Anakin's Homecoming

by UGX7

After a swift victory on Virujansi Anakin is plagued by nightmares of his actions on Tatooine, his slaughter of the Sand People. He travels to Tatooine to visit his Step-family, only to find a face from his past he'd nearly forgotten, wanting revenge for the slaughter.

1. Homestead

Star Wars and all spinoffs belong to Disney.

This will the be part one of a two chapter story I want to do, it will be a part of my planned Clone Wars fics. This will be up along with my new and improved version of my previous story Siege of Munnilist, retitled Wrath of Grevious.

These stories will take place in a hybrid of both Clone Wars shows and the Dark Horse comics so events from all will be referenced.

This story takes place after the events in the Dark Disciple novel (also in this universe Ventress didn't kill Tholme but a Jedi that helped retrain Vos when he lost his memory called Glomerc)

HOMESTEAD

Resistance! After the Separatists attacked and captured the planet of Virujansi, a small rebel force has managed to fight back but they need help. The Republic has sent Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi to aid the rebels and fight off the Separatist occupation.

On the bridge of the Resolute Anakin, Obi-Wan, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, and Admiral Yularen stood over a holographic table that displayed the readout of the situation and the Seps' positions and weaknesses on Virujansi. A week ago Jedi Master Rham Kota used his lone fighter to sneak past the blockade and get in contact with the rebellion, but it did not go unnoticed and now the Separatist fleet was expecting not only a fight from within, but from the Republic cavalry.

Working with Kota made Rex and the other clones uneasy because of his known distrust of clones, even to the point of working with local garrisons in stead of clones. The incident with Master Tip-Lar, Tup and the following Fives disaster had him ranting to the other Jedi that he was right, but they usually ignored him.

"Master Kota has made it through the blockade, because of the communications black out he can't talk to us directly but he has been able to send written messages." Obi-Wan said. "Let's see what they got in store for us this time." Anakin said as Kota's messages appeared on the table.

KOTA: Master Kenobi, Skywalker, the situation here is very grim. The droids not only have the comms blacked out but the jamming station is a karking fortress.

Anakin snickered. "Master Kota never was one for manners." Obi-Wan smiled at him, and they returned their attention to the message.

KOTA: It's a floating fortress somewhat similar to the one Skywalker and his Padawan took out on Ruusan 2 but it has no tower holding it up and it's too well armed and protected for the rebels to take on alone. I suggest for Skywalker to lead an aerial assault while Master Kenobi leads a heavy forward ground based assault on the capital. I will use Kenobi's attack as a distraction while I lead a small strike team in to take out the commander General Mar Tuuk.

"Captain Tuuk, wondered what happened to him." Anakin said, remembering the last and only time he engaged the Neimoidian captain was during the Battle of Ryloth. "Apparently something that got him promoted to General." Obi-Wan said.

KOTA: That's not all sadly. The damn Neimoidian has taken some of the locals from villages and is keeping them hostage in the fortress to discourage attacks so before you destroy it you have to save them. A few local boys will be assisting in the rescue so you'll have to work with them. Contact us on the local server board with a text to inform us of when you'll be ready to attack.

The rest of the message consisted of coordinates for the jamming fortress and the address of the server Kota was on.

"So we going with his plan General?" Rex asked. "You know it. Oddball and I will lead out fighters in the attack..." "While Cody, Rex, and myself lead the attack on the capital. Yes Anakin, that'll do." Obi-Wan said.

"Generals, you really think we can save those civs?" asked a clone in regard to the captive civilians. "I don't think I can, I know we can." Anakin said.

As the Republic Fleet came out of Hyperspace they were greeted by the usual sight of Trade Federation and IG Banking Clan war ships surrounding the bland little planet that served as an important link in the trade routes for the inner rim of the galaxy.

Both sides began to exchange fire as ARC-170 and Y-Bombers and various other Republic craft began to spill out of the Republic cruisers like blood from an open wound. On the other side Vulture Droids, Tri-Fighters, Droid Dropships, and the like flew outward, shooting out a wave of laser fire.

Admiral Yularen typed on the computer to General Kota.

YULAREN: General, we are here. Get your troops moving because now is the time.

Inside the Resolute's hangar bay Anakin sat in his Jedi Starfighter with his loyal Astromech R2-D2 in the open slot for droids.

"We good to go R2?" Anakin asked. The droid beeped his response. "Okay Good, Oddball you ready?" Anakin asked into the comlink. "We're ready General, I got the ships and the men you requested." Captain Oddball responded.

"Okay, Gold Squadron takeoff!" Anakin shouted as the squadron of ships consisting of ten ARC-170's, seven Y-Bombers, five Gunships, and three V-Wings, and of course one Jedi Fighter lifted off and blasted towards the planet.

On the other side of the hangar Obi-Wan, Cody, Rex, and Jesse got into a gunship as it prepared to lift off.

"Will this take long sir?" asked Jesse. "I doubt it, the combined might of the 501st and the 212th? They are screwed." Rex said with a cocky smirk, earning a rousing cheer from the other clone troopers in the ship with them.

---

Down below in a small, secret base on the planet, Jedi Master Rham Kota stood in front of several thousand rebels.

"Okay people, this is it. Today we take back our homes. For our families, for our wives or girls, for our husbands, for our children, for our future we fight back!' yelled the rebel leader, whose name was David Harbon.

The rebels cheered in response, men and women from all over the planet had made it here to fight for their world.

"Here's the plan. General Harbon will lead the balk of you in attacking the capital to aid General Kenobi and the clones." Began Kota, the rugged middle aged Jedi Master said as he took center stage. "The flyers of the Rarefied Air Calvary however will aid General Skywalker in attacking that floating fortress. You will go in, rescue the captives then get the hell out and blow the place from here to Mustafar." He continued, earning some more cheers from the crowd. "However because of Captain Henley's death..." he paused remembering the pilot he never met, but who gave his life to save Kota's when he got to the planet regardless. "It means that Dreis there will take command of this battle." He pointed to a teenage boy in the crown who looked shocked.

"Me?!" cried Garven Dreis, a sixteen year old human with dark hair. "He's only a kid!" said an older, much more experienced pilot. "I know but he's the best blasted pilot out of all of you. Just listen to Skywalker's commands and you'll do fine." Said Harbon, he then gestured to Kota to continue.

"And I will lead a small group of you into the capital through the sewers. We will take out that coward Tuuk and end this." The crowd cheered in eagerness.

"Get to your posts and your respective groups and may the Force be with you all." Kota finished.

Garven Dries ran to his fighter, an old one used in the Stark-Hyperspace Wars, a conflict that Virujansi had not partaken in, but the wrecks were too good to pass up for some scavengers. It may have been old but it flew great. It was colored a grayish-blue and was shaped like a Jedi fighter but was smaller and far less equipped for battle, but it got the job done all the same.

"Don't kark this up kid." Snarled a fellow pilot as she walked by him. "I'll try not to." Garven said, worried that if he botched this assault, it would cost him not only his life, but the lives of those on that damned fortress.

He climbed into his old fighter and started it up. "Okay Cavalry, let's go live up to our name and show the clones how we locals can handle ourselves." He said into the comlink.

He listened as they sounded off, making sure everyone was there. The hangar door opened up above them, revealing their location in a small underground base twenty miles away from the capital city.

"Here goes nothing, takeoff!" he shouted as the old ships lifted up into the air and made their way to the floating fortress. On the other side of the base a hangar door opened and old attack vehicles sped out followed by transports filled with soldiers and on the other side of the base Rham Kota led a small strike force of eleven other men into a sewer tunnel.

In the capital city a Tactical Droid spoke to his Neimoidian commander. "Sir the Republic forces have broken through the blockade and are approaching the city." "Deploy the tanks, the walkers, and the Hailfire Droids, we need to repel them and show that we are in complete control of this planet." Tuuk said with his thick accent.

"Sir, scanners also indicate that the rebellion is approaching as well." "I don't know how they managed to plan this with the Republic, but we'll figure that out later. Is the fortress under attack?" he asked the monotone droid. "We detect fighters from both the Republic and the Rebellion approaching it sir. You may like to know that it appears that the Jedi known as Skywalker's flagship is leading the assault on the blockade."

"Skywalker? Good. Good! Time to pay him back for the humiliation he dealt me at Ryloth!" Tuuk said with a smirk on his green face. "Begin moving the prisoners in the fortress to our audience chamber, if I know Skywalker he'll try to save them..."

---

On a Republic Gunship, Obi-Wan, Cody, Rex, and Jesse all stood as the calmly as the barrage of missiles and lasers missed the ships.

"Pilot! Is there any sign of the rebels?" Obi-Wan asked. "Yes sir!" replied the clone pilot, whose name was Raptor. "I see their land craft, a few clicks away!" "Good. All ships," Obi-Wan on the open channel, "begin bombarding the ground, keep it open for the rebels and blast away in droids that try to stop them!" he ordered.

He listened as all the ships began to fire on the ground, destroying MTT's, AAT's, Spider Walkers, Snail Tanks, Octopi-Droids, and Hailfire Droids.

