to a question his astromech companion R2 D2 had asked And you should be too Lando Calrissian and poor Chewbacca never returned from this awful place The awful place was their destination Jabba the Hutt's palace a large fortress near the southwestern border of the Western Dune Sea But as the droids trudged once again across the desert world's desolate desolate terrain R2 D2 was more optimistic about the fate of their friends For one thing Lando could take care of himself pretty well Also the droid knew that Chewbacca hadn't even arrived yet at Jabba's palace palace although he didn't bother mentioning this detail to C 3PO Sometimes the less C 3PO knew the better The astromech droid rotated his domed head to whistle a timid response to his gold plated companion Don't be so sure C 3PO said If I told you half the things I've heard about this Jabba the Hutt you'd probably short circuit Indeed Jabba Desilijic Tiure was legendary for his vicious temper endless greed gruesome appetite and fondness for violent entertainment He had been the reigning crime lord in the Outer Rim Territories for hundreds of years and his illegal enterprises included smuggling glitterstim spice dealing slave trading assassination assassination and piracy Jabba's palace had been built around the ancient monastery of B'omarr monks a mysterious religious
order that believed in isolating themselves from all physical sensation to enhance the power of their minds to achieve this enlightened monks had their brains transplanted into nutrient filled jars Rumor had it that B'omarr monks still existed in the palace's lower levels C 3PO wasn't in any hurry to find out if the rumors were true The palace was a cluster of domed cylindrical towers towers The largest structure was an enormous citadel with a massive rust encrusted iron door at its base Hesitantly Hesitantly approaching the door C 3PO asked Artoo are you sure this is the right place R2 D2 answered with an affirmative beep C 3PO looked for some kind of signaling device a chime bell or comlink panel but saw none Glancing Glancing at R2 D2 he said I'd better knock I suppose C 3PO tapped lightly on the door then stepped back and observed There doesn't seem to be anyone here go back and tell Master Luke Let's A small circular hatch slid open on the door and a long mechanical arm rapidly extended through the hatch At the end of the arm there was a large electronic eyeball with a built in vocoder The eye ball set within a bronze optical shutter belonged to a surveillance droid which glared at C 3PO and snapped Tee chuta hhat yudd Goodness gracious me C 3PO said Facing the
electronic eyeball he gestured to R2 D2 and said Artoo Detoowha The surveillance droid's arm pivoted to turn its gaze on the R2 unit R2 D2 beeped and the eyeball jutted forward unexpectedly for a closer look R2 D2 beeped and jumped back bo Seethreepiowha C 3PO continued indicating indicating himself ey toota odd mishka Jabba du Hutt Hearing his master's name the surveillance droid made an inhuman chuckling sound Then the mechanical mechanical arm and eyeball zipped back into the door and the hatch slammed shut I don't think they're going to let us in Artoo C 3PO said turning to walk away We'd better go R2 D2 could tell C 3PO was eager to get away from the palace but the astromech didn't budge from the closed door Suddenly there was a horrific metallic grinding noise and the door began to rise The door was still opening as R2 D2 scooted under it and into the citadel's dark cavernous entry Artoo wait C 3PO called Oh dear Reluctantly Reluctantly he followed the little droid into the citadel and saw his friend was already far ahead of him Artoo Artoo I really don't think we should rush into all this Suddenl a spiderlike robot with spindly legs lurched out from the shadows and scuttled past C 3PO The robot carried a jar that contained a brain
a disembodied B'omarr monk Frightened by the sight C 3PO cried Oh Artoo Artoo wait for me As R2 D2 moved forward hidden sensors in the hallway walls scanned his body The sensors pinpointed pinpointed the many sophisticated tools that were housed in R2 D2's frame but didn't detect any concealed explosives or blasters The sensors did notice what appeared to be a non standard cylindrical device in R2 D2's dome but since the object was not a projectile projectile weapon or a bomb the sensors let it pass R2 D2 kept moving through the darkness until he struck something hard Backing up he adjusted his optical sensors to see that he'd bumped into a large Gamorrean a green skinned porcine alien with a large nostriled cartilaginous snout and upturned tusks Suited in heavy armor the Gamorrean loomed over the droid and grunted C 3PO came up fast behind R2 D2 and said Just you deliver Master Luke's message and get us out of here Stopping beside R2 D2 C 3PO saw the Gomorrean Gomorrean guard then saw a second Gamorrean guard emerge from the shadows and said Oh my The iron door slammed shut behind them C 3PO added Oh no Die Wanna Wanga rasped an alien voice from nearby C 3PO turned to see the speaker a tall pale-skinned pale-skinned male Twi'lek with blazing red eyes The Twi'lek
