During the ship's descent, Tatooine's vast and austere landscape filled the view port. The entire planet was desert. It would be easy to disappear in a place like this. Finding Kenobi might prove difficult.
Mos Eisely space port was strange and interesting to Amira. She had never been this far out in the Outer Rim. There was a wider variety of beings here. She had often been to Coruscant and found it to be quite diverse but Tatooine was home to some of the galaxy's seedier residents.
She walked along the bustling streets towards the Mos Eisley Cantina; it would be the most logical place to start looking for someone. As she entered the Cantina she realized that locating an individual who did not want to be found was not going to be and easy task.
The air was smoky and stank of stale alcohol. A second rate band was playing on a small stage in the back. Amira made her way to the bar and took a seat next to a rather impressive looking Wookie. She nodded a greeting at him and ordered Alderaan Ale from the bartender.
When the first sip washed over her taste buds she cringed. They were obviously watering it down. She had grown up drinking it and this watered down version had none of the bite that it should. She sipped at her drink and casually scanned the patrons. She was looking for a likely candidate to strike up a conversation.
The bar tender beat her to it, "Just get in?" She nodded her acknowledgement. He continued, "Where you from?", "Alderaan." He smiled, "Alderaan, you probably don't think much of our ale then." She laughed, "No, it could use a little less water." He shrugged, "Yah I know, but we can't get it all the time so we have to make what we have last a little longer. Just think of it as a low calorie option."
He picked up a cloth and began to wipe down the bar, "So what brings you to the garden spot of the galaxy?" She laughed again, "I am looking for someone.", "I know most folks around here; maybe I could help?" She thought for a moment about how to describe him without betraying his identity, "He is a retired Republic officer, not native to Tatooine. Probably lives alone, away from any settlements; keeps to his self."
He thought for a moment, "Retired Republic officer, yes we have a few of those around here, most are not in favor with the new government. You could be describing almost anyone." She wagered a few of the patrons fit the bill, "I bet. Anyone stand out in your mind?", He thought for a moment, "There is man who lives on the southwestern edge of the Dune Sea. He comes in here once and a while, orders a drink but doesn't talk to anyone; kind of a strange hermit."
She took another sip from her drink, "Was he a Republic Officer?", "I think so, a high ranking one too. At least that's the rumor." She nodded and said, "One more question, how long has he lived here?", "About a year I guess, I don't remember seeing him around before that."
After leaving the Cantina she walked slowly down the main drag of Mos Eisley. There were vendors of all sorts and she walked for several minutes before she located a vendor selling used land speeders. She purchased an older model; programmed coordinates provided by the vendor and sped off towards what was either her objective or a dead end.
She arrived a few hours later at the edge of the Dune Sea. She stopped the speeder on a large cliff overlooking the vast sea. The landscape was barren beyond anything she had ever seen. She wondered how anything lived out here.
She began scanning the horizon hoping something would catch her eye. A small dwelling just did catch her attention. It was the same color as the sand and blended into the landscape. Before she could make up her mind to investigate it further a strange sensation filled her.
She turned to find several frightening creatures behind her with staffs raised in the air. She pulled Jade's lightsaber from her belt and ignited it. Taking one of the defensive stances that her brother had showed her, she was able to fend off several of the attackers as they swung and jabbed at her with their staffs.
Outnumbered and under experienced with a lightsaber, the attackers had the advantage. She did not see the staff that collided with her head nor feel the subsequent staffs that pummeled her body.