R2-D2

"An extremely well put-together little droid."

- Panaka

R2-D2, pronounced Artoo-Detoo and often referred to as Artoo, was an R2 series astromech droid. Along with his counterpart, the protocol droid C-3PO, R2-D2 constantly found himself directly involved in pivotal moments of galactic history. Resourceful and spunky, the droid developed an adventurous personality during his many decades of operation. His bravery, coupled with his many gadgets, played large roles in saving the galaxy time and time again.

During the final years of the Galactic Republic, R2-D2 was stationed aboard Queen Padmé Amidala's J-type 327 Nubian Naboo Royal Starship when the Trade Federation blockaded the planet. His maintenance work on the ship's hull while it was under fire that allowed the queen and her crew to bypass the blockade and flee the besieged world. R2-D2 was then recognized before the queen for his work in ensuring the ship's safety.

Afterwards, R2-D2 directly served the queen, playing a decisive role in liberating Naboo and remaining with Amidala for another ten years, even as she transitioned to the role of senator eight years later. When attempts on her life were made and the Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker was assigned to protect her, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied the two to Geonosis and participated in a battle that started the Clone Wars, a galaxy-wide conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Amidala gave R2-D2 to Skywalker when he became a Jedi Knight, and the astromech droid faithfully served him throughout the war, often flying in the droid socket of Skywalker's starfighter or fighting next to him on the front lines.

The war was in fact orchestrated by the Republic's Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, who was secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, and who brought the conflict to an end three years in, taking Skywalker as his Sith apprentice, wiping out the Jedi, and reorganizing the Republic into a Galactic Empire. In the aftermath of the war, R2-D2 and C-3PO were assigned to the Alderaan cruiser Tantive IV, where they served senator Bail Organa for nineteen years.

It was then they became embroiled in the Galactic Civil War, and Princess Leia Organa of the Rebel Alliance entrusted R2-D2 to bring a copy of the Death Star plans to the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine. After meeting Skywalker's son Luke and the smuggler Han Solo, the droids helped rescue Leia from the Empire's Death Star and became directly attached to the three Humans, helping them and their rebellion defeat the Empire and restore freedom to the galaxy.

R2-D2 would also assist Luke in his training as the galaxy's last Jedi Knight, serving in his X-wing's droid socket, just as he did for his father.

Invasion of Naboo
R2-D2 was one of several astromech droids stationed on Queen Amidala's Naboo Royal Starship during the invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation. The ship was used by Queen Amidala and her entourage in an attempt to escape the planet. Unluckily for the ship's passengers, the vessel took a hit to the shield generator from a Trade Federation battleship. The astromechs were sent out to repair the ship but only R2-D2 survived to bring the shields online, allowing pilot Ric Olié to escape into hyperspace.

As the ship traveled to Tatooine, R2-D2 was taken before Sabé, the Queen's decoy in the guise of Amidala, where he was commended for his actions.

The ship landed on Tatooine without any further incidents, although the voyage fried the hyperdrive. R2-D2 accompanied Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Gungan exile Jar Jar Binks and Padmé, the queen in disguise, to the city of Mos Espa to find a replacement. In the junk shop of the Toydarian merchant Watto they found they could not afford a replacement hyperdrive and later took shelter from a sandstorm in the home of Watto's slaves, a boy named Anakin Skywalker, and his mother, Shmi.

At the Skywalker home, R2-D2 met C-3PO, a protocol droid that Anakin had built. The two would bond as they worked on Anakin's personal podracer. R2-D2 and C-3PO would cheer on Anakin during the Boonta Eve Classic, where the boy would win his freedom, and enough money to buy a new hyperdrive.

R2-D2 accompanied the group to Coruscant, and from there back to Naboo. As Queen Amidala led an attempt to liberate the planet, R2-D2 nestled into an N-1 starfighter. Anakin, being ordered to hide in the cockpit by Qui-Gon Jinn, accidentally launched the fighter and the two flew into battle, destroyed the Droid Control Ship and shut down the droid armies, liberating Naboo.

Genesis of the Clone Wars
R2-D2 accompanied Amidala to Coruscant prior to the senate's vote on the Military Creation Act. After an assassination attempt on Amidala took the life of her handmaiden and decoy, Corde, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were assigned to be her Jedi protectors. That night, another assassination attempt was carried out. A pair of kouhuns narrowly missed killing Amidala and although one assassin, Zam Wesell, was neutralized, another escaped.

