Thank you for all of your wonderful reviews! Here is the next chapter!

The Shadowy Phantom: Thank you so much! I'm really glad you like the imagery.

Black's Phoenix: Yeah, I didn't want Anakin to show being turned to the Dark Side. After this story, I'll be putting up an entirely AU story between this one and ROTS, which will be also very AU. After that, I think I'll do another sequel to that, if people like it.

Archer Yi: Why thank you! I've only read one other story where Star Wars mixes with the X-Men, but I think more people should do crossovers with them, they're such great sagas and compliment each other. Thanks for the review!

Chapter 9 (I'm bothering to do the disclaimer, I already know what I don't own, so why get myself depressed over nothing?)

Obi-Wan examined the transmitter dish and spoke with Arfour, while Serena came out of the ship, her hair up. "The transmitter is working, but we're not receiving a return signal," he told her. "Coruscant's too far. Arfour, can you boost the power?"

Arfour beeped a reply, and Serena sighed.

"We'll have to try something else," Obi-Wan replied, and raced into the cockpit, Serena darting after him.

"Maybe we can contact Anakin on Naboo," he said, sitting in the pilot's seat. "It's much closer. Anakin, Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin?" There was nothing, only static. "He's not on Naboo," he said. "I'm going to try and widen the range." She nodded, studying him. He sighed. "I do hope nothing's happened to him."

"I'm sure he can take care of himself, F.E.," she replied, "Don't worry about him. I'm sure he had his reasons for leaving, whatever they may be."

He smiled. "Always the optimistic one, aren't you?" he teased. She blushed.

As they sat in the Starfighter cockpit looking at a display, a Geonosiam spied the Starfighter from an overlooking cliff.

Suddenly the tracking signal began to beep, and Obi-Wan looked at it hard. "That's Anakin's tracking signal all right, but it's coming from Tatooine!" he said. "What in the blazes is he doing there? I told him to stay on Naboo," he chastised, and exited the cockpit and jumped down to the ground. He spoke to Arfour, and Serena came out of the Starfighter and looked at him.

"All right. We're all set," Obi-Wan said. "We haven't much time." He looked around him warily, hearing a noise, and Serena became anxious and looked around her, trying to sense a presence nearby.

"Anakin? Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

In the Naboo ship, Artoo beeped as he received the message. "Record this message and take it to your mistress, Padmé..." he said, "and the Jedi Skywalker... 'Anakin, my long range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant.'"

Artoo dutifully listened to the desperate message, but Obi-Wan's voice cut out. Artoo whistled in dismay.

Anakin rode the speeder bike toward the homestead, Shmi's body in his arms. Owen, followed by Beru and Padme, came out of the homestead to meet him, with Threepio following. Cliegg hobbled out of the homestead on his hovering chair as Anakin arrived. They ran to him as he stepped away from the bike, carrying an unconscious Shmi. He stopped, face-to-face with Cliegg, who sighed in relief. There was a brief pause, then Anakin carried Shmi into the homestead.

Padme prepared some food for Anakin and medicine for Shmi, and Beru helped her. "What's it like there?" Beru asked.

"I'm sorry?"

"On Naboo... What's it like?"

Poor Padme was completely preoccupied with her concern for Shmi and Anakin, but she did her best to reply. "Oh - It's... very green. With lots of water. And trees. Not like here at all." It's way too dry here for my liking. She took out a tray and started to put food on it.

"I think I like it here better," Beru put in.

"Maybe you'll come and see it one day," Padme suggested, putting some water on the tray.

Beru shook her head. "I don't think so. I don't like to travel."

They finished preparing the tray and Padme smiled. "Thanks, Beru." With that she went out.

Padme came into the bedroom with a tray of food. Anakin was sitting by his mother's bed, wiping blood off her face.

"I brought you something," Padme spoke up. "Are you hungry?" She put the tray down.

Anakin sighed and wiped some sweat off his forehead. "Yeah... thanks," he replied gratefully, glancing at her.

She pulled up a chair and sat down, facing him across from the bed. She looked at Shmi, who was sleeping peacefully. "I'm so glad you found her," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without my mom. She's always been there for me."

Anakin smiled. "I think my mom would like yours," he said. "They're a lot alike, in many ways."

"One is they're always worrying about their children," Padme grinned, and handed some water to Anakin.

He thanked her and drank it all down in a few gulps. "Ahh..." he swallowed the last sip, "That was refreshing." He looked back at his mother. "I wonder when she'll wake up," he remarked.

"Probably soon," Padme replied.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, watching Shmi sleep. Suddenly Shmi moved, groaned a little bit, and slowly opened her eyes, and focused on a beaming Anakin. "Annie?" She said, "What happened?"

"It's all right, mom," he reassured her, "You're safely home now. Everything's going to be fine."

She smiled. "Thank you so much for coming after me, Anakin," she said slowly, "I might have died if you didn't come." She noticed Padme watching her. "I recognize you," she stated.

Padme nodded. "I'm the handmaiden who came with the Jedi ten years ago," she responded, "Padme."

Shmi smiled again. "Oh yes, it is wonderful to see you again. How are you? What have you been doing? Still serving the queen?"

Padme shook her head. "No, actually, I'm a Senator, and your son is on a mission to protect me."

"Protect you?" Shmi was puzzled. "From what?"

Anakin cleared his throat. "There have been numerous attempts to murder the Senator, while we were in Coruscant," he told her, "So the Council sent us on a mission to try and hide from the assassins, while my master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padme's cousin, Master Serena Naberrie, find the people behind these attacks."

"But why hide here?" Shmi questioned. "Tatooine isn't very safe."

"Well, we were hiding on my home planet, Naboo," Padme spoke up, "but then Anakin had a nightmare and we came here to rescue you."

Shmi nodded. "And I am grateful for putting your life at risk for me, Senator," she replied.

"Well as long as you're safe, then we don't have to worry anymore," Anakin said.

Suddenly beeps and whistles were heard coming towards the doorway. They turned as Artoo rolled into the room.

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

Artoo beeped and whistle frantically, and Anakin paled. Padme turned to him to ask him what Artoo was saying. "Anakin, what is it? You look like you've seen a Sith!" she exclaimed.

"Something's happened to Obi-Wan," he said shakily, "Come on!" he raced out of the room, and Padme glanced at Shmi, who motioned for her to follow him, and darted after Anakin. Artoo whistled: Wait for me!

Once back inside the ship, a rough hologram of Obi-Wan and Serena was projected in front of Anakin and Padme, and they watched the flickering image. "Anakin, my long range transmitter has been knocked out," Obi-Wan said, "Retransmit this message to Coruscant."

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

Inside the Chancellor's office, the Jedi council and some senate members watched the message as well. "We have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries on Geonosis," Obi-Wan said. "The Trade Federation is to take taking delivery of a droid army here and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray..."

Anakin and Padme continued to listen. "...is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala." Padme's eyes flashed angrily at this statement.

The Council members continued to listen to Obi-Wan. "The Commerce Guilds and Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a... Wait!... Wait!"

Anakin and Padme watched as Obi-Wan was attacked by Droidekas. It showed Serena trying to crush the droids, but suddenly crumpled to the ground as a needle was put into her shoulder from behind by a Geonosian. The hologram cut off, and Anakin jumped up, agitated. Padme was horrified at what had happened, and stood stock still, not believing what had taken place.

Well, that chapter's over. Another one will come up more quickly... with some more wonderful reviews! Thank you!