AN: OK WELL SORRY ABOUT THE FORMATTING IN THE LAST CHAPTER. I TRIED TO GO BACK AND FIX IT BUT I'M PRETTY FRUSTRATED FROM IT ALL. THIS CHAPTER MIGHT NOT WORK IN FORMAT MODE, BUT IT'S STILL A CHAPTER RIGHT? I HOPE YOU LIKE IT ANYWAY AND THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR REVIEWING!

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Han's transmission blacked out. Padmè's startled expression met Anakin's unusual calm face and Mara turned to Luke in askance. He nodded to her just as Yoda had confirmed that Obi-Wan and Leia had been taken, not killed.

"More happening in Geonosis, I feel, than has been reveled."

"We will deal with Count Dooku," Mace said through the transmitter to Anakin. "The most important thing for you, Anakin, is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."

"Understood Master," Anakin replied not bothered by the glares from both women that he received, his tone so full of defeat, struck Padmè the most. He shouldn't be stuck protecting her when his master needed him.

As the hologram switched off, she moved to the ship's console and began pushing buttons. "They have to come half way across the galaxy! They will never make it in time!"

Anakin didn't respond and Padmè felt like hitting him over the head with his own lightsaber. Instead she made that "plan B" and tried to reason with him. "Geonosis is only a parsec away!"

Mara leaned in to have a look, eyes narrowed and nodded in agreement. She believed that the council knew many things but after only a short acquaintance, she also knew that even though they liked to get their way– They weren't always right.

"Anakin, are you just going to sit here and let him die? He's your friend! Your mentor!"

"He's like my father!" Anakin finally exclaimed. "But you heard Master Windu. He gave me strict orders to stay here."

"And what about Leia?"

Mara looked at Luke and at his nod she finally spoke up. "We're going after them." Her tone left no room for argument.

Luke and Mara where going after Obi-Wan and Leia and after Padmè's next statement he knew she wouldn't be left behind.

"He gave you strict orders to protect me, and I'm going with Luke and Mara to save them." Padmè stated with a grin and flicked a few switches causing the engines to roar with life.

"Padmè!"

"If you plan to protect me, you'll have to come along."

Anakin stared at her for only a few seconds, and she held his gaze and tilted her head slightly. Anakin snapped out of his semi-daze, the daze he always found when staring at her and realized that he hadn't been about to protest. He knew that it hadn't even occurred to her that he'd agreed willingly to disobey the council– but really, when had the council's wishes stopped him before. What he really wanted to stay was -at the moment- trying to sneak slyly away.

"I only wanted to say that I don't think Geonosis is really a good place for a six year old," He told her with a smirk and patted her hand. Padmè's mouth formed an o and she shut off the engines quickly and turned to Jaina, and then turned to Mara and Luke. It was decided in that one glace that the little girl would be vacationing with her great grandmother.

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Yoda and Mace Windu watched as Jar-Jar Binks proposed the motion to give Palpatine emergency powers. There had been no way to stop it from happening, and the truth was– The Republic needed this clone army on Geonosis.

"It is with my great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling," Palpatine begun. "I love democracy– I love the republic. I am mild by nature and do not desire to see the destruction of democracy. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated. I promise you. And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand army of the republic to counter the increasing threats of the Separatists."

"It is done then," Mace said to Yoda, and the Jedi master nodded grimly. " I will take what Jedi we have left and go to Geonosis to help Obi-wan."

"And visit I will, the cloners of Kamino and see this clone army they have created for the republic," Yoda said and the two Jedi left the Senate hall.

Both knew the severe repercussions that this would have on the Republic, what giving Palpatine more power would do to the galaxy. If Amidala had been there this could have been prevented. Jar-Jar had done what he thought to have been right, but Amidala had been fighting this, and Palpatine, since she had become Senator. The Jedi had been blind not to notice what kind of creature Palpatine had become. It was obvious with Amidala's extreme distaste for what the Republic was transforming into, that she had known all along. One thing they knew for sure, they'd have one angry women when she returned. And return, she will.

