A/N: Hello my dears, I am back! A late merry Christmas to all of you, I hope you had a wonderful time with loved ones, and could rest a bit - find some magic in that chaotic year... I confess I let myself have a few days of complete rest, which is why this Advent Calendar is completely late - well at least it's original in the way that it is going on even after Christmas :). This chapter was planned a long time ago, but I always felt some kind of writer's block because I thought it would be tremendously difficult - turns out I had a loooot of fun. I hope you'll enjoy it to :). Meanwhile take care, and till very soon, Meysun.
Sparks of Hope (A Star-Wars Advent Calendar)
By Meysun
.
16. Mission Completed (Artoo)
21 BBY
.
Bip-doo-squee.
R2-D2 swayed happily on his two short legs and emitted a few rapid light blinks towards SO-K, who beamed at him.
"Look at that, Master. He really enjoyed it!"
ANI/kin had that small, short laugh R2 could have recognized even without a photoreceptor and patted his round head.
"Artoo is a surprisingly neat Astromech. Of course he enjoys being cleaned – just like you, Master."
Brown-and-cream OB-1 just huffed at that and R2 bleep-yupped right back at him, because that humanoid could be as fussy as 3PO whenever something was not right with his armour/clothes/boots/hair.
"I don't enjoy being cleaned, per se", OB-1 replied, grey eyes resting thoughtfully on R2. "Rather being clean."
Wheeeez-same, in R2's point of view he had no qualms to share, making SO-K laugh heartily.
"He's not wrong, Master Obi-Wan. He thinks you are splitting hairs."
Uh-uh, R2 emitted, somewhat perplexed, because OB-1's hair looked just fine. Well, sweaty, messy and full of the sand SO-K had finally scrubbed out of his circuits – but certainly not split.
"It's a phrase, Artoo", ANI/kin supplied. "It means he is playing with words."
Bleep-doo-whirrrr-bip-do.
OB-1 sighed, and once more R2 wondered how it could be that ANI had no difficulties whatsoever to translate his sounds, while someone as gifted with languages as OB-1 never seemed to understand a single bleep.
"Mhm, Artoo. That's what negotiators do indeed."
R2 swayed proudly once more, but OB-1 rubbed his face, smearing red sand on his forehead, blinking tiredly.
"I do not feel like we negotiated much, here. It just felt like an endless chase consisting of lightsaber fights, explosions, and improvising."
"Oh, come on, Master, where's your sense of fun?", ANI shot at him, poking him in the ribs and rubbing a large hand through his mop of hair, causing some sand to fall on the cream fabric shielding OB-1's shoulders.
"Buried under copper sand", OB-1 answered, making SO-K snort.
"I think Master Kenobi is worn out by your antics, Master", she observed, fondly rubbing R2's head. "I think he'd like for things to go by the plan at least once, am I wrong, Master Kenobi?"
"Never, my dear", OB-1 answered, shaking his head. "Fortunately, I let go of those dreams long ago. And now, if you would excuse me, I have a reputation of a fussy Master to uphold – so I might as well try the sonics."
He soon glided out of the cockpit, leaving SO-K and ANI bickering, as usual.
"My antics, seriously, Snips? You triggered the first explosion, or am I wrong?"
"And who decided that Master Obi-Wan was taking too long and chose to barge in, destroying half the ceiling, Skyguy?"
"Hey, he was in trouble, as kriffing usual!"
"Maybe, but sometimes you forget that Master Kenobi…"
A soft voice echoed from behind the small ship, annoyance and fondness clearly fighting for dominion.
"… can hear you perfectly, despite the sonic."
Bleep-whirr-boom, R2 quipped, and ANI gave him a soft tap on the leg.
"No need to sound so smug, Artoo. Now close that door for us, so that we can go on arguing in peace."
R2 promptly obeyed, ever happy to oblige, but when he turned around, he was surprised to find a somewhat pensive expression on ANI's face.
"You really think he was displeased with us, Snips?"
