Doctor Aphra (2016) 35

Publisher's summary

"UNSPEAKABLE REBEL SUPERWEAPON" PART IV. It's time for DOCTOR APHRA to do what she does best: honor her commitments, help people in need, do the right thing. Hahaha, nope, the people she's swindling won't buy that either. Unlucky for them, she's always two steps ahead. Unlucky for her, the steps lead directly to Coruscant, and into the arms of an old enemy…

Opening crawl

Rogue archaeologist Doctor Aphra has
developed quite a name for herself, not only as a
brilliant scientist but also as a thief and an
obtainer of valuable and dangerous ancient
artifacts.

After refusing to help the Rebellion create their
own Death Star using Aphra's latest score--a
Jedi weapon called the FARKILLER--Aphra
returned home with her ward, Vulaada, only to
discover that a bounty had been put on them by
Minister Pitina Voor, their latest employer.

Hoping to make a deal for protection with the
Empire, Aphra planned to steal the Farkiller with
the help of Wookiee bounty hunter Black
Krrsantan. But her ex and latest rebel recruit,
Magna Tolvan, has discovered Aphra's plan....

Plot summary

Escaping the Rebellion

Aboard a MC80A Home One Type Heavy Star Cruiser in Indigo Squadron, Magna Tolvan corners Chelli Lona Aphra, preparing to apprehend her for her treachery. However, Aphra warns her to wear an oxygen mask. Tolvan reluctantly dons the mask just as Krrsantan blasts a hole through the viewport. As Krrsantan enters the cabin, Alphra attempts to convince Tolvan that the Rebel Alliance cannot be trusted with the Farkiller weapon.

Tolvan fights the Wookiee and kicks him from behind. While holding Krrsantan at knife point with her vibroblade, Tolvan affirms her loyalty to the Rebellion. Using a computer screen, Aphra reveals that the Rebellion is planning to use the Farkiller as the basis for a miniature Death Star-style superweapon in order to take out the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. When Aphra says that thousands of innocents will be killed, Tolvan counters this is a pragmatic approach to ending the Galactic Civil War. Aphra is unable to convince Tolvan who is firmly committed to the Rebellion.

Aphra tells Tolvan that she plans to use the Farkiller weapon to parley with the Empire. When Tolvan remarks that Aphra is motivated by self-interest and emotional blackmail, Aphra tells Tolvan to trust her and warns that the Farkiller weapon could kill thousands. Due to their past relationship, Tolvan concedes and tells Aphra she will help her escape in return for staging an injury. Tolvan contacts Vulaada Klam and tells her to head to the Ark Angel II. Klam is unwilling to leave her Qaberworm Gurtyl behind but Aphra insists that she let her go.

Tolvan also hands Aphra an Imperial command identification and allows Krrsantan to remove the weapon. Before leaving, Tolvan tells Aphra that she loves but hates her as well. As agreed, Aphra gets Krrsantan to knock Tolvan unconscious with his blaster. Escaping the rebel soldiers, Aphra and her friends escape into space aboard the Ark Angel II. She tells Klam to stop crying.

Flashback

In the past, an Imperial officer tells the orphaned Aphra that the Empire will evacuate her from Arbiflux and take her back to civilization. He explains that the natives of Arbiflux have invited the Empire to deal with the raiders. He explains that the natives will lose some freedom but this is the price for security. Aphra looks at the fallen remains of her late mother Lona Aphra.

Aphra's message

At the Imperial Communication Relay on Usk Minor, an Imperial comms officer tells his superior that they have received a data packet marked for commanders. He plays a hologram recording of Dr Aphra. The data packet hijacks all Imperial relays and command channels. Aphra tells her Imperial listeners that the Rebel Alliance are developing a superweapon capable of assassinating the Emperor from beyond the Core Worlds. She displays the Farkiller superweapon. She asks Imperial commanders to decide how they would respond to this gift. Her message is received by numerous Imperial commanders including Darth Vader.

As Aphra finishes her message, the Ark Angel II lands at the Imperial Communication Relay on Usk Minor. She, Klam and Krrsantan surrender themselves to the local Imperial garrison. The Imperial commander receives a message from Darth Vader, who issues orders to execute Aphra. However, his transmission is jammed by a Gozanti-class cruiser equipped with satellites and jamming equipment. Pitina Voor, an Imperial minister and the chair of the Coalition for Progres, welcomes Aphra and her companions as heroes of the Empire. They are accompanied by several camera droids.

Imperial homecoming

Minister Voor takes Aphra, Klam and Krrsantan to Centax 3, the third moon of Coruscant, which hosts the headquarters of the Coalition for Progress. Following a propaganda video, Voor gives Aphra a tour of the ministry's museum. She says that each piece represents a world that she had personally saved from destruction. Following a propaganda speech, Voor informs her guest and entourage that the Emperor Palpatine has requested to inspect the Farkiller himself. She hands the weapon in a glass case to two Imperial Royal Guards.

When Voor asks her guests what reward they would like, Klam says she would like vegetable stew and Gurtyl back. She adds that she wants a million credits. Aphra says that the honor of service is its own reward. A pleased Voor ends the recording and asks Aphra what she really wants. Aphra demands safe passage to the Outer Rim Territories and money to pay off her debt to Krrsantan. Voor is reluctant to pay but Klam demands that she pay up. Krrsantan aims his bowcaster at Voor and her Royal Guards.

Faced with force, Voor orders one of her officers to pay Krrsantan and to arrange travel for him offworld. After Krrsantan has left, Voor speaks with Aphra and Klam in private. She credits Aphra's message to the officer class with foiling Imperial plans to eliminate her. Voor tells Aphra that she was lucky that she got to Aphra first before Vader. Voor explains that the Coalition for Progress has been monitoring Aphra's movements across the galaxy. She adds that she fed her the false mission as a means to draw her into her plans. When Aphra asks what her plans are, Voor reveals that she plans to overthrow the Emperor.

Continuity

When Aphra and Pitina Mar-Mas Voor enter the Gallery of Peace, a light blue spiked helmet is seen at the edge of the panel. The helmet resembles that worn by Darth Krayt in the Legends comic book Star Wars: Legacy,^[3] as well as a mask worn by the Jedi Padawan Qort in the 2021 Canon comic series Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures.^[4]

Media

Editions

• UPC 759606086290; August 21, 2019; Marvel Comics^[1]
  • 03511; Cover A; Ashley Witter
  • 03521; Cover B; Greg Smallwood

Cover gallery

Cover A

Cover A, cover art

Cover B

Collected in

• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 6 — Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus Vol. 1

Appearances

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) #35 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) #35 (Variant) on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)

Aphra: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 The Screaming Citadel: 7 · 8 The Enormous Profit: 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 Remastered: 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 The Catastrophe Con: 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 Worst Among Equals: 26 · 27 · 28 · 29 · 30 · 31 Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon: 32 · 33 · 34 · 35 · 36 A Rogue's End: 37 · 38 · 39 · 40 Trade paperbacks 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · The Screaming Citadel Other Annual 1 · Annual 2 · Annual 3 · Hardcover 1 · Omnibus Related media Doctor Aphra (2020) · Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent Audiobook Original (script) · Epilogue
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