Chapter 4 - A Friend Found

Tatooine filled the view screen of the damaged Nubian vessel. It appeared peaceful enough, the stark orange of the desert made it almost beautiful. The death that awaited any unsuspecting traveller who journeyed into the desert unprepared was not apparent from space, neither was the control of the Hutts; gangsters who knew nothing of compassion. The ship entered the planet's atmosphere, the pilot guiding the vessel gently to the shifting ground.

"The main city is Mos Espa. If at all possible we don't want to draw attention to ourselves. Land out of sight of the city, but close enough to walk if need be."

"Yes, Master Jinn." The pilot agreed and did as he was ordered. The sands of the desert planet blew up around them as they landed creating a mini sand storm.

Tatooine was certainly barren and appeared lifeless to those on the Nubian cruiser. The Jedi master knew better. He could feel the life of the planet through the Force and, although it was not immediately apparent, many creatures prospered under the scorching sun. To the east lay the city and home to thousands of traders, criminals and slaves. To the north was a pack of desert lynx, resting now in shade created by rock outcrops and canyons, but come the night and the pack would hunt. And to the south, distant and unknown to the city, was a group of raiders. They moved with their prey; be it human or otherwise.

Qui-Gon and one of the pilots left Panaka and the co-pilot to investigate the damage done to the ship's light engine.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ship could not be repaired unless they could obtain new parts, meaning someone was going to have to go into Mos Espa. Qui-Gon left soon after the decision was made. He left the pilot to do the repairs that could be done while he was gone. He took off his Jedi robe knowing that it was universally recognised and put on a long poncho, to conceal his lightsabre that still hung from his belt, and began his journey across the desert.

He had not even gotten out of site of the ship when he heard a shout.

"Master Jinn!" Qui-Gon turned to see Panaka walking towards him with one of the Queen's handmaidens. "Wait!"

The two Naboo caught up with the Jedi, Jar Jar Binks and the droid, R2D2.

"Her Highness commands you to take her handmaiden with you."

"No more commands from her Highness today, Captain." Qui-Gon tried not to show his irritation at the Queen's order. "The space port is not going to be pleasant."

"The Queen wished it, she's curious about the planet." Panaka insisted though Qui-Gon could hear disapproval in his voice. However it was not with Qui-Gon arguing against the order. He looked closer at the handmaiden.

'Oh Force, that explains it.'

"This is not a good idea." The Jedi Master said, feeling at least one of them should say it. He was not prepared to argue because to do so would draw attention to the fact he had seen through Amidala's disguise. He could almost hear Obi-Wan laughing himself stupid at the situation. Being in the situation just made Qui-Gon curse the young woman's foolishness. He turned to Padme. "Stay close to me."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mos Espa was as dangerous as Qui-Gon expected it to be. From his side he could sense Padme surprise. No matter what you expected and prepared yourself for going into a place like Mos Espa for the first time was always a shock. Padme was a handmaiden to a Queen, Amidala was Queen to a free, republic planet, and neither life brought the young woman into contact with places like this. The planet she ruled was almost a paradise. As a senator she would need to go to Coruscant and visit other such planets, but even in that position it was doubtful there would ever be a need to visit a planet like Tatooine.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obi-Wan came to and realised he had not been unconscious long. The ship was still in hyperspace and Tatooine was still thirty minutes away. Obi-Wan put his hand to his head. There was no blood, though he had a bad headache. With time to spare he put himself into a light healing trance to ward off any serious side effects of a concussion. The headache itself would fade in time.

When he surfaced he was greeted by the same image as Qui-Gon and the Naboo when the Nubian cruiser had first reached Tatooine. The large desert planet loomed before him. He disengaged the ship from the engine ring and flew the ship down to the planet. He had decided to land in the city. He was sure that Qui-Gon's ship would be landed somewhere outside Mos Espa as the Jedi Master would not want to draw unwanted attention to the Naboo.

Obi-Wan had only himself to be concerned with. He had a wide variety of money and credits; his duty often took him into places that were not republic friendly, so paying the port master was not going to be an issue. There was one problem. He looked like a Jedi. His pack with his other clothes in, the clothes he usually wore to blend in when in places like Mos Espa, had been on the diplomatic vessel when it had been blown up by the Federation. He would need to find some more clothes and quickly, before his Jedi robes brought him too much trouble.

He landed the ship and as he got out wrapped his cloak around him to conceal his tunics and more importantly his lightsabre. As he set foot on Tatooine he felt it. The stirring in the Force he had sensed all his life, but only came to understand after his Knighting. It was here; the trouble, the danger. He stopped and looked at it closely. No, he was mistaken. The danger was not here, but it was where it would begin. And now as he looked closer he though he saw something else, something lurking beneath everything else. Hiding. The image was not clear and what it was Obi-Wan could not explain.

'Only you, Qui-Gon Jinn, could get me into this much trouble.'

It did not take long to haggle a price with the port master. He slipped into the role of mercenary easily, allowing a vicious edge to his nature to emerge. Finding clothes had not been a problem either. Close to the port he had found a cloth merchant. Within his grubby shop Obi-Wan found a set of dusty leathers. They were intact and with some care could be made to look like new, however for now the worn out look was what he needed to blend in. The leathers were soft and black. They clung to his body like a second skin. He kept his own Jedi boots as they were tough and none descriptive. He concealed all the various weapons he habitably carried even when he was a Jedi; blaster, a variety of knives and his lightsabre. The only difference being that now the blaster was visible for all to see while his 'sabre was hidden within the front of his jacket.

He gave the cloth merchant his tunics and leggings, choosing too keep the cloak knowing that he would need it come night and in the event of a sand storm. He left the merchant and went in search of Qui-Gon. This time not allowing his guard down for a moment, concealing himself within the planet's other life forms. If Qui-Gon were to look for his Shadow now all he would find were the Tatooine residents, hidden among them, just another mercenary.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jar Jar had managed to get himself into trouble. Again. Qui-Gon barely hide his annoyance, however Amidala, in her guise of Padme was free to show her own impatience with the Gungan. Thanks to a small, blond haired boy Jar Jar was not ripped limb from limb.

'Pity.' Said the voice of Obi-Wan in Qui-Gon's mind.

"You have our gratitude." Qui-Gon told the boy who introduced himself as Anakin Skywalker. Anakin joined the small group as they wondered the streets.

"I saw you in Watto's shop, earlier."

"Indeed," was all Qui-Gon said.

"I work for him." Anakin explained.

"You mean you're a slave?" the handmaiden exclaimed.

The boy shrugged before lunching onto a long monologue about some piece of mechanics. Padme listened fascinated, despite of herself. Qui-Gon smiled to see the two young people getting along; somewhere in the Force a flame was lit. It was small and new, though Qui-Gon guessed it would stand the test of time, provided the two were granted the opportunity.

"Try these." Anakin passed a fruit to his new friends. Qui-Gon tried the fruit and it was delicious. As he bit into the fruit he noticed Anakin looking, shocked, at his belt. His lightsabre. He had seen it. To his credit the boy did not say anything.

"Better get home, Ani." The old woman behind the fruit store was saying. "Sand storm is blowing up."

"Where is your ship?" Anakin asked his companions.

"On the outskirts."

"You'll never make it," he told them. "Come on, you can stay at my place."

A Planetary Queen, a Jedi Master, a droid and a Gungan followed a child of Tatooine to the slave quarters of Mos Espa.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obi-Wan cursed the sandstorm. He had almost gotten to Qui-Gon and his group when it has become unbearable, allowing the Jedi to get away from him again. Obi-Wan went into a nearby tavern to wait out the storm. Close enough to his charge to help if necessary.