Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [160]
“Well, it only happens with droids whose memories have never been wiped. I’m overdue, actually. I’ve been in the same state of mind probably too long. In fact, if you could just show me where the oil baths are located, I’ll be on my way.” Threepio started to walk toward the exit. Two more red droids blocked it.
“Not so fast, old one,” the first droid said. “No other protocol droid has shown up here like this.”
“How many droids do you know who’ve never gone through a memory wipe?” Threepio asked. “I almost had one on Cloud City many years ago, but a friend of mine found me in the trash and pulled me free. If that had happened, I wouldn’t be here now. But I am here and—”
“Do all protocol droids talk this much?” one of the red droids asked another.
“Oh, no,” Threepio answered. “It’s a flaw in my model. I was rather hoping to find a solution without having to go through a wipe. You can’t imagine what it’s like, having all of your memories intact. It’s rather wonderful, if you want me to be honest, but it’s also a burden. Why, I can remember the first time I saw a gladiator droid. It must have been on Coruscant. That was before the Rebellion, of course—”
“Let’s wipe him,” one of the new droids said.
“No,” the first droid said. “I’m curious. I’d like to know how a droid avoids memory wipes.”
“I have been very lucky,” Threepio said. “I have a sympathetic master who believes that droids are unique creatures all by themselves.”
“He’s lying,” one of the droids said.
“Maybe,” another said. “Maybe not.”
“My master values me for what I am, and won’t let anyone harm me.”
“Your master’s the guy with the freighter?” the first droid asked.
“Oh, no,” Threepio said. “He’s just someone I met. My master is—actually, I have several masters. I usually work for President Leia Organa Solo on Coruscant. But sometimes I work for the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.”
“Then why are you traveling with someone else?”
“He wanted me to come along because of my facility with languages. I persuaded him to stop here. I have my pilgrimage, you know.” Threepio had managed to take several steps closer to the door. The droids nearest the door had parted. They were all watching him closely. Droids hated memory wipes. The fact that he had never had one intrigued them all.
“Yeah, right,” the first droid said. “And he listened to you.”
“Master Fardreamer is a unique man. Rather like Master Skywalker in that.”
“Skywalker,” said one of the new droids. “Isn’t that the one who was here before? The one we couldn’t touch?”
Another droid shushed the first.
“Master Skywalker was here?” Threepio asked.
“I thought you would know where your master is,” the first droid said.
“Well, he’s not always my master. I thought I explained that.”
“You’ve explained a lot,” the first droid said. “Except what you’re doing here.”
“I explained that too,” Threepio said. “If you’ll recall, I said that I have returned to my origins.”
“The story would’ve worked, too,” the first droid said, “if this factory made protocol droids a hundred years ago. But we only just started with protocol droids after the Empire collapsed. When the New Republic was up and running, the Master figured there’d be a greater need for you brainy types. So he added on.”
Threepio took another step toward the door. The droids behind him closed the opening they had made.
The first droid slid in closer, flanked by his red companions. “So,” he said. “When a protocol droid gets a memory wipe, does he have to relearn all six million forms of communication?”
“Of course not, that’s hardwired in.” Then Threepio realized what the droid meant. “Wait! Wait! I’m sure you won’t have to give me a memory wipe. You don’t know who I am. You can’t touch me. It will be an intergalactic incident. My mistress—”
“Won’t matter anymore,” the droid said. “You’ve never had a memory wipe so let me explain how it feels when you wake up. You view the world with fresh new eyes. Everything will seem so wonderful. You’ll have your six million languages, and a whole new future. Won’t that be nice?”
“No,” Threepio said as the Red Terror