Chapter 21: Birth Of A Rebellion

“So there you have it, gentlemen,” Mon Mothma sighed, leaning back in her chair as she spoke, regarding Bail and Obi-Wan with keen interest. “Twelve systems have pledged their support, and all of the resources at their disposal.”

“Commander Rieekan, here, should be able to assist us with developing a plan of action,” she said, as she gestured toward the tall, thin gentleman who sat beside her, watching Bail and Obi-Wan intently. “But we’ll need your help for this to have any chance at all of success.”

She watched the two of them carefully, as Obi-Wan and Bail exchanged a thoughtful glance for long moment.

“This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Senator,” Obi-Wan said, leaning forward and folding his hands thoughtfully on the table in front of him. “If Sidious finds out what you’re up to, the Jedi won’t be the only ones with the Clone Army breathing down their necks.”

“Not to mention,” Bail said, shaking his head slowly as he leaned back in his own chair, “it’s going to be extremely difficult for us, as senators, to hide our involvement,” he said, as he turned his gaze back to Obi-Wan. “Especially in light of what’s happened.”

“I, for one, am willing to take that risk,” Mon Mothma said, the tone of her voice growing firm and resolute. “The Jedi have paid a tremendous price, already,” she said, shaking her head slowly as a look of deep anguish filled her regal face. “They should not have to bear the burden of undoing the Chancellor’s evil alone.”

“Agreed,” Bail replied, nodding his head firmly. “And, with what I’ve witnessed in the past few days, I can say with certainty that it’s a foregone conclusion that we cannot defeat him, without them.”

“You don’t know how relieved I am, to hear that at least some of you survived the Chancellor’s initial attack, Master Kenobi,” Mon Mothma said, turning her attention to Obi-Wan as he sat beside her. “When we received news of what had happened at the Temple, we feared the worst.”

“How many Jedi, do you think, survived the initial assault?” she asked, leaning forward in her chair as she spoke.

“It’s difficult to say,” Obi-Wan sighed, shaking his head slowly as he rubbed his fingertips thoughtfully on the smooth, dark wood table in front of him. “All of the Council members, save Master Yoda, are dead, as far as we know. Anakin and I reversed the homing beacon, before any of the other Jedi arrived, but we have no way of knowing, yet, how many of them were able to escape into hiding,” he said, “ or how many were killed by their own clone troops on the outlying systems.”

Obi-Wan shook his head, sorrowfully, sitting quietly for a moment. “Besides Anakin, myself, and Master Yoda,” Obi-Wan said, as he looked back up at them, “we found no one else alive in the Temple, except the children.”

“Children?” Carlist Riekkan, the thin, salt-and-pepper haired man beside Mon Mothma asked; he and the senator exchanged a shocked glance for a moment, and then he looked at Obi-Wan with keen interest. “You mean, padawan children?”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan said, nodding his head as he watched them exchange glances again. “Most of the older ones were killed by Vader when he initially attacked the Temple, but Anakin, Bail and I managed to rescue thirty-seven of the youngest ones from one of the dormitories, just before we left the Temple to go after him.”

Obi-Wan watched the elegant, red-haired senator close her eyes and sigh deeply, as she turned her gaze back to him. “A bright ray of incredibly good news, one that shines brightly in the face of such dark evil,” she said. “This is welcome news, indeed. Are they safe?”

“For the moment,” Obi-Wan nodded, as he looked across the table at Bail. “We have them secured at a friend’s residence, not far from here.”

“This Vader you speak of is the one who concerns me at the moment,” Carlist said; Obi-Wan and the others watched him as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and produced a small display. “Those of us who’ve been watching the Chancellor’s actions for the past few months weren’t terrible surprised by his sudden grasp for power, but we’ve never heard of this fellow before, or of the Chancellor’s involvement with the Sith.”

“One of our agents managed to catch this image of him, with Emperor Palpatine, as the two of them were boarding a shuttle on Coruscant a few hours ago,” he said, as he slid the display across the table, watching intently as Obi-Wan caught it and picked it up. “How much do you know about him?”

“More than I’d like to, to be honest,” Obi-Wan sighed, looking at the shadowy image on the display in his hand; it was blurry, at best, but he could make out the smooth, round contours of the helmet on the figure he had seen, when they had blasted their way out of the Coruscant system the day before.

“He’s extremely powerful, and well skilled in the Jedi arts, just like the dark master he serves,” Obi-Wan said, sliding the display across the table to Bail. “I know a few more things that I’d rather not disclose right now, but I can tell you that I sensed no redeeming traits in him at all, when I faced him on Mustafar,” he said, looking back at Mon Mothma and Carlist with a grim expression. “He’s a vessel of pure, unbridled evil,” he said, turning his eyes down toward the table again. “Just like Sidious.”

“So it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll kill you, first chance he gets, if he finds you,” Carlist said, watching as Obi-Wan nodded his head slowly in agreement. “And those children, as well.”

“We cannot allow that to happen,” Mon Mothma said defiantly, shaking her head firmly as she spoke. “Enough innocent blood has been spilt in the past few hours. I’ll not see those children murdered, not if there’s anything I can do to stop it.”

“Obi-Wan,” Bail said, turning his eyes from the display in his hand and watching as his friend looked up at him, “Perhaps now would be a good time to share your plan for the children with Senator Mothma, and the commander,” he said, nodding his head slowly. “They may be able to help us.”

Mon Mothma and Carlist both listened intently, as Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair and bridged his fingers thoughtfully in front of him.

“As I said, we have no way of knowing how many Jedi survived the initial assault,” Obi-Wan continued, looking at his hands thoughtfully as he spoke. “But, with Padmé’s help, we were able to save a great deal of the information from the Temple archives before they were destroyed.”

“We hope,” he sighed, “to be able to use that information to locate the remaining Jedi, and, with a little time and luck, get the children into their care so that they can resume their training.”

“But it’s going to be a difficult task, for the three of us,” Obi-Wan said, drumming his fingers slowly on the desk in front of him as he spoke. “Anakin and Padmé have access to resources that can help us find them, but it’s going to fall to Bail, and myself, to get the children to them after we locate them.”

“A monumental task, indeed, for so few,” Mon Mothma said thoughtfully, as she watched Obi-Wan nod his head in agreement. “It’s going to be especially difficult for you, Master Kenobi, given the level of interest the new Emperor’s agents seem to have in you at the moment.”

“But, with our help,” she said, looking back at Obi-Wan, a sly smile spreading across her face as she spoke, “I think we can help improve your chances dramatically.”

“Howso?” Obi-Wan asked; Mon Mothma smiled, as she watched his brow furrow as he looked at her. She had, finally, managed to peak this wary Jedi’s interest.

“I have a proposal for you, Master Kenobi,” Mon Mothma said, leaning back in her chair and folding her hands thoughtfully in front of her as she looked back at him with a smile. “One that I think you’ll find most interesting.”

“Zaydo,” Mon Mothma said, watching as the tall, cloaked bounty hunter stepped a bit closer to the table where they sat, “Would you and your men mind keeping an eye on the door and the surrounding hallways? I don’t want anyone eavesdropping on our conversation. I’ll summon you on the communicator when we’re finished.”

“Of course, Senator,” Zaydo replied with an obedient nod, and he motioned quickly to his two companions; Obi-Wan and Bail both watched them, as they walked quickly through the door and secured it behind them.

“These walls sometimes have ears,” Mon Mothma said, watching her two curious guests as they turned their attention back to her. “And, given our current situation, we cannot be too careful.”

“As I was saying, Master Kenobi,” she said, “It seems we both need each other, now more than ever,” she said. “And I have a proposal for you, and your companions in the Jedi Order, that I believe you’ll find to your liking.”

“What kind of proposal?” Obi-Wan asked, looking at her curiously.

