R2-D2/Legends

"Artoo is more than a droid. He's a friend."

- Anakin Skywalker

R2-D2, phonetically spelled Artoo-Detoo or Artoo, was an astromech droid and undoubtedly the most famous unit of the R2 series. A longtime friend and counterpart of the protocol droid C-3PO, he served the Skywalker family faithfully for many years. Along with his resourcefulness, R2-D2 was equipped by his original owners, the Royal House of Naboo and the Royal Naboo Starfighter Corps, with many tool-tipped appendages that allowed him to serve as a superior starship mechanic and computer interface specialist. A bold droid in personality and temperament, R2-D2 would often enter dangerous situations without second thought in order to give aid to his masters. This adventurous streak served his companions well on numerous occasions, often turning the tide of galactic history.

Description
"Don't you call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease!"

- C-3PO to R2-D2

R2-D2 was a diminutive droid, standing 0.96 meters tall. He rolled on three legs, one could retract into his body, and had a silver and blue domed head. His white, blue, and silver body housed many arms, sensors, and other apparatuses, many of which were not readily seen by the typical humanoid eye. This often made the droid seem like a box of tricks, unexpectedly pulling out some previously unseen but much needed device at a critical moment.

While R2-D2 contained many specialized gadgets, he was also quite good at taking the initiative and often employed unorthodox means to help his friends.

Known features

 * Booster rockets
 * Cable gun
 * Oil injector
 * Claw arm
 * Fusion cutter
 * Holoprojector / Recorder
 * Periscope
 * Electric pike
 * Propeller
 * Hidden lightsaber compartment with ejector
 * Fire extinguisher / Smoke Screen
 * Small Saw
 * Air Cannon
 * Crashmat
 * Lariat
 * Submarine Mode
 * Collapsible Umbrella
 * Flea Remover
 * Distracter
 * Headdress Detangler
 * Droid Deactivator
 * Computer Interface Arm
 * Charge Arm (electric shock)
 * Life-form Scanner
 * Breakdance Mode
 * Polarity sink
 * Hose
 * Inflatable mattress
 * Media copy / storage disc drive
 * Jukebox
 * Small red "tongue" ribbon
 * "Confetti-creation device"

Blockade of Naboo
"An extremely well-put-together little droid, Your Highness. Without a doubt, it saved the ship, as well as our lives."

- Captain Panaka to Queen Amidala

At the time of the Blockade of Naboo (32 BBY), R2-D2 was in the possession of the Royal Engineers of Naboo. The Royal Engineers were famous for their after-market additions to their R2 units, making them some of the most sought after units in the galaxy. He was commended for playing an important role in the escape of Queen Amidala from the occupied planet, making vital repairs after the queen's starship suffered damage from a Trade Federation battleship. Though the ship's hyperdrive had been damaged, the ship managed to safely make its way to Tatooine for repairs. R2-D2 accompanied Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé and Jar Jar Binks into Mos Espa to look for supplies. It was here that he met C-3PO, his eventual counterpart, and Anakin Skywalker. He helped to make repairs and final adjustments to Anakin's podracer before the Boonta Eve Classic, a race that, when Skywalker won, allowed the group to leave Tatooine. After a brief trip to Coruscant, the group made its way back to Naboo.

"Anakin, turn the ship around and go back home right away.''" "''Go back? Qui-Gon told me to stay in this cockpit, so that's what I'm going to do."

- R2-D2 and Anakin Skywalker while flying into orbit R2-D2 displayed the hologram of Theed Royal Palace as the team was briefed by Padmé in preparation to infiltrate the capital city and reclaim the planet. Once the battle started, the little droid unknowingly boarded the very same N-1 starfighter that Anakin chose to hide in. The pair thus ended up flying into orbit together and destroying the Trade Federation's Droid Control Ship at the Battle of Naboo.

He was present during the celebrations that ensued, where Queen Amidala and Boss Nass celebrated the unification of their cultures.

Post-Battle of Naboo
Not long after the Battle of Naboo, R2-D2, along with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, and Jar Jar Binks, participated in the Gungan colonization of Ohma-D'un.

Clone Wars
"Don't worry. We have Artoo with us."

