Disclaimer: I own nothing, just playing in the SW universe.
Summary: Obi finds out the hard way why street kids are going missing on the planet Krakis. Just an adventure type story. Reviews welcome.
The Dark Secret of Krakis
Chapter 1
Kenobi wasn't sure if it was the food they'd had aboard ship last night or the bad dreams he'd had on the trip there, but the planet Krakis just didn't make him feel well. He'd never been to the planet before but he recognized fear when he sensed it. Below the surface and mostly hidden, but it was there. So why didn't Qui Gon sense it?
"I know you don't feel it, Master, but it's there, they fear something, they just won't mention what it is." Kenobi looked out at the forest surface. The rain was thundering down around them, but the house covering protected them. Qui Gon placed his hand on Kenobi's shoulder.
"You're sensing their fears about their lives and this land dispute. Our presence scares them because it brings change and uncertain compromise."
"No, Master, please, it's not that, it's something else, something deeper. We need to investigate this further; it may have something to do with their reluctance to move their boundaries. Let me find out more about that forest."
"We've checked through it, we've scanned the entire surface and no one has mentioned anything, not even in passing thoughts to me."
"I don't understand why I know about this; why I see this more clearly than you, but I truly believe we have to investigate." This was usually the sort of thing that Qui Gon was really good at spotting, so why wasn't he listening to me, Kenobi thought.
"If you feel this is something you must do then go. I will not need you until the banquet this evening."
Qui Gon looked out over the forest. He just couldn't understand Kenobi's feelings in this matter and it disturbed him. His student was perceptive, but this was unusual for him to see something that Qui Gon believed wasn't there. He turned to his student as he bowed and left. It couldn't hurt to have him occupy his time with this investigation; after all he needed to practice his link to the living force.
Kenobi knew exactly where he wanted to go. Vena was waiting for him at their pre-arranged place. She and her brother had befriended the padawan on their arrival and alerted him to the problem of the missing street kids from their neighbourhood. She ushered him into the alcove and pressed her hand to his mouth as he was about to speak.
"No time. Dew has gone. He left before I could stop him."
Kenobi removed her hand and nodded his head.
"I felt a change earlier. I've been feeling ill ever since this afternoon's meal."
"We should head out now before it's too late."
She moved off and Kenobi laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I go alone, this it not something we can waste both of us on. If I disappear you're the only one left who believes this stuff. You have to convince the others. My Master will help."
"No, Dew is my brother, I go and you stay."
"Where is the sense in that? I have skills that can guide and protect me. I can't let you go on your own, so I will go and you will stay."
Vena looked thoughtfully at him for a moment and then conceded to his point of view. "Fine," she said, "Take this." and she placed a com link in his hand. "It will work through the forest and beyond, if needed. Keep it open, I think you'll need it."
Kenobi nodded and placed the device in his belt. He hooked his robes around himself as the rain beat down. He moved to his speeder bike and flipped it on, shooting through the town to the forest edge.