(Chapter three.)

The next morning, Ja-ni helped R2-D2 aboard her speeder and the pair flew off toward Nilma Outpost. Along the way, she stopped to examine a few wrecks. She didn't want the extra trip to be a complete waste of time. If she found something to trade with Unkar, maybe she could even take the afternoon off and practice with her flight simulator. To Ja-ni's delight, she uncovered a pair of inverterlifts amid a tangle of crashed speeder bikes. R2-D2 kept offering to help her look, but Ja-ni didn't want to owe the droid anything. Even if R2-D2 did help, nothing else was salvageable from the speeders. Still, the inverterlifts would fetch a decent portion from Unkar. Her dinner plans secure, Ja-ni raced toward Nilma Outpost, with BB-8 beeping chattily behind her. The brown and gray structures of Nilma began to grow on the horizon, until the outposts main arrchway loomed before them. Ja-ni parked her speeder and set R2-D2 gently on the ground.

All right, Ja-ni said. This is where she say goodbye. She grabbed her satchel with the inverterlifts inside and slung it over her shoulder. There's a trader in Bay three who might be able to give you a lift... wherever you're going.

R2-D2 simply stared up at her with his single blue eye. So... good bye. Ja-ni began walking toward Unkar's stall. R2-D2 beeped and Ja-ni started to laugh.

Oh really? she asked. Now you can't leave? I thought you had somewhere special to be.

R2-D2 replied with a sheepish sounding beep. Ja-ni had been teasing the little droid, but his response caught her completely off guard.

You're waiting for someone... Ja-ni glanced over at the spaceport. Every day, whether she admitted it to herself or not, she watched the ship's come and go. She waited for someone her parents, a friend, anyone to arrive and tell her it was over. That she didn't have to wait anymore. That someone had finally returned for her. R2-D2 beeping interrupted her thoughts.

What? No, I'm not crying! Ja-ni was furious at herself for her moment of weakness. R2-D2 made a noise that sounded too much like a chuckle.

I was not! Ja-ni insisted. R2-D2 teased her all the way to Unkar's training stall. By the time they reached his window, Ja-ni was laughing at herself, too. She was still a little suspicious of the off droid, but she was starting to like him.

Ja-ni cleaned the inverterlifts and placed them proudly in front of Unkar.

Two inverterlifts, Unkar mused. A quarter portion for both.

Ja-ni couldn't believe the nerve of the old alien. Last week they were half a portion each! You said you were for.

Conditions have changed, Unkar interrupted.

Ja-ni felt the anger rising. For too long she had allowed Unkar to cheat her out of the portions she deserved. She was about to say as much when Unkar surprised her with a question.n

But what about the droid? he asked.

What about him? Ja-ni asked.

Unkar stroked his fleshly chin with a smirk. I'll pay for him.

R2-D2 beeped furiously in protest. But Ja-ni couldn't stop herself from asking. How much?

Ninety portions. Replied Unkar.

Ja-ni was stunned. That was more food than she ever seen in her life. With all that food, she could stop living in uncertainty, worrying about scavenging enough parts for a decent meal. With that food saved up, she could start planning for a future. She reached down and gently flipped a switch behind R2-D2's head. The droid immediately powered down, his beeping silenced for the moment.

Two hundred portions, Ja-ni said with more confidence than she felt.

That wiped the smirk off Unkar's face. He stared intently at Ja-ni, but she held his gaze. Two hundred portions it is. Ja-ni couldn't believe Unkar had agreed.

It had been too easy. As Unkar gathered the ration packets together, he couldn't resist adding, certain parties have been asking about a droid like that.

I'd like to think this exchsnge will be good for the both of us. He offered the packets to her. All she had to do was reach out and take them and she wouldn't have to worry about food for a very, very, long time.

Ja-ni made a mistake of looking down at R2-D2'S still form. She could just imagine his indignant beeping, asking how she could even consider selling him to that disgusted trader. And the parties Unkar was hoping to trade R2-D2 to were surely no good, they were friends with Unkar, after all.

Ja-ni made the decision that would change her life forever. Actually... the droids not for sell. She reached down and reactivated R2-D2.

As Ja-ni had expected, the droid beeped out a series of angry accusations. Ja-ni silenced him with a look and turned back to Unkar.

Sweetheart, we already had a deal! he raged.

She shrugged. Conditions have changed.

You can't afford to say no! Without me, you have nothing, you are nothing! Unkar said.

The droid, Ja-ni repeated, is not for sell. She glanced fiercely at Unkar until he flinched and looked away. It felt good to finally stand up to the swindling trader. She motioned to R2-D2 and, together, the pair walked into the crowded streets of the market. Unkar watched them go, his hooded eyes bulging in disbelief. Then he picked up a communicator and spoke into the rusted speaker. I have a job for you, he said, and slammed down the comm.

Nobody spoke to Unkar Plutt like that without facing the consequences.