- Anakin Skywalker to Padmé Amidala as the pair secretly leave Coruscant

Ten years after the Battle of Naboo, near the outbreak of the Clone Wars (22 BBY), R2-D2 was still in the possession of the Naboo, serving the now-Senator Padmé Amidala. After Padmé's life was threatened by assassins on Coruscant's Naboo Embassy landing platform, he was assigned to help guard her against further attacks, being stationed in her Coruscant bedroom as she slept. Turning off the cameras, Amidala put her safety in the hands of R2-D2. Unfortunately, the poisonous kouhuns used by assassin Zam Wesell were able to penetrate the chamber without alerting R2-D2's sensors, though luckily Anakin and Obi-Wan, the Jedi who were assigned to protect Amidala, sensed the danger in time. Some time after this assassination attempt, R2-D2 accompanied Anakin and Padmé to Naboo on a freighter, and then to Tatooine. There, he was reunited with C-3PO, and the two accompanied Anakin and Padmé to Geonosis in an attempt to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Once on Geonosis, R2-D2 ignored the cautions and complaints of C-3PO and followed Anakin and Padmé into a droid factory where all four were caught up in a chase involving Geonosian guards. After pushing C-3PO off a ledge, R2-D2 used his booster rockets to come to Padmé's rescue. R2-D2 managed to avoid capture and entered the Geonosian Arena during the massive battle between the Jedi and the Confederate army. He came to C-3PO's aid, placing the protocol droid's head back on to the correct body.

After the Battle of Geonosis, R2-D2 was present with C-3PO at the wedding of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, and was one of the few who knew of their secret relationship.

During the Clone Wars, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied Padmé, Jedi Master Yoda and Captain Typho to Ilum, to rescue Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee. When Padmé disobeyed Yoda's orders to remain on the ship, believing the Jedi to be in danger, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied her. R2-D2 used his sensors to alert Padmé of a droid assault, and later uncovered Count Dooku's involvement in attacking the Jedi Temple.

Just after Anakin was elevated to the rank of Jedi Knight Padmé presented R2-D2 to Anakin as her devotion gift to her husband. When Anakin reminded her that the Jedi were not allowed to own anything, she replied "I'm asking you to look after him. He’s not really a gift. He's a friend." For the remainder of the Clone Wars, whenever Anakin flew into battle, R2-D2 was right beside him.

R2-D2 was present for many battles with Anakin and Obi-Wan, such as on Christophsis, Teth, and the attack on Malevolence in the Battle of Kaliida Shoals. During this time R2-D2 was called "Artooie" as a pet name, by Anakin's Padawan Ahsoka Tano.

Shortly after a mission to Bothawui, Artoo was lost from Anakin's fighter, and picked up by a Trandoshan junk dealer. Having never had a memory wipe, Artoo had all the Republic plans and strategies still within him, so he had to be found. When Anakin and Ahsoka arrived on his ship to investigate, the Trandoshan discovered Artoo's importance, and so arranged to bring him to General Grievous. On the way, Artoo managed to send a communication to Anakin, before being discovered by the junk dealer. Upon arrival to the Separatist listening post Skytop Station, Grievous began probing Artoo's memory banks, and only a timely arrival by Anakin, Ahsoka, and Captain Rex saved him. As Artoo attempted to help his master escape, he was attacked by Anakin's replacement astromech, R3-S6, revealed to be a Separatist spy. The duel ended when Artoo burned off R3's attachment cable, causing the replacement droid to be smashed into debris and destroyed. Artoo then returned to Anakin. Artoo later played a part in helping Anakin and Obi-Wan escape from the planet Iego, which kept it's inhabitants from leaving because of an energy field installed by the Separatists, and was present in the Battle of Ryloth.

"Yeah! You got him!''" "''Great, Artoo!"

- Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Battle of Coruscant

R2-D2 served Anakin as his astromech in the Battle of Coruscant, where he played a role in the rescue of Chancellor Palpatine. He almost single-handedly destroyed a buzz droid, and, on the Invisible Hand, R2-D2 was responsible for operating the elevators, allowing Anakin and Obi-Wan to reach the observation tower of General Grievous's command ship where the Supreme Chancellor was being held captive. After cleverly defeating a pair of pushy super battle droids by squirting them with oil and then igniting it with his jet boosters, as well as avoiding being crushed by the Jedi's starfighters when the command ship lost gravitational control, R2-D2 was captured along with the Jedi and the Chancellor. However, by creating a distraction, he provided the two Jedi a means by which they could retrieve their lightsabers and take over the ship's cockpit. R2-D2 then helped Anakin crash-land the ship safely.

What followed was a brief respite, wherein R2-D2 was witness to a number of conversations between Padmé, Anakin and Obi-Wan, all of which he recorded and were eventually seen by Anakin and Padmé's offspring, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa during the Swarm War. Recordings, in which R2-D2 tried to hide as he claimed he was trying to protect them.

