Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. It's all George's.

AN: Here's chapter 26! Thanks for all the great reviews.

Forever Destined

Chapter 26:Arrival on Geonosis

Anakin sat in the pilot's chair thinking over the events as of late. He had just showered and now Padme was cleaning up as well. He heard her step into the cockpit and turned to look at her. She was wearing one of her white battle uniforms and her hair was neatly done back in a looped bun. She knelt beside him and kissed his cheek. She smoothed her hand along his face and brushed his curly bangs out of his eyes.

"Are we almost there?" she asked. He nodded.

"We'll be coming out of hyperspace in about twenty minutes," he replied.

"I hope they're okay," Anakin sighed. Padme leaned over him and pressed her lips to his.

"They will be. We'll get there in time," she assured him. He smiled at her and caressed her cheek.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, angel," he said. She smiled.

"That's my line and you don't have to worry. We'll always be together," she replied. He smiled back at her, as she got up and strapped into the co-pilot's seat. Several minutes later, Anakin brought their Nubian cruiser out of hyperspace and made the decent into Geonosis.

"Ani, look over there! That steam could be coming from the droid factory," she said. He nodded.

"You're probably right. That's where we should start looking," he replied, as he landed them near a rocky hill. Anakin dropped the ramp and led Padme down behind him.

"Threepio, you and Artoo stay here and lock up the ship," Anakin said.

"Yes Master Ani," Threepio obeyed. Hand in hand, Anakin and Padme trekked up the hill to the structure, they finally reached a walkway and an entrance. Anakin took a tool from his belt and pried the control panel open. He sliced a few wires and twisted a few together. The panel slid open and the couple cautiously entered. They walked silently through the eerily quiet corridor and Anakin soon sensed that something wasn't right. Suddenly the walls seemed to come alive, as several creatures came at them. Anakin assumed they were guards and native to the planet. He ushered Padme ahead of him, as he ignited his saber and began fighting them off, before following Padme through the door. She skidded to a stop, as she found the bridge had been collapsed. The door slid closed behind Anakin and the ledge they were standing on shuddered. Padme lost her balance and began to fall, but Anakin grabbed her arm. Anakin grabbed onto the wall and began pulling her up.

"Hang on Padme," he said, as he pulled her up. She climbed up and clung tightly to him, before kissing his cheek.

"Good catch," she said. He smiled briefly.

"It's safe to say that we can't go down," he said.

"How about across?" she asked, as she pointed to the ledge on the other side, complete with another door.

"That'll do," he said, as he took the grappling cord from his belt. He tossed it up and secured it to a high beam above them. Padme wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. He wrapped his arm around her waist and swung them over to the other side.

Qui-Gon watched from his suspension ring, as two guards pushed his eldest son back into the room. His lip was bloodied and a bruise was forming on his face. Obi-Wan stumbled and the guards dragged him to the ring next to Qui-Gon. They secured his arms and then turned on the blue suspension field.

"Obi-Wan, are you all right? Who did this?" Qui-Gon asked.

"He has escaped, dad. He's working for the Sith," Obi-Wan said.

"Who?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Me..." a voice said. Qui-Gon turned his head, as a cloaked glared at a stunned Qui-Gon.

"Hello...Master," Xanatos said.

"Xanatos..." Qui-Gon snarled.

"Not a very welcoming greeting for your former apprentice," Xanatos said sarcastically.

"How did you escape prison?" Qui-Gon asked.

"The Sith offered me my freedom and a chance at revenge if I pledged my loyalty to them. It was an offer I could not refuse," Xanatos replied.

"The Sith will use you and then kill you when they're done with you," Obi-Wan said.

"Shut up Kenobi," Xanatos snapped.

"He's right Xanatos. You don't want to do this," Qui-Gon said.

"You still don't get it, old man. You can stop your preaching. Your sentence will be carried out soon," Xanatos replied.

