5 BBY — Darknell — Arya stands frozen, her blaster trained on the dark-haired man before her. The dark-haired man’s gaze is cold and calculating, mirroring her own intensity. The air in the dimly lit cantina crackles with tension, each heartbeat echoing the gravity of the standoff. One wrong move could mean instant death for either of them.
Just as the situation teeters on the edge of violence, a figure appears in the doorway, casting a long shadow into the room. It’s Nora, her presence a welcome relief amidst the brewing storm. With a calm yet commanding voice, she speaks, urging Arya and Cassian Andor to lower their weapons.
Reluctantly, Arya and Cassian comply, the tension slowly dissipating as they withdraw their blasters. With a nod from Nora, they follow her out of the cantina and into the cool night air, heading towards the Sleepy Sarlacc.
Once inside, Cassian waves to the few patrons present, including an Imperial K droid and a human waitress who appears tied up in a corner. Awkward introductions follow as Cassian reveals his affiliation with Rebel intelligence. Arya, still reeling from the recent confrontation, opens her palm and tosses the pouch containing the data card to Cassian.
The revelation that the waitress recognized their contact as an Imperial informant sends shockwaves through the group. It becomes clear that there were crossed operations at play, leading to the deadly encounter in the cantina. As Cassian hands the data card to K2-S0, the snarky droid remarks on the irony of the situation, relieved to have been reprogrammed from its Imperial allegiance.
The data card reveals a series of coordinates, including Geonosis, Krystofsys, and Darknell. Arya passes along the comms gear to Cassian, prompting a discussion about the significance of the coordinates. Despite their perplexity, they agree on the need to investigate further.
While Nora and Cassian engage in a secret conversation, Arya takes a stroll with K2-S0, the droid shedding light on their mission on Darknell. As they return to the Sleepy Sarlacc, Arya notices the absence of waitress. Things seem to be back to … normal.
Nora welcomes them back and outlines a proposition. With the data card in their possession, they have the opportunity to capitalize on the Empire’s interest by posing as sellers and selling it back to the highest bidder. Arya, intrigued by the plan but wary of her role, questions how she fits into the scheme. The discussion turns to the value of data cards on Darknell’s market and the logistics of the operation. With a plan in place, Arya returns to the ship and prepares her backpack with the necessary surveillance gear, ready to embark on the next phase of their mission.
Her first stop is Mungo’s Munitions, where she learns of a potential buyer named Jocken in the offworlder market. Arya’s BD droid keeps eyes on Arya from the rooftops and shadows, recording her every move.
As she navigates the bustling streets, Arya is approached by Sho’smi Khaar, a mysterious woman with an offer of her own. Sho’smi leads Arya to her stall, where she presents a holocron, sparking Arya’s curiosity. She becomes enthralled by the Force energy emanating from the object and begins to wonder “why now?” Despite the distraction, Arya refocuses on her mission, heading to Babba’s for further reconnaissance.
However, her efforts are abruptly interrupted when she is abducted by a squad of Stormtroopers. They pull a hood over her head and shove her into what Arya thinks is a waiting speeder or transport. After a short ride, she is pulled from the transport and led through three doorways. She’s pushed onto a chair and the hood is removed. As her eyes adjust to the light, she begins to make out the room as some kind of sparse Imperial office. Colonel Nyroska strides into the office and begins questioning her. Thinking quickly, Arya plays the part of a nervous spacer, bargaining for her life in exchange for the data card.
After a tense interrogation turned negotiation, Arya successfully plays her role and secures her release. She’s hooded once again, shoved into a transport, and dumped out along the way. Back on the streets of Darknell, she resumes her mission, finding a compatible data card and avoiding further Imperial entanglements.
She takes her time to confirm she doesn’t have a tail. Satisfied, she returns to the Sleepy Sarlacc and joins up with BD. Arya shares her findings with Nora, Cassian, and K2-S0 along with the data captured by BD, who tracked her to the exact spot of her encounter with the Colonel. Everyone, including K, are impressed by Arya’s resourcefulness. With their mission confirmed and new information in hand, Arya and Nora prepare to leave Darknell behind and continue their journey.
As they board the YT-2400, Arya reflects on the events of the day, grateful for the camaraderie and shared purpose that binds them together. With the stars stretching out before them, they set course for their next destination, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead at their next stop, Sullust.