TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the principle characters and situations belongs to me.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 10
Meanwhile…
"We have to warn the council about Count Dooku's actions," Kenobi says, as he and Ranma return to their ships.
"No kidding," Ranma says. "From my estimations alone, these clowns are able to turn out a regiment of droid troops every hour. NOT good."
"Right," Kenobi says, as he faced the astromech R4-P17. "R4, patch me to the Jedi Order."
The droid chirps and beeps its response.
Kenobi sighs.
"What happened?" Ranma says.
"Geonosis is out of range of Coruscant."
"Huh. Maybe we can 'network' with Usagi and others on Naboo?"
"Good idea. R4? Patch to Naboo."
The droid replies.
"What the blazes are they doing on Tattooine?"
"Probably wanting to visit Anakin's mom," Ranma says.
"But rules specifically states-"
"Master Kenobi, Anakin had only his mother for the first half of his life. Since then, he has had only Master Jinn as his parent. You should cut him so slack."
"You seem to be…insightful about Anakin's feelings."
"That's because I know what he is going through, from personal experience."
"Really, now."
"Yeah, REALLY. The only difference is that Jinn was never the miscreant that my 'old man' was, when Pops trained me to be the best."
"Well, we can discuss this matter another time. Right now, the Jedi Council needs to be informed."
Ranma sighs, as he goes over to his own craft. He tends to cut Anakin some slack, since he knows what it's like to not having a mother for a long time.
Ranma's astromech droid "R3-WD40" notices Ranma's presence. The droid says something.
"Yeah, I know, R3," Ranma says, as he looks about the canyon while straightening his robes.
"The moment we complete this investigation, the quicker we get off this burg…"
Unknown to either Kenobi and Ranma, their actions were being watched…
Meanwhile, Anakin kept watch for Tuskin raiders, while Usagi healed his mother, Shmi.
"Are you done yet?" Anakin says forcefully.
"Almost," Usagi replied back.
Unfortunately, even though Anakin was keeping watch, his inner turmoil dulled his psychic senses.
"RRRRRRRAAAAH!"
A Tusken raider, who originally took Shmi, came back in time to see Anakin standing in front of his tent.
Snap! Hzzzzzzz…
Anakin, in on fell swoop, cut the raider in half.
"Keep it down! I'm not done yet!"
"Okay!"
As more raiders were alerted to the presence of the two Jedi Padawan, Anakin furiously defended himself, his partner and his mother. He would be damned if he loose his mom now!
Usagi ceases to glow, as Shmi opens her eyes.
"How do you feel?" Usagi asked.
"I…feel better, but tired."
"Alright," Usagi says, as she nods her head. "Can you get up?"
"I don't know…"
"It's okay," Usagi says. "I'm going to carry you out. Okay?"
Shmi nods her head in reply. Usagi then picks up Anakin's mother, by first having her lean over her shoulders.
"It's done! Let's go!" yelled Usagi, as she carried Shimi over her shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Ani!"
"Coming!" Anakin says, as another Tusken raider charged forward. Just as the raider was about to deliver his blow, Anakin countered with a blow of his kind.
SLICE!
"YEARGGH!"
"You okay?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah," Anakin says. "Is my mother-?"
"She unconscious…but fine."
Anakin and Usagi looks around, just in time to see more Tusken raiders charging forward. A few of them were about to take aim with their blaster rifles.
"Go on, I'll cover you," Anakin says, as he raised his lightsaber.
"Anakin, we don't have time to fight those guys."
"But-"
"It's either this or your mother."
Anakin closes his eyes.
Hzzzz-SNAP!
"Fine, let's go," Anakin says, as he puts away his lightsaber.
Usagi smiles.
And with that, just as the Tusken raiders had begun their assault, Anakin and Usagi (with Shmi on her shoulders) were GONE.
Later…
"Oh, Ani, I'm so proud of you!" said Shimi, as she lay in bed. "I knew I'll see you again."
"Thank you, mother," Anakin replied meekly. While it felt good to have his mom safe and sound, he didn't like the fact that he couldn't do anything to prevent Shmi from getting hurt in the first place.
"Shimi, why did you quit working for Watto?" asked Usagi, as she continued to check her friend's vital signs. "Was he cheap or something?"
"No, I just wanted a normal life. Besides, I can make decent money maintaining the moisturizers. That's how I met my husband Lars in the first place. And who is your friend, Ani?"
"This is Padme. She's from Naboo."
Kasumi smiles. Seeing how Anakin loved his mother reminded her of how much she missed her own mother…
"The pleasure is all mine," Kasumi says.
As Ami looks on, her communicator beeped. Knowing that she and her companions needed to keep in touch with the Jedi Council, especially since they had snuck off of Naboo, Ami had placed the communications system on board the Naboo shuttle on "alert" status.
"If you all excuse me, I'll see to the 'hail'," Ami says.
"Oh, boy," Usagi says.
"What?" Anakin asked.
"I SO hope we're not being hailed by the council," Usagi lamented.
