R2-D2

R2-D2
Droid Type	Astromech droid
Gender	Masculine programming
Sensor Color	Red
Home Planet	Naboo
Affiliation	Royal Naboo, Galactic Republic, Rebel Alliance, New Republic, Galactic Alliance

R2-D2 (also R2 for short; spelled Artoo-Detoo and Artoo) was an astromech droid, the most famous unit of the R2 series, and long time counterpart of C-3PO. Along with his resourcefulness, R2 had many tool-tipped appendages that allowed him to be a great starship mechanic and computer interface specialist. A bold droid, R2 would often enter dangerous situations without second thought. This adventurous streak saved the day on numerous occasions, often turning the tide of galactic history.

Description

R2-D2 was a diminutive droid, standing .96 meter, or slightly less than 3 feet 2 inches. He rolled on two legs (three if one were to include his retractable third 'foot') and had a silver and blue domed head. His white, blue, and silver body housed many arms, sensors, and other apparatus, many of which were not readily seen by the typical humanoid eye. This often made the droid seem like a sort of '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 thinking outside the box, and often employed unorthodox means to help his friends. This may be partly due to the fact that—as far as is known—he never underwent a memory wipe, thus increasing his capacity for creative thought.

Known features

• Booster rockets
  
• Cable gun
  
• Claw arm
  
• Fusion welder
  
• Holoprojector
  
• Periscope

Biography

Blockade of Naboo

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 notorious 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. When the ship had safely made its way to Tatooine for more repairs, R2 accompanied Qui-Gon Jinn into Mos Espa. It was here that he met C-3PO, his eventual counterpart, and Anakin Skywalker. Back in Naboo, R2 served for the briefing, displaying the hologram of the Theed palace, when the team prepared the assault. R2-D2 afterwards served as Anakin's personal astromech in the Battle of Naboo.

Clone Wars

Ten years later, near the outbreak of the Clone Wars (22 BBY), R2-D2 was still in the possession of the Naboo, serving now Senator Padmé Amidala. When Padmé's life was threatened by assassins, he accompanied Anakin and Padmé to Naboo and then to Tatooine. On Tatooine, he was reunited with C-3PO, and the two accompanied Anakin and Padmé to Geonosis in an attempt to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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.

Just after Anakin was elevated to the rank of Jedi Knight Padmé presented R2 to Anakin as her devotion-gift to her husband. When Anakin reminded here 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 was right beside him. R2 served Anakin as his astromech in the Battle of Coruscant, where he played a role in the rescue of Chancellor Palpatine. Over the course of events which led to the end of the Clone Wars the rise of Darth Vader and the death of Padmé, both R2-D2 and C-3PO came into the possession of Bail Organa, who then handed them over to Raymus Antilles, captain of Tantive IV. They were separated from him though, and served many different masters in the edges of the Galaxy before they were eventually found by Raymus' son, Colton, and reassigned to the Tantive IV.

Galactic Civil War

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

Once the escape pod had landed on Tatooine, R2 and 3PO were captured by Jawas and then purchased by Owen Lars. While cleaning the droids for his uncle, Luke Skywalker discovered Leia's hidden message. He told his uncle, who ordered that their memories be wiped. Before this could be done, R2 had escaped into the desert to seek out Obi-Wan. R2 was successful in finding Obi-Wan, who then secured passage from Han Solo in order to deliver R2—and the Death Star plans—to Bail Organa on Alderaan. 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, which was still in the system, allowing the rescue of Leia Organa, in which R2-D2 played a vital role. After escaping from the Death Star, R2 was finally delivered to the Rebel Alliance on Yavin 4, bringing the Death Star 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, but Rebel mechanics were able to restore him.

R2 remained in the service of the Heroes of Yavin, accompanying Luke to Dagobah and later to Cloud City, where he helped to rescue and 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, facilitating escape from the Empire. R2-D2 also participated in the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, and later joined the Rebel strike team on the forest moon of Endor. He helped to bring down the deflector shield so the fleet could destroy the new Death Star.

After the victory at the Battle of Endor, R2-D2 helped the New Republic defeat the reborn Emperor Palpatine's forces 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. R2 would continue to travel with Luke while he tried to rebuild the Jedi Order, and even served as best man when Luke married Mara Jade.

Post Galactic Civil War

R2-D2 later played major roles in the Yuuzhan Vong invasion and the Killik conflict. During the Killik conflict, when Luke was fixing R2, 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 were apparently encoded (probably by Alderaanian technicians). R2 himself refused to show Luke or Leia the recordings and insisted he was trying to protect them. Because the recordings hadn't been removed, R2 began to malfunction. By 36 ABY, a year after the first recording was shown, R2 seem to be functioning again, though he remained unwilling to show the recordings.

Behind the Scenes

The name R2-D2 supposedly derives from 'Reel 2, Dialogue Track 2', which is an example of technical nomenclature used in filmmaking. R2 was played by Kenny Baker in all six Star Wars films, making him one of only two characters to be played by the same actor in all six films (the other is C-3PO). Many scenes were also filmed using mechanical versions of the character, or as digital-doubles in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

R2-D2 was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003.

Speculation

It has been speculated that R2-D2 may have related the tale of the Skywalkers to a Shaman of the Whills some one hundred years after the fall of the Empire, around 104 ABY. This theory is based on a single comment from George Lucas which is mentioned on page 72 of The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith: George remarks to Rob Coleman that the story of Star Wars is actually recounted by R2-D2... one hundred years after Return of the Jedi. Whether a single remark constitutes canon is a subject of much debate.