It was already past noon when Din and Nia arrive on the outskirts of Mos Eisley. They rent a two-seater speeder bike from a local retailer and head out into the barren terrain. The way to Mos Espa would take several hours, so they would have to travel through the desert in order to get there.

Endless seas of sand dunes surrounded them for miles. Nia couldn't see for the majority of the trip, due to the fact that sand kept getting in her eyes. However, the brutal heat was the worse part. Din doesn't appear affected by it, and it's almost as if he doesn't feel any sensations at all underneath all that thick material and armor. She doesn't know how anyone could wear all that heavy clothing in the desert like this. It's been many years since she wore the armor, and now that she's traveling through the Dune Sea, she's glad she doesn't have to.

———————

As evening approached, they stopped to eat and rest in between the rocky formations of this desolate landscape, but the temperature dropped significantly as the night draws near. Good thing Nia always comes prepared! She takes out her canteen filled with water, as well as two ration bars for themselves for dinner. Din still refuses to remove his helmet, even though Nia reassured him that no one is around. He lifts up his helmet slightly, just enough for him to eat and drink. His dedication can get frustrating at times, but Nia doesn't persist in nagging him.

As they sit by the speeder, Nia takes out the holocron with the memory crystal from Hela Ecrin, and placed it on the sand by her feet. Information on the identification of this girl may be in there. Din watches intently as Nia holds out her hand to summon the Force. She opens the blue spherical device, just as she has done countless times with her own holorcron. The blue orb glows bright for a brief moment as a holoimage appears in front of her.

Using the Force, she scans through hundreds of names of children. Many various species across the galaxy. There are so many of them! This makes her think that it's best if no one knew who they are. She knows Force-sensitives are often targeted for their valuable blood. Yet she continues scanning through the list of names. Finally, she comes across an identification and location of a three year old human female in Mos Espa. This has to be her! The child's name is Nora Maru with dark skin, brown eyes, and black hair.

"This device must never fall into the wrong hands, especially the Imperials. What's the name of your foundling?" Nia asked. "I'm wondering what information it has on him."

"Grogu," he replied softly. As she scans through the device, she eventually finds the child's information. Born on Coruscant, age 50, has green skin, dark brown eyes and pointy ears. She recognizes that he's the same species as Master Yoda and Master Yaddle.

"There he is, is that him?" Nia asked, pointing to the holographic image of digital data.

"Y-yes, it is. Does it say where he currently is located?" He asked, his voice cracked a bit.

"Luckily no it doesn't, just his birth place, name, and species. This is a device only someone with the Force could open, like myself. However, it's important that we keep this device safe and secure," Nia explains as she closes the holocron. She removes the crystal and places it in a zipped up pocket on her pants, then securely packs away the holocron inside her backpack. Separating the two may be a smart idea, just in case. She'd rather give up an empty holocron than the actual memory crystal itself, if it ever comes to that. She made that Jedi a promise to keep it safe and that's what she'll do.

———————

The two suns were peeking above the sand dunes when they finally reached the first row of houses in Mos Espa. The city looked almost like Mos Eisley, with its yellowish-brown colours and round dome structures. It was silent, barely morning, but many slaves were already out on the streets as traders unloaded their cargo from trucks. The stores are slowly opening up as the vendors lay out their merchandise for sale in their stalls. All of Tatooine was once run by the Hutts, yet today there's a new kingpin in charge. A man in dark green Mandalorian armor named Boba Fett.

Fett has made the majority of his recent wealth in smuggling and other illegal trafficking, as well as hiring numerous prostitutes and bounty hunters. Often he is spotted strolling through the marketplace of Mos Espa, sometimes with two associates, as he performs his weekly debt collections. Even though he doesn't buy or sell slaves, he is frequently seen threatening local shop owners for protection money in order to secure his authority in this scum-filled city. The city residents fear him as he makes his presence known each and every week. In recent months, everyone on Tatooine acknowledges that the famous son of Jango Fett is now the new boss in power.

