As soon as she hid her speeder behind the boulders, Leia started up a ridge to get a better view of the area. At this point, the blasts seemed to have died down, making it reasonably safe to approach without being caught in gunfire.

She hoped.

Slowly, she approached an opening that led to an overlook. As soon as she went through, she was startled by a series of electronic beeps nearby.

She quickly turned in the direction of the sound, and saw what appeared to be an astromech droid manning a transmitter. It viewed her for a few seconds, as if determining if she was a threat. Immediately, she put her forefinger to her lips.

"shhh!"

A few seconds later, the droid looked away, and tended to its duty, as if it perceived the interloper as no threat.

As she hid behind a large boulder, she was able to get a clear view of the area. Directly below, she saw what appeared to be a badly damaged mid sized transport ship. Surrounding it amongst various troop transports were imperial soldiers who were rounding up the crew who were apparently no match for these superior forces. At first she thought they were smugglers. But why would Imperial troops be handling them? Normally the local forces would handle this. After adjusting her binoculars, she had a closer look at the prisoners. Rather than scruffy smugglers, they appeared to be uniformed, as if they were part of a personal militia.

After viewing this for a few moments, directly above her, an imperial shuttle started to land near the area. As it landed, the shuttle bay opened. Two files of stormtroopers came out. Suddenly, Leia felt an unusual sense of dread. It became stronger when a final figure emerged from the craft. A tall menacing being clad completely in black, who approached a group of troopers holding a prisoner.

With one hand, Lord Vader held Captain Antilles by the throat. Immediately, a stormtrooper approached the dark lord.

"The Death Star plans are not aboard the ship's computers." reported the trooper.

"Where are those signals you intercepted?"

"Th... this is a consular ship..." said commander Antilles in a weak tone.

"If this is a consular ship, why did you fly through a restricted area? Why did it not land at an official port? And WHERE IS THE AMBASSADOR?" said the dark lord in a fierce tone. At this last query, he threw him against a rock ledge. Before his body slumped to the ground, he was dead.

The dark lord was furious. "Commander! I want this entire quadrant searched until those plans are found! And find the prince! I want him alive!"

A few meters away, a squad of stormtroopers were rounding up the ship's droid units, in the hope of scavenging them for any useful information. Amongst this group, was C3-PO. After the initial attack on the ship, the poor droid was forced off by the stormtroopers. It's major concern was the inevitable disassembly by these brute forces. So great was it, that the droid fretted out loud.

"Oh my...! Oh my...!"

At this, Lord Vader paused from his brooding, and faced the source of the vaguely familiar voice. As soon as he viewed the droid, a small stream of long dormant memories returned.

"Bring me that droid!" commanded the Dark Lord.

Moments later, Threepio found himself in the presence of the Dark Lord.

Vader silently examined the protocol droid. After a few tense moments, he addressed it.

"What is your operating number?"

"Um, I am C3P0. Human-cyborg relations. I am currently assigned, that is, formerly, to Captain Antilles..."

It IS him! Thought Vader as the droid droned on.

"Do you remember your creator?"

"My... my creator? I'm afraid not. That information was likely erased when I was assigned to Captain Antilles. However, if you..."

"You ... don't remember." interrupted Vader.

"I'm afraid not. But if you were to contact the royal house of Alderaan, I'm sure that they will be more than happy..."

"Fetch me a set of droid tools." Said Vader to a nearby officer.

"Um, sir, I must point out that I am the property of the royal house of Alderaan and..." With a gesture from Lord Vader, the droid was turned off. A moment later, a technician arrived with the tools.

"Lord Vader," said the technician, as the dark lord started to take apart the droid "It is likely that its memory centers will be encrypted with high level diplomatic protocols. It may be a while before..."

"I am aware of these protocols." said Vader, in a threatening tone. A moment later, he had found what he was looking for. A small non descript internal bolt. To the normal eye, it would not be worth a second glance, which was its intended purpose. "I am aware of many things." He said to himself.

THE SLAVE DISTRICT, MOS EPSA, MANY YEARS EARLIER

In his small room, young Anakin Skywalker was busy working on his latest piece of work. Searching around the waste areas behind old Watto's shop, he had found various old droid parts. After bringing them home, piece by piece, and using what money he had to purchase new parts, he was able to cobble together his own droid, to aid his mother. Recently, he activated its translation unit, giving it the power to communicate. Right now, on sudden inspiration, he was busy working on a new enhancement. A small device, no larger than an internal bolt.

"I trust everything was well today master Anakin?" said the droid, who was designated C3PO.

"It wasn't too bad today. Watto wanted me to fix up another condensing unit. Other than that, it was just inventory and repairs."

"I see."

A few moments later, he had finished his work, and started to connect it to the droids memory circuits.

A few moments later, aware of its new modification, the droid spoke up.

"It appears you are attempting another system backup. You have run a sucessful one two days ago. Since then, there has been no major modifications or changes..."

"I am aware of that. This is a special one."

"A special one? Whatever do you mean?"

"I'm worried that someone might try to... steal you."

"You mean like those horrid Jawas you told me about?"

"Kind of. This backup will confirm my ownership, plus it will restore any deleted memory in case there was an unpermitted erasure."

"That is very clever of you master Anakin! I would hate to lose any knowledge that you are my creator! I look forward to serving you properly"

A few moments later, his mother called him for the evening meal. At this, he shut down the droid, while letting the backup continue.

"I look forward to that as well" thought the young boy as he left to eat.

THE PRESENT DAY

"I have looked forward indeed." thought the dark lord as he drew out a thin wire from the bolt, and connected it to the droid's memory bank.

After a few short moments, the droid was switched on. After entering the proper authentication protocols, the droid was ready to respond to its creator.

"C3P0. What is Prince Lucas's mission?"

"He-was-to-intercept-transmissions-in-the-Toprawa-sector..."

"I am aware of this. But why did he come HERE?"

"He-was-to-search-for-a-jedi..."

"A Jedi? But who..."

"He-was-to-search-for-master-Obi-Wan..."

'Obi Wan' brooded the dark lord with trepid calm. This was the disturbing piece he searched for. If the old Jedi fool was alive, this would change everything.

"Commander, I want a general search for an Obi Wan Kenobi. Check municipal records, contacts, everything. Report your findings to me within the hour."

"Yes my lord."

Nearby, a lieutenant was ordering his troops for a general mop down of the area.

"Alright, let's clear the area. You four, gather all useful equipment for analysis. Anything that looks like junk, send to the disposal crew. Like this here." He indicated to Threepio's remains.

Upon hearing this, Vader turned and faced the officer.

"Lieutenant, I wish to... examine this droid more thoroughly. Have your men organize the parts, and have it sent to my quarters aboard the Devastator."

"Um yes my lord."

"See to it personally lieutenant."

"Yes... my lord". He then faced his subordinates. "Well you heard him! Get this loaded!"

After a few moments, the tense calm of the site was disturbed by a distant sound of gunfire coming from an overlooking cliff.