Once Anakin crossed over to the dark side of the Force, becoming the apprentice of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, R2-D2 tried unsuccessfully to inform C-3PO of Anakin's involvement in the siege of the Jedi Temple. However, the protocol droid chose instead to listen to the conversation between Anakin and Padmé, and R2-D2 was very soon on his way with the reformed Anakin to Mustafar. Told to stay with the Jedi Interceptor, R2-D2 did not witness Anakin's slaughter of the Separatist Council but met C-3PO at the landing platform on which Padmé had landed her Naboo Skiff. As Obi-Wan fought with Anakin above the lava banks of Mustafar, R2-D2 helped C-3PO to move a fallen Padmé into the ship, and try to stabilize her condition. Once Obi-Wan had returned, piloting the ship to Polis Massa, R2-D2 witnessed the births of Luke and Leia as well as the tragic death of Padmé on the operating table. Without masters, both R2-D2 and C-3PO came into the possession of Padmé's colleague Bail Organa. Organa then handed them over to the charge Captain Raymus Antilles for service on the Tantive IV. Bail ordered that C-3PO's memory be wiped, but, for an unknown reason, allowed for R2-D2's memory to be maintained. Perhaps Senator Organa felt that it would be impossible for R2-D2 to communicate any of his information, or maybe even doubted the amount of information an astromech droid could possibly have regarding Anakin and Padmé Skywalker. Whatever his motives or beliefs, Organa's decision paved the way for Luke and Leia's eventual discovery of their mother's identity.

Early Imperial Era
R2-D2's servitude on the Tantive IV did not last long, though. Chief Petty Officer Corla Metonae supervised a drill involving the launching of the ship's escape pods. During the exercise, the Tantive IV was attacked by a pirate group from the Karthakk system, and forced to flee without recovering its jettisoned pods. It was soon discovered that R2-D2 and C-3PO were aboard one of the abandoned pods. Bail Organa placed high priority on retrieving the droids.

Following this alarming event, R2-D2 and his counterpart C-3PO began being traded around by various owners. During this time, many of R2-D2's peripherals were removed and replaced with miscellaneous accessories such as laser pointers and underwater propellers. They found themselves traveling the galaxy serving a series of different masters, such as Ambassador Zell of Majoor. One owner, a glitterstim smuggler, left the droids on Ingo. It was there that they were owned by Thall Joben and Jord Dusat. This got them involved in a speeder race against none other than bounty hunter Boba Fett. After that, the two helped Jann Tosh and Mon Julpa restore the Tammuz-an monarchy. Later, Tosh, on his way to enroll in the Imperial Academy, left the droids on Manda. It was there that they got jobs at a hotel. From there they went to Biitu and were involved with the Great Heep. Mungo Baobab saved them from the Heep and took the droids back to Manda. Later, on Roon, Baobab found some Roonstones which C-3PO told him were etched with the ancient poem Dha Werda Verda. But when the droids went with Mungo to the Baobab Archives, they were separated from him and sold to a used technological goods trafficker.

When another owner, Governor Wena, put the droids up for auction, they ended up going to Hosk Station. Between there and Kalarba, the droids had a number of adventures with Nak Pitareeze and his family, Olag Greck, and Jace Forno. R2-D2 and C-3PO later went with a police droid named Unit Zed to Nar Shaddaa, where Jace Forno blasted off C-3PO's right leg below the knee. However, the replacement leg that he got actually contained secret programming that overrode his regular personality. The new C-3PO led a droid rebellion against Boonda the Hutt. However, his original programming was later restored when R2-D2 replaced his leg. After that, the two droids were owned by an Ithorian botanist named Zorneth and then a diplomat, Councelor Harthan.

Some other masters of the droids during this time included Stigrit Krax, Larka Nimondro, Lott Kemp, Jost Ellon, Vik Idd and Nikki Idd, King Gokus, Van P. Quist, and Prince Jagoda. After all their many adventures, the droids finally returned to the Tantive IV.

In 2 BBY, R2-D2 accompanied Leia to Kashyyyk, where officially, she was serving as a Senatorial observer to the skyhook's construction, but unofficially, it was to keep Bail from speaking out against the Empire. The two had been collecting data on the mechanism and resolved to find a way to destroy it. When Galen Marek came to Kashyyyk, Leia refused to leave until the skyhook was destroyed, which Marek had to agree to. Leia and R2-D2 then left the planet.

Galactic Civil War
"Artoo, why did you have to be so brave?"

