Slave Hovels, Mos Espa, Tatooine
c. 1381 BC
The young human slave boy eagerly pulled back the sheets from over his project.
"Isn't he great? He's not finished yet."
The unfinished protocol droid was nearly complete, excepting to fact that it had one photoreceptor and no outer coverings, which Artoo found amusing. The handmaiden, however, grinned at their host's project. "He's wonderful."
Anakin smiled, clearly feeling good about himself. "You really like him? He's a protocol droid, to help mom. Watch." He flipped a switch on the droid's neck, and he instantly sat up.
"Oh!" The protocol droid looked around in puzzlement. "Oh… Where is everybody?"
"Oops!" Anakin searched around for a few moments, before finding a spare photoreceptor and placing it on his droid.
Satisfied, he started his pre-programmed spiel. "How do you do? I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg relations. How might I serve you?"
Padmé's eye's widened, impressed by Anakin's work. "He's perfect!"
C-3PO was clearly pleased by the compliment. "Oh! Perfect!" He stood up and walked around to warm up his joints, while his master was already excited to show his new friends his other projects. "When the storm is over, I'll show you my racer. I'm building a Podracer!" The boy continued his conversation with the young woman while Artoo came closer to the other droid.
"I'm not sure this floor is entirely stable," Threepio commented to himself, before noticing the astromech. "Oh! Hello. I don't believe we have been introduced."
Delighted at meeting another droid, Artoo quickly introduced himself, whistling cheerfully in Binary.
Threepio nodded in greeting. "R2-D2. A pleasure to meet you! I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg relations."
Used to making wisecracks with the other astromechs aboard Her Majesty's Royal Starship, the little astro droid decided to point out the taller droid's lack of outer plating. However, he seemed perplexed. "I beg your pardon, but what do you mean, 'naked'?"
Trying hard not to let out an electronic giggle, Artoo explained to Threepio his "condition". He was horrified. "My parts are showing! My goodness, oh!"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Artoo "laughed" at the other's predicament. He could get used to this…
Droid Pool, Tantive IV, en route to Alderaan
c. 1368 BC
Sighing sadly, R2-D2 rolled across Tantive IV's droid pool. He had hardly much idea of what happened to Master Anakin, but Mistress Padmé was now "deactivated", or at least the Human equivalent. On the other hand, he was working for Senator Organa now, who had adopted Padmé and Anakin's daughter, but he might never meet the son, and now C-3PO, his closest friend, had his memory wiped. True, he had laughed, but that was to hide his nervousness at his counterpart's fate.
People thought droids couldn't feel, but right now Artoo having a hard time believing that. He felt powerless, devastated, remorseful, abandoned… frightened.
Lost in his thoughts, he accidentally bumped into another droid. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry!" a familiar voice remarked. Looking up in astonishment, he saw none other than C-3PO himself!
"Actually," he continued, "it happens to be my first time here. Would you be so kind as to show me around?"
The excited astromech didn't hesitate in his answer: a joyful bleep.
"Oh, splendid!" the golden protocol droid exclaimed, motioning forward.
Whistling in agreement, Artoo optimistically led him around the spacious room, glad to have a new beginning to an old friendship.
All characters, locations, and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (heavily excerpted here), are copyright © Lucasfilm Limited, LLC and are used without permission but with much respect and affection.