"Mom, no! NO!"

Padmé jerked and opened her eyes, drawn from her peaceful dreams by Anakin's agonized cries. She lifted her head from his chest and drew herself close to his face, shaking his shoulder gently.

"Anakin," she said softly as she continued to try to rouse him from his nightmare. "Wake up, Ani. Come on, wake up."

Anakin jerked his head from the pillow, his eyes snapping open in a wide-eyed, painful stare as he looked around, trying to get his bearings, yet it was obvious to her that he saw nothing as his eyes searched the darkness. He was shaking violently; his entire body was drenched with sweat as Padmé stroked his cheek and called to him reassuringly. "It's okay, Ani," she said, "It was just a nightmare, calm down."

Somehow, Padmé's soft, reassuring voice made it through the dense cloud of pain and agony that he was lost in. Like a moth to a lamp, he followed that voice through the dark fog of his dreams, through the nightmarish images and sensations. As his eyes began to focus on her worried face, he felt his pulse begin to slow as she talked to him.

"It's alright, Ani," she said comfortingly, "I'm here. You had another nightmare."

Finally free of the horrific images that had filled his mind, he realized where he was. He pulled her to him, and she laid her head on his chest and hugged him tightly. "Padmé," he said, his breath still coming in short, labored gasps, "I saw her again." He closed his eyes as she squeezed him tighter.

"She's suffering, Padmé," he continued. "I don't know why or where, but I know that she's suffering and she's in pain. Terrible pain."

Padmé lifted her head from his chest, moving her face closer to his. He looked at her, his expression one of both pain and uncertainty. "It's not a dream, Padmé," he said. "She's really suffering."

Padmé stroked his cheek gently. "Shhhhh," she said quietly. "I know, Ani. I believe you." She snuggled closer to him, and paused for a moment as she kissed him reassuringly on the cheek.

Her expression was thoughtful for a moment. "In that case," she finally said softly, "I think we need to go and check on her."

Anakin turned to look at her. "Are you serious?" he asked, puzzled.

"Yes," she said softly. "These dreams are getting worse. It may be nothing, Ani, but then she may be in real trouble. I think we need to go and check on her."

He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, weighing the option she presented to him in his mind. "No," he said finally, shaking his head, "we can't risk it. It'd be too dangerous. I'm not going to expose you to those bounty hunters. It'd be..."

"Anakin," she interrupted, "she's your mother. I'm not going to sit here and watch you suffer along with her. We're going, and that's that."

She paused, and then smiled softly at him. "Besides, Tatooine isn't too far from here. We can go check on her and be back in no time."

Anakin looked at her. That familiar, determined look was on her face; the one he was becoming so acquainted with, the one that told him that arguing was a useless gesture.

"We'll leave in the morning," she said, and then laid her head back down on the pillow beside his. "Now try to get some sleep. I'll be here if you need me."

Anakin wrapped his arms tightly around her, and the two of them finally managed to fall back to sleep.

Tawn We escorted Obi-Wan Kenobi to the entrance to the hangar. As she pressed the button on the door's console, it slowly opened, and a clap of thunder could be heard as the rain continued to come down in thick sheets.

"Master Jedi," she said politely, "Thank you so much for coming. Please inform the Jedi Council that the first two hundred thousand troops are ready. And remember, if they need more troops, it will take more time to grow them."

Obi-Wan nodded and smiled pleasantly as he pulled his hood up over his head. "I will," he said politely, "and thank you very much for your help and hospitality."

"You are very welcome," Tawn We replied, and she watched as Obi-Wan turned and walked out through the door into the pouring rain toward his waiting ship.

Once outside, Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder as the hangar door closed and Tawn We disappeared from view. He turned and called to Arfour, who was patiently waiting in his pod on the ship.

"Arfour," he said, approaching the little droid, "Scramble this message, code five, to Coruscant," he paused, and then continued with a smile, "care of the old folk's home."

Arfour acknowledged with a beep or two, and then a small transmitting dish popped open from a panel near the little droid, and he went to work.

Mace Windu and Yoda sat on their meditation pads in the small conference chamber as Obi-Wan's image appeared on the holographic projector. The image flickered slightly from the interference caused by the pouring rain in which Obi-Wan stood.

"Masters," he said, "I have successfully made contact with the prime minister on Kamino."

Yoda and Mace Windu listened intently as Obi-Wan continued. "They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army for the Republic," he continued. "The prime minister said that the army was requested by master Sifo-Dyas almost ten years ago. I was under the impression that he died before that. Did the Council ever authorize the creation of a clone army?"

Mace and Yoda exchanged confused glances for a moment, and then turned their attention back to the image on the holographic pad.

"No," Mace replied flatly, "The Council never authorized such a request. Whoever did so did it without the Council's knowledge."

He regarded Yoda again for a moment, who appeared to be deep in thought. "Do you think these cloners could be involved in the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala's life?"

"No, master," Obi-Wan replied, shaking his head in the cold rain in which he stood. "There appears to be no motive."

