Disclaimer:
Stargate does not belong to me, nor do any of the images displayed. This fic was created by me for entertainment purposes.
NA 1: This is a translation from Spanish. Before, I used to upload the translation from Google Translate, but I found this one and it seems better to me. Please comment to let me know what you think.
NA 2: If anyone wants to help with corrections or translations and serve as an editor, please send me a private message. I am too busy to do it myself. Again, my apologies to everyone.
NA3: También he publicado el original en español, ya pueden leerlo.
Star Wars Xion 6
The next day, Anakin practiced with his lightsaber, and Obi-Wan, who had not been separated from him since the incident with the council, was his opponent. Overall, Anakin was satisfied with the fighting style he chose, which was the same as in the movies, as it was indeed the one that suited him best. This style used the force at all times, and Anakin had plenty of it.
When he had finished the warm-up, Anakin went against his master, who was capable with the lightsaber, and breaking form III, which he used and which in turn was noted for being the best defense, would be an appropriate training. Of course, he would not go all out, because like all jedi, his master was lazy in practice with his lightsaber, and more so with his physical condition, if Anakin got serious, he would beat him up severely for being careless.
…
-Anakin, have I upset you recently?" asked Obi-Wan in an indignant tone, because he was attacking hard.
-"Master, we have a war at the gates, and you have been slacking on your saber practice, I plan to give you some trouble, until you take your training seriously, as I cannot force you to practice," Anakin explained. Obi-Wan oozed helplessness.
-Anakin, there won't be any war, and if there is, you're going to kill me before it starts," he complained, rubbing his cheek where he had a small cut, so he had complained about his brutality.
-Master, I know you can do it. With practice, dodging such forceful slashes will not require you to block with your saber, please continue," Anakin encouraged, smiling wickedly at him, as he wondered how many times he would fly away before he learned to dodge his devastating cuts, which was what was currently getting him into trouble.
Anakin lashed out, as Obi-Wan glared at him menacingly. He parried his powered vertical slash, interposing his saber just long enough to give him room to step aside, and deflected the rest of the force, returning to his defense. Anakin didn't stop his attack and threw a side swipe, which was easier for him to dodge without making much contact.
Anakin was convinced that the V-form was ideal for him, because he had been throwing powered slashes since the beginning and barely felt a thing. Obi-Wan, on the other hand, who was forced to take them, could not hide his pain and the damage they were causing him. He was already tired, the only thing keeping him going was pride, and after sending him flying when he couldn't dodge it, Anakin planned to end it.
Obi-Wan lost his balance and Anakin charged his punch to send him flying, but the door to the room opened and Anakin stepped back, as his master sighed in relief. He supposed Obi-Wan was grateful not to be seen being sent flying by his own Padawan. But his face soon looked shocked as he saw the person who entered. Anakin, who also saw who it was, hastily sheathed his saber and stood respectfully behind Obi-Wan.
-Anakin, don't be cheeky! -Obi-Wan grunted, because seconds ago he was about to send him flying without any mercy and now he was using him as a shield against the incoming danger.
-Master, please do your duty," Anakin mumbled, as Master Windu approached them.
Anakin was no longer sure that looking for an empty room was a good idea. If this guy intended to intimidate them, not even the fear of looking like a bully could defend them, since there was no one here. As for taking on this brown beast, he doubted even Master Yoda would be able to do it, though he would not be easily intimidated.
-Master Windu," said Anakin and Obi-Wan at the same time, bowing respectfully.
-Knight Kenobi, young Padawan," Windu greeted, not overlooking Obi-Wan's tired appearance and the wound on his cheek.
-My Padawan has made some progress recently, and I'm afraid I'm a bit out of practice," Obi-Wan said, admitting his guilt with embarrassment.
-I don't remember you being a pushover, it seems your apprentice is outstanding," Windu said as he drew his lightsaber. Anakin grimaced. "Shit," Anakin thought. This guy was too vindictive.
-Padawan Anakin, it is very difficult to see your progress, since in all the tests you only get average grades," said Windu as he checked his status.
-Master Windu, all those tests are for initiates and some Padawans who are looking for a master. I already have a master and I am satisfied with everything he has taught me, so those tests are meaningless to me. To single out those children or other Padawans is unnecessary; letting them show off is more appropriate," said Anakin as he drew his lightsaber. Windu flashed a smile that was not a smile.
-Padawan Skywalker, your confidence in your own strength surprises me," Windu said menacingly.
-It is always a pleasure to surprise you," said Anakin, aware that what Windu felt was not surprise, he believed it was arrogance and that was why he resented it. His statement was a roundabout way of telling Windu to his face that he loved to annoy him.
