TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM and SW belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi genre story.
Part 9
Meanwhile, Anakin and his traveling companions arrive at the moisture farm owned by the Lars family.
"Anakin?"
Anakin turns to Kasumi.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
Anakin smiles.
"I…guess so," Anakin replies. "It's been a while since I last seen my mother."
"Well, I'm sure Shmi will make it up with hugs and kisses," Usagi says, as she looks about the place. "I can never get used to the concept of…'moisture farming'."
"Actually, moisture farming is a simple, yet extraordinary feat, considering the climate of the planet," Ami says.
"Well, then, we can talk about that stuff during our visit. Tho-Ohki?"
The cabbit raises his head.
"Mew?"
"Go play with R2-D2 for a while."
"Mew!"
"Okay, okay. Ask R2 for some carrots."
"Mew!" the cabbit says happily, as he hops off Usagi's head, as leaps onto the frame of the astromech droid.
"Mew!" Tho-Ohki says.
R2 beeps and chirps its response, before returning to the sleek Naboo shuttle.
"Well, let's go see Mother," Anakin says, as he treks towards an open hole, were a built-in home was located…
But then, something catches Ami's eye.
"Wait, is that…C3-P0?" Ami asked.
Anakin and the others turn to see the protocol droid.
"Threepio?" Anakin says. "Is that you?"
The protocol droid, who was working on a moisture extraction unit, looks up.
"Master Anakin?" the droid says cheerfully. "It is GOOD to see you."
"And you're looking better," Usagi says. "I see that Shmi finally had your outer shell installed."
"Yes, well, I felt practically naked, madam."
"Threepio, I'm looking for my mother," Anakin says.
"Oh, oh, dear," Threepio says. "I believe it is best if you come with me."
'I hope that there isn't anything wrong,' Kasumi thought to herself. 'But I have a bad feeling about this…'
Shortly thereafter, everyone is introduced to the Lars family.
"Hi, I'm 'Owen'," the young man says. He then turns to his young, female friend.
"And this is my girlfriend 'Beru'."
"Hi," the girl says.
"And you must be Anakin, which makes you my 'step-brother'."
"Charmed," Anakin says. "I'm looking for my mother."
Owen and Beru turn to look at each other with a hesitant look.
"Is there something the matter?" Kasumi asked.
Owen turns to look at his stepbrother.
"Well…"
"So, you're Anakin Skywalker," says an older man, as he wheels himself to the group. "The name's 'Lee Lars'…and I am Shmi's husband. Sorry for not standing up, on account of my injuries."
"I'm Padme," Kasumi says. "And she's Usagi, she's Ami, and he's Anakin."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Anakin says forcefully. "What happened, and where is my mother?"
"Anakin, calm down," Usagi says. She then turns to the man.
"Why all this…hesitance in regards to Shmi?"
"We…we better go inside…we have a lot to talk about."
It was learned that the local tribe amongst the Tusken Raiders had kidnapped Shmi during a raid on the local moisture-farming cooperative. For what purpose, no one knew. Lee was among thirty men who tried to retrieve Shmi, only to be repulsed by these desert nomads. As time wore on, it was becoming apparent that Shmi's survival rate was dwindling fast, if already diminished to 'zero'.
"I'm sorry, son," Lee says, as he looks away. "There's nothing more that can be done."
Anakin looks away for a long time…
Anakin then stands up.
"Where are you going?" Owen asked.
"I'm going to get my mother."
"Son, your mother's dead."
Usagi looks at this exchange before getting up.
"Then we retrieve her body," Usagi says. "However, knowing Shmi, I wouldn't count her out just yet."
Anakin looks at Usagi and smiles.
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Anakin turns to the Lee.
"Do you have a transport or something?" Anakin asks.
"Um, I have a hover bike that I can lend you," Owen says.
"I appreciate that…"
A few minutes later…
"Maybe I should come with you, Usagi," Ami says.
"No, one of us has to be around to protect Padme," Usagi says. "And besides, out of all of us here, I think the Jedi Council like you best."
"Now, that's not fair."
"Just like getting kidnapped by these desert people."
"Come on!" Anakin yells impatiently, as Kasumi walks back towards the entrance of the Lars residence.
"I'm coming!" Usagi says. "Take care of yourselves, guys-"
"Usagi, make sure that Anakin is okay," Kasumi says, as she whispers into Usagi's ears. "I'd…appreciate it."
"Um, sure," Usagi replied with a confused look. She then turns to Ami. She was about to say something, when-
"I wonder about that myself," Ami says. "Now go…we can gossip later."
"We better," Usagi says, as she hugs her friend. "Take care of yourself…and the others."
"I promise."
Usagi smiles before turning, leaping, and landing on the back of Owen's hoverbike.
"A three-point landing, if I must say," Usagi says.
"Knock it of," Anakin says, as he guns the engines…and begins their search for Anakin's mother.