“An alliance, simply put,” Mon Mothma said, watching the Jedi Master as he looked back at Bail again. “An alliance that will help us restore what has been taken from us, and get those children where they belong,” she said. “And here’s how I propose we do it.”

------

The afternoon sun beat down hard, as it always did, and Obi-Wan stepped a little closer to the counter; he glanced up, shielding his eyes with his hand, as he looked up at the dust-filled sky above the bustling spaceport. The larger of Tatooine’s two suns shone brightly, engulfing the light of its smaller sibling near it as it continued to bathe the surrounding landscape in a thick, stifling heat.

Obi-Wan turned his attention back to the man at the counter, as he heard him speak. “Passage for four to Coruscant will run you sixty three rupii rupii,” he said, as he thrust out his hand over the counter; Obi-Wan looked at the four small, round transport tokens that rested in his palm, as the stout gentleman jostled them in his large, thick-fingered hand.

“That’ll do fine,” Obi-Wan said, nodding his head as he reached into the pocket of his robe and pulled out the handful of local currency that Andar had given him when he had arrived. “When does the transport leave?” he asked, as he quickly counted out the amount in the palm of his hand and then plopped it down on the worn, dusty counter in front of him.

“Ten minutes,” the man replied, placing the tokens into Obi-Wan’s outstretched hand as he picked up the small pile of coins. “Docking bay twenty seven, just beyond those containers there,” he said, gesturing toward the two large buildings across the spaceport from them.

Obi-Wan followed the gentleman’s finger with his eyes, nodding his head as he caught site of the large transport that sat on the loading platform behind the second of the two buildings, it’s engines jetting a steady stream of coolant as it sat in the hot, brilliant sun. “The larger one, in the back there?” Obi-Wan asked, turning his attention back to the man as he pointed toward the transport with his free hand.

“That’s it,” the man replied, nodding his head firmly. “It’s a full flight, so you’d better hurry, if you want to get your cargo packed in the hold before they take off,” he said, as he placed the coins in the slot near his small computer terminal. “Or else you’ll be sitting on it all the way home.”

“Thanks,” Obi-Wan replied with a nod, and, squeezing the tokens tightly in his fist, he turned and made his way back through the thick throngs of people toward the small open-air cafe a short distance from him; he could see his companions as they waited on him, sitting around one of the larger tables, underneath the old, wind-torn awning.

“There you go,” Obi-Wan replied, as he walked up to the table and placed the tokens on it; he watched, as Mon Mothma picked them up and handed two to Bail, and then one to Commander Rieekan, keeping one for herself.

“You’re all booked,” Obi-Wan said, tossing his hood back onto his shoulders as he stepped out of the bright sunlight and walked around the back of the table to stand beside Andar, where he stood watching quietly as the other tucked the tokens securely in their pockets. “The transport leaves in ten minutes,” he said, nodding his head as he folded his arms tightly across his chest.

“The gentleman at the passage counter suggests you get your things checked in early,” he said, looking at them with a somewhat weary smile as they all stood up from the table. “Unless you want them to ride with you.”

“Very well, then,” Mon Mothma said, tossing the hood of her dusty white cloak over her bright red hair as she stood up. “I suppose we’d better be on our way, then.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be all right?” Bail asked, turning his attention to Obi-Wan as he handed the small token in his hand to Rebecca as she stood beside him, watching Obi-Wan intently. “I hate to see you have to do this by yourself,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “Especially with all of those bounty hunters looking for you.”

“I’ll be fine,” Obi-Wan said with a resolute smile, nodding his head firmly as they headed out into the main thoroughfare and started through the thick throngs toward the docking bay where their transport waited. “I’ve got a couple of things I need to do before I contact Master Yoda,” he said, glancing over at Andar for a moment as he spoke, “but I should be able to make contact with him and get back in touch with you in a few days.”

“That should give us enough time to contact the ones you’ll need to help with the children,” Commander Rieekan replied, as Obi-Wan turned his attention to him. “We’ll pass that information to Mister Gandh, just as we planned,” he said, watching as the stout gentleman nodded firmly. “He’ll have it as soon as you get back.”

“Good,” Obi-Wan said, tucking his hands deeply into his pockets as they approached the entrance to the docking bay. “I think Master Yoda will be agreeable,” he said, nodding his head slowly as they all stopped and huddled in a small circle a short distance from the entrance. “As soon as I’ve obtained his approval, I’ll signal you.”

“Very well,” Mon Mothma said, as she folded her hands in front of her. “We will await your signal then, Master Kenobi,” she said, looking at him with a smile. “With great anticipation.”

“We’d better get under way, then,” Bail sighed, looking over his shoulder at the throng of people that streamed through the entrance onto the docking bay’s boarding ramp; he looked back at Rebecca, and he felt her squeeze his hand tightly as they both looked back at Obi-Wan.

“Well, my friends,” Obi-Wan said, taking a long deep breath and sighing deeply as he smiled, a little weakly, at them. “I suppose this is where our paths have to part for a little while.”

Obi-Wan smiled at Rebecca, as he watched her reach up and dab gently at the corner of her eye. “I’m sorry I cost you your ship,” he said, looking at them both apologetically. “I know it’s been a long time since the two of you have had to make use of public transportation like this,” he said, glancing up at the massive transport for a moment.

“But if it’s any consolation,” he sighed, looking back at them with a weak smile, “the man at the counter assured me that the food on this particular transport is the best in the fleet.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” Bail said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a smile as he reached up and patted his shoulder soundly.

Bail, Obi-Wan, and Rebecca all turned their attention to Mon Mothma, as she spoke again. “I believe it’s time we get onboard the transport, Commander,” she said, looking at her tall, thin companion with a somber smile. “And let these friends say goodbye properly.”

“Do be careful, Master Kenobi,” she said, as she extended her hand out toward him. “And remember, Zaydo will be standing by if you need him, and don’t hesitate to call on him,” she said, looking up at him with a smile as Obi-Wan took her hand and squeezed it tightly.

“He can be quite resourceful,” she said, looking at him with a sly smile, “As I’m sure you’ve already learned quite well.”

“Indeed I have,” Obi-Wan smiled, as he released her hand and shook Commander Rieekan’s firmly. “And I will. Thank you.”

“Go carefully, then,” she said, sighing deeply as she took a long, deep breath. “And may the Force be with you, and your companions.”

“May the Force be with all of us, Senator,” Obi-Wan replied with a nod, as he folded his hands in front of his cloak. He watched, with Bail and Rebecca, as Mon Mothma and Commander Rieekan picked up their belongings, and then made their way toward the entrance to the transport’s docking ramp.

“It’s about time for you to get going, too,” Obi-Wan sighed, turning his attention to Bail and Rebecca again, as Andar came and stood beside them. “You don’t want to miss that transport.”

Rebecca watched, dabbing at the tear that stood in the corner of her eye, as Obi-Wan and Bail both embraced each other tightly for a long moment. She glanced over at Andar, and she smiled as she watched him reach up to his burly, portly face and do the same.

“Thank you for everything, Bail,” Obi-Wan said, looking up at his friend with a smile and squeezing his shoulders tightly as he finally released him from his embrace. “I don’t know how we could have done any of this without you.”

“I’m just sorry we couldn’t do more,” Bail said, nodding his head slowly as he smiled weakly back at his friend.

“Well,” Obi-Wan sighed, looking back at the transport behind them, and watching as Mon Mothma turned and looked back at them one more time, “It seems we’re going to get another chance,” he said, turning a sly smile back to Bail and Rebecca, “if everything goes well.”

“I hope so,” Bail said, returning his smile. He watched, as Obi-Wan hugged Rebecca tightly for a long moment. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Take care of the children, Obi-Wan,” she said, looking up at him with a smile as she released him. “And take good care of Shanda,” she said, nodding her head firmly. “And be sure to let us know how she’s doing, okay?”