For her own protection, Padmé was sent home to Naboo, with R2-D2 and Anakin Skywalker accompanying her. The three would later travel to Tatooine, where they were reunited with C-3PO, and then to Geonosis to rescue Kenobi.

As they explored a massive droid factory, R2-D2 had to save Amidala from being covered with molten lava and C-3PO temporarily switched heads with a battle droid. R2 was able to restore his companion during the Battle of Geonosis.

After the battle, R2-D2 and C-3PO were the sole witnesses to the marriage of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala in Lake Country.

Revenge of the Sith
When Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine was captured by General Grievous, R2-D2 accompanied Anakin Skywalker on a mission to rescue him. While Skywalker and Kenobi searched the Invisible Hand for the Chancellor, R2-D2 fended off Super Battle Droids. Although Count Dooku was defeated by Skywalker, Grievous, and R2, the two Jedi, and Palpatine forced a the Invisible Hand to land on Coruscant.

After Anakin fell to the dark side and became Darth Vader, R2 accompanied him to Mustafar as he wiped out the Separatist leaders and later witnessed his master strangle Padmé and begin to duel Obi-Wan Kenobi. R2-D2 and C-3PO moved Padmé to her starship, and Obi-Wan took them all to Polis Massa where Padmé gave birth to twin children before dying. R2 and 3PO passed into the service of Bail Organa of the Royal House of Alderaan, 3PO undergoing a memory wipe, but R2-D2's memory staying intact.

A brush with rebels
While accompanying C-3PO on a mission for the Empire, he and C-3PO got swept up in a plot by the Rebel crew of the Ghost. In the mix up they ended up with the Rebels and went with them to the planet Lothal. After Agent Kallus arrived R2 had the idea to destroy the disruptors by overloading them and buying the crew time. After returning to his master R2 showed Bail Organa his recording of his time with them.

Weapons Factory Alpha
"We aren't here to negotiate. Artoo..." "Your droid appears to be leaking fluids" "um...Artoo?"

- Han Solo and Aggadeen

Several weeks after the Battle of Yavin, R2 took part in the Rebel Assault on Cymoon 1. Cymoon 1 was a moon in the Corellian Industrial Cluster, that housed the largest weapons factory in the galaxy&mdash;Weapons Factory Alpha. The factory was also the main target of the assault. R2, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo boarded a shuttle that had been intercepted by the Rebel Fleet several days earlier. The shuttle was sent from the Crime lord Jabba the Hutt, and had housed an envoy that was to negotiate with the Empire. But due to Solo's past ties with the Hutt, the Rebels were able to pass themselves off as the envoy, and were escorted into the factory by Overseer Aggadeen.



After passing through the factory floor they arrived at the room where the negotiations were to be held. The Overseer invited them in to await the negotiator, but Han revealed that they weren't there to negotiate and gave R2 the signal. R2 began pouring a green liquid onto the floor, he then he electrocuted the fluid with his electric pike. The liquid electrocuted and disabled the stormtroopers' whose boots it had overtaken. Luke, Han and Leia then finished off the remaining troopers. Han asked Aggadeen where the main power core was, but the proud Imperial officer refused to answer&mdash;until R2 threatened to electrocute him too. Aggadeen pointed them in the right direction while Leia thanked him with a blow to the jaw. They arrived at the power core, where R2 plugged into the main computer and shut off all the safety restraints. Soon they had rigged the core to blow up in ten minutes time. Han noticed that Luke was missing, but a minute later he arrived with more passengers&mdash;slaves of the Empire. The team prepared to retreat while C-3PO, who was waiting with the Millennium Falcon in the huge refuse fields that surrounded the factory, brought the Falcon in to pick them up for their escape. Chewbacca, who was stationed on a large metal structure overlooking the landing platform where they had originally entered, reported that Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, had arrived. Leia ordered the wookiee to kill Vader using his bowcaster. The wookiee tried but was thwarted by the dark lord. Chewbacca was out of contact, the entire moon was on alert and 3PO still hadn't arrived. Soon 3PO informed the team via comlink that the old freighter was being dismantled by native scavengers, and as such the Falcon's autopilot was out of order Han realized their escape had been foiled and led the team&mdash;with slaves in tow, to a large warehouse that housed several newly minted All Terrain Armored Transports Walkers. Han ordered everyone on board, they were going to walk right out of the factory. Han, Leia, and several slaves boarded the walker. Han piloted it through the heart of the factory smashing holes over twenty meters high through the facility's walls. Luke reapppeared after confronting Vader and bid the slaves to follow him as he followed Han in the AT-AT. Meanwhile R2 and his former enemies, the Jawas, began rewiring the walker's laser cannons to get them operational. Han was arguing about their chances of death with Vader on their tail; Han asked the astromech on their progress. R2 replied but Han did not understand the droid language of Binary. Han believed R2 and the Jawas would get the cannons working&mdash;they just needed to give them the time. A short time later, Han attempted to step on Darth Vader with the AT-AT's massive feet. Vader used the Dark Side of the Force to hold the walker's foot several meters above himself and the ground&mdash;Han couldn't believe it. Vader began to crush the armored transport using the force, Han told R2 "We need those guns!" R2 spoke in his customary beeps and clicks; which Leia translated to "Fire!" The AT-AT opened fire on the Sith Lord and the factory walls as Han drove out of the facility. Leia was so happy she wanted to kiss the little droid&mdash;much to Han's annoyance.



