Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.

AN: Hey everyone! I'm back with the next installment of this already exciting vignette. The Skywalker's and their extended family are about to arrive on Bandomeer. But what awaits them could very well threaten the stability of the Republic and the fate of the galaxy. So, without further ado, here is part 3! Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Shattered Peace: A Forever Destined Vignette

Part 3/?

Padme sighed deeply, as the holocom went dark. She had just finished a session in which she pleaded for relief funding to be sent to Bandomeer. In the end she had got her funding, largely thanks to Bail's help. But it had been ugly getting there.

"The Chair recognizes Senator Skywalker from Naboo..."

The attention turned to Padme's hologram.

"As you all know by now, operatives of the Imperial Underground, commanded by the Sith Lord Darth Tyrannus, have attacked and released some of the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. The Sith apprentice known as Xanatos led a revolt against Agri-Corps. They ruthlessly and senselessly murdered hundreds of innocent people and wounded hundreds more," Padme said, pausing for a moment.

"This year's harvest was completely destroyed and as result, this will cause food shortages for many systems. We must act right away," Padme pleaded.

"It's so nice of you to join us, Senator. Yesterday, your husband insisted that you were ill. But today, you seem none the worse for wear," Xizor said.

"This is not about me. It's about the hundreds of victims on Bandomeer that need our help," Padme replied sternly.

"You are awfully presumptuous in assuming that I would allow you to shirk your duties to the Senate to go on this rescue crusade, especially when I've already sent aide workers and Clones to Bandomeer," Mon said.

"The Jedi are my family and I must do what I can to help," Padme replied.

"You didn't clear this with me...but you will have your funding. However, when you return to Coruscant, we will meet to discuss subsequent disciplinary action. Furthermore, I will be sending Prince Xizor and Senator Organa to oversee the relief effort," Mon said. Padme steeled herself against Mon's glare.

"If helping these innocent people warrants disciplinary action, then so be it," Padme replied.

Padme sighed, knowing it was likely Mon would suspend her when she returned to Coruscant just out of spite. She felt a pair of strong arms encircle her waist, and instantly felt herself calm and leaned back against him.

"Yes...and if she thinks she's going to get away with suspending you, she has another thing coming," Anakin said. Padme turned in his embrace, gazing up at him.

"I really don't care if she does. It wouldn't change my decision to go on this relief mission. I would have gone whether she gave me permission or not," Padme replied. He smiled.

"I know. That's one of the many things I love about you. You stand up for what you believe in," he replied. She smiled back.

"Well, sometimes I'm a lot more afraid than you think, with all the threats it brings. I've always stood up for what I believe in, because it's the right thing to do. But the truth is that before I met you, I didn't really care whether I lived or died; not after what Palo did to me," she said, pausing for a moment.

"But then I met you and my life changed forever. My life had meaning then and it scared me when people would threaten to take me away from you. But I don't give up. My love for you and our children gives me the courage I need to stand up for what's right. And your love gives me the strength I need," she said. He smiled and caressed her face.

"You are the most amazing woman I've ever met and I will love you for eternity," he promised.

"And I you, my love," she replied, with tears in her eyes, as their lips met with tender, smoldering passion.

"Come on. Our ETA is thirty minutes, so we better get ready," he said. She nodded, as they departed for their bedroom to change...

The ramp lowered on the Syrian cruiser, as Anakin landed the ship and cut the engines. His father and grandfather were the first ones down the ramp. They had landed at the relief camp that had already been set up by those arriving before them. Occupied tents stretched across the burnt, smoking soil as far as the eye could see. Anakin and Padme were next down the ramp, as everyone else filed down behind them. The once grand Agri-Corps Temple that should have been seen in the distance was no more. In its place was a massive pile of burning cinders and billowing smoke, some of the wall beams and stabilizers still stood in place, but were burning and quickly joining the pit of wreckage below them. In the far distant mountains, smoke could also been seen wafting from another massive pile of rubble that had once been the Maximum Security Prison, run by the Jedi. Next to Kessel, it had once been the prison with the tightest security imaginable. It was also considered a blessing to those criminals sent there, for the prisoners received much more humane treatment. It was well known that almost no one came out of Kessel alive. But despite their humane treatment in the prison, the convicts quickly rallied together in a conquest to senselessly slaughter massive amounts of innocent people. Men, women, and children, all races and species. No one was spared. There was no discrimination; just genocide on everything living thing present, including all plant life. Agri-Corps supplied its entire sector and many surrounding ones with all or at least some of their food source. People were going to starve, unless they were able to get a massive amount of food into the region. Fortunately, Padme had already contacted the Queen of Naboo and her planet was generously committing all the food, water, and supplies that they could. Alderaan was the same, as was Corellia, and even the partially impoverished Jabiim had donated what they could. Dantooine, Chandrilla, Falleen, and many other systems were slowly following suit. The carnage made Anakin both livid and sick at the same time. Agri-Corps was a staple in Jedi history and culture. It was often poked fun at, as a place where the unwanted or "rejects" were sent. But that's not what Agri-Corps was at all. It was true that those with lower midichlorian counts and less potential were sent there. But the work they did was no less important. They grew and exported food, feeding millions and millions of people. They still practiced at their combat skills and engaged in meditation. And they humbly relied on the guidance of the Force to aide them in their daily lives. They were much respected by most in the Temple on Coruscant, despite how they were portrayed by the skewed view of the media.

