It is 3 ABY, coinciding with The Empire Strikes Back. On Cloud City of Bespin, Darth Vader and Boba Fett have received word from an Imperial lieutenant that the Millennium Falcon has just landed on Platform 327. The occupants of the Falcon, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and C-3PO, meet Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian, who leads them into Cloud City.
Lord Vader orders his men to stay out of sight and that he will be in charge of the capture. The lieutenant tells Vader that the droid C-3PO fell behind the rest of the group and encountered Gamma Squad, who blasted him to pieces. Luckily for the Imperials, C-3PO's companions don't hear the shots. A disappointed Lord Vader warns the lieutenant not to fail him again and to bring C-3PO before him immediately because according to Vader, "its memory might contain valuable information."
Vader turns to Fett and tells him that his plans are working. Fett suggests to Vader that Luke Skywalker would get here faster if word was spread that his friends were in danger. Vader informs him that it is unnecessary since he already knows through the Force. The lieutenant returns with the pieces of C-3PO. and states that the damage to the protocol droid is quite extensive, and that by the way its parts were shattered, it was likely it was made long ago.
The Sith Lord remembers when he was a nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker back in 32 BBY. Anakin and Kitster Chanchani Banai were in a junkyard and discovered the head of a droid. Kitster commented that it may have been a battle droid. Anakin replied that he does not think so since its metal is thin. They then discover a whole structural framework. This is interrupted by the arrival of Anakin's Toydarian master Watto, who scolds Anakin and makes him get back to work.
Vader remembers.
Later, Anakin decides to smuggle C-3PO home piece by piece. Kitster asks him what use the droid would have at home and Anakin tells him that the droid would be used as a servant since it's a Cybot Galactica protocol droid. Anakin finds that the droid's balance gyro is quite old dating back several decades, prompting him to speculate how the droid ended up in this condition.
Following that, the lieutenant asks Vader if his technicians should attempt to recover its memory unit. Vader tells him to have it destroyed and then orders Fett to follow him to a separate room to discuss the next day's meeting with Lando.
The next day, everything goes as planned, and Lando admits to Han, Leia and Chewbacca that he was actually working for Vader. Meanwhile, the lieutenant receives word that C-3PO's parts were found in Leia's quarters. He tells Vader about this as the Dark Lord orders his stormtroopers to escort the prisoners to jail.
At Leia's quarters, the lieutenant explains that C-3PO's parts are in Leia's quarters because according to the Ugnaught workers, Chewbacca broke into the junk room, stole the parts, and brought them back to Leia. He states that there may be more to this droid since the Rebels are interested in preserving the unit.
Vader again recalls the time he repaired the battered droid at his home. Anakin tells his mother, Shmi Skywalker, that the droid needs new photoreceptors though she responds by telling him that Watto will be furious if he learned about it. Anakin replies he had to do it since the moment he first encountered the droid, he knew it had to be repaired and that he had pity seeing it in its state.
Finally, when he reflects that the droid may have ended up in this condition trying to escape an old master, he persuades his mother, though she makes him promise that he would be responsible for it. Shmi states that he may only be allowed to keep things if he takes care of them, or else he didn't deserve to have them.
The lieutenant then asks Vader if he should have the technicians examine it or have the Ugnaughts dismantle it. Before giving his answer, Vader shows a rare moment of reflection on his past, and touches C-3PO's head against his own. Vader tells the lieutenant to give the droid to Chewbacca, having heard of the efforts Chewbacca made in order to retrieve the droid (although he passes his actions off as giving the Wookiee the junk that he deserves). He then proceeds to the interrogation chamber, where he has an "appointment" with Han Solo.
- Star Wars Tales Volume 2
- Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 5
- Star Wars: The Complete Vader
