Living Hand To Mouth: A Star Wars Story

New Assignment

"Look," the little girl shouted.
Obi-Wan picked her up and told her that if they wanted to save her parents that she'd have to be quiet. She looked at him with massive yellow eyes, and nodded, he smiled in return.
"We need a distraction." Luminara said, watching droids patrol by the tied up locals.
She turned to face him and raised an eyebrow.
"No...not me." Obi-Wan said, lifting his arms and shaking his head.
"Yes you, now think of something!" She said and shoved him from behind the bushes.
"Great...." He muttered, exposed to the droids.
He leaped over to the locals, making sure he was in sight. He leaned up against a wall, crossing his arms and ankles. As a droid turned in hs direction he tilted his head up.

"Well, hello there," he said, smirking.
"A Jedi!"
"We're saved!"
"And this is where the fun begins." He commented, as he leaped off the wall and landed behind the patrol of droids.
"Blast him."
Obi-Wan turned and ran toward the road leading to the giant wall. The whole group of droids followed him and fired at him as they ran, never hitting him.
Luminara and the little girl waited for the droids to be out of sight then ran over to the locals. There was hundreds of them tied up. She ran by each row and sliced the rope, allowing them to untie themselves.
"Momma!" The little girl yelled and ran to her mother and father.
They untied themselves and hugged her.
"Thank you so much fun or saving my daughter." The mother said to Luminara.
"Actually it wasn't me - "
"It was me." Obi-Wan said, walking toward the group.
"Where's the droids?" Luminara asked.
Obi-Wan smiled.
"Three, two, one..." He counted then suddenly there was a loud explosion over by the wall. Orange flames blazed through the air, and rubble flew everywhere.
It continued down the road.
"Oh..." She mumbled.
"Come on, we have to find my master." He said then ran toward the huge building.
Luminara followed him and so did someone else.
"Wait!" The little girl yelled.
"Obi-Wan turned around and saw her standing. He stopped and she ran up to him. Then she wrapped her tiny arms around him.
"Thanks." She said to him, then ran back to her parents.

"Who are you?" Qui-Gon asked the hooded figure.
He stood in the main office of the building.
"You'll crumble Jedi! And all those behind you!" He hissed, then jumped out the window and landed on top of a ship.
"Master!" Obi-Wan yelled.
"He got away." Qui-Gonn muttered.
"Did you see who it was?" Luminara asked.
"No, he had a hooded cloak on and never turned around." Qui-Gon said.
Obi-wan bent down and examined foot prints.
"Strange, these are from Jedi boots." Obi-Wan said, looking at his master.
"Jedi!" The Duke of Ryloth yelled. "Thank you so much for saving my people."
"It's our duty to restore peace." Qui-Gon replied. "But we must go, the Jedi council will need to hear about this."
"Yes, well Ryloth will welcome you anytime you come. You are our heroes."
The three Jedi bowed and walked out.
"Come on, we must get to Coruscant." Qui-Gon said, walking over to the ship hanger.
"You may take any ship you like." The Duke said.
"Thank you for your kindness." Obi-Wan dipped his head then boarded the ship.
The ship shot up into the clouded sky, and Obi-Wan looked from the window and waved at the little girl.
{}
"Successful your mission was?" Master Yoda asked, looking at the three Jedi.
"Yes Master Yoda." Qui-Gon replied, as he stood in front of the Jedi council.
"Did you find out who this new Sith Apprentice is?" Master Mace Windu asked.
"No we did not. But my padawan did find a very helpful clue." Qui-Gon said, as the focus shifted to Obi-Wan.
"After the apprentice fled the scene I noticed his foot prints where the same as the ones left by Jedi boots." Obi-Wan explained.
"Very good, that was of you." Yoda said, nodding towards Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan slightly smiled at the comment.
"Nevertheless that isn't good." Master Windu pointed out.
"That means a Jedi is behind this."
"Padawan Lumniara you are excused." Master Windu said.
She bowed to him and walked out of the room.
"Your next assignment is on Mandalore. After fleeing Ryloth the Sith apprentice sent droids to Mandalore."
"What business does he have there?" Master Dooku asked.
"Mandalore has a very powerful army. The Duke of Mandalore has recently passed and so has his Duchess. The throne has been passed down to their young daughter, Satine. A transmission of the young woman was shown. She was stunningly beautiful. Her light hair was twisted up in a thin headdress, and her blue eyes sparkled, Obi-Wan studied the hologram, frowning.

"If the separatists get ahold of the army they will be more powerful than the Jedi." Master Windu explained.
"Young Kenobi, your assignment is to protect Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore. Master Jinn, your assignment is to find out as much as you can about this new Sith apprentice, and remove the droids from the planet."
"You both, fail you must not." Yoda said.
"Your ships are waiting for you. May the force be with you."
They both bowed and walked out of the room.
"Master, do you really believe I am ready for this mission?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Obi-Wan, the real question is, do you think you're ready." Qui-Gon replied.
"Qui-Gon." Someone said as they came up behind him.
"Dooku." He said as he faced his friend.
"Be careful, I don't trust this new Sith." He told him.
"No one does." Qui-Gon replied.
"I'll let you get to your ship." Dooku said, then turned and walked away.
They continued down the hallways to the main hanger. Passing other Jedi and padawans. Qui-Gon looked down at his frowning padawan.
"What's troubling you?" Qui-Gon asked his padawan.

"Why did the council assign me to protect the Duchess? Does she not have guards?"

"Obi-Wan, guards alone will not keep the Sith from attacking her," his master replied.

"Of course master, I just - I don't know, I don't know if I'm strong enough to protect her."

"Obi-Wan, believing in yourself will get you halfway way there, if you just trust your instincts, then you will be fine."

"Yes master," Obi-Wan answered, then looked down at the ground.

Moments later he looked back at Qui-Gon. "What if she doesn't like me?"

"W-what?"

"I don't know, she's royalty, aren't they picky about who they like?" Obi-Wan stammered.

"Obi-Wan, you haven't been assigned to marry her, your duty is to protect her, no matter what."

"Yes master."