Rush Clovis

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"How do you think I feel? I hate the thought of answering to Clovis. But perhaps we won't have to, now that we've finally found his weakness. What if we were to poison Senator Amidala? I think Clovis would do anything to save her."

―Senator Lott Dod^[src]

Baron Rush Clovis was a Human male who served as the representative of Scipio and a delegate for the InterGalactic Banking Clan in the Galactic Senate during the latter days of the Old Republic. Clovis entered the Senate in 25 BBY and quickly formed a relationship with fellow first-year senator, Padmé Amidala. Amidala, the representative of Naboo and the Chommell sector, served with Clovis on several committees, and the two eventually became romantically involved. Amidala soon insisted that they keep their relationship strictly professional, however—a request that was not well received by Clovis.

Clovis continued in his post as senator for a further three years, until the outbreak of the galaxy-wide Clone Wars between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems in 22 BBY. As a senatorial delegate for the Confederate-allied InterGalactic Banking Clan, Clovis began clandestine dealings with Separatist interests on behalf of the clan while maintaining his appearance as a Republic Loyalist. In the early days of the war, the Banking Clan invested heavily in the creation of a new droid factory for the Separatist Droid Army to be built on the Outer Rim world of Geonosis. The factory was a joint venture with the Trade Federation, necessitating that Clovis work alongside fellow covert Confederate operative, Senator Lott Dod, and Geonosian Archduke Poggle the Lesser. Unbeknownst to Clovis, the Jedi High Council suspected him of treason, and so asked his former flame, Padmé Amidala, to gather information on his dealings. Under the belief that Amidala was interested in resurrecting their relationship, Clovis allowed the Naboo Senator to accompany him to a meeting with Dod and Poggle on Cato Neimoidia, during which she discovered his allegiance to the Confederacy and his investments in the new Geonosian droid foundry.

Before Amidala could relate this information back to the Jedi Order, she was poisoned by Dod, who hoped to use her as leverage over Clovis in their financial dealings. Amidala's poisoning was discovered by her secret husband, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, who was posing undercover as her security guard. Understanding that his former love's life was in danger, Clovis assisted Skywalker in his attempt to get her off of Cato Neimoidia, during which he confronted Dod and forced his co-conspirator to provide them with an antidote to Amidala's poison. Despite his aid in removing Amidala from Lott Dod's palace, Skywalker was still bitter with Clovis due to his advances on Amidala, and so left the Senator on Cato Neimoidia to face the wrath of Dod and Poggle the Lesser.

Biography

Early career

"At one point Clovis and I were…close. It was my choice to return to a strictly professional level. Clovis didn't take it well."

―Padmé Amidala^[src]

ClovisInSenate — Senator Clovis in the Galactic Senate

Rush Clovis was a charismatic and wealthy^[6] Human male noble hailing from the Core World of Scipio.^[1] In 25 BBY,^[7] Clovis became the senatorial representative of his planet in the congress of the Galactic Republic. In addition to his duties as Senator of Scipio, Clovis also held the title of baron, and served as a delegate for the InterGalactic Banking Clan—a financial corporation that had gained representation in the Galactic Senate^[4] as a functional constituency.^[8]

Early in his career on the Republic capital planet Coruscant, Clovis became acquainted with fellow first-year senator, Padmé Amidala,^[4] from the Mid Rim world of Naboo.^[9] As the representative of the Chommell sector,^[10] Amidala served on several senatorial committees with Clovis, and the two soon became close friends. Their relationship eventually became romantically charged, and Amidala was driven to request a return to professional decorum between the two, as she was primarily focused on her duties as a senator at the time. Clovis reacted poorly to Amidala's choice, and the two stopped speaking to one another all together.^[4]

Confederate investments

"This investment by the Banking Clan will create unimaginable new war profits. The largest droid factory ever built."
"As long as the Republic doesn't find out."

