Darth Vader (2020) 24

Someone visited Polis Massa. Someone overheard Padmé's dying words. Someone is aware of Vader's most guarded secret. What will transpire when the Dark Lord of the Sith discovers this? Meanwhile, a group of refugees originating from a desert planet contend with the oppressive rule of an Imperial governor. Will their link to Vader's past act as their deliverance – or their downfall? Plus: the surprising comeback of two of Anakin Skywalker's oldest companions!__

A stormtrooper presents Commander Sabé, who is seen wearing a combination of her personal attire and Imperial armor. Sabé inquires about their ability to confront Governor Tauntaza, and Darth Vader then instructs an Imperial officer to establish a connection with the Super Star Destroyer Executor. However, the Governor's Imperial Star Destroyer is preventing any communication from leaving Gabredor III. Vader requests that his shuttle be prepared for immediate departure.

A balding male villager voices his concern that Vader cannot destroy the flagship, but Kitster Banai objects to this statement. The villager is worried about the 33 villagers who were drafted by the Governor and are now aboard the Governor's Star Destroyer. In response, Sabé directs ZED-6-7 to collect the names, skills, and areas of expertise of those conscripted individuals, and to estimate their locations. When Zed indicates that he will complete the task shortly, a stormtrooper emphasizes the Commander's instruction. ZED-6-7 reveals that Governor Tauntaza is no longer present on her flagship, but has instead established a base at the former science colony, situated approximately 300 klicks north of the Gabredor III colony, and did so around two days prior.

Not long after, Governor Tauntaza observes her scientists and technicians conducting tests on a conversion device, which a lieutenant claims is 323 percent more potent than the one utilized on Karolia. The device has created a breach in the dome. Before they are able to finalize the extraction, alarms begin to sound. The lieutenant informs Governor Tauntaza that the facility is under attack. Mistaking the threat for a forest tangor, Tauntaza instructs the lieutenants to deploy the battle droids. The lieutenant clarifies that Darth Vader is leading the assault. Consequently, Tauntaza orders the crew to accelerate their work, while simultaneously requesting reinforcements from Crimson Dawn.

Vader, Sabé, and their stormtroopers forcefully break through the battle droid defenses and liberate the conscripts. Sabé offers reassurance to the conscripts, stating that they are there to provide assistance. Upon locating the Governor, Tauntaza attempts to offer her perspective on the situation. Vader retorts that she has aligned herself with chaos and has thus determined her own destiny. Before he can proceed, Tauntaza commands her crew to activate a prototype cannon, which emits an electrical surge that stuns Vader. Believing that the weapon has been effective against Vader, Tauntaza employs a prototype energy shield to repel the blasts from Sabé and the stormtroopers.

Several Crimson Dawn assassins arrive in an airspeeder and begin attacking Vader and his forces. A B2-series super battle droid instructs the assassins to evacuate the Governor while it deals with the intruders. The Sith assassin Ochi of Bestoon appears on a speeder bike and fires upon the super battle droid and B1 battle droids. However, his arrival serves as a diversion, allowing Governor Tauntaza to escape. An enraged Lord Vader uses the Force chokes on Ochi. When Ochi claims that he arrived to rescue Vader, the Sith Lord criticizes Ochi for believing that the droids posed any threat to him.

Sabé assures Doctor Aira and the other conscripts that they are now safe. Aira explains that Governor Tauntaza has been developing a novel weapon designed to extract energy from living organisms, including entire planets. He elaborates that Tauntaza had previously tested the weapon on Karolia, a heavily forested planet located in the Belderone system. Vader then experiences a flashback, recalling the destruction of Alderaan alongside Princess Leia Organa, and sensing the deaths of millions through the Force.

The conscripts express feelings of guilt for their involvement in Governor Tauntaza's schemes, but Sabé reassures them that they are innocent of her transgressions. Vader then has flashbacks of the slaughter of Tusken Raiders as revenge for the murder of his mother Shmi Skywalker Lars, the killing of Jedi Initiates, and the execution of the Separatist Council. Vader then experiences a Force vision in which Padmé Amidala tells him that there is still goodness within him, though they are separated by an electronic barrier. Ochi offers Lord Vader his speeder bike, which the Sith Lord accepts. The ricochet knocks Ochi to the ground.

When Ochi informs Sabé that he believes he has earned Vader's favor by providing him with the speeder bike, Sabé shows a lack of interest. Instead, she instructs the stormtroopers to secure any operational vehicles, evacuate the conscripts, and destroy the facility. She states that they will await Vader's return. As Vader experiences his vision, he rejects Amidala, believing that he is incapable of returning to the light. He shatters the barrier with the Force.

Battle droids are shown serving in the forces of Governor Tauntaza and Crimson Dawn in Darth Vader #24. When questioned about the reason for these droids' inclusion, writer Greg Pak stated that he did not remember the specific rationale, suggesting that it may have been as simple as a fondness for battle droids and a desire to incorporate them into the narrative.