Wilmon Paak

Wilmon Paak, or "Wil" for short, was a human male who lived on Ferrix during the Imperial Era. His father Salman Paak operated Repaak Salyard in town. After his father was detained and tortured by the Galactic Empire, Paak took part in the Ferrix local uprising against the Empire, crafting a bomb that was used during the uprising on Ferrix.

Biography

A son of Ferrix

Wilmon Paak,^[10] sometimes shortened to just "Wil,"^[11] was born around 21 BBY,^[2] the son of mechanic Salman Paak.^[3] By 5 BBY, he worked in his father's place of business,^[12] the Repaak Salyard,^[13] in Ferrix City on the planet Ferrix. In that year, the mechanic Bix Caleen visited Repaak Salyard while Wilmon was assisting his father with work, requesting a Bendine Mesh-Tech filter, which was a coded message to actually request access to a secret communication device in a narrow tower behind a set of yellow racks in the store.^[12] Wilmon later left the shop with his father, closing the door behind them, after the Time Grappler rang the beskar anvil to signal the end of the working day.^[14]

When a group of Preox-Morlana Corpos led by Syril Karn came to town in search of the fugitive Cassian Andor, Wilmon spotted them and alerted his father, who then ran to alert Caleen. As the Corpos walked Ferrix City, Wilmon, directed by his father, helped sound the alarm to warn of their presence by clanging a hanging piece of metal. More and more citizens joined in, and the city locked down, much to the confusion of the Corpos, who assumed the clanging was an intimidation tactic. Shortly after, Wilmon and Salman found Caleen, who had been apprehended by the Corpos, cuffed to a wall and beaten. The two freed her and helped her to safety.^[3]

The riot of Rix Road

Later that year,^[15] an Imperial garrison was established on Ferrix.^[16] Wilmon was working in his father's shop when Caleen arrived, once again requesting access to the secret communication device. Shortly after, Salman was arrested by Imperial forces and taken to Hotel Rix, now the garrison's base of operations, with Wilmon angrily asking for the whereabouts of his father before being pushed down, threatened with a stun baton, and commanded to stay silent by an Imperial security trooper under order of Prefect Vanis Tigo.^[4] Salman was later executed by Imperial forces.^[17]As the Imperial presence on Ferrix intensified with the arrival of Lieutenant Dedra Meero of the Imperial Security Bureau, Wilmon constructed an explosive device in his father's shop, with a hologram of his father displayed on his workspace.^[7]

After the death of Maarva Andor, Wilmon left his father's shop to join the funeral procession through the streets of the city, which proceeded down Rix Road to Fountain Square. There the droid B2EMO played a posthumous hologram message from Maarva explaining the threat of the Empire and inspiring the people of Ferrix to rise up and fight their occupiers. A riot broke out after Tigo attempted to disrupt the message, and as the riot grew more violent, Wilmon activated his explosive and hurled it at the Imperials, destroying an armored vehicle and inadvertently detonating a batch of Imperial grenades, killing the junk dealer Nurchi and several Imperials in the blasts. Wilmon was spotted by Lieutenant Merzin Keysax, who ordered the boy to be captured. Tigo then ordered Imperial forces to fire upon the crowd as two stormtroopers apprehended Wilmon. The Ferrixian Brasso helped the boy fight off the troopers before grabbing him by the arm and leading him to safety aboard a starship in Zorby's Western Shiplot. Wilmon and Brasso were joined by fellow Ferrixians Jezzi, Pegla, Caleen, and B2EMO, and the group escaped Ferrix over the Farside Sea, following directions given by Cassian.^[7]

