Reva nervously fingered the beads in her hair.

Clack, clack. The glassy silca beads in her hair swung back and forth, hitting one another.

Somewhere in the distance, she could hear Beru walking back and forth. Ever since they had landed at the Lars homestead and invited themselves into their place of residence, the atmosphere had only gone from bad to worse. Owen had begrudgingly listened to their explanation as to why they needed to be there and why they couldn't just go off-planet due to the Empire's new planet-killer threat. However, this did not mean he intended to make any attempts to disguise his displeasure with the current situation.

As for Beru, she kept herself and Luke out of the same room as them for as much as possible.

"Ahsoka won't be back in time, will she?" Reva murmured.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Owen silently finished his ration. Breakfast was the one time that Luke was allowed to be in the same room as her and Obi-Wan. It seemed that although Owen had somewhat come to accept her as an ally, he was still not comfortable with the idea of allowing Luke around their new Jedi guests.

Obi-Wan bowed his head. "I'm afraid she might not," he murmured. "But that is out of our control."

Behind him, Owen narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he placed his ceramic mug back on the breakfast table. Behind him, two wide blue eyes watched the new guests with avid attention.

Obi-Wan tried to smile reassuringly at the boy but his expression faded when Owen shot him a quick glare. He turned away and looked at his hands instead.

"Where is your other Jedi friend?" Owen said gruffly. "I thought your big boss, Mr. Organa, said he would be sending three of you."

Obi-Wan practically bit his tongue, trying not to snap back. Reva chortled slightly at "Mr. Organa."

"She was...she's occupied," Obi-Wan murmured. "She said she would be coming."

"When?"

"Later."

Owen turned away and muttered something under his breath grumpily. Obi-Wan sighed and reached into his breast pocket, pulling out LOLA. As he pressed an activator, the small droid buzzed to life and began to beep excitedly.

Luke watched with rapt attention as Obi-Wan slowly stroked the droid's surface with his rough, calloused hands. As he let go, LOLA unfolded her wings and began to hover in the air by herself. Luke's eyes glittered with excitement and he immediately inched closer, reaching out one hand. Obi-Wan smiled slightly, and a small ray of warmth crept into the wrinkles underneath his eyes.

"Don't," Owen said in a warning tone. Luke's hand fell to his side and he cast a sad look towards Owen, like a child who had just been told not to pet a baby Tooka. "You don't know what that is, Luke."

"It's just a toy," Obi-Wan said gloomily. From the longing look in his eyes, it seemed he would have liked to buy Luke all of the toys and droids in the world that his little heart could possibly desire.

"How do I know that?" Owen bit back. "What if it's some sort of secret bomb device?"

"It's just a droid, Uncle Owen," Luke mumbled quietly.

"Well. The only good droids, as far as I'm concerned, are work droids," Owen said gruffly.

Luke bowed his head and put his hands back in his lap. Obi-Wan sighed and stroked LOLA absentmindedly, allowing her to land on his shoulder and chirp affectionately.

Why doesn't Lars trust you? Reva sent a message using the Second Sight to Obi-Wan, who flinched slightly. Aren't you supposed to be buddies?

We're...not, Obi-Wan winced.

Why doesn't he like you? Reva stared at him intently.

He thinks I killed his brother. Obi-Wan swallowed nervously. Anakin, that is.

Reva sighed, crossing her arms.

Well, I suppose I can't blame him, she said snarkily. Obi-Wan did not respond.

After a few moments, Beru walked in holding a clay pot of water. Her jaw was firmly set, and a wrinkle had wedged itself between her brows. Clearly, she was not pleased about the situation they were in either.

"We should send Luke away," she said anxiously, wrapping her thick shawl around herself. Reva wondered how she managed to survive in such a hot environment with it.

"There's nowhere safe on Tatooine," Obi-Wan said gravely. "The Inquisitors are going to be posted everywhere looking for him."

"No one is ever safe on Tatooine," Owen narrowed his eyes.