Yoda's attention turned from his thoughts to the image in front of them. "Do not assume anything, Obi-Wan," he interjected. "Clear your mind must be, if you are to uncover the real villains behind this plot."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied. "I believe that this bounty hunter may have more information regarding this plot than he lets on."

"Bring him here," Yoda replied, "and question him, we will."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan nodded in reply, "I'll contact you when I have him."

Obi-Wan paused for a moment, his expression changing to one of deep concern. Yoda turned a curious, thoughtful express toward him. "Master Obi-Wan," Yoda asked, "more to say, have you?"

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied. "There's something else I need to discuss with you - concerning Anakin."

Yoda raised his hand to Obi-Wan's image. "Perhaps," he said, thoughtfully, "this is a matter best discussed at another time. Much to do, you have, Obi-Wan. On the task at hand, you must focus. Your padawan we will discuss later."

Obi-Wan nodded slowly in agreement. "Yes, Master," he said. "I'll contact you shortly."

Obi-Wan bowed, and his image faded from the holographic projector.

Yoda turned to regard Mace Windu. "Blind we are," he said flatly, "if the creation of this clone army we could not see."

Mace nodded in agreement, then turned his eyes to his hands as he sat thoughtfully for a moment. "I think the time has come," he said, turning his attention back to Yoda, "for us to inform the Senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished."

Yoda shook his head in disagreement. "Only the Dark Lord of the Sith knows of our weakness," he replied. "If informed the Senate is, multiply our adversaries will."

Mace Windu nodded his head slowly in agreement, and the two Jedi Masters sat quietly, their minds resting uneasily as the puzzle before them continued to grow more complex.

Jango Fett stood near the entrance ramp to his ship, the cold rain sheeting over his shiny, silver armor as he prepared to load the last container into the ship. Young Boba stood in the cargo hold at the top of the ramp, anxiously watching the console near the door as the hyperdrive engines slowly warmed themselves to operating temperature. He turned his attention repeatedly from the console to his father as he worked on the loading platform. His father was openly nervous; that only made him more so.

Suddenly, Boba's attention turned to the door at the far end of the loading platform as it opened suddenly with a hiss, and a dark hooded figure ran through the door toward their ship.

"Dad!" Boba called, pointing to the approaching figure. "Look!"

Boba turned just in time to see his attacker's hood drop to his shoulders, and saw the Jedi's hand as it went for the lightsaber on his belt. "Boba!" he called, his hand going for the pistol at his hip, "Get on board and get the engines started!"

Jango drew his pistol and fired several shots directly at his attacker, but the blade of Obi-Wan's lightsaber ignited in a flash and quickly deflected the blasts back at him. Instantly, Jango ignited his thruster pack and threw himself clear of the approaching laser bursts, making a wide circle around the Jedi Knight as surged into the rain above and continued to fire at him.

Instantly, Jango ignited his thruster pack and threw himself clear of the approaching laser bursts, making a wide circle around the Jedi Knight as surged into the rain above and continued to fire at him

Obi-Wan continued to deflect Jango's shots, and he watched as the agile bounty hunter landed skillfully on a nearby precipice, then lowered his head and angled his back pack at him. Almost instantly, a small rocket surged from the top of his thruster pack and made it's way toward Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan had little time to react; he quickly leapt backward to avoid the impact of the rocket, but the blast struck him and tossed him back against the railing of the landing pad. He rolled across the rain-soaked platform and came to rest near the railing, desperately trying to regain his bearings and locate his attacker.

He found that hard to do, however, as the guns on the waiting ship suddenly swung themselves toward him and took aim. Obi-Wan just barely managed to dodge the incoming blasts as young Boba trained the ship's cannon on him and began to fire.

The blast threw Obi-Wan across the platform again, and his lightsaber rolled from his hand as he struck the platform hard, momentarily dazed. He scrambled quickly, trying to get back on his feet, wiping the rain from his face as his eyes searched the platform for his weapon.

Taking advantage of Obi-Wan's momentary disorientation, Jango quickly jetted himself down from the precipice and ran across the platform toward him. As Obi-Wan lifted his hands to pull his saber toward him, Jango quickly lifted his arm and fired a weighted lanyard toward Obi-Wan's outstretched hands. The lanyard found it's target, and the weighted cable quickly wrapped itself around Obi-Wan's wrists, binding them tightly. Jango fired his thruster pack again, and instantly headed toward the edge of the platform, intending to drag Obi-Wan with him and quickly dispose of him over the edge into the waves that waited far below.

Obi-Wan bit his lip in pain as the lanyard drew tight, cutting into his wrists as Jango's momentum pulled him from his feet and tossed him across the platform. Obi-Wan scrambled quickly, trying to regain his footing as the bounty hunter headed toward the far side of the platform. As he managed to get back onto his knees, he noticed a pillar next to him and quickly dove behind it, then braced himself against it with his feet and pulled with all his might as he waited for the lanyard to pull taught.

It did, and Obi-Wan's feet found a purchase as Jango reached the end of the lanyard. The impact against the lanyard stopped Jango's flight cold, and his momentum carried him down firmly on the hard platform, striking the railing so hard that it dislodged his thruster pack, which flew uncontrolled across the platform and exploded in flames as it struck the nearby structure.

