Qui-Gon refused to enter a healing trance.
"If you are to leave the ship to acquire parts, or at least to provide security to the party that does," he said, "I should remain awake in case there is trouble here."
Here was outside Mos Espa, a city on Tatooine large enough to likely have what they needed but small enough that its spaceport was full, so their landing outside the city wouldn't draw too much attention.
"Your leg." Obi-Wan nodded at Qui-Gon's leg as he rested on a bed in the medical bay. The medical droid had cut one leg off Qui-Gon's trousers for better access to the wound, and now bacta gel covered the wound, gleaming under the med-bay lights.
"The gel will suffice until we are safe," Qui-Gon said. "If necessary, I can do a battle meditation to ignore the pain."
Obi-Wan just looked at him, projecting his skepticism through the Force.
Qui-Gon met his gaze with a bland one of his own. "You are well aware the danger is not past. Not until Her Highness is safely on Coruscant."
"You are even more stubborn than a bantha," Obi-Wan declared finally.
"Like master, like padawan," Qui-Gon returned mildly, and Obi-Wan grinned.
"Rest well, Master."
The door to the med-bay slid shut behind him and he found himself face-to-face with one of the queen's attendants – Padmé, he thought, the one who'd nodded approval for traveling to Tatooine.
"Will the bacta be enough?" she asked, her flame-colored gown almost gleaming in the sterile white corridor. "Or does he need some other treatment?"
"I apologize for my ignorance," she added immediately, though not rushing, "but it has been a very long time since Jedi were regular visitors to Naboo."
"We are peacekeepers, and Naboo has had much peace and little need for Jedi visitors," Obi-Wan countered. "But yes, he will recover, my lady."
He suddenly realized a gap in his knowledge and frowned. "Is that the proper form of address?"
Padmé smiled. "Perhaps you could simply call me Padmé."
He smiled back and offered her a brief bow. "Obi-Wan."
"Master Jinn appears to have more experience…." She trailed off, pink seeping into her cheeks.
Obi-Wan took pity on her. "I was Master Jinn's apprentice. As such, I accompanied him on most of his missions for the past decade."
"I meant no disrespect."
He waved that away. "It was a reasonable question. And I am not so arrogant as to believe his presence on the trip into town wouldn't be…helpful."
He broke, off, considering.
"But?" Padmé prompted softly.
"I believe it is the will of the Force that I am going to acquire parts for the hyperdrive."
She studied him for a long moment. "Is that-? Forgive me, but I don't understand the difference between your belief something is the will of the Force and Master Jinn's feelings telling him the queen would be destroyed if we remained on Naboo."
"Ah. It is difficult to explain, but I hope I can convey at least the basics." Obi-Wan gestured Padmé to precede him down the corridor.
Seeming to intuit his desire for a more private conversation, she led him to the same audience chamber, or whatever it was, where he had reported to the queen on Qui-Gon's condition.
It sat empty now, which suited their purpose.
Eschewing the not-quite-throne on the dais, Padmé sank down to one side of it, perching on the dais itself. Obi-Wan dropped to the deck, his legs curling into a traditional meditation pose without his conscious volition.
He took a breath, let it out slowly as he gathered his thoughts. "The Force is everywhere," he began. "And though it is a single thing complete into itself, we also perceive several aspects of it. Most of us who are sensitive to the Force can access any of the aspects, but each of us aligns most closely with one or two."
He paused, checking to see if she had questions. She nodded for him to continue.
"Qui-Gon – Master Jinn – is most closely aligned with the Living Force, the part that is the immediate here and now. The Living Force does not usually grant visions of the future, but it can and does allow those aligned with it to feel the currents of the immediate situation and the most likely outcomes."
"Such as the Trade Federation pressuring the queen to sign their treaty," Padmé said quietly.
"Yes." Though Obi-Wan was certain that torturing was a better word than pressuring in this context.
She nodded, then met his gaze with a shrewd one of her own. "And you are not as closely aligned with the Living Force?"
"We're barely on speaking terms," Obi-Wan said dryly, and she laughed, then covered her mouth with her hands.
"I'm so sorry. That was entirely inappropriate."
"No apology necessary," Obi-Wan assured her with a brief smile. "I did start it."
"Still." But she appeared to let it go. "Which aspect do you align with?"
"The Unifying Force, which-" Obi-Wan frowned. "My apologies, Padmé. This is not as easy to put into words as the Living Force is."
"I don't believe we're in that much of a rush, Obi-Wan."
He inclined his head in acknowledgment. They'd landed near sunup, and while he wanted to start toward Mos Espa before the heat of the day truly hit, he could spare a few more minutes of explanation.
"The Unifying Force is similar to the Living Force in some ways," he began carefully, "but our perceptions of it spread out to the future and the past, not just the immediate present. Those of us who align with it – or perhaps more accurately, those of us it chooses to align with – often have visions."
"Of the future?"
"Of possible futures, because the future is always in motion, as Master Yoda says."
"And…you had a vision of Tatooine?"
"Of a desert planet," Obi-Wan corrected. "There were no clues as to which one in my vision. And it may not be Tatooine. I was of a similar age as I am now, but that is hardly conclusive."
Padmé nodded thoughtfully. "I am most grateful for the lesson, and hope that we have time for others in the future – you've only described two of the several aspects of the Force, after all."
Obi-Wan inclined his head. "I shall look forward to such a discussion after my return."
"After our return," Padmé said. Obi-Wan blinked, and she raised an eyebrow at him. "You thought the queen would not send an escort?"
He'd thought that very thing, but he recovered quickly. "With no offense meant, Padmé, I would have thought Her Highness would have sent one of her guard, not one of her attendants."