Obi-Wan nearly fell as he felt the ship take a hit from a Spider Walker. "Are we hit Raptor?" asked Cody. "Only a little blast sir, nothing to worry about, we're almost at the landing site." Raptor responded as he saw, out of the corner of his eye, three or four Gunships exploding via Hailfire Droid missiles. He swerved the ship bluntly, avoiding another barrage. "Watch it Raptor!" scolded Jesse. "Well excuse me for trying to keep us alive!" Raptor yelled back.

He sped the ship downward and quickly landed, opening the doors and allowing the Jedi General and his clone troopers to attack the droids. A land speeder with a gun mounted on it swerved by and a middle aged man got out and began firing alongside the clones. "Nice to see you made it Jedi!" Harbon said. "General Harbon I presume?" Obi-Wan asked as he deflected a laser blast aimed for Jesse's head. "Yeah and you're Kenobi? Glad to see ya made it through the blockade." Harbon said as he blasted down a Battle Droid. "Well General, when we have to attack a blockade that size I just think to myself 'well this will be easy'." Obi-Wan said as he used the Force to lift up some Destroyer Droids and turn them on their fellow droids.

"Is Skywalker on his way to the Fortress?" Harbon asked as he dodged a stray blast. "Yes, he's taking a very qualified attack force, they'll save your people." Kenobi assured. "He'd better, my daughter was taken by that Neimoidian slime." Harbon said. "If that's the case sir, General Skywalker will save her." Rex assured the man as he blasted down some more droids.

"Where's Master Kota?" Obi-Wan asked. "That Jedi you sent us is leading a small team of my men into the city via the sewers to take out Tuuk." Harbon answered as rockets soared overhead. "In that case let's hope he can bring this battle to a close before we suffer many casualties." Obi-Wan said as he saw the rockets that were just overhead slam into an AT-TE and it explode, taking several surrounding rebel craft with it.

In the sewers Kota led the small team towards the city, using speeder bikes to rush to the main tunnel. "How much longer?" Kota asked a rebel. "Not long sir, a few more miles." He said. "Good, now hustle up!" Kota said, eager to end this occupation.

Some fifty miles away Anakin, R2, and the clone force they led began to approach the floating fortress. "Master Kota was right R2, it's a near copy of the one on Ruusan." Anakin said. R2 beeped angrily and Anakin laughed, "Don't worry R2, I don't think there'll be any gold and green traitors this time." Anakin said.

"Sir, there are rebel ships coming up on our three." Oddball reported. "Good." Anakin said as he looked to his left and saw a large group of nearly forty old fighters. Nice to see you Rarefied Air Cavalry, don't worry we'll have your people out of that fortress and on our gunship within minutes." Anakin said on the comlink channel. "Thank you Master Jedi, I'm Garven Dries, new leader of this air force." Garven said. "New leader? Old one got blasted?" Anakin asked. "Yes sir, he was a good man. They put me in charge because I'm the best pilot of the bunch." Garven elaborated.

"You sound young Dries, but don't let that fool any of your men; I blew up an entire Trade Federation battleship when I was nine." Anakin said, earning a collective "What?" from the Rarefied Air Force pilots. "You... you're kidding right?" Garven asked. "Nope, helped save all of Naboo." Anakin said, remembering his first victory in battle. "Now here's the plan; I'll lead two gunships and three of you into a minor hangar bay of the fortress while Captain Oddball and young Captain Dries there will lead the battle outside. Once we're clear with the hostages you can blow the place to hell." Anakin said.

"Sounds good to me Jedi." Said a pilot. "Echoes 5, 9, and 27, go with Master Skywalker into the fortress, the rest of you with me and the clones." Garven instructed. "There it is!" yelled a young female pilot. Sure enough the Fortress began to fire at them via turrets and Vulture Droids with Dropships and Tri-Fighters zooming at them.

"Here we go!" Anakin yelled as he piloted his yellow Jedi Starfighter to the fortress' hangar bay, followed by two Gunships, three fighters from the rebels, and guarded by several ARC-170's. Anakin flew ahead, blasting the droid fighters apart with ease. "Nice flying Skywalker!" Garven called. "This? This is nothing, you should see what I'm like when I'm in space." Anakin said as he flew back, seeing more fighters approaching him.

"Keep those droid fighters off our back Airborne!" Anakin said, "No problem sir, these clankers are easy pickings." Said the clone pilot, with a cocky attitude that rivaled Anakin's. Anakin blasted the four turrets that guarded the hangar bay while the two Gunships fire their rockets; destroying the droid fighters inside before they could take off. Since this was a much smaller hangar bay than the main one it was easier to get into and wouldn't be noticed as much.

"There's our opening." Anakin said as he carefully flew in and used the Force to clear a path for the other ships. The ARC-170's broke off and engaged the enemy fighters with Oddball and Garven. Anakin landed his ship and jumped out, igniting his lightsaber and slashing droids down as they tried to blast him. "R2, locate the prisoners!" Anakin ordered as the blue and white Astromech shot out of his little pit in the fighter and sped towards a wall socket, shocking a droid or two along the way.

The two Gunships landed and out came only twelve clone troopers, Kix, Kano, Pulsar, and Boomer among them. The ships were mostly empty so the hostages could escape with them. The three rebel fighters landed and the rebels worked with the clones and Jedi as they destroyed the droids, security cameras, and auto-turrets. Managing to leave a few droid ships unharmed.

As the fighting subsided R2-D2 beeped up to get their attention as he projected a holographic layout of the fortress. Anakin, the dozen clones, and the three rebels walked to the Astromech and studied the map as R2 lit it up. "Okay, R2 says that the prisoners are being moved to a room on level 10." Anakin said, "And we're already on level six." Said a Kano. "What are they being moved into?" asked Echo 27, "Maybe an execution chamber." Suggested Boomer, causing the three rebels to become visibly worried. "Even if it is we won't let any of them die, we have to get up there." Kix said, Anakin nodded and instructed the pilots and two other clones to remain behind to guard the ships as he, Kix, R2, the remaining nine clones, and the three rebels rushed off to the elevators.

Outside Garven watched as the clone fighters obliterated a squad of Tri-Fighters. "Nice job Oddball!" Garven praised. "Those turrets are tearing us apart Dries, do something!" yelled a rebel pilot. "You're not defenseless you know." Garven said bitterly as he bombarded the turrets that were trying to shoot his men down.

"Think we can keep this up?" asked a female pilot. "We have to, we have to keep them distracted while Skywalker saves our people." Garven said. "If he can." Said an older pilot, doubtfully. "General Skywalker will get your people out of there, just give him time!" Oddball said as he dodged a Tri-Fighter torpedo.

Inside Anakin lead his team to the elevators. There were three elevators leading up to the top floor. "Too dangerous for all of us in one so we'll have to split up." Anakin said. He, R2, Kix, Pulsar, two of the rebels, Kano, and two other clones got into one elevator, while Boomer, the remaining clones and rebel soldier got into the other and they began their ascent inside of the large rectangular lifts.

---

At the capital city Obi-Wan and the others fought onwards, getting closer to the interior of the city. Rex and Jesse fought side by side, blasting droids away without a second though while Cody used a shotgun, blasting the droids into shrapnel, which Obi-Wan used with the Force to tear the oncoming droids to shreds. Harbon listened to his comlink and then ran up to Obi-Wan, blasting at droids all the way. "That was Kota, they've made it to the city, they're beginning the attack." "Good! This will be quite the short battle." Obi-Wan said. "A bit anticlimactic for my taste Jedi, but whatever ends this is fine by me." The General said.

Inside the city Kota jumped out of the sewers as his strike team climbed up after him. "Where are all the droids?" a man asked. "At the front gate trying to keep the bulk of our forces outside the city." Another rebel answered. "Correct, now let's go arrest that Separatist slime ball so we can end this." Kota said as he looked upwards to a tall building where Tuuk had made his command center.

The rebels fired their grappling hooks at a nearby building an they hauled themselves up while Kota simply Force Jumped. They repeated this action over and over again, going to several roofs, until they were in range of the command building. "I'll go first." Kota said. "Careful Sir." Said a young rebel. "Don't worry about me boy, I'll be fine." Kota assured him as he jumped across the large gap, ignited his lightsaber, and smashed through a window, slashing several droids apart.

He kept the droids as bay while the rebels grappled themselves across and climbed up the tall building. By the time all eleven made it across one had been killed a laser blast, but aside from that they were doing well. "To the command room." Kota ordered as he ran down the hallway to the elevator, followed by the rebels.

In the command room a battle droid approached the tactical droid in command. "Sir, the Jedi and some rebels have broken into the building and are making their way up here." "Good, just as General Tuuk predicted." Said the high ranking droid in its usual monotone, uncaring voice.

The door blasted open and the remaining ten rebels ran in blasting all the droids they could as Kota jumped in, slashing two Super Battle Droids away with ease as he used the Force to hold up the Tactical Droid. "Where is Tuuk?" Kota demanded. "The General is not here." The droid said simply. "What do you mean 'not here'?" Kota asked angrily. "The General is at the Fortress. Even if this planet is lost, he can at least rid the Galaxy of the Jedi Skywalker." It answered coldly. Kota scowled as he rammed the droid's head through his lightsaber.

