Star Wars (2015) 7

• A unique, self-contained story focusing on Ben Kenobi!
• The planet Tatooine suffers under the heavy hand of injustice, with vile criminals running unchecked.
• Will Ben risk exposing his true identity to take action and do what is morally correct?
• Guest Artist Simone Bianchi (known for WOLVERINE, ASTONISHING X-MEN) collaborates with writer Jason Aaron to deliver this special story! [3]

The story commences with members affiliated with Jabba's criminal empire engaging in the mistreatment of a moisture farmer. The farmer pleads with them not to confiscate his water supply, emphasizing his need to trade it for food to sustain his children. A Weequay enforcer challenges the man to take his grievances directly to Jabba, before striking him with the butt of his rifle. The Weequay then cautions the other moisture farmers of their return the following day to collect further "water taxes," advising them to resume their work.

Observing from a distance is Obi-Wan Kenobi, cloaked and concealing his identity, who clenches his fist in response. Kenobi fights against his instinct to intervene directly. Kenobi reflects on the years he has spent in hiding on Tatooine since the Great Jedi Purge. Having relinquished his roles as both a Jedi General and a Jedi Master, Kenobi has established himself in a humble dwelling located within the vast Dune Sea. Kenobi patiently waits, diligently monitoring Luke Skywalker, the offspring of his former padawan Anakin Skywalker.

Kenobi had desired to provide the boy with training, but Owen Lars, the boy's uncle, refused to permit it, expressing a lack of trust in the Jedi Order. When Jabba's enforcers arrive to extract Jabba's water tax from the Lars moisture farm, Kenobi confronts them, asserting that they have taken an ample amount of water for the day and instructing them to return to Jabba's Palace before the onset of the next dust storm. In response, a Zabrak enforcer aims the muzzle of his weapon at the old man, demanding that he mind his own affairs.

Unable to train Skywalker, Kenobi is determined to safeguard the boy's well-being, hoping that he will aspire to something greater than a moisture farmer. In his journal, Kenobi records that this was the most severe drought that anyone on Tatooine could recall, especially with Jabba's enforcers demanding water taxes. Refusing to allow people to perish, Kenobi seeks guidance from his deceased Master Qui-Gon Jinn while resting on a collection of rocks.

Venturing into a nearby town, Kenobi persuades a merchant to sell black melons, a fruit that grows in the [Jundland Wastes](/article/jundland_wastes], to the local inhabitants. While the fruits possess a bitter taste, Kenobi assures the merchant that their milk is safe for consumption, as the Tusken Raiders have been utilizing them for years. Kenobi instructs the merchant to relay this information to the farmers.

At that moment, Jabba's enforcers make their entrance. However, Kenobi employs the Force to cause their weapons to malfunction. This act instills courage within the townsfolk, prompting them to drive the criminals away. Concerned about the potential exposure of his Force abilities, Kenobi decides to retreat to his hermitage. Upon returning home, Kenobi shares with his late Master his internal conflict regarding his inability to assist the people openly as a Jedi.

Later that night, Kenobi senses that Skywalker is in danger. Back at the Lars moisture farm, Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun Lars are searching for Skywalker, who has disappeared. Driven by a strong sense of justice, Skywalker attempts to pilfer water from Jabba's enforcers' speeder. However, he is apprehended. A defiant Skywalker declares to the enforcers that the water belongs to the farmers, not Jabba.

The Weequay enforcer considers the possibility of selling Skywalker into slavery. However, the speeder's lights suddenly explode. At that precise moment, an unseen force pulls the Weequay enforcer through the Force, before launching him through the air. The unseen threat proceeds to incapacitate the enforcers one by one, throwing them to the ground and levitating their weapons. Skywalker is also knocked to the ground in the process by the assailant, who tells him to stay out of the way.

An unidentified LOM-series protocol droid attempts to intimidate the assailant, but he and another droid are crushed beneath falling rocks. The assailant then drives the speeder into the Weequay enforcer, knocking him to the ground. The unseen assailant then emerges from the darkness, revealing himself to be Kenobi. Kenobi carries Skywalker back to his family's homestead.

The following morning, Beru and Owen discover Skywalker sleeping outside their home. Beru inquires about Luke's well-being, but Skywalker has no recollection of the events. As a direct result of Kenobi's actions as a vigilante, the farmers regain possession of their water. A week later, the drought concludes, and the farm's moisture vaporators resume their operation.

An enraged Jabba vows to locate the thief, but none of his enforcers can provide a description of his appearance or name. In his journal, Kenobi writes that his name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. He declares that a young boy's courage provides him with the assurance that the Jedi Order will not end with him. Kenobi expresses his desire to share this story with Skywalker one day, as well as with many others.

In the present day, Skywalker is engrossed in reading "The Journals of Ben Kenobi" and instructs R2-D2 to continue piloting their T-65B X-wing starfighter for a while longer. He admits that he is uncertain of their destination but is actively working on it.

Star Wars: Timelines places the events of Star Wars (2015) 7 in the year 11 BBY. However, as detailed here, the events depicted in the comic are more accurately placed in either 9 BBY or 8 BBY.