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Artoo whistled.

“Whatever it is, it will have to wait,” Threepio said. “The good Kloperian has told us to leave, and leave we shall. No more of this heroic nonsense. Leave that to Master Luke and Mistress Leia.”

Artoo beeped extensively.

“Yes, yes, I agree, droids can be heroes too, but not when they’re disobeying Kloperians.”

Artoo chirruped, then blatted.

“I suggest you save that language for the next time we’re alone,” Threepio whispered. “Do you remember our last run-in with a Kloperian?”

“Is everything all right?” the Kloperian asked. He started to follow them.

“Fine, sir, fine. I’m just trying to get this astromech unit to follow me. He’s quite insistent about trouble inside.”

“The trouble is that this building will collapse soon,” the Kloperian said, “at least this section. I keep telling them that, when all those investigators come in here, but they don’t listen to me.”

“Investigators?” Threepio asked. “Were they looking into the bombing?”

“Is there anything else?” the Kloperian asked. “But they work inside the Hall itself where it’s all unstable. There’s even openings in the roof. I keep expecting to come on to my shift at night and find a bunch of them dead because the roof collapsed.”

“You mean, they never investigated the hallway?”

“At the pace they’re going, they’ll never get outside the door. At least not in my lifetime. Maybe in yours.” Then the Kloperian laughed, a squishy, rather sickening sound.

It had followed them all the way out. Once they were outside, it closed what remained of the door. “You better get back to your masters before I report you missing. That’s standard, you know, for wandering droids.”

“Maybe on Kloper,” Threepio said, “but not on Coruscant.”

“No one’s updated your files lately, have they, protocol droid? There’s a curfew for everyone at night, and that includes droids. This place has been different since the bombing, I tell you. You could trust folks once, at least the ones not associated with the Empire. But not anymore. To attack the government like that. I’m just glad it happened during the day. If it’d happened on my shift—”

“No one would have gotten killed,” Threepio said.

Artoo made his little chuckling beeps.

The Kloperian blinked its fishy eyes at him, and then uncrossed two of its tentacles. “You got a point, don’t you, droid? I never thought of it that way. Guess that’s why you have logic circuits and I don’t. I’ve been thinking of myself again. The wives always accuse me of doing that too.”

“I’m sure they do,” Threepio said. “Ah, thank you for rescuing me. My counterpart hadn’t even noticed I was in trouble.”

“He was too busy scavenging parts,” the Kloperian said. “Don’t think I didn’t notice. I may not have any logic circuits, but I know when a droid works for smugglers. Next time I won’t go so easy on you two, if you catch my meaning.”

“We don’t really work for smugglers,” Threepio started, but Artoo interrupted him with a bleep. Threepio shot him a glare. Artoo bleeped again. “Really, Artoo—”

“I don’t care who you work for,” the Kloperian said. “I was just telling you. Don’t come back here, at least not on my shift.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Threepio said. “We won’t. Come along, Artoo.” He put his hand on Artoo’s round head and pushed him forward. They crossed the restricted line into the street. The Kloperian watched from the doorway. “I hadn’t heard of the curfew, had you, Artoo?”

Artoo bleeped, then chirruped, and ended with a blatt.

“I’m not fond of it either,” Threepio said, “but I do think we should return home.”

Artoo swiveled his head, his own small version of no. He extended his service arm, and in it, he held four more detonators.

“Artoo!” Threepio yelped. Then he forced himself to lower his voice. “If we’re caught with those, you and Master Cole will be charged with sabotage for certain.”

Artoo bleeped.

“I don’t care if they are smaller. They’re still evidence, aren’t they?”

Artoo cheebled.

“I think that’s the best suggestion you’ve had all day,” Threepio said. “Do let’s find