C-3PO and R2-D2 are robot characters from the Star Wars franchise. They have appeared in all six theatrical Star Wars films, and several spin-offs including animated series Droids and Clone Wars, concept albums and TV specials.
Anthony Daniels played C-3PO in both the movies and all Muppet appearances. For R2-D2, although Kenny Baker originated the role in the movies, a "three footed" R2 robot was used for his Muppet appearances, operated by radio control. On The Muppet Show, R2 was credited as being played by "Himself."
 C-3PO on the planet Koozebane, on The Muppet Show. |
 R2-D2 on Koozebane |
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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.
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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 very 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.
As the ship traveled through hyperspace to the planet Tatooine, a dirtied R2-D2 was brought before the queen by Captain Panaka, the head of the Royal Naboo Security Forces. Sabé, a decoy posing as the queen, thanked him for saving the lives of everyone aboard, and ordered Padmé Amidala, actually the queen posing as a handmaiden, to clean the droid up. Amidala cleaned R2-D2's exterior while Jar-Jar Binks watched; the trio later accompanied Qui-Gon Jinn to the city of Mos Espa on Tatooine in search of a new hyperdrive generator. R2-D2 accompanied Jinn and the others to the junk shop of the Toydarian merchant Watto, and later to the home of Anakin Skywalker, a young slave working for Watto who offered his home to the party as a reprieve from a coming sandstorm. In Skywalker's home, R2-D2 was introduced to C-3PO, a protocol droid that the boy was building. As C-3PO was yet to be covered with an outer plating, R2-D2 candidly remarked that his parts were showing, even calling him "naked". The astromech droid then stood in the home's kitchen as the guests dined with Skywalker and his mother, Shmi Skywalker, and later helped Skywalker make final adjustments to his podracer in time to race it in the Boonta Eve Classic race. Despite C-3PO's shock at R2-D2's initial candor, the two droids fast developed a friendship of sorts, working on the podracer together, discussing space travel, and noting the clumsy actions of Binks.[8]
On the day of the race, R2-D2 helped pull Skywalker's racer onto the course, and later stood on the sidelines with C-3PO and two of Skywalker's playmates, Kitster Banai and W. Wald, who cheered their friend on. Skywalker won the race, which secured the hyperdrive generator and freed the boy from his enslavement. R2-D2 was waiting inside the royal starship and next to its boarding ramp as Skywalker entered the ship, and was present shortly thereafter when Jinn entered, having just dueled a Sith Lord on the planet's sand dunes. The ship and its crew traveled to the galactic capital of Coruscant and remained there for several days, before returning to Naboo in an effort to rid the planet of its Trade Federation presence. Onworld, R2-D2 accompanied the queen's party to the Gungan sacred place as she requested help from Boss Rugor Nass of the Gungans in the impending battle. After Nass accepted, R2-D2 attended an informal council of war, and projected a hologram of Theed as plans were made to lay siege to the city.[8]
Following the victory, R2-D2 attended the Funeral of Qui-Gon Jinn, who had been slain during the battle by the same Sith Lord whom he had fought on Tatooine. R2-D2 was later present at a ceremony which celebrated the battle's victory, and stood by as Amidala presented Boss Nass with the Naboo people's Globe of Peace.[8]
R2-D2 would remain in Amidala's service for another ten years, even transitioning with her from the Royal House of Naboo to the Galactic Senate in 25 BBY.[10] Three years after her appointment to the senate, Amidala traveled from Naboo to Coruscant to vote against the senate's proposed Military Creation Act, but chose a handmaiden to pose as her and to make the journey in an official ship, while Amidala flew in a Naboo Royal starfighter with R2-D2 in the droid socket. After their arrival at a landing platform on Coruscant, a bomb detonated and killed most of the crew of the yacht; R2-D2 followed as Amidala's head of security Captain Typho rushed her to safety. Anakin Skywalker, now a Jedi Padawan, and his Master Obi-Wan Kenobi were assigned by the Jedi Council to protect the senator from further assassination attempts, and R2-D2 was programmed to warn the two Jedi if anyone intruded into her apartment while she slept. Despite his programming, R2-D2 failed to detect the insertion of two poisonous kouhuns into Amidala's bedroom, which had been administered through a hole in the window created by an ASN courier droid. Although the creatures were sensed and killed by Skywalker, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Republic felt that Coruscant was an unsafe place for Amidala, and agreed to delay the vote on the Military Creation Act so that she might lay low on Naboo under the watchful eye of Skywalker.[11]