―Senators Clovis and Dod —

Listen (file info)^[src]

Clovis continued to serve as a senator for a further three years,^[4] during which time the Republic became embroiled in the Separatist Crisis and the resultant Clone Wars. During the Separatist Crisis, a number of sectors and corporations declared their intentions to leave the Republic and form a Confederacy of Independent Systems; InterGalactic Banking Clan Chairman San Hill was among the corporate executives who contributed to the creation of the Confederacy, and became a founding member of the Separatist Council. The Clone Wars erupted that year, revealing San Hill's new allegiance and placing the Banking Clan as an enemy of the Republic.^[11]

Despite the revelation of the Banking Clan's involvement in the Confederacy, the organization was not exiled from the Republic government—in fact, the InterGalactic Banking Clan was still able to provide financial services to both the Republic and the Confederacy,^[12] as the extent of the institution's complicity in the war had not been revealed. The Banking Clan avoided any public connection to the Separatists, allowing Clovis to retain his position in the Senate. The Scipio Senator continued to represent the interests of the IBC in the early days of the war, but was in reality pursuing a Confederate agenda and became involved in activities that would be considered treasonous if discovered by Republic authorities. On behalf of the Banking Clan, Clovis entered into a business venture with Trade Federation Senator Lott Dod^[4] in 21 BBY.^[13] Like Clovis, Dod represented a Confederate financier, but was able to retain his position by claiming that Federation goods were being co-opted without the approval of the conglomerate's governing board.^[12] The two jointly invested in a new Confederate droid foundry to be built on Geonosis that, when completed, would be the largest battle droid factory ever built. The Senators both expected large returns on their investment, but Dod eventually became heavily indebted to the Banking Clan, and was forced to sign over much of his holdings over the Neimoidian purse world of Cato Neimoidia to Clovis's organization.^[4] The Scipio senator then used the Neimoidian's payments as collateral on loans used to build new armies and warships for the Confederacy.^[6]

DinnerForTwo-SS — Senators Clovis and Amidala enjoy dinner on Coruscant.

This left Clovis as the primary beneficiary of the new foundry's profits. While he and Dod worked to finalize their plans, the High Council of the Jedi Order came to suspect the InterGalactic Banking Clan of treason. In an attempt to investigate the corporation's dealings without causing a major diplomatic incident between the IBC and the Jedi, the Council approached Clovis's former lover, Padmé Amidala, about spying on her colleague. Amidala initially refused, but later accepted the mission after learning the details of the Council's request. In order to fulfill her assignment, Amidala contacted Clovis and indicated that she was interested in becoming friends once more. Although the Scipio Senator was surprised to hear from his old flame, he was enthused by the prospect of rekindling their relationship and so invited her to a meeting in the dining commons of the Senate Building.^[4]

The two enjoyed a late dinner together, during which Amidala confided in Clovis that she had been lonely since their parting. Eager to become romantically involved with Amidala once more, Clovis indicated that he would be happy to ease her loneliness upon his return from a trip to Cato Neimoidia. The two discussed their separate dealings with the Neimoidians, although Clovis masked his true business with them by claiming that his trip was to collect on a Banking Clan loan to the Trade Federation. After learning that Amidala was having difficulties of her own in getting trade concessions from the Federation, he offered to bring her with him to Cato Neimoidia, under the pretense that they could aid each other—Clovis, with his IBC leverage, and Amidala, with her diplomatic contacts, would be able to persuade the Neimoidians to fulfill their respective demands.^[4]

Amidala agreed to join him, and the following day, the two met on the open-air landing berths of the Senate Annex Dome to depart the galactic capital in Amidala's Naboo star skiff. The Naboo Senator was accompanied by her protocol droid, C-3PO, and two members of the Naboo Royal Guard—her head of security, Captain Gregar Typho, and a royal pilot. The pilot was in fact Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, undercover as Amidala's protector for the duration of the her espionage mission.^[4] Unbeknownst to even the Jedi Council, Skywalker and Amidala had secretly married at the beginning of the Clone Wars;^[11] the Jedi Knight was extremely jealous of his wife's fabricated infatuation with Clovis, as well as her previous relationship with the Senator. Upon boarding the skiff, Skywalker intentionally broke the harness on the seat next to Amidala's in an attempt to separate the two senators for the duration of the flight to Cato Neimoidia. Nevertheless, Clovis made advances on Amidala immediately after take off, pushing Skywalker to jerk the skiff around mid-flight, throwing Clovis away from his wife.^[4]

Treason revealed

"Don't worry, Clovis. It's good to know you have a heart. I wish I could give you the disc, but I have a lot of faith in your survival skills."