-Master Windu, Anakin is a little upset due to…" Windu raised his hand to stop Obi-Wan's explanations, who seemed ready to beg for forgiveness on his behalf.
-Knight Kenobi, make room for us. Your Padawan doesn't look tired and his little provocations don't affect me," Windu said, indicating that he was still in control and would not cut his head off in anger, though it was clear he was annoyed with him and wanted to beat him up. He looked at Anakin. Padawan, on guard. Do not hold back, there are no other students whom your superior skills can discourage," Windu said mockingly.
-As you wish, Master," said Anakin and assumed the V-Form stance.
Anakin knew he was using his own style, but it was clear he was not taking it seriously. Anakin smiled maliciously in his mind. Windu wanted to beat him up, but his desire to do so was only half that of Anakin's. This brown beast was the one who always reprimanded him in the council, he wouldn't even listen to explanations, he just scolded without further ado. And now, the cretin thought he could stop him easily.
If Windu had taken an unfamiliar stance, Anakin would have been very cautious. But that stance was a statement that he wasn't taking him seriously, i.e., his guard was down. If Anakin attacked with everything, he could certainly hit him several times. Although this brown beast had to be stronger than Dooku, the difference should not have been much. Anakin believed that if Dooku dared to let his guard down before him, he would give him the beating of his life. Therefore, this rabid jedi should at least take a couple of blows.
-Anakin, no!" exclaimed Obi-Wan, who knew him as if he were his brother, and understood immediately that he was up to no good.
Anakin ignored him and charged with everything he had. Windu blinked as their sabers collided and felt Anakin's momentum, realizing his mistake immediately. But it was too late to change his form, and he took all the damage from the blow with his full strength. To make matters worse, Anakin did not allow him to retreat and adopt a new combat stance. He attacked with all the speed, strength and agility he could unleash, and his saber burned Windu's left side, surely leaving a nasty burn.
Windu looked at him in shock as he tried with all his might and speed to pull back and change his form, but he was trapped in his grip and Anakin would show him no mercy whatsoever. He knew that when Windu recovered, he would return the favor. Therefore, Anakin continued to attack with everything.
…
Barely a minute into the battle, Windu made an unexpected move and in a microsecond unleashed a force attack that knocked Anakin back ten paces. Anakin was uninjured and did not fall to the ground, but when he looked back at Windu, Windu was already striking a strange pose and glaring at him angrily.
Anakin smiled and returned to his Form V stance, observing Windu's miserable state. He had a cut on his right cheek and a nasty bruise on his left, which would soon become a large lump.
On his right side, he had a cut and his skin had been scarred. But Anakin was sure that what hurt the most was that he had taken more than ten full-power attacks from Form V, in which he was a specialist, and knew the blunt damage it caused. No doubt Windu was in for a couple of days of muscle pain.
-Padawan, I underestimated you! -Windu growled, admitting his mistake, while warning him with his eyes that he, too, would soon feel the pain doubled.
Anakin, who had gone all out and still been repulsed within a minute, knew the brown beast wasn't bluffing. But if he wanted to hit it, he had better try hard.
…
Two hours later, Obi-Wan and Anakin were walking behind Master Windu toward the Jedi Council. Windu was sporting a swollen cheek and looked somewhat tired. Despite this, he walked with a smooth gait. Behind, Anakin had exactly the same bruises as Windu and looked just as tired. Even so, Obi-Wan maintained a slight smile.
-Master, I am your apprentice. You shouldn't be happy that a thug beat me up," complained Anakin, who had spent two hours fighting Windu and his demonic style of attack and defense, as fast and aggressive as his own. Besides, this thug also powered up his blows, and his control over the Force was no match for his at the moment. She managed to hit him several times and even went to the trouble of inflicting the same damage he had caused her, under the guise of measuring his abilities. But it was nothing more than pure intimidation. However, to Anakin's satisfaction, it took him two hours to complete his revenge and when he did, they were both too tired. To continue would be dangerous, so they stopped the fight.
Anakin was satisfied, for despite Windu's brutality, this would serve him better than the fights with Obi-Wan. His future opponent would be Dooku, a wretch on the same scale as Windu, although there was a great difference between them. Dooku was no match for Windu, at least as far as he knew.
-"Padawan, keep your composure in your words," Obi-Wan said, broadening his smile cheekily.
…
Arriving at the Council, the masters blinked at the sight of their pitiful states. However, as Windu personally led them and said nothing about it, the others chose to ignore him or pretend they hadn't noticed, noting the uncanny similarity between their wounds and Windu's.