Jango struggled to his feet and turned, just in time to see Obi-Wan's feet strike him squarely in the chest, sending him flying over the railing onto the slick, steeply sloping dome that led to the waves waiting below.

"Oh, no," Obi-Wan said flatly as he looked down and saw the slack in the lanyard that bound his wrists disappearing quickly over the railing. "Not good!"

The lanyard drew taught, and Jango's descending weight jerked him cleanly over the railing. Suddenly, Obi-Wan found himself following the same path to the waves below that Jango had taken.

Jango's arms and feet scrambled for a purchase on the slick, silver dome. Quickly, he pressed a button on the control panel at his wrist and several sharp metal tangs popped out of the forearm of his armor, and he swung them down hard against the metal dome. Sparks flew in all directions as the blades began to find their purchase against the dome's surface, and he finally came to rest just a foot or two from the dome's edge.

Suddenly, he saw the form of his attacker approaching quickly, and he smiled momentarily as Obi-Wan slid past him and into the open air over the edge of the dome. Jango smile disappeared quickly however, as he saw the cable streaming quickly over the edge, and he struggled for a tighter purchase as the cable drew taught, Obi-Wan's weight nearly pulling him free and over the edge with him. With Obi-Wan's full weight now on him as well, he felt himself begin to slip slowly toward the edge.

Feverishly, he struggled with his free hand to reach the control panel again, and just mere seconds before he slipped over the edge he managed to disconnect the lanyard, and he lurched back against the dome as Obi-Wan fell toward the waves waiting far below.

Obi-Wan struggled to stay calm as the waves approached him at breakneck speed. He quickly pulled the lanyard toward him and, using the Force, he slung the free end with its spiked claw toward a nearby railing. The cable wrapped snuggly and found a purchase, and Obi-Wan's descent stopped suddenly as the cable jerked taught once again.

His arms and wrists cried out in pain as he struggled to free himself. Finally free of the cable, he swung himself several times toward a nearby catwalk and, with a quick Force jump, managed to clear the railing and land safely on the walkway. He dropped to his knees for a moment, trying desperately to catch his breath. He jumped to his feet, directing a strong Force push at the nearby doorway. It opened, and he ran quickly into the corridor and back up toward the landing platform.

Jango leaned forward and looked over the edge of the dome. Seeing no sign of his attacker, he turned and began to slowly make his way back up the dome to his ship waiting above.

Obi-Wan burst through the hangar door again, just in time to see Jango's ship begin to lift off and turn slowly toward the sky. He stretched out his hand, reaching into the Force and catching his lightsaber as it flew across the platform toward him. Igniting the blade, he reached into his belt with his free hand and pulled out a small magnetic homing transmitter. Reaching into the Force once more, he threw it with all of his might toward the departing ship. It landed securely on the hull, and instantly opened and began transmitting it's homing signal as Jango Fett's ship surged off the platform and into the clouds above.

Obi-Wan watched as the ship disappeared into the clouds, then took a deep breath and extinguished the blade of his lightsaber. Placing it back on his belt, he turned and ran through the open door back to his ship waiting below.

If Jango Fett wanted to elude him, he though to himself, he was going to have to do better than that.

"Ani," Padmé said softly, shaking his shoulder gently. "Wake up, Ani. We're here."

Anakin took a deep breath, and then slowly opened his eyes and looked at the broad cockpit window in front of him. Tatooine's orange-yellow surface loomed large in the window as Artoo brought the ship into orbit around his old home planet.

Anakin turned his attention to Padmé's smiling face, as she sat reading in the chair next to him. "Already?" he asked sleepily, stretching his arms over his head and yawning. "That didn't take long."

"Of course not," Padmé said, placing the book she had been reading in her lap. "You slept the whole trip." She smiled at him. "You seemed to be sleeping peacefully for a change, so I didn't want to wake you. Feel better?"

"Yes, much," he said with a sleepy grin, then sat up and rubbed his eyes.

He turned his attention to Artoo, working busily at the control center behind them. "Artoo," he said, "Bring us in to the main hangar at Mos Espa. That'll probably be the best place to start."

Artoo beeped in reply, and the ship slowly began to descend as he prepared the landing approach and brought the ship into the atmosphere. Padmé looked at him with a smile. "Watto's shop?" she asked, curiously.

"Yes," he said, returning her grin. "I think it's time we paid a visit to an old friend."

Tatooine's two suns shined brightly off the surface of the ship as it turned and descended into the hazy clouds below.

Mos Espa was a busy place, as busy as Anakin remembered it. Ships and beings from all over the galaxy converged here to buy, sell, and trade whatever they could find. Being outside the control of the trade federation, it was a favorite haven for those shadowy traders who didn't wish to be found. The Hutts had always controlled the economy of Tatooine, and the lack of taxes meant that trading here could be very profitable, as long as you were a fair dealer. The Hutts didn't take well to cheaters and thieves, and their extensive network of bounty hunters kept most folks honest.

