Chapter 5: Into the Desert

Obi-Wan stared out into the desert, whispers of spirits calling to lure him away from the ramp of the ship. The Twin Suns were stunning, but the rays burning his face were unwelcome. He forgotten how scorching it could be on Tatooine. He raised his hand up over his eyes, capturing the sight of the nearby city. A city he recognized too well that his heart skipped a few beats at the sight. Of all the places Anakin could land, he picked the outskirts of this particular city.

Obi-Wan pushed the fact aside. It didn't matter. The Naboo needed assistance and Obi-Wan wasn't going to bail on them now. He volunteered to venture out to the city to get the much needed parts. Anakin was to tag along with him. After all, his young ward knew the exact parts the ship needed.

Obi-Wan wore the grey poncho provided to him by the Queen. Anakin also received different clothes to help protect him from the sandstorms that whipped up every now and then on the planet. Anakin stood beside Obi-Wan, looking at the desolate planet with boredom. His brown hair fluttered with the wind, eyes squinting from the bright sunlight. "Who would want to live here?"

"Not the most promising planet," Obi-Wan conceded. "Mos Espa is about a good few miles away. We'll need to hurry."

They went down the ramp, beginning their hike up the sandy hill. Anakin struggled, the sand sliding underneath his feet. He bent down, hands grabbing the sand to help the climb. Obi-Wan reached down and pulled him up. "Follow my footpaths, Anakin."

Anakin nodded and took his position behind Obi-Wan when they heard a loud whistle from behind them. They both turned to see Captain Panaka waving them down, followed by a young girl dressed in desert garb. Obi-Wan frowned, his leonine features creasing in dismay. He and Anakin climbed back down from the sandy hill, to which Anakin enjoyed far better than climbing up. Captain Panaka stayed and waited, the girl waited beside him. Next to her was the chirping droid, Artoo-Detoo.

Captain Panaka addressed Obi-Wan. "The Queen requests you allow her handmaiden, Padmé, and the droid to join you."

"With all due respect," Obi-Wan started, glancing to the young girl. "But it would be easier if the two of us just go."

"I think I misspoke," Captain Panaka said and he leaned closer to Obi-Wan. "The Queen commands you to take them with you."

Obi-Wan had to clamp down on his temper. He didn't quite enjoy the captain's abrasive attitude. Obi-Wan calmed himself, breathing in the humidity through his nose. "I'm not a servant to the Queen," he reminded the captain. "Besides, Mos Espa is no place for a young girl—"

The girl stepped forward. Her dark eyes challenged Obi-Wan. "I've been trained in self-defense. I speak several languages fluently. And I am not afraid. I can take care of myself."

The ferocity of her voice and stance surprised Obi-Wan. While he still considered rejecting her, he recognized the strength in those eyes. Obi-Wan thought–perhaps having a girl with them might give them a less aggressive look than two young men and a droid. "I still don't like the idea, but she's welcome to come," he stated to the captain and then he turned to Padmé. "Stay close. Mos Espa is not a kind place."

"You sound as if you've been there before," Padmé observed, but Obi-Wan didn't comment on it. He helped Anakin up the first sandy hill as they trudged their way to Mos Espa.

It was well into the afternoon when they arrived at Mos Espa. During the entire trip, Anakin made small talk with Padmé, trying to impress her with his technology skills. The handmaiden was kind, listening to Anakin ramble on about projects and ships. She would ask questions and it always lit up Anakin's eyes when someone engaged him in his interests. Obi-Wan stayed quiet. He allowed those two to enjoy their company without his brooding to darken it. Tragic memories flourished in his thoughts. Those blackened memories kept him cold despite the heat of the Twin Suns. He tried to keep focused on the present moment, but every little thing of Mos Espa reminded him of that fateful night.

Mos Espa was a large and sprawling city with domed and thick walls to protect the people from the heat. Vendors were sheltered with verandas and awnings, keeping a nice shade over their products. The streets were wide and packed and Obi-Wan had to constantly keep in check where his companions were. He reached for Anakin's hand, holding him close. "Don't wander off," Obi-Wan said to Anakin when the boy stopped to look at the strange fruits.

Anakin rolled his eyes at Obi-Wan's worries. "Okay! Okay!"

Padmé nervously examined the domesticated banthas. "Strange place."

"Tatooine is home to Jabba the Hut. He controls the economy, which largely consists of trafficking illegal goods, slavery and piracy," Obi-Wan murmured to Padmé. "Places like these are rough and dangerous. Those who come here come to hide."

"Like us," Padmé said.

Yes, like them. Obi-Wan gestured for the group to a shop. "Let's start here."

