a.n. I have been working on this chapter almost every day since I posted the last one and boy is it a big one! I was hoping to have it done last week, but the chapter just got away from me and I couldn't find a good place to stop it. I feel like I did it justice though so I hope you enjoy it. I'm not sure when the next one will be up since it might be a pretty grim and complicated chapter (I have ideas but I won't know for certain until I start it). It might take me 2 or 3 weeks to get it posted since I have been terribly busy with work and I have a hard time trying to write when I'm done with work or off since I try to find some time for myself. But I do hope to have the next chapter up by mid-April (especially since I'm trying to finish this story by June). Two minor notes: midway through, I tried to stay true to the original Huttese dialogue spoken by Anakin and Watto. I took their dialogue from a website that had it transcribed, so I hope it's accurate. I did post Huttese-to-English translations at the end if you'd like to refresh your memory of what they said. Also, I was asked by someone what Luca looks like. I was trying to leave it vague and open to your own imagination and interpretation, but since I had a semi-clear picture of him in my mind, I decided to describe him a little more in here. Now you can picture him to your heart's content! As always, remember to Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything Star Wars and Star Wars-related, such as any and all recognizable names, places, etc. I only own the plot of this story, any added scenes to the movie, and the character of Luca. That's it.

Chapter 26: Voyage to Tatooine

In a dark room of a beautiful lake house, a young was tossing and turning in his bed, plagued my nightmarish visions. A layer of sweat coated his naked chest and agonized cries escaped his lips. His breathing was labored as he struggled with the demons of his dreams.

"No...No...No...Mom...No…Don't!" Anakin's eyes shot open as his dark dreams shook him out of an already restless sleep. He was breathing heavily and it took his eyes a moment to adjust to his surroundings. He was still his seeing his mother, tortured and injured. He couldn't help her, couldn't rescue her, couldn't run to her side. Yet she was still there in his mind's eye, helpless and beaten. He finally managed to settle down and control his breathing, his sweat-slicked hair sticking to his forehead. But his eyes were still open and awake; he knew he'd never be able to get back to sleep feeling like this. He crawled out of bed and headed out to the veranda, hoping that some early morning meditation would calm him and clear his mind.

A Force disturbance woke Luca from a restless sleep. His thoughts and dreams had been far from pleasant as he thought about upcoming events. As much as he needed it, sleep was not coming easily. An eerie sense of foreboding disturbed his attempts to fall back asleep until he was left with no alternative but to place himself under a Force-induced sleep. As much as he hated doing it, he knew it was necessary if he was to get some rest.

However, it was something more than his anxiety and fears that shook him awake now. The Force was humming with activity around him and with his sleep-deprived mind, he could only pick out bits and pieces of what it was trying to tell him. Quiet mumblings from the room across the hall alerted him to the thrashing dreams of a certain Jedi Padawan. The boy was positively leaking fear and distress, his disturbed state preventing him from erecting barriers to keep his emotions and feelings from being projected. Luca had no need to guess what was causing the boys nightmares and it pained his heart to even think of it.

Mom.

Long ago, Luca's own dreams of death and defeat had been focused around his mother and the feeling of fear and hopelessness that he felt then were exponentially greater now: he knew what was going to happen, when it would occur, and how and where, but he was unsure as to if he would or should interfere. As much as he wanted to prevent Shmi Skywalker's death, he was unsure if it would be the wisest course of action. One small change could drastically alter the future; he already had enough issues to deal with when it came to his own mission's influence on future events and he didn't need to further compound those by changing other major events. Shmi's death would be a major test for Anakin and if Luca wanted to ensure that Anakin never strayed from the light, he had to be tested. And he needed to pass.

But it wasn't Anakin's possible failure of the upcoming trials that worried him; he had complete faith in the boy, even more so since he would be there to help guide him. No, it was something else that was terrifying him, something he had been reliving silently since this whole mission began: the death of his mother.

Shmi's death had scarred him for life and had been an important catalyst in his fall to the Dark Side. He didn't know if he could go through it all again. He had relived the nightmares of her death and his subsequent actions many times over the years. The dreams he had had of that fateful night were some of the worse he had ever had, superseded in grief and agony only by the terrible dreams he'd had of the night his wife had died. Now, he would be forced to relive one of the worst nights of his life, only it would not be a nightmare he would eventually wake from; it would be a reality he wouldn't be able to escape.

