(Chapter four.)

Ja-ni's stomach growled as she and R2-D2 passed a food cart. The greasy steelpacker meat sizzled in the sunlight. She leaned down to the droid. You're welcome for not selling you, she said pointedly. But Unkar's words about certain parties interested in R2-D2 were still running around her mind.

I can't help you if you don't me who you're waiting for, she said.

R2-D2 beeped at her questioningly. Can you trust me? What do you think? She asked him.

R2-D2 couldn't argue with that. Ja-ni had shown him loyalty when he needed it most. Slowly, R2-D2 told her about his master, Leia Organa, and confided that they were on a mission for the Resistance.

Ja-ni had heard rumors about the Resistance, but she had never dared to hope they were true. Standing up to the Empire seemed like a fool's errand. The shadowy military had been created after the fall of the Jedis. The leaders of the Empire claimed to want peace and cooperation, but their brutal actions showed otherwise. World after world after fallen under their control, and yet the New Republic government had done nothing to stop them. Their quest for power was even staring to affect remote planets like Tatooine. Just a few days before, the Empire Stormtroopers had destroyed a sacred village nearby. Ja-ni wanted to learn everything she could about the Resistance. She told R2-D2 about the recent attack on Tatooine. R2-D2 beeped sadly.

You were there? Ja-ni asked in surprise. Clearly there was more to the little droid than she thought. Before she could ask him more about his mission, a stranger tapped her on the shoulder. Ja-ni turned to see a figure covered from head to toe in thick black fabric. Even his face was concealed by a pair of googles and a rebreather.

Plutt wants droid. We want droid. Female don't interfere. Said the unfamiliar voice.

The droid is mine, Ja-ni shot back. I didn't sell him. Plutt knows that.

You're right, agreed the other thug. Plutt knows that. You didn't sell. So he take. His companion was already pulling a sack over R2-D2. Quickly, Ja-ni pulled out her staff from her satchel and prepared for a fight. The man in black held the bag with R2-D2. He was her first priority.

Ja-ni swept her staff into his legs, forcing him to fall back. As she lifted her staff to strike another blow, the second thug grabbed her from behind. Around her, the Nilma marketplace carried on as usual. Brawl were not uncommon there, and no one was going to risk making enemies to help a stranger. Ja-ni was on her own. Ja-ni kicked the second thug in the shin. He cried out in pain, reflectively releasing Ja-ni and grabbing his injured leg. The man in black swore and scrambled to his few. Clearly, neither thug had expected her to fight back so well. When the man in black reached for the dagger hidden in his shoe, Ja-ni yelled and ran her staff into his chest as forcefully as she could. The man hit the ground. Hard. One more thwack on the head and he was out cold.

Ja-ni turned all her attention to the second thug. He was still cradling his leg, but he suddenly seemed to remember that he was holding a blaster. He started to lift his weapon, but Ja-ni knocked it out of his hand before he could even blink. With one more blow, the second thug joined his friend, unconscious in the sand. Ja-ni leaned on her staff, catching her breath. Apparently, Unkar really wanted R2-D2.

R2-D2!

Ja-ni ran to the bag where the droid was still trapped. Hang on, hang on. I've got you.

A very disgruntled R2-D2 emerged, swiveling his head back and forth. He was getting quite fed up with being captured. He spun his head to look around the market one more time and saw something that scared him much more than the Teedo or Unkar's thugs ever could.

What's wrong? Ja-ni asked. R2-D2 wasn't making any sense. He kept looking back toward the happabore watering troughs and beeping about a jacket.

What's so important about a jacket? R2-D2 finally showed down to explain. There was a man behind them, watching them intently. And somehow he was Lando's flight jacket. The man must have stolen the jacket from R2-D2'S master. Or perhaps even worse... Ja-ni was still keyed up from the fight with the thugs. Without thinking twice, she sprintled right toward the man wearing the brown leather jacket. She had time to watch his expression move from surprise to confusion to panic as he turned to run away. But the man didn't get very far. He was clearly unfamiliar with the Nilma marketplace, and Ja-ni quickly overtook him.

She slammed him to the ground with her staff, knocking the wind out of him. She held her staff close to his face.

What's your hurry, thief? She asked him. What? the man looked confused again. Ja-ni wondered how he could have stolen something from a trained Resistance fighter, the man was certainly no criminal mastermind. R2-D2 rolled up beside them and extended a live electrical circuit. He pressed against the man's body, shocking him from head to toe.

Ow! Hey! What? the man spluttered.

The jacket! Ja-ni said, as if the man didn't know. The droid says you stole it.

Listen, I've had a pretty messed up day, okay? So I'd appreciate it if you didn't accuse me of being a- Ow! The man replied.

R2-D2 zapped the man again. Stop it! He said.

Ja-ni was running out of patience. Where'd you get it? It belongs to his master.

Recognition slowly dawned on the man's face. He sighed heavily.

His master's dead. He said.

Ja-ni kept her staff pointed directly at the man's head. But any fight seemed to have gone out of him.

His name was Lando right? he asked R2-D2. He was captured by the Empire. I helped him escape, but our ship crashed. Lando didn't make it. He sighed again. I'm sorry.

R2-D2 beeped sadly and rolled away on his own. Ja-ni almost wished the man were lying, but she could tell he meant every word.

So, you're with the Resistance? She asked him.

The man paused for a moment before answering. Obviously, I'm with the Resistance, yes I am. He glanced at her staff and repeated himself. I'm with the Resistance. Ja-ni lowered her weapon and helped the man to his feet. She was still wary of him. Ja-ni had paid dearly for trusting others in the past. But something about the stranger felt different.

I've never a Resistance fighter before. She said.

Well, this is what we look like now, he said. Some of us. Others look different.

The man was clearly uncomfortable. Ja-ni hoped she hadn't scared him too badly by chasing him through the market. Or slamming his head on the ground...

R2-D2 says he's on a secret mission, Ja-ni explained. He needs to get back to your base.

Yeah, apparently he's carrying a map that leads to the second Death Star, and everyone's insane about it. the man replied.

Ja-ni was stunned. The second Death Star? I thought it was a myth.

But any further explanations would have to wait. R2-D2 raced back toward them, repeating one word over and over again, Stormtroopers. The Empire was there.