Once Windu assumed his position, Obi-Wan was assigned a new mission. The Council informed them that there had been an assassination attempt against the senator he knew, Padmé Amidala, and they would be sent to protect her, as they had done in the past. Since no one spoke to him directly, Anakin dutifully stayed in his role as Padawan. He did not disagree with the discipline, in fact, he valued the rules. What he did not like were absolute rules, as he felt that everything in this world had exceptions.
On the other hand, his visions confirmed to him that the war was beginning and Palpatine was moving his chips to include him in his game, bringing him closer to Padmé and getting something with which to put pressure on him, something that would draw him away from the Council and closer to him. The Force was warning him, and he also knew it through Xion's memories.
Padmé was one of the pieces Palpatine planned to use against him to keep him under control. Although in a past life he had succeeded, this time he would not succeed, simply because Anakin was no longer the same and, although he had to admit that he liked Padmé, he did not feel an unbridled passion that Palpatine could use against him. He could see that he and Padmé were too different and that what they admired about each other would never be enough for a sincere relationship, something that, according to Xion's memories, they had never had. Their ways of thinking were opposite.
What would have happened if that Anakin had shown who he really was? According to his memories, he simply panicked at the possibility of her rejecting him and kept everything he believed in hidden. He was never able to tell her how far he was willing to go and all he would do for her by giving her his heart, but in the end that happened and, as expected, she rejected him….
Anakin shook his head mentally and forced all his feelings out of his mind. The war was coming and his frustration at not being able to stop it filled his mind with useless thoughts.
…
After a much needed bath and a change of clothes, they headed off to meet Padmé, the Senator of Naboo, who met them in her chambers in the Senate. She had come to Curoscan to oppose the creation of an army and was one of the most influential parties in this matter due to the events on Naboo, which had brought her great fame and reputation.
Papmé attended to them immediately when they arrived at his apartment, receiving them in the visiting room along with part of his retinue. Anakin greeted her respectfully, but with a smile. They had not seen each other in ten years, but had corresponded regularly.
Upon seeing Papmé, now a little older, Anakin gave her a dubious rating of seven. She was short, had good legs but was flat-chested, her features were above average, her hair was not striking and her eyes did not stand out. She was a decent beauty at best, nothing to make you fall in love at first sight, although she might be attractive to a nine-year-old with limited options. However, this woman's moral and ethical character was not to be underestimated, as even Palpatine could not manipulate her. So now he was trying to kill her, or throw her at him, Anakin wasn't sure, but no matter what he tried, he would not succeed.
As he greeted her, Anakin smiled at her. Their friendship had grown over the past few years and he had given her three books, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, that he knew she would love. Papmé had loved them so much that he had even published them, but he donated the proceeds to charity and only agreed to send a copy to his mother on Tatooine, but did not collaborate with her lab. She was too strict. Despite that, she offered him a sad smile, although their meeting was formal due to the presence of her retinue from Naboo and her official senatorial attire.
After the reunion, Papmé left to go about her business and rest. Anakin could not meditate at that time, so he decided to observe the city.
…
-Is she the dear friend you mentioned at the council? -Obi-Wan asked behind him after checking the apartment, while Papmé was already asleep in his room after the departure of his servants and guards. Anakin nodded.
-I agreed, her doppelganger, I was a friend to her. Today she was killed and I can feel her pain. I feel somewhat guilty because if I had come sooner, she would not be suffering. I am her friend, but…" -Anakin said no more, he had decided to invest his time in saving his mother and let Papmé's friend die.
-It seems that your feelings towards her are not common," said Obi-Wan with an insinuating smile.
-Master, she and I cannot be together," said Anakin seriously.
-Anakin, the code does not require us to be celibate," Obi-Wan said.
-I know, but my feelings for her may go beyond what is appropriate if we get too close, and I would certainly hurt her. I'll just protect her life and let each of us go our own way," Anakin explained, dismissing any feelings of attachment that might arise in him. Obi-Wan shook his head.
-It's your decision, but based on what you explain, it seems prudent to me," Obi-Wan said with his mind elsewhere.
-Did you not restrain yourself in time? -Anakin asked. Obi-Wan tensed. Anakin smiled.
-Anakin, revenge is the way to the dark side," Obi-Wan chided indignantly.
-Master, you should take your own advice before you smile because your own apprentice has been beaten," Anakin said, rolling his eyes. Obi-Wan cleared his throat uncomfortably.
-Anakin, you are imagining things," he said and opted for a strategic retreat. Anakin shook his head and continued to watch the city as the rain began to fall.
