Reepek knew that politics was not among his strong points nor it was on his companion, although the little astromech droid seems to be highly opinionated about the bureaucratic affairs of Queen Amidala and the acting Chommell Sector Senators Sate Pestage and Kinman Doriana.
Captain Aluva D’asima of the Royal Naboo Special Action Force was still technically his owner, but Reepek is currently assigned to the Droid Maintenance Division of the Naboo Royal Engineering Department.
A loud series of beeps and chirps snapped Reepek out of his daydreaming, if such a term could be attributed to their kind. Annoyed, Reepek swiveled his faceless chrome head to look down on the petulant R2 unit who kept shoving him in to the Diagnostic Center where the rest of the Bravo Squadron astromechs are being processed.
“If you will not stop pushing and scratching my expensive legs I will be forced to hallow out your body and convert it into a waste dispenser!” Reepek snapped at Artoo Detoo in annoyance.
Artoo rotated his dome and let out a litany of complaints and retorts much to the consternation of Reepek.
“Oh shut it Artoo, your friends will not be undergoing into any form of memory wipe today and I am personally assuring you of it, that is if my word is enough for that thick bunker of a head of yours!” Reepek groaned as he punched in the access code into the highly secure Diagnostic Center.
Artoo was about to give the former Recon-PK droid a witty quip when a young boy came by the entrance to greet them.
“Finally! Where on the moons of Iego have you two been? I’ve been having a really hard time to start my diagnostic on your friends here,” Technical Engineer Trainee Rinn Olié blurted at Reepek and Artoo Detoo pointing on the restless and noisy bunch of R2 units.
Artoo would have let out an exasperated sigh had he been capable of it upon seeing the rest of his fellow Bravo Squadron astromechs moving about in systematic chaos around the chamber giving the frantic technicians a sizable headache enough to seal the Maw off permanently.
Artoo Detoo spotted the familiar color scheme of R2-E3 amidst the fray; unfortunately, Reepek seems to have spotted her the same time as he does.
“Oh Artoo, look, there’s your girlfriend.” Reepek said jovially.
Artoo squealed angrily stating that she’s not, Reepek merely chuckled which further infuriated him. Deciding to ignore and leave his sarcastic companion, Artoo hurriedly rolled through the throng of darting astromechs and chasing technicians to where Artoo Ethree seems to be engaged in a heated debate with the Diagnostic Center Computer.
Arthree spotted Artoo and chirped a greeting then resume her cursing against the DCC. Artoo noticed that her scomp link seems be already heating up from its socket.
Artoo warned her of it but she ignore him kept insisting on the computer that none of them requires a diagnostic at the time being and that she doesn’t care whether the database insists that they were all signed and scheduled to undergo on one today.
Knowing that once Arthree enters a heated debate like that, there would be no stopping her until the matter is settled… to her favor.
Artoo then noticed that the astromechs of Vengeance Squadron are also in the room and surmised that there is indeed another trouble brewing once more here on Naboo.
Artoo Detoo rolled and greeted Afy, the Head Astromech of Vengeance Squadron before rejoining Reepek and Rinn Olié who were huddled absorbingly by the central holographic table showing an unfamiliar virtual schematic of a large space vessel. Upon reaching them he asked what it was.
Reepek answered reflexively without leaving his gaze on the area where Rinn was indicating with his laser pointer, “It’s an ancient Daedelus-class Star Fortress…”
“It’s the Jaguada Void.” Rinn said gravely.
Artoo Detoo frowned, or so to speak, the name doesn’t ring a bell at all.
About the Author
Mark A.J. Cristobal is an undergraduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of Perpetual Help Rizal last 2003. He currently works as a Freelance On-Line Writer who aspires to be a professional novelist. At the age of 7 he created his own comics universe using only the unused pages of his school notebooks from 1988 to 1996 and called it M.C. Comics. He won first prize on a painting contest in 1994 and won second prize on a poster making contest on 1995, both in Saint Joseph’s Academy. He also created and administers a number of Facebook Community Pages some of them are Pixel Dust Studios, M.C. Comics Philippines, Star Wars Pilipinas, Fanboys Fanpage, Luke Skywalker Archives, Leia Organa Archives, Padme Amidala Archives, Star Wars Page Alliance, James Bond Prime, and his author page The Mark A.J. Cristobal Novels. You will find him on Facebook as Mark Duneglider, an alias he derived from his own created character in his Star Wars fan-fiction novels.
He is a single father that lives in Las Piñas City, Philippines with his 76 year old father and a 6 year old daughter.
Star Wars - Artoo Detoo: Droid of a Kind (Volume 1) Page 45
