Star Wars Finally Gives Us the Jedi Team-Up We’ve Waited 18 Years To See

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In the novel Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon (which is a prequel to the game), there’s a passage where ND-5 finds himself paired with former Jedi Initiate Vivert Stag. The two become quite the formidable duo, easily working their way through guards stationed at a Crimson Dawn base. It’s mentioned that ND-5 and Vivert “work great together,” and a passage that kicks off Chapter 43 illustrates why. In the chapter, written in the first person from ND-5’s perspective, the droid remarks that “Vivert’s skills complement my own,” merging stealth with a “quick” and “fierce” fighting style that showcases her acrobatic abilities. There’s an encounter where Vivert launches herself off a wall and behind a guard, kicking him towards ND-5 so the droid can incapacitate him.

Vivert and ND-5 Are Unstoppable Together In Low Red Moon

Across multiple films, seasons of television, and other mediums, Star Wars fans have seen plenty of examples of Jedi fighting against battle droids (typically making quick work of the B1-series models). But it’s always been interesting to consider what it might look like if a Jedi ever worked alongside one of them. The B1-series droids probably wouldn’t have been much of an asset in a fight, but there have always been other types that seem like a good match for a Jedi on paper. The BX-series commando units are arguably the first to come to mind given how much of a threat they proved to be on the battlefield.

The BX-series droids are defined by their tremendous set of combat skills. Like the best soldiers, they’re adaptable, intelligent, and are capable of mastering a variety of battle tactics. There’s a reason why it was a nightmare for clone troopers to face these models on the front lines. BX units were well-rounded, able to handle direct combat and more clandestine missions with ease. Whatever situation a BX unit finds itself in, it can instantly analyze possible courses of action to determine the best path forward. ND-5 is no exception to this; he’s constantly taking all sorts of factors into account when in the heat of battle.

This is why Vivert and ND-5 work so well together. Jedi can be fierce, determined warriors themselves, with their Force abilities giving them an advantage in combat. They’re powerful and possess precognitive capabilities, allowing them to be quick on their feet as they make their way through waves of enemies. What’s impressive is that Vivet and ND-5 are virtually unstoppable even though the former never formally completed her Jedi training. It’s a scary thought that a Jedi Initiate is able to do this much damage with a battle droid. It makes one wonder what a Jedi Knight or Master could accomplish with such a talented companion at their side.

Will Star Wars Ever Show a Jedi/Battle Droid Team-Up On Screen?

It’s exciting to read about a Jedi fighting alongside a battle droid and visualizing the spectacle in your mind, but it still doesn’t really compare to actually seeing it unfold on screen. The passage in Low Red Moon is enough to make one wonder if Lucasfilm will ever depict something like this in a film or TV show now that the door is open. One possibility is seeing Vivert and ND-5 reunite on the upcoming animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, which chronicles Maul’s exploits in the criminal underworld. Star Wars canon has established Vivert and her partner Mill Alibeth have been keeping tabs on Crimson Dawn, so they could find themselves in Maul’s crosshairs.

During the events of Low Red Moon, ND-5 is partners with Jaylen Vrax (who Kay Vess works for in the video game). In the novel, Jaylen is still an aspiring scoundrel looking to make a name for himself. He attempts to get on the good side of the various syndicates so all his bases are covered, so it’s theoretically possible Jaylen and ND-5 could pop up in Shadow Lord, crossing paths with Mill and Vivert again while on an assignment for Crimson Dawn. Of course, this will be dependent on the time frame Shadow Lord covers. The series picks up only a few years after Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, meaning ND-5 hasn’t met Vivert yet. Should the show be picked up for additional seasons and move closer to the original trilogy, it opens the possibility.

It’s unknown what became of ND-5 after the events of Outlaws (which reportedly won’t be getting a sequel since it didn’t meet sales expectations), but Star Wars canon has established droids can last decades. C-3PO and R2-D2 were around prior to the Clone Wars and still in great shape after the Resistance/First Order War concluded. Even if ND-5 is no longer with Kay in a post-Rise of Skywalker galaxy, there’s always a chance he could still be active, meaning he could fight alongside a new Force user in a movie or show if that’s what the story dictates. ND-5 could also pop up in a New Republic era project assuming there are more stories to tell there after The Mandalorian and Grogu and Ahsoka Season 2. At the same time, working ND-5 organically into a screen project might prove difficult, so the safer bet could be on Vivert and ND teaming up again in another novel or comic series taking place in the underworld.

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