―Anakin Skywalker^[src]

Cato foundry holo — Clovis conspires with Dod and Poggle the Lesser.

The star skiff eventually arrived on Cato Neimoidia, landing on the bridge-borne city that played host to Lott Dod's palace. While Clovis led Amidala and C-3PO to meet with the Neimoidian Senator, Skywalker stayed behind with the star skiff, waiting for his wife to send him a message that she had secured incriminating data on Clovis. Upon entering the palace, Clovis and Amidala split up, with the Naboo Senator taking leave to her room while the Scipio Senator followed Dod to the palace's library. Away from Amidala's eyes, Dod was able to reveal to Clovis the holographic plans for their new droid foundry. Although they were both optimistic about the project, Dod was concerned by Amidala's presence, as he feared she may reveal their plans to the Republic. The two were joined in their meeting by Poggle the Lesser,^[4] Archduke of Geonosis and founding member of the Separatist Council,^[11] who would oversee the construction and operation of the factory.^[14] The Geonosian was troubled by the disparity between the profits he and Dod would be receiving and the profits Clovis would reap from the foundry; however, when the issue was raised, the Banking Clan representative was quick to note that the finances had already been agreed upon.^[4]

During the argument, Amidala entered the library and nearly discovered the conspiracy, but Clovis was quick to deactivate the foundry hologram while Poggle the Lesser hid in the shadows. While Clovis escorted Amidala back to her room to prepare for dinner, Poggle and Dod confided in one another their unwillingness to operate under Clovis's demands and ultimately devised a plan to poison Amidala in order to gain bargaining leverage over their co-conspirator. The plan was put into action just before dinner, when Dod enticed Amidala to drink from a cup with poison on its rim. Following the dinner, Clovis offered to take his guest on a tour of the palace, which ultimately led the two of them to the library. After brief moments of discussion, Amidala requested that Clovis fetch her a glass of water. While he was gone, she hacked into the hologram terminal and stole the data disc on the droid foundry. Clovis returned a short time later and nearly discovered Amidala's deception, but the Naboo Senator was able to distract him by embracing him in a hug and claiming that she had missed his company.^[4]

While Clovis was focused on Amidala's flirtation, Skywalker was able to enter the library and relieve his wife of the data. However, before Amidala could leave with him, the poison took its effects and caused her to lose consciousness. Clovis carried her back to her room and immediately left to confront Dod, as he had recognized her symptoms as a result of poisoning. Dod countered his claims by asserting that he had been betrayed by the Naboo Senator, as she was a Republic spy. Furious, Clovis returned to the library to check the status of the foundry plans. Upon discovering that they were missing, he rushed back to Amidala's room to demand that she return the data disc. Amidala admitted to deceiving him, but asserted that it was for the good of the Republic. Although she didn't want to believe that her old love had committed treason, she fulfilled her duty and sent the disc to the Senate and Jedi Council. Their conversation was interrupted by Skywalker, who threatened to kill Clovis if he didn't back away from Amidala. Clovis explained to Skywalker that she had been poisoned by Dod, and that if she returned the disc to him, he would get the Neimoidian to provide him with an antidote.^[4]

LottDodIsFlinches-SS — Clovis threatens Dod to save Amidala.

