Disclaimer: The fact that I do not own star wars brings me great grief. I am a fan but I would do anything to own it. Well maybe not anything. So don't sue my george, it wouldn't be worth it, I only have a few bucks in my bank account.

Anakin grunts and twists in his sleep, sweat pouring from his forehead. Padme groans and turns next to him, Anakin is shaking. "No Mom, No, No Mom, Mom Please, No!" Padme turns to him and shakes his arm "Ani, baby wake up you're just having a nightmare." Anakin shakes abruptly awake and turns to Padme, he buries his head in her shoulder crying. Padme frowns concerned "Ani, baby what's wrong?" He shakes his head "Nothing". Padme glances at him seeing dishonesty in his eyes " You're lying, your face smiles but your eyes don't." Anakin shakes his head and then leans in to kiss her. Padme groans and is soon pressed against the cushions. As Anakin's lips find hers, Padme soon forgets about everything except the solace she finds in Anakin's lips. His rough hands gently grasp each hip, and her moans are soon followed by his own wolfish groans.

NEXT MORNING

Anakin is on the balcony overlooking the gardens. After a moment, Padme comes onto the balcony behind him. She sees he is meditating and turns to go.

Anakin's eyes are closed yet after last night, her presence has become more in tune to his own " Don't go." Padme frowns fondly "I don't want to disturb you."

Anakin grins and turns to her " Your presence is soothing. Come here " Although he does not intend it, his words sound like more than an order than a request.

There is a brief pause as Padme walks toward him, he leans down and catches her lips " You my love could never disturb me" Padme frowns " You had a nightmare again last night. Are we going to talk about it?" His jaw becomes steely and he closes his eyes and turns away from her. " Jedi don't have nightmares." Padme stares in wonder ( Is he that scared that he would lie to me?) " I heard you., Ani, I was there, in your arms last night as you cried on my shoulder, please Anakin don't lie to me" Anakin opens his eyes and looks at her. She lays her palm on his shoulder and glances at his haunted eyes, he looks at her and they embrace. " I saw my mother. I saw her as clearly as I see you now. She is suffering, Padmé. They're killing her! She is in pain... I know I'm disobeying my mandate to protect you, baby. I know I will be punished and possibly thrown out of the Jedi Order, but I have to go. I have to help her! I'm sorry, Padmé. I don't have a choice." his face is resigned and he breaks their embrace. That is when Padme makes her decision "I'll go with you. That way you can continue to protect me, and you won't be disobeying your mandate." His sadness abates and he stare at her fondly " What about Master Obi-wan?" Padme smiles and takes his hand. " I guess we won't tell him, will we?" Anakin kisses her and they walk inside.

Obi-Wan enters cautiously from outside. Ahead, the corridor is deserted. He moves down it. Obi-Wan arrives at the door to Jango Fett's apartment. He reaches up and runs his fingers along the door, locating the locks. The door slides open.Obi-Wan walks in to find the room in complete disorder. The bedroom door is wide open - clear signs of hurried departure. All of the Fett's personal belongings are gone. Obi-Wan goes to an ultra-thin computer screen. He punches up an onscreen picture of Jango Fett and Boba Fett unhitching the lines securing their ship on the landing platform. Jango Fett is wearing his armor and rocket pack. Sabe stares at Obi-Wan in shock " They're evacuating, ah then they are involved. " Obi-Wan smiles lightly " Exactly" He leans in and wipes some dust of her clothes. He then grins and they head out the door.

Jango Fett's ship, Slave 1, rests on the landing platform. Jango and Boba Fett are preparing to board. Obi-Wan rushes through the tower door and runs toward the ship.

Boba turns toward Obi-Wan and yells "Dad! Look!" Jango Fett turns to see Obi-Wan charging out of the tower toward him. As he runs, Obi-Wan draws his lightsaber from

his belt. It flashes on. Sabe glances at Obi-Wan, who nods. Jango Fett draws his gun and fires at the charging jedi. Obi-Wan deflects the blast and swings at Jango Fett.

Jango turns toward boba "Boba, get on board."The bounty hunter rockets up and over Obi-Wan, landing on the top of a nearby tower. Jango Fett fires down at Obi-

Wan. The jedi deflects the shots back, but Jango Fett evades them. Then he fires an explosive sending Obi-Wan diving out of the way. Sabe pulls out a blaster and fires at Jango.In the cockpit of Jango Fett's ship, Boba grabs the controls of a laser gun and swings it to aim at Sabe, and fires. Obi-wan frowns and jumps in the way.

