Star Wars fans have known and loved R2-D2 and C-3PO for a long time, but Doctor Aphra has a pair of droids that should be paid attention to. 0-0-0 (Triple Zero) and BT-1 (Bee Tee) are a pair similar to the beloved droid duo, but twisted. Who exactly are Triple Zero and BT-1?

Triple Zero first appeared in Darth Vader #3 which came out in 2015, written by Kieron Gillen with art by Salvador Larroca.  Triple Zero, like C-3PO, is a protocol droid. He can do everything his good counterpart can, but is an additional master in torture. BT-1 is an astromech, similar to R2-D2, except he is a different type of astromech. He is a prototype of the BT model, also known as a “Blastomech.” Blastomech were designed to be specialized assassination droids. Both of these droids were built under the Tarkin Initiative, which was predominantly used to build top-secret weaponry, including both Death Stars.

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Bee Tee is particularly dangerous because he destroyed the Tarkin Initiative Base, killing everyone aboard and causing the base to self-destruct. These droids are under the ownership of Doctor Aphra, an archaeologist who tends to get into a lot of trouble. Within their first appearance, both are also assigned to Darth Vader, who hires Doctor Aphra. Originally, they were intended to be picked up for the Droid Gotra – a criminal organization run for droids, by droids – until Darth Vader changed Aphra’s plans.

These two droids are present in the previously mentioned series, as well as in the Vader Down crossover arc. Mostly, they are seen in the 2016 series, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, initially written by Kieron Gillen with art by Kev Walker, with Simon Spurrier taking over at issue #16. The series follows the titular character and her dangerous adventures with these droids by her side. Another Star Wars: Doctor Aphra series began in 2020, but this duo is noticeably absent.

Triple Zero is exactly what C-3PO would be if he was sadistic and capable of harming people. They have very similar speech patterns, but Triple Zero enjoys being bad and will say things proving it. He gets a kick-off destroying organisms and takes pride in his work. Like C-3PO, he speaks very politely and thinks he should be respected and treated nicely. Unlike C-3PO, Triple Zero will not run from a fight and will more likely than not be one of the first to enter a dangerous area to eliminate enemies in the way with Bee Tee’s help. He and C-3PO are so similar, Triple Zero was once able to imitate him with a gold layering to get to Luke Skywalker in Darth Vader #13. He has shock abilities in his hands and numerous built-in torture instruments, including a Mandalorian incapacitating toxin.

Bee Tee’s major similarities to R2-D2 are his friendship with a protocol droid, being a variety of astromech, and an inability for humans (and readers) to understand what he says without Triple Zero translating or responding to him. Otherwise, Bee Tee is predominantly a destructive, homicidal droid who proves very useful to Doctor Aphra and her line of work. He and R2-D2 once had a run-in also in Darth Vader #13. Bee Tee has numerous weapons and explosives built into his interior compartments.

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Collectively, these two make for a deadly combination, perfect for a criminal with very few special abilities. Doctor Aphra is neither Sith nor Jedi, so she often needs backup that can effectively help her stay alive. This reverse C-3PO and R2-D2 pair often get into scraps and take pleasure in hurting others, proving that in the Star Wars universe, even droids have personalities and differences of their own.

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About The Author


Samantha King
(827 Articles Published)

Samantha King is a Comic News Writer for Screen Rant. She has a B.A. in English & American Literature with a concentration in Shakespeare and a minor in Creative Writing from UTEP. She also has a M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Texas.

Samantha used to get in trouble for reading comics in class back in high school, but she gets the last laugh. She took a graphic novel course in college and now gets paid to write about comics. She runs her own blog at: www.therealworldaccordingtosam.blogspot.com

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