The command room was now cleared, but the job wasn't finished. "We're locked out of the Seps' database sir, no info for us and no way to stop the droids outside." The young rebel said. "We'll have rewire the turrets manually then." Kota said. "What about Skywalker and his rescue team?" asked another rebel. "Skywalker can handle whatever surprises that worm Tuuk has in store for him, right now we need to focus on ending this battle." Kota said.

---

In the fortress Anakin and the others with him waited in anticipation to reach level 10. They heard an odd scraping sound coming from outside the lift. "What's goin' on out there?" asked Echo 5. "It sounds like Buzz... oh no." said Kix. They heard the sawing sound and then a great loud ejecting sound as the second lift fell to the bottom of the fortress, with the screams of its passengers trailing behind, ended by a crash. "We've nearly lost half our men already sir, why the heck hasn't that Neimoidian dropped us too?" Kix asked. "Because Tuuk wants to pay me back for Ryloth, if he wants to make this personal, killing my men is a good way of ticking me off. He will pay for it." Anakin told the remainder of his team as they finally arrived on level 10.

The door opened and they were greeted by the familiar sight of battle droids aiming blasters at them, but they were quickly slashed and blasted down by Anakin's lightsaber and the blasters from the rest of the team. As they ran foward they heard explosions from the lower decks of the station, no doubt from the bombardment.

They ran as quickly as they could down several hallways, losing the two clones Anakin didn't know along the way, until they finally came to a large door that was suspiciously unguarded. "Open it up R2." Anakin said, to which the droid beeped affirmatively and plugged into the wall socket. Within seconds the door opened, revealing a large room with catwalks as the entrance and a large pit filled with several dozen people. "Look it's them! They came for us!" yelled a woman, "It's a Jedi!" cried an old man, "Not just any Jedi..." said a teenage girl, star struck by the heroic Anakin Skywalker she had heard about on the holonet.

"People of Virujansi, I am Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and General in the Grand Army of the Republic and I have come to free you!" he said, causing the captives to cheer in relief. "R2, anyway to get them up here, looks like that platform there on can elevate up." Anakin asked the droid, seeing as how the pit they were in had odd cables in the walls, like their elevators did. R2 was about to reply when a voice said "There is a way to get the captives up to your level Skywalker, but you will be joining them down there." Said the familiar voice that Anakin remembered from several years ago.

Anakin looked up and saw the slim shape of Mar Tuuk, surrounded by a squad of battle droids. Anakin was about to speak back to his opponent when he heard to too familiar rolling of Droidekas from behind them. The rolling droids transformed to battle mode and began firing from behind the safety of thier shield. "Jump!" Anakin said as he, Kix, the two rebels, Kano, and Pulsar jumped in while R2 activated his rocket boosters and floated down, avoiding the deadly blasts of the destroyer droids.

"You walked right into my trap Skywalker!" Tuuk mocked as Anakin got up. "You won't be gloating for long ugly!" Echo 5 said as she aimed her blaster at the Neimoidian tyrant. "Fool. Activate Magnets!" Tuuk ordered. All of a sudden all of their blasters, R2, jewelry from the captives, Anakin's lightsaber and his hand flew up to the ceiling wile a rayshield formed around the pit, protecting the battle droids on the outside.

"Poodoo! Not this again!" Anakin cursed remembering a similar incident on The Citadel. He looked over to R2 who was panicking at the prospect of being stuck on a magnetic ceiling. Anakin winked at his faithful friend and the droid calmed down and sent a signal to someone outside.

"You see Skywalker, this is the end of you. Even if I lose this battle I will succeed in killing you! You will pay for my defeat at Ryloth!" Tuuk barked. "I'm honestly surprised Dooku let you live this long, especially after that terrible loss, I mean, we might never have won Ryloth if not for your failure." Anakin mocked infuriating the Neimoidian and bewildering the captives below. "I've already had your ships in the hangar destroyed and your clones slaughtered, want me to execute some civilians as well?" "Make my day." Anakin dared. "What is he doing?" asked a young girl, "It's like he has no fear." Said a boy, "Only fools are fearless." Said the old man from earlier, "Well not this man." Assured Kix calmly, knowing what Anakin was doing.

Outside Oddball received R2's signal. "Dries! General Skywalker just sent me a signal; you need to help him out." Oddball said over the comlink channel. "What does he need?" Garven asked. "According to R2's signals he needs to strafe the east side of levels 1 to 4, he's in a tight spot and he needs something turned off for a few seconds." Oddball explained as he read the blinking code on his dashboard. "Okay Oddball, you heard him boys, Echoes 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 19, 20, 25, and 30 with me!" Garven ordered as he led the nine other fighters in the bombing.

The ships flew close to the fortress' walls and blasted it, sending explosions scattering across the exterior wall and making the base shake.

Inside the room Mar Tuuk grabbed on to a railing as the fortress shook violently and the rayshield deactivated. "No!" he cried, as he realized what was happening, the lower half of the ship had been strafed so non-essential things were being shut down so power could be diverted to keep the fortress in the air, which meant nothing good for him.

The magnet shut off as well dropping Anakin, R2, and the blasters. R2 dropped violently but landed carefully with his boosters at the last minute, Anakin jumped over near Tuuk and slashed battle droids apart as Kix, Kano, the rebels, and Pulsar grabbed their blasters and shot the droids apart.

Anakin jumped over to Tuuk who was backing up to a consol, shaking in fear. "Order your droids at the city to stand down." Anakin said, pointing his lightsaber at the Neimoidian's neck. "Never!" Tuuk cried defiantly. "Have it your way." Said Anakin as he began to force choke Tuuk slowly as R2 floated up and plugged himself into a wall socket and made the platform lift up.

"All right! Okay I'll do it!" Tuuk gasped out desperately. Anakin dropped Tuuk who walked over to a computer console and spoke into it. "All units at all cities and villages, stand down and retreat! We are defeated." he saw Anakin glare at him. "I rephrase that shut down immediately" he corrected.

All across the planet droids shut down and the fighting stopped. "Well done Anakin." Said Obi-Wan as he shut off his lightsaber. Harbon climbed on top of an MTT and shouted "The Battle's over my friends! Virujansi is ours once again!" causing the crowd of rebels to cheer victoriously. Inside the city, Rham Kota nodded and said to himself "Good job Skywalker, shame you did just as soon as we rewired the bloody Anti-Aircraft Guns!"

In the fortress Anakin looked at Tuuk as Kix and the others led the captives out of the room. "Well Skywalker what now, I helped you, I'll even tell the fleet to leave... will I be protected and rewarded handsomely if I tell you all I know?" he asked, shaking slightly. "What's wrong? Don't you find me handsome?" Anakin asked darkly, making Tuuk raisewhat would have been his eyebrow in confusion.

Anakin slashed Tuuk across the chest, killing the Neimoidian and dropping him to the floor in a lifeless heap. R2 beeped dryly. "Okay, yeah that wasn't one of the better one liners." Anakin admitted as he and R2 followed the crowd out of the room.

Up in the command room of the fortress however, a Super Tactical Droid watched on the monitor. "Order the flagship down here. We will follow the General's previous order and kill Skywalker no matter what." It said. The blue lined Battle Droid nodded and contacted a flagship above in the atmosphere.

Up above Admiral Yularen watched as all but one of the Separatist ships jumped to Hyperspace and escaped. "They are in retreat men! The day is ours." He said proudly, but then he noticed the one remaining ship heading towards the planet. "Send five squadrons to attack it." He ordered a clone officer who nodded and ran to a communications terminal.

In the fortress Anakin watched as the dozens of people were being loaded into the two remaining elevators and some even on top. "There's enough room for all of the captives and two us clones, but General you and I will have to find another way." Kix said. "No need. I'll jump, you can ride on R2." Anakin said to the medic clone. Kix shook his head as R2 beeped in protest.

The elevators dropped down while Anakin jumped from wall to wall and Kix rode on the flying R2, every so often having to get rid of a battle droid that stumbled upon them.

When they finally made their way to the bottom and once all the captives were out Anakin jumped through the roof of the elevator and walked out. "General, how are we gonna get out of here since they destroyed our ships?" asked Pulsar. "Take one of theirs, a few shuttles were unharmed, so we'll take those." Anakin explained. "Good enough for me, let's move people!" Pulsar ordered, as he, R2, and Anakin lead the crowd while Kix, the two rebels, and Kano served as the rear guards.

Outside Oddball heard chatter on the radio. "Oddball! This is Eagle Eye, you got a Sepie Flagship heading right at you." The clone pilot said. Oddball looked up and saw the massive ship descending and dozens of ARC-170's trying to stop it. "What's it doing?" Oddball asked. "From what we've picked up on the droid messages, I think it's gonna try to destroy that station before General Skywalker can get out." Eagle Eye said. "Better warn him." Oddball said as he began pushing buttons on his dashboard to contact R2.