The explosion of the ship's laser blasts throws Obi-Wan to the ground. His lightsaber skids across the wet surface of the landing platform. Jango drops from the tower

landing in front of Kenobi.Sabe stares ocntinuing to fire. Obi-Wan rises and charges toward Jango. in the cock pit, Boba watches asoutside, Obi-Wan and Jango grapple and fight, punching, kicking, grabbing hold, and throwing each other around. Obi-Wan grabs Fett tightly, and Jango rockets up into the air and kicks Obi-Wam loose. Obi-Wan crashes to the deck and slides toward the edge. He grapples desperately for a handhold on the slick surface. Obi-Wan reaches out for his lightsaber, using the Force to bring it to him, but Jango fires a thin wire from his wristpack. It wraps around Obi-Wan's wrists before he can retrieve the lightsaber. Sabe attempts to fire but a blast from boba that is a little too close for comfort knocks her flat. Jango rockets into the air, dragging Obi-Wan behind him along the platform surface. As Obi-Wan slides toward some columns he manages to maneuver himself into a roll avoiding a collision by leveraging the wire against the structure and pulling himself to his feet. Obi-Wan pulls with all his weight against the momentum of the wire, causing Jango to drop and crash into the ground. Jango's rocketpack breaks free from his back and explodes.

Still connected by the wire, Obi-Wn charges at Jango kicking him over the platform edge. Jango slides pulling Obi-Wan with him. Locked together, Obi-Wan and Jango Fett

plummet down toward the raging ocean. At the last moment, Jango Fett sees the edge and digs his forearm claws into the surface. Obi-Wan slides past him as Jango finally ejects the wire free from his wrist. Obi-Wan cannot stop the speed of his slide and shoots off the edge, falling...

Obi-Wan uses the Force and causes the wire to wrap around a pole, stopping his descent. He swings and drops onto a Small Service Platform just above the waves. He hauls himself to his feet. When Jango looks down, the Jedi has disappeared. Jango uses his forearm claws to climb back to the landing platform and runs toward his ship.

In the cockpit, Boba Fett settles into the pilot's seat. He punches buttons. The engines roar. Obi-Wan comes running out onto the landing platform and

spots his lightsaber laying on the ground. This time, he retrieves it successfully and turns it on just as Jango's ship engines roar. Realizing the ship is about to take off,

Obi-Wan takes a small tracking device from his belt and throws in onto the hull of the ship.

Jango Fett's ship lifts off from the platform and heads up into the lowering sky. It disappears. Lightning flashes. Rain lashes the tower and streams across the surface of the

platform where Obi-Wan stands, watching. He then runs toward Sabe, who is on the ground. He looks at her " Are you okay, Milady?" She nods and Obi-Wan leans in and catches her lips with him.

The Naboo Starship heads toward the desert planet of Tatooine .The Naboo Starship lands in a large parking lot of Spaceships on the outskirts of Mos Espa. Anakin and Padme ride a rickshaw through the streets. Anakin stares at sights he hasn't seen for years. Finally, they come to Watto's shop, and the rickshaw stops. Anakin turns toward the droid driver "Wait, please." Anakin and Padme get down. Sitting on a stool in front of the shop is Watto. He is using a small electronic screwdriver on a fiddly droid. Three Pit Droids are chattering away and are trying to help him, but they seem only to make him madder.

Watto is yelling at them "No chuba da wanga, da wanga. "No, not that one - that one! Anakin arrives, his arm around Padme's waist "Chut, chut, Watto." Excuse me, Watto. Watto stare at him grumpy "Ke Booda?" What? Anakin look at him sadly "Di nova, 'Chut, chut." I said excuse me. Watto turns to the chattering Pit Droids.

Watto frowns "Go ana bopa!" Shut down. The Pit Droids snap into their storage position. Anakin grins staring at Watto "Ding mi chasa hopa." Let me help you with that. Anakin takes the fiddly piece of equipment and starts to play with it. Watto blinks in surprise. Watto grumble stare him bizarrely "Ke booda? Yo baan pee hota. No wega mi condorta. Kin chasa du Jedi. No bata tu tu." What? I don't know you...What can I do for you? You look like a Jedi. Whatever it is... I didn't do it.