“I will,” Obi-Wan replied with a smile. “I promise.”

“Thank you, Andar,” Bail said, extending his hand to their portly new friend and squeezing it tightly. “Be sure to keep an ear open for that transmission from Commander Rieekan, all right?”

“No worries, there, my good Senator,” Andar replied, smiling widely. “And don’t worry about ol’ Ben, here,” he said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a smile as he slapped him soundly on the shoulder. “I’ll see that he’s well taken care of.”

“We’re leaving him in good hands, then,” Bail chuckled. “You two take care of yourselves, and we’ll be in touch soon. Okay?”

“All right,” Obi-Wan replied, watching them as they picked up their bags and looked back at him again. “Have a safe journey, my friends,” Obi-Wan said, smiling widely at the both of them. “And may the Force be with you.”

“May the Force be with you, Master Kenobi,” Rebecca said with a smile, as she and Bail both turned and headed toward the docking bay behind them.

Obi-Wan and Andar watched quietly, for a long moment, as Bail and Rebecca made their way through the thick throngs of people toward the entry ramp; Obi-Wan watched them, as long as he could, until they finally disappeared up the ramp and out of view.

“Well, my friend,” Andar sighed, patting Obi-Wan soundly on the shoulder as the tall, bearded Jedi turned his thoughtful face toward him, “what do you say the two of us get back to the speeder and get on our way?”

“If the wind is with us,” Andar chuckled, tossing his hood up over his head and placing his odd-shaped sunglasses on his nose as they both started back through the thick mass of people that filled the spaceport, “I think we can be back at the Lars homestead in less than two hours.”

Obi-Wan looked at Andar’s stout, smiling face as he patted him soundly on the shoulder again. “But first,” he said, looking up at his Jedi friend with a wide smile and gesturing across the way to the small, lively cantina near the spaceport’s entrance. “Why don’t you let me introduce you to some of the best food and one of the finest ales to be found this side of Anchorhead, hmm?”

“Sounds good,” Obi-Wan said with a smile, as he tossed his own hood up over his head. “I’m starving, to be honest, and I’ve been promising myself a drink for a while now,” he said, looking back at Andar with a grin as they walked along through the thick, bustling throng. “And I think it’s about time I kept that promise.”

“Good man!” Andar exclaimed with a laugh, slapping Obi-Wan soundly on the back as they worked their way through the thickly crowded street. “Besides,” he said, as Obi-Wan looked back at him with a grin, “I think it’s high time we two got a chance to swap a few good stories over a meal, anyway.”

Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder one more time; he looked at the massive transport for another moment, as he heard it begin to warm up its engines and then, with a long, deep sigh, he turned and followed Andar through the doorway of the busy, lively pub.

------

The late afternoon sun shone brightly through the windows, as she opened the door to their bedroom; she reached down and took the light saber from her belt, dropping it with a solid thump onto their dresser as she walked quickly, but stiffly, by it and headed straight for their bed.

Padmé scrubbed her fingers through her hair, shaking out the last remains of her ponytail as she stepped up beside the tall, inviting piece of furniture near the center of their large, spacious room. She winced, as she turned and sat down slowly on the side of it; she took a long, slow breath as she shrugged her shoulders slowly for a moment, and then she groaned, quite loudly, as she let her aching muscles finally relax.

“Oohhh,” she moaned, long and slowly; it was a mixture of both pain and pleasure, and Anakin turned and looked over his shoulder at her as he quietly pushed the door to their room closed behind him, smiling as he watched her flop backwards onto their bed, as limp as a dishrag, her long, brown hair coming to rest in a haphazard mess on top of her face.

“Whatsa matter?” he asked, a sly smile spreading slowly across his face as he walked toward the bed and sat down beside her; he laughed quietly to himself, as he watched her lay there for a long moment, her eyes closed, with her arms stretched high over her head. She moved, finally, and he laughed again as he watched her take a long deep breath and puff, as hard as she could, sending several thick lochs of her long, disheveled hair flying off her face and down to her shoulders.

Her eyes never fluttered; her lips were the only thing that moved as she answered him. “I’ve never been so tired in my life,” she sighed, as she lay perfectly still on her back. “You never told me that we were going to have to do all of that running,” she said, as she finally opened her eyes and looked back at him, through the haze of dark, disheveled hair that still half covered her face.

Anakin smiled back at her, as he saw the sly smirk that spread slowly across her tired, lovely face. “Sorry ‘bout that,” he said, a little apologetically as he reached over and rubbed her arm affectionately, as she reached up with her free hand and brushed her hair from her face. “I know it was a long day. I didn’t push you too hard, did I?”

“No,” she answered, closing her eyes and grimacing a little as she leaned up slowly and rested her weight on her elbows. “It’s just going to take me a while to get used to it, that’s all,” she said, looking up at him with a slightly painful smile.

“Could I ask you to do one thing for me, though?” Padmé asked, smiling at him sweetly as she looked up at him again.

“Anything,” Anakin replied with a nod, rubbing her arm gently as he sat beside her on the edge of the bed.

“Could you help me take my boots off?” she laughed quietly, smiling up at him sheepishly. “I can’t bend down that far right now,” she laughed, tired and painfully, as she closed her eyes again and leaned back a little further onto her elbows.

“Not a problem,” Anakin replied, nodding his head firmly as he slid a little closer to her; she lifted her leg, quite gingerly, and rested it on his knee, watching him with a smile as he started to unfasten the buckles that ran down the outside of her boots. He got them unfastened, rather quickly, and then he gave her boot a sharp tug with his hand.

“Ouch!” Padmé cried softly; Anakin looked back at her, a little concerned, as he heard her quiet, but sharp cry of pain as he felt the muscles in her leg tense up.

“You all right?” he asked, watching her as she looked at her leg, somewhat disgustedly.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she muttered, as she reached down and touched the side of her leg gently, just below her hip. “It’s just pretty sore where that stupid remote got me.”

“I told you, it stings when you miss,” Anakin chuckled, shaking his head slowly as he pulled her boot off her foot, a little more carefully, and dropped it into the floor beside the bed. “It’s designed to make you remember it, at least for a couple of hours.”

“Tell me about it,” she muttered again, reaching over with her right hand and rubbing her left shoulder just as gingerly, watching him with a smile as he stood up and sat back down on her right side, as he started to work on her other boot. “Now my leg, my arm, and my tummy are sore,” she sighed, watching him as he unfastened the buckles on her boot.

“Well,” Anakin sighed, as he gently pulled her boot off and dropped it on the floor by its mate, “You only got hit twice, and both of ‘em were on your weak side,” he said, looking back at her with a smile as he reached up and rubbed her shoulder gently. “That’s really, really good for your first practice. You should be really proud of yourself.”

“I’ll be proud later,” Padmé frowned, closing her eyes as she reached down slowly and rubbed her leg carefully again. “Right now I’m too sore to be proud.”

Padmé opened her eyes, watching him with a tired, curious smile, as he patted her leg soundly, and then laid it gently back on the bed and stood up. “Well,” he said, as he started across the room toward the closet near the doorway, “In that event, then there’s one other little Jedi secret I need to let you in on,” he said, as he opened the closet door and looked inside.

“What are you looking for?” she asked, watching him with keen interest as he rummaged through the huge mass of various things on his shelf. “I don’t see how you can find anything in there, anyway,” she said, shaking her head as she watched him dig through his personal pile of stuff; Anakin kept most things organized, but this one shelf, in their closet, was the exception. It was, for lack of a better term - a complete, and total, mess.

“Hey, I know where everything is in here,” he said, glancing back at her with a smile as he reached back farther into the thick array of items. “Most of it, anyway, I think,” he said, as he leaned forward and squinted intently into the dark closet.