…
A couple of hours after Papmé went to sleep, Anakin frowned.
-Is something wrong? -Obi-Wan asked, noticing his alertness and how the Force was intensifying around him.
-Danger approaches that room," Anakin said sincerely. Obi-Wan blinked.
-What? -he asked in disbelief.
-There's a flying droid approaching the room. It's carrying some poisonous insects," Anakin said as he started toward the place.
Obi-Wan was stunned. Anakin understood. This had never happened before. The Force was not used to revealing information like this. What Obi-Wan didn't know was that this was all part of Anakin's knowledge, and the Force was simply confirming it. Anakin didn't plan to sit idly by and wait for everything to happen according to his memories. He hated not being able to do anything to change the course of events and he would not stand by now that he had the opportunity to act.
-Master, there are two people outside. If you allow me, I can capture one of them easily. You see that those insects do not harm Papmé," Anakin said as he headed for the door. Obi-Wan looked hesitant for a second, but nodded and hurried to position himself by the door of the room. Anakin ran to the elevator and up to the terrace.
Once on the terrace, Anakin ran with all his enhanced strength and leapt towards the building across the street, landing on a surprised shapeshifter as if he were an arrow and the subject was the target to which the arrow was drawn.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan rushed into Padmé's room and killed the insects that had gained entry. Anakin, who was on his back holding his unconscious captive, casually stuck out his arm and stopped a dart meant for his target with his fingertips, as he had been watching the other individual at all times. The mercenary showed surprise and decided to flee. Anakin turned the assassin over to the authorities and returned to Padmé's room, where she was in her nightclothes, being watched by Obi-Wan.
-Easy? Anakin, you jumped from building to building! -Obi-Wan rebuked helplessly.
-Master, jumping is simple. I learned it in the first classes," said Anakin, surprised by the impudence of Obi-Wan, who in his memories threw himself on a flying droid in the middle of a street thousands of meters high. Then he threw the dart the mercenary threw at Obi-Wan. The other assassin had it. It seems to be something special," he added. He knew this was a clue from Palpatine for Obi-Wan to discover the way to the clone army.
-Anakin, are you all right? -Padmé asked with concern.
-Padmé, I'm fine, it was just a little jump, there wasn't much to do. That guy will be in the hospital for a few days," explained Anakin, looking around and noticing that there was no one else present.
-With Master Obi-Wan here, the guards are securing the other departments," Padmé clarified. Anakin nodded.
…
At dawn, Padmé was forced to retreat to her planet on Palpatine's orders. She suspected he was planning something, but the Jedi were also on Palpatine's side, and she had to give in. Becoming an extremist who would not heed advice could affect her political career, and Palpatine would undoubtedly use that against her.
-Anakin, I heard of your exploit last night. I will recommend you for a Senate commendation," Palpatine said as they all left and were left alone. Anakin knew that this miserable old man was only trying to delay him while he plotted his fall to the dark side, but he could feel nothing but kindness and praise coming from him. It was as if he were a favorite grandfather praising his outstanding grandson.
-Thank you, Chancellor, I would be honored," Anakin replied with a smile. Palpatine nodded.
-How has your situation been at the temple? -he asked with apparent interest, and perhaps he was interested.
-The Council met to decide if they could expel me, for the tenth time, and Master Windu had a training match with me. I have never seen his fighting style before, nor is it any Jedi form that I know of," said Anakin, looking curious. Anakin must have been Palpatine's best spy in the Jedi Temple.
-And what did they have against you this time? -Palpatine asked with interest.
-I have publicly expressed my disagreement with the Jedi code. I consider it an obsolete regulation and the Council follows it to the letter, as if they were afraid that someone would transgress it," Anakin explained. Palpatine was silent for a couple of seconds, probably wondering how the hell he was still part of the Jedi Order after talking so much nonsense about their sacred rule.
-Anakin, the Jedi are old and at this age, people begin to fear change. However, you must not be hasty in these matters, for in the future, and as your present exploits prove, you will become one of the greatest Jedi in existence and the Council must listen to your opinion," Palpatine assured him, apparently wishing his spy would not get into trouble and be expelled.
-"Chancellor, I try, but there were so many things wrong there that I am simply frustrated," said Anakin sincerely.
The Chancellor wasted no time and proceeded to give him a few more awards to reassure me and keep him from attacking the Council again. The old man was rich and wrote him a blank check, so Anakin was completely sincere as he left his office happy as a worm.