WATTO drops the screwdriver and curses loudly in Huttese

Anakin's attitude turns darker "Mi boska di Shmi Skywalker." I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker. Watto looks at him suspiciously. He stares at Padme, then

back to Anakin. Suddenly his eyes blink in recognition " Ani? Little Ani? Naaah!" Suddenly, the fiddly piece of equipment in Anakin's hands

whirs into life. Watto blinks at it. He continues in basic " You are Ani! It is you! Ya sure sprouted! Weehoo! A Jedi! Waddya know? Hey, maybe you couldda help wit some deadbeats who owe me a lot of money..." Anakin interrupts " My mother..." He looks at Anakin thinking " Oh, yeah. Shmi... she's not mine no more. I sold

her." Anakin takes Padme's hand " Sold her..." Watto looks at him with a shrug " Years ago. Sorry, Ani, but you know, business is business. Sold her to a moisture farmer named Lars. Least I think it was Lars. Believe it or not, I heard he freed her and married her. Can ya beat that?" Anakin stares at him with a mix of anger "Do you know where they are?" Watto shakes his head thinking " Long way from here... someplace over on the other side of Mos Eisley, I think..." His voice becomes insistent "

I'd like to know." Anakin's grim look means business; Watto gets the hint quickly. he says "Yeah... sure... absolutely. Let's go look in my

records. Anakin and Watto go into the shop.

The red planet of Geonosis is circled by a large asteroid field that forms rings. Fett's ship appears, heading toward it. Kenobi's Starfighter, attached to the

hyperspace transport ring, appears in space. The Starfighter disengages from the ring and follows Jango's ship.

Jango Fett grins at Boba Fett. " Nearly there, son." Inside the cockpit, a small blip shows up on the ship's

scan screen. Boba looks at the screen and then at his dad "Dad! I think we're being tracked... Look at the

scan screen! Isn't that a cloaking shadow?" Boba checks the scan screen and reveals a small

tracking device on the outer hull. Jango looks at him " He must have put a homing device on our hull during the fight... We'll fix it! Hang on, son! We'll move

into the asteroid field. He won't be able to follow us there. If he does, we'll leave him a couple of surprises."

He pushes some buttons and the spot where the device was disappears. Jango guides his ship into the asteroid

field. Obi-Wan stops his ship. Obi-Wan looks at Sabe "That's interesting, Sabe. They seem to have discovered the tracker." He turns to R-4 " Shut down... Shape scan their last coordinates." Jango pilots his ship through the asteroids. Boba turns to Jango "He's gone." Jango looks at him " He must have gone on toward the surface."

Boba sees Obi-Wan on the screen. Boba yells urgently " Look, Dad! He's back!" Jango says "Hang on!"He releases a charge which drifts toward Obi-Wan. As the

charge approaches Obi-Wan's Starfighter, Arfour beeps. Obi-Wan turns toward Sabe " Whoa! Sonic charges... Stand by."

Jango's goes into a power-climb to avoid an asteroid. Boba looks at Jango "Dad! Watch out!" Jango turns to him "Stay calm, son. We'll be fine. That Jedi won't

be able to follow us through this." Obi-Wan's ship dives into the asteroid belt after them. Boba sounds excited " There he is!" Jango stares at him in shock "He doesn't seem to be able to take a hint."Jango flies down a narrow tunnel in one of the larger asteroids. Boba calls "Watch out!" Obi-Wanpasses over the asteroid and Jango emerges, chasing after him. Sabe in shock grabs Obi-Wan's hand. The boy shouts in excitment" Get him, Dad! Get him! Fire!"

Jango Fett fires lasers at the Jedi Starfighter.

The ships flip, roll, and turn at incredible speed, dodging, weaving and firing. They tumble from near misses.

Obi-Wan looks at Sabe " Oh, blast! This is why I hate flying." She laughs " I thought Jedi weren't supposed to hate things" He grins " Well they aren't supposed to kiss Handmaidens, either." Sabe didn't expect Obi-Wan to admit that, but she was happy he did.

Bits fly off Kenobi's fighter as one of Jango's missiles gets through.

As they succesfully navigate the asteroid belt, Sabe and Obi-Wan begin to get closer, and it isn't long until they arrive at Geonosis.

The Naboo Starship descends, hovers, and land on a bluff. Anakin and Padme get out. They look down from the edge of the bluff to where the homestead is seen on the desert floor below.

