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Chapter Text

There is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several thousand star systems have declared their intention to leave the Republic.

This Seperatist movement, under the leadership of the mysterous Count Dooku, has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the galaxy.

Senator Amidala, former Queen of Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating an army of the Republic to assist the overwhelmed Jedi...

A chrome Naboo cruiser approached Coruscant, escorted by three yellow Naboo N-1 starfighters. The four ships entered the planet's atmosphere and skimmed across the surface of the city landscape, the morning sun glinting off the chrome hull of the cruiser as the procession navigated between the tall buildings of the capital planet. Soon, a three-lead-clover landing platform came into view and two of the fighters landed on one leaf, the cruiser on the central leaf and the third fighter on the remaining leaf. The female pilot of one of the fighters disembarked from their ship, accompanied by their blue & white Astromech droid, R2-D2, and the pilot approached a male pilot, who removed his helmet to reveal Captain Gregar Typho, Senator Amidala's security officer. "We made it." Typho said as they watched the cruiser's boarding ramp lower and Senator Amidala began to disembark. "I guess I was wrong, there was no danger at all."

No sooner had those words left Typho's mouth when there was a blinding flash and a huge explosion. The escort pilots were thrown to the platform as the cruiser exploded in a ball of flames. Klaxons blared as flaming debris flew everywhere. When the dust settled, Typho and the escort pilots picked themselves up and ran over to where Senator Amidala lay mortally wounded. The female pilot knelt by the senator and removed their helmet to reveal that they were Senator Padme Amidala "Corde..." she gasped as she gathered up her decoy in her arms.

Corde's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at the Senator. "M'lady, I'm so sorry..." she managed to breathe out weakly. "I've failed you, Senator." And she succumbed to her injuries.

"No!" Padme cried in despair, lowering Corde to the floor. She stood up and looked at the devastation around her with tears in her eyes.

"M'lady, you're still in danger in here." Typho told her.

"I shouldn't have come back." Padme breathed sadly.

"This vote is very important." Typho said. "You did your duty, and Corde did hers. Now come." But Padme didn't move. "Senator Amidala, please." Typho implored, and Padme reluctantly let Typho lead her away to safety.

~8~

At the Senate Chambers, a very heated session was in progress. Mas Amedda, the Supreme Chancellor's major domo, tried to quite things down as Chancellor Sheev Palpatine conferred with an aide. "Order! We shall have order!" Amedda ordered. "The motion for the Republic to commission an army takes precedent, and that is what we will vote on this time."

The rabble quietened down and Chancellor Palpatine stepped up to the podium. "My esteemed colleagues, excuse me..." he began, "I have just received some tragic and disturbing news. Senator Amidala of the Naboo system... has been assassinated!" There was a shocked silence in the rotunda. "This grievous blow is especially personal to me." Palpatine continued. "Before I became Chancelllor, I served Amidala when she was Queen. She was a great leader who fought for justice, not only in this honourable assembly, but also on her home planet. She was so beloved she could have been elected Queen for life. She believed in public service, and she fervently believed in democracy. Her death is a great loss to us all. We will all mourn her as a relentless champion of freedom... and as a dear friend."

There was a moment of silence, then Ask Aak, the Senator of Malastare, moved his pod into the centre of the rotunda. "How many more senators will die before this civil strife ends?! We must confront these rebels now, and we need an army to do it!"

A second pod moved into the centre of the rotunda, carrying Senator Darsana of Glee Anselm. "Why weren't the Jedi able to stop this assassination? We are no longer safe under their protection."

Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth swung forward in his pod. "The Republic needs more security now! Before it comes to war."

"Must I remind the Senator from Malastare that negotiations with the Separatists." Palpatine tried to calm things down. "Peace is our objective here... not war."

"My noble colleagues, I concur with the Supreme Chancellor." a familiar voice said. "At all costs, we do not want war!" The Senate went quiet as a pod carrying Padme Amidala, her handmaiden Dorme, her aide Jar Jar Binks and Captain Typho maneuverer into the centre of the rotunda. Then there was an outburst of cheering and applause.

"It is with great surprise and joy the chair recognises the Senator of Naboo, Padme Amidala." Palpatine announced.

Padme began her speech, "Less than an hour ago, an assassination attempt was made against my life. One of my bodyguards and six others were ruthlessly and senselessly murdered. I was the target but, more importantly, I believe this security measure before you, was the target. I have led the opposition to build an army... but there is someone in this body who will stop at nothing to assure it's passage." Many Senators began to boo and yell at Padme, but she carried on regardless. "I warn you, if you vote to create this army, war will follow. I have experienced the misery of war first-hand; I do not wish to do it again."

Sporadic yelling for and against Padme's statements filled the rotunda.

"Wake up, Senators... you must wake up!" Padme continued passionately. "If we only offer the Separatists violence, they can only show us violence in return! Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom. This decision could very well destroy the very foundation of our great Republic. I pray you do not let fear push you into a disastrous decision. Vote down this security measure, which is nothing less than a declaration of war! Does anyone here want that? I cannot believe they do."

An uproar came from the delegation, some in support of Padme, others in disagreement with her. Palpatine decided to cool things down. "Due to the lateness of the hour and the seriousness of this motion, we will take up these matters tomorrow." he announced. "Until then, the Senate stands adjourned."

~8~

Later that day, Palpatine was in his office, meeting with the Jedi Council. "I don't know how much longer I can hold off the vote, my friends." he told them. "More and more star systems are joining the Separatists."

"If they do break away..."Jedi Master Mace Windu began.

"I will not allow this Republic that has stood for a thousand years be split in two." Palpatine said firmly. "My negotiations will not fail!"

"If they do, you must realise there aren't enough Jedi to protect the Republic." Windu told him adamantly. "We're keepers of the peace, not soldiers."

"Master Yoda, do you think it will really come to war?" Palpatine asked Grand Master Yoda.

Yoda closed his eyes, reaching out through the Force. "Hmm, the Dark Side clouds everything." He opened his eyes. "Impossible to see the future is."

Just then, a buzzer sounded on Palpatine's desk. "The Loyalist Committee has arrived, your honour." the voice of Palpatine's aide, Dar Wac, announced over the intercom.

"Good." Palpatine acknowledged. "Send them in." He turned back to the Jedi. "We will discuss this matter later."

Everyone stood as Padme, Typho, Jar Jar, Dorme, Orn Free Taa, Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, Senator Mon Motha of Chandrila and Senator Onaconda Farr of Rodia entered the room. Yoda approached Padme. "Senator Amidala, your tragedy on the landing platform- terrible. Seeing you alive brings warm feelings to my heart."

"You have our deepest sympathies, m'lady." Plo Koon added.

"Thank you, Master Jedi." Padme acknowledged. "Do you have any idea who's behind this attack?"

"Our intelligence points to disgruntled spice miners on the moons of Naboo." Windu answered.

"I don't wish to disagree, but I think that Count Dooku was behind it." Padme ventured.

There was a stir of surpise among the Jedi. They all exchanged looks at each other. "He is a political idealist, not a murderer." Ki-Adi Mundi objected.

"You know, m'lady, Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He couldn't assassinate anyone; it's not in his character." Windu told Padme.

"Count Dooku has always avoided any kind of conflict." Plo added. "It appears he has no desire to start a war. Why would he want to kill you? To what end?"

"I don't know, but everything in my being tells me he was behind it." Padme replied.

"In dark times, nothing is what it appears to be." Yoda said wisely. "But for certain, Senator... in grave danger you are."

"Master Jedi, may I suggest the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces?" Palpatine ventured.

"Do you really think that's a wise decision under these stressful times?" Organa questioned.

Padme wasn't too keen on the idea either. "Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe..."

"'the situation is that serious?'" Palpatine finished for her. "No, but I do, Senator."

"Chancellor, please, I don't want anyone guards!" Padme said in exasperation.

"I realise all too well that additional security might be disruptive for you," Palpatine said, "but perhaps someone you're familiar with. An old friend like... Master Kenobi."

"That's possible." Windu nodded. "He's just returned from a border dispute on Ansion."

"I would also recommend Master Sacul." Plo said. "Perhaps the presence of a female protector would help to comfort the Senator."

But Padme still had reservations. "This is not necessary, Chancellor." she said to Palpatine.

But Palpatine had other ideas. "Do it me, m'lady, please?" he said, sounding almost pleading. "The thought of losing you... is unbearable."

Padme gave a sigh, reluctantly conceding. "I will have Obi-Wan and Master Sacul report to you immediately, m'lady." Windu told her.

"Thank you, Master Windu." Padme nodded begrudgingly.

~8~

That afternoon, four Jedi were traveling aboard a lift to Padme's penthouse; Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, and Tey Sacul and her apprentice, Livia Bescot. "You seem a little on edge." Obi-Wan remarked to Anakin, who was shifting nervously beside him.

"Not at all." Anakin denied.

"I haven't seen you this tense since we fell into that nest of Gundarks." Obi-Wan continued.

Anakin scoffed. "You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you, remember?"

"Oh, yes." Obi-Wan chuckled.

"Hey, try being inside the gullet of an Exogorth." Tey remarked, she and Livia standing behind them.

Livia then noticed that Anakin was still fidgeting. "Anakin, will you relax?" she said to him. "She's not a Queen now, ya know."

Just then, the lift doors opened and the four Jedi stepped out into Padme's penthouse, where Jar Jar Binks was waiting for them. "Obi? Obi!" the Gungan cheered excitedly. "Mesa so smilen to seein yousa!"

"Good to see you again, Jar Jar." Obi-Wan smiled, shaking Jar Jar's hand.

Jar Jar then saw Anakin. "And thisa, I take it, is your apprentice... noooo! Ani? Little bity Ani? Nooo! Yousa so biggen, Ani! Mesea no beliven!"

"Hi, Jar Jar." Anakin smiled, a little embarrassed at the use of his childhood nickname.

Jar Jar grabbed hold of Anakin and enveloped him in a big hug. "Ani! Ani!" He then let Anakin go and led the Jedi over to where Padme was talking to Dorme and Typho. "Senator Padme." Jar Jar called. "Mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator. Disa Jedi arriven."

Padme and Typho rose as the four Jedi stopped before the Senator. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, m'lady." Obi-Wan greeted.

"It has been far too long, Master Kenobi." Padme reciprocated, then her eyes shifted over to Anakin. "Ani?" she stared in surprise. "My goodness, you've grown." When she'd last seen Anakin 10 years ago, he was just a nine-year-old boy; now he was a strikingly handsome 19-year-old young man who towered over Obi-Wan.

"So have you." Anakin said to Padme, trying to be smooth. "Grown more beautiful, I mean. Well, f-for a Senator, I mean." he blustered. Beside him, Obi-Wan looked at him disapprovingly, while Livia had to supress a snigger and Tey simply raised an eyebrow in amusement.

Padme took it all in good stride. "Ani, you'll always be that little boy I know on Tatooine." she said, and turned away, not seeing the crestfallen look on Anakin's face.

"Real smooth, Anakin. Real smooth." Livia said quietly to Anakin, who blushed in embarrassment.

Padme then turned to the two remaining Jedi. "And you must be Master Sacul." she said to Tey.

"Well, I wouldn't call myself 'master' yet," Tey said, "but it's a pleasure to meet you, m'lady. This is my apprentice, Livia Bescot."

"M'lady." Livia curtseyed.

"Our presence here will be invisible, m'lady, I assure you." Obi-Wan reassured Padme, who moved to sit down on one of the settees.

Typho then stepped forward to introduce himself. "I'm Captain Typho of Her Majesty's security service. Queen Jamila has been informed of your assignment. I am grateful you're both here, Master Kenobi, Master Sacul. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security, I need answers." Padme huffed. "I want to know who's trying to kill me."

"We're here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation." Obi-Wan insisted as he and Anakin sat down on the settee opposite Padme, while Tey and Livia stood behind them.

"We will find out who's tryin' to kill, Padme, I promise you." Anakin said, having other ideas to his master's.

Obi-Wan turned to him sharply. "We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner." he said firmly.

"I meant that in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course." Anakin tried to amend.

"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin," Obi-Wan told him sternly, "and you will pay attention to my lead."

"For what it's worth, Obi-Wan, I agree with Anakin." Tey spoke up.

"What?!" Obi-Wan swung round to stare at her.

"I do not believe the Chancellor would have requested the Jedi's services if not to find the killer." Tey pressed. "Protection is the job of local security, not Jedi. No disrespect, Captain." she said hastily to Typho.

"It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate." Anakin added, happy that Tey agreed with him.

"We will do exactly as the Council has instructed us." Obi-Wan insisted, earning an eyeroll from Tey. She believed in a more relaxed approach to following the Jedi Code than Obi-Wan, who had become something of an overzealous stickler in his adult years.

Padme sensed the awkwardness between the Jedi, so she decided to put the matter to rest for now. "Perhaps with merely your presence, the mystery surrounding this threat will be revealed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll retire."

Everyone gave Padme a bow as she got to her feet and headed off to the bedroom with Dorme. Typho then turned to the two senior Jedi. "I know I'll feel better for having you here. I'll have an officer stationed on every floor, and I'll be in the control centre downstairs."

"Right." Tey nodded. "Have you checked out the help? Are they clean?"

While the two masters were talking, Jar Jar turned to Anakin. "Mesa busten wit happiness seein yousa again, Ani."

"She hardly even recognised me, Jar Jar." Anakin whined. "I've thought about her every day since we've parted and she's forgotten me completely."

"Oh, don't be so negative, 'Ani'." Livia snorted.

"Shesa happy. Happier den mesa seein her in a logo time." Jar Jar added.

"Well, there ya are, Ani." Livia said.

"Don't call me that." Anakin grunted.

Just then, Obi-Wan re-joined them "Come, you two. Let's check the security." he said, and the four Jedi began their protection duty.

Chapter Text

Night had fallen over Coruscant. Padme had settled down for the night, while Anakin and Livia were on guard in the living room. Presently, Obi-Wan and Tey joined them, the two Jedi Knights having been giving the building the once-over. "Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way." Obi-Wan said as he shrugged off his brown Jedi robe. "Any activity up here?"

"Quiet as a tomb." Anakin replied. "I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her."

"Be patient, Anakin." Tey advised him. "Sooner or later, something will break."

Obi-Wan checked a palm-sized view scanner showing the inside of Padme's bedroom. It showed a shot of R2-D2 standing by the door, but no sign of the Senator on the bed. "What's going on?" he frowned.

"Ah, she covered the cameras." Anakin explained. "I don't think she liked me watching her."

"Can't say I blame her after seeing you trying it with her, earlier." Livia commented lightly.

"What is she thinking?" Obi-Wan shook his head disapprovingly.

"Women like their privacy, Obi-Wan." Tey told him. "I know I do."

"She programmed R2 to warn us if there is an intruder." Anakin said.

"It's not an intruder I'm worried about." Obi-Wan said. "There are many other ways to kill a Senator."

"She also programmed the droid to raise the alarm if there's any poisonous gas in there." Livia said. "And I checked the room out for any booby traps; it's clean."

"Good." Tey approved. "Well, I guess all we can do now is wait. I'm gonna get us some coffee. It's gonna be a long night." And she went off to the kitchen, while Livia stepped out onto the balcony to watch the speeder lanes outside. She always found clarity in watching the world go by around her, and she had a particular fondness for seeing Coruscant at night. There was something quite beautiful about seeing all of the buildings lit-up in varying colours, while the never-ending streams of speeders and air taxis navigated between them. Behind her, she could hear Obi-Wan and Anakin having a disagreement about Padme's idea to use herself as bait to draw the killer out, but she tuned the two bickering men out and concentrated on identifying which landmarks she could see. She counted the private spire belonging to industrialist Raith Sienar, the Senate building, the Executive building and in the distance, she could just make out the spires of the Jedi Temple.

Presently, Anakin came out to join her on the balcony and she noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked him. "You look tired."

"I don't sleep well anymore." Anakin answered quietly.

"Because of your mother?" Obi-Wan asked, watching them from the doorway.

Anakin nodded. "I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now. I haven't seen her in 10 years."

"Dreams pass in time." Obi-Wan assured him.

"D'you wanna talk about it, Anakin?" Livia offered. "Ya never know, you might feel better for it."

"No, I'll be alright." Anakin waved her off. "I'd much rather dream about Padme. Just being around her again is... intoxicating."

"Here we go..." Livia groaned, and went off to join her master in the kitchen.

"Be mindful of your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you." Obi-Wan lectured his apprentice. "You've made a commitment to the Jedi Order... a commitment not easily broken... and don't forget, she's a politician and they're not to be trusted."

"She's not like the others in the Senate, Master." Anakin whined.

"It is my experience that Senators only focus on pleasing those who fund their campaigns, and they're by no means scared of forgetting the niceties of democracy in order to get those funds."

"Not another lecture." Anakin rolled his eyes. "At least not on the economics of politics... and besides, you're generalising. The Chancellor doesn't appear to be corrupt."

"Palpatine is a politician." Obi-Wan pushed. "I have observed that he is very clever in following the passions and the prejudices of the Senators."

"I think he's a good man." Anakin countered. "My instincts are positive about..."

"Oh, stop it, you two." Tey said as she and Livia returned from the kitchen. "You're like an old married couple sometimes."

Both male Jedi turned to reply when they suddenly froze as they sensed a presence in the bedroom. Tey and Livia sensed it too and all four Jedi took off running into the bedroom. Anakin, who was in front, ignited his lightsabre and the light from the glowing blue blade revealed two deadly black Kouhuns crawling up the bed towards the sleeping Padme, poised to attack her with their poisonous stinger tongues. Using his Jedi reflexes to propel him forward, Anakin made short work of the Kouhuns, slicing them in half with two precise swipes of his lightsabre, sending them flying into a corner of the room. Padme woke with a start just as Obi-Wan and Tey went over to examine the remains of the creatures. Livia meanwhile heard a buzzing noise and turned to see a black probe droid hovering outside the window, a small tube extending out into the room through a hole in the window. This was where the Kouhuns had come from. Without thinking, Livia charged at the window, dived through it and grabbed onto the droid before it flee. The droid sunk a little under her weight, but managed to stay afloat and flew away, with the young Jedi handing on for dear life, thousands of feet in the air.

"Anakin, go help her." Tey ordered. "We'll look after the Senator."

"Yes, Master Tey." Anakin nodded, and hurried out of the room just as Dorme, Typho and two guards came racing in to see what had happened.

~8~

Livia had to admit that in hindsight, maybe grabbing onto a flying probe droid wasn't a good idea after all. The droid tried to dislodge her by flying close to the side of a building, causing her to catch her shoulder on the wall, but she managed to maintain her grip. The droid then sent several electric shocks across it's surface, but Livia still held firm. As they darted in and out of the speeder traffic, Livia disconnected a wire on the back of the droid and it's power shut off. The droid abruptly dropped like a rock. Realising her mistake, Livia quickly put the wire back in. The droid's systems rebooted and it gained height again.

~8~

Anakin ran into the Senate apartments' parking lot and approached a line of parked speeders. He vaulted into the driver's seat of a yellow XJ-6 airspeeder, hotwired it and took off towards the lanes of traffic above.

~8~

The probe droid continued to take Livia on a wild ride through the traffic, several speeder drivers angrily honking their horns at her. Presently, the droid headed towards a green Koro-2 airspeeder hidden in the alcove of a building, with a figure dressed in purple standing beside it. When the assassin saw the Jedi hanging onto the droid, they pulled out a long sniper rifle from the speeder and took aim. They fired and scored a direct hit on the droid, which was blown away and Livia was sent free-falling towards the ground thousands of feet below. The assassin then jumped into their speeder and made their escape.

Anakin saw Livia free-falling, so he skilfully maneuverer his speeder beneath her and she was able to grab onto the back end and hoist herself into the passenger seat next to him. "What took ya so long?" she asked him flippantly.

"Oh, you know, Livia, I couldn't find a speeder that I really liked..." Anakin replied nonchalantly.

"There he is!" Livia saw the assassin's speeder darting thought the traffic ahead.

"... with the open cockpit and the right speed capabilities." Anakin continued as they zoomed up in pursuit of the assassin.

"Ya know, if you spent as much time practising with your lightsabre as you did your wit, I bet you'd rival Master Yoda as a swordsman." Livia said dryly.

"I thought I already did." Anakin replied flippantly.

"You wish." Livia retorted.

The chase was on as the two speeders weaved and dodged through the lanes of traffic around them. The assassin's speeder suddenly twirled and banked down into a steep nose-dive. Anakin did the same and he and Livia were thrown back into their seats as they plunged downwards, Livia's long dark hair billowing behind her. Down and down the speeders dived, darting through several layers of traffic. Livia suddenly noticed that they were on a collision course with a parked cargo ship. In the corner of her eye, she could see Anakin laughing like a madman as he pulled back on the steering yoke and the speeder roughly levelled off, missing the ship by inches.

Livia let out the breath she'd been holding. "Ya know, Anakin, I sometimes think facing the Trials will be a picnic compared to flying with you!" she complained.

"Relax, Livia, you know I've been flying since before I could walk." Anakin replied flippantly.

"Yeah, well, just try not to get us both killed." Livia told him as they narrowly missed an airtrain. "I would like to live long enough to become a Jedi Master."

