Fluent in over six million forms of communication, the golden protocol droid is rarely seen without his squat counterpart R2-D2, and together, the two make a remarkably capable team. Because of Artoo's limited communication abilities, Threepio must often interpret his companion's electronic sounds for his human masters. Though preferring to remain far from any potential threat, the anxious droid frequently finds himself in the midst of the action. Threepio had been personal attendant to Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo, who died of a broken heart after her husband, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, turned to the dark side and became Darth Vader.