After his meeting with Officer Coltreeve, Obi-Wan Kenobi began threading his way through the crowds thronging the main plaza and the adjoining walkways of Berenko. As he walked, he mulled over their conversation.

The whole interview had seemed off, from start to finish. The creases in his brow deepened. Why was that? His mind ran through the interview. Coltreeve had become very talkative when shown Obi-Wan's lightsaber. Was it because he'd seen them in the past and associated them with the Jedi Order? He'd also happily thrown the Gungan's name onto the table and excused the cover-up by saying a private investigation would be carried out. If that was so why hadn't he become suspicious when no outside investigator had shown up? Was it because the orders had come from a minister and he didn't wish to jeopardize his job?

No, that still felt wrong. What was he missing? Obi-Wan had a feeling something important was staring him in the face yet he was blind to it. The Force was not helping. In fact, ever since they'd arrived on Naboo it had felt more cloudy than ever. The Dark Side was at work here. He thought of Buffy and a Slayer's ability to see straight into the Dark Side of the Force.

Obi-Wan had a sudden urge to find her. He opened their bond fully and was almost knocked off his feet by the sensation of intense excitement that came flooding down it. With a small shake of his head at the excitability of his apprentice, he steadied himself.

This bond he shared with Buffy was very different from the one he'd shared with his master. Long before Obi-Wan had come along Qui-Gon had mastered his emotions and it was rare that any strong feelings slipped through their link. Buffy, on the other hand, had no such restraint. Her strong emotions ripped through their bond unfettered. For Obi-Wan, who'd been taught from an infant to keep his emotions in check, it was rather disturbing. He'd offered to meditate with her to help her with her control, but that suggestion hadn't gone well. When he'd led her to the isolated deep meditation room she'd given him a knowing look and asked if meditation was what he'd really come there for. It had been, but she really should know better to implant strong suggestions into his head.

So why this level of excitement? Buffy wasn't as work motivated as Qui-Gon. She might have uncovered a vital piece of information or simply trying on a pair of 'must-have' shoes. Reaching a quiet spot in the shadows of a building, away from all the tourists, Obi-Wan took out his com-link.

"Ubi!" Buffy yelped. Her voice was high-pitched and she sounded breathless. In the background, he could hear voices raised in anger. Someone yelled and someone else was screaming excitedly. There was a dull thump as if something had just landed against a hard surface, followed by a squeal of outrage.

That sounded like a fight. Where was she?

Obi-Wan didn't have a lot of experience in shoe shops. Despite that, he'd never have classed them as places that would attract sum and villainy. He narrowed his eyes at the com-link he was holding. "Where are you, Buffy?"

"I'm not sure" her voice sounded odd. It became more muffled as she snarled, "Those are mine! Clear off and find your own!" In the background, a male voice whined something unintelligible in reply. Her voice became clearer as she moved the com-link closer to her moth. "Uh, sorry about that. I had to stop a guy from stealing my shoes. Honestly, it's like, totally hectic in here."

"Give me the coordinates, I'll be right over." If this was a shoe shop he didn't like the sound of it. What kind of shop was it that had thieves trying to steal their customers' shoes?

"Coordinates? I don't know -. Oh, my God, they're bringing out more SHOES!" she cried and began to laugh hysterically.

The Jedi winced and tensed. Partly from the way she'd yelled shoes and partly because her screeching caused the sound muffler on his com-link to make a high-pitch whine. What was going on with her? Why was she screaming and laughing? Her laughter sounded odd. This wasn't right. The Force might be cloudy but those currents around him warned something untoward was happening. There was danger here. What sort of danger?
Deal with the here and the now, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon's gentle voice chided inside his head. Yes, his priority was finding her first. He'd investigate the cause of her behavior later.

"Buffy, forget the shoes for a moment," Obi-Wan's voice slowed, carefully articulating each word while at the same time sending waves of calm down their bond. "I want you to look at your datapad. Check your coordinates and read them out to me."

