Taken and Alone

Title-Taken and Alone

Author-Zoey Skywalker 11

Summary-Obi-Wan's first mission does not exactly go as planned.

Rating-PG

Time Frame-Pre-TPM-Obi-Wan is 7.

Spoliers-I don't think so.

Reviews-Sure. But please be nice. It is my first Fanfic, SW or otherwise.

Disclaimer-The world of Star Wars belongs to the God known as George Lucas. I only live in the world, I don't own it.

Author's Note #1-This story takes place when Obi-Wan is 7. As much as I adore the JA books it does not follow them. I

needed him to be younger. However, there are brief mentions of Qui-Gon's former Padawan, Xanatos, who turned to the

Dark Side.

A/N #2-I self-betaed the story, and I did my best, so try not to be too harsh about that.

Taken and Alone

Chapter 1-The First Mission

It was supposed to be a simple mission, Qui-Gon reflected. Larbec was a simple, small world with little in the way of anything. It was sparsely populated, with little technology of any kind. The Larbecians lived in small villages that populated the thick forest that covered the planet. The Larbecians were generally a peaceful race, with the tribes, living together. The tribes did not always get along, but they always respected each other. There was no central government, per se, but rather a Council where each tribe sent one elder to represent his or her tribe. This system worked well for the people of this planet for centuries. However, a conflict broke out two months ago. A ground quake shook the eastern sector of the planet and multiple landslides occurred because of this. While damages to the actual villages were somewhat minimal, the village boundaries were destroyed. After the villages were repaired, the Council of Elders met to discuss the recreation of the boundaries. The two villages affected by this were the Traln and the Morillo. Unfortunately, the two of these tribes were not ever on the best of terms and an agreement could not be reached internally. The Council of Elders collectively decided to contact the Jedi Council to get an outside mediator in to negotiate the creation of the new boundary line. The Jedi agreed to help in this matter and decided to send the great negotiator and Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn on the mission.

Normally, this would have been a mission well beneath that of the great Jedi Master. The Larbecians were peaceful and, while they could not reach a decision, they could in no way be considered dangerous. Both sides seemed very willing to negotiate; they just could not reach a compromise without aid from the outside. Simple, when compared to the negotiation missions that Qui-Gon usually got, where it was a stretch to get both sides in the same room, let alone talk to one another.

But there was a simple reason why the great Qui-Gon Jinn took this mission. And the reason was a small boy, with reddish-blond hair and big bluish-greenish eyes that could melt the coldest heart in the galaxy. His name was Obi-Wan Kenobi and he was the newest Padawan to Qui-Gon. At only seven years old, Kenobi was only just starting on the path that would lead him to be a Jedi Knight. He had only been a Padawan for five weeks. Prior to that he was an initiate, living solely within the walls of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Excluding the short day trips that he had taken around Coruscant, this had been Obi-Wan's first time outside of the Temple since he arrived at the tender age of nine months. Because he was only seven, Obi-Wan did not have the training needed for a difficult mission. As it was, Obi-Wan was the youngest Padawan to be taken in the last three centuries! The team of Jinn and Kenobi had plenty of time for the difficult missions, where there would be danger lurking around every corner. There was no need to rush into anything that the boy was not ready for. However, as a Padawan, one of Obi-Wan's duties was to go on missions with his master so that he could get firsthand experience on being a Field Jedi. Both Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council believed that this would be a good introduction, without endangering the boy.

And how wrong we were! thought Qui-Gon with a sigh. He could still remember the excitement on the small boy's face when he told him that they were going to be leaving on Obi-Wan's first mission…

"Obi-Wan. Can you come in here, please?" Qui-Gon had just finished getting his new assignment from the Council and the necessary information from his best friend, Tahl. Walking into the small apartment that he shared with the boy, Qui-Gon found that he was very excited about this new mission. In fact, it had been years since he had been this excited about a mission. It was amazing how this one small boy could bring so much light in to his life.


As if on cue, that small boy ran out of his room at the far end of the apartment. Qui-Gon, knowing what the boy wanted, bent down as Obi-Wan leapt into his arms.


"Hi, Master. How was your meeting with the Council?" Obi-Wan asked as he wrapped his small arms around his Master's neck.


"It went very well, little one," Qui-Gon said as he walked over to the couch, Obi-Wan still protected in his arms. "How was your science class?"


