Star Wars: The New Rebellion by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Page A

invitation.”
    Artoo speeded up, chirruping and twittering as he glided forward on the filthy floor.
    “I will not stay behind,” Threepio said. “Over the years, you’ve gotten us into too much trouble going offon your own like this. Besides, as I told you upstairs, Master Luke’s X-wing has been scheduled for upgrade for more than a year.”
    Artoo blatted again. His head swiveled as he investigated a portal in the wall. Apparently it was not the one he wanted.
    Threepio didn’t even look at the portal as they passed. “I think it’s arrogant of you to believe that Master Luke will tell you all of his business.”
    Artoo bleeped loudly.
    “All of his business concerning the X-wing, then. It’s not as if you own the machine. You’re a droid.”
    Artoo warbled.
    “Really, Artoo. Another astromech droid could run the X-wing,” Threepio said. “It’s not as if you’re that special.”
    Artoo gave Threepio a raspberry.
    “Maybe they should have wiped your memory. Your so-called exploits went to your head after the Battle of Endor. I don’t know why I continue to put up with you.” Threepio’s patter stopped when they reached the closed maintenance-hangar doors. “How odd. Doors in the maintenance area are supposed to remain open at all times.”
    Artoo didn’t respond. Instead a compartment opened on his side, and a thin metal service arm extended. He jacked into the door panel, and beeped softly to himself.
    Threepio peered through the small square transparisteels. Ships and parts were scattered all over the floor. Droids worked carefully, supervised by Kloperians. Kloperians were short, squat gray creatures, with a series of tentacled limbs running along their sides like filaments. They had hands at the ends of many of the limbs. Their necks could extend as well. Their physical makeup and their talents around all things mechanical madethem among the best mechanics and engineers in the Republic.
    Artoo bleeped.
    Threepio turned away from the transparisteel. “Of course it’s a routine maintenance order,” Threepio said. “I don’t understand why you’re so surprised. All of the X-wings have been upgraded in the last few months.”
    Artoo bleebled some more.
    “I’m sure Master Luke did know of it,” Threepio said. “I’m sure they notified him. Really, Artoo. You get upset about the strangest things.”
    Artoo whistled repeatedly and rocked on his two wheels.
    “I will not ask Master Luke down here,” Threepio said. “We don’t even know what they’re going to do to the X-wing.”
    Artoo whistled louder, a piercing shriek that echoed in the enclosed space.
    “Artoo!”
    The clank of his rocking treads added to the shrillness.
    “Yes, I understand that you have a bad feeling about this,” Threepio said. “But Master Luke didn’t, and he is the expert on feelings.”
    At that moment, the maintenance doors opened. A Kloperian stood behind them, six of its tentacles crossed over its squishy chest. “You want to explain to me why you’re illegally jacked into our computer system?” it asked.
    Artoo removed his jack and pulled his service arm inside its case. “We meant nothing,” Threepio said. “Our master had sent us here to check on his ship. We couldn’t get in and my counterpart here was trying to open the door.”
    “That’s the door panel,” the Kloperian said, pointing with a seventh tentacle at a small panel on the other side of the maintenance doors.
    “Oh, dear, Artoo,” Threepio said. “I told you not to touch anything.”
    The Kloperian’s bulbous eyes narrowed. “All right, you two. Get inside. We’re going to check your hardware.”
    It grabbed Threepio and Artoo with four of its tentacles and pulled them in the maintenance bay. The metal doors clanged shut behind them. Fifty Kloperians stared at them. Dozens of droids stopped work to watch.
    “Artoo,” Threepio whispered. “I have a very bad feeling about this.”

Seven

    K ueller stood on the sandstone