Life on the farm

A year later, in 4 BBY, Wilmon lived with Caleen, Cassian, Brasso, and Talia, Brasso's partner, in a^[11] mobil-haus^[18] on the Outer Rim^[11] planet^[19] Mina-Rau, where he worked on a farm. One night, while Cassian was away on a mission, Caleen had a nightmare caused by trauma surrounding her torture at the hands of^[11] Doctor Gorst^[20] on Ferrix, which woke Wilmon and the other homestead residents. Later, Wilmon was helping Caleen repair an irrigation tower when Beela, a local girl with eyes for Wilmon, approached the tower with water for the two workers. Caleen teased Wilmon, coaxing him to turn around to interact with Beela before noticing an^[11] Imperial scan cruiser^[21] in the distant sky. Wilmon identified the ship as Imperial before turning to take the water from Beela, expressing disbelief that she walked all the way out to them from the silos.^[11]

Later in the day, Brasso returned home as Wilmon ate from a bowl in the mobil-haus entryway. Brasso, Wilmon, Caleen, and Talia gathered around the circular table in the common space of their home, and Brasso delivered the news that an Imperial Supply Census, a form of audit. Wilmon inquired as to who was performing the audit, and Brasso replied that Kellen, a local man, was looking into it. Brasso asked if they had heard back from Cassian, and Wilmon offered to listen in on their radio to check.^[11] Sometime after, while working on the silos, Kellen approached Wilmon, Caleen, and Brasso with updated information regarding the auditors, including an estimated numbers of Imperials and a warning to Wilmon not to mention Ferrix if asked for their origin. Wilmon then met with Beela in the fields and promised to return to her if forced to leave planet, caressing her on the cheek before hearing two vehicles approach. The two watched as Imperial forces entered the nearby Mina-Rau General Store in the vehicles. That evening after sunset, Kellen visited the mobil-haus and informed Wilmon and the other residents of the plan for the auditors to move from Council Five Hundred to Council Three Hundred the next day.^[5]

Fleeing Mina-Rau

On a later day, Wilmon attended a meal gathering, preparing a dish and then handing a bowl to Caleen. Kellen arrived and delivered word to Brasso that the Empire would be arriving the following day from Council Six Hundred to begin their census, and he gave Brasso an emergency work order for the Eight Hundred Block for repairs to three sweepers, which provided them a means of evading the incoming inspection. After the meal, Wilmon assisted with packing their belongings. Caleen discovered Wilmon had not cleaned their tools, and Wilmon stated they would do it when they arrived at the Eight Hundred Block. He then took his speeder—without notifying Caleen or Brasso—to say goodbye to Beela. During their farewells, Beela noticed Wilmon was carrying a blaster pistol, to her disappointment. The couple then spotted Imperial forces arriving at the General Store, where Wilmon had parked his speeder. Unable to return to his vehicle, he ran all the way back to the mobil-haus as Brasso was leaving on his speeder to search for Wilmon.^[22]

He arrived back at the mobil-haus to find Caleen pinned down inside by the Imperial soldier Pyke. Wilmon opened fire on Pyke, distracting him and allowing Caleen to shoot him from the side, killing him. Wilmon and Caleen then spotted smoke of in the distance coming from the silos, the result of Cassian—who had just arrived in a TIE Avenger—firing on Imperial forces. The two deduced that it must be Cassian, and Caleen told Wilmon to get their speeder. They rendezvoused with Cassian in the fields near the silos, and Cassian indicated that Brasso did not survive the encounter with the Empire. The three boarded the TIE Avenger and departed Mina-Rau, leaving Brasso's body behind.^[22]

The siphon

Sent by Luthen Rael to assist the Partisans,^[24] in 3 BBY, Wilmon delivered a rhydonium fuel pipe siphon for extracting the^[23] fuel^[25] rhydonium to Saw Gerrera and his Partisans on the^[23] planet^[26] D'Qar. Gerrera inspected the machine and asked if it was in working condition with all its parts, to which Wilmon answered in the affirmative, clarifying it had eight variations and six gauges. Gerrera then asked if the device had been tested, with Wilmon replying only that it worked. The Partisan inquired as to who taught Wilmon how to use the machine, though Wilmon refused to provide the information, claiming he was only there to teach the variations for the device. Gerrera continued questioning him, jokingly referring to him as "Wilmon the Boy" and asking if he had ever performed the procedures outside of a classroom. After Wilmon answered that he had completed the procedures twice, though not alone, Gerrera called forward a member of his crew named Pluti, informing Wilmon that he would teach Pluti all variations. Wilmon objected, stating that it was negotiated for him to leave the following day, but Gerrera asserted that Wilmon would remain with them until he got what he needed.^[23]

