Hello, Lovelies.

This is my first real attempt at Star Wars fanfiction. So I'll start off by saying that I'm reasonably familiar with a lot of the hard canon like the films, but don't come for me if I contradict something that happened in a comic or novel. I'm doing my best.

I'm trying to have a little fun with an OC and I admit this is very self-indulgent. I hope you'll not judge me too harshly.

Thank you dear reader. ❤

Tragedybunny

Obi-Wan lounged in his seat in the nearly empty cantina, sipping his drink slowly and observing. Even with the years that had placidly passed on Tatooine without incident, he was ever suspicious that he would be discovered at any moment, or maybe he needed to believe that, the constant vigilance giving him his only real sense of purpose. Either way, he found the local spot to be an important information hub. Despite its rundown appearance and questionable drink selection, it had the distinct benefit of being near to a cluster of docking ports of Mos Eisley known for less scrupulous customs agents. Meaning that to many who wanted to come and go without being noticed, it was a convenient stop. Tucked away in a dark corner he could observe them all, monitor local chatter for any increased Imperial presence, and lose himself a little when certain memories threatened to become too much. All it cost were some of the precious credits he'd earned from whatever menial labor he had taken up, and time, which these days he had plenty of.

Today seemed as quiet as so many of the others that had stretched on since he had deposited Luke into the arms of Owen and Beru. An endless parade of much that was the same; stinging sand, the unending heat, and nothing to hold onto but hope. Hope that one day the boy would grow into all that they had hoped his father would have been. He had just come to the last drops in his cup when he felt it, though barely, a ripple in the Force, it was a presence unknown to him, though the way it moved around them felt vaguely familiar, like a half-remembered dream. Muscles tensed and his senses reached out, frustratingly not as keen as they once were, as he prepared himself for all the worst scenarios that played out in his mind. A hand strayed to his belt, looking for the lightsaber that was no longer ever-present at his side, instead it rested in a box out in the dunes.

None of those scenarios aligned with the next few moments and the lone figure that strode through the cantina doors, a woman wrapped in a red cloak trimmed with a thin line of gold that covered her from her hair down past her waist, where it revealed black leggings and worn red boots. The only parts of her that were left visible to others were her hands and face. As the door closed behind her, blocking the sunlight and leaving her under the even lights of the cantina, he could see she had high cheekbones and angular features, her gray skin was adorned with several linear tattoos of a deeper gray, and the eyes that peered from under the hood were a deep gold. There was no mistaking that she was the source of that disturbance he had felt, a tenuous but nevertheless present connection with the Force, raw and unrefined with a touch of the dark side to it. To be sure she was neither Sith nor Jedi, but given her appearance, he was reasonably sure of her origin, unlikely as it was. The sight of her prompted old memories to rise to the surface of his mind, memories of the war, of that other life he once had, and he recalled that he'd felt the way the Force moved around her in only one other place, Dathomir. Admittedly, a Nightsister on Tatooine was almost impossible, a part of his mind argued against his rising suspicions. But wasn't he here against nearly the same odds, he answered it. She paused for a moment at the door, glancing around as if to take stock of what she saw. If it met with approval or disapproval he couldn't tell, her face remained a passive mask, neutral and unreadable.

It appeared that whatever she thought, the cantina was deemed to be good enough, and a moment after her initial assessment she stepped forward, moving deeper inside, and making her way to the bar where only a couple of patrons were seated. In response, after giving it a moment to not completely echo her steps, he rose from his seat and followed, looking as though he were simply seeking another drink. He chose a space as close as he could get to her without attracting attention and leaned nonchalantly against the counter. The situation discomforted him. What could possibly have brought her here? He didn't trust a Nightsister's appearance to be some mere coincidence, not with what this planet was hiding. Her people have been known to serve dark powers in the past, he couldn't risk the chance that he or the boy had been, or would be, discovered. That meant he'd have to assess the situation as quickly and discreetly as possible, and maybe even take action. It seemed perhaps his vigilance hadn't been for naught after all.

