"Luke, can you please grab our guests something to eat?" Beru called out.

Reva barely stepped back in time before a small blond boy sprinted across the small homestead, kicking up a small cloud of sand and pebbles after him. It was all over before she could even register what had just happened. She turned to look at Owen curiously, but he just shook his head.

"He's a hasty little flyboy," he muttered. "Reckon he'll be clamoring to join the Academy before the rest of his baby teeth are out."

Reva nodded quietly, stumbling awkwardly as she tried not to trip on her cloak. As she entered the small dining area, a woman with her hair tied in a bun came to greet them. As soon as she saw Reva, her smile vanished and her face hardened.

"Hello, Miss Inquisitor," Beru said cautiously. "Do you have some business with our humble moisture farm?"

"No," Reva said, trying to hide her face as she wrapped her cloak around herself. "We're, uh, defectors from the Empire," she said, holding Leia close to her by the shoulders. Beru's eyes turned to look at Leia, before she looked back up at Reva and nodded.

"I see," she said. "Well, you're welcome to stay here for...as long as you need," she inhaled shakily, looking over at Owen. Owen walked over and put his hand on her shoulder firmly.

"Everything will be alright," he said, echoing her thoughts out loud. "Let's just prepare them a quick meal, get them some water tanks, and they'll be on their way."

"We'll also need some fuel," Reva added.

"I can grab some at Mos Eisley for you," Owen replied. "Go, get on," he motioned towards the entryway. Reva and Leia quietly walked in the direction he had pointed out to them.

As Reva ducked low so she could pass under the small ceiling of the humble Lars abode, she saw the same blond boy peeking out curiously from behind an empty water jug at them. As soon as they made eye contact, he immediately scurried away and disappeared. Leia, who had been grumpily rubbing the sleep from her eyes, stopped and stared at him with a keen look of interest on her face.

"Oh, look," Reva said condescendingly. "They've even got a kid your age."

Owen came up behind them and put his hand on Leia's shoulder. "Why don't you run along and explore a bit?" he asked. "Your friend and I will sit here and talk for a bit."

Leia nodded quietly and ran off in the same direction that the blond kid vanished. Owen motioned for Reva to sit, then walked over to the door and closed it behind him. As he did so, most of the natural light filtering into the small room was closed off. Owen then walked over and sat across from her, holding his hands clasped in front of him.

"You still got that laser stick?" he asked quietly.

Reva looked down at her waist and then looked back up at him. "Is it a problem if I do?" she asked.

"I'd just prefer to talk confidentially," Owen replied. "Man-to-man. If you get what I mean."

Reva sighed and unclipped the lightsaber, handing it over to him. Owen kicked it over and threw it away from them, where it landed on the floor and slid away. "Hey, that's expensive!" Reva protested.

"No matter," Owen replied. "That fancy gadget won't get you anything here, except the bad kind of attention that you don't want."

Reva grunted and forced herself to inhale slowly. "So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked impatiently.

"Nothing much," Owen replied, his face barely lit by the small amount of light pouring through the window holes. "Just wanted to know how you came upon the girl, Miss Inquisitor."

Reva paused, then suddenly it dawned on her.

"Wait," she said. "This is...this is an interrogation, isn't it?" she demanded. She stood up, but Owen blocked her way. She tried to summon her lightsaber using the Force, but Owen grabbed it out of the air before she could and held it away from her.

"I just want to ask some questions, that's all," Owen said calmly.

Reva sat back down irritably. "I did not steal the girl, if that's what you're going to accuse me of."

"Haven't said anything about stealing yet," Owen replied.

"Fine," Reva rolled her eyes and threw her hands up. "Ask away, I have nothing to hide," she crossed her arms and sat back down.

Owen nodded. "That's the answer I'd like to hear."

Leia walked off in the same direction that the blond boy had disappeared, trying to figure out where he had gone.

For some reason, the instant she had seen him, she felt a strange vibration through the Force, as if something had resonated the instant they made eye contact. It was something she had never felt before. She wondered what it could possibly mean, and if it was possible to sense the same sort of resonance from someone else. She wished Ben or Ahsoka was there to explain it to her. Her stomach dropped slightly as she remembered that for a brief few moments, she had been able to hug Ahsoka, right before she disappeared to go rescue Ben. Leia stopped walking in the sand and panted, wiping the sweat off her forehead. She was hot, and getting dehydrated again already.