While teaching Pluti variation five, Wilmon offered reminders before Pluti failed the procedure, after which Wilmon remarked that they would all have been dead. Pluti resumed practicing as Wilmon assured him that it was a lot to remember, and Pluti complained that Gerrera underestimated how much information needed to be memorized. Pluti then asked who taught Wilmon, and the man once again refused to answer the question, reminding Pluti that he could not leave until the Partisan learned all the variations. He then had Pluti attempt variation two.^[8]

Later, Wilmon grabbed a piece of a roasted massif to eat and, as he was walking away, noticed Pluti approach Gerrera. The man assured Gerrera that he could perform all variations, but that he just needed more practice. Gerrera asked if that meant they could kill Wilmon, as the man was now a security risk due to having seen their operation. Pluti requested Wilmon be allowed to join them on their mission, considering him a good engineer. His leader accused him of lacking confidence, and Pluti assured him that he would have confidence if he knew their target, allowing him to practice a single variation repeatedly. Gerrera informed him they would be targeting the Station Four junction in Neen Valley on Markez Moon the following night. Pluti asked again about Wilmon, and Gerrera stated he would keep him around for the time being. Wilmon then watched Pluti walk away from Gerrera.^[8]

A whiff of freedom

The following day, as Wilmon and Pluti were packing the device away in preparation for the mission, Gerrera and the Partisan "Two Tubes" approached the two. Gerrera asked Wilmon if Pluti was ready, and Wilmon answered that he thought he was. Gerrera raised a blaster to Wilmon's face and asked if he only thought so, or if he knew, and when Wilmon began to argue that he had done everything he could, Gerrera shot Pluti in the face, killing him and revealing that he had been a traitor and transmitting to the Empire. Gerrera then informed his entire crew that they would not actually be striking the Markez Moon pipeline, but would instead be many parsecs away, drinking their rhydonium in peace. He then commanded the Partisans to move quickly, declaring that whatever they did not take with them would be burned, as they would not be returning to the D'Qar base. Gerrera then put the weight of the mission's success on Wilmon and walked away, with Wilmon letting out a sigh as the pressure of the situation struck him. The Partisans, and Wilmon, left shortly after.^[8]

After the Partisans arrived on their target celestial body, Wilmon began his work with the siphon as Gerrera regaled the younger man with stories of his past. Wilmon remained focused—though tense—as he continued his work, eventually successfully applying the device and opening the vault to release the rhydonium. Gerrera approached and inhaled the substance, much to Wilmon's shock. The young men asked how Gerrera could do it, and he explained that he understood the rhydonium, metaphorically calling it his sister and admitting to being crazy, as revolution was not for the sane. He then gave words of inspiration to Wilmon, and the young man removed his mask and began inhaling the fumes, struggling, coughing, and letting out a scream before catching his breath and looking up into the sky.^[8]

Yavin 4

Sometime in 2 BBY, Wilmon arrived at the rebel base on the moon Yavin 4 with a group of rebel soldiers and proceeded directly to the jungle residence of Cassian and Caleen rather than checking in. Upon arriving on their patio, he interrupted a romantic moment between the two, with Caleen showing excitement for his return and Cassian asking where he had been. Wilmon replied that he had been on a repair and that it had taken a while to get back, and the three went inside. As Caleen retrieved something to drink for Wilmon, Cassian continued to push for information on where the young man had been. Instead of answering, Wilmon relayed a question from Luthen Rael, head of the Axis network of insurgents, asking if Cassian was ready to return to service. The three began to argue and compare the rebels' methods on Yavin 4 and Rael's own tactics.^[9]