- C-3PO, after R2-D2 was shot while trying to open the bunker doors during the Battle of Endor

The growth of the nascent Rebellion gave R2-D2 a great deal of scope for his slicing skills, serving under Antilles on the Tantive IV and Sundered Heart. Much of the technical data used by the Rebellion was stolen by R2-D2 from Imperial networks, including the earliest information the Rebels received about the existence of the Death Star.

In 0 BBY, both R2-D2 and C-3PO were back aboard the Tantive IV, which was on a secret mission to obtain the plans for a new battle station, the Death Star, when it came under attack by the Devastator, Darth Vader's Star Destroyer. Leia Organa, then the owner of the Tantive IV (having been given it by her adopted father), stored the Death Star I plans in R2-D2 and recorded a distress message on him. R2-D2 then jettisoned in an escape pod, along with a confused C-3PO, on a new mission to find Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"You watch your language!"

- C-3PO

Once the escape pod had landed on Tatooine, R2-D2 and C-3PO were captured by Jawas and then purchased by Owen Lars and fitted with a restraining bolt. While cleaning the droids for his uncle, Luke Skywalker discovered part of princess Leia's secret message to Obi-Wan Kenobi. R2-D2 conveyed to the intrigued Luke that if he wished to see the entire message, the restraining bolt the droid had been fitted with earlier would have to be removed. Luke, eager to see the rest of the message, removed the restraining bolt. R2-D2 promptly reneged on his promise and refused to show his new master the entire message. He did, however, succeed in having the restraining bolt removed, a fact that Luke did not seem particularly worried about, perhaps underestimating the little droid's determination and commitment to his mission. Luke later told his uncle of the experience, who ordered him to have the new droids' memories wiped. Before this could be done, however, R2-D2 escaped into the desert to seek out Obi-Wan. He was followed by Luke and C-3PO, who managed to catch up with him, but were then attacked by Tusken Raiders. R2-D2 hid in a small cave as Obi-Wan Kenobi came to C-3PO and Luke's rescue. Once in Obi-Wan's small hut, R2-D2 was finally able to play Leia's message to the correct recipient. Obi-Wan decided to follow her orders and take R2-D2 to Alderaan. After coping with the deaths of Luke's aunt and uncle, the group found transport in Mos Eisley; a young smuggler named Han Solo agreed to transport them to Alderaan in his ship, the Millennium Falcon. When they arrived where Alderaan should have been, it was no longer there, having been blown away by the Death Star.

The Millennium Falcon was then captured by the Death Star I, which was still in the system. Evading stormtrooper inspections of the ship, this allowed the group the chance to rescue the Alderaanian Princess Leia Organa. As the Wookiee Chewbacca and the three Humans went searching for the Princess' cell and the tractor beam controls, R2-D2 and C-3PO took position in a communications room. Once discovered, the pair pretended to be Imperial droids, and managed to communicate with the group in time for R2-D2 to rescue them from a trash compactor. After escaping from the Death Star I, at the cost of Obi-Wan's life, R2-D2 was finally delivered to the Rebel Alliance on Yavin 4, bringing the Death Star I plans with him and allowing the Alliance to defend themselves against the battle station. R2-D2 then acted as Luke's astromech during the attack on the station. He was severely damaged during the battle, ironically enough by his former friend and owner Darth Vader, but Rebel mechanics were able to restore him.

R2-D2 remained in the service of the Heroes of Yavin. When the Rebel Alliance established Echo Base on the icy planet of Hoth, he used his sensors to attempt to locate Luke when he failed to return from a scouting mission. Soon after Luke healed from his wampa attack, Echo Base suffered a mass coordinated attack by several of the ice creatures. R2-D2 himself narrowly escaped a wampa attack. During the fracas, R2-D2 and C-3PO were instrumental in helping the base's defenders discover a way to capture the creatures. They informed Major Bren Derlin, head of security at the base, that the high-shrilled beeping of astromech droids drove the wampas into berserker rages. Most of the wampas attacking from outside the base were driven off, but many still remained hiding within the base. Recordings of astromech droids were used to force out the remaining wampas from their dark crevasses so they could be stunned and captured. When the Empire attacked Hoth, R2-D2 was readied in Luke's X-wing fighter while Luke flew a snowspeeder in the Battle of Hoth. He thus did not board the Millennium Falcon with his usual companion, C-3PO, when it left the planet.

