Chapter Two, Part Three

The scout ship settled to the sands, a light thump in the heels of his boots. Dan and May stood, ready to disembark, as the ramp opened. Dry, sandy air filled his mouth with the taste of earth.

"This place is so gritty..." May took a swig of water to clear her mouth. "We might as well settle in and eat a plate of sand."

"Well, it is a desert planet," Dan smiled as he jump into the sand below. "Two suns and no water make for a brutal place to live."

He considered Tatooine as a place to live. It was hidden, had lots of sun, and was the birthplace of the plot. But it was too... monotonous. Uniform sand broken by jagged rocks. Grumpy inhabitants didn't help the planet's reputation either.

"Let's get going," Ultron stomped down the ramp. "The faster we leave this place, the better."

"Why?" May tilted her head. "The weather shouldn't bother you..."

"This place has no planetary networks," Ultron complained. "Even Garnib had a stable connection to the holonet!"

The A.I. kicked at the sand under his feet.

"There's nothing but sand here, what could possibly bring us to this place?"

"I told you, we're going to free some slaves," Dan rolled his eyes at the irritable machine. "Two slaves, to be precise."

He would visit Anakin and his mother. If he liberated them both, the plot that led to the clone wars would change. He might need to intervene to keep events on track, but Anakin would never meet Palpatine and his mother wouldn't die.

"I wonder if there are any interesting animals here?"

"Hmmm," Dan squinted one eye as he wracked his memory. "They have some small lizards, huge buffalo things, and land dragons, I think..."

"I want to get a land dragon!" May leaned forward, stars in her eyes. "We can name him Terra, and he can watch over the gardens!"

"I'm not sure if that will work... but we can try!"

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"They're so CUTE!"

May charged over the sands toward a small herd of bantha. The huge, buffalo-like creatures stood steady, unconcerned by her rapid approach.

"Be careful," Dan called after her. "They seem pretty tame, we could run into some sand people!"

May already reached the beasts, hands buried in their thick fur. The horned creatures leaned into her reach, pleased with the scratch.

"They purr like a cat!"

"Meow!"

Stormy lept onto the back of one sturdy creature. He kneaded his paws, circles that settled into a flop.

"Stormy likes them too!"

Dan smiled at the scene, one eye on the horizon. Sand people valued their bantha, more than water. If these had owners, they wouldn't be unguarded.

"How about you, Bear?"

Dan nudged the puppy forward. The little shepherd crept closer, a sneak that fooled no one. The bantha peered down at the little dog, then ignored him.

"Bwarrf!"

Bear snorted, then rolled in the sand, nose first.

"I agree, bud," Dan laughed. "They stink!"

"It's not too bad," May scratched a bantha's nose. "They just need a good bath, that's all."

"We have company," Ultron turned to the west. "A small group of primitives, mounted on more of these beasts."

Dan followed the A.I.'s direction and found the newcomers. Ten sand people, seated on banthas, made haste in their direction.

"Should we run?" May peered at the rowdy bunch. "They seem pretty angry..."

"They have a special connection to the bantha, a lifelong bond." Dan shrugged. "These probably belong to them."

"So..."

"We can stay, Ultron should be able to translate, right?"

Dan turned to the A.I., eyebrow raised.

"Possibly," Ultron deadpanned. "But if they attack us, I am free to deal with them."

Dan rolled his eyes at Ultron's hopeful words. Sand people always attacked first. They could run, but May wanted some bantha. Plus, sand people aggravated him. They raided and murdered, yet many books painted them as noble.

"You can defend us, and yourself, but don't go crazy."

"Of course..."

Ultron bowed, eyes locked on the sand people. They reached weapons range, a few blaster rifles already leveled at the smaller group.

One rider moved forward, his voice a combination of screaks and haws. He shook his bladed staff, a circular motion that took in the area of sand.

"What is he saying?"

"He seems to be asking us why we're on his tribe's land," Ultron's head tilted to the side. "And what we're doing with their banthas."

"Ask him if we can buy a few of the bantha!" May called out from between the creatures, still lost in their fur.

"Don't ask him that..." Dan shook his head. "Tell him we're just passing through, and stopped to admire these animals."

Ultron gazed skyward, as if he was forced to commit a great crime. A series of harsh, mechanical brays and haws poured from his mouth, directed at the alien chieftain. They exchanged a series of words, before Ultron reported back.

"He says we can visit with the bantha, as long as we don't hurt them," The A.I. emitted disappointment. "And we can travel in peace, so long as we don't take from their land."

"Thank him, and let him know we'll go soon," Dan bowed to the sand people, then walked over to May. "We can't have these, but we can buy some in town without too much trouble."

"Ok..." May gave the beasts a final, deep scratch. "But we have to get a bunch of them!"

"The scout ship can only carry so much," Dan smiled at her cute expression. "Save room for your dragon."

"Oh yeah... alright, we'll just get six or seven bantha!"

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"What's that noise..."

A hum tickled the back of his head, an itch under his sandy blond hair.

"Anakin, dinner!"

"Coming, Mom!"

Anakin shook off the strange premonition and charged toward his home. Tonight was his favorite, roasted nerf! Whatever it was, it wasn't scary. More a tingle of excitement, like the start of an adventure!