The Republic Army won the battle, launching a galactic war between the Republic and the Confederacy. Shortly after the battle, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied Amidala and Skywalker back to Naboo, where they were the lone witnesses to a wedding between the two in the planet's Lake Country.[11]
After Skywalker was elevated to the rank of Jedi Knight, he gave his former Padawan braid to Amidala as a gift. R2-D2 was present when she received the hairpiece; in return, Amidala gave the astromech droid to her husband. Traveling to a hangar, R2-D2 showed Skywalker a hologram of Amidala indicating the droid's new ownership, much to Skywalker's delight. R2-D2 was then locked into the Jedi Knight's starfighter, and the two departed the planet.[16] R2-D2 flew with Skywalker in space combat throughout much of the war, including a battle where Skywalker saved Jedi Master Saesee Tiin from droid tri-fighters.[17] Skywalker programmed a large amount of tactical data and locations of Republic bases into the droid's memory, and broke protocol by never giving R2-D2 a memory wipe.[18] The droid was with Skywalker when he returned to Coruscant to visit Amidala.[17]
When the native population of the planet Christophsis appealed to the Jedi for aid in repelling an invading Separatist force, Kenobi, now a High Jedi General, and Skywalker, a Jedi General, arrived in the planet's Crystal City with a contingent of Clone troopers and R2-D2. Following a disastrous ambush by battle droids, R2-D2 watched as Clone Commander CC-2224, nicknamed "Cody", and Clone Captain CC-7567, nicknamed "Rex", analyzed the recovered head of TJ-55, a T-series tactical droid, in the communications center of the Republic base. When the two troopers discovered a spy in their midst, they rushed out of the center, but later returned and employed R2-D2 in locating any transmissions the spy had made. Plugging into a computer terminal, R2-D2 discovered a number of external communications that had taken place every few days in an irregular pattern. He traced them to the barracks of the Clone trooper sergeant Slick, which ultimately resulted in Cody and Rex fettering out the traitor.[19]
Skywalker and Tano led their troops to a successful siege of a B'omarr Order Monastery that Separatist forces, and rescued Rotta the Huttlet from within. Outside of the castle, R2-D2 sat in Skywalker's starfighter and projected a holographic transmission from Kenobi, which was cut short by the arrival of several Confederate C-9979 landing craft and vulture droids. R2-D2 jettisoned himself from the starfighter mere second before it received a barrage of blasterfire and exploded. As B1 and B2 battle droids swarmed the exterior of the castle, R2-D2 followed Tano inside, and was joined by Skywalker and several clone troopers before the castle's door slammed shut. Tano quickly devised an escape plan, and brought R2-D2 and Skywalker to a computer terminal where the astromech droid sliced in and located a backdoor landing platform.[20] En route to the platform, the trio was met by the Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress and several B2 droids, but before a skirmish could ensue, R2-D2 activated a trap door in the floor, sending everyone present plunging down a long chute and into a small arena. As Skywalker dueled Ventress, Tano neutralized the droid threat; a second group of B2 droids arrived in an overhead gallery but were assailed by R2-D2 and knocked into the arena below. The distraction offered by a jungle rancor present in the arena allowed an outgunned Ventress to escape, and the trio continued on their way to the landing platform.[21][22]
Above Tatooine, the freighter was attacked by vulture droids, the last of which was destroyed when R2-D2 plugged into a computer terminal and fired the freighter's cannons at it. Damaged in the firefight, the freighter crashed into the planet's Dune Sea, which forced the trio to journey to Jabba's Palace on foot. When Skywalker sensed the presence of the dark side of the Force, he suspected a nearby Dark Jedi and set off to draw it towards him and away from the Huttlet. He left Rotta with R2-D2 and Tano, who made it to Jabba's Palace without incident until three IG-100 MagnaGuards rose from the sand and attacked them. R2-D2 electrocuted one with his droid shock arm before being knocked away, and it fell to Tano to destroy all three with her lightsaber. The two then entered the palace and returned the Huttlet, which, coupled with a holo-transmission from Senator Amidala on Coruscant identifying Jabba's uncle Ziro as the responsible party for the kidnapping, placated an angry Jabba and saved the lives of the two Jedi.[20]