When Luke returned to Echo Base following the destruction of its shield generators, he took R2-D2 to Dagobah. After Luke's crash-landing in the planet's swamps, R2-D2 became the potential meal of a Dragonsnake when he fell from the X-wing's hull. However, the beast found him inedible, and spat him into the jungle. R2-D2 was present during all of Luke's Jedi training from the Jedi Master Yoda on Dagobah, and was often levitated by Luke along with stones and other inanimate objects. The droid stayed with Luke as he flew to Cloud City. After being separated from his master in the city, he was spotted by C-3PO, who was in a disassembled state and tied to Chewbacca's back. When Chewbacca, Leia, Lando and the droids escaped to the Falcon, R2-D2 helped to repair a heavily damaged C-3PO. He also played a part in the escape from Cloud City, slicing computer systems, providing smoke screen, and fixing the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive at the last minute, having learned it from the city's computer, facilitating escape from the Empire.

C-3PO later complained about his leg, and said that he had an unnatural urge to kick himself all the time. But R2-D2 stated that 'there was nothing unnatural about that'.

As part of his plan to rescue a carbonite-frozen Han Solo from the clutches of the gangster Jabba the Hutt, Luke sent R2-D2 and C-3PO to Jabba's Palace on Tatooine. After receiving an audience with Jabba, R2-D2 displayed a holographic image of Luke Skywalker, who greeted the notorious gangster, and offered the droids as gifts to the avaricious Hutt. The news came as a surprise to C-3PO, but R2-D2 had been aware of the impending offer for some time.

"You're a feisty little one, but you'll soon learn some respect."

- EV-9D9 to R2-D2

The droid EV-9D9 put R2-D2 to work serving drinks on Jabba's sail barge. He did not see C-3PO again until Jabba brought his court to the Great Pit of Carkoon to witness the execution of his prisoners, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. C-3PO was unaware that R2-D2 had smuggled Luke's newly constructed lightsaber into the palace, which he launched into the air, allowing Luke to catch it with the aid of the Force. This allowed Luke, Han, and Chewbacca to avoid being fed to the Sarlacc, and stirred up confusion in the sail barge, which in turn allowed Leia to kill the Hutt.

R2-D2 later joined the Rebel strike team on Endor, where he helped to bring down the deflector shield so the fleet could destroy the new Death Star. While on Endor, he befriended the Ewok Wicket W. Warrick. During the Battle of Endor, he was hit by the laser blast of an Imperial stormtrooper while attempting to override a door-locking mechanism, and was severely damaged. He was soon repaired, however, and joined in the celebrations that took place that evening in Bright Tree Village.

Post-Endor
After the victory at the Battle of Endor, R2-D2 continued to serve the New Republic as Luke Skywalker's droid. He was often separated from Luke, however, whether having adventures with Han, Leia, or others. He continued to serve in Luke's X-wing well into the New Republic era. In 9 ABY, R2-D2 flew with Luke during several battles of the Thrawn campaign, and accompanied Luke, Han, Lando, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and Mara Jade to Wayland in their quest to destroy the Empire's store of Spaarti cloning cylinders.

During the reborn Emperor Palpatine's campaign one year later, R2-D2 aided the New Republic on numerous occasions, including the defeat of a World Devastator attack on Mon Calamari and the destruction of the Emperor's remaining two superweapons: the Galaxy Gun and the Eclipse II.

Life at the Jedi Academy
In 11 ABY, R2-D2 and C-3PO aided Luke in searching for potential Jedi trainees for his New Order. Surfing through a multitude of data, the two found several candidates. Later, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied Lando Calrissian to the planet Umgul to search for the hopeful. The trio did not recruit the so-called "Jedi hopeful," due to the revelation that the man was not using Jedi powers to win major blob races but instead cheating his way to victory. R2-D2 and company managed to convince him to reunite with his wife, rather than suffer the death penalty.

A year after Luke's academy was established, R2-D2 journeyed to the planet Belsavis with Han and Leia. He was influenced by the dark side adept Irek Ismaren, who had learned the ability of droid-control through the Force. Under Ismaren's influence, R2-D2 planted explosives in a cupboard of the room where the Solos were staying. This action nearly destroyed the three; however, a well-aimed blaster bolt from Han Solo deactivated the droid. Chewbacca had to repair the damaged droid, which left his systems in a different configuration; this restricted Ismaren from controlling R2-D2 again.

In 13 ABY, R2-D2 and C-3PO were stranded on the planet Nim Drovis. Following many attempts to find passage off the planet, the duo was intercepted by Admiral Daala, who reunited them with Han Solo.

