Chap. 6 - Among the Garbage

After several minutes, Wag Too came out of the shelter again, now a little calmer and with a small backpack on his shoulders.

Icarus: - Where are you going? -

Wag Too: - I must go to the city. Well... to what's left of it. Hopefully, I'll find something useful. -

Icarus: - Yesterday you almost died because of those pirates. And yet you plan to go again. What is the point of all this? -

Wag Too: - Don't worry about me. I think I'll be fine. Also, I need to find a battery that's still working so you can charge yourself. -

Ícaro: - I don't like the idea, but I suppose you're right... Very well. I will go with you. -

Wag Too: - Are you sure? It is not a very pleasant task. -

Icarus: - It's better than staying here doing nothing. -

Icarus and Wag Too descended from the shelter and headed for the ruins of the city. Downstairs, Wag Too had prepared a place to hide a makeshift wheelbarrow to carry any parts he found back to the shelter. The sun was exhausting, and little Lurmen had to cover his body with several rags to hide from the strong radiation. It didn't affect the droid in the least, though.

Arriving in the city, Icarus followed Wag Too closely, for the Lurmen seemed to have some idea of ​​what he was doing; or so he thought. For more than three hours they searched through the rubble but found nothing of use.

Wag Too: - Oh. This has no case. We've been looking for half a day and we can't find anything worthwhile. -

Icarus was listening to Wag Too, however, he was trying to find an alternative solution, or at least something provisional. And that's when he had an idea.

Icarus: - Are you a good mechanic? - The question took Wag Too by surprise.

Wag Too: - Well. I'm not an expert, but I can fix a few things. -

Icarus: - Very good. Follow me, I think we have an alternative. - Icarus took the cart and began to advance on his own.

Wag Too: - Eh, wait. Wait. -

Icarus advanced through the city ignoring the questions that Wag Too asked him over and over again. He had processed a solution, but he wasn't saying a word about it. For two hours, they toured the city collecting many pieces that Wag Too classified as "junk" but Ícaro seemed to have something in mind with them. And by mid-afternoon, the two were back at the shelter with the wheelbarrow loaded with "scrap," according to Wag Too.

Wag Too: - Hey. Could you at least tell me what you plan to do with all that scrap. -

Icarus: - "Scrap." For now. When we're done, you won't see her that way anymore. -

Wag Too: - Metal rods, tempered glass, plastic boxes, cables, solar cells, regulators, discharged batteries, even an inverter. Unbelievably. This could well be part of an antiquities museum. What are you going to do with all this? -

Icarus: - I don't. You will do it. -

Wag Too: - Me? Do what? -

Icarus: - Solar panels. -

Wag Too: - Are you serious? That technology has not been used for thousands of years. -

Icarus: - Hundreds of thousands of years. To be precise. But for now it will be the most optimal solution. -

Wag Too: - Well. I guess you're right. But I don't know how to make one. -

Icarus: - Fortunately. I have records and plans for this project. But my hands are not designed for this kind of task. - Referring to the crude metal hands that superdroid models used to have. - That's why you must do it. -

Wag Too couldn't hide his excitement, so he got down to business immediately. Icarus explained step by step how to make the device in great detail, and the Lurmen showed great skill for this type of task. The job took several hours. They even spent the whole night connecting cables and carrying the heavy pieces from one place to another. And a few minutes after the sun peeked over the horizon, the solar cells were installed outside the shelter and the system was ready for testing.

Wag Too: - Is that all? -

Ícaro: - If all the circuits are well installed there shouldn't be any problem. We just have to... - Ícaro saw Wag Too approaching the batteries with two cables in his hands. - What are you doing? -

Wag Too: - Testing it. If it works, it should already... -

Wag Too didn't finish speaking when he attached the cables to both poles of the battery, which gave the curious Lurmen a powerful shock that made every hair stand on end. Wag Too was shocked, some of his fur singed, but his astonishment quickly turned to happiness.

Don't Too: - Yes! It works! -

With that small upgrade to the shelter, Icarus was able to slowly restore his battery over the days. Additionally, the extra energy allowed Wag Too to repair Icarus' left arm with parts they found on excursions to the ruins of the city. Unfortunately, there was no way to repair their optical systems, but they were still working, so they didn't think much of it.

Wag Too enjoyed spending time with Icarus. The four years he spent in solitude were very hard on him, and he felt comfortable talking and fabricating the different ideas that the droid came up with to improve his shelter. But Icarus had certain "patterns" in his programming that made him feel a strange sensation within his circuits.

After ten days, Icarus had been fully charged and was already in perfect condition after the arrangements that Wag Too made for it. A bit covered in dirt and dust, but those were minor issues. Icarus was outside the shelter watching the sunset, something nostalgic, when Wag Too suddenly arrives to accompany him. The Lurmen carried a jug in his right hand and a can with oil and a brush in his left hand. And after sitting next to the droid, he offered him the oil.

Wag Too: - Take this. -

Icarus: - What is that? -

Wag Too: - Transmission oil. It's not optimal, but it will help keep dust out of your joints. -

Icarus: - Thank you. -

The droid accepted the oil and began to lubricate its joints with the brush while the Lurmen drank from its mug. They were both silent for a few seconds, but then Icarus spoke up.

Icarus: - And what now? -

Wag Too: - What's wrong? -

Icarus: - I was computing. What should I do now? -

Wag Too: - What do you mean? -

Icarus: - I must continue with my fight. If before it was against the Republic, now I must destroy the Empire. Regardless of the cost. But I don't have any information about it. I must... -

Wag Too: - Wait. Will you... will you go? As soon? -

Icarus: - I'm afraid so. I must face the Em... -

Wag Too: - But... I thought you were having a good time. I thought you would stay with me. -

The Lurmen was greatly affected by the droid's words. Icarus did not know how to react in that situation. What Wag Too said was true, he had enjoyed reinforcing and improving the shelter these days with him, but he also knew that he had to continue with his mission. So he figured out the best way to tell Wag Too to go ahead.

Icarus: - Wag Too. - He looked straight at the Lurmen. - You're right. Our time together was very "entertaining," but there are things I was made for that I can't ignore. -

Wag Too: - But the Republic no longer exists. Clones are history. You no longer have an enemy to defeat. -

Icarus: - If that's true... Then... What is the purpose of my existence? - Icarus' words left the Lurmen shocked. -

An awkward silence fell. Neither of them knew what to say about it, so they simply remained without saying a word for several long minutes. Finally, Wag Too got to his feet and returned to the interior of the shelter. Icarus remained outside, looking curiously at the blanket of stars that spread over his head.

Throughout the night, the droid remained in the same position, trying to compute what to do. He didn't know where to turn, or who to turn to. He didn't know if any Separatist high command was still fighting the Empire in some remote part of the galaxy, or if any of their superiors had even survived. At that moment, Icarus felt completely lost.