…
-Anakin, what did the Chancellor give you this time? -Obi-Wan asked when they met again. Anakin thought that since he was a spy for Palpatine, he might as well be a spy for the Jedi Order.
-The Chancellor thinks I'm a hero and has pledged to increase his patronage for my lab because I told him that life in the temple was a bit boring," Anakin reported. Obi-Wan could only blink. Well, I may have complained a bit about the Council, and the Chancellor advised me to stay out of trouble with them until I was a powerful and famous Jedi," he added lightly. Obi-Wan frowned at that moment, but then let it go, dismissing his suspicions. Anakin wondered how many times he would have to do this before he ran with the Council.
…
In the afternoon of that same day, Anakin was designated as Padmé's bodyguard and they traveled to Naboo, while Obi-Wan investigated the escaped assassin. Anakin decided to be polite to Padmé, but to keep a certain distance. He kept a cool head and dismissed any strange feelings that arose, as they really couldn't be together. Fortunately, he had not fallen in love with her as a child and simply considered her a friend.
…
His stay on Naboo was boring. The place was only special because Padmé was there, but other than that, he didn't care for it, as it was all natural scenery and Anakin liked the technology better. The good thing about being there was that Anakin was able to practice his control with the Force in a way he could never do in the temple, using it at all times. He was doing tricks for Padmé, eating and even bathing, controlling the water droplets.
…
-Anakin, I notice you're not wearing braids," Padmé said. Weren't all Padawans supposed to wear them? -she added. They were in some meadows watching some kind of chimera, a nasty mix of ticks, fawns and cows.
-Those with hair, yes, but I noticed that short hair made me look immature, and that braid was strange, so I cut it off and let my hair grow. Obi-Wan took me to the council, but I won, or rather, I ignored them, since the braid is not in the code and they can't force me to wear it, it's just another custom," Anakin explained. Padmé rolled her eyes.
-You have a problem with authority," said Padmé.
-Not at all, I like order and authority, but when order and authority are used to inconvenience me over trivial things like a haircut, it's because they've gone too far and they should back off," said Anakin.
-Anakin, what do you think of the Republic then? -asked Padmé. At present, people say that we have lost order and that the Senate is corrupt. Palpatine's popularity is due to the fact that he promises order against chaos and corruption," said Padmé, grimacing.
-Corruption that he himself fosters in the shadows and chaos that he himself causes. Padmé, Palpatine does not seek order, he seeks control, and he will do whatever it takes to achieve it, even if he has to destroy the Republic and rule over the ashes. If he achieves his goal, there will be no place for us Jedi or the Republic in this galaxy," said Anakin.
-How can we stand against him? He even moves me from my post when he wants to, and there is nothing I can do to stop him," Padmé complained in despair. Anakin leaned back on the grass and looked up at the blue sky.
-"Padmé, I've told you before, the only way to stand up to him, with all the power he has, is to play his own game, and that means sometimes you'll have to back down if the game demands it. That's the way you can gain a position on the board," said Anakin.
-We've been following his game for a decade, and he just gets more powerful and gains more influence," Padmé complained.
-Yes, but now he will use that influence and begin to wear down," said Anakin.
-You're being cryptic, what are you hiding? -Padmé asked, rising from beside him and standing in front of him to look at him menacingly. Anakin frowned.
-I'm sparing you the pain of what you can't change," Anakin said confidently. Padmé looked at him in horror and tried to run, but Anakin stood up and grabbed her around the waist.
-Anakin, let me go! -Padmé scolded him angrily.
-You cannot change what will happen now, and if you act using your power, you will wear out in Palpatine's place, thus losing the opportunity to use it in the future," Anakin explained as Padmé kicked, realizing that she was right and that Palpatine had gotten rid of her to provoke a war.
-Anakin, you tricked me, let me go! -Padmé reproached and slapped him. Anakin sighed and released her.
…
A few minutes later, they arrived at the villa and Padmé began to pack her bags furiously.
-What did you see? -Padmé asked, shedding a tear, and she was slowing packing her clothes.
-The war will start in a few days," said Anakin.
-That's impossible! -Padmé denied vehemently, putting down her clothes and looking into his eyes to try to find out if he was lying to her.
-Padmé, I warned you from the beginning. Palpatine has too much power in his hands, he was already planning this war when we met. However, by playing along with him for these ten years, you are now in a position of popularity similar to his, and your political power increases along with his because you are from the same planet. Even though he took advantage of your popularity to increase his by trying to kill you, he is now the one driving your political career, whether you want him to or not.