Obi-Wan's smile just got bigger. "It went really good, Master. Me and Bant were partners and we learned about energy and how much force it takes to move something. I mean, not THE FORCE, but like the science force and we were pushing stuff around and figuring out how hard you had to push it to get it move at the right speed and it was really cool. Except for when we were using the scooter things because I was one of the people on the scooter thing and we had to run me into things and it kinda hurt and I scraped my hand on the floor, but Master Fyin-Jounh put a bandage on it and now it all better. See."


Qui-Gon just smiled as Obi-Wan showed him the neon blue strip that decorated him palm. It always amazed him how much Obi-Wan could say was without taking a breath. This was a common practice for his young Padawan when he was excited. It was slightly immature for a seven-year old and a Jedi at that, but somehow Qui-Gon could not bring himself to reprimand the child.


"And, you know what, Master? Tomorrow we are going to drop stuff and see how long that takes. Isn't that cool?"


"Yes, Obi-Wan. That is very cool, but I am afraid that you will not be going to science class tomorrow."


It was at that that the smiling face, fell. "But why, Master? I'm not sick and I didn't do anything bad and I wanna go."


"I know that you are not sick Padawan and you have been a very good boy lately. So good that the Council and I have decided that it is time for you to go on you very first mission."


Completely forgetting about science class, Obi-Wan's face broke into the most wonderful smile that Qui-Gon had ever seen. A mix between surprise and joy, Obi-Wan's face lit up like a glow rod, eyes sparkling blue. "Really! I can go on a Jedi mission with you! That is the coolest thing ever. When are we leaving? Remember I have to say good-bye to Bant, Garen and Reeft. Oh, do we get to take a starship. Can I drive? I have taken my classes and you can sit with me!! I have to go pack!"


At that Obi-Wan jumped off of his Master's lap and ran to his room. Qui-Gon chuckling, followed Obi-Wan to his room. When he got to the door, Obi-Wan already had half of his room somehow crammed into his book bag.


While it was certainly amusing to watch his Padawan go at a mile a minute, the master knew that it had to stop. Obi-Wan needed to learn the proper way to get ready for a mission. Plus, the ship would not be here for another three hours and at this rate Obi-Wan would be fast asleep by then, having burned up all of his energy.


As Obi-Wan ran from his desk to his closet for the twentieth time in 90 seconds, Qui-Gon stepped forward and grabbed him, hoisting him high in the air. Immediately, Obi-Wan started to struggle, caused by a mix of purpose and hyperactivity.


"Calm down, Obi-Wan. We have three hours before the ship arrives. Now, do you want to learn the Jedi way to pack and prepare for a mission?"


"Yes!" Obi-Wan cried.


"OK, then." Putting the small boy down, Qui-Gon showed Obi-Wan what he would need for the mission, packing it in one of his old survival packs. Qui-Gon then let his small Padawan help him pack what he would need. Qui-Gon did not believe that this would be a long mission, two weeks at the most. But he packed enough clothes and supplies for both of them to last over a month in the field. Just in case, Qui-Gon thought. While, the two packed, Qui-Gon also reviewed what the boy would need to know for the mission, along with the major facts of the negotiation and his role in the mission. The boy listened with rapt attention throughout the long talk. By the time, it was time to leave, Qui-Gon believed that his Padawan was ready for the upcoming mission, having a fully packed survival pack and a full set of knowledge on what he needed to know when he was on Larbec.

When the ship arrived, Obi-Wan was back to his overly hyperactive self. Hopping all around the landing pad, he looked at the incoming silver ship with an interest that Qui-Gon had never before seen in the child before. Qui-Gon just looked at the child with a gleam in his eye. When the ship arrived, he just took his jumping Padawan by the hand and led him to the ship.

Unfortunately for Obi-Wan, this ship had been sent by the Senate. Larbec was very important to the trade routes of the Senate, who had sent up numerous fueling stations on a corner of the planet. In return, the planet got a stipend and protection from the Senate. It was an agreement that worked for both parties, but with the peace of the planet in danger, there was also a danger of this agreement falling apart. Therefore, while the mission was a simple, routine mission it of high importance and it apparently warranted a Senate ship. Complete with a pilot.

