Ben had managed to sneak into Dooku's fortress the same way he did last time. He hid behind the same archway like last time awaiting Dooku and his cronies. He already knew about the droid factory and didn't need to see it again. He suddenly began to hear footsteps coming towards him: the Separatist Council.
"We must persuade the commerce guild and corporate alliance to sign the treaty." Ben heard Dooku's baritone voice.
"What about the Senator from Naboo? Is she dead yet?" Nute Gunray asked. "I'm not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk." The Nemoidian said firmly. Ben already knew that the Viceroy was responsible for putting the contract on Padmé.
"I am a man of my word viceroy." Dooku assured Gunray.
"With these new battle droids we have built for you, you'll have the finest army in the Galaxy." Wat Tambor said.
The council walked past Ben. Ben went back up the stairs where that looked above their conference room.
"As I explained earlier to you, I am quite convinced that ten thousand more star systems will rally to our cause with your support gentlemen." Dooku told them as he sat at the head of the table.
"What you are proposing could be considered as Treason." Shu Mai, the Presidente of the Commerce Guild said sounding concerned.
"The Techno Union Army is at your disposal, Count." Tambor declared.
"Than Banking Clan will sign your treaty." San Hill declared.
"Good, very good." Dooku said sounding very pleased. "Our friends from the Trade Federation have pledged their support and when their Battle Droids are combined with yours we shall have an army greater than any in the Galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed. The Republic will agree with any demands we make." Dooku said.
Ben began to wonder just how much did Dooku really know about Palpatine's plan. He nixed those thoughts and instead began to try and find a place to contact Anakin and tell him to inform the Council about his findings on Geonosis.
Back on Tatooine, Padmé was with the Lars family waiting for Anakin. Everyone was nervous on whether Anakin and Shmi were alive and well in once piece. They should've been back by now. They looked at the horizon and noticed a speederbike coming their way. They knew who it was: Anakin. He drove the bike towards them and stopped it a couple of meters away from them. He got out of the bike and went to the back seat where they saw Shmi alive. She looked a little bruised, but alive nonetheless. He picked her up in a bridal carry and headed towards them with a smile on his face.
Padmé looked at him and felt content knowing that he saved his mother. She began to feel her eyes moisten.
"I don't know how I can ever repay you, boy." Cliegg said with tears dripping down his eyes out of joy and relief.
"For starters, I'd let her rest and call a doctor over here as soon as you can." Anakin told his stepfather.
"I will." Cliegg said.
Anakin handed over Shmi to his stepbrother remembering what his mother had told him. Owen gave a confused glance at Anakin, which Anakin replied with an understanding look. The Lars family headed towards the farmhouse.
Anakin stayed with Padmé.
"I'm very happy for you Anakin." She said.
"Thank you." Anakin said. "There's something I need to tell you about." Anakin told her nervously.
"What?" Padmé asked.
"I think… I think… No, Padmé." Anakin said before taking a deep breath. "I have feelings for you. I still do." Anakin told her.
He looked at her completely flabbergasted face. He could feel many emotions coming from her. Amongst them were fear and a sense of relief. It was there that Anakin realized that Padmé returned his feelings towards her.
"I…I don't know what to say?" She stuttered.
"I know." He said trying to relieve her.
"If we do this it won't end well. You're a Jedi and I'm a Senator. It'll destroy us." She told him.
Anakin looked at her. Maybe she was right it shouldn't happen, but even then they both knew it was too tempting.
They looked in each others' eyes thinking about what to do before Threepio came out.
"Hello, Master Ani and Senator Amidala! I believe you should come inside!" The protocol droid said.
Anakin and Padmé both followed the droid to the farmhouse and went to the living room where the Lars were. Shmi was resting on the couch. Padmé went over to her.
"What were you two talking about?" Beru asked glancing at them.
"Nothing." Padmé said quickly dodging the question.
Anakin felt a little disheartened when she said that, but he knew that it was inevitable for their conversation to return.
Suddenly, Anakin's communicator began to go off.
"Obi-Wan." He thought to himself.
He turned it on and a hologram of Obi-Wan broadcasted.
"Obi-Wan what is it?" Anakin asked concerned.
"Anakin, I'm at a Geonosian droid foundry. I learned the identity of the man who put the bounty on Senator Amidala's head." Ben said quietly as possible.
It was clear to Anakin that Obi-Wan was trying not to gather attention.
"Who?" Padmé asked.
"Nute Gunray." Ben told them.
Anakin and Padmé both looked at each other not surprised in the least.
