A/N: Another prequel to Rogue One. Things that might have happened (but probably didn't).
A mission doesn't go according to plan, and K-2 is separated from Cassian, with extensive damage to his body.
Finding Assistance
For a long moment, she stayed out of sight, but then warily entered the alley, staying well away from the KX unit sitting against the opposite wall. Its sensors shifted toward her, registering her presence.
"Did you get separated from your unit?" she asked carefully, feeling out the situation.
"No." There was a pause, but then the droid added, "I was separated from my…associate."
"Associate. Your 'associate' have a name?"
After a brief hesitation, the droid merely said, "Cassian." He offered nothing more.
"Another KX unit?"
"If you must know, my associate is a human male. Is there a reason you are standing here bothering me?"
She shifted and leaned back against the wall, studying the droid. "Your programming isn't Imperial standard. Who shot off your arms and leg – Imperials, rebels or disgruntled citizens?"
"At the risk of being rude, that really is no concern of yours."
She straightened. "Fine. You don't need any help. Your associate may eventually find you. Or maybe you can manage to stand and hop on one foot to wherever he is. Before your power is drained. Good luck." She turned to walk away.
With a mechanical approximation of a beleaguered sigh, the droid called, "Wait. Perhaps I do require some assistance. However, you should know that aiding me could be dangerous."
She snorted. "Could figure that out without your telling me. You got a name?"
"I am K-2SO."
She nodded, then glanced around, thinking. "There's an abandoned warehouse not far from here. If I help you, we should be able to make it there."
"Very well. It is best that I conceal myself as soon as possible."
She moved over beside the droid and grabbed the one arm that was still intact, albeit only to the wrist. It took some effort to leverage the droid to it's single foot, particularly since the thing was nearly two feet taller than she was. Catching hold of it as best she could, she gestured with her head. "That way."
It was slow going. She had to take several rest stops, since the droid was leaning so much of its weight on her, but finally they reached the warehouse and ducked through a broken door. She moved them deep into the building where they were less likely to be seen, heard or noticed and eased the unit to the ground.
"What's your power status?" she asked. "Your words are slurring. It must be pretty low."
"Agreed. It is currently at 16%."
"What else is damaged? Obviously the missing limbs, and whatever damage was done to their connections to your body. Anything else?"
"With my power this low, I dare not run a full diagnostics check to determine that."
"Okay, then first order of business is power. Stay here." She got up and was gone before K-2 could retort.
K put himself in standby mode to conserve what little power he had left. It was a good decision since it took her over an hour to return. He came alert when he heard her approach and, to his surprise, she had a small portable power generator with her.
"Where did you get that?"
"Found it."
Translated, he knew that meant she had stolen it, though he could hardly object. "You do know that Imperial technology differs from Galactic Standard, don't you?"
"Yeah, but not for power sources. They wanted to be able to recharge their devices no matter where they were, so they used Galactic Standard for those connections."
That much was true, K would admit, though he was surprised she knew so much about it. He didn't think she had Imperial leanings – nothing she had said or done suggested it. On the other hand, there was also no indication that she was part of the Rebellion. For the moment, it was best not to reveal any more about himself and his situation than absolutely necessary.
"Where's your recharge port located?"
"On my back, a round port to the left of my comm antennae."
She quickly got him hooked up to the generator and started the recharging. Sitting back on her heels, she asked, "Where did you lose your limbs?"
He couldn't admit what he had been doing or the circumstances of his damage, but he supposed he could give a vague location without a reason for having been there. "Over near the landing hangars, south of the city. In an alley, not far from a fruit vendor on the main road."
She nodded. "You'd best powerdown while you recharge. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" he asked suspiciously.
"Out. To see what I can find." She didn't explain further and quickly disappeared.
K-2 could only assume that meant she intended to go in search of his missing body parts, though he didn't hold out much hope of her success. With resignation, he leaned back in preparation of doing as she suggested. He just wished there was some way to contact Cassian.
It was another hour before she returned the second time. She had his leg and his left arm. "Where is my hand?"
She shrugged. "Didn't see it. Someone might have taken it for scrap, or some children might have claimed it as a new toy."
"Toy? How dare they!"
She grinned at his affront. "It happens. Children make do with anything at…hand." She set the limbs down. "How's your power doing?"
"It is currently at 62%. I should be able to run diagnostics now."
"Good. In particular, check your joint connections for damage so we'll know if simply reattaching is even going to work."
"Reattaching limbs will require specialized tools," he observed, simultaneously starting his diagnostic scan.
She had been carrying a small pack and now set it on the ground, rooting through it briefly before producing an Imperial tool set.
"Where did you get that? Surely you did not break into an Imperial facility to steal it!"
"Found it. Does it really matter where?"
He stared at her, trying to comprehend her odd behavior. "What is your name?"
"You can…call me Tanith."