Luca sighed and tried to go back to sleep but found it impossible with the agonized groans of the pained Jedi. He reached out in an attempt to calm the boy. He was startled when he could feel a darker, more elusive presence surrounding Anakin. His agonized cries were pouring into the Force and the shadowy specter, whatever it was that he felt, seemed almost gleeful at the pain the young Jedi was feeling. Luca drew back in both surprise and revulsion. He had felt this shadow before, long ago; it had whispered in his ear, encouraged him to do despicable things, all for the glory of ultimate power, for the chance to have all he ever wanted and to save everyone he had ever loved. He had trusted it once and it had brought him nothing but pain and misery. It reeked of the Dark Side and he vowed that he would never let it touch Anakin the way it had touched him.

As sleep still proved elusive, Luca glanced out the curtained window and noticed the still dark sky. The moons and stars shone brightly in the inky blackness and, for a moment, Luca felt at peace. He shuddered, partly from the cool breeze wafting through the open window and partly from the dark presence he felt when he had touched Anakin. He knew he didn't have much time before the darkness would totally overtake the young man and he hoped that he would have the strength to get the boy through it. He lay back down and closed his eyes, attempting to fall asleep once again. Anakin's' pained cries no longer echoed through the lake house, but they continued to echo in Luca's mind and through the Force long after.

In a secret room across the stars, a sinister laugh rang out from beneath a dark hood. His cowled head was hidden in shadows and his face was shrouded, but the glee he felt of a certain young man's pain was palpable in the Force. This dark figure radiated rage, power, and darkness; his strength in the Dark Side of the Force was unmatched. The joy on his face seemed almost contrary to the dark aura he was emanating. The many holoscreens and computers in the room, devices he used to further his dark plans, lent an eerie glow to his face and the evil gleam in his yellow eyes would be unnerving to any onlooker. But the figure was alone; he preferred it that way. Darth Sidious's all-seeing eyes stared intently at the blank wall, a crooked smile forming on his wizened face. The boy was in agony, the dreams of his mother haunting him even during his waking hours. Sidious gleamed in satisfaction; his years of planning were coming to fruition. The boy was well on his way down the dark path; soon he would be so far gone that there would be no turning back. He would fulfill the dark destiny Sidious had carefully laid out before him.

Sidious's smile faltered as he felt something, a brief flicker of light that vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The feeling it left behind, a feeling of hope and goodness, sickened him, shocked him, left him feeling slightly bewildered. What was it that he felt? It had been a strange feeling, something different yet familiar at the same time. Something in the back of his evil mind warned him to be wary of this feeling, told him that he had worked too hard for too long to see all of his meticulous planning go to waste. He had not gotten this far by not listening to the small whisperings of the Force. Once upon a time, they had directed his attention towards a young slave boy from Tatooine, a young boy whose evil destiny would soon be fulfilled, as long as everything went according to his plan. The brief feeling certainly didn't seem all that dangerous to him, but he couldn't take chances, not when something so important lay in the balance.

The dark lord reached out to try to grab onto the mysterious sensation but couldn't find it. Whatever it had been, it was gone now. He concentrated his efforts and soon enough, a vision came to him. It was hazy, dark, not clear enough for him to get a good reading but he could just make out a figure in the fog. It was a man, decently tall, about two meters or so in height and he was dressed all in black. His polished black boots shone even in the shadows of his vision and his black plants blended seamlessly up to his black tunic. A dark vest complemented the ensemble; he would have been a shadow if not for the light halo-like aura surrounding him. His dark clothes enhanced the obviously well-built physique the man seemed to have. Wavy dirty blonde, nearly brown, hair fell just above his shoulders and framed a strong-looking face, though the graying hair at his temples and the slight wrinkles on his face hinted at much more maturity and experience than the nearly forty years he seemed to be. Looking at his face, Sidious saw that he had a determined set to his round jaw, strong and unmoving. A faint vertical red scar ran down the right side of his face, just to the side of his eye. It started midway up his forehead and ended just above his cheekbone. To Sidious, it looked like the remnant of some long-ago battle, as did the pair of faint scars on his left cheek. But it was his eyes that caught the Sith Lord's attention. They were a clear crystalline blue; nothing but strength and purpose filled those orbs. If Sidious had been a lesser man, he would have been intimidated by what he saw there. Those eyes seemed to stare right at Sidious, into his evil soul and he had a sudden feeling that he had seen this man some place. He knew this face. He knew those eyes. It didn't take the Sith Lord more than a moment to figure out why the man was so familiar. When the realization hit him, his eyes opened wide in surprise and his concentration wavered, nearly causing him to lose sight of the vision.

