Part 1
"Stars were falling deep in the darkness
As prayers rose softly, petals at dawn
And as I listened, your voice seemed so clear
So calmly you were calling your god"
~ Loreena McKennitt - Full Circle ~
The playful scent of spices invaded his senses, making him feel a part of this fascinating place they had come to. Around him crowds bustled back and forth, from shop to shop in the tiny market place. Each vender had something excitingly different to offer the people. One old man in the corner showed his customers exotic flowers and hand crafted trinkets, another sold fierce looking weapons, and still another hung rare herbs and natural remedies around his cart.
"So, what exactly are we suppose to do here?" Qui-Gon's soft voice intruded on Obi-Wan thoughts. His master looked at him with an inquisitive eye.
"I'm not exactly sure, Master. But I have a feeling that what we are looking for will find us." Qui-Gon gave a simple nod and turned his gaze at the mass of people wandering about them.
Obi-Wan wasn't sure if his master understood why he had insisted they come to this small insignificant planet. It had begun several long nights ago when he had woken from a deep slumber by a clear and calm voice.
It had called to him, asking for help. At first he hadn't even understood what it meant. He had hoped it was just a dream, but night after night the voice called to him. Each night it had become more frantic in it's pleas for help. Finally he listened, and it beckoned him to the small planet of Denatio.
When Obi-Wan had told Qui-Gon about the voice and his wish to come here his master looked at him skeptically. But he had agreed that it must be resolved, even if that meant flying to a small underdeveloped piece of rock in the middle of no where. However Qui-Gon insisted that he accompany him for at least safety's sake.
"Excuse me Sirs." An elderly man came walking up to the two Jedi. He was dressed in several layers of dusty robes well past their days of glory. Obi-Wan noticed his face was well worn and creased as he approached them.
"Yes, what can we do for you?" Qui-Gon was quick to ask in a polite but commanding voice.
"The question is what can I do for ya? Now don't think of me as a crazy old hermit, but I believe that I am suppose to help ya." He said gently. Obi-Wan gaze drifted from Qui-Gon, who wore a relatively shocked expression, then back to the old man. He gestured for the man to continue. "Ma name is Cilba, and I own the local inn and tavern. Maybe we could go there and speak privately?" As he spoke the young man noticed that more than one tooth was missing from his bloody gums.
Obi-Wan gave a solemn nod and began to follow the elderly man through winding and twisting streets, with Qui-Gon in close pursuit. Obi-Wan took on last look at the market and somehow realized that this place seemed very familiar.
The room was dimly light Obi-Wan noticed as he and Qui-Gon entered the tiny building. The air was polluted with the smoke and the distinct smell of ale. Except for a few patrons that nursed their drinks in silence, the tavern was empty. The man named Cilba led them to a small table in the back of the establishment.
He quickly gestured for them to sit. "Do ya want a mug of Ribma before we start? On the house of course." Cilba kindly offered them. Before Qui-Gon could even respond Obi-Wan was warning him.
"Master I would suggest we don't" He cautioned. The Jedi master eyed his padawan curiously. "Something tells me that it's more of an acquired taste." Obi-Wan answered the unspoken question.
At that Cilba clapped his hand on his leg and gave a wholehearted chuckle. "I see you've been to this Gods forsaken planet!" He murmured to Obi-Wan. He gave another chuckle and then offered and explanation. "The boy's right, it's so strong it would've made all y're hairs stand strait on end it, just like a black cat!"
"Master Cilba..." Obi-Wan started but was silenced mid sentence by the man's gruff voice.
"Call me Cilba." The old man said.
"Fine, Cilba, to tell the truth I have never been here before in my life." Obi-Wan mentioned. At this Cilba's face turned from that of amusement to that surprise.
"How'd you know about the ale then? Oh well nothin but a good guess aye?" He gave a quick poke in the ribs to the young padawan and gave another chuckle.
"Could we now discuss why you brought us here?" Qui-Gon's clear and commanding voice cut through the small talk like a hot knife through butter.
"Sorry, sometimes my mind will wander off on it's own. Oh, yes, about the dreams you've had, they called you here ya know..." Cilba started to talk to the now completely stunned Jedi.
Part 2
"Elsewhere a snowfall, the first in the winter Covered the ground as the bells filled the air" ~ Loreena McKennitt - Full Circle ~
Obi-Wan felt confusion slowly flow into his young mind as Cilba uttered the words. 'How could he know?' Obi-Wan asked himself. As soon as he had formed the question on his lips a loud explosion rocked the building.
"What the...!?!" Cilba shouted as he stood up abruptly, sending his mug of ale flying to the ground. He looked around to see Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon already in a defensive position.
Smoke poured into the tiny establishment through the small door facing the street. The soot floated in clouds around the tables, blinding their occupants.
"Master?" Obi-Wan managed into cough through the haze. His eyes and throat felt as if they were on fire. Suddenly there was a smell of ozone and a brilliant flash of light as Qui-Gon's lightsaber roared to life. The green beam cut through the smoke with ease.
With this subtle prompting from his master Obi-Wan activated his own glowing blade. The two weapons hissed as they moved back and forth in the haze.
