(Chapter two.)

The mechanical squeals were getting louder. Ja-ni ran up one last dune and finally discovered the source of the noise. Far below was a Teedo riding a luggabeast. Ja-ni took a second look around her and realized she was in the Teedo's territory. In reality, the small brutish scavenger had no ownership of that stretch of desert than anyone else. But the Teedo's insisted that they held sole claim to the lost technology scattered throughout the area. And the day the Teedo had found quite a prize. He had trapped a little white- and blue droid inside a rough net. From what Ja-ni could see, the droid was not only in perfect working condition but struggling desperately to escape, beeping as loudly as he could. The dome and sphere that made up his head and body were spinning quickly in every direction.

But what was a perfectly good droid doing way out there? And all alone?

There was only one way to find out. Tal'ama paraqual! she shouted in the Teedo's native language. The Teedo ignored her. Ja-ni was starting to get angry. The droid clearly did not want to go with the Teedo, Ja-ni shouted again, this time making a velied threat. Patqual! Zatana- tappan-aboo! The Teedo did not like that. He shouted back something quite insulting and adjusted his thick metal mask. Ja-ni barely noticed. She marched forward and drew her knife. As the Theedo continued to hurl empty threats at her, she cut the little droid free from the netting. Then she turned to the Teedo and said fiercely. Noma! Ano tamata, zatana.

The Teedo did a quick calculation and decided the droid wasn't worth fighting Ja-ni for. He raised a hand dismissively and turned his luggabeast toward the horizon. Ja-ni shot one more glare at the Teedo and then leaned down to inspect the droid for damage. Except for a bent antenna, the droid appeared unharmed, and he had plenty of fight in him. He rolled after the departing Teedo, beeping furiously. To most people, the beeping would have sounded like mechanical gibberish. But Ja-ni was good with technology and had studied the communication patterns of droids. And that droid was especially eloquent particularly in his choice of insults toward the Teedo.

Ja-ni couldn't help smiling at the droids indignation. Shhhh, she breathed soothingly, placing a hand on his curved head. The droid quieted down and then beeped inquiringly. That's just a Teedo. Wants you for parts, Ja-ni explained. The droid took that information in stride. He seemed used to being hunted down for one reason or another.

Ja-ni knelt beside the mysterious droid. Where'd you come from? He beeped an answer. Oh, classified? Really, Ja-ni said incredulously. Well, me too. Big secret.

If the droid wanted to keep to himself, Ja-ni wasn't going to pry. In her experience, getting involved with others problems only led to more trouble. She had saved the droid from being disassembled for spare parts. Her work there was done.

Nilma Outpost, is that way, Ja-ni said, pointing toward the settlement. Stay off Carbon Ridge. Keep away from the Sinking Field's up north you'll drown in the sand. When she finished her advice, Ja-ni headed back up the dune toward home. But she soon heard the whir of the droids sphere moving across the sand behind her.

Don't follow me, Ja-ni said firmly. You can't come with me. The droid beeped again, pitifully.

No!

But the droid would not give up. He told her that he was alone and more than a little afraid. He had no one else. That made Ja-ni stop. She knew what it was like to be alone on Tatooine with no one for protection or even company.

Reluctantly, she gestured for the droid to follow her. The droid beeping in happiness. In the morning you go, Ja-ni said firmly. But the droid didn't seem to be listening. He continued beeping, commenting on the landscape.

Yes, there's a lot of sand here, Ja-ni replied, only a little sarcastically.

The droid rewarded that response with his name. R2-D2. R2-D2? Rey asked. Okay, hello, R2-D2. My name's Ja-ni.

R2-D2 began chirping again. Look, you're not going to talk all night, are you? Because that won't work.

R2-D2 beeped the shortest response possible. Good, Ja-ni said. She didn't what to make of the strange droid and his classified mission. Still, it was nice to have some company for a change.