Redenov!

The young man he had met in his office. He remembered that the man had been some sort of liaison to the Jedi Council. What was he doing in his vision? The last he had heard, the man was on Naboo with Amidala and Skywalker. A mere bodyguard couldn't be that much trouble, could he? Sidious focused once again and saw that the man in his vision had changed. In his eyes, Sidious could still see the strength and determination and purpose there; but something else had shown itself: victory. He had a feeling of success and accomplishment about him. As the Sith Lord watched, something even more startling than the sudden revelation of the man's identity appeared: a lightsaber, as blue as the man's eyes and as powerful as the aura that surrounded the visionary Redenov, burst to life from the small silver cylinder the Sith Lord just noticed the man was holding. His shock at the sight was too much and Sidious was forced to give up his hold on the Force and the prophetic vision disappeared before his very eyes.

A Jedi.

It couldn't be.

And yet, his visions had never lied to him, the Force had never steered him wrong. The power he had sensed from that young man when they first met and that which he had felt in that vision was amazing and a bit disconcerting. He had never felt anything like that before and it worried him. How could such a power have gone undiscovered for so long? If he was a Jedi, how could the Masters have kept a secret like that from him? He knew the Council, knew the power they possessed. He knew how powerful the Order was as a whole; he kept close tabs on the most powerful Jedi in the Order, Masters, Knights, and Padawans alike. None of them scared him much. Only Skywalker possessed the power he hoped to harness for himself; only that one Padawan would be the one to fear.

Yet his vision had clearly shown a powerful entity that could rival or even surpass the young Jedi. If such a man were left unchallenged, unchecked, he could grow into a very dangerous enemy indeed. And the goodness that surrounded him disgusted Sidious, especially when he remembered the sense of purpose the young man seemed to have. And he was alone with Skywalker! Sidious was outraged! If the Council had somehow hidden this powerful agent of the Force away only to have him appear at this critical juncture in his plans, then his plans would be ruined. Perhaps they had discovered him and uncovered his plans. But if that were the case, they would already be after him. Maybe it was just a coincidence; he had noticed that the Jedi didn't seem to recognize or even the know the man. But if it was just chance, how did the man convince the Jedi to let him tag along on Anakin's mission? The Council was not known for its trusting nature and he couldn't really imagine them allowing a complete stranger access to such an important person during such a critical time. If he wasn't a Jedi, then why did his vision show him holding a lightsaber? Could Redenov merely be a manifestation of his fear of discovery by the Council? Sidious shook that thought off immediately. The Jedi had not discovered his machinations for over a decade and he had a feeling that they wouldn't until he chose to reveal himself. But he had too many questions and not enough answers. If this stranger was here to disrupt his plans, he had to stop him, and soon. He didn't know what the man's objective was or how far away he may be in accomplishing his goal. And he did not like being in the dark about anything that might potentially disrupt or even completely derail his plans. He had to continue on in his plans and he would succeed; he would make sure of it.

Sidious walked out of his secret inner sanctum and secured the door behind him. The large painting that hid the room's entrance dropped down as he walked towards his desk. Pressing a hidden button, he was not surprised when moments later a large blue-skinned Chagrian male entered his office, all business as usual.

"You called for me, Chancellor?"

Sidious, now Chancellor Palpatine, nodded swiftly. "Yes. Please move up this afternoon's Senate meeting and inform the Senators immediately." He said nothing more, knowing that his request would be met with swift action.

"As you wish Chancellor." Mas Amedda was silent a moment. "Problems, sir?"

Palpatine smiled maliciously. "Nothing I won't be able to dispose of soon." Amedda nodded at the words and turned around to enact the orders. Palpatine watched him go before turning towards the expansive office window, glad that in spite of this latest possible complication, all of the pieces in his galactic jigsaw puzzle were finally falling into place.

The sun was rising through the clouds and the morning birds chirped merrily to greet the dawning of the new day. Padmé, in her white silk nightgown and navy blue robe, walked quietly out to the balcony, her curly brown hair falling in waves over her shoulders. She walked curiously up to the young Jedi Knight who stood serenely before her. She had heard him cry out in the night and her heart had broken. He had been in so much pain, so much agony and she couldn't do anything about it. She couldn't comfort him, couldn't wrap him in her arms, couldn't whisper soothing words in his ear, couldn't tell him everything would be all right. She couldn't do any of the things that she longed to do, that her heart ached to do.

