The Jedi Prince III: The Spark of Hope

The Stinger Mantis sped towards the rebel blockade runner known as the Tantive IV, only for Harmony Squad to find that it was already caught in the grip of the Star Destroyer Devastator. The Mantis cloaked so that the Empire wouldn’t detect them.

Stinger Mantis cockpit

“We were too late, I hope the Empire didn’t get take back the Death Star plans,” Twilight said worriedly.

Just then, Sunset and the others noticed an escape pod was launched from the rebel ship.

“Look, the ship launched an escape pod,” Sunset replied.

“According to the scanners, there’s no life forms aboard it. But we are picking up signals from two droids,” Fluttershy added.

“The ship’s crew must’ve given the plans to those droids and sent them into the escape pod. We need to retrieve the droids before the Empire does,” Cody said.

It was then that the Mantis landed on the surface close to the escape pod. Once Harmony Squad disembarked the ship, they noticed that the droids were nowhere to be found.

“There’s some kind of transport over there!” Rainbow said, pointing out in the distance.

“That’s a sandcrawler and they’re used by Jawas, which are one of the two native peoples of Tatooine. They’re known for collecting droids and equipment, selling them to people in the settlements, such as Mos Eisley, Mos Espa, and Anchorhead,” Cody explained.

“Maybe the droids we’re looking for are on it,” Applejack replied.

“I say we get back on the ship and follow that sandcrawler,” Sal said.

“Good thinking, Sal,” Cody replied.

It wasn’t long before Harmony Squad returned to the Mantis and flew closely behind the sandcrawler. Soon enough, Cody looked out the cockpit as it was nighttime.

“Let’s put the ship on autopilot and get some sleep,” Cody said.

“My thoughts exactly,” Rarity replied.

The next day, the sandcrawler moved slowly along a great sand dune, with the Mantis following from above. Harmony Squad followed the sandcrawler until it reached an isolated homestead, which had three large holes in the ground surrounded by several tall moisture vaporators and one small adobe block house. It was then that they landed the ship on the left side of the sandcrawler.

The Jawas scurried around fussing over the droids, straightening them up or brushing some dust from a dented metallic elbow. The shrouded little creatures smell horribly, attracting small insects to the dark areas where their mouths and nostrils should be.

Out of the shadows of a dingy side-building limped Owen Lars, a large burly man in his early fifties. His reddish eyes are sunken in a dust-covered face. As the farmer carefully inspected each droid, he was closely followed by his nephew, Luke Skywalker, who was just a year older than Cody.

Just then, Cody, Sal, Bucky, R5, Spike, the girls disembarked the Mantis and went over to all the droids the Jawas had lined up. R5 beeped excitedly as he recognized one familiar astromech in particular.

“What is it, R5?” Spike asked.

“I think R5 just found the droids we’re looking for,” Bucky said.

One of the Jawas walked ahead of the farmer spouting an animated sales pitch in a queer, unintelligible language while Harmony Squad stayed close to the sandcrawler.

“Luke! Luke!” a voice called out.

Luke went over to the edge and saw his Aunt Beru standing in the main courtyard.

“Luke, tell Owen that if he gets a translator to be sure it speaks Bocce,” Beru requested.

“It looks like we don’t have much of a choice, but I’ll remind him,” Luke called back.

Luke returned to his uncle, as they looked over the equipment for sale with the Jawa leader.

“You know this droid, R5?” Pinkie asked.

R5 excitedly beeped ‘Yes’ in reply.

“That’s R2-D2, he and R5 were comrades in arms during the Clone War, and I presume the protocol droid over there is C-3PO. R5 says that R2 is carrying the plans for the Death Star, given to him by someone called Princess Leia,” Cody explained.

Not too far away, Owen was asking C-3PO regarding how the droid can serve him and his family.

“What I really need is a droid that understands the binary language of moisture vaporators,” Owen said.

“Vaporators! Sir—my first job was programming binary load lifters, very similar to your vaporators in most respects. You could say…” 3PO replied.

“Do you speak Bocce?” Owen asked.

“Of course I can, sir. It’s like a second language for me… I’m as fluent in Bocce…” 3PO said.

“All right shut up!” Owen interrupted, facing the Jawa, “I’ll take this one.”

“Shutting up, sir,” C-3PO spoke meekly.

