R2D2 was among the earliest of those who visited Kylo Ren. He had gone along with the brave Resistance officer Finn Bennet on a reconnaissance mission to the Netherfield system, and though it was on Lady Leia's orders he would have gone regardless. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his golden friend that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid C-3PO had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his friend and mistress Rey employed in working on her lightsaber, he suddenly glided over to her and addressed her with a round of beeps.
"You hope Kylo Ren will like it, R2?" Rey laughed. The idea of a Dark Force-user, a renowned warrior of the First Order admiring her saber was absurd. It was especially absurd, given the Dark Force-user in question.
"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Ren likes," said C-3PO resentfully, "since we are not to visit."
"But you forget, Threepio," said Rey, "that we shall meet him at the regional galactic assemblies, as he is a representative of the First Order, and that Lady Cass has promised to introduce him. She met him at a meeting on Hosnian Prime, you know."
"I do not believe Lady Cass will do any such thing. She has two Force-sensitive daughters of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."
R2D2 replied at length.
"You are glad to find that we do not depend on her serving us?" C-3PO said indignantly. He deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain himself, began scolding BB-8, a small, spherical droid belonging to one of the Resistance captains.
"Don't keep wheeling about so, BB-8, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces." Then, turning back to Rey, "When is your next regional galactic Senate meeting to be, Miss Rey?"
"To-morrow fortnight."
"Aye, so it is," cried C-3PO, "and Lady Cass does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will hardly know him herself."
Once more, R2D2 contributed to the conversation by beeping and whirring.
"We may have the advantage over Lady Cass, and introduce Mr. Ren to her? Impossible, R2, impossible, when we are not acquainted with him ourselves; how can you be so teasing? Nonsense, nonsense! Oh, I am sick of Mr. Ren!"
If beeps could be wry, then at this moment R2D2's were.
"My goodness! If you had known as much this morning you certainly would not have called on him? But you have visited him?" C-3PO cried in astonishment.
The astonishment of all present was just what R2 wished; that of C-3PO perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy was over, he began to declare that it was what he had expected all the while.
"How good it was in you, my dear R2-D2! But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you cared about Miss Rey too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! And it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now."
R2-D2 beeped once more, then slowly glided out of the room, fatigued with the raptures of his friend.
"What an excellent droid that R2 is!" said he, when the door was shut with a hydraulic hiss. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me, either, for that matter. At out time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day, but for your sake, Miss Rey, we would do anything. Miss Lydia, my dear, though you are quite young and inexperienced, I dare say Mr. Ren may have some useful tips for you, Force-wise." So strong was C-3PO's belief that Ren would admire Rey above anyone else that he felt quite secure in giving young Miss Lydia Cass a small compliment.
"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid, for though I am young, I know I am quite strong in the Force."
The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon Ren might return R2D2's visit of reconnaissance, and determining when they should ask him to parley.