Because she had spurned him.

She had denied his advances, ignored his pleas. She had told him that she couldn't be with him, that they wouldn't be able to live with a secret as monumental as what he was proposing. They had to be sensible, had to live in the real world. As much as she had wanted to give in to him, she hadn't. And now, she couldn't comfort him when he needed it the most.

She approached him as closely as she dared. He was standing there calmly, eyes closed in meditation. The glorious sunrise outlined his figure and he shined gloriously, illuminated by the morning light. To Padmé, he looked absolutely beautiful. It was too overwhelming. She turned to leave.

"Don't go." Anakin's voice disturbed the serenity of the moment. Padmé turned back towards him.

"I don't want to disturb you."

Anakin took a deep, calming breath. "Your presence is soothing." There was a brief pause as Padmé contemplated her next words.

"You had another nightmare last night."

His cheek twitched as his jaw clenched. His voice was resolute. "Jedi don't have nightmares."

"I heard you." Padmé coaxed him. She knew he was unwilling to open up but she also knew that if he would just talk to her, he would feel better. Anakin opened his eyes slightly.

"I saw my mother." Anakin turned around towards the Senator as she walked closer to him. "She's suffering, Padmé. I saw her as clearly as I see you now." Anakin quickly turned from her and walked away. He stopped and let out a sigh, hands on his hips, staring out at the lake contemplatively. "She's in pain." Padmé just watched him, waiting for him to continue. He turned back towards her. "I know I'm disobeying my mandate to protect you, Senator. But I have to go." She watched him approach her. She looked up at his pained face and saw the hurt and the conflict in his eyes. "I have to help her!"

"I'll go with you." Her voice was soft but certain. Whatever was haunting him, whatever pain he was going through, she would be there to help him through it. She couldn't comfort him last night when he needed it. This was her chance to make it up to him, to let him know that she really did care about him, even if they couldn't be what he wanted them to be.

"I'm sorry…I don't have a choice." His eyes were pleading with her to understand, to know how much he needed to do this. When she looked into those eyes, she saw that little boy from Tatooine that she knew long ago. The one who had been scared to leave all he had ever known for a grand new life full of unknown possibilities. The heroic little boy who had flown a Nabooan starfighter straight into the heart of the droid control ship and single-handedly saved her planet and her people. Those eyes were now begging for forgiveness for involving her in his personal quest. And they were thanking her for understanding his need to do this, to end his tormenting nightmares.

Padmé smiled softly at him and his eyes softened at her expression. They became less strained, less pleading and the light that she loved seeing in them returned once more. It was just moments later when Luca made his appearance. The duo filled him in on the change of plans to their itinerary, although Anakin felt slightly embarrassed telling the older man about his nightmares. But there was something about the man that Anakin had come to trust and he felt like the man could be his confidante and that he could trust him with such internal struggles. It was good to have someone older and more experienced to talk to about such things; he never had been able to completely confide in any other Jedi, even Obi-Wan. Both Anakin and Padmé were surprised when Luca expressed no shock or argument to their suggestion, as if he knew it was going to happen. Luca told them that although he might disagree with the Jedi's course of action, it was Anakin's mission and if he felt it was imperative, even necessary, to travel to Tatooine, it was his choice and he would go along with it. The Jedi was in charge of this mission and Luca would follow him and his orders, wherever they might take him. Protecting and keeping an eye on the Senator was his mission's mandate, though the Council never specifically forbade him from relocating her if he felt it was necessary.

Once Luca explained this and expressed his willingness to comply with Anakin's orders, the young Jedi's eyes lit up, glad that there was someone who trusted him to make the right decisions, to work on his own. He hadn't known how much he needed someone like that in his life.

The trio made their way inside for a change, a quick meal, and a chance to finalize their new plans. It wasn't long before they left the peaceful lake house and made their way back toward Theed where they boarded the Senator's private starship and set a course for the arid desert planet known as Tatooine.

A return to the past.

A chance to change the future.

