Zee-Exthree, also known as Z-X3, was a Z-X3 experimental droid trooper created by Tagge Industries during the era of the Galactic Civil War. An experimental model rejected for service in the Imperial military, Zee-Exthree instead found a home on Kligson's Moon, an all-droid society led by a cyborg named Kligson. However, Zee-Exthree secretly harbored Imperial loyalty, and plotted to overthrow Kligson and seize "Droid World" in the Empire's name. Zee-Exthree finally made his move in 3 ABY, only to be outsmarted and defeated in the ensuing civil war.
One of less than a hundred Z-X3 experimental droid troopers ever produced, the droid later simply known as Zee-Exthree was produced by the Tagge Company at the behest of Imperial officer Rom Mohc, who had faced deadly Separatist battle droids during the Clone Wars and had become intrigued by the idea of droid troops backing up the Empire's stormtroopers. However, the concept of droid soldiers had fallen out of favor among Imperial decision-makers due to the Separatists' defeat in the Clone Wars, and the program was scrapped. Most of the surviving Z-X3 droids found their way into private ownership—Zee-Exthree instead found his way to Kligson's Moon, the "Droid World" of spacer legend, a space station that had been transformed into a wholly mechanical society.
Zee-Exthree in 3 ABY.
Zee-Exthree was taken in by Kligson, a veteran of the Clone Wars who had suffered severe wounds while serving in the Imperial Army, and had retreated from organic contact after being turned into a cyborg. Kligson ran his "Droid World," and made Zee-Exthree a critical part of his operation—by 3 ABY, Zee-Exthree had become his right-hand droid. But while Kligson, who had committed to an anti-war philosophy after his maiming and rebuilding, had wanted to keep his station out of the Galactic Civil War, Zee-Exthree still maintained a secret allegiance to the Empire. Over time, Zee-Exthree built a clandestine faction of like-minded droids that aimed to overthrow Kligson and claim the Droid World for the Empire. In 3 ABY, Zee-Exthree seemingly got the opportunity he wanted, when Rebel Commander Luke Skywalker arrived at Kligson's Moon, hoping that the talented technician could give him a full schematic of a captured Imperial warbot.
Zee-Exthree wanted to use the head of Skywalker's warbot to repair a similar, derelict model his faction held, but when Zee-Exthree noticed Skywalker's droid R2-D2 spying on them, he drastically moved up his timetable for rebellion. Zee-Exthree stormed the station's bridge and seemingly killed Kligson, believing that he had delivered the Droid World to the Empire. However, Kligson had outsmarted them, having suspected Zee-Exthree's treachery for some time. Kligson had secretly hidden behind an android duplicate in an attempt to draw Zee-Exthree out, and reappeared to completely destroy Zee-Exthree and his faction with his now-functioning Imperial warbot.
Although outwardly loyal to Kligson and grateful for the opportunities the cyborg afforded the rejected Imperial war droid, Zee-Exthree still maintained a secret loyalty to the Empire that persisted long after the Imperials abandoned him. In fact, Zee-Exthree scorned Kligson and plotted against him behind his back, hating the cyborg body that he believed mocked that of a true droid's. Specifically created to thrive in environments difficult for organic soldiers, Zee-Exthree had plating inspired by Imperial stormtroopers but colored a distinct shade of crimson. 1.9 meters tall, it fought with an AAP-II blaster box in its chest, while boasting enhanced strength and intelligence that wasn't dependent on a central computer.
Zee-Exthree first appeared in Star Wars (1977) 47, written by Archie Goodwin and released in 1981. In the comic, the droid was illustrated by Carmine Infantino, and he was additionally drawn by in the book-and-record The Further Adventures: Droid World.
- The New Essential Guide to Droids
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. II
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. III
- The Essential Guide to Warfare