Description
JC-05 was the 5th generation of the popular "Jedi Companion" series of droids, built to keep up with even the swiftest and most adventurous of Jedi in the days of the High Republic.
JC-05 could either drive around balancing on its two wheels, or transition its legs into thruster mode using two powerful back-mounted linear actuators. Drive mode was useful for conserving energy and keeping a low profile, but when JC needed to reach a high place, survey the area, or simply keep up with its quick Jedi Master, it used its thruster mode to fly at surprisingly high speeds. JC-05 also had a simple concealable arm attachment, allowing it to interact with consoles and pick up or carry small objects. The arm could retract fully into the body for better aerodynamics when flying.
The dual ion engine thrusters were even capable of limited spaceflight, enabling JC-05 to detach from a Jedi's ship, drop to a planet's surface, survey the area, and return to the ship in orbit. This could be particularly useful on planets where a Jedi was unwelcome, using JC-05 to find a safe space to land. JC-05 droids were quite ordinary looking, allowing them to blend into most environments with ease, provided they did not reveal their powerful thrusters hidden in their wheels. If they did get into trouble, however, those powerful thrusters would be very useful for making a quick escape.
Many Jedi grew to think of these JC droids as good friends, due to their adventurous personality and a penchant for getting the Jedi out of tricky situations. Some Jedi even outfitted their JC droids with even more powerful thrusters, allowing the droid to lift the Jedi over short distances. A Jedi hanging on to his JC droid before dropping tactically onto the enemy would have been quite the sight to behold!
Sadly, as the Jedi became less interested in traveling the galaxy and going on ambitious adventures, the JC series was phased out, being replaced with more tactical, rational, and docile droids. The JC series was a symbol of the height of the Jedi order, when members of the order were chiefly concerned with helping the ordinary folk of the galaxy, and being space-faring heroes capable of expelling evil at every corner of the galaxy.
We can only hope that one day the Jedi Order of old will return, and with it, a new series of Jedi companion droids with a similar zeal for heroic adventure.