Ciddarin Scaleback

During the final years of the Galactic Republic, a democratic union that governed much of the galaxy from its capital planet of Coruscant, the Trandoshan female Ciddarin Scaleback, nicknamed "Cid," worked as an information broker and smuggler who owned a cantina and gambling den on Ord Mantell. There, she manned the bar, turning away newcomers who either looked troublesome or seemed not to have credits to spend. Among her frequent patrons were the Ithorian Bolo and his Weequay friend Ketch. She also ran her mercenary operations from there, wherein Scaleback acquired numerous contacts from across the galaxy, among them the Jedi Order, an ancient religious group of Force-sensitives who served as guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, and to whom she passed along information. She had a "good thing" going with them, as they valued her insights and trusted her, and she, in turn, was valuable to them. The Jedi continued to use Scaleback's services during the Clone Wars, a pan-galactic conflict between the Republic and its splinter state, the Confederacy of Independent Systems that took place between 22 BBY and 19 BBY, visiting her in-person.

Among Scaleback's associates was the human female pirate Phee Genoa who instead claimed to be a "liberator of ancient wonders" and was the most trustworthy pirate Scaleback knew. By 18 BBY, the two had long since known each other and Scaleback considered her a friend. Another associate was Grini Millegi, a male Dowutin gangster and gambler who oversaw the riot racing on the Safa Toma Speedway, which was located on Serolonis. The two became familiar with one another and had a standard side wager for whenever one of their racers competed. However, the two grew apart, and Milegi began to distrust Scaleback since she did not always reciprocate loyalty. They parted ways, and time passed since Scaleback's last visit to Safa Toma.

In 19 BBY, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Sheev Palpatine, ordered the systematic genocide of the Jedi Order via the clones of the Grand Army of the Republic, reorganized the Republic into the first Galactic Empire, and declared himself Galactic Emperor while sending his apprentice, Darth Vader, to assassinate the remaining Confederate leaders so as to bring a quick and tumultuous end to the Clone Wars. With the Jedi near-extinct and the Empire hunting down any remaining remnant of them, demand for Scaleback's services fell. In order to protect herself amidst the new regime, Scaleback concealed her past connections to the Jedi and turned her attention onto more profitable assignments.

Early into the Empire's reign, Scaleback came into contact with Bib Fortuna, the majordomo of renowned Hutt crime boss Jabba Desilijic Tiure. Fortuna hired her to retrieve a young rancor, Muchi, whom he had put a bounty on. Scaleback's sources reported that Muchi was taken into the custody of a group of Zygerrian enslavers operating out of Old Ord Mantell City on the opposite side of the planet to her parlor. Meanwhile, the genetically defective clones of Clone Force 99, also referred to as "the Bad Batch," who had become fugitives after defying Imperial orders and escaping the planet Kamino with a young female clone, Omega, had a run-in with a human female targeting Omega on the moon Pantora. Despite initial plans to lay low, CT-1409, also known as "Echo," suggested they find Scaleback on Ord Mantell, believing she could be of assistance in uncovering the identity of their mysterious assailant. Despite members Wrecker and Tech's reservations about whether or not they could trust Scaleback, the team arrived at Ord Mantell City and made their way to Scaleback's parlor, under the false impression of Scaleback being a male.

Inside, the Batch noticed Bolo and Ketch fighting, and Hunter asked if either one of them was Scaleback. Echo, however, admitted that he had neither met Scaleback nor had any idea what "he" looked like. At this, Hunter approached Scaleback, who was working on one of her slot machines, and he asked her if she knew who Scaleback was, which she denied. Hunter persisted in pressing the matter, and Scaleback angrily told him that he was in the wrong place. She added that, unless he had come to spend money, he should go. She then went to the bar and watched the Batch discuss what to do next, with Tech remarking on the state of the bar, suggesting that "he" might have been arrested for violating several . Omega watched Scaleback while poking at a holotable before approaching and asserting that she was, in fact, Scaleback. The Trandoshan wryly remarked that Omega was smarter than her friends, and Omega used her comlink to inform the others about what she discovered.

