The treasure hunters Daushoroc and Tamoss ride a dewback across the desert of Tatooine in search of their next prize: the starship Athallian Messenger. The ship crashed somewhere on the planet forty years earlier with a cargo of gemstones, a haul worth tens of thousands of credits. Such a find could greatly benefit Daushoroc and Tamoss's effort to buy back the freedom of fellow members of their Eirrauc species, a peaceful race now enslaved and sold throughout the Empire. As they ride, Daushoroc fears a hostile encounter with Tusken Raiders, who he believes have killed other treasure hunters. With their heavy-laden beast and handmade blasters, Daushoroc knows that he can neither run from the Sand People nor fight them; his only hope will be to bargain for peace.
As the suns set, the pair ride into a canyon. Thanks to information that he bought from a group of Jawas, Daushoroc knows that they are going the right way, but he also knows that it is a vulnerable spot. Sure enough, a group of Tuskens now surround them. An elder comes closer when Daushoroc holds up some goods to offer: a Tusken battle talisman from their collection and a few water packets. The elder accepts them, and the rest of the group are placated when Tamoss offers up a small water vaporator. Daushoroc shows the elder an image of the starship; he points to some mountains in the distance and gestures to indicate that it will take them three days of travel. As the Tuskens fade into the darkness, Daushoroc reflects on the commonalities between his own people and these elusive desert scavengers: both wish to be left to live in peace.
The treasure hunters Daushoroc and Tamoss ride a dewback across the desert of Tatooine in search of their next prize: the starship Athallian Messenger. The ship crashed somewhere on the planet forty years earlier with a cargo of gemstones, a haul worth tens of thousands of credits. Such a find could greatly benefit Daushoroc and Tamoss's effort to buy back the freedom of fellow members of their Eirrauc species, a peaceful race now enslaved and sold throughout the Empire. As they ride, Daushoroc fears a hostile encounter with Tusken Raiders, who he believes have killed other treasure hunters. With their heavy-laden beast and handmade blasters, Daushoroc knows that he can neither run from the Sand People nor fight them; his only hope will be to bargain for peace.
As the suns set, the pair ride into a canyon. Thanks to information that he bought from a group of Jawas, Daushoroc knows that they are going the right way, but he also knows that it is a vulnerable spot. Sure enough, a group of Tuskens now surround them. An elder comes closer when Daushoroc holds up some goods to offer: a Tusken battle talisman from their collection and a few water packets. The elder accepts them, and the rest of the group are placated when Tamoss offers up a small water vaporator. Daushoroc shows the elder an image of the starship; he points to some mountains in the distance and gestures to indicate that it will take them three days of travel. As the Tuskens fade into the darkness, Daushoroc reflects on the commonalities between his own people and these elusive desert scavengers: both wish to be left to live in peace.