Season of the Moon - A New Hope missing scene vignette starring Ben and Luke

This is a missing scene vignette from A New Hope where Ben comments about Luke's driving abilities, comparing them to Anakin Skywalker's during his days as a Jedi. It takes place between Luke's return from the Lars homestead to the moment where they see Mos Eisley for the first time.

Feedback is always appreciated.

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Ben Kenobi held the hood of his robe in place with his right hand as the boy bounced the landspeeder across the desert terrain, his left hand becoming white-knuckled as it gripped his seat. [i]I'm getting too old for this sort of thing[/i], he thought for the second time that day.

Had it only been four hours ago when the Force moved him to wander out into the Jundland Waste to find young Luke Skywalker, a victim of an ambush by Sandpeople? Frightening the raiders away with a well practice, Force-assisted kryat-dragon roar, the desert hermit found Luke lying unconscious a short distance from the landspeeder they were scavenging through. Ben was concerned about the boy's condition, but that concern was quickly alleviated after a careful examination through the Force of Luke's health. The boy had no marks on him except for the bump on the back of his head. He had obviously fainted.

Ben let out a breath he had not realize he had been holding. Only two nights ago, Chenini, Tatooine's third moon, appeared in the night-time sky for the first time in over a year. Ben had carefully studied Tusken Raider customs over the years, and Chenini was a purveyor of fanatical bloodrite rituals during the season of the moon's return. He feared that Luke had become a victim of such savagery, but the sight of the raiders rummaging through the landspeeder swept a wave of relieve over him. Some of the dying tribes of Sandpeople had more important things to do than to stick to rituals.

Then the blue Artoo unit beeped from a hidden spot in the canyon wall. "Hello there," Ben said to the popular series of droid, although it had been a long time since he had seen a blue one. The droid turned it's optic-sensor on Luke's prone body. "Oh, don't worry," he told the droid as Luke began to come around. "He'll be all right."

Glad to see a familiar face, a relieved Luke told him about the little droid's mission as he quickly came to his senses. "Obi-Wan Kenobi," a stunned Ben voiced. "Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time... a long time."

Obi-Wan Kenobi was the name Ben had gone by nearly twenty years ago during his years as a Jedi Knight. "Before the dark times. Before the Empire," he told Luke later after finding Luke's protocol droid and retreating to Ben's hut where he imparted stories about the Jedi while Luke repaired the droid.

[i]That was more difficult than I thought it would be[/i], Ben mused as the speeder hit another bone-jarring bump. It was his best oppurtunity in years to speak about the Force, the Jedi, and Luke's father to the boy, or to [i]anyone[/i] for that matter. Luke seemed to be willing to learn more about the ways of the Force, but he resisted the pull of destiny, the call of his responsibilities on his uncle's farm calling him. "There's nothing I can do about it right now."

This last comment had been part of a conversation prompted by the message the Artoo unit had been sent to deliever to Obi-Wan Kenobi. "General Kenobi," Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan said in the holographic transmission projected by the droid. "...I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this Artoo unit. My father will know how to retrieve it." Luke watched the girl in rapt fascination. "You must see this droid safely delievered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."

Ben had tried to convince Luke into joining him, again, but the farmboy could only offer the former Jedi a lift to Anchorhead where he could find a transport to the nearest spaceport. Ben silently accepted Luke's decision as a tremor in the Force passed over h

 

Normally I don't read OT fiction, but this one is great! I like how you've characterized Obi-Wan: as the one who's been there and done that, and he wants to tell Luke about his father while at the same time he doesn't want to tell him too much about Anakin.

The references to AOTC were great, too. And the way you tied it all up in the end was wonderful.

Great job!

starwoid

 

Well, well, well. My friend, you seem to have been bitten by the vignette-writing bug again, no? I really enjoyed this, and was surprised to see another vignette in your sig file. Unfortunately I have no time for my standard rambling and long-winded critique. But know that I enjoyed it (surprise, surprise) and will be back to offer you an up and better feedback...

Now off to the Bat Cave, er Jedi Temple? Oh fine! Computer lab, I have a website to gather together...

L

 

Thanks, starwoid. Keeping Obi-Wan from spilling too many of the beans was a key element I wanted to get across in the story, and I'm glad you liked that and the AOTC reference.

Thanks, L, glad you enjoyed it. Your feedback is always enjoyable, but no rush. I'll wait for it with my well practice Jedi patience.

 

Excellent but it is 1.30am here and have lost the power of coherent feedback!

Will comment later.

 

That was great! I could really imagine that happening. Great job getting into the characters, and bringing in Ep. II.

 

Thanks for making your presence known, Sabe. Sleep tight.

Thanks, obaona. I could really imagine that happening. Good missing scene vignette do exactly that, and I'm glad you think mine is one of them.

 

Interesting observations about the Tusken raider's rituals. Was that how Luke's grandmother died?

The conversation in the landspeeder between Ben and Luke is very believable. It makes sense that Ben would have backed up his 'he was a good friend' comment about Anakin in some way. A difficult situation for Ben to be in and Luke's driving skills must have been bad to remind him of that chase through Coruscant!

Bravo!

Sabe126

 

Thanks for the comments, Sabe. The Tusken Raider rituals I researched from issue #62 of the North American edition of Star Wars Insider. Like everyone else, I had wondered 2 things about what happened at the Tusken camp. 1. Why did they torture Shimi for so long, and 2. Why was there a third moon when all previous resources had said Tatooine had only two moons.

This is the entry for Chenini in The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia:

...the smallest, and outermost, of Tatooine's three moons. It had a highly elliptical orbit, with its apogee occurring more than four million miles from the the planet. This meant that Chenini was very rarely in view, and was often overlooked by early scouts and explorers. The orbit was regular enough, though, that the indigenous Jawas and Sandpeople monitored its progress to ensure the corrent timing of many rituals and gatherings.

That was an acceptable answer for me.

Luke's driving skills must have been bad to remind him of that chase through Coruscant!

The poor kid was having a very bad day. You couldn't blame him for being a little distracted.

 

Very good.

Thanks for the info about the moons. On the Mythology of AOTC thread, the lunar symbolism in the movie was noticed, especially the blood red glow as if a lunar eclipse was about to start as Anakin entered the camp.
Mythology of AOTC thread:
http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=7165973&page=10

 

very interesting......I can imagine that being in the movie.....now that I can understand it with Episode 2.

 

Thanks, Jedi Liz. When I do missing scene vignettes, I like tying things together from some of the other movies, helping to expand the 6 part 12+ hour movie we know as Star Wars.

Thanks and you're welcome, Falls the Shadow. I jumped over to the Mythology thread, and boy do you have somthing there. I have a couple of those Joseph Campbell books, and haven't read them for a while. Guess I'll have to read those again. I might discover something new!

 

UP!

 

an UP from the ever-busy and formerly long-winded reviewer...

Uppity up Up UP!!!

L

 

An UP because I'm very, very bored.

 

Nice missing scene. I could see that happening. Thanks for sending it up so I could read it.

 

Nice! I particuarly liked Obi-Wans thoughts about what he should and shouldn't reveal. It made me understnd a little more why he didin't tell Luke that Vader was his father etc.

 

Thanks RebelMom and crystalrain. Glad you enjoyed it.