"I can't. It's in my purse." She sounded distracted. He could hear her grabbing something and then mutter, 'those are so prrreeeetty.'

" You've lost your purse?" Thank goodness she'd kept her com-link on her as he'd instructed, otherwise finding her would have been more difficult.

"No, my purse is over my arm." She sounded puzzled by the question. He could hear her moving through a busy room, she kept muttering ''s'cuse me, s'cuse me' and 'oops, sorry'.

He found himself pinching the bridge of his nose as a strong wave of stress and uneasiness hit him. Why wasn't she listening to him? Through their bond he sensed the strange frenzy rolling off her. "Then use your datapad to check your coordinates."

"I can't!" Her voice was almost a wail, "If I put these shoes down someone will grab them."

Obi-Wan frowned. Why was she being so awkward? "I'm sure you can keep hold of one box while you look in your purse."

Silence.

He winced. "Exactly, how many pairs of shoes are you holding?"

Buffy whispered, guilty, "A lot."

Now, he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. "Surely you have some idea where you are?" He'd check for the area on his datapad and combine it with his ability to sense her through the Force.

"Oh, Ubi, this place is so amazing," her voice rung with almost religious reverence. "It's like the best shoe place in the entire galaxy. I'm so lucky to have found it. I was in one of the other shops asking about the crystal caverns and someone mentioned a pop-up shop selling designer shoes at low prices. I came straight here."

Obi-Wan noticed she hadn't told him her location. She was acting oddly. Buffy clearly had a shoe addiction but this was out of character, even for her. "And the name of this amazing shop?" he cajoled. "Once I find you, I can hold your shoes. This will enable you to look for more shoes."

"That's a good idea," she replied slowly. He heard her drop something, curse, and then the sound of her struggling to pick it up without dropping the rest of her shoes. As she bent down, he heard a Gamorrean's squeal of anger coming from somewhere near her. A Gamorrean? What the blazes was a Gamorrean doing in a shoe shop on Naboo? Again he felt the wave of uneasiness. He'd a bad feeling about this, although that wasn't a new feeling, not since he'd turned into a Jedi-Scooby.

"It's called ShoeMania," said Buffy. "It's on a side street, behind Berenko's main art gallery. If you follow the small walkway alongside the gallery you'll come to a square. There's a fountain with a Duckman in the middle squirting water from his mouth. Turn right at the Duckman. At the top of this street, you'll see a large abstract statue representing Cultural Nakedness And Eroticism." Buffy lowered her voice, "You'll need to avert your eyes. It still might be too much for you."

Obi-Wan's lips quirked. "I'm sure it won't be. I've seen you naked and managed to survive the shocking experience."

"Oi! I'm not shocking. And less broadcasting of my..." she dropped her voice to a low whisper, "nakedness. Someone could be eavesdropping nearby."

He replied smugly. "My Force ability is vastly superior to yours and it tells me that no eavesdroppers are within range. I'm also quite sure that any statue in a public place won't have the ability to embarrass me. They never have." He heard her snort and he ignored it, continuing, "Now, don't leave the premises, I'm coming straight to you."

"Oh, I'm not gonna leave any time soon. They keep bringing more shoes out and I want them all." She was smiling. He might not be able to physically see her but there was definitely a gleeful smile in her voice.

She'd got her Republic credit card with her.

In his mind's eye, Obi-Wan had a horrific image of himself flying back to the Overlook engulfed in shoe boxes. He definitely had a bad feeling about this. He needed to find her. And find her fast.

…...

A/N;

A short one but not as short as it would have been if I hadn't put it up. No beta. See a mistake and let me know.

I had something completely different planned for the next section. Musey refused. Point blank. She made me write this. Part two coming up. I think it is in retaliation to all the doom and gloom worldwide with covid-19.
Thank you to those who review. It's nice to see readers are still enjoying it.

Especially as we only have a three arcs before the wrap up.