Skip

Skip
Biographical information
Homeworld	Tynna
Born	36 BBY
Died	19 BBY
Physical description
Species	Tynnan
Gender	Male
Height	1.3 meters
Hair color	Dark brown
Eye color	Brown
Chronological and political information
Affiliation(s)	Jedi Order Galactic Republic

I want justice done, but we all have to die sometime. I don’t mind dying as a servant of the Order, as a servant of democracy.
—Skip

Skip was a Tynnan, a short bipedal fur-covered race native to the watery world of Tynna. Naturally adept in the water, Tynnans were less comfortable on land, particularly due to their poor eyesight. However, Skip was discovered to be Force-sensitive at a young age and was taken to the Jedi Temple for training. In early adolescence, he was accepted as a Padawan by the Caamasi Jedi Master Ylenic It’kla, whom he served faithfully even at the risk of his own life. During his training, Skip befriended Selusda Kraen, a Human male from Commenor, whom he met in lightsaber class. Both Skip and Selu studied Form IV, an agile lightsaber form well suited for Skip’s small build, though neither were particularly graceful fencers. The two became fast friends, with Selu’s unassuming studiousness complimenting Skip’s affable nature and endless curiosity.

In 22 BBY, Skip and It'kla were chosen to accompany Plo Koon and Selusda Kraen on a mission to Ando. The two Padawans were not given much in the way for instruction on how to prepare for the trip, but they conducted research on Ando in the Jedi Archives and continued working on their lightsaber skills. Later that same evening before they left, Skip met with Selu and the two went swimming to prepare for the water-covered world of Ando. It’kla imparted a strong sense of morality on Skip, stressing the importance of weighing one’s actions and keeping true to the light side of the Force.

On their mission to Ando, Selu and Skip, along with their masters Plo Koon and Ylenic It'kla investigated a smuggling ring providing arms to Separatist militants. Having learned that the leader of the ring was named Ardo Romierr, the two Padawans explored the wharfs while their masters met with Republic ambassador Aspec and his aide Daklan Burbage to discuss the waterways and suspected hideouts that Romierr was using. The two Padawans met up with a cranky Aqualish captain named Barco Durpa, the more affable Sedrian captain Kolka Galleo, and the pickpocket Ylain during their time on the waterfront. They learned that Romierr had been at a local cantina two nights earlier along with Barco Durpa and another human.

The two reported their findings to their masters and were told that the two masters were heading to Jaqard Strait with Daklan Burbage on a Judicial Forces boat the next day to investigate rumored smuggler's hideouts, and also learned that Burbage's datapad has gone missing. The next day, Selu and Skip returned to the wharfs and uncovered that one of the humans meeting with Romierr three nights earlier was described as similar to Daklan Burbage. They warned their masters and obtained a trace on the missing datapad. Tracking it down, they found it in the possession of the street urchin Ylain. They questioned her and learned that she stole it off of a human two nights earlier, after said human had met with Barco Durpa to attack a boat that day. Realizing that their masters were in danger and with no way of contacting them due to interference in Jaqard Strait, Selu and Skip chartered Captain Galleo's boat on a trip to Jaqard Strait to try and help. Before they left, Ylain found them and revealed that Burbage wasn't the one meeting with Barco Durpa to attack the boat. The description of the person she gave them matched the Republic's Ambassador Aspec.

They headed out on the water and reached the Judicial Forces boat just as Barco Durpa's ship attacked it. The Judicial Forces boat explodes, but while the masters and Burbage survived, they came under fire. Selu ordered Skip and Galleo to rescue them while he distracted Durpa's crew. Selu managed to board Durpa's vessel, but his lightsaber malfunctioned and he was imprisoned easily. Before Durpa could kill him, however, the two masters and Skip arrived and subdued Durpa's crew. Both ships returned to shore and the Jedi confronted the ambassador, bringing Ylain with them as a witness. Confronted with his crimes, Ambassador Aspec took his own life. However, news of the scandal reached the public and incited anti-Republic riots on Ando. While the weapons ring was stopped, the Jedi left a world seething with discontent. En route back to Coruscant, they received a call from Ardo Romierr, who was actually Daklan Burbage. He thanked them for their aid in saving him from Aspec's double-cross and pointed out that while they stopped the weapons smuggling, he was able to escape and incite such disorder on Ando that the world might secede, which it eventually did.

During the Clone Wars, Skip loyally accompanied Ylenic It’kla on many missions, but was left on Coruscant at the Jedi Temple for the last few months while It’kla was on a deep-cover mission. There, he helped defend a shield generator in the Battle of Coruscant, but he still had yet to take his trials and become a Jedi Knight, though It’kla felt he was ready. His friend Selu was Knighted, but Skip remained a Padawan, waiting for It’kla to return, when Order 66 was executed. He fought valiantly in a frantic defense of the Jedi Temple, but was eventually overwhelmed and slain by clone troopers. His dying words to his friend Selu were to encourage him to stay true to the light side, and Skip died a true Jedi Knight, defending younglings against the relentless onslaught of the Sith. His words stayed with Selu years after his death.

Behind the scenes

The character Skip was conceived in the third draft of Force Exile I: Fugitive as Atarumaster88 was crafting the characters for the story. Skip's character was intended to serve as a sympathetic companion of Selu Kraen, whereas Serra Keto was somewhat less supportive. His name and appearance were influenced by otter characters in various fantasy books, such as Otter in The Wind in the Willows and Skipper of Otters in Redwall. Skip's personality is a kindly, average Jedi Padawan who is content with where he is and a positive outlook on life.

Atarumaster88 wrote Skip knowing full-well that he would perish in the raid on the Jedi Temple by the 501st Legion. It was still difficult to write the death of the character; Skip was the first named character to die in the Force Exile Series and was referenced in later works in the thoughts of Selu Kraen.

Years after writing Fugitive, Atarumaster88 decided to explore the history of Selu Kraen and his tenure as a Padawan further. In doing so, he decided to devote more time to both Skip and Serra Keto, as well as Plo Koon, when writing the prequel story. As such, Skip made another appearance in the short story First Impressions. His characterization remained mostly static as primarily a devoted friend to Selusda Kraen. Atarumaster88 saw no reason to really alter the character, especially since he had a fairly small role in the short story.

Appearances

• First Impressions
• Second Guessed
• Force Exile I: Fugitive
• Force Exile II: Smuggler (Mentioned only)
• Force Exile III: Liberator (Mentioned only)
• Force Exile IV: Guardian (Mentioned only)