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Twisting slowly in the force field, restrained by cracking blots of blue energy, back to back with Leia, Obi-wan Kenobi could only glare as Count Dooku entered the room. Dooku's expression seemed to be filled with sympathy– Leia didn't trust it for a second.

"Traitor,"Obi-wan said, for once speaking before Leia had a chance to open her mouth.

"Hello my friend," Dooku replied. "This is a mistake. A terrible mistake. They've gone to far. This is madness!"

Leia rolled her eyes, facing away from the blasted man as Obi-wan spoke.

"I thought you were their leader here, Dooku," Obi-wan replied, chin firmly in the air and he twisted around again to meet the old man's eyes.

"This had nothing to do with me I assure you," the former Jedi insisted seemingly not to notice Leia's snort. "I promise you that I will petition to have you immediately set free."

"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. We have work to do," Obi-wan stated in a matter-of-fact tone, once again facing away from Dooku mid twirl. Even Leia could feel the anger coming from the man at Obi-wan's comment. Honestly, it took a great deal of energy not to let him see her smile.

"May I ask why you two are all the way out here on Geonosis?"

After a moments hesitation Obi-wan answered, deciding that it wouldn't hurt his case trying to get more information. "I've," Leia rammed her elbow into his side and he corrected himself – how she moved her elbow enough, he did not know. "We've, been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett."

"Good friend of yours?" Leia added with a little sneer.

Dooku shot her a look of disdain but answered, "There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of. Geonosians don't trust them."

"Well who can blame them?" Obi-wan snapped back fully intending for the other man to catch the double meaning. Trust. "But he is here, I assure you."

"It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before Obi-wan. Qui-gon always spoke highly of you. I wish he was still alive– I could use his help right now."

Leia felt Obi-wan tense up at the mention of Qui-gon and she wondered why this seemed to upset him so much. So far he had been hiding his emotions very well, but that annoyance in his voice when he stated that Qui-gon would never join Dooku, didn't escape her notice nor– she could tell when she was once again facing their captor, Dooku's.

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi," Count Dooku stated confidently. "You forget that Qui-gon was once my Apprentice just as you were his."

Leia listened intently, not once trying to comment. This Qui-gon Jinn was Obi-wan's old master, and from the tone of the conversation he must have been dead. Count Dooku seemed to only bring him up just for the purpose of emotional appeal. He brought up the corruption of the senate only seconds later and Leia recognized this as a political trick she knew well. Hit 'em when they're down. Ok, the dark lord of the sith controlling the senate? Who would've thought...

A little late Dooky, she thought and giggled slightly causing the debate to cease. Dooku looked at her but she just raised her eyebrows at him, not letting him faze her. If Obi-wan wanted to play along with this guy, then she would too. Let him believe that they new nothing of Palpatine and his plans. They continued and Leia sighed impatiently wishing that they would get to the point.

"You must join me, Obi-wan, and together we will destroy the sith."

"Right!" Leia muttered at the same moment Obi-wan refused.

"I will never join you."

Count Dooku stared a few seconds, almost bewildered that he hadn't won him over, then scowled slowly.

"It may be difficult to secure your release," he informed them , twirling his cape and walking away.

"Well, that went well," Leia commented– something Han would say– and Obi-wan actually chuckled.

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Anakin brought the ship down slowly to the Geonosian surface, weaving around mountains of rocks, while Padmè and Mara stood watching attentively for somewhere to land.

"See those columns of steam straight ahead?" Padmè asked pointing. Mara nodded, realizing at once what the Senator planned. "They must be exhaust vents of some sort, we can get in through there," Mara added narrowing her eyes, closely examining where they would soon be headed.

"That'll do," Anakin agreed and steered the ship into the steam. Luke came in the cockpit and handed jacket–She had insisted that for the battle she would need her own clothes back, so she shrugged it on with a gruff thanks and didn't glance up at him as she checked over all of her weapons. Padmè sent the group an 'I mean business' look and waited for their attention.

"Look, I'm not interested in getting into a war here. As a member of the Senate, maybe I can find a diplomatic solution to this mess."