"You will not get away with this, Sifo. I will not let your heinous acts go unpunished. To murder your own brethren is treasonous and I will see that you are punished," Anakin heard his grandfather say with carefully controlled grief in his voice. He felt his wife slide her arms around his waist, just as his grandmother was doing the same with his grandfather, offering her comfort to him in this time of despair. He took comfort in Padme's soothing presence, as their children looked on. He never wanted them to see any of this, but at the same time, he knew it was their destiny to help those in need and serve the galaxy, just as it was for himself and Padme. He gauged each of their feelings. He felt anger and sadness from Luke and Leia, mostly sadness and fear from Kimberly. And from Jayden and Jenna as well, though he wasn't sure they yet understood the extremities of the situation

"Be mindful of your feelings. Release your negative emotions into the Force, little ones,"

Anakin communicated through the Force, letting his strong, protective presence soothe his family. They saw Mace and Yoda approach, both with solemn experiences.

"A sad day this is for the Jedi. Much relief work there is to be," Yoda said.

"We're ready to help Masters. Just tell us where you'd like all of us to start," Obi-Wan said.

"Assignments for you we have. Even important jobs we have for the youngest Skywalkers. Traumatized, many of the surviving younglings are. Perhaps your young ones can put them at ease," Yoda said. Anakin and Padme knelt down to their three youngest.

"How about you three go with Master Yoda to the youngling tent and play with some of the other kids," Padme said.

"They really need some friends right now. Can you go help with that?" Anakin asked them. The three children nodded, before hugging their parents tightly.

"Come, come, young ones," Yoda said, tapping his gimmer stick. It was no secret that Yoda loved the younglings and having the elder, yet powerful Master watching over all the young children put them all at ease. Bant and Barriss approached and Mace turned to them.

"We're tending to the many wounded, but we need extra hands. Elana, Shmi, Jobal, Sola, and Padme stepped forward, along with Ryoo and Leia. They left with Bant and Barriss, leaving the men to tend to things with Mace.

The most critical patients had been sent to the hospital unit in the city, including all the burn victims. The rest were being treated in their makeshift medical facility and then once they were stable enough, they were put into medical transports. Medical facilities on Polis Massa, Naboo, Alderaan, Chandrilla and Coruscant were accepting patients, for the hospital on Bandomeer was already filled past maximum capacity. Their makeshift medical facility was the warehouse that used to house all the farming equipment. It had remained untouched, being that it was in the opposite direction from where the fire spread, before it was extinguished by the Clone ship's water bombs. The equipment had been removed and replaced with medical supplies, machines, consoles, bacta tanks, beds, and patients. Blankets made dividers separating patients in a haphazard manner. Padme felt her heart go out to them all. This suffering was all so unnecessary. But she was ready to help.

"Where do you want us, Bant?" she asked.

"Well, we mostly need help with tending to the needs of those we've already patched up. Nurse duties basically. Sola can assist Barriss with some of the minor triage, like she does at home. I'll have the rest of you begin making rounds and then help serve meals to those who can eat. Padme, I have a special job for you and Leia can stay with you if she wishes," Bant said.

"What is it?" Padme asked. Bant sighed.

"Padme, I'm afraid I have several rape victims on my hands. As you know, the prison was home to many who were put there for rape and other heinous acts. Many women were terrorized in the attack. I know you council victims in your spare time. Most are very withdrawn, because the rapes were especially brutal. But I know you know how to talk to them. I'd like their state of mind to improve before I have them moved to one of the med transports. You'll find a file with the description of their individual attacks on the stand outside each of their spaces'. It's Leia's choice on whether she wants to go with you," Bant said. Padme looked down at her daughter.

