Reunion

"Where did you tell him to go?" Dia asks urgently. "Did you give him any other instructions?"

"I just told him to turn north-east at Roiya Rift. That's it," Owen promises, his voice crackling over the long-distance comm.

"Roiya Rift," Dia repeats through gritted teeth. "You mean where the Tuskens like to hide?"

So he's probably been captured. Dia takes a deep breath, calming himself. I'll just start looking. Talk to any Tusken I find and ask about Boba. It'll be fine.

But it's hard to ignore the nauseating worry in his stomach at the idea of Boba being the Tuskens' captive.

"Do they hide there?" Owen asks, surprised. "I didn't kn– "

"Just tell Elan I'm going looking for Boba and I'll be back soon," Dia snaps, and hangs up the call.

Standing, he hurries to his makeshift bunk in the hangar. He packs bags of old tech, water, rations, and medical supplies. Peli is out buying components, so he leaves a message for her, telling her not to worry, he'll be back soon.

He pauses in the hangar, where the ship is waiting. He'd completed it a week ago, and fitted it with the best weapons he could get his hands on, including the seismic charges Boba had mentioned. Now a stack of paint cans sit beside it, ready for Boba to put the finishing touches on his ship. Dia had also refrained from adding the ship's name to its database, just in case Boba didn't like the name. But Dia's pretty sure he'll approve.

After locking up the hangar behind him, he catches a ride to Bestine.

He goes from shop to shop, describing Boba and asking if anyone's seen him. No one has, at least not recently.

"Oh, I remember him," a mechanic recalls. "He was with a moisture farmer, who rented a speeder bike from me. That was about two or three months ago, I think." Her expression turns disgruntled. "He still hasn't returned the bike."

Dia's hopes fall even further. In general, the Tuskens aren't evil, not by a long shot. Most will talk with travellers and even help them from time to time, in exchange for tribute. But Boba's not much of a negotiator. There's every chance that he's been captured or killed. Maybe the Tuskens would have some mercy on a kid. But Dia can't be certain. He has to hurry.

"Could I rent a speederbike?" Dia asks the mechanic.

"Only if you promise to return it within the week."

She lends Dia an old speederbike that's seen better days, but still works well enough.

"If you see your friend, tell him he owes me a speederbike!" the mechanic calls after Dia as he speeds away.

He goes straight to Roiya Rift without stopping. He kills the engine a ways back, hiding behind a rocky outcrop. He fishes his binoculars out of his bag and zooms into the towering, jagged, rock pillars that mark the entrance.

The Tuskens love to hide around Roiya Rift, usually preying on clueless passerby. One tribe in particular tend to make camp just past the Rift, in the rocky Jundland Wastes. Led by a rather kindly chieftain named Orr'krurs, they're more merciful than most.

If they found Boba, he'll have more of a chance, for sure. Dia allows himself a little more hope as he scans the horizon through his binoculars.

He freezes, spotting a small group of banthas near the Rift. He zooms in, and makes out the Tuskens moving around the animals. The tribes all largely dress the same, so he can't tell whether this hunting party is Orr'krurs' tribe. But they might have a lead.

Returning to his speederbike, he approaches the Tuskens.

They notice him quickly, and ready their weapons. Dia stops his bike a good distance away and walks slowly to them, keeping his hands visible.

"I'm not a threat," he calls out in Tusken.

They allow him to approach, and one of the warriors tilts her head when Dia reaches them.

"Diaro?" she asks.

Dia recognizes her and grins. "Ruqte!"

"How are you?" Ruqte asks warmly.

All tension bleeds out of the situation as Dia and Ruqte catch up.

"What brings you into the desert?"

"I'm searching for my friend," Dia tells her. "He's a human child, this tall, with brown hair. Have you seen him?"

"Is his name Boba?"

"Yes!"

"Then rest assured: he is safe with our tribe."

Dia nearly falls over in relief. "Oh, thank the stars."

"He's actually been accepted as a member of the tribe, and is living with us."

"He is?!"

"Would you like to speak with him?"

Dia nods. "Please."

"Follow us."

Leaving his speederbike hidden near the Rift, Dia rides with Ruqte on her bantha to the tribe's encampment.

