A/N: I must apologise to my readers. It was not my intent to mislead anyone by noting Obi-Wan as a character in this story as he is not a character in the traditional sense but he has relevance to this story as will be discovered in later chapters. If anyone feels that noting him is misleading or in error, kindly send me a message and I'll amend the story description accordingly.
Chapter 1 - The Return
It had been four years of self-exile when Daey finally returned to the place she once called home. As the twin suns set, she watched through her electrobinoculars from afar, as the new family inhabiting her old home settled in for the night. The place looked good and well maintained. She made the right decision to sell the farm all those years ago. Moisture farming was not something she could see herself doing the rest of her life.
Then her eyes inadvertently drifted to the side where her father's grave lay. The tombstone seemed untouched and undisturbed. Just the way she left it. A sadness washed over her. She covered herself up with her sand coloured cloak and moved back to her temporary shelter in a nearby rocky enclosure. Before getting some rest, she made sure her newly acquired speeder bike was well hidden from view.
When all was dark and quiet, Daey snuck down to the farm. Although the security had been upgraded, she knew her way around and managed to get to the grave site undetected.
"Father," she began, "I have missed you." A familiar breeze blew her hood down and she took it as a sign that he had heard her.
She stroked the stone in a final good-bye recalling the day she left. Her mind was stuck in limbo after what had happened, she always felt that she left without saying a proper farewell. Tonight was her closure.
"I am keeping my promise. You may be at peace now."
Not staying very long, Daey left the way she came–silently–like a shadow in the night. Retrieving her speeder, she began her watchful patrol of the farmlands. It turned out to be an uneventful evening. Short before the first sunrise, Daey returned to the cave she would call home for the next few months. It needed some fixing and a good clean but it was sufficient for her cause.
Nobody knew of the cave's existence and if they did, they left no sign as such. She still believed that she found it by pure chance. As a child, she recalled hearing an old tale about a hermit wizard who once lived out in the wilds very, very long ago. They told the children never to wonder off because if the sand people didn't get you, the crazy wizard might. Of course, that was before the raiders proclaimed the world their private nesting ground. Since then, nobody feared the mythical wizard and so the stories stopped being told.
It used to be uncommon for the raiders to attack the farms directly. They would usually just ambush travellers and transports. The death of her father and the other farmers that dreadful night, marked the first of the violent killings. Since then, there have been frequent raids on farms–especially during harvest season– many injuries and a general sense that the raiders had become more aggressive and daring.
The people pleaded to the senate but their voice seemed unheard. Those that could remember the old days said that times were never this bad before, not even when it was Hutt territory. They had to take care of their own.
Farmers began stepping up on security, hiring protection during harvest season and becoming more aggressive themselves. Many lived in fear, some paid the raiders off in the hopes of being left alone and others less fortunate–became victims of the crime.
That was going to change.
While the suns were up, Daey would speak to the locals and gather as much information as she could about the raiders. She was easy to talk to and many opened up to her despite their closed off nature. She avoided anyone who might recognise her in the hopes of remaining anonymous. At night she patrolled the farmlands.
It was during a visit to the spaceport of Mos Eisley, where Daey overheard a farmer asking the barkeep where he might find some protection. She sat nearby, unannounced, and listened further.
"Ha! You and all the other farmers," the barman mocked.
"Yes well, harvest season is upon us," the farmer replied.
"Try your luck in the capital."
"Already did, this was my last hope."
Daey did not recognise the elderly man and could tell by his limp that he was not very capable of defending himself. She continued to listen and when the barkeep told the man that he should have come a few weeks earlier, she realised that the farmer was out of luck.
The poor man looked disappointed in himself and worried. A young girl's voice calmed him down and before he knew it–he was having a polite conversation with Daey.
"What troubles you?" she asked.
"It's harvest season and I am worried for my family."
"You should not worry yourself, everything will be alright."
The man nodded and left feeling lighter and more at ease. He left the spaceport and headed home unaware that someone was following him.