"I'm not the one who jumped out of a 500 storey window." Anakin retorted.
The two speeders continued to nip through the traffic and between buildings. The assassin suddenly zoomed upwards and navigated between a mast of flags. Anakin followed, but one flag got caught in one of the speeder's front air scoops. "We're losing power!" Anakin hollered, jabbing at several buttons on the dashboard.

"I'll get it." Livia huffed, and she climbed out onto the front of the speeder and removed the flag. She slumped back into her seat as the speeder took off again.

Presently, the chase took them into a power refinery and the two speeders had to weave between flaming flares. The assassin leaned out of their speeder and fired a blaster shot at a set of power couplings as they passed. The couplings sizzled and blocked the Jedi's way, but Anakin wasn't fazed. "Watch this." he smirked, and charged towards the coupling at full speed.

"No, don't..." Livia began, but it was too late. The speeder flew straight into the couplings and both Jedi were zapped. "... go in there." Livia managed to ground out, flinching at the nasty shocks stinging her skin. After what seemed like an eternity, the speeder made it out through the other side. "Well, that was fun." Livia said sarcastically.
The chase then moved into the city again and the assassin zoomed left into a tunnel, but Anakin continued flying straight ahead. "Uh, Anakin, I dunno if you noticed, but he went that way!" Livia told him.

"Look, if we keep this chase going any longer, that creep is gonna end up deep fried." Anakin said. "Personally, I'd very much like to find out who he is and who he's working for."

"Oh, so that's why you're going the wrong way." Livia said sarcastically.

"This is a shortcut." Anakin replied. "I think." He turned up a side street, zoomed up several passageways and stopped in mid-air, high above the traffic lanes.

"Well? Where is he?" Livia asked him, crossing her arms.

"I don't know." Anakin replied, looking around for any sign of the assassin.

"Admit it, you lost him. So much for that shortcut. Ya know, maybe next time leave the driving to me."

"If you'll excuse me..." Anakin said suddenly, and leapt over the side of the speeder.

"Oh, that's not fair." Livia muttered, leaning over to see Anakin free-falling towards the traffic below.

Anakin continued to freefall until he landed smartly on the back of the assassin's speeder as it passed. The assassin, a Human female, looked up and realised what had happened. She slammed on her air brakes and Anakin slid onto one of the speeder's front mandibles. The assassin then leaned out of the window and took several pot-shots at Anakin with her blaster pistol, but Anakin managed to jump over to the other mandible. The assassin then tried to knock him off by dipping the speeder to one side, but Anakin stubbornly held on and managed to climb up on top of the mandible. The assassin promptly accelerated and Anakin slid to the back of the speeder. As he passed the cockpit, he saw the assassin's face momentarily change into that of a Clawdite, before changing back into a Human female. Anakin managed to grab hold of one of the speeder's tail fins and he climbed up on top until he was over the cockpit canopy, then he took out his lightsabre and began cutting his way through the canopy. The assassin took out her blaster pistol and started firing at the Jedi, managing to knock the lightsabre out of his hand.

The lightsabre flew through the air until it was caught by Livia, who had taken the controls of the yellow speeder and caught up with Anakin and the assassin. Despite no longer having his weapon, Anakin wasn't beaten. He stuck his hand through the hole he'd managed to cut and began wrestling with the assassin for the blaster. As they struggled, the blaster went off and struck several controls, which burst into flames and the speeder began to careen wildly out of control, diving down towards the city's entertainment district below. Livia saw what had happened and so she dived down after them.

The assassin struggled furiously with the controls of her stricken speeder as it dived towards the ground. Anakin lost his grip and fell onto the pavement, his Jedi training allowing him to make a relatively painless landing. The speeder meanwhile impacted the pavement and slid along in a shower of sparks before coming to a stop, miraculously missing all of the pedestrians, who all gathered round to see what was happening. Anakin picked himself up just in time to see the assassin jump out of her wrecked speeder and make a run for it. He pushed his way through the crowd and ran after her. They'd landed in the seedy underbelly of Coruscant, with broken pavements, garish lights reflected in filthy puddles and all manner of alien low-lives, panhandling droids and the occasional group of upper-class slummers. Livia was overflying the area in her speeder and she caught sight of Anakin running through the crowd, so she landed the speeder and set off to help him.

The assassin ran into the Outlander club. Anakin was about to go in after her when he heard Livia calling to him, "Anakin!"

"She went into the club, Livia." Anakin said breathlessly.

"You dropped this." Livia said, holding up Anakin's lightsabre. "Don't worry, I won't tell Master Obi-Wan you lost it."

"Thanks, Livia." Anakin said sheepishly as he took the lightsabre and hung it off his belt. "If he found out about this, he'd never let me hear the end of it."

"Ah, Master Tey once dropped hers down a sewer." Livia remarked. "I remember 'cos she made me dive in and find for her. I had to take three showers afterwards." she grimaced at the memory. The two Jedi then made their way into the nightclub, quite a few patrons eyeing them suspiciously. "Hey, Anakin, look. They've got podracing." Livia said, pointing to a holo-screen that was showing a podrace. "Any sign of him?"

"I think he's a she..." Anakin replied, "and I think she's a changeling."

"Then you'd better be extra careful." Livia said. "Go find her. I'm going for a drink."

"A drink?" Anakin said incredulously.

"I need one after being in that speeder with you." Livia retorted. "See ya later!" And she walked smartly towards the bar, while Anakin began to search the club for the assassin, alien faces looking at him with hostility, suspicion and invitation as he moved among the tables.

Livia reached the bar and ordered a juri juice from the bartender. "Hey, gorgeous, you wanna buy some death sticks?" a sleazy-looking man next to her asked.

Livia rolled her eyes at him and moved her finger slightly, using the Force. "You don't wanna sell me death sticks." she prompted.

"I don't wanna sell ya death sticks." the man repeated.

"You're gonna go home and rethink ya life." Livia continued.

"I'm going to go home and rethink my life." the man repeated, and left the club.

Somewhere in the club, the assassin was hiding. She watched as Anakin looked around for her, then while his back was turned, she upholstered her blaster pistol and began to walk towards the unsuspecting Livia, who was contently knocking back her drink at the bar. The gun was raised and aimed directly at the young Jedi's back, then suddenly, Livia turned fast. She ignited her green-bladed lightsabre and with one swift stroke, severed the assassin's blaster arm. The assassin screamed in pain and collapsed to the floor, while Livia deactivated her lightsabre and signalled for Anakin to come over. The commotion had attracted the attention of most of the club's patrons. "Jedi business. Go back to ya drinks." Anakin told them, then he helped Livia to lift the assassin and carry her out of the club.

Anakin and Livia led the assassin out through a side entrance and into a secluded alleyway. "D'ya know who it was you were trying to kill?" Livia interrogated.

The assassin grimaced in pain from her severed arm. "It was a senator from Naboo."

"And who paid ya to do it?"

The assassin glared at Livia. "It was just a job."

"Who hired you? Tell us." Anakin demanded.

"That Senator's gonna die soon anyway," the assassin snarled, "and the next one won't make the same mistake I did..."

"Tell us now!" Anakin barked, his voice unusually harsh and commanding.

The assassin glared at him hatefully. "It was a bounty hunter called..." Suddenly, something thudded into her neck and she began to gag. The two Jedi looked round to see a silver armour-clad figure with a jetpack rocketing off from a roof high above. They turned back to the assassin to see her face morph into her true Clawdite form as she died. "Wee shahmit... sleemo." she managed to curse before she died.

Livia then noticed the object embedded in the assassin's neck. She carefully extracted it to see that it was a small silver dart. "What's this?" she wandered.

~8~

"This is a toxic dart." Obi-Wan said as he examined the dart brought back by the Padawans. After the Coruscant police had arrived to take the dead assassin away, Anakin and Livia had returned to Padme's apartment to tell their masters what had happened. "An unusual kind. I've never seen one like this before."

"The police have identified our dead friend." Tey said, checking a holo-pad. "Her name was Zam Wesell, a freelance bounty hunter."

"She was about to tell us that another bounty hunter hired her for the kill." Livia said.

"Which means that they were probably hired by someone else ." Tey realised. "I think our mandate might just be changing."

Chapter Text

Next day, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Tey and Livia stood before the Jedi Council, giving their report of the previous night's events. "Track down this bounty hunter you must, Obi-Wan, Tey." Yoda said.

"Most importantly, find out who he's working for." Windu added.

"What about Senator Amidala? She will still need protecting." Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Handle that, your Padawans will." Yoda answered.

"Skywalker, Bescot, escort the Senator back to her home planet of Naboo. She'll be safer there." Windu instructed the surprised Anakin and Livia. "And don't use registered transport- travel as refugees."

"As the leader of the opposition, it will be very difficult to get Senator Amidala to leave the Capital." Anakin pointed out.

"Until caught this killer is, our judgement, she must respect." Yoda said firmly.

Plo was rather more helpful. "Skywalker, go to the Senate and ask Chancellor Palpatine to speak with her about this matter." he instructed.

~8~

Anakin was soon in Palpatine's office, repeating the Council's orders to him. "I will talk with her." Palpatine promised. "Senator Amidala will not refuse an executive order, I know her well enough to assure you of that."

"Thank you, your Excellency." Anakin bowed.

"And so they've finally given you an assignment." Palpatine commented. "Your patience has paid off."

"Your guidance more than my patience." Anakin said modestly.

"You don't need guidance, Anakin. In time, you will learn to trust your feelings. Then you will be invincible." Palaptine said as they began to walk around the room. "I have said it many times: you are one of the most gifted Jedi I have ever met."

"Thank you, your Excellency."

"I see you becoming the greatest of all the Jedi, Anakin... even more powerful than Master Yoda."

~8~

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Tey walking through the halls of the Jedi Temple together. "I am concerned for my Padawan. He's not ready to be given this assignment on his own yet." Obi-Wan said.

"Ah, but you're forgetting; Livia will be with him." Tey replied. "Besides, you can't keep coddling Anakin forever, Obi-Wan. He's gotta be given responsibility sooner or later."

"But he still has much to learn, Tey. His abilities have made him, well, arrogant."

"Padawans will be Padawans, Obi-Wan. Remember when we were that age?"

"That was different." Obi-Wan blushed.

"No, it wasn't." Tey smirked. "We were both just as bad as Anakin; we thought we knew better than our masters."

"Yes, well, we grew out of it." Obi-Wan said.

"And so will Anakin." Tey continued. "You just need a bit of patience, Obi-Wan. And maybe stop being such an over strict disciplinarian while ya at it. Anakin might start listening to you more then."

~8~

, "as wise as Master Yoda and as powerful as Master Windu. I am truly thankful to be his apprentice, although in some ways... a lot of ways, I'm really ahead of him. I'm ready for the Trials, I know I am. He knows it too, but he says that I'm 'too unpredictable'. Other Jedi my age have gone through the Trials and made it. I know I started my training late, but he won't let me move on!" he complained.

"That must be frustrating." Padme sympathised.

"It's worse. He's overly critical. He never listens. It's not fair!" Anakin burst out.

Livia couldn't help but snigger at Anakin's friend. "I'm sorry, but you should hear yourself." she chortled. "You sound just like a spoilt kid whining 'cos he can't get his own way!"

"Go ahead and laugh. You wouldn't understand; your master lets you do whatever ya want." Anakin said bitterly.

"Huh, don't you believe it." Livia retorted. "She won't let me face the Trials either. And I snuck out of the Temple to go down the Entertainment district once. When I got back, Tey went on at me as if I'd turned to the Dark Side or something."

"All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like." Padme said wisely. "It's the only way we grow."

"I know." Anakin sighed.

"Anakin, don't try to grow up too fast." Padme told him gently.

"But I am grown up. You said it yourself." Anakin retorted, looking deep into Padme's eyes.

"Please don't look at me like that." Padme squirmed.

"Why not?"

"It makes me feel uncomfortable." Padme replied, and walked away to finish packing.

"Sorry, mi'lady." Anakin smirked, while Livia rolled her eyes at him. This was going to be a difficult assignment.

~8~

An airbus flew towards the massive freighter docks of Coruscant's industrial district. The spaceport was bustling with with activity; transports of different shapes and sizes moved supplies and passengers as giant cranes loaded and unloaded cargo from the starships. The airbus stopped before an intergalactic freighter. Aboard were Anakin, Livia and Padme, all dressed as Outland peasants. They got up and headed to the door, where Obi-Wan, Tey, Typho and Dorme were waiting to hand them their luggage. "Be safe, mi'lady." Typho said to the Senator.

"Thank you, Captain." Padme acknowledged. "Take good care of Dorme. The threat's on you two now."

"He'll be safe with me." Dorme joked, though Padme knew she was nervous.

"You'll be fine." she assured her.

"It's not me, mi'lady, I worry about you. What if they realise you've left the Capital?" Dorme asked.

"Well, then my Jedi protectors will have to prove how good they are." Padme said with a smile.

Obi-Wan meanwhile pulled his apprentice aside. "Anakin, you stay put on Naboo." he said sternly. "Don't attract attention. Don't do anything without first consulting either myself and Master Tey, or the Council."

"Yes, Master." Anakin nodded meekly.

Tey rolled her eyes at Obi-Wan's stuffiness and turned to her apprentice. "Good luck, Liv. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"I won't, Master." Livia acknowledged.

"Got ya lightsabre?"

"Right here, Master." Livia lifted her trouser leg to reveal her lightsabre discreetly hidden beneath it.

"Good." Tey nodded. "And make sure you keep Anakin out of trouble."

"I will."

Tey then turned to Padme. "We'll get to the bottom of this plot quickly, mi'lady. You'll be back here in no time, I promise."

"I'll be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi." Padme acknowledged.

"It's time to go." Anakin told her.

"I know." Padme acknowledged, and she and Livia picked up their luggage and exited the bus, where R2-D2 was waiting for them.

"Anakin, may the Force be with you." Obi-Wan called after his apprentice.

"May the Force be with you, Master." Anakin reciprocated as he picked up the remaining luggage and followed the two women.

"Suddenly I'm afraid." Padme remarked as the trio walked along the dock towards the waiting freighter to Naboo.

"This is my first assignment without Obi-Wan. I am too." Anakin replied. "Don't worry, we have R2 with us." he joked as he saw R2 trundling along behind them.

"What is the story between you and that droid, anyway?" Livia asked.

"We went through a lot together 10 years ago." Anakin replied nonchalantly.

Obi-Wan, Tey and Typho watched them walking away. "I hope he doesn't try anything foolish." Obi-Wan sighed.

"I'd be more concerned about Senator Amidala doing something, than him." Typho remarked.

"Well then, it's a good thing my apprentice is there to keep them both out of trouble." Tey said nonchalantly. "C'mon, Obi-Wan, let's get to work."

~8~

After the freighter had left for Naboo, Obi-Wan and Tey returned to the Jedi Temple and made their way to the analysis room to begin their investigation. They entered an unoccupied cubicle and sat down in front of a console. A PK-4 Analysis Droid came to life and a tray slide out of the console. "Place the subject for analysis on the sensor tray, please." the droid instructed.

Obi-Wan placed the dart recovered from Zam Wesell's body onto the tray, which retracted into the console. "It's a toxic dart. We need to know where it came from and who made it." he said as a computer screen lit-up in front of him.

The droid on the other side of the glass took the dart. "One moment, please." It took the dart over to a scanner and diagrams and data flashed across Obi-Wan's screen at great speed, before going blank. "Markings cannot be identified." the droid reported. "As you can see on your screen, subject weapon does not exist in any known culture. Probably self-made by a warrior, not associated with any known society." It placed the dart back on the tray, which extended out to the two Jedi and Tey recovered the dart.

"Thank you for your assistance." Obi-Wan told the droid.

"Guess we'll just have to try somewhere else." Tey remarked, slipping the dart into the pocket of her robe. "There's more than one way to find out information."

"And I think I know who can identify that." Obi-Wan concurred.

~8~

The freighter flew though hyperspace towards Naboo. It's hold was full of immigrants and their belongings. To one side, R2 and Liva were working their way up to the head of a food line, where serving droids were distributing food to the passengers. R2 was holding two bowls full of and extended a tube into a tub of mush and sucked up large quantity, which he poured into one of the bowls, then he used one of his grabber arms to help himself to a quantity of Colo Claw Fish eggs, which he placed in the other bowl. One of the server droids saw him. "Hey you! No droids!" it shouted. "Get outta here!"

R2 gave an indignant beep in response and trundled away to where Padme was sitting at a table. "Huh, ya know, that's a bit rich considering you're a droid yourself." Livia said to the server droid, then she helped herself to some food and went over to where Anakin was asleep. She noticed that he seemed very restless in his sleep.

"No, no, Mom, no..." Anakin muttered in his sleep. Concerned, Livia nudged him and he jerked awake. "What?" he blinked as he remembered where he was.

"Looked like you were having a nightmare." Livia told him.

"Yeah." Anakin admitted, wiping the sleep out of his eyes.

"You were dreaming about ya mother, weren't you?" Livia probed. "It's alright, you can tell me."

"I left Tatooine so long ago that... my memory of her is fading, and I don't wanna lose it." Anakin sighed. "Recently, I've been seeing her in my dreams. Scary dreams. I worry about her, Liv."

"I'm sure she's fine, Anakin." Livia tried to reassure him. "They're just dreams; they're not real. C'mon, you'll feel better after you've eaten." And the two Jedi joined Padme at her table.

"So what did I miss?" Anakin asked as they sat down.

"We went into lightspeed a while ago." Padme replied. "We should reach Naboo in a few hours."

"I've never been to Naboo before. What's it like?" Livia asked.

"Wonderful." Anakin replied. "It's by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen."

"It must be difficult, having sworn your lives to the Jedi," Padme remarked, "not being able to visit the places you like, or do the things you like..."

"Or be with the people that I love." Anakin finished.

"Anakin..." Livia began.

"Are you allowed to love?" Padme asked. "I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi."

"That's because it is." Livia answered. "The Code expressly forbids Jedi from forming attachments. No exceptions." she aimed that last remark towards Anakin.

"Attachment is forbidden." Anakin said to Padme. "Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as an unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life, so you might say that we are encouraged to love."

"Huh, you're obviously reading the Code wrong." Livia muttered.

~8~

Obi-Wan and Tey walked along one of Coruscant's back streets until they reached Dex's Diner. They entered the diner and were approached by a waitress droid, WA-7. "Can I help ya?" she asked.

"We're looking for Dexter." Obi-Wan replied.

"Waddaya want him for?" WA-7 asked.

"Don't worry, he's not in trouble. We're friends of his." Tey replied.

WA-7 wheeled over to the open serving hatch behind the counter. "Someone to see ya, honey." she called. "Jedi by the looks of 'em."

The huge head of a Besalisk, Dexter Jettser, emerged from the serving hatch. "Obi-Wan! Tey!" he exclaimed in delight.

"Hello, Dex." Obi-Wan smiled.

"Long time no see." Tey added cheerfully.

"Take a seat. I'll be right with ya both." Dexter said, and so the two Jedi headed over to a vacant table.

"You want a couple of Juri juices?" WA-7 called to them.

"Oh yes, thank you." Obi-Wan responded.

"And I'll have some deep-fried chokie." Tey added.

Just then, Dexter emerged from the kitchen. "Hey, ol' buddies!" he beamed, and hugged both Jedi tightly, then the trio sat down in the booth; Dexter squeezing in on one side, while Obi-Wan and Tey sat opposite. "So, my friends, what can I do for ya both?" Dexter asked.

"Well, we were wandering if you could tell us what this is." Tey said, taking out the toxic dart and placing it on the table. "My apprentice pulled it out of an assassin right here on Coruscant last night."

Dexter's eyes widened in recognition. "Well, whattaya know... I ain't seen one of these since I was prospectin' on Subterrel, beyond the Outer Rim."

"Can you tell us where it came from?" Obi-Wan asked.

"This baby belongs to them cloners." Dexter replied. "What you got here is a Kamino sabredart."

"I wonder why it didn't show up in the analysis archives." Obi-Wan mused.

"It's these funny little cuts on the side that give it away. Those analysis droids only focus on symbols." Dexter snorted dismissively. "Huh! I should think that you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom." he chuckled.

"Well, if droids could think, there'd be none of us here, would there?" Obi-Wan rebutted.

"Oh, I dunno. Most Astro-droids I've met seen quite clever." Tey said nonchalantly. "Kamino, I don't think I've ever heard of it. It's not in the Republic, I'm assuming?" she asked Dexter.

"No, it's beyond the Outer Rim." Dexter confirmed. "I'd say about, uh, 12 parsecs outside the Rishi Maze. Should be easy to find, even for those droids in your archive. These, uh, Kaminoans keep to themselves. They're cloners. Damned good ones too."

"Cloners? Are they friendly?" Obi-Wan asked, picking up the dart and examining it.

"It depends." Dexter replied.

"Depends on what, Dex?"

Dexter grinned. "On how good ya manners are... and how big your pocketbook is."

Just then, WA-7 returned with the Jedi's drinks and Tey's chokie. "Ah, now there's a sight for sore eyes." Tey grinned.

"I can never understand why you like that." Obi-Wan remarked.

"Well, doing assignments in the Outer Rim gives ya an appreciation for the simpler foods." Tey replied simply, settling down to eat. "I wonder how the Padawans are getting on.