"Padmé, you can't take on Palpatine on your own, but let me fight by your side. I have the strength to do it now. I know where to strike Palpatine to gradually weaken his power and make him more vulnerable. In time, I can get the council to support you instead of him. Allow me to turn his army around and eliminate his puppets one by one.
"Padmé, my plan will involve many deaths along the way, but right now, yours will bury all our hopes, as well as those of the galaxy, because you will send us straight to certain death by returning to the Senate," said Anakin. Padmé, who was preparing to respond, froze.
-Will you come with me? -Padmé asked, lowering her head. Anakin tensed, "Why are you acting shy," Anakin reprimanded in his mind and cleared his throat.
-"I'm your 'friend', and I'm the one who got you into all this mess. The least I can do if my plan leads to your death is to accompany you," said Anakin.
Padmé hugged him and wept silently. "She has small breasts, remember you like women with big breasts. Don't do anything crazy. Remember that a relationship between you will end in her death…", Anakin thought of all the reasons why he couldn't cross the line with Padmé, but every time his reason made an excuse, his heart replied with a loud complaint and a racing heartbeat.
Fortunately, just as his heart was about to overcome his reason, Padmé pulled him out of his room realizing that being alone there was not appropriate. Anakin sighed in relief after swallowing saliva and ran to meditate to rid himself of all the unleashed emotions.
His foolish crush had also unleashed the emotions he had been repressing for the past few months, every time he had a vision of the impending war. However, at the mention of it, he was ignored and ended up in a fight with the council. Patience was definitely not one of his virtues, which made him a terrible negotiator when he only had his word to convince others.
Not even Obi-Wan supported him or tried to believe him, and that filled him with frustration. He could do so many things with the council's backing, but those elders simply ignored him. He understood why another version of himself would fall to the dark side, since Palpatine didn't have to try very hard. He was filled with frustration seeing how everything was out of his control and knowing that he would soon be dragged into a war he could avoid if only he received a little support. This generated anger, rage, and great frustration in him….
Anakin threw it all away with the force. He would not fall, no matter what happened, he had to move on. Let go of the frustration, anger and rage. They were a destructive cycle that would only bring him trouble and pain. To frustration, he would respond with nonchalance. To anger, with humor, and to the inevitable war?
Something would emerge, the Force would always give him an answer, and he didn't think it would abandon him now. He was not capable of imitating Palpatine's patience, but he could control himself if it meant he would achieve his goals. Therefore, he would leave all that behind and nonchalance would replace frustration. He had to follow his own advice and bide his time.
…
By the third day on Naboo, Anakin knew that his mother's death would happen soon and decided to check what the council had promised him. With that decision made, and after an Oscar-worthy performance, Padmé decided to go to Naboo to check on her mother's condition.
Padmé's ship, guided by Anakin, landed at the farm of her mother's new family. The inhabitants of the moisture farm came out to see the ship, including her mother, who had wounds all over and was walking on crutches.
-Anakin? -Padmé asked as she saw him backing away when the door of the ship opened.
-Padmé, please bring her here, but don't mention that I'm here. Tell her you heard she was injured and that you have medicine for her," Anakin asked. Padmé looked at him in confusion, but Anakin hurried to hide when the door opened.
Padmé stepped down from the ship and her mother recognized her. They talked for a moment and then Padmé helped her walk to the ship, as her mother needed support to get around. Padmé sensed that he did not want anyone to see them.
Upon returning to the ship, Artoo closed the door on Anakin's orders. His mother looked quizzical for a few seconds until Anakin came out and ran to her and hugged her tightly.
-Anakin, you're going to hurt her! -Padmé's words stopped as she saw her mother's swollen face and scratches begin to fade. Within a minute, she was completely healed, even healthier than the last time they had seen each other ten years ago. His mother quickly pulled away from him as she felt no more pain and looked at him in bewilderment as she touched his face.
-"This ability is something I have learned to save my life or the lives of those close to me in times of life and death, but I have enemies and no one must know about it," Anakin explained. Padmé was still staring at his mother in disbelief and she hugged him again.
-He said he just happened to be passing by, but I knew you had sent him," said his mother several minutes later as she prepared food for them, after freeing their legs and hands from a pile of bandages.
-"Well, I told the council that if they didn't help you, I'd pack up and help you myself, so they rushed to help," said Anakin. Padmé looked at him accusingly, sitting across from him at the small table in the ship's galley.
-Well, it was a bit chaotic and I had to pull a few beards and play a few tricks, but those are details," said Anakin and his mother laughed. Padmé shook her head imagining the mess.
…
Just a day after arriving on Tatooine, they received a call from Obi-Wan.