When the Jedi Council received intelligence that General Grievous, Supreme Commander of the Separatist Droid Armies, intended to invade the planet of Bothawui, they dispatched three Star Destroyers under Skywalker's command to blockade the Both system. When six Confederate frigates arrived in the system, Skywalker led the starfighters of Gold Squadron out to meet them, with R2-D2 flying in the general's droid socket. When the frigates were outflanked by several Republic AT-TE Walkers hiding on an asteroid, Grievous fled his flagship in his personal starfighter, and was pursued closely by Skywalker and R2-D2. A piece of shrapnel from an exploding frigate became lodged in Skywalker's fighter, and he lost both control of the ship and consciousness; the Jedi was soon recovered by Rex, but R2-D2 was salvaged from the starfighter's remains by the Trandoshan scavenger Gha Nachkt and brought aboard Nachkt's freighter, the Vulture's Claw.[18]
As the Vulture's Claw arrived at Skytop Station, a Confederate listening post in the Hoth's Brand system, R2-D2 again worked at escaping his confinement. Cutting through a wall in the closet with his buzzsaw, he accessed a control panel and sent an audio transmission through the freighter's broadcast antennae, which was ultimately picked up by Skywalker. Nachkt discovered the droid's actions and electrocuted him with an ion prod; the Trandoshan then landed the freighter at the listening post and brought R2-D2 before Grievous. The General instructed Nachkt to take the droid apart and extract any information on the Republic from his memory, and Nachkt complied, discovering that R2-D2's memory contained every single Republic formation and strategy. Grievous killed Nachkt for demanding more credits, and then instructed several of his Magnaguards to reconstruct R2-D2 and bring him to a secure location after learning that Republic troops had boarded the station. As the astromech was carried through the station's corridors, Skywalker, who had traced R2-D2's broadcast to the system, located him and destroyed every Magnaguard with his lightsaber. As the skirmish occurred, a partially-reconstructed R2-D2 managed to mostly reattach his arms and dome, and then electrocuted a Magnaguard as its destroyed arm attempted to grab a hold of Skywalker's leg.[24]
News began to spread through the Republic of a Separatist weapon that had destroyed over a dozen Republic warships and left no survivors; when Jedi Master Plo Koon's fleet was presumed destroyed in the Abregado system, Skywalker, Tano, and R2-D2 took the Twilight from the Bith system to investigate, despite instructions from Master of the Order Mace Windu stating that they were to remain with their fleet and protect vital convoy missions. Arriving in the Abregado system, R2-D2 tuned the Twilight's scanners to detect lifeforms, and received a holonet transmission from Kenobi, who instructed Skywalker to rendezvous with his fleet. As the three prepared to leave the system, R2-D2 discovered a lifeform reading on the ship's emergency channel and traced the signal to a specific area of the shattered remains of Koon's fleet. When Tano sensed Koon's presence, the three were able to employ a tow cable in bringing an escape pod aboard their ship which was housing Koon and three clone troopers. The joy of the recovery was cut short when the Separatist's secret weapon arrived in-system: A heavy cruiser of prodigious proportions called the Malevolence, which sported massive ion cannons that it used to disable its prey. R2-D2 was shut off with the rest of the Twilight's systems in a bid to avoid detection from the battleship's sensors, but when the gambit failed, the astromech droid was reactivated and plotted a hyperjump away from the system. Having successfully escaped from the ion cannons' blast, the Twilight rendezvoused with the Star Destroyer Resolute.[25]