As she stared off into the empty sand dunes, she felt her legs give out and she sat down on the hot sand, flinching slightly as it burned her. She tried to gather her robes around her so the cloth would prevent her skin from directly touching the sand, but she was still intensely comfortable. She began to wish that her clothes weren't all black.

Just then, she heard a soft rustling and turned around. There, watching her from a distance was the same boy.

Leia cleared her throat hesitantly.

"Hello," she said slowly. "I'm Leia. Who are you?"

The boy stared silently at her.

"Do you know how to talk?" Leia asked bluntly.

The boy nodded.

"What's your name?"

The boy opened his mouth. "I'm Luke," he said slowly.

"I see," Leia said. "How old are you, Luke?" she asked formally, following the protocol that her father had taught her for meeting foreign dignitaries.

"I'm eleven."

"I'm eleven, too," Leia said suddenly. "When's your birthday?"

"Just two days after Empire Day," Luke replied.

Leia's jaw dropped. "Wait, that's my birthday too!" she exclaimed. "We're born on the same day," she immediately moved closer to him. "We must have some kind of special connection, if we both share the same birthday," she declared.

Luke grinned shyly. "But, you're different, aren't you?" he pointed out. "You're from another planet. And your clothes are made of synthsilk," he pointed out. "You must be some kind of royal queen or something."

"Princess, actually," Leia retorted. "My mother is the Queen of Alderaan, and my dad is a Senator."

"Wow," Luke said. "I thought Senators were all slobs who sat in a circle and twiddled their thumbs and don't know their way around an evaporator."

Leia glared at him. "They are not!" she exclaimed. "Senators are hugely important, they are the ones who regulate the Empire to prevent corruption from gangs and murderers and smugglers and-"

Luke blinked. "You mean, like the ones at Jundland Wastes?" he asked. "Do they have a plan for how to deal with those guys?"

"Well, I guess they probably wouldn't have much influence out here," Leia admitted, blushing with embarrassment. "But! I heard they're trying to expand to the Outer Rim!"

Luke shook his head. "Wouldn't do much good here," he replied. "Politicians ain't anything special on Tatooine. People only care about what you have to show with your fists," he nodded.

Leia furrowed her eyebrows and puzzled silently over his words, trying to process what she had just heard. She had never lived anywhere beyond the Empire's reach, much less a self-governed world ruled by its own chaotic ecosystem. Luke observed her confusion for a few seconds, then took pity on her.

"It's alright," he said. "I expect a princess from 'Alderaan' wouldn't know very much about Tatooine. We're out pretty far from the rest of the Galaxy," he explained. "Most of the Core Worlds think we're just poor, stupid hicks who couldn't tell a Shaak from an Eopie. Some people think we can't even read."

Leia frowned. "But that doesn't make any sense. Just because you live further away doesn't mean you're dumb," she said bluntly. "You're clearly just as bright as them, if you're able to survive in this place."

Luke shrugged shyly. He looked down at the japoor snippet hanging from her neck curiously. "What's that?" he asked.

"What's what?" Leia blinked. "You mean my necklace?"

"Yeah," Luke said. "That's japoor. That means it was made by someone from here," he exclaimed.

"Is it?" Leia took it off and examined the wooden carving more closely. "I don't really know where it's from or what it means," she admitted. "I just got it as a gift from my friend Ben, and he-"

"Old Ben?" Luke asked, and Leia froze. "You mean you got that from him?"

Leia stopped and lowered her hands. "Wait, who are you talking about?" she asked, confused.

"Old Ben," Luke repeated. "He's the weird old man who lives in a cave by himself. My Uncle says he's just a crazy old wizard and not to talk to him," he explained. "Although sometimes, I've seen them talking to each other about something. Never could quite understand what it was about."

Leia frowned suddenly. "Does he have a scruffy old beard, like this?" she asked, using her hands to demonstrate what she meant. "And does he always kinda smell like spoiled meat?"