Chapter Text

The freighter reached Naboo safely and landed at Theed spaceport. After disembarking, Anakin, Padme, Livia and R2 took an airbus to the palace. Livia had to admit, Naboo certainly was a beautiful planet; with it's lush green meadows out in the countryside, while Theed itself boasted very tasteful architecture. "Ya know, if I grew up here, I don't think I'd ever want to leave." she remarked as the group made their way across the great courtyard.

"I doubt that." Padme laughed.

"I agree with Liv." Anakin chimed in. "When I first started my training, I was very homesick and very lonely. This planet and my mom were the only pleasant things I had to think about... the problem was, the more I thought about my mom, the worse I felt. But I would feel better if I thought about the Palace; the way it shimmers in the sunlight, the way the air always smells of flowers..."

"... and the soft sound of the distant waterfalls." Padme finished for him. "The first time I saw the Capital, I was very young... I'd never seen a waterfall before. I thought they were so beautiful... I never dreamed one day I'd live in the Palace."

"Was it always your ambition to go into politics, mi'lady?" Livia asked.

"No. Politics was the last thing I thought of when I was little." Padme laughed. "And you can call me Padme, Livia. My dream was to help in the Refugee Relief Movement. I never thought of running for office, but the more history I studied, the more I realised how much good politicians could do, so when I was eight, I joined the Apprentice Legislators, then later on became a Senatorial advisor with such a passion that, before I knew it, I was elected Queen. Partly because I scored so high on my education certificate, but for the most part it was my conviction that reform was possible. I wasn't the youngest Queen ever elected, but now that I think back on it, I'm not sure that I was old enough. I'm not sure I was ready."

"The people you served thought you did a good job." Anakin said. "I heard they even tried to amend the constitution so that you could stay in office."

"Popular rule is not a democracy, Anakin." Padme said. "It gives the people what they want, not what they need."

"I thought giving people what they want was democracy." Livia said.

Padme seemed to either not hear this remark, or she chose to ignore it. "I was relieved when my two terms were up." she said to Anakin. "So were my parents. They were worried about me during the blockade and couldn't wait for it all to be over. Actually, I was hoping to a family of my own by now. My sister has the most amazing kids. But when the Queen asked me to serve as Senator, I couldn't refuse her."

"I agree with her." Anakin replied. "I think the Republic needs you. I'm glad you chose to serve."

"Anakin..." Livia began, realising that Anakin was trying to flirt again.

"I feel things are going to happen in our generation that will change the galaxy in profound ways." Anakin continued.

"I think so too." Padme replied.

~8~

Padme and the two Jedi were soon in a meeting with Queen Jamila and Governor Sio Bibble. "How many systems have joined Count Dooku and the Separatists?" Jamila asked.

"About 200." Padme replied. "And more are leaving the Republic every day. If the Senate votes to create an army, I'm sure it's going to push us into a civil war." she finished grimly.

"It's unthinkable." Bibble shivered. "There hasn't been a full-scale war since the formation of the Republic."

"Do you see any way through negotiations to bring the Separatists back into the Republic?" Jamila asked Padme.

"Not if they feel threated." the Senator replied. "The Separatists don't have an army, but if they're provoked, they will move to defend themselves, I'm sure of that. And with no time or money to build an army, my guess is they'll turn to the Trade Federation or the Commerce Guilds for help."

"Huh, the armies of commerce." Livia muttered to herself.

"Why has nothing been done in the Senate to restrain them?" Jamila asked.

"I'm afraid that, despite the Chancellor's best efforts, there are still too many bureaucrats, judges, and even more Senators on the payroll of the Guilds." Padme replied grimly.

"It's outrageous, but after four trials in the Supreme Court, Nute Gunray is still the Viceroy of the Trade Federation." Bibble burst out. "Do these money mongers control everything?!"

"Remember, Governor, the Courts were able to reduce the Federation's armies." Jamila reminded him. "That's a move in the right direction."

"There are rumours, your Highness, that the Federation Army was not as reduced as they were ordered." Livia spoke up.

"The Jedi were not allowed to investigate." Anakin added. "It would be too dangerous for the economy, we were told."

Jamila considered all of this. "We must keep our faith in the Republic." she decided. "The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it."

"Let's pray that day never comes." Padme agreed.

"In the meantime, we must consider your own safety." Jamila said.

"What are your suggestions, Master Jedi?" Bibble asked Anakin and Livia.

But before either Padawans could answer, Padme got there first. "Oh, Anakin and Livia are not Jedi yet, they're still Padawan learners, but I was thinking..."

"Hold on a minute..." a nettled Anakin tried to interrupt.

"Excuse me." Padme shut him up. "I was thinking I would stay in the lake country." she told the Queen. "There are some places up there that are very isolated.

"Excuse me," Anakin persisted, "we're in charge of security here, mi'lady." he pointed between himself and Livia.

"And this is my home. I know it very well. That is why we're here." Padme told him. "I think it would be wise if you took advantage of my knowledge in this instance."

"Sorry, mi'lady." Anakin backed down.

"Perfect. It's settled, then." Jamila spoke up, having watched this with amusement. "Padme, I had an audience with your father yesterday." she continued as they began to leave the throne room. "I told him what was happening. He hopes you will visit your family before you leave... they're all very worried about you."

"What was that about?" Livia asked Anakin quietly as they followed the Queen and Padme.

"I just don't like it when people belittle me in public." Anakin admitted. "Master Obi-Wan does it to me all the time, and I didn't want Padme doing it either.

"Well, maybe you should stop trying to flirt with her all of the time, then." Livia suggested.

"I was not flirting!" Anakin whined.

~8~

Back on Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Tey were standing in the Jedi Temple archive library when they were approached by Madame Jocasta Nu, the Jedi Archivist. "Did you call for assistance?" she asked them.

"Yes, yes, we did." Obi-Wan replied.

Nu then noticed that Tey was looking at a bronze bust of Count Dooku. "He has a very powerful face, doesn't he?" she said said, running a hand over the bust's chiselled features. "He was one of the most brilliant Jedi I have had the privilege of knowing."

"I met him once, ya know, when I was a youngling." Tey said. "Why did he leave, anyway?"

"Well, one might say he was always a bit out of step with the decisions of the Council..." Nu replied, "much like your old master, Qui-Gon Jinn." she said to Obi-Wan.

"Really?" a surprised Obi-Wan blinked.

"Oh, yes." Nu replied. "They were alike in many ways. Very individual thinkers... idealists... not unlike yourself, Master Sacul." she said to Tey.

"Well, I keep saying, times are changing, and we must change with them, otherwise we'll just become complacent and ineffective." Tey shrugged.

Nu turned back to the bust. "He was always striving to become a more powerful Jedi. He wanted to be the best. With a lightsabre, in the old style of fencing, he had no match."

"That's one thing I remember from my meeting with him; his lightsabre was curved." Tey remarked. "I've always wandered why that was."

"His knowledge of the Force was... unique." Nu continued. "In the end, I think he left because he lost faith in the Republic. He believed that politics were corrupt, and he felt the Jedi betrayed themselves by serving politicians."

"Hmm, I think I can see his point." Tey commented. "The Republic definitely isn't as righteous as it proclaims to be."

"He always had very high expectations of Government." Nu continued. "He disappeared for 9 or 10 years, then just showed up again as the head of the Separatist movement."

"Interesting..." Obi-Wan commented. "I'm still not sure I understand."

"Well, I'm sure you didn't call me over for a history lesson." Nu shrugged. "Are you having a problem, Master Kenobi, Master Sacul?"

"Yes, um, we're looking for a planetary system called 'Kamino'." Obi-Wan explained, sitting down at a computer terminal. "It doesn't show up on the archive charts."

"Kamino? It's not a system I'm familiar with. Are you show you have the right coordinates?" Nu asked.

"According to our information, it should appear in this quadrant here..." Obi-Wan pointed to the screen, "just south of the Rishi Maze."

"No coordinates?" Nu asked, tapping a few key commands. "It sounds like the sort of directions you'd get from a street tout... some old miner or Furhog tracker."

"All three, actually." Tey remarked.

"Are you sure it exists?" Nu asked.

"Absolutely." Obi-Wan replied.

"Let me do a gravitational scan..." Nu typed in some more key commands and the three Jedi studied the star map on the screen. "There are some inconstancies here." Nu observed. "Maybe the planet you're seeking was destroyed."

"But wouldn't that be on record?" Tey pointed out.

"It ought to be, unless it was was very recent." Nu replied. "I hate to say it, but it looks like the system you're searching for... doesn't exist."

"Impossible." Obi-Wan frowned. "Perhaps the archives are incomplete?"

"The archives are comprehensive and secure, Master Kenobi." Nu replied abruptly, offended at such an implication. "One thing you can be absolutely sure of- if an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist!" She turned on her heel and strode away.

Obi-Wan turned back to the chart and ran a hand through his beard. "Hmm, I think it's time we started thinking outside the box." Tey spoke up. "Let's talk to Master Yoda. He'll know what's wrong, I'm sure of it."

~8~

On Naboo, Anakin, Padme, Livia and R2 made their way along a residential street in Theed. Anakin and Livia were back in their Jedi robes, while Padme wore a casual aquamarine dress. "There's my house." she pointed to a house ahead of them, with two little girls playing outside. "Ryoo! Pooja!" Padme called, and the two girls came running over. Padme scooped both girls up and hugged them. "I'm so happy to see you!" She set the two girls down and they scampered off to play with R2.

"Cute kids." Livia remarked. "They your nieces?"

"Yes, my sister must be visiting." Padme replied as she led the way into the house.

The trio entered the dining room, where Padme's older sister was just setting some food down on the table. "Padme!" she exclaimed in delight, and hugged her sister.

"Anakin, Livia, this is my sister, Sola." Padme introduced when they broke apart.

"Hello, Anakin, Livia." Sola greeted.

"Hello." Anakin responded polietly.

"Nice to meet you." Livia chimed in.

"And this is my mother." Padme continued as her mother, Jobal, came in from the kitchen with more food.

"Hello." Jobal greeted. "You're just in time for dinner. I hope you're both hungry, Anakin, Livia."

"A little." Anakin said politely.

"He's just being polite, Mom. We're starving." Padme said as they all sat at the table.

"Yeah, the cuisine on the transport wasn't up to much scratch." Livia added.

"Well, you've come to the right place at the right time." Padme's father, Ruwee, said as he joined them.

"Honey, it's so good to see you safe." Jobal said as she began dishing the food out. "We were so worried."

"Dear..." Ruwee chided lightly.

"I know, I know..." Jobal waved him off, "but I had to say it. Now it's done."

Ruwee just raised an eyebrow in amusement and cast a look at the two Jedi.

"Did ya know, Anakin, you're the first boyfriend my sister's ever brought home?" Sola said suddenly, causing Anakin to look taken aback, and Livia to nearly choke on her food.

"Sola!" Padme rolled her eyes. "He's not my boyfriend. Anakin's a friend, we've known each other for years. He and Livia are Jedi assigned to me by the Senate to protect me."

"Bodyguards?!" Jobal stared. "Oh, Padme, they didn't tell us it was that serious!"

"It's not, I promise." Padme tried to reassure her. "I'm not in any danger, Mom."

"Is she?" Ruwee asked the two Jedi.

"Yes... I'm afraid she is." Anakin answered honestly.

"That's why we've been assigned to her protection." Livia added. "But we're confident it won't be long before the danger's passed." she did her best to reassure the two worried parents.

~8~

After dinner, Anakin joined Ruwee for a walk in the garden. "Ah, I sometimes wish that, uh, I'd travelled more, but I must say, I'm happy here." Ruwee said.

"Padme told us you teach at the University." Anakin said.

"Yeah, and before that I was a builder." Ruwee replied. "I also worked for a Freedom Relief Movement, but I was very young." he winked cheekily.

~8~

Inside the kitchen, the women were clearing the table. "Why haven't you told us about him?" Sola asked her sister coyly.

"What's there to talk about?" Padme shrugged. "He's just a boy."

"A boy?" Sola scoffed. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?" she teased.

"Sola, stop it!" Padme huffed.

"It's obvious he has feelings for you." Sola pushed.

"Yeah, well, he shouldn't." Livia spoke up. "The Code forbids attachments."

"And why's that?" Sola asked her.

"Well, as my master told me, attachment leads to jealously, and jealously leads to chaos."

~8~

"So tell me, son, how serious is this thing?" Ruwee asked Anakin. "How much danger is my daughter in?"

"There have been two attempts on her life." Anakin replied. "Chances are there'll be more. Our masters are tracking down the assassins, I'm sure they'll find out who they are. As Livia said at dinner, the situation won't last long."

"I don't want anything to happen to her." Ruwee said desperately.

"I don't either." Anakin sighed.

~8~

"There is no attachment." Padme insisted. "Anakin and I are... friends. Our relationship is strictly professional."

"And I'm here to make sure it stays that way." Livia added.

Sola and Jobal just shared knowing looks and got on with their tasks.

~8~

Presently, Padme was in her bedroom, packing some provisions for the trip out to the lakes. "Don't worry, this won't take long." she told Anakin and Livia, who were both standing in the doorway.

"I just want to get there before dark." Anakin replied.

"So you still live here when not on Coruscant?" Livia asked Padme.

"I move around so much, I've never had a place of my own." Padme replied. "Official residencies have no warmth. I feel good here. I feel at home."

"I never really had a home." Anakin commented. "Home was always where my Mom was."

"The only home I've ever known is the Jedi Temple." Livia said.

"How old were you when you became a Jedi?" Padme asked her.

"About three, I think." Livia replied. "I can't remember anything before that. My earliest memories are of Master Yoda training me with the other Younglings, then when I was 10, Master Tey chose me as her apprentice."

Anakin walked over to a framed hologram on the wall. "Is this you?" he asked Padme. The hologram showed a nine-year-old Padme hugging two alien children tightly.

"That was when I was with the relief group to Shadda-Bi-Boran." Padme explained. "Their sun was imploding and the planet was dying. I was helping to relocate the children. See that little one I'm holding? His name was N'a-kee-tula, which means sweetheart. He was so full of life." she sighed. "They all were."

"What happened?" Livia asked her.

"They were never able to adapt... to live off their native planet. They all died." Padme replied sadly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Livia said sympathetically.

Anakin meanwhile went over to another framed hologram, this one showing an 11-year-old Padme wearing official robes and standing between two stern-looking legislators. "My first day as an apprentice legislator." Padme explained. "Notice the difference?" she joked, pulling a face that matched the one she was pulling in the hologram, causing Anakin to smile in amusement, then she turned and went back to her packing.

~8~

Obi-Wan and Tey walked through the Jedi Temple until they came across a training room, where Yoda was training 20 five-year-old children on lightsabre use. "Reach out. Sense the Force around you." Yoda coached the Younglings, who were all wearing helmets which covered their eyes, and they were trying to deflect stun bolts from training remotes with practice lightsabres. "Use your feelings you must." Yoda continued, then he saw Obi-Wan and Tey enter. "Younglings. Younglings!" Yoda tapped his gimmer stick on the floor and the Younglings deactivated their sabres and lifted their helmets up. "Visitors, we have."

"Hello, Master Obi-Wan and Master Tey." the Younglings chorused.

"Hello." Obi-Wan said brightly.

"Your training's going well." Tey added. "Keep up the good work!"

"We're sorry to disturb you, Master." Obi-Wan said to Yoda.

"What help can I be, hmm?" Yoda asked, knowing that the two Jedi wouldn't have disturbed him unless it was for something important.

"We're looking for a planet described to us by an old friend." Obi-Wan explained. "We trust him, but the system doesn't show on the archive maps."

"Hmm, lost a planet Masters Obi-Wan and Tey have." Yoda said to the Younglings, who giggled. "How embarrassing. How embarrassing."

"Yeah, we thought we'd get your perspective on this, Master." Tey said.

"Liam, the shades." Yoda instructed a Youngling, who lowered the room's sun visor, while Obi-Wan walked over to a small tube in the centre of the room and placed a small ball at the top of it. "Gather 'round the map reader, clear your minds... and find the wayward planet we will." Yoda said as the reader lit-up and projected the star chart hologram into the room.

"It ought to be... here..." Obi-Wan said, walking into the display and pointing to an empty space, "but it isn't. Gravity is pulling all of the stars in this area towards this spot."

"And if the system had been destroyed in a supernova, like Madame Nu seemed to think, then the gravitational pull would have been altered, yet it clearly hasn't." Tey pointed out.

"Hmm, gravity's silhouette remains, but the star and all the planets, disappeared they have." Yoda observed. "How can this be, hmm? A thought? Anyone?"

"Master, because someone erased it from the archive memory." a boy spoke up.

Yoda chuckled. "Truly wonderful the mind of a child is. The Padawan is right. Go to the centre of gravity's pull, and find your planet, you will." he told Obi-Wan and Tey. "The data must've been erased."

"But Master Yoda, who could empty information from the Archive?" Obi-Wan asked as Tey retrieved the star chart. "That's impossible, isn't it?"

"Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is. Only a Jedi could have erased those files." Yoda frowned. "But who and why, harder to answer. Meditate on this, I will."

"May the Force be with us all." Tey said grimly as she and Obi-Wan turned to leave. Their investigation had just become much more complicated.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan and Tey walked through the Jedi Temple's hangar bay, where the Order's fleet of Delta-7 Aethersprite starfighters were maintained. "It appears someone doesn't want us to know about this Kamino system." Obi-Wan remarked.

"Which means there's something happening in that system that we should know about." Tey replied.

"Tey, do you think a Jedi could've erased those files?" Obi-Wan asked her.

"It's the only explanation." Tey replied as they approached two fighters that had been prepared for them at the end of the hangar. "As Master Yoda said, only a Jedi would have that kind of access, and a high-ranking Jedi Master at that. I hope he can find out who was responsible. If someone could erase an entire planet from the Archives, I dread to think what else could've been altered."

"You know, I'm still concerned for my Padawan." Obi-Wan remarked.

"I thought we'd been over this." Tey rolled her eyes.

"He still has much to learn." Obi-Wan persisted. "I realise now what Master Windu and Master Yoda knew from the beginning. Anakin was too old to start his training."

"He was younger than you were when you became a Padawan." Tey reminded.

"That was different." Obi-Wan replied. "I'd had all those years being trained by Yoda before Qui-Gon took me as his apprentice. Anakin hadn't received any training in the disciplines of the Jedi before Qui-Gon found him on Tatooine. We shouldn't have been given this assignment." he sighed. "I fear Anakin will not be able to protect the Senator."

"Because of his emotional connection to her?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "It's been there since he was a boy. Now he's confused... distracted. You saw it for yourself."

"Hmm, you know, he reminded me of how you were with the Duchess of Mandalore." Tey commented. "You two got pretty emotionally connected, as I recall."

"That was different." Obi-Wan blushed.

"Obi-Wan, have faith that Anakin will chose the right path." Tey told him calmly. "Anyway, you're forgetting that Livia's with him. If Anakin has any trouble staying professional, then I'm sure Livia will be more than capable of stepping in."

"I suppose you're right." Obi-Wan conceded. "Yes, I guess I do worry too much."

"You're a good master, Obi-Wan." Tey assured him. "Now, c'mon, let's see if we can find this missing planet of ours."

The two Jedi climbed into the cockpits of their waiting starfighters and the two craft took off from Coruscant. Upon leaving the planet's atmosphere, the fighters docked with a pair of waiting hyperdrive docking rings and zoomed off into lightspeed, destination: Kamino.

~8~

Anakin, Padme and Livia had travelled by water speeder to a lodge in Naboo's lake country. Upon mooring at a jetty by the lodge's terrace, the trio disembarked. "Right, I'd bet get the bags inside." Livia said as she gathered up Padme's luggage and headed for the lodge with it.

Anakin and Padme made their way onto the terrace and stopped at the balustrade. "When I was in Level Three, we used to come here for school retreat." Padme said, looking out across the shimming lake to the mountains rising beyond. "We would swim to that island every day. I love the water."

"I do too." Anakin replied. "I guess it comes from growing up on a desert planet."

"We used to lie out on the sand and let the sun dry us," Padme continued, "and try to guess the names of the birds singing."

"I don't like sand." Anakin admitted. "It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here, everything's soft... and smooth." He raised a hand up and gently caressed Padme's exposed back while looking at her longingly.

This time, Padme didn't seem to mind how he was looking at her. "There was a very old man who lived out on the island." she continued. "He used to make glass out of sand- and vases and necklaces out of the glass. They were magical."

"Everything here is magical." Anakin said.

"You could look into the glass and see the water. The way it ripples and moves. It looked so real... but it wasn't."

"Sometimes, when you believe something to be real, it becomes real. Real enough, anyway."

They looked deeply into each other's eyes. "I used to think if you looked too deeply into the glass, you would lose yourself."

"I think it's true."

Then it happened. Anakin and Padme began to lean closer to each other, and their lips made contact. The kiss lasted for about a second, then Padme came to her senses. "No." she burst out as she backed off. "I shouldn't have done that."

"I'm sorry." Anakin breathed as Padme turned on her heel and headed for the lodge.

~8~

Livia was just unpacking Padme's suitcase when the Senator joined her. "Everything alright, Padme?" Livia asked her.

"Yes, fine." Padme replied hastily, not wanting to reveal what had just happened. "So, I trust the accommodation meets with your approval?"

"Yes, we should be fine here." Livia said. "We're off the beaten track, but we've got enough of a view to know in advance if anything's coming." She then hung one of Padme's dresses in the wardrobe. "Ya know, Padme, I know I shouldn't say this, but sometimes I envy you Senators. You always have the best fashions."

"One of the perks of office." Padme replied. "Tell ya what, you can wear one of these for dinner tonight, if you like."

"Oh, no. I couldn't." Livia said politely. "It wouldn't be right. I mean, thank you all the same, but..."

"Livia, I promise I won't tell your master." Padme said coyly. "There are times when even a Jedi must dress for the occasion. Now, I think I know which dress would suit you best..."

~8~

Obi-Wan and Tey's Jedi starfighters dropped out of hyperspace and detached from their docking rings. Ahead of them was a stormy blue ocean planet. "There it is, Tey, right where it should be." Obi-Wan said into his headset. "Our missing planet, Kamino."

"Now let's see why someone was so keen to hide it from us." Tey replied as they headed for the planet. Upon entering the atmosphere, the two Jedi found the planet to be in the midst of a torrential downpour, but Obi-Wan and Tey were experienced enough pilots to safely navigate through it. Ahead, they saw a huge, ultra-modern city resting on great stilts that kept it above the pounding waves that covered the surface of the planet. The starfighters landed safely on a vacant landing platform and the two Jedi disembarked, pulling their hoods up and wrapping their robes around themselves to keep dry. "Can't say much for the weather here." Tey remarked as they headed for a tower on the far side of the platform.

A door opened for them and the two Jedi entered into a gleaming white corridor. They lowered their hoods to see a tall, slender, female Kaminoan approach them. "Welcome to Tipoca City, Master Jedi." she greeted them. "The Prime Minister is expecting you."

"We're expected?" Obi-Wan blinked in surprise.

"Of course." the Kaminoan, Taun We, replied. "He anxious to meet you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now, please, this way." And she turned and began to lead the two Jedi down the corridor. Presently, they arrived in a large, white-walled office, where a male Kaminoan was waiting. "May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino." Taun We introduced as the Prime Minister raised himself from his white spoon-shaped chair. "And these are Master Jedi..."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi." Obi-Wan bowed.

"Tey Sacul." Tey bowed as well.

"I trust you're going to enjoy your stay." Lama Su said. "Please..." He gestured to two chairs that had just lowered from the ceiling and the two Jedi sat down on them. "We are most happy you have arrived at the best part of the season."

"You make us feel most welcome." Obi-Wan said politely.

"And now down to business." Lama Su continued. "You will be delighted to hear that we on schedule. 200,000 units are ready, with a million more well on the way."

Neither Obi-Wan nor Tey had any idea what the Prime Minister was talking about, but they were quick to improvise. "That's... good news." Obi-Wan said.

"Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that his order will be met on time."

"I'm sorry, did you say Master Sifo-Dyas?" Tey frowned.

"Yes. Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?" Lama Su asked.

"I'm afraid Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost 10 years ago." Obi-Wan informed him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that." Lama Su said.

"His name is listed on the memorial in the Jedi Temple," Tey said, "along with Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Tahl and the other great Jedi who are no longer with us."

"I'm sure Master Sifo-Dyas would've been proud of the army we've built for him." Lama Su went on.

"The army?" Obi-Wan blinked.

"Yes, a Clone army." Lama Su replied. "And I must say, one of the finest we've ever created."

"Tell me, Prime Minister, when Master Sifo-Dyas first contacted you about the army, did he say who it was for?" Tey asked.

"Of course he did. This army is for the Republic." Lama Su replied breezily. The two Jedi were surprised again, but they did a good job of keeping their faces neutral. "But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourselves." Lama Su continued.

"That's why we're here." Obi-Wan continued to cover.

"And we're looking forward to it." Tey added as they all got to their feet.

~8~

Anakin, Padme and Livia were having a picnic in one of the idyllic meadows of Naboo. Anakin and Padme seemed to have put their secret kiss behind them and the mood at the picnic was playful and relaxed. "I don't know..." Padme blushed as she played with the grass at her feet.

"Sure ya do... you just don't wanna tell us." Anakin teased.

"You two gonna use ya Jedi mind tricks on me?"

"As if we'd do that." Livia said in mock-indignance. "It's against the Code to abuse our Force abilities."

"Besides, they only work on the weak-minded." Anakin added lamely.

"Alright." Padme conceded. "I was 12. His name was Palo, we were both in the Legislative Youth Programme. He was a few years older than I. Very cute. Dark, curly hair, dreamy eyes..."

"Oh, you've gotta watch out for them, Padme." Livia said nonchalantly. "From what I've heard, they're the ones more likely to break ya heart. What happened to him, then?"

"I went into public service, he went on to become an artist."

"Maybe he was the smart one." Anakin said smartly.

Padme cocked an eyebrow at him. "You really don't like politicians, do you?"

"He gets it from his master." Livia told her. "You should hear Master Obi-Wan go on about politicians."

"I like two or three..." Anakin told Padme, "but I'm not really sure about one of 'em." He and Padme smiled at each other, prompting Livia to roll her eyes at them. "I don't think the system works." Anakin went on seriously.

"How would you have it work?" Padme asked him.

"We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problem, agree what's in the best interest of all the people, and then do it."

"That's exactly what we do." Padme pointed out. "The trouble is that people don't always agree."

"Like Master Tey and the Jedi Council." Livia remarked.

"Well, then they should be made to." Anakin continued the political conversation.

"By whom? Who's gonna make 'em?" Padme challenged.

"I don't know." Anakin shrugged. "Someone."

"You?"

"Of course not me!"

"But someone..."

"Someone wise."

"Sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship to me." Padme shook her head.

"Well, if it works..." Anakin said nonchalantly.

"Ya know, Anakin, you're starting sound like a Separatist." Livia remarked. "You're not gonna run off and join Count Dooku, are ya?"

"Of course not." Anakin snorted. "I was just saying."

"You're making fun of me, aren't you?" Padme realised suddenly.

"Oh no, I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator." Anakin said sarcastically.

"You're so bad!" Padme snorted.

Livia rolled her eyes again and stood up. "Where're you going?" Anakin asked her.

"For a walk." Livia replied. "Won't be long." And she went for a short walk around the nearby lake.

~8~

Lama Su and Taun We were taking Obi-Wan and Tey around on a guided tour of Tipoca City's cloning facilities. "Very impressive." Obi-Wan commented as he looked around at the millions of embryo pods around them.

"I'd hoped you'd be pleased." Lama Su said. "Clones can think creatively. You find that they are immensely superior to droids." They moved on into another area of the facility. "We take great pride in our combat education and training programmes. This group was created about five years ago." He gestured to a classroom full of boys, who all appeared to be about 10-years-old and all looked exactly the same.

"You said something about growth acceleration." Tey remarked.

"Oh yes, it's essential." Lama Su replied. "Otherwise, a mature Clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now we can do it in half the time."

"I see." Tey frowned, finding something rather inhuman about how the Kaminoans were breeding these people just to be soldiers. It was too much like slavery in her book.

Lama Su led the Jedi through an eating area where older Clones, appearing to be in the early 20's, were having a meal. "They are totally obedient, taking any order without question." Lama Su continued. "We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host."

"And who was the original host?" Obi-Wan asked.

"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett. We felt a Jedi would be the perfect choice, but Sifo-Dyas hand-picked Jango Fett himself."

"And where is this bounty hunter now?"

"Oh, we keep him here." Lama Su replied as the tour moved into the Clones' barracks. "Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing: an unaltered Clone for himself. Curious, isn't it?"

"How d'ya mean, 'unaltered'?" Tey asked.

"Pure genetic replication." Lama Su replied. "No tampering with the structure to make it more docile, and no growth acceleration."

"A surrogate son." Tey realised.

"We would very much like to meet this Jango Fett." Obi-Wan said.

"I would be very happy to arrange it for you." Taun We replied.

The Kaminoans led the two Jedi to a balcony overlooking the Clones' parade ground. Below them, Obi-Wan and Tey saw thousands of Clones dressed in stark white armour, helmets covering their faces, marching and drilling in formations of several hundred. "Magnificent, aren't they?" Lama Su beamed with pride.

Obi-Wan nodded slowly, while Tey bit her lip. Neither of them shared the Prime Minister's admiration; they'd hoped to find some answers here, but instead just had more questions. Something about this Clone army didn't sit right.

~8~

Livia returned from her walk around the lake to find Padme looking at something in the nearby field. She followed her gaze to see Anakin standing on the back of a Shaak, while Padme watched with amusement. Anakin suddenly lost his footing and tumbled head over heels into the grass. Padme quickly ran over to him. "Ani! Ani, are you alright?" she fussed.

"Of course he is." Livia said nonchalantly as she sauntered over. "He just wants some attention." She then noticed Anakin's lightsabre lying on the grass next to him, having falling off his belt during the tumble. Livia gave a mischievous smile and used the Force to summon the lightsabre to her hand. "Yoink!" she teased.

"Hey!" Anakin yelled as he jumped to his feet. "That's mine!"

"Then catch!" Livia teased, and threw the lightsabre over her shoulder.

Anakin promptly used the Force to retrieve his weapon and he hung it back on his belt, giving his fellow Jedi an indignant glare all the while.

Chapter Text

Rain continued to pelt down on Tipoca City. Taun We had taken Obi-Wan and Tey to an apartment, where Jango Fett lived. Taun We rang the door bell and the door slid open to reveal a 10-year-old boy identical to the Clones the Jedi had seen in the classroom. "Boba, is your father here?" Taun We asked him.

"Yep." he nodded.

"May we see him?"

"Sure." Boba acknowledged. He gave the two Jedi a suspicious look, then led the way into the apartment. "Dad, Taun We's here." he called.

As the two Jedi and Taun We followed him inside, Tey caught a glimpse of silver Mandalorian body armour inside the bedroom. She raised a brow at the sight, remembering what Livia had told her about an armoured figure on Coruscant the other night.

A rough-looking Mandorian man emerged from the bedroom. "Jango, welcome back." Taun We greeted him. "Was your trip productive."

"Fairly." Jango replied calmly.

"This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Tey Sacul." Taun We introduced. "They've come to check on our progress."

"That right?" Jango looked coldly at the two Jedi.

"Your Clones are very impressive. You must be very proud." Obi-Wan said calmly.

"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe." Jango replied coolly.

"Aren't we all?" Tey remarked, her eyes shifting over Jango's shoulders to the armour in the bedroom.

Obi-Wan had seen the armour too. "Ever made your way as far into the interior as Coruscant?" he asked Jango coolly.

"Once or twice." Jango replied just as coolly.

"Recently?"

"Possibly."

"Then you must know Master Sifo-Dyas." Obi-Wan probed.

Jango didn't answer; he just turned to his son. "Uh, Boba, rood eht so-heeck." he instructed, and Boba went to close the bedroom door. Jango then turned back to the two Jedi. "Master who?" he asked innocently.

"Sifo-Dyas." Tey pushed. "Wasn't he the Jedi who handpicked you for this job?"

Jango took a step closer to the two Jedi. "Never heard of him." he answered tightly.

"Really?" Tey raised a brow.

"I was recruited by a man called Tyrannus on one of the moons of Bogden." Jango continued.

"Curious." Obi-Wan remarked smartly.

A tense silence fell on the room until Jango changed the subject. "Do you like your army?"

"We look forward to seeing them in action." Obi-Wan replied coolly.

"They'll do their job well. I'll guarantee that." Jango said with implied threat.

Obi-Wan then decided to bring things to a close before they could get too heated. "Thank you for your time, Jango."

"Always a pleasure to meet Jedi." Jango reciprocated with an undercurrent of threat in his voice.

"I'm sure it is." Tey replied coolly. "Have a nice day." Then she and Obi-Wan left with Taun We.

As the door slid closed, Boba noticed his father looking thoughtful. "What is it, dad?" he asked.

"Pack your things, we're leaving." Jango told him.

~8~

It was dinner time at Padme's lakeside retreat on Naboo and she and Anakin were just settling down to eat, while Livia was getting changed into a dress Padme had insisted she wear. "... and when I got to them, we went into aggressive negotiations." Anakin was saying as he told Padme of one of his adventures with Obi-Wan.

"'Aggressive negotiations'? What's that?" Padme asked.

"Uh, well, negotiations with a lightsabre." Anakin replied, and Padme laughed.

Just then, Livia made her entrance, wearing a shimmering purple gown, her long dark hair flowing down her back. "You look lovely, Livia." Padme complimented her. "Doesn't she, Anakin?"

"Um, yes, very lovely." a flustered Anakin replied. He had to admit, Livia did look very pretty in that dress. "Where did you get that?" he asked her.

"Padme loaned it." Livia replied as she sat down at the table. "So, what did I miss?"

"Anakin was just telling me about 'aggressive negotiations'." Padme replied.

"Oh, I've been in plenty of them." Livia remarked. "There's never a dull moment with Master Tey."

Padme then picked up a knife and prepared to cut a piece of fruit. Before the knife could penetrate, the fruit went flying off her plate, across the table and into Anakin's outstretched hand. He then used the Force to make his own knife rise up and cut the fruit into two slices. "If Master Obi-Wan caught me doing this, he'd be very grumpy." he said as he then used the Force to make the two slices of fruit fly back to Padme's plate.

"Well, if you're using the Force for parlour tricks, then two can play at that game." Livia said, and used the Force to make a jug of juice rise up and pour itself into three waiting glasses.

~8~

After dinner, Livia was about to go upstairs to change back into her Jedi robes when she saw Anakin and Padme talking to each other in front the fireplace. Although she knew it was rude to eavesdrop, she couldn't help but hid behind the door and listen to what was being said. "From the moment I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you." Anakin was saying. "And now that I'm with you again, I'm in agony. The closer I get to you, the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you... I can't breathe. I'm haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me."

Livia's eyes widened. Anakin and Padme had kissed when she wasn't looking?

"My heart is beating, hoping that that kiss will not become a scar." Anakin continued. "You in my very soul... tormenting me. What can I do?"

'Not break one of our most important mandates, for a start.' Livia thought to herself as she listened to all of this.

"I will do anything that you ask." Anakin continued. "If you're suffering as much as I am, please tell me."

"I can't." Padme told him. "We can't. It's just not possible."

'At least she realises it.' Livia thought.

Unfortunately, Anakin didn't seem to share the Senator's sense. "Anything is possible, Padme, listen to me."

"No, you listen." Padme told him sharply. "We live in a real world. Come back to it. You're studying to become a Jedi, I'm.. I'm a Senator. If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion, it'll take us to a place we cannot go... regardless of the way we feel about each other."

"Then you do feel something." Anakin sounded triumphant. "There's an extraordinary connection between us, you can't deny that."

"Ani, it makes no difference." Padme told him. "I will not let you give up your future for me."

"You are asking me to be rational. That is something I know I cannot do. Believe me, I wish that I could just wish away my feelings... but I can't."

"I will not give into this. I'm not going to throw away my life away. I have more important things to do than fall in love."

"Well, ya know, it... wouldn't have to be that way." Anakin persisted. "We could keep it a secret."

'He did NOT just say that!' Livia thought in alarm.

Fortunately, Padme seemed to see sense. "We'd be living a lie... one we couldn't keep even if we wanted to. My sister saw it, so did my mother. I could do that. Could you, Anakin? Could you live like that?"

There was silence for a moment, then Anakin spoke again, "No, you're right. It would destroy us."

'Finally, he sees sense.' Livia thought. Having heard enough, she went upstairs to get changed. "Some assignment this has turned out to be." she muttered to herself as she entered the bedroom she'd been given. "The Council will be livid if they find out about this." She felt conflicted as she processed everything she'd just heard. Anakin had committed one of the Jedi Order's biggest taboos and she had a duty to report it, but she knew that Anakin would be expelled from the Order if she did, and she didn't want to do that to her friend. "What am I gonna do?" she sighed as she slipped out of her dress and changed back into her robes.

~8~

On Kamino, Taun We had escorted Obi-Wan and Tey back to the entrance out to the landing platform they'd arrived on. "Tell your council that the first battalions are ready." Taun We said. "And remind them, if they need more troops... it will take more time to grow them."

"We won't forget, and thank you." Obi-Wan acknowledged, then he and Tey pulled their hoods up and ventured out into the pouring rain. "What d'you think?" Obi-Wan asked as they made their way towards their waiting starfighters.

"I don't like it." Tey replied. "This Clone army doesn't sound like something the Council would ever approve of."

"And what about this Jango Fett?"

"Oh, he's our man, I'm pretty sure of that."

"Me too." Obi-Wan agreed as they reached their ships. "R4?" he called to his Astromech droid, R4-P17. "Scramble code five to Coruscant, care of the old folks' home."

R4 beeped a response and a communications dish emerged from the wing of Obi-Wan's ship.

~8~

At the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Yoda and Mace Windu were sitting in a private chamber when a hologram of Obi-Wan and Tey appeared before them. "We have successfully made contact with the Prime Minister of Kamino." Obi-Wan reported. "They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a Clone army."

"We're pretty certain this bounty hunter is the assassin we're looking for." Tey added.

"Do you think these Cloners are involved in the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala?" Windu asked.

"No, Master. There appears to be no motive." Obi-Wan replied.

"Do not assume anything, Obi-Wan." Yoda told him. "Clear your mind must be if you are to discover the real villains behind this plot."

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan acknowledged. "They say Master Sifo-Dyas placed the order for the Clone army at the request of the Senate almost 10 years ago."

Both Yoda and Windu shared grim looks at this news.

"We were under the impression he was killed before that." Tey said. "We think we know what the answer's gonna be, but did the Council ever authorise the creation of an army?"

"No." Windu replied. "Whoever placed that order did not have the authorisation of the Jedi Council."

"Yeah, we thought as much." Tey said. "Fett did say that he was recruited by someone called 'Tyrannus'. I've never heard of any Jedi with that name, have you, Masters?"

"No." Windu shook his head. "Whoever this 'Tyrannus' was, they were not a Jedi, I can assure you."

"Bring him here." Yoda instructed. "Question him, we will."

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan acknowledged. "We will report back when we have him."

The hologram disappeared, leaving the two senior Jedi Masters to themselves. "Blind we are if creation of this Clone Army we could not see." Yoda said gravely.

Windu gave a weary sigh. "I think it is time we informed the Senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished."

"Only the dark lord of the Sith knows of our weakness." Yoda replied. "If informed the Senate is, multiply our adversaries will."

~8~

It was night time on Naboo. Livia had woken up in the middle of the night needing a drink, so she went downstairs to have a glass of water. On the way back to bed, she heard faint shouting from Anakin's room. Concerned, she pushed the door open and peered in to see him moving restlessly in his sleep. "No... no... no... Mom!" he cried out. "Don't, no, don't!"

Livia rushed in and knelt beside him. "Anakin! Anakin, wake up!" she urged, shaking him.

Anakin's eyes snapped open and he bolted upright in bed, panting heavily. "Wha.. what?" he blinked.

"You were having another nightmare." Livia told him.

"Oh... right..." Anakin said slowly. Then he realised that he was currently shirtless while in a woman's presence, so he quickly pulled the covers up over his chest. "I'm ok now." he told Livia.

Livia wasn't so sure, but she decided not to press the issue, so she left him in peace and went back to her room.

~8~

Next morning, Anakin was stood out on the balcony meditating, while a very worried Livia watched him. Padme came out behind Anakin, then, seeing that he was meditating, she turned to go. "Don't go." Anakin called to her, his eyes still closed.

"I don't wanna disturb you." Padme said.

"Your presence is soothing." Anakin replied, still meditating.

"You had another nightmare last night." Padme stated.

"Jedi don't have nightmares."

"I heard you." Padme persisted.

"Anakin, you can't keep on like this." Livia said. "You need to talk about these nightmares, otherwise they'll only get worse."

Anakin opened his eyes and turned to face both women. "I saw my mother." he admitted. "She's suffering. I saw her as clearly as I see you both now. She's in pain. They're killing her!"

"Who are?" Livia asked him. "Who's she with in your dreams?"

"I don't know." Anakin replied. "I don't see their faces, only my mother." He gave a heavy sigh. "I know I'm disobeying my mandate to protect you, Senator, but I have to go." he told Padme. "I have to help her."

"I'll go with you." Padme decided.

"Me too." Livia agreed. "That way, we won't be disobeying our mandate."

"I'm sorry. I don't have a choice." Anakin stressed.

"Anakin, it's alright." Livia reassured him. "Your wellbeing is important."

"What about our Masters?" Anakin asked

"I won't tell 'em if you won't." Livia promised.

~8~

Obi-Wan and Tey returned to the Fett apartment. Obi-Wan tried the doorbell, but there was no answer. Suspecting trouble, Tey located the lock and used the Force to open the door. They entered the apartment to find it in complete disorder. The bedroom door was wide open and the Fetts' personal belongings were gone; clear signs of a hurried depature. "Huh, guess Jango didn't wanna stick around." Tey remarked.

Obi-Wan went to a wall-mounted computer screen and punched up an onscreen picture of the Fetts loading up a Firespray-class patrol ship on of Tipoca City's other landing platforms. Jango was now wearing his armour and jetpack. "We can still catch him." Obi-Wan said, and the two Jedi hurried from the room.

~8~

Rain continued to lash down as the Fetts finished loading their ship, Slave 1. Suddenly, Boba noticed something. "Dad, look!" he called, and Jango turned around to see Obi-Wan and Tey charging out of the tower.

"Boba, get on board!" he urged his son as the two Jedi ignited their blue-bladed lightsabres. Jango quickly drew his twin blaster pistols and fired a barrage at the Jedi, which were easily deflected by Obi-Wan as he and Tey closed in on the bounty hunter. Jango quickly ignited his jetpack and flew up into the air, still firing at Obi-Wan, who dived out of the way. Jango then fired several toxic darts from his wrist gauntlet at Tey, who deflected them back at him with her lightsabre, the darts striking harmlessly against his Beskar armour.

"Is that the best you can do?" Tey taunted as she flourished her lightsabre. Then she saw Slave 1 starting to rotate, curtesy of Boba, who had entered the ship and taken the controls. "What's he doing?" she wandered.

Jango meanwhile had flown up to the top of an antennae and he fired a missile out of his jetpack at Obi-Wan, who dived out of the way, but the blast knocked his lightsabre out of his hand and it slid across the wet platform out of his reach.

Tey meanwhile saw Slave 1's laser cannons aim themselves at her. "Oh, karablast!" she cursed as she realised what Boba was doing, and dived of the way as Boba opened fire. Unfortunately, she lost grip of her lightsabre as she did so and it fell into a puddle on the far side of the platform.

Obi-Wan picked himself up just in time to see Jango streaking towards him and he jumped up to intercept the bounty hunter, landing a well-laced kick to the stomach. Jango crashed to the platform, dropping his blasters. The two Jedi then charged at him and Obi-Wan made to kick him again, but Jango grabbed his foot and threw him back. Tey responded by throwing a well-aimed punch to Jango's head, her fist colliding with his helmet with a sharp twang, then before she could recover, Jango grabbed her and headbutted her, knocking her back onto the platform unconscious.

Obi-Wan meanwhile made a beeline to retrieve his lightsabre, but Jango saw him and jetpacking up into the air, fired a grabble cable at Obi-Wan, which bound him by the wrists and he was dragged along the platform by the flying Jango until the cable snagged around a column. Taking advantage of this, Obi-Wan pulled on the cable and dragged Jango back down onto the platform, his jetpack detaching and flying off on it's own accord into a column and exploding. Jango recovered and made a beeline for one of his dropped blasters as Obi-Wan ran at him. The Jedi managed to catch the bounty hunter with a flying kick and knocked him over the edge of the platform, forgetting that he was still tethered to Jango. "Oh, not good." Obi-Wan managed to get out before he too went over the edge.

As they slid down the side of the platform, Jango activated some metal teeth in one of his gauntlets and rammed them into the platform, stopping his descent, but Obi-Wan continued to slide until he was left dangling in mid-air above the raging ocean. Jango then cut the cable, sending Obi-Wan into a freefall, but Obi-Wan was able to throw the cable around a spire at the bottom of one of the towers and then he swung across to a nearby walkway.

Thinking that he was in the clear, Jango climbed back up onto the platform and made his way towards Slave 1 as Boba started up the engines. Obi-Wan returned to the platform just in time to see Jango board his ship as it lifted off. Thinking quickly, Obi-Wan took out a magnetic homing device from his belt and threw at Slave 1, which attached itself to the ship's hull as it roared away. Obi-Wan then went over to Tey, who was just regaining consciousness. "What happened?" she muttered groggily.

"He escaped." Obi-Wan informed her. "I've placed a homing beacon, so we'll be able to track his ship." He then noticed that Tey had sustained a very nasty forehead wound from Jango's headbutt. "Hmm, I think you'd better return to Coruscant." he said.

"I'll be alright." Tey waved him off, pressing a hand to her forehead and wiping the blood away. "Just remind me not to get into a fistfight with that bounty hunter again."

"Tey, I can handle this." Obi-Wan insisted. "You need to get back to Coruscant and have the healers see to your head. You could possibly have a concussion. Besides, Jango will believe me to be dead, so he won't be expecting me to follow him."

"Ok, you win." Tey conceded as Obi-Wan helped her to stand. They made their way back to their ships and left Kamino. Upon docking with the hyperdrive rings, the two Jedi went their separate ways, with Tey returning to Coruscant, while Obi-Wan went in pursuit of Jango Fett.

Chapter Text

A H-type Nubian yacht approached the desert planet of Tatooine. After landing at Mos Espa spaceport, Anakin, Livia, Padme and R2-D2 disembarked from the ship and travelled by rickshaw through the city streets. The three Humans were silent during the ride, Anakin staring at sights he hadn't seen for 10 years. Presently, they arrived at the shop where Anakin had once been a slave and disembarked from the rickshaw. "Wait right there." Anakin instructed the pilot droid.

"So, this is where you grew up." Livia commented, looking around. "Hmm, I can see why Qui-Gon Jinn was keen to get you away from here."

The three Humans approached the shop, where Anakin's old master, Watto the Toydarian, was currently yelling at a Pit droid, "Da wanga!"

"Chut-chut, Watto." Anakin greeted in Huttese. "Let me help you with that." He picked up the broken down Pit droid Watto had been trying to repair and began working his magic on it.

"What is it? What do you want?"Watto grumbled, then he noticed the lightsabres hanging on Anakin and Livia's belts. "Wait, you're Jedi! Whatever it is, I didn't do it!" he blustered, dropping his screwdriver, which conked him on the foot, making him grimace in pain. "Ai! Ai!"

Anakin lifted his head to look the Toydarian in the eye. "I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker."

Watto looked at him suspiciously. His eyes flickered over to Padme, then back to Anakin. "Ani? Little Ani? Naaah..." Anakin placed the now repaired Pit droid back down in front of him. "You are Ani! It is you!" he laughed in surprise. "Ya sure sprouted, huh. Weehoo! A Jedi, whaddya know? Hey, maybe you could help with some deadbeats who owe me a lotta money."

"My mother." Anakin said curtly, getting to the point.

"Oh yeah, Shmi." Watto began hesitantly. "Uh... she's not mine-a no more-a. I sold her."

"You sold her?!" Anakin glared.

"Years ago. Sorry, Ani, but you know, business is a-business, huh?" Watto chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I sold her to a moisture farmer named, uh, Lars. Least I think it was Lars. Believe it or not, I heard he freed her and married her. Can ya beat that, eh?"

This influx of information caught Anakin off guard. While he was relieved to hear that his mother was no longer a slave, he hadn't ever thought that he would have a step-father.

"Do you know where this 'Lars' is now?" Livia ventured.

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

"I'd like to know." Anakin said grimly. The look on his face showed that he meant business.

Watto caught the hint quickly. "Eh, sure. Absolutely! Let's go look at my records, huh?" And he led the way inside the shop.

~8~

Tey had arrived back on Coruscant and was being examined by one of the Jedi Temple's healers. "No sign of concussion." the healer diagnosed, using a dermal regenerator to heal the wound on Tey's forehead. "Just don't make a habit out of being headbutted by bounty hunters."

"I'll try not to." Tey replied dryly.

Just then, Plo Koon arrived. "I see you had an interesting time on Kamino." he remarked.

"That's putting it mildly, Master." Tey replied. "Did Masters Yoda and Windu tell you what we found there?"

"Yes, a Clone army. An army that Master Sifo-Dyas apparently ordered for the Republic 10 years ago without the Council's approval or knowledge."

"Has there been any news as to who deleted Kamino from the Archives?" Tey asked.

"Nothing yet." Plo replied. "Masters Ti and Fisto are currently searching through the Archives to see if anything else has been erased. Where is Master Kenobi?"

"He's following Jango Fett." Tey replied. "He managed to put a homing beacon on his ship before he escaped, so he's gone after him. I just hope that he can find some more answers, 'cos we sure didn't find any on Kamino; just more questions."

~8~

Slave 1 dropped out of hyperspace and approached the red planet Geonosis. Moments later, Obi-Wan's Jedi starfighter dropped out of hyperspace, detached from it's hyperdrive ring and went in pursuit of Slave 1, unknowingly entered the bounty hunter's ship's sensor range. "Dad! I think we're being tracked!" Boba hollered as he saw the Jedi ship appear on the scope.

"He must've put a homing device on our hull." Jango realised. "Hang on, son. We'll move into the asteroid field, and we'll have a couple of surprises for him."

Bob cackled manically as his father steered Slave 1 into the dense ring of asteroids that surrounded Geonosis. Jango then flipped a switch and the ship jettisoned a canister from the aft section, which drifted towards the pursuing Jedi.

R4 detected the incoming object and beeped a warning to Obi-Wan. "Seismic charges!" the Jedi Knight realised. "Stand by..." He flung the fighter into a sharp bank beneath an asteroid, which the charge hit and detonated, releasing a huge shockwave that obliterated several asteroids, but Obi-Wan managed to keep ahead of it. Jango then launched another seismic charge at him, but Obi-Wan took evasive action and continued in pursuit of the bounty hunter.

"He doesn't seem to take a hint, this guy." Jango said grimly, and flew Slave 1 straight towards a huge asteroid with a tunnel running through it, knowing that it would create interference that would jam the homing device. Undeterred, Obi-Wan dived in after him, and twisted and turned past the rock formations that lined the tunnel. Ahead of him, Jango emerged from the end of the tunnel and hid behind the asteroid. Moments later, Obi-Wan emerged from the tunnel and flew in the opposite direction to where Jango had gone. Slave 1 emerged from hiding and came up behind the Jedi ship.

"Get him, Dad, get him!" Boba egged as his father lined up his gunsights on their quarry. "Fire!" And Slave 1 unleashed a fierce barrage of laser fire at the Jedi ship.

"Blast! This is why I hate flying!" Obi-Wan grumbled as he took evasive action, flak erupting all around him. He tried every trick he knew to shake Jango off, but the bounty hunter was on tight, and as he closed the distance on Obi-Wan, a lucky shot found it's target. R4 squawked as a laser blast impacted the wing just behind her dome.

"We got him!" Boba cheered.

"We'll just have to finish him." Jango smirked, and fired a proton torpedo at Obi-Wan.

The Jedi's skills were pushed to the limit as he threw his ship from side-to-side, avoiding the great clumps of rock, but the torpedo was homing in and he just couldn't shake it off his tail. Obi-Wan realised that he had one chance. "R4, prepare to jettison the spare part canisters." he ordered, and R4 beeped in acknowledgment. "Fire them now!" R4 complied and a hatch on the aft section of the fighter opened and assorted canisters drifted out in the ship's wake. The torpedo struck the canisters and exploded.

The Fetts saw the explosion and the Jedi ship no longer appeared on scope. "Well we won't be seeing him again." Jango smirked, and Boba cackled in a demented way. Slave 1 then resumed it's course for Geonosis, blissfully unaware that Obi-Wan's ship hadn't been destroyed and was in fact hiding on the back of a large asteroid. Slave 1 entered Geonosis' atmosphere and flew towards a gathering of lights on the surface. A secret hatch opened and the ship settled into land through it.

~8~

"Well, R4, I think we've waited long enough." Obi-Wan said presently, and restarted his ship's engines. He came out from hiding and headed into the planet's atmosphere, following the signal. As he overflew the area where Jango had landed, Obi-Wan looked at the lights and saw that they belonged to the core sections of Trade Federation Lucrehulk-class battleships, which had landed on the surface, forming an impromptu city. "There's an unusual concentration of Federation ships over there, R4." Obi-Wan frowned. He skimmed across the top of a small mesa along a rocky ridge, maneuverered under a rock overhang and landed. The cockpit canopy opened and Obi-Wan disembarked. Geonosis was a red rock planet, featureless apart from buttes, mesas and occasional tall stalagmites that stood out dramatically on the arid plans. It was night time and all was quiet. Obi-Wan set off on foot to investigate the planet.

~8~

The Nubian yacht had landed near a moisture farm in the Dune Sea area of Tatooine. Leaving R2 to guard the ship, Anakin, Padme and Livia made their way towards the homestead. On the way, they met a rather work-worn Protocol droid working on a Treadwell droid. The droid looked up at the trio's approach. "Oh! Um, uh, hello." he greeted in a rather posh-sounding voice. "How might I be of service? I am C..."

Anakin recognised the droid's voice. "3PO?" he stared, realising that this droid was C-3PO, the Protocol droid he'd been working on before he left Tatooine 10 years ago.

3PO seemed flustered at being recognised, then he realised who he was talking to. "Oh, the Maker! Oh, Master Ani! I knew you would return, I knew it!" Then he recognised Padme too. "And Miss Padme, oh my!"

"Hello, 3PO." Padme smiled.

"Bless my circuits, I'm so pleased to see you both." 3PO said, then noticed Livia. "Oh, hello. I don't believe we've been introduced. I am C-3PO, Human-cyborg relations."

"Livia Bescot." Livia responded. "Jedi-in-training, as is Anakin."

"I've come to see my mother." Anakin said.

3PO seemed rather worried by this. "Oh, um... I think perhaps we'd better go indoors." And he led the trio into the homestead. They stepped out onto the courtyard, where a young man and woman were working. "Master Owen, we have visitors." 3PO said to the man.

"I'm Anakin Skywalker." Anakin introduced.

"Owen Lars." the man acknowledged. "This is my girlfriend, Beru."

"Hello." the woman nodded.

"I'm Padme." Padme introduced.

"And I'm Livia." Livia finished the introductions.

"I guess I'm your stepbrother." Owen said to Anakin. "We'd always hoped you're return some day."

"Is my mother here?" Anakin asked, coming straight to the point.

"No, she's not." an older voice said, and everyone turned to see a man in a hoverchair glide over to them. One of his legs was heavily bandaged, while the other was missing completely. "Cliegg Lars." he extended a hand to Anakin. "Shmi is my wife. We should go inside. We have a lot to talk about."

~8~

Anakin, Padme, Livia, Owen and Cliegg were soon sat around a table in the homestead's dining area, while Beru dished out cups of blue milk. Cliegg was explaining about what had happened to Shimi, "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. From the tracks, she was about halfway home... when they took her." He gave a heavy sigh. "Those Tuskens walk like men... but they're vicious, mindless monsters. 30 of us went out there after her, only four of us came back. I'd be out there with them, but after I lost my leg... I just couldn't ride anymore un-until I heal." He grimaced, looking down at the stump where his right leg used to be, then turned back to Anakin. "This isn't the way I wanted to meet you, son. This isn't how your mother and I planned it. 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."

There was a long silence as Anakin processed this information, then he got to his feet. "Where're you going?" Owen asked him.

"To find my mother." Anakin said grimly.

"Your mother's dead, son." Cliegg said, resigned. "Accept it."

But Anakin wasn't ready to give up hope just yet. "I can feel her pain, and I will find her." he said with absolute determination. I know she's alive."

"Then take my speeder bike." Owen said, realising that nothing was going to stop his step-brother.

~8~

Presently, Anakin was getting ready to leave. Owen had left his swoop bike outside the homestead for him, and Anakin was just making some final adjustments to it when Livia and Padme joined him. "You're both gonna have to stay here." he told them. "These are good people, Padme, you'll be safe."

"I'll take care of her, Anakin." Livia promised.

"Anakin..." Padme came forward and hugged Anakin.

"I won't be long." Anakin said when they broke apart.

"May the Force be with you, Anakin." Livia said as Anakin mounted the swoop bike. "I hope you find your mother. And watch ya back. If what Mr Lars said about these 'Tusken Raiders' is true, then be careful."

"I will." Anakin promised. He started the bike's engine and zoomed away on his mission to find his mother.

~8~

Tatooine's twin suns were setting as Anakin raced across the Jundland Wastes on the swoop bike, a look of steely determination on his face. Presently, he stopped at a Jawa camp and the Chief Jawa gave him directions. Anakin returned to his bike and set off in the direction the Jawa had told him. Soon, he saw a flickering light in the distance. He rode up and stopped the bike in front of a campfire. He found the bodies of three dead farmers lying beside the fire, along with a wrecked speeder. Anakin pressed on and soon saw some tracks in the sand, so he followed them towards a remote canyon.

~8~

On Geonosis, Obi-Wan climbed a steep, narrow trail, which took him to a tall stalagmite with a cave in it. Obi-Wan ventured into the cave and found himself in an interior of some sort, with a tall, pillared corridor leading further into the hillside. He made his way along the corridor and soon heard the distant clanging of machinery. Obi-Wan followed the sound to a walkway overlooked a huge foundary, where Trade Federation Battle droids were being assembled on vast conveyor belts. Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes at the sight. There were enough droids being assembled to invade Coruscant, a clear violation of the disarmament treaty the Federation had been forced to sign after the Battle of Naboo 10 years ago. Obi-Wan explored further and soon found himself at a vast expanse in the stalagmite interior. He heard voices and hid behind a pillar as a group of people walked past. Obi-Wan peered round to see the Geonosian Archduke, Poggle the Lesser, Nute Gunray, the disgraced Viceroy of the Trade Federation, and representatives from the Techno Union, Intergalactic Banking Clan, Commerce Guild and Corporate Alliance among the group. Also there was a tall, elderly Human male with an aura of stately elegance about him. Obi-Wan recognised him immediately. It was Count Dooku.

"We must persuade the Commece Guild and Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty," Dooku was saying, "then nothing will be able to stop us."

"What about the Senator from Naboo? Is she dead yet?" Viceroy Gunray asked. "I'm not signing your treaty until I have her head on her desk."

Obi-Wan set his jaw grimly as he overheard this. He should've known that this slimy Neimoidian would be behind the assassination attempts on Padme.

"I am a man of my word, Viceroy." Dooku assured Gunray.

"With these new Battle droids we've built for you, we'll have the finest army in the galaxy." the Techno Union representative, Wat Tambor, boasted as the group moved out of earshot.

Obi-Wan peered around the pillar to see the group going through an archway on the far side of the courtyard. He saw a flight of stairs beside the archway, so he headed up them to find himself on a walkway overlooking a conference room. Dooku sat at the head of the table, and his entourage were all sat around him. "As I explained to you earlier, I am quite convinced that 10,000 more systems will rally to our cause with your support, ladies and gentlemen." Dooku said. "Now is the time, my friends. The moment when you will have to decide between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. And let me remind you of our absolute commitment to capitalism... of the lower taxes, the reduced tariffs, and the eventual abolition of all trade barriers. Signing this treaty will bring you profits beyond your wildest imagination."

"What you are proposing could be construed as treason." the Commerce Guild representative, Shu Mai, said. "The Commerce Guild do not at this time wish to become deeply involved, but we shall support you in secret, and look forward to doing business with you."

"That is all we ask." Dooku acknowledged.

"I am authorised by the Corporate Alliance to sign your treaty." the Corporate Alliance representative, Passel Argents, spoke up.

"We are most grateful for your co-operation, Chairman." Dooku smiled.

"The Techno Union army is at your disposal, Count." Tambor rumbled.

"The Banking Clan will sign your treaty." the Banking Clan representative, San Hill, added.

"Good. Very good." Dooku nodded. "Our friends from the Trade Federation have pledged their support, and when their Battle droids are combined with yours, we shall have an army greater than any in the galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed, and the Republic will have to agree to any demands we make."

From his hiding place, Obi-Wan had overheard everything. His face was grim as he processed everything. He'd certainly found some answers, and they weren't good. He needed to inform the Republic of this immediately.

Chapter Text

Night had fallen on Tatooine as Anakin stopped his swoop bike near the edge of a cliff. He dismounted and crept over to the edge. He looked down to see a Tusken Raider camp in the oasis below. One of the huts had two Tuskens standing on guard outside. Realising that this was where his mother was likely being held, he scaled down the face of the cliff and snuck towards the camp on foot, methodically making his way between the huts until he reached the one with the two guards outside. He crept round to the back of the hut and used his lightsabre to cut a hole in the canvas. He then ventured inside and peered through the gloom to see a Human figure hanging from a wooden frame in the centre of the hut. It was Shimi Skywalker; barely conscious and badly beaten. Anakin immediately rushed over to her and released her from her bonds, taking her into his arms and lowering her gently to the ground. "Mom... Mom? Mom?" he murmured, cradling her tenderly.

Shimi's eyes fluttered feebly open. "Ani...?" she managed to gasp out. "Is it you?"

"I'm here, Mom." Anakin reassured her, taking one of her badly calloused hands into his own. "You're safe. Hang on. I'm gonna get you outta here."

"Ani? Ani?" Shmi repeated as her vision managed to clear enough for her to get a good look at her son's face. "Oh, you look so handsome." She reached a hand out to touch Anakin's cheek. "My son. Oh, my grown-up son. I'm so proud of you, Ani."

"I missed you." Anakin said tearfully.

"Now I am complete." Shmi whispered weakly. "I love..."

"Stay with me, Mom." Anakin pleaded. "I'm gonna make you well again. Everything's going to be fine."

But Shmi's injuries were just too great. "I love..." she choked out. "I love..." But she never got to finish her sentence. She made a strangled croaking sound and her head lolled back as she died in her son's arms. Anakin drew her body to his chest, breathing heavily in shock and tears trickling from his eyes. He reached a hand out and closed Shmi's lifeless eyes, before lifting his head, his own eyes now blazing with unfettered fury. Silently and almost mechanically, he got to his feet, unclipped his lightsabre from his belt and strode out through the tent's entrance, then, before the two Tuskens on guard could register his presence, he ignited his lightsabre and struck them down with two swift strokes. The noise attracted the attention of the rest of the camp and other Tuskens came rushing to see what was happening. One rushed at Anakin with it's Gaderffii stick raised, ready to strike, but Anakin simply slashed it in half, determined to make all of these desert vermin pay for what they'd done.

~8~

At the Lars homestead, Livia and Padme were asleep in a guest room the Lars' had prepared for them when Livia suddenly jerked awake, her eyes wide and panting heavily as she felt a great disturbance in the Force. She could feel pain, suffering and death. "Anakin..." she breathed, realising that the pain she was feeling was coming from him.

~8~

On Geonosis, Obi-Wan had returned to his Jedi starfighter to inform the Council of his discovery, but his transmission wasn't getting through. "The transmitter is working, but we're not receiving a return signal. Coruscant's too far." Obi-Wan realised as he examined the communications dish. "R4, can you boost the power?"

R4 shook her dome and beeped a negative answer.

"We'll have to try something else." Obi-Wan decided, and climbed into the cockpit. "Maybe we can contact Anakin and Padawan Bescot on Naboo. It's much closer." He pressed a button on his dashboard. "Anakin? Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin? Padawan Bescot?" But he received no answer. "They're not on Naboo, R4. I'm going to try and widen the range. I do hope nothing's happened to them." He pressed a few more buttons and soon got a positive signal. "Those are Anakin and Bescot's tracking signals, alright, but they're coming from Tatooine." Obi-Wan frowned. "What in the blazes are they doing there? I told Anakin to stay on Naboo." Deciding to deal with that matter later, he climbed back out of the cockpit and stood in front of the dish. "We haven't got much time. Anakin? Anakin, do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi..."

~8~

It was now morning on Tatooine. R2 was aboard the Nubian yacht, picking up Obi-Wan's transmission. He recorded the transmission and saved it, ready to play it to Anakin when he returned.

~8~

Padme was having breakfast with Cliegg and Owen, while Livia meditated nearby. Suddenly, Beru called out, "Come topside, everybody! He's back! He's back!"

Everyone hurried outside to see the swoop bike approaching. Anakin stopped nearby and dismounted, carrying Shmi's body in his arms. Padme let out a horrified gasp as she saw the body, while Livia made to say something to Anakin, but he simply walked straight past her and carried his mother's body over to Cliegg and Owen, where they then conversed privately, coming to some sort of understanding.

~8~

Later, Padme and Livia made their way to the homestead's garage, where they found Anakin at a workbench, working on a part from the swoop bike. "We brought you something." Padme ventured, setting a food tray down beside him. "Are you hungry?"

Anakin glanced at her, but immediately went back to his work. "The shifter broke." he explained, too intently. "Life seems so much simply when you're fixing things. I'm good at fixing things, always was. But I couldn't..." He stopped working and turned to face both women, his eyes shining with tears. "Why'd she have to die?" he asked helplessly. "Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have!"

"Anakin, you tried." Livia tried to console him.

"Sometimes there are things no can fix." Padme added wisely. "You're not all-powerful, Ani."

Anakin stiffened at these words. "Well, I should be!" he growled. "Someday, I will be! I will be the most powerful Jedi ever, I promise you." he said with grim determination. "I will even learn to stop people from dying."

"Anakin, please, calm down..." Livia tried to sooth him.

"This was the Jedi's fault!" Anakin went on furiously, ignoring her. "They wouldn't let me rescue my mother! All they wanted was for me to cut off my past and never come back here! Now she's gone! She's gone forever!" And he hurled his hydrospanner across the garage in a fit of fury. It hit an end wall and clattered to the floor as Anakin looked down at his shaking hands.

The two women could only stare at him, shocked. "What's wrong, Ani?" Padme ventured.

"I just told you!"

"No." Padme pushed. "What's really wrong?"

Anakin's body seemed to shrink as he took a breath. "I... I killed them." he admitted. "I killed them all."

"Who?" Livia asked.

"The Sandpeople. They're dead, every single one of them."

"You did battle." Padme started to reason.

"Not just the men," Anakin went on, "and the men are the only fighters among the Sandpeople. No, not just them, but the women... and the children too."
Livia felt her blood run cold at Anakin's confession. His kiss with Padme on Naboo suddenly seemed insignificant compared to this.
Anakin's face contorted, as if he was teetering between anger and guilt. "They're like animals," he said suddenly, "and I slaughtered them like animals. I hate them!" he spat furiously. A shocked silence fell upon the room. Padme was too stunned to respond to Anakin's rants, while Livia was paralysed with shock and horror. It was then that the ramifications of Anakin's actions hit him and he slid down beside the workbench, sobbing. "Why do I hate them? I didn't... I couldn't... I couldn't control myself. I... I don't want to hate them... but I just can't forgive them."

At last Padme found her voice. "To be angry is to be Human." she said, sitting down beside Anakin and putting an arm around him.

"To control your anger is to be a Jedi." Anakin was quick to reply.

"And with Jedi, there is no anger or hatred." Livia recited.

Padme gave her an 'you're not helping look' and turned back to the sobbing Anakin. "Shhhh... you're Human." she assured him.

"No, I'm a Jedi." Anakin sniffled. "I know I'm better than this!" He looked at her directly, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"You're like everyone else." Padme said softly, and held him close as he continued to sob.

Livia wisely decided to leave them be and left to console the Lars'. Her head was spinning as she processed everything she'd just heard from Anakin. She knew she had a duty to report his actions to the Council, but she knew he would almost certainly be expelled from the Order and thrown in the Citadel for this, and the poor boy had already suffered enough. "Some assignment this has turned out to be." she muttered to herself.

~8~

Later, Anakin, Padme, Livia, Cliegg, Owen and Beru were all stood before Shmi's grave in the sand outside the homestead. "I know wherever you are it's become a better place. You were the most loving partner a man could ever have." Cliegg said softly as he looked down at his second wife's grave. "Goodbye, my darling wife. And thank you."

Anakin then stepped forward and knelt down before his mother's simple headstone. He picked up a handful of sand and let it slid through his fingers. "I wasn't strong enough to save you, Mom." he said softly. "I wasn't strong enough. But I promise I won't fail again." He vowed to himself that from this day he would stop at nothing to consolidate his power and become the strongest Jedi the galaxy had ever seen. "I miss you... so much!" he sighed as he stood again.

There was then a respectful silence, which was broken by a series of familiar beeps and whistles as R2 trundled towards the group. "What is, R2?" Padme asked him.

R2 beeped something to 3PO. "It seems that he is carrying a message from an Obi-Wan Kenobi." 3PO translated. "Master Ani, does that name mean anything to you?"

~8~

Padme and the two Jedi were soon back aboard the Nubian yacht, watching a hologram of Obi-Wan. "Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out. Retransmit this message to Coruscant." Obi-Wan instructed.

Padme, who was sat nearest the flight console, swivelled in her chair and pressed a button to retransmit Obi-Wan's message.

~8~

On Coruscant, Tey had joined Yoda and Mace Windu in a meeting with Chancellor Palpatine, Mas Amedda and several Senators to report the discovery on Kamino to them when Obi-Wan's message reached them. "I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries on Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here.."

"That's outrageous!" Senator Organa burst out. "The treaty forbids the Federation from rebuilding their army."

"Huh, I don't think they care about the treaty, Senator." Tey remarked.

"and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala." Obi-Wan continued.

"Hmm, should've known it would be him." Tey said, more to herself.

"The Techno Union and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku," Obi-Wan went on, "and are forming a... Wait! Wait!" He suddenly ignited his lightsabre and deflected several blaster bolts before backing out of frame and in his place came a Trade Federation Droideka, before the transmission abruptly ended.

As everyone processed all of this, Yoda turned to Windu. "More happening on Geonosis, I feel, than has been revealed."

"I agree." Windu concurred, and turned to the hologram, which now showed Anakin and Livia. "Skywalker, Bescot, we will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing is for you two to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."

~8~

"Understood, Master." Anakin nodded, and the hologram shut off.

"They'll never get there in time to save him." Padme shook her head. "They have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look." She pressed a button to bring up a navigational chart. "Geonosis is less than a parsec away."

"If he's still alive." Anakin said pessimistically.

"Ani, are you just gonna sit here and let him die?" Padme challenged. "He's your friend, your mentor..."

"He's like my father!" Anakin cut in. "But you heard Master Windu. He gave Liv and I strict orders to stay here!"

"Since when has that ever stopped you before?" Livia folded her arms. "Look, Anakin, I know you've just lost ya mother and you're upset, but..."

"He gave you both strict orders to protect me, and I'm going to help Obi-Wan." Padme said defiantly. "So if you plan to protect me, you'll both just have to come along." She swung her chair round and began the ship' start-up sequence.

"Right with ya, Padme." Livia concurred, sitting down in the navigator's chair.

A small smile played at Anakin's lips as he sat down in the pilot's seat.

Behind them R2 and 3PO entered the cockpit, the Lars having given Anakin the Protocol droid saying that Shmi would have wanted him to have him. R2 beeped something to 3PO. "I'm not worried, R2. It's just I've never flown before." 3PO said as he sat down.

~8~

The Commerce Guilds are preparing for war, there can be no doubt about that." Senator Organa said as he paced around Palpatine's office.

"Count Dooku must have made a treaty with them." Palpatine observed.

"The debate is over. Now we need that Clone army." Senator Ask Aaak stated.

Organa turned to face him and gave him a flat stare. "Unfortunately, the debate is not over. The Senate will never approve the use of Clones before the Separatists attack." he said firmly.

"This is a crisis." Mas Amedda said. "The Senate must vote the Chancellor emergency powers. He can approve the creation of an army."

"But what Senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?" Palpatine asked rhetorically.

"If only Senator Amidala were here." Amedda said not-so-subtly.

At the back of the group, Jar Jar Binks picked up on the hint.

~8~

On Geonosis, Count Dooku walked towards a prison cell with two Geonosians on guard outside. The two Geonosians stood to attention as Dooku walked past them and entered the cell, where Obi-Wan was being held in a forcefield. "Traitor." the Jedi spat.

"Oh no, my friend. This is a mistake, a terrible mistake. They've gone too far, this is madness." Dooku said innocently.

"I thought you were the leader here, Dooku." Obi-Wan sneered.

"This had nothing to do with me, I assure you." Dooku lied. "I will petition immediately to have you set free."

"Well, I hope it doesn't take too long." Obi-Wan said coolly. "I have work to do."

"May I ask why a Jedi Knight is all the way out here on Geonosis?"

"I've been tracking a bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Do you know him?"

"There are no bounty hunters here that I am aware of." Dooku lied again, pacing around the captive Obi-Wan. "The Geonosians don't trust them."

"Well, who can blame them? But he is here, I can assure you."

"It's a great pity that our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan." Dooku changed the subject. "Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you." He gave a heavy sigh. "I wish he were still alive. I could use his help right now."

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you!" Obi-Wan glared.

"Don't be so sure, my young Jedi." Dooku retorted. "You forget that he was once my apprentice, just as you were once his. He knew all about the corruption in the Senate, but he would never have gone along with it if he had learnt the truth that I have."

"The truth?" Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes.

"The truth. What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of the dark lord of the Sith?"

"No, that's not possible! The jedi would be aware of it!" Obi-Wan burst out arrogantly.

"The Dark Side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend." Dooku replied calmly. "Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."

"I don't believe you."

"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation was once in league with this Darth Sidious..." Dooku went on, "but he was betrayed 10 years ago by the dark lord. He came to me for help and told me everything." He took a step forward. "You must join me, Obi-Wan... and together, we will destroy the Sith."

The look in Dooku's eyes as he said that seemed genuine, but Obi-Wan wasn't buying it. "I will never join you, Dooku." he said defiantly.

Dooku looked genuinely hurt at Obi-Wan's rejection, but he quickly pushed it down and made for the door. "It may be difficult to secure your release." he said simply, and left the cell.

~8~

On Coruscant, an emergency meeting of the Senate was in session. Mace Windu joined Yoda at an empty pod to see Jar Jar making an impassioned speech to the Senate. "It's-a clear desa Separatists made a pact wesa desa Federation du Trade. Senators, dellow felagates, in response to this direct threat to the Republic, mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor."

Shouts of approval echoed throughout the rotunda, with some Senators chanting "Palpatine! Palpatine!"

"Order! We shall have order!" Mas Amedda silenced everyone as Palpatine took the podium.

"It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling." the Chancellor began. "I love democracy... I love the Republic. The power you have given me, I will lay down when this crisis has abated. And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a Grand Army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the Separatists."

Cheers and applause erupted throughout the rotunda at this news. Yoda and Windu had seen all of this. "It is done, then." Windu said grimly.

"Hmm." Yoda concurred thoughtfully.

Just then, a worried-looking Tey joined them. "We may have another problem." she reported. "I've just been checking Livia and Anakin's tracking signals, and they're on the move. They're heading for Geonosis. Guess either them or Senator Amidala has decided to try and rescue Obi-Wan."

Both Yoda and Windu shared looks as they processed this news. "Master Sacul, we will take what Jedi we have left and go to Geonosis and help them." Windu declared.

"Visit I will the cloners on Kamino, and see this army they have created for the Republic."

"And so it begins." Tey sighed grimly, knowing that there was no turning back now.

Chapter Text

Padme's Nubian yacht approached Geonosis and entered the planet's atmosphere. "See those columns of steam straight ahead? They're exhaust vents of some type." Padme said, pointing to several towering columns of steam on the horizon.

"That'll do." Anakin nodded, piloting the ship towards the steam. He brought the ship safely into land on a landing pad hidden by the steam.

"Look, whatever happens out there, follow my lead." Padme told the two Jedi, throwing an ivory cloak over her white jumpsuit. "I'm not interested in getting into a war here. As a member of the Senate, maybe I can find a diplomatic solution to this mess."

"Padme, it might be possible that the Separatists aren't interested in diplomacy." Livia pointed out, she and Anakin slipping on their Jedi cloaks. "Obi-Wan's message said that they were preparing for war."

"I have to try." Padme said determinedly.

"Don't worry. I've given up trying to argue with you." Anakin smirked, and the trio headed for the airlock.

The two droids were left alone. R2 beeped something to 3PO. "My obtuse little friend, if they had needed our help, they would have asked for it, hmm?" 3PO pointed out. "You obviously have a great deal to learn about Human behaviour."

~8~

Anakin, Padme and Livia disembarked from the ship and walked towards a door ahead of them. Anakin found a button hidden in the rocks and the door slid open, allowing the trio entry to a dark corridor.

~8~

"For a mechanic, you seem to do an excessive amount of thinking." 3PO remarked to R2.

R2 beeped a response.

"I am programmed to understand Humans!" 3PO retorted.

R2 beeped a retort.

"'What does that mean?!' Oh! That means I am in charge here!" 3PO huffed. R2 just blew a raspberry at him and made for the airlock. "Where are you going now? You don't know what's out there. Have you no sense at all? Oh, idiot!" 3PO grumbled as he reluctantly followed the Astromech droid. They made their way down the ramp and headed towards the open door the Humans had gone through. "Please wait." 3PO complained. "Do you know where you're going?"

The three Humans meanwhile were making their way through the dark corridor towards a door at the far end when the two Jedi suddenly heard squawking sounds coming from the walls. "Wait." Anakin told Padme, seeing movement in the corner of his eye. Quick as a flash, he ignited his lightsabre and spun round just in time to see several winged Geonosians burst out of hiding in the walls, ready to attack the three intruders. Livia swiftly ignited her own lightsabre and helped Anakin to cut down the attacking bugs, while Padme ran for the door at the far end.

R2 and 3PO entered the corridor just as several more Geonosians came out of hiding. "Oh, my..." 3PO squirmed. "Oh, oh, oh!"

Seeing that they couldn't fight off the Geonosions forever, Anakin and Livia hurried down the corridor to join Padme. The trio found themselves on a small walkway overlooking a cavernous droid foundry. The door slid shut behind them and the walkway began to retract into the wall. The two Jedi managed to grab hold of the door, but Padme wasn't so lucky. "Padme!" Anakin cried as the Senator fell onto a conveyor belt below. The two Jedi jumped down after her, reignited their lightsabres and swiped at several Geonosians that had swarmed in. One fell straight into the path of a hydraulic press and was squashed flat. Another Geonosian landed on the belt and fired it's sonic blaster at the two Jedi, who were forced to roll out of the way, then Livia used the Force to push the bug away.

Padme found herself being carried by the belt straight towards a massive press. Realising that she had only chance to avoid getting crushed, she ran underneath the press while it was in the raised position and was just in time. She then managed to dart through several more presses and jumped over a pair of mechanical grabber arms.

Anakin and Livia continued to fight their way through the Geonosians, then they both jumped across to another belt and began attacking the machinery with their lightsabres, aiming to try and sabotage the works.

~8~

3PO stepped out onto the walkway overlooking the factory. "Oh, my goodness!" he remarked as he looked around. "Shut me down! Machines making machines. How perverse!" R2 suddenly bumped into him from behind. "Oh! Calm down, R2. I almost fell." R2 nudged him again, trying to get him out of the way. "You'll get your chance to looo..." 3PO lost his footing and fell off the walkway, landing on top of a passing supply droid. "I'm scrap. It's a nightmare!" 3PO moaned as the droid picked him up and began shaking him, trying to dislodge him. "Oh, I want to go home!" The droid dropped him down onto a conveyor belt. "What did I do to deserve this?" he moaned to himself.

R2 meanwhile activated a pair of booster rockets hidden in his legs and began flying across the factory to try and find the others.

~8~

Anakin and Livia were working their way along a conveyor belt, systematically slicing up bits of machinery with their lightsabres. Anakin was forced to an impressive jump to avoid a flamethrower, then he landed on his feet and sliced the flamethrower open with his lightsabre.

~8~

A Geonosian landed on the conveyor belt Padme was on and began wrestling with her. Padme did her best to fight it off, but the bug was too strong and managed to push her off the belt and into an empty vat that was passing by. Padme tried to climb out, but the vat was too high and she was trapped as the vat made it's way towards a blast furnace area.

Fortunately for her, R2 had seen her plight and he flew off to try and help her.

~8~

3PO had wandered over to an area where Battle droid heads were being put onto the bodies. "I wonder what's happened to poor little R2." he remarked. "He's always getting himself into trouble." Suddenly, a low flying piece of machinery managed to knock 3PO's head off and it landed on a belt full of Battle droid heads. "Oh, no!" he groaned.

3PO's headless body wandered aimlessly onto the conveyor belt of Battle droid bodies and a Battle droid head was placed onto it. "Uh-oh." the Battle droid droned.

The machine then proceeded to place 3PO's own head on a Battle droid's body. "Oh, I'm so confused." he complained.

~8~

"More bugs." Livia warned Anakin as another wave of Geonosians landed on their conveyor belt and they were forced to take evasive action as the bugs fired their sonic blasters at the two Jedi.

Anakin used the Force to fling some Battle droid parts at some of the Geonosians, knocking then off the belt, while Livia Force-pushed the remaining bugs away. "We don't have time for this." Anakin muttered, and jumped over to another belt, but before he could do anything, a low-hanging piece of machinery struck him and knocked him over. Before he could recover, a moulding machine encased his right arm in a lump of metal. He was stuck.

~8~

Padme was trapped in her vat as it came closer and closer to the furnaces. A large overhead flame-thrower was systematically firing into the vats to heat up their contents. R2 landed on the walkway beside the vats and rolled over to the control console. Just as Padme's vat reached the flame-thrower, R2 extended his data-link into the console and overrode the procedure, stopping the flame-thrower in the nick of time, then he released the clamps holding the vat in line and it tumbled down to a lower level, landing on it's side. Padme, unhurt, tumbled out, glad at not being cooked alive, but before she could do anything else, a swarm of Geonosians surrounded her.

~8~

Anakin was still trapped in the mould. He tried to get free, but the metal was too thick. Worse still, he saw that the belt was taking him towards some giant cutter arms. He realised that these arms would cut him clean in half, but he couldn't get free. Just as he reached the cutters, the belt suddenly stopped and Livia came hurrying over. "Lucky this thing's got a stop button." she remarked. "Hold still, Anakin, I'll cut ya free." She raised her lightsabre over her head and swung it down on the mould, severing it and freeing Anakin.

Anakin leapt to his feet, ready to fight again, but when he tried to ignite his lightsabre, nothing happened. He looked at his weapon to find that it had been cut in half by Livia's strike, leaving him with just the lower half of the hilt. "Thanks, Liv." he huffed, showing her the remains.

"Oh, sorry, Anakin." Livia said sheepishly.

Suddenly, a group of Droidekas surrounded the two Jedi, then Jango Fett landed in front of them, blaster pistol aimed at them. "Don't move, Jedi!" he spat. "You, throw that weapon over here." he ordered Livia. "No funny stuff, or your friend dies!" Seeing that she had no choice, Livia deactivated her lightsabre and threw it to the floor in front of Jango, who then fired his blaster at it, reducing it to charred metal. "Take 'em away." he ordered the droids, who closed in on the two Jedi, rounding them up.

~8~

Jango took the three prisoners to a conference room, where Count Dooku was waiting with Poggle the Lesser. "Senator Amidala, I've heard so much about you." Dooku said cordially to Padme.

"Count Dooku, I assume." Padme responded coolly.

"I am delighted to meet you at last." Dooku went on. "We have a great deal to discuss, Senator. Please..." he gestured to the table and Padme took a seat. Anakin and Livia remained standing, both glaring daggers at Dooku.

"You are holding a Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am formally requesting you turn him over to me now." Padme said matter-of-factually.

"He has been convicted of espionage, Senator, and will be executed." Dooku informed her. "In just a few hours, I believe."

"You can't do this, Dooku." Livia burst out. "You were one a Jedi; show some loyalty!"

"Livia, please." Padme calmed her, and turned back to Dooku, "He is an officer of the Republic. You can't do that."

"We don't recognise the Republic here, Senator," Dooku said, "but if Naboo were to join our alliance, I could easily hear your plea for clemency."

"And if I don't join your rebellion, I assume these Jedi with me will also die?" Padme challenged.

Dooku's calm manner never wavered. "I don't wish to make you join our cause against your will, Senator, but you are a rational, honest representative of your people and I assume you want to do what's in their best interest. Aren't they fed up with the corruption, the bureaucrats, the hypocrisy of it all? Aren't you? Be honest, Senator."

"The ideals are still alive, Count, even if the institution is failing." Padme responded coolly.

"You believe in the same ideals we believe in." Dooku said, causing the two Padawans to roll their eyes in disbelief. "The same ideals we are striving to make prominent."

Padme wasn't taking the bait. "If what you say is true, you should stay in the Republic and Chancellor Palpatine put things right."

"The Chancellor means well, m'lady, but he is incompetent." Dooku replied calmly. "He has promised to cut the bureaucracy, but the bureaucrats are stronger than ever. The Republic cannot be fixed, Senator, my Lady. It is time to start over. The democratic process is a sham. A shell game played on the voters. It will not be long before that cult of greed, called the Republic, will lose even the pretext of democracy and freedom."

Padme remained unwavering in her loyalty to the Republic. "I cannot believe that. I will not forsake all I have honoured and worked for and betray the Republic. I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guilds and the others, Count. What is happening here is not government that has been bought out by business; it's business becoming government!"

"Then you will betray your Jedi friends?" Dooku raised a brow. "Without your co-operation, I can do nothing to stop their execution."

"And what about me?" Padme challenged. "Am I to be executed also?"

"I wouldn't think of such an offence." Dooku replied. "But, there are individuals who have a strong interest in your demise, m'lady. It has nothing to do with politics, I'm afraid. It is purely personal, and they have already paid great sums to have you assassinated. I'm sure they will push hard to have you included in the executions. I'm sorry, but if you are not going to co-operate, I must turn you over to the Geonosians for justice. I've done all I can for you."

"Perfect." Livia spat. "You've set us real good, haven't ya?"

"Take them away!" Poggle ordered, and the three prisoners were escorted out of the room by Geonosian guards.

~8~

Anakin, Padme and Livia were soon stood in a Geonosian court room, standing trial. Poggle had taken on the roles of magistrate and jury himself, while Dooku and the Separatist leaders all sat in the audience. "You have been charged and found guilty of espionage." Poggle announced. "Do you have something to say before your sentence is carried out?"

"You're committing an act of war, Archduke." Padme said defiantly. "I hope you're prepared for the consequences."

"We build weapons, Senator, that is our business. Of course we're prepared!" Poggle retorted.

"Get on with it!" Viceroy Gunray called out from the audience. "Carry out the sentence. I want to see her suffer!"

"Your other Jedi friend is waiting for you, Senator." Poggle told Padme. "Take them to the execution arena." he ordered, and three Geonosian guards came to take the three prisoners away.

"This isn't over." Anakin vowed grimly as they were led away. He don't know how, but he was determined to make Dooku pay for this.

Chapter Text

Anakin, Padme and Livia were soon being herded into the back of an open cart, ready to be transported to their execution. "So much for rescuing Obi-Wan." Livia sighed. "I'm sorry, Anakin. You were right, we should've just done as we were told and stayed on Tatooine."

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing." Anakin replied, then turned to Padme. "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid to die." Padme replied bravely. "I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life."

"What're you talking about?"

"I love you."

A range of emotions flickered across Anakin's face within seconds. "You love me?!" he choked out in a surprised voice. "I thought that we had decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie... and that it would destroy our lives."

"I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway." Padme replied. "My love for you is a puzzle, Ani, for which I have no answers. I can't control it... and now I don't care. I truly, deeply love you... and before we die, I want you to know." And she and Anakin began to drift closer to each other.

"Oh, no..." Livia groaned, knowing what was coming next. Sure enough, Anakin and Padme's lips met and they kissed. Livia rolled her eyes at them. "Hey, can we hurry this up?" she said to the Geonosian driver. "I don't wanna spend my last moments among the living watching those two smooching."
The driver seemed to share her sentiments, as it cracked it's whip over the Orray harnessed up to the cart and they moved out into the sunlight. Anakin and Padme broke apart as they entered a huge stadium, packed with tier upon tier of yelling Geonosians.
"There is no death, there is only the Force. There is no death, there is only the Force." Livia said under her breath to herself as their death loomed closer.

The cart took the trio over to four pillars in the centre of the arena. Chained to the first pillar was the unmistakable form of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The cart stopped and Anakin, Padme and Livia were escorted over to the other three pillars. Unknown to the Geonosians, Padme had managed to secret a hairpin in her mouth, and she took the opportunity to remove it, ready to use it to escape. She was taken to the third pillar, and a Geonosian chained her to it. Anakin meanwhile was taken to the pillar between her and Obi-Wan. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd got my message." Obi-Wan remarked to his apprentice.

"We retransmitted it, just as you'd requested, Master." Anakin replied as he was chained to the pillar. "Then we decided to come and rescue you."

Obi-Wan glanced up at his bound wrists. "Good job." he sarcastically congratulated Anakin.

"It was our fault, Master Kenobi." Livia vouched as she was chained to the fourth pillar. "The Senator and I pressured Anakin into coming."

There was a roar from the crowd as Poggle the Lesser, Count Dooku, Viceroy Gunray and the Fetts took their places in the archducal box. "Settle down, settle down." Poggle told the crowd. "The felons before you have been convicted of espionage against the Soverign System of Geonosis. Their sentence of death is to be carried out in this public arena henceforth." More cheers came from the crowd. "Let the executions begin." Poggle announced, and on cue, four vicious beasts were herded into the arena; a Reek, an Acklay, a Nexu and a Gundark. All four beasts looked pretty angry. Indeed, the Nexu was so angry that it promptly devoured the Geonosian that was trying to herd it.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Anakin murmured as the four beasts began to head in their direction. The Acklay seemed to have gotten Obi-Wan in it's sights, while the Reek was homing in on Anakin, the Nexu Padme and the Gundark Livia.

Padme had been using her hairpin to pick the locks on her wrist binders and had managed to get her right hand free. Taking advantage of this, she began to climb up her pillar, using the chain as a rope.

"Just relax, concentrate." Obi-Wan told the two Padawans.

"What about Padme?" Anakin asked.

"She seems to be on top of things." Obi-Wan replied nonchalantly as Padme reached the top of her pillar and began picking the lock on her remaining binder. The Acklay had reached Obi-Wan and, giving a vicious roar, took a stab at him with one of it's massive pincers. Obi-Wan ducked and the Acklay's pincer sliced through his chain instead. Undeterred, the massive creature began swiping at him, prompting Obi-Wan to take evasive action.

The Reek charged at Anakin. Seeing that he had only one chance, Anakin jumped and landed on the creature's back. He then wrapped his chain around the Reek's horn as it backed away from the post, pulling the chain free from it's mounting.

The Nexu arrived at Padme's post and reared up on it's hind legs. It began to climb up the post, but Padme whipped it with her chain. The creature roared in fury and took a swipe at Padme, catching her across the back, tearing off part of her shirt and leaving her with nasty scratches in her back. She yelled out in pain at the attack, making Gunray snicker.

Livia watched in wide-eyed terror as the Gundark advanced towards her. It raised one of it's massive fists, ready to strike. Seeing that there was only thing for it, Livia ducked and the Gundark's strike severed her chain instead. "Thanks. I needed that." Livia sassed as she ran for it, the Gundark going after her.

The Acklay continued to swipe at Obi-Wan, but the Jedi Knight was able to roll out of the way each time. The Acklay then decided to try and flatten Obi-Wan by pushing over the post he had formally been chained to, but Obi-Wan managed to roll out of the way. He got to his feet and saw the Acklay climbing over the felled pillar and resuming it's advance on him. Obi-Wan ran over to one of the Geonosian keepers and managed to snatch it's pike off it. He flourished it as the Acklay advanced on him, one of it's pincers impaling the Geonosian keeper.

Anakin rode the Reek around the arena, but then he lost his balance and fell off. As his chain was still wrapped around the beast's horn, he was dragged behind it as it ran, the sand cutting into him like knife blades.

Padme saw that the Nexu was climbing back up the post to get at her again, so she used her chain to swing down and give the creature a good kick and sent it crashing back down to the ground. "Foul!" Gunray complained. "She can't do that! Shoot her... or something."

Anakin was dragged behind the Reek until it stopped. He got to his feet and jumped onto the Reek's back again. The beast attempted to knock him off again, but Anakin wrapped his chain around it and managed to tame it. Two of the keepers attempted to attack him with their pikes, but Anakin simply rode the Reek out of the way.

Livia ran from the pursuing Gundark until she suddenly tripped on a rock and fell flat on her face. The Gundark reared up, ready to deliver the killing blow, but before it could pounce and tear the young Jedi to pieces, a blue lightsabre blade suddenly pierced it's stomach and it fell to the ground to reveal Tey Sacul standing on it's back. "Master!" Livia gasped in relief. "What're you doing here?"

"Rescuing you, of course." Tey replied as she strode over and helped her apprentice to her feet. "You alright?"

"Yeah." Livia nodded. "Good timing, Master."

"You're be needing this." Tey said, passing Livia a spare lightsabre.

Livia pressed the activator, igniting an orange blade. "Now we're in business." she smiled, glad to have a weapon again.

Padme had climbed back on top of her pillar and managed to get her left hand free. She then saw that the Nexu had recovered from it's earlier kicking and was about to lunge at her again, but then Anakin's Reek charged it and flattened the creature dead. "Jump!" Anakin called to Padme, who leapt from the pillar and landed on the Reek's back behind Anakin. She kissed him on the cheek, and Anakin rode the Reek away.

Obi-Wan hurled his pike at the Acklay and it thudded into the creature's shoulder. Obi-Wan felt rather pleased with himself, but it was short-lived, for the Acklay promptly ripped the pike out and snapped it in two between it's teeth. Realising that he'd thrown away his only weapon in exchange for merely enraging the Acklay further with only a flesh wound, Obi-Wan ran and joined Anakin and Padme on the back of the Reek.

This isn't how it's supposed to be!" Gunray complained. "Jango, finish her off!"

But Dooku motioned for the bounty hunter to stay put. "Patience, Viceroy, patience." he smiled enigmatically. "She will die." And on cue, several Droidekas rolled into the arena, some surrounding the trio on the Reek and the remainder surrounded Tey and Livia.

"What do we do, Master?" Livia asked fearfully.

"Patience, Livia, we're not finished yet." Tey told her calmly. "I didn't come here alone."

In the archducal box, Dooku was about to give the order to fire when a purple lightsabre blade suddenly ignited in front of Jango Fett. Dooku turned to see Mace Windu standing there, his lightsabre keeping Jango at bay. The Count masked his surprise elegantly. "Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us." he smiled.

"This party's over." Windu announced venomously, and all around the arena, over a hundred Jedi ignited their lightsabres, ready to do battle. The Geonosian spectators wisely fled the arena.

Dooku's lip curled in slight amusement. "Brave, but... foolish, my old Jedi friend." he told Windu. "You're impossibly outnumbered."

"I don't think so." Windu scoffed.

"We'll see." Dooku smirked as footsteps sounded from behind Windu. The Jedi Master turned to see several of the Techno Union's brand-new Super Battle droids marching towards him. They opened fire on him with their wrist blasters, but Windu managed to deflect them with his lightsabre. Taking advantage of the Jedi's distraction, Jango fired his wrist-mounted flamethrower at him, but Windu jumped out of the way and landed in the arena below. He tossed his smouldering cloak aside and readied himself as thousands of Battle droids and Super Battle droids began to flood into the arena.

The battle was on as the Jedi and droid forces engaged one another. "Alright, let's turn this place into a scrap pile." Tey said grimly as she and Livia began slicing their way through droids. Two Jedi tossed spare lightsabres to Anakin and Obi-Wan, with Anakin receiving a green-bladed one, and Obi-Wan blue. The first thing Anakin did with his new weapon was to slice through his master's binders, freeing his hands.

Among the droids marching into the arena was the Battle droid on C-3PO's body. "My legs aren't moving. I must need maintenance." it complained.

A Geonosian soldier had set up a large sonic cannon and fired a blast at the Jedi. Several Jedi were knocked off their feet and Anakin, Padme and Obi-Wan were thrown from the Reek's back. Padme grabbed a discarded Battle droid blaster and used it to bullseye the Geonosian riding the cart. She then jumped onto the Orray's back, while Anakin jumped into the cart and began cutting up droids with his borrowed lightsabre, while Padme expertly shot down other droids with her blaster.

Another wave of droids marched into the arena. Among them was the Battle droid with 3PO's head. "What's all this noise? A-a battle! Oh, there's been some terrible mistake! I'm programmed for etiquette, not destruction!" he moaned.

Mace Windu was engaged in a fight with a Battle droid commander. He leapt over the top of it and used his lightsabre to deflect a blaster bolt back at it, knocking it down, then he joined Obi-Wan and they stood back to back, fending off droids.

"What is that?!" Tey stared as she saw the 3PO/Battle droid firing wildly around the arena.

"It looks like Anakin's Protocol droid." Livia realised. "How did that happen to him?"

"Hang on..." Tey expertly deflected a blaster bolt back at the droid's head, knocking it off.

Jedi Master Coleman Trebor leapt up to the archducal box and ignited his lightsabre, ready to bring Dooku to justice, but before he could do anything, he was gunned down by Jango Fett and his lifeless body crashed down to the arena floor.

Windu and Obi-Wan continued to fight back-to-back. "Someone's got to shut down those droids!" Obi-Wan said.

"Don't worry, it's been taken care of." Windu replied.

~8~

Ki-Adi Mundi and Plo Koon led a raiding party of 20 Jedi through the lines of parked Federation battleships. They cut a swath through masses of droids until they arrived at the command ship. Some Jedi were gunned down, but the others cut their way up the ramp and boarded the ship.

~8~

"Blasted droids!" Tey grumbled as she and Livia hacked their way through endless waves of droids.

"They've got a factory turning out thousands of 'em." Livia reported. "The Federation's built a whole army."

"Yeah, well, two can play at that game." Tey remarked. "We've gotta hold out 'till Master Yoda gets here. He's got a little surprise for Dooku."

Windu and Obi-Wan were fighting back-to-back when the Reek suddenly charged at them, knocking Obi-Wan over. He recovered and went off to help out other Jedi in the battle, while the Reek ran after Windu. Seeing an opportunity, Jango Fett flew into the fray by jetpack. Windu took a swipe at the Reek, but the massive beast knocked him over and his lightsabre flew from his grip. Jango landed and attempted to steal Windu's lightsabre, but the Jedi Master simply used the Force to retrieve his weapon and Jango was left tumbling to the floor. Before he could recover, the Reek reared up on it's hind legs and charged him, sending him flying and then it proceeded to trample him beneath it's huge legs. The Reek then swung round and charged at him again, but Jango got to his feet and killed the beast with a well-aimed headshot. With the Reek out of the way, Jango turned his attention back to Windu, who was racing towards him, lightsabre at the ready. Jango fired at him, but Windu effortless deflected each shot as he advanced on the bounty hunter. He then sliced Jango's blaster pistol in half with a clean swipe. Jango tried to escape, but his jetpack had been damaged by the Reek's stampede and only sparked feebly. Windu wielded his lightsabre in a swift arc and decapitated Jango. The bounty hunter's head went flying, landed on the ground and rolled across the sand, being kicked here and there by random feet, while Jango's lifeless body fell to the ground.

Boba had seen this from his vantage point, and in that moment, he felt his entire world end.

~8~

Mundi, Plo and the surviving Jedi in the raiding party fought their way through the corridors of the droid control ship, deflecting blaster bolts and slicing up droids with their lightsabres.

~8~

The Geonosian sonic cannon fired another blast, taking out several Jedi. "We've gotta do something about that blasted cannon." Tey said. "Liv, cover me."

"Yes, Master." Livia acknowledged, and she held the droids off, while Tey used the Force to levitate a section of collapsed column, then she hurled it at the cannon, squashing it like a pancake.

"And that's how ya deal with bugs." Tey remarked as she reignited her lightsabre and resumed carving up droids.

"Die Jedi dogs!" Battle droid/3PO snarled, then realised. "Oh, what did I say?!"

Jedi Padawan Sarrissa Jeng gave a battle cry as she sliced a Geonosian in half with her lightsabre.

"Outta my way!" Livia snarled at a Battle droid as she gave it a good kick, while Tey stabbed a Super Battle droid right in the visual receptor.

"Oh, dear! I'm terribly sorry about all this!" Battle droid/3PO blustered as he fired wildly around the arena. Jedi Master Kit Fisto used a Force push on him and he fell backwards, firing his blaster at a Super Battle droid, which collapsed on top of him. Fisto couldn't help but smirk in amusement as he rushed off to deal with the other droids. "Excuse me, I'm trapped. I can't get up." Battle droid/3PO said to the Super Battle droid on top of him.

Anakin and Padme were still riding around the arena on the Orray and cart when the Orray was hit by fire from a Droideka. The creature gave a moan and keeled over, knocking Padme off it's back and Anakin from the cart. They both recovered and took refuge in the overturned cart. "You call this a diplomatic solution?" Anakin asked Padme cheekily as he defected blaster fire back at the droids who were shooting at them.

"No, I call it aggressive negotiations." Padme replied as she bulls-eyed droids with her blaster.

Obi-Wan was fighting through droids when he heard a familar sound from behind him and turned to see that the Acklay was back. Obi-Wan was ready for it this time and with two well-aimed sweeps from his borrowed lightsabre, he sliced the creature's front pincers off, then slashed it across the chest and finished it off with a sharp stab in the neck.

Anakin and Padme were still fighting at the overturned cart when Windu joined them. "We can't hold these droids off forever, Master Windu." Anakin told him.

"Patience, Skywalker. Master Mundi and Master Plo are taking care of it." Windu told him.

~8~

Mundi, Plo and the raiding party burst onto the bridge of the control ship and chopped down the droids there. The cowardly Nemoidian crewmembers fled in all directions. Mundi reached the command chair, located the illuminated master switch and punched down on it. The switch went dark and instantly, the droids on the bridge froze.

~8~

The droids in the arena all stopped in their tracks and went dead. There was a moment of stunned silence, then the Jedi cheered.

~8~

Plo clapped Mundi on the back. "We've done it!" he cheered. "Now we have a chance!"

Suddenly, there was a harsh beeping sound and the droids on the bridge sprang to life again. Several Jedi were killed instantly, while Mundi and Plo stood back-to-back, fending off the barrage of fire. "They're independent of the control system!" Mundi realised. "That's a new feature."

~8~

The droids in the arena were back online too. "Karabast!" Tey cursed as the Jedi were forced back towards the centre of the arena. "The Federation's gotten clever!"

Battle droid/3PO was still pinned down beneath the fallen Super Battle droid when R2-D2 rolled over to him. "R2, what are you doing here?" Battle droid/3PO asked him. R2 turned around and fired a magnetic grappled at Battle droid/3PO's head. "What are you doing? Oh, stop that!" Battle droid/3PO complained as R2 began to tug at his head. "You're going to strain something; my neck!" With a pop, 3PO's head came free of the Battle droid's body. "Now where are you taking me?" he grumbled as he was dragged along in the sand behind R2. "Oh, this is such a drag!"

The droid army was now overwhelming the Jedi and forcing them to the centre of the arena. A blaster bolt caught Livia in the shoulder, causing her to groan in pain. "Liv!" Tey hollered, rushing to help her apprentice.

"Oh, I'm quite beside myself." 3PO's head remarked as R2 towed him over to his own body.

The droids continued to overwhelm the Jedi. Obi-Wan managed to deflect a shot from a Battle droid back at it. A Super Battle droid shoved the falling Battle droid out of the way and fired an intense volley from it's wrist blaster.

R2 had managed to reattach 3PO's head to his body and was now welding his neck back together. "R2, please be careful! You're singeing my circuits!" the Protocol droid complained.

R2 beeped a retort.

"Yes, but is my head on straight?" 3PO asked him.

Windu, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Tey, Livia and an exhausted group of about 10 Jedi stood in the centre of the arena, surrounded by a ring of droids. The bloodied sand around them was strewn with the bodies of dead Jedi and Geonosians, and the parts of droids. From the archducal box, Dooku gave a hand signal and the droids lowered their weapons. "Master Windu!" Dooku called out. "You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi Order. Now it is finished." Mundi, Plo and Aayla Secula were herded into the group, having been captured by the droids on the control ship. "Surrender, and your lives will be spared."

"Huh, somehow I doubt that." Tey muttered, tending to Livia's injured shoulder.

"We will not be hostages to be bartered, Dooku!" Windu called up defiantly.

"Then... I'm sorry, old friend." Dooku said with false sincerity.

The droids raised their weapons and the Jedi steeled themselves for what they were certain would be a fight to the death. Padme suddenly heard a noise from above and looked up. "Look!" she called, and the Jedi all followed her gaze.

"About time!" Tey grinned. There, descending from the sky, were six Low Altitude Assault Transports, each loaded with Clone troopers. Spurred on by this timely arrival, the Jedi resumed the fight with a will as the gunships swooped in and engaged the droids, their weapons making short work of them.

Yoda was aboard the lead gunship. "Around the survivors a perimeter create." he ordered, and the gunships landed in a cluster around the handful of Jedi. Clones spilt out and started shooting at the droids with powerful blaster rifles, providing cover for the Jedi as they all scrambled aboard the gunships. Once the Jedi were all aboard, the Clones climbed back on board and the gunships lifted off again.

Dooku watched the departing gunships with an impassive expression, then he turned on his heel and left the arena.

A stark silence fell on the arena, which was deserted save for three figures. Two of them were R2 and 3PO. "Oh, I've had the most peculiar dream." 3PO remarked as he sat upright.

The other figure in the arena was Boba Fett, who picked up his father's helmet and made a vow to enact revenge on Mace Windu one day, whatever it took.

Chapter Text

The cavalry of gunships flew through the skies of Geonosis, while Acclamator-class assault carriers landed below and began disgorging more troops. Tey and Livia were aboard Gunship Four. "One thing I don't understand; where did this army come from?" Livia wandered.

"Kamino." Tey answered. "They're a Clone army; grown from Jango Fett's DNA."

"The bounty hunter?" Livia furrowed a brow. "But... who ordered this army?"

"Now that's a good question, Liv." Tey replied. "Unfortunately, we'll have to look into it later. Right now, we'll just have to roll with it."

Yoda, Windu, Fisto and Mundi were aboard Gunship One. "If Dooku escapes, rally more systems to his cause he will." Yoda said grimly. "Stop him, we must."

The gunships banked around and approached the sea of Federation battleships and Techno Union Hardcell-class ships. "Hold on." Obi-Wan warned Anakin and Padme aboard Gunship Two as ground defences opened fire on them.

The gunships opened fire on the Techno Union ships. "Aim right above the fuel cells." Anakin ordered, and the gunner fired a pair of missiles at the spot right above the fuel cells of one of the Hardcells. The missiles struck their target and the ship exploded in a huge fireball, falling debris crushing several droids below.

"Good call, my young Padawan." Obi-Wan praised.

Gunships Three, Four, Five and Six came into land and the Jedi and Clones aboard them disembarked, ready for battle. Tey and Livia were among them. "Now, are you up for this, Liv?" Tey asked her apprentice.

"I'll be fine, Master." Livia replied, igniting her borrowed orange lightsabre. "Let's send these droids to the junk pile!"

"That's the spirit." Tey smiled, igniting her own lightsabre. "Ok, boys," she said to the Clones, "training's over. Now it's the real thing."

"We stand with you, Master Sacul." the Clones responded, and so they charged into the fray. The battle was on.

~8~

Dooku, Gunray, Poggle and other Seperatists were gathered in a secret war room, watching the unfolding battle on a holographic display table. "The Jedi have amassed a huge army." Gunray reported.

"That doesn't seem possible. How could the Jedi come up with an army so quickly?" Dooku wandered, sounding only lightly surprised.

"We must send all available droids into battle."

"There are too many."

"Our communications have been jammed." Poggle reported.

~8~

The occupants of Gunship One watched as Gunship Five was blown out of the sky by anti-aircraft fire from below. "Pilot, land in that assembly area!" Windu ordered the pilot of their ship.

"Yes, sir." the pilot acknowledged, and brought the ship into land in an open area where Clones were waiting.

Windu, Mundi and Fisto disembarked and were met by a Clone commander. "Sir, I have five special commando units awaiting your orders, sir." he reported.

Windu nodded and began issuing orders.

"To the forward command centre take me." Yoda ordered the pilot of Gunship One, and the ship took off again, giving Yoda a panoramic view of the advancing Republic forces below.

The Separatists sent out Battle droids, Super Battle droids and Commerce Guild Spider droids, which were met head on by the Jedi and Clones. "For the Chancellor!" the Clones yelled as they engaged the droids, while the Jedi chopped up the droids with their lightsabres.

Gunship Two was overflying the battlefield. "Attack those Federation starships, quickly!" Obi-Wan ordered the crew, and the ship opened fire on one of the Lucrehulk cores.

Gunship One arrived at the forward command centre and Yoda disembarked. "Master Yoda, all forward positions are advancing." a Clone commander reported.

"Very good. Very good." Yoda acknowledged. "More battalions to the left. Encircle them, we must, then divide."

More forces were deployed; Republic dropships unloaded All Terran Tactical Enforcers, while the Separatists sent out Banking Clan Hailfire droids, which began firing missiles at the AT-TEs, managing to destroy one.

~8~

"This is not looking good at all." Gunray groaned, seeing that the Republic were gaining the upper hand.

"We must get the starships back into space." Rune Haako said, and both Nemoidians left the war room.

"We have to order a retreat." Poggle said to Dooku, seeing that the battle was lost.

"My master will never allow the Republic to get away with this treachery." Dooku said grimly.

"I'm sending my warriors to hide in the catacombs." Poggle said, going over to a console at the side of the room. "The Jedi must not find our designs for the ultimate weapon. If they find out what we are planning to build, we're doomed." He downloaded a holocron and gave it to Dooku.

"I will take the designs with me to Coruscant." Dooku acknowledged, taking the hologram. Contained in it were the designs for an armoured orbital battle station with enough firepower to destroy an entire planet. "They will be much safer there with my master."

~8~

The battle was swinging in the Republic's favour. The gunships made short work of the Hailfire droids, while Clones on speeder bikes engaged the Spider droids. They zoomed beneath the Spiders and threw thermal detonators at them, which destroyed the Spiders with ease. The Acclamators deployed Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolaser walkers, ready to engage the escaping Federation ships. The Jedi and Clones meanwhile continued to fight their way through the droids.

"Jango Fett was right about one thing; these Clones are doing their job well." Tey remarked to Livia as they carved their way through droids.

~8~

The Separatist leaders were preparing to cut their losses and evacuate Geonosis. Gunray and Haako boarded their waiting Shethipede-class shuttle and it departed, while Dooku climbed aboard his Flitknot speeder bike and zoomed out into the open air, escorted by two Geonosian fighters.

~8~

The battle on the plains continued to rage, with the Republic steadily forcing the droids back. Yoda noticed that the Federation ships were trying to escape. "Concentrate all your fire on the nearest starship." he ordered.

"Yes, sir." a Clone captain acknowledged. "Move all quadrants to sector 5-1-5." he ordered a trooper, who in turn relayed the order to the SPHA-Ts. The walkers fired their heavy-duty turbolasers at the nearest Federation ship, taking out it's engines and sending it crashing back to earth, releasing a huge dust cloud. The Clones and droids continued to exchange blaster fire through the dust.

Gunship Two flew through the dust cloud and emerged out the other side. "Look over there!" Obi-Wan called, pointing at something ahead. It was a speeder bike and two Geonosian fighters flying away from the battlefield.

"It's Dooku." Anakin realised. "Shoot him down!"

"We're out of rockets, sir." the Clone gunner replied.

"Follow him, then!" Anakin ordered.

"We're gonna need some help." Padme pointed out.

"There isn't time." Obi-Wan told her. "Anakin and I can handle this."

Dooku realised he was being followed and tapped a few buttons on the dashboard of his speeder. The two fighters escorting him broke off, looped round and came up behind the gunship, then they began firing at it. The gunship rocked and rolled as flak erupted all around it. One blast caught the ship in a glancing blow and the resulting lurch knocked Padme and a Clone trooper out through the open side. "Padme!" Anakin screamed as Padme landed in the sand below and rolled down the side of a dune. "Put the ship down!" Anakin yelled at the pilot.

"Anakin! Don't let your personal feelings get in the way." Obi-Wan told him sternly. "Follow that speeder!" he ordered the pilot.

"Lower the ship!" Anakin tried to countermand him.

"I can't take Dooku alone, I need you!" Obi-Wan tried to get him to see reason. "If we catch him, we can end this war right now. We have a job to do!"

"I don't care, put the ship down!"

"You will be expelled from the Jedi Order!"

"I can't leave her!"

"Come to your senses! What d'you think Padme would do if she were in your position?"

Anakin took a breath. "She would do her duty."

~8~

"The droid army is in full retreat." a Clone commander informed Yoda.

"Well done, Commander." the Jedi Master acknowledged. "Bring me a ship."

~8~

Dooku's speeder approached a Geonosian tower and flew in through an opening in the side. Gunship Two took up position by the opening and Anakin and Obi-Wan jumped out, lightsabres at the ready. As they ran inside the tower, the gunship was destroyed by the Geonosian fighters.

Anakin and Obi-Wan rushed into a hangar, where Dooku was preparing to escape aboard an interstellar sail ship. He'd just given the superweapon hologram to a Pilot droid when he sensed the two Jedi's approach and turned calmly to face them. "You're gonna pay for all the Jedi that you killed today, Dooku." Anakin snarled, raring for a fight.

"We'll take him together." Obi-Wan said. "You go in slowly on the left..."

But Anakin had other ideas. "I'm taking him now!" And he charged at the Count.

"No, Anakin, no!" Obi-Wan warned. "No!" But it was too late.

Dooku calmly raised a hand and blasted a bolt of Force lightning at Anakin, which sent him flying across the room like ragdoll. He crashed into the opposite wall and slid down it, groaning in pain. Dooku then turned to Obi-Wan, who raised his borrowed lightsabre in a challenging pose. "As you see my Force abilities are far beyond yours." Dooku said told him. "Now... back down." And he fired a blast of lightning at Obi-Wan.

The Jedi Knight quickly raised his lightsabre and used the blade to absorb the electricity. "I don't think so." he said smoothly.

Dooku smiled. "Ah, but if I must..." He drew his own lightsabre, with it's distinctive curved hilt, and ignited a red blade; the colour of the Sith. Obi-Wan came in fast, swinging at Dooku's head. Dooku parried the cut easily and as they fought, it quickly became clear to Obi-Wan that Dooku was the complete swordsman; elegant, graceful, classical; a master of the ancient forms of lightsabre combat. "Master Kenobi, you disappoint me." he taunted. "Yoda holds you in such high esteem." He parried another cut. "Surely you can do better." Another parry. "No, I'm surprised. Has Jedi swordsmanship degenerated so quickly, or are you trying to make fun of me?" He made a cut, which Obi-Wan only just managed to block. "Which is it?"

Anakin could only watch, too drained by the Force lightning to intervene.

~8~

Groaning, Padme regained conciousness in the sand. "Are you alight?" the Clone trooper asked her.

"Uh-huh." Padme muttered groggily.

The Clone helped her to her feet. "We'd better get back to the forward command centre." he said.

"No. No. Gather what troops you can. We've gotta stop Dooku." Padme said. "Get a transport. Hurry!"

"Right away!" the Clone acknowledged, and they both hurried away to find help.

~8~

Dooku and Obi-Wan continued to clash lightsabres. "Come, come, Master Kenobi. Put me out of my misery." Dooku goaded. Obi-Wan took a deep breath, gained a fresh grip on his lightsabre and went in again. For a moment, he drove Dooku back, but then the Count's superior skill began to tell again, and he forced Obi-Wan to retreat. Dooku increased the tempo of his attacks and Obi-Wan was pushed to the limit to defend himself. Presently, their blades locked. Dooku gave Obi-Wan a slasher smile and then forced his lightsabre down, the blade jabbing Obi-Wan in the shoulder.

"Ah!" Obi-Wan groaned, dropping his lightsabre, which skittered across the floor. Dooku then jabbed him in the thigh and he slumped to the floor.

Dooku raised his lightsabre, ready for the kill. Obi-Wan looked up at him helplessly. Dooku's lightsabre swung down and promptly collided with a green blade, which blocked it mid-strike. Dooku looked over to see Anakin standing there. "Brave of you, boy." Dooku sneered. "But I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson."

"I am a slow learner." Anakin retorted, and with that, he charged at Dooku. The force of his attack caught the Count off balance. Anakin's lightsabre flashed and Dooku drew back, putting a hand to his arm, while Obi-Wan managed to use the Force to call his blue lightsabre back to him.

Dooku took his hand away and looked at the smear of blood from where Anakin had nicked him. "The Force is strong with you, young Padawan." he observed. "But not enough to save you."

"Don't bet on it!" Anakin retorted.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called, tossing his lightsabre to his apprentice.

Anakin caught it, and now armed with two lightsabres, he attacked. Dooku was initially caught off-guard and was pushed back, but he soon regained the upper hand and began to push Anakin back. The three blades clashed furiously, then Dooku managed to even up the odds by slicing Anakin's green lightsabre in half. Undeterred by losing one of his weapons, Anakin simply pressed on with the blue lightsabre, sparring furiously with Dooku. A stray swipe severed a power cable, plunging the hanger into darkness, save for the blue and red flashes of Anakin and Dooku's lightsabres as they clashed against each other in a fantastic display of motor skill. Crackles and hisses filled the air as the fight continued. The hanger's backup generators then kicked in and the lights came back on, distracting Anakin long enough for Dooku to take advantage. In one flashing move, he sliced his lightsabre through Anakin's right bicep, sending the lower arm flying across the room, lightsabre still in hand. Anakin barely had time to yell out in pain at the loss of his limb, for Dooku Force-pushed him back and he crashed to the floor next to Obi-Wan, unconscious.

Dooku deactivated his lightsabre and gave the two fallen Jedi a pitying look. He then sensed a presence and turned to see a familiar, diminutive figure appear at the hangar entrance. "Master Yoda." he raised a brow.

"Count Dooku." Yoda reciprocated.

"You have interfered with our affairs for the last time." Dooku said, and used the Force to throw a heavy piece of machinery at the Jedi Grand Master. Yoda threw his gimmer stick aside and used the Force to send it away to the side. Dooku then sent another piece of machinery at him, but Yoda again sent it elsewhere. Dooku then used the Force to bring great blocks of stone from the ceiling down on Yoda, but he simply used the Force to catch the rubble in mid-air and threw it aside.

"Powerful you have become, Dooku." Yoda observed. "The Dark Side I sense in you."

"I've become more powerful than any Jedi." Dooku retorted. "Even you." And he fired a blast of Force lightning at Yoda, who caught it bare-handed and sent it back at Dooku, who deflected it into the ceiling. Dooku then fired another blast, but Yoda was able to simply absorb it.

"Much to learn you still have." he said with a wry smile.

Dooku wasn't beaten yet. "It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force..." he ignited his lightsabre, "but by our skills with the lightsabre." He raised his sabre up in a salute.

Yoda reverently drew out his own lightsabre, it's green blade humming to life. Dooku leapt at Yoda, who gave a battle cry and leapt up himself. They landed at each other's feet and the duel was on. This time, Dooku was the one at a disadvantage. Yoda parried every cut and thrust that Dooku aimed at him. Nothing the great swordsman tried could get through. It went on and on for many moments, until Dooku's flurry began to slow and he stepped back fast. But not fast enough. With a sudden burst of sheer power, Yoda flew forward, his blade working fast and intensively. Dooku held strong, though, his red blade parrying brilliantly, each block backed by the power of the Force or else Yoda's strikes would have driven right through. Just as he was about to launch a counter, though, Yoda was gone, leaping high and turning a somersault to land right behind Dooku in perfect balance, striking hard. Dooku reversed his grip and stabbed out behind him, intercepting the blow. He let go of his weapon altogether, tossing it just a bit, and spun about, catching it before it had even disengaged from Yoda's blade. The fight continued, with Yoda leaping and spinning away from Dooku's attacks and delivering swift strikes of his own. This went on and on until the two swordsmen's blades locked. "Fought well you have, my old Padawan." Yoda said grimly.

"The battle is far from over." Dooku stubbornly argued. "This is just the beginning." Using the Force, he took hold of one of the hangar's huge cranes and threw it down at Anakin and Obi-Wan below. Quick as a flash, Yoda caught it with the Force and stopped it in mid-air. While Yoda was distracted, Dooku ran to his sail ship, ready to make his escape. Concentrating with all of his might, Yoda sent the crane away to the side, away from Anakin and Obi-Wan. Behind him, the ramp of the sail ship closed and the ship's engines roared to life.

~8~

A gunship hovered outside the tower entrance and Padme, Tey, Livia and 10 Clone troopers all scrambled out just in time to see the sail ship burst out of an adjacent launch tube. "Dooku." Tey realised. "Stop him!"

Padme and the Clones all opened fire on the fleeing ship, but it was no good. The sail ship left Geonosis' atmosphere, deployed it's solar sail and was gone.

~8~

Anakin regained consciousness, breathing heavily as he processed the loss of his arm. Beside him, Obi-Wan felt his wounds, while Yoda retrieved his gimmer stick. Tey, Livia, Padme and the Clones hurried in. "Anakin!" Padme cried as she rushed over to him and embraced him.

"His arm!" Livia gasped in horror when she saw his injury.

"Tell Master Windu we have casualties." Tey ordered the Clones as she helped Obi-Wan to his feet. "I'm afraid Dooku got away." she told Yoda.

Yoda gave a heavy sigh. "A dark day it is." he said solemnly.

Chapter Text

Dooku's sail ship approached Coruscant. It retracted it's sail, entered the planet's atmosphere and flew towards a run-down industrial area of the planet. The ship landed in a large, empty warehouse and Dooku disembarked. A cloaked, hooded figure was waiting for him. "The Force is with us, Master Sidious." Dooku said.

"Welcome home, Lord Tyranus." the hooded figure acknowledged. "You have done well."

"I bring good news for you, my Lord." Dooku continued. "The war has begun."

"Excellent. Everything is proceeding as planned." Sidious said as they walked away.

~8~

A golden orange sunset shined over the Jedi Temple. Livia was in one of the workshops, putting the finishing touches to a new lightsabre she'd built for herself when Tey joined her. "How's it going?" Tey asked her.

"Just finishing it now, Master." Livia replied as she adjusted the final components. She pressed the activator and a blue blade hummed into life. Livia then gave the new sabre a few practice swings and deactivated it. "Now we're in business." she said as she clipped it to her belt.

"What happened to your old one, anyway?" Tey asked her.

"The bounty hunter shot it." Livia replied. "I'm sorry, Master." she continued. "I feel I've let you down."

"How?" Tey furrowed a brow.

"I disobeyed orders, went to Geonosis and nearly got Pad-Senator Amidala killed."

"From what I heard, it was the Senator's idea." Tey observed.

"Yes, but I agreed with her." Livia pointed out. "Anakin wanted to stay put, but we overruled him. If only I'd have sided with him..." she sighed, thinking about Anakin's lost arm.

"You made a mistake, Liv." Tey told her empathically. "Everyone makes mistakes. I know I did when I was a Padawan. All we can do is learn from our mistakes. As Master Yoda says, failure is the best teacher. Now c'mon, let's see what the score is."

~8~

In the Council chambers, where Obi-Wan was talking to Yoda and Windu. "Do you believe what Count Dooku said about Sidious controlling the Senate?" Obi-Wan asked. "It doesn't feel right."

"Joined the Dark Side Dooku has." Yoda replied. "Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now."

"Nevertheless, I feel we should keep a closer eye on the Senate." Windu said.

"Yes, I agree, Master." Tey said as she and Livia joined them. "Ya know, if Dooku's right, and this Sidious character is controlling the Senate, it would certainly explain a lot."

"But surely we'd know if the Sith were in control of the Republic." Livia objected.

"Hard to see, the Dark Side is." Yoda countered wisely.

"That Clone army was created right under our noses." Tey agreed. "We've become complacent." she said gravely.

Feeling uncomfortable at this statement, Windu changed the subject. "Where is your apprentice?" he asked Obi-Wan.

"On his way to Naboo." Obi-Wan replied. "He's escorting Senator Amidala home."

"How is he?" Livia asked.

"Recovering." Obi-Wan answered. "The mechno-arm's settling in and he's already thinking of how to upgrade it. I have to admit that without the Clones, it would not have been a victory."

"Victory?" Yoda raised a brow. "Victory you say? Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen. Begun the Clone War has." he finished gravely.

~8~

Chancellor Palpatine, Mas Amedda, Senator Organa and several other Senators stood on a balcony overlooking a vast staging area, watching as tens of thousands of Clone troopers lined up on parade, then marched in smart formation to climb the boarding ramps of waiting Acclamator assault ships. Once a ship was fully loaded, it would take off and another would take it's place. Organa watched the ongoing procedure with a sombre expression. Mas Amedda and a few others looked awestruck at the sight, while Palpatine had an expression that was impossible for anyone to read. The sky above them was thick with transports. The Great Clone War had begun.

~8~

A beautiful sunset shone over Padme's lake retreat on Naboo. Anakin and Padme were stood on a rose-covered arbour in the company of a Naboo holy man. Padme was wearing a lovely white dress with a veil, while Anakin was sporting a mechno-arm to replace his missing right arm. R2 and 3PO stood by, watching as the holy man blessed the happy couple and, amid gently falling rose petals, Anakin and Padme kissed. When they broke apart, they turned to watch the sunset, blissfully unaware that it was the beginning of the end.