Bria Tharen

SW Character


bgcolor=#EE4000
fgcolor=#FFFFFF
name=Bria Tharen
species=Human
gender=Female
height= 1.57 meters
hair= Red
eyes= Blue-Green
vehicle="Retribution"
weapon= Blaster pistol
planet= Corellia
affiliation= Rebel Alliance, Red Hand Squadron

Bria Tharen is a fictional character in the "Star Wars" Expanded Universe. She was introduced in the novel "The Paradise Snare" as Han Solo's first girlfriend. In later novels, Bria would also become a key figure in the Rebel Alliance, but not before facing her own trials and tribulations.

Exultation

Like the famed smuggler himself, Bria is born on the temperate planet of Corellia. Because she is born to a wealthy shipping family, her early life was one of privilege and luxury. Her family expects her to marry an equally wealthy and socially ranked man, but the extremely independent Bria is not happy when he is unfaithful to her. Thus, she cancels her wedding, and decides to travel the galaxy to study archeology at the University of Coruscant.

When she reaches the legal age of majority on Corellia (17), Bria joins a cult that preaches the euphoric effects of the "Exultation." She naively believes that these feelings come from a higher power, unaware that it is simply a biological accident produced by the organs of the T'landa Til priests, a race of rhino-like horned centauroids related to the Hutts. Eager to follow the Exultation, Bria heads to the cult's headquarters on Ylesia, and is forced into slavery in a spice processing plant.

For nearly a year, Bria - referred to simply as Pilgrim 921 - is slowly stripped of her individuality. She still believes in the Exultation, however, clinging to its transcendent effects. However, a chance encounter with Han Solo draws her back into reality. Han, who is smitten by Bria's beauty, arranges for her to leave the spice plant and transfer into working for the head Tlanda T'il sacredot, Teorenza, where she applies her archaeological skills as curator to his art collection. There, Bria finally learns the truth about the T'landa Til and the Exultation from Han. Han flees Ylesia with Bria with blasters blazing and sacks full of rare and valuable artwork. He plans to spend the rest of his life with her, as they have fallen in love.

The Rebellion

To Han's dismay, Bria suddenly left the smuggler on Coruscant, breaking his heart. She is still suffering the varied physical, mental, and spiritual effects of withdrawal from the Exultation, which nearly consumes her as she struggles to recuperate. Until then, she feels that being with Han will distract him from his dream of going to the Imperial Academy. Ironically, during this rehabilitation Bria becomes involved with the Red Hand Squadron, part of the Corellian Resistance, one of the first groups to challenge the Galactic Empire. The Red Hand Squadron accepts her loyalty, and she helps carve a name for the Red Hand as a ruthless organization, with an especial hatred toward slavers whom they killed in cold blood whenever and wherever found.

The novel "Rebel Dawn" establishes her eventual fate. Bria meets with resistance members from Alderaan to push for what would be known as the Rebel Alliance; with the efforts of General Bel Iblis, the "Corellian Accord" would be agreed upon, consolidating the many local resistance groups into one. On Kashyyyk, she meets with like-minded Wookiees to gain their support. Developing a plan to take out the slavery operations on Ylesia, the young Rebel leader seeks help from Jabba the Hutt and smugglers from Nar Shaddaa. Jabba agrees, supplying the operation, intending to use the Rebel group to further his business war against the rival Besadii Hutt clan which owned and operated the Ylesia racket. One such smuggler is the still-infatuated Han Solo, who had not seen Bria in 10 years. They meet and become lovers again, deciding its for good. To Solo's immense surprise, Bria and her soldiers betray the smugglers, stealing the Ylesian slavers' riches to finance the fledgling Rebellion. Bria's loyalty to the Rebellion is in conflict with her love for Han, who angrily leaves after this betrayal.

Demise

Bria's Red Hand Squadron receives the Death Star schematics on Toprawa and subsequently passes them on to Princess Leia aboard the "Tantive IV". Bria is unable to escape as Imperial forces descend upon her, however. She refuses to submit to interrogation, knowing that she can never live with betraying the Rebellion, and commits suicide by swallowing a poison pill.

The day before Han Solo's fateful encounter with aged Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and young farm boy Luke Skywalker in the Mos Eisley Cantina, he receives news of Bria's demise. He learns this from Boba Fett himself, who had previously promised Bria that when she died, the bounty hunter would do what he could to inform her parents of her death.

References

*"The Paradise Snare", 1st paperback printing, 1997. A. C. Crispin, ISBN 0-553-57415-9
*"The Hutt Gambit", 1st paperback printing, 1997. A. C. Crispin, ISBN 0-553-57416-7
*"Rebel Dawn", 1998. A.C. Crispin. ISBN 0-553-57417-5

External links

* [http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/briatharen/index.html Star Wars Databank entry]
*sww|Bria Tharen