I have no idea how long this will be, so I guess we'll find out together.
"Sixteen credits." The stallkeeper offers Luke a basket of mixed produce in exchange for the appropriate credits. "Safe travels, Skywalker. Come back any time."
"I'll be sure to!" He shouts in return. She waves as he joins Chewbacca and Leia again, where they're standing by a jewelry vendor.
Leia doesn't bother to hide her pregnancy among her layers of ornate blouses and fancy clothes. She sticks out among the others wandering the streets, and Chewbacca certainly doesn't help, being so much taller than the mostly human population. Luke catches a few eyes tracing the pair as they walk by. Luke has already insisted they stay closer to the docking ports and be aware of anyone looking to steal their credits. This may not be Mos Eisley, but you can never be too sure with foreign markets.
"Luke," Leia digs into the basket almost immediately, scrutinizing the goods he's just purchased. "Jorgan, Meilooruns...good. Let's grab the others and head back to the farm. My back is killing me."
A local family, the Yomms, have offered them a set of rooms in their farmhouse. It's not much, but they're more than grateful for it. In a galaxy so wide, a little kindness can go a long way, as Luke has learned.
"Bossy as ever," Luke mutters to Chewbacca, who howls a laugh. Leia ignores them pointedly as she marches with the flow of the locals, dodging and weaving faster than someone five months into pregnancy should be able to. Luke rushes after her, just barely able to keep up. "Where's Han?" He calls over the crowd.
Leia slows enough for him to catch up again. "I sent him and the droids to get fuel. They should be with the Falcon."
Just as she says it, Han comes running toward them, very much not in the direction of the Falcon. "Hey! Glad I could catch ya. Get everything we need?" He too inspects the basket.
"We were just waiting for you." Leia looks behind Han, her eyes narrowing when it becomes clear he's alone. "Han Solo, if you traded the droids off again-"
"I didn't!" Han raises his hands in defense. "I learned my lesson, Princess. Honest!"
Leia's suspicion doesn't waver. "Then where are they?"
When Han's face falls, Luke crosses his arms as well. He already has an idea of where this may be going and it's nowhere good. "I uh...I don't know." Han sighs in defeat.
"Of course." Luke groans, already dreading the little adventure this will become. He doesn't bother chewing Han out for it, not when Leia's already doing a pretty thorough job. Instead, he looks up at Chewbacca. "Can you see them in the crowd? Maybe they just fell behind?" It's too easy to be true, but Luke can hope. Desperately hope, beyond belief, that those troublesome droids haven't found more trouble.
Chewbacca looks out with a furry hand positioned above his eyes to block out the lowering sun. Then, when the Wookie shakes his head with a growl, Luke turns back to Han.
"Leia, come on! I'm sure they're around here somewhere! If we just-"
"You know how much trouble they can get into! Remember Bespin?!"
"That was Lando's fault!"
"Not my point, Han-"
"Guys!" Luke steps between them. "We won't be finding anyone if we keep arguing. Let's retrace Han's steps and see if they've stayed put. If not, I'm sure there's someone around here who would recognize a gold protocol droid and a blue astromech."
Slowly, Leia nods in agreement. He knows it takes effort for her to calm herself, so he allows her that time. "Right. Han, where did you last see them?"
They follow Han to the last place he remembers being with them. When that vendor doesn't remember which way the droids went, they go down the line. By the time they've questioned just about everyone Han's met with, stopped by, or talked to in the past day, they've all but given up.
"Maybe I should've sold them," Han grumbles from where he's leaning against a cantina wall. They only intended to stop for a quick dinner but ended up sitting for much longer. "At least we'd get some money out of it."
"I can't believe this." Leia rubs her temples. "If they aren't here, where could they be? They didn't have credits to travel, did they?" She's given various negative answers.
Luke tries to reason it out. If the droids wandered off somewhere, surely they would just return to the Millennium Falcon, right? It's what any droid would think of; a logical solution. Wait at their meeting place until the rest arrive and give an apology for getting lost. But, they've already checked the ship twice now and if they're going back again, it'll be their last trip before returning to the farm.
Another likely answer could be they've been stolen. Droids aren't cheap by any means and many people know it. A clean protocol droid and an astromech could get a lot of credits rolling in the right auctions. And given how old the two are, Luke's sure their parts alone could be considered vintage. So, if they were stolen, the captores would be long gone by now.
Then, the last likely option, is they've found some kind of trouble on their own. Whether they got caught up with another bad pair of droids or accidentally -or intentionally, on Artoo's part- offended someone. They could be scrapped somewhere, ready to be melted down. Luke dreads that option the most. He'd hate to lose either of them after all they've been through together. In a way, those droids are all he has left of his Aunt and Uncle. They're special, far more than he may ever really know.
