, likely the one previously held by her father. Captison understood that her position was essentially meaningless under Imperial control. Despite the Empire's actions, she did not harbor hatred towards it, recognizing that it brought economic growth and political stability alongside its autocratic methods. During this time, she also dedicated a significant amount of time to caring for the elderly and senile Eppie Belden.

One month after Captison's appointment as senator, the alien Ssi-ruuk invaded the Bakura system, aiming to conquer it and convert the population into energy sources through entechment. During the ensuing Invasion of Bakura, Captison was present when the senate was convened by the Imperial Governor Wilek Nereus, who announced the arrival of Rebel Alliance ships in the Bakuran system. The Alliance vessels had assisted the Empire in repelling a Ssi-ruuk incursion on the system and were currently positioned near the planet. After Nereus suggested withdrawing the planetary defense forces back to Bakura and disengaging from the main battle, Captison voted with the majority to approve the action, although the vote was merely a formality.

Later, Captison was present when a delegation from the Rebel Alliance arrived, seeking to negotiate a truce with the Bakurans to aid Bakura against the Ssi-ruuk. The Alliance delegation, which included Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, General Han Solo, and the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, addressed the senate and Nereus. Captison immediately caught Skywalker's attention, as he found her striking. However, upon learning that he was a Jedi, Captison was immediately put off, as her faith held that Jedi inherently disrupted the balance of the universe. The Rebels were shown a recording sent by the Ssi-ruuk via a Human slave named Dev Sibwarra, and were horrified to witness how entechment worked; the individual's life energy was drained from his body and used to power war machinery. The Alliance party then reiterated their offer to help Bakura and proposed an official truce, which Nereus said would be discussed.

Captison was requested by her aunt to attend a dinner organized by her Uncle Yeorg, the Bakuran Prime Minister, to which both the Rebels and Nereus were invited. Captison's aunt emphasized the importance of the dinner, which would provide the Imperials and Rebels with an opportunity to discuss matters privately, and also expressed concern about Nereus's interest in Captison; Captison shared this sentiment. Although her aunt had initially planned to seat Captison next to Princess Organa, Yeorg had other plans and placed her next to Luke Skywalker. Skywalker initiated a conversation with her, inquiring about her preconceptions about Jedi, and Captison admitted that she had religious objections to his kind. However, she remained distant and reserved, not wanting to engage in extensive conversation with him. Eventually, though, she introduced him to namana fruit nectar, a Bakuran delicacy, and asked him about the Emperor's death. He recounted the story, confirming that the Emperor was indeed dead, as he had felt Palpatine die in the Force, which also elicited a negative reaction from her—the Cosmic Balance objected to all Force-users. Midway through the dinner, Nereus received a transmission from Imperial Admiral Prittick confirming the veracity of the Rebels' claims. Faced with the prospect of no Imperial aid to stave off a full Ssi-ruuk attack, Nereus agreed to an official truce. Following that announcement, Skywalker asked Captison how much she believed in the Empire, and she replied that it was a balance of things light and dark. As the evening drew to a close, Skywalker resolved to continue their conversation later and kissed her hand, as he had seen other diplomats do, before departing.

Captison was tending to Eppie Belden at the Beldens' residence when Skywalker arrived, hoping to speak to Senator Belden, but the senator was occupied at the time. Captison introduced Skywalker to Eppie, and the Jedi employed a Force technique to heal Eppie's mind, which he believed had been deliberately damaged by the Empire. Captison was suspicious of him and inquired about how he used his power. Skywalker replied that he was only trying to help, and she softened towards him somewhat as they continued their conversation about Jedi and Eppie Belden for some time.

Shortly afterward, Captison was in her office, futilely investigating the possibility of Imperial involvement in Eppie Belden's infirmity, when her aide informed her that Nereus had planned to turn Skywalker over to the Ssi-ruuk. She decided to warn him, using the guise of visiting his apartment as a way to tip him off. She told him about Nereus's plot and advised him to take precautions to prevent his capture. At the same time, she offered to have a dinner delivered to her own suite and then diverted to his apartment, and he gratefully accepted. While they waited, she asked him if he could sense her thoughts. Probing her mind with the Force, Skywalker sensed her attraction to him, despite her religious objections, and his own feelings were mutually favorable towards her. As they ate, the conversation became more personal, as they discussed their pasts and personal beliefs. Skywalker voiced his interest in her, but she remained hesitant to involve herself with him due to her faith, although she did admit her own conflicted feelings for both him and the Alliance.

Unbeknownst to Captison or Skywalker, Nereus had agreed to the Ssi-ruuk plan but had double-crossed the saurian aliens by inserting parasitic Olabrian trichoid larvae into the meal, which infected both Captison and Skywalker.

Later, Nereus also betrayed the Rebel forces as soon as the Ssi-ruuk had been beaten back, capturing Yeorg Captison, Orn Belden, and Leia Organa. In response, the underground Bakuran resistance sprang into action and began fighting the Empire. Captison was at the Beldens' house when the resistance sprang into action, on her way to tell Eppie about the death of her husband, who had died after being captured by the Empire on charges of sedition; he had died under interrogation. Instead, she was surprised to see a recovered Eppie Belden, successfully healed by Skywalker, leading the resistance effort and already cognizant of her husband's death. After some persuasion from Belden, Captison agreed to help the resistance. Belden gave Captison a computer chip that allowed her to access Imperial stormtrooper communications, which she used to send fake distress calls to Imperial forces across Salis D'aar. She then destroyed the chip and went to warn Skywalker of the impending Ssi-ruuk attack. Captison, aided by Skywalker's astromech droid, R2-D2, traced his location and were able to find him at a local cantina. She warned him of the capture of the Rebels and Bakuran officials, as well as the insurrection, and asked him to come back once the conflict was over, to talk with her personally. Shortly after she arrived, though, a party of Ssi-ruuk tried to capture them with the tacit permission of Nereus. Luke attempted to fight them off, defending Captison as best he could, but was overpowered after a brief struggle. However, his efforts were not in vain and Captison, though stunned, was not taken. Instead, R2-D2 helped her out of the cantina, and she received medical attention at the Imperial garrison as the Ssi-ruuk commenced a full-scale attack.

Captison was brought before Nereus, who had been attempting to ally her with his faction in the government. She was initially repulsed by his mannerisms and iron-fisted plans for Bakura, but managed to maintain a diplomatic front. Nereus then revealed to her the existence of the larvae embedded in her and Skywalker's lungs, and had the larva in Captison removed. Upon her questioning him, the Imperial governor also intimated that he had used a parasite to debilitate Eppie Belden years earlier as punishment for her seditious activities. She was furthermore shocked when, after the Ssi-ruuk attack had been beaten off, Nereus ordered the Imperial forces to fire on the Alliance ships. Giving her the chance to join him and approve the governor as Prime Minister, Nereus also threatened Captison should she not cooperate. He then threatened to shoot Yeorg Captison, whom he accused of treachery, unless the two yielded to his demands. However, resistance fighters led by the recovered Eppie Belden rescued Captison and captured Nereus. The latter was later killed in a desperate assassination attempt on Luke Skywalker, who had defeated the Ssi-ruuk flagship Shriwirr and dealt with his own larvae infestation, as well as convincing the Imperial military forces to surrender.

The end of the battle resulted in both the repulsion of the Ssi-ruuk and the liberation of Bakura from the Empire. However, despite the mutual attraction that had developed between them, Skywalker and Captison were content to go their separate ways, the former continuing the fight against the Empire and the latter contributing to the rebuilding of Bakura. Meeting on the Millennium Falcon, Captison helped Skywalker handle the body of Dev Sibwarra, who had been redeemed, and the two later shared one final kiss before they went their separate ways. She would later meet the new Bakuran defense force commander, Pter Thanas, for dinner shortly after he resigned his Imperial commission to serve Bakura.

Following Bakura's independence, Captison was visited by her sister, Ylanda, who had been reduced to asceticism since her youth by the religious tenets of the Cosmic Balance. Captison was surprised to see how gaunt and malnourished Ylanda had become, and was even more shocked to learn from Ylanda that their parents had always been part of the resistance. Their deaths hadn't been accidental; they were ordered by the Empire. Ylanda had been told by the elder Captisons not to reveal that information to Captison unless the Empire failed her, or unless Ylanda's life was in danger. As thirty-two ascetics had recently been asked to fast for a month—in hopes that their suffering would cause the Cosmic Balance to reward Bakura with economic prosperity—Ylanda had feared she wouldn't survive the fast and had come to discharge her debt to her parents. At that point, Captison realized that she couldn't and didn't believe in the Cosmic Balance and took Ylanda in, hoping to take care of her and persuade her to abandon a faith that might have led her to self-starvation. When later interviewed by Alliance historian Voren Na'al, Captison stated that she still believed that Jedi had great potential to misuse their powers, but speculated that they might exist on their own balance separate from the rest of the galaxy.

Upon her uncle Yeorg's retirement from public service, Captison secured the election to succeed him as Prime Minister, holding the distinction of being Bakura's youngest Prime Minister. A key achievement during her tenure was the establishment of the Bakuran Defense Fleet, with Pter Thanas, the former commander of the Imperial garrison on Bakura, placed in command. Captison and Thanas collaborated closely, and their relationship blossomed, culminating in their marriage in 12 ABY. Their daughter, Malinza Thanas, was born in 13 ABY.

The following years were challenging for Captison. Shortly after Malinza's birth, Pter contracted Knowt's Disease. Captison was unsuccessful in her re-election bid for Prime Minister and retired from political life. In 16 ABY, Pter passed away.

The following year, Luke Skywalker returned to Bakura, requesting the New Republic's use of the Bakuran Defense Fleet in the First Corellian Insurrection. Upon the Jedi Master's arrival, Captison discovered that he had arranged to meet her privately first, allowing them to address the awkwardness of their reunion outside of public view. The meeting was indeed uncomfortable for both of them at first, particularly since they both recalled well the feelings they had had for each other years earlier. They both expressed regret for not having seen or contacted the other in years, but realized that for them to have done so would have been disruptive to both of them. However, Skywalker informed her that he was here to discuss a pending insurrection in the Corellian system. The New Republic was short of warships at that point, and Skywalker had come to request Bakura's aid in investigating the incident. Agreeing to help him, Captison used her clout to get the Bakuran Senate to approve the use of the Bakuran fleet.

Following two days of meetings with Bakura's top military officials, including Admiral Hortel Ossilege, Captison and the New Republic delegation, which included Lando Calrissian, New Republic Intelligence officer Belindi Kalenda, and Skywalker, were able to secure the Prime Minister's permission to accompany a Bakuran fleet to the Corellian system. Additionally, Captison was chosen as plenipotentiary for the Bakurans, granting her the authority to conduct negotiations while accompanying the fleet. Before the fleet's departure, Captison introduced her daughter to Skywalker, who promised to look out for Captison before bidding Malinza farewell.

As the fleet entered the Corellian system, the Bakurans discovered that communications and hyperspace travel were being blocked by a substantial jamming and interdiction field emanating from Centerpoint Station, a space station situated between the double worlds of Talus and Tralus. Utilizing a Bakuran technology known as the hyperwave inertial momentum sustainer, the ships were able to sustain hyperspace travel long enough to reach the vicinity of the Corellian world of Selonia. Captison, serving as diplomatic liaison, hoped to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but as the Bakurans ventured deeper into Corellian space, the situation became increasingly perilous for their small fleet, with a Bakuran warship destroyed by a concealed planetary repulsor during the initial engagement over the world of Selonia between the Bakurans and insurrectionist forces.

Captison later joined a small mission to Centerpoint Station, accompanied by Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Belindi Kalenda. They were unsuccessful in finding a way to stop the station though, as the only crew member on the station, Jenica Sonsen, was clueless to the fact that the station was in fact, a superweapon. Sonsen told them that the station had been largely abandoned when destructive flares started consuming the inside of the station. The mission took a nearly lethal turn when, while investigating the remains of the Hollowtown settlement, the environment rapidly grew hostile and toxic to Humans, increasing in temperature and with an increasingly poisonous atmospheric composition. The group narrowly survived by escaping into an elevator car out the area. They returned to the Bakuran fleet, but their mission was a success in that Calrissian determined that Centerpoint was the key to the insurrection and a superweapon capable of destroying stars. Upon returning to their ships, they soon learned that the Sacorrian Triad was bringing a large fleet to combat the Bakurans.

As the forces of the Republic and Bakura braced themselves for the impending battle, Captison chose to remain aboard the Intruder, under the command of Admiral Hortel Ossilege. Recognizing that her skills in negotiation held no value in the forthcoming firefight, she was relegated to awaiting the battle's outcome on the vessel. During this time, she had the distinct honor of welcoming the New Republic's Chief of State, Leia Organa Solo, to the Intruder. Organa Solo, having been evading Corellian insurrectionists for a period, was also reunited with her children, who had been abducted prior to her escape. However, Captison's decision to remain on the Intruder proved to be a grave mistake, as she, along with a significant portion of the Bakuran fleet, met her end during the ensuing Battle of Centerpoint Station. The Intruder sustained critical damage when struck by robotic ramships. Both she and Admiral Ossilege suffered fatal wounds from the damage. Consequently, as the remaining crew evacuated the ship, they initiated the self-destruct sequence, aiming to destroy several Corellian vessels in the process. Luke ensured Malinza's adoption by a prosperous Bakuran family, and frequently visited the orphaned girl.

Following her demise, Captison's cremated remains were interred beside her late husband's in a commemorative service honoring her, Admiral Ossilege, and the other Bakuran personnel who perished in the Corellian system while defending the New Republic. Ambassadors from the New Republic were invited to the ceremony. Shortly thereafter, a new section was inaugurated at the Coruscant Museum, dedicated to the Corellian conflict and honoring those who lost their lives in battle. Captison's residence was designated for her daughter, Malinza, to inherit upon reaching adulthood. The death of her mother instilled in Malinza a profound animosity towards the New Republic, which would later manifest during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Captison possessed deep religious convictions, adhering to the principles of the Cosmic Balance, although her encounters with Eppie Belden and Luke Skywalker eventually led her to question these beliefs. Ultimately, she rejected this faith after witnessing its detrimental effects on her sister, Ylanda, who was nearly starved to death in the name of the Cosmic Balance. She was also deeply committed to various causes, dedicating herself to different areas throughout her life, with a particular focus on her home planet of Bakura, which she prioritized over her attraction to Luke Skywalker. Once convinced of something, she remained steadfast in her belief unless presented with irrefutable evidence to the contrary, as demonstrated by her defiance of Wilek Nereus and her insistence on accompanying the Bakuran fleet.

Captison also held idealistic views, maintaining her belief in the Empire even after the destruction of Alderaan. This value persisted throughout her life, as she prioritized caring for her ailing husband over advancing her own political career, and insisted on attempting negotiations during the First Corellian Insurrection. However, having spent time offworld, she found the condescending attitudes of some Bakurans towards foreigners amusing in their ignorance. She believed that the wider galaxy had much to offer those willing to experience it, and dismissed the idea of limiting one's knowledge.

