Royal Starship, Engine Room. Tattooine

After my Master left, I returned to my work on the hyperdrive. The Queen’s starship was unfamiliar to me; it took more focus than I usually need to complete a simple task like disconnecting a drive. My mind could not wander as it wished, and I promised myself that when a quiet moment could be spared I would allow my mind and emotions to float on the winds of the Force. I would seek out this disturbance that so plagued my concentration. Perhaps with some inkling of the source I could accept its presence as easily as my Master did.

For now my mind filled with images of motivators and connecting wires. I was pleased when my concentration allowed me to sense Captain Panaka a moment before he entered the engine room. A young woman was with him, dressed in rough garb, looking less like the handmaiden she must be.

Panaka addressed me with the slight superiority he used in masking his feelings. "Have you seen the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn?"

I smiled. It’s important for Jedi to try soothing those who find us threatening to their position. Captain Panaka obviously thought we were here because he couldn’t do his job. "My Master has left with the droid R2-D2 and the Gungan, Jar Jar, to seek a new hyperdrive in the settlement."

"He already left?" Panaka was indignant.

"Yes, he told the Queen he was leaving immediately. Master Qui-Gon never wastes time." The handmaiden, whom Panaka had still not introduced to me, smiled at the Captain’s outburst. She shared a conspiratorial glance with me. I can see Panaka’s doomsday attitude was humorous to many people.

Panaka whirled to leave the ship, assuming the handmaiden would follow, which she did. He muttered, "What a disaster."

I returned to my work.

Naboo Royal Starship, Crew Quarters. Tatooine

My mind is quiet. I am Obi-Wan, Jedi Apprentice. I reach out my self to the Force all around me. I do not have to reach far. The warm pulsing of all living things, the crisp presence of all inanimate things, everything enters my awareness and my awareness is everything. Visions appear, some never to pass, some already past, some still to come. Throughout I see myself, younger, older, present. And I feel those around me who enter and leave my existence: Master Qui-Gon, Master Yoda, my family, my friends. I feel a new presence, a strong one. It dominates my life. It is heavy. It weighs me down with greatness, awesome, huge. I see my hands and I do not like them. I resent them. I wish to bury them in the sand. The hot sand of this dry desert planet. Never to pick up my lightsaber, never to touch another being. Alone.

I shiver and my meditation is broken. I resist interpreting the visions immediately. I don’t even want to remember them. Master Qui-Gon would admonish me to live in the present, "mindful of the living force," he would call it. My brain understands what he means, but my emotions long for attention.

I love my Master. I am thankful for all he has taught me. His friendship and teaching have guided my entire adult life. However, there are times I wish for the kindly gaze of the instructor from my youth, Master Yoda. He would listen to my childish ramblings of dreams that woke me. When I was younger, his was the kind, parental voice that soothed my tumultuous youthful wrestling with the force sensitivity that is my gift.

Master Qui-Gon needed to harness the wild, adolescent energies exploding with the power of a Jedi apprentice. Some might say he hasn’t finished, the same beings that call me headstrong. His firm instruction doesn’t obscure the affection I know he has for me. I suppose everyone longs for childhood once in a while.

I must stop this wandering. Perhaps I should look through the ship in case my Master needs something besides credits with which to barter. I remember that time on Frindarn. Those rations from Malistere were worth more than this starship, to the right people.

Naboo Royal Starship, Bridge. Tatooine

If I am headstrong, what does Master Qui-Gon’s complete confidence mean? No, I should not even joke to myself about my Master’s abilities. He has confidence in his relationship with the Force, not in his mastery of it. He would smile at my understanding of my weaknesses. I can recognize my difficulties, overcoming them is the true struggle.

He has just informed me that the local dealer in possession of the parts we need will not accept Republic credits. I’m glad I had searched the ship for valuables with which to barter. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could use.

"Excuse me, Master Jedi?" One of the Naboo crew calls my attention.

"You may call me Obi-Wan. What can I do for you?" His face eases somewhat. He was nervous to address one of the mysterious Jedi.

"Uhh, Obi-Wan, I am detecting a storm, a sandstorm I guess, approaching the area fast. I need to alert Captain Panaka and Commander Olie. I thought you would want to know."

