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Log 01: The New Master
The air was thin on Nar Shadaa and you could never really tell how high up you were. It was a beautiful place, if you were a droid anyway. The organics always complained about the pathetic conditions, the oils, the poor people and all the thugs and scum. Well, conditions never worried the droids, oil is good for a tune up, droids have no economic and wealth status...but the thugs, it appeared as though everywhere one looked there'd be a Protocol Droid being abused by it's master or a Utility Droid being beaten by amusement down a back alley. Not 3C though, his master treated him well.
He was the display droid in a small store on the market quarter in Nar Shadaa. He, along with four other droids were the top-of-the-line astromech droids. Around him was 3C-A6 and WH1R. WH1R minded the shop thou this owner was out making trades. On the last trade she even managed to sell JK-V2 to a collector. Today she was out with the fourth of the droids, the best, T3-H8. 3C-FD's master, a young Twi'lek girl with golden skin owned the emporium. It was a droid parts stall and most of the powered down protocol droids had already been shipped off.
The master, Janice Nall, had recently been sponsored by an anonymous benefactor working for the Exchange. He had left his name anonymous for a reason, to test the droids' skills. He had heard from the Exchange on Nar Shadaa that Nall's droids were the best slicers. They were. And so he arranged her shop to be moved to Taris. The man's name was Kang and he was willing to pay big credits for the droids' cooperation.
Nall usually left her protocol droids off and the astros on, the Astros were far better at physical exercise and actually had a personality.
She arrived back at the stall, T3 beside her.
"How are you little ones. Any customers?" she asked the droids as they wheeled around the shop placing things on shelves or repairing parts.
"Bwwwooop." 3C-FD said.
She was shocked.
"That many!" She giggled. "Are you lying to me, 3C?"
He was. We whirred to signal his embarrassment. Janice placed a clutch onto the bench and faced her working droids.
"We leave soon." She started. She was sad, and even a droid such as 3C could tell as much. "But we have no choice. Taris will be our home, and we will enjoy it. You will all be with me."
3C-A6 locked his legs as hopped to show excitement. She giggled again, that lightened her mood. She would find herself wrong though. Not all the droids would follow her to Taris. JK had already gone, WH1R would be bought by Czerka and tortured by slavers who would steal him upon his arrival at Kashyyyk, 3C-A6 and T3-H8 would make it to Taris but 3C would be confiscated by the Sith, then there was the other 3C... 3C-FD... He would participate in the biggest adventure any droid ever went on. He would learn the ways of the Jedi and the ways of the Sith and everything in between.
A woman approached the counter as Nall was staring at her droids in amusement.
"Excuse me," she began as she arrived. The woman was old, she wore a brown robe with a hood shielding her face. From the angle of the droids they could see the woman was without sight. Nall turned.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Welcome to Droids of Janice. If you need droid parts, Janice Nall is you gal. What can I do ya for?"
"I'm looking for a droid. I. These dark times I feel it best to have a companion I can trust. I have been informed your droids are the best in the business."
"You heard correct."
How could the woman see which droid she picked if she was blind.
"Is it at all possible I could buy one of your astromech droids?"
She looked down at us. "Yes, but they aren't cheap." she looked back at the woman.
"I am willing to pay. How much for the 3C unit?"
"3C-A6?"
"No the older one."
How did she know...?
"Ah, 3C-FD. He is definitely the best of the best when it comes to the 3C range, yes both he and A6 are equal in skill but 3C is quite skilled due to his experiences."
"I will take him."
"Excellent, that will be 4,600 credits."
The blind woman stepped back in shock.
"Uh, it seems I am running a little short. I am in quite a situation and don't have the money. Look, I am not a con so I shall return in the morning with the rest."
"Excellent, I will see you tomorrow."
The woman bowed and walked away. Still she appeared to know where to go. 3C peered around the side of the desk and watched the woman walk away but was interrupted by his master.
"Looks good, kiddo. Looks like you'll be going on an adventure." Well that's an understatement. "Tomorrow, when she comes back, I have a surprise for you. I had hoped I wouldn't have to give it to you for a while but you are lucky enough to get in early."
Lucky...
In truth, the blind organic did not reappear for the day and only at the same time the following night. We all saw her walking towards the shop. Her stride was longer and faster than before. Yet now she seemed somewhat determined.
"Welcome back, how can I help you frie-" she began but was silenced. Suddenly Janice began hovering a little off the ground and grasped desperately at her own throat as if being strangled.
"I've reconsidered the deal." the women said as she magically threw Janice over the edge of the platform. Nar Shadaa was high up. You'd be falling for hours before hitting the ground. But she survived. Immediately all the droids rushed to the edge. All but 3C who was scared and confused. Should he follow the old women who waved him over or save his creator?
In fright, he followed the woman. Looking back he saw some of the droids reaching out for a very much alive Janice. Still he wheeled beside his new master, his new companion. Again he looked back at the droids as WH1R pulled Janice's hand onto the ground as she lifted herself. 3C-A6 just whirred in sorrow for her friend, the other 3C. She would miss him.
"They failed." The woman said to herself. "They think they stripped me of my power? They are wrong." She was mad. His master was very mad.
"Brwooor Bleep Beep-Beep?" 3C-FD asked.
"My name?" she began. "I am Kreia."