[Black Fleet Crisis(26)

“What did he say when he left? “

“Not a word to either of us, General Calrissian. He simply vanished in the night. I have not heard from him or of him in nineteen local days. Do you have news of Master Luke, sir? Is he well? Do you bring new instructions from him? “

Lando pursed his lips and considered. “Yes, I do, Threepio, new instructions for the both of you. Luke’s fine, but he’s gone off on some sort of retreat, and he’s assigned you to the Fleet Office until he returns. And the Fleet Office has assigned you to me. “

If I could have found Luke to ask him, I’m sure the end result would have been the same, Lando told himself.

“I am glad to hear that Master Luke is well, General Calrissian. No one has been able to tell me anything. And I will not miss Yavin Four. It is so humid here that my circuits are always corroding. Look at me-I can’t go into the jungle without getting filthy. But must we take Artoo with us? “

“I’m afraid so, old man, ” Lando said, patting the droid’s metallic shoulder. “But look at it this way-you only have to deal with Artoo. I have to deal with the both of you. If I can cope, so can you. “

Threepio tipped his head back, and his eyes flashed. “Sir, I don’t understand-“

“I’ll explain later, ” Lando said, glancing at his chrono. “Call Artoo in. We’ve got a deadline to beat, and this isn’t our last stop. “

“I will have to inform Master Streen of our departure. “

“Already taken care of, ” Lando said, thinking of a different set of lies he had just told to Streen. Still can’t get used to being trusted-it’s better camouflage than I thought. “Come on, tin man, Lady Luck’s waiting for US. “

Coppery clouds rich in oxides of Tibanna gas churned outside the viewpanes of what had once been Lando Calrissian’s office in Bespin’s Cloud City. Inside as outside, nothing had changed since the last time he had seen it. The walls and shelves were heavily laden with the eclectic collection of objects that only a rich man or a well-traveled smuggler could amass.

“I like what you’ve done to the place, ” Lando said to the cyborg that sat behind what had once been Lando’s desk. “I guess I never did get around to sending for my things, eh? “

“I don’t mind, ” said Lobot. The activity lights on the interface band he wore from ear to ear were flickering busily. “You have better judgment in subjective matters than I do. The calculus of room decoration still eludes me. “

“Well-at least you have the good taste to recognize my good taste, ” Lando said with a grin. “Still, a man can get tired of the same surroundings day after day, no matter how splendid they are. When’s the last time you got yourself out of here for a while? “

“I go out on inspection walks twice a day, ” Lobot said. “It takes ninety-seven days to complete an inspection schedule. “

“Let me put it another way. How long has it been since you broke your connection to Cloud City? “

A puzzled expression flashed briefly across the cyborg’s face. “I have never broken my connection to the administrative interface. “

“Just as I suspected, ” Lando said. “And exactly why I’m here. Lobot, you work too hard. You’re long overdue for a change of scenery-a vacation. “

“How can I leave Cloud City without an administrator? “

“Lobot, I have a secret to tell you-the people who work for you will enjoy the novelty. “

Lobot frowned. “But systems will randomize without monitoring and supervision. “

“Then think about how much fun you’ll have putting them right when you get back, ” Lando said. “And the trip will do you good, too. Frankly, you could use a little practice in conversation. Am I still the only one around here who knows you can talk? “

“Direct input is more efficient. “

“Efficiency is overrated, my friend, ” Lando said, sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs, ankle over knee. “Come on, what do you say? Knowing how much you like to work, I cooked up a vacation where there’ll be plenty of work for you to do. “

“What sort of work? “

“I can’t tell you unless you say yes, ” Lando said, tapping the insignia on his uniform. “I’ve got a temporary commission in my pocket, and the security clearance to go with it. All I can promise you is problems a lot more interesting than the ones you’re working on now. And I really could use your help. It’ll be like old times. “

Lobot stood, looking slowly about the room. “I’ll trade you my help for your things, “