Part Four

Qui-Gon landed the ship in a dense thicket of trees. Something didn't feel right on this planet. Which was just the problem, he couldn't feel the Force on this planet. Oh, it was there, just not within his reach.

This was the only planet in the system that was inhabited by living beings. Never in Qui-Gon's life had he heard of such a system, let alone this single planet.

Trees rose above him, some ten times as high as he was. And he could sense, ever so lightly, that the Living Force was everywhere, but he still could not touch it.

The Jedi Master knew it would be best to focus on what was going on around him. Qui-Gon tried not to think about how silly it was for Obi-Wan to come out this far, and yet he could not turn around and leave it unchecked. But none of the other planets in the system were even capable of sustaining life, and there was therefore no point in investigating them. This planet, however, was a definite possibility.

The more Qui-Gon thought of his missing Padawan the more worried he was getting. He could not feel his apprentice through their bond and he had not heard from him in over 18 days.

Obi-Wan walked as much as his healing body would allow. With his connection to the Force cut off, his body had to heal as slowly as a normal human's. He glanced at Samantha. Why in the world did Tom let her stay? Sam didn't have the training to fight and battle would just kill her in a matter of minutes. But she was adamant about coming with them. Maybe she felt guilty with him playing the role of her missing brother, and having to take a beating meant for Ben. Obi-Wan knew that Sam would fight to her dying breath to find her brother, whether Ben was dead or alive.

Obi-Wan feared he might be stuck on this planet. The people of this world had none of the technology that the Republic did. Even the Outer Rim planets were more up-to-date than this world.

"How are you feeling?" Sam asked him.

"I am getting better." That was only half true, but Sam didn't have to know that. He was bone weary. He knew that if he ever got off this planet, alive, he would never again complain about seeing the healers when he came back from missions, with one ache in his body or another.

Before Sam could reply, a murmur started through the regiment and men called out to other men in relief. Obi-Wan could finally hear what they were saying. "Valley Forge, a mile away."

Obi-Wan sighed in a combination of relief and exhaustion, and wondered just how

long a mile was. He didn't think he was up to very much more walking.

A few days after Ben found the strange object, he got his first look at Philadelphia. It hadn't taken long to get here, just going through trees were really getting on the lobsterbacks' nerves. Ben smiled grimly, he might not be able to escape but he really enjoyed seeing the great King's men uncomfortable.

While most of the British were having tea or parties with Tory women, Ben was no better then a common slave doing the bidding of several generals. Has much as he hated it, he wasn't stupid enough not to ignore orders or be stubborn. But that still didn't stop some of the men who were sometimes where drunk not just to beat up on him for the fun of it.

As the days where getting colder he had to stay warm in what he had, which wasn't much. He clothes to keep him warm indoors, but when Ben was outside he had no coat to keep away the chill. Christmas was upon them, Ben didn't care, this wasn't the first Christmas he had spent away from his sister, Sam, but it was the first one he was truly alone.

"Boy, get more firewood," one of the men. Ben came out of his thoughts with those words. A gust of wind met him outside; he rounded the lodge to get more wood. He noticed they were almost out. "Great," he muttered, knowing he would have to go and chop some more for the fire later on. Feeling soft coldness hit his face, Ben looked up at the falling snow.

Back inside the warm lodge, one of the generals ordered him to chop more wood. Going back outside, the snow was falling faster then it had before. As Ben continued to chop wood endlessly, the soft snow turned into a torment of hard, cold, blinding whiteness. All Ben could think was, Could it get any worse?

Qui-Gon wrapped his brown cloak closer for warmth. The snow made it hard to see, but he still managed to feel his way. Knowing he had to get out of this storm before it got worse, Qui-Gon picked up his pace.

He hoped that if Obi-Wan was on this planet, that the padawan had found some shelter from this blizzard. Qui-Gon had searched the forest around where he landed with no success. He had passed some different wooden homes, but remained out of sight. While hidden, the Jedi Master observed the people of this planet that he had seen. Qui-Gon had come to the conclusion that he could not be seen like he was, so he had stolen some clothes from one of the lines where they were hanging from. He kept his Jedi robes in a sack he had with him and wore his cloak.

Something caught his eye, turning to it Qui-Gon show a small edifice to his left. Jogging to it, the Jedi found the door, and stepped in. He let his eyes adjust to the dim room lit but the weak sunlight.

Hearing a noise he turned. There were some different animals with him. He realized some of the one of the animals he had seen before, one with a mane of thick, bristly hair running down its neck hair and a tail, which stood on four legs.

This place was warmer then being outside, so he might as well stay here and rest. Laying down on something soft, used his cloak as a blanket. Closing his eyes, the big Jedi's last thoughts were on Obi-Wan before he let sleep claim him.

"At least we are out of the wind," Sam said looking on the bright side. She clenched her teeth from to stop chattering.

Obi-Wan didn't comment. As the storm raged outside, the small tent did nothing to protect them. All the soldiers at camp were busy making cabins for the winter, but when the storm hit, they all had to use the tents for shelter. He swore that he would never go to someplace like Hoth, even if he had to defy the Council and his Master to do it.

Both had their backs to each other for warmth. Sam hated the silence. It made her think and worry. She was wondering where Obi-Wan had come from.

"Obi-Wan where are you from? Do you have a family?"

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what he should say, but he had to say something. "I live…far away. And I do have a family."

Sam frowned. Obi-Wan didn't really answer her questions. Turning her head, she tried again. "Can you tell me about yourself?"

"Well," Obi-Wan said the word slowly, dragged it out. "I am an apprentice to someone. He is like a father to me."

"He is like your father?" As Sam said that, a pang of loneliness for her parents tore through her heart. She asked, "Where is your real family?"

