“Reirin” - From a Certain Point of View

"Reirin", by Sabaa Tahir, puts us inside the wrapped head of a female Tusken Raider. Reirin has never been comfortable with her role in her Raider clan, so she sets out on a mission that could allow her to get off Tatooine and begin a new life. This story takes place pretty much where the previous one, "Stories in the Sand", leaves off.

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WARNING: This is a plot summary of the short story, spoilers ahead:

Reirin has made a deal with a trader in town. If she can recover a specific artifact from inside a jawa sandcrawler, the trader may be able to provide her with passage offworld. The only information she had was that it would be a colorful rock, and that the jawas probably knew enough of its value to lock it up securely. On her own, having left her clan, she hid behind a structure at a small farm while the target sandcrawler was at rest. The jawas were hard at work trying to sell some used droids to a rather angry farmer and his son. She desperately needed a distraction so she could sneak on board. As luck would have it, a red astromech malfunctioned and started billowing smoke; the ensuing commotion between the farmer and the jawas provided Reirin the opportunity she needed to get into the cargo hold. Soon after, the sandcrawler began moving to the next farm,

Reirin searched the cargo hold. With very little to go on, she picked her way through the debris and junk, and found a locked cabinet. Reirin just knew this was what she was looking for. Avoiding the occasional passing jawa, she managed to pry open the cabinet and found a green rock that looked broken to her. She thought to look for the other piece, but sensed that this was all she would find. She was supremely proud of her prize, and felt a rush of attachment to the strange green rock, similar to how a Raider bonds with their Bantha. Reirin waited for the exact moment when the crawler stopped at the next farm, and snuck out just as the jawas swarmed into the cargo hold to gather up their wares for their next potential buyers. Reirin thought that maybe she might keep this rock, and find a new path for herself, instead of bargaining with the trader.

This story was my least favorite so far. It seemed to have little or no connection to anything I am aware of in EU or Legends. I am assuming Reirin found a kyber crystal, but it was left open to interpretation if she was Force sensitive. It is also not clear who the trader was, but obviously it was someone who knows the value kyber crystals.

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