Kata Akuna

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Kata Akuna was a human female who was the daughter of Bode and Tayala Akuna.^[1]

Biography

They lived happily on the Inner Rim world of Birren. One day, Kata was out with Bode when they received a comm message from Tayala saying to flee with Kata because the Inquisitorius had found them. Bode took Kata to the Nova Garon system and struck a deal with an ISB commander and chief supervisor named Lank Denvik, his former handler in Republic Intelligence. Bode was to act on behalf of Denvik in order to keep Kata safe from the Inquisitorius. One such mission required Bode to gain the trust of Jedi Knight Cal Kestis in order to infiltrate the anti-Imperial operations of Saw Gerrera. While with Kestis, Bode learned of a hidden planet called Tanalorr, which the Empire was unaware of due to it being blocked by the Koboh Abyss.^[1]

While her father served Commander Denvik, Kata remained in the officers' quarters on the ISB station, spending significant time alone with her doll Mookie. She quickly developed a hatred for the base while living there.^[1]

Bode eventually betrayed Kestis, and stole from him a compass which served as the last remaining key to navigate the Koboh Abyss and reach Tanalorr. With Kestis in pursuit, Bode fled back to Nova Garon to fetch Kata. As her father implemented a plan to betray Denvik to the Inquisitorius and erase any record of him or Kata, the girl met Kestis, who had infiltrated the base. Kestis attempted to win the child's trust by helping Kata find Mookie who had been lost in the living quarters. Bode managed to distract Kestis and buy time for him and Kata to escape the ISB station.^[1]

When they got to Tanalorr, Kata very quickly realized she did not like the planet because it was dark and lonely. Kestis and his crewmate Merrin managed to get to the planet where they found Kata sitting alone and singing the lullaby Ghost Star outside of the planet's Jedi Temple. The pair told her that her dad had stolen something important and that they were there to retrieve it from him. Kata tried to convince her father to relent and allow others pursued by the Empire to seek refuge on Tanalorr, but he was so consumed in his rage and fear that he Force pushed Kata, hurting her. Kestis and Merrin fought Bode for access to the planet but gave him opportunities to yield, which he violently denied. After her father was killed by Cal, Kata joined the Mantis crew. Kata mourned her father's death in a traditional Jedi funeral on Tanalorr, placing Mookie on the pyre to burn.^[1]

Upon later settling on Koboh, Kata took an interest in gardening, especially pruning, under the guidance of Pili Walde and with the encouragement of Greez Dritus. While on the planet, Greez also promised to teach her how to cook, noting she eats like a starving rancor. Dritus told her that he would make Greasy Greez-loaf for her and, if she did not like his dish, joked that he would gift her the Mantis.^[1]

Kata took an immediate liking to Koboh as it was much different from where she used to live. She thought it to be far more colorful of a planet and the air smelt much nicer also. When the Mantis travelled to Coruscant, she took the opportunity to absorb the lights and city sounds of the planet as she had never seen a city as big before. While travelling with the crew, she realized the galaxy seemed bigger and scarier to her than it had done before.^[1]

Personality and traits

In spite of her turbulent early years, Kata was a caring and trusting child. She missed her mother greatly and loved her father despite his constant absence. Her favorite music was Trandoshan funk. Kata also had a large appetite as Greez commented that she “eats like a starving Rancor, and her favorite foods were Mygeeto casserole and blue puff cubes.^[1]

Upon joining the Mantis crew, she quickly settled into her new life and family. She decided that she wanted to be a botanist when she was older thanks to Pili's guidance, but equally considered becoming a pilot or chef due to Dritus' influence. She was not afraid of Merrin and asked the Nightsister to teach her how to dance, and also how to fight in case she was alone. Merrin agreed and joked that Kata must then teach Dritus what she learned. She found Merrin and Dritus's bickering humorous but always knew they were good friends. Kata also picked up on Merrin's fondness for Kestis.^[1]

Behind the scenes

Kata Akuna first appeared in the 2023. video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which was developed by Respawn Entertainment. In the game she was portrayed and voiced by Tajinae Turner.^[1]

Appearances

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (First appearance)

Sources

• The Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Team Drills Down Into Cal Kestis' Story on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Art of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy

Notes and references