Padme looks at Artoo " Stay with the ship, Artoo." Artoo whistles as Anakin and Padme start down the trail

toward the homestead.

C-3PO is working outside the homestead. He looks up as Anakin and Padme arrive. "Oh, hello. How might I be of service? I am See..." Anakin interrupts "Threepio?"

Threepio looks at Anakin "Oh, my... Oh, my maker! Master Anakin! I knew you would return, I knew you would! And this must be Miss

Padmé." Padme grins " Hello, Threepio."If Threepio could grin, I'm sure he'd be right now. "Oh, my circuits! I'm so pleased to see you both!"

Anakin announces " I've come to see my mother." As Threepio's tone changes horribly awkward , Anakin and Padme know something is extrememly wrong " think... I think... Perhaps we'd better go indoors."

Anakin, Padme and Threepio arrive in the courtyard. Threepio shuffles ahead. He calls loudly "Master Cliegg, Master Lars! Might I present two

important visitors?" Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun come out into the courtyard. Anakin comes forward "I'm Anakin Skywalker." Owen stare at him, sizing him up " Owen Lars. This is my girlfriend, Beru." Beru looks at them meekly "Hello." Padme looks at Anakin "I'm Padmé." Anakin adds " My girlfriend" Owen looks at him awkwardly " I guess I'm your stepbrother. I had a feeling you might show up some day." Anakin gulps and asks the question he fear sht enaswer too " Is my mother here?"A new voice is heard " No, she's not." Cliegg swings from the house on a small floating chair. One of his legs is heavily bandaged; the other ismissing. He balances awkwardly and puts out a hand. Anakin shakes his hand as Cliegg replies "Cliegg Lars. Shmi is my wife... Come on inside. We have a lot to talk about..."

. Beru puts several steaming cups of ardees on a tray and exits the kitchen... Cliegg is saying " It was just before dawn. They came out of

nowhere. A hunting party of Tusken Raiders."

Cliegg, Owen, Padme and Anakin sit around the table, Beru brings the drinks in from the kitchen. He continues " Your mother had gone out early, like she always

did, to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators. From the tracks, she was about halfway home when they took her. Those Tuskens walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her. Four of us came back. I'd be with them, only... after I lost my leg I just

couldn't ride any more... until I heal." Cliegg grimaces, easing his throbbing leg. Cliegg looks at Anakin "This isn't the way I wanted to meet you, son. This

isn't how your mother and I planned it. I don't want to give up on her, but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long."

Silence. Then Anakin stands up. Owen looks at him " Where are you going?" His answer is very simple " To find my mother." Padme stands up and grabs his arm " No, Ani!" Anakin stares at her " Don't you dare Padme, You were there last night, you saw, what I had to go through." Cliegg, whishing to avoid further arguement says " Your mother's dead, son. Accept it." Anakin looks at him sadly " I can feel her pain, and I will find her." Owen realizes the truth in that statement " Take my speeder bike." Anakin nods, glad someone is on his side." I know she's alive." He turns abruptly.

Anakin stands looking across the desert. Padme comes running out of the homestead after him. Anakin turns to Padme.

He looks at her " You are going to have to stay here. These are good people, Padmé. You'll be safe." Padme begins not quite sure what to say " Anakin..."

Padme hugs him. Anakin kisses her longly and casually places his cheek on her breast. " Anakin, you can't just expect this to be easy." Anakin walks over to Owen's speeder bike, which is standing close by. "I won't be long. And tonight... tonight I'll make this up to you" Anakin swings onto the bike. The engine fires. He takes off across the desert. Padme watches him go.

Padme is pacing the courtyard restlessly. She stops, listening to the animal howling nearby. She shivers slightly, then turns and goes into the garage at the side

of the courtyard. Padme enters the garage where C-3PO sits working. He looks up greeting her " Hello, Miss Padmé." She grins sadly " Hello, Threepio." He looks akward "You can't sleep?" She shakes her head " No, I have too many things on my mind, I guess." He looks at her " Are you worried about your work in the Senate?"

She laughs " No, I'm just concerned about Anakin. I said things... I'm afraid I may have hurt him. I don't know.