-Anakin, what are you doing on Tatooine? -Obi-Wan asked indignantly.
-Senator Amidala was curious about my mother's condition when I told her she had been kidnapped by the Tusken. She decided to come and I had no choice but to follow her," Anakin excused himself shamelessly. Obi-Wan sighed helplessly, knowing he was just talking nonsense but unable to do anything about it.
-Anakin, relay this message to the Jedi Council," Obi-Wan said and began to explain the situation on the planet Geonosis, where he was located and where the Separatists were completing the construction of a droid army. At the end of his message, he was captured. Anakin assumed that Dooku and Palpatine wanted the Jedi to get there to start the war, and let them find out all about it.
…
Padmé didn't wait to be asked and decided to go on a rescue mission. Anakin shrugged his shoulders and did not protest.
He said goodbye to his mother, who bragged about receiving treatment from the Queen of Naboo, who cured her in just one day. Anakin knew that he could no longer return there, which caused him great sadness, but on the way to Geonosis he meditated to regain his calm. He had to put all his skills into practice with absolute precision and, if things went as planned, confront Dooku.
Arriving on Geonosis, Padmé set her rescue plan in motion and Anakin followed her to the hives where the Geonosians lived.
As soon as they entered, it was evident that they were waiting for them. Anakin, unwilling to go any further, pretended to lose his lightsaber as they began to chase him and it broke into three pieces as it hit the ground, making it easier to capture him. Padmé seemed to expect more from him and looked dazed as they were seized. They were then taken to the entrance of an arena, where they were led to a coliseum of sorts. There a two-wheeled chariot awaited them, on which they planned to display them.
-Anakin, what the hell was that? -Padmé growled.
-Infiltration," Anakin answered confidently as they were loaded onto the chariot.
-Anakin, we've been captured! -Padmé cried in annoyance.
-Don't worry, I'll take care of you," she said, showing him her broken saber. The Geonosians saw no problem in leaving it with him. Padmé looked at him with hostility, looking very ungrateful. She didn't even thank him for saving her minutes of terror by almost being incinerated. Anakin sighed.
…
They were led to some pillars and tied together with their master.
-Anakin! -Obi-Wan scolded indignantly.
-Calm yourself, master. Senator Amidala has come to rescue you. I am only her bodyguard, and I assure you she won't get a scratch," Anakin assured him. Obi-Wan and Padmé glared at him angrily as they were bound and the saber fragments fell at their feet.
The Geonosians released three beasts, one for each of them. Anakin did not wait for them to arrive. The handcuffs holding Anakin's wrists unlocked, as ten years of practice working with microscopic objects made any lock, mechanical or electronic, useless against him.
As the handcuffs fell off, Anakin picked up his saber, which was back in one piece, and walked over to Padmé to cut her chains, take her in his arms and leap to the top of the pillar, sitting there calmly.
Padmé was shocked when he sat her on his legs, but Anakin pretended to lose his balance and she stayed still.
-Master, Padmé is safe now, you can do it! -Anakin cheered as he looked at a desperate Obi-Wan, who now had the attention of the three beasts all to himself.
-Anakin, get down here this instant! -Obi-Wan shrieked.
-Master, the council assigned me the mission to protect Padmé…" Anakin ignited his lightsaber and deflected a laser shot coming from Count Dooku's stand, fired by the mercenary next to him, who was wearing Mandalorian armor. He used a simple blaster pistol, but had aimed precisely at Padmé's head, who flinched.
Anakin tossed the lightsaber aside without looking, as he stood up charging Padmé with his left.
The lightsaber flew, cut off the head of some sort of rat-tiger-snake that lunged first at Obi-Wan, then cut the chains that held him and flew towards him, to deflect another shot and secure itself in his hand.
These circus skills were useless against a Sith, but in situations like this they would be great. The droids would see when it was his turn to face him.
-You have the aim of a sand mole," Anakin insulted as Obi-Wan grappled with the other two beasts. Anakin twirled his lightsaber in his hand, smiling at the mercenary. The crowd understood the gesture and cheered, prompting the mercenary to accept the challenge.
Anakin pulled his saber away from his hand, and it continued to spin on its own, half a meter away from him. The crowd nearly went wild, demanding that the mercenary accept the duel.
The mercenary sheathed his weapon, and the crowd rushed to silence. The saber was still swinging to Anakin's right, already within three feet of him and threatening to go and cut off the head of another of the beasts Obi-Wan was fighting. The mercenary moved his hand in preparation, drawing at breakneck speed, at the same time the sword changed its direction of swing in parallel, and its blade passed in front of Anakin's head, deflecting the shot, or rather, sending it back towards the mercenary, who, due to the distance, had time to throw himself to the ground. When he got up, the saber had already come down, cut off two heads and returned to Anakin's hand.
