Nude on the Beach

Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Well, yes," Threepio replied. This robot was going to be trouble, that muchwas obvious—one of those droids who always had to prove she wasmore-droid-than-thou. "How many languages do you speak?" Ninedenine continued. Well, two can play that game, thought Threepio. He ran his most dignified,official introductory tape. "I am fluent in over six million forms of communication,and can—" "Splendid!" Ninedenine interrupted gleefully. "We have been without aninterpreter since the master got angry with something our last protocol droid said anddisintegrated him." "Disintegrated!" Threepio wailed. Any semblance of protocol left him. Ninedenine spoke to a pig guard who suddenly appeared. "This one will bequite useful. Fit him with a restraining bolt, then take him back up to the mainaudience chamber." The guard grunted and roughly shoved Threepio toward the door. "Artoo, don't leave me!" Threepio called out, but the guard grabbed him andpulled him away; and he was gone.