"Of course, thank you. I’ll inform the Captain and Commander. Please continue to track the storm." I gave him a slight nod of my head in indication of a bow. He eased even more, in the warmth of pride.

Naboo Royal Starship, Queen’s Throne Room. Tatooine

"Your Majesty, after an analysis of the ship’s power reserves, Commander Olie and I have reached the conclusion that the ship may not survive the sandstorm." Panaka’s grim face could almost make the Queen’s monotone seem jovial.

"What do you suggest, Captain?" Her Majesty’s control is admirable. Even on Naboo, she hardly seemed shaken.

Panaka continued, "With your Majesty’s permission, we should move the ship behind a formation of rocks we have spotted some distance away. If we land the ship on the southern side, we take advantage of the natural cover from the storm. That, in concert with the power we can spare for shields, might pull us through."

Panaka doesn’t give a micron. Might pull us through? The Queen focuses her dark eyes on me. "Jedi Kenobi, what is your assessment of this plan? Can we risk moving the ship farther from our people in the settlement?"

"I don’t see a choice, Your Majesty. I am reluctant to make contact with my Master. He seems to require stealth. I think he would rather not reveal to anyone in the settlement that he has a ship or a large party on it. I suggest we wait as long as possible until we must move in the face of the storm. It will not be dangerous immediately. The edges will merely irritate. If they have not contacted us by then, we should move the ship. Master Qui-Gon will find a way to keep the party safe. The Force will guide him."

"May it guide us all. Very well, Captain. Commence with moving the ship when yourself and Master Obi-Wan have deemed it necessary." She nodded her head to us in gesture of dismissal.

Naboo Royal Starship Landing Site, Tatooine

The storm winds toss my robes until they gather under my arms. Not for the first or last time do I see the wisdom of a Jedi’s traditional garb. It has always marveled me that our order uses sophisticated weapons like the lightsaber, and all Jedi students are trained in the functioning of complex machinery like starships and their hyperdrives, yet our simple, primitive robes are the most useful clothing we could wear.

They hide us when we must not appear to be masters of the Force, they protect us from weather and keep us warm or cool, and they move freely for all the physical exertion we must perform. I don’t know why, but the fact that through the ages we have continued to wear these plain, spun robes convinces me more completely than anything of the pure wisdom of the Jedi. Of course, I keep that thought to myself.

The sands start to sting, and I must squint against more than the sun now. Panaka approaches from behind me. Continuing to try easing relations between us, I try some small talk. "This storm will slow them down."

He seems a little friendlier. Perhaps he appreciated my agreement with his plan to move the ship. After informing me that a message was received from Naboo, we retreated to shelter. Before proceeding to the Queen’s throne room to hear the message, Panaka ordered Commander Olie to pilot us to our hiding place from the storm.

Naboo Royal Starship, Bridge, Tatooine

Outside the ship, visible through the bridge windows, the storm hurls sand at our shields. Using the swirling patterns as an easy meditative device, I work my mind through the intense emotions of the information I’ve received.

It wasn’t easy to order the Queen and her crew to resist sending transmissions to their planet. The Governor of Theed, a Sio Bibble, pleaded for her Majesty to make contact with them. He said the people were starving, dying. I could feel the anger at the Trade Federation swelling in me. I am fortunate to be trained in controlling my emotions. It is hard to imagine the pain of seeing your own people plead for your help. I should prepare for Panaka reverting to an antagonistic relationship with me. While it is hard to imagine their pain, I can imagine their anger at an outsider forbidding them to help.

When I had left the throne room, my Master finally broke communication silence. He told me that they have found shelter with a boy and his mother in the settlement. The boy has intrigued my Master, but he would not elaborate. I have learned patience when this happens, which it often does.

He did not bother to hide his agitation at the delay caused by the storm. We are running out of time. Unfortunately, the storm does not seem to care.

Outside the Naboo Royal Starship, Tatooine

The night is clear, the storm has ended. Captain Panaka and the crew have joined me outside to assess any damage the ship may have suffered. Tension keeps the crew nervous. They attempt to quiet their frenzied nerves by joking with one another. Laughter is forced, strident, and echoes through the silent desert.

I am looking forward to resting tonight. My Master and I have not slept in well over a day. While this is not an unusual occurrence when on a mission, I feel the need to sleep without thought. Perhaps the disturbance in the Force has drained me more than I realize.