As he passed Obi-Wan his second drink without prompting, hand open to look for payment, the human bartender gave her a quick once-over. Likely he'd never seen any species that exactly matched her looks, being that Dathomirans were a rare subspecies of Zabrak that had rarely ventured off their home world before they were nearly wiped out. Imperial credits dropped on the counter quickly earned her his full attention and he immediately turned from Obi-Wan to fetch her a drink. "New here?"

"Is it that obvious?" If he had any doubt left about her origin, it was confirmed hearing her speak, the accent of her people was unmistakable.

Continuing to lean against the bar, he listened while looking into the distance, feigning disinterest in everything around him, another drifter from the sands that few paid any mind to. "I would remember a pretty thing like you having come in before." The flattery was being laid on thick today and he sensed that there was an ulterior motive from the bartender behind it. Not surprising, though Tatooine had many immigrants, few were of the conventionally attractive sort that certain businesses would be interested in, and they probably were happy to pay for the help recruiting them. "Are you perhaps looking for work? Since you just arrived I assumed you may not have arrangements."

"Perhaps." Her tone was skeptical as she took the drink from his hands and took a first hesitant sip.

"If you're interested, I know a guy with some easy, well-paying work. No toiling out in the sun or down in some mine shaft. Perfect for a delicate thing like you." He smiled at her with clearly forced congeniality.

"I'll give it some thought and I just may take you up on that." With her noncommittal answer, he moved along the bar to help another new arrival. Leaving Obi-Wan practically alone with the intriguing stranger, sipping her drink, and watching the door. Perhaps she was waiting for someone.

Cautiously he inched his way closer to her, getting as near as he dared without arousing suspicion from her. "Some would say it's a bit of an odd choice to settle on Tatooine. It is a dangerous place, you know." She hadn't reacted as if there was something more to his presence, and so he continued to play the part of a cursious local.

"The whole galaxy is a dangerous place these days." She answered, setting her drink down and turning to face him. Those gold eyes seemed to glow ever so slightly as she studied him for a moment. He held his breath, would she be able to sense what he was now? It was possible this was some Witch's trick that would reveal him. Most Nightsisters were Force Sensitive to some degree, though not all were as powerful as Talzin or Ventress had been, and now he was gambling with her unknown capabilities.

When a few tense seconds passed with no remark, he allowed himself to relax and continue the conversation. Perhaps it was a trick of the light and he'd read too much into it. "Fair enough I suppose. And what brings you to our only moderately dangerous, in comparison to the rest of the Galaxy, world? Oh, I beg your pardon, I haven't even got your name. Ben Kenobi." He held out his hand and tried to give her a more convincing smile than the bartender's. If she hadn't figured him out, he may as well keep going. If he could get anywhere now, it would be groundwork for figuring out whatever her dark purpose was later.

She took his hand, returning his smile ever so slightly, the barest hint of sharply pointed teeth visible between her lips. "I'm Zee, and I suppose to put it simply, I'm here to start over."

"Well if you need anything, Zee, don't hesitate to ask. Be careful with that one," he gestured to the bartender, "who knows what he's trying to recruit you for, brothels, casinos, drug running."

She shrugged. "I never trust anything that seems too good to be true, but thanks for the concern." A brunette, green-skinned Mirialan appeared at the door and waved to Zee. It would seem she wasn't here completely on her own. Finishing her drink, she set the glass back on the bar counter and began to walk away. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you around Kenobi." As they started out the door, the Mirialan whispered something to her, and Zee glanced back at him before quickly exiting. He could only idly wonder what that had been about.

His eyes were closed and he could feel the Force around him, a living, moving thing. Drawing in a breath, he reached through it to his surroundings, sensing and feeling them. Through studying with Master Qui-Gon, his connection to the Force had grown greater every day. Today, he was at peace, opening himself to its will, basking in it.

It wasn't allowed to last though, as a sharp noise cut through his meditations, severing him from his sense of peace. A message incoming to his holo communicator, a rarity these days. His pulse quickened, his first thought was of Owen and the worry that something happened to Luke. "Obi-Wan." Her voice was entirely unmistakable, even as an agitated half-whisper, and his eyes opened immediately upon hearing it. "Obi-Wan, damn you! Answer me."