"But the boy has never had a target on his back like this before."

"And whose fault is that?" Owen demanded.

A silence fell over the Lars household. Luke looked up, staring at the lightsaber hanging from Obi-Wan's belt with curiosity. Owen's eyes also followed, but his gaze was drawn a bit lower.

"What happened to your legs?" Owen asked sharply.

"What about my legs?"

"Your legs," Owen repeated, his eyes wide and alarmed. "You didn't have those last time I saw you," he pointed at the prosthetics. "When did...what happened to you?" he stammered.

Beru also glanced down for the first time and her eyes widened. Now both of the Lars stood up and walked over to inspect Obi-Wan's legs. Her face instantly shifted, her lips trembling slightly in fear as she realized what she was looking at.

"Ben," she said softly, her voice suddenly hoarse. "Who did this to you?"

Obi-Wan blinked, taken aback by the sudden show of concern towards him.

"It's not important," he said. "All that matters is-"

"Who did it?" Owen echoed his wife. "When was this?"

Obi-Wan swallowed.

"A couple months ago," he said. "When...when...well, I don't exactly remember..."

Both of the Lars now looked horrified.

"Vader did this?" Owen demanded.

"He...well, yes."

A few moments of incredibly tense silence passed. Reva grimaced. If you think that was bad, you should see what he did to me, she wanted to say out loud. But that would probably be a bit self-flagellating. And anyway, at least she still had all of her limbs.

Owen furrowed his brow, a drop of sweat running down his forehead. "How long did he keep you captive?"

"I don't know...Months, probably. It's all a sort of blur," Obi-Wan rubbed his face. "Can we talk about something else? I'd like to focus on our mission, if you don't mind."

Owen looked like he wanted to say something else, but he reluctantly dropped the topic. Obi-Wan reached out and grabbed the table with both hands, supporting his weight using his arms as he stood up. Now everyone's attention was on his legs, which shook slightly as he put all of his weight on them. However, Obi-Wan did not seem to care. He let go of the table and began to pace around, letting his lightsaber swing idly at his side.

"Vader will be coming," he murmured. "Tatooine has never been fully occupied as an Imperial Territory."

"Until now," Reva added.

"Until now," Obi-Wan nodded. "This will be their first full-scale invasion. Be prepared."

Owen swallowed nervously. He looked like he still wanted to make a run for the Sand Flats. Beru reached towards Luke and clutched him tightly to her chest, clenching her chin with anger.

"Remember. There is no emotion," Obi-Wan said, reaching down and unclipping his saber so he could throw it to Reva.

"There is peace," Reva nodded, catching it and turning it on.

The Lars watched with fascination as she connected it to her own lightsaber, creating a double-ended blade which glowed both red and blue. When she twirled it, both colors blended into a rich purple haze. She then handed it back to him.

"Hey, I thought you said it wasn't safe to go out anymore!" Owen shouted after them. "What if something happens to you?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice and softening it slightly.

"I'll be safe," Obi-Wan called back. "I have her."

Owen stared at him silently for a few moments. Then, finally, he responded in a voice so soft that they almost did not hear him.

"Be careful out there," he said quietly. "Don't wander out too far. Where the suns kiss the skyline at dusk, that's where the flatlands become sinksand."

Reva nodded. "We'll be back before you know it," she replied, hoping her tone sounded confident. But deep down, even she was not so sure.

The sand was rising, blowing high into the air then falling again. But it was not just because of the wind. The Force, too, was swirling around the Sand Flats in a way it had not previously. The ground trembled and cried out as it cracked beneath heavy-footed steps, giving way as a particularly sinister presence in the Force walked across it.

As the Twin Suns began to set, another red glow joined them. Along with the smell of burning plasma.

"Obi-Wan," a modulated voice sneered disdainfully. Vader held his saber out menacingly, using it to see through the dust. "Where are you hiding now? I know you are there. Don't try to run away."

In the distance, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and tightened his grip on the saber he was holding. He could see Vader, looming menacingly in the distance. he knew that if he could see him, that also meant Vader was able to perceive him.

