Part 4 (1/2)

”I'm sorry, Jedi Solo. I thought you would know.”

Like all droids aboard the Rockhound, Rockhound, BY2B's voice was female and sultry. ”I'm removing this laser cannon.” BY2B's voice was female and sultry. ”I'm removing this laser cannon.”

”I can see that,” Jaina replied. ”Why?”

”So I can take it to the maintenance shop,” BY2B replied. ”Captain Calrissian requested it. Since your starfighter is unflyable anyway, he thought it would be a good time to rebuild the weapon systems.”

Jaina's heart sank, but she wasted no time trying to convince BY2B she had been fooled. ”When Lando issued this order, did you actually see see him?” him?”

”Oh, I rarely see see the captain. I'm not one of his favorites.” BY2B swung her photoreceptors toward the hangar entrance, and a trio of red beams shot out to il-luminate a grimy speaker hanging next to the hatchway. the captain. I'm not one of his favorites.” BY2B swung her photoreceptors toward the hangar entrance, and a trio of red beams shot out to il-luminate a grimy speaker hanging next to the hatchway.

”The order came over the intercom.”

”Of course it did.” Jaina pointed her lightsaber at the nearly dismounted laser cannon. ”Any chance you can reattach that and get it working in the next minute- anda- half?”

”No chance at all, Jedi Solo. Reattaching the power-feeds alone would take ten times that long.”

”How'd I know you were going to say that?” Jaina growled. She turned away and hopped down onto the deck. ”All right-finish removing it and prep the craft for launch.”

”I'm sorry, that's impossible,” BY2B replied. ”Even if we had the necessary parts, I'm not qualified to make repairs. The specifications for this craft weren't included in my last service update.”

”I flew it in in here, didn't I?” Jaina retorted. ”Just tell me you haven't been mucking around with the torpedo launchers, too.” here, didn't I?” Jaina retorted. ”Just tell me you haven't been mucking around with the torpedo launchers, too.”

”This craft has torpedo launchers torpedo launchers?” BY2B asked.

Jaina rolled her eyes, wondering exactly when the droid's last service update had been, then rushed over to a small locker area at the edge of the hangar. She activated the lighting, flipped the toggle switch on the ancient intercom unit in the wall, and stepped into the StealthX flightsuit she had left hanging at launch- ready.

A moment later, Lando's voice crackled out of the tiny speaker. ”Yes, Jaina Jaina? What can I I do for do for you? you? ” ”

Jaina frowned. The voice certainly sounded sounded like Lando's. ”How about a status report?” she asked, pus.h.i.+ng her arms through the like Lando's. ”How about a status report?” she asked, pus.h.i.+ng her arms through the suit sleeves. ”My StealthX is really messed up. No use taking it out.”

”My, that is that is too too bad,” Lando's voice said. ”But don't be bad,” Lando's voice said. ”But don't be con con cerned. Ar- en- eight has cerned. Ar- en- eight has near near ly sorted out the sys- ly sorted out the sys- tem problems.” problems.”

”Great.” Jaina sealed the flightsuit's front closure and stepped into her boots. ”I'll head aft and check out the hyperdrive.”

”Oh.” Lando's voice seemed surprised. ”That won't be nec nec essary. Ar- en- eight is running diag essary. Ar- en- eight is running diag nos nos tics now. tics now.

I'm sure the Em- Nine- O and his crew can han han dle any dle any nec nec essary re essary re pairs. pairs. ” ”

And his his crew. If there had been any doubt before, now Jaina crew. If there had been any doubt before, now Jaina knew knew she was talking to an imposter. Not long ago, Lando had confided to Jaina that the only way he had survived all those solitary prospecting trips early in his career was to close his eyes whenever one of the she was talking to an imposter. Not long ago, Lando had confided to Jaina that the only way he had survived all those solitary prospecting trips early in his career was to close his eyes whenever one of the Rockhound Rockhound droids spoke and imagine she was a beautiful woman. He would never have referred to M9EO as a male. droids spoke and imagine she was a beautiful woman. He would never have referred to M9EO as a male.

Jaina grabbed her helmet and gloves out of the locker, then said, ”Okay. If you've got everything under control, I'm going to stop by my bunk and grab some shut-eye before my s.h.i.+ft comes up.”