The sleek silver starship landed in one of the many docking bays that littered the outskirts of Mos Espa, the light from the twin suns of the desert planet bouncing brilliantly off of its shiny hull. The hustling and bustling bodies of the spaceport were ignorant of the expensive-looking ship; to the inhabitants, it was just one of the many starships that visited the port every day, though more flashy than most that passed through. No one paid attention to the group heading down the boarding ramp of said ship either; the non-descript group was dressed in unassuming garb, their attempts at blending in with the local crowd successful. A young man led the group, his short-cropped hair highlighted by a long braid that dangled over his right shoulder. He wore a chocolate brown robe over a dark tunic. Attached to his brown belt was a silver tube that, to the untrained eye, was nothing but pure decoration. However, those more knowledgeable in such things would see that "decoration" and know not to underestimate the boy who carried it, for he was more than what he seemed: he was a Jedi, trained in the ways of the Force and deadly in battle and confrontation. Behind him followed a young woman dressed in a powdery blue long-sleeved dress that was accented by a light brown sash across the middle. All of it was kept hidden by a long silvery-blue hood that she kept tied beneath her chin, covering her head and concealing her lovely features in the process. The last two members of the party that descended the ramp followed some distance behind the others. One was a blue and white astromech droid that tootled and tweeted happily. The other was a taller man, older than the youth who was leading the way. He was dressed in dark colors, not the most comfortable option for the desert heat but he didn't seem to be disturbed by it. He lacked the robe that the young man wore and his simple tunic bore a passing resemblance to security personnel. The desert breeze rippled gently through his sandy shoulder-length hair. His face had lost all of the softness of youth and was hardened from years of unknown terrors. A faint scar was just visible near his right eye and his mouth was set in grim determination. The look on his face told others that he was not a man to be trifled with, as did the pair of blasters holstered at each hip. Together, the group formed an interesting, though not entirely recognizable bunch as they left the port to begin their search.

Before they wandered too far, Luca placed a hand gently on Anakin's shoulder to get the young Jedi's attention. The young man turned to him, curiosity and anxiety clearly written on his face. He wanted to start his search for his mother but he was wondering what the other man wanted to say.

"Anakin, I'll leave the Senator in your very capable hands while you search for your mother." Luca noticed the confused look on Anakin's face. He didn't want to seem suspicious but he also didn't want to reveal anything either. He would have to tread delicately. "There are some things I should take care of." At Anakin's continued confusion, Luca decided to go on. "Since this is one of the major activity hubs on Tatooine, you must know that all sorts of people make their way through here. Traders, pirates, bounty hunters. There is a chance, albeit a slight one, that one of them may have answers, or at least a clue, as to the whereabouts of the person who wants the Senator assassinated. I'm going to go see what I can find." Luca could see that Anakin didn't quite seem to believe him, but he wasn't going to say no to another opportunity to work on his own…or to be alone with Padmé. "I'll catch up with you later." Anakin nodded and continued walking with Padmé at his side and Artoo trailing in their wake. Luca watched them wander off before heading in the opposite direction. He knew exactly what he needed to do; he only hoped that he wouldn't be too late.

Anakin had secured a rickshaw to drive Padmé and him to Watto's shop as Artoo rolled along behind them. As they wandered through the streets, familiar sights and sounds surrounded Anakin and long-buried or forgotten memories began to resurface. It had been ten years since he last set foot on this planet, but everything about it now was just as familiar, just as real as it had been back then. As much as he wished for the happy memories to remain, those of his friends, of his Podracing days, of his mother, they were being tossed aside by the images of his nightmares. All he could see was the pained expression on his mother's face. All he could hear were agonized cries as she was being tortured. All he could feel was her fear and panic. He closed his eyes for a brief moment to calm himself and hoped Padmé wouldn't notice his agitated state.

In what seemed like moments, the rickshaw had pulled up to a duracrete building that looked like the many others in the city. A tattered awning stood over the doorway. In its shade sat an aged Toydarian surrounded by some of his many treasures. Anakin helped Padmé out of the rickshaw before turning to the droid driver.

"Wait right there." The droid nodded its head.

"Okie-okie."

As Anakin and Padmé approached the winged blue creature, they could see that he was clearly working on some sort of rusted pit droid. A second, functional droid stood nearby, offering its assistance. The Toydarian waved the droid off, shouting at it.

"Da wanga!" The poor droid ran off in fear of making the creature even madder at it.

"Chut-chut Watto." Watto looked at Anakin suspiciously. Anakin wasn't surprised; Watto always had been a suspicious being and a stranger approaching him, greeting him in Huttese, was bound to increase his suspicious nature ten-fold.

