Chapter Text
“You’re pretty far from town.”
A voice rises up from behind her. The setting suns disappear on the horizon of Tatooine before she turns to look.
“I’m just visiting.” Rey smiles gently at the stranger. She raises her hands up to show no harm. The other woman regards her for a moment before nodding.
Lifting the hood off her head, she steps closer to Rey and offers a hand.
“We don’t get visitors often.” Rey shrugs after they shake hands. “And you must not visit often. It’s not wise to stay out after the suns set on Tatooine.”
An inquisitive series of beeps come and they look down to see BB-8 moving back and forth, looking between them.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” The unnamed woman says, raising a hand in greeting. “What’s your name?”
BB-8 beeps a few times, looking down and then looking back up.
“It’s nice to meet you, BB-8. My name is Ru.” She smiles as the droid beeps and turns in a circle. “And I don't believe I caught your name?”
“Oh, my name- uh, my name is Rey.” Rey brings her hand up again.
“It’s nice to meet you Rey.” Ru smiles, taking Rey’s hand in hers again.
At that moment, a low humming sound appears. It starts growing louder and the three look around before they see the headlights of a large speeder coming closer. It quickly comes to a stop before a young, handsome man takes his helmet off and waves.
“My cousin, Bridger.” She mutters to Rey before leading the way over to him.
“Ma said to come look for you. The celebrations are starting and we’re already six drinks behind Bertram.” He hops out of the speeder, meeting them a few meters away. “Who are your friends?”
“This is Rey, and this is BB-8.” She introduces them, “I saw them out here when I was heading back, figured I’d make sure things were all right.”
“Nice to meet you two.” He shakes Rey’s hands and offers a fist bump to BB-8. “You’re welcome to join us tonight. Always a place to stay during times of celebration.”
“What are you celebrating?” Rey asks, looking down at BB-8 who is starting to move excitedly at the thought of a party.
“The fall of the Order, of course.” He grins, looking up towards the stars that have started to blink into sight.
“I didn’t know news traveled that fast.” Rey says, impressed but not unsurprised. The locals on Jakku had often known news before it was news- sometimes even quicker, if you could afford it.
“Good news often does.” He looks back down from the stars to the three before him. “So, what do you say?”
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There are fireworks, laughter, dancing, and singing every which way. The streets of the town are as bright as the faces they reflect. Rey watches with delight as BB-8 does a series of erratic moves in an attempt to mimic the three children she’s befriended.
When they arrived in town, they had gone into one of the abodes that held Ru and Bridger’s family. Ru’s aunt had welcomed Rey and BB-8 with open arms and had sat them down for a meal. She had made a large pot of stew and nearly all the tables were filled with dishes brought to be shared from the surrounding neighbors. There were many bustling in and out of the open doorway, plates were being filled, the drinks were flowing.
She had laughed and let her guard down, they had danced well into the night.
It’s just after the suns are rising that a sound causes BB-8 to power on. She looks around for a moment before the thud comes again. Rolling towards the ajar front door, she weaves around the various limbs of people who are sleeping on the floor of Ru’s aunt’s house.
Another thud.
“That’s the last one!” a voice calls out. BB-8’s head pokes out from behind the door. Two men are brushing their hands off on their pants as a Tusken Raider nods before leading their bantha away. Attached behind it is a wagon that is carrying what looks like rolled up carpets piled behind a couple of larger mechanical scraps piled haphazardly.
With a whirr, BB-8 recognizes the retreating pile of parts. She retreats back into the house, carefully maneuvering throughout each room until she comes to Rey sleeping on one of the make-shift beds. It takes a few nudges but Rey blearily opens her eyes, squinting against the sliver of sunlight that has found its way inside.
“Wha-?”
BB-8 beeps quickly, explaining what she had seen.
“The one we borrowed? Are you sure?” Rey asks sitting up and looking around.
Another series of beeps. Rey’s eyes grow wide and she’s shucking the small, thin blanket off of her legs before making her way quickly towards the front door.
“Taken apart? Are you sure, BB-8?” She turns for a second to address the droid as they both try to avoid hitting the sleeping bodies. Rey winces when her foot hits something.
“Watch it!” comes a gruff voice from somewhere below them.
“Sorry, sorry.” She mutters, jerking her head to let BB-8 lead the way.
By the time they make their way out into the middle of the street, the cart and bantha have disappeared.
“You’re sure it was our speeder?” She spins around, looking around the now empty street.
BB-8 gives a reassuring beep, swiveling to look up and down the road to no avail.
“Well,” Rey puts her hands on her hips, squinting in the growing sunlight. “I guess we’re going to have to find a way to pay back Xibar. The last thing we need is to be followed across the galaxy for a junk speeder.”
BB-8 beeps in agreement before remembering the two men. Rey frowns, looking around.
“Would you be able to recognize them? We might be able to find out where the bantha was going.” Rey brushes some hair out of her face,
“Are you two always up this early?” comes a voice from behind. Rey and BB-8 turn to see Ru leaning in the doorway, a hot cup of tea in her hands.
“Not usually.” Rey smiles.
“Come back inside, I’ll get breakfast going and you can tell me where you’re going next.” Ru motions for them to follow her.