K-2 got the feeling that wasn't her true name, but it was clearly all she intended to give. Instead, he focused his attention on the diagnostic report beginning to display. "Knee joint is damaged. Reattachment may or may not be possible; use of the limb afterwards is questionable without replacing the joint. Shoulder reattachment of arm is possible, though wiring may need work to make a functional connection. Wrist joint is…irrelevant at present, though seemingly functional if a hand is found to attach."
She listened to his report in silence. When he finished, she instructed, "Let's lay you down on the floor. It will make the leg reattachment easier since you aren't going to be able to help very much."
"You could reattach the arm first and then I might be able to provide assistance."
"Yeah, maybe, but if there's any chance of getting the leg working, it is safest to do that first. In case we have to relocate our workspace."
"Understood." Obviously this warehouse was abandoned, but perhaps not entirely a safe refuge. Especially when they had 'borrowed' Imperial equipment in their possession.
The girl seemed no more inclined to conversation than K-2 was, so he monitored progress and kept silent, only offering information she requested or that was pertinent.
It took some time for her to get the leg attached to her satisfaction, and he was correct that there was no functionality at present. When she was finished with the reattachment, he advised, "I'll run scans to see if I can determine what is needed to get it working again."
She nodded, yawning. "While you do that, I'm going to catch some sleep. Wake me in about four hours and I'll see what I can do with your arm."
"Acknowledged." He paused, then added, "And I'll alert you if I detect anyone approaching our location."
She grinned. "Yeah, that would be good, too."
K-2 was a little surprised at the sensation he got once she had laid down on the skimpy bedding she possessed. If he were human, he would almost call the sensation 'loneliness'. He had experienced it a time or two when Cassian was absent, though he was not sure he understood the sentiment, nor how he could be 'feeling' such a thing. If droids could have friends, then certainly Cassian was his, and he believed the man thought similarly. He had just met this girl, though, so such a thing should not be possible. He had not observed humans making friends that quickly. Maybe he should study this more. Was her assistance with his physical problems a factor that must be considered? Was it her apparent lack of threat to his safety? His circuits whirred, unsuccessfully trying to figure a way to make a calculation about it. Most peculiar.
Exactly four hours later, K started to wake her, but she sat up before he could do so. Almost as though her internal chronometer was as good as his own. "I am now fully charged," he advised.
She nodded, still looking a bit sleepy. "Think I'll go see if I can find some food."
When she returned a short time later, she plunked down nearby and eyed him while she ate. "Who reprogrammed you?"
"What makes you think I was reprogrammed?"
She gave him a reproving look. "Imperial KX Security Droids do not have 'personalities'. They have one function – attack, kill, pretty much directed at anyone not in an Imperial uniform. You haven't tried to do either since we met – not that you could – but the attitude isn't there either. And Imperial droids do not have human 'associates'."
Her reasoning was sound. He had not thought she would doubt her assertion when he questioned it. "Cassian did it."
She nodded. "What's your original programming?"
"Strategic Analysis."
"Strategic Analysis, huh? So what are the odds of your being reunited with your associate?"
"Lower than I would like," K admitted. "But he will be looking for me as long as he is able to do so."
"If you were mobile, would you be able to find him?"
"Perhaps. It has been several hours since we parted company and much may have changed. But I have a better chance of it when mobile than I presently do."
She popped the last bite of food into her mouth and washed it down with the beverage she was drinking. "Agreed. Let's see what we can do about that."
"May I ask why you are helping me? It seems unusual. I cannot reimburse you for your trouble. Do you hope to sell me once I am functional again?"
"I rather think if I get you functional again, you might object to being sold." She picked up the tool set and came over to sit him up against the wall. "So, what am I working with here?" She began checking the exposed wires for damage.
It hadn't been an answer, not exactly, but it did appear to convey a disinterest in benefiting from this situation. He would have to hope she was not misleading him.
They worked steadily for the next two hours. When they finished, though not completely as functional as normal, K-2 could make limited use of his hand and arm. That was a vast improvement. "Well done. Now I will see if there is anything I can do to assist you in getting my leg to work in some fashion."
She stretched. "I'd better take a look around the area first. See what's going on out there." She was gone before he could reply.
In her absence, K picked up the tool set to see what was available, checking it against his diagnostic on the knee connection.
She returned suddenly.
He looked up and started to speak, "I—" A look from her silenced him instantly and he activated his sensors to their fullest extent. Yes, now he could detect it – footsteps. They were meandering, maybe searching randomly. Their visitor didn't seem to be expecting to find anything, so for the moment they were safe, but that could change in an instant. It would also make a difference who exactly the visitor was.
She held out a piece of metal pipe, short but sturdy, and he grasped it as best he could in his weak left hand. She melted silently away into the shadows. There was a scuffle, a muffled yell and then silence. K-2 would have liked to call out, find out if she was all right, but that was unwise until he knew the outcome of the fight. His grip tightened on the metal pipe in case the fight came to him.