It was that one little detail that bothered Anakin. As he and Padmé walked down the access ramp from the ship, he carefully eyed the busy spaceport and the many beings that milled about. He had reluctantly agreed to Padmé's insistence that she come along on this trip. But, if the ones who were looking for her learned that she was here, it wouldn't take long for the news to reach every bounty hunter in the city, and there were quite a few of them. His hand reached down and checked the lightsaber that hung on his belt. They would have to be extra careful while they were here.

He took her hand in his. "Remember," he said, "be extra careful. Don't talk to anyone and keep that hood up, okay?"

Padmé turned so that he could see her face. "Don't worry," she said. "I'll be fine. Besides," she grinned, as she opened her cloak so that he could see the blaster pistol on her hip, "I can take care of myself if I have too. Now let's go find your mother."

She concealed her weapon again as Anakin smiled back at her, and the two of them headed up from the main hanger to the streets above.

Padmé cuddled close to him under the broad canopy of the rickshaw carriage they were riding in. As the wheeled droid at the front pulled them slowly along, she nuzzled and kissed Anakin's neck, the carriage rocking gently as they rode slowly along over the sandy streets of Mos Espa.

"You know," she said softly, "this is actually very romantic." Anakin turned his head and laughed as she continued to kiss his neck, cooing softly to him between kisses. "A nice warm afternoon, a quiet carriage ride, my handsome husband here with me," she said softly. "What more could a girl ask for?"

She looked up from his neck and laughed mischievously at him, her bright eyes smiling back at him. "If I didn't know better," he said with a broad grin, "I'd think you were in the mood for a little... uhm, attention, right now."

She laughed again, and then snuggled as closely to him as she could, pressing him back against the corner of the carriage. "Whatever gives you that idea?" she asked, feigning a very unconvincing look of shocked surprise.

"Well," he sighed, cocking one eyebrow slyly, "maybe we should get out for carriage rides on Tatooine more often."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," she sighed, bringing her face as closely to his as she could, "and I'm thinking that we might want to tip the droid a little extra and take the long way back to the ship when we get ready to leave."

Anakin laughed as she squeezed even closer to him; he wrapped his arms around her tightly, and then kissed her long and passionately. "I think we can arrange that," he finally said, playfully. "I've got a pocketful of credits, we might just take the extended tour."

"Promise?" she asked with a smile, and then snuggled close to his chest, as the droid made the final turn into Anakin's old neighborhood and made its way toward Watto's shop.

The carriage droid rolled to a stop near the small, run-down shop. Anakin climbed out of the carriage, then turned and extended his hand to Padmé. He helped her down to the street beside him, and then turned his attention to the droid again.

"Wait here," he said, then handed a couple of credits to the droid, who eagerly took them and inserted them into the slot in its chest plate. "Okee Dokee," the droid responded happily, and then quietly shut itself down to wait.

Watto's shop looked just like he remembered it, if perhaps a bit more run down and dirty. Various parts and devices were strewn about the entrance; it was much messier than it had been when he had toiled here almost daily under Watto's watchful eye.

There, on a stool by the front door, his old owner sat working on a broken pit droid. He was a little heavier than he used to be, and the sparse hair on his long, blue head and neck was disheveled and showing signs of grey. As he worked, he yelled, obviously frustrated, at another pit droid who hurried off to fetch another tool for its master.

Anakin walked up to the table where Watto worked, and Padmé came up and stood behind him. "Chut chut, Watto?" he said with a fairly smug tone in his voice.

Watto raised a wary eye from his work to eye the tall, cloaked figure in front of him. "Chebunga hofsa meduna?" he asked suspiciously.

Who are you and what do you want – Anakin laughed to himself as he listened. His Dugg was better than he thought it would be, after being away from Tatooine for so many years. Not a simple language by any means, Dugg wasn't spoken much on Coruscant. It was one of those rare languages that, if not practiced frequently, could be very easy to forget.

He decided he'd have a little fun with Watto. "Se pulpa mi taska" – let me help you with that, he said with a smile, then reached and took the damaged pit droid from Watto's bench. Watto reached for the droid in protest as Anakin snatched it away, demanding angrily that Anakin tell him who he was and what he wanted. Anakin simply smiled and started to work on the damaged droid.

Padmé watched with a smile as Anakin's nimble fingers quickly matched parts to wires. She was always amazed at how easily Anakin could relate to and repair things. His technical skills were uncanny, and she remembered how, as a boy so many years ago, he had built his own pod racer from parts that he had acquired from Watto while he had been his slave. He could fix anything, and she watched with a sense of growing pride as he made short work of the damaged little droid.

Watto continued to eye the tall young man warily, until finally his eyes drifted down and caught a glimpse of the lightsaber that hung on his belt. His wary expression quickly changed to one of fear. "Hey, you're a Jedi!" he said, raising his hands in protest, a look of fear and feigned innocence on his face. "Whatever it is, I didn't do it!"

Through the Force, Anakin could sense the fear and intimidation that had overtaken Watto, and he had to admit, it delighted him somewhat. Just knowing that his former master and owner, the one who used to control his life, now found himself cowering in fear before his former slave, brought with it a sense of simple justice and satisfaction.

