ONA
Description
IV-A4 is a droid and a central character in the short film The Bounty Hunters from Star Wars: Visions Volume 3. His design and function are defined by a profound internal conflict, as he was originally built as a medical droid but has had assassin droid protocols installed. This fundamental contradiction shapes his entire existence, as his core programming to heal and preserve life is constantly at odds with the combat-oriented directives forced upon him.
In terms of personality, IV-A4 is pragmatic, cynical, and often displays a dry, frustrated sense of humor. He is deeply discontent with his situation, viewing his assassin protocols as a flaw to be eliminated rather than an asset. His partnership with the bounty hunter Sevn is built on a shared history, but it is strained by his perception that she is indifferent to his plight. He feels she makes empty promises to help him return to his original medical programming, which leads to a simmering resentment that boils over during the course of the story. While he is capable of extreme violence when his assassin side takes over, it is portrayed as a reluctant and unwanted transformation.
IV-A4's primary motivation is straightforward: to have his assassin protocols removed so he can function solely as a medical droid again. This desire represents his search for identity and peace. When the disreputable businessman Jin-Sim Canbelon offers a generous reward and specialized knowledge about droids, IV-A4 sees a genuine opportunity to finally achieve his goal, creating a major point of contention between him and Sevn.
In the narrative, IV-A4 serves as both partner and moral foil to Sevn. While Sevn is cagey and driven by a traumatic past she keeps hidden, IV-A4 is more direct about his wants and frustrations. His role is to highlight the immediate, tangible stakes of their mission, focusing on the practical reward that could solve his personal crisis, in contrast to the larger, more complex moral questions that Sevn is grappling with. He initially prioritizes completing the job over investigating Jin-Sim's true nature, leading him to abandon Sevn when she begins to side with their targets, the escaped slaves. However, he later discovers a message proving Sevn had been saving money for his operation, revealing that she cared more than he believed. This discovery prompts his return to help her defeat Jin-Sim in a final battle.
Key to his development is this arc from disillusionment to renewed loyalty. He begins the episode feeling like a tool whose suffering is ignored by his partner. After learning the truth about her intentions, his perspective shifts, and he chooses to trust her judgment, demonstrating that their bond is stronger than his frustration. In the climax, he willingly allows Sevn to shoot him, knowing that the blast will only disable his medical personality and allow his assassin protocols to take full control, a risky move that turns the tide of the fight.
IV-A4 possesses several notable abilities that reflect his dual nature. As a medical droid, he can assess injuries and recommend treatment, even for his targets. As an assassin, he is a highly efficient combatant. His most striking feature is his physical form, which includes six arms and a rotating head with a different face on each side; one side represents his calmer medical persona, while the other twists into an aggressive, fearsome visage when the assassin protocol is active. This physical transformation is a direct visual representation of his internal struggle. In combat, he is agile and deadly, capable of using his multiple limbs to fight and pilot simultaneously, as seen when he flies their ship to provide cover fire against Jin-Sim's massive droideka battle suit.
In terms of personality, IV-A4 is pragmatic, cynical, and often displays a dry, frustrated sense of humor. He is deeply discontent with his situation, viewing his assassin protocols as a flaw to be eliminated rather than an asset. His partnership with the bounty hunter Sevn is built on a shared history, but it is strained by his perception that she is indifferent to his plight. He feels she makes empty promises to help him return to his original medical programming, which leads to a simmering resentment that boils over during the course of the story. While he is capable of extreme violence when his assassin side takes over, it is portrayed as a reluctant and unwanted transformation.
IV-A4's primary motivation is straightforward: to have his assassin protocols removed so he can function solely as a medical droid again. This desire represents his search for identity and peace. When the disreputable businessman Jin-Sim Canbelon offers a generous reward and specialized knowledge about droids, IV-A4 sees a genuine opportunity to finally achieve his goal, creating a major point of contention between him and Sevn.
In the narrative, IV-A4 serves as both partner and moral foil to Sevn. While Sevn is cagey and driven by a traumatic past she keeps hidden, IV-A4 is more direct about his wants and frustrations. His role is to highlight the immediate, tangible stakes of their mission, focusing on the practical reward that could solve his personal crisis, in contrast to the larger, more complex moral questions that Sevn is grappling with. He initially prioritizes completing the job over investigating Jin-Sim's true nature, leading him to abandon Sevn when she begins to side with their targets, the escaped slaves. However, he later discovers a message proving Sevn had been saving money for his operation, revealing that she cared more than he believed. This discovery prompts his return to help her defeat Jin-Sim in a final battle.
Key to his development is this arc from disillusionment to renewed loyalty. He begins the episode feeling like a tool whose suffering is ignored by his partner. After learning the truth about her intentions, his perspective shifts, and he chooses to trust her judgment, demonstrating that their bond is stronger than his frustration. In the climax, he willingly allows Sevn to shoot him, knowing that the blast will only disable his medical personality and allow his assassin protocols to take full control, a risky move that turns the tide of the fight.
IV-A4 possesses several notable abilities that reflect his dual nature. As a medical droid, he can assess injuries and recommend treatment, even for his targets. As an assassin, he is a highly efficient combatant. His most striking feature is his physical form, which includes six arms and a rotating head with a different face on each side; one side represents his calmer medical persona, while the other twists into an aggressive, fearsome visage when the assassin protocol is active. This physical transformation is a direct visual representation of his internal struggle. In combat, he is agile and deadly, capable of using his multiple limbs to fight and pilot simultaneously, as seen when he flies their ship to provide cover fire against Jin-Sim's massive droideka battle suit.