The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 3 - Arrival on Jakku

The Outrider approached Jakku after an uneventful journey through hyperspace. Nomi looked curiously out the window as they entered the planet's atmosphere.
"Ground control, this is the Outrider. Requesting permission to land."
"Permission to land granted, Outrider," a bored voice was heard over the comm. "I'm transmitting the coordinates. And I advise you not to deviate from them."
Dash furrowed his brow.
"It seems they're not overly friendly here."
Glancing at his wife, he noticed her slightly disgusted expression.
"What is it, darling?"
Nomi's gaze wandered over the endless sand, from which the remains of X-wings, TIE fighters and even a Star Destroyer protruded. There must have been a great battle on Jakku during the Galactic Civil War.
"Why does it have to be a desert planet of all places? Sand in your clothes, in your boots, on your skin and between your teeth all the time again. I don't like this, Dash."
When he heard his wife's whining, he laughed.
"Hey, why are you complaining? It must be like home for you."
"That's exactly what bothers me."
Dash unbuckled his seatbelt and rose from the pilot's seat.
"Oh c'mon, it's a nice change from the swamp hole we call home now."

Nomi stuck her tongue out at Dash as she left her seat. Together they walked to the hatch. Dash pressed the button, the hatch opened and the ramp lowered slowly and creakily. Yes, time had not left the YT-2400 freighter untouched, and neither had its owners.
The ramp had barely descended when the hot desert wind hit them. Dash looked encouragingly at his wife.
"Go ahead and don't forget the data storage."
Nomi pointed to a small purse she was about to slip into the neckline of her coverall.
They looked around. Apparently they had landed in the middle of nowhere. But then, a kilometer away, they saw what looked like a settlement.
"Great," Nomi muttered under her breath, "now we have a hike through the sand ahead of us."
Dash closed the freighter and activated the intruder alarm. If anyone on this backwater planet tried to board the Outrider, they'd get more than they bargained for. Nomi cursed quietly to herself as she trudged through the desert sand. She hadn't thought she would ever do this again. If it had been up to her, she could have saved herself the trouble. But it was all about doing an old friend a favor.

Finally, they reached the small settlement. Unlike on Nomi's home planet Tatooine, the huts were made of scrap metal that the inhabitants had scavenged on the battlefield. She walked purposefully to a small hut in front of which an old woman was sitting. The woman looked at her curiously. When Nomi and Dash stood in front of her, she narrowed her eyes into a slit so that she could see better and laughed.
"We're not often visited by strangers," she finally said, showing an almost toothless mouth.
Nomi didn't think it was a surprise, because Jakku seemed much worse than Tatooine.
"We're looking for Lor San Tekka." She smiled kindly at the old woman. "Do you know where we can find him?"
The old woman furrowed her brow.
"You said Lor San Tekka? Um, let me think."
She hummed softly to herself, and Nomi sensed that Dash was on edge.
"Or do you know anyone who can help us in any way?" The Jedi asked.
The old woman put her off.
"Just a moment. The young are always in a hurry. You said Lor San Tekka?"
"Yes, LOR SAN TEKKA."
Dash was bursting with anger. He felt like he'd been standing outside the hut in the sun for ages. He leaned over to Nomi.
"It's like pissing against the wind, darling," he whispered in his wife's ear. "The old woman isn't quite in her right mind."
Nomi was about to reply when the old woman smiled and nodded.
"Lor San Tekka, yes I know. You'll find him 15 kilometers from here in the settlement of Tuanul at the Kelvin Ravine."
"Why didn't she tell us right away?" muttered Dash.
Nomi smiled at the old woman.
"Thank you, you've helped us a lot."
The old woman smiled back and pointed to the lightsaber dangling from Nomi's belt.
"I haven't seen this weapon in ages. And I never thought I'd see it again. May the Force be with you, my dear child."

While the old woman was still marveling at the weapon, a young man stepped out of the shadows of the hut.
"Who are you talking to, grandma?"
His grandmother pointed at Nomi and beamed with joy.
"Look, Roan, a Jedi. And you thought I told you myths. They really do exist. Everything I told you is true."
Roan couldn't help but smile at his excited grandmother.
"They want to go to the settlement at Kelvin Ravine," she continued excitedly.
Her grandson looked at Nomi and Dash questioningly.
"15 kilometers on foot through the desert? That would be difficult even for a Jedi. I can lend you my speeder. Come with me. It's behind our hut."
Nomi and Dash followed him. Roan proudly pointed to the speeder, which was not one of the usual standard models but was instead assembled from scrap metal. The vehicle didn't look particularly trustworthy. Roan lovingly petted the speeder, which looked as if only its owner's willpower was holding it together.
"The speeder is trustworthy," Roan hastened to assure them after seeing Dash's expression. "Believe me, it may look like a piece of junk, but that's deceptive."
Before Dash could respond, Nomi had grabbed the young man's outstretched hand.
"We accept the offer, Roan. Thanks. Come on, Dash, we have no time to waste if we want to arrive before the worst of the heat."
Despite his age, Dash jumped into the speeder and patted the passenger seat invitingly.
"C'mon on darling, what are you waiting for?"
When Nomi had also sat down, her husband started the engine, which unexpectedly started immediately. Roan touched Dash's shoulder.
"And one more thing, beware of the Sinking Fields to the north. The sand would swallow you up there. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you too," Nomi replied. "We'll bring the speeder back as quickly as possible."

They then set off towards their destination, leaving a cloud of dust behind them.