It only took seconds and he was scrambling toward the table where he had left the communicator sitting, on the other side of his small living area from where he was currently seated. The impending sandstorm that had driven him inside this day might cut the transmission at any moment. When he reached it, his breath was stilled for a moment, there she stood in holo form, seemingly unchanged from when he'd last seen her. "Zelena?" He asked, not quite sure he could believe what was before his eyes.

Her expression turned from one of dire frustration to relieved surprise. "You answered!"

He hadn't seen her in years and for a moment he felt all the longing of the last precious moments he had spent with her rushing back to him. He was also painfully aware that, given the events that had led to those moments, something must be terribly wrong for her to be calling him. "Of course, I told you if you ever needed anything I'd be here."

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to have to call you. I - I don't really know how to get myself out of this." She stopped speaking for a moment, arms wrapping around herself as though looking for comfort.

"What is 'this' exactly?" What had she gotten herself into that was bad enough that it caused her to hesitate? He felt tension flood his muscles, so much for serenity today. It had to be astronomically bad.

When she spoke, she continued on with the same quiet tone. "I've been doing some work to rebuild my Sisterhood, I don't want any judgments on that from you Obi-Wan, and I ended up in a bit of a spot with the Black Sun." She stopped again, still hesitating frustratingly and seemed to turn to check her surroundings.

He didn't know how much time they had for her message to get through. "Zel, please, just tell me." He poured his whole will into sounding reassuring and strong, hopefully, it was enough to give her confidence for what they were facing.

For just a moment, there was something of a look in her eyes that he'd seen before, and it tugged at long-buried places in his heart before it was all too soon gone and she continued. "They have me on Ord Mantell, working jobs for them. I've managed to sneak off long enough to call you but they'll be looking for me. I can't get away by myself. Please." In her last word, he heard something in her voice he'd never heard before, fear, real and tangible.

He sighed, really deep down he knew that there was never any doubt he'd end up going to her, but he would have preferred it if it didn't involve one of the galaxy's most notorious gangs. "I'm coming. Send me your coordinates."

She seemed taken aback and he was genuinely hurt that she had ever doubted him but her clear relief washed away any hesitation he might have. "Thank you Obi. I'll be sending them. I have to go, I can't risk being discovered. Please hurry. "

As soon as her image vanished he was packing, assembling things from around the abandoned hut he'd set up as a small but comfortable home. Damn fool thing to do, run off into the maw of waiting gangers for a Dathomirian Witch. A Witch that had left him without so much as a shed tear or a look back. He couldn't find any more bitterness for that though, especially considering she'd been right about it in the end.

"You're really going to her?" The spectral voice of Qui-Gon interrupted him.

"I have to, I promised." He could hear the concern from his old master and he tried to brush it aside. They both knew that there were things more important than her that still needed to be looked after, but he'd given her his word, and he intended to keep it, while still keeping himself from forming another attachment to her.

"Be careful." It was a warning, though not a strong one. He knew Qui-Gon had faith in him.

"I won't forget my duty here." Even if he tried she'd never let him hear the end of it given all that had happened between them.

Tucked away in a box hidden beneath his bed he found the last item he intended to take with him, a lightsaber. It hasn't seen much use since the incident a couple of years ago with Leia, and with any luck, that trend would continue. But it was better to have it and not need it. "What of the boy if you don't return? "

Hearing it spoken plainly, gave him the first moment of reflection he'd taken since her call. There was indeed much at risk but he felt something pulling him toward this beyond just his promise. Perhaps it was the will of the Force itself, telling him there was more at play here. "The Force will guide me back. "

The presence of his master dissipated but he could tell that he'd been approved of. All that was left was to find transport to Ord Mantell and chase down Zelena.

The marketplace of Mos Eisley was crowded with an array of species. They came from all over the Galaxy, some out of desperation, some with nefarious desires, and some to disappear into the sands just as he had. That day, he felt just a bit foolish haunting the stalls and storefronts in pursuit of Zee, trying to be inconspicuous even after having been at it for hours. The twin suns hung low in the sky and very soon the more prudent would close up shop, knowing the night was cover for the more unsavory citizens of the city. It would seem as if his quarry had eluded him today.