"What else?" Anakin asked.
"He's working with Count Dooku. The Trade Federation, the Banking Clan, the Commerce Guild, the Techno Guild, and the Geonosians are all working together. They've built a massive droid army here and plan to threaten the Republic with droids from the Trade Federation." Ben replied.
Anakin and Padmé were in shock. Even Shmi and the Lars family had a look of surprise and dread, even though they weren't Republic Citizens.
"I don't know if I'll be able to contact the Council from Tatooine. I don't have my ship with me remember." Anakin told him.
"Blast!" Ben muttered. He just remembered that Anakin and Padmé got to Tatooine differently than last time.
"Master Kenobi, if I may be so bold, is it alright if I contact our doubles to bring my ship and Artoo to Tatooine?" Padmé asked for permission.
"Yes, do it as quickly as you can." Ben told them.
"Wait, Obi-Wan would you be willing to hold for a couple of minutes?" Anakin asked.
"Now is not the time, but sure." Ben replied peaking out of where he was hiding.
"Thank you. I rescued my mother, she's alive thanks to you." Anakin said gratefully.
Ben sensed Anakin as being truly happy. It was probably the happiest Anakin had ever been since he knew him. He started to feel gratified for causing such a moment in his pupil's life.
"You're welcome Anakin." Ben said. "I'm glad to hear she is safe." He said.
Suddenly, Ben looked away from Anakin.
"Oh no…" He muttered as he pulled his lightsaber out as a series of plasma bolts were fired at him.
The communication was cut off.
"Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan!" Anakin called out and received no answer.
"I must've blacked out." Ben thought as he looked around the surrounding area.
He was in the same room and containment field he was in the last time he got captured. He didn't need to turn his head the field slowly spun him around the room and allowed him to see it in full view.
Suddenly, he heard the door open and out came Count Dooku with a worried look on his face. Ben knew that it wasn't a complete front considering how he knew what would happen next.
"Traitor." He accused Dooku remembering what he called him during the last timeline.
"Oh no my friend. This is a mistake! A terrible mistake, they've gone too far! This is madness!" Dooku lied.
"I thought you were the leader here Dooku." Ben said.
"This had nothing to do with me. I assure you." Dooku said. "I will petition immediately to have you set free." He declared.
"Well I hope it doesn't take you long. I have work to do." Ben replied sarcastically.
"May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?" Dooku asked.
"I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett." Ben told the Sith Lord. "Do you know him?" He asked. He knew the answer of course, but didn't want to gain even more of Dooku's suspicion.
"There are no bounty hunters here that I'm aware of." Dooku feigned ignorance. "The Geonosians don't trust them." He said.
"Well who can blame them? But he is here I can assure you." Ben said playing along.
"It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you. I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now." Dooku lamented. Ben could sense that Dooku was actually being honest.
"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you." Ben said. It was more of a stealth insult. While he knew his master would agree with Dooku politically, he knew his old master wouldn't join the Sith.
"Don't be so sure, young Jedi." Dooku warned Ben. "You forget that he was once my apprentice as he was once you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the senate and he would never go along with it if he had learned the truth as I have." Dooku said.
"The truth?" Ben asked feigning ignorance.
"The truth…" Dooku said pausing and looking at Ben. "What if I had told you that the Republic was under the control of the dark Lord of the Sith?" Dooku said.
"No! That's not possible! The Jedi would be aware of it!" Ben repeated the words he had said to Dooku in his timeline.
"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision my friend. Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious." Dooku said.
Ben was still amazed at how arrogant he must've been in the past to think what Dooku told him were all lies. Every word that Dooku had just said was all correct, but he didn't want to let Dooku onto his secret.
"I don't believe you." Ben told the Count.
"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious, but he was betrayed ten years ago by the Dark Lord. He came to me for help and told me everything. You must join me Obi-Wan and together we will destroy the Sith." Dooku said.
"I will never join you Dooku." Ben told him.
Dooku looked forlornly and began to head towards the door.
"It maybe difficult to secure your release." Dooku told Ben. Ben of course knew he was going to actually have him executed by wild animals.
His only hope now was for Rhys and Dané to relay Padmé's ship to Tatooine in time.
It took at least an hour, but Padmé's J-type 327 Nubian royal starship had arrived on Tatooine. Apparently, the two doubles had to stay on Naboo to not raise any suspicion regarding the Senator's true location so they had to put the ship on autopilot to the coordinates Padmé sent. Although, the ship did have a passenger: R2-D2.
