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All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Six – Attack of the Clones Part 4
By
Celgress
"I am starting to realize that I can do nothing on my own. Everything that I start to build crumbles into nothing! It's safe to say that no matter what I try I fall so short. This unrelenting pride continues to widen the space between you and I."
"Is there any point in trying to change? No matter I do it always stays the same."
The Valleys (2011) Close Your Eyes
Geonosis
The young Boba Fett stood before Count Dooku, Durge and Archduke Poggle the lesser of Geonosis. "Lord Tyranus my Father Jango Fett has been slain by the Jedi. No doubt they will soon by on their way here."
"This is a disaster" Poggle chattered. "Our newly minted driod army is not yet fully operational. Count Dooku you promised us Geonosis would never be attacked by the Republic. What are your plans for the defence of the planet and system?"
"Rest easy Archduke" Dooku said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I am more than ready for the Jedi as well as their Clone Army. Geonosis will be the graveyard of the Jedi Order." At Dooku's side Durge nodded in agreement.
"I wish I shared your optimism" Poggle chattered. "I fear you may be over confident Count Dooku."
"Rubbish" Dooku snorted. "All is progressing as planned. Soon Archduke you shall behold the error of your words."
"Let the scum come" Durge said menacingly. "I will teach them all a lesson in humility."
"Lord Tyranus with my father gone I formally request to be trained as one of your personal assassins" Boba Fett said kneeling before Dooku.
"Hmmm, I can always use a Mandalorian amongst my acolytes" Dooku said stroking his well-trimmed beard thoughtfully. "Very well Boba you may join the ranks of my assassins, as a trainee. Be well advised the life you chose will not be an easy one. I demand perfection from myself and expect nothing less of those under my patronage."
"I will not disappoint you my new master" Boba Fett said bowing his head in an act of submission.
Naboo
"Naboo is truly beautiful this time of year" Senator Padme Amidala said as she and Jedia Padawan Anakin Skywalker strolled through the grounds surrounding her ancestral home. "Sometimes I wish I could remain here, live a life of indulgence." Padme finished while sniffing a freshly bloomed flower.
"It is lovely" Anakin said taking in the sights. "It is very different from Tatooine."
"Tatooine that is the planet you grew up on? Isn't it a desert world?"
"Yes and yes, Tatooine is truly a miserable place. I honestly don't miss it much. If it wasn't for the people I left behind there, like my mother, I wouldn't even think about the place."
"I remember your mother" Padme said a smile coming to her face. "She was a nice woman. You both had so little, yet she shared what she had with us a group of stranded travelers. I wonder how she is? Do you ever visit her?"
"No" Anakin answered his expression turning sad. "The Jedi Order doesn't believe in attachment of any kind. Once a being becomes a Jedi learner, a Padawan like me, they must give up all attachments."
"Including family?" Padme asked.
"Especially family" Anakin replied. "Most Jedi never see their family members or other loved ones again after joining the Order. On the rare occasions they do a Jedi is instructed to avoid any direct contact with the person or persons at all costs."
"Pardon me, but those rules sound monstrous" Padme said with a gasp putting her hand over her mouth.
"It is done to keep emotions under control, so that passions are reigned in" Anakin continued his explanation. "The Jedi Order believes even seemingly positive emotions can lead to negative behavior, love to jealousy, jealousy to obsession for example."
"A life without passion" Padme said with a loud sigh. "Isn't the kind of life I could live. I don't know how you Jedi do it."
"It isn't easy. It is at times a difficult path" Anakin said. "Nothing worth having is easy I suppose. In every class of padawans there are always several that fail to reach the rank of Jedi Knight, usually because of uncontrolled emotions."
"Hard to believe we first met ten years ago during the Trade Federation Blockade of Naboo. I remember when you first saw me you thought I was an 'angel'" Padme said with a grin as the pair continued their stroll through the gardens.
"I was only a boy then" Anakin said in his defense trying hard not to blush. "I didn't know any better."