Maybe I only hurt myself. For the first time in my life, I'm confused." Threepio looked at her "I'm not sure it will make you feel any better Miss

Padmé, but I don't think there's been a time in my life when I haven't been confused." She looked at him" I want him to know I care about him. I do care about

him. I told him I loved him and then we sort of ..."She trails off as Threepio interrupts "Don't worry about Master Annie. He can take care of

himself. Even in this awful place." Yet that is not quite what Padme fears, she fears that he won't be the same Anakin that made love to her last night.

Obi-Wan climbs a steep, narrow trail. Suddenly, a cry is heard close by. Obi-Wan stumbles slightly. His foot slips on the edge, sending a stream of pebbles skittering into the darkness.Obi-Wan listens. Silence. He draws his lightsaber but does not ignite it.

He sets off again and works his way around a narrow corner, to confront a crouching Massiff (a dog-sized lizard) with slavering fangs! The beast leaps at him, and Obi-Wan

ignites his lightsaber as the Massiff knocks him on his back. Its jaws open wide. ObiI-Wan stabs the creature,

throws it off of him, and jumps up. A second Massiff jumps from behind. Obi-Wan swings around and cuts it in half. The Massiff flies over the cliff,

howling.. It plummets to its death hundreds of feet below. He then turns toward the fighter "Stay Sabe, I'll be back " She grins and nods.

Obi-Wan arrives at the head of the trail. Far below, a flat plain stretches into the distance. He stops, peering into the darkness, where strange shapes loom indistinctly.Obi-Wan takes a pair of electronic binoculars from his belt and puts them to his eyes. He sees a cluster of great towers like fantastic stalagmites rise from the plain below.

As he looks at the stalagmites, suddenly a line of Battle Starships come into view. OBI-WAN touches the viewfinder. Between fifty and a hundred Federation Starships are in neat rows. Some are on platforms that are carrying the Starships down to an underground facility. Other platforms

are rising to the surface. They carry thousands of battledroids that step off and file into waiting ships. A fully loaded Starship takes off. Obi-Wan swings the binoculars

upward, to see more Trade Federation Starships. He pulls out a com-link and looks at sabe, who takes one out as well. "Sabe there is an unusual concerntration of trade ships, if you need anything ocntact me, i shall talk to you on this com-link as soon as I've heard anything." She nods " Of course, Obi-Wan, be careful" He grins " Hey it's me." Sabe laughs, a bell tone laugh that caresses Obi-Wan's very soul.

Light grows on the clustering tower of fantastic stalagmites. Obi-Wab sneaks up to the main one. He climbs up the side of the tower to a small window-like opening.

Obi-Wan looks around quickly, then sneaks inside.

Obi-Wan makes his way along a narrow, pillared corridor. He comes to what looks like a large open well or vent shaft.

He looks down and sees a huge underground facility below. In one area, machines are constructing battle droids. In

another area, completed droids are moving along a conveyor belt. Genosians , some with no wings, drone away at the

assembly line. As he continues, Obi-Wan arrives at a vast expanse in the stalagmite interior. Immense pillars, soaring Gaudi-Gothic arches,

vaulted roofs. The huge space is deserted - completely silent.

Obi-Wan starts to cross the square. Suddenly he hears

voices.

He darts behind a pillar as Poggle The Lesser (Archduke of

Geonosis), his aide, Sun Fac, Count Dooku and Nute Gunray approach, closely followed by Passel Argente and Wat Tambor. Count Dooku is tall, elderly, and saturnine, with beautiful manners. Obi-Wan flattens himself against the pillar as they pass by. Dooku announces granduerly " Now, we must persuade the Commerce Guild and

the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty." Nute Gunray gives him a angry look " What about the Senator from Naboo and her handmaiden? Are they dead yet? I'm not signing your treaty until I have their heads on my desk." Obi-Wan frowns and slowly speaks into his comlink" Sabe it appears Nute gunray is behind the assassination attempts on yourself and Senator Amidala." She nods "I figured as much, he really hates us, yet Padme was dead set against Dooku being behind it." He looks at her " yes Sabe, her insights were almost that of a Jedi, Dooku himself is paying the assassins, Gunray won't sign a treaty until you and Padme are dead." He turns and looks at Dooku, who says promisingly " I am a man of my word, Viceroy." Poogle looks at Dooku " With these new Battle Droids we've built for you, Viceroy, you'll have the finest army in the galaxy." They move out of earshot. Obi-Wan peers around the pillar to see them going through an archway on the far side of the courtyard. There is a flight of stairs beside it. Obi-Wan arrives at the stairs. He sneaks up them, to arrive at a narrow gothic archway. He looks down through it.