"I am SURE that it is nothing," Kasumi says assuredly.
Outside, Ami heads for the Naboo shuttle, and enters.
"MEW!" Tho-Ohki says, as he looks up from eating his carrot.
R2-D2 chirped and beeped its response.
"Hello, mistress!" Threepio says.
"Hello, you three," Ami says, remembering that the protocol C3-P0 wanted to keep R2-D2 and Tho-Ohki company. "I'm just going to check on this message we just received…"
In short order, Ami listens to the message.
"We better relay this message to the Council," Ami says, as he begins to the process. She then establishes contact with her teacher, Master Mace Windu.
"Master Windu, this is Padawan Ami Mizuno…"
On Coruscant, at the Jedi Council Hall, both Mace Windu and Yoda looked up from their meditation.
"We hear you," Windu says. "What the blazes are you doing on Tattooine?"
"We…had a situation where a mutual friend needed to help someone," Ami says.
"Anakin Skywalker," Windu says. "The boy needs help."
"The message, what is?" Yoda asked.
"It's from Master Kenobi," Ami says. "He reported his findings about the source of the assassination plot, before he and Ranma were attacked by a battledroid."
"Then the Trade Federation is the responsible party," Windu says. "Thank you for this information."
"What about Master Kenobi?"
"Help Kenobi and my padawan, we will," Yoda says.
"But we're closer-"
"No, my padawan," Windu says. "You're primary responsibility is to protect Senator Amidala. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Send Master Kenobi's message, and sit tight. We'll handle things from here. Windu: out."
CHIRP!
Ami sighs.
"I better tell the others this…"
Meanwhile…
"What a predicament we are in," Kenobi says, as he and Ranma were suspended in the air by some energy field.
"I don't know," Ranma says nonchalantly. "I like…'hanging around'."
Kenobi looks at Ranma.
"Okay, I'll stop now."
"Well, the main thing is that we have to find a way out of this mess-"
FWOOM!
The door to their "cell" opens, revealing an older man in a cloak
"I take it that you are comfortable?"
"Marvelously so…Count Dooku," Kenobi says.
Ranma had to stifle a laugh upon hearing the name…
"Look, I'm sorry about this inconvenience, but these are trying times…especially since there is a dark force at work."
"Whatcha talkin' about, Count?" Ranma asked.
"After what I have to say, you two will be joining my cause…for FREEDOM," Dooku says.
"Well, we'll never join you, Count," Kenobi says.
Dooku looks at the two Jedi, especially the one named Ranma Saotome. According to his master, Ranma was "special". And if HE didn't turn, there was another.
"We'll see, my friends," Dooku says. "We'll see…"
Meanwhile…
"And there you go," Ami says. "Masters Windu and Yoda want us to look after Senator Amidala."
All four visitors of the Lars residence were silent, contemplating on what to do…
"Well, I say we go to Dantooine, and rescue Master Kenobi and Ranma," Usagi says.
"But we were told-" Anakin says.
"I KNOW Ami. But Ranma is a friend of mine. And even if he weren't in trouble—which is a stretch—he'd do the same for ANY of us."
"But we were to look after Senator Amidala," Ami says. "We're already in trouble as it is."
"Then perhaps I should go to Dantooine," Kasumi says. "And since you are to look after me-"
"Then we have an excuse to help Master Kenobi out," Anakin says. He then looks at Shmi.
"Mother, I-"
"I understand," Shmi says. "And take Threepio with you."
"Mother?"
"Shmi-" Cliegg, Shmi's husband, began to say.
"My son earned his inheritance," Shmi says, as she adjusted her position in bed. "And we have your son and Beru here to help out."
"Fine…you win."
"Good."
Shmi then turns to her son.
"Anakin, no matter what, trust your friends. Okay?"
Anakin lowers his head, and then he looks up to look at his mother.
"I will, mother."
"And Shmi," began Usagi. "YOU be careful, too. I don't want Anakin to wo
"Don't worry, I will."
Once the foursome was outside, Usagi looks at the setting of the two suns in the distance.
"This place…maybe it's not so bad," Usagi says serenely.
"How so, Usagi?" Kasumi says.
"Considering what we might find on Geonosis, being on THIS planet could be the 'calm before the storm'."
Meanwhile, Anakin and Owen talk, while the two follow closely behind the women.
"If something ever happens to me, I want you take care of my mother for me," Anakin says, as he turns to face his stepbrother. "Okay?"
"You got it, Anakin," Owen says. "You have my promise."
"Thank you," Anakin says with a slight nod…before he walks away.
Ten minutes later, Senator Amidala's Naboo-type shuttle leave Tattooine. Destination: Geonosis…and FATE.
Tbc.
Author's note: After next chapter, we will move forward into the Clone Wars. Also, two familiar faces show up to complicate the situation (hint, two words: "Silence", "Rose"). See you soon.
Next time: Ranma turning to the Dark Side, as Hell brakes loose? Stay tune to find out, as a rescue attempt is made…with near-disastrous result. See you next time!