"Ding me chasa hopa." Anakin reached down to pick up the droid Watto had been working on. The Toydarian just stared at him suspiciously

"Kee booda? Yo bana pee hota?" As Anakin worked on the droid, his robe fell open and Watto noticed the silver cylinder hanging from the boy's waist. He began to panic. "Anjenda! Jeedai! No bata no tutu." In his panic, he dropped the tool he had been holding onto his foot. He yelped and began rubbing the sore appendage. Anakin continued working but stared straight into the creature's eyes.

"Mi bosco de Shmi Skywalker." Watto stared at him for a moment, wondering why this man would be looking for his former slave. A sudden thought came to him and he looked closely at the youth in front of him and the way he was working with the busted droid in his hands.

"Ani?" He briefly shifted his glance to the woman standing nearby. "Little Ani? Nah!" Anakin placed the now repaired droid down in front of the aged Toydarian. Watto was taken aback in surprise. "You are Ani! It is you! Hahahahaha. You sure sprouted, huh? Weehoo! A Jedi! Waddya know?" He whispered conspiratorially to the boy. "Hey, maybe you could help with some deadbeats who owe me a lot of money..."

Anakin was insistent. "My mother."

"Oh, yeah. Shmi." He paused a moment to think, scratching his neck in the process. "Uh," he shrugged his shoulders at put his hands out in a conciliatory manner. "She's not mine no more. I sold her."

"You sold her?"

"Years ago. Sorry, Ani, but you know, business is business. Hehehe! I sold her to a moisture farmer named, uh, Lars. Least I think it was Lars. Believe it or not," he practically shouted, excited by the information he was about to pass on. "I heard he freed her and married her! Can ya beat that? Hey! Hahaha!" Padmé seemed to be relieved by this information, though she hid it well. Her face was stoic as her eyes flickered to Anakin.

Anakin was relieved at this news. Perhaps his nightmares were simply that and he had no reason to fear for her. Despite this possibility, he was still determined to find her and see her for himself, if only to put his mind at ease. "Do you know where they are now?"

"Ooh, long way from here. Someplace over on the other side of Mos Eisley, I think..."

"I'd like to know." Anakin's voice was hard and grim, leaving no room for argument. Watto hesitated for a moment as he noticed this. He knew that Anakin meant business and he did not want to get the business end of the boy's lightsaber.

"Eh sure. Absolutely. Hahaha. Let's go look in my records, huh?" Watto led them inside his small shop. For the time being, Anakin was appeased and felt his heart slightly eased, though he still had a feeling that he was still missing something.

Luca had wandered the streets of Mos Espa, taking in the familiar atmosphere. He hadn't completely lied to Anakin when he told him that he had things to take care of; he just didn't tell him what he was going to do. He knew that Anakin and Padmé would first go to Watto's and then to the Lars homestead. After that, he knew what Anakin's next course of action would be. It was that particular event that he was worried about. He knew that that was one of the turning points in Anakin's descent to the Dark Side and he would have to be there to make sure that the right choices were made this time around.

When he parted ways with the rest of the party, he walked around and browsed the many shops until he came across a small one that was selling speeder bikes. He managed to acquire a sturdy bike for minimal cost, and minimal persuasion, and he rode off into the desert.

He knew the route as clearly as he knew the back of his hand; it had been ingrained in his memory for years. He would never be able to forget the path he took that led him back to his mother that fateful night. He passed through familiar rock formations and sandy dunes. He spotted a Jawa group with their Sandcrawlers lumbering off in the distance. He spared them only a quick glance as he sped on, eyes focused on the horizon. He couldn't afford to waste any time; he had to arrive before Anakin.

In what seemed mere moments later, he found himself on a rocky cliff overlooking a small Tusken Raider encampment. Small campfires were already lit, preparing the evening meal. Over a dozen small tents were set up with the fires dispersed among them. He could see the inhabitants of this small community moving about, all preparing to settle in for the night. Men, women, and children alike all performed various tasks and, for all intents and purposes, they looked like any ordinary community preparing for a gathering. As Luca watched them, he felt a pang of remorse and guilt in his heart. Years ago, he had looked on this scene with nothing but anger and vengeance in his heart and mind. Looking at them now, years removed from the vicious acts he once committed, he could see how wrong that vision had been. These beings were not the animals he had once convinced himself they were. Yes, they had captured his mother, but that didn't mean that they all had to die. Revenge was not the Jedi way; he would listen this time.

Luca watched the activity below him for a moment before he sat back. The suns were still fairly high in the sky. It would be a little while before Anakin made his way to him. Luca leaned against a large rock and closed his eyes, knowing that he would need the rest for what was to come.