They all ducked into the shop, sighing at the relief from the suns. Immediately upon entering, they faced a pudgy blue creature with wings. The Toydarian snapped in a guttural voice. "What do you want?"

How polite, Obi-Wan thought. He noticed Anakin and Padmé stayed behind him as Artoo-Detoo rolled next to him. "We need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian."

The Toydarian chortled with glee. "I have tons of Nubian. What part do you need?"

Obi-Wan looked to Anakin. The boy spoke up. "We need a T-14 hyperdrive generator."

The Toydarian stared at Anakin in surprise by the boy's mechanical knowledge and prowess. "You know machines?"

"I know a lot of things."

That gave the Toydarian another guttural grunt. "Follow me," he spat. "I got it out in the yard."

They all followed the Toydarian to the yard. Anakin spied on all the pieces piled on top of each other and quietly roamed the salvage yard on his own. He stayed in Obi-Wan's line of sight, which the young man was thankful for. The Toydarian searched for a moment among the scraps before he pointed out the massive generator. "You see? I have the hyperdrive you need," the Toydarian proclaimed. "The question remains can you pay for it?"

"We have Republic dataries—"

"Republic credits!" the Toydarian exploded, insulted. "Republic credits are not good here. I need something of value!"

Obi-Wan shook his head. Then, he brought his hand up, casually waving it in front of the Toydarian. "The credits will be fine."

"No, they won't!"

Obi-Wan frowned and tried again. "Credits will be fine."

That only aggravated the Toydarian. "No. It. Won't!" he shouted. "What do you think you are? A Jedi? I'm a Toydarian! Mind tricks don't work! Only money." His wings fluttered rapidly. "No money! No deal!"

Obi-Wan folded his arms. "We don't have the money you seek."

"Not my problem. But… I also accept valuable things too."

Obi-Wan quirked an eyebrow up and saw that the Toydarian wasn't looking at him. He followed the Toydarian's line of sight to Padmé. Obi-Wan reeled in disgust and stepped protectively in front of Padmé. "I think we will try another shop."

"You won't find another T-14 hyperdrive generator anywhere else!" the Toydarian sneered. "I promise you that! I'm your best bet and I am willing to make a trade."

"Well I'm not," Obi-Wan threw back. "She's not for sale."

The Toydarian's face folded. "I am not talking about the girl."

He wasn't? Obi-Wan looked to the droid. He wasn't going to sell the Queen's property either. The Toydarian flapped around Obi-Wan and Padmé, jabbing his stubby fingers toward Anakin. "I'll trade the part for the boy. I could use a good slave–"

Obi-Wan's face burned as bright as the suns combined. His fingers curled into fists, his nails pinching his palm. The Force grew thicker and thunderous, convoluting the atmosphere. The sudden change jolted Anakin to refocus back to the group. He trailed up behind them, standing by Obi-Wan's side. Seeing Anakin's worried expression, Obi-Wan quelled his anger, remembering the Jedi motto. "If you excuse us, we'll be leaving."

Obi-Wan put his hands on Anakin's shoulders and directed him out, followed by Padmé and Artoo-Detoo. They left the shop, the Toydarian yelling after them with promises they would come back. But, Obi-Wan doubted he would ever return to that greedy scum.

Anakin looked nervously up to Obi-Wan. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

They tried other dealers in Mos Espa, but it seemed the Toydarian—Watto, Obi-Wan soon learned—was the only one to have the exact part they needed. Nightfall came and they realized that they had no place to stay. With only Republic credits on hand, there was no way for them to rent out a shelter and desert nights were quite cold.

"Maybe we should head to the ship?" Padmé suggested after being turned away from another hotel.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's too late. Tusken raiders will be out," he thought hard for a moment. His companions were trusting him to come up with a plan. He wasn't used to having so many people looking to him for an answer. It was only Anakin and even then that was stressful. As he contemplated, a reminder poked his thoughts. He was here once before. He knew of a place that would be empty and available to stay. The problem was that Obi-Wan feared to return to that area. It held his worst memory and was relived almost every night for years after. It was not a place he wanted to go, but it was their only option now.

He resigned to fate. "Follow me."

They all followed his lead as they weaved their way through the city, coming up to a more deserted area. The crowd thinned and the voices turned from ruckus shouts to grave whispers. Obi-Wan felt Anakin's nervous energy through the Force. The boy sensed the dread as well, Obi-Wan thought. They rounded a corner and that is when Obi-Wan faced his nightmare.