Abruptly she reappeared, her clothing mussed but essentially unharmed. She grabbed the tools and tossed them into her bag, along with her bedding and anything else that would easily fit. She held out a stormtrooper helmet he hadn't noticed before. "Can you access this and send out periodic 'all clear' messages from it?"
"Perhaps." He extended his connector and inserted it into the programming socket. Luckily it worked and he could both access and monitor communications. He gave her a nod of success.
"Let's get going then. If they find that body, they'll find us. We need to be gone. Now." She hauled him to his feet, and while his left leg wasn't operating properly, it did at least stabilize his balance more so they could move without his having to burden her with as much of his weight.
"Any ideas where we can go?" he murmured, sending another 'all clear' in response to a query.
"A couple. We'll see how far we get."
"What about the generator."
"Have to leave it. I can't manage it and you both. At least you got a full charge, so that will hold you a while."
It was dark outside when they exited the building, and K was able to establish from his internal chronometer that it was about two in the morning. The cover of darkness would be to their advantage. They made steady progress in whatever direction she guided. For a change, K didn't bother to pay much attention, focusing instead on helping with transit as much as he could and staying on top of the trooper responses necessary to forestall suspicion that the trooper was down.
"They've noticed that trooper is missing – location unknown, despite his 'check-ins'. They're requesting location information."
"Okay, tell them he's in a warehouse off the wharf, checking out suspicious activity. Then you stay here and I'll go ditch his helmet so they can't track it to us."
"They can't. I disabled the tracker – told them it was faulty, and would have it checked out back at base. Until now, they had accepted that excuse."
"Good work. But we'll still dump it, just in case."
She stabilized K-2 against a wall and took the helmet. "Be right back." She dashed out of sight around a corner. Several minutes later, she returned, and caught his arm again to provide assistance. "Let's go."
"What did you do with it?"
"Dumped it in the harbor. They can find it, but they'll have to fish it out first. And maybe the water will damage it before that."
She nudged him to the left. "Down here."
The girl appeared to know all the back alleys that were most empty, for they encountered no one else. Part of that might be attributed to the late hour, but the criminal element usually did not pay much attention to the time, and preferred darkness for their activities. After more than half an hour, she finally said, "Here."
It was a ramshackle building on the outskirts, nearly falling down with neglect. She guided him around to the back of it and moved aside an old door that was leaning against the entrance. Once she had maneuvered him inside, she put it back in place again. From the pieces of broken furniture K could detect, he thought this might have once been a residence.
"How is it that you know of all these 'hideouts'?" he asked.
"It's best if you don't know. Just be glad that I do." Once she got K-2 settled on the floor, she slid down nearby and leaned her head back against the wall. "Busy night."
"Indeed. Perhaps you require more rest? I understand humans often do."
She chuckled. "No, I'm good for now. Thanks for your concern."
"What happens now?" he ventured. "We cannot keep this up forever, and I'm sure you would like to be rid of me at some point."
She turned to look at him, though in the darkness all she would be able to see was the light of his visual sensors. "No rush. We'll see if we can't do something about your knee, and then we can part ways. You can try to find your associate and I go about my own business."
He hesitated. "If you like, I could ask Cassian to let you come with us. If you were interested." He carefully did not specify where she might be going with them until he could determine her reaction. She was resourceful. Surely the Alliance could make good use of her 'finding' skills.
"No, that's probably not a good idea. I think we likely have a different view of things."
They both fell silent for several minutes, but then K-2 said, "Even so, should our paths cross again, know that I am indebted to you and happy to return the favor if ever I am able to do so."
She smiled. "I'll keep that in mind. Assuming we get you back to where you belong so that offer holds some weight."
She shoved upright and reached for her pack, withdrawing a small portable glow lamp. "Let's see what we can do about that knee." She withdrew a coil of new wiring as well.
"Let me guess – you found that."
"Yeah, funny how that happens to me a lot."
"Is that the reason for the stormtrooper who went missing?"
"Might be."
If K-2 could have chuckled, he would have done so. There was something about this human that he liked. Cassian probably would like her, too. Well, about as much as he allowed himself to like any other human. He was very good at distancing himself from people. But, that wasn't important just now. Focus on the problem. He would very much like to see Cassian again.
xxxxx
"K!" Cassian rushed toward him, his pleasure evident. Rarely were the man's expressions so unguarded.
"Cassian. I am relieved to see you once more. I was afraid you might have to leave without me."
"Not if I could help it," Cassian assured him. He looked the droid over with a critical eye. "Your arm isn't working right? Or your leg? I found this." He held up K-2's right hand.
"Tanith—"
"Who?"
"I met a girl who provided assistance to me. She was able to somewhat repair the damage I sustained, at least enough to make me functional once more, so that I could attempt to rendezvous with you."
Cassian stared at the droid for a long moment, then jerked his head off toward the right. "Let's get out of here. You can tell me about it on the way home. K met a girl…"
K-2 fell in beside him as they moved away. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
"Not a chance, my friend!"
The End
1-30-18
left arm at shoulder; right hand at wrist; left leg at knee