"I have come for my rematch," Vader snarled. "Are you going to turn tail and run, old man? Or have you had enough of playing games like me?"

"Darth," a female voice called out to him.

Vader immediately turned around, stepping further into the hazy sand. All he could see behind his iron and durasteel mask was the faint glow of two white lightsabers. He drew closer, temporarily dazed by the bright light. However, as he approached the figure, he realized that it was not the one he had been expecting.

"Third Sister," he sneered. "I thought you were smarter than this. Why are you not dead?"

"I should say the same for you," Reva snarled.

Vader did not take the bait. "You carry Tano's lightsabers," he said. "Did she give up, and bequeath them to you?"

"They're a gift from a friend," Reva replied indifferently. Behind her, Obi-Wan circled around and tried his best to get closer to Vader without triggering his Force senses.

"A gift? Don't make me laugh, Second Sister. You have no friends."

Reva narrowed her eyes.

"Well, perhaps I was wrong," Vader said. "It would seem you have found one in this aging, senile Master." He nodded at Obi-Wan and flicked his wrist. Behind him, Obi-Wan felt something shove him and landed on his back with a groan. "A pity, really. I used to think he was the sun and the sky myself."

"Your name is Anakin," Reva said. "You were Anakin Skywalker. I met your brother, Owen Lars," she said boldly. "It's a shame he thinks so highly of you. You don't deserve it at all." Vader did not respond. "He thinks Obi-Wan killed you."

She watched his body language carefully, trying to look for any signs of guilt. Any sign that the old name might bring back some memories.

Vader showed nothing of the sort.

"He is wrong," Vader concurred simply. Reva stiffened. Obi-Wan inhaled sharply.

"But one thing is for sure. His brother is never coming back," Reva narrowed her eyes.

"Indeed."

Reva held Ahsoka's sabers up in front of herself defensively. "But now you're here," she said. "I assume you didn't come back because you miss the place. You don't seem the nostalgic type?"

"I'm here for what is mine." Vader tightened his grip. "It's interesting that you should mention Lars. He has something that interests me in his possession."

"What, fancy yourself a moisture farmer?" Reva sneered. "Didn't think you had it in you."

"Hmph. No," Vader replied. "Can't say I ever had any particular investment in it. Quite boring, really. No, I am here for my son. Lars, Skywalker, whatever name that Obi-Wan may have given him in order to hide him from me. It does not matter. I am here now to take what is mine."

Obi-Wan struggled back up, pushing himself up on his elbows. As he stood up, he ignited both ends of the double saber and clumsily swung forward. Vader dodged one end, but the other saber caught him in the edge of his cloak and barely missed creating a large sear in it. Vader snarled, turning around and finally facing him.

"You seem a lot more lively, old man. Eager to fight, are you?"

"As much as I'll ever be, Darth," Obi-Wan spat back, echoing Reva's mocking use of title.

Vader did not seem interested in bantering with him today. "Where are the rest of you?" he asked.

"There's no one else," Obi-Wan bit back. "It's just the two of us."

"Pity. Ten versus two is not much of a fight," Vader said coldly.

Reva snorted. "Ten Stormtroopers? Easy," she scoffed. "I'd feel sorry for whatever poor soul you've recruited to become part of your failed attempt at custody."

"Oh, this is a private matter," Vader said coolly. "I prefer to refer to it as a family reunion."

Reva laughed. "A reunion with only one person? That's not much of a family meeting," she taunted. "Unless you're counting yourself and your brother."

"No, not my family," Vader replied calmly. "But now that you mention it, I'm sure your Brothers will be equally as excited to see you."

The color drained from Reva's face.

In the distance, she could see them now. Ten figures, all clad head-to-toe in black, carrying red double-ended sabers. They trudged through the sand at a steady pace. Nothing would satisfy their thirst for blood now that they had been locked onto a new goal. Nor would they stop until they had done what they had come for.