Wilmon revealed that he had been working for Rael on Ghorman, a planet^[9] in the Colonies region,^[27] and that the Empire had severely escalated their presence on the world. He also revealed that Meero, the Imperial Security Bureau lieutenant responsible for his father's death, was stationed on Ghorman, though claiming his desire to kill her was not out of revenge, but rather it was necessary to get her off their tails, as she had been attempting to uncover their identities since the riot on Ferrix. Cassian aggressively rose from the table they were sitting around and left, stating he was late for his briefing. That evening, after an encounter Force healer, Cassian decided to join Wilmon on his mission to Ghorman. The two packed their things into a UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft and departed the following morning, much to the frustration of^[9] General^[28] Davits Draven^[9] of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service.^[28][9]

Arrival on Ghorman

Wilmon and Cassian arrived on Ghorman during the day, with Cassian flying close to the treetops of the planet's mountains per Wilmon's suggestion, though the young man was distressed at just how low Cassian flew. The two entered the capital city Palmo, and Cassian asked how long the Imperial presence had been as intense as it was. Wilmon told him it had been a few months, and the two then reviewed their plans, with Wilmon responsible for checking the comms. Wilmon and Cassian parted ways as the young man walked with his Ghorman contact, Dilan. That night, Wilmon was at the headquarters of the Ghorman Front resistance group, where he tested the comms, and exchanged a long look with the rebel, Dreena, his love interest.^[9]

The following morning, as the Imperial forces in Palmo Plaza were relocating barricades to deceptively open up the Plaza, Wilmon, who was with Dreena, and reached out to Cassian over comms. Cassian asked what was happening, though Wilmon was unaware of the goings-on in the Plaza. Cassian saw the Imperial action for what it was and informed Wilmon that they were building a fortress, though Dilan arrived at headquarters and told the insurgents that the Plaza was being opened up. The Ghormans and Wilmon then armed themselves and left for a mass demonstration in the Plaza, attempting to take advantage of the new access. After Wilmon arrived in the plaza, Cassian attempted to contact him via the comm, but the two struggled to hear each other. Wilmon told Dreena to stay with Capso and then left her to find Cassian. The two were finally able to make contact through the comm, and Cassian told Wilmon to meet him on the west side of the plaza near the columns by a cafhouse, though the young man could not hear over the crowd noise.^[29]

As Wilmon continued looking for Cassian, the Imperials intentionally antagonized the demonstrators. An Imperial sniper shot a member of the riot squad, tricking the squad's leader, Bloy, into thinking the demonstrators had fired on them and ordering his troops to open fire on the crowd. Wilmon took cover within the monument at the center of the plaza and began firing on the stormtroopers blocking the exit to the plaza. As the massacre intensified, Wilmon located Cassian in the cafe, the rebel having just survived a brutal fight with Karn. He assisted Cassian up and out of the plaza and into the streets of Palmo, running across Capso, who admitted to not knowing where Dreena was, suggesting she might have gone to headquarters to help fetch the radio.^[29]

Wilmon argued with Cassian about staying to find her as a crowd rushed into the street in an attempt to flee KX-series security droids. Wilmon and Cassian fled up the street, but one of the droids eventually caught up to them. They fired on the droid to no avail, but as it approached, Samm, a member of the Ghorman Front, ran the droid over with a troop transport, pinning it against a wall. Samm mentioned he needed to get back to the headquarters, and Wilmon stated that was where he needed to go, though Cassian protested. Wilmon insisted he could not leave Dreena, and the two embraced and exchanged farewells. Before Samm and Wilmon could leave, Cassian asked for one last favor: to help him load the broken KX droid into the troop transport for him to take. After assisting Cassian, Wilmon returned to headquarters, finding Dreena on the radio transmitting an emergency broadcast requesting help for the Ghor. Upon her request, Wilmon donned headgear and helped get the message to the masses.^[29]