Mara didn't even bother to glance up as she inspected her blaster and switched it off of stun. Padmè stared a moment watching her, waiting for some nod of agreement only to roll her eyes knowing it would be pointless talking with Mara when she is in 'assassin mode'. Luke was watching the red head and it would be pointless talking to him in his mode as well. Instead she glanced at Anakin and waited for his reply.

"Don't worry," he began with a grin. "I've given up trying to argue with you."

Padmè nodded with a slightly pleased expression and they headed out of the ship. R2 gave a distraught beep that almost sounded like a sigh.

"Stay with the ship," Luke and Padmè ordered at the same time and smiled. Mara snorted slightly and pushed Luke away slightly as he tried to take her hand into his. He sighed and walked slightly away from her.

"Look–Padmè and Anakin, you go through here and Luke and I will circle around to the other side. There has to be another entrance near the rest of the steam stacks. Out of all of us, we're bound to stumble upon them at some point."

"We'll try over there, Han just landed and he wouldn't forgive us if we got into trouble without him," Luke added with a grin. Padmè and Anakin smiled with a nod in confirmation and headed inside. Luke started forward Again toward the Falcon, only to be stopped by Mara's firm hold on his hand. Her hardened green eyes met his soft blue and only for a second did she let go of her facade did he see her concern. She closed the gap, kissing him quickly on the lips before pulling away as if it never happened. It was her way of telling him to be careful, and she only hoped he understood.

Luke followed with a gentle smile. He could clearly see through her tough exterior, her walls no longer enough to keep him away. Luke reached out, took her hand in his and held firmly as she tried to pull away. Even though he understood that she was distancing herself in order to prepare for a fight, it didn't mean that she could ignore what he needed. Her. Only the feel of her hand laced with his was enough to keep him going strong.

Han closed up his ship and moved quickly to meet up with Luke and Mara. He noticed their hands right off but only raised his brow in question. The Solo grin seemed to be permanently stuck to his face and Mara couldn't help but compare it to Jaina's. That girl was definitely a Solo. Mara glared but didn't try to extract her hand again from Luke's as he thought she would. Instead she gave in a gentle squeeze, letting him know without words that she understood what he needed from her.

"Not a word Solo," Mara bit out as he continued to stare. Han raised his hands in mock surrender and moved to join them.

"I'll let it go for now Jade, but you do know as soon as I have Leia safely by my side, we're going to want to know everything, right?"

It wasn't really a question, more of a fact really. Mara cursed inwardly at the mention of Luke's sister. The woman had been enough trouble for her when it had only been a possibility that her and Skywalker might get together. Now that they were officially in a relationship–Engaged, no less...Well, let's just say that she is really starting to rethink this rescue attempt.

As she noticed Luke's amused frown, if there could be such a thing, Mara let out a long heartfelt sigh and resumed her mask of indifference finally dropping his hand.

"Let's go then–Don't dilly-dally," She instructed firmly and began her brisk walk through the steam. Her confident steps ceased altogether when she realized exactly what she had said and heard laughter. Mara winced and showed off her colorful vocabulary, made up of some expletives that even the Corellian pilot know. Dilly-dally? Groaning, she shook her head and made it a point to distance herself from Jaina for a days or months, sith even a few years. The kid is rubbing off on her, making her soft. Dilly-dally? Mara scoffed slightly shooting a glare at the still laughing duo.

"Move!" She commanded in her most commanding tone and smiled again when their laughter ceased and they glanced up startled.

"Still got it," She breathed out in relief and headed all the way inside the dark hallway, Luke at her side, while Han covered the rear.

The hallway was dark, slightly misty and silent–It was really a perfect place for a trap but the strange part was, there is not a thing in sight. Nothing popped out of the walls or around the corner. No one firing at them, or attacking. Nothing. It was empty, and this, in Mara's opinion, tended to have a bad outcome. She didn't voice her feelings, instead she kept watch as Luke fiddled with the door mechanisms. Of course it was jammed.