Poggle The Lesser and his two aides are at one end of a large round conference table. Dooku stands bravely " Now is the time, my friends. This is the

moment when you have to decide between the Republic or the Confederacy of Independent Systems."

Count Dooku is at the head of the table. Jango Fett stands behind his chair.

In addition to the original group, there are also three opposition senators: Po Nudo, Tessek and Toonbuck Toora, and a Commerce Guild Digintary; Shu Mai and a member of the Intergalactic Bank Clan, San Hill. Count Dooku continues " As I explained to you earlier, I'm quite convinced that ten thousand more systems will rally to our

cause with your support, gentlemen. And let me remind you of our absolute commitment to capitalism... of the lower taxes, the reduced tariffs, and the eventual abolition of

all trade barriers. Signing this treaty will bring you profits beyond your wildest imagination. What we are proposing is completely free trade. (looks at Nute) Our

friends in the Trade Federation have pledged their support. When their Battle Droids are combined with yours, we shall have an army greater than anything in the galaxy, The Jedi will be overwhelmed. The Republic will agree to any demands me make.

Passel Argente, the Corporate Alliance Representative, stands up. " I am authorized by the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty."

Count Dooku smirks a smirk very similar to Anakin's, who he had learned from Qui-gon, and this man appeared to be the original creator "We are most grateful for your cooperation, Chairman." Dooku's grin had brought a grief back to Obi-Wan, one he had long tried to reprieve. Shu Mai, the Commerce Guild Representative stands as well. " The Commerce Guilds do not at this time wish to become openly involved, But we shall support you in secret - and look forward to doing business with you."

There are chuckles around the table. Count Dooku smiles. "That is all we ask." San Hill, the banker, looks awkwardly around before rising to his feet "

The Intergalactic Banking Clan will support you wholeheartedly, but only in a non-exclusive arrangement." Wat Tambor rises to feet with a sly tug of the lips "The Techno Unions are at your disposal, Count." Obi-Wan pulls back from the archway.

On Tatooine, a shadow who was once a young man, wanders through the sand on a full moon night. This night is Anakin's first true taste of the darkside.

Anakin pulls up near the edge of a cliff. He gets off the bike and creeps to the edge. He looks over to see a Tusken camp in the oasis below. One of the huts at the edge of the camp has two Tusken guards outside it. Anakin drops off the edge of the cliff to the camp belo

Anakin creeps through the camp, working his way from hut to hut, flattening himself against the walls overhearing snatches of Tusken conversation from inside, using the

shadows to hide him until he arrives at the hut with the two guards. They are sitting a short distance from the door. Anakin wriggles around the back. He takes out his

lightsaber and cuts into the base of the wall. The lightsaber completes the hole in the wall. Anakin wriggles in. He pulls himself to his feet. There are

candles everywhere. A shaft of moonlight from a hole in the roof pierces the gloom of the hut. By its light, Anakin sees Shmi hanging

from a wooden frame in the middle of the hut. He cuts her free, takes her into his arms, and lowers her gently to the ground. Her eyes are closed. Her face is

bloodied. She has been terribly beaten. Anakin cradles her tenderly. "Mom... Mom... Mom..." Shmi's eyelids flutter - and barely open. They are caked

with blood. She asks timidly "Ani...? Is it you...?" Shmi's eyes focus slowly. Anakin gives a little choking gasp. " I'm here, Mom. You're safe. Hang on. I'm going to

get you out of here..." Shmi looks at him and places a palm to his cheek "Ani? Ani? You look so handsome. My son... my grown-up son. I'm so proud of you, Ani... so proud... I missed you so much... Now... I am complete." Anakin frowns " Just stay with me, Mom. I'm going to make you well again. Everything's... going to be fine. Mom you remember Padme, we're together mom, and I want to ask her to marry me, I want to have kids mom, But I need to stay with me mom, I can't do it without you." Shmi stares at him lovingly " Ani, you'll... do... fine, I ... Love...I... love.. yo..." And in the darkest moment, Shmi dies in the arms of her son. Anakin draws her to his breast. There is silence for a moment. Anakin lifts his head, listening for a moment, then he sits on the floor of the Tusken hut, cradling his dead mother in his arms. he cries in her shoulder blade, and she is still warm, and Anakin feels like he is dreaming. ( No this isn't Real... Tell me it can't be real... I ... No, Please I need her, I need my mom) And moments more, he lays there in tears whispering " Come back mom, please come back." In a moment of absolution, Gone is Anakin Skywalker, the slave, the jedi, the lover, Replaced with the birth of Lord Vader...