Black Fleet Crisis
Three years later, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied Lando Calrissian on a New Republic Intelligence mission to investigate the Teljkon Vagabond, a mysterious vessel that always seemed to disappear into hyperspace when any other ship came too close. Without the permission of the mission's commanding officer, Colonel Pakkpekatt, Lando, his former aide Lobot, and the droids infiltrated the Vagabond, and were able to get onboard. While still on the ship, the mission was scrapped, due to the increasing tensions between the New Republic and the Duskhan League. Pakkpekatt convinced New Republic Admiral Hiram Drayson to allow him and a small crew to follow the Vagabond in Lando's personal Yacht, the Lady Luck. During the entire Black Fleet Crisis, Lando, Lobot, and the droids were aboard the Vagabond, discovering the ship's mysteries. After the ship returned to the planet Brath Qella, Pakkpekatt, with the aid of Luke Skywalker, rescued the four from the ship.



In 17 ABY, during the Kueller crisis, R2-D2 and C-3PO, along with a young mechanic named Cole Fardreamer, independently investigated the source of the recent bombing of the Senate Hall. While they were investigating, R2-D2 and C-3PO were briefly held by mechanics while attempting to check on Luke's X-wing. Trails of clues led them to the planet Telti and its droid-construction facilities, where the Dark Jedi Kueller had been producing droids equipped with remote bombs. When they got there, R2-D2 was sent off to investe the place while Cole distracted the Dark Jedi. While doing that he was chased by the plant guards and while being chased discovered thousands of droids being held and helped release them and overwhelm the plants guards. The three then managed to shut down the facility, which was instrumental in foiling Kueller's plot.

Two years later, during the Caamas Document/Hand of Thrawn crisis, R2-D2 accompanied Luke to the planet of Nirauan. While Luke and Mara confronted the Empire of the Hand, R2-D2 managed to download a copy of the elusive Caamas Document from the Hand's computers. With a copy of the document finally in their hands, the New Republic were able to assuage anti-Bothan sentiments throughout the galaxy, and avert a war that the Empire, under Moff Disra's leadership, had been secretly and subtly fueling.

R2-D2 would continue to serve his Master Luke Skywalker at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. He would accompany Jedi trainees Anakin Solo and Tahiri Veila during their discovery of the Golden Globe in the Palace of the Woolamander. R2-D2 also accompanied them on their trip to Dagobah and would later play a role in the trip to Exis Station and the defeat of Orloc.

Yuuzhan Vong War
During the Battle of Borleias, when Han and Leia were arrested on Aphran for setting up resistance cells, he and C-3PO staged a daring rescue attempt. R2-D2 sliced into the prison's computer and changed the images of the Solo's weapons into the image of several foodstuffs. C-3PO then was able to arm the Solos by giving them a last meal. R2-D2 saw plenty of battles during the war, serving on the starfighters of both Luke Skywalker and Jaina Solo.

Dark Nest Crisis


In 35 ABY, when Luke was fixing R2-D2, the Jedi encountered a recording of his father and mother discussing a dream of Anakin's in which his mother had died in childbirth, and another recording of Padmé talking to Obi-Wan Kenobi about Anakin. The recordings, however, were apparently encoded, probably by Alderaanian technicians. R2-D2 himself refused to show Luke or Leia the recordings and insisted he was trying to protect them. The only way to remove the recordings safely was to either find the original designers of the unit, a prototype, or erase R2-D2's memory, an idea only C-3PO seemed to take seriously. Because the recordings hadn't been removed, R2-D2 began to malfunction. By 36 ABY, a year after the first recording was shown, R2-D2 seemed to be functioning again, though he remained unwilling to show the recordings. It wasn't until the Swarm War, when Luke needed to see it to help him in his fight against Lomi Plo, that R2-D2 finally revealed Padmé's death to Luke, as well as his and Leia's birth.

Second Galactic Civil War
R2-D2 would continue to travel with Luke while he tried to rebuild the Jedi Order, and still belonged to him as of 40 ABY.

After the Millennium Falcon nearly broke apart upon returning to Coruscant from Corellia in 40 ABY, Han Solo asked R2-D2 to perform repairs on the ship while he and Leia traveled back to Corellia on a different shuttle, and under assumed identities. R2-D2 spent a number of days performing repairs to the Millennium Falcon.

R2-D2 also flew with Luke Skywalker in the Battle of Kashyyyk, where he and R2-D2 faked having their starfighter destroyed to make it seem as though Luke was dead so he could confront Jacen Solo.

Post-Second Galactic Civil War
In 43 ABY R2 was left in the care of Leia and Han after Luke went into exile. After Han and Leia went into the caverns of Kessel to help Lando find out why the planet was experiencing quakes, he and C-3PO were charged with watching over Allana. After Allana convinced Threepio to let her go outside, she left the droids and heard a voice talking to her through The Force. When she ran away from the voice she nearly bumped into the duo.

