Chapter 11: Darth Maul on the Dune Sea

The ship came out of hyperspace above Tatooine the following morning, having doubled back on Qui-Gon's instruction — something recovered, something needed, the specific reason not announced to the full company but understood by those who needed to understand it. The shield generator had taken less damage than Ric Olié's first assessment suggested. The replacement parts, sourced from Watto's inventory through negotiation Arthur had not been present for but had observed the aftermath of in the set of Qui-Gon's shoulders when he returned, were adequate to the purpose.

They would be on the ground one more day.

Arthur spent the morning hours in the hangar bay, sitting on an equipment crate with his back to the ship's hull, Excalibur across his knees in its harness, watching the technicians work. This was a habit he had developed in campaigns, when the waiting before departure was its own kind of preparation — not for anything specific, but for the general fact of what was coming, which could not be known specifically but could be entered well or poorly. He was trying to enter it well.