"I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker," Anakin said flatly in fluent Dugg, never taking his eyes from his work.

Watto turned a fearful eye toward the young man's face. Why would this Jedi Knight, he thought to himself, be looking for Shmi Skywalker, his old slave?

Anakin turned to look at Watto as he snapped the nose plate back on the little droid. Watto looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, and then his expression changed to one of disbelief. "Ani?" he said, "Little Ani?"

Anakin placed the droid back on the table in front of Watto. Watto looked at it – it was perfectly repaired, as good as new. There was only one person he knew of who could do that kind of work that quickly, and a broad smile spread across his face as he looked back at the young man again and laughed. "It IS Ani!"

Flapping his wings anxiously, he lifted himself off the stool where he sat and into the air in front of them

Flapping his wings anxiously, he lifted himself off the stool where he sat and into the air in front of them. "Ani, it's good to see you!" he exclaimed happily, laughing as he talked. "Boy, ya sure sprouted, huh? Wow, and a Jedi Knight – whatdya know!"

"Hello, Watto," Anakin smiled in reply. "It's been a long time." He turned to Padmé, who came and stood beside him. "You remember Padmé, don't you?"

"Hello, Watto," Padmé smiled in reply. "It's good to see you again."

"Sure, sure, of course I do," Watto exclaimed. "Boy, she's even prettier now than she was back then." Watto jabbed Anakin in the forearm and grinned broadly. "I can see why you still hang around with her," he said, a sly smile on his face.

Watto's sly smile grew wider. "Hey," he said, cupping his hand to his mouth, "Now that you're a Jedi, maybe you can help me with some deadbeats who owe me a lot of money, huh?" Watto laughed as he elbowed him in a very chummy fashion.

Anakin smiled back at him. "Actually, Watto," he said, "I'm looking for my mother. Do you know where she is?"

"Oh, yeah," Watto said, his countenance changing to one a little more unsure of himself. "Shmi. Well, you see," he stammered, "I'm really sorry, Ani, but, I sold her."

Padmé squeezed Anakin's hand comfortingly as she saw the smile fade from his face as he looked at Watto. "You sold her?" he asked curiously.

"Yeah, a long time ago, Ani," Watto said, nervously, scratching his head. "I'm really sorry, Ani, but you know, business is business."

"Do you remember who you sold her to?" Anakin asked.

"Yeah," Watto replied, his expression brightening. "I sold her to a moisture farmer named, uh, Lars, I believe." He nodded his head as he spoke. "Yeah, that was it. Lars."

"Do you know where they are now?" Anakin asked.

"Oh, a long way from here, somewhere over on the other side of Mos Eisley, I think." Watto continued, scratching his head as he talked excitedly. "But get this, Ani. I heard that he freed her, and married her! Whatdya think about that, huh?"

Anakin smiled, a sense of relief replacing the anxiousness that he had felt a moment before. At least, he thought to himself, it seemed like his mother might have had a happy life, after all.

"Can you tell me more about where I can find them?" Anakin asked. "I'd really like to know, Watto."

Watto nodded his head firmly. "Sure, Ani," he said, putting his hand on his shoulder and motioning for him to come into the shop. "We'll check my records. I'm sure I've got everything you need in here somewhere. Let's go have a look."

Watto flapped his wings and smiled broadly as he followed Anakin and Padmé into his shop, closing the door behind them.

"Ah, here it is!" Watto exclaimed with a smile, producing a small data disk from his filing cabinet. "I knew it had it here somewhere."

Watto handed the disk to Anakin. He and Padmé were seated across the table from him, near the computer terminal. "You remember me, Ani," Watto said, "I always keep up with my records!"

Anakin took another sip of the cloudberry wine that Watto had offered him and Padmé when they had first arrived. He had been saving it for a special occasion, he had said, and on hearing the news of their recent marriage, he had fetched it from its hiding place and insisted that they make a small celebration of this occasion.

Anakin took the disk from Watto and popped it into the computer terminal. "You always were a good one for keeping up with things, Watto," he said, as the terminal began scrolling records of Watto's many transactions on the screen.

Watto poured himself another glass of wine, and then flew around the end of the table to where Anakin and Padmé were seated. "It should be close to the top of the list, Ani," he said, looking intently over Anakin's shoulder. "If I remember correctly, I met this Lars fellow right after the harvest at the first of the year. Shouldn't be hard to find."

The screen scrolled a few more lines, and then Watto pointed excitedly to the screen. "See, there it is," he said. "Right there, Ani. Cleige Lars. That's the fellow. Open that file."

Anakin touched the screen next to the file marker and a picture of a stocky, well built gentleman with dusky gray hair filled the screen, along with the usual financial and legal information that went along with slave transfers. Padmé leaned closer to him, placing her hand on his shoulder as she looked at the screen with him.

"Yeah," Watto said, "that's him. Cleige Lars."

While Anakin studied the picture in front of them, Padmé turned her attention from the screen to Watto. "Watto," she said, "how did he wind up finding out about Shmi in the first place?"

