[Flashback LTC] Curse the Maker!

Who puts pain receptors in a GNK droid? EG-5 did not know. But it certainly knew that someone had. An unprogrammed scream escaped its vocorder when the glowing, red-hot irons descended upon its head.

It hadn’t deserved this. It was simply not programmed to serve drinks in a crowded environment. So when a dancer bumped into the power droid, it had no possible way to stop itself from spilling its entire selection on Jabba the Hutt. EG-5’s programming did not include Huttese and only the barest minimum understanding of body language, but even it realized that the Hutt was at least slightly annoyed.

The GNK heard the door to the droid ‘repair shop’ open. It was spun upside down – again, the burning metal was pressed against it, this time on its feet. Another scream. Curse the maker!

Two new droids were ushered in. This interruption provided a brief respite as the sadistic supervisor droid, EV-9D9, interrogated the newcomers. Perhaps, with them here, EG-5 might be forgotten? Maybe… But as the unfortunate newcomers were led away, the searing pain shot through the poor GNK’s feet again. 

Curse the maker!!!

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The torture had continued for… well, EG did not have an internal chronometer, but it felt like a very long time – EV-9D9 had said she liked the noise. GNK droids were  not programmed to have ‘hope.’ But if they were, EG-5 would have lost it long ago. 

If it weren’t for the constant state of pain, EG might have noticed that something had changed. There was more shouting and blasterfire than normal in the palace… Eventually, the door opened to reveal an unfamiliar man with a blaster. As EV-9D9 squawked in protest, the man entered. A quick stun shot incapacitated the supervisor droid and the man swept into the room, plugging a datastick into the command terminal.

Unperturbed, the droid operating the torture device lowered it onto EG-5’s feet. The scream alerted the stranger, who whirled around with blaster in hand. He fired another quick stun shot and EG-5’s tormentor crumpled behind the GNK. Squinting in the half-light at the form of the unlucky power droid, the man approached.

“Well, lil fellah’. You look to be in a world o’ hurt. Let’s see if we can do somethin’ about tha’.”

The man slipped behind EG, maneuvering the controls so that it flipped back upright and was released. Kneeling beside the droid, the man dusted him off a bit. 

“Now, tha’s bettah isn’t it? You don’ need to worry about ole’ Jabba anymoh. You’re free to go as you please.”

The man stood, walked over to the command terminal, and slipped the datastick back in his pocket. Turning towards the door, he started to exit. Thinking quickly – well, for a GNK droid – EG-5 lumbered to block his path. 

“Come on, lil fella’, I’ve got to be gettin’ out o’ here!”

“Gonk.”

Attempting to slip around the droid, the man said, “I’m afraid I don’t speak your tongue friend, but you’re free now! Go on!”

Not to be put off, EG-5 persisted. “Gonk.”

“I’ve got to be goin’, pal! Now come on, please get out of the way. I can’t take you with me.”

“GONK.”

Squatting down to be level with the droid’s single photoreceptor, the man smiled sadly. “It’s too dangerous fo’ you, lil fella’. I’m a… howdyasay… well, a bit of a spy. Fo’ the Rebellion. Now, surely, you don’t want to be dragged into all tha’?”

“GONK GONK.” EG-5 rocked back and forth on its still-aching feet.

Chuckling to himself, the man nodded. “Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that. My name’s Abi – what’s yours?”

“Gonk.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you. We best be gettin’ out of here sharp-like, though. Follow me and I’ll give you a lift out o’ here, alright?”

EG shuffled to the side to allow the man through, and he gestured for the droid to follow. Before doing so, the GNK turned back to look at its surroundings. It didn’t know where it was going. But it had to be better than this.

Curse the maker! But this man… This savior. Bless him!