Anakin and Padmé had quickly made their way back to the starship after getting the information from Watto. They were slightly surprised that Luca had not yet returned, but Anakin insisted that Luca would be able to find them later. Besides, he argued, it wouldn't take them long to get to the Lars homestead and back once he found his mother and reassured himself that she was all right. They would hardly be missed. Padmé hesitantly agreed, more concerned with Anakin needing reassurance of his mother's good health than she was about her missing bodyguard.

They took off as quickly as they could and with the coordinates supplied by Watto, it wasn't long before the silver Nabooan ship landed not far from a modest-looking home. The two humans exited the ship and walked towards the home with the faithful astromech at their heels.

The pair stopped walking as Padmé turned to address their little companion. "Stay with the ship, Artoo." The droid tootled obediently and turned around to return to the ship. Approaching the domed building, they noticed another droid working, faithfully performing his duties. Upon approach, the rust-colored droid turned to address them.

"Oh? Uh…hello," the droid welcomed them politely. "How might I be of service? I am See…" Anakin interrupted, recognizing the droid.

"Threepio?"

"Oh…um?" Recognition dawned in his golden eyes. "The Maker! Oh, Master Ani! I knew you would return. I knew it!" He turned towards the man's female companion, recognizing her too. "And Miss Padmé! Oh my." Padmé smiled, true happiness on her face at seeing this old friend.

"Hello, Threepio."

"Bless my circuits! I am so pleased to see you both."

Anakin wasted no time. "I've come to see my mother."

"Oh, um…I think perhaps we'd better go indoors." The two humans were slightly disheartened by his words. If he were human, his tone of voice would have unnerved them even more. Not knowing what to make of his statement, they followed him down into the courtyard.

As they reached the bottom of the courtyard, they were greeted by a young couple. Threepio began the introductions. "Master Owen, might I present two most important visitors."

"I'm Anakin Skywalker."

The young man was holding a rag and some sort of mechanical device that he had been wiping. Upon hearing Anakin's name, he stopped what he had been doing, nervous at this introduction. He couldn't speak for a moment.

He managed to come to his senses enough to introduce himself. "Owen Lars." He turned to the young woman next to him. "This is my girlfriend, Beru."

Beru nodded politely. "Hello."

Padmé introduced herself to the others. "I'm Padmé."

"I guess I'm your step-brother. I had a feeling you might show up some day." Anakin stepped back and looked around.

"Is my mother here?"

"No, she's not." Anakin turned as another voice appeared from beside him. He turned and noticed an older man sitting in a hoverchair approaching him, one leg clearly bandaged. "Cliegg Lars." The man held out a hand for Anakin to shake. "Shmi is my wife." Anakin just stared at him, noticing the pained look on the man's face. There was something that was hurting him much worse than a severed leg ever could. Anakin didn't like the feeling he got from the Force at the man's words "We should go inside. We have a lot to talk about." Cliegg turned around, signaling to the others to follow him. Anakin watched him go. He was curious but worried at the farmer's words. He was suddenly feeling anxious and worried about what he would hear.

Anakin and Padmé followed the family indoors to the dining area and seated themselves around the table, waiting for Cliegg to tell his tale. The aged farmer maneuvered his hoverchair up to the head of the table as his son sat in the chair his left. Anakin took the one on the right, across from his newly-discovered step-brother, while Padmé occupied the one to the Jedi's right. The newcomers could tell by the expression on the older man's face that it was hard for him to form the words the Jedi wanted to hear. He didn't want to relive the story; he just wanted his dear wife back and to forget about that awful morning. But he knew he had to tell the story to someone else who loved her just as much. Her son deserved that much.

"It was just before dawn. They came out of nowhere. A hunting party of Tusken Raiders. Your mother had gone out early, like she always did, to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators." Beru quietly made her way into the dining area from the kitchen, setting a tray of drinks in the middle of the table. She sat down in the unoccupied seat to Owen's left. "From the tracks, she was about halfway home when they took her." Cliegg paused as he took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. Anakin sat still, his face stoic, taking in the farmer's words. "Those Tuskens walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her. Four of us came back." Anakin's mind was racing with unpleasant thoughts of his mother as he listened to Cliegg's words. His nightmares were starting to become a reality and he wasn't liking the path those dark thoughts were drawing him towards. It was all he could do to stay focused on what Cliegg was saying. "I'd be with them, but after I lost my leg. I just couldn't ride any more... until I heal." Anakin nodded grimly, noting the concern and care in the man's voice. By that alone he knew this man loved his mother and he knew that they had something else in common besides their love for that woman: neither one would willingly give up doing whatever they could to help her. They would fight to the death if they had to protect her or save her life. They would give up their lives if it meant bringing her back. And Cliegg very nearly had done just that. For that altruistic act of love, Anakin was grateful, glad that his mother had found someone who truly, deeply loved her.

