Chopper
Chopper wouldn't say he was an angry droid. No- he just merely had more to complain about than most species. Being a droid, he easily saw the most logical solution to most problems; these other species with their emotions and unpredictable actions made things so much harder then they needed to be. Thus why Chopper always had a good handle on how to get his crew out of any tricky situation. That's what they were, after all- his crew, so he reasoned they became his responsibility. And what a handful they were. So- logically- he would have a lot to complain about.
Lately, however, things had been getting rather hectic: missions and operations one after the other, some well thought through, others… mostly improvised as they all ran from two hundred storm troopers. Yeah- that had been too close. It was all happening too unpredictably, and Chopper was struggling to keep up. Sometimes he would still be charging when briefing started for their latest mission, completely oblivious of the world around him. Then, halfway through the day when the sky was blowing up around them and Hera started screaming at him to 'do it now!', he would have no idea what she was talking about and once again try and find the most logical improvised solution. It was becoming tiresome, to say the least.
He wanted to be involved, but nobody seemed to listen. He knew droid-speak was not, by far, easy to understand, but, every now and then, it would be nice to get a word in. He did, after all, have a responsibility. Recently, he'd given up trying; the constant onslaught of his teammate's voices had him reluctant to try and suggest anything. He resolved just to stay quiet for now. Sure- he would grumble and moan to himself, and maybe near them sometimes, just to give them the hint, but he mostly stayed silent.
Their latest break-in was currently being discussed. The crew were dotted about the common room, lounging about and discussing the best way to try and infiltrate the complex structure.
"Obviously, our only clear shot is in through this window," Zeb strategized for the third time, pointing at their 3D map.
"But it's on a ledge, Zeb! That means climbing, which requires time, which leaves us vulnerable." Kanan explained, hand on his chin.
"Maybe I could drop you on the ledge from the Ghost…?" Hera suggested.
"No- the pressure would be too much, and you wouldn't be able to get a clear angle…" Sabine interjected.
"Not to mention we wouldn't be being very stealthy" Ezra chuckled, gaining a head whack from Zeb.
"Well, we know what we want to do. It's just figuring out the first step, I suppose." Hera concluded.
Chopper viewed the map from where he was waiting.
Hang on… Wasn't that- yeah! There was a small grate on the bottom road there… That meant sewers…They'd used the sewers before- why couldn't they use them again?! Satisfied with his suggestion, he began whirring out beeps and buzzes.
However, the crew also erupted into another argument about windows and ledges and whatnot at the same time, drowning out the droid's chatter. Chopper sighed internally. Anger and grumpiness returning, he whirred away, ranting out loud as he did so.
Ezra had been watching Chopper. He saw how the droid was drowned out, and- for all his usual annoyance towards the droid- felt a twinge of sympathy. Chopper was family, and family members should be equals. With a hop down off the table, Ezra went to follow.
"Chop! Chopper… Wait up!" Ezra called, running out after the droid as he sped down the ramp. Chopper turned quickly, almost bumping into Ezra.
He bleeped angrily.
"Alright, alright, I know. I saw what happened in there…" Ezra started, quieting Chopper's talk. He had the droid's attention.
"I'm sorry- you know, for what it's worth… I know we should all listen to you more. Y-you had an idea didn't you?" Ezra asked. Chopper beeped once, keeping his response curt.
"Okay… Well- I'd like to hear it. I'm willing to listen if you're willing to talk?" Ezra tried, sitting down on the ramp, giving Chopper his full attention. The droid seemed stunned for a moment.
Chopper was a bit lost. He hadn't expected this, and now he was going to have to logically improvise again… The droid had been so certain of his plan, but now he was re-analysing the facts in his head, computing to see if it would truly be the most logical solution. Ezra sat patiently, giving Chopper the attention he did kinda deserve.
Slowly but surely, Chopper started to explain his strategy. He was conscious that Ezra was still learning droid-speak, but the boy seemed to understand. His face lit up as Chopper finished.
"That's brilliant! Chop, that's it! That gives us the perfect way in." Ezra cried, jumping up from where he was sitting.
"Come on, we have got to go tell the others!" Ezra started back into the ship. Chopper, however, was reluctant to follow.
"You coming?" Ezra hesitated.
Chopper's small arms waved at him instead, indicating that Ezra should go.
"No- no… I'm not going to be the one to tell them. It's your idea." Ezra reasoned, trying to think of a way to get through to him. "Chop… I- I know we can all be crap listeners at times. And I know I annoy you, and I'm sure you know you wind me up, but- all in all- we're a family, right? You're the perfect droid for us … I don't know how we would've got through half our missions without you there. Even if you do improvise a little; yeah, I may've noticed that."
Chopper laughed a little.
"I promise that from now on I'll make sure you're as much an equal as any of us are." Ezra swore, placing his hand on the droid's head.
There was a moment of meaningful silence before Chopper shook Ezra's hand off and grumpily beeped at Ezra that he was intruding on his personal space, and that shouldn't they get back to the ship already because it was cold out here! Ezra laughed and ran after the droid.
"Yes, but you can only fit so many of us inside a wooden crate." Ezra heard Kanan explain patiently as they approached.
Ten minutes later, after some shouting for quiet on Ezra's part and a few shocks from Chopper, they had the crew's full attention. Ezra stepped aside, motioning for Chopper to take it away. So he did. Zeb struggled to make sense of any of what the droid was explaining, but, by the growing smiles on Hera and Kanan's faces, it must've been good news.
"Did he just say what I thought he said?" Sabine glanced around for confirmation.
"Oh, he did- excellent idea, Chopper!" Hera praised, circling the sewer channels on the map and starting to plan a route. Soon the others were swept up in the new plan. Ezra stepped out next to Chopper.
"Good work, Chop" He smiled.
Of course, to logically ensure Ezra would stop feeling for the droid, Chopper had to give him a few small electric shocks. After all, he was supposed to look out for Ezra, not the other way round.