Inside the fortress Anakin lead the large group into the hangar bay with no attacks from the battle droids. Tuuk was telling the truth as he saw the burning wreckage of their ships as well as the dead bodies of the clones. "Master Jedi, you were right, there is a shuttle!" said Echo 5. "Good, let's get out of..." Anakin began as the hangar doors slammed shut. "Kark." Anakin swore.

R2 beeped in alarm. "What is it? What's he saying?" asked Pulsar. "He says we need to hurry out, Oddball just warned him about a flagship about to destroy this place. Tuuk did plan for this, he was smarter than I thought." Anakin muttered. "What do we do?" cried a panicked woman. "Get on the ship, Echoes 5 and 27 will pilot the shuttle, I'll open the doors, after you get out stop while I run out and jump on the ramp." Anakin ordered. "Good plan sir, just don't get yourself killed." Kix said, while Anakin simply laughed at clone's unyielding worry.

Outside Garven watched in bewilderment as the Separatist dreadnought descended lower and lower, taking heavy fire from clones and rebels alike. He had never seen one up close and never realized just how massive the damned thing was. "Attack it now! If that thing hits the station before the General is out that everyone in there is fragged!" Oddball yelled over the comlink.

Garven shook his head and decided now was his time to shine. "You heard him boys and girls! Blast it!" He said as he flew around, gaining more followers as they flew up and began to strafe the ship.

Inside Anakin waited as the entirety of the hostages made it onto the shuttle and the two rebel pilots took their seats in the cockpit. R2, Kix, Pulsar, and Kano climbed aboard. "Now General!" Kix called.

Anakin turned to the heavy metal door and closed his eyes in concentration. He used the Force to feel the door, to grip it, to spread it apart. He heard the loud scraping of metal as the doors were unnaturally forced open by the mystical power of the force. Anakin opened it wide enough so that the ship could get through. "GO!" he shouted.

The shuttle lifted off and gently flew past him out to the air of Virujansi. "Come on!" Kix called. Anakin let go and ran forward, the doors began to close up but Anakin jumped through and landed on the ramp.

The other clone closed the ramp as the now free crowd cheered for the Jedi, the clones, and the rebels who had freed them. "It's not done yet." Anakin told them as he made his way to the cockpit. He looked at Echoes 5 and 27. "How we doin'?" Anakin asked "Good, we're clear to make it to the capital." said Echo 27, when the falling ship began to open fire on the shuttle. The civillains screamed in horror as a few bolts hit the side of the ship. "This thing have guns?" he asked. "Yeah why?" asked Echo 5. "Give me the controls." Anakin ordered. Echo 27 got out of his seat and Anakin took control. "All pilots listen up!" Anakin said as he switched to the open comlink channel. "This is General Skywalker, we have rescued the hostages and are now making our escape in a Separatist shuttle, but we still need get away from that flagship that's using us for last minute target practice. We'll keep the guns on us while Dries and Oddball and all of their squadrons follow us and blow the guns of that thing to kingdom come!" he said.

"But you have civilians on that thing!" objected a rebel pilot. "Yes I do. And?" he asked as if it were nothing. "Never mind." The pilot said.

Anakin flew up and lead the charge. "All ships fire on my mark..." he said. "Good to see you safe sir." Oddball said. "Yeah, even if you are nuts for putting those peoples' lives at risk "Garven said. "Relax kid; I'm just doing something that needs to be done." Anakin said.

He and the rest of the small fleet of fighter rose up and he flashed past the guns, distracting them and evading their blasts long enough so the fleet could bombard the Flagship, blowing away the communication tower and the bridge. "Eagle Eye, take out that tower!" Anakin ordered, aiming for the large tower at the back of the dreadnought. "Yes sir!" he said. Eagle Eye and the whole of the attack force fired, destroying the base of the fin like tower, causing it to fall forward and crash near the front of the ship.

This new weight combined with all the sustained damage forced the ship to fall right into the floating fortress, destroying them both. "Yes!" cheered the two rebels with Anakin. "It's down, it's down! All fighters return to the capital!" said Garven as he and Anakin lead the fleet to the city.

"You did good out there kid." Oddball told Garven, "Not bad yourself captain." Garven returned. "And you Skywalker, nice getting a transport shuttle to lead an attack on a kiffing Sep Dreadnought and win!" he added. "Just another day in the war Dries, and a short one at that." Anakin said, realizing how short this battle was.

---

As the fleet landed on the outskirts of the city the crowd rushed out of the shuttle to greet their home city and thanks both the clones and the local heroes for their bravery. Anakin was a little overwhelmed by all the hero-worship her received, more than usual.

General Harbon reunited with his daughter, a twenty something blonde girl who was among the captives. He hugged her tight and then looked to Skywalker. "Skywalker, you have my thanks and my eternal gratitude." He said. "Nothing to get excited about General." Anakin said, "Yes, we literally do this every week." Obi-Wan said.

"Nonsense, this man saved not only my daughter and all these people." He said. "He's like a hero with no fear." Said Harbon's daughter. "Hero with no fear... I like that." Anakin said.

Before they knew it all of the hostages and the civilians who came out of hiding were chanting "The Hero With No Fear!" over and over again.

Obi-Wan moaned, knowing that this was just fuel for the fire that was Anakin's ego. He raised his eyebrow at Anakin and smirked, causing Anakin to frown, knowing that Obi-Wan knew hundreds of embarrassing stories about him.

---

As they prepared to leave, leaving behind one Star Cruiser with a garrison of troops, a medical team, and a cleanup crew, Garven Dries spoke to Anakin Skywalker one last time. "You know Skywalker you were pretty great out there." He said, "You were too kid, keep it up, you may rival me in flight skills." Anakin said. "Thanks, well good luck in the war and uh... may the Force be with you." Garven said. Anakin laughed and said "You too kid, you too."

Later Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Rham Kota stood in front of a hologram of the Jedi Council; Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Coleman Kcaj, Oppo Rancisis, Agen Kolar, Saesee Tinn, and Depa Billaba were all represented by the small holographic figures.

"Well done on retaking Virujansi, Masters." Ki-Adi-Mundi said to them. "An unusually short battle it was, hm?" Yoda said, "Yes, after nearly three years of it we're so used to it that something like this is quick work." Obi-Wan said. "A sad truth." Depa said.

"Very well, Master Kota, your next mission to Ord Cestus has been approved. We will debrief you once you've arrived there." Mace Windu said, his voice carrying its usual authority. Kota bowed respectfully and made his way out, "May the Force be with you Master Kenobi and you as well Skywalker." He said as he walked to an elevator to the hangar.

"So what's our next mission, Masters?" Anakin asked respectfully. "We need Master Kenobi to patrol the Xagobah System; rumors have it that the Hyper-Communications Cartel has reestablished a base on that planet." Windu instructed. "I'll gather the 212th and make my way by morning." Obi-Wan said. "And me?" Anakin asked.

Yoda shook his head. "A rest, you have earned Young Skywalker." The diminutive elder Jedi said. "So you're putting me and the 501st on leave?" Anakin asked, "Yes, you and your men have earned a long rest." Plo Koon said, "Plus we figured after everything that has happened with your former Padawan Tano and ARC Trooper Fives, we have decided that you deserve a little vacation." Kit Fisto said good naturedly, obviously aware of how sensitive those two subjects were for him.

Anakin bowed respectfully. "Thank you Masters." He said. "As you will." Windu said as the hologram deactivated. Anakin sighed; he remembered how after the trial and the revelation of Barriss' betrayal Obi-Wan revealed to him what the council's voting on Ahsoka was. Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto had voted her innocent, while Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Oppo Rancisis, Saesee Tinn, Coleman Kcaj, Depa Billaba, and the late Eeth Koth had all voted guilty, while Master Yoda remained undecided. Anakin felt betrayed by those seven Jedi masters he once looked up to in respect and awe, but at least there were some on the council he could trust. But that did leave Yoda in the gray area.

Later in the hangar Obi-Wan made his way to his fighter so he could regroup with the 212th fleet. "So what will you be doing Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked as he climbed into his seat. "Same thing I always do Master, go wherever the universe takes me, spend some time with old friends, maybe even try to find out what Ahsoka's up to." He said hopefully. "Even if you do find her Anakin, respect her wishes. What she does with her life is her own business and none of ours." Obi-Wan said. "I know Master. I wish her the best; I just want to know that she's safe." Anakin said. "Don't worry, she's taken care of herself in much worse situations. The fact that she survived what we and Barriss put her through is proof enough of that." Obi-Wan assured him as he closed the cockpit and began to take off. "Goodbye Anakin, keep safe." He said. "Me? You're the one going to Xagobah of all places." Anakin joked, earning a laugh from his old master "Goodbye Anakin, may the Force be with you." Obi-Wan said.