It was an old slave dwelling. Unkempt with scorch marks and rubble everywhere. It was pitch black on the inside, the stairs leading up to the door in a half-ruined state. The domed rooftop had a hole as if someone or something shot it right through with a large blaster. It was not a welcoming sight and it sent chills along Obi-Wan's arms the more he stared at the abandoned dwelling.

A small hand pressed into Obi-Wan's hand. "Obi-Wan? I don't know about this place. Let's go somewhere else."

"I don't like it either," Obi-Wan agreed. "But it's the only place I know of that we can sleep safely."

"But it's…" Anakin paused, staring warily, "It's cold."

It didn't surprise Obi-Wan that the boy felt the Dark Side. The dwelling reeked of it. It festered. That was the reason people avoided the area. Which was also the reason why Obi-Wan knew they had to stay there for the night.

"I know Anakin," Obi-Wan said to the boy. "I feel it too. But it's our only option."

Obi-Wan led the group to the dwelling, opening the broken door with an easy flick of his wrist. He reached for Padmé's hand to assist her up the stairs.

Padmé wobbled over the debris as she climbed. "What happened here?"

Obi-Wan looked from her to Anakin to the rest of the scene. "A riot," he decided. "A lot of people died."

"Like a slave revolt?" Anakin asked.

If only, Obi-Wan wished. He recruited Anakin to help him with the droid and soon, all four were huddled in a small living space. It was grim. It contained more rubble and charcoaled marks along the walls where blasters missed. Obi-Wan remembered vividly of this room. He swallowed hard and handed his poncho to Padmé. "This should keep you warm."

"What about you?" Padmé asked.

"I'll be fine," he assured her. "I'll take first watch."

Padmé questionably glared at his vague responses, but accepted it for now and took her place in the far corner to sleep. Artoo-Detoo followed her, shielding her from the door. That droid was very loyal to the people of Naboo. Anakin had already began scoping out the place, scavenging for objects that may come in handy with whatever idea that came to his head. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan sat by the door, picturing the room as it was before and it broke his heart.

"Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan glanced to Anakin who had something round in his hand. The boy moved to Obi-Wan's side and presented his findings. "What's this?"

Obi-Wan looked and his heart shattered. He knew exactly what it was. A mladong bracelet. Simple, jeweled bracelet worn by only one person Obi-Wan knew. Of all the things Anakin could find, it would be that. "It's a bracelet," he answered Anakin's question. "Typically worn by a girl."

Anakin brushed the bracelet with his thumb. "It's the only warm thing I feel here."

Obi-Wan quite agreed. The bracelet was the brightest light source in this dingy dwelling. "Then you should hold onto it."

Anakin scrunched up his face. "I'm not a girl!"

"No, but if it feels right in the Force, you cannot simply leave it behind," Obi-Wan said as a way of an apology, but Anakin wasn't aware of it. "Keep it."

Anakin examined the bracelet again. "Maybe I can give it to Padmé?"

A quick lift of his brow, Obi-Wan glanced from Anakin to Padmé. In one short day, they had managed to befriend each other so quickly. Obi-Wan could tell that the boy's feelings for her were growing as the Force shimmered and brightened in Anakin's end every time Padmé spoke. Obi-Wan wanted to remind Anakin that he shouldn't get his hopes up about Padmé. She was a handmaiden to the Queen. She belonged to Naboo. Whereas he and himself… they don't belong anywhere.

But, the boy didn't need any more sadness. "She may like it," he agreed. "Now, you need to get some sleep."

Anakin groaned at being told of curfew, but rather than do as Obi-Wan ordered, he plopped himself right next to Obi-Wan. "Why are you so sad?"

"I'm not sad."

"You weren't until we came here," Anakin said. "What happened here?"

"I already told you."

Anakin studied him, prodding him with the Force. Obi-Wan immediately threw up his shields. He was not quick enough.

Anakin's eyes widened. "You were here when it happened."

There was some stirring on the other side of the room. Padmé was still awake and listening.

Obi-Wan grew tired, releasing a long breath. "I was," he admitted. "A lot of things happened here."

"People die?"

They died so horribly. Their cries and screams forever echoed on these walls and Obi-Wan's ears.

"Yes, people died."

"Like the girl who owed the bracelet?"

Not a girl, Obi-Wan remembered the dark haired woman, who looked sad and scared. "Yes."

Anakin shivered and scooted closer to Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry." And Anakin really meant it.

Obi-Wan wrapped an arm around Anakin's thin frame. "Not as sorry as I am."

He looked up and for a split second, he thought he saw Shmi Skywalker standing before him, tears glistening in her eyes.

Obi-Wan held Anakin closer. "Not as sorry as I will ever be."

"Repeat that again?"