"It's up to you sweetie," Padme said. Leia clutched her mother's hand.

"I want to help you, mom," she said. Padme smiled at her.

"Okay," Padme said, as Bant pointed to a clustered corner of beds, with blankets as dividers. Padme nodded and headed for the first victim with Leia in tow.

The Clones worked diligently, manning equipment such as cranes to lift away broken beams and chunks of duracrete. They used large, mechanized scooping machines to push all the rubble into mounds of debris. Digging machines were working at creating a place to bury their dead. Agriculture analysts were taking soil samples to determine whether the soil would ever be able to support crops again. The possibility that they could have to relocate Agri-Corps to another farming planet was a very real scenario at the moment. Anakin stood by with his brother, as they help move some of the debris with the Force. With each and every body that was pulled from the rubble, Anakin had to release his emotions into the Force, as did Obi-Wan and the other Jedi around them.

"Can you make any conclusions yet?" Yan asked the female analyst, as she and her team finished collecting soil samples.

"We won't know anything definite until I get these samples back to my lab for testing. But I'm afraid I'm not optimistic about the results. This soil suffered a lot of damage and I estimate that it could be many years before anything will grow here again. I'm sorry. I wish I had better news," she said regrettably.

"Thank you for your sympathies. Please keep me informed with what you find," Yan replied, as she and her team departed for her ship.

Anakin took a long gulp from one of the water canteens and spotted Commander Rex taking a much needed break. Some believed that one Clone soldier was the same as the next. But Anakin knew better, as did most Jedi who had fought alongside them in the Clone Wars. They each had different personalities and skills. Rex was Anakin's favorite and choice as one of the leading battalion Commander's. Rex and his squad were loyal to the Republic as a whole, but their personal loyalties lay with Anakin, as he had looked out for each and everyone of them during the war. To him, they weren't disposable soldiers like their droid counterparts on the other side. There was no doubt about it. Rex was troubled; Anakin could tell.

"How are you holding up?" Anakin asked, as he sat down beside him.

"Fine sir," he replied.

"I don't even have to use the Force to tell that something is troubling you, Rex," Anakin replied. The Clone Commander sighed.

"That obvious, huh?" Rex asked.

"You guys are Clones; not droids," Anakin replied.

"I know. And I see victims all the time. I'm not sure why this mission has got to me more than usual," Rex stated.

"Dealing with victims is always excruciating. But this time one of the villains has a face. A face that you and your brothers are very familiar with," Anakin said.

"Damn...you really know how to pinpoint the source of a problem," Rex replied.

"Rex, you nor your brothers are responsible for the sins of Jango Fett," Anakin assured him.

"Maybe not, but the same man who commanded this attack also ordered our creation. I don't feel too good about that," Rex replied, referring to Sifo-Dyas.

"Rex, it may have been Sifo-Dyas that ordered the creation of the Clone army, but his intentions for all of you failed. You guys fight for the right side and that's what matters," Anakin told him.

"Maybe, but that's only because you and your wife fought to have us reprogrammed after Palpatine's death. Some thought it would have been better if we were destroyed," Rex said.

"Well, they're wrong. You may be Clones and you may have been engineered to follow orders, but each and everyone of you has a soul and you all possess the willpower to make choices," Anakin said. Rex smiled slightly.

"Well, it's nice to have someone believe in us," Rex replied. Anakin patted him on the shoulder.

"Everything I said is true, Commander. Now, let's finish up for the day, before it gets dark," Anakin said.

"Yes sir," he responded.

Padme started reading the first file of the first victim and already, she wanted to wretch. This girl wasn't just raped, but she was beaten and brutalized too, all while her friends and family were dying around her. She looked down at her twelve-year-old daughter.

"Sweetheart, are you sure you want to come with me?" she asked. Leia nodded.

"I want to help people like you do, mommy," Leia replied. Padme smiled at her and smoothed her hand through her chocolate hair.

"Okay," Padme said, as they quietly stepped into the girls' space. Her name was Lisa and she was twenty-two.

"Hi Lisa, my name is Padme. How are you feeling?" she asked softly. The young strawberry blonde turned to look at her.

"Okay I guess. Are you a nurse?" she asked.