---

Later as the Resolute docked in the Grand Army of the Republic ship harbor on Coruscant Anakin walked out with R2 and the loyal clone troopers. Rex walked side by side with his general talking. "So what are you going to do while on leave?" Anakin asked Rex. "Well me, Jesse, and Kix are gonna stop by Kamino, see how the cadets are doing, maybe help train 'em a bit." The clone captain said. "Sounds better than just hanging out at that bar you guys love." Anakin said, remembering how many times Kix had to drag a drunken Jesse or Hardcase (and a few times both) home. Rex laughed, "Yeah well, with the newer troops becoming more and more cold and stoic and mindless, kinda like Dogma was at first so I think we should make 'em a bit more... human. I don't want 'em to end up like Commander Faie." Rex said. "Good luck with that Rex, see you in a week." Anakin said as he left and R2 followed him. "What are you gonna do General?" Rex asked. "Visit some friends I guess." Anakin said simply.

Anakin sat in his simple room in the Jedi Temple, trying to meditate. He honestly didn't know what he should do. Find Ahsoka? Even if he could would she even speak to him? After all she had been put through she probably wanted more time to herself. He'd find her one day, but not today or for the next week but oh how he hoped she was safe. He often wondered what his late mother would think of Ahsoka, probably as a granddaughter.

He sighed in annoyance at not being able to see his beloved wife yet again. Padme was at a conference on Chandrila with Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, Riyo Chuchi, Fang Zar, Giddean Danu, and Bana Breemu. He sometime wondered what Shmi Skywalker would think of her daughter-in-law that she never lived to really meet, seeing as how Padme was under the guise of a handmaiden at the time they did meet.

His mother.

His thoughts kept going back to his dead mother, brutally killed by those mindless monsters known as the Sand People or the Tusken Raiders. His mind wandered to the man she married and the new family she gained in his absence; Cliegg Lars and his son Owen.

He didn't get to know them very well and the last time he was on Tatooine, during the incident with Jabba's son, he didn't visit them and he felt bad about that.

'Maybe I should visit them.' He thought.

That night Anakin dreamed of horrible things. He saw himself mercilessly killing the Tusken Raiders, his rage not even sparing the women or children. He then saw a figure approaching the ruins of the village; it was a lone Tusken hunter. It held up a fellow Tusken, which was dying, as it feebly explained what happened and described Anakin. Somehow Anakin understood what they were saying even though they spoke in Tusken. Anakin couldn't place it but there was something familiar about that Tusken.

The dream continued, showing the remaining Tusken going around, speaking to other tribes, ranting and roaring, receiving more roars and what Anakin guessed were cheers. The Tusken gathered up many tribes and led them as an army onto a village, killing all in their way.

He woke up, sweating. He was filled with dread, knowing that whenever he had a dream like that it meant something was coming.

The next day he left his room and walked down the gigantic main hall of the Jedi Temple, nodding to the familiar faces of Serra Keto, Pablo Jill, Foul Moudama, and others. He walked out to the balcony where he watched the busy traffic of Coruscant. He looked over and saw the sad sight of Quinlan Vos talking to his former Padawan Aayla Secura as well as Master Yoda and a hologram of Tholme and T'ra Saa. They were discussing the preparations for Vos to retake control of his spy network he had handed to Tholme after his attempt to infiltrate Dooku's inner circle failed the first time. Aayla had been away most of the time Vos was on his doomed mission with Ventress, be it stopping the CIS from poisoning the oceans of Tarnoonga or fighting a small battallion on Endor, she was kept in the dark about the situation until it was all over and she was furious when she got back.

The group broke up, the hologram deactivating, Vos and Secura walking away and talking, and Yoda approaching Anakin.

"Good morning to you, young Skywalker." Said the familiar old voice of Master Yoda. Anakin turned and looked down at the small, wise Jedi. "Good morning Master." Anakin returned. "In thought are you?" Yoda asked. "Yes Master, I've been considering returning to Tatooine, visit my step family." He said. Yoda nodded, remembering the news of Anakin's mother's death.

"Visit them, you are?" Yoda asked. "If it's all right, I would like to." Anakin said, hoping the old master would approve. Yoda hummed in consideration. "Many ordeals you have been through since the war began, Skywalker. We do not discourage the knowledge of family, the ties and bonds and attachments we do not approve. Earned a visit to your new step-family, you have." Yoda said. Anakin smiled at the small, wise, and understanding Jedi Master. "Thank you Master Yoda." He said, bowing in respect.

Anakin walked away from Yoda who watch as Anakin left for the hangar.

Anakin took of the newly repaired hangar, which had finally been mended after the bombing. He had left R2 at the temple, giving Yoda a companion to teach the younglings with. Anakin smirked; remembering how Padme's younger sisters chased R2 around when he met her family. He hoped the young Jedi would go easy of R2.

He left the atmosphere of Coruscant and docked up with a Hyperspace ring. He pushed some buttons and he blasted off to Tatooine.

---

Half a day later he arrived to the barren, planet filled with yellow sand and brown rocky mountains. He sighed, seeing various ships and transports coming and leaving the planet, going to various cities and spaceports. His ship ejected from the Hyperspace ring and he descended towards the planet.

He smiled with nostalgia, wondering if he should give Kitster, Wald, and Watto a visit. It had been over a decade since he had seen the former two. But family came first. He flew down towards Mos Eisley and then headed away to the place that his mother and 3P0 had called home for a few years.

Beru Whitesun, soon to be Beru Whitesun-Lars, stood outside adjusting the setting on a moisture vaporator. "Going to have to get used to this." She said with a smile as she finished up. A few months ago Own had proposed to her and she had naturally accepted. The wedding was going to be in five days She looked over to a servant droid who was helping her, a rusted up old protocol droid called Z-KP5, who was looking up to the sky.

"What is it Z-K?" she asked as she looked up and saw for herself what it was looking at. A small, yellow Starfighter was heading for the farm and beginning to land. "Is that... him?" Beru asked aloud, knowing the man inside had finally returned after so many heroics in the war.

The fighter landed and the cockpit opened to reveal the older, matured, scarred face of Anakin Skywalker. "Anakin!" she said as she rushed forward. "Beru, right?" Anakin said. "Oh well that's just great. Three years and you've already forgotten us." She said as she shook his hand. "Well you were his girlfriend, at the time you were kinda minor compared to stepfather and brother." Anakin said as he shook her hand. Beru realized the hand she was holding wasn't a human hand, but a mechanical one. "What happened to your..." "Cut off by a fallen Jedi called Count Dooku." Anakin explained, "I'll tell you all about it later, where Own and Cliegg?" he asked. "Inside, Owen's working but... Cliegg..." she began, but was interrupted by Anakin. "Is he dead?" Anakin asked fearfully. "No, but he hasn't been well since Shmi died, come inside. Z-K, carry on." She said as she led Anakin back to the farm.

Inside the storage room of the farm Owen Lars, a rugged man of twenty-four, stacked up the boxes filled with harvest tools, which had just finished their use. Owen was worried, his father's physical condition had been getting worse and worse since Shmi died and with just enough money coming in from their water harvest to keep themselves housed, fed, and clothed, but there wasn't nearly enough to pay for a good doctor to keep his dad alive. Owen could barley remember his birth-mother Aika, but he could remember the heartache his father had went through when he lost her, but unlike some fathers Cliegg didn't become a hopeless drunkard; he worked hard to give his son a good life. They moved from the planet Ator to Tatooine to begin life as moisture farmers when Owen was seventeen. They bought this piece of land, but they had to land at Mos Espa to negotiate with the land dealer, who was a rather obnoxious Gand, and in that town they met with a Toydarian named Watto to buy some equipment and a landspeeder, but there they met Watto's slave Shmi Skywalker and her fussy protocol droid, who was only partially covered with tin plates and its name Owen kept forgetting.

It was a second chance at love for his old dad. He spent all his extra money on her to buy her from the Toydarian, taking the droid along with her. They stayed in Mos Espa for a few months while the negotiations went on. Shmi stayed with them as a slave for a week, telling them about her son Anakin beating crowd favorite Sebulba in the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace and was freed by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Once the week was out Cliegg gave Shmi her freedom and told her she was free to go or stay with them. Shmi chose to stay.

After the negations were over and the land was bought Cliegg married Shmi Skywalker, making her Shmi Lars, the friends of her son attended the wedding and wished her goodbye.

Then three years ago she was taken by the abominations known as the Sand People. His dad led a team of thirty local farmers in a crusade to save her, resulting in Cliegg losing his leg in a fight to one of those things and all but four of the farmers being slaughtered. Cliegg was now bound to a hoverchair and they had given up hope. As far as could hope, Shmi's death was quick and painless.

But then her son returned to find her. Plagued by nightmares of his mother's suffering he and a senator he was protecting came to see her, only to learn of her terrible fate and went on his own private crusade to find her. He came back the next day, carrying her dead body wrapped in cloth. He told how they had tortured her and kept her alive for over a month and how he dealt with the monsters responsible for it.

They buried her outside the family home and had a small funeral for her. After which Anakin and the senator left, and Owen let them take the gray protocol droid with them. He hoped his step-brother was alright, fighting that damned war out there. He only wished his brother was here to help deal with the...

Suddenly there was a crashing sound. Owen looked up and saw that the boxes were about to fall on him. He braced himself but the impact never came. He opened his eyes and saw the boxes floating in midair. "What the...?" he said.

"Careful Owen, you need to be aware of your surroundings." Said a voice that Owen recognized. Owen looked to the door and saw Anakin Skywalker, holding his hand out, using the Force to lift the boxes carefully to the ground. Beru stood behind him, stifling a giggle.

"Anakin! It's been years!" said Owen as he walked over to his stepbrother. "Nice to see you too." Anakin said as he hugged his brother.

"How's the war going?" Owen asked. "Same as all wars, bad on both sides. Where's Cliegg?" Anakin asked. "In the family room, where he usually is. So what's the occasion?" Owen asked as he followed. "I'm on leave so I decided to drop by and say hello." He explained.

"Well from what I've heard you've earned it; Christophsis, Umbara, Dac, you've all over the galaxy." Owen said as he and Beru led Anakin into the house. "Well not the entire thing, but I will one day. A little vow I made to Qui-Gon." Anakin said. "Who?" Beru asked, "The Jedi who took him." Owen reminded her. "Yeah, he was a great man; my mom knew it even in the short time she knew him." Anakin said.

They walked into the family room to see the old, and now bearded form of Cliegg Lars, resting in his deactivated hoverchair. "Sleeping, he does that a lot these days." Owen said as he grabbed Cliegg's shoulder and shook it. "Dad, dad wake up. We have a visitor."

Cliegg Lars opened his tired old eyes and looked around the room, seeing Owen, Beru, and someone else that looked familiar. "Owen, is that..." "Yeah pop, it's Anakin." Owen said, crackin a grin.

Cliegg reached out and shook Anakin's hand. "Nice to have you back boy." The old man said, smiling a bit. He felt that Anakin's hand was artificial. "I see the war left you a few scars to remember it." Cliegg said, "More than you know." Anakin said, "We're a matching pair Cliegg, no arm for me, no leg for you." Anakin joked, eliciting a laugh from his stepfather.

Anakin noticed Cliegg's leg was still the stump it was last time, obviously a replacement mechanical leg was too expensive on this backwater planet. "Sit down, sit down my boy." Cliegg said, gesturing to a sofa. "Owen, you finish with the work?" he asked, "Pretty much." Owen answered.

They all sat down, with their attention focused on Anakin. "So what have you been up to?" Anakin asked. "Why ask us? We're just farmers; you're the Jedi leading the heroic, idealistic crusade. I mean other than my engagement to Beru there's not much to tell." Owen said. "Okay I guess you wanna hear about everything?" Anakin said. "You know it, it's nice hearing about the war on the holonet, but it'll be better hearing it from a Jedi who was there." Beru said. Anakin smiled at his soon to be sister-in-law and began.

He told them about Geonosis, about how his arm was cut off by Count Dooku, about Muunilist and his duel with Ventress on Yavin IV, about the horror that was the battle of Jabiim, about how Obi-Wan was thought dead and his brief tutelage under Ki-Adi-Mundi and his reunion with Obi-Wan. He told them how he was knighted, how he became friends with clones like Rex, Echo, Fives, Jesse, and others, about the battle of Kamino, the Zillo Beast, Admiral Trench, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka becoming his Padawan, saving Jabba's sun, nearly losing R2, the battle of Ryloth, being attacked by Gundarks, being held captive by pirates, being injured in a crash landing, the peace on Orto Plutona, the virus on Naboo, the strange lasers above Iego, his dealings with the bounty hunter Cad Bane kidnapping force sensitive children, the second battle of Geonosis, nearly losing Ahsoka in the weapons factory, the brain worms, nearly dying because of Boba Fett's vendetta against Mace Windu, fighting off bounty hunters without his lightsaber in the senate building, what little he knew about Savage Opress, the citadel, Ahsoka being captured by Trandosian hunters but returning triumphantly, battling on the water world with the Mon Cala, Umbara, fighting the Zygerrian Slavers (something he could tell Cliegg loved because of Anakin using their name to infiltrate the queen's palace), Obi-Wan faking his death to stop a kidnapping attempt on Palpatine, the rebels of Onderon, and Ahsoka's trial and everything she went through which they could tell was a painful ordeal for both her and him, the incident with Fives going crazy saying Palpatine was responsible for terrible things, working with Obi-Wan to stop General Grevious from getting a giant Kaiburr crystal, and working with the Bad Batch to save Echo.

By the end of the stories it was very dark out, halfway though the night. Anakin's mouth was dry; even as he drank the blue milk Beru had supplied him. Beru had cried a bit at Ahsoka's final story because she had become attached to the young Togruta through Anakin's tales, Owen was angrier at the war for what it had done to the galaxy, and Cliegg looked tired as Anakin's stories were the best source of entertainment in years.

They talked about Obi-Wan, Rex, Ahsoka, and how Senator Amidala was, oh if they only knew.

"Well that's most of it so far." Anakin said, leaving out a lot of details; namely his marriage to Padme, a lot of the gruesome things he had seen over the years, and the demonic vision of Shmi on Mortis. He didn't even dare mention the events with Vos and Ventress since that was pretty much classified.

Cliegg looked to Owen. "We have to tell him." "No dad, he doesn't have to fight our battle for us." Owen objected. "What? What are you talking about?" Anakin asked the small family.

The trio looked at each other, all unsure of what to do or what to say to their return family member. "Owen, your dad's right. Anakin is the best chance we have at stopping them." Beru said. "Stopping who? What?" Anakin demanded, losing his patience.

The three looked at him with worry visible in their eyes and expressions.

"It's the sand people. They've been on the rampage for the past two and a half years going after farmers across the dune sea, the Jundland wastes, whatever you want to call it. They've been attacking farms and even villages. A dozen tribes have banded together and are using their numbers to scare anyone they see fit. The authorities are under the control of that Hutt and the Hutt doesn't care about those Tuskens so the authorities won't do anything." Cliegg explained.

"What are they doing?" Anakin asked, afraid of the answer. "Killing anyone they can. They don't take prisoners much anymore, they just kill. It's like they're after revenge or something." Owen said, making Anakin flinch. Was it possible a Tusken had escaped from his slaughter as his dream had told him?

"You managed to kill a few when you found Shmi, surely you can make them stop." Beru said. Anakin looked down, remembering what had happened that night when he slaughtered the village. The only ones who knew were Padme and Jedi Master A'Sharad Hett, a Jedi who was half Tusken and worked with Anakin to escape a hostile desert world where Anakin confessed his sins, thereby helping Anakin accept the loss of his mother and helping Hett accept his human heritage. He had lied to everyone else about what had happened.

Anakin looked at them, unsure. "I think it's time we went to sleep, we'll talk some more in the morning." He said, to which the others agreed. Owen shut the power down, sleeping in his room with Beru, while Cliegg slept in his own room, while Anakin slept in the guest room.

As Anakin lay in his bed he brooded on how his dreams always seemed to be warning him of something; first his mom, now these rampaging Tuskens. Whatever was going on here, he needed to put an end to it.

---

The next morning Anakin awoke, now wearing simple farm clothes, so as to help them with whatever they needed. He walked into the kitchen and saw Beru crying. "Beru? Beru, what's wrong? What's happened?" Anakin asked. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"The Tuskens, they've..." "They've struck again." Owen said as he arrived into the room. "This time it was a farm fifteen miles away from here. The family that lived there... they were good friends of ours." Owen finished soberly. "Monsters!" yelled the angry Cliegg Lars from outside in the small courtyard.

"Show me." Anakin said. Owen and Beru looked at each other. "You'll help us? You'll stop them?" Owen asked. "What kind of Jedi would I be if I left my family in danger? Of course I'll help." Anakin said proudly.

"Then come on, brother, we'll go there and maybe you can use your Jedi powers to track 'em down." Owen said as he led Anakin to the Landspeeder outside. "You're going after them aren't you?" asked Cliegg as he saw them get in the vehicle. "Yes." Anakin answered. "Good, take 'em out." Cliegg encouraged.

As they began their journey Anakin said to Owen "Look, don't tell all your friends I'm a Jedi, I don't want that kind of attention while I'm on leave." To which Owen agreed.

When they arrived they saw they weren't the only ones there. Several other neighboring farmers had gathered around to mourn their lost friends; all of these farmers were clearly scared. They feared for their families and friends and they all had the same question on their mind: Who's next?

Owen noticed that among the bodies of the newly dead farmers one member of the family was missing. "They took Sunal!" A young man yelled Owen recognized the young man as Rariz, Sunal's boyfriend. "Oh no." Owen said. "Who?" Anakin asked, "Their teenage daughter! Oh gods, she'll be used like breeding stock." Owen said in horror. He ran over to a large, pudgy man with long hair who had a woman with short black hair who was holding a toddler with her.

"Baron Darklighter!" Owen said. "Lars, terrible isn't it! Just terrible. I'm getting sick of this, someone needs to stop those things before they march right into Anchorhead or Mos Eisley!" the land baron known as Huff Darklighter, his wife Amber held their three year old son, Biggs, close to her.

"Sir, Sunal's body isn't there, they've taken her!" Owen revealed. "That poor girl." Amber said, holding the young child closer to her. "We can still save her!" Owen said. "Don't be a fool Lars, the girl's good as dead." Said Darklighter. "No! My stepbrother has returned, he's a Jedi!" Owen whispered, knowing Anakin didn't want attention. "A Jedi!" Huff whispered, he looked at Anakin and Anakin flashed the lightsaber from under his poncho he wore.