Legacy


About one hundred years after the Battle of Endor, R2-D2 relayed the stories of the Skywalker family to a Keeper of the Whills.

R2-D2 continued to function in 137 ABY. He was still part of the Jedi Academy and was given updates for current specs of the era. He was given to Cade Skywalker by Master K'Kruhk on Ossus, before Cade departed for Coruscant. Master K'Kruhk informed Cade that R2-D2 had served in the Skywalker family for a very long time.

After arriving on Coruscant during his rescue attempt for Hosk Trey'lis, Cade left R2-D2 in charge of his ship, the Mynock, instructing the droid to inform only Jariah Syn or Deliah Blue the circumstances of his mission if he failed to return.

Soon after recovering the Grinning Liar from Rav on Socorro, R2-D2 was witness to Cade apologizing to Blue, who kissed him on the cheek. Cade issued R2-D2 away.

On Taivas, R2-D2 allowed three Imperial Knights, Antares Draco, Ganner Krieg, and Azlyn Rae onboard, as well as stocking their shuttle, on the Mynock.

Chronological list of known owners
The following is a chronological list of R2-D2's known owners. When a being's name appears twice, it means that R2-D2 fell out of their possession, then later returned.


 * Royal House of Naboo
 * Padmé Amidala
 * Anakin Skywalker
 * Gha Nachkt
 * Grievous
 * Anakin Skywalker
 * Captain Raymus Antilles
 * Vik & Nikki Idd
 * Ambassador Zell of Majoor
 * Zevel Hortine
 * Thall Joben
 * Doodnik
 * Jann Tosh
 * Mungo Baobab
 * Governor Wena of Kalarba
 * Unknown junk dealer
 * Pitareeze family
 * Captain Huba (theft)
 * Nak Pitareeze and family
 * Zorneth
 * Harthan
 * Stigrit Krax
 * Larka Nimondro
 * Lott Kemp
 * Jost Ellon
 * Vik Idd
 * Nikki Idd
 * King Gokus
 * Van P. Quist
 * Prince Jagoda
 * Royal House of Alderaan
 * Captain Raymus Antilles
 * Shen-and-Gretta Pikeual-Angeles (briefly; almost immediately returned to Captain Antilles)
 * Royal House of Alderaan
 * Captain Raymus Antilles
 * Jawas
 * Owen and Beru Lars
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Jabba Desilijic Tiure
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Kol Skywalker
 * K'Kruhk
 * Cade Skywalker

Behind the scenes

 * R2-D2's name spelled out phonetically in Basic is Artoo-Detoo, and his name often appears as such. He is also referred to as Artoo for short. Ahsoka Tano called him "Artooie".
 * R2-D2's name was inspired by the abbreviation for the "Reel 2 Dialog 2" sound tape for one of George Lucas' other films, American Graffiti.
 * R2-D2 was played by Kenny Baker in five of the Star Wars films. Although he received onscreen credit, he did not perform in Revenge of the Sith. Many scenes were also filmed using mechanical versions or as digital-doubles in Attack of the Clones.
 * The sound effects for R2-D2 were created on a ARP 2600 synthesizer.
 * R2-D2 was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003, along with his counterpart C-3PO.
 * R2-D2 was often renamed in different versions of the original trilogy. In the Italian version of the original trilogy, R2-D2's name was changed to C1-P8. The original name is restored in the new trilogy.
 * When asked in an interview, "Is there a character you are going to miss?" George Lucas replied, "Well, R2-D2, because he's the hero of the whole thing. He's the one that always comes through and saves everybody. I'd like to have a pal like that that would come and save me once in a while."
 * In Raiders of the Lost Ark, in the "Well of Souls" there is a hieroglyphic depicting R2-D2 and C-3PO on the wall.
 * In the book "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," R2 is referred to as a "deeto unit". In every other book he is referred to as a "artoo unit."


 * The real-life anti-missile system Phalanx CIWS is nicknamed 'R2-D2'.
 * The mechanical version of R2-D2 was operated by droid wrangler Don Bies and Grant Imahara, former robot operator and now on the Discovery show MythBusters.
 * R2-D2 is one of only two characters who appear in all six Star Wars films. C-3PO is the other character. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are not included because Kenobi is killed and only appears as a ghost and Anakin becomes Darth Vader. Similarly, R2-D2 is the only character who appears in all six films whose outward appearance never changes.
 * In March 2007, the United States Postal Service decorated 400 mail boxes in the likeness of R2-D2 as part of a promotion celebrating the 30th anniversary of Star Wars.