"You almost done yet kid?" Han asked, blaster lowered to his side. As soon as the words were spoken the door started to slowly rise and a blaster shot pierced the silence with them. Mara smirked, looking away from the dead bug, a Geonosian she concluded, and moved to stand by Luke again.

"One down..." She began dryly and looked out at the droid factory.

"A gazillion to go," she finished, smirk gone as she noticed the creatures in the distance.

"A gazillion?" Luke asked with a smile to which Mara just shrugged and jumped down onto a conveyor belt lightsaber at ready.

"Let's get on with it then," Mara growled out as Luke jumped down to follow. Han's descent was slower as he climbed down some and could've sworn he saw R2 flying in the distance. Shaking it off as impossible he joined Mara and Luke as they headed toward the other side of the factory.

"I think they found Padmè and Anakin, because they really don't seem to no we're here–" Mara stated only to be cut off as a mechanical arm began to lift her higher and higher. Her lightsaber dropped and she demonstrated her beautiful vocabulary once again as she struggled to break free.

"Mar–Hang on!" Luke shouted grabbing her lightsaber before jumping up and heading after her.

"Funny!" She bit out as she continued to struggle but it seemed to be of no use.

Han began to follow when he noticed Padmè being surrounded by those creatures in the distance. He ran towards her and managed to get off a few well placed shots, knocking several of her attackers on the ground. He was pushed off his feet from behind when he managed to get to her and he glared up as he was surrounded as well..

They both dropped their weapons begrudgingly.

"How are you?" Padmè asked with a slight smile at her daughter's husband. He grunted in reply and muttered something that sounded extremely like 'same ole, same ole' causing her to laugh much to their captors frustration.

Luke had managed to follow Mara through the machines and watched as she pulled out her blaster and shot at the arm. It dropped her and much to her chagrin, Luke was right there to catch her when she fell.

"Thanks," She muttered pushing away, slipping out of his arms. He handed her lightsaber to her and she explained that she had seen Han and Padmè being taken.

"Well, it seems like we're the only ones left then Mar. We'll find some way to rescue them all," He told her with a smirk.

"Or get ourselves into trouble like always," Mara muttered shaking her head. This place gave her a very bad feeling, but she didn't dare voice that aloud to Luke or he'll assume she's kidding again. She watched him glance around, with a slightly grim expression and knew at once that he wouldn't.

"I have a bad–"

They both began and stopped, looking at each other quickly.

"This was in my vision," Mara explained quietly. "Everything in that vision has come true so far Luke, but I won't let you die. I'll die first," She added with strong conviction. He glanced at her and reached over to touch her cheek.

"I have a feeling everything will turn out ok Mar, things aren't always as they appear. Maybe what you saw was what could happen. There are many paths to follow, we just have to choose the right one."

"Together," Mara whispered and he nodded. She leaned over, kissed him quickly and then pulled him around a corner to a big steel door. At his questioning look she explained. "We can't let the bugs see us. Right now the only advantage we have is a surprise attack."

They worked to open the door and a few minutes later it finally did and they closed it behind them shooting the mechanism. Mara was the first to turn around and realize that, that wasn't probably the smartest thing to do.

Luke turned as well, and there–right in front of them stood a very familiar, very gigantic bug.

"Great," Mara muttered and Luke could only agree. He put on a brave face, ignited his lightsaber and turned to give her a smile.

"We've beaten one of these before, I'm sure we can do it again."

"Yeah, but if you remember, I was knocked unconscious, it took you a blasted long time and when I woke up I was missing my ship and we were in the past–I'm still angry about you leaving the Fire by the way..." She stated looking at the beast again.

"Well, what are the chances of that happening again?"

Mara's only response was a low growl as she ignited her lightsaber and prepared for the attack.

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Han was already waiting in an oval cart when Padmè and Anakin were led into the room and thrown into another cart before being strapped down. Han's cart started forward slightly, with the other trailing behind slowly.

"I take it the negotiations didn't work?" Han asked dryly, looking back. At Padmè's fierce scowl he chuckled slightly, which was a little unusual considering the circumstances. It wasn't the first time he had been led to his execution. Compared to the last time, this was easy. At least he could see.