“Ahh, here we are,” he said, his face brighting as he suddenly pulled a small, round container out from the closet. Padmé watched him with a curious smile, as he walked back over and sat down on the bed beside her, looking intently as the small, dusty brown container in his hand.

“What’s that?” she asked, leaning up a little higher on her elbows as she watched him blow the dust off the cover of the small, oval dish.

“Mandarrow root,” Anakin said, looking back at her with a smile as he twisted the top of the small container firmly. “The best kept secret in the galaxy.”

“Come on,” he grinned, as he sat the container on the bed beside him and started to unfasten the buttons on her dust-covered tunic. “Let’s get these dirty clothes off.”

“Why, Anakin,” Padmé said, tossing him a tired, but seductive smile as she watched him unfasten the top buttons on her sandy brown tunic. “I’m a little tired right now, baby,” she giggled quietly, as she watched him gently pull her tunic down over her left shoulder.

“Maybe later, then?” he asked, raising his eyebrow and grinning slyly at her as he reached down and picked up the small container again.

“Very likely,” Padmé laughed softly, pursing her lips and blowing him a playful kiss; she watched him as he snapped the top off the container and placed it on the bed beside him.

“What’s that stuff for?” she asked, looking at him curiously as he lifted the container to his nose and sniffed, cautiously.

“Whoo,” he laughed, squeezing his eyes shut tightly as he snapped his head away, and then, before she could turn away, stuck the small container quickly under her nose. “It stinks as bad as I remember.”

“Ohhh!” Padmé exclaimed, squeezing her own eyes shut tightly and wrinkling her nose as she turned her head away quickly. “That stuff smells horrible!” she said, looking back at him with a disgusted smile as he laughed at her. “What in the world is that?”

“I told you,” Anakin laughed, as he reached into the dish and dabbed at the greenish-blue paste inside with two of his fingers. “Mandarrow root,” he said, looking back up at her and watching as she recoiled away from him a bit, a look of complete and utter disgust on her face.

“You’re not going to put that smelly stuff on meare you?” Padmé asked; she recoiled a little more, as she watched him lean a little closer to her exposed shoulder.

“Trust me,” Anakin said, winking at her as he pulled her a little closer to him and examined the bright pink mark on her shoulder where the remote’s blast had struck her. “Just hold still a minute.”

Padmé closed her eyes and grit her teeth, as she felt the cold, thick paste touch her sensitive skin; it stung, for just an instant, as he began to massage it gently onto her skin with his fingers.

“Wow,” she said, looking back at him with a curious smile, as she felt the angry, stinging sensation begin to quickly subside. “That stuff really works,” she said, looking down at her shoulder with a grin as she saw the big, greenish-blue circle he was painting onto her shoulder.

“Toldya,” Anakin smiled, never taking his eyes off her shoulder as he gently massaged the mandarrow root paste onto her wound. “Master Windu was the first one who introduced me to this stuff,” he said, looking back up at her with a smile as he worked. “It stinks, but I used to take a bath in it after saber practice.”

“Besides,” he said, cocking his head and looking at her shoulder thoughtfully as he worked. “You only have to leave it on for an hour or so, and you can wash it off later when you take a shower,” he said, watching her as she smiled up at him as he reached down and patted her wounded hip gently. “And you’ll be good as new.”

“You’re so sweet,” Padmé smiled, as she leaned back on the bed and unfastened the belt around her waist, lifting herself up and helping him wiggle her pants down over her hips. “But I think you’ve just found another interesting way of getting me out of my clothes,” she laughed, raising back up on her elbows as she watched him toss her dirty, dusty pants onto the floor by her boots.

“Yup,” Anakin said with a nod, tossing her a sly smile as he sat down on the bed beside her again and patted her on the hip playfully. “And it worked good, too,” he said, winking at her again as she laughed quietly at him. “Come on, now, roll over a bit and let me take at look at your leg.”

Padmé rolled onto her right side, a little stiffly, and she looked back over her shoulder and watched him as he examined her leg for a moment; she winced again, as he applied the mandarrow root paste to the mild, circular burn just below her hip. “That stuff’s cold,” she said, looking back at him with a smile as she felt the pain and irritation begin to subside just as quickly as it had before.

“Yup,” he quipped again, nodding his head firmly and placing his free hand on her hip as he worked the thick, soothing paste deep into her skin. “But it works,” he said, looking up at her with a grin as she took his hand in hers and squeezed it tightly. “And that’s all that matters.”

“What would I do without you?” Padmé sighed, a tired smile on her face she rolled a little further onto her side and laid her head down on her arm, watching him as he put the lid back on the small container securely.

“You’d be in a lot of pain, over the next few weeks, that’s what,” Anakin chuckled, reaching over and patting her on the backside playfully as he stood up and walked back across the room toward the closet. “At least until you learn to compensate for that weak left side.”

“Ha,ha,” she laughed sarcastically, watching him as he looked back at her and laughed quietly to himself. She took a long, deep breath, as she watched him put the container of mandarrow root paste back into their closet. “I don’t know about you,” she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment as she stretched herself out a little straighter on their bed and relaxed a little more, “but I’m exhausted. And I’m starving.”

“I’ll bet you are,” Anakin said with a nod, as he took his saber from his belt and placed it on the dresser beside their closet, next to the one she had placed there a bit earlier. “You worked hard today, Padmé,” he said, looking down and slowly unfastening his old weapon belt. “Master Yoda would be really, really proud of you.”

“And I’m proud of you, too,” Anakin smiled, as he hung his old belt on the hook inside the closet, where it had remained since he and Padmé had returned home four years ago. It had been a long time since he’d used it; he much preferred the new one that Padmé had fashioned for him, but this one would do fine, he’d thought, until she was ready to build her own saber.

“Tell you what,” he said, as he picked up their weapons and looked at them thoughtfully. “I’ll take care of Luke and Leia tonight, and right after supper, you can...”

Anakin paused, as he turned and looked back at her; he smiled, looking at her fondly for a long moment; she was asleep. Already.

He walked quietly to their dresser, and, opening the top drawer as quietly as he could, he placed the light sabers in his hand into their place in the compartment in the back, and then closed it quietly.

“You really were tired, weren’t you?” he whispered, as he turned and picked up their blanket off the chair that sat next to their bed and walked quietly over beside her. “Well,” he whispered quietly as he unfolded the colorful old blanket and sat down gently beside her, “like I was saying, right after supper, you can lie down and take a long, well deserved nap,” he said, as he tossed the blanket out away from him and pulled it up gently over her.

He looked at her for a long moment, gently brushing her thick, disheveled hair out of her face as she slept. “You did good today, baby,” he whispered, nodding his head slowly as he smiled proudly at her. “Really, really good.”

Anakin sat quietly at her side for a long moment, listening to her soft, rhythmic breathing. His countenance grew more somber and thoughtful, as he let himself think, a little more deeply, about the challenge that lay before her.

“I wish I understood all of this, and everything that’s happened,” he whispered, as he brushed his fingers lightly across her cheek. “And you don’t know how badly I wish that you never had to do any of this.”

“I wish we could just forget everything that’s happened, and go back to the way things were before,” he said, shaking his head slowly as he looked at her thoughtfully. “But I know we can’t.”

Anakin sat quietly for a long moment; he knew, as well as Padmé did, that there was no turning back now, that the Force had chosen this path for them, and, for whatever reason, they must follow it, and follow it together. He took a long, deep breath, and then, very slowly, leaned close to her.

“Sleep well, Angel,” he whispered, as he kissed her gently on the cheek. “Sweet dreams.”

Anakin smiled, as he watched her take a long, contented breath. He sat there quietly for a long moment, just watching her as she slept, until he suddenly heard the soft knock on their bedroom door.

He stood up, as quietly and slowly as he could so as not to wake her, and walked across the room to the door. He turned the knob slowly, and he smiled as he pulled the door open and saw Sola smiling back at him, a sly grin on her face.

“Hey,” Sola said, as she watched Anakin reach up and run his fingers through his long, disheveled hair as he opened the door a bit wider. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“Not hardly,” he chuckled, turning to the side a bit and nodding his head toward the bed where Padmé lay sleeping, quite soundly. “She laid still for a minute,” he said, looking back at Sola with a grin. “She’s out for a while now, I think.”

“Poor thing,” Sola laughed, shaking her head slowly as she stepped back away from the door, giving Anakin some room as he stepped out into the hallway and closed the door quietly behind him. “You must have really worked her over hard today,” she said, as she looked down with a smile at the small, wiggling bundle in her arms.

“I was just bringing Luke around so she could spend some time with him for a while,” she said, watching Anakin smile as she placed his son into his arms. “But I think he’ll be happy with seeing daddy for a few minutes.”

“How’ve they been today?” Anakin asked, looking down at his newborn son with a smile as they both walked slowly back down the hallway toward the living room.

“Oh, they’ve been fine,” Sola replied, watching Anakin as he bounced Luke gently in his arms. “Mom’s had them most of the day,” she said. “They haven’t been any trouble at all.”

“I really appreciate you and Mom watching them for us today, Sola,” Anakin said, looking back at her as they walked slowly into the living room. “I promise, Padmé and I will figure out a way to work all of this in so you won’t have to...”

“Nonsense,” Sola said, shaking her head and cutting him off mid sentence. “We’re all in this together, little brother,” she said, reaching over and squeezing his shoulder gently as she smiled back at him. “If my baby sister needs help, that’s what I’m here for.”

“And that reminds me,” she said, folding her arms across her chest as she watched him sit down carefully on the couch as he cradled Luke gently in his arms. “Your droid was looking for you a little while ago.”

“Which one?” Anakin asked, looking at Luke with a smile as he watched him wiggle, quite actively, in his arms.

“Artoo,” she said, as she sat down on the edge of the table in front of him. “I’m not sure,” she said, as Anakin looked up at her curiously, “but I think he said he had a message for you.”

“Did he say who it was from?” Anakin asked, his expression growing a bit more curious as he looked up at her.

“I don’t think so,” Sola said, shaking her head slowly. “But he seemed to think it was pretty important,” she said, as she reached into into her pocket and began to rummage through it.

Anakin shifted Luke back a little further in his arm, reaching out with his right hand as she pulled a small device from her pocket and held it out to him. “He said to give you this,” Sola said, looking at her brother-in-law curiously as she dropped the small, round device into his outstretched palm. “It’s been beeping now, on and off, for about twenty minutes.”

Anakin’s brow furrowed, as he turned his old homing device over slowly in his hand; the small indicator near its apex was flashing, slowly.

“It’s Obi-Wan,” Anakin said, looking up at Sola with a concerned, thoughtful expression.

“Are you sure?” Sola asked, as she leaned closer to him and looked at the tiny homing device with him. “I thought Padmé said that thing could only be activated from the Temple.”

“Normally, yes,” Anakin said, nodding his head slowly as he watched the message indicator pulse slowly. “I reprogrammed Obi-Wan, Yoda’s, and mine before we left Polis Massa,” he said, turning his attention back to Sola again. “So we’d have a way to signal each other if we ran into trouble.”

“Do you think he’s in trouble?” Sola asked, her own expression growing a bit more worried as she watched Anakin look at the device in his hand thoughtfully for a long moment.

“I don’t know,” Anakin said, shaking his head slowly as he tucked the small device into the pocket of his tunic. “But I think it might be a good idea to find out.”

“It’d be safer to contact him from the shop,” Anakin said, looking back at Luke again as he rocked him gently in the crook of his arm. “I need to get Artoo to bring the speeder around,” he said, looking back at Sola again. “Do you know where he is?”

“You just sit tight and spend some time with your son for a few minutes,” Sola said with a smile, as she stood up from the table and started toward the kitchen. “I know where he is,” she said, looking back over her shoulder at him. “I’ll have him bring the speeder around in ten minutes.”

“Thanks, Sola,” Anakin replied with a grin, watching her as she walked through the door and into the kitchen. He looked back at Luke again, settling a little farther back into the couch, as he took a long, deep breath.

“I’m sorry, Luke,” Anakin said quietly, as he watched Luke wrap his tiny fingers around his own and hold it tightly, as he brushed his fingertip against his tiny palm. “It seems like we just can’t get a few minutes to just sit and be quiet lately, does it?”

“But I promise, that’s gonna change, soon as I get home tonight,” he said, looking at his newborn son with a smile as he looked up at him, his tiny eyes wide with wonder. “I promise.”

Anakin took another long, thoughtful breath, as he leaned back into the thick cushion behind him. He had ten minutes, he thought to himself, as he looked back at his son again; and he was going to make every one of them count, before Artoo brought the speeder around.

------

“Did you get through to him?” Shanda asked, her soft, pleasant voice laced with excitement; she stood up quickly from her chair, tossing her dusky red hair over her shoulder as she watched Obi-Wan and Owen walk quickly through the narrow doorway that led to the cellar, just below the main living area of the house.

“Yes,” Obi-Wan replied with a nod, tucking the encryption key Anakin had given him back into his belt as he and Owen walked into the large, round living area to join the others. Beru and Cleige both watched, from their chairs, as Obi-Wan walked over toward them, tossing his dusty brown cloak over the chair that stood near the doorway.

“He’s gone back to the house, to get Padmé,” he said, placing his hand on Shanda’s shoulder as he came and stood beside her; he nodded toward the couch, motioning for her to sit down, and she watched him with keen interest as he took his place beside her.

“His droid’s watching his transmitter,” Obi-Wan said, as he leaned back against the couch with a tired sigh. “I told him we’d contact him again in a little less than an hour.”

“What about Master Yoda?” Shanda asked, looking up at him worriedly as she reached up and brushed a loch of her dark red hair from her face. “Did you get in touch with him, too?”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan said, looking back at her with a grin, as he sensed the concern, and excitement that flowed through her. “Patience, my young padawan,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “Relax. I know you’re excited, but everything’s going to be fine. Be mindful of the living Force.”

“Yes, Master Obi-Wan,” Shanda said, nodding obediently as she took a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa beside him. “I’ve just never been to a council meeting, before, even a holographic one,” she said, looking up at him with an apologetic smile. “I guess I’m just a little excited.”

“It’s all right, I understand,” Obi-Wan smiled, squeezing her shoulder gently. “Just try to relax, as best you can, and concentrate on your exercises.”

“Remember, a Jedi must remain in control of any situation,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he spoke, a sly grin on his bearded face. “No matter how exciting that situation may be.”

“Yes, Master,” Shanda replied again, folding her hands thoughtfully in her lap, just as Obi-Wan had a moment before. “I will.”

“Obi-Wan,” Beru said, leaning forward a bit in her own chair, “Do you really think that this is going to work?” she asked, her own fear and trepidation becoming readily evident as she voiced the concern that had been nagging her since he had first shared this new plan with her. “Do you really think they can do this, without the Emperor finding out?”

“I don’t know, honestly,” Obi-Wan sighed, shaking his head slowly. “Master Yoda expressed his own concerns, and so did Anakin,” he said, as they all listened to him intently. “But under the circumstances, I think it’s the best option we’ve got. It’s just too much to try to do by ourselves,” he said, reaching up and rubbing his beard thoughtfully as he rested his elbow on the arm of the dusty-white couch. “We need their help, and they appear to need ours.”

“We’re putting an awful lot of trust in a bunch of people we don’t really know,” Owen said, his own concern showing through his usually calm demeanor. “We’re taking a pretty big gamble. I hope that senator knows what she’s doing.”