Scaleback took the Batch into her office, where she told them about her experience with the Jedi and how the Empire had impeded her business. Hunter explained that times had changed for them as well, and Scaleback expressed her surprise at receiving a group of clone deserters. Tech tried to explain their motives for deserting, but Cid cut him off, insisting they get straight to the point. Without a word, Echo proceeded to scomp into her holoprojector, and, as Scaleback sarcastically declared, "By all means, make yourself at home," he displayed a hologram of the human female the Batch had encountered on Pantora. Scaleback was quickly to identify her as a bounty hunter, but could not recognize her. Hunter asked Scaleback if she could find out who hired her, and she responded that it all depended on what they could provide for her. In response to the Batch's confusion, Scaleback clarified what she was saying: if they pulled a job for her, she would get them the information they wanted. Echo expressed hesitancy at being called a "mercenary" by Scaleback, who asserted that it seemed Omega was the brains of the outfit. At Hunter's prompting, Scaleback explained that the Batch would rescue Muchi, whom she referred to only as a "kid," and that they would split the bounty 70-30 in her favor. The team agreed to her offer, and Scaleback tossed Hunter an . As they left, Scaleback asked that they not screw up.

While the Batch completed her mission, Scaleback discovered that the human female pursuing Omega was Fennec Shand, an up-and-coming bounty hunter who had gained a reputation for being dangerous and adept. Via her contacts in the Bounty Hunters' Guild, she additionally learned that Fennec was working on a direct commission. Unbeknownst to Scaleback, however, Shand's commission came from Kaminoan Chief Medical Scientist Nala Se, who wished to protect Omega from her Prime Minister, Lama Su. While Scaleback ate, she was contacted by Fortuna via hologram, who informed her that Jabba was impatient and wanted to know why the rancor had not yet been returned. Scaleback explained that such a mission required planning and asked Bib to assure Jabba that he would be reunited with Muchi soon. Still, the Twi'lek threatened her, and Scaleback explained to him that she had her "best people" on the job. Not long after, Fortuna arrived on Ord Mantell, flanked by two Gammorean guards. Surprised, Scaleback remarked on being graced by the presence of Jabba's right-hand man, and Bib demanded an update on behalf of his employer. Scaleback again claimed Muchi would be rescued, trying to ease his concerns after he threatened consequences for failure by noting how delicate the operation was. Before Fortuna could respond to her request that Jabba be patient, the two heard a roar from outside. Recognizing it to be Muchi, Bib left to go see her, with Scaleback in tow.

Outside, the Bad Batch led Muchi to Fortuna, who excitedly greeted her. Just then, Scaleback pushed her way through the Gammoreans and, seeing the rancor, gloated to Bib that all was well. She then brought up the matter of payment, and the Twi'lek had his guards pay her. After Fortuna, his guards, and Muchi left, Scaleback admitted that she had not been sure the Batch could have pulled off the rescue. Echo chastised her for failing to mention that Muchi was a rancor, to which she replied that it must have slipped her mind. She then commanded Hunter to come with her inside, which he did.

Inside her office, Scaleback informed Hunter about her findings about Fennec Shand. She claimed that, with someone of Fennec's caliber after them, they would need both friends and money, especially money. Hunter pointed out that they lacked both, and Scaleback remarked that it was a good thing they had met. Hunter was then given the promised payment and was offered more work. The clone said he would think about it, then turned to leave. However, as he was about to leave, Scaleback remarked that the Batch had to be valuable enough for someone to hire Shand to go after them. Hunter turned to face her, concerned, and she assured him that she was good with secrets.

Later, Echo taught Omega how to use her Zygerrian energy bow inside the parlor. Omega had earlier obtained the weapon from the Zygeerians during the Batch's mission to rescue Muchi. During the training session, Wrecker commented that Omega was not exactly a natural, only for Scaleback to appear and declare that "playtime" was over. She then told Bolo and Ketch, who had been watching Omega train, to leave, then asked the Batch if they knew what a tactical droid was. Tech tried to explain what a tactical droid was, but Scaleback cut him off. She then shoved Wrecker aside, pulled up a hologram of a tactical droid, and explained that she had a new job on Corellia: recover a tactical droid before they were all destroyed.

Though Hunter reminded her that they had not agreed to work for her, Scaleback insisted they would do so regardless, reasoning they would both profit. Noting that she would help watch the squad's back, Hunter then reluctantly agreed. Turning her attention to Omega, she told her the flaw with her handling of her new Zygerrian energy bow was that she wasn't building up enough strength before releasing. She briefly borrowed Omega's bow to demonstrate by shooting a target dead center thrice before handing it back.

Unfortunately, the job did not go as planned, as another party, Trace and Rafa Martez, was also after the tactical droid head, though their motives were to aid their client in fighting the Empire rather than simply profit. After escaping the decommissioning facility that resulted in the droid head being destroyed, Hunter chose to turn over the copied data to the Martez sisters and returned to Scaleback empty-handed.