Moving on

Paak and Dreena evacuated Ghorman together and took refuge in the Axis network safehouse, although Paak's leg was severely injured. The couple were joined by Andor, Mon Mothma, Kleya Marki, and Erskin Semaj, with Andor sitting with them in the bedroom. Dreena expressed worry for Paak, as he needed to see a proper doctor, whilst Paak called Dreena a hero and credited her with their successful escape. They then travelled to Yavin 4, where Paak was removed on a stretcher by medics and Dreena.^[30]

In 1 BBY, Paak still walked with a limp from the injury sustained in Ghorman. Paak accompanied a crew of rebel technicians as they exited the Great Temple hangar bay at the end of their ship. He headed through the jungle to a tent-like adobe where Dreena approached him and asked him about his beeping Fractal radio. Dreena questioned him on what it was, and informed him that it had been beeping for half an hour. Dreena then asked if he was okay, but Paak told her he would explain later and left.^[31] Paak retrieved his radio, and then headed to where Andor, K-2SO, and Ruescott Melshi were playing a game of chips.^[31] K-2SO reminded Paak that there was a ban on unauthorized radio transmissions, with Andor believing the radio to be malfunctioning. Paak believed the message was genuine, and described it as a compression cipher with an abbreviated chain. Andor recognized it as a distress signal and prepared to leave with Melshi and K-2SO, Paak warned that it could be a trap, but he insisted. Paak was instructed to change the departure roster so they would not be shot down.^[31]

After they had left, Paak informed Davits Draven of the emergency transmission, which infuriated him due to the possibility it could expose the rebels base. Paak defended Andor and Luthen Rael, which caused Draven to confine Paak to his and Dreena's quarters until further notice.^[31]

Whilst he was working in the hangar bay, Paak joined several rebel guards and ground crew in witnessing the arrival of Andor, Melshi, K-2SO, and Kleya Marki. Andor later reunited with Paak in the village where he informed Paak of Rael's death. The two men embraced. Paak later ate breakfast with Dreena.^[32]

Personality and traits

Wilmon heeded his father's command to help sound the alarm.^[3] When Salman was arrested, Wilmon became angry and demanded from the Imperials the location of his father.^[4] After the death of his father, the boy displayed a hologram of Salman on his workstation as he constructed an explosive device to take violent retribution on his father's murderers.^[7] While living on Mina-Rau, Wilmon acted embarrassed and asked Caleen to act normal when Beela approached, though he eventually accepted Beela's gift of water^[11] and even promised to come back to her if he had to leave Mina-Rau.^[5] When it came time for them to part ways, as Wilmon needed to flee the Imperial auditors, the boy refused to tell Beela where they were fleeing to.^[22] While in a relationship with Dreena, Wilmon refused to leave her behind after the Imperial massacre, choosing to stay with her on Ghorman and help her spread the truth of the event.^[29]

When interrogated by Gerrera, Wilmon held his cool and refused to divulge information he had been forbidden from sharing, causing the Partisan to refer to him as brave.^[23] After the death of Pluti, the young man showed signs of distress, exhaling deeply. When inspired by Gerrera, Wilmon removed his mask and inhaled rhydonium fumes, despite the discomfort it caused.^[8] When he arrived on Yavin 4, he neglected to check in, instead choosing to head straight to Cassian and Caleen to request that Cassian return to service for Rael. At first, he refused to reveal where he had been working for Rael, but he eventually explained that he had been on Ghorman. He informed the two that Meero was present on the planet and that then was the best opportunity for them to kill her, though he claimed his wanting to kill her was out of a desire to protect their identities, not out of revenge for his father's death. He also viewed Meero as a monster.^[9]

Wilmon had tan skin, brown eyes, and curly black hair. While living on Ferrix, he was clean-shaven;^[3] in 4 BBY, he sported faint facial hair on his upper lip and chin;^[11] and during his and Cassian's mission to Ghorman, he had stubble along his entire jawline.^[29]

Skills and abilities

Wilmon was capable of constructing an improvised explosive device using the equipment within the Repaak Salyard.^[7] He was able to identify a ship as Imperial from a great distance and also worked on a farm and helped repair an irrigation tower while living on Mina-Rau.^[11] In 3 BBY, Wilmon was capable of performing all eight variations on a rhydonium fuel pipe siphon,^[23] performing one of them successfully on a mission with Gerrera and the Partisans.^[8]

