Doctor Aphra (2016) 5
title: "Doctor Aphra 5"
Doctor Aphra issue number five represents the fifth installment within the comic book series titled Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, published by Marvel. This particular comic was penned by Kieron Gillen, while the artistic illustrations were crafted by Kev Walker. Its official release date was March 8, 2017.
Publisher's summary
- Could it be that Aphra has actually located a long-lost Jedi location from ancient times?
- Presuming she has, is it possible for her to escape with her life intact?
- Should she manage to survive, will she be successful in selling it for a worthwhile amount? [1]
Plot summary
Into the Citadel of Rur
As Captain Magna Tolvan gets closer to the Citadel of Rur aboard a Lambda-class shuttle, she tells her officers her goal is to seek forgiveness. She then gives the order for her snowtroopers to take control of the space station and to shoot at anything they see.
In the meantime, Chelli Lona Aphra and her father, Korin Aphra, are inspecting the corpses of deceased Jedi. Korin becomes annoyed by his daughter's mocking tone, pointing out that the Jedi suffered before they died. He expresses his sadness that individuals who dedicated their lives to peace met such terrible ends. Korin is further angered when his daughter starts taking lightsabers from the dead bodies. Aphra defends her actions by saying that archaeology is essentially grave robbing, but with "fancy paperwork," and she also mentions that she needs to pay off some debts.
After Krrsantan makes a loud roar, Aphra says that she made a promise to find the people who forced him to become a gladiator. She clarifies that he isn't against the gladiator lifestyle, but he resents being controlled by others. She then admits that using subtle, yet aggressive, comments is her preferred tactic.
The crystal walkway into space
The Aphras, along with Triple Zero, and BT-1 (also known as "Beetee"), stumble upon a sealed door that has been blasted. Nearby, they discover a power generator surrounded by the bodies of both organic beings and droids. Triple Zero speaks to Beetee, mentioning his certainty that their human superiors have noticed the crystal fragments scattered on the floor. He continues by saying that their superiors are superior in every way, which is why they are in charge.
Aphra then asks Korin how to restart the generator. When her father produces crystals from his bag, Aphra inquires about the quantity they possess. Korin replies that if he had been able to gather them on Yavin 4, they would have a wide variety to choose from. However, he states that they only have a single crystal. Aphra suggests that she might be able to replicate its function and instructs Triple Zero and Beetee to retrieve a crystal modulator from the Ark Angel II.
While the droids are away, Korin discovers a holographic image of Rur. He asks Aphra if she can access the logs from this location. Aphra responds that the core is not active but says she will try to open the blast door. Aphra succeeds in opening the door, revealing a series of walkways covered in crystals that surround a cylindrical core. On their way back to the ship, Triple Zero and Beetee manage to avoid a patrol of snowtroopers led by Captain Tolvan.
The Aphras realize that the walkways lead directly into the vacuum of space. Korin explains that the Ordu Aspectu attempted to help their followers understand their insignificance when compared to the vastness of space. He mentions that regular people lived among the Ordu, which supports the theory of Lupin Tutax. Aphra responds sarcastically, noting that they all suffered before dying.
Aphra observes that the station has vents that directly expose it to space. Since they are still able to breathe, she concludes that the life support system must operate independently. Korin agrees, stating that this aligns with the theories of the Ordu and suggesting that it is likely connected to the central computer. Aphra asks about the location of the computer core, as she is interested in discovering what transpired. Korin responds that it is located within the central sphere.
Imperial pursuit
At that moment, the Aphras and Black Krssantan find themselves under attack by snowtroopers, who are being commanded by Captain Tolvan. While the Aphras and the Wookiee seek cover behind a sizable ice crystal, Triple Zero and Beetee report that they have eliminated two Imperials on the Ark Angel II and ask if they should protect the vessel and possibly mop up. Aphra thanks Triple Zero for the warning. She tells Krrsantan to slow down the Imperials and then pull back. She also orders Triple Zero to find a safe place to pick them up.
Korin reminds his daughter they have to reach the core because it will include the Ordu Aspectu's records. Aphra reasons that the Ark Angel could pick them up and asks how they can get across to the core. Captain Tolvan orders Squad Beta to flank their quarry and Squad Alpha to provide covering fire. Krrsantan manages to mislead the snowtroopers into thinking they have eliminated him and sneaks away.
In the meantime, Korin and Aphra find a Force bridge and dodge blaster fire to reach the computer core. Triple Zero tells Aphra that Black Krrsantan is with them and that he will be leaving. He adds that if she lives through this, Aphra would still owe Krrsantan a debt. Aphra angrily tells Triple Zero to tell Krrsantan that if he was dating a bantha, she would still be the looker. Korin asks his daughter what they are going to do while taking shelter.
Father and daughter
Korin tells her father to get ready to run as she shoots an overhead structure, which collapses on one of the ice bridges, sending at least three snowtroopers to the abyss. Aphra and Korin take an elevator to the core which brings them to a crystal. Korin calls the crystal "Immortal Rur" himself.
Since the computer is missing a crystal, Korin is unable to reboot it. Aphra questions her father's devotion to the Ordu Aspectu. Korin responds that he was trying to bring light back into the universe. Aphra mocks her father for wanting to save the universe, dismissing it as a scary place. Korin tells Aphra that the Great Jedi Purge motivated him to bring back the Ordu, seeking to create a safer galaxy for his daughter to grow.
He explains that Aphra's mother Lona Aphra did not agree because she believed that they should live without fear of the consequences. Korin tells Aphra that him leaving his wife was never about him. When he asks if Lona hated him, Aphra responds that her mother only thought she was wrong. Korin regrets that he and his wife were unable to resolve their differences and apologizes to his daughter that she was caught in the middle. He apologizes that he and Lona were not good parents to Aphra.
Korin explains that Toob-Nix, the Sava whom she stole the Abersyn symbiotes, had died last month. Before his death, he sought revenge against Aphra for undermining his academic research by leaking information about her crimes to her own father, knowing that Aphra hated her father. She believed that Korin also hated his daughter. Korin offers to restore his daughter's doctorate if they make it out alive as a means of mending their relationship. Aphra asks her dad how he can be certain that she won't stab him.
In the presence of "Rur"
Aphra reveals that she pocketed the crystal needed to start up the computer and passes it back to her father. She explains that it reboots the computer and is the only way to get the records. Aphra thinks that Rur died turning the system off. She asks her father how eager he is to access the information on the Ordo Aspectu that he had sought for all these years.
Rur places the crystal on the cmputer and they are confronted by a green holographic entity claiming to be Rur. The "Eternal Rur" asks what time it is. When Korin remarks that Rur is dead, Eternal Rur claims that shell was the false Rur. "Eternal Rur" possesses a derelict droid and announces himself as Rur. Aphra remarks that the feeling "I told you so" is going to be awful lot less satisfying than she thought it would be.