Scaleback was later hired by Roland Durand to steal a creature Omega named Ruby from the Rhokai, a task she assigned the Bad Batch. Upon their successful return, Scaleback dodged Echo's inquiries on what her client wanted with Ruby and was impressed with Hunter correctly guessing she only cared about getting paid. As Wrecker and Omega went out to buy Mantell Mix, Scaleback dealt with the other clones in her office, providing a pittance for the job. When asked by the outraged clones why they were being cheated, Scaleback stated that the fact they were still alive was rather generous due to the debt they owed her; the amount involved their shuttle's docking fees, port charges, gear, fuel, rations, and twenty cartons of Mantell Mix. She then admitted as fond as she was of the clones, she wasn't running a charity and suggested they find a big score to square their debt before they saw her "ugly side." Before Scaleback could respond to Tech's quip about her appearance, they heard blaster fire go off in the parlor. Rushing out to investigate, they found the instigator was Captain Rex, who scared off Scaleback's frequent patrons, Ketch and Bolo. Annoyed at the presence of another clone, Scaleback made it clear she was not taking him in and stormed off.

The Bad Batch soon left Ord Mantell after Rex realized they still possessed their inhibitor chips, heading to Bracca to have them removed. Subsequently, they contacted Scaleback for information on Cad Bane, who had abducted Omega on Bracca. Though aware of Bane's reputation, Scaleback had no clues as to his whereabouts.

Upon the Batch's successful rescue of Omega, Scaleback offered the group a job to rescue Senator Avi Singh from Imperial prison on Raxus Secundus. Hunter initially refused the mission, and when Scaleback reminded him of their debt to her, Hunter told her he would not bring Omega to an Imperial-occupied planet, to which Scaleback responded that he should leave the child in her care. Hunter said that he did not exactly trust Scaleback, to which Scaleback laughed and agreed. Nonetheless, she reasoned that if Omega's safety ensured more money in her pocket, then it'd be in her best interest to do so. In the end, the group left Omega behind with Scaleback while they went on the mission, and Scaleback set Omega to work cleaning. As Omega sulked throughout the parlor, disappointed she had been left behind, Scaleback eventually approached to ask what was troubling her. When Omega complained, Scaleback scoffed and told her that life was not fair.

Later, Scaleback played a dejarik game against Ketch and Bolo. Omega offered her advice on a move, but Scaleback rolled her eyes and ignored her. However, when her move got her into trouble, she asked Omega what she would do, and when she played Omega's move, she quickly won the game. Surprised that the youngster was skilled at dejarik, she asked if she was good enough to make her any money. Offering her thirty percent, Scaleback was surprised to see Omega negotiate her way to sixty percent. The pair won enough games to make up the Bad Batch's debt, and although Hunter was not pleased upon returning from their mission that Omega had drawn so much attention to herself, Scaleback was delighted and told the clone to lighten up.

Scaleback was later contacted by Gobi Glie to acquire weapons for Ryloth, as the populace was forced to disband the resistance and surrender their arms while the planet was under Imperial occupation. Scaleback sent the Bad Batch to deliver the weapons, which indirectly led to Gobi's arrest.

While the Bad Batch were sent on another delivery, the criminal Roland Durand, from the Durand Crime Family, decided to make a name for himself in the galactic underworld. As Ord Mantell was the center of multiple hyperspace routes and ideal for smuggling, Durand took it over with his gang and forced Scaleback out since her parlor was right in the middle of the action. Following the Bad Batch's return and sudden discovery of Durand's hostile takeover, Scaleback awaited the squad aboard the Marauder and explained Roland's motives. As she volunteered them to retake her Parlor, Hunter questioned why they should involve themselves. She reminded that her losses affect them and subtly blackmailed them. Fortunately, Omega supported her argument, reminding her brothers that Scaleback helped them when they needed her most and now it was time to return the favor.

As they made their way through the streets of Ord Mantell City, Scaleback outlined her plan to steal a shipment of spice from Durand to agitate the Pyke Syndicate. Scaleback led the Bad Batch to a manhole that led to Ord Mantell's old mining tunnels. Scaleback warned that the caverns had an infestation problem and that they should keep quiet. While passing through the tunnel, Wrecker stirred the mysterious creatures, prompting a disapproving glance from Scaleback. Meanwhile, Ketch and Bolo distracted Durand by stealing Ruby. Scaleback and Omega loaded the spice onto the mining transports as Wrecker brought them down. Just as Durand entered the office, the crew ducked into the tunnels to make their escape. As they fled through the tunnels, Durand's goons pursued them. Their blaster fight aroused the irlings, who swarmed the carts. Scaleback was upset when the irlings destroyed the spice on the second cart. They made it safely on the other side of the cavern, and Wrecker sealed the door behind them.