"Yes!" Luke exclaimed. "That's him, Old Ben. I think he does work at a meat station, actually," he said suddenly. "Wait, how do you know him? I thought Uncle Owen said he didn't have any friends."

Leia gritted her teeth. "It's kind of a long story," she said.

Luke grinned, flashing her an endearing smile that was missing a tooth or two. "I'm game to hear it," he replied eagerly.

"Are you sure?" Leia asked. "Most people won't even believe half of the stuff I'm going to say."

Luke shrugged. "Well, either way, I'm sure it beats adjusting moisture carburetors all day," he declared.

"I see," Owen said slowly. "So...Kenobi put you up to this," he said slowly. "Funny. I didn't think he had it in him."

"Yes," Reva replied. "Has a habit of dumping his business onto others, if you get my drift."

Owen snorted. "Don't I know it," he said. "But more importantly...what made you agree to this?" he asked carefully. "Last time we spoke, you threatened to cut off my head. Now you're running errands for my crazy old brother-in-law. It's like I'm talking to a completely different person."

Reva winced. "I...apologize," she said, fighting the urge to stand up and leave instead of finishing the conversation. Her hand itched for her lightsaber. She had to restrain herself from using the Force to summon it back into her hands. "I was...misguided," she muttered. "I'm sorry for threatening to hurt your son. I would never do anything like that now."

Owen did not look convinced. "What made you change your mind?"

"I..." Why am I putting up with this? I should be the one making threats and interrogating HIM. "I have something to protect now," Reva said. "Someone, that is."

Owen blinked slowly.

"The girl, huh?" he asked. "What is your relationship with her, exactly?"

Reva paused, stumped.

Former captor turned guardian? Ex-jailer and adopted niece? Babysitter and hand-biter?

"It's complicated," she muttered, tugging her sleeve down to cover her arm.

"I see. You feel guilty about letting her fall into Vader's hands, so you want to make it up to her by bringing the child home. Is that it?"

Reva wanted to roll her eyes. "If that's what you want to believe."

"I don't know what to believe," Owen said coldly.

He raised his hand, and Reva saw that he was holding a knife. Not the kind used for fighting, but one for cutting meat. Every sand whaler on Tatooine probably owned one. Still, her pulse quickened slightly at the sight of it. Owen reached into his pocket again and pulled out a hunk of blue bantha cheese, which he then proceeded to cut. Reva's stomach grumbled.

"Are you hungry?" Owen asked.

Reva fought to quell the ungodly noises that her starved body was making. "No," she lied.

"Hm," Owen said. "I gotta say, you're not making a good case for yourself. You can't even tell the truth in the simplest of situations," he pointed out. "That's why we have a saying here on Tatooine, never trust an Inquisitor as far as you can throw them."

Just you try it, Reva thought spitefully. I'll throw you twice as far, moisture boy.

Owen finished cutting the cheese and placed a small chunk of it on the table, right between them. "Have some," he said. "I don't have a habit of starving guests."

"Well I don't either," Reva retorted. An awkward silence followed. "Thank you," she said stiffly, reaching out and taking some cheese. It honestly tasted quite awful, but she did her best not to make a face as she chewed.

"And where are you headed with the girl, then?"

"Alderaan."

"Alderaan?" Owen frowned and furrowed both his eyebrows together. "So far away?"

"It's what Kenobi ordered me to do."

"That's all the way in the Core Worlds...the Empire will catch up to you long before you even reach Corellia."

"I don't care," Reva spat. "I have a mission and I intend to fulfill it."

"You can leave the girl here," Owen replied. "We'll keep her hidden. And we'll take good care of her. I know Luke would be happy to have someone his own age to talk to during the harvest season."

"It's not my choice. She wants to be with her father."

Owen raised his hands in surrender. "Fine," he said slowly. "Well, I'm not one to separate a family." A few moments passed awkwardly. "So, you're no longer with the Empire, then? Or are you going to crawl back to them the instant you leave my farm?"

"For the last time, no!"

"You keep saying that," Owen bent over and picked up the lightsaber, cautiously running his hands over it. He paused before looking her in the eye unsteadily. "But I still don't know if I can trust you."