"I live far from them, too. But I feel like Qui-Gon is more like my family then they are." Obi-Wan stopped there, his voice choked up with sadness. The sadness of the unknown and longing to see his Master again.

Sam didn't understand the bond Obi-Wan and his Master shared. She sensed she had hit a nerve so she didn't ask any more questions. She thought that the name Qui-Gon was an usual name, just like Obi-Wan's, but she was found that Obi-Wan was different then anyone she had ever known. But she felt Obi-Wan should learn about her sad past.

"My parents where from Scotland and we were very poor. But my father had a dream that he wanted to come to the New World and see if we could have a better life here. So we saved all our money, when we had saved enough, we got on a ship coming here. The voyage wasn't easy, my parents besides many others got sick. Before they died, I promised them I would watch Ben who is three years younger then me. They died soon after. When we finally come here, Ben learned of the patriot cause and wanted to fight for freedom. I said no he should not, but he didn't listen. About a year ago he left, and I couldn't stop him." After Sam spoke, she wiped the tears falling from her cheeks. She continued, "Ben would write to say that he was fine, but after awhile I stopped getting letters and I knew something was wrong, so I cut my hair and got men's clothing to dress as a boy. I was going to the camp that Ben had been at and that is how I met up with you."

Christmas Day

Tom stared down at the blank sheet of paper, not making a move to write on it. It had been more then three years since he had last heard from his family. It had been nearly seven since he'd last saw them.

His father had sensed his betrayal. Betray, that was what is Tom's father thought Tom had done. Edmund Anderson was not a forgiving man. Tom knew this. His father would never forget or forgive him. The last letter from him had come near Christmas three years ago. Edmund disowned his son from any inheritance to the family and told him never to show his face again.

Year after year, Tom wished so much to write to see how the family was doing. But time and time again a letter was never posted. Tom could not speak to any friends he had known, they all thought the colonists where no better than common servants.

Getting up, while the paper slid unnoticed to the ground, Tom opened the flap to the tent and looked at the white land before him. Other men were getting up, for the morning. Since the snow had stopped during the night, they would resume working on the cabins. Some of the men were done, but many still had work to do.

The Commander-in-Chief, himself, was not in the public eye. He seemed to keep to himself. When General Washington would make an appearance it was to help and see that everything was in order. Above all George Washington was a gentleman.

Throwing on a cloak, Tom, stepped outside. He started to walk around as everyone started the day. After a few moments, he noticed Sam and Obi-Wan. He would still call the lad Ben in public, even though he knew the truth now. He had to admit that he looked remarkably like Ben McGregor. Obi-Wan was healing at a good pace, and Sam was still playing mother hen to him.

As for Sam herself, he had to be mad to let her stay. He knew full well how severely she could be punished for disguising as a boy. But something told Tom that she would put the full blame on herself, after witnessing the flogging Obi-Wan had endured. Tom cringed thinking about his part in it. Pushing the memories aside, he spoke, "How is everything?"

Sam smiled at him and stood from where she was. "Good. We're doing all right, sir." Her cheeks were red from the cold air.

Obi-Wan swallowed the last of his breakfast and nodded his agreement. The young Jedi thought something was unsettled for Tom but didn't ask. It wasn't his place to interfere in someone's business. He had not said anything to Sam after she told him about her family.

As more time had gone, and the more Obi-Wan had learned of the war the colonists believed in, the more he through of his time on Melidia/Daan. Obi-Wan had grown from his time there, and this war here, he could not completely understand what they fighting for. He heard many things that happened like taxes and the unfairness of the colonies to Britain. There was so much he had to learn as a Jedi, but war was something he could or would never understand.

Tom noticed Obi-Wan in deep thought. He sometimes wondered what went on inside his head, but never asked. Besides the boy, he had to wonder what in the world went on inside Sam's head, to make her do what she did. He knew that she was worried about Ben, but was Ben even still alive?

Ben managed to sneak outside for some air. He knew that he couldn't be long or he would be in trouble. The cold air felt good on his hot face. He wasn't sure if he was coming down with a cold or something more serious.

Hearing something, Ben turned his head. There stood five lobsterbacks, all of them drunk to the boot. That was not good.

"Well, if it ani't the little Scot. What you doun'?

"Nothing." Ben slowly backed up. If he could get away from the lodge, he could run for it.

Seeing what the young Scot was trying to do, the five men cornered him.

Ben had been beaten up before, but not by five men. He would have to move now to stop the inevitable. Hitting one in the jaw then pushing with all his strength to get free, Ben was nearly through, when arms out of nowhere butted him back against the building.

The one man that was holding his smarting jaw, glared at him. Without warning, he grabbed Ben's head and hit it against the wall.

Ben's head spun in millions of circles. Another tried to sock him in the stomach, but howled in pain when his hand hit the object underneath Ben's shirt instead.

Noticing what happened to their comrade, the British grabbed Ben and pushed him against the wall. One of the men got the silver object and stared at it. In their drunk state, the men thought Ben had stolen something that was a lot of money. Just for that they hit him ruthlessly time and time again.

Dozens of blows come from nowhere on Ben's face and body. He wanted to scream, but was choking on his own blood. Soon he was on his knees bent over. Once he was down, the men used their feet to kick him without mercy.

Satisfied with their work, the redcoats turned to leave him bleeding in the snow. They moved away slowly, examining the strange object.

Barely able to get to his feet, Ben stood. The lobsterbacks were still nearby. Using strength, he didn't know he had, Ben ran to the group of men. Hearing his feet crunching in the snow, the men turned. Ben grabbed the silver object and kicked the man's groin, then ran away as fast as his body would let him.

Ben knew he didn't have much time, but he ran as fast as he could. He was barely able to turn his head to see how far away the British were before he ran into something solid and yet strangely yielding.