The pale light grows. Thin tendrils of smoke rise slowly in the cold, clear air. Somewhere a dog barks. An old woman comes out of one of the huts. She carries a pail. She

swirls it and tosses the dirty water onto the ground. As she goes back inside the hut, a Tusken Child runs past, dragging a stick in the sand. The child runs through the

line of huts, turns a corner, and stops suddenly, staring at the two Tuskem guards. Between them, Anakin stands outside the hut door. His face is a grim mask. the anger shown in his eyes shows that he will never again be the man that he once was. The child stares, then there is a flash of light as Anakin's ightsaber switches on. He immediately kills the two tuskens guarding the door of the hut, and makes his way toward the others.

Yoda meditates and suddenly hears a familiar voice, as if from a great distance. It is the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn, filled with alarm. "No, Anakin! No! Don't! No!"

Mace Windu enters the room and sits down. Yoda opens his eyes and looks to Mace. " What is it?" Yoda stares at him, gravely "Pain. Suffering. Death, I feel. Something terrible has happened. Young Skywalker is in pain. Terrible pain."

Obi-Wan examines the transmitter dish and speaks with Arfour. " The transmitter is working, but we're not

receiving a return signal. Coruscant's too far. Arfour, can you boost the power?"

Arfour beeps a reply. Obi-Wan frowns looking at sabe "We'll have to try something else."Obi-Wan jumps into the cockpit. Sabe grins and swat's his butt " Watch it big boy, you could have sat on me." He grins " You would have liked it, anyways, besides Maybe we can contact Anakin on Naboo. It's much closer. Anakin, Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin? He's not on Naboo, Arfour. I'm going to try and widen the search. I hope nothing's happened to him.

Obi-Wan and Sabe sit in the Starfighter cockpit looking at a display. A Geonosian spies Obi-Wan and his Starfighter from an overlooking cliff. "That's Anakin's tracking signal all right, but it's coming from Tatooine. What in the blazes is he doing there? I told him to stay on Naboo." Obi-Wanexits the cockpit and jumps down to the ground. He speaks to Arfour. "All right. We're all set. We haven't much time. Anakin? Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi." He turns to Sabe " I have a bad feeling, hurry go to Tatooine and I repeat, follow his tracking signal, you need to get out of here."

In the ship, Artoo beep as he receives the message. " Record this message and take it to your mistress, Padmé... and the Jedi Skywalker... "Anakin, my

long range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant." Artoo dutifully listens to the desperate message. Obi-Wan's

voice cuts out. Artoo whistles in dismay.

Anakin rides the speeder bike toward the homestead. Shmi's body is tied to it. Owen, followed by Beru and Padme, comes out of the homestead to meet Anakin. Threepio follows and Cliegg hobbles out of the homestead on his hovering chair. Anakin arrives. They run to him as he steps away from the bike, carrying ShmiI. He stops, face-to-face with Cliegg.The look on Anakin's face tell a story, a story of a man who fell in love with the things around him, and then one day those things were viciously ripped from his waiting arms. That is the story of Anakin Skywalker, the man who would one day become Darth Vader, dark lord of th sith. There is a brief pause. Then he carries Shmi into the homestead.

As Padme prepares some food for Anakin, Beru helps her. Padme' s thoughts linger on her beloved, who now sits in the garage angrily awaiting her, knowing that she will come. That then he will rush into her arms and cry, cry with the one person, who he can show his feelings to. The one person that he will one day call his wife. Padme knows they will marry, he told her that a long time ago /I'm going to marry you/ She had laughed and said /I am sorry Anakin but I cannot marry you, you are just a little boy/ He had stared at her intensely /I won't always be/ How true that remark had been. Her thoughts are interrupted as Beru asks "What's it like there?" Padme stares at her " I'm sorry?" Beru looks at her " On Naboo... What's it like?" Padme is completely preoccupied with her concern for Anakin, but she does her best to reply. "Oh - It's... very green. With lots of water. And trees. Not like here at all."She takes out a tray and starts to put food on it. Beru laughs " I think I like it here better." Padme frowns ": Maybe you'll come and see it one day." Beru says quietly ' I don't think so. I don't like to travel."They finish preparing the tray. Padme smiles "Thanks, Beru." Beru grins " hey no problem, we are pratically family." Padme goes out.