Let alone go herself. He buried the thought deep behind his shields. As far as he knew, she wasn't sensitive to the Force, but a little caution never hurt.
…and Qui-Gon would be laughing himself hysterical if he heard that particular thought.
"A young couple will attract less attention," she said with a shrug. "Especially since I doubt any of the guard could look like anything but a guardsman. And I – the queen would not wish to risk the success of the mission on the possibility."
"Of course," Obi-Wan murmured. "Then are you ready to depart?"
"Almost." She rose gracefully to her feet and Obi-Wan followed suit. "I'll change into something a little more suitable for our mission. It won't take long, I promise."
BREAK
While Padmé changed clothes, Obi-Wan conferred with R2-D2 in the hatch, compiling a list of the necessary parts to repair the hyperdrive on his datapad.
R2-D2 reviewed the list one final time, adding two more items to the "not necessary but nice to have" section of the list, and then gave a satisfied whistle.
"Thank you for your assistance, R2-D2," Obi-Wan said. "If the sand weren't likely to jam up your circuitry, I would bring you with me."
He interpreted the droid's next whistle as I know and patted its domed top. The droid rolled away.
When he looked up, Padmé had returned, now dressed simply in a blue and gray tunic over dark trousers, far more appropriate for their trek into Mos Espa than the gown she'd worn before.
For his part, he'd put his robe and outer tunic aside in favor of a sandy-colored poncho that concealed his belt and the lightsaber clipped to it. Tatooine might be an Outer Rim world, but the holonet made no such distinctions, and there was every chance the people here might recognize Jedi robes, which could end their mission before it started.
Obi-Wan nodded to her and turned to bow to the queen, still in her black gown and headdress.
"May the Force be with you both," the queen said gravely.
"Remember that any communication from Naboo must be suspect," he said. "Do not respond, no matter how they entreat you."
"We won't," Panaka declared firmly.
With a final nod, Obi-Wan turned toward the hatch, gesturing Padmé to precede him into the hot-but-not-yet-scorching Tatooine morning. She did so, wincing against the harsh light from twin suns, and he turned to follow her-
-only to be blocked by Jar Jar Binks heading down the ramp.
"Where," Obi-Wan asked, "are you going?"
"Mesa go with you," Jar Jar replied. "Keepa you safe."
Obi-Wan didn't even have to think. "Absolutely not."
Jar Jar bristled, and so did the other Nabooians. Padmé merely turned back, a puzzled frown etching her features.
"Mesa good bodyguard," Jar Jar declared.
Obi-Wan summoned all of his consular lessons and forced his tone to calm when he answered. "Certainly. But Tatooine is a desert planet."
Padmé and several of the others got it immediately. Jar Jar didn't, only frowning at Obi-Wan.
"And you are an amphibious being," Obi-Wan finished. "This planet is not safe for you, long-term, and while we expect this errand to be brief, there are no guarantees. We should not needlessly risk your health."
"Your concern for our people is admirable," the queen said, and Jar Jar's surprise echoed through the Force. "Remain with us, Jar Jar Binks. I am certain the Jedi can handle things."
Obi-Wan inclined his head first to Jar Jar, then to the queen, and followed Padmé out of the ship and toward Mos Espa, an hour's walk away.
BREAK
As the skyline of Mos Espa emerged from the shimmering haze of heat, Obi-Wan slowed his steps. Padmé took a few more before realizing she had outpaced him and turning back.
"Obi-Wan?"
"I am opening myself to the Force," he explained. "It will help guide us to what we need."
She nodded as he caught up to her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Perhaps keep your thoughts as calm as you can," he said. "And keep me from stumbling over anything."
"There's not much to stumble over except our own feet," she quipped, then rested her hand on his arm. "Is this all right? Just in case?"
He nodded and took a deep breath in, the hot desert air only mildly unpleasant in his lungs. On the exhale, he opened his senses to the Force.
I am one with the Force and the Force is with me. I am open to the guidance of the Force.
The spaceport teemed with life, thousands of sentients of all species coming and going. Surely, in a place like this, there would be someone with the parts they needed.
He allowed Padmé to guide him into the outskirts of the city, keeping his Force senses open – and stumbled when he felt another presence in the Force, someone young and very powerful. The Unifying Force practically sang around him.
Padmé clutched at his arm. "Obi-Wan?"
"I – believe I understand my vision now," he said and counted himself lucky his voice remained somewhat steady. He cleared his throat. "But first, the parts for your hyperdrive."
He felt more than saw Padmé's sharp glance, but kept his attention firmly on the Force and specifically the parts they needed.
He wasn't certain whether to be grateful or not that both the parts and the powerful Force presence seemed to be in the same direction.
The shop he finally led them to felt…he considered several terms and finally settled on odd: bright with the Force, yet stained with some darkness he couldn't identify.
He paused with Padmé just inside the shop for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Like so many buildings in Mos Espa, the shop had thick clay and stone walls with small windows that were truly barely more than slits to allow some ventilation but very little light.
A winged being – Toydarian, he recalled from xenobiology classes – floated to them, speaking in Basic.
"Welcome," thon said. "How can I help you?"
"Good morning." Obi-Wan pulled his datapad from his belt. "We're looking for hyperdrive parts for a J-type 327 Nubian. I've a complete list here."
"Good thing you came to Watto's shop, then," the Toydarian said. "I guarantee nobody else has those parts. Boy!"
The last word was in Huttese, one of the few words in that language Obi-Wan understood, and a moment later, a Human boy not old enough to have lost all of his baby fat yet, ran in – and the Force brightened like a sun.
Oh.
Obi-Wan swallowed as Watto and the boy had a rapid exchange in Huttese. He'd seen this boy before, in his vision. He was one of the slaves Obi-Wan needed to free.
The only question was, how?