A Human female from the world of Naldar, Vila held the title of Princess of that planet during the Galactic Civil War. Following an Imperial invasion, Vila became the only surviving member of her royal family. In 4 ABY, she escaped her homeworld, disguising herself as her twin brother Denin in order to seek assistance from the Alliance of Free Planets. Though she ultimately perished, Vila successfully brought a small force back to Naldar, which was enough to eliminate the Imperial presence.
Princess Vila, a female Human hailing from the planet Naldar, was born into the royal family of Naldar, alongside her twin brother, Denin. Denin harbored aspirations of becoming a Jedi Knight and mastering the Force, while Vila struggled to find her purpose. This all changed in 2 ABY, when Imperial forces launched a brutal subjugation of their world, destroying everything she knew. During the initial assault, Denin and the rest of the royal family were killed. Despite initial resistance, Vila was compelled to flee in 4 ABY due to an intensified attack.
Desperate and alone, Vila journeyed to Endor, the location of the Alliance of Free Planets' main base. This government was the successor to the Rebels who had triumphed over the Empire, and she went to beg for their help. Impersonating her deceased brother, Vila personally demanded that the Alliance dispatch troops to reclaim her planet. She also implored Luke Skywalker, the Alliance's resident Jedi, to train her in the Force. Although Admiral Gial Ackbar lacked available fighter squadrons, the Alliance command sent a small team, led by Skywalker—who refused to train Vila, or anyone, in the Force—back to Naldar with Vila to provide as much help as possible.
The group, traveling aboard the freighter Millennium Falcon, discovered that Naldar's capital city had been virtually destroyed, and all native resistance had been eliminated. They were promptly ambushed by a stormtroopers squad. During the ensuing firefight, Vila shot and killed an enemy, marking the first time she had taken a life, which profoundly affected her. Confronted by a superior force commanded by Flint, an Imperial commander and aspiring Sith Lord, Vila and Lando Calrissian retreated to the Millennium Falcon to seek reinforcements. It was there that Vila's deception was exposed. Leia Organa, the Alliance leader, had discovered that Denin had died two years prior, compelling Vila to reveal her true identity.
Fortunately for the Alliance, Barney, a member of their team, had been childhood friends with Flint on the planet Belderone. Barney's presence persuaded the Imperial commander to stand down. However, a surviving stormtrooper viewed this as treachery and prepared to shoot Flint in the back. Vila intervened, striking the trooper down with a lightsaber, but in doing so, she suffered a fatal blaster wound. In her final moments, Vila realized that her true aspiration had always been to become a Jedi. Upon her death, Vila entered the Netherworld of the Force, where she reunited with Denin's spirit. Overjoyed by their reunion, Denin introduced Vila to their new teacher, the Jedi Master Yoda, signifying the beginning of their Jedi training, even in death.
Vila shared a close bond with her twin brother Denin. While Denin possessed a clear vision of becoming a Jedi, Vila struggled to find her own path. She was devastated by Denin's death and felt obligated to fulfill his dream, as he was unable to do so himself. It was only after fleeing war-torn Naldar and arriving on the forest moon of Endor that Vila began to appreciate the beauty of life and the value of peace. While posing as Denin, Vila's demanding nature and disregard for protocol and political formalities quickly alienated Alliance leadership. Vila was a skilled pilot and demonstrated proficiency with a blaster upon returning to Naldar, but she was deeply disturbed by taking a life for the first time. Only upon her death did she realize that becoming a Jedi was her own dream, not just her brother's. By acting swiftly to save Flint's life, Vila was pleased to have acted in a manner befitting a true Jedi, and Luke Skywalker noted that she would have made a natural Jedi.
Vila made her debut in Star Wars 92, penned by Mary Jo Duffy, illustrated by Jan Duursema, and released in 1984.