Hoping to acquire a group of Y-wing bombers to use against the heavy cruiser, Skywalker brought R2-D2, Tano, and the clone pilots of Shadow Squadron in the Twilight to the Bormus Testing Facility, a space station orbiting the planet of Bormus that possessed such a group. Aboard the station, R2-D2 plugged into a computer terminal and uploaded falsified documents that a protesting worker needed into the station's computer system, which claimed that Skywalker had permission to take the untested fighters.[26] With new fighters to their name, Shadow Squadron returned to the Resolute, where they were briefed by Skywalker and Admiral Wullf Yularen; R2-D2 assisted in the briefing by projecting a hologram of the Malevolence while Skywalker outlined the squadron's attack strategy: bomb the cruiser's bridge superstructure. R2-D2 then joined Skywalker and Tano in one of the bombers; Skywalker would be commanding Shadow Squadron while Tano acted as his gunner. Having received intelligence that their target was heading towards the Republic's Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, Shadow Squadron took a shortcut through the Balmorra Run in order to cut the Malevolence off.[27]
Arriving inside the Malevolence, R2-D2 was ordered to remain at the airlock entrance, where he was soon commed by Skywalker and told to shut down a rail jet hovertrain. After complying by means of a sliced computer terminal, the astromech droid was told to locate C-3PO, who had arrived with Amidala but had gotten lost. R2-D2 found his friend, and the two rendezvoused with Skywalker and Amidala before meeting Kenobi at the Twilight. The task of powering up its engines and releasing its docking clamp fell to R2-D2, who then performed a scan of the Malevolence and discovered that it was powering up its hyperdrive. Owing to an act of sabotage performed by Skywalker and Amidala, the hyperdrive caused the cruiser to explode as the Twilight sped to safety.[28]
Despite the victory, Grievous, who had been in command of the cruiser, escaped,[28] and Skywalker began dedicating his efforts to tracking the General down. R2-D2 stayed by his owner's side aboard the Resolute as Skywalker forsook sleep in his task.[29] However, the Jedi Knight's focus would soon shift to Count Dooku; R2-D2 aided Skywalker in making his starfighter appear damaged in a ruse that ended with Skywalker allowing himself to be captured by a Confederate Munificent-class star frigate commanded by Dooku near Vanqor.[30]
R2-D2 and C-3PO were again reunited during a trip to Orto Plutonia, the latter having been leant to Skywalker by his wife for the mission to the icy world. When contact was lost with a planetside military outpost, Skywalker and Kenobi brought the droids and a contingent of Clone cold assault troopers to investigate, and were accompanied by Senator Riyo Chuchi of Pantora, as well as Chi Cho, Chairman of the Pantoran Assembly, due to the planet's location in Pantoran space. When the Jedi discovered that the clone troopers stationed on Pantora had been wiped out by a group of local Talz, Cho declared war on the natives, but the conflict was quickly halted when Chuchi received permission from the Pantoran Speaker of the Assembly to negotiate peace. R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied Chuchi, the Jedi, and what clone troopers were not fighting to the scene of the battle, where Chuchi made peace with Thi-Sen, the Talz's tribal leader.[31]
The two droids met again when R2-D2, Kenobi, Skywalker, and Tano landed on Naboo in a Low Altitude Assault Transport, having been sent by the Jedi Council in response to intelligence suggesting that a Separatist bio-lab had been set up on the planet. After being greeted by C-3PO, Typho, and the Gungan Peppi Bow in a hangar of Theed's Royal Palace, Skywalker sent Tano and Bow to locate the laboratory, while he, Kenobi, and R2-D2 were shown a hologram of the scientist Doctor Nuvo Vindi that had been discovered inside the head of a B1 battle droid. The Jedi managed to locate Vindi's laboratory in the planet's swamps and arrest the mad doctor,[32] but Skywalker, Kenobi, and R2-D2 were forced to take the Twilight to Iego when Tano, Amidala, Jar-Jar Binks, Rex, and several other clone troopers became trapped in the laboratory with an airborne stream of the deadly Blue Shadow Virus that Vindi had been synthesizing.[33]
The Resolute, along with the Star Destroyers Defender and Redeemer were soon after called to the planet of Ryloth after its inhabitants were enslaved by Wat Tambor, Emir of the Separatist-allied Techno Union. An initial skirmish above the planet saw the destruction of the Redeemer, and when its companion ships fled, R2-D2 assisted Skywalker in working on his Padwan's starfighter while Skywalker and Tano concocted a plan to break the blockade. The damaged Defender was evacuated, save for R2-D2 and Skywalker, who piloted it straight into the lead Separatist control ship. Prior to the crash, the two fled the Defender in an escape pod, which was recovered by the Resolute. With the blockade broken, Kenobi's troops could now mount a ground assault of the planet.[34]