"Sentence?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, you've been charged with espionage and sentenced to death in just a few hours. Geonosian justice is swift," Xanatos said, as Jango walked into the room.

"We have a couple of intruders," Jango said, as he turned on the Holo monitor. Qui-Gon grimaced, as the image of his youngest son and future daughter-in-law came up.

"Well, well, what a pretty couple they make. Let's bring them here to join our fun. I don't believe Anakin remembers me, so I would like to introduce myself to him and his beautiful companion," Xanatos said.

"Already taken care of. Watch this," Jango said, as they walked through the hallway. Jango flipped a switch on the control panel. Ray shields surrounded the two young people. Anakin and Padme cried out in pain, as bolts of electricity shocked them and rendered them unconscious.

"No!" Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan cried. Xanatos laughed.

"Damn you Xanatos. You can do what you want with me, but leave my children alone!" Qui-Gon demanded.

"Now...what would be the fun in that?" Xanatos asked sarcastically, as the guards came dragging Anakin and Padme into the room. They laid the two young people on the ground. Anakin groaned in pain, as he started to come around. Anakin looked up at the man standing over them and slowly pulled Padme into his arms. She moaned and her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Who are you?" Anakin asked.

"Oh, now that's a great story. Qui-Gon, why don't you tell him the story and I'll fill in the gaps," Xanatos said, as he reached down and yanked Padme to her feet.

"Let her go!" Anakin cried, as he prepared to lunged at the man, but was stopped by another pair of ray shields that surrounded him.

"Thank you Jango," Xanatos said, as he placed a pair of shackles around Padme's wrists and neck.

"Dad, who is he?" Anakin asked.

"He was my first apprentice," Qui-Gon revealed.

"But I thought Ben was your first apprentice?" Anakin asked.

"I am a mistake to him. He doesn't like to talk about me. Go on Master, tell him about all the bad things I've done," Xanatos taunted.

"It is true Ani, he was my first padawan. I took him as my apprentice when Ben was just five. Things were fine until Xanatos neared adulthood. His father, who gave him up to the Jedi, began requesting visits from his son. Xanatos began going home to see him. His father had become quite unbalanced and began filling Xanatos with lies about the Jedi," Qui-Gon said.

"The Jedi stole me from my father!" Xanatos claimed.

"No Xanatos, your father couldn't be bothered with an infant and when he found out that you were Force sensitive, the Jedi could not take you fast enough," Qui-Gon replied, before continuing.

"He would act out and became increasingly unbalanced as a result of these visits with his father. The Council had no choice but to ban Xanatos from seeing his father," Qui-Gon said.

"You tried to keep us apart, but you couldn't." Xanatos replied.

"He's right, we couldn't. Xanatos ran away from the Temple and I went to retrieve him. We battled and Xanatos touched the dark side, nearly killing me. Fortunately, Master Yoda sensed danger and sent Master Shaak Ti, who saved me. After Xanatos' actions, the Council expelled him and exiled him to his home planet where he was never supposed to leave," Qui-Gon said.

"But that didn't stop him. He broke out of confinement and returned to the Temple to try and cause more chaos,"

"Yes and imagine what I found when I arrived. It had not even been a month since my expulsion and you had already taken Ben as your padawan! You pushed me out, so you could train your son!" Xanatos accused.

"I did not plan for things to happen that way! Originally, my father planned to take Ben as his apprentice, but you willingly gave in to the dark side and I had no choice but to suggest you be exiled. You were dangerous, as you so proved in your plot when you snuck back to Coruscant. Bant, Luminara, and Shaak Ti were almost killed by him...and he attacked Ben and nearly killed him as well. He was out of control and it took Master Windu and your grandfather to detain and arrest him," Qui-Gon said.

"Oh, but it doesn't stop there. It gets even better, kid," Xanatos replied.

"Your old man saw that I was sent to Kessel. It was like being tossed into the depths of Sith hell. When I finally escaped that prison, I learned that my dear old Master had remarried and spawned another brat. So, I decided what better way to enact my revenge, then kidnap his new family and kill them," Xanatos said.

