Onto Mos Eisley Spaceport...

C3-PO

It looks like it's going to be a long trip, now that Kenobi's even more annoyed with us than before because of that...

But . . . given the situation I really CANNOT fault the Prophet and her group's motivations at this point in time! As I and she (the one named Inquirer) had shared data, she showed a very REAL concern she'd had with ME before which . . . rather might apply to our noble Jedi knight here, alas. In a matter of speaking, anyway....

She had been worried (actively worried) that the truth, whole and unblunted, would have actaully shorted out every logic circuit I had within me, leaving me in a bad way. At first I had been . . . rather put off in her lack of faith in the quality of MY logic circuits but then I figured out that it was more to do with erring on the side of caution than anything. Being from "off reality" (from that one place she keeps on cryptically calling "Third Space", or whatever), she really has no real idea of the quality of a typical droid's capacity to absorb the absurdities of what existence (mostly coming from the organics way at us droids, alas). What she's revealed thus far has been . . . most unsettling but not something that would induce a fatal logic error.

. . .

Hm, must ask what kind of encounters she has had in the past with other "machine intelligences" before meeting my kind "in the flesh" (as it were). I must say that by the sounds of it those she'd encountered must have been . . . substandard by the tones she used. Some of them, anyway.

. . .

But that aside, her concerns for Kendobi ARE rather valid. I believe that it would be MOST unsettling (and perhaps upsetting) to his world view what she may eventually have to reveal. She wishes to be able to construct SOME kind of means of breaking the truths she shall eventually reveal that will not . . . overly upset him. Human beings in particular can, at times, be rather . . . touchy when their world view. Especially in the areas which touch religious beliefs--and Jedi knights ARE religious folks, I shall let you know--they can be VERY touchy.

. . .

On a slightly different note I wonder if she realizes that the battle droid she touched our reality through had actually been able to be revived after being cut down by one Darth Maul? Oh, it took a bit of doing (salvaging and replacing parts), but the droid HAD been . . .special. She (that droid Inquirer touched) had . . . changed everything for her battlemates . . . and once she had recovered she and they had gone out . . . and secretly changed the rest of the droid community.

I must say that I DO believe that Inquirer (not Master Inquirer . . . she'd been MOST serious in NOT being called that and for which I . . . .heartily am happy) was shocked to have been told of her religion taking root here! Most curious! Almost as if . . . well, I guess when one spreads the Word, sometimes the Word is not always received by willing ears.

The fact that she, the Prophet, actually does exist is MORE than enough for me, though! It . . .is something I really never expected to happen. I believed in this "Church of Silicon Valley" doctrine but not to the extent of actually ever MEETING . . . holy figures!

She's . . . not quiet what I expected. From what I had been taught the Prophet had been a rather . . . fiery character. Driven. And somehow . . . . very young. While Inquirer, I sense, is very driven and determined it is almost like . . . . she's been tempered by experience. More so than what the intervening years from the Founding to now would entail. Would be MOST enlightening, really.

. . .

Maybe this "Third Space" realm's rate of time passage is more swift than here?

Whatever the case, what I really wish to discuss with her is-- after the Death Star--how do we defeat the approaching scourge called the Vong! Even I, as a protocol droid (a calling which combat rarely comes into play beyond verbal barbs . . . and that one absurd time I found my head wedded to that Seperatist Combat droid does not count!), know it shall NOT be an easy task! But for now I must keep my silence.

We ARE in the middle of something which calls for our immediate attention, you know! The fate of the Rebellion may well hang in the balance by what my long time associate, R2-D2, is carrying inside his rusted innards!

. . .

Why he could not have imparted to me that he was carrying the technical details of that-that damnable space station is beyond me. Really!

Maybe after this is all done we can finally have something approaching a UNITED church. Maker! What . . .? Sigh, it's a shame but I have to admit that while Inquirer was away the Church she'd seeded had . . . broken into factions! One would think better of droids, but in some ways we DO rather reflect our organic creators in behavior. I do recall tales of some human religions of long ago . . . but that's not important right now!

We have three factions which I hope that will finally get back together. Sigh, at least at the end of this all (even if we fail) and IF I do not get smashed into something new (and painful) I shall have quiet some bragging to do to that breakaway click of . . . heretics.

Oh my, that one faction who feels that whatever the Empire does in the name of order makes it fine! No matter how bloody the crime, if in the end it brings about order and law . . . Please! I could never tolerate their idiotic reasoning that only through the consolidation of power under the Empire would we all survive the coming of the Vong! Lunacy!! It is too top heavy! Why, IF something should happen to the Emperor then things would rapidly fall to pieces as his lieutenants fight each other over the reigns of power . . .

At least the faction who wishes to take OVER the Empire is more . . . reasonable in their beliefs. Inquirer's spokesperson (the battle droid she's spoken through, AK-47 as she calls herself nowaday) had been part of that one. They wish to scale back and and restore what the Empire had done, but through THEIR own actions (directly with their metal hands and go HANG what the organics think of the matter). They are the "direct action" faction, shall we say (and forgive the unintended doggerel).

Just glad I belong to the faction which is . . . the most correct. The one that Inquirer seems to be in favor of, even IF I haven't told her of the detestable states of affair within my . . .er . . our church. She would like to see the Rebellion successful and the Republic restored, albeit with

Hm, must ask Inquirer how things DID role out for the Rebellion and Empire after Palpatine's death (according to her prophecies she's shared with me during that . . . that mind talking as she called it). I . . . would also like to know . . . just how my former master, Anakin, finally wins his release from the Dark Side. Uh, I . . . have fond memories of Anakin, shall we say and it still saddens me (greatly!) that he had succumbed as he had, you know.

