Pera

The title of this article is a nickname, call sign, or alias. This article is about a subject that has not been identified with an official name and is known only by a nickname, call sign, or alias.

Pera

TheVerpinepriest known only as "Pera" was a clergyman of theSacred Way religion who lived onAduba-3. Working from theHouse of a Higher Power inTun Aduban, Pera set about trying to convert the localspacers to the Sacred Way, to little avail. Although he was able to sway several individuals to his cause, Pera was largely left to his own devices by the populace of Tun Aduban. His maintenance ofSpacer's Hill, an informal burial ground for spacers who happened to bekilled in Tun Aduban, earned him respect within the township. When confronted, however, Pera proved to be a skilled combatant, wielding aspade as a makeshift weapon.

In0 ABY, Pera's way of life was jeopardized. Acyborg spacer had been killed, and although the Verpine felt that the deceased still possessed asoul, his outlook was not shared by the other spacers of Tun Aduban, who were insulted at the prospect of acyborg being interred within their sacred ground. Pera was attacked by a mob of angry spacers, but was rescued by newcomersHan Solo andChewbacca. The pair agreed to take the cyborg up the hill themselves for a reward, and were able to do so, but not before fighting off more incensed spacers, with the aid of Pera. Eventually, the cyborg was successfully laid to rest at Spacer's Hill.

Biography[]

Bringer of the Sacred Way[]

TheVerpine known only as "Pera" lived on theplanetAduba-3 and served as a priest of theSacred Way religion. The Sacred Way had originally brought about the settlement of the planet, establishing it as anagricultural colony. Pera operated from theHouse of a Higher Power, one of the few untainted structures located within the mostly dilapidated port ofTun Aduban. He was largely left alone by the localspacers, as his presence did not cut into profits made from underworld dealings, and he did not attempt to foist his beliefs upon others. In the event that he was confronted, the Verpine had armed himself with a farmer'sspade, which he wielded against any who threatened him.^[1]

In his work as a missionary, Pera sought out converts, hoping to instill his philosophies into a people who did not want them. Although they numbered only a few, he had his converts nonetheless, and valued them in spite of their rarity. The Verpine cemented his place amongst the more hard-bitten spacers in Tun Aduban society with his maintenance ofSpacer's Hill—an informal cemetery located just outside of Tun Aduban proper. The spacers, being superstitious by nature, were enamored of the idea of being given a proper burial by the Verpine priest, no matter how depraved or shady the life they had lived. The burial of spacers took up much of Pera'stime while he lived in Tun Aduban. He roamed the township and collected the corpses of thosekilled in brawls or gunfights, before personally transporting them up to Spacer's Hill.^[1] To that end, he procured abantha, with which he towed atravois that carried the deceased.^[2]

The "borg"[]

Shortlyafter theBattle of Yavin, Pera heard that acyborgspacer had been killed. The next day, he collected the body and prepared to take it up to Spacer's Hill, but he was accosted near one of thecantinas by an angry mob of spacers. They were prejudiced against cyborgs, and felt that the deceased did not deserve a place in their hallowed ground. When one of the mob attempted to lay hands on Pera, he sprang into action, taking his spade to the attackers. Eventually, he was overcome and disarmed, until two newcomers—theHuman,Han Solo, and theWookiee,Chewbacca—entered the fray. Solo and Chewbacca fended off the attackers, and the Human made sure that Pera was not injured. The Verpine urged Solo not to harm the spacers, as he felt that they did not mean any harm.^[2]

When Solo inquired after the dead cyborg, Pera explained the spacer prejudices, as well as his own belief that the spacer should be interred at Spacer's Hill as he had indeed once flown as apilot. The Verpine requested that Solo take the body up to the hill, but the smuggler was reluctant until Pera offered him a sack ofcoins that had been taken off the dead cyborg's person. Convinced to take the job, Solo mounted Pera's bantha and took his leave of the Verpine priest, but Pera continued to observe Solo and Chewbacca's progress as they headed toward the hill. When the pair came under attack from spacers who threw stones at them and pulled Solo from his mount, Pera emerged once more, spade in hand, and helped defend Solo and the Wookiee. A firefight broke out, and the spacers were eventually driven off, although Solo and Chewbacca had killed several of them.^[2]

Although the assailants had been scared off and the cyborg's right to be buried at Spacer's Hill had effectively been won, Pera noted that a stray shot had killed his bantha. The Verpine was querulous as to just how they would be able to carry the cyborg's body, but Chewbacca proved strong enough to carry the travois on his back, and Pera led both him and Solo up the hill. The cyborg was buried while, as part of the ceremony, the Verpine held his spade aloft and chirped an eerie chant while burning a substance in achain censer. When the burial was complete, Pera directed the thirsty Solo towardsLocru's Central Saloon, assuring him that since he had bested the spacers in a fair fight, he would be respected in the township.^[2]Two years later, Pera was interviewed byVoren Na'al, ahistorian working for theAlliance to Restore the Republic, who sought to discover just what had transpired when Solo had come to town. After Na'al made a sizable donation to the Sacred Way, the Verpine confirmed that Solo and Chewbacca had indeed visited Tun Aduban.^[1]

Personality and traits[]

Pera lived by the edicts of the Sacred Way and believed in the philosophy of "for every sin there is an equal and positiveretribution,"^[1] as per his religion'sHoly-Book.^[2] The Verpine likened his task to an equally impossible endeavor—collecting all the pebbles from a beach. Although Pera accepted that he would not be able to convert many, he valued his rare initiates, feeling that they had genuine merit. Pera played upon the sense of desperation rampant throughout Tun Aduban and was occasionally able to find a platform for his teachings, gathering several converts. He gained the respect of the spacers and star-hoppers in Tun Aduban by maintaining Spacer's Hill.^[1] When addressed as "Pera," the Verpine responded with "Fi," theHigh Galactic for child. Although he would defend himself in combat, Pera did not wish any permanent harm to befall his attackers and was of the opinion that violence only ever spawned more violence. He believed that cyborgs, despite being partdroid, still had asoul within their Human part.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

The character of "Pera" appeared inStar Wars 7: New Planets, New Perils (1978), one of the first pieces ofExpanded Universe fiction published. Similarly, Pera was, along withCrimson Jack andJolli from the same issue, one of the first Expanded Universe characters created. Hisspecies was laterretroactively identified as Verpine in the article "The Starhoppers of Aduba-3" (2001), published inStar Wars Gamer 4.

Appearances[]

• Star Wars (1977) 7(recolorized inStar Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 1: Doomworld)(First appearance)

Sources[]

• "The Starhoppers of Aduba-3" —Star Wars Gamer 4

Notes and references[]