Once the ramp to enter the ship lowered, Anakin was the first one in and began to relay the information Obi-Wan had told him. He activated the transmitter to the Temple and Yoda appeared.
"Skywalker, sense you are concerned, I do?" Yoda asked. "Your mother, safe is she?" He asked showing concern that surprised Anakin.
"She's alive, but I'm not here to call you about my mother. It's Obi-Wan he's on Geonosis and discovered something bad." Anakin said.
"Master Kenobi, discovered what has?" Yoda asked.
He played the conversation he had with Obi-Wan from the farmhouse.
"Troubling this is." Yoda contemplated having just heard his former padawan is planning to extort the Republic. Not to mention having one of their own captured.
"What are we going to do?" Anakin asked nervously.
"I shall bring in a task force of two hundred Jedi to Geonosis and rescue Obi-Wan." Mace Windu said. "Master Yoda will go to Kamino and gather the Clone Army for assistance." He said.
"Clone Army?" Anakin asked not familiar with that last part.
Windu and Yoda looked at each other, apparently Obi-Wan didn't tell Skywalker about his discovery on Kamino.
"During his investigation, Master Kenobi discovered an army created to defend the Republic." Windu explained. "We'll explain that later just stay here and keep Senator Amidala safe." He ordered.
"Understood. May the force be with you." Anakin said.
He turned to look at Padmé who had a look of disappointment on her face.
"What?" Anakin asked sheepishly.
"I can't believe you're just going to sit here?" Padmé said dumbfounded.
"Obi-Wan would've wanted me to protect you. I have full confidence in Master Windu and whoever he choses." Anakin said.
Before Padmé could protest a knock was heard coming from the door. Padmé opened the ramp and revealing Shmi and C-3PO.
"Shmi! You're up." Padmé said feeling relieved.
"Yes." Shmi simply said. "Anakin, before you go I would like you to take C-3PO." She said offering the droid.
"Excuse me?" Threepio asked completely dumbfounded.
"We're not leaving yet, Mom." Anakin said.
"Yes we are." Padmé declared.
Anakin shot the senator a frown that said "Really, now?!"
"Well whenever you leave, I'd like you to take Threepio. He's not in his best condition and there isn't really much he can do here. I have all the help I need now." Shmi said.
"That is no reason to be mean, Mistress Shmi." Threepio whined.
"I'm sorry Threepio." Shmi apologized
"I appreciate the gesture, but you know Jedi aren't allowed to have possessions." Anakin told her. It'd be nice to have Threepio back, but he knew it was forbidden for Jedi to have possessions.
"Then bring him to the temple, I'm sure they might need a protocol droid." Shmi said.
"Maybe." Anakin pondered.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, but if the temple won't take him in I can." Padmé said. "You never know how useful a protocol droid can be in my field of work." She said.
"Thank you dear." Shmi said. She then hugged Anakin and said goodbye.
"I'm not leaving yet, Mom." Anakin reminded her.
"I know, but I think you might change your mind soon." Shmi said as she walked off the ramp.
Anakin turned towards Padmé who was at the console.
"You're staying here." He declared.
"Your mission is to keep me safe, correct?" She asked.
"Yes." Anakin replied.
"No matter where we are, correct?"
"Yeah…" Anakin said not liking where this was going.
"Well I'm going to Geonosis by myself and there is nothing you can do to stop me. So I guess you'll have to come with me." She declared giving a stubborn frown.
Anakin realized that he wasn't going to win this argument.
"Just let me say a proper goodbye to my mother before we leave." Anakin said.
"Go ahead." Padmé said dropping the frown and replacing it with a more comforting look.
Anakin ran down the ramp towards his mother and tapped her shoulder. She turned around and Anakin hugged her.
"Goodbye, mom." He said. "Keep safe."
"I will." She said. "Goodbye my son, and remember to make us proud. Also, give Obi-Wan my thanks." Shmi said.
Anakin let go and ran towards the starship. The ramp closed as he looked at his mother for what possibly could be the last time. Only this time he felt a sense of closure.
The ship took off and Shmi watched her son and the girl he had feelings head towards Geonosis. Tears stemmed from here eyes before she went to her home. She too felt a sense of closure, but she wasn't so sure this would be the last time they'd see each other again. After all, that's what she thought ten years ago was.
That's it, tell me what you think. Also, I have bad news; this will be the last chapter I post before I go back to school in two days. I promise to try my best to juggle classwork and writing this story. So expect the frequency of new chapters to lengthen. Next chapter will most likely involve the droid factory scene. Until then, I wish you all a happy Martin Luther King Day, and may the force be with you.