"Really, what do you think I am now Padawan Skywalker?" Padme said playfully.
"A beautiful, intelligent woman" Anakin said after gulping down the lump in his throat, unable to prevent himself from blushing.
"You're kind of cute when you blush" Padme said with a chuckle.
Anakin froze, looking embarrassed. "I,I,I'm s-sorry if I am making you, you feel uncomfortable Senator?" He straightened up trying to avoid making further eye contact with her.
"No need to apologize, like I said I find it kind of cute" Padme replied with a grin. "We should head back it'll soon be time for supper."
Anakin and Padme ate supper alone, for the most part, that evening as they would all of their evenings spent that week on Naboo. Padme had granted the members of her entourage leave to spend the time with their loved ones. Padme's family was away in the capital Theed, along with all the other prominent Naboo families, preparing for the state funeral of Co-Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Thus other than a few security agents the pair had the large house to themselves.
During the days the pair frolicked in the gardens. During the evenings they took supper by the pool. Over time the two young people grew closer, though neither consciously noticed. Their time spent on Naboo was peaceful, only the nights were filled with distress.
Late each night Padme had been awaken by a sudden noise. Investigating the source of the disturbances she would inevitably discover Anakin standing by the pool looking up at the starry night sky. His brow wet with perspiration. His chest heaving as he gulped down air. The first few nights Padme ignored this strange spectacle, until the night following Palpatine's funeral.
The day had dawned hot and hazy. By noon the weather was already oppressive. By the time Padme's Party reached the capital the traffic, both speeder and foot, was at a standstill. Soon Padme's Party was swamped by autograph seekers and holonet reports. Padme never knew if it was the stress, the heat, the claustrophobic environment, the night terrors or a combination of all four. Whatever caused it Anakin appeared to snap drawing his lightsaber on the crowd. The panicked crowd quickly parted before Padme's Party. Anakin's actions assured they were not bothered for the remainder of the day. The funeral of Palpatine, while long, was otherwise uneventful. Padme was furious at Anakin's concerning his actions though she held her tongue until she discovered him once again in a disheveled state sobbing by the pool late that night.
"Anakin, what is it? What is wrong?" Padme asked the distraught young Jedi.
"Its' nothing" Anakin lied, staring into the star filled night.
"You're lying, we both know it. Something has been bothering you since our first night on Naboo" Padme said placing her hand on Anakin's damp shoulder. "Your clothing is soaked with sweat. You've been having nightmares, haven't you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about Padme."
"Please Anakin, lie to yourself if you must but don't lie to me. I thought you respect me? Aren't we friends now?"
Turning around to face her Anakin looked directly into Padme's eyes before answering. "Its' my Mother, I've been having dreams about her being in terrible danger since before we arrived here on Naboo. I would have told somebody at the Temple about my dreams but they would only have told me the same thing they always do when I mention my Mother."
"Which is?" Padme asked.
"I must let go of those I care about. Fear of losing them is the shadow of greed, a pathway to the Dark Side it represents" Anakin said choking back tears as he repeated by rote the mantra he had heard many times before. "I know their right. I know I should listen. I'm just so worried about my Mother. I should never have left her back on Tatooine."
"Don't be so hard on yourself Anakin. You were only a child. There was nothing you could have done. Her fate was out of your hands."
"I should have tried Padme. I'm supposed to be the Chosen One of the Force or so says the Order. What good is all the power in the universe if I cannot even protect those I care about? Some great warrior I am."
"Anakin we can't always prevent bad things from happening to good people, even those we care about. Bad things are going to occur unfortunately it is the nature of the Universe."
"Maybe it is, but it shouldn't have to be. If I'm half as powerful as the Jedi claim why can't I stop it?"
"Perhaps because it is the will of the Force, it is meant to be. I do not fully understand the nature of the Force. However isn't it conceivable there are things meant to happen, even bad things?"
