Not too much later, we're all outside standing in front of Shmi's grave. After the small ceremony we are set to return to Naboo. But first we pay our respects to the deceased.
Cliegg was the first to speak. "I know wherever you are, it's become a better place. You were the most loving partner a man could ever have. Good-bye my darling wife. And thank you."
Anakin walks slowly up to the grave and slumps to his knees before it. He mindlessly takes up a handful of sand and says, "I wasn't strong enough to save you, Mom." His voice betrays his sorrow and my heart aches at the sound of it. I hadn't gotten to know Anakin very well, but, just like Padmé, I still see him as the little boy I met ten years ago. No child deserves such pain. "I wasn't strong enough. But I promise I won't fail again." He rises. "I miss you, so much." Anakin then releases the sand.
A second later familiar beeping is heard and everyone turns. Artoo rolls toward us. "Artoo? What are you doing here?" Padmé asks.
Artoo whistles and beeps again. Threepio translates, "It seems he is carrying a message from an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Master Ani, does that name mean anything to you?" My heart sinks at the mention. This can only mean a handful of things. Obi-Wan has found who is behind the assassination attempts, he has run into a dead end, or he needs help. Obi-Wan wouldn't make contact unless it was absolutely important.
Padmé, Anakin, and I rush to our ship after saying our goodbye's and thank you's to the Lars', and we're followed by the droids. Padmé takes a seat in the co-pilot chair, I take a seat in front of one of the screens, and Anakin remains standing. Artoo displays the message and a hologram of Obi-Wan flickers in front of us. He seems to be unharmed but disgruntled.
"Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant," Obi-Wan commands. Padmé does just that. "I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundaries on Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take the delivery of a droid army here. And it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. The Commerce Guilds and Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a-wait." He looks away and takes out his lightsaber. "Wait." Obi-Wan is then shot at. I gasp as he deflects the blasts as he backs away. Destroyers are shown before the transmission cuts out.
The hologram changes to Jedi Master Mace Windu. "Anakin, we will deal with Count Dooku," Windu states. "The most important thing for you is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."
Anakin didn't look exactly happy about it, but he still complied. "Understood, Master."
Padmé looks at him incredulously as the transmission ends. "They'll never get there in time to save him. They have to come half way across the galaxy," she tells him. The Senator turns the chair and pulls up a digital readout on the ship's control panel. "Look, Geonosis is less than a parsec away."
"If he's still alive," Anakin replies harshly. How can he say that?
Padmé follows his movement with her eyes. "Ani, are you just going to sit here and let him die?" she inquires. "He's your friend, your mentor-"
"He's like my father," Anakin tells her. "But you heard Master Windu. He gave me strict orders to stay here." He's partially willing to disobey his Master's orders, but when it comes to the Jedi Council, he doesn't want to sway. That's good, except for right now.
"He gave you strict orders to protect Padmé," I cut in. "And I for one want to help Obi-Wan."
Padmé smiles slightly at me taking her side. "We're going to save Obi-Wan. If you plan to protect me, you'll just have to come along." She starts up the ship. Anakin grins and takes a seat in the pilot's chair. Then we lift off, making our way to Geonosis.
Once we were there and flying above the planet's surface, Padmé spoke. "See those columns of steam straight ahead?" Padmé asked Anakin. "They're exhaust vents of some type."
"That'll do," Anakin replied and he flew the ship closer, slowly landing inside the steam.
