The clandestine sale of Rur was orchestrated by the renegade archaeologist Doctor Chelli Aphra circa 1 ABY. This event transpired on the Sorca Retreat space station, where she intended to liquidate the Rur Crystal. This crystal was an ancient Ordu artifact containing the tainted artificial intelligence of [Rur](/article/rur], a former Jedi.
Doctor [Aphra](/article/chelli_lona_aphra], the rogue archaeologist, resolved to vend the Rur Crystal for monetary gain after obtaining it. She successfully arranged an auction at the space station known as Sorca Retreat by infiltrating the starship of two Undervine journalists. She then utilized their transmitter to publicize her auction. To divert the attention of the journalists Dixnet Dat and Domthro Rus, Dr. Aphra engaged Krrsantan, a Wookiee bounty hunter, to regale them with tales of his experiences as a bounty hunter under the employ of the Xonti Brothers.
Numerous individuals attended the Auction of Rur, including Yonak from the Son-tuul Pride, as well as representatives from the Cyban Front, the Shadow University, the Dominion of the Ezaraa, Thomas Toov, Papa Toren, and Sutha of the Hutt Clan. Addressing the attendees, Dr. Aphra asserted that Eternal Rur possessed the potential to furnish invaluable data, unlock the secrets of immortality, and exert control over artificial intelligence via technopathy. The Cyban Front expressed skepticism regarding her assertions until one of their droids was seized by Eternal Rur before being neutralized. Dr. Aphra subsequently excused herself to allow the bidders time to deliberate their offers.
Driven by a desire for freedom from their master, Triple Zero and Beetee, Dr. Aphra's "killer droids", opted to undermine her scheme by informing Darth Vader about the auction. While the blue Cyban Front droid was undergoing repairs, Triple Zero and Beetee covertly implanted the Rur crystal within the droid's chassis, aiming to manipulate the situation to their advantage, fueled by their penchant for mayhem and brutality.
Subsequently, Dr. Aphra convened with the bidders. Papa Toren, representing the Xonti Brothers, conveyed his clients' desire to scrutinize the artifacts before submitting an offer. Thomas Toov, motivated by a yearning for immortality, emerged as the initial bidder. Despite their inherent animosity, the Son-tuul Pride and the Hutt Clan consolidated their bids in an attempt to undermine each other. Conversely, the red droid representing the Cyban Front proposed compensating Dr. Aphra to obliterate the crystal, apprehensive of the perils of technopathy.
In the interim, the xenophobic Ezaraa presented a bid equivalent to 0.000001% of their Imperial revenue for the Rur crystal. They issued a threat to subject Aphra and her descendants to torture should she decline their offer. Meanwhile, the representatives of the Shadow University extended an offer of unique artifacts and unrestricted access to the Shadow University's archives. They also menaced to expose the fraudulent methodologies she employed to secure her doctorate should she refuse. Lastly, the Xoxti Brothers sought to harness the Rur crystal to power android gladiators. Their presence engendered discord with Black Krrsantan, their former slave gladiator, who sought retribution for their merciless training.
After Triple Zero informed Dr. Aphra that the Shadow University had augmented its bid to slightly over a third of Toov's bid, Dr. Aphra elected to accept the university's offer. Summoning the bidders to the main hall, Dr. Aphra proclaimed the Shadow University as the victor of the bid. However, before she could arrange shipping, Eternal Rur breached containment from the cylinder. Housed within the chassis of the blue Cyban droid and wielding two blue lightsabers, the artificial intelligence sought vengeance against those who had endeavored to purchase him.
Eternal Rur proceeded to slaughter numerous bidders. Triple Zero and Beetee, having commandeered the gun turrets, unleashed blaster fire upon the guests. Amidst the pandemonium, Dr. Aphra forged an agreement with Black Krrsantan to facilitate his access to weaponry necessary to fulfill his "life debt" to the Xonti Brothers. The surviving bidders armed themselves, while Dr. Aphra retreated to her quarters to renegotiate terms with her killer droids. Alerted to the auction, Lord Vader arrived aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer accompanied by stormtroopers.
Dr. Aphra succeeded in persuading Triple Zero and Beetee to spare her life in exchange for removing the inhibitor program that enabled her to control them. Subsequently, Aphra aided Black Krrsantan in capturing the Xonti Brothers, enabling him to settle his grievances with them. Aphra managed to abscond aboard the Shadow University's vessel, laden with rare artifacts. Meanwhile, Darth Vader vanquished Eternal Rur and seized the Rur crystal. The demise of numerous underworld figures at the Sorca auction debilitated the underworld, affording the Galactic Empire the opportunity to concentrate on the Rebel Alliance.
The auction of Rur initially surfaced in the Marvel Comics series Doctor Aphra (2016) 9 and Doctor Aphra (2016) 10, the inaugural two installments of the 2017 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Book III: The Enormous Profit narrative arc.