In the employ of Darth Sidious, the secret leader of the Confederacy, a Duros bounty hunter named Cad Bane stole a holocron from the archives of the Jedi Temple,[35] but was subsequently pursued to Devaron by the Resolute. The Resolute targeted the hyperdrive of a Munificent-class frigate that Nute Gunray, the Viceroy of the Separatist-allied Trade Federation, had leant to Bane, and the bounty hunter found himself trapped in the system; R2-D2, Skywalker, Tano, Rex, and a group of clone troopers took several AT-TE walkers to the hull of the frigate in an attempt to board and recover the holocron. R2-D2 opened a hatch, allowing the party to board, and joined them as they stormed the bridge. Plugging into a computer terminal, R2-D2 discovered a hologram of Bane indicating that he had taken the Kyber crystal from the captured Jedi Master Bolla Ropal, and located the detention area where Ropal was being held. The party found Ropal dead, but were able to locate Bane with the help of R2-D2's glowrod. They followed him into a hangar that was filled with battle droids, and a fierce firefight ensued that saw Bane disable the ship's artificial gravity. Using his booster rockets, R2-D2 turned the gravity back on, and, with the droids defeated, the boarding party fled the ship in a Sheathipede-class transport shuttle.[36] Upon their return to the Resolute, it was discovered that Bane had donned the armor of a clone trooper and had fled with them; Bane quickly escaped the Resolute with a list of all-known Force-sensitive children in the galaxy that he had obtained by combining the holocron and the Kyber crystal.[37]
Soon after the mission to Mustafar, R2-D2 and Skywalker accompanied C-3PO, Amidala, Typho, and Senator Rush Clovis of the Intergalactic Banking Clan on Amidala's star skiff from Coruscant to Cato Neimoidia, where Amidala would parley with Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation while simultaneously spying on Clovis; both Dodd and Clovis were suspected of being in league with the Confederacy. R2-D2 and Skywalker initially remained with the skiff outside of Dod's palace, but Skywalker, disguised as a pilot, infiltrated the fortress and returned with a datacard that Amidala had stolen. R2-D2 took the datacard and prepared the skiff for takeoff, which Typho piloted away from the planet after Skywalker, Amidala, and C-3PO returned. The datacard contained tactical coordinates for a new droid foundry being constructed on Geonosis,[38] and R2-D2 accompanied Skywalker and several other Jedi to the planet as Republic forces laid siege to the factory. R2-D2 projected a hologram of the target as Skywalker and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli planned an attack.[39]
R2-D2 served Anakin as his astromech in the Battle of Coruscant, where he played a role in the rescue of Supreme 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.[40]
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.[40] 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.
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.[41]
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.
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.[42]
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.[42]
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.[42]
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.[43] 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.[44]
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.[44]
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'.[45]
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.[46]
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.[46]
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.[46]
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.[47]
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[48] and the destruction of the Emperor's remaining two superweapons: the Galaxy Gun and the Eclipse II.[49]
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.[50]
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.[51]
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.[52]
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.[53]
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.[54]
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.
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 Solos' 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.
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.
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.
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.
About one hundred years after the Battle of Endor, R2-D2 relayed the stories of the Skywalker family to a Keeper of the Whills.[55]
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.
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.
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". In the novelization of Star Wars, Leia once addresses him as "Detoo."
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.[56]
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. Likewise, Artoo's name in Spanish roughly translates to "Little Arthur."
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."[57]
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, in the "Well of Souls" there is a hieroglyphic depicting R2-D2 and C-3PO on the wall.[58]
In the book "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," R2 is referred to as a "Detoo unit". In every other book he is referred to as an "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.[59]
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—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.
In every Star Wars film, R2-D2 saves the life of one or more of the series' heroes:
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R2-D2 in the Databank
Star Wars: Droids - "Tail of the Roon Comets" Star Wars: Droids - "The Roon Games" Star Wars: Droids - "The Revenge of Kybo Ren"
"Base Set" - Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game (Card: Maintenance Droid)
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 1" Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 15" Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 16" Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 21" Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 22"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Downfall of a Droid" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Hidden Enemy" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Duel of the Droids" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Rising Malevolence" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Shadow of Malevolence" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Destroy Malevolence" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Rookies" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Trespass" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Blue Shadow Virus" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Mystery of a Thousand Moons" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Storm Over Ryloth" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Holocron Heist" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Cargo of Doom" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Children of the Force" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Senate Spy" Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Weapons Factory" Corla Metonae in the Databank
Well of Souls on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)
R2-D2 on Wikipedia
R2-D2 at the Internet Movie Database R2-D2's Greatest Gadgets on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org) The Many Faces of R2-D2 on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org) Drawing R2-D2 on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)R2-D2 might refer to:
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A resourceful, spunky and adventurous astromech droid, R2-D2 has saved the day time and again. His little .96-meter tall frame is packed with all sorts of tool-tipped appendages that make him a great starship mechanic and computer interface specialist. It's his bravery, however, that has made him an invaluable asset to his owners and friends. R2-D2 comes from the peaceful world of Naboo, where he and a team of astromechs served the elected monarch aboard her Royal Starship. When the greedy Trade Federation invaded Naboo, Queen Amidala rushed away from her world and ran afoul of a blockade. When the Royal Starship sustained damage to its shields, it was R2-D2 who repaired the ship, allowing it to escape into hyperspace. The droid used his magnetized rollers to cling tenaciously to the chromed surface of the ship while deadly turbolaser blasts rained overhead. For his courage, Artoo was personally thanked and recognized by Queen Amidala.
To complete further repairs, the Royal Starship set down on the barren Outer Rim world of Tatooine. Artoo-Detoo accompanied Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Royal Handmaiden Padmé Naberrie to the port city of Mos Espa to gather spare parts. Artoo carried the technical details for the necessary parts. While waiting out a sandstorm in a local hovel, Artoo-Detoo met the homemade protocol droid C-3PO, and struck up a friendship that would eventually last decades.
Artoo later returned to Naboo with the Queen. He served as onboard astromech to Anakin Skywalker, a young rookie pilot who, despite not being authorized to do so, flew an N-1 starfighter into the Battle of Naboo.
Artoo would be reunited with Anakin a decade later. The little droid continued to loyaly serve Amidala, who was no longer Queen, but now Senator of Naboo. The droid acted as a little bodyguard, using his scanners to seek out any danger that might befall Padmé. His laser field sensors failed to detect a deadly kouhun attack against a sleeping Padmé, but Anakin's heightened Jedi awareness did. He was able to kill the poisonous creatures, but the Jedi weren't able to determine who wanted Padmé dead.
Amidala left for Naboo, to hide while the Jedi investigated. Artoo stayed by her side as she voyaged to Tatooine, where he was reunited with C-3PO, who again became Anakin's property. They all went to Geonosis, and as Padmé and Anakin wandered into a dangerous Geonosian droid factory, Artoo and Threepio followed. Artoo again came to the rescue, using his anti-grav boosters to fly to Amidala's aid and his computer interface to stop a deadly downpour of molten metal from killing the Senator. He even helped reassemble C-3PO after a decapitating tangle with droid factory machinery.