"No...but I can get you something if you need it," Padme replied, as she surveyed the girl's injuries. She had a black eye and there was bruises on her face from someone's fist. Her lip was healing from being split and there was a bandage on her nose, indicating that it had been broken and her jaw was also swollen.

"No, I'm fine. Why are you here?" Lisa asked, noticing the young girl beside her.

"I was hoping we could talk," Padme said, as she sat down in a chair.

"About what?" Lisa asked, very leery.

"About what happened," Padme replied, watching the girl stiffen.

"No...there's nothing to talk about. Just go away!" Lisa spat.

"Lisa...I know this is hard. Believe me, I know," Padme replied.

"How...how could you know?" Lisa asked angrily, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Because at one time...I was a victim too," Padme told her.

"You? You were raped?" she asked. Padme nodded.

"Years ago. It was really hard to cope with and it nearly destroyed me from the inside out. It took me a long time to get my confidence back. But I did and you will too," Padme told her. The young woman burst into tears and Padme hugged her tightly, slowly rocking her back and forth.

"He...he told me I wanted it...that I liked it," she sobbed.

"He told me I deserved what he was giving to me," she continued.

"He was wrong. And that monster will pay for his crimes when he's brought to justice," Padme said.

"I feel so dirty and ugly. I just want to scrub my skin off!" she cried.

"Shh...I know. It's very normal to feel this way, but you must not blame yourself. None of this is your fault. In time, you'll heal what happened and things will be okay. It will be a long road and it won't happen overnight. But it will happen," Padme assured her.

"How can you be so sure?" she asked. Padme smiled.

"Because you have lots of people that love you, just like I do," Padme replied, as she put her hand on the young woman's. Leia followed suit and put her hand on her mother's.

"Lisa, this is my daughter Leia," she said. Lisa sniffed.

"Hello Leia," she replied.

"Hi," Leia said.

"We'll let you get some rest now, but we'll come back in the morning if you'd like," Padme said. She nodded.

"Goodbye Lady Skywalker," Lisa said. Padme looked back at her and smiled.

"I wasn't sure you recognized me," Padme replied.

"It took me a minute, but around here, we know all about the Chosen One. He's here, isn't he? He's going to capture the people that did this, right?" Lisa asked. Padme nodded.

"He will bring them to justice," Padme promised.

Xanatos stared out at the horizon, as Bandomeer's sun slowly dipped toward the horizon. His reinforcements had arrived in the form of droids, android soldiers, and a few select bio androids of the Master's choice.

"Its almost sundown. Let's ready for the attack," Kendra ordered. Their regime was hungry for a second helping of revenge.

The campfire was roaring now, as Anakin and Luke added to what Qui-Gon had started. Padme returned to the campsite, having finished helping with cleaning up everything from the evening meal. She gazed up at the blanket of stars above her, captivated by their intricate beauty in the midnight sky. She turned to her husband, as he approached and welcomed his embrace. Neither of them were quite ready to talk about everything they had seen and heard so far. At the moment, holding each other did far more to comfort their troubled souls than words could right now. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Their lips met in a loving kiss and they gazed into each other's eyes. Padme tucked her head underneath her husband's chin, content to be held in his strong arms. But suddenly, an explosion shattered their moment.

"We're under attack!" they heard people shout.

"No...not again..." Padme cried, knowing the surviving, traumatized victims couldn't handle anymore. Blaster fire ran out, as the Clones leapt into battle as the first line of defense. Anakin covered Padme with his body, as he gathered their children with Luke's help.

"Luke, get your mother and siblings to a safe place!" Anakin called.

"But where?" Luke asked. Anakin looked around at the chaos surrounding them. It was a good question.

"I'll get them to the warehouse. It's the most sturdy structure and will be heavily guarded," Qui-Gon said.

"Go Padme," he urged, as Qui-Gon took her hand.

"Be careful!" she called. As Qui-Gon led Padme and the children, Obi-Wan led his wife, Jobal, Shmi, and Elana there as well. They safely filed their loved ones into the warehouse, which was heavily guarded by both Jedi and Clones.

"Well, well, if it isn't Master Jinn and Obi-Wan too. Two for the price of one," Xanatos said, as he ignited his crimson blade.

"Xanatos...call off this senseless attack at once," Qui-Gon said.

"Oh, now where's the fun in that?" he asked, as he launched at the two Jedi. Father and son ignited their emerald and azure blades, as battle erupted between them...