Star Wars_ Episode V_ The Empire Strikes Back - Donald F. Glut [7]
In the subsurface main hangar dock, Chewie was getting the Millennium Falcon ready for takeoff. He looked up from his work to see a rather curious pair of figures that had just appeared from around a nearby corner to mingle with the usual Rebel activity in the hangar.
Neither of these figures was human, although one of them had a humanoid shape and gave the impression of a man in knightly golden armor. His movements were precise, almost too precise to be human, as he clanked stiffly through the corridor. His companion required no manlike legs for locomotion, for he was doing quite well rolling his shorter, barrel-like body along on miniature wheels.
The shorter of the two droids was beeping and whistling excitedly.
'It is not my fault, you malfunctioning tin can,' the tall, anthropomorphic droid stated, gesturing with a metallic hand. 'I did not ask you to turn on the thermal heater. I merely commented that it was freezing in her chamber. But it's supposed to be freezing. How are we going to get all her things dried out?... Ah! Here we are.'
See Threepio, the golden droid in human shape, paused to focus his optical sensors on the docked Millennium Falcon.
The other robot, Artoo Detoo, retracted his wheels and frontal leg, and rested his stout metal body on the ground. The smaller droid's sensors were reading the familiar figures of Han Solo and his Wookiee companion as those two continued the work of replacing the freighter's central lifters.
'Master Solo, sir,' Threepio called, the only one of the robotic twosome equipped with an imitation human voice. 'Might I have a word with you?'
Han was not particularly in a mood to be disturbed, especially by this fastidious droid. 'What is it?'
'Mistress Leia has been trying to reach you on the communicator,' Threepio informed him. 'It must be malfunctioning.'
But Han knew that it was not. 'I shut it off,' he said sharply as he continued to work on his ship. 'What does her royal holiness want?'
Threepio's auditory sensors identified the disdain in Han's voice but did not understand it. The robot mimicked a human gesture as he added, 'She is looking for Master Luke and assumed he would be here with you. No one seems to know-'Luke's not back yet?' Immediately Han became concerned. He could see that the sky beyond the ice cavern entrance had grown considerably darker since he and Chewbacca had begun to repair the Millennium Falcon. Han knew just how severely the temperatures dropped on the surface after nightfall and how deadly the winds could be.
In a flash he jumped off the Falcon's lift, not even looking back toward the Wookiee. 'Bolt it down, Chewie. Officer of the Deck!' Han yelled, then brought his comlink to his mouth and asked, 'Security Control, has Commander Skywalker reported in yet?' A negative reply brought a scowl to Han's face.
The deck sergeant and his aide hurried up to Solo in response to his summons.
'Is Commander Skywalker back yet?' Han asked, tension in his voice.
'I haven't seen him,' the deck sergeant replied. 'It's possible he came in through the south entrance.'
'Check on it!' Solo snapped, though he was not in an official position to give commands. 'It's urgent.'
As the deck sergeant and his aide turned and rushed down the corridor, Artoo emitted a concerned whistle that rose inquiringly in pitch.
'I don't know, Artoo,' Threepio answered, stiffly turning his upper torso and head in Han's direction. 'Sir, might I inquire what's going on?'
Anger welled up inside Han as he grunted back at the robot, 'Go tell your precious princess that Luke is dead unless he shows up soon.'
Artoo began to whistle hysterically at Solo's grim prediction and his now-frightened golden partner exclaimed, 'Oh, no!'
The main tunnel was filled with activity when Han Solo rushed in.