Years later, Artoo and Threepio would find themselves in the service of the Royal House of Alderaan. The influential family of nobles had secret ties to the burgeoning Rebel Alliance. While intercepting transmissions from Rebel spies, the Organa consular ship was suddenly attacked by an Imperial Star Destroyer laying in wait. The transmission carried information vital to the Rebellion -- the complete technical read-outs of the Empire's latest weapon of mass-destruction, the Death Star battle station. Unable to deliver the plans to Viceroy Bail Organa, Leia Organa instead hid them in Artoo's memory systems. She also tasked Artoo to continue her other mission, that of contacting the long-lost Jedi Knight and Republic General, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Artoo commandeered an escape pod, and rocketed away from the captured consular ship, all the while dragging along his bewildered counterpart, Threepio. The pod crashlanded on Tatooine. There, the droids were taken captive by Jawa traders, and sold to moisture farmer Owen Lars and his nephew Luke Skywalker. Determined to complete his mission, Artoo ran away in the middle of the night, leaving Threepio and Luke to search for him the next morning.
Threepio and Luke eventually found Artoo, as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi. This started an incredible chain of events that culminated in the Battle of Yavin. Artoo and Threepio were crucial in assisting Luke spearhead a rescue mission to free Princess Leia from the heart of the gargantuan Death Star. Both droids navigated the complex Imperial computer system to provide the rescuers with timely assistance and status updates.
Once Artoo returned to the Rebel base with the newly liberated Princess Leia, Alliance technicians downloaded the Death Star schematics. From these, they were able to pinpoint a flaw in the station's design that could be exploited for explosive results. A small thermal exhaust port allowed access to the Death Star's sensitive reactor core. If hit with a precise proton torpedo volley, the entire station could be destroyed. The Alliance launched all available starfighters in an attack on the station. Luke Skywalker piloted an X-wing fighter and R2-D2 served as his on-board astromech, much like he did for Luke's father a generation earlier. Although Artoo sustained some damage in the attack, Luke successfully destroyed the station. Artoo was refurbished in time for the celebration of the Rebel victory.
Threepio and Artoo continued to be mainstays with the core group of Rebel heroes. Despite their constant disputes -- like the time Artoo took Threepio's complaining of Hoth's subzero temperature as an invitation to turn the heat up in Princess Leia's quarters, thus flooding her compartment with melted ice -- the two remained friends.
During the evacuation from Hoth, Threepio and Artoo were separated. Artoo flew with Luke to the mysterious planet of Dagobah, where Luke would receive training from the enigmatic Jedi Master, Yoda. Artoo was witness to Luke's growing skill and power, as the young Tatooine farmboy continued on his path to Jedi Knighthood.
When Luke's friends fell into an Imperial trap on Bespin's Cloud City, Artoo accompanied the young Jedi to the floating metropolis. There, he became separated from Luke, but he did find C-3PO, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca. The Rebel heroes were worse for wear, especially Threepio, who had been blasted apart by an Imperial stormtrooper. While escaping Bespin, Artoo helped reassemble his friend.
During a daring mission to rescue a captive Han Solo from the loathsome gangster Jabba the Hutt, Threepio and Artoo were sent into the Hutt's palace on Tatooine. There, they became the gristly crime lord's property. Artoo served as a waiter, distributing drinks aboard Jabba's sail barge. Little did any of the criminal dregs suspect that Artoo carried in him Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, which he launched to the unarmed Jedi. Supplied with his weapon, Luke subdued Jabba's minions and freed his captive friends.
Shortly thereafter, Artoo accompanied the Rebel strike force that was sent to knock out the Imperial shield generator on Endor. The generator protected the half-completed second Death Star high in orbit. Artoo attempted to bypass the high security lock sealing the Imperial generator complex, but was shot by a stormtrooper before he could complete the task. Fortunately, the Rebels were able to make their way into the complex, and destroyed the generator. Artoo-Detoo was repaired in time to witness the destruction of the second Death Star.
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