In The Empire Strikes Back, Lobot plays the hero. He helps Lando liberate Leia and Chewbacca from the Imperials and escape from Bespin. Yet, what happened to Lobot? For one, he was captured, but then more transpired. Relatedly, we can ask what his capture says about Lando? In the end, Lobot’s fate serves as a true test of friendship.
Lobot’s Capture and Fate
In a deleted scene from Empire Strikes Back, Lobot at first evaded the troopers, but then they brought him into custody. Yet, we also see that Lando may have had a chance to rescue him and didn’t.
As he escorted Leia and Chewie to the Falcon, Lando saw Lobot being captured. This version of the deleted scene reveals the moment better and instills a sense that Lando could have attempted to rescue him. Yet, that would have meant Lando couldn’t escape, so he continued on with Leia and Chewie, leaving Lobot to his fate.
What happened to Lobot after he was captured? According to Wookieepedia, Lobot was connected directly to “Cloud City’s central processing core” by the Imperialists. Lobot served under the Imperial garrison governor Captain Hugo Treece and was wired to the main computer system to help maintain the city.
After the Battle of Endor, Lando, Leia, Luke, and R2 returned to get Luke’s lightsaber and rescue Lobot. They found Lobot connected “through numerous wires.” Lando used Lobot’s connection to central control to push “by-products” of Tibanna gas into Cloud City’s atmosphere to ruin the supply of Tibanna so the Imperialists wouldn’t have it.
Stormtroopers came after them, but Lobot ordered MSE-6 repair droids to fight them off. Lando liberated Lobot and they eventually escaped, after Luke saved them from other stormtroopers. Ultimately, Lando redeemed himself by saving Lobot, or did he?
Did Lando Betray His Friend?
The above opening video also raises a key question. Did Lando’s decision to not rescue Lobot mean that he betrayed his “closest friend” or was he left with no choice?
The Marvel comic miniseries Lando explored the close relationship between Lando and Lobot before the events of Empire. Through numerous sordid adventures, the two became inseparable and forged a strong friendship.
They became “partners akin to Han and Chewie.” In that sense, Lobot demonstrates his “absolute loyalty to Lando” by further aiding their escape with his capture, but Lando let his best friend down by not trying to rescue him.
This perspective is supported by the Star Wars #40 comic issue too. In a flashback moment, Lando expressed how Lobot is the only one that he is truly honest with. Lobot is “That person” for Lando, the only one who will keep him honest. This moment discloses the bond between them that is as close or closer than Han and Chewbacca.
Then again, Lando knew the Imperials were everywhere across Cloud City. They needed to move fast if they were going to make their escape. Lando probably believed that Lobot would understand his decision to leave. Once he could, Lando returned to rescue Lobot, at least that was part of the reason for his return.
In the novel Aftermath: Empire’s End, Lando and Lobot are depicted as back together again after Return of the Jedi. They returned to Bespin to fight against the fading Imperialists and liberate their city. Lobot even got his old job back as Cloud City’s computer liaison officer. Hence, it seems they patched up any hurt feelings and Lando’s gambit worked, in a way.
Lobot Paid the Price
In the end, Lobot paid the price for Lando, Leia, and Chewie’s escape from Cloud City. He was kept under the Imperialists as a computer to serve their needs. Yet, Lando and company rescued him, and Lobot went on to serve the light side once more.