Tales from Wild Space: Gonk!

While aboard their starship, the Star Herald, Emil Graf and his crew journey through Wild Space. Graf's pet, a Kowakian monkey-lizard named Noni, creates mischief by taking the Hydrospanner from CR-8R, nicknamed "Crater." Emil playfully suggests Noni is in love with Crater, a notion Crater dismisses because he is an inanimate object. Graf disagrees, claiming he has stories that would prove him wrong, and he proceeds to tell one such story.

Over thirty years prior, a Sandcrawler lumbered across the desert landscape of the planet Tatooine. A Jawa named Jitt worked as the chief mechanic inside the sandcrawler. One day, a GNK power droid identified as EG-30 showed up, and Jitt became immediately captivated. She gazed at him, and then embraced the power droid.

For several months afterward, Jitt and EG-30 were inseparable. They collaborated on tasks, enjoyed recreational activities, and even took vacations together. Jitt consistently prevented EG-30 from being sold, always protecting him. Whenever the Jawas arrived at a moisture farm or a city, Jitt stood her ground. However, Jitt realized that eventually, her objections would not suffice. She knew the GNK droid would eventually be put up for sale, but she resolved to prevent it. She developed a plan and prepared so that when the day arrived for EG-30 to be sold, she would be ready.

The Jawas brought EG-30 out one day and offered him for sale. Jitt concealed herself behind the sandcrawler's wheel, ready to execute her plan. A device had been implanted deep within EG-30, designed to activate upon the droid's sale, destroying his primary motivator. She believed that no moisture farmer would desire a malfunctioning droid. Jitt prepared to press a button to activate the device but hesitated. A moisture farmer's young daughter adored EG-30 and wished to keep him. Jitt allowed him to leave, giving the power droid the chance to become part of the moisture farmer's family. She considered it the most difficult decision she had ever made, but she knew it was the right one.

Returning to the present on the Star Herald, Emil Graf concluded his story, explaining to Crater that sometimes, even if you love something, you must let it go. Crater countered that there was a distinction between the droid in Graf's story and the hydrospanner Noni had taken. Graf conceded that it wasn't a perfect comparison, but Noni's heart desires what it desires.

In several panels, EG-30 is incorrectly called "RM-30" instead of his correct designation, even though EG-30 is being discussed and is present in these panels.