Knowing that Clovis did not want to allow Dod to discover that he had lost the data, Skywalker refused, stating he would much rather deal with Dod himself, even if it meant that Clovis's failure would be revealed. Ultimately, Clovis's love for Amidala outweighed his concern for his own well being, so he agreed to aid the two in returning her to her skiff. As Skywalker carried Amidala, Clovis led the way toward the palace's exit. They were intercepted by Dod, who insisted that Amidala stay on Cato Neimoidia. Although Clovis attempted to lie by claiming that authorities on Naboo had instructed him to return her to Coruscant, Dod was adamant in keeping her in his palace. With little time to spare, Clovis pulled a hold-out pistol on his Neimoidian contemporary and demanded that he surrender the antidote. Dod complied, and Clovis, Skywalker, Amdiala, and C-3PO fled toward the skiff. Skywalker and the droid reached the vessel first with Amidala in tow, and while Clovis approached, the Jedi began to close the entry ramp.^[4]

Clovis had expected Skywalker to return the data disc in gratitude for aiding in Amidala's escape, but the Jedi refused. The Scipio Senator was abandoned on Cato Neimoidia to face the wrath of Lott Dod and Poggle the Lesser, who were waiting for him with a squad of B1 battle droids training their blasters on him.^[4]

Corruption

In 20 BBY, Clovis discovered corruption in the Banking Clan on his home planet of Scipio. When Padme Amidala arrived to secure a transaction for the Republic, he was assigned as the Clan's agent in the transaction. Amidala refused him and walked off. Later that night, he climbed to Padme's apartment. He told her that he had found corruption in the Clan. From a rooftop the bounty hunter Embo fired shots at the two. Using the shots as proof that he was being truthful, he asked her to help him uncover the corruption. She reluctantly agreed.

The next day, under the facade of the transaction, the two waited for one of Amidala's handmaidens cut the power to the building. When the lights went out, Amidala found the records and downloaded them. The power came back on, and business went on. Amidala found the proof in the records of corruption, but was arrested for espionage. Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker bailed her out, and they went to find Clovis. They found him at his private residence, and the bounty hunter Embo pursued. They tried to escape on a speeder, but Embo shot them down. The speeder skidded among the snow like a snowmobile, and Embo used his helmet as a sled to pursue. They lost him eventually and escaped off planet.

They presented the information to Palpatine, who ordered the two to investigate. The found that the Separatists were allowed to not pay off their loans and yet the Republic's increased. Clovis tried to force a kiss on Padme, but Skywalker burst in and beat Clovis up. Security came in, and Clovis said that Skywalker beat off a man trying to kill him. While a medical droid was tending to him, it showed a message from Count Dooku, who stated that if the corruption was exposed, Clovis would be head of the Clan, and agrees to give him evidence of the corruption. Nix Card and Clovis reported to Palpatine that the corruption was exposed, and that the Core Five were arrested. The Separatists endorsed Clovis as leader of the Clan. The Republic voted to the same effect. Clovis assumed control of the Clan.

As Clovis assumed power, Dooku arrived with droids and killed the clone escort. Dooku demanded that Clovis join him as recompense for his position. Clovis reluctantly agreed. However, Skywalker arrived with a clone army to retake Scipio. As the battle raged, Skywalker arrived in Clovis' office. Clovis held him at bay with Amidala until a crashed droid made the building unstable. Clovis held on to Skywalker's hand as he dangled over the gap, but he let go to save Padme and fell to his death.

Personality and traits

RushClovis-SWE — Clovis, in his fashionable boots and tunic

"For all the risks we are taking, we should be getting a greater share of the profits."
"Are you suggesting we change the terms of our agreement? No. A deal is a deal. I'd hate for something to happen to you."
"You forget yourself, Clovis. You cannot threaten me on my own planet."
"This is hardly your planet anymore, not since you signed your holdings over to the Banking Clan in return for a stake in this new droid foundry."

―Senators Dod and Clovis argue over their financial arrangements —

Listen (file info)^[src]

Baron Rush Clovis was a fair-skinned man with dark hair^[4] who stood tall at 1.92 meters. He sported yellow tattoos on his forehead that signified his status within the society of Scipio. Clovis garbed himself in fashions intended to be reminiscent of his homeworld's warrior past, and wore boots and a tunic decorated to appear as if they were armored.^[1]^[6] He was charismatic and very wealthy, and was considered to be of a young age during the Clone Wars.^[6]