“Luke, take these two over to the garage, will you?” Owen ordered. “I want you to have both of them cleaned up before dinner.”

“But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters…” Luke replied.

“You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done,” Owen retorted, “Now, come on. Get to it.”

“All right, come on!” Luke ushered. “And the red one, come on.”

But at first, the one red droid seemed resistant to follow.

“Well, come on, Red, let’s go!” Luke said.

While the three make their way back to the Homestead, Fluttershy comes up from the building and looks ahead. As the Jawas start leading the three remaining droids back into the Sandcrawler, she sees R2-D2 release a pathetic little beep and starts after his old friend, C-3PO. Unfortunately, he was restrained by a Jawa, who zapped him with a control box.

“Aw… the poor little guy,” Fluttershy sighed sympathetically.

Meanwhile, as Owen was negotiating with the head Jawa, Luke, and the droids start off for the garage when suddenly…

*BANG!*

A plate popped off the head of the red Astro-droid’s head plate, sparks flew wildly out of its circuits.

“Uncle Owen!” Luke called out.

“Yeah?” Owen asked.

“This R2 unit has a bad motivator,” Luke pointed out. “Look!”

“Hey, what’re you trying to push on us?” Owen confronted the Head Jawa.

The Jawa goes into a loud spiel. Meanwhile, R2 snuck out of the line and moved up and down trying to attract attention. He released a low whistle, which draws the attention of the others, who peek their heads from the building. Harmony Squad made their way out toward Luke and C-3PO.

“Excuse me, sir,” C-3PO said as he approached Luke, “But that R2 unit seems to be in prime condition, a real bargain.”

“Uncle Owen…” Luke called out.

“Yeah?” Owen answered.

“What about that one?”

“What about that blue one?” Owen addressed the Jawa. “We’ll take that one.”

With little reluctance, the scruffy dwarf traded the damaged Astro-droid for R2.

“Yeah, take it away,” Luke gestured.

“Uh, I’m quite sure you’ll be very pleased with that one, sir,” 3PO assured. “He really is in first-class condition. I’ve worked with him before. Here he comes.”

Owen paid off the whining Jawa, as Luke, the two droids, and the Harmony Squad trudge off toward a grimy homestead entry.

“If I may ask, who are you people?” Luke asked, as he turned towards Harmony Squad.

“We’ll explain the details once we’re indoors,” Cody said.

“Fair enough,” Luke replied, then turned to the droids. “Ok. Let’s go.”

As they near the entrance to the homestead, 3PO turned toward R2, “Now, don’t you forget this! Why I should stick my neck out for you is quite beyond my capacity!” he said.

Inside the Homestead, the garage was cluttered and worn. And yet, it was a friendly, peaceful atmosphere permeating the low grey chamber. C-3PO lowered himself into a large tub filled with warm oil. Near the landspeeder, R2 rested along a large battery with a cord to his face.

“Thank the maker!” 3PO sighed. “This oil bath is going to feel so good. I’ve got such a bad case of dust contamination I can barely move!”

R2-D2 beeped a muffled reply. While some of the girls chuckled over the robot’s comment, they turned toward Luke, who seemed lost in his thoughts. He ran his hand over the damaged fin of a small two-man Skyhopper vehicle resting in a low hangar off the garage. Finally, Luke’s frustration got the better of him and he slammed the wrench across the workbench.

“It just isn’t fair,” Luke complained, “Oh, Biggs is right. I’m never gonna get out of here!”

“Is there anything I might do to help?” 3PO offered.

Luke glanced toward the battered droid. A bit of his anger drained, as a tiny smile crept across his face.

“No, not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest, or teleport me off this rock!” Luke replied.

“Where we come from, we can do some of those spells. But I wouldn’t recommend altering time,” Twilight admitted.

“I’m not so sure we can teleport from one planet to another, though,” Sunset added.

“I don’t think so, sir. I’m only a droid and not very knowledgeable about such things… not on this planet, anyways,” 3PO said, “As a matter of fact, I’m not even sure which planet I’m on.”

“Well, if there’s a bright center to the universe,” Luke replied, “You’re on the planet that it’s farthest from.”

“That is the ‘nicer’ way to describe Tatooine,” Cody added.

“I see, sir,” 3PO said.