"Okay then you might have a chance then, try to start up a team and tell 'em your brother will lead that party." Darklighter commanded. "Yes sir, everyone!" Owen yelled out getting the crowd's attention. "My brother has returned from fighting in the war, he's part of a garrisson on Bestine." Owen lied, "He's a strong man but we'll need help. We are going after those monsters, saving Sunal, and stopping them permanently! Anyone who wants to help out come on, no one'll blame you if you don't tag along. Some of us may die, but that's the price we'll have to pay for stopping them." Owen said.

The crowd was uneasy, some were interested, some were doubtful, some were terrified, some were optimistic. "I'll go, I have to help save her." Rariz said, eager to save his lover. "I'm in." said a farmhand named Tokar. "I've got a fast Landspeeder, fastest on this side of the planet." Said a farm girl named Saren, gesturing over to her large green Landspeeder. "I'll go." Said a middle aged man named Knoll. "Count me in too." said a man named Hyp

"Okay, if anyone else is interested they can join, but for now let's get our weapons and meet back here in half an hour, we have to hurry before they get too far!" Owen instructed as he and Anakin went back to their speeder.

Half an hour later the small band met back up. They climbed into Saren's speeder and made their way across the desert, following the Bantha tracks.

As they made their way further and further into the desert they discovered that the Bantha tracks followed the fresh prints of tracks. "What are those tracks?" asked Rariz, "Look like a Jawa Sandcrawler to me." Owen said, "But that's impossible, the Sand People don't attack Sandcrawlers they're to big, they scare 'em away." Knoll said. "These aren't normal Tuskens Knoll, these are way out of our league." Said Owen. "That won't stop us. Its never stopped me." Anakin said. "These things are better fighters than those droids, they're savages." said Hyp. "Tell me something I don't know." Anakin muttered.

They sped up, sand flying by beneath them and rocks and clouds speeding by around them. They saw something up ahead; an old, much smaller Jawa Sandcrawler surrounded by Banthas and Tusken vanguards.

"There they are!" yelled Tokar. "Speed up!" Anakin told Saren, she nodded and made the speeder go as fast as it could. The Tuskens bringing up the rear saw them and began to shoot at them and holler to sound an alarm. Anakin took out and ignited his lightsaber and deflected the stinging laser bolts aimed for he and the farmers.

As they approached Anakin jumped up and used the Force to fling himself onto the saddle of a Bantha. The two Tuskens controlling the creature saw him, but before they could even move towards him they were decapitated with one slash of the lightsaber. He took hold of the reins, ducking from the laser blasts shot at him and used the Force to make the creature run forward, faster than Anakin had ever seen a Bantha move. It forced it to ram into another Bantha and then another, sending both pairs of Tuskens flying into the sand.

As Owen began shooting Tuskens he heard the confusion of his fellow farmers. "He's... he's..." stammered Tokar, "Your brother is a karking Jedi!" cried Saren. "Yeah, our family's just full of surprises." Owen said as he shot a Bantha in the eye, causing it to drop dead.

Owen, Rariz, Hyp, and Knoll got out and fought while Tokar and Saren stayed in the speeder and fought from there. Anakin used the Force to grab a Tusken trying to shoot Owen and smashed its body in the rock, killing it and then directed the Bantha right at the Sandcrawler as he deflected another blast. He watched as he saw Owen blast down five Tuskens in the span of five seconds, which was unusually good aim for a farmer.

"Hey! You're not a bad fighter for a farmer!" Anakin yelled as he deflected a blast meant for him. "Neither are you for a peace keeper." Owen snarked as he shot at a Tusken. "Point taken!" Anakin said, "Hey, we may not be blood, but at least both sides of our family knows how to fight!" Owen said as he dodged a blast meant for him

From inside the Sandcrawler a dark voice said "It's him. The Jedi" as it watched Anakin charge at the Sandcrawler. It stood up and walked into the control room. The voice belonged to a Tusken, one with a great hatred in him for this Jedi that had finally returned here.

The Tusken walked out of his chamber and into the control room. "Send up a group, the Jedi's here at last! He will pay for the slaughter of our people!" it roared in the language of the Tuskens. The crew controlling the old Sandcrawler roared in agreement. "He'll be on the top, send ten of our men to deal with him, but don't kill him. Leave that to me." It grunted.

Ten Tuskens ran out of the room to a side room which led to the top. The Tusken leader eyed the girl known as Sunal and three other women they had captured in the past few weeks. "Once the Jedi is dead..." it said in a screechy voice, speaking in galactic basic rather well, "your use is over and we'll put you out of your misery!" it said, making them cry and weep in terror.

Anakin rammed the Bantha into the back of the Sandcrawler and used the Force to jump up, releasing the creature from its servitude. Anakin was greeted by the sight of ten Tusken Raiders, all holding blaster rifles and Gaffi Sticks.

They roared in anticipation as they rushed him, ignoring thier leader's orders to keep Anakin alive. Anakin plunged his lightsaber forward, stabbing one in the chest. It howled in pain as it fell and Anakin ducked a blow from a rifle and then cut one in half. Anakin wasn't able to dodge the next blow of a Gaffi Stick and fell to his knees, the next blow was to his sides, he fell and was about to have his head smashed when he jumped up and slashed the attacker across the stomach. The jumped behind attackers and decapitated two of them.

He had already cut his attackers' numbers in half, now he had to finish this. The remaining five rushed him all at once. He stabbed one right the head, a quick and instant death, but this gave the others an opportunity. One crashed the Gaffi stick right into Anakin's chest, knocking his backwards. Anakin fell on his back, but he used the Force to send his lightsaber flying into another one's chest, leaving only three more. One rushed at him, trying to kill him while he was down, he used the Force to smash it down on the floor and then he jumped up grabbed the second one by the head and smashed it into a railing. He grabbed his lightsaber and stabbed the third one in the neck. The second one rushed at him again, Anakin slashed it across the face from the chin up.

The last one standing held its rifle out and shot at Anakin, but Anakin simply deflected it. He ran forward and slashed the Tusken's gun in two. The Tusken roared, holding both its arms up, about to use the two halves of the gun as melee weapons when Anakin slashed both his arms off. The Tusken roared in pain as Anakin used the Force to throw it off the top of the Sandcrawler and crashed on the ground. It looked up and saw the giant form on a Bantha about to stomp on its dying body.

Anakin turned off his lightsaber and jumped into the hole that they came through, into the land ship.

Below Owen shot another Tusken down as he heard a scream. He looked over and saw Knoll being clubbed to death with Gaffi sticks. "Knoll!" Owen screamed as he ran forward, shooting down the murdering Tuskens. He shot them all down and then looked at Knoll's dead and beaten body. He grabbed Knoll's gun and began to dual wield the guns, shooting every Tusken in sight.

Saren drove up next to him, ramming a few Tuskens as she did so. "We can't keep this up forever, your brother better hurry up or we'll have to leave without him." She said. All of a sudden Tokar, who was still in the Landspeeder with her, became riddled with blasts, his dead body fell into the sand with short scream. "Just give him time, Anakin will beat these things!" Owen said as he shot another one.

Inside the Sandcrawler Anakin ran into the control room with nothing even trying to stop him. He saw the four women tied up and held captive. "Are you all right?" he asked as he took off their mouth gags. "They will die better than you will Jedi." Said the eerie voice of the lead Tusken.

The lights in the room activated, revealing the leader, flanked by six guards on both sides. More Tuskens, male and female now, flooded into the room, all pointing weapons at him. Anakin looked at the leader, sensing something very familiar about him.

Anakin ignited his saber once again and smirked. "You don't know who your dealing with, do you?" he asked. "I know you were the one who slaughtered my tribe!" the leader screeched accusingly.

Anakin nodded inwardly. His dreams were right, there was a survivor, but why did he feel familiar. He used the Force to read it and then he realized something. He now understood why it felt so familiar.

No... no... no it couldn't be. It couldn't be that specific Tusken... not that one.

"You... I saved you and you spared me." Anakin said to the leader. "What?! No Jedi, I will not spare you! You will die here and now!" it yelled. "No! Remember, years ago! I was a boy, my droid and I we found you in the desert and helped you, and when your tribe came you told them to let us live!" Anakin cried out, making the leader hesitate. "No! No! It can't be you! Impossible! Shoot him! Shoot him now!" it yelled. Anakin decided to put his personal feeling aside and get both himself and the women out now.

He used a powerful Force-wave to knock all the raiders down, blowing them into the walls and knocking most of them out cold. He slashed the women free of the ropes that held them and yelled "Come on!" they followed him as he ran forward, slashing the occasional Tusken. He smashed the main window open and ordered them to jump with him. He jumped first and the captive women, who were too excited at the prospect of freedom to argue, jumped after him.

He landed in the sand and then used the Force to catch all the women and safely lower them down gently. Saren drove the Landspeeder up next to them and helped Anakin guide the girls inside as Owen, Rariz, and Hyp provided cover fire.