"Yes, he kidnaped you and your mother when you were barely two years old. It was the worst day of my life," Qui-Gon said, as he recalled that day...

Flashback...

Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi headed to class on what began as a normal afternoon. He heard a couple people chuckle as he passed and rolled his eyes. He turned around and observed his baby brother toddling clumsily after him. Obi-Wan sighed and knelt down. He chuckled, as the very blonde little boy practically leapt into his arms. Obi-Wan hugged him back and hoisted him up.

"Onna go wif you," Anakin said. Obi-Wan ruffled his blonde hair.

"Now Ani, we've been over this. You can't come to sparring class with me," Obi-Wan replied.

"Plwease..." Anakin pleaded, staring at Obi-Wan with his big blue eyes. Fortunately, his step-mother saved him, before he became victim to Anakin's pout, which usually ended up letting him get his way...except with Shmi.

"There you are Ani. You get away from mommy so fast," Shmi said, as Obi-Wan handed him to her.

"Mama, onna go wif Ben," Anakin whined.

"Sorry baby, not today. We're going to go home. Then daddy and Ben will be home in a few hours," Shmi said, as she kissed his head. Anakin pouted his lip out, until he spotted his father and grandfather round the corner with Mace Windu and Shaak Ti. Anakin grinned and pointed his little finger.

"Daddy! Papa!" Anakin called, as he squirmed in his mother's arms. Shmi let him down and he ran to his father, who caught him and hoisted him into his arms. Qui-Gon chuckled and Yan ruffled his grandson's hair.

"Hello Ani," he said. Shmi approached and kissed her husband.

"Hello darling. Did everything go well?" Qui-Gon asked. Anakin had just had a check up in the healer's ward and his midichlorian count was taken, since it would be time for him to begin schooling with the other younglings when he turned three.

"It went fine. He is very healthy and Bant said the results will be in later today," Shmi said, referring to the test.

"Good, we have a short Council meeting and then we'll be home," Qui-Gon said, as he handed Anakin back to her.

"Okay, we will see you soon," Shmi said, as she kissed him.

"Wave goodbye Ani," Shmi said.

"Bye bye," Anakin waved his hand, as he and his mother headed for the speeder. They arrived home a while later and Anakin went running to his room to play with his toys, while Shmi set to starting dinner. Sometime later, she noticed that Anakin was very quiet. She could usually hear him when he as playing, for he was not at all quiet.

"Ani?" she called. When she received no answer from her little boy, she became concerned and went to find him. As she walked into the living area, she gasped in horror. A strange man had her son and was covering his mouth, while tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Hello Mrs. Jinn..." the man said.

"Who...are you?" Shmi asked nervously.

"Your husband might have told you about me. I'm the disappointment he doesn't like to talk about," the man said.

"You're...Xanatos," Shmi replied.

"Very good Mrs. Jinn. Now, if you will kindly come with me, the brat will stay alive," Xanatos said.

"Please don't hurt him...he's just a baby," Shmi cried. Xanatos pointed his blaster at her.

"Get in the speeder now," he ordered. Shmi did as he asked and Xanatos shoved the child into her arms. Shmi cradled her frightened son, as Xanatos sped off.

"Bad! Bad!" Anakin kept screaming at Xanatos.

"Make that blasted child shut up or I'll do it permanently," Xanatos threatened.

"Ani...quiet down baby, please," Shmi pleaded with him.

"Mama scawed?" he asked, as he watched his mother cry.

"I'm all right baby," she tried to assure him. Anakin kissed her cheek.

"Daddy come," Anakin told her simply...and she hoped he was right.

Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi came bursting out of the sparring gym in a frenzy.

"Padawan Kenobi, where are you going?" Adi Gallia called.

