Taryn Zel, serving as an officer within the ranks of Hapan Security, operated in 41 ABY. She was the daughter of a half-sibling to Isolder, thus making her a cousin of Tenel Ka Djo, the Queen Mother. She possessed an identical twin sister, named Trista Zel, and both sisters held significant value as officers under Tenel Ka's command. Later in her life, she became engaged to Zekk, a Jedi Knight.
Around 20 ABY, Taryn and Trista were born to a male relative of Isolder. As they matured into adults, Taryn and Trista both became officers within Hapan Security. Their close familial ties to Tenel Ka made them particularly useful agents in her service. The connection to Tenel Ka remained a secret, and they were assigned their own security detail to assist them during their missions.
After the Jedi Knight, Ben Skywalker, managed to escape from the Galactic Alliance Guard, Taryn and Trista were assigned by Tenel Ka Djo and Prince Isolder to find him and bring him back to the Jedi base situated on Shedu Maad. After waiting for approximately eight standard hours at Nova Station, the twins finally located Ben and escorted him to their skiff.
However, en route to the rendezvous point with Isolder, the prince's vessel was attacked by the Anakin Solo, resulting in his capture. Subsequently, the twins transported Ben directly to Tenel Ka to inform her about her father's capture.
After Tenel Ka's ship, the Dragon Queen, dropped Ben off at the Jedi base, Taryn developed a romantic interest in Zekk, who was standing nearby. Trista admonished her sister for engaging in such behavior while on duty, but Taryn dismissed her concerns.
Later, the twins and Ben Skywalker were tasked with defending Shedu Maad from an assault by the Anakin Solo. The pair were shocked to learn that a nanokiller had been unleashed on the Dragon Queen, resulting in the death of everyone onboard who possessed royal blood. They refused to answer Ben's questions about whether Tenel Ka and Allana were among the casualties. Shortly after, the twins and Ben uncovered a plot by General Livette to betray the Hapan crown through an alliance with the Remnant. Trista volunteered to remain behind and monitor the traitor, while Ben and Taryn pursued the Remnant troops and their commander, Tahiri Veila. Taryn later assisted Ben in taking Tahiri into custody.
Six months following the Battle of Uroro Station, Taryn resurfaced after a period of absence, now romantically involved with the Jedi Knight Zekk. She declined to answer any questions regarding her whereabouts or why she had not informed the Jedi Order about Zekk's survival. She also participated in a successful mission to liberate Valin and Jysella Horn from carbonite, and later in Operation Shieldfall on Nam Chorios.
Taryn had a penchant for making jokes and engaging in lighthearted flirting, which contrasted sharply with her sister Trista, whom she playfully teased for being a dug.
The character Taryn Zel made her debut in the novel Legacy of the Force: Invincible alongside her sister Trista. She was initially planned to appear in the novel Blood Oath by Elaine Cunningham with Trista and the Jedi Zekk, but the novel was ultimately cancelled. However, upon her subsequent appearance in Fate of the Jedi: Backlash, it was revealed that she and Zekk were in a romantic relationship, a development that would have been explored in the cancelled novel.