CHAPTER FOUR

"Thank the Maker!" the gold droid cried out, as it was lowered into the tub. For a planet with little water, Oil was in rich supply. Leia didn't like oil, it was grimy and gross and ruined everything it touched. But with droids, they needed oil. Oil loosened the joints, making their parts run smoother and faster than before. The gold one needed it bad, so much dust and sand had gotten in the joints it was a miracle it was able to move.

"This feels so good!" the droid sighed.

In the garage sat Leia's landspeeder, her pride, and her joy. Owen had bought it for her fifteen birthday, when Beru had had the 'women's sickness', and the sun seemingly activated sudden changes in body temperature. Someone had to do the women's chores, and Owen couldn't drop and run into town at a moments notice.

Leia worked on her landspeeder, thinking of what Biggs was talking about yesterday. She figured he had probably Jump ship already. He might be halfway across the galaxy, deep in the galaxy ranks. Or dead from a blaster in the head. She'll never know, because she'll never get off this damn planet.

Leia slammed a wrench against the workbench, letting it fall off and roll away. Both the droids looked at her.

Leia slid down and lean against the workbench. "Biggs was right, I'll never get off this piece of shit planet."

"I beg your pardon, but is there anything I can do?" the android asked after a moment.

"Not unless you can speed up time, get the harvest done and get me to the Academy." Leia sighed, reaching down to pick up the wrench.

"I see, madam."

"I'm not fancy, you can call me Leia."

"Yes, Madam Leia."

Leia laughed, "Just Leia, okay bolts?" she teased, looking at the droid. "Is it okay if I can call you bolts or do you have some fancy name?"

"Oh I am See-Threepio. Cyborg human relations and this is Artoo Detoo. You can say Artoo is my companion. We've been together for so long."

Oh, the other droid. Leia turned to look at him. She reached into the toolbox and pulled a carbon pick out, walking over to the droid. "Hey buddy" she cooed. The little droid beeped back at her. Threepio climbed out of the bath, grabbing the nearby towel and begin wiping himself off. As leia scrapped through several of the connectors, she turned to Threepio, "how long have you been with him?"

"About twenty years."

"Well, from the looks of it, you guys have seen a lot of action. So much carbon scoring."

"Very much Madam Leia. Sometimes I'm amazed."

"Amazed at what?"

"Well the amount of time we've been with the rebellion, you would think we would be in worse shape."

Leia stopped, looking over at Threepio, a light in her eyes having just gone off. "The rebellion." She said, amazed. "The Rebellion!"

"Well that's how we came into your service. Our ship was stopped by Imperial forces just above your planet."

"I saw that! Any other battles you guys have been in?"

"Several, if I remember correctly. There's not a lot to tell, we're often forgotten about, I'm afraid. And because of the way I'm programmed, I'm not good at telling stories. At least, making them interesting."

Leia nodded, moving to the neck joint of Artoo. There was something deep in there, something the stupid pick couldn't get out.

"Ugh! This better be good, if this is a freakin' rock-"

With a snap, the fragment broke loose, sending Leia flying. She sat up, seeing a 3-D hologram, no bigger than twelve inches off the ground. The hologram was…

"Oh this is quite good, well done Artoo." She gasped, the literal man of her dreams stand there. He was wearing a all white outfit, almost royal. He held his hands behind his back, standing straight up. His hair was just as she remembered it, feathery. "Help us Kenobi." He began, in a calm voice. He couldn't have been older than sixteen, even his voice showed his youth. "You're our only hope."

Leia looked at Artoo. "Talk." She said, still amazed.

As the man repeated that sentence over and over again, Artoo beeped something almost sheepishly to Threepio.

"WHAT IS WHAT?" Threepio cried. "That!" he pointed to the hologram. If Artoo was a human, he would have shrugged and pretended just have noticed the hologram itself.

"he says not to pay attention, its old data, you can erase it if needed."

Leia ignored him, focusing on the hologram.

"I think…I think he was in my dream." Leia looked up at Threepio. "Who is he?"

"I'm not quite sure Madam Leia. He was a passenger on our last voyage, of some importance-"

"A prince!" Leia gasped.

"Perhaps, yes, that sounds familiar. The captain was a attaché for-"

"Is that anymore?" Leia pointed towards the hologram. She reached for Artoo but backed away when Artoo let out a lot of frantic squeaks and whistles.

"Behave yourself!" Threepio cried to Artoo. "She is our owner now, you can trust her."

Artoo let a long whistle out. Leia turned to Threepio. "Artoo says he is property of a Obi-Wan Kenobi. He apparently lives nearby, and this is a message intended only for him. To be honest, I don't know what he's going on about. Our last master was Captain Antilles, but I'm afraid Artoo is eccentric, understandable from what he's gone through."

"Kenobi…" Leia thought on it. The last name was familiar, belonging to a old hermit nearby. Owen didn't care much for him. Leia however had a soft spot for him. He had saved her life several times as a child. The last time she had seen him was during that sandstorm several years back, when she, Windy and Biggs had to take shelter in a Krayt Dragon's cave. She figured it had been so long, his sandy copper hair was now probably completely white. "There's a Ben Kenobi nearby."

She hadn't said his name out loud in so long. Beru was kind towards Ben, mainly because he kept a eye out for Leia, making sure she was completely safe. Owen was different. He called Ben an old sorcerer, mainly because he practiced a religion, something to do with spirits. It was odd for someone like Owen, who wouldn't believe something unless he's seen it with his own two eyes. "I beg your pardon, but are you saying you know him?" Threepio's calm voice snapped Leia out of her thoughts. She shook her head. "I don't know a Obi-Wan, only a Ben. I haven't seen him in years though…"

Leia gaze came back to the hologram.

"I wonder…he must be important, he has to be, look at his clothes! He might be in trouble. I should hear the rest of the message."

Leia reached for Artoo and Artoo squeaked. "He's complaining about the retraining bolt the Jawa's put on him. It's short circuited the recording system…perhaps if you remove it, he'll be able to repeat the recording."

Leia looked at the hologram, longing in her eyes. "Well…I guess." Leia stood up, walking over to the toolbox, looking for the right tool. "You're too small to run off on me, It probably wont hurt to take it off. Why is he sending it to Old Ben I'll never-"

Leia, with one swift move, grabbed the wedged bar and POP! The restraining bolt popped off and rolled a few feet away. The man disappeared almost instantly as he appeared.

"Where'd he go!" Leia looked at the little droid. The droid let out a almost innocent beep in response. "The one you just played for us!" Threepio turned away, almost embarrassed. "I'm sorry Madam, but he appears to have a flutter. Perhaps…"

"Leia, Dinner!" Beru called from outside. Leia ran to the door, calling back, "I'm coming!" looking back at the droids, "Stay here okay?" she picked up the retraining bolt and threw it onto the work bench.

As she walked out she could hear the droids talking to each other. "You better play that recording to her."

Artoo beeped.

"I don't like you either." Replied Threepio.