The three remaining men climbed in as Saren took off, leaving a trail of dust behind as the Tuskens fired wildly at them, missing every time.

The leader Tusken climbed to the top of the sandcrawler and watched as his prey escaped. He let out a howl and screamed "You won't get away Jedi! You will pay for your sins!"

Owen glanced behind, confused at the things' words.

Anakin sat down, deactivating his lightsaber as the small rescue team, minus two but plus four sped across the desert to safety.

Later, after the women were returned to safety under the care of friends or family and the survivors sworn to secrecy about Anakin's Jedi status, the brothers returned to the Lars Moisture farm, celebrated as heroes.

Beru kissed her fiancé passionately. "My hero." She said to him. "Anakin's the hero. You should've seen him; he slaughtered those things like they were nothing but Womp-rats." Owen praised. "Well you mowed them down like insects." Anakin returned.

Owen looked at Anakin, pondering the words the Tusken leader had screamed at them. "Anakin, when we got away that leader yelled at you, saying that you'd pay for your sins. Any idea what he meant by that?" Owen asked.

Anakin sighed. He knew this day would come when he would have to explain what he did that night in that camp. "He was talking about that night when I found mom in that Tusken camp. She... she died in my arms, telling me she loved me." He said, struggling to hold back tears. "After that I... I couldn't take it. I felt her pain and suffering... I... they needed to pay. All of them. Every last stinking one of those putrid creatures deserved my blade for what they did to her." Anakin said darkly, causing Beru to gasp in shock.

"You killed them all, didn't you?" Cliegg said. "Yes, or at least I thought I did, apparently one was off hunting." Anakin finished, as Owen and Beru eyed him, not knowing what to think. "Son, I don't blame you for what you did, hell in your position I'd've done the same thing, but killing the women and the children..." Cliegg said. "I know, what I did... it was too far. And if that's not enough that survivor has not only raised this army of Sand People in order to get revenge on me, but I know him personally." Anakin said. "What do you mean?" Beru asked.

"Years ago, right before Qui-Gon and the others came here to escape from the Trade Federation. The night before Watto sent me out to deal with some Jawas. They were offering a bundle of droids for a good bargain and he wasn't going to pass it up. He sent me out there to collect them and I took 3P0 with me to translate. I drove east for two hours and met them at Mochot Steep. I remember we got two mechanic droids, three multipurpose droids, and one old hyperdrive converter. We didn't have a sled so we had to go slowly while the droids followed us. I just let my mind wander as we drove on, trying to ignore 3P0's ramblings. That droid..." Anakin said with a smile, "changing the subjects and going on with asking for nothing more than to continue. I sometimes wondered if it was to compensate for all the years he spent in deactivation. Then I saw something, something that stood out among the sand and rocks, I moved the Landspeeder towards, 3P0 protesting when he realized what it was we were seeing."

Anakin began to giggle and did an impression of 3P0's panicked voice: "'Master Anakin, whatever are you doing? Mos Espa is down the canyon draw, not through the side of the... Oh my! Is that what I think it is?! Master, there is every reason to turn right around...' I stopped him and told him I just wanted to look, he objected some more, saying how likely it was what I already knew it was. A Sand Person, a Tusken Raider."

Owen, Beru, and Cliegg listened with anticipation. "It was lying on its stomach, half buried in a pile of rocks by a cliff, guess there was a small rock slide and it was unlucky enough to get caught in it. I got out and walked closer to it, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't creeped out, I had heard all the stories about them, how they had pillaged homes and caravans, even tried to go after Hutts on occasions, everyone hated them, but at them time I hadn't made up my mind about them, I had heard those stories meant to scare children and I was nervous, but I had learned that there were two side to every story. I got closer to it, 3P0 crying out the whole time and I knew he wasn't wrong, but I was nine and I wanted to brag about how I had seen a Sand Person up close.

"I saw that his leg was crushed under a boulder and I picked up his rifle, which was marked with those tribal symbols. Then it woke up. I backed away a bit, but it just... it just stared at me for a solid minute and then dropped its head again. I knew what Watto, Kitster, and everyone would say; "Run, now!" but I could sense something in this Tusken as it looked at me again; pain. I could sense its pain. I could sense its pain, trapped helpless under that boulder and then I though; what would mom do?"

Cliegg smiled lovingly, remembering Shmi's unending compassion.

"I had 3P0 gather up the new droids, even as he protested with every step, to help move the rocks away. I threw the rifle safely out of reach as I worked with the droids as the Tusken fell in and out of consciousness. Once we got the boulder off of his leg we turned him over and I used a medical kit in the speeder to apply a quick-seal splint on his leg. The sun began to go down and I considered leaving then, but I knew about the creatures that roamed the Dune Sea at night. I put out a glow pack with an extra fuel cell and took out a food ration. I was going to try and stay all night to protect this injured creat... man. Mom would be worried, Watto would be mad, but it'd be morning before either of them could do anything. I talked with 3P0 for a while. I asked him if the Tusken would be all right, 3P0 said he wasn't versed in medicinal purposes, but he guessed that I did the best I could. He also noted that it was nightfall and that we should get back. 'We can't leave him here.' I said, 'Well that's a rather difficult determination to make.' He answered, 'And we can't take him with us' I said, 'Certainly not!' 3P0 said in his usual shocked tone whenever anything out of the ordinary was suggested to him.

"We sat longer in the dark, quite until the Tusken woke up. I said hello to it but it didn't respond. I asked if it was thirsty but still no response. 'I don't think it likes us very much.' 3P0 said. I tried some more to talk to him but it didn't respond, it only gazed briefly at its blaster rifle. I told 3P0 to try and speak to him in his native language of 3P0 tried to, but it didn't work. Nevertheless 3P0 kept going until the Tusken barked at him that 3P0 found offensive, which apparently was a shout of 'shut up'." Anakin said, making Owen laugh, remembering how 3P0 could drone on.

"We sat in the darkness for a while, I was beginning to wonder if he wanted to attack me, but I could feel that that wasn't his intent. Finally he spoke up and 3P0 told me he wanted to know what he wanted from me. 3P0 translated for me to the Tusken that I wasn't going to do anything to him, just heal him up. It was at that point I realized the Tusken Raider, something that was supposed to be this fearless marauder of the desert, was afraid. After that we just sat in silence until I fell asleep.

"When I woke up I was surrounded by Sand People, the glow pack had been destroyed and I could see, even in the dark, that they had encircled me. Those faces were unreadable, I was terrified so I considered running, but I knew how stupid that would be. Then I heard a Tusken speaking. It was the one I had saved, it was speaking to its people, telling them to let me go and spare me. They hesitated and then left with their injured clam member in tow in a makeshift carrier. 3P0 told me how lucky we were to be alive. I saw that the new droids were left alone, but his rifle was taken back by his tribe. I then got going home. And somehow, that Tusken I saved got all the way across the planet to the village that I slaughtered for what happened to mom and now he wants revenge on me, even at the cost of others' lives." Anakin said angrily.

"What are we going to do? They're still out there." Beru said, "I'll stop them permanently, but not alone." Anakin said as he got up and walked out.

Anakin walked outside towards his fighter, followed by Owen. "Anakin wait, if you slaughtered those things before you can do it again." Anakin sighed and turned to Owen. "If we're going to stop those things from rampaging across the farmlands we can't do it alone." He said. "Yeah but who'd help us? We don't have enough money to pay a bounty hunter and most of the farmers are too scared of them to do anything and those that will fight are too few." Owen said, Anakin pondered this and then he smirked. "I know some old friends who I need to get in touch with, maybe they'll help us. Plus Jabba still owes me for saving his son." Anakin said.

"Are you sure Jabba will do it? And are these friends of yours capable of helping us?" Owen asked doubtfully. Anakin smiled, "If they survived slavery, they'll survive Tuskens and as for Jabba, let's just say he sometimes keeps his word." He said as he made his way to his Starfighter. "I'll be back by tomorrow night, be safe until then." Anakin said. "We will, you're the one going to deal with the Hutt." Owen said.

Anakin laughed as he closed his cockpit and took off for Jabba's palace.

To be Continued...

Notes here: Garven Dries is the Red Leader from A New Hope. In the original script and in a deleted scene he tells Luke he knew Anakin and that if Luke has half his father's skill he'll do fine so I wanted to incorporate that.

The main point of this fic was to build up a bond between Anakin and Owen, so Owen would have a reason to care for Luke. Also there needed to be a reason why Yoda knew about the Lars family in Revenge of the Sith.

Owen's badassery here is based on a deleted scene from A New Hope in which Biggs says to Luke "Your uncle could take down an army of Sand People with a single blaster."

I named Biggs' mom Amber because it was a pet he briefly had in a very early draft of Star Wars.

Also I killed off Mar Tuuk just to tie up a loose end with that character.

And here's a thing: No, I didn't make that thing about the young Anakin saving a Tusken Raider up. It was featured in The Phantom Menace novelization by Terry Brooks and I'm convinced that The Maker George Lucas planned it from the beginning, but decided not to feature it in the film for some reason.