"-it was so strange! They wandered around like a couple of lost tauntauns! Bare as the day they were born!"
Luke perks up suddenly, turning to the table beside them. "Who did you see?" He interrupts the Besalisk, startling both him and his Rodian friend. "Was it a pair of droids?"
Both men stare at him. "Uh...we were having a conversation." The Rodian blinks.
"I know, I'm sorry. I'm just looking for someone. Who did you see?"
After an agonizingly long pause, the Besalisk answers. "I saw a Twi'lek and a human walking around nude. Don't know who you keep company with, but if that sounds like them, I know where they are."
Luke almost pulls away, disheartened at the description, but the Force sings with truth. He's surprised by it and hesitant to believe it, but Luke knows when to follow a feeling this strong. "When- where? Where did you see them?"
"Just on the outskirts of the forest, over on the East side. Someone called security and they ran off into the trees."
"Thank you!" Luke bows, then he's pulling his family with him out of the cantina. "Come on! I think I found a lead!"
Leia follows but with some resistance. "Luke, are you sure?"
He hardly slows long enough to answer her, more focused on the thought of finding their friends and resting for the night. He guides them to the forest previously mentioned, then deeper into the trees. From there, he lets the Force guide him.
"Artoo!" Luke calls into the growing darkness. "Threepio!"
"Artoo Detoo!"
"Threepio! Can ya hear me?!"
"Rrrragh!"
Luke stops dead. He can hear distant voices, but can't identify who they might belong to. Quickly, he follows them to the source until he spots two figures hiding behind a large bush. A snap of a twig startles both parties.
"Oh, thank the maker!" One figure shoots up in a blur of yellow and suddenly, Luke is getting an eyeful of bare Twi'lek.
"Kark!" Luke stumbles back. "What- Threepio?" The Twi'lek he's looking at is slightly on the older side, closer to Han's age, if not older. Tall and thin with bright yellow skin and a lekku style similar to Bib Fortuna. Surprisingly, he does look like Threepio, somehow. Round eyes, sharp cheeks, and a long face all seem to combine in a way that resembles the protocol droid.
Beside him is a much shorter human. Possibly even shorter than Luke. He has dark, coiled hair and brown skin that hides him among the bushes better than Threepio's yellow. He's rounder, both in face and body, but what really strikes Luke is how he feels through the Force. It's as if they've already created a bond, but that's impossible. Droids can't feel the Force like he does. And to have a bond already...
Is Artoo Force-sensative?
"How-" Leia gapes, clearly just as shocked as Luke feels. "You two better have an explaination for this!"
Threepio's mannerisms are all the same as he wrings his fingers together, his back still straight as a rod. "Well, it's a rather long story. You see, just as we were aiding-"
"Can we get them something to wear first?" Han interjects. He's looking up at the sky very pointedly. "The story can wait 'til we're back at the farmhouse."
"I couldn't agree more." A new voice joins them and Luke is both unnerved and delighted to hear Artoo's organic voice. It's slightly raspy, unlike the beeps and whistles Luke's used to. Rich and sarcastic.
Leia pulls off a few of her layers and throws them at the two. "Let's get out of here before someone finds us. The last thing we need is security on our asses." Then, she marches off.
Once Threepio and Artoo are more or less clothed, -Leia's shawl certainly isn't large enough to do much more than cover what's necessary- they head out for the ship.
"Oh, I am so grateful you found us!" Threepio hurries behind them, no longer waddling slightly. "I don't know what would've happened to us out here! I've never been organic before and this flesh is quite easily damaged! How you manage to fight battles like this is beyond me!"
Artoo leans on his friend for support. His legs shake with every step. "Well, usually they're braver than you are. That certainly helps."
Threepio sends him a scathing look. "If I do recall, it was your 'bravery' that got us into this mess to begin with."
And they continue on just as they usually do. A near-constant back and forth that Luke has grown to find amusing. Or tiring, depending on the situation.
He just hopes they can fix this. And soon.
"I told him not to touch the mirror, but when has Artoo ever listened to me." Threepio throws his hands up, almost hitting Leia in the process.
"I was curious! I didn't think a random mirror in some cave would turn us into organics!" Artoo argues from a few feet away.
Threepio crosses his arms. "Curious indeed. Your curiosity certainly seems more dangerous than any disaster we've faced yet."
"Hold still!" Leia snaps from where she's wrapping a series of cloths over Threepio's shoulders. It's the local's style of dress and it'll have to do going forward. Artoo has already gotten his own, with darker colors, and light boots. Leia also wraps a soft linen around Threepio's lekku and forehead, as is usually custom for Twi'leks. Whether it's to make him blend in better or an excuse to dress someone up, -because no one else will let her- Luke isn't sure.
Nilz Yomm, the owner of the farm, steps in. His daughter stands behind him, as she always seems to.
They were told the same story of how this mess started and, being native to the planet, Luke hoped they had a few answers. After two blood samples were taken, it seems they've gotten just that.
"It's just what I suspected." Nilz stops in front of Leia. "The Empire once had control of the mines just north of here. They set up these odd devices; molecular disrupters disguised as mirrors. I think they were supposed to simply kill their victims, but a few locals have run into them now, and...well, a few survived but not without some effects."
"What kinds of effects?" Luke asks, apprehensive.
Auren Yomm, Nilz' daughter, speaks this time. "It shrunk the Teller! And when Grialla left to investigate, she returned twice as old!"
"I would almost say this is more than just Imperial science," Nilz says. "Changing a droid into an organic being? That can't be just rearranged molecules."
That's something Luke can find out. But tomorrow.
Threepio sits forward, looking all sorts of nervous. "Um, do excuse me, Mr. Yomm, but do you perhaps know how long it will be until the effects wear off? I would certainly like my old self back."
The daughter and Father exchange a look. "I really can't say. Grialla spent days going back to her original age but the Teller took only hours." Nilz grimaces.
"What?!" Artoo shouts, already rising from his seat. "Then what the kriff were those blood tests for?!"
Luke and Leia both move to hold him back. Threepio stands to get between the two groups. "Artoo, be sensible! It isn't their fault we're like this!" He turns to the Yomms. "I do apologize for his rude behavior. You see, he's used to not being understood when he speaks. It's certainly done nothing for his filter."
"I understand." Nilz waves. "I'll leave you for the night. And...I'm sorry. If there's anything else we can do, I offer it freely."
Leia shakes her head. "You've already done so much."
He nods. "Then I wish you a goodnight. Come along, Auren." Nilz pulls his daughter along, who stumbles from her staring. She does that a lot too.
Only once they're gone does Artoo begin to calm down. "That no good-"
"Now, Artoo!" Threepio crosses his arms, looking very much like Leia when she's upset with Han. Except, less scary. "First you go touching things that you shouldn't, then you blame that kind man for all this? You really ought to apologize."
The two glare at each other, and for a moment, Luke worries they'll start a real argument. But then Artoo's face falls and he flips back on the spare bed. Or, rather, Chewbacca's bed that the Wookie offered. A kind gesture, seeing as he'll have to share Luke's.
"I'm sorry." Artoo sighs. "I just...I feel like I'm on low battery. My head hurts and I-" He breaks off in a yawn. He blinks. "What was that?"
"Here," Leia grabs a few extra blankets to offer them. "Let's get you two settled in for the night. It's been a long day and you both look tired."
Luke snorts a laugh. "We all do." Leia's hair has nearly fallen out completely and he can feel his own eyes droop.
Together, they gather a few pillows and set the bed up as best they can. The blankets are thinner but they'll have extras in case it gets cold. And Luke even fluff the pillows a little, making sure they're nice and soft.
"Are you two sure you'll be fine sharing that bed? There's room on the Falcon."
"There is no need to worry, Mistress Leia. We're quite used to sharing recharging spaces. I don't see how this could be very different." Threepio assures her.
Artoo gives the Twi'lek a teasing look. "Besides, I can always kick him out if he-" Arttoo is interrupted with a second yawn.
Threepio yawns as well. Then, a chain reaction starts.
"Stop that! You're making me-" Threepio covers his mouth politely. "-making me do it too!"
"I can't-" Artoo gets caught up in another yawn.
Luke turns to Leia. "Should we..." They're so helplessly stuck in the loop.
"Nah." She smirks, already leaving to her room. "They'll figure it out. Threepio is programmed for human understanding, right?"
Fair enough. Some things they'll simply have to learn on their own.
Luke wanders down the hall to his own bedroom and discards his boots and lightsaber. Then, as he settles into bed, -careful of the sleeping Wookie on the floor- he calls out, "Goodnight Leia! Goodnight Han!"
"Night, Luke!" Han calls back.
"Goodnight, Chewy." Luke whispers, knowing the Wookie can't hear him.
As he closes his eyes to fall asleep, Luke feels the day's exhaustion weigh him. Maybe, when he wakes again, everything will have sorted itself out.
"Artoo, stop this at once!"
Likely not, but he can hope.
If you recognize the Yomms and the location, then good on you. If not, don't worry, I've changed enough that it won't matter.
