Chapter 2
(Be Careful. Not everything is as it seems.)
It wasn't what Obi-Wan had expected. He'd expected to see a dull country with boring inhabitants, but Trintonomia was far from that. It was the most beautiful planet that Obi-Wan had ever seen. Its warmth and beauty opened their arms to him, beckoned him, welcomed him, and Obi-Wan could feel joy and happiness flood through him for the first time in a long time. The sun beat down on the small group, but Obi-Wan welcomed the warmth that the rays offered. It wasn't torturous like on Tatooine; this sun beat down on a tropical paradise. Obi-Wan could only marvel at the approaching forest. The forest was made up of what appeared to be trees, but they were taller. Each trunk was covered in a blue moss and each tree bore a strange pink, oval shaped fruit.
"My people call them Lutiast." The Ambassador told Obi-Wan after he had noticed the boy gawking at the forest.
"They are beautiful, almost mesmerizing."
"Yes, indeed." Gentink smirked at the boy's innocence. So mature, so responsible, yet so young was the Jedi's apprentice.
Obi-Wan did not reply to the Ambassador, he was enthralled by the forest. He numbly walked behind Qui-Gon, exactly two steps behind and one step to the right. But then there was a small spark of danger that flashed in the back of Obi-Wan's mind. Years of Jedi training told Obi-Wan to quickly do a back flip out of the path of potential danger. He had done so just in time, for one of the Lutiast had attacked him. Obi-Wan had never known something so beautiful to be so evil, but there was no mistaking that the tree had gone out of its way to attempt to squash him. Noticing it had missed, the Lutiast straightened itself again. It was about to attempt another attack on Obi-Wan, but Qui-Gon intervened. One flash of the lightsaber and the Lutiast did not force its will again.
"Thank you, Master." Obi-Wan replied tersely. Qui-Gon could only stare at the child that was now staring at his feet.
"Are you okay, Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, Master." This time that monotone voice was replaced with a doleful sound.
"We should keep going, Master Jedi. I have never known the Lutiast to attack like that. They normally attack when they feel threatened, but no one here has done any harm to the creatures. It could mean danger." Qui-Gon wished to say more to his Padawan, but the Ambassador was right. Lutiast didn't attack innocent bystanders. Something was amiss.
"Let us hurry to the hideout." Qui-Gon took off at a quicker pace, the small Trintonomian party and his apprentice following closely on his heels. Obi-Wan brought up the rear, checking carefully for any threat. Qui-Gon did not wish to have a fight on his hands, so he did not slow down until their destination was in sight, but it was not until they had all been safely lead inside, all doors and windows looked and the perimeter checked, that the group could finally rest.
"We shall stay here until the criminals responsible can be apprehended."
"We can not do that."
"Why not?" Qui-Gon's tone of voice indicated that he was not happy with the Ambassador, but the always present patience kept his temper intact.
"I have to make a speech tomorrow in the town square. If I do not it could have a disastrous result among my people. They would think that I have abandoned them and left them to be ruled by these violent Separatists. I can not allow that to happen. My people need encouragement, they need something to believe in and I can not simply neglect them, I can not abandon them. I must attend tomorrow. I don't expect you to understand, but this is something that must be done." Gentink was pleading with Qui-Gon, begging him to let him go. His people need encouragement from their leader, he could not let them down.
"Fine, you shall be allowed to attend. But, you shall follow my rules and you shall be within arms length of me or my apprentice at all times. Understood?"
"Yes, I understand completely. I must retire now. There will be a long day ahead of us and all of us will need our rest. Goodnight, Master Jinn." Qui-Gon bowed at the retreating man. With the Ambassador gone, he could have some time alone with Obi-Wan.
"Do you wish to talk yet?" Silence greeted Qui-Gon's ears. "Obi-Wan look at me. You can trust me."
"I don't want to talk about it, not yet at least."
"Whenever you are ready Obi-Wan, you know I'm here for you."
"I know," Obi-Wan replied, his voice cracking, but the teenager reigned in his emotions. Jedis don't cry.
"Why don't we get some sleep for the night then? Since the Ambassador is so insistent on going to the city tomorrow, we must be prepared for anything." Obi-Wan just nodded his head and laid down on one of the cots near Qui-Gon.
"Till tomorrow…"
I know, it's not very interesting yet, but the next chapter will get more into the action and it will involve more of the events that lead to Almost There. This is just all of the introduction. Next Chapter shoud be the introduction of the evil characters as well. Excitement!