"Oh... how long ago?"

"I asked her about it a few months ago. She hasn't had any new damage in at least a year."

"That doesn't sound so bad. 51-DB6-EY6?"

"Sith are scary."

Nod. "That is understandable."

He comes out from hiding a little. "You seem okay, though."

"Thank you. I try to be."

"What are we going to be doing?"

"Ah, the entire point is securing an object so it isn't stolen. Which includes the possibility of leaving the planet in a hurry."

"So we'll be keeping your ship ready to go? We can do that."

"Pretty much, yes."

"And I'll be guarding it?"

Nod.

"From who?"

"Anyone that tries to take it... but particularly Sith."

"I'm not going to be much use against Sith. I can slow one down, I suppose."

"Yeah, we don't want to engage one in direct combat either, not with a Sith. Primarily, you're going to do surveillance and dealing with lesser problems."

"All right."

"Do you have preferences about this sort of thing?"

He goes still. Thinking, maybe.

"Was this the wrong thing to ask?"

No answer.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asks the other droids.

"Maybe. 9P-3X-UU0Q?"

When there's still no response after another few seconds, he extrudes a small plug from a compartment in his torso and maneuvers it into Nine's arm joint.

"It's the restraining bolt. If you tell him he doesn't have to answer that might clear it."

"For fuck's sake. You don't have to answer that, nine."