“Uh, you can call me Luke,” Luke replied.

“I see, Sir Luke,” 3PO nodded.

“Just Luke,” Luke chuckled.

“And I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations, and this is my counterpart, R2-D2,” 3PO introduced himself.

“Hello,” Luke greeted.

“Good to meet you, C-3PO and you as well, R2-D2,” Twilight said.

R2 beeped in response. Luke unplugged the droid and began scraping several connectors on the droid’s head with a chrome pick. 3PO climbed out of the oil tub and began wiping oil from his bronze body.

“By the way, Luke, I’m Cody Ando. These are my wives, Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, and our friends, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Sal and Bucky Thrace, Spike, Flash Sentry, and my droid, R5-G7,” Cody said.

“Good to meet you all,” Luke replied.

“Same here, Luke. I must say you are quite charming,” Rarity said, blushing.

“We’re from the planet of Equestria, far beyond the Outer Rim in Wild Space,” Spike added, showing a hint of jealousy, “Cody here, is the heir to the throne.”

“You got a lot of carbon scoring. Looks like you boys have seen a lot of action,” Luke said, looking at the droids.

“We’ve seen plenty of action as well, Luke,” Bucky replied.

“With all we’ve been through, sometimes I’m amazed we’re in as good condition as we are,” 3PO said, “What with the Rebellion and all.”

“You know of the Rebellion against the Empire?” Luke asked, wide-eyed.

“That’s how we came to be in your service, if you take my meaning, sir,” 3PO said.

“Speaking of which, we also serve in the rebellion. Our unit is called Harmony Squad,” Cody replied.

“I joined the squad just before we went to recover Twilight’s crown,” Flash added.

“Have you been in many battles?” Luke asked.

“Several, I think,” 3PO replied, “Actually, there’s not much to tell. I’m not much more than an interpreter, and not very good at telling stories. Well, not at making them interesting, anyways.”

“We’ve been on plenty of missions as well, with two of them being full scale battles so far,” Twilight said.

Luke struggled to remove a small metal fragment along R2’s neck joint. He used a larger pick.

“Well, my little friend, you’ve got something jammed in here real good,” Luke said, “Were you on a cruiser or…”

Suddenly, the fragment broke loose with a snap, sending Luke tumbling head over heels. As the group helped him up, a twelve-inch three-dimensional hologram of Leia Organa, the Princess of Alderaan, projected from R2’s face. The image was a rainbow of colors, flickering and jiggling in the dimly lit garage. Luke’s mouth hung open in awe.

“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Leia spoke. “You’re my only hope…”

“W-W-W-What’s that?” Fluttershy asked nervously.

“What’s this?” Luke asked.

R2 looked around, sheepishly beeping an answer for 3PO to translate. Leia kept repeating the sentence fragment over and over.

“What is what?!?” 3PO asked, pointing at Leia. “He asked you a question… what is that?”

R2 whistled his surprise, pretending to just notice the hologram. He looked around, sheepishly beeping an answer for 3PO to translate. Harmony Squad studied Leia, who kept repeating the sentence fragment over and over.

“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope… Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope…”

“Oh, he says it’s nothing, sir,” 3PO assured, “Merely a malfunction. Old data. Pay it no mind.”

But Luke and the group are still intrigued by the beautiful girl.

“I ain’t so sure about that. I can tell when someone’s lyin’, especially a droid,” Applejack replied.

“Who is she?” Luke asked, “She’s beautiful.”

“I’m afraid I’m not quite sure, sir,” 3PO replied.

“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi…”

“I think she was a passenger on our last voyage,” 3PO implied. “A person of some importance, sir—I believe. Our captain was attached to…”

“Is there more to this recording?” Luke asked.

R2 let out several frantic squeaks and a whistle.

“Behave yourself, R2. You’re going to get us into trouble,” 3PO said, “It’s alright, he’s our new master. You can trust him.”

R2 whistles and beeps a long message to 3PO.

“He says he’s the property of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a resident of these parts,” 3PO translated, “And it’s a private message for him. Quite frankly, sir, I don’t know what he’s talking about. Our last master was Captain Antilles, but with what we’ve been through, this little R2 unit has become a bit eccentric.”

“Obi-Wan Kenobi? I wonder if he means old Ben Kenobi?” Luke inquired.