The Inquisitorius Squad had arrived.

"Enjoy yourself, Third Sister," Vader said. "I'm sure you expected me to meet you here for a fair fight, and for that, I commend you. But that is not how I work anymore."

Obi-Wan ran forward, but Vader simply made a gesture with his arm and the sands rose higher, swirling around him. Both Obi-Wan and Reva backed off, covering their mouths. In a moment, the sands lifted into the sky and then fell back down, leaving a void in their midst. The Force Projection, however convincing it had been, was now gone. There was no trace of Vader near them. If they were to look behind it, they would also see that he had left no footsteps, although that could also be attributed to the rapidly-swirling sand and dust around them.

"He's already on his way to the Farm," Reva realized with a jolt of horror.

"We'll fight the Inquisitorius first, then we'll get to him," Obi-Wan said. "Bail Organa and Cody just arrived, they can hold him off-"

"No, that'll take too long," Reva said. "And neither Bail Organa nor Cody have the Force." She turned to him, her mind made up. "We need to split up. You head for the farm."

"But what about you?" Obi-Wan asked worriedly. "You can't fight all ten of them by yourself!"

"Don't tell me what to do," Reva said briskly. "I know exactly what they are like, I was one of them before. Besides, who else is going to do it? You? Don't make me laugh," she snorted. "I'm not sending you into battle with them by yourself. That would be a death sentence."

Obi-Wan paused. "But what if something happens to you?" he asked sadly.

"This is my battle," Reva insisted firmly. "Let me handle it. Go save Luke," she nodded. "Owen's waiting for you to come help him."

Obi-Wan swallowed. "I'm not sure if he would like that."

"He may act like he hates you, but deep down he doesn't, not really," Reva continued. "He might not understand what happened to Anakin. But he understands one thing, and that's loving Luke. And that's something that both of you can agree on," she nodded. "So get back there, and help him! Unless you want Leia to lose her only brother."

Obi-Wan straightened up and nodded. "I'll come back as soon as I can," he said quietly. "Please, take care, Reva."

"Don't you dare wish me luck," she retorted, snappy as usual. "Remember, I don't need it."

"No, you don't. But," Obi-Wan leaned in close and hugged her tightly, "I am sentimental, so I will miss you if you don't come back. So please, if you want the best for health, watch over yourself."

Reva felt dazed as he let go and drew back. Collecting herself, she faced the Inquisitors as Obi-Wan immediately turned around and began to make a run for the Lars homestead.

"Fifth Brother," Reva said coldly, ignoring the other nine Inquisitors hovering threateningly behind him.

"That's Grand Inquisitor to you, runt," Fifth Brother spat angrily. Reva looked down at his arm. Right where she had cut off his right hand, a new metal one was in its place. This one looked a lot sturdier, as if it was made out of some sort of iron. Must be beskar, she realized.

"Oh, they promoted you real fast, didn't they?" Reva drawled. "Did they even wait for Seventh Sister's body to grow cold before they pinned that badge on you?"

"Shut it!" Fifth Brother snapped furiously, "You don't deserve to speak of her, murderer!"

"Did you spare a word of kindness for Trilla when she died?" Reva retorted. She squinted, peering behind Fifth Brother's wide frame. "Ninth Sister!" she exclaimed, surprised. "I haven't you seen you in ages. I thought you were still missing in action. Did that ginger-haired rebel give you the slip again? Or are you still obsessed with catching up to Kestis?"

"Be quiet, runt," Ninth Sister snapped. "Once you've been dealt with, I'm going after him next."

"Pity," Reva said mockingly. "He already granted you mercy once, shouldn't be thankful that he allowed you to escape with your own life? Or do you crave being defeated again?"

Ninth Sister snarled and began to step forwards, but Fifth Brother stopped her.