SO-K let herself fall into one of the cockpit's seats, allowing her legs to bounce up in the air once, before she leaned back, hands gracefully cradling the armrests. She took her time answering, small face frowning slightly, and R2 rolled up to her, gently bleeping encouragements.
"No", SO-K answered. "He gets all tight and narrow in the Force, whenever he's upset with us. And it never lasts. I think… I think he's just tired. But it's hard to tell, with Master Kenobi. His shields are just so kriffing strong."
"Language, Snips.", ANI quipped, almost mechanically, sliding into the other seat. "He feels a bit off, is all…"
R2 wheez-sighed. Sometimes humanoids were just so slow.
Bleep. Whirr. Tap.
When he finally got ANI's attention, he turned on his holoprojector, and the thin, graceful silhouette of a light-haired woman filled the space between them, slowly pirouetting like a dancer as the silvery projection spun.
"Wait… Isn't that Duchess S-"
"Shh, Snips. Artoo, turn it off. And thanks for the input, buddy."
R2 promptly sucked the image back inside his memory, while ANI tapped the back of his mechanic knuckle against his teeth.
"They were involved, no matter what he says. That much is clear. But Master Obi-Wan would never let that come between him and the Jedi, Snips. Still… it has just been two weeks since she headed back. I guess that's why he feels so strange."
"Poor Master Obi-Wan", SO-K sighed. "She's so cool and calm and icy. No wonder shouts and explosions and fights feel a bit much, right now. But what can we do, Master?"
"Well… I guess we just… let him be?"
ANI's face was somewhat sheepish, and SO-K sighed.
"Oh come on, Master! He needs to feel we care! Is that really all you can think of? Come here, Artoo. Good boy. Sweetie."
R2 whir-purred, small head spinning in adoration, because SO-K was always so nice him, just like Pod-ME. Sometimes she even reminded him of her.
"Listen to me, Artoo. You are going to wheel yourself right into Master Obi-Wan's room. And then – open that little compartment of yours, that's a good boy. Here. You give him that ration bar. And you make sure he makes himself a cup of tea. Here's a teabag. Master Luminara told me once he likes that brand, so I packed some."
"Well, aren't you a sneaky little… And what did you pack for me, Snips?!"
"Oh, come on, Master! What about rations, and spare cables for your hand? Oh, and let's not forget those woollen socks you are always so enthusiastic about? Should I go on, Skyguy?"
R2 did not wait to hear the end of their twenty-second argument of the day, and promptly wheeled himself away, because SO-K had given him a mission, and R2 loved missions.
The door towards OB-1's room was slightly ajar, but when R2 peered inside using his periscope, OB-1 had already slipped into clean clothes and was busy folding the sandy ones into a small, neat pile.
Blee-whizz-in?
"You do know that I have trouble understanding you, little one?", OB-1 sighed, but his eyes were kind and R2 gently swayed towards his hip, rubbing his head against his thigh.
"I don't like droids, you know. They make me uncomfortable", OB-1 went on, yet his hand found R2's head, rubbing him exactly where one of his connexions' always sparked, making him wheeze gently with delight.
"You, however, are something else", OB-1 added, and R2 opened his compartment, handing him the ration bar, watching his clear eyes soften even more.
Doo-be-tea.
One of his mechanic arms slowly unfolded and R2 flipped the switch of the small kettle, placing the teabag carefully in the lonely cup stored beneath.
"I see. And I'd better follow your instructions, I presume?"
Bleep.
R2 liked cream-and-brown OB-1, even though he was not especially droid-friendly. One could understand, after all. That circuit-coughing GRIEVOUS was not a nice one to be around, and neither were most of his troops.
So he gently whirred, and tapped OB-1's hip, until his friend caved in, sitting on the narrow cot, unwrapping the ration bar and folding his hands around the cup, closing his eyes, allowing his shoulders to slump.
And then, R2 left, happily. Letting out two chirping sound that could be translated as "Mission Completed".