-Dooku, you need better men! -Anakin sneered, as the crowd booed the mercenary for not being able to hit him, even though he drew back his lightsaber to give him the advantage.
Anakin swung his arm behind his back and the saber deflected a shot that ricocheted in the same direction it came from and blew the head off an insect carrying a blaster rifle.
Anakin smiled. Padmé gulped, as the shot was headed for his back.
-"Easy, if it gets too dangerous, we'll go down and take cover with the pillar," Anakin said.
-What are you up to? -Padmé asked.
-To buy time without my people having to die," said Anakin, firing back another shot from Padmé's side.
-Dooku, I was wrong. What you need are new allies," said Anakin.
Dooku immediately realized what he intended and had an argument with the insect king of the Geonosians, but the Geonosian pushed him away indignantly and pointed at him as he said something.
Anakin guessed he was offering a bounty on his head, because as he finished speaking, the crowd shrieked with glee and pulled out blaster pistols to shoot him. At first it was about twenty guys, since the Geonosians' weapons were different and few of them had blaster pistols, but two minutes later they seemed to find an arsenal, and even though he had already killed about ten, shooting back a few shots, the number of people shooting at him increased to thirty, and without thinking, Anakin jumped.
Padmé screamed, but the landing was soft. As Padmé was pushed against the obelisk and sandwiched between it and her back, the number of people aiming at them decreased by half, making it easier for her to deflect blaster fire and kill seven enemies in a minute.
After taking out half of the enemies on one side, Anakin rolled with Padmé to the other side, where the shooters demanded that he show himself so they could shoot him. Anakin showed himself and they fired.
-Anakin, how long can you deflect those shots? -Padmé asked in fear.
-Padmé, they are more than a hundred meters away from me, I can be here for days. I'm just pretending to have trouble to buy more time," explained Anakin, who was not deflecting all the shots at his attackers, because if he was too invincible, they could send the droid army against him.
…
Ten minutes later, the king seemed to realice the deception and, with indignation, pointed to Obi-Wan, who was trying to go unnoticed in his own pillar twenty meters away from them.
-It looks like the game is up," Anakin said with a sigh, grabbing Padmé with his left arm and running at full speed towards Obi-Wan, who was already running towards him. They met at the center pillar, and Anakin stopped five shots as he kicked Obi-Wan and slammed him into the center pillar, only to put Padmé back on her back. As he parried and this time returned as many shots as he could, he again had his two protectees covered by the pillar.
The crowd roared in fury as they saw he was still alive and brought more guns, shouting indignantly at him to come out and stop covering his back.
…
So another five minutes passed until the king gave up and gave Dooku permission to bring out the droids, but it was too late. A shadow in the sky shot at the gates through which the droids intended to exit, and warning shots were fired at the crowd in the stands, which flew off in all directions, like cockroaches escaping their nest. They were clone transports, armed to the teeth, rushing to create a perimeter as the jedi leapt from the bleachers toward them. The jedi had arrived to buy time, but Dooku had set up a circus and Anakin had taken over, becoming the ringmaster.
The droids that came out everywhere were easily shot down by the armored transports. They were not an army capable of taking on assault craft, but infantry, and lacked artillery support, so they were hopelessly wiped out. Anakin witnessed a brief saber clash between Dooku and Windu, but the mercenary intervened and Windu decided not to risk it, leading Anakin to surmise that he considered Dooku an opponent he could not defeat without focusing all his attention on him, so he withdrew.
-Anakin, let me get the hell out of here," Obi-Wan snarled, who was being crushed against the pillar. Anakin stepped back, releasing them both, and they looked at him with gestures of offended dignity as they straightened their clothes.
Anakin, why did you smash me face-first into that pillar? -Obi-Wan complained as another Jedi handed him a lightsaber to join the battle.
-Master, if I hadn't done that, you would have enjoyed the situation too much," Anakin explained as he backed toward one of the transport ships.
Since there were no dead Jedi, the ships were full of them and it was difficult to find a place. Obi-Wan paused for a second and looked at Padmé, then cleared his throat uncomfortably and stopped complaining. Padmé turned red as she realized that having her back turned in front of a man would have been very uncomfortable.
-Come, I've thought of everything and brought everyone to safety," Anakin said as he boarded the ship.
-Anakin, shut up! -Obi-Wan and Padmé scolded at the same time. Anakin shrugged his shoulders.