"Stand down, Ninth Sister," he said firmly. "She's trying to provoke you. Do not give her what she wants." As Ninth Sister stopped, Fifth Brother narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer so that he towered above Reva. She did not flinch. "Third Sister, I charger you with treason, inciting dissent, and the murder of our former First Brother and our dear Seventh Sister. You have no right to trial, you have no right to defend yourself, and you will not be granted a pardon. Your weapons will be confiscated and then you will be executed by capital punishment for your crimes against the Empire at the discretion of the current Grand Inquisitor."

"Fine, then," Reva said, twirling her dual white sabers and getting into a fighting stance. "Take them, if you dare."

The first pair of Inquisitors ran towards her, but Reva reached out and extended her palm. Instantly, their double-ended lightsabers spiraled out of controlling, turning against them and slicing right through their waists. As other Inquisitors approached her from behind and attempted to restrain her, she used her two blades to fend them off and twisted them together, causing her two opponents to suddenly knock into each other and take each other out. Ninth Sister made a grab for her, but she immediately dodged out of the way and shoved someone else using the Force into her, causing both people to stumble. Right as Ninth Sister fell, Reva immediately sliced through her arm prosthetic, causing her to howl loudly in pain.

As more and more Inquisitors swarmed around her, Reva fought as dirty as possible, using every trick in the book she could possibly think of. As the ground became looser beneath their feet, the sands swirled higher and higher, until it became hard to distinguish north from west. Still, Reva continued to move southwards, luring them out as far as possible. The Inquisitors chased after her blindly, using their lightsabers to illuminate their steps as they struggled to follow Reva.

When she stepped back and felt the sand give way underneath her feet, she knew that she had reached her goal. Cautiously, Reva readjusted her position and entered a defensive stance.

"I'll get you!" Ninth Sister snarled, lunging forwards.

"Sister, no!" Fifth Brother called out, sensing there was a trap.

Reva stepped aside, using her lightsabers to anchor herself on the flat ground. The Dowutin swerved and stumbled into a pile of fine, grainy sand. This sand was completely different in texture from the rest of the flatland, however. When she tried to step away and remove her leg, it remained stuck in place. Confused, Ninth Sister flailed back and forth, becoming increasingly panicked as she started to sink deeper into it.

Fifth Brother cried out again, but it was too late. The other Inquisitors were not as lucky. The rest of them had lunged blindly towards Reva, caught in the impermeable haze of flying sand. All of them now found themselves equally immobilized. They began to cry out in fear and sheer desperation, exposing themselves.

"Silence, you idiots!" Fifth Brother's voice thundered over the swirling sand. "Don't let her know your location!"

Now that they were all stuck in place, Reva found it quite easy to deal with them. One by one, they were all dealt with. She still couldn't see very well, but she could hear them. Unfortunately for them though, none of them could see her.

However, as she stepped forwards to slit Ninth Sister's throat and put her out of her misery, Fifth Brother stepped out of the sandstorm and attacked her from behind. Fortunately, Reva switched to reverse grip in a flash and was able to counter his blow.

"She's taught you well, your little Rebel Jedi," Fifth Brother observed. "Is this the person you've betrayed us all for, Reva?" he asked.

Reva felt a chill run down her spine.

"Been looking me up in the database?" she shot back, attempting to hide the fact he had successfully shaken her. The arm that she was using to block his weapon was starting to tremble from the effort. "I didn't realize you were so obsessed with me."

"I'm haunted by Seventh Sister's death," Fifth Brother snarled. "Her cries of pain keep me awake at night. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. Begging me to take revenge for her."

Reva closed her eyes, trying to gather herself again. Behind them, Ninth Sister let out another wail, barely conscious but still clinging onto life. She decided to leave her and focus on Fifth Brother instead. Taking a deep breath, she flipped herself around in one smooth move and crossed her swords in front of her, successfully reinforcing her blade block. Fifth Brother snarled, clicking the hilt and allowing the other end of his saber to unlock from the rest of the sword's spinning mechanism. Now, they were each holding two sabers.

Both of them pushed back on each other's blades, but neither would relent.

"This ends here, Second Sister. Welcome to the end of your journey."