The more he thinks about, the more he realizes he's not surprised Boba ended up part of the Tuskens' tribe. He seems to have a knack for surviving, and he's certainly tough enough to survive even Tatooine's deserts and the ways of the Tuskens. It's kind of amusing, actually.

In a few minutes, they reach the encampment. A dozen brown tents are arranged near a pile of wood for a bonfire, and several Tuskens tend to the banthas or dig in the sand for black melons.

As the hunting party descends a sand dune, Dia scans the camp for Boba. To the side, two children spar. A third, sitting down, watches them. They're dressed differently from the others: their head is uncovered, revealing untidy brown hair.

Dia is leaping from the bantha before he realizes it, and lands in the sand, nearly falling over. He stumbles over his own feet as he sprints towards Boba.

Noticing him rapidly approaching, the Tuskens stop sparring and level their weapons at Dia.

He doesn't spare them a glance. His eyes are glued on Boba, who looks over in confusion. His eyes widen when they land on Dia.

"Dia!" he exclaims.

Dia staggers to a sudden stop, still meters away.

He knows Bane got in their heads. He knows the truth: he and Boba are friends, and they always have been.

But does Boba understand?

He can't move a muscle as Boba stands, eyes still as big as the suns, and half-stumbles towards him. He, too, stops a couple feet away, his expression pained.

"I… I'm so sorry." He reaches out, but drops his hands and his gaze. "When you were taken, Bane dragged me along with him for days. He convinced me I didn't need anyone. But I know now he was wrong." Boba raises his eyes, searching Dia's face. "I'm sorry, Dia. You're my friend."

Dia throws himself at Boba, enclosing him in his arms and burying his face into Boba's shoulder. "I forgive you. I forgive you," he repeats. "You're my friend, too."

Boba's arms curl around Dia's back and he holds him just as tightly.

________

After a long series of goodbyes, Boba leaves his tribe, promising to return as soon as he's gotten his revenge.

Watching him say especially fond farewells to two Tusken children around their age, Dia can't wait to hear all the stories Boba has gathered during his time in the desert. He waits with Ruqte by her bantha while Boba packs up his things.

"You got the armour, then?" he asks as Boba returns from his tent with a large bag.

"Yes, after getting shot."

"You got shot?"

Boba pats his side. "A blaster. It'll scar nicely."

Dia chuckles. "As long as you're okay."

"I will be." Boba looks back at the camp. His tribe are still waving fondly after him. He lifts a hand and waves as well. "I'll miss everyone, though."

"Then let's hurry and get your revenge sorted, hmm?" He lightly punches Boba's shoulder. "So you can be back here as soon as possible."

Boba meets his eyes and smiles. "Thanks."

It's the first time Dia's seen him smile in months. It's small, but gentle, and the sight of it warms his chest.

"Of course," Dia replies easily. "I owe you a life debt, don't I? Now give me your bag, I'll put it away."

Boba's expression turns strange, but he lets Dia take his bag off his shoulder. Dia secures it in the bantha's saddlebags, then helps Boba onto the animal, behind Ruqte. As soon as he's settled, Boba leans down and catches Dia's hand, lifting him up into the saddle behind him.

Ruqte takes them back out of the Jundland Wastes, to where Dia's speeder bike is waiting.

"Good luck!" she calls as she rides away. "Come back soon!"

As Dia brushes sand off the speederbike, Boba asks, "So you've met Ruqte before?"

"I travelled a lot the first couple years I was here," Dia reveals, checking the fuel levels. "I met a lot of different Tusken tribes. You were lucky," he adds with a chuckle. "Yours is one of the nicer tribes."

"Oh?"

Dia stands, patting the handlebars of the bike. "Alright! We're already to head back." He grins brightly at Boba. "I finished rebuilding the ship, by the way. I think you'll love it."

"Oh, good. Thanks." Boba ties his bag to his back making sure the straps hold around his chest. "Did you pick out a name?"

"I did." Dia sits on the bike and kicks it into gear. He looks over his shoulder, still grinning proudly. "But I'm not telling you 'til you see it."

Boba raises an eyebrow and sits behind Dia. "Now I'm even more curious."