"Don't be afraid," Anakin whispered to Padmè and she just smiled at him with tears in her eyes.

"I'm not afraid to die–But first I think it's imperative that we live."

"What do you mean?"

"I love you," She finally admitted and it was real, and genuine and the smile that lit her face was only for him. He knew at once that she meant it, that she wasn't saying it because they were about to be put to death, and finally what she had said only seconds before clicked into place. First they had to live.

"My love for you is like a puzzle Ani, one that I can't figure out, but don't really want to either. I can't control it and I don't think you can either. In so many ways we're two halves of a whole Anakin, and we have the rest of our lives to enjoy it."

"We don't die here," Anakin said with a smile. "I'm determined to live by your side for at least another hundred years," he vowed and leaned down slightly, straining against the restraints. Padmè met him half way and their lips met in a soft kiss. It was gentle, and filled with love, a love that both realized quickly they should have spoken before. The cart struggled forward again and Anakin pulled away slowly but before he could do so much as smile, Padmè had kissed him again.

Han turned just before he entered the arena on his cart and saw them kiss for the second time, both smiling into it. He shook his head, if it was any other family all this would seem a bit strange. "I sure missed a lot," he muttered, referring to their intimacy and thinking back on Luke and Mara.

"It's all up to you now kids," he said as the cart finally stopped in front of four poles, two of which held Obi-wan and his wife.

"Hi honey,' he called out and she smiled in greeting. Yep, he thought. Definitely a day in the life.

"I thought I told you to stay on Naboo," Obi-wan commented eyes narrowed at Anakin as if demanding an explanation. Anakin winced slightly then said, "We were there for a while Master, then we decided to come and rescue you," He finished.

Obi-Wan looked up at his chained hands and shot him a look. "Good job," he said sarcastically causing Anakin to wince again. Then their attention was turned to Padmè as she was chained to the same pole as Leia. Anakin raised his eyebrow, putting these two intelligent women together was a stupid move on their part. This soon became apparent as he noticed Padmè work quickly on her restraints. As soon as she had one hand released, she gave Leia a motherly nod that he already adored and looked at him.

"Love you," she mouthed softly and he nodded gently before turning back to Obi-Wan who still looked like he wanted to argue.

The executions began to announce their 'pets' and Obi-Wan sighed. "This should be fun–for them at least," he commented dryly.

"What?" Han called from the farthest pole.

"Never mind, are we all ready for the fight?" He asked instead receiving questioning looks, even Padmè paused in her work to look at him. "Well, we do want to give them their moneys worth don't we?"

"You bet," Leia affirmed as the first two beasts were led out of their seclusion heading–slowly over to where Anakin and Obi-Wan were.

"You take the one on the right," Obi-Wan said and Anakin chuckled slightly.

The third set of bars opened and reveling a feline creature, a large creature. Its head made up half the size of its body with a fang filled mouth that would easily be able to bite a human in half.

"I guess that one's ours," Padmè called out, taking the chain and tossing it to Leia. They both used each other as leverage and climbed up to the top of the pole. Han looked around, not knowing what to do. It seemed as if everyone else had a plan. He winced slightly at the announcer as the final gate slowly began to rise, almost afraid to look over. Never did he expect what he would be getting...

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"Well, that was fun," Mara commented dryly as Luke pulled his Lightsaber out of the creature.

"I told you it wouldn't be as bad," he told her with a smile and before she got a chance to do more than give him a look the gate in front of them opened and the sounds of the arena grew stronger. Luke looked at Mara, lightsaber at ready and she gave him a nod before slowly moving forward.

They entered the arena, and when they did a hush fell over the crowd. Apparently, they weren't what everyone was expecting. Five of the little flying creatures flew at them and the easily cut them down. Luke nudged her and looked over at the creatures heading toward the poles, the poles that were holding everyone chained in place. Padmè and Leia stood at the top of one and waved slightly.

"Well Mara, we did surprise 'em."

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