Doctor Aphra (2016) 21

Doctor Aphra 21 is the twenty-first issue of the comic book series Star Wars: Doctor Aphra. The comic was written by Si Spurrier, illustrated by Kev Walker, and published on June 27, 2018 by Marvel Comics. The issue contains the story "The Catastrophe Con Part II," in which Doctor Aphra attempts to escape Accresker Jail with the help of Magna Tolvan.
==Publisher's summary==
"BROKEN INSIDE" CONTINUES! Doctor Aphra may be in Imperial prison, but she's certainly not alone. Rumors have it that these bars are haunted, but this rogue archaeologist knows there's something much more valuable going on. Meanwhile, Aphra's got information - information that the Rebellion wants. But how far are they willing to go--and who are they willing to recruit – in order to get it?
==Plot summary==
===Calls for help===
On the 3rd Moon in the Outer Rim Territories, Sana Starros receives a static image transmission from Dr. Chelli Lona Aphra. Starros is initially surprised to see her estranged friend. Later, General Hera Syndulla of the Rebel Alliance contacts Starros. Syndulla has also received Dr. Aphra's holo image yesterday from a droid lost during a fleet battle. Since Aphra is offering to sell critical intelligence at a ludicrous price, the Alliance wants to speak with her.
Starros is reluctant to help Aphra due to a bad falling out in their relationship. Syndulla informs Starros that Aphra appears to be serving in some kind of convict army. Syndulla believes that it will be better to convince Aphra to work with the Rebellion and tasks Starros with rescuing her. Starros agrees to help the Rebellion in return for money.
Meanwhile at Accresker Jail, Aphra uses Lopset Yas's transmitter to relay an audio message to her friend Magna Tolvan. After apologizing to those she has hurt, Aphra states that Darth Vader is engaging in a secret conspiracy to replace Emperor Palpatine with Luke Skywalker. Aphra tells her would-be rescuers that she fears she won't be able to conceal this information from her interrogators for long. Aphra also fears that Lord Vader will come after her and Tolvan, who is also aware of Vader's secret conspiracy. She pleads with Tolvan to come and rescue her. On Coruscant, a shocked Tolvan receives Aphra's transmission.
===A friend in dark places===
A hubdroid detects an unauthorized transmission and issues an order to collect all equipment. Lopset spots a ghostly figure within the corridor. Aphra calls out to Lopset and asks if he saw anything. Lopset is trapped under pieces of rubble and calls Aphra for help. Aphra comes to his aid and tells him that he owes her. Citing a series of unexplained phenomena and activities, Lopset believes that Accresker Jail is haunted. Aphra laughs at Lopset's concerns, expressing her disbelief and lack of fear of ghosts.
Aphra instead takes an interest in Lopset's apparent shapeshifting abilities. Lopset introduces his various personas including the Abominatrix Kelko Dev, the rogue surgeon Doctor Cornelius Evazan, and Sandewar Mandewar of the Vex Crusade. While Aphra is impressed by Lopset's shapeshifting abilities, Lopset explains that shapeshifters keep to themselves because other beings seek to use them as resources rather than treating them as living beings. When Lopset asks if Aphra would take advantage of his abilities, Aphra responds that "evil's just a measure of how much your choices take away other people's choices." When Lopset takes an interest in Aphra's words, she attributes them to her late mother.
===Tolvan's arrival===
Twelve hours later, Tolvan arrives on Accresker Jail. The Imperial prison warden is perplexed by her presence and explains that his men are defrosting a mairan, which he intends to use to drain the memories of Dr Aphra. The warden also hopes to use Dr Aphra's expertise to quell the Bandit Purges in Senex-Juvex. Tolvan warns the warden not to question her again since she is not in a good mood.
The warden reluctantly permits Tolvan access to Aphra's cell. When a female guard informs Tolvan that no prisoner will interact with visitors unsupervised, Tolvan asserts her authority and orders the guard to face the wall and mum audibly. To avoid arousing the guard's suspicion, Tolvan discreetly communicates with Aphra while questioning her about the components of an arc array.
===Mercenary for the Rebellion===
While tracking Accresker Jail and its escort fleet, Sana Starros reports that the Imperial forces have crippled a pirate station. When General Syndulla asks about Starros' interests in Aphra, Starros describes Aphra as someone whom she cared so much that it scared her. Starros also describes Aphra as someone whom she loved but who betrayed her trust and hurt her. When Aphra expresses shock, she senses that the rebel general suffered a tragedy in the past but not treachery. By contrast, Starros likens her experience with love to fireworks. Below, Accresker Jail rams and and bombards the pirate station.
Due to the dangerous situation below, Syndulla orders Starros to get Aphra out alive safely. Knowing Aphra, Starros reasons that her former friend has found a way to slither out of danger. Starros reminds Syndulla that their objective is to acquire a decryption code for their intelligence.
===Escape or treasure===
As the prisoners launch an attack on the pirate station, Aphra tells Lopset to stay close. Using the Imperial Authority Code Six-Six-Nine-Zero-Beta-One, Aphra disables an astromech hub droid with a restraining bolt. With the droid disabled, the two approach a parked TIE fighter. Upon reaching the TIE fighter, Aphra spots a ghostly figure on top of the fighter. Tolvan attempts to tells Aphra not to get distracted via comlink but Aphra is curious about the ghost, believing it to be the spirit of her late mother.
While following the ghost through Accresker Station, Aphra stumbles upon the gundeck of a Penumbra-1 shattersprite, a starship which Jedi piloted centuries aga. Forgetting their plan, Aphra decides to search the wreckage for relics. Tolvan angrily tries to remind Aphra that she only has a small window to escape but Aphra is overcome by treasure lust. Tolvan laments that she is in love with an "evil idiot."
==Media==
===Editions===
*UPC 759606086290; June 27, 2018; Marvel Comics
**02111; Cover A; Ashley Witter
**02121; Cover B; Rod Reis
===Cover gallery===
File:Doctor_Aphra_21.jpg|Cover A
File:DoctorAphra-21-Reis.jpg|Cover B
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4 — The Catastrophe Con
*Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus Vol. 1
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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