As Din parks the speeder at the edge of the city, Nia glances over at the well-known arches of the Slave Quarters Row. Casting a scrutinizing eye on the devious, and now illegal, trade that's still very evident here on this Outer Rim planet, she is disgusted by what she sees. Many individuals are seen with shock collars and tracking devices attached to them. Many are either carrying heavy equipment, working on mechanical devices, or performing maintenance work for their masters.

Her gaze then drifted upwards, her blue eyes immediately squinted into the glare of the twin suns, where she sees faraway specks of ships entering and departing the planet above the round rooftops of the city. Ahead of them were many stalls and shops lined up in rows as far as the eye can see. As Din and Nia walk through the marketplace, they see a farmer in the distance steering a dozen bantha calves into town.

They came to a stall selling assorted beans, rice, and other grains. Salthia beans are highly rich in protein, which are frequently used as a sufficient substitute for meat. Their bland taste is normally masked in a savory soup or with a flatbread. They pass by other stalls selling more foodstuffs, repair tools, mechanical or technological gadgets, clothing, accessories and jewelry.

To the normal regulars in the marketplace, the sight of a Mandalorian in beskar was unexpected. Din and Nia overheard their remarks as they make his way from stall to stall. Residents literally leap out of Din's way as he walks by. On the other hand, Nia removes her hood to try to communicate with the locals.

"I say we try asking questions. I haven't seen her but I know she's here," she whispers to Din. "You might scare her, so I say we separate. I'll go this way," she says softly as she points down the aisle in the opposite direction. Din tilts his helmet in a disagreeing manner as he crossed his arms, looking utterly dissatisfaction with her plan.

"Come on, you know I think you look sexy in beskar, but your armor can be intimidating," she whispers.

"Just stay close. This place is notorious for rough characters," Din says before approaching a stall selling an array of fruits and vegetables.

"Don't worry. I'll be right over here," Nia says as she pointed down the road, just a few feet away from where they are standing. She detected an odor emanating from the cantina visible through the canopies and curtains of the numerous stalls.

DIN'S POV

Din watches as Nia walks forward a few feet ahead of him. He lingers back just a bit as he sets his helmet's audio transmitter to its highest setting. His concentration is glued to her every move as she stops in front of a stall about ten feet away. Everything was going smoothly until an old friend shows up. He stays back a bit longer, trying to maintain his composure. But the moment his previous ally begins provoking her, Din looses his self-control and storms over to them.

NIA'S POV

As she walks closer towards the odd smell, she senses a powerful presence in the Force. She glances across the row and discovers a scrap seller's stall. She walks up towards the stall and sees a Quarren man behind the counter organizing a crate of junk metal pieces. A squid-like humanoid, with the typical facial tentacles protruding from his lower jaw, wearing greasy oily clothing.

"Hi, can I help you?" The shop owner asked in an irritated tone.

Nia opened her mouth to speak when a broad and menacing shadow steps up from behind her. The dark ominous figure doesn't speak, but she can feel him grip onto her braid tightly with an ungloved hand, rubbing his rough fingers on her soft locks. Nia makes sure her two lightsabers are concealed under her brown poncho. She knows who this man is and how much he is not a fan of Jedi. Although she hasn't actually met the ex-bounty hunter, beyond his extensive reputation, but she heard the rumors of his escape from the sarlac pit, including how he killed Bib Fortuna and took over the criminal enterprise here on Tatooine. In fact, everyone knows the stories.

"Fett, I-I wasn't e-expecting to s-see you here so s-soon," the shop owner quivering at the sight of the man in green Mandalorian armor.

"I'm here the same time every week, Girgg," Fett's modulated voice boomed with confidence as he runs his hand up and down her braid repeatedly.

"I, uh, don't have the e-entire amount. It's b-been a r-rough week," Girgg trembles as he fumbles in his pockets for whatever credits he has and places them onto the countertop.

"I just can't get good help these days," Fett sighed as he continues to glide his hand along her braid. She can feel the Force vibrating with resentment and rage building up inside her.