"My journey as an Inquisitor ended long time ago," Reva fought back. "But my time as a Jedi is not over."

"You? A Jedi? Don't joke."

"I am," Reva looked him directly in the eye. Fifth Brother just glared back at her. "And I am now stronger than ever."

"We'll see about that," Fifth Brother hissed.

With that, he deactivated both sabers and stepped back. Reva also took a step back. He circled around her menacingly, staring down the much shorter human.

"Nice to see what little tricks your new Master has taught you," he said. "But if she was smarter, she'd be here fighting with you. What happened to her?"

"She had other business to deal with."

Fifth Brother chuckled. "More important than this? How cold," he shook his head. "She must not care much for you, then. Pity."

Reva felt her cheeks grow hot. "Take that back," she said angrily. Fifth Brother just smirked. "She's not that kind of person. She's nothing like you lot," she spat.

"I suppose so," Fifth Brother said. "I'd like to meet her."

"Too bad," Reva snarled. "The only one you're getting to see tonight is me."

With that, she lunged forwards and leapt into the air. Fifth Brother ignited his sabers as well, raising them into the air to meet air.

Red light clashed against white, and the sands continued to swirl around them, occasionally bouncing off of their blands and falling to the ground as droplets of glowing red-hot clumps of liquid glass. A tornado formed as they continued to spray shards of blood red melted glass around them, indifferent to the sand and sawdust around them. Fifth Brother swung hard, successfully knocking Ahsoka's lightsabers out of Reva's hands and causing her to cry out as they landed several feet away in the sinksand, automatically switching off. She turned back around to face him, narrowing her eyes angrily.

"Those were a gift," she repeated. "I can't afford to lose them."

"Too bad," Fifth Brother smirked. "They're mine now."

Reva growled and launched herself forward, grabbing onto Fifth Brother's wrists. Caught off guard, he stumbled backwards and attempted to regain his balance as Reva started to wrestle the swords from his hands. They blended into one as the sand swirled around them, making it harder and harder to see.

Finally, one figure emerged on top. Reva force Fifth Brother into the sinksand, causing one of his legs to get stuck. Now that he was where she wanted him, she raised his two red lightsabers high into the air, bringing them down with as much force as she could muster into her opponent's thigh. Fifth Brother snarled, reaching up and gripping her by the throat with his new prosthetic hand. Shocked, she let go and brought her hands up to try and remove his hands.

"I'm not one to go down with a fight, Third Sister," he hissed. "If I am to die, I am taking you with me. You will feel my pain."

Reva clawed at her throat, desperately trying to slap his hands away, but the Dowutin held on strong. Desperate, she closed her hand around one of the lightsabers sticking out of his thigh and pulled it out. Before Fifth Brother could snatch the blade back from her with his other hand, she clumsily used the force to plunge it into his prosthetic. He screamed and let go of her throat as the beskar began to turn bright red but did not melt. The hilt of the lightsaber rapidly grew hot, and then started to crumple in her hand. Reva tossed it away seconds before the unstable kyber crystal broke, landing several feet away from them in an explosion that was partially muted by the sand. She breathed in heavily, barely standing on legs that could not hold her for much longer.

"You underestimated me, Brother," she panted. "If I am to die, then so are you. I don't go down with a fight either."

Fifth Brother howled. In a fit of rage, he reached for the second lightsaber in his thigh and pulled it out, throwing it at her. The spinning mechanism came to life and Reva barely dodged it, but it spun back around and caught her in the back. She cried out and fell forwards, landing on all fours. The sand cushioned her fall, but now it was all in her eyes and mouth. She blindly felt around, trying to get her bearings back.

"Sleep well, Third Sister," Fifth Brother said coldly. "Perhaps when we wake up, we can all explore hell together."

With that, he finally succumbed to his wounds and fell silent.

Reva panted heavily, feeling around as her heart beat erratically. Finally, she found what she was looking for. Fortunately, the sabers were relatively light and had not yet sunk. She grabbed Ahsoka's lightsabers and hurriedly strapped them back to her thighs. As she attempted to stand back up, however, her legs gave out and she fell back down again. She could feel herself sinking deeper into the quicksand, becoming one with the sand flats just like the rest of her fallen Sisters and Brothers.

Stupid sand, Reva thought. It's annoying, it makes it hard to see, and it gets everywhere. Whoever would want to live on a planet that's completely full of it? So stupid.

Her eyes were becoming harder and harder to keep open. She knew that she should be fighting to stay awake, to keep herself upright so that she would not get buried alive. The quicksand could rapidly submerge her in the blink of an eye. Now that her Force was depleted, she had barely enough power to keep herself from sinking deeper.

"I'm sorry, Kenobi," she murmured quietly. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise."

The bodies of the other Inquisitors were probably already half-buried by now. She took deep breaths, but it just felt like she was filling her lungs with sand and weighing herself down. As she breathed in, she began to see hallucinate strange things. An enormous ship, big enough to carry an entire battalion, moving across the sand as if it was really water. The lowing and bleating of banthas. Strange sounds that were vaguely animal-like and humanoid at once, but too distant for her to decipher.

They said that dying people have the most vivid visions as they are lying on their deathbed, Reva thought to herself. How lucky I should consider myself, that I am getting a show like this.

Suddenly, she became overcome with a sense of longing and a tear escaped her eye, immediately evaporating in the heat of the desert. She wished for a moment that the strange visions were real and that she wasn't truly alone left to die in a cursed sand flatland by herself.

Goodbye, Tano, she sighed. I hope you won't mind what happened to your lightsabers. I'm afraid you're never getting them back now.

With that, she closed her eyes and resigned herself to her fate.

Two figures covered from head-to-toe in coarse cloth appeared suddenly out of the haze. From where they came, that did not matter. All that mattered was that, by chance or by deliberate intention, they had come across the scene of a great fight. Both of them regarded the strange pile of bodies with much interest, evaluating their options and assessing the risks versus rewards of coming closer. After some time, they came to a silent consensus and began to walk closer. Now that their interest was piqued, they slowly approached the site of the struggle.

It was not uncommon for them to find bodies half-sunk in the Sand Flats. As locals, they had often witnessed the remains of unfortunate voyagers who had either starved or succumbed to heat sickness. Sometimes, these bodies carried valuable objects or clothing with them. First, the two masked figures stepped into large shoes with flat bottoms that extended the surface area of their soles and made it easier to move across the quicksand. Next, they began to approach the pile of bodies.

At first, all they did was cautiously poke around with their long spiky-ended sticks. In total, they counted about nine people. When the other half-buried bodies failed to show any signs of life, they left them to sink into the sand. However, one of the bodies was still breathing.

The masked figures immediately straightened up and waved to their comrades, calling out across the sand. Within minutes, a small crowd of their own peers had gathered around them. Hoisting a hook attached to a coil of rope into the air, they clumsily looped it around their arm and swung it so that it landed several feet away from them upon solid ground. Carefully tying the rope around their waists so they could secure themselves, they then began to reach forward and haul the lone survivor out of the quicksand.

Within minutes, they had successfully dragged her out. It took two men to carry her to a solid spot where they carefully positioned her so that she could breathe more easily. The Jedi laid motionless on the sand, her chest rising and falling shallowly. In her hair, a strand of strange beads glinted faintly, illuminated by their torchlight. The strange figures hovered around her, silently ruminating.

A few moments passed. Finally, they all came to a decision.

The masked figures scurried around and bent down. Two men and two women each picked up the unconscious Jedi, carefully lowering her onto a long blanket which they then carried between the four of them. They used the blanket to load her onto a bantha, then helped a rider to climb on top of the bantha's back after her. Once they had secured both to the bantha, the rest of the masked figures began to disperse and climb onto their own banthas. Satisfied, the leader sent out the signal to head out.

Within minutes they were gone, leaving nothing except the trace of the slightly disturbed sands behind them.