Padme comes in with a tray of food. Anakin is standing at a workbench, repairing a part of the speeder bike. He never looks around, he knew she would come " Go Away Padme." Padme never stops " I brought you something. Are you hungry?" Anakin looks at her when she's not looking "No, leave me, my love" padme however does not and puts the tray down. Anakin's voice is pasive, there is no life, just a dead voice " The shifter broke. Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things. I'm good at fixing things... always was. But I couldn't... (stops working, tears in his eyes, His voice becomes sad and angry) Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have!" Padme looks at him " Sometimes there are things no one can fix. You're not all-powerful, Ani." Anakin turns and walks away from the bench. His anger begins to take a hold of him, Padme becomes a little frightened "I should be! Someday I will be... I will be the most powerful Jedi ever! I promise you, I will even

learn to stop people from dying." Padme tries to be comforting "Anakin..." Anakin interrupts furious " It's all Obi-Wan's fault. He's jealous! He knows I'm already more powerful than he is. He's holding me back!" Anakin hurls the wrench across the garage and it comes very nearly close to Padme. It CLATTERS to the floor. He looks at his trembling hands. Padme stares at him, shocked. "Ani, what's wrong?" she asks tenatively. He becomes very broken, his voice cracks :" I... I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them..." Anakin focuses on her like someone returning from far away. His voice becomes darker and pain stricken " Not just the men, but the women and the children too. They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals... I hate them!" There is silence for a moment, then Anakin breaks down,

sobbing. Padme takes him into her arms. His sobs become very agonized "Why do I hate them? Padme I didn't... I couldn't... I couldn't control myself. I... I don't want to hate them... But I just can't forgive them." She looks at sadly as rationalizing his actions " Honey. To be angry is to be human." He looks at her fearfully " To control your anger is to be a Jedi." That's it, he's afraid that she and the Jedi will abandon him, and that is not so. " Ssshhh... you're human. Anakin I love you, all of you, even this, this darkness you have and we can work through it, because I'll be there for you." He shakes his head, scared " No, I'm a Jedi. I know I'm better than this. I'm

sorry, I'm so sorry!" Padme shakes her head "You're like everyone else..." Yet Anakin is lost in his own tide of emotions, emotions that are tearing him apart, condemning him to his own fears. Padme rocks him, and Anakin weeps. He weeps for his inabilities, for his darkside, but most importantly he weeps for the woman who raised, his mother.

Anakin, Padme, Cliegg, Owen, Beru, and Threepio are standing around Shmi's grave. Two other headstones, one

smaller than the other, stand in the blazing suns. Anakin's head is lying on Padme's breats and he is crying. Owen himself has tears in eyes. Anakin is having his hair stroked by Padme and she lightly lays kisses on his head. Cleigg is giving a sort of eulogy " I know wherever you are it's become a better place.

You were the most loving partner a man could ever have. Goodbye, my dearest wife. And thank you." Padme is lead by the hand of Anakin and they both kneel on her grave.Brief pause. Anakin picks up a handful of sand " Mom, you remember Padme, what I told you was true, I do love her. You once told me that she would one day love me as much as I love her. Well it seems it was true. I wasn't strong enough to save you, Mom. I wasn't strong enough. But I promise I won't fail again... (he

stands up) I miss you so much." Padme nods and says to the grave " Your son is wondeful person, I am glad you brought him in my life."Silence. Then beeps and whistles are heard. They turn as Artoo rolls up, behind is Sabe standing with a worried expression. Padme stares at the two of them " Sabe, Artoo, what are you doing here?"

AHahahaah Cliffie... Muwaahahhahahaha. Sorry I know cliffies are worse than Sith lords in Pink Tutus, but i had to do it, the chappie was long enough already. Anyways as for the whole death issues, i put alot more emotion in that. Yesterday I had to go to my uncle's funeral, so I can sympathize with Anakin. But my uncle's in heaven so I don't worry as much. He wouldn't have wanted me too, he always told me about god so I can't help but be happy and sad at the same time. If you aren't christian i hope my talk of god doesn;t bother. Personally I am a jesus freak, i may be strange but i'll never change.

So I wonder how hard it will be for sabe to figure out Padme/ Anakin's relationship?

Bye people.