Why than is the Force sending me visions? It must want these events prevented. Otherwise why warn me about them?"
"Anakin are you certain that is what is happening?" Padme asked softly. "Is it not possible you are having these dreams, these nightmares, about your mother because of talks you've had about Jedi rules against attachment?"
"I'm certain these are not merely dreams Padme" Anakin said appalled by the very notion. "They are so vivid, seem so real they cannot be mere dreams."
"Alright, what should we do about them?"
"We shouldn't do anything about my, visions" Anakin said straightening up and brushing her hand off his shoulder. "I will be leaving for Tatooine, at first light."
"Oh no you won't, not without me you aren't" Padme declared a look of determination etched on her face. "You're my bodyguard remember? If you go I go."
"Padme Tatooine is a dangerous place" Anakin began to argue. "It is full of gangsters, slave traders, the scum of a thousand systems."
"I know, I've been there remember?" Padme countered.
"There isn't any way I can talk you out of this, is there?" Anakin said with a groan.
"Nope, so let's pack." Padme said with a wink and a smile. Anakin smiled back in spite of himself.
Tatooine
It had taken the sleek, Nubian Star Cruiser little more than a standard solar day to reach the desert planet. Even from orbit Tatooine was a nasty, arid, little world. If not for the fact several Hutts, including Gardulla the Elder and Jabba, had chosen Tatoonie as their base of criminal operations likely no one outsider of the Outer Rim would ever have heard of the world.
Upon landing the first thing Padme noticed was the insufferable, burning heat. Squinting overhead she noted the twin suns were near apogee. Pulling the hood of her robe up for protection from the harmful rays she followed Anakin, her security detail had remained on the ship, into the winding streets of Mos Espa. It wasn't long before she and Anakin reached the shop of Watto, the Toydarian junk dealer, Anakin's former home.
"Hello anything catch your interest?" Watto said buzzing around the pair as they approached the front door. "We have a special on this week only! A two for one sale! Buy any one item get the second half price, some restrictions apply."
"We are interested in a slave woman by the name of Shmi, Shmi Skywalker. We know she belongs to you" Anakin said ignoring the Toydarian's annoying sales pitch. "We would like to purchase her."
"Sorry no can do friend" Watto said a hint of regret in his voice. "I already sold her a few years back."
"May we ask who the buyer was?" Padme asked stepping forward.
"Hey, you look familiar" Watto said eyeing Padme closely. "I never forget a face, even a human one. Haven't we met somewhere before?"
"We have" Padme confirmed. "About ten years ago my Nubian Star Cruiser broke down on this planet. I was accompanied by two Jedi at the time."
"Ah, yes now I remember you. I see you still keep the same company" Watto said eyeing the lightsaber on Anakin's belt. "Wait a minute I think I recognize you to. You are little Ani all grown up, aren't you boy? It is you boy! How have you been? You're a Jedi now, huh?"
"Where is my mother?!" Anakin shouted losing his patience with the Toydarian junk dealer.
Taken aback by the intensity of Anakin's outburst Watto sputtered, "I sold her to a moister farmer named Cliegg Lars has a homestead out on the far range. The guy also bought that busted up protocol driod you pieced together, C3PO. I heard Lars freed your mother and then married her of all things. Would you believe that, ha." By now Watto had regained his composure. "Sure I can't interest you in anything? We have…."
"We are not interested" Anakin said before leaving Padme in tow.
"Wait, what about my information exchange fee!" Watto grunted. Padme threw a few credit chips his way, which he greedily picked up.
Finding the specific moister farm they were looking for took several hours. The problem was the deserts of Tatooine were dotted with dozens of such operations. Locating the right one was more a game of trail & error than anything else. By the time the Nubian Space Cruiser found the correct farm and dropped Anakin & Padme nearby it was dusk.