As I was stooping to inspect the forward landing gear, a yell more animal than human tore through our quiet landing site like a charging turog beast. Surrounding the ship on all sides were ragged warriors, wielding long pikes of some sort and yelling their fearsome howls. With the speed of the Force, my observation opened wide and sharp. I could see that they wrapped every body surface with desert colored cloth. They apparently saw and breathed from devices held in place by their face bandages. There were ten of them, six more than the crew I had with me, and the only crewmember with a weapon was Panaka.

As quickly as I observed this I was able to yell to the crew, "Get back into the ship now! Protect your Queen!" before the first strange assailant could swing his weapon. I had already drawn my lightsaber. The crew ran up the ramp, they had none of them been far from it. I retreated to cover their backs, the blue glow of my blade causing the attackers to hesitate just long enough.

Panaka drew his blaster and held the ramp while his men escaped. Now the strangers had recovered and the closest one to me made a lunge. I easily parried his blow and recovered quicker than he, bringing my lightsaber back around to split his weapon in half. Panaka, perhaps more spooked by my engagement than actually needing to defend himself, let off with a few shots that caused some more yelling, but no decrease in our enemy’s numbers.

A shot kissed the ship’s ramp. Still awake with hypersensitivity from the Force, I was able to "see" that the shot had come from above. "A sniper up on the rocks. Get inside Captain, your Queen does not even have shields." My calm in the face of such swift chaos impelled him to act without pause. He ran up the ramp. I had no time to follow his movements further as the comrades of my now-weaponless foe decided that overwhelming me was their best option.

By swinging wide I was able to keep them distanced somewhat, but the fact that I was alone carried more weight with them. They continued to press and I was concerned they would start to make their way up the ramp. I started to push out, away from the ship. My instincts had been correct. Many shots from the crew’s blasters traveled down the ramp toward the would-be boarders. I was cut off.

Expecting to see the ramp close and feel the high energy quiver of the shields being raised, my astonishment almost cost me my concentration when the engines started up with their deep popping. This startled the desert people, and they started yelling some more and banging on the ship. The sniper decided he might try bringing the ship down himself and the hull rang with blaster bolts. I even had to deflect a few myself.

I rolled out of the way as an attacker swung at my head. Instincts rolled me in the right direction to avoid the rising ship and it’s lowered landing gear. The ship was taking off. Why were they leaving the landing gear down? Slicing at a descending pike, I glanced in the direction of the ramp. It was still down. Because the ship was some ten feet off the ground and still rising the swarming desert people could not try using the ramp anymore. This meant the crew didn’t need to fire through the hatchway.

With the swiftness of thought, I saw the plan. Gathering the Force underneath me, I made what would seem like an incredible leap to a bystander, but was really only a hop for a Jedi. I landed on the ramp with ease and the ship continued to rise. Panaka stood at the top of the ramp. When he saw me arrive safely, he hit the manual door controls, and the ramp began to close our assailants out.

"I congratulate you, Captain. May I also add my thanks? Your plan was inspired." I controlled my breathing.

"Thank you. We can’t afford to leave our Jedi behind." Panaka almost smiled as he turned to march down the corridor. I guess I’m beginning to grow on him.

Naboo Royal Starship, Bridge, Tatooine

The day is dragging. Everyone feels it, even me, a Jedi trained for patience. The attack by the desert raiders did nothing for the crew’s nerves. Panaka storms about, bemoaning the longer we’re here, the greater the danger that could befall the Queen. The crew do not seemed trained for this sort of sustained tension. Many of them are afraid, all their energy being used to contain themselves.

My Master has not made contact since yesterday, during the storm. My hopes are that he is working on a solution that presented itself since then. All I can do is radiate calm for the crew. That isn’t as helpful as I would hope.

I thought I saw something out the window. It seemed like a dark, gliding shape. A bird? No, there was something too artificial in its movements. My communicator signals that my Master is transmitting.

Naboo Royal Starship Landing Site, Tatooine

My master is betting the Queen’s own starship on a podrace. Our hopes of leaving the planet lie on the shoulders of a young boy named Anakin Skywalker. He is the boy who offered Master Qui-Gon and the others shelter from the storm. When he broke communications my Master expressed a vague but strong interest in this Anakin. I hope that interest will have something to do with winning the race.

