Finding the Answer
The door to the droid scrapping area slid open with a hiss as pressurized air was released from the seals, a soft mist lingering in the doorway from the warm interior and the cool, wet outside air intermingling. The chamber beyond the door was lined with a wide assortment of droid parts; everything from R2 units and WED maintenance droids to defunct medical droids and even the rusted torso of an ancient B1 Battle Droid from the Clone Wars centuries ago.
Dozens of workers moved about the area, some pushing carts full of scrap metal, others toting cutting torches and wrenches. Cailen scanned the room for a moment before his face lit up, letting out an excited laugh.
"Over there," Cailen said as he gestured to a young Rodian who stood by a workbench, examining the remains of an R2 droid.
"That's Baatu. Come on," he said as he moved to meet his friend.
Baatu turned to Cailen and pulled him in for a hug, and the two exchanged a few words in Rodian. Cailen turned and nodded at Ko; the Rodian did the same before giving Cailen a look of mistrust. He said something else to Baatu in his native language, something that sounded like pleading. The exchange carried on for several moments before Baatu let out a surrendering sigh.
Cailen turned to Ko, a gleam of excitement in his eyes, and said, "Ko, this is Baatu! He's one of my best friends and he's amazing with droids. He says he'll talk to his dad for us, we just have to wait for his shift to end." The younger boy beamed.
He turned to Baatu, and said something else in Rodian. Baatu extended his hand to Ko and nodded sincerely, indicating his willingness to help the boys with their task.
"In the meantime," Cailen interjected, "we should get these over to the foreman." He withdrew the energy couplings from his bag, their small metal casings flashing beneath the overhead lights. Baatu's eyes widened as he began speaking very quick and excitedly to Cailen. He seemed to be asking all sorts of questions about the couplings.
"Yeah, in that old A-wing I got," Cailen said as he handed the couplings to Baatu, who curiously inspected them before passing them back.
"I told you I knew what I felt when they brought it in," Cailen prodded. But Baatu merely looked at the boy, then flashed his eyes to Ko. Cailen quickly changed the subject.
"Right, well, Ko and I better get these to the boss," the boy said. "Thank you, Baatu!"
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