Rebel Alliance historian Voren Na'al described her in a historical compilation as a slender, intense young woman. She cherished her heterochromatic eyes—one gray, one [green](/article/color-legends]—viewing them as symbolic of the duality inherent in the Cosmic Balance, and made no effort to conceal this feature. Captison also favored wearing long, flowing skirts and shawls. She preferred to be barefoot rather than wear footwear; constantly removing her shoes during senator sessions. Captison regularly went on barefoot walks in Statuary Park. Captison had brown hair, fair skin, and stood at a height of 1.55 meters.

Although initially skeptical of him—her religious beliefs led her to perceive the Jedi as power-hungry individuals—Captison found herself increasingly drawn to Luke Skywalker during his time on Bakura. This attraction was mutual, and they shared a kiss at the conclusion of the battle. However, recognizing that he was destined to explore the galaxy and that she needed to remain on Bakura, they parted ways until the First Corellian Insurrection. During the final stages of the Battle of Bakura, Skywalker experienced a premonition of her future relationship with Thanas and chose not to interfere or jeopardize that potential future, despite his own feelings for her.

After Thanas's defection to Bakura, Captison eventually fell in love with and married the former Imperial officer. They enjoyed a happy marriage and had a daughter named Malinza. However, several years later, Thanas contracted Knowt's Disease, and Gaeri prioritized caring for him over her political career. Sadly, Thanas passed away, leaving her a widow. She did not pursue any further romantic relationships.

Captison received her education from some of the most prestigious Imperial educational institutions, where she studied matters of government and oration. As a member of the Bakuran Senate, she was a skilled negotiator, and even after retiring from public service, she was able to secure the services of the Bakuran fleet for use in the First Corellian Insurrection. She also possessed some knowledge of first aid and was entrusted with the care of the convalescing Eppie Belden. She had basic knowledge in repulsorlift vehicle piloting and computer programming, as well as in the use of a blaster and in unarmed combat, skills which were utilized during the Ssi-ruuk invasion of Bakura in 4 ABY. Captison possessed a unique Force presence that those known to her could easily identify her by, as Luke Skywalker noted.

Kathy Tyers created Gaeriel Captison for her 1993 novel, The Truce at Bakura, as a romantic interest for Luke Skywalker. Tyers derived Captison's name from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novels, shortening the name of the character Galadriel. Captison later reappeared in Roger MacBride Allen's 1995 Corellian Trilogy, where she was killed off. While writing the trilogy, Allen sought Tyers's consent to kill off the character.

In an interview with Ilene Rosenberg for Star Wars Adventure Journal 4, Tyers revealed that she had originally intended for Luke Skywalker to marry Gaeriel Captison at the conclusion of The Truce at Bakura, but the events of the Thrawn Trilogy prevented her from doing so. While reviewing the pre-publication copy of the trilogy's first installment, Heir to the Empire, Tyers developed an appreciation for the character Mara Jade, recognizing that Skywalker had found his equal. Skywalker and Jade eventually became husband and wife. Although Tyers had not envisioned Pter Thanas as a romantic interest for Captison, she expressed her support for Allen's decision to pair the two characters together.

Captison's religious beliefs were influenced by Tyers's personal experiences as an evangelical Christian and a science fiction writer. Tyers had faced some negative reactions for being both a Christian and a science fiction writer, and decided to create a religion that represented what she saw as the same type of conflict. When writing about the precepts of Captison's faith, the Cosmic Balance, Tyers sought to create "an extreme form of cosmic dualism." The central idea of the Cosmic Balance was that any being enjoying a privilege in the galaxy was unconsciously diminishing another being elsewhere. Tyers also drew inspiration from the Eastern idea of Cosmic Dualism, and took the idea that good and evil are equal in strength and are eternally cycling to what she called a "ludicrous extreme."

Several official sources incorrectly spell "Gaeriel" as "Gaerial". The StarWars.com Databank is one such example.