I would like to watch the podrace. Perhaps I can link into the droid camera communication frequency so that the crew and I can enjoy the festivities as well. Maybe it would help to alleviate some of the tension if they were allowed some entertainment. Of course, they won’t know their only means of escape from Tatooine will be the stakes. This will greatly aid in making the race more of a tension reliever than an intensifier.

Naboo Royal Starship, Throne Room, Tatooine

"Your Majesty, I recommend we tap into the communication frequency used by the droid cameras in order to view the podracing." I keep my face calm, trying to prevent this enigmatic Queen from guessing the real significance of the race.

"Please explain to me why Master Qui-Gon and my handmaiden are taking the time to view this race?" the Queen inquires with an impassive countenance equal to my own.

I rise to the occasion. "My Master has placed a wager with a local being who was willing to offer the parts we need as its stakes. If a certain Anakin Skywalker is to win the race, we shall be in a position to repair your Majesty’s vessel." I use as many words and circumlocutions as possible to perhaps throw her off my scent.

She hesitates, and then nods her head. "Yes, of course, Obi-Wan. The crew shall all enjoy a brief respite to watch the spectacle of this race. Please provide our royal personage with a link to our throne room. We too would like to witness the triumph of Skywalker." She smiles as she dismisses me.

I do not think this Queen is easily fooled. Still, since she does not press the point, I see no reason to continue trying to deceive. I leave the matter alone and depart the throne room to begin breaking into the frequency.

Naboo Royal Starship, Bridge, Tatooine

It has taken me the rest of the day, but I have successfully isolated the camera frequency and adjusted our receivers until we have a perfect link to the race. Luckily the technicians running the race coverage spent most of the day testing and perfecting their camera set-up. With this live feed, I was able to verify my work.

I enjoy concentrating on technical problems. Because I am accomplished at engineering, I can relax my mind in my confidence. This helps when I need patience. Master Qui-Gon would no doubt now comment that I seem to spend a great deal of time tinkering with technical matters. He often chides me for my lack of patience.

The night sky is clear out of the bridge windows. This planet can be very beautiful. It seems a shame that existence here must be very harsh. My eye suddenly catches a dark movement on the edge of our visibility line. It reminds me of the object I saw earlier today. What can it be? My communicator signals again. Master Qui-Gon has interrupted me from examining this object twice now.

Naboo Royal Starship, Bridge, Tatooine

The midi-chlorian count of Anakin Skywalker is the highest I have ever seen. My Master says that he is not sure what that means. I cannot see why he is cagey about his conclusions. To me, it means the boy is Force sensitive. However, he is too old for Jedi training, surely. Would the council make an exception in the face of his high midi-chlorian count?

I do know one thing: my Master may be able to instruct the boy enough to allow his Force sensitivity to aid him in the race tomorrow. I have never heard of a human competing in a podrace. I am not an expert, but Anakin’s special abilities must be attributed to the Force. My Master has something on his mind. I wonder if we will have another tag-along to keep Jar Jar company. Why cannot my Master stay focused on our mission only?

An alarm goes off from the ship’s sensors. The technician on duty immediately accesses the readouts. I look over his shoulder. I understand almost instantly what the ship has seen, but I let the crewman tell me for morale purposes.

"Sensors have detected an unknown object. Artificial in origin, repulsorlift capabilities," he tells the Jedi apprentice with a little smugness. This is not the same man I made friends with yesterday.

"Can you fix the coordinates?" I ask.

"Yes, sir. The object is hovering to the starboard at 30 degrees, 200 meters away. It’s not moving. Could be scanning us, sir. Shall I try jamming it?" He seems hesitant to take orders from me. I guess I haven’t proven myself to everyone, even after covering them during the attack last night.

I am restless to take action, but remember to remain polite. "Yes, jam it if you can. Keep a lock on it and please update me if it moves. I’m going out there for a closer look." I head for the lift.

Naboo Royal Starship Landing Site, Tatooine

Keeping my cloak wrapped around me, I take the droid lift to the top of the ship and drop behind it. This should hide me from the object’s sensors, given the large signature of our ship.