The crew returned to the Parlor, where they witnessed the Pykes arresting Durand. However, the Pykes demanded that Scaleback return the stolen spice and held Omega captive while the Bad Batch retrieved the spice shipment. Scaleback promised she would do everything she could to rescue Omega. The Marauder hovered over the chasm and Wrecker and Scaleback rappelled beneath the surface to locate the missing spice. Scaleback began securing crates of spice for Hunter to tow up. With the final two crates secure, Scaleback and Wrecker rode them as Hunter pulled them to the surface. Ascending past the mining rail, Scaleback and her crate bumped a lonely cart, sending it tumbling into the depths of the hive. Once again, the irlings swarmed the cavern. Tech dropped a flash grenade down the chasm and frightened the swarm. Scaleback and Wrecker continued their journey safely to the ship. Scaleback and the Bad Batch delivered the shipment to the Pykes, who returned Omega, according to their word. Durand faced death, but was spared when Omega and Scaleback reasoned with the Pykes, warning them against starting a potential war with his mother crime boss Isa Durand and knew that heat was something they didn't want to have at the time since their leader Marg Krim just brought the Syndicate out from hiding. One of Durand's horns was sliced and the Pykes exited the hangar. In return for saving his life, Durand restored the Parlor to Scaleback's ownership. Thankful for the Bad Batch's assistance, Scaleback bought the crew their first round of drinks.

Later, Scaleback sent the Batch on a job. However, mid-mission, the team was contacted by Rex, who asked them to rescue CC-5576-39, also known as "Gregor," from the Imperial base on Daro. Though Tech reminded the group that if they deviated from the task at hand, they would not be compensated, Omega pointed out that saving Gregor was more important than getting paid. The team agreed to take on Rex's mission, but Hunter was captured by the Empire in the process and taken to Kamino, the homeworld of the Kaminoans and where the Grand Army of the Republic was created. To prepare for their new rescue mission, the Batch returned to Ord Mantell, and while Echo, Omega, and Tech repaired the Marauder, Wrecker went and left Gregor with Scaleback, who expressed displeasure at this.

In the course of the mission, however, the Empire carried out an atmospheric bombardment of Kamino's cities and other facilities, though the Batch managed to escape the disaster with the help of CT-9904, also known as "Crosshair," their old teammate who had remained loyal to the Empire while the others had deserted. In the months that followed the attack on Kamino, the Batch continued to work for Scaleback, and Kaminoan medical droid AZI-345211896246498721347, also known as "AZI-3," whom the Batch had brought from Kamino, began to work at Cid's Parlor.

After a crab heist, Scaleback introduced the Bad Batch to the pirate Phee Genoa. She explained that the Empire was on the planet Serenno and taking Count Dooku war chests from his former castle, stating that if the Bad Batch could get their hands on one of the war chests, they would be rich enough to be freed from their debts and leave Ord Mantell. Hunter initially refused, claiming that after what had happened to Tipoca City, the group needed to avoid Imperial attention. Scaleback answered that eventually the Empire would be everywhere.

At some point, Scaleback brought Tech, Wrecker and Omega to the desert planet of Serolonis, known for its racing circuits. She declared that she was betting on the ringer TAY-0, a racer droid piloting a modified 12 series speeder repulsorcraft. When she took the clones to see Tay-0, she was met by the Dowutin gangster Grini Millegi. The latter menacingly declared that his team, notably the Nosaurian Jet Venim, would win the next race. Tech then asked if Scaleback had had any conflict in the past with the gangster, something that she denied. During the next race, Tay-0 took the left tunnel of the Gambler's Gulch although having been warned by Scaleback not to, as it was known to be a death trap. Ultimately, Tay-0 was destroyed and lost the race. While the clones were trying to salvage the droid and the speeder, Millegi came back and asked to be paid, something that Scaleback could not do. When the situation started to escalate, Omega proposed a third race with different conditions: if their team won, Scaleback would be freed from her debt. If Millegi's ringer won, he would be paid double. The Dowutin agreed but took Scaleback as collateral until the race was over.