Walking up to the homestead it wasn't long before the pair was greeted by a young couple Owen Lars and his girlfriend Beru Whitesun. After exchanging pleasantries and learning Anakin's identity. Owen & Beru took the pair to see Owen's father Cliegg Lars. Anakin was reunited with C3PO along the way. Sitting around the modest dinner table Cliegg Lars introduced himself to Anakin & Padme. When asked by Anakin were his mother Shmi was Cliegg Lars recounted a tale of woe.
"Tusken Raiders abducted your mother one evening while she was collecting mushrooms from one of the vaporators about a month ago" Cliegg explained, a pained look on his face. "I told her time and again not to go out after dark without a weapon. She never listened Shmi always saw the good in all creatures. We raised a search party of twenty-nine other farmers & farm hands later that same night. I lead the group myself. We caught up with part of the Tusken Tribe who had taken Shmi. I tell you they are more like animals that thinking beings. The brutes did this when they briefly captured me." Cliegg indicates the bandaged stump where his right leg once was. "Of the twenty-nine in our search party I was one of the lucky ones. I came back alive. Not including myself only two others did the same. Soon as I heal, I'll be back out there. Trust me you can count on it."
"Excuse me, sir" Anakin said getting up from the dinner table and leaving the room. Padme excused herself before following him outside into the surprisingly cold night.
"I'm so sorry Anakin" Padme said giving him a hug.
Shrugging out of Padme's embrace Anakin said. "I want you to stay here until I return Padme. These are good people, they'll look after you. I should be back by dawn, at the latest."
"Anakin what are you going to do?"
"I have to know for sure if my mother is alive or dead. I'm going to find the answer, out there."
"The desert is huge you'll never find her, especially not at night."
"I have the Force as my guide. I will find her" Anakin turned around, jumped on a nearby speeder and took off into the night. "Tell Cliegg I'll have his speeder back by morning, hopefully sooner."
"Anakin, come back Anakin!" Padme shouted after him waving her arms, until realizing it was pointless.
Anakin flew over countless dunes before he spotted the Tusken Camp in question. Anakin knew it was the right camp because the Force practically sung from the moment the cluster of tents came into view. Hiding his borrowed speeder behind a dune Anakin stealthily approached the tent with the strongest resonance in the Force. After dispatching the two guards there with his lightsaber Anakin's eyes fell upon the battered, bruised & bloodied form of his beloved mother Shmi Skywalker. Anakin deactivated his lightsaber and picked up his limp semi-conscious mother. Gently cradling Shim in his arms he took her from the camp, laying her down near the speeder.
"Mom" Anakin with tears welling up in his eyes, "Mom, speak to me Mom. Mother I'm so sorry this happened to you. I should have come back, freed you before this happened. It is all my fault."
"Ani" Shim whimpered her voice cracking, her eyes barely able to open. "Is it really you, my brave little Ani grown up?"
"Yes it is me mother. It is Ani I've come back for you" Anakin said the tears falling freely.
"You became a Jedi Ani?"
"Yes, I became a Jedi just like I promised you."
"I am proud you my son…", Those where the last words of Shmi Skywalker-Lars before death took her from this life.
"No, No, No, Force, No" Anakin cried holding the limp, broken body of his mother tightly against his frame. "She suffered so much during her life. Why, why, why must she die? Why must it be like this?"
"It needn't be this way" said a low voice.
Still holding the body of his dead mother Anakin looked up. There standing before him was a tall hooded, black robed, black gloved figure.
"Who are you?" Anakin asked.
"I am Darth Plagueis, grandmaster of the Sith Order."
Dropping his mother's body Anakin leapt back igniting his lightsaber. Darth Plagueis merely chuckled gesturing towards the lightsaber with a gloved hand. In an instant the blue blade drew back into the hilt which was torn from Anakin's grip ending up in the hand of the dark lord. After inspecting the weapon Darth Plagueis casually tossed it back to Anakin. From deep within the shadowy confines of his deep hood Darth Plagueis again spoke.