Staying silent, I take the long way around to the coordinates supplied by the technician. Unless this object, which I am guessing is a probe droid of some kind, is more sophisticated than average, I should have no trouble going undetected. A Jedi can move faster than most people even when trying to be silent. It does not take me long to reach a good vantage point behind the droid. So far, the ship has not tried to communicate with me. Maybe that technician doesn’t trust me, but it seems Panaka does.

Taking a moment to focus with the Force, I improve my eyesight in the dark enough to get a good look at our little spy. It is a probe droid, black and small, with a number of dark lenses. A large antenna is undoubtedly relaying vital information back to its owner. Time to put a stop to any communication being done here. The problem with slicing the probe down with my lightsaber would be the off chance that it gets one good image of me before I dispatch it.

Using the Force, I create a small sound some distance away, in a different direction than both the ship and myself. The probe’s excellent sensors catch the disturbance and it swivels toward the sound. I have already taken off my robe. Making absolutely no noise, I rush at the droid and snare it in my robe, swing the entire bundle over my head, and smash it against the ground. I hear glass break and a high frequency beep. Now it’s only a question is whether it should self-destruct or just go inactive.

I listen to the whirring, beeps, and chirps. It doesn’t sound like shut down. The Force has afforded me some powers of premonition. I fling the droid far away and high. While it twirls end-over-end, I see a flash and then it explodes. The blast isn’t that loud or destructive, just enough to put the droid out of commission. The owner probably also hopes that the pieces won’t give up any secrets either. But we will see about that.

Naboo Royal Starship, Throne Room, Tatooine

"…and I was unable to discern anything about the droid’s origins from the fragments remaining after the explosion, Your Majesty." Captain Panaka, perhaps not surprisingly now, did not think that this was an error on my part. He does not imagine that the Queen has any other enemies than the Trade Federation.

"We applaud your efforts and remain thankful that you prevented the droid’s owner from learning of our presence. Doubtless the master of this spy will blame its destruction on the raiders who attacked earlier." The Queen seems relieved. I think the pressure of exile from her planet is beginning to weigh on her young shoulders. "We will retire for the evening. Hopefully our people will return following tomorrow’s festivities."

I hope so too. I was unable to inform my Master of the probe droid. I would have liked to tell him to watch for others.

Naboo Royal Starship Landing Site, Tatooine

I escape the confines of the ship to the coolness of the desert night. Tatooine is a paradox: two suns, no moon. The stars shine all the more beautiful because of it.

I hear footfalls on the landing platform. Queen Amidala was coming outside, her handmaidens surrounding her. Panaka is a step ahead of them. Seeing me, he nods and moves further away, leaving the Queen between us for protection. A compliment indeed: I am trusted with Her Majesty’s safety.

The women are talking softly amongst themselves and pay no attention to my presence. I give them more room, as Panaka has done. Soon, however, Naboo's young ruler moves over to my side. "You appear pensive, Jedi Kenobi. Is anything troubling you?"

Kind of her to notice, and practical as well. What would bother a Jedi obviously holds considerable repercussions for she and her party. "No, Your Majesty. I am only thinking of Master Qui-Gon. I know he is alright, and was only wondering what he is doing now."

The Queen paused thoughtfully. "I understand," she said softly. "My thoughts keep turning to Padme as well."

"I'm sure Qui-Gon is taking good care of her, Your Majesty."

"I am sure Padme is taking good care of herself," she says, "… in addition to Master Qui-Gon’s protection," she adds, maybe even for my benefit. "But as your Master is special to you, Padme is special to me, to everyone in my court."

Her Majesty seems to be reaching out to me for personal contact. I take the opportunity to ask about a curious subject. "I noticed you turned to her when you were deciding whether to stay on Naboo, or come with us to Coruscant. I was surprised at how much you trusted her opinion."

Her smile widened, and it was one of the few times I realized how young she was. And then I realized it was the first time I saw her smile. Her husky voice finally revealed true emotion. "If anyone would ask you who understands Queen Amidala best, you can tell them Padme does."

A movement out of the corner of my eye makes me turn to the handmaidens. They stand at the foot of the landing platform, garbed in their voluminous robes. One of them -- Rabe? -- has moved her head back so I catch her face in the spilled light from the ship. She is grinning at her Queen, and I notice the others are each smiling in some way. Such enigmas, these handmaidens: as shrouded and dedicated to duty as any Padawan I've seen. They're a cohesive group, unified with their monarch. Does it bother them that the Queen favors this Padme?