“I beg your pardon, sir,” 3PO said, “But do you know what he’s talking about?”

“Well, I don’t know anyone named ‘Obi-Wan’,” Luke admitted, “But old Ben lives out beyond the Dune Sea. He’s kind of a strange old hermit.” Luke gazed toward the beautiful young princess for a few moments, “I wonder who she is, sounds like she's in trouble. I'd better play back the whole thing.”

R2 beeped something for 3PO.

“He says the restraining bolt has short circuited his recording system,” 3PO translated, “He suggests that if you remove the bolt, he might be able to play back the entire recording.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Pinkie smiled.

Luke gazed longingly at the lovely, little princess. It seemed he really hadn’t heard what 3PO was saying at all.

“H’m? Oh yeah, well I guess you’re too small to run away on me if I take this off! Okay,” Luke said. He took a wedged bar and popped the restraining bolt off R2’s side.

“There you go,” Luke sighed.

But just as Luke looked back, the Princess immediately disappeared.

“Hey, wait a minute! Where’d she go?” Luke asked, then demanded, “Bring her back! Play back the entire message.”

R2 beeped an innocent reply, as 3PO sat up in embarrassment.

“What message? The one you’ve been playing. The one you’re carrying inside your rusty innards!” he replied.

“Luke? Luke!” Aunt Beru called out.

Luke stood up, shaking his head toward the malfunctioning droid.

“All right, I’ll be right there, Aunt Beru,” Luke called out.

“I’m sorry, but he appears to have picked up a slight flutter,” 3PO apologized.

“It’s fine 3PO,” Cody assured.

“Here, see what you can do with him. I’ll be right back,” Luke concluded.

Luke tossed R2’s restraining bolt on the workbench and hurried out the room.

“Just you reconsider playing that message for him,” C-3PO demanded R2-D2.

R2 beeped in response.

“No, I don’t think he likes you at all,” 3PO said.

R2 beeped.

“No, I don’t like you either,” 3PO replied.

Later on, the giant twin suns of Tatooine slowly disappear behind the distant dune range. Luke stood watching them for a few moments, silently taking in the atmosphere. Luke reluctantly entered the domed entrance to the homestead while the rest stayed out for a while.

He entered the garage to discover two of the droids nowhere in sight. He took a small control box from his utility belt similar to the one the Jawas were carrying. He activated the box, which created a low hum. C-3PO let out a short yell, popping from behind the Skyhopper.

“What are you doing hiding there?” Luke asked.

C-3PO stumbled forward, but R2-D2 was still nowhere in sight.

“It wasn’t my fault, sir” 3PO insisted, “Please don’t deactivate me. I told him not to go, but he’s faulty, malfunctioning; kept babbling on about his mission.”

“Oh, no!” Luke groaned.

Luke raced out of the garage, followed by 3PO.

Harmony Squad was still staring along the horizon when a commotion drew their attention. They turned as Luke rushed out of the small-domed entry to the homestead. They quickly approached Luke, who searched the horizon for R2. 3PO struggled out of the homestead and onto the salt flat as Luke scanned the landscape with his electro-binoculars.

“That R2 unit has always been a problem,” 3PO admitted. “These astro-droids are getting quite out of hand. Even I can’t understand their logic at times.”

“Oh no…” Fluttershy gasped, “Who knows what could happen to R2 out there? He could be crushed… or even worse!”

“How could I be so stupid?” Luke berated himself, “He’s nowhere in sight. Blast it!”

“Pardon me, sir, but couldn't we go after him?” 3PO asked.

“I could get him back over here in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow added.

“It’s too dangerous with all the Sandpeople around,” Luke answered, “We’ll have to wait until morning.”

“Luke’s right, everyone. Besides, he couldn’t have gone far,” Cody said.

“Luke, I’m shutting the power down!” Owen yelled out.

“All right, I’ll be there in a few minutes!” Luke called back, “Boy, am I gonna get it!“

Luke took one final look across the dim horizon, but it’s clear he’d never find him at this hour.

“You know that little droid is going to cause us a lot of trouble,” Luke told 3PO.

“Oh, he excels at that, sir,” 3PO replied.

“Come on,” Luke said.

“Let’s just hope those Sandpeople are the only creatures we have to worry about,” Twilight added.