Cliegg continued. "I don't want to give up on her, but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long." Padmé had surreptitiously glanced over at Anakin, worried about his state of mind. She knew that he had been in bad shape before that had even come here; she couldn't imagine the kind of pain he was feeling at these new revelations. She saw the pain and agony written across the young man's face, though he was trying his hardest to keep it to himself. Anyone who didn't know him as well as she did would have seen nothing amiss. But to her, that face that had not long ago displayed joy and happiness at their reunion and little tryst on Naboo, was racked with agony, and she wanted nothing more than to make it all go away, to make him feel better. She just didn't know how.

There was a long silence as everyone in the room absorbed Cliegg's words. They all stared at Anakin, waiting for his reaction, watching for some sort of emotion to flicker across that impassive Jedi face. They all were surprised when Anakin suddenly stood and turned towards the courtyard, attempting to leave. Owen spoke first.

"Where are you going?" Anakin turned to look at him, not believing that he would ask such a question.

"To find my mother." His voice was serious, leaving no room for argument or discussion. Cliegg stared at him, impressed by such determination yet saddened that the son of his beloved wife wouldn't accept what he already had in his heart. As much as he wanted to believe she was still alive, it just wasn't feasible. Jedi or not, he did not want to see the boy get hurt when the truth inevitably revealed itself.

"Your mother's dead, son. Accept it." Anakin discreetly shook his head, knowing that it wasn't true. He had heard the words, seen the distress written on the older man's face and knew in his heart that the man believed that what he was saying was the truth. But he just couldn't accept it. He would find her. He would find his mother.

Padmé stared after him sadly as he left, a little worried by his sudden departure. She knew how stubborn and hard-headed the young man was and she knew that he wouldn't believe such a thing unless he actually witnessed it for himself. She had seen the sadness written on the faces of Anakin's newly-discovered family, so she knew that what Cliegg had said was the truth. Shmi was gone. There was no bringing her home. But she also knew that a determined young Jedi would not let his nightmares become the reality he so feared. He would do whatever he could to protect those he loved and cared about. She shivered a little as she got up to join him. Whatever it was he was feeling, whatever negative emotions he was experiencing, whatever darkness he was facing, she was scared for him, scared of what might become of him, scared of what he might do to conquer the demons plaguing him.

She found him outside, contemplative. The shadows were long on the ground and the suns were slowly making their way to the horizon. She walked up to him and he turned towards her, the waning suns casting their afternoon shadows on the domed house. "You're gonna have to stay here. These are good people, Padmé. You'll be safe."

"Anakin…" She couldn't say anymore; the tears and emotions within her were threatening to well over. She threw her arms around him instead, tightly embracing him. She was relieved when she felt him hug her back. It seemed as if he was holding on to her for dear life. He didn't want to let her go, afraid that if he did so, something would happen to her. She could just disappear, as his mother did, and he might not be able to find her. He wanted to find his mother, he needed to find her, but he didn't know if he would be able to leave Padmé. He couldn't bear it if something were to happen to her too.

They embraced for a long time before Anakin reluctantly let her go. They stared briefly into each other's eyes and both saw something there that had, at one time, been denied. Now, it was clearer than ever and it would be much harder to deny that spark again. Anakin turned around and headed towards Owen's speeder bike. He turned his head over his shoulder to reassure the young woman he would leave behind.

"I won't be long." With those parting words, he sped off into the desert, following his feelings and the Force towards his mother. He would find her; he had to.

Padmé watched him go, sadly. As his figure raced away and the engine faded over the horizon, dozens of unshed tears came to her eyes. She would stand vigil until his return, awaiting him and whatever answers he would find.

Huttese-to-English Translations:

Da wanga – To sell

Chut-chut – Never mind

Ding me chasa hopa – Let me help you with that

Kee booda? Yo bana pee hota? – What? What do you want?

Anjenda! Jeedai! – Wait! You're a Jedi!

No bata no tutu – Whatever it is, I didn't do it

Mi bosco de Shmi Skywalker – I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker