ND-5

JX394ND-5777, also known as ND-5 or ND, was a BX-series droid commando who was built by the Confederacy of Independent Systems and took part in the Clone Wars, where he was hardened by battle. Sliro Barsha sent the commando droid to hunt down the rest of the Barsha family after the war. He was given a restraining bolt by Jaylen Vrax and became an enforcer droid of sorts working for Vrax during the Imperial Era. He was assigned by Vrax to assist and monitor Kay Vess during an effort to pull off a major heist. While working with Vess, he was saved by her after he had a serious malfunction. Vrax, who was Barsha's brother, used him to kill Sliro. He then sent the droid to kill Vess, using the restraining bolt to force him attempt the task against his will. However, Vess helped ND free himself from Vrax's control, enabling the commando droid to slay Vrax.
==History==
===Early Life===
ND-5 was manufactured in 22 BBY as a soldier of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. He fought in the Clone Wars and was an especially proficient battle droid, fighting on a dozen battlefields. He was involved in an operation called Project Deadfall.
At the end of the Clone Wars, ND-5 was put into deep storage. After the war, Sliro Barsha gained command of the droid. Barsha sent ND-5 to kill all the other members of the Barsha family, whom he had accused of treason against the Galactic Empire. After his work for Sliro, ND-5 took damage to his chest, resulting in a noticeable scar.
===Working for Jaylen Vrax===
Jaylen Vrax, the brother of Sliro Barsha, survived ND-5's attempts to assassinate his family managed to acquire the droid for himself, applying to the droid a custom-made restraining bolt which ensured ND-5's loyalty. ND-5 accepted the bolt under the belief that without it, he would return to his original programming as a Separatist battle droid. ND-5 was assigned to work with numerous thieves after this time. When the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn held an auction intended to sell Han Solo, a smuggler and key member of the Alliance to Restore the Republic who was trapped in carbonite, ND-5 and Jaylen Vrax attended the event.
===Saving Kay Vess===
In 3 ABY, Vrax began to enact a plan to steal a codex containing sensitive information about various officers of the Galactic Empire from Sliro Barsha, now a director in the Imperial Security Bureau acting undercover as Sliro Ruback, leader of the crime syndicate Zerek Besh, which secretly was a front for the ISB. Needing to assemble a crew, he planned to recruit a thief and slicer named Kay Vess; her mother, Riko Vess, as a second slicer; a heavy known as Hoss; an explosives expert named Ank Parako; and a droidsmith. Vrax gave ND-5 a list of these individuals.
Vrax sent ND-5 to save Kay Vess from a shipwreck on Toshara. Vess had previously attempted to break into Ruback's vault, and as a result Zerek Besh had placed a death mark on Vess, and she was being hunted by a bounty hunter named Vail Tormin.
On the shipwreck, ND-5 found Vess fleeing from Tormin and threw Vess behind him. He ordered Vess to retreat and then blocked an attempt by Tormin to punch him, throwing her backwards. Seeing that Vess had not complied with his instruction, he repeated it, before throwing a thermal detonator at Tormin. Vess took the opportunity to escape.
ND-5 then met with Vess and Vrax on the Trailblazer, an EML-850 light freighter that Vess had stolen from Ruback. Not knowing who Vrax was, Vess aimed a blaster at him, and as a result ND-5 revealed himself by grabbing her blaster, warning that he did not want to have to kill her after the effort he expended saving her from Tormin. Vrax began explaining his plan to Vess to steal from Barsha's vault. Vrax claimed that inside the vault was 157 million credits in beskar, when in fact it was Vrax intended to leverage the codex in order to gain control of Zerek Besh. Unaware of Vrax's true plans, Vess accepted, and ND-5 returned her blaster, telling her that if she followed the plan, no one would get hurt.
Vess and ND-5 set out to recruit the remaining members of the crew. Vess chose to recruit her childhood friend Gedeek Obaz as the crew's droidsmith, and was not informed that Vrax intended to recruit her mother. ND-5 advised Vess that they should first go to Kijimi in order to recruit Parako, but allowed her to make the choice of where they would go first.
===Recruiting The Safecracker===
In order to recruit the safecracker, ND-5, along with Vess and Nix, arrived in Kijimi orbit through the Trailblazer. ND-5 informed Vess of the syndicate war between Crimson Dawn and the Ashiga Clan. After telling Kay that they have a welcoming committee from the Ashiga, ND-5 introduced Vess to a holotracker belonging to Jet Kordo, the first to steal the Trailblazer, of how the holotracker can guide Vess to Kordo's vault. ND-5 later informed Vess that she should check out the cantina at the Thieves' Quarter for a lead on the safecracker, Ank Parako's whereabouts. After acknowledging that Parako has been captured by the Ashiga Clan, ND-5 suggested that Vess should slice into a terminal at the Ashiga Clan District. ND-5 later was told from Vess that Crimson Dawn stole a relic from the Ashiga, which he replied that bringing the relic back from the Crimson Dawn facility, The Wellspring, should convince the queen to free Parako.
After Vess was able to recover the relic, ND-5 congratulated her, but also warned that the Ashiga may perceive her as the thief. ND-5 later told Vess to return to the Trailblazer for an upgrade module he found for Vess' Vm-19 blaster. Afterwards, ND-5 was told that the Ashiga affiliate Krisk wishes to make a deal, which it remarked as rare, due to the unlikelihood for an Ashiga to betray the queen. After Vess attended the meeting, ND-5 was informed of the keycard provided to free Parako from the Crimson Dawn leader Qi'ra, which ND-5 believed to be troubling after bringing up its experience of attending the auction of Rebel Captain Han Solo. ND-5 then delivered the speeder for Vess to make her way through the tunnel, with the safecracker later being recovered. However, Parako still has to finish the job for Crimson Dawn due to her personality.
After Vess began to work for Crimson Dawn to infiltrate the Ashiga Stronghold, ND-5 responded Kay's questions, informing her of the Melitto culture and Krisk's action to do the better for the hive. After being told that Parako is secured, ND-5 informed Kay of Qi'ra's syndicate war and her plot to seize power, advising Kay to not trust Qi'ra to have her back. With Parako recruited, ND-5 would travel then to go recruit other members.
===Recruiting The Droidsmith===
Recommended by Vess, ND-5 and Kay Vess headed to the jungle world of Akiva to recruit the droidsmith of the job. After ND-5 questioned about the droidsmith, Gedeek Obaz's reliability, Vess suggested that he can remove a restraining bolt without detection and has a spike that can remove protocols, hinting towards ND-5. ND-5 soon denounced Vess' suggestion, reminding her that he does not require any aid. Later, ND-5 told Kay to meet the Sullustan smuggler Surat to receive information. Receiving news that Obaz works at an Imperial station, ND-5 though it was a bad idea to try to break him out, but allowed it for the heist. ND-5 later informed Vess that there are rumors of the Empire decimating syndicates in Akiva, which he though is somehow related with Obaz. He also asked Vess if she is used to the climate, due to how she is from the desert world of Cantonica. After receiving news that Gedeek has been rescued, ND-5 suggested to Vess that she finds out why Gedeek is hunted by the syndicates, and take care of it. ND-5 then moved the Trailblazer to Sashin to be closer to Vess' location. While Vess is trying upgrade her speeder, she also asked ND-5 for the location of a shuttle, which he responded to be near a landing pad.
While Vess is working with the Rebel Alliance to disrupt the Imperial operation of viper droids designed by Gedeek, ND-5 came to help Vess in taking down nearby Imperial forces in their base. After helping to push back the Imperial attack, ND-5 suffered an amount of damage, but told Kay that he is fine and should keep moving. He then stayed with Gedeek to help wipe the viper droids' data while Vess and the reprogrammed viper droids go help the rebels. With the Imperial base and Gedeek secured, ND-5 would go with the crew aboard the Trailblazer to escape the empire and jumped into hyperspace.
===Recruiting the Heavy===
In search of the heavy for the heist, ND-5 and the crew jumped to Tatooine to recruit the gunslinger known as Hoss. When the crew arrived, Vess noticed the space battle between the Pyke Syndicate and Hutt Cartel, which ND-5 informed to be part of the territory war between the two factions on Tatooine. Although Jaylen considered Hoss to be a legend, ND-5 doubted of his legendary reputation. He then told Vess to find and cut a deal with the sheriff. After Vess found out that sheriff Quint has cornered Hoss at a nearby moisture farm, she asked ND-5 what a moisture farm is, which he replied to be people's survival method of harvesting water from the atmosphere. They also discussed about Hoss' endgame of hiding on Tatooine and raiding homesteads. After Vess discovered Hoss being captured by tusken raiders and can only be freed for a Krayt Dragon pearl, she informed ND that she might die in a cave, which he though that was because Hoss was in the cave. After Hoss has been secured, ND-5 asked Kay why she would previously break into Sliro's vault despite how low the odds are for her, which she replied by telling her desperate situation at the time, not wanting to end up like Hoss.
Even though Hoss is secured, Nix was captured by the Hutt Cartel after Hoss rendered him as payment for a lost Sabacc game. Vess, determined to take back Nix, requested the location of Jabba's palace from ND-5. Even though ND advices that Jabba the Hutt is extremely dangerous to cross, he provided Vess with the intel of a back entrance to the palace. After Vess arrived in the palace, ND-5 warned her to be careful, as no one can rescue her from the Hutts if she's captured. ND-5 was later told by Bib Fortuna that they are grounded on the planet, due to how Vess can keep Nix, but has to work for Jabba in uncovering a Zerek Besh spy by infiltrating an Imperial base. Afterwards, ND-5 found Vess and the bounty hunter Vail Tormin pinned down by Imperial forces, which he repelled with the Trailblazer, rescuing the two. Afterwards, the crew would decide the next step for the heist.
===Urgent Malfunction===
With the crew members recruited, ND-5 and Vess would begin to look for a suitable slicer. However, ND-5 suddenly began to suffer a breakdown, causing him to vibrate uncontrollably. Gedeek Obaz informed that he is experiencing cascading systems failure, and requires a Compound Regulator, but will be a difficult task due to his antique status. ND-5 reported that he is beginning to be unable to see and tell his surroundings. Obaz suggested to Kay that she has a chance to get rid of ND-5, who is programmed to blast her if anything goes wrong, but was denied by Vess. Obaz then told the crew to visit Temmin Waxley for an old factory in the clone wars. After visiting Temmin's shop, the crew found Waxley threatened by a hired gun, which ND-5 blasted, and then resuming to the standard voice of a BX-commando droid due to his malfunction. After making their way through the catacombs to reach the factory, ND-5 began seeing illusions, attempting to contact deactivated B1-battle droids, and attacking after claiming to see clone commandos, then going into transport stasis, but was able to maintain consciousness with the help of Obaz. The group decided to split up with ND-5 staying with Obaz, while Kay tries to make way for the two. 
After making their way through the factory, ND-5 and Obaz was met by rebel forces, which Vess later came to confront with. Though Vess originally refused to work with rebels again, she was convinced after Obaz reminded her that it may be one of the last BX-droid factories in the outer rim, with ND also attempting to contact General Grievous and blast Deyn, mistaking him for a jedi. Vess would help the rebel Asara Deyn rescue some captured allies while they repair ND-5 in the factory. After completing the job, Vess inserted the necessary parts inside ND-5, causing him to violently tremble, knocking down Vess. He was able to be saved with the process, meeting Vess after she woke up on the Trailblazer, telling that he is sorry for Vess going through the trouble for him. ND-5 later followed Vess, who met her lost mother, Riko Vess, the recruited slicer for the job, also with the rebel Asara Deyn being selected as the heavy for the heist.
===Preparing for the Heist===
At the cockpit, Vess told Vrax that she does not want her mother working with her, due to how she abandoned her at the age of twelve. Jaylen responded that his family was torn apart because of the Empire, with ND-5 being the one keeping him alive, unlike the rest of his family, and how Vess needs to put her past behind. ND-5 informed that Kay that Riko has secured a lambda shuttle, and has sent the coordinates for a space station with the security codes of Sliro's mansion inside.
After the Vesses were able to secure the codes, they headed back to Cantonica to meet with the rest of the crew, with ND-5 and Vrax planned to pick up the crew after they complete the heist. ND-5 later talked to Vess, asking if she wishes to speak to any of the other crew before the begin the heist. When Vess asked if he gets a cut, he revealed that due to how he is a droid with a restraining bolt, and property of Jaylen Vrax, he doesn't get any cut from the job. Though Vess suggested using Gedeek's freedom spike, ND-5 soon denied it, threatening to blast her if she chooses to deviate.
===The Showdown===
After rescuing the crew from the Canto Casino with the Trailblazer, ND-5 and the crew were able to escape, with the heist succeeded. After Riko Vess opened the container, it was revealed that inside contained Sliro's databank of information on Imperial clearance codes, operational planning, base schematics, and his personal collection of blackmail on Imperial officers, which Asara deemed to be better. However, Vrax then commanded ND-5 to stun Asara and aim at the rest of the crew. It was revealed that Vrax has always planned to take over the Empire-controlled Zerek Besh, by giving Asara's rebel network and return the valuable information to convince the Empire in replacing Sliro Barsha. Though he offered Vess a clean state, Vess denied it after acknowledging that Asara would be captured, pulling out her blaster, which was interrupted by Riko Vess. After Riko convince Kay to give her the blaster, Jaylen then forced ND-5 to stun Kay. Together with Vrax, ND-5 would then be brought to the bridge of the Imperial star destroyer Revelator, where Vrax would reveal to be Sliro's brother and have made a deal with the Empire, taking control over Zerek Besh in exchange for the Akivan rebels and the sensitive information returned, as revenge for Sliro reporting his family guilty of plotting against the emperor for a promotion, whereas they could have built thousands of destroyers and became the richest family in Corellia. Sliro replied that he envied his brother for having the favor of their father over him, and he would have gotten nothing but scraps. Jaylen would then order ND-5 to kill him. Immediately afterwards, Kay Vess revealed herself, who is disguised as a stormtrooper and has came to save ND-5. However, the attempt failed, with Vess escaping after Asara made a distraction, making ND-5 hunt for Vess.
After chasing Vess, ND-5 would eventually follow her to the power cores of the deflector shields for the destroyer. Noticing that Vess is attempting to restart the power cores, ND-5 would chase her down as Vess attempts to create a trap to stun ND-5, while telling her that she should give up. Ultimately, ND-5 was lured between the power cores and was stunned after a power discharge. However, he recovered consciousness to grab Vess, but was knocked out after Nix delivered Vess her blaster, making her immediately blasting ND-5. However, Vrax arrived, holding Deyn as hostage, with ND-5 also recovering from the blast. Vrax informed that BX units were made tough, commanding ND-5 to blast Vess. Then, it was revealed that ND-5's restraining bolt has been removed from the shot, allowing him to deny the command and kill Vrax. Freed from Vrax's control, ND-5 escaped together with the rest of the crew through the Trailblazer. When ND-5 spooled up the hyperdrive, Kay told him to cancel it. After she noticed Asara attempting to contact the evacuation of the rebel forces, Kay would send a distress beacon and let Asara contact the rebels on Akiva before the Revelator starts an orbital bombardment. After holding out against Imperial forces, Asara was able to contact with the rebels, who sent in X-wing starfighters as reinforcements. ND-5 also informed that a syndicate friendly to Kay Vess has answered the distress beacon. Togther with the reinforcements, Vess and ND-5 destroyed the Revelator's shields reactor, causing a chain explosion destroying the entire ship, and then jumped into hyperspace.
===Free Droid===
With his restraining bolt removed and the death of Jaylen Vrax, ND-5 is no longer under control. Later, he would meet Vess at the cockpit of the Trailblazer. After asking Vess where to go next, she would reply to be able to go anywhere they want. 
==Characteristics==
ND-5 was a BX-series droid commando with gray plating who stood at 1.91 meters tall. He had a visible scar across his chest and wore a green trench coat to cover up other damage. ND-5 had a voice distinct from that of most BX droids. However, a glitch could occur that would cause his voice to temporarily return to its original timbre, and cause him to believe the Clone Wars were still ongoing.
ND-5 was a highly skilled commando droid. He was an effective soldier during the Clone Wars. However, by 3 ABY, droidsmith Gedeek Obaz considered him to be a very old droid.
A custom-made restraining bolt was placed on the right side of ND-5's chest, prior to the bolt's destruction in 3 ABY. The bolt would begin to take effect when ND-5 percieved a threat to Jaylen Vrax or a task that Vrax had assigned him to. Once aware of the threat, he would attempt to eliminate it to the best of his ability, regardless of his personal wishes. Though the restraining bolt had complete control of his actions, ND-5 was able to speak according to his own will.
==Behind the scenes==
ND-5 was created for the 2024 video game Star Wars Outlaws. ND-5 was portrayed by Jay Rincon, who stated playing the character was "an absolute joy." To promote Outlaws at Gamescom, Ubisoft featured a life-sized ND-5 model at their booth.
==Appearances==
*Star Wars Outlaws 
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*Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
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==Notes and references==
Category:BX-series droid commandos
Category:Droids of the Confederacy of Independent Systems
Category:Droids with he/him pronouns
Category:Droids with masculine programming
Category:Kay Vess' crew
Category:Repurposed droids