OK, here's the next chapter. Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Black's Phoenix: Thank you for your review, I'm glad you liked the rewrite of the chapter. I added that little bit with Padme in there, though I think it was actually in the original script!

Chiara Sholuk: Thanks for your very nice review!

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Chapter 8

Obi-Wan and Serena arrived at the head of the trail, where far below, a flat plain stretched into the distance. Serena stopped, peering into the darkness, where strange shapes loomed indistinctly.

Obi-Wan took a pair of electronic binoculars from his belt and put them to his eyes, while Serena continued to stare hard at the shapes. He saw a cluster of great towers like fantastic stalagmites rising from the plain below. "There's some large buildings down there, Serena," he observed.

"Must be where Jango's hiding," she replied.

He slowly panned with the binoculars, and suddenly a line of Battle Starships came into view. Obi-Wan touched the viewfinder, halting. Between fifty and a hundred Federation Starships were lined in neat rows. Some were on platforms that were carrying the Starships down to an underground facility; other platforms were rising to the surface. They carried thousands of battle droids that stepped off and filed into waiting ships, and a fully loaded Starship took off.

Obi-Wan swung the binoculars upward, to see more Trade Federation Starships.

"Well, it appears that the Federation has increased their army," he told Serena, and handed her the binoculars. She looked through them for a minute and handed them back to Obi-Wan.

"I'd say there's more to this than we thought," she replied grimly, liking less and less of the mission.

He nodded, and they set off again. Light grew on the clustering tower of fantastic stalagmites, and Obi-Wan and Serena sneaked up to the main one. He halted and said mentally, Serena, I need you to make me invisible, only for a second.

She nodded and made him invisible, even though it was a bit of a strain. He climbed up the side of the tower to a small window-like opening, looked around quickly, and then motioned for Serena to follow him. She nodded again and climbed up after him.

They made their way along a narrow, pillared corridor, and came to what looked like a large open well or vent shaft. They looks down and saw a huge underground facility below. In one area, machines were constructing battle droids; In another area, completed droids were moving along a conveyor belt. Geonosis workers, with no wings, droned away at the assembly line.

"More of the army," Serena whispered to Obi-Wan, and he nodded in return. They arrived at a vast expanse in the stalagmite interior, where there were immense pillars, soaring Gaudi-Gothic arches, and vaulted roofs. The huge space was deserted – completely silent.

Serena was uneasy as they started to cross the square. I don't like this one little bit, Obi-Wan, she said to him. It's too quiet. Way too quiet.

I quite agree. Something isn't right here. We'll just have to keep on the lookout. Are we still invisible?

Yes, but in here our feet make too much noise. Someone would definitely hear us, or smell us, for sure.

Well, let's go for it. Come on.

Together they started to cross the square, but suddenly they heard voices. He darted behind a pillar and pulled Serena next to him as Poggle the Lesser(Archduke of Geonosis), his aide, Sun Fac, Count Dooku and Nute Gunray approached, closely followed by Passel Argente and Wat Tambor.

Count Dooku was tall, elderly, and saturnine, with beautiful manners. Both the Jedi flattened themselves against the pillar as they passed by. Serena was afraid that Dooku would sense them if she tried to make them invisible, since every time she used her powers, they were extremely easy to hear in the Force.

"Now, we must persuade the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty," Dooku began.

"What about the Senator from Naboo? Is she dead yet?" Nute's slimy voice spoke up. "I'm not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk." Serena stiffened.

"I am a man of my word, Viceroy," the Count replied.

Wat Tambor spoke up in a droidish tone. "With these new Battle Droids we've built for you, Viceroy, you'll have the finest army in the galaxy," he bragged.

We'll see about that, Serena gloated as they moved out of earshot. Obi-Wan peered around the pillar to see them going through an archway on the far side of the courtyard, where there was a flight of stairs beside it.

"Come on," he whispered, and darted for the stairs. She followed him quickly. Obi-Wan and Serena arrived at the stairs and sneaked up them, to arrive at a narrow gothic archway. They looked down through it, silent.

Poggle and his two aides were at one end of a large round conference table, with Dooku at the head, and Jango standing behind his chair.

"Now is the time, my friends," Dooku said. "This is the moment when you have to decide between the Republic or the Confederacy of Independent Systems."

In addition to the original group, there were also three opposition senators: Po Nudo, Tessek, and Toonbuck Tora, and a commerce guild dignitary; Shu Mai, and a member of the intergalactic bank clan, San Hill.

"As I explained to you earlier, I'm quite convinced that ten thousand more systems will rally to our cause with your support, gentlemen," Dooku continued, "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."

Serena snorted, and was silenced by a look from Obi-Wan.

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

Dooku nodded. "We are most grateful for your cooperation, Chairman."

Next was Shu Mai, the Commerce Guild Representative. "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," he grinned.

There were chuckles around the table, and Count Dooku smiled. "That is all we ask," he replied kindly, well, sort of kindly.

After him was San Hill, the banker. "The Intergalactic Banking Clan will support you
wholeheartedly, but only in a non-exclusive arrangement," he said. "Their banking clan will sign your treaty."

"Good, very good," Dooku said. "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 we make."

Lastly, Wat Tambor, the Techno Union representative stood. "The Techno Unions are at your disposal, Count," he said.

Obi-Wan and Serena pulled back from the archway.

Anakin pulled up near the edge of a cliff, got off the bike and creeped to the edge. He looked over to see a Tusken camp in the oasis below. One of the huts at the edge of the camp had two Tusken guards outside it, which Anakin knew had to be where his mother was. He dropped off the edge of the cliff to the camp below.

He creeped 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 arrived at the hut with the two guards, who were sitting a short distance from the door. Anakin wriggled around the back, took out his lightsaber and cut into the base of the wall. The lightsaber completed the hole in the wall. Anakin wriggled in and pulled himself to his feet. There were
candles everywhere.

A shaft of moonlight from a hole in the roof pierced the gloom of the hut. By its light, Anakin saw Shmi hanging from a wooden frame in the middle of the hut. He cut her free, took her into his arms, and lowered her gently to the ground. Her eyes were closed, and her face was bloodied. She had been terribly beaten. Anakin cradled her tenderly. "Mom... Mom... Mom..." he called softly.

Shmi's eyelids fluttered - and barely opened. They were caked with blood. "Annie...?" she said haltingly. "Is it you...?" Her eyes focused slowly, and Anakin gave a little choking gasp. "I'm here, Mom. You're safe. Hang on. I'm going to get you out of here..." he said.

"Annie? Annie?" Shmi continued, looking at him. "You look so handsome. My son... my grown-up son." She touched his face with her hand. "I'm so proud of you, Annie... so proud... I missed you so much... Now... I am complete."

"Just stay with me, Mom," he pleaded. "I'm going to make you well again. Everything's ... going to be fine."

She nodded and dropped her head as she became unconscious. He quickly exited the hut using the hole he had previously cut and stole away towards the speeder bike.

Well, I didn't want to let Shmi die, I thought she was too nice of a character. I ONCE AGAIN DOTH COMMANDE YE TO REVIEW! Thanks!