Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
But obviously that plot point did not exist in any way at the time this book was written, so how exactly would Darth Vader be so intimately aware with 3PO's programming?
3PO mentions it in passing, but it's never used. It's just his usual blathering on while people are trying to have a conversation.
The book was written 21 years before TPM, by someone other than Lucas. It's a coincidence, nothing more.
Is it explained at all?
But obviously that plot point did not exist in any way at the time this book was written, so how exactly would Darth Vader be so intimately aware with 3PO's programming?
3PO mentions it in passing, but it's never used. It's just his usual blathering on while people are trying to have a conversation.
The book was written 21 years before TPM, by someone other than Lucas. It's a coincidence, nothing more.
Is it explained at all?
No. It's not even bothered with in the book. In fact, when Vader shuts both droids down, he simply tells them to shut down. Since they're programmed to follow orders, they just shut down. No code words are needed or used and the command is just the phrase...shut down.