"Ulp!" Usagi says, as she held Anakin tightly around the waist, as she and her fellow Jedi Padawan head deeper into the desert.
Meanwhile…
After several more skirmishes with the Slave-1, Ranma and Kenobi managed to trick the bounty hunter Jango Fett, by using the debris field to fake a fatal attack. Once it was safe, the Jedi followed the bounty hunter's ship in a discreet distance. Soon, upon entering the planet's atmosphere, it became apparent that there were many Trade Federation processing stations in place.
"Look at that," Ranma says, as he put his glided his craft.
"No doubt the reports of the Trade Federation's duplicity is true," Kenobi says. "It is no surprise to see the extent of the Commerce Guild's involvement as well."
"What should we do?"
"We get as much evidence as possible before we report back to the Jedi Council, of course."
"Of course," Ranma says, as he made a face.
"I DO hope you're not making faces, padawan," Kenobi says with a chuckle.
'How does he DO it?' Ranma thinks to himself.
"With the Force, of course."
"With all due respect, could you stop that?"
Upon touching down, Ranma can't help but admire the strange architecture of the surrounding structures.
"It's…like the place was hand made," Ranma says, as he touches the walls. "And I mean that in an organic kind of way."
"You're right," Kenobi says. "The local inhabitants are of insect kind, after all."
"Well, if that's the case, I should have brought with me a fly swatter then."
As they make their way through the central structure, they see signs of heavy manufacturing.
"Battledroids," Ranma says.
Kenobi nods his head in reply. He then motions Ranma to follow him. Within minutes, after descend a flight of stairs they hear voices.
Ranma and Kenobi stop their movements, and hide in the shadows…
"…Once the Banking Clan has officially signed the treaty, we can move to the next phase of our operations," says an older man, as he and several non-humans walk by.
"No, we will not go to the next phase of your operation…until I have HER head first, Count Dooku," says Viceroy Nute Gunray. "The senator from Naboo humiliated the Trade Federation, something I will NEVER forgive."
"Patience, Viceroy," Dooku says. "It shall be taken care of soon enough…"
"The Techno-Union's army WILL be at your disposal," says a non-human covered in armor. "Our droids are bigger, and are heavily armed…more so than the 'lightweights'."
"The Trade Federation's droid armies are more versatile than yours," Nute says defensively.
"Easy, gentlemen," Dooku says. "With the backing of the Banking Clan, we will be able to create an army the likes the Republic has not seen in years, if ever.
Kenobi turns to Ranma, and motions him to move "topside"…
Meanwhile…
"That's it," Usagi says, as she looks down at the Tusken Raider settlement below through a pair of electronic binoculars. Tattooine's three moves lit up the valley.
"You know," Usagi says, as lowers her instrument. This is going to be difficult.
Anakin looks at Usagi angrily.
"You're not giving up, are you?"
"No, I'm just saying that it's going to be difficult to rescue Shmi…but not impossible."
"Oh. Sorry."
Usagi stands up. She then licks her left index finger and sticks it into the air…
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to check the conditions of the air-currents," Usagi says. "Learned a trick from a friend of mine named 'Zephyrus'."
"Okay…"
"Good," Usagi says, as she flapped her cloak. She then turns to Anakin.
"Ani, do you…trust me?"
"Um, sure."
"Good."
And with that, Usagi grabs Anakins hands, and leaps off the cliff.
"Usagi-!" Anakin begins to yells, as he notices that he and Usagi were now gliding.
"Just stay calm," Usagi says. "We're almost there."
Anakin nods his head, as he and Anakin glides to the settlement undetected…
Soon, with the help of the Force, the pair sneaks around until they find the hut where Shmi is being held.
SNAP! Hzzzzz…
And while Anakin quietly cuts a hole of the hut, Usagi keeps an eye out for guards…
POOMP!
Anakin kicks into the cut patch, and enters. He then sees his mother, bruised and tied to sticks.
"Mom!" Anakin says urgently. He then goes over to his mother, and unties her.
"Ani…"
"Mom!"
Usagi, upon feeling Anakins's distress, enters the hut.
"Ani…?"
"Mom…she's hurt!"
"Got it," Usagi says, as she immediately examines Shmi…
"Can you…help her?"
"I can, but I need to be alone with her."
Anakin says nothing.
"Please!"
"Right," Anakin says, as he hands his mother over to Usagi. "Please save her."
"I will, but I need to concentrate. Go stand outside and stand watch."
Anakin takes one last look at his mother, and exits the hut through the back way.
Shmi opens her eyes.
"Usagi?"
"Yes."
"I…I heard Ani…"
"He's here. You have to hold on, so I can treat you. Please."
Shmi looks into Usagi's eyes…and nods her head.
"This won't hurt a bit," Usag says, as her eyes, Moon mark and aura glowed visibly. That glow begins to spread across Shmi's body…
"That's it," Usagi says, as she closes her eyes. "Allow the Universe to do its work…"
Tbc.