Equipment

Attire

While working for his dad, Wilmon wore a green long-sleeved shirt with white stripes down the arms and a hood, brown pants, and black boots.^[3] After the arrest of Salman Paak, he wore his father's old green coat.^[7] While sleeping on Mina-Rau, the boy wore a brown-green button-up shirt and baggy, brown pants. While assisting Caleen with the irrigation tower, he wore an off-white shirt with a blue, long-sleeve, button-up overshirt, light-gray pants, a brown belt, a tool pouch, and brown boots.^[11] While packing to leave for the Eight Hundred Block, he donned a blue vest with mustard sections along the upper back and shoulders and down the front of the torso.^[22] On D'Qar, Wilmon sported a baggy, yellow, long-sleeve top and pants of the same design, with a red and black vest and gray undershirt.^[23] On Yavin 4, the man wore brown pants; a dark brown belt; gray boots; a blue, gray, and brown hooded jacket with a yellow interior; a yellow shirt; and a small brown scarf.^[9] While sitting with Dreena at the Ghorman Front headquarters, he wore a green-gray tank and brown pants with straps hanging down the sides. While preparing for the demonstration in the plaza, he sported a red, long-sleeve jacket over a gray shirt and light brown pants with a brown belt, and he wore a long mustard coat over the outfit when attending the demonstration.^[29]

Weapons and tools

During the funeral procession on Rix Road, Wilmon was armed with the explosive he had assembled in his father's shop.^[7] He owned a red and yellow upright speeder on Mina-Rau and also carried a blaster pistol.^[22] He delivered a rhydonium fuel pipe siphon to Gerrera and his Partisans on D'Qar,^[23] and while using it on a mission, he wore a mask to and goggles to protect himself from the fumes from the rhydonium.^[8] When visiting Cassian and Caleen on Yavin 4, Wilmon carried a large blue backpack with a datapad inside. He also carried a blaster pistol in a blue and gray holster.^[9] While working with Cassian and the Ghorman Front, Wilmon utilized a small comm unit worn on his right ear.^[29]

Behind the scenes

Wilmon Paak first appeared in "Kassa," the debut episode of Andor. He is portrayed by Muhannad Bhaier.^[3]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Andor — "Kassa" (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Andor — "That Would Be Me"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Reckoning"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Narkina 5"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Rix Road"
• Star Wars: Andor — "One Year Later"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Sagrona Teema"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Harvest"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Ever Been to Ghorman?"
• Star Wars: Andor — "I Have Friends Everywhere"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Messenger"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Who Are You?"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Welcome to the Rebellion"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Who Else Knows?"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Jedha, Kyber, Erso"

Sources

• Andor | Teaser Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com) (First pictured)
• Andor | Official Trailer | Disney+ (2:25) on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Timeline | Andor | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look
• Andor | Official Trailer | Disney+ (1:30) on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Inside Look of Episodes 1-3 | Andor | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• "Kassa" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Rix Road" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Andor Analyzed: 7 Highlights from Episode 12, "Rix Road" on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Star Wars: Andor Season One Companion" — Star Wars Insider 217
• Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 1 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Joplin Sibtain and Muhannad Bhaier from Andor | Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• Andor Season 2 — Celebration Europe exclusive trailer
• Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide
• Coming in 2025 | Disney+ on the official Disney+ YouTube channel (backup link)
• Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
• Secrets from the Set of Andor Season 2: Week 1 Trivia on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Making a Revolutionary: Inside Andor Season Two with Tony Gilroy on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Figures of Speech: Andor's Monologues on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Andor Season 2 Companion" — Star Wars Insider 233
• "Jedi Master's Quiz" — Star Wars Insider 234
• Pluti in the Databank (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
• Salman Paak in the Databank (backup link)
• Talia in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)
• Wilmon Paak in the Databank (backup link)

Notes and references