Abilities controversy




In the prequel trilogy, especially Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, R2-D2 seems to have far more abilities and maneuverability than he did during the original trilogy. The introduction of claw guns, tow ropes, oil slicks and most notoriously, booster rockets, have led many fans to speculate on why the R2 unit has far fewer tools at his disposal during the Galactic Civil War. Some believe R2-D2's systems could simply have deteriorated from "old age", as mechanical objects tend to do over long periods of time, and so more impressive tools, such as jet rockets, no longer function. These systems also may have been critically damaged in space or land combat and were unrepairable. He is nearly destroyed two times in the original trilogy alone.

Others have theorized that more recent owners, such as Raymus Antilles, may have removed these abilities&mdash;either for the adventurous little droid's own good, or to install more practical modifications. Many simply believe R2-D2 had no need for some of the abilities showcased in the prequel trilogy, and therefore never used them. Yet others speculate that, after R2-D2 was damaged during the Trench Run, his robot brain was transferred to another shell which lacked these components. The DK Star Wars Complete Visual Guide says that R2-D2 "eventually damaged his boosters," and the company that made them had been shut down by the Empire at that point.

Although never shown on-screen, there are some scenes in the original trilogy where R2-D2 appears to utilize some form of booster equipment. Moving underneath the swamp-water on Dagobah, for instance, would be almost impossible if R2-D2 could only roll along the bottom, as a swamp lake-bottom would be far from smooth and easily navigable. The droid also appears to have somehow lifted himself into his X-wing socket as Luke Skywalker prepares to leave the planet in The Empire Strikes Back.

Additionally, there is a humorous scene in the Star Wars: Droids episode "Tail of the Roon Comets" in which R2-D2 turns on a jukebox and begins to breakdance. This was likely intended by the writers as humor. However, some fans question the possibility of the moves R2-D2 performs in the episode. Nevertheless, the breakdance scene is assumed canonical until an official source confirms it is non-canon.

R2-D2 saves the day
In every Star Wars film, R2-D2 saves the life of one or more of the series' heroes:


 * The Phantom Menace: R2-D2 fixes the shield generator on the J-Type 327 Nubian royal starship, allowing it to escape the Blockade of Naboo.
 * Attack of the Clones: He shuts down the machine before it can pour molten durasteel onto Padmé Amidala. He later reattaches C-3PO's head to his body in the Petranaki arena, enabling C-3PO to become himself again.
 * Revenge of the Sith: He saves Anakin Skywalker from a Buzz Droid, starts an elevator aboard the Invisible Hand allowing Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi to rescue Palpatine and creates a distraction to General Grievous so Obi-Wan & Anakin can retrieve their lightsabers. He and C-3P0 take Padmé Amidala back into her ship, possibly saving her soon-to-be-born children, Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker, indirectly saving the Rebellion and the New Republic/New Jedi Order, along with destroying the Empire and saving Darth Vader through Luke Skywalker.
 * A New Hope: R2-D2 conveys the famous holo-recording of Leia Organa to Obi-Wan Kenobi ("Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope"), setting the original series in motion. He locks the door at the Cantina Bar on Tatooine, saving himself and C-3PO from stormtrooper capture, stops the garbage compactor from crushing Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker and manages to increase the thruster power of Luke's X-wing during the Death Star trench run, possibly allowing him to evade Darth Vader's pursuit before being heroically shot.
 * The Empire Strikes Back: While in Cloud City, R2-D2 uses an extinguisher to cloud a doorway, allowing Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando to escape onto the Millennium Falcon. Minutes later, he also repairs the Falcons hyperdrive, allowing the ship to escape Imperial capture.
 * Return of the Jedi: He gives Luke his lightsaber, allowing him to save his friends from Jabba the Hutt. Later, R2-D2 shocks Salacious B. Crumb while he was chewing out C-3PO's eye, possibly saving him. He also shocks Leia's handcuffs, setting her free. Furthermore, he pushes C-3PO and himself off Jabba's sailbarge to be picked up by Luke, right before the sailbarge explodes. When called upon by Leia to open the bunker doors of the shield generator on Endor, he is shot by a stormtrooper and is unable to save the day, finally leaving the heroes to their own devices.
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film: R2-D2 closes a door on Asajj Ventress in the B'omarr Monastery on Teth buying Ahsoka and Anakin time to find an escape route. Later, R2-D2 helps work the Twilight while Anakin and Ahsoka were using it to get Rotta the Huttlet home.