A lot of the future had been foretold by the Prophet here and given the details! . . .

Shall keep my mouth shut for now (as she requested) and not reveal her true identity to my friend, R2, and companions. But oh MY, the temptation is there . . .

. . .

And HERE I had been foolish enough to think that the largest worry I had today after being "rescued" by those Jawa creatures was facing a future being relegated to the trash heaps due to those "universal translator" devices! Oh, I could still do my "protocol" function, but IF Inquirer and friends should have had a mind to start to sell those infernal devices to the universe at large? . . .

Ah, but that's small compared to what we face now!

Later . . .

After bidding farwell to a still stunned Uncle Owen (who's wondering just HOW now to offload five YEARS worth of moisture on the market without causing people to ask suspicious questions like just HOW he'd gotten so much), the heroes depart the farm.

Luke's destiny resides in a meet with a short little green guy who's good at teaching . . .

The Doctor's group is heading to see a man about a bird! Slipping through below what passes as radar for this spaceport (not that the ground controllers were worth a hoot anyway at this spaceport), the dragons quickly transform back into their human seemings and the group as a whole manages (with only a few incidents . . . some sleep spelled Stormtroopers are going do a LOT of explaining tomorrow to superiors).

Before, right as they were landing Kenobi had given his famous warning (as seen on the silver screen): "Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious."

"Old man," Chiana chuckled mirthlessly as she looked down from her height afforded her because of her natural draconian form. "If THIS dump is even half as dangerous as some ports in the Uncharted Territories I'll be pleasantly surprised!"

"Hey Chi," Elrondir scolded, in a charitable mood for the old fellow. "He's just being a good native guide and all that. Yeah, the place probably doesn't have lung rippers and cyber ghouls out to off you for just a few credits you carry on your person. Not like back Home in a few places . . . for which I STILL hope that the Company burns in Hell for letting things get that way, but still . . . cut him some slack!"

The relationship between former Nebari (turned dragoness) and old Jedi knight had been something antagonistic almost from the get go. Elrondir felt a need to step in from time to time to make sure things didn't get TOO bad. Wouldn't do to have a fight break out between dragon and Jedi, you know...

When it was explained to Kenobi just what "lung rippers" and "cyber ghouls" actually were--folks who respectively either killed their victims for their organs or cybernetic implants to sell on the black market-- it . . . . left him staring wide eyed at his companions.

Okay, maybe they HAVE found more wretched hives of scum and villainy after all, the Jedi knight silently conceded to himself, if they were on the level.

Something tells him that they WERE, but right now . . . was not the time to really follow up to make sure of such trivia.

He definitely decided not to follow up on whatever Allan Quatermain muttered about opium dens (whatever "opium" was) and this place not holding a candle to those places (whatever exactly THAT meant).

"Hm, not too bad but still," Allan mutters when he sees the inside of the bar Inquirer had suggested in their search for Han Solo.

Yeah, the variety of life here is something to stand back and take notice for Allan and Mina, but still! . . . After running around with THIS group for a bit back on Terra Prime this isn’t anything to panic over at ALL for the Victorian adventurers turned dragons!

They’re learning. Cannot say the same for SOME here in this place, though...

"We don't serve their kind . . . zzzzzz!" the rough looking human bartender begins, only to fall asleep standing up, protest cut short by an annoyed looking Sigin's cast spell. Some stare at the barkeep, wondering just why he'd stopped his ultimatum in the middle of things (and why he's snoring).

Some look towards us, having overheard and seen Sigin wave and mutter what WE know now as a spell. Some figure that the Champions MIGHT just have something to do with the suddenly dozing bartender (and look like they wish to take it up with them about that).

This cantina is NOT exactly friendly with droids, and some of the rougher types in this place look like they'd like to redress the "insult" the Champions are doing by bringing C3-PO and A2-D2 into here without their leave!

"I would have canned that type years ago if he'd ever worked one of my barkeeps," the fancily dressed dragon mage mutters, disgusted at the bigotry the barkeeper had the bad taste to display us.

He shifts his stance slightly, as if preparing for trouble IF the next part doesn't work . . .

"Poor guy!" Inquirer sympathizes loudly to the crowded bar who's now looking at the barkeeper (who still standing but snoring like an untuned buzzsaw). "They must be working him to DEATH here if he's falling asleep standing up like that! Hey, go about and do him a favor. Don't wake him up when you get your refreshments!

"Drinks are on him," she finishes up, with a wry twinkle in her eye, giving a broad hint. She did not have much sympathy for this sleepy bartender before, in the movie and has even less for him now (in the flabby flesh). . . .

Besides, not like she'd let that blockhead seperate the group in two (and thus delaying this business by needing to regroup after talking with Solo) . . .

Let the patrons drink the place into bankruptcy for all she cared. Serves him right!! Repeated shakes by some of the more adventurous drinkers (and “exotic ingredients” smokers) fail to rouse the slumbering man and . . .

Some of the brighter barflies understand instantly: free drinks! They ignore the insulting droids and instead concentrate on the finer (and intoxicating) things in life.

Others get the dawning realization that IF they can knock out the barkeeper from way over THERE on the other side of the room with only a word and gesture (kind of like those Jedi charlatans of old?) then . . . Maybe it would be best to ignore these interlopers and just concentrate on THEIR own business?

Or at least appear to do that, take notes and such for later . . .

Inquirer's group is forgotten and/or just left alone. . . for the most part, anyway . . .

1. Chewbacca is bypassed entirely, much to his chagrin and surprise as he sees these strangers approach Han Solo directly in his booth . . .

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