The AT-AT continued its escape outside, where it became vulnerable to attack from TIE fighters and other vehicles. Han and Leia realized that it had been to long&mdash;the factory should have melted down and exploded before this time. Chewbacca survived Vader's attack and returned to the Falcon and was preparing to bring it in and extract the team. Although Vader was right beneath the walker, using his lightsaber to cut through the back left leg of the AT-AT. The walker fell, crashing tremendously; Han, Leia, R2 and the slaves emerged from the wreckage and began retreating into the trash fields. Luke, mounted on a 74-Z speeder bike, returned to the factory and fired upon the core reactor&mdash;causing the facility to explode. While Vader and the Imperials were distracted Chewbacca swooped in with Han's Falcon and everyone boarded the freighter. Leia took over the controls as Han was mildly injured and unable ti pilot. Chewbacca repaired the hyperdrive and they fled to lightspeed. The now free slaves rejoiced while R2 went to work repairing 3PO who had been blasted into pieces by the scavengers.

To Tatooine with Luke
"Beedo Beedo Wwhmpp" "What? What is it? You find something? What's it... Wait... Does that say 'For Luke'?"

- Artoo and Luke, just before the flash grenade went off Later, the Millennium Falcon and its passengers rendezvoused with the Rebel Fleet on the edge of the galaxy. While the team recovered and was debriefed, Artoo and Threepio argued over whether Artoo had incorrectly assembled Threepio after escaping Darth Vader on Cymoon 1. Soon thereafter, Artoo boarded Luke's T-65 X-wing to leave the Rebel Fleet. Solo and Organa argued against Luke's leaving, but Luke assured them he and Artoo would be safe for he was anonymous to the Empire; and that he needed to find answers on who he really was. At Luke's request, Artoo set course to again go to Tatooine in the Tatoo system.

Soon, Luke and Artoo set down in the Jundland Wastes, and began the trek through the desert to Kenobi's former home. The suns were setting when they neared the hut, while Luke divulged in his reasoning for returning; nearly everything he knew about the Force he had learned from Ben Kenobi, and he believed that he sometimes heard the disembodied voice of the Jedi Master. However, Luke was interrupted when a Tusken Raider appeared and attacked him. Artoo readied his electric pike, but didn't have to use it, because at familiar sight of Luke's lightsaber, they ran. Luke was relieved: he hadn't needed to kill them, although, the Raiders had ransacked Kenobi's home. Artoo went to work with his flashlight to locate anything Kenobi may have left to aid Luke in his journey to learn the Jedi way. While searching, Luke openly wondered why Kenobi had chosen to stay on Tatooine after all he had experienced. Artoo knew it was to protect Luke from the Sith, until he was of age to become a Jedi&mdash;although, following Kenobi's lead, he did not tell the former-farmboy. Just then, a flash grenade tumbled into the room and exploded; temporarily blinding Luke, and short-circuiting Artoo.

While Artoo's systems rebooted, Luke fought Boba Fett, a bounty hunter sent by Darth Vader to capture Luke and bring him to he Dark Lord&mdash;although it was unknown to both Luke and Artoo at the time. Luke used his lightsaber and knocked Fett backwards where he tripped over Artoo. The two combatants, Fett with his Mandalorian armor, and Luke with the Force&mdash;though still blind&mdash;fought, Luke became more bloodied, and Fett more impatient. Artoo soon recovered, got to his "feet," and watched as the box marked "For Luke" floated into the air and flew across the room where it knocked Fett unconscious. Luke wondered aloud how he had done it, before asking Artoo to lead them back to the X-wing, for he was still unable to see. Later, as Tatooine's suns rose over the desert, Luke had recovered enough of his sight to open the box and examine its contents: "The Journals of Ben Kenobi." And they left the desert world.