The High Council of the Jedi Order were all accounted and seated up in the tallest spire of their Temple. The buzzing of traffic hummed in the circular room, but it was barely noticeable once the Council was in order. From the height, they could see all of Coruscant and its mass metropolis. A beautiful sight to behold! At the moment though, none noticed the city below them. All their attentions were turned to the blue holo-projector of a man dressed as a captain and a young woman adored in royal fashion.

The Queen of Naboo.

Master Yoda, a green creature of a height of a young child, sat perched in his cozy seat. A gimer stick in hand to rest his three clawed paws as he stared intensely at the two guests. Next to him was Master Mace Windu, a tall, stoic dark Jedi whose intense voice could scatter away gundarks in fright! He addressed the Queen after they received a transmission from them. And their story was quite the tale!

The Queen of Naboo spoke again. Her voice calm. No trace of fear or worry. "We are thanking you for your quick assistance in helping me and my companions escape the Trade Federation's invasion."

Master Windu side-glanced at Master Yoda with a quizzically expression. "Your Highness, I'm afraid you are mistaken," Windu said to the Queen. "We have just received word from the Senate to send Jedi as ambassadors to peacefully handle the conflict. I'm afraid our two Jedi have just departed."

His answer drew a crease between the Queen's eyebrows. She looked to her captain, who seemed perplexed, yet satisfied. The Queen turned back to Master Windu. "That is news to me," the Queen informed them. "We were rescued by two, human male Jedi."

And that was news to the Council. They had only just sent out Jedi to handle the Naboo crisis. Master Windu leaned forward in his seat. "Did they give you their names?"

"The older one addressed himself as Master Ben."

The circle of Councilors murmured. No one recognized the name. Neither did Mace or Yoda. "I'm afraid we do not know a Master Ben," Master Windu divulged to the now concerned Queen.

"If you allow me, Master Jedi," The captain took over, stepping up to the forefront. The Queen, still relatively calm and stoic, watched her captain take the stand. "The younger one—the boy—called the older one by a different name."

Suspense gave way to tension as the Council waited to hear the alternative name. The captain clasped his hands behind his back, the blue image flickering as he did so. "He called him… 'Obi-Wan'."

The Council Chamber had never been so quiet. They all sat rooted to their chairs, almost believing their ears misheard. Obi-Wan. That was a name that has not been muttered in the halls of the great Jedi Temple for years. From promising to lost to finally rogue padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi's name was hardly muttered except for in tight gossip circles or the Council Chambers. The day Padawan Kenobi did the unthinkable sparked an upheaval in the Order. Many saw it as betrayal. Others believed the boy was simply Lost and needed better guidance. The day Kenobi turned his back on the Order was not one many Jedi would forget. Even Master Windu and Master Yoda knew what they were doing the moment they received Qui-Gon's distress call. It was a cloudy day and the Force felt dreary.

Since Kenobi went rogue, missions have been sent out to Sentinels and Shadows to capture Kenobi and the young boy. Master Yoda wanted them back alive and unharmed to face their respectful trials. Yet, each Jedi that came across them failed to capture them. And the longer they remained fugitives, the more fabled they have become. Younglings spoke of Kenobi with confusion and resentment. Padawans tried harder to prove to their Masters that they were nothing like Kenobi. And, Masters were hesitant to take a padawan in fear they too may be betrayed.

Only Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda seemed to be the only two Jedi to feel any sorrow or reluctance to rule Kenobi out.

"I find your silence disturbing."

The Queen took center stage again and all the Council members refocused back on her. "We apologize," Master Windu said. "I am sorry to inform you that the two individuals who rescued you are not Jedi."

Not a single facial reaction to the news was shown on the Queen's face. Only the captain reacted. "Impostors?"

"Not necessarily," Master Windu replied, looking to Master Yoda for guidance. The Grandmaster of the Order had his head bowed, meditating. "He was a former pupil before he betrayed us. We've been searching for him for quite some time."

"Is he dangerous?" the captain demanded.

"He's—"

"Dangerous, he is," Master Yoda answered, lifting his head up. "But not toward you. Safe, will you be."

Master Yoda's words did not ease the captain's worries. "We are currently stuck on a planet. Unable to go anywhere due to a broken hyperdrive," he reported. "The impostors went out to the nearest city to purchase a new generator."

"Where is your location?" Master Windu asked.

"Tatooine, Master Jedi."

Master Windu turned to Yoda. "If we can get a ship there, we could intercept Kenobi. And then we can be the escort for the Queen's arrival to Coruscant."

The green Jedi's pointy ears bowed, distraught by his own thoughts. "Send Jedi to them, we must."

