The Mysterious Survival of Huyang
The Ahsoka Disney+ TV show brought back Huyang, a droid introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars - and it's already possible to deduce how he survived Order 66. Voiced by David Tennant, Huyang was an important figure in the Jedi Order, responsible for training Jedi younglings to build their first lightsabers. According to Star Wars: Timelines, Huyang is almost 25,000 years old, and has served the Jedi since shortly after their inception.
Droid Professor Huyang in Clone Wars
By the time of the Clone Wars, Huyang tended to accompany groups of Jedi younglings to the planet Ilum to collect kyber crystals as part of a sacred religion. Ahsoka has a record of at least 500 years' worth of lightsaber construction, making him the perfect tutor. It was generally assumed that Huyang was targeted by Darth Vader and the clones during Order 66, but Ahsoka revealed this high-priority target - who could help train a new generation of Jedi - had survived.
Huyang Inspects Sabine's Lightsaber (Ezra)
The Star Wars: Force & Destiny sourcebook Savage Spirits revealed there was a branch of Jedi known as the Jedi Exploration Corps (or ExplorCorps). These focused on exploration and archaeological research, and were often out on the Outer Rim. Because they operated far away from the Jedi Temple, many didn't even know about the Clone Wars until well into the conflict. When word got out, many stayed away, thereby escaping Order 66. Despite this, many were still hunted down and killed by the Empire. However, according to Star Wars: Force and Destiny - Savage Spirits, there was a rumor that 'at least one of the ExplorCorps' large research vessels survived the purge and is anchored in an unnamed system in the Unknown Regions.'
The Jedi Exploratory Corps Vessel and Order 66
The Jedi Exploration Corps (or ExplorCorps) were a branch of Jedi focused on exploration and archaeological research, often operating in the Outer Rim. Many of them were unaware of the Clone Wars until well into the conflict and managed to escape Order 66 by staying away. However, despite their distance from the Jedi Temple, many were hunted down and killed by the Empire. Rumors from the Star Wars: Force & Destiny - Savage Spirits sourcebook suggest that at least one of the ExplorCorps' large research vessels survived the purge and is anchored in an unnamed system in the Unknown Regions.
Given the nature of the ExplorCorps' activities, it is entirely possible that Huyang, a droid professor who traveled around training younglings and conducting research, could have been on this vessel. This would explain how he survived even though he had highly valuable knowledge that could help rebuild the Jedi Order. Huyang's association with the ExplorCorps in the Outer Rim and beyond would provide a plausible explanation for his survival during Order 66.
The Meeting of Ahsoka and Huyang in the Unknown Regions
If Huyang was with the ExplorCorps, he and Ahsoka could have run into more Jedi who survived the Jedi Purge. It is possible that the vessel was not Huyang's only refuge, and they may have encountered other Jedi survivors. The presence of Huyang on the vessel could explain Ahsoka's connection to the survivors and her potential involvement in their future endeavors, such as joining the Rebel Alliance or going into hiding.
This intriguing possibility opens up the potential for Ahsoka to feature more Jedi survivors, shedding light on their fates after the Jedi Purge. Whether Huyang took an escape pod or small ship to go off on his own and eventually encountered Ahsoka, or Ahsoka stumbled upon the vessel, their meeting could lead to significant revelations about the surviving members of the Jedi Order.
