Chapter 3

The ride back to Kenobi's cottage was uneventful; at least, to start. He and Luke talked about the weather, which was a short conversation, considering it was always hot and dry on Tatooine. I kept my "eye" on Kenobi the whole trip, trying to connect the Kenobi I remembered to the man I saw in front of me. I began sorting through all the recently retrieved memory files looking for the moment I last saw him. AHA! It was the Tantive IV! Wait. The Tantive IV was the ship Goldie and I escaped from just days ago. What's going on here?

******

I remember Anakin turning evil.

I remember Anakin and Obi-Wan stalking each other before...

I remember Padme giving birth in both physical and emotional pain.

I remember the infants, Luke and Leia, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

I remember Padme's last words: "There is still good in him."

******

"Still good in who?" C-3PO asked, in his oh so condescending way.

I must have spoken out in my musings, because turning my dome toward Kenobi, I saw him staring at me.

What is it? I asked, my red ocular light squarely on Kenobi.

"Artoo asks if there some kind of problem, Master Kenobi?" C-3PO translated.

"No problem," Kenobi said, his hand reaching to stroke his beard, as he turned, again, to the desert before them.

The rest of the journey was silent and short. When we arrive at Kenobi's home, he and Luke helped extract us from the speeder and led us into the house. As Luke and C-3PO entered the hut, the old man placed his hand on my dome stopping me in my tracks. He told Luke that he would be right in, but the two of us remained outside.

"Don't worry, my little friend, I don't intend to hurt you. But it is apparent that you have information beyond these rebel plans Luke was referring to. I thought this information was gone from you for good."

So you do remember me? You must. Humans usually don't have their memories wiped as droids do when they change hands.

"I'm afraid I can't understand you? Should I call the protocol droid out here?" Kenobi said.

I shook my dome. That was the last thing I wanted. I had a feeling Goldie's memory wipe was a success, and all of my memories would seem ridiculous fantasy to him.

Speak your piece, Obi-Wan. I'm listening. And it better have something to do with the Tantive IV.

He must have gotten the idea of my beep and whistles, because what he said next surprised me.

"I want you to keep a secret, R2? We cannot let Luke know what has gone before."

I listened as Obi-Wan continued about how Luke, like Anakin, was strong with the Force. He said the boy would need to be trained, and that might prove difficult if he knew about his father. I'm not sure I understood why we needed to keep history a secret, but I gave the old man and compliant tootle and followed him into the house.

It was small and dusty, but...I guess that's stating the obvious. I wheeled around main room as Kenobi started spinning his web of good hearted deception. He spoke of Anakin Skywalker as a good friend, which was true right up until the end. He mentioned the Clone Wars and Anakin's role, but started straying from script when he spoke of a Sith Apprentice named Darth Vader killing Luke's father. I guess it was all true…from a certain point of view.

Luke was listening with rapt attention. I imagine that any news of his father, especially from someone who knew him, would be like a cup of cold water in this desert heat. The boy was so desperate for knowledge of anything outside of Tatooine that he had no reason to doubt the old man's words.

I stopped listening and scanned the room for any signs of Kenobi's former life. There was little here, and I guess I could understand it considering the events that led him here.
The snap-hiss of a lightsaber caught my attention and I turned to see Obi-Wan holding the blue blade in his hand.

"This was your father's lightsaber," the old man said, handing the ignited saber to Luke. I focused in on the blade's hilt and scanned it. It was Anakin's blade, alright. Kenobi was telling the truth again. I'm going to have to keep tabs on the guy to make sure he doesn't stray too far from what really happened. What did happen? How did Obi-Wan get Anakin's lightsaber? I can guess how it went down. Two men left the platform on Mustafar, and only one returned. I'm beginning to understand Kenobi's reasoning for keeping this a secret.

"You must come with me to Alderaan," Kenobi said, interrupting my reflections.

"Alderaan?" Luke replied incredulously. "I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to get home. I'm late. I'm in for it as it is."

I stopped listening, again, but it wasn't long before Luke was ready to go. On the move, again. I have to admit that life on a moisture farm was not how I envisioned my latter years. As a matter of fact, I can't image the life span of any droid in this dust bowl being very long.

Fortunately, I would not live out my life on Tatooine, but it was tragedy that afforded my reprieve.