"Your handmaiden is very lucky to have your confidence, Your Majesty."

"As all the handmaidens do, as you have Master Qui-Gon's. He would not have left you here if he did not have full confidence in you." She has returned to looking off in the direction my Master and her handmaiden have taken. My eyes follow hers and I enjoy the silence. Then this young woman surprises me once more. "Still, it is difficult to be the one left behind, is it not?"

Her understanding stuns me. Yes, it is difficult to watch and wait.

Naboo Royal Starship, Bridge, Tatooine

The morning of the podrace dawned hotter than the past few days we have hidden on this planet. I chose to watch the race from the navigator’s station on the bridge. Captain Panaka attends the Queen in the Throne Room, along with most of the crew. Only Captain Olie, who volunteered to monitor the ship’s systems during the race, occupies the bridge with me.

The commentators, an amusing pair, or I suppose I should say pair of heads, announced young Anakin Skywalker at the end of a long list of rather rough looking racers. I knew he was a boy but I was not prepared for his slight form, round face, and innocent smile. He looks like a boy I knew at the temple, before I was apprenticed to Master Qui-Gon. And that boy had been very happy to remain behind to tend the gardens as a monk, not venturing out to become a knight.

Almost without thinking I tell myself, "Master Qui-Gon knows what he is doing. Ability need not look like ability." Of course, I say it while shaking my head, wondering if we will enjoy living here on Tatooine.

The race is thrilling. I never fail to find excitement in the massive engines hurtling through the air with a being hanging onto the reins as if they have no control at all. The gigantic machines seem to have a mind of their own, and they run wild without the confines of hulls and starship frames. The beauty of the Force is everywhere, even in podracing.

And I understand what Master Qui-Gon must see in this boy. Despite his limitations as a human he outstrips the field and then runs the wily Dug Sebulba into the dust. Only with reflexes toned by the Force could he have even survived driving his cunning machine. Master Qui-Gon told me he built the racer himself. If we were not in such a predicament, it might be interesting to talk to this Anakin.

Now I must ready for my Master’s return. He will want me to install the hyperdrive immediately, and I wholeheartedly concur.

Naboo Royal Starship, Engine Room, Tatooine

Why must my Master get involved with these beings? Here we are with a clumsy seven-foot tall exile and he rides off to pick up a young boy. What will we do with these beings? He cannot possibly mean to have this boy enter the Temple as a trainee. The boy is too old. How would he learn control?

At least I had time to warn my Master about the probe droid. I am not convinced we escaped its owner’s notice. Either that person will deduce something from its self-destruction or perhaps its twin saw my Master and the others at the settlement. Regardless, I believe we should make all haste.

Naboo Royal Starship, Engine Room, Tatooine

"Jedi Obi-Wan!" It’s the crewman I made friends with on the bridge. "Master Qui-Gon fights with a dark-robed man! A young boy has just come on board and told us you must move the ship!"

Aaah. Panaka won’t like that. Without a word, I race to the bridge. My Master is indeed battling with a dark figure. They are dueling with lightsabers, and it seems that the stranger is an expert. Well, we shall appease Panaka by using his strategy.

I order the pilot to steer the ship close to the fight. Then I lower the hatch. Hopefully, my Master will soon catch on. When we reach him, I see him leap out of harm’s way. I continue to monitor his progress so that I know when to close the hatch. Then I sprint to the entry area.

My Master is not anything more than a human being. He makes mistakes; he is not perfect. But to see him unable to best another being in a lightsaber duel, and then to see him lying on the floor, breathing heavily from an exhausting fight and flight, sends a small, cold stream to my stomach. What would I do without him?

Crew Quarters, Naboo Royal Starship, Hyperspace

We have left Tattooine and are enroute to Coruscant. Master Qui-Gon has taken the boy to get some food.

I sensed the Force-sensitivity from the boy, Anakin. I know what Master Qui-Gon means, why he finds Anakin compelling. Perhaps because my Master had spoken of him with such wonder I imagined a slight tingle when I shook the boy’s hand. As I let my mind drift off to some much-needed sleep two sense-images connect, the almost-real tingle when I shook Anakin’s hand, and the near revulsion of my own hands from my dream.