"A good faith demonstration of my power" Darth Plagueis wavered his gloved hand in the direct of Shmi's body. Sickly green, glowing, vapours energy flowed from his palm and finger tips into the dead woman. With a wrenching convulsion Shmi's eyes opened and she gasped for breath. Ignoring Darth Plagueis for the moment Anakin fell by his mother's side. Taking her hands in his Anakin asked.
"Mother are you alright?"
"Why yes dear. Where am I?" Shmi asked apparently blissfully unaware of her recent ordeal.
"Mom tell me what is the last thing you remember?"
"I was collecting mushrooms from the vaporator. Cliegg loves them. Wait Anakin, what are you doing here shouldn't you be on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple?" Shmi asked pushing herself up on her elbows.
Anakin looked at his mother in awe. Not only was she alive, but several of her bruises and burns had faded away. Thank the Force surely it was a miracle. However before he could celebrate Shmi's completion turn ashen, her eyes rolled up into her head and she convulsed several times before falling to the ground once again dead.
"No, no, please not again!" Anakin cried looking down at the body of his mother. "Bring her back!" He screamed with all his might at Darth Plagueis.
"It isn't so simple" Darth Plagueis said. "The Force is the glue which holds nature together. It demands balance in all things. I possess the ability by which to permanently resurrect your dear, departed mother for a price."
"Then do it!" Anakin demanded without a second of hesitation. "I will pay any price."
"Life must be sacrificed. I can only transfer enough energy into your mother's midi-chlorians if I take the energy from the midi-chlorians of other beings. If you truly desire her resurrection you will kill the Tribe of Tusken Raiders who killed her. Their deaths will allow my technique to grant her new life."
"I cannot do what you ask" Anakin said tears once again filling his eyes. "It is cold blooded murder."
"It is, as was what they did to your mother" Darth Plagueis said. "What they will continue to do. How many lives will you save by destroying them, dozens, hundreds, perhaps thousands? Tell me do they not deserve death young Jedi? Have they not earned it, several times over by now? Would the galaxy not be better off without them in it? They are filthy animals, nothing more."
"I, I, I'm unsure I do not know."
"Very well I will not pressure you further young Jedi" Darth Plagueis cooed seductively turning his back on Anakin as if to leave. "I see you are unable to make the difficult choices, no wonder you failed her."
Looking down at his dead mother then at the departing Darth Plagueis, at his dead mother then back at Darth Plagueis again Anakin made a fateful decision. "Please wait, I will do what you ask if you return my mother to life and perfect health."
"I will" Darth Plagueis said turning back around. "Now go use your anger, your hate do what must be done."
Activating his lightsaber Anakin stocked away into the Tusken Raider's camp. At first he planned only on killing the warriors that changed the moment the first group of Tusken Raiders attacked him. His rage boiling over Anakin descended into a frenzy of aggression. By the time he had finished there wasn't a Tusken alive in the camp, man, woman, or child.
All across the galaxy Jedi felt a shadow pass over their hearts as Anakin committed his terrible deed. Though none could put their finger on the source all perceived the subtle shift in the Force toward favoring the Dark Side. Yoda & Mace Windu both felt it while on route to Geonosis, Siri Tachi felt it on Kamino as did the still bedridden Obi-wan Kenobi.
Returning to Darth Plagueis Anakin was forced to give an account of his actions in excruciating detail. Once Darth Plagueis was satisfied with Anakin's recounting the mysterious figure performed the ritual. Following Anakin's heartfelt reunion with his restored mother Darth Plagueis called him aside as Shmi dozed.
"A word of advice young Jedi, if the Council of your Order ever learns what has transpired between us here tonight you will be expelled if not executed. Having traded with the Dark Side of the Force in such a manner they will perceive you as a grave threat. If you desire survival you best heed my warning, farewell." With that a sudden mini-sand storm kicked up between Anakin and Darth Plagueis. When it cleared a few moments later Darth Plagueis was gone, having vanished as completely as if he had never been there at all.
To Be Continued