"Oh, it's a long story," Watto said, then took a seat on the open stool next to her. "See, five or six years back, this fellow Lars comes into my shop looking for parts for a D-387 moisture vaporator. Naturally, I tell him that I had most of the parts that he needed, so he asks me to get them together for him."

Watto took another sip from his glass. "Anyway, after you and Ani left with that Jedi, Shmi sort of started helping out around the shop more. She got really good at fixing things, almost as good as Ani," he said, and then smiled. "Like mother, like son, I think, huh?"

Padmé smiled, and Anakin turned to listen to Watto as he talked. "Anyhow, this guy Lars comes in to pick up the parts for his vaporator, and Shmi happens to be working that afternoon. She brings the parts out from around the back, lays them on the counter, and this guy just stands there staring at her." Watto took another sip and smiled. "He stood there for a long time, until Shmi tells him that he needs to pay for the parts."

"Anyway," Watto said, "he finally found his credits, paid for the parts, and left. After that, though, he starts coming by the shop every other day or so, just to talk with Shmi. One day, he shows up and tells me that he wants to buy her from me, so we talked for a few days, and we finally made a bargain."

Watto scratched his ear as he continued. "I told him that Shmi was very valuable, but he offered me two times what she was worth just to be sure I'd sell her to him. Anyway, he showed up the next day, picked her up, and they packed her things and left."

Watto took another sip from his glass. "That was the last time I ever saw them. I found out about a year later that he freed her the minute he got her home and they were married shortly after that."

Anakin turned to look at the screen again. "Are you sure they're still living in the same place?" he asked.

"Oh yeah," Watto replied. "Moisture farmers don't move much. I'm sure they're still there, I'd bet a week's credits on it."

Anakin switched off the terminal, and the images faded into blackness. "Well," he said, finishing the last of his wine, and then turning to Padmé, "at least we know where to look."

"Ani," Watto said, his expression more concerned, "Be careful when you travel out there. That's in the middle of open country, and the Tuskens have been moving around a lot lately. Their raiding parties have been moving farther and farther into the settled territories. Be sure you keep your eyes open and watch your back."

Anakin nodded his head, then he and Padmé stood up from their seats. "Well, Watto," he said, "Thanks for the help, and the wine. We've got a long way to go, so I guess we'd better get started."

Watto smiled as he took Anakin's hand in his and shook it firmly. "Anytime, Ani," he said. "And if you're still here on Boonta Eve, I've got a really nice pod in the back that you could enter in the race." He winked at him, slyly. "I bet we could put the Hutts out of business. It'd be just like old times."

"I think he'll pass on that," Padmé frowned slyly, seeing the sparkle in Anakin's eye. "I watched him run in one of those races a long time ago. I don't think I want to see him in another one right now."

"Oh, well," Watto said with a shrug, "it was a good idea, anyway."

Padmé pulled her hood up over her head, and Anakin shook Watto's hand once again. "Thanks again, Watto," he said. "Maybe we'll be back to visit again soon, and we can talk longer."

"Great idea," Watto said, corking the wine bottle as he talked. "We've got half a bottle left. We'll finish it up when you come back, huh?"

"Sounds great," Padmé grinned. "Thank you, Watto. For everything."

"Anytime," Watto replied, following the two of them to the door. "And don't forget," he said, "be sure to watch your backs and be careful out there."

Anakin and Padmé nodded once more, and then Watto watched as they turned and walked to the carriage that waited for them on the street.

The coarse, orange sand whipped up in huge clouds as Artoo fired the landing thrusters and the ship slowly descended onto the desert floor. As the supports touched down and sank into the loose, drifting sand, the engines whined down slowly as Artoo powered them down.

The rear entry ramp of the ship slowly opened, and Anakin looked out through the settling sand, blinking his eyes in the bright light of Tatooine's larger sun. It was early afternoon, and the larger sun was beginning to slowly slip below the horizon. As always, a steady breeze blew across the barren landscape, broken only by the occasional dwelling or rock formation that dotted the vast expanse. He had been away from Tatooine for ten years, but the dry taste of the desert air seemed as familiar as it had when he was a boy.

Padmé pulled her cloak up and over her shoulders, fastening it loosely at her neck, as she looked out toward the dwelling in the distance. She turned her attention to Anakin as he gazed pensively toward the direction of the house.

"Are you all right?" she asked, placing her hand comfortingly on his shoulder.

Anakin turned and smiled at her. "Yeah," he said. "I guess I'm just a little nervous."

"That's understandable," she said, reassuringly. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Anakin took her hand and squeezed it tightly, then turned to Artoo. "Artoo," he said, "you come with us. We might need you."

Artoo whistled in reply, and they walked down the ramp and stepped onto the bright orange sand. Anakin heard the familiar crunch of the open sand under his boots, a sound he'd not heard since he left Tatooine long ago.

Padmé pulled her hood up over her head to shield herself from the wind and the occasional bits of sand that pricked her face, and, taking Anakin's hand in hers, they made their way across the sand toward the house.

