Always Bet on Chop

Garazeb Orrelios recounts a mission with Chopper that did not go according to plan. The story begins with the pair assigned the task of securing vital Imperial banking codes from a sporting arena hosting gladiator droid combat. However, Chopper inadvertently erases the codes during an attempt to download them from a computer interface mounted on the wall. Further complicating matters, a fight promoter named Blik stumbles upon them. Despite not suspecting any illicit activity, Blik mistakes Chopper for a participant in the day's droid fights, leading him to usher the two rebels down a hallway.

The rebels are separated. Chopper is escorted to the Verpine Effor, who will prepare him for the fight, while Orrelios is compelled to follow Blik to "finalize the registration." Inside the arena, Chopper faces off against a droideka known as The Unwinder. Simultaneously, at the betting station, Orrelios' cover is blown when his name is absent from the arena's databases. The suspicious Twi'lek bookie then summons security. Meanwhile, Chopper skillfully evades The Unwinder's barrage of blaster fire, stunning the audience and the commentators. Back at the betting area, Orrelios collides the heads of the Twi'lek and Blik together, incapacitating them and allowing him to escape. Making his way to the arena floor, the Lasat shouts to the astromech droid that it is time to leave. Chopper, however, insists that he is enjoying himself too much, much to his companion's annoyance. The spectators in the stands are clearly enjoying the show.

Nearby, a squad of stormtroopers presents Orrelios' holographic image to Effor, who directs them towards the arena. Initially, the Lasat seems ready to abandon Chopper in the arena, heading for an exit. However, he quickly reconsiders and turns back. Now surrounded by stormtroopers wielding blasters, Orrelios prepares for a fight, despite being unarmed. Suddenly, Chopper speeds past Orrelios and the Imperials, catching them off guard. The Unwinder follows closely behind, heading directly toward the troopers. Chopper then doubles back for his ally, urging him to move. The pair successfully escape as the Unwinder throws and crushes the Imperial soldiers.

Later, aboard the Ghost, Orrelios and Chopper are in the crew area, along with Rex. Perched on the edge of a bench, the Lasat recounts the story to Rex, who laughs gleefully. Smiling warmly at Chopper, Orrelios expresses regret that they failed to retrieve the data. Hera Syndulla then appears, revealing that Chopper had already uploaded the Imperial codes upon their return, and they could have left the arena before any of the incidents occurred. Once again, Orrelios glares at Chopper in wide-eyed frustration.

"Always Bet on Chop" showcases gladiator droids, which were first seen in canon in "Nomad Droids," the sixth episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series' fourth season, although their origins can be found in the 1979 Legends novel Han Solo at Stars' End. The comic also marks the first canon appearance of a Verpine, a species initially conceived for Strike Force: Shantipole and later incorporated into Star Wars (1977) 7, the seventh installment of Marvel Comics' earlier Legends Star Wars comic series in 1977. The Unwinder, with its mechanical claw-tipped arms, bears a resemblance to the grapple droideka featured in the Legends video game Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles.