Oops, I accidentally slipped and used Siri instead of Satine in one line here. I guess that's what happens when you write two different fics with different love interests who have very similar names, at the same time. I've corrected it now. Sorry for any confusion it may have caused.

Chapter 99 - Begging

"Angel Please," Anakin begged. If he was able to, he'd put down the commlink he was holding and bow before his wife's holo. He'd already explained to his wife about the risk to Tatooine, and sent a ship to pick them up. His mother and step-family were already on their way out of the system.

"Ani, this is the first time in all of its history an elected council has formed on Tatooine. I can't abandon it now. We have massive evacuations to plan, and a refugee settlement to set up on Utaruun. I have to make sure everyone gets transport offworld, even the Tuskens and poorer moisture farmers. I will be there, once our work is finished. I promise." Anakin nodded. He knew his wife would try to get out, but he also knew she wouldn't leave anyone behind either. It was one of the reasons he loved her, but today, it made him worry. He would worry until he got that message from the rebellion officers saying his wife was in transport offworld.

"I understand. Hurry, okay."

"Okay love," Padme blew a kiss at the holo, and then with a blink, she vanished.

Anakin ran to another room, and instructed the men who were working, "Tell me you have news."

"No sir, not yet."

Anakin had sent a team in to verify intelligence they were receiving from the rebellion, suggesting the Death Star 2.0 was unfinished, and still inoperable. He sighed at the lack of news. "Alright." It was looking like they were going to have to leave to attack it soon, even without the data. Especially when an Imperial Flagship was detected on its way to Geonosis.

The door opened and a gray-haired Obi-Wan walked in. Anakin knew why he was there. He left the men at their info-booth, and walked towards the Master. "No news yet. You have any luck?"

Obi-Wan put on a very tight face, and responded. "No. Satine is determined to start a government on a soon to be dead world."

"Uh huh. Padme too. Well hopefully we will be able to do something about that soon."

"So, you mean to attack it anyways. Even without intel?"

"Do you see us having any other options? Lando Calrissian just offered us a Legion of star-fighters he was able to acquire. Anyways, that was not what I was talking about. Come here." He ushered the man into a quiet corner of the base, and pulled out his comlink again. He dialed a number and a Mandalorian answered in a gruff voice. "What! Oh, Sir."

"Officer Fett, do you have news?"

"Uh-I don't have either of the targets, I'm afraid. I left a trap for them earlier today, but all I got out of it was this." Boba pulled up a piece of flimsy with a red kiss imprinted on it.

Anakin read the writing, "'Tell my hubby, good try.' I think that's from Satine." He looked at her husband beside him. Then he turned back to Boba. "You've tried one plan. You had another three methods you proposed to me."

"Yes, I was going to leave this to the last, but I do have a few darts from Kamino. Their poison I replaced with a less dangerous sedative. Of course the drug is only supposed to last a few hours, but I could try the new carbonite encasement machine my people sent me. They were able to re-work yours to make it smaller and more portable."

Anakin was nodding along. It sounded like an extreme. Later, he would probably get in trouble for encasing his wife in carbonite, but right now all he could think about was protecting her and the giant planet killing space station the empire was building less than a parsec away.

Obi-Wan interrupted Boba's explanation, "No! No. I'm already going to get into trouble for this. Cease and desist immediately! No, as High General Kenobi I order you, you are to report to Satine immediately. She is planning for supplies to be sent to the new refugee settlement on Utaruun. Because it's basically a dead, abandoned world, no traders will accept messages from the planet. It's why she has to stay on Tatooine. Help her to finish her arrangements. Then she will be a willing passenger for you…" He paused for a moment, before continuing, "And I hear Padme is trying to ensure everyone gets a ride offworld. She may be able to use your help as well. When you're done helping Satine, find Padme and do the same." Obi-Wan finished.

"Are you sure it's a wise decision? The Jedi's settlement could go up in smoke, and you're worried about civilians."

Obi-Wan nodded. "We intend to rebuild a temple wherever the refugees settle, and the more their numbers are, the easier it will be for us to blend in, and the harder it will be for the empire to detect us."

"Aaah, I see." Boba nodded. "And a vast network of traders could help you to acquire building materials for a new temple. If the Mandalorian system were more politically stable right now, I'd suggest you look to resettle there. My people traditionally would be very likely to take in an entire planet's population as refugees. And once adopted into our clans, the empire wouldn't be able to tell the difference between you and the average Mando'ad (Mandalorian), except for the Jetii'kad (Lightsaber), of course. But there are ways of hiding a sword in your armor. It might not be advisable now, but clan wren is getting the upper hand in the Mandalore rebellion, last I heard."

"Thank you, I'm sure if you brought that up with my wife, she would appreciate the news. Her sister is actively involved in the conflict, though they haven't spoken in many years. Bo was, less forgiving, over the hodar kyr'am than I was." (fool death)

"I would love to meet the Lady of Mandalore who seduced a Jedi Master," Boba agreed. "I will do as you say."

"Very good. Ret'urcye mhi," (Maybe we'll meet again, a Mandalorian goodbye) Obiwan finished with a light smile.

Boba pushed the button to close the connection from his end, and his holo disappeared.

Anakin just stood back with his mouth hanging open. Bail had offered to restore the Jedi's former rank numerous times. He'd even pushed the paperwork through a while back, to ease in forming rank structures and writing military records. But nearly all Jedi, even those who served combat or leadership roles, still opted to use their Jedi titles. Obi-Wan included. Anakin felt a tiny bit jealous that the paperwork was done before his promotion to Grandmaster, thus Obi-Wan did technically outrank him in the military.

Obi-Wan gave his former padawan an amused look, and said, "A lesson in politics works well for marriage. Pick your battles, my friend. Never go up against a Mythosaur, when there are herds of Shatual to eat."

"Ok, I'll remember that if I ever end up on Mandalore, pre-cataclysm." Anakin joked. "But High General now. I thought you didn't want to use the old titles."

Obi-Wan laughed. "Don't tell Bail, but sometimes with rank and file members, it helps to let them know where you stand."

"Uh, huh. A rank above your former padawan? You know, as the Grandmaster of the order I could've ordered you to silence right there, but I didn't."

"You could've tried. Ask Yoda how well that tactic worked out for him." Obi-Wan got up to walk away, laughing in silence.

Anakin made a mental note to talk to Bail about their ranks and getting himself the promotion he'd been due.

Ring, ring, ring. Obi-Wan answered his comlink and set it up on a stack of boxes so he could have his hands free. "Hi Cyare." (Beloved)

"Su cuy'gar. (Hello or You're still alive) I wanted to call to thank you for sending me Boba. He has been a great help. We've almost got everything finished here.

Obi-Wan immediately turned and stacked boxes on a metal lift pad, but he smiled to hear his wife's news. "I'm glad, and Anakin will be thrilled. Tell Boba to message us, and Beskarn immediately after he gets offworld. Make sure he uses the encrypted line."

"Are you going into an imperial zone?"

"We are going to Geonosis."

"But I thought you were still short on intel for the mission."

Obi-Wan's face put on a very pained expression. "It seems a flagship has been detected heading to Geonosis. We fear what that will mean for the mission, and Anakin wants to attack it before it arrives."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I know Anakin spent a lot of energy cursing the planet when he was younger, but he really is fond of the place. So am I. It's where we've raised our younglings."

"You don't need to argue it with me. Every Mandalorian who's studied our gehatik'ike b'ruyot knows what it's like to lose a world." (Stories of the past)

Obi-Wan nodded. "He's called in a lot of favors though. Gotten help from some sources I didn't remember we had. Bespin and our old friend Hondo are sending several ships they've acquired. And Rex is sending his Freedom squad, the one made up of dechipped clones. So we won't be going in alone." Obi-Wan's face became very solemn.

"I'll tell Boba. He'll be glad to hear you have some of his brothers beside you. Akaanir jate, ner riduur." (Fight well, my husband.)

Obi-Wan leaned in and kissed the air around Satine's holo.

Obi-Wan left the loading dock after the supplies were loaded, and headed for his quarters to get a meditation in before he was summoned to board the flight heading to Geonosis.

"Master Ben!" Luke called after him in the hall, on his way there. "Master, I know how I can help in the battle."

"Your father is responsible for battle strategy over this mission. Take your ideas to him."

Luke's eyes got really big, "I did. But he won't listen. It's why I've come to you."

Obi-Wan thought for a moment about his desired meditation, then he nodded to Luke. "Come this way, and tell me what idea you've had.

Luke's eyes brightened and he followed Obi-Wan into his quarters.

"I heard all of that. And I told him No. Not while I have breath in my body!" Anakin snapped.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "The imperial command still has a bounty on Luke. And unlike all of ours, they want him alive. It makes sense that, if he were to hand himself over to whoever is guarding the station there, they would keep him alive until one of their commanders arrived." He paused to hear his target sigh. "According to our intelligence, the location on Geonosis where they are operating from lacks a prison facility. Most likely the commander will decide to keep Luke with him and under guard, which means he'll be in the command facility. We can give him a bug and listen to their intelligence as a fly on the wall."

"He's my son." Anakin started to protest.

"Without him to open the doors for us, we'd have to form an orbital assault on the station, which'll take time, and we might get in fifty percent damage. With his help, we could get a team in faster, to place bombs on ground level, meaning complete destruction. It might make the difference between us doing this again in a year or two. And you know the boy is not likely to sit back and follow orders. He is a Skywalker.

Anakin was near accepting the change in plans, but with tears in his eyes. Obi-Wan nodded to him, then took the initiative so his friend wouldn't have to.

"I will message the teams about the new plan. And I will hide an extra weapon in Luke's gear. The Mandalorians aren't the only ones who know how to hide a lightsaber."

My premise for this story is that, when the ones Anakin loves are in danger, all but one of his 86 billion brain cells take a break, and he's prone to do stupid things to "help" them, occasionally needing support from another person to help him think it through. I guess that part of his character is still there, despite all character growth. At least he has Obi-Wan to be the other 85.9 billion brain cells, and Padme won't be stuck in Carbonite and kidnapped by Boba Fett. That would NOT go over well! I suppose none of you are surprised that Luke inherited that particular trait.

In my other piece I started doing the Mandalorian Translations in parentheses, and for this I just continued it because it was easier. Though there is less Mandalorian in this story than my other one. Boba was raised in a non-mandalorian community, and his father died when he was young, so the language is not his first language. Jango, on the other hand, was raised within a Mandalorian community. So he's going to be thinking in Mando'a first.

If anyone is paying attention, we're almost going into episode 6, though we are a little earlier in the timeline, technically.