The tall silver droid worked busily on the malfunctioning sensor beacon he had been sent to repair, when he suddenly caught sight of two figures approaching him. He looked up from his work and greeted them as they approached.

"Oh," he said with surprised tone, "Hello there, and welcome. How may I be of assistance? I am C..."

"Threepio?" Anakin asked as they approached the droid, instantly recognizing the familiar, high pitched voice. "Is that really you?"

The droid looked at him puzzled for just a moment

The droid looked at him puzzled for just a moment. "Master Ani?", he finally replied, an excited tone in his electronic voice. "Bless my circuits, could it be!"

Anakin smiled at him. "Yes, Threepio," he said, "It's me."

Threepio began to wave his arms excitedly. "Oh, my goodness, it's the Maker! I'm so pleased to see you, Master Ani! I always knew that you'd return someday, I just knew it!"

"And could it be?" he said, turning his attention to Padmé. "Miss Padmé, it's really you! What a wonderful pleasure seeing you both again!"

"Hello, Threepio," Padmé smiled in reply.

"You look great, Threepio," Anakin said. "You finally got your coverings and everything."

"Oh, yes, Master Ani," Threepio said, proudly turning himself round so that they could both see him. "After you and Miss Padmé left, Mistress Shmi took the time to complete me." He completed his turn, and faced them again. "She said that she felt you would have wanted her too."

"Threepio," Anakin said, "My mother. We've come to see her. Where is she?"

Threepio stood still for a moment. "Oh, I see," he said. "Master Ani, perhaps we'd better go indoors then."

Anakin turned a puzzled look to Padmé, and then the two of them followed Threepio back towards the house.

Padmé reached up and dropped her hood onto her shoulders as they stepped down from the stairs into the open patio of the house. It was a standard moisture farmer's home, dug into the ground and sheltered from the desert winds by high, carbonite walls that housed the retractable dome above. Everything about the dwelling was functional; there were no luxury items to be found here. The home very nearly blended into the desert around it, and the simple earth colors gave the place a roomy, functional look.

She and Anakin turned to see a stocky, well built young man walking toward them. He wasn't overly tall, several inches shorter than Anakin, but he had the muscular build of a young man who had spent most of his life at hard work. An attractive, small framed young woman followed closely behind him as he walked over to meet them.

Threepio turned to the young man as he approached. "Master Owen," he stated excitedly, "We have very important visitors."

The young man wiped his hands on a small towel as he approached them. He extended his hand to Anakin. "Hello," he said, a kind smile on his face. "I'm Owen Lars. What can I do for you?"

Anakin took his hand and shook it firmly. "Hello," he said. "I'm Anakin Skywalker. And this is my wife, Padmé."

"Hello," Padmé said, nodding politely to the both of them.

Owen's smile faded slightly as he heard Anakin's name, and he exchanged glances with the young woman who stood by his side. He finally turned back toward them. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," he said, turning to the young woman at his side. "This is my girlfriend, Beru Whitesun."

"Hello," the young woman smiled pleasantly, nodding to the both of them.

Something was wrong. Anakin could sense that they were both suddenly uncomfortable, unsure, nervous. After a long pause, Anakin finally spoke. "Is something wrong?" he asked, puzzled.

"No, no," Owen replied, a worried smile returning to his face. "It's just, well, I've been expecting you."

Anakin turned a puzzled glance toward him. "Expecting me?" he said.

"Yes, actually," Owen said, nervously wringing the towel in his hands. "I guess I'm your stepbrother."

Anakin and Padmé looked at each other, then back to Owen as he continued. "I always knew you'd come back someday," Owen said. "I mean, I really expected you to. I just never really knew when you'd come. I've heard quite a lot about you."

Anakin turned his attention from Owen and looked around the dwelling. 'My mother," he said, finally, "I'd like to see her. Is she here?"

"No, she's not," Anakin heard a gruff voice reply from behind him. He and Padmé turned to see the weathered face of the man they'd seen on the terminal in Watto's shop approaching them. He was older, and he sat uncomfortably on a hoverchair as he took Anakin's hand in his and shook it firmly. Anakin looked down and noticed the fresh bandaged wound at the man's right knee where his lower leg should have been. Suddenly, he could sense the pain, both physical and emotional, that permeated the man as he gripped his hand. A deep feeling of despair and foreboding suddenly swept over him.

"I'm Cleige Lars," he said, finally releasing Anakin's hand. "Shmi is my wife." He turned a worried, sad expression toward him. "We'd better go inside and sit down," he said. "We have a lot to talk about."

Beru, Owen's girlfriend, finished pouring the blue milk in the last of the glasses and, placing them on a small tray, turned and headed back toward the kitchen table where Cleige and the others sat. She placed the tray on the table, then took a seat next to Owen.

Cleige took a glass in his hand and placed it within Anakin's reach. He sat quietly, with Padmé at his side, staring blankly at the table as Cleige spoke.

"Your mother had gone out before dawn, like she always did, to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators overnight," Cleige said. "Judging from her footprints, she was almost home when the Tusken hunting party took her."

