EV-A4-D, also known simply as A4-D, was an EV-series medical droid and mechanic owned by General Grievous. He repaired the Kaleesh cyborg following battles with the Republic, and resided in his master's lair on the third moon of Vassek. EV-A4-D was partially destroyed by Jedi Master Kit Fisto during a Republic operation to recapture Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray. The droid doctor was later rebuilt on the general's orders, and EV-A4-D served Grievous until the end of the Clone Wars.
EV-A4-D was sarcastic and sadistic, and he appeared to take as much joy in the potential defeat of Jedi and clone troopers as Grievous did.
EV-A4-D began life as a supervisor droid refitted to become a medic as part of MerenData's attempt to salvage something from the disaster of the EV-series. The medical droid was purchased by the Separatists and retrofitted with additional arms and photoreceptors and a variety of surgical and droid engineering attachments.
The Separatist warlord General Grievous was nearly fully rebuilt after his shuttle crash, over time, Grievous made substantial adjustments and enhancements to his cybernetic body. Later, EV-A4-D was gifted to Grievous to act as both surgeon and cybernetics repair mechanic for the cyborg. He served as Grievous's personal medical droid during the Clone Wars, and provided critical repairs to the cyborg's body following battles with the Republic. As Grievous's doctor, the rather sarcastic and slightly sadistic droid became the perfect foil for the general, having access to all of Grievous's medical and cybernetic records and a greatly boosted intelligence. He was one of the few entitles in the galaxy who knew his master's secrets. He always kept spare parts for the general, and helped him design and fit the new improvements that Grievous requested.
EV-A4-D repairs his master, Grievous
In 21 BBY, EV-A4-D performed repairs on Grievous after Jedi Master Kit Fisto and Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb ambushed the general upon his return to his fortress on the third moon of Vassek. Fisto and Vebb had entered Grievous's lair after following the signal of a ship stolen by Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray following his escape from Republic captivity. However, this turned out to be a trap that Separatist leader Count Dooku had devised to face them with General Grievous.
After escaping from the Jedi, Grievous called on EV-A4-D to provide repairs, having had his legs hacked off by Fisto's lightsaber and sustaining blaster damage to his faceplate. EV-A4-D scolded Grievous for the damage he'd taken, bemoaning how long it would take to get the cyborg back into decent shape, before leaving to prepare Grievous's spare parts. The medical droid also relayed to Grievous that his personal bodyguards had been remotely deactivated for recharge, much to Grievous's bemusement.
After Grievous sent his pet roggwart Gor to deal with the Jedi intruders, EV-A4-D proceeded with Grievous's repairs. The medical droid removed and replaced the cyborg's legs, before doing the same with his faceplate—causing some discomfort for Grievous. Meanwhile, EV-A4-D pondered why Grievous submitted to the cybernetic changes that saw the Kalee-born warrior become more mechanical than organic, but Grievous stressed that they were improvements and that he submitted to no one.
Following the repairs, Grievous found that the Jedi had slayed Gor, before being contacted by Dooku. Dooku informed Grievous that he had arranged the Jedi intruders in order to retest his effectiveness, and demanded greater results from the Separatist general—in the form of more dead Jedi. Grievous angrily agreed to play Dooku's game and rushed to meet the Jedi, despite EV-A4-D's insistence that he needed rest. Grievous stressed that he would rest only when the Jedi were dead.
EV-A4-D watches as Fisto and Vebb attempt to enter the control room
As Grievous left the control room of his lair, he was spied upon by Fisto and Vebb, who memorized the pattern that Grievous used to enter and exit the control room. The Jedi sneaked in behind Grievous, intending to enter the control room; but as Fisto opened the door, EV-A4-D alerted the general of the Jedi's movements. Vebb stayed behind to duel the cyborg and his MagnaGuard companions, while Fisto was separated from his former Padawan as the control-room door slammed shut. EV-A4-D watched excitedly as Grievous dueled Vebb, but failed to notice Fisto entering the control room until he noticed that there was no sign of the other Jedi—whom he had just locked himself inside with. EV-A4-D had just enough time to realize and bemoan his fate before the Jedi Master's lightsaber bisected him.
Soon after, Grievous killed Vebb, but Fisto escaped the cyborg's lair after a brief lightsaber duel with Grievous. Despite his partial destruction, EV-A4-D was recovered and rebuilt on Grievous's orders. Accordingly, he continued to serve the general until the end of the war. During the final days of the war, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi killed Grievous during the Battle of Utapau, and the Separatists were defeated when Sith apprentice Darth Vader ordered the Droid Army to shut down.
EV-A4-D with his vast array of tools
EV-A4-D possessed a high level of wit, which he often deployed in the form of sarcastic remarks. Despite the droid sometimes bordering on insolence with his attitude, Grievous was seemingly quite tolerant of the EV-A4-D's antics, and the medical droid certainly didn't receive the same treatment that Grievous's battle droids sometimes did. Grievous let him live for as long as he did his job. In reverse, EV-A4-D was diligent and speedy in his repairs on his master's body, and was keen to ensure that Grievous rested following repairs for maximum effectiveness.
EV-A4-D appeared to share his master's sadism and lust for battle, albeit from afar. The entry of Fisto and Vebb into the fortress on Vassek 3 provided much excitement for the medical droid, who urged his master to kill the Jedi. His interest in battle perhaps contributed to his downfall, however, as it distracted him from realizing that in sealing off the control room, he had also locked himself in with one of the Jedi, who promptly destroyed EV-A4-D.
EV-A4-D stood at 1.74 meters tall, and was covered in bronze plating with a number of white photoreceptors. He was outfitted with a range of medical and surgical tools, while he also possessed a power welder for use in repairing the body of his master.
EV-A4-D first appeared in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "Lair of Grievous," where he was voiced by David Acord. Acord's vocal performance as EV-A4-D was inspired by the distinctive speaking pattern of comedian and actor Paul Lynde.
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