Cleige looked around the room thoughtfully for a moment, as he sensed the tension and worry that filled the air around them. “I don’t know about anyone else,” he said, his gruff, yet calm voice drawing their attention to him, “but I’m thirsty. Does anyone else fancy a nice cool drink?”

“I could use one,” Obi-Wan replied, looking back at Owen’s normally quiet father with a grin. “My throat’s still a little dusty from that ride in Andar’s speeder.”

“I just made a fresh batch of juice a little while ago,” Beru said, standing up from her chair and looking at Shanda with a smile. “Would you mind giving me a hand with the glasses, Shanda?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Shanda replied, hopping up quickly and walking over to Beru’s side; Obi-Wan watched her, smiling broadly, as she followed along behind Beru toward the small kitchen.

“She’s far too agreeable, and much too calm,” Obi-Wan said, looking back at Owen and Cleige with a grin. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to this.”

“Not quite what you’re used to, eh, Obi-Wan?” Cleige chuckled, leaning back in his chair and looking down at his knee; his brow furrowed a bit, as he rubbed the place just above his knee where his prosthetic leg was fastened. “Gotten used to that stepson of mine, had you?” he asked, looking back at his Jedi friend with a smile.

“It’s really kind of strange,” Obi-Wan said, shaking his head and sighing deeply. “Shanda’s the exact opposite of Anakin, in almost every way,” he said, looking back toward the kitchen thoughtfully as he listened to Shanda and Beru talking quietly among themselves as they worked.

“Anakin was impatient,” he said, looking back at Owen and Cleige again. “She has more patience than any padawan her age I’ve ever known. Anakin couldn’t control his temper, or his actions, most of the time, and I’ve yet to sense the slightest hint of anger or ambitiousness in her.”

“Yet,” Obi-Wan sighed, looking back at the kitchen again, “I sense the same strength, and potential with her that I did in Anakin all those years ago,” he said, looking back at his companions with a thoughtful smile.

“Only I’m not so worried about her,” he sighed, leaning back in his seat and resting his right arm on the back of the couch. “Maybe I’m just mellowing out a bit, after all these years,” he said, chuckling softly to himself as he shook his head slowly. “I’m sure Anakin would say it’s about time.”

“Strange how two people, so different, can be so much alike, isn’t it?” he grinned, turning his eyes and attention back to Owen and Cleige again.

“It’s like that, with most of us,” Owen grinned, nodding his head. “Beru and I are the same way, and just look at Anakin and Padmé,” he said, his smile widening as he watched Obi-Wan’s do the same. “Have you ever seen two people so different have so much in common?”

“No,” Obi-Wan chuckled, shaking his head slowly. “I can’t say that I have.”

“Well, Shanda’s a good kid, as far as I’m concerned,” Cleige said with a smile. “She’s got a good heart, even an old man like me can tell that,” he said, nodding his head firmly. “And she’ll learn a lot from Beru.”

“I want to thank all of you, again, for taking her in like you did,” Obi-Wan said, turning a thankful expression to the both of them. “It wouldn’t have been a very pleasant life for her, hiding in the desert with me all the time.”

“Have you decided where you’re going to stay, or what you’re going to do, yet?” Owen asked, turning a curious, concerned face toward Obi-Wan.

“Yes,” Obi-Wan replied, nodding his head firmly. “Andar’s given me access to an old homestead he took in as part of an equipment deal, recently,” he said. “It’s remote, out beyond the edges of the Dune Sea, but not so far that I won’t be able to come back and help Shanda with her training, whenever she needs me.”

“That’s in Tusken territory,” Cleige said, his brow furrowing deeply as he drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the arm of his chair. “It’s going to be dangerous for you living out there, all by yourself.”

“Well,” Obi-Wan sighed, “Andar believes that, for the most part, it’ll be easier for me to avoid the bounty hunters out there, and I have to agree with him,” he said. “And that should keep from putting the rest of you, and Shanda, at risk.”

“I wish we could find some other way,” Owen said, shaking his head slowly as he looked back up at them.

“I know, me too,” Obi-Wan said, nodding his head slowly. “But we’ll just have to follow the leading of the Force on this one,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder and watching as Shanda and Beru came back from the kitchen, two small trays balanced carefully in their hands as they walked. “It’s the best we can do right now.”

------

“Padmé?” Anakin called softly, as he rubbed her shoulder gently. “Come on, Angel, wake up.”

Padmé blinked her eyes, very slowly for a moment, as the combination of his voice and his soft, soothing tremor gently pulled her from her dreams. He watched her, smiling softly, as she closed her eyes again and, bowing her back underneath the soft, thick blanket, she yawned deeply and stretched hard for a moment.

“Hi,” she said softly, rubbing her eyes sleepily as she slowly rolled off her side and onto her back. “How long have I been asleep?”

“A couple of hours, I think,” Anakin said, taking her hand in his and squeezing it gently as he leaned close to her. “I wanted to let you sleep, but I guess you need to wake up,” he said, watching her as she suddenly opened her eyes a little wider and leaned up on her elbows, a serious, concerned look replacing the sleepy one that had been there only a second or two before.

Anakin smiled, as he felt her touch the living Force that flowed through him; Padmé had always been able to sense what he was thinking and feeling, even before that moment in Dooku’s hangar. Yet her senses were getting keener now by the day, and he knew that she had already instinctively sensed that something was troubling him, even through the thick, heavy haze of sleep.

“What’s wrong, Ani?” Padmé asked, raising up on her elbows a little more as he slid closer to her on the bed. “What’s happened?”

“My homing device went off, a couple of hours ago,” Anakin said softly, as he squeezed her hand gently. “Artoo and I went down to the shop, while you were sleeping, and checked it out,” he said. “It was Obi-Wan.”

“Is he okay?” Padmé asked, reaching up with her free hand and rubbing the sleep from her eyes again. “Are the children all right?”

“They’re fine,” he said, squeezing her hand again as he gave her a reassuring nod. “But something else has happened.”

“What?” Padmé asked, her brow furrowing a bit more as she sat up and drew herself a little closer to him.

“I’ll fill you in on the way to the shop,” Anakin replied, reaching over and picking up the fresh, clean tunic he had retrieved from her closet for her; she took it from him, slipping her left arm through the sleeve as she pulled it up on her shoulder. “Artoo’s monitoring the transmitter right now,” he said. “Obi-Wan should be calling us back in about thirty minutes, so we need to hurry.”

“Calling us back?” she asked, still trying to force herself to wake up as he reached over and helped her with her other sleeve. “I didn’t think he wanted to contact us here, unless it was really, really important,” she said, tossing the tunic up onto her shoulders as Anakin got up and walked to her closet. She glanced up from the buttons of her tunic as she fastened them, as quickly as her stiff, sleepy fingers could work, and watched him as he retrieved a fresh pair of pants for her and tossed them onto the bed beside her.

“He doesn’t,” Anakin replied, walking over to the bed and sitting down beside her again as he spoke; he reached down and picked up her boots, watching as she tossed the blanket off of her, and then swung her legs off the side of the bed and reached for the pants he’d brought her. “But this is really, really important.”

“Is it about the children?” Padmé asked, a serious, inquisitive expression on her face as she stood up and pulled her pants up over her hips; she watched, as Anakin knelt quickly in front of her and, slipping one hand gently behind her knee to steady her, slipped her boots on her feet and quickly fastened the buckles.

“Yeah, it is,” Anakin said, looking up at her with a nod as he secured the last buckle on her boots and then stood up quickly. “And, apparently, a whole lot more.”

“It seems that Obi-Wan and Bail had a little run in with an old friend of yours on Tatooine earlier today,” Anakin said, walking quickly to their dresser as Padmé turned and picked up her belt from the bed beside her. She slung it around her waist, securing it as quickly as she could, as he opened the drawer and retrieved his weapons from the compartment in the back.