Then he spotted it, a flash of distinctive red near where one of the local butchers had set his wares out on display outside of his building. Moving swiftly through the crowd, careful not to draw attention to himself, he closed in without being spotted, keeping out of sight just behind the corner of the building, while still being able to peek around and watch the events that were unfolding. Her voice carried over the din of the market and it was clear she was arguing with the Togrutan butcher. "You're asking that much for meat that's been baking in the sun all day! That's ridiculous sleemo." She was certainly feisty, he'd give her that. Curiously, he waited to see where the exchange was headed.

"Take it or leave it, girl." The butcher spat with thinning patience.

"Half." She declared and crossed her arms while glaring at him. Obi-Wan almost expected her to conjure up some form of sorcery, instead she simply continued to stare with iron determination. "The market is closing, do you really think someone else will come and take it off your hands?"

Another moment passed with neither giving way until without a word, she turned and began to walk away. "Fine." He rumbled as he relented and began to pack her purchase, while she let herself look a little smug.

When it was finally in her hands, Obi-Wan moved in, colliding gently with her as she turned to walk away. "Watch where you're - Ben!" A brief smile passed over her features when she recognized him.

"Apologies I wasn't paying attention. Good evening Zee." His rehearsed tone was warm and friendly.

"Following me through the marketplace again?" She teased and adjusted the weight in her arms.

Although she didn't know it, her little joke was completely the truth. Since that day she'd arrived, he'd arranged a few coincidental meetings with her in the marketplace and on her way to work. Through a combination of following her at a distance and listening to talk in the cantinas, he'd gotten enough information about her routines that it wasn't too much of a challenge to set them up. He'd learned she'd taken up residence in a crowded tenement building, a haven for recent immigrants, not much better off than where Anakin had once lived with his mother in slave quarters row. Along with that, she'd started at Famina's, one of the smaller casinos in the city, situated in a rough area not far from where she lived. Still, the work likely offered an appealing alternative to some of the harsher employment found on Tatooine, that much he could personally attest to. Although he was still convinced serving overpriced drinks to sabacc players with delusions of being high rollers wasn't her end game, so he'd been using these encounters to build rapport with her. If he could just get close enough, she might let down her guard, maybe even think of him as a potential ally. "What gave it away?" He bantered back, falling in step beside her. "That looks quite heavy, do you want a hand?"

"It's fine." She didn't remark on him continuing to follow as she made her way across town to her home so he took it as permission to remain by her side.

"If you're sure. That stack of meat is almost as big as you." Sweeping his gaze across the street, he made sure they weren't about to be run down by an errant speeder as Zee concentrated on her burden.

"Well, my species is carnivorous." They were out of the chaos of the market and onto much quieter streets.

"Is it? I don't think I've met many... " Trailing off, he feigned embarrassment, waiting to see how exactly she would describe herself when pushed a bit.

"Zabrak. Don't worry I won't hold that against you."

"Don't Zabrak have horns?" They'd reach the housing block which was engulfed in its own kind of chaos. Families with multiple members shared close quarters, and many escaped outdoors into the relative cool of the evening to feel less confined. Adults argued or gossiped, elders sat in chairs simply breathing in the fresh air, and everywhere that there was room, their young ran rampant.

"Not all of them." Before they reached Zelena's door they made their way through a group of Rodian younglings playing while a not-so-watchful group of older teens stood some distance away. To him, their noise and exuberance were a sad echo of the times he'd spent helping with the lessons of the Temple's younglings, and he felt their loss weighing on him once again. "Ben, is something wrong?" She stopped right at the door, and even with her friendly concern, it appeared she wouldn't be letting him through her threshold.

He shook his head and chased the memories away. "No, just a long day." She hadn't gone in but hadn't told him to leave either so he continued to loiter around for a moment, drawing out their time together.

"I had better get ready for my shift." She finally came around to dismissing him.

"Of course. Where did you settle in?" He asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Famina's. You should drop by sometime. I'm sure even a hermit like yourself would find it enjoyable." Reaching over, still balancing the load she carried, she pressed the switch to her door.

It was, among his life's accomplishments, a small triumph, but it was one all the same. He'd made it past her initial defenses and gained a bit of her confidence. He could grow that and soon enough he'd figure her out. "Perhaps." He waved as he began to walk away. "Good seeing you again."

"See you around Ben." She waved back before disappearing into the inside of her apartment.