Chapter 24

The trip to that unusually popular desert planet was quiet. Well…it hadn't started quiet. But once Chewie stepped into the one-sided argument between Luke (the one side) and Rey, quiet quickly became the mainstay.

Luke sat, resolutely sending mental red flags to Rey.

Rey sat, steadfastly sure as to her path.

Finn sat, blissfully content in just being there.

Chewbacca sat, curious as to what an old smuggler would have to say about the current predicament.

Artoo…was Artoo.

Tuanul seemed the appropriate place to start. If Mara (or Kira, for that matter) had shown up anywhere near Niima Outpost, Rey certainly would have heard. Of course, if she'd shown up in or around Tuanul, word would have certainly gotten it's way across as well… But, maybe not.

The small settlement was still trying to rebuild and restore what they'd lost in that long ago raid.

"Are you sure we're going to be able to find any help…here…?" Finn asked as he, Rey, and Luke approached the edge of buildings. "I mean…" He hesitated and Rey couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for him. Even after all this time, he still struggled with that…guilt over his desertion. His becoming a "traitor". It had started here, of course, with the sacking of Tuanul.

"Even if no one knows her specifically, they may still know something that could point us in the right direction. It may take awhile, but-"

"Miss Rey?" All three turned to see an older gentleman making his way slowly towards them. His clothes were no different than most you'd see on Jakku, with the exception of one sleeve. Or, rather, the missing of one. It was cut short, the ends roughly pieced together, accentuating the missing limb. "It is! Miss Rey! I knew I recognized those buns!"

"Le'van!" Rey exclaimed, only slightly questioning that her recollection may be incorrect. But the responding smile she got proved her right. "What happened?" She motioned to the knot of sleeve.

"Oh, this?" He waved his remaining hand with a visual pashaw to match his spoken one. "A scratch. Those dratted First Order troopers, couldn't hit the broad side of a Hutt!" He gave an infectious laugh and Rey and Finn joined him. Finn maybe a bit too much, judging by the look Le'van gave him. "Weird seeing you…," he continued on his previous thought. "Was just thinking about your mother the other day. About the day she left. With that… Well, I'll be – Master Lars!"

Luke had slowly drifted his way up to join the little group, now reaching out to shake the other man's hand. "Le'van. Good to see you."

"And you, sir. And you. Did you find who you were looking for then?"

"I did, yes. Thank you."

"And Mistress Kira helped," the man added with a smile. It was like the event was just the other day to him, rather than nearly a decade-plus ago.

Luke gave only a short, sad smile in return. "She did…" He glanced at Rey as he gave a small squeeze to her shoulder.

She nodded before turning back to Le'van. "Have you seen my mother lately, Le'van?"

"Mistress Kira? Oh…no. No. I haven't seen her since… Well, since that day she left. With you, Master Lars." He watched as the three faces in front of him fell. "I'm sorry…"

"It's alright Le'van," Luke offered. "It was worth asking." He paused, a thought coming to him. "What made you think of Kira?" At the questioning look, he added, "You said you'd been thinking about her the other day…"

"Oh! Right… Well, I'd just been thinking about folks coming and going. Been happening a lot lately – mostly going." He laughed. "Folks come looking for the church. Or…for Master San Tekka…" It was Le'van's turn for the frown. After a moment, Luke assured him the former explorer was one with the Force now and he smiled appreciatively. "Indeed… Anyway… Yeah. Just was thinking about how things change. Folks coming and going… Less and less folks staying put. Galaxy is moving. Always thought your mother was a stayer. She seemed…content here. That's what made me think of her…" He drifted off in thought.

"Anyone…especially unusual?" Luke asked pointedly. Rey gave him a look, but he just waved a hand for patience. "Anyone out of place, even for here?"

Le'van laughted. "Aside from those First Order goons! No, no. Nothing terribly special." He paused. "Well…except the dark one."

"The dark one?" Finn repeated uncomfortably. Rey and Luke shared a look.

"Not recent, really," Le'van continued, seemingly ignoring Finn's shaky question-behind-a-question. "Showed up…oh…a few months after your visit, Master Lars. Don't really know too much about him. Haven't really seen him…fully ya know."

"Him?" Rey asked, trying not to let disappointment creep into her voice. As much as she didn't want Luke to be right… Any sign was a sign at this point.

"Oh…I say 'him'. Like I said – no one's really seen…well…him…her… Wears a big ole cloak around 'em, with the hood pulled real low. Only comes here every once and awhile. To trade for food and such. Just in last week, actually…"

He drifted off, the look on his face making it appear as if he were piecing together thoughts he wasn't really convinced actually went together.

And that was enough for Rey. "Where does…this 'dark one' live?"

"Out by the wet sands…" Le'van replied distractedly, but then realized the new vein of the conversation. "Oh, but you don't want to go out there. I make light of it, but… Even Master San Tekka was telling folks to leave it well enough alone."

"It's alright Le'van," she reassured him, "we'll be careful. Thank you."

With a nod from her and a flat smile from the two other men, they turned and headed back away from the village. They hadn't made it far, though, before Le'van called after them.

"Miss Rey!" She stopped to turn back to him, as Luke and Finn stood a few steps away to wait. "I… I just wanted to say… I'm sorry…"

"For what Le'van?"

"For…for not being there that day. For not getting to you before…before… Syrna feels the same. She cried all night when she came back, after finding out that…sleemo had taken you. Someone should have been there. If only I hadn't waited. If I'd gone straight there when your ma told me-"

"Don't," Rey cut him off, putting a hand on either of his shoulders. "What's done is done. The past can't be undone. But it shouldn't define us either." She caught Luke's gaze out the corner of her eye and gave him a knowing nod. It was a lesson they could all take to heart.

She kissed her old friend's head, gave him one last smile, and turned to continue towards whatever the next steps brought.