Scaleback was then brought to Millegi's suite above the stadium. When Scaleback tried to explain she had given up on her questionable past, Millegi answered that people would eventually get to know the real Scaleback. Prior to the third race, Millegi and his hostage visited the Bad Batch once again, noticing that Tay-0 had been destroyed for the second time. Millegi explained that Safa Toma was a dangerous place and proposed Scaleback's team to forfeit. Eventually, Tech volunteered to replace Tay-0. Reluctantly, Millegi accepted but with the thought that Scaleback's team had little chance to win the race.

Tech started the race in last place, which frightened Scaleback. Eventually, with different strategies involving using the dangerous shortened track called "," Tech ended up winning the race. Millegi was upset but honored the deal and freed Scaleback. While leaving Safa Toma, Scaleback declared that she owned the clones a favor. However, shortly before they walked away, Millegi reminded the Bad Batch that Scaleback was not someone they should trust and recommended they stay vigilant.

At one point, Scaleback purchased an ipsium mine on a desert planet known as Ipsidon. Due to the high value of the mineral, Scaleback tasked the Bad Batch with extracting some from the mine. However, during the mission, the clones had their ship stolen. They later managed to contact Scaleback through an abandoned settlement but the latter explained that she could not help them find a way back to Ord Mantell and that they had to find a solution themselves.

After the Bad Batch managed to recover their ship from the enslaver Mokko, Scaleback gave the clones the coordinates to a crashed ship and asked them not to come back to Ord Mantell until they had found something valuable. However, the Bad Batch never contacted her after the mission and did not answer her messages for twenty rotations, which resulted in the Trandoshan threatening the clones to reveal confidential information she had gathered during their partnership.

Shortly after, the clones went on a mission to Eriadu to rescue their former squad-mate CT-9904 "Crosshair", during which they were attacked and injured. Without Tech, they returned to Cid's Parlor in an attempt to hide from imperials. However, Scaleback warned the Empire of their presence, which resulted in Omega being captured by Imperial Doctor Royce Hemlock and the three remaining clones running away with the droid AZI.

After Omega escaped captivity from Mount Tantiss alongside Crosshair, Clone X trooper CX-2—who was working under Hemlock's orders to recapture the young clone due to her recently discovered usefulness to Project Necromancer—tracked down Scaleback in order to discover leads about Omega's whereabouts. He managed to pull information out of Scaleback, who gave up Phee's name as someone who had contact with Omega. After securing that intel and reporting his actions to Hemlock, CX-2 tracked Phee's location and accessed her ship's navigation computer, discovering Pabu and deducing that his target was hiding on the planet.

Scaleback was a female Trandoshan with green skin and golden eyes. Short and portly in stature, Scaleback was shrewd at her job. Unlike most Trandoshans (who are often viscous, bloodthirsty and even somewhat animalistic), Scaleback often exhibited a relaxed, calm and professional air, yet could also be somewhat temperamental and abrasive. She had a wide array of contacts, ranging from Jedi Knights to powerful crime lords, and did not act intimidated by any of them. Despite this, Scaleback knew better than to make enemies out of powerful figures and groups, such as the Pykes. She was willing to be deceptive to get what she wanted, such as telling the Bad Batch that the juvenile rancor Muchi was a child in danger.

Scaleback had a no-nonsense attitude. She quickly formed nicknames for the members of the Bad Batch, referring to Tech as "Goggles," Hunter as "Bandana," or sometimes "Dark and Broody," Omega as "Tiny," Wrecker as "Muscles," and Echo as "Killjoy." Scaleback had a soft spot for Omega. She was always opportunistic, and upon realizing she was very skilled at dejarik, partnered with her to make some money and gained a newfound respect for her. Despite selling the Batch out to the Empire for slighting her and bringing attention to her operations, she still showed physical signs of remorse for her actions before leaving.

Scaleback was a strong and skilled individual, displaying mastery of a Zygerrian energy bow when she fired three very accurate shots to demonstrate to Omega how to operate the weapon.

Ciddarin Scaleback first appeared in episode 5, "Rampage," of the first season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch. She is voiced by Rhea Perlman. She was first revealed in a trailer for the season, titled "For Hire." Scaleback's full name was first revealed in the second season episode "Faster," which premiered on Disney+ on January 18, 2023.

Concept art of Scaleback clarified that her jacket needed to be rigged in a manner similar to that of Star Wars Resistance character Kazuda Xiono.