Chapter 1: The Promise

He whirred softly as he trundled towards the crib where they lay, and twin pairs of eyes looked up at him in a mixture of curiosity and wonderment.

They looked so innocent, so helpless.

But they would save the galaxy.

R2-D2, considered by most to be 'just a droid', understood that the Force had destined these two children to save the galaxy from the destruction brought upon it by their own father and his corrupt Master.

But right now they were just children—newborns—and they needed looking after.

Artoo's audio sensors picked up the voices from two rooms over, where Bail Organa, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Master Yoda were discussing Luke and Leia's future. "Hidden, safe, the children must be kept." Yoda's voice.

"We must take them somewhere where the Sith will not sense their presence." Obi-Wan's voice.

"Split up, they should be." Yoda replied.

Suddenly the two infants began crying, and they clung tightly to each other in fear. Artoo was astounded. They couldn't have heard. His own audio sensors, far beyond human hearing, had only barely picked up on the conversation. There was no possible way that these two babies had heard. And they were only newborns, not yet capable of understanding words.

And yet here they were, holding tightly to one another as though terrified of their imminent separation. Somehow, they knew what was about to happen. They must have sensed it through the Force, Artoo concluded. It occurred to him that they were much stronger in the Force than anyone had first thought.

Watching them, something inside of him—somewhere in his circuitry—ached. It was almost physical. He understood now what humans meant when they said their hearts wrenched. This must be the droid equivalent, he decided. He wanted, more than anything, to comfort them somehow.

He bleeped softly, knowing they wouldn't understand, but wanting to say it anyway, if nothing else, to ease his own hurt over seeing them so scared. Take heart, little ones. He said. Don't despair. I'll watch over you—both of you. Somehow. I promise.

The infants abruptly ceased crying and peered up at him. Artoo was taken aback once again. They understood. Somehow—inexplicably—they knew what he had just communicated to them. They sensed it somehow. Such power, he thought, for ones so young. And that only deepened his resolve to fulfill his promise to watch over them.

You will see each other again someday. He added. I don't know when, but someday. Destiny will see to that.

The babies both seemed to relax. One yawned, and the other followed suit.

Artoo would have smiled if he could. He felt so much lighter than he had a moment earlier, knowing that somehow he had calmed their fears.

Sleep, little ones. He told them. Someday you will save the galaxy, but for now, sleep.

And they slept.