The Empire's Fall (Pt.1)

Chapter Two: R2's Escapade

I think about what Uncle Owen means while Luke and I both watch as the giant twin suns of Tatooine slowly disappear behind a distant dune range. However, before I can come to a conclusion, I follow my reluctant brother as he enters the domed entrance to the homestead. Luke and I enter the garage only to discover the robots nowhere in sight. I take a small control box from my utility belt, similar to the one the Jawas were carrying. I activate the box, which creates a low hum, and Threepio, letting out a short yelp, pops up from behind our Skyhopper.

"What are you doing hiding back there?" Luke asks.

Threepio stumbles forward, but Artoo is still nowhere in sight

"It wasn't my fault, sir, miss. Please don't deactivate me. I told him not to do it, but he's faulty, malfunctioning, kept babbling on about his mission."

"Oh, no!" Luke and I say together as we glance at each other before we race out of the garage, followed by Threepio.

We rush out of the small domed entry to the homestead and search the darkening horizon for the small triped astro-robot with our electrobinoculars.

"That R2 unit has always been a problem. These astro-droids are getting quite out of hand. Even I can't understand their logic at times."

"How could I be so stupid? He's nowhere in sight. Blast it!"

"Pardon me sir, but couldn't we go after him?"

"It's too dangerous with all the Sandpeople around. We'll have to wait until morning," I explain.

Then Uncle Owen yells up from the homestead plaza.

"Luke, Leeda, I'm shutting the power down for the night!"

"All right, we'll be there in a few minutes. Boy, are we gonna get it," I say, cursing what Aunt Beru calls 'Skywalker Luck'.

We take one final look across the dim horizon.

"You know that little droid is going to cause us lot of trouble," Luke says, exasperated.

"Oh, he excels at that, sir."

The morning sun is somewhat harsh, but Luke and I still get up and prep our Landspeeder. Then we get Threepio, and start for the Jundland Wastes.

The rock and sand of the desert floor all blur together as I pilot the sleek Landspeeder across the vast wasteland.

"Look. There's a droid on the scanner. Dead ahead. It might be our little R2 unit. Hit the accelerator," Luke says.

I park the speeder on the floor of a massive canyon. Luke gets out first and quickly moves our laser rifle, we use when we go out sand racing, to where we can access it easily, then we both go and stand in front of little Artoo.

"Hey whoa, just where do you think you're going!"

The little droid whistles a feeble reply, as Threepio poses menacingly behind the little runaway.

"Master Luke and Mistress Leeda here are your rightful owners now. We'll have no more of this Ileema and Obi-wan Kenobi gibberish. And don't talk me about your mission either. You're fortunate they don't blast you into a million pieces right here."

"No, it's, all right. But I think we better go."

Artoo whistles and shrieks a couple of times.

"What's wrong with him now?"

"Miss, he says there are several creatures approaching from the Southeast."