Obi-Wan was not thrilled when he found out that there was no chance of him piloting the ship, but he quickly got over this when he saw the size of the ship. It took all of his self-control, but Obi-Wan managed to hold relatively still while Qui-Gon introduced them both to the pilot and the co-pilot. He was even relatively calm while the co-pilot gave the two a tour of the ship. Qui-Gon could sense the excitement and the hyperactivity through the bond that the two shared through the Force, but he did not let it show on the surface. Even though he is only seven, he is well on his way to becoming a Jedi Qui-Gon thought with pride. Once the tour had concluded, the Jedi were shown to the quarters that they would be using for the duration of the flight. It was going to be long flight for his hyperactive Padawan, as it was quite a few parsecs away. The trip was expected to take about two and half days. A long time in a cramped ship, but Qui-Gon was sure that they would manage.

The next three days were very trying for the patience of the seven-year old, but they were educational. By the time they got on the ship, it was already close to the late meal, so they quickly stowed their belongings and ate a meal, served by a service droid. The meal was quite good for food served on a ship and the warm food and soft lights soon put the exhausted Padawan to sleep. Qui-Gon carried the boy back to his cabin, laid him on his sleep couch, pulled off his boots and belt, and covered him the warm thermal blanket. After a somewhat lengthy meditation session, Qui-Gon prepared to sleep and was soon out, lulled to sleep by the steady breathing on the couch next to him.

The next two days passed without much event. Qui-Gon spent a great deal of time practicing meditation and lightsaber techniques with his apprentice. The two also spent some time relaxing, playing games and reading stories. While Obi-Wan did show some signs of hyperactivity, he was holding up quite well. He was not bouncing off the walls and only showed signs of restlessness during some of their longer meditations or when he had nothing to focus on.

Only when the ship landed on Larbec did Obi-Wan start to truly show his hyperactive seven-year old self. As he did on the landing platform when the two were leaving Coruscant, Obi-Wan started to bounce up and down, completely unable to control his excitement.

"Are you ready, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked with a smile, already knowing to answer.

"Yes, Master. My very first mission!!"

Looking down at his Padawan, Qui-Gon saw a grin that had spread over his Padawan's face, the gleam in his bluish eyes and the excitement that lay beneath…

Looking back, it was so hard to believe that that only took place three days ago. It seemed like an eternity. Everything had gone so wrong, so fast and Qui-Gon was still trying to comprehend everything that had happened. The negotiations had started soon after the ship arrived, with the two Jedi only getting enough time to stow their belongings in their temporary quarters. The next seven hours had been spent in intense negotiations, with both tribes heavily arguing for their rights to the land. Qui-Gon had tried to negotiate an end to this as calmly as possible, but the situation was becoming more volatile by the comment. Qui-Gon pushed for an end to the day, as he believed it would help the elders to calm their thoughts and mouths before they resumed the talks, but they refused, wanting to put in a full day. Unfortunately, a full day on Larbec was nine o'clock evening standard time and they had been going straight since eleven o'clock morning standard time. The best that Qui-Gon could do was an hour evening meal break. Taking his Padawan back to their quarters, the two ate the simple meal that some of the Larbecian aids had provided for them. Qui-Gon was very impressed at how well his young ward held up during the negotiations. He had been told that his role would be to be silent and still, stand next to Qui-Gon and learn as much as possible. The Jedi Master had been afraid that Obi-Wan would not be able to keep himself in check, especially when it became clear that the negotiations were going to last a long time. But the child had done extraordinarily well, never letting his quiet façade slip. However, the constant control that the child had maintained for so long, took its toll on the young body, as Obi-Wan was starting to fall asleep over his food. Qui-Gon decided that that was enough for his Padawan for one day, especially when they would probably have to do it all again tomorrow. Obi-Wan had fought the idea of going to bed and staying away from his first mission, but eventually he gave in. The Padawan was tried and Qui-Gon had to believe that his Padawan was not as enthusiastic about missions as he had been the previous day. It probably had something to do with the long hours he spent watching old people argue, Qui-Gon thought. After the two had eaten, Obi-Wan went to get ready for bed, while his Master cleaned up from the evening meal. Just before Qui-Gon left to go back to the negotiations, he tucked his young ward in bed, covering him with a thick, woven blanket. Obi-Wan fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. His Master just smiled as he gave Obi-Wan a quick kiss on the forehead and subtle Force suggestion, pushing his young ward into a deeper sleep to ensure that he would remain asleep until Qui-Gon could return. Locking the door to the cabin, Qui-Gon returned to the negotiations, all of his thoughts focused on the two tribes and how their problem could be resolved.