Nia tries to resist her anger. She takes a deep breath as Fett leans in closer, his steel armor presses up against her back as he draws nearer. A gasp of shock leaves her mouth as he suddenly tugs a little on her braid, pulling her head back just a bit so he can whisper darkly in her ear. "A pretty little thing such as yourself could make a fortune working for me. I can provide you with protection and stability. What do you say to that, sweetheart?"

As Nia slowly reaches down with one hand to grip onto her vibroknife, that's when another modulated voice is heard directly behind her.

"Fett," the familiar deep voice provides Nia with a much-needed sense of ease. Fett immediately lets go of her braid as he spins around to greet his former partner.

"Djarin. Good to see you again. Haven't heard from you in weeks," Boba Fett says softly as Nia is relieved to have Din close by.

As the two men in armor began a conversation, their voices are muffled as Nia feels the same strong presence getting closer to her. She glances into the dark cavernous space inside the shop to see a small girl carrying a fairy large crate of scrap materials.

The moment their eyes meet, the girl's mouth opens up in surprise and drops the crate. When several metal pieces fall onto the ground, Nia walks over to help her put everything back in.

"It's alright, I will help you," Nia says as she begins picking up the items off the floor. "What is your name?"

"Nora. I thought I was the only one," the girl says.

"You are not," Nia says as the two of them finish cleaning the spilled junk parts. "Where are your parents?"

"My mother is over there," Nora says as she points to the back of the small shop. Behind a tall shelf of junk, Nia sees a petite, skinny woman with dark brown skin, brown eyes and black hair. She looks just like Nora, except a more broad nose and thinner lips.

"Who are you?" The mother asked.

"I am a friend," Nia says as she pulls back her poncho slightly to reveal the two sabers strapped to her belt, they both gasp in response. "But I need you two to stay quiet and listen to me. I'm going to get you two out of here. Do you understand?"

They both nod in response. However, Girgg walks over with his fists in the air and begins threatening his two slaves.

"I told you two not to talk to the customers!" He snarls as he begins to throw a punch to the mother, but Nia catches his fists in the palm of her hand. With her other hand, Nia grabs him by his throat and lifts him up over her head.

As she released his fist, she waves her hand in front of his face and says using the Force, "You will give me these two slaves and you will never own a slave again."

"I will give you my slaves and never buy one again," he replied.

DIN'S POV

Meanwhile, as Din tells Boba Fett about Gideon's escape, and how they are here to look for a young girl who may be in trouble with the Empire, Boba is astonished to see how his old friend is back to doing the same thing once again.

"Saving another child, huh? I'm jealous of you, ya know. Traveling with a pretty girl like that. If I were you, I wouldn't let her out of my sight."

"Alright Fett. You can either help us or stay out of our way," Din replied.

"Well. If it's really that important to you, then you all are free to stay with me. No one from the Empire will step foot inside my palace."

"I'll have to speak to her about it," Din says as he suddenly realizes that Nia has the man by his throat.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Din blurted out as Nia lets go of the shop owner, letting him fall to the ground.

"Remove the shock collars and the tracking devices," she demanded as she waves her hand in front of him once again. Influenced by the Force, the man does what he's told and frees his two slaves. Then Nia waves her hand in front of his face once again as the Quarren falls to ground in a deep sleep.

"Look here, you found another Jedi," Fett chuckled slightly, recognizing the mind trick that Nia just performed.

"We need to get out of here. Now!" Nia cries out.

"We can take my speeder," Fett suggested.

"There's no way I'm traveling with you!" Nia gritted.

"Look sweetheart, you're lucky that you're in bed with this man or I'll have to - " Fett begins to say but gets interrupted.

"Or what? Are you going to shoot me?!" She taunts as reveals her two lightsabers on her hip. "I'd like to see you try...clone."

Fett takes a step closer as places his hand on his blaster, "Careful little one. I really don't want to make a mess."

"Enough! Where's your speeder?" Din yells.

"Not far," Fett replied.

"Let's get out of here," Din says as he turns his attention to Nia. "I need you to trust me."

With a heavy sigh, Nia agrees as the five of them head out towards Fett's speeder.