“An old friend of mine?” Padmé asked, watching with a puzzled, sleepy expression as he closed the drawer and walked back across the room toward her.

“Here,” Anakin said, as he held one of his sabers out to her. “We’re officially on duty for the moment,” he sighed. “We shouldn’t need these, but better safe than sorry. I don’t want to take any chances.”

Padmé held out her hand, as Anakin placed the light saber into her palm; she looked up at him, watching him as he nodded at her, and then she turned her attention back to the belt at her waist as she secured the weapon at her side.

“Where are Luke and Leia?” Padmé asked, her maternal instincts suddenly kicking into high gear, as she felt herself finally begin to fully wake up.

“They’re fine,” Anakin replied, reaching up and rubbing her shoulder gently. “Your mom’s watching them,” he said, looking at her with a reassuring smile. “I told her we wouldn’t be gone long and we’d probably be back in time for supper.”

“Okay,” she sighed, nodding her head slowly as she watched him turn his attention to his own belt. “You said they ran into an old friend of mine?” she asked, shaking her head slowly as she looked at him curiously. “What friend?”

“How much do you know about a senator named Mon Mothma?” Anakin asked, placing his other weapon on his own belt as he watched her look at him with shocked surprise.

“Mon Mothma?” Padmé asked quietly, a look of stunned surprise on her face. “From Chandrilla? How does she figure into all of this?”

“I don’t know yet,” Anakin sighed, as the two of them headed quickly toward the door of their bedroom. “But that’s what we’re going to find out.”

------

“You know, it’s really hard to do this with all of this wind,” Padmé said, looking up at Anakin with a frustrated smile as she tried, yet again, to fasten the elastic band in her hand around the end of her haphazardly fashioned ponytail; she sighed, laughing quietly to herself, as she finally gave up and flopped back in the seat of their speeder, watching as the wind quickly unraveled what little progress she had managed to make since they’d left the house.

“I’m sorry,” Anakin apologized, as he lifted his foot off the accelerator; he laughed, as he glanced over at her. She sat there, looking at him through the haze of brown hair that covered her face, and the sarcastic smirk on it, and he slowed down even more as he watched her turn toward him and fold her arms across her chest.

He knew he had a tendency to let his love for speed get out of hand at times, especially at moments like this, when he was distracted and in a hurry; indeed, he could still hear his old mentor’s voice ringing in his ears, along with the wind that whipped past them, whenever he managed to open up the throttle on a speeder or a ship from time to time.

Yet Obi-Wan’s futility in trying to calm Anakin’s penchant for speed and danger had only been matched by Padmé’s success; she could reign him in, and calm him down, in a way that no one else every could, with nothing more than a knowing smile and a glance.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he laughed, turning his eyes back toward the road in front of him as the wind that whipped through the speeder’s open cockpit began to die down considerably. “Old habits die hard, I guess. I should have been paying more attention.”

“It’s okay,” she said with a sigh, looking back at him with a grin as she reached up and, once again, tried to get her long hair under control. “It’s a shame we don’t have a pod handy, though,” she said, looking back up at him with a sly smile as she pulled her hair down from her shoulders and combed it out with her fingers. “We might have been just about to set a new record back there.”

“Ha, ha,” Anakin laughed, tossing her a sarcastic smile as he reached over and rubbed her leg affectionately. “Very funny.”

“So tell me again what Obi-Wan said about Shanda?” she said, reaching up and placing the small, bright blue elastic band in her teeth as she started to work on her ponytail again.

“Well,” Anakin replied, looking over at her and watching her for a moment as she plaited her thick, brown hair into a neat braid, “He wouldn’t tell me everything, only that he’d taken her as his new padawan,” he said, as he turned his eyes back to the road again. “He said we’d need to talk with Owen and Beru about the rest.”

“Well, believe me, I intend to,” Padmé said with a firm nod, as she quickly began to make better progress on her ponytail, now that Anakin had slowed the speeder down considerably. “Beru and I are long overdue for a conversation, anyway, and we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Anakin laughed quietly to himself, as he glanced back over and watched her for another moment as the road straightened out for a good distance in front of them. It pleased him, in no small fashion, to know how close Padmé and Beru had become over the past four years. Padmé had come to love her as much as her own sister, Sola, and Beru had grown just as fond of her.

“We’re going to have to go to Tatooine and see them, as soon as we get the babies settled a bit,” Padmé said with a nod, never taking her eyes off her fingers as she worked. “And I feel terrible that she hasn’t even seen the twins yet,” she said, as she quickly finished her braid and reached up to her lips; she took the bright blue band and, with a quick twist of her nimble fingers, secured her braid and looked at it with a satisfied smile.

“There,” she sighed, looking back at him with a grin as she pulled her fresh, new ponytail through her hands slowly to tighten it’s braid. “Much better.”

“I thought you’d probably want to talk to her tonight, if you go the chance,” Anakin said, looking over at her with a grin as he quickly fished the small datadisc from the pocket of his tunic and handed it to her. “Here,” he said, his smile widening as he watched her toss her ponytail over her shoulder and take the disc from him as a bright, excited smile spread across her face. “These are the ones you took the night we got home.”

“You brought the pictures!” Padmé exclaimed, her face beaming brightly as she leaned over the center console, wrapping her arm tightly around his neck as she kissed him firmly on the cheek. “You wonderful, thoughtful man! I love you so much!”

“You’re welcome,” Anakin laughed, watching her as she flopped back down in her seat and squeezed the disc tightly in her hand, giggling happily. “I know we’re officially on Jedi business, at the moment, but I thought we might like to show off some pictures to the rest of the family, later,” he said, grinning just as brightly and proudly as she was.

“And if I didn’t know better,” she said, looking back at him with a wide grin as she tucked the disc securely in her pocket, “I’d say daddy wants to show off his little ones as much as mommy does.”

Padmé leaned back in her seat, looking at him fondly as he reached over and took her hand in his, squeezing it tightly. “You better believe I do,” he said, looking back at her with a grin as they wound their way through the narrow, tree-lined roadway that led to Venecia’s business district. “Two of the most beautiful children in the galaxy,” he said, as he turned his eyes back toward the road again. “Almost as beautiful as their mother.”

“You’re so sweet,” Padmé said, resting her head against the seat behind her as she looked at him fondly for a long moment; she took a long, deep breath, sighing deeply as she looked up and watched the stars for a moment, as they twinkled brightly in Naboo’s silky black sky.

“You know,” she sighed, looking up at the stars thoughtfully and squeezing his hand tightly, “It’s been a long time since the two of us have been out for a speeder ride at night like this.”

“Do you remember the last time we did?” Padmé asked, turning a little more toward him in her seat as she placed his hand in her lap.

“Let’s see,” Anakin said, closing one eye thoughtfully as he laced his fingers in hers. “It was about six months ago, wasn’t it?” he said, looking back at her with a grin.

“Uh, huh,” Padmé nodded, grinning widely as she started to laugh softly. “Right about the time speeder rides started to make me sick.”

“Then I definitely remember,” Anakin laughed, as he glanced over at her and squeezed her hand tightly. “And I still think it was the andarian pasta we had for dinner that night that made you sick,” he said, his eyes twinkling brightly as she laughed back at him.

“Oh, don’t remind me about that,” Padmé laughed, sticking her tongue out playfully as she looked out at the buildings, as they started to make their way into the city’s heart. “I haven’t been able to eat any since,” she said, shaking her head firmly.

“And if Sola’s right,” Anakin said with a grin, “Luke and Leia will never want to eat it again, either.”

Padmé smiled back at him, laughing quietly to herself; she turned her attention back to the street in front of them, as Anakin rounded the corner quickly, and closed the last several dozen meters to their shop. She reached down, instinctively taking hold of the handle at her side, steadying herself as Anakin quickly deployed the landing pods, and brought them to a stop on the sidewalk in front of the shop.

