Chapter 10 Treacherous Ground

Padme, Kimmy, and the others came out to meet them when they arrived back at the house. Anakin didn't say anything, just picked up the body they had wrapped in a blanket and went inside. Once more stillness rang in the air.

Later on Kimmy approached Jesse.

"What happened out there?" she asked. "Anakin seems so…"

"Don't ask." Jesse shook his head, wishing he could confide in her. He felt like the weight of the planet was pushing down on him, and he was dead tired. Too much stress; too much going on.

"Is Anakin ok?"

"I don't know." He glanced over to where Anakin and Padme were, but instead of looking at Anakin, his gaze flickered to Padme.

Kimmy noticed it. "Stop torturing yourself, Jesse. You can't have her."

Jesse turned to face Kimmy. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Anyone can tell just by the way you look at Padme that you have feelings for her. Stop it."

"Stop what?" Jesse demanded. "Stop feeling?"

"You can't have her." Kimmy repeated.

"So what am I supposed to do, Oh Wise Knowing Goddess of All That Is Right? Ignore my feelings?"

"No, but you need to repress them."

"Thank you, but I think I know what I need to do." Jesse turned to go inside.

"Do you?" Kimmy called after him. "Or are you ignoring it?"

Jesse whirled around, his glare set to kill. "Kimmy, stay out of it!" he yelled. "I know what I need to do. And what I don't need is some arrogant, self-righteous Jedi-knight-wannabe butting in."

"Low blow." Kimmy's eyes shot daggers. "You know you're such a pig-headed, obstinate…"

"The two mean the same."

"…outrageous…"

"Ignorant…"

"…idiotic…"

"…meddling…"

"…self-centered…"

"…insane…"

"…pig, I don't know why I ever had a crush on you!"

"…unbelievably… what?" Jesse suddenly realized what she had said.

Kimmy realized it too, and turned and ran into the house.

Jesse let out a deep breath.

"Brilliant, Jesse. Just brilliant." He muttered.

>>>>

Kitch fell for what seemed like hours before the floor came into view. He twisted and landed lightly on his feet, using the Force to soften the impact. All around, machines rumbled and groaned as they created what looked to be droid parts. He stared at the huge piles of metal that were turning into mechanics as he looked on.

As far as Kitch could see, there was no door, no exit. But that was impossible, there had to be a way out somehow. Kitch walked the perimeter of the large room. Nothing. Muttering under his breath, Kitch cut a hole in the wall with his lightsaber and climbed through into a narrow, dimly lit hall. He didn't like the feeling of being in the open, so he leaped up onto a railing near the ceiling, high above. It was a good thing too, because right after he landed, footsteps echoed through the corridor.

"How can we be sure he did not contact the Jedi council before he was taken?" an ugly Nemodian said to a tall man with a white beard.

"We cannot." The man answered.

Kitch felt the dark Force flowing around him and shielded himself.

"That is why we must act quickly." The man continued. "I do not think he will join us, but since his master was my old apprentice, I'm hoping it may have some influence. Otherwise, will proceed with the execution tomorrow as planned."

As they went further down the hall their voices got lower until finally even their footsteps could no longer be heard. Only then did Kitch feel it was safe to breathe. He had no doubts about who the two had been talking about. They had obviously captured Obi-Wan. Now, if only it was that easy to figure out how to rescue him.

>>>>

The sun glared down at them as they stood around Shmi's grave. Kimmy felt like a bit of an outsider, especially considering the cold shoulder Jesse was giving her- and no wonder- but she wouldn't think of being so rude as to stay inside.

"I know wherever you are it's become a better place." Cliegg said shakily. " You were the most loving partner a man could ever have. Goodbye, my dearest wife. And thank you."

There was a brief pause and then Anakin stepped forward and knelt at his mother's grave. He picked up a handful of sand and let it trail through his fingers back onto the ground.

"I wasn't strong enough to save you, Mom." Anakin's voice cracked. "I wasn't strong enough. But I promise I won't fail again. I miss you so much." He stood up.

A whistle followed by a beep broke the prevailing silence. They all turned around.

"Artoo, what are you doing here?" Padme asked.

Artoo whistled again.

Threepio stepped in to translate. "It seems that he is carrying a message from an Obi- Wan Kenobi. Master Annie, does that name mean anything to you?"

The three Jedi and Padme looked at each other and made a beeline for the Naboo star ship. Anakin booted up the ship while Artoo projected the message.

An image of Obi-Wan appeared before them. "Anakin, my long range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant." He said.

Padme reached over to a control board and pushed a button to transmit the message.

"I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries on Geonosis." Obi-Wan continued. "The Trade Federation is to take taking 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 an... Wait... Wait.."

Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber and assumed a defensive stance. He backed up slightly and turned as a droideka blocked their view of the Jedi. The hologram cut off with a crackle of static.

Anakin stood up, looking grave.

"Anakin, We will deal with Count Dooku." Mace Windu's voice came over the connection. Jesse winced at what his master would say if he knew that he and Kimmy were there too.

"The most important thing for you is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs." Mace Windu continued in his no nonsense tone that Jesse knew so well. "That is your first priority."

Anankin nodded. "Understood, Master." He said as the hologram switched off.

Padme looked up from studying the readout on the ship's control panel.

"They'll never get there in time to save him." She said sounding distressed. "They have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look, Geonosis is less than a parsec away."

Padme started to hit buttons and flick switches, but Anakin stopped her, putting a hand over hers.

"If he's still alive." He said.

They all stared at him in shock.

"Annie, are you just going to sit here and let him die?" Padme said. "He's your friend, your mentor..."

"He's like my father." Anakin broke in, looking away. "But you heard Master Windu. He
gave me strict orders to stay here."

"Now you decide to start following orders." Jesse muttered. Anakin glared at him.

Padme lifted her chin defiantly. "He gave you strict orders to protect me." She flipped a few more switches, turning on the main engine. "And I'm going to save Obi-Wan. So if you plan to protect me, you will have to come along."

Anakin grinned and took the controls.

"We'll go in our ship." Jesse said.

"Right. Meet you there." Anakin didn't turn around.

Kimmy and Jesse ran back to the house.

"Owen, can you give us a ride into Mos Espa?" Jesse asked.

"Sure." Owen got booted up the speeder and Kimmy and Jesse climbed in. In less than a half an hour they were taking off, hoping they wouldn't be too late.

Oooh, long chapter, but you know, not much really happened for all that. Please tell me what you think, I put quite a bit of effort into this chapter and I'd like to have some opinions.