Master Windu returned his attention to the Queen and captain. "We will send Jedi to your location immediately. Do not try to apprehend Kenobi on your own. Let the Jedi deal with him and the boy."

The Queen looked perturbed by Master Windu's declaration. "We shall wait for your Knights to come."

"May the Force be with you."

"And to you as well."

The transmission with the Queen was cut out and all of the Councilors spoke out at once.

"Unbelievable! How did we not know Kenobi was living among Republic space?"

"What are his intentions with the Queen? What were they doing in Naboo?"

"Something is happening. The Force is tilting."

Everyone expressed their concerns until the thump of a gimer stick restored order. Master Yoda closed his claws on top of the stick. "No danger, Kenobi is," he claimed. "Safe for now, the Queen and her entourage are. To send Jedi to Tatooine to capture young Kenobi we need." Yoda turned to Master Windu. "Send Master Rhara and Padawan Muln to Tatooine."

Dooku immediately took the floor. "Should it not be Qui-Gon? After all, he was the boy's master. If anyone would be able to capture him, it would be Master Jinn."

"Wouldn't Kenobi recognize Jinn's Force presence and be alerted of the trap?" countered Master Plo Koon.

Dooku flustered. "Perhaps, but–"

Yoda banged his gimer stick again. "Make it easier for Kenobi to quietly surrender, a friendly and familiar face will," he stated. "Padawan Muln to bring him in, must it be. No one else."

The Grandmaster's final decision withstood and the Council meeting ended. They all strolled out, hoping this would be the day they finally captured the elusive Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Meanwhile, Dooku was storming back to the safety of his apartments. He dialed on his comlink until and a static blue image of Qui-Gon appeared. "Yes, Master?"

"Contact Ventress immediately!" Dooku growled into the speaker. "Tell her to not harm the occupants."

"Why is that, Master?" inquired Qui-Gon, not fond of the change of plans.

"Because your wayward padawan is among them."

Qui-Gon appeared stunned. "What?"

"The Council spoke to the missing Naboo Queen," Dooku explained, ruffled. "Apparently, your old padawan helped her escape the Trade Federation and is currently with them."

"Where?"

"Of all places—Tatooine."

Qui-Gon brought a hand to his chin. "Back to where it all started."

That irony was not lost on Dooku. "Contact Ventress and tell her the new plan. We will need to readjust, but hopefully, she can still finish the task before the Council ships off the Jedi to arrest Kenobi."

Qui-Gon immensely agreed. "I'll contact Ventress and I will make my departure to Tatooine."

"No! You will not."

Qui-Gon glared at Dooku. "I will not let some Jedi take my padawan. I'm going."

"If you go you'll only ruin us," Dooku almost shouted in his comlink. "Qui-Gon–be sensible! Already the Council sent out two Jedi to capture Kenobi. If you show up, then the Council will start questioning. We cannot have them looking too closely at us. We'll get your idiotic padawan and the boy. Let Ventress do her job."

He could tell that Qui-Gon had no interest in letting Ventress perform the task he wished to take. Qui-Gon wanted to be the one to find Kenobi and the boy, to lure them back into the fold. But for now, Dooku needed Qui-Gon to stay low. These past years, Dooku has noticed a change in demeanor with Master Yoda. At first, the green troll seemed just as heartbroken and devastated as any Jedi when the news of Kenobi's "betrayal" made its way around the Temple. He urged everyone to find them, but it seemed his efforts into finding them faded. He no longer became solely focused on finding Kenobi as his latest interests fell on Dooku. His old master seemed to interrupt his plans accidentally by arriving at one place or calling for Council meetings that interfered with plans. Dooku has even caught the green troll eyeing him suspiciously and Dooku wondered if the Grandmaster had finally figured out the truth.

He may be paranoid. If Yoda knew, he and Qui-Gon would not be freely running around the galaxy. That didn't mean they needed to give the Grandmaster any more clues or unnecessary second-looks. They needed to keep Master Yoda in the dark long enough until they were ready for the grand reveal.

Qui-Gon frowned at Dooku's command, but jerked his head in acknowledgment. "Fine, but once they are captured, I'll be the first to speak to them."

"Of course," Dooku said and he ended his transmission with Qui-Gon.

He wanted to rage and rage and rage! Kill every single council member. Why did it not surprise him that of all the people to foil his plans, it was Kenobi? The duo were well known for wrecking up his hard-worked plans. He silently admitted that he was impressed of Kenobi's feat in evading the invasion and blockade. Perhaps he shouldn't quickly write off the young man yet. If Kenobi was that talented to foil his plans, he should reconsider Kenobi's place in their new order.