Qui-Gon donned a rough-textured poncho he had found on board in order to conceal his Jedi identity and prepared to enter Mos Espa, his goal being to purchase the needed parts to repair the ship. Obi-Wan watched him move about the small cabin, desperately trying to figure out some way to stop the fateful meeting between his Master and Anakin.
"I should be the one going into town, Master."
He waited for a reply, but Qui-Gon ignored him, walking past the younger Jedi and into the hall. However, not one to give up so easily, Obi-Wan was hot on his heels.
"It's so hot and dusty out there. I should be the one going. You should stay inside where you can be comfortable. I'll aquire the parts we need and be back here in no time."
And I'll steal them if I have to, Obi-Wan thought to himself as he followed his Master to the exit ramp, almost running into the taller man's back when Qui-Gon suddenly stopped.
The Jedi Master spun to glare down at him. "You will stay here Obi-Wan and protect the queen."
The look on Qui-Gon's face silenced any further argument, but the next words his Master spoke caused the apprentice's stomach to drop.
"And when I return, we will discuss your recent tendencies to argue with me. Perhaps it is time that we refresh your memory on proper etiquette and public behavior expected of a Jedi apprentice."
"Yes Master." Obi-Wan murmured in reply, memories of such "discussions" coming back to him that consisted of not so much talking, but hours of 'saber drills and seemingly endless calisthenics. He hadn't had to endure one of Qui-Gon's "discussions" since he was sixteen years old.
Qui-Gon walked down the ramp and was quickly followed by the gungan, Jar-Jar Binks.
"Excuse me."
Obi-Wan heard a masculrine voice behind him and moved out of the way for Captain Panaka who was escorting one of the handmaidens by the name of Padmé down the ramp as well.
Obi-Wan smiled in his knowledge. No mere handmaiden. He now knew it was the queen in disguise.
His smile widened as Obi-Wan had a idea that would perhaps enable him to kill two birds with one stone.
"Padmé!" He called after her and then she stopped and turned to face him.
"I need to speak with you for a moment. Alone." He added, meeting the gaze of Panaka, who then moved a bit further away.
"Yes?"
She's so young, thought Obi-Wan as he approached her. Young, brave, and beautiful. He had never really noticed that before, and he wondered why he was noticing it now. He continued staring until Panaka prompted him to speak.
"Hurry it up, Kenobi."
Obi-Wan glared at the security chief. He remembered the man to be a bit pushy, but not quite this rude. He then turned his attention back to the young woman and leaned forward to speak to her privately.
"Do you really think it's wise for the Queen of Naboo to be going into a town such as this?"
A quick flash of surprise appeared upon her face, quickly replaced by a look of determination.
"I will be in no danger. Don't you trust your Master?" She teased with a small grin.
Obi-Wan was somewhat taken aback by her humor. She had always seemed so serious before. Perhaps he didn't know her as well as he thought he had.
"Of course I do. I just think it would better if you stayed here on the ship where it's safe."
"I want to experience Mos Espa for myself. I've heard so much about it." She explained, though Obi-Wan sensed another reason for her insistence on accompanying Qui-Gon into town.
"Trust me." Obi-Wan replied. "There's not much to see."
"Padmé." Captain Panaka called out. "If you want to go with them, we need to speak with Master Qui-Gon right now."
"Be careful." Obi-Wan said. "And don't talk to any strangers." He added with a grin that was equally matched by Padmé.
However, his grin quickly faded upon realizing that if he didn't success with his plan this time, the young woman walking away from him now would suffer much heartache and pain. Her suffering was no less than his own in the future that lay ahead of them. Unless he could do something to change it.
He stood and watched as Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar, and Padmé made their way across the desert towards Mos Espa, and then looked up into the sky and wondered how long it would be until nightfall, at which point he would begin to carry out his plan.