Clovis was an opportunist^[15] who used his position as a Banking Clan representative to profit off of the carnage of the Clone Wars while retaining his high status within the Galactic Senate. He was highly concerned with monetary compensation for his work with the Confederacy, and enforced the deal between himself, Lott Dod, and Poggle the Lesser when it was most beneficial to him. Despite his close partnership with Dod, Clovis was disdainful of Neimoidians in general, referring to them as "overgrown Trade Federation grubs" during his dinner with Padmé Amidala. Clovis also criticized their financial practices, stating that Federation personnel loved to borrow money from the Banking Clan but hated to pay it back.^[4]

During his conference with Poggle and Dod, Clovis openly threatened his co-conspirators and reminded Dod that the InterGalactic Banking Clan had a firm hold over Cato Neimoidia—the planet no longer belonged to Dod and the Federation. His hubris led Dod and Poggle to poison Amidala, the symptoms of which were recognized early on by her droid steward, C-3PO. Although the protocol droid suggested that the Senator return to her room, Clovis brushed him off and ordered him to leave the two alone. Later, when Clovis was confronted by Skywalker, he was appalled by the lack of respect a simple pilot gave to a senator of the Republic.^[4]

Relationship with Padmé Amidala

"He might kill me if he finds out, but still, it's her life that I worry about. She must be saved because I love her."

―Clovis, on Amidala^[src]

The beginning and end of Clovis's career as a senator was defined by his relationship with Padmé Amidala of Naboo. The two senators quickly became infatuated with one another upon their induction into the Senate, but much to the chagrin of Clovis, Amidala ended their relationship around the time of the Separatist Crisis. Clovis took the news quite poorly, and the two stopped talking for an extended period of time. Despite this, Clovis was still very much in love with Amidala, and during his business venture with Dod, he even used the name "Padmé" as a passcode to protect the droid foundry data. Although he was surprised by her request to get back in touch^[4] in 21 BBY,^[13] he was nonetheless enthused by the prospect and accepted her back into his life.^[4]

ClovisCatchesPadme-SS — Clovis catches Amidala as she passes out after being poisoned by Lott Dod.

During their dinner on Coruscant, Amidala flirted with Clovis heavily, and the Scipio Senator was quick to respond by extending an invitation to join him on Cato Neimoidia. When she asked him if the trip was for political reasons or for the purposes of rekindling their friendship, he told her that he was interested in both, although he was admittedly far more concerned with her friendship than her politics. Indeed, Clovis hoped that their renewed relationship would progress better than their previous one had, and so he brought Amidala with him despite the obvious dangers of bringing a Republic dignitary to a meeting of Confederate conspirators.^[4]

While on Cato Neimoidia, Clovis was quick to believe any of Amidala's claims, as he was under the impression that they both held mutual feelings for one another. He allowed the Senator into the room containing the foundry plans, and even left her there alone while he fetched her a glass of water. When Amidala threw herself at him to avoid his discovery of her espionage, Clovis was quick to take advantage of the situation and return the affection. When his love collapsed under the grip of the poison, Clovis carried her to her room and sought out an antidote. Even after discovering that she had betrayed him for the sake of the Republic, Clovis refused to allow her to succumb to Dod's machinations, despite the danger it would place him in. He threatened Dod's life for the antidote, ultimately saving Amidala, but her heart belonged to someone else—Anakin Skywalker. A jealous Skywalker abandoned Clovis on Cato Neimoidia, where he faced retribution from Dod and Poggle the Lesser for his choice to save Padmé Amidala's life.^[4]

Behind the scenes

Rush Clovis was created for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. He first appeared in the episode "Senate Spy". In the episode, Clovis's voice was provided by Robin Atkin Downes;^[5] the episode marked the actor's return to the series after having voiced the freedom fighter Cham Syndulla in the first season.^[16]

In early concepts for "Senate Spy," Clovis's role was filled by Palo, a man from Naboo mentioned by Amidala in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones as a love interest from her youth. This idea was abandoned early on, as she states in the film that Palo left politics to become an artist. In addition, the show's creators felt that the relationship between Amidala and the character had to be more recent than the one between her and Palo, as the theme of Skywalker's jealousy would be better supported.^[5]

Clovis later reappeared in the Star Wars Comic UK,^[17]^[18] and received an entry in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia.^[1]