"I'm sorry Master, but something is wrong with Anakin!" Obi-Wan called, as he ran to find his father and grandfather. It did not take too long, for they were already on their way to the landing pad.

"Dad, I sensed a disturbance in the Force," Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, we felt it too. Your mother and Anakin are in trouble," Qui-Gon said, as the three of them hopped into the nearest speeder and followed where their senses led them.

Xanatos parked the speeder and then began dragging Shmi across the landing pad toward his ship.

"What do you plan to do with us?" Shmi asked.

"I plan to use you for my revenge. Surely my old Master will be completely devastated after he learns of your deaths," Xanatos said.

"Oh no...please. Do what you...want with me. Just don't hurt my baby," Shmi pleaded.

"Shut up and get on the ship," Xanatos ordered, as he began shoving her up the ramp.

"Let them go Xanatos!" Qui-Gon called, as they arrived.

"See mama, daddy come," Anakin said.

"Get on the ship!" Xanatos screamed at her. But when he saw Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan coming at him, he pressed his blaster tightly to Shmi's temple.

"How does it feel knowing that your lovely new wife and brat are about to die right before your eyes, Master?!" Xanatos said viciously.

"You will not kill them Xanatos," Qui-Gon stated.

"Oh, but I will," he replied. Before he could fire, Dooku Force pulled the blaster from Xanatos' grip.

"It's over Xanatos," Qui-Gon said.

"Like hell it is," Xanatos said, as he ripped Anakin away from Shmi and shoved her down the ramp. Qui-Gon caught her and Obi-Wan ran up the ramp after him.

"Let him go Xanatos!" Obi-Wan demanded.

"Come any closer and I'll crush his tiny windpipe!" Xanatos threatened. Anakin began coughing, as Xanatos constricted his airway.

"Stop it Xanatos! He's just a child! Obi-Wan screamed. Suddenly, Xanatos felt his Force choke on the boy being severed. The child was yanked out of his arms and into his grandfather's. Obi-Wan tackled Xanatos to the ground and placed him in a pair of stun cuffs. Dooku rubbed Anakin's back, as he coughed.

"Papa?" Anakin whimpered.

"Everything's all right now, Ani," Yan assured him, as Obi-Wan shoved Xanatos down the ramp. Xanatos glared at Qui-Gon.

"I hate you! I'll have my revenge!" Xanatos screamed.

End Flashback

"And now, I will have my revenge. You had me locked up in that psycho asylum for all these years, but no more! You'll pay for the hell I went through! You and your sons!" Xanatos said.

"You brought everything that happened to you onto yourself," Obi-Wan said.

"Shut up Kenobi. Take them to the arena for their execution!" Xanatos ordered.

"NO...Anakin!" Padme pulled against her shackled, but Xanatos pulled her back by the neck chain.

"Sorry beautiful, but you'll be staying with me. I like you...a lot. I think I'll keep you," Xanatos said.

"NO! Keep your filthy hands off her!" Anakin yelled, as he was dragged away.

"Anakin!" Padme cried.

"Padme! Everything will be okay! We'll get out of this!" Anakin called to her.

"Come along, my dear. It is time for you to witness the demise of the Jinn family..." Xanatos said, as he tugged her along by the neck chain.

Xanatos dragged Padme onto the balcony that overlooked the arena.

"Well, well, so nice of you to join us, Senator," Nute Gunray sneered at her.

"You're supposed to be in prison!" Padme spat.

"Yes, but thank to me, he's here and his droid factories are operating again," Xanatos said, as he pulled her to the ledge, just as Poggle the Lesser began addressing the spectators. He condemned the three Jedi to death and they were each chained to a pillar in the center of the arena. Three gates opened and an Acklay came out of the first and Qui-Gon was its intended prey. Out of the second gate came a Reek and it headed for Obi-Wan. And out of the final gate came a snarling Nexu, which set its sight on Anakin. As the three Jedi prepared to fight for their lives, Padme could only look on helplessly, as the evil Xanatos held her captive...