Padmé felt her own heart sinking as she gently stroked Anakin's hand. He stared blankly ahead of him, but the anguished expression on his face and in his eyes was almost more than she herself could bear. As Cleige's story continued, it became more and more obvious to her that Anakin's nightmares has been more than just dreams, that somehow, he had known about this, had felt her pain and suffering. She squeezed his hand gently as Cleige continued.

"Those Tuskens, they walk like men, but they're animals," he said, angrily. "Viscious, mindless animals."

"Of course, we went out after her," Cleige said, "Twenty of us went out to search for her, but only seven of us came back." He looked down toward his bandaged leg. "I'd still be out there right now, searching for her," he said, almost apologetically, "but after I lost my leg, I just..."

He paused for a moment, and then turned a defeated expression toward Anakin. "I just couldn't ride anymore, not until I heal."

Anakin nodded his head slowly, wanting to let Cleige know that he understood. He tried to speak, but couldn't, blinking his eyes hard to keep back the tears that he felt stinging his eyes. He turned his expression away from the rest of them, attempting to gather his composure, and he felt Padmé's reassuring touch on his hand. He squeezed her hand tightly, but kept his face turned toward the entranceway through which they had come.

"I don't want to give up on her," Cleige said, "but, she's been gone a month now. It's hard to believe that she could have lasted this long."

Anakin shut his eyes hard, cringing inside at the words as they struck him. He knew that Cleige was probably right. He knew the Tusken Raiders, knew the horrible stories he had heard as a boy about them. But he just couldn't bring himself to accept the fact that his mother was gone. She couldn't be; he still felt her pain, her suffering. If she was gone, the pain would be gone. He simply couldn't give up on her, not now.

Padmé watched as Anakin release her hand and slowly stood up from the table. His expression had changed; he looked resolved, determined, almost angry.

"Where are you going?" Owen asked, managing to ask the question before Padmé had.

Anakin turned a determined expression toward him. "To find my mother," he said, resolutely.

"Your mother's dead, son," Cleige said, softly. "Accept it."

Anakin stood quietly for a moment, then shook his head. "No, she's not," he said, turning his gaze to Cleige. "She's alive. I'm sure of it."

Anakin turned to look at all of them. "And I'm going to find her."

As Anakin turned and started toward the door, Padmé stood up and regarded the others as they looked at each other, puzzled. "Don't worry," she said, reassuringly. "I'll talk to him."

Padmé clutched her cloak tightly around her, and quickly followed him up the stairs and out into the open desert above.

Padmé blinked her eyes as she stepped into the bright sunlight, then looked around for him. She saw him a short distance from the house, standing quietly near a speeder bike, gazing out toward the open desert.

She walked quietly up to him, then took his hand gently in hers. "Anakin," she asked softly, "are you alright?"

Anakin kept his eyes fixed on the open desert, but gently squeezed her hand in reply. "She's alive, Padmé," he said. "I know she is."

"Padmé gently rubbed his shoulder with her free arm, then placed her head gently on his shoulder. "I know," she said, reassuringly. "I believe you."

Anakin turned to face her. In his eyes, she saw that same look of determination she had seen only a few moments ago.

"Padmé," he said, "I've got to go and look for her. I can't leave her out there to suffer."

Padmé nodded her head slowly. "I know," she said, softly.

He nodded toward the house. "You'll have to stay here," he said. "These are good people, Padmé. You'll be safe here. I'll only..."

"Hold on," Padmé said, interrupting him. "I'm not staying here. I'm coming with you."

Anakin turned an impatient face to her. "Padmé," he said, "It's too dangerous. I shouldn't have brought you here in the first place. I'm definitely not going to drag you out into the desert, into the middle of..."

"Anakin," Padmé said firmly, cutting him off again. "You're my husband. That makes her my mother, too. If you think that I'm going to sit here in this house and worry myself sick while you're out there looking for her, you're gravely mistaken."

"But, Padmé..."

"This discussion is over," Padmé said, taking both of his hands in her own. "I'm coming with you." She smiled slightly at him, fixing his gaze with her own. "I love you, Anakin," she said, squeezing his hands tightly. "We go together, or not at all. I should think you'd have learned that lesson by now, my love."

Anakin shook his head slowly, a defeated smile spreading across his face. "You're not making this easy on me, are you?" he asked.

Padmé wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "No one ever said that love would be easy," she said softly, "but it's definitely worth fighting for."

She release him from her embrace and kissed him gently. "Now come on, "she said, turning and walking toward the speeder bike. "Let's go find Shmi."

Anakin smiled at her as she climbed onto the back of the bike, and he walked to join her and swung himself up and onto the saddle in front of her. He looked back toward the house in time to see Owen, Cleige, and Beru round the corner and look toward them.

"Don't worry," Anakin called to them. "We'll find her. And we'll be back."

Anakin started the bike's engines, and Padmé wrapped her arms tightly around his waist as he punched the throttle and the two of them sped off across the desert. Owen, Beru, and Cleige watched quietly as they disappeared into a cloud of dust, as the setting suns began to cast long shadows on the bright orange sand.

Our story continues shortly...