"Well I don't know if I can trust you either," Reva replied. Owen's grip tightened on the saber and he lovered his hand. Reva resisted the urge to snatch it back, feeling her eyebrow twitch with annoyance. "I'll just head outside, get the girl, and we'll be on our way," she gritted through her teeth.

"She could stay with us," Owen said. "We know how to keep her safe."

"I'm safe too," Reva protested.

"How do I know that, Miss Inquisitor?"

Reva narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying you don't believe me?" she demanded. When he didn't respond, she immediately stood up. "Oh, so that's what ths is all about, isn't it?" she snarled. "You don't trust me, so you invited me to your home with the pretense of introducing me to your son when all you really wanted to do was snatch Leia away from me," she pointed a finger accusatorily.

Owen stood up and met her eye directly. "I had no choice," he bit back, "I wasn't sure if you'd just let her come with me if I asked you to."

"You're going to regret bringing me here, old man," Reva hissed, raising her hand and clenching her fist so tightly that her glove began to stretch. "I'll make you wish you never-"

"Do your worst," he replied. "As long as Luke lives, I don't care what happens to me."

Just then, two loud screams echoed through the desolate sands. Owen's face went pale and Reva stepped back, her hand dropping to her side. "Beru!" he screamed, letting go of the lightsaber.

Reva immediately reached down and snatched her weapon up. It thrummed in her hand, relieved to be returned to its master.

"Where's Luke?" Owen demanded, his voice suddenly hollow.

"I don't know!" Beru screamed as she came running into the room, her hair and clothes all astray. "I-I think he went out to the sand flats!"

Owen turned back towards Reva, and she almost gasped from how much his expression had changed. No longer was she facing a gruff, hardened farmer but a horrified, desperate man.

"If we run, we can catch him," Beru said wildly. "I have-I have blasters-"

"No," Reva said suddenly, and both of their heads snapped as they turned to look at her with crazed eyes. "If he ran into my brothers, there's no blasters that could possibly stand a chance against them."

Beru blinked and her gaze hardened. "With all due respect, Miss Inquisitor," she said coldly, "My husband and I could handle one of you, easily."

"Yeah, sure. Maybe if it was just one of us," Reva retorted. "But there is no way you can possibly defeat three professional Inquisitors personally trained by Lord Vader. They'll cut you to pieces, and then they'll force you to watch Luke die in front of your dying bodies."

Owen shuddered and Beru narrowed her eyes, waiting for her to finish.

"I'll go get them," she said. "I...I know what they're like. I've been fighting those bullies for years. I know all of their dirty tricks."

Beru opened her mouth to say something, but just then all three of them were interrupted by the sound of running. Owen's head swiveled around so quickly that Reva feared his neck would snap.

"Luke!" he screamed as Beru immediately opened her arms and rushed to embrace him. "Where's Leia? Is she with you-"

Luke shook his head and sobbed, his small body shaking as Beru tried to calm him down.

Owen turned to face Reva. She immediately clipped her lightsaber to her belt.

"There's not much time," she said. "You need to keep him safe. Let me go after her," she said. "I swear, if you still don't trust me, I'll let her stay with you. You can keep her until Bail Organa arrives."

Owen eyed her with suspicion, still not willing to take her on her offer. But Beru seemed to be seeing her in a different light.

"Okay," she said quietly, her voice low and serious.

Reva inhaled sharply, a bit shocked. Owen also stared at her with wide eyes, unable to believe what she had just agreed to. Beru continued to fix Reva with a focused stare as she held onto Luke with both hands, as if he was the most precious treasure in her life that she would do anything and everything to protect.

"Go find her and bring her back, Miss Inquisitor. Please."

Reva took a deep breath and nodded slowly. When it became too painful to maintain eye contact, she thrust her hood back over her head and began to walk away.

"Wait!" someone called out, and she turned back around. Owen's brows were furrowed, as if he was feeling conflicted. "When you find her, come back immediately! If you're not back by half-sundown, I'll call a rescue squad!"

Reva swallowed and nodded again.

"Thank you," she replied, trying not to let them see how badly her hands were shaking as she unclipped her lightsaber and ignited it. "But I won't be needing one."

And with that, she turned heels and began to sprint out towards the flatlands.