" We have to get the chosen one, dead or alive it doesn't matter!" Someone's rough voice shouted from outside the tavern. Suddenly the room was filled with soldiers and blaster fire.
Obi-Wan began to dodge the shoots, deflecting them with his fiery blue blade. In one fluidic movement Qui-Gon brought his lightsaber down through two blasters, rendering them useless to their owners.
By this time Cilba's old hand had found his own hand blaster. He raised it up and set his sights on a target and fired. The blast sent a single armored soldier flying to the cold hard ground.
Obi-Wan gathered the Force inside of himself. He reached out his hand and sent three guards sailing to the far wall just like twigs caught in a hurricane's furry. As Obi-wan twirled to face his next opponent he barely had time to see a blasters barrel aimed at his own head.
He felt fear fly through him as the barrel erupted into a blast of fire. The last thing Obi-Wan remembered was the odd sensation of his body falling to the hard stone floor below him.
"Where have ya gone to boy?!" A man yelled, as he searched the twisting trails of the forest. He was in his mid fifties with his bight robes loosely hanging on his wide shoulders. The man let a long sigh escape his lips as he threw his arms up on a fit of frustration.
"If ya value your life ya'll come out now young master!" He tried again. From behind a large tree there was a small noise of the brush being separated. Suddenly a small head covered with a mop of hair sprang out.
"There ya are! I've been combing these here hills for almost all of de afternoon. What where ya thinkin?" His rough voice hollered in part relief and part rage. He walked up to the young boy and placed his callused hand on his shoulder.
"I... I'm... sor... sorry Cilba." The boy murmured. A single tear ran down his small cheek.
"It's all right, just tell me why ya ran off like that." Cilba prompted the tiny boy.
"I... I wanted to show everyone that I'm just as strong as Tabion... and Owen" The 3-year-old answered slowly. He shifted his weight uncomfortably as he spoke. At this Cilba lifted his hand from the boy's shoulder to his head gave the tuft of hair a good tousle.
"Why, you're only bout half their age!" Cilba gave a hearty chuckle. But as he looked at the boy's sad face he quickly added, "Don't ya worry I think you're twice as brave as they are." He reassured him.
After a moment he grabbed the boy's hand and began to lead him out of the dense forest. "Come on Master Ben, I've gotta get ya back before the Master Kenobi noticed you've gone a missin."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Obi-Wan felt himself being pulled back to consciousness by a very familiar voice. He slowly banished the grogginess from his eyes by opening them ever so slightly. He looked up to see the grave face of his master hovering over him. Obi-Wan could hear that he was speaking but couldn't quite understand him.
"... Obi-... can... hear...? Obi-Wan can you hear me??" Qui-Gon asked again. The Jedi master's hands tightly clasped his shoulders, occasionally giving him a good shake.
Obi-Wan put his hand on his sore and aching forehead in a vain attempt to stop the spinning sensation. "Yes master, you really don't HAVE to shout at me." He sighed.
Obi-wan gave a quick glance at his surroundings. He lay on a small cot on one side of a tiny room that was shrouded in darkness. In one corner he could barely make out the limp form of Cilba asleep.
"What happened? The last thing I remember I was shot with a blaster then blacking out." Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon softly.
At this he saw his master's stoic expression break into a smile. "No, luckily you missed the blast, but hit your head on chair and THEN blacked out." He chuckled.
It was Obi-Wan could do to reply with an unintelligent "Oh." As he sat up he felt the room begin to spin.
"We were overwhelmed with soldiers and captured. Then we were taken here. It's been about an hour and nothings happened yet." Qui-Gon explained as his face lost all emotion.
"Bu... But I swear I REALLY didn't leave my fake teeth there... mmm... I bet... ya can't dance on de bar..." Cilba murmured in his sleep which were followed by a few choice words that would make any self respecting bounty hunters blush. Obi-Wan's eyes went wide as he tried not to laugh. Cilba mumbled something else then woke up. "What de...?!!" He demanded.
"It's all right Cilba." Obi-Wan assured him.
"Obi-Wan is right, no harm will come to you." Qui-Gon also assured him. The old man glanced around himself, then gave a small nod.
"So it wasn't a dream... mmm... Obi-Wan... I knew a... You're name is Obi-Wan Kenobi?!" Cilba almost shouted with surprise. His wrinkled features now were etched in complete and utter shock. The young apprentice nodded with confusion. "Then ya really have been to this planet before! You..."
Before he could finish, Cilba was interrupted by the heavy metal door opening. Two armed guards entered with blasters drawn.
"We've come for the chosen one... I mean the boy! Get in our way and so help me I'll shoot you where you stand!" The taller man said as the other came over to the cot and grabbed Obi-Wan, dragging him to his feet.
"Where are you taking him?!" Qui-Gon demanded, his voice filled with rage.
"Don't worry about it, he'll be well taken care of!" With that the guard chuckled and pulled a disoriented Obi-Wan out the door.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own star wars (If you hadn't figured that out yet) It unfortunately belongs to Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I'm not even getting any money for this so please don't sue me!