She watched him, shaking her head with amazement, as he grabbed hold of the windscreen’s edge above him and, with one quick, fluid movement, bolted straight up out of the seat, neatly clearing the speeder’s doorway.

“I don’t see how in the world you do that,” she said, looking back at him with an awestruck grin as he turned and looked back at her, just as his boots landed on the hard sidewalk, his light saber swinging gracefully at his side, it’s smoothly polished handle glinting brightly in the light of the nearby streetlight.

“Well, maybe it’s time you learned,” he said, walking around to her side of the speeder and tossing her a sly grin. “Force jumping’s next on your list, anyway,” he said, watching her as she looked up at him with an apprehensive smile from her seat as he stepped up next to the door beside her.

“Uh-uh,” Padmé laughed, shaking her head slowly as he reached down and took her left hand in his. “There’s no way I’m ready for that yet.”

“Yes you are,” Anakin said, looking back at her with a smile as he placed her hand on the windscreen’s railing above her. “You just don’t think you are.”

“The Force doesn’t choose to give you one ability, and deprive you of another,” Anakin said softly, shaking his head slowly as he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “Just this morning, you didn’t think you could use it to control your weapon,” he said, grinning at her as she took a deep breath and sighed deeply. “But you did.”

“Master Yoda once told me,” Anakin said, folding his arms and resting his chin on them as he leaned down against the door’s edge beside her, “that the hardest thing to do is unlearn the things we’ve already learned,” he said, looking back into her eyes with a smile as she listened to him intently. “To accept the fact that what we thought was right, really wasn’t.”

“Once you learn to do that,” he said, nodding his head as he smiled at her reassuringly, “the first thing you’ll learn is not to doubt yourself,” he said, his smile widening as he reached over and squeezed her shoulder affectionately.

Padmé smiled, as she felt him stretch out to her with his feelings, and she took another long, deep breath as she heard the words that his heart spoke silently to hers.

Don’t doubt yourself, Padmé. Because I sure don’t.

“Are you sure I’m ready to try this?” Padmé asked softly, as she looked at his reassuring smile. “How do you know I won’t fall, and break something?” she said, looking down at the hard concrete below them.

“Since when did falling ever frighten you?” Anakin chuckled, watching her as she smiled back at him. “How high up were you, on that building ledge all those years ago, when you used that ascension gun during the Trade Federation invasion?”

“I don’t know,” she laughed softly, shaking her head slowly as she reached up and brushed her bangs from her eyes nervously. “Eight, nine hundred feet, I guess?”

“Mm,hmm,” Anakin mused, smiling at her slyly as he glanced down at the sidewalk beside them. “And this is a challenge for you, because…?”

“It’s not that,” Padmé laughed, shaking her head slowly as she looked back up at him. “Things were different then,” she said softly, as she looked back down at her hands thoughtfully for a moment. “I didn’t have so much to…”

Anakin’s expression softened, as he suddenly sensed the fear, and the vulnerability, that flowed through her heart. He wasn’t quite sure how she had kept it hidden from him, but there it was, and it surprised him, almost as much as he could sense it had her, as she had let it slip through.

Anakin reached over and placed his hand gently on her cheek. “What is it, baby?” he asked, very softly, as he watched her close her eyes and take another long, deep breath, as she hung her head and sat quietly for a moment.

“Come on, baby,” he said, stroking her cheek gently as he felt her trembling, softly, as she looked back up at him; he could see her eyes glistening brightly in the soft light of the nearby streetlight.

“I didn’t have so much to lose,” she whispered, shaking her head slowly as he reached down and took her hand tightly in his. “I’m scared, Ani. I know that I’m not supposed to be, but I’m… I’m so scared.”

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he said softly, watching her as she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek closer to his fingers. “What are you scared of?”

“I was so afraid, when all of this began, the night you left with Obi-Wan, that I was going to lose you,” she whispered, her eyes glistening from the tears that stood in them as she spoke. “And I almost did,” she said, shaking her head slowly as she watched him stand up, and sit down on the edge of the door beside her as she spoke.

“And I was so scared, when the babies came so early,” she said quietly. “I was so afraid we were going to lose them, too.”

“I was so relieved, that night we were all finally together again on Polis Massa,” she whispered, reaching up and wiping away a tear from her eye, her voice trembling as she spoke. “I made myself a promise that I’d never let us be separated like that, again.”

“And then Master Yoda told me, when he came to see me that day,” she whispered, shaking her head slowly, “that it was going to be up to me to save you someday,” she said, turning her tear filled eyes back up to him again. “That your life, and the lives of our children, would be in my hands.”

“What if I fail?” she whispered, squeezing his hand tightly as she gazed up at him through a haze of tears. “What if I lose you, or one of the children, someday, and it’s because I failed?”

Anakin felt his own heart aching, as he reached up with his thumb and wiped away the tear that trickled slowly down her cheek. “I almost lost you once,” she whispered, shaking her head slowly. “I couldn’t bear to lose you again, especially not because of something I did, or didn’t do.”

Anakin shook his head slowly, smiling at her warmly as he gently brushed away the tear that stood on her cheek; he leaned down, without speaking a word, and kissed her gently on the cheek for a long moment.

Padmé closed her eyes, turning her face toward him, as she reached up and slipped her hand behind his neck; she pressed her lips to his, kissing him tenderly, as he brushed his hand gently along her cheek as they shared a long, passionate kiss, with nothing but the soft sound of the field crickets from the nearby park filling the cool, evening air around them.

“Padmé,” Anakin whispered, looking deeply into her eyes as their lips finally parted, “Did Master Yoda tell you what he told Obi-Wan, about me?”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head slowly as she sniffed again and wiped her eyes gently with her hand. “I mean, not really,” she said. “He just said something about me having saved you, once before, but I don’t know what he was talking about.”

“I don’t know how I know this,” Anakin sighed, looking at her fondly as he gently caressed her cheek, “but I know that something happened, that night in that tent on Tatooine, all those years ago.”

“And, more importantly,” he said, smiling at her softly as she looked up at him, “something didn’t happen.”

“Master Yoda knows it, too,” he said, watching her as she listened intently to him. “And he’s right,” he said, smiling at her fondly as she looked up at him with a puzzled, worried expression. “You did save my life, once already. That night in that tent.”

“Anakin,” Padmé replied, shaking her head as she smiled weakly at him, “I know there were a lot of Tuskens in that camp that night, but you’re a very powerful Jedi. Even if they’d all attacked you at once, you still could have…”

“That’s not what I mean,” Anakin said, shaking his head slowly as he smiled down at her. “If it hadn’t been for you,” he said softly, “I would have.”

“I know we haven’t talked much about the Dark Side, yet,” Anakin said, shaking his head slowly as he looked back at her, his expression growing deeply serious as he squeezed her hand tightly. “But we will,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he spoke. “Because it’s something that you’re going to have to face, as part of your training.”

“To be honest, I don’t like to talk about it, and I really don’t like the thought of you having to confront it someday,” he said, looking back down at their clasped hands as he spoke. “And I know it’s because of how close I came to it that night.”

Padmé gazed up at him, her own heart aching as she saw the pained look that spread slowly across his face as he shifted his thoughts to the events of only a few days before. “Those people in the Temple,” he said softly, turning his eyes downward as he spoke, “they all died thinking that I was the one who killed them,” he said, turning his troubled eyes back up to hers again, as he felt her squeeze his hand tightly.

“If it hadn’t been for you,” he said softly, “They would have been right.”

“Don’t ask me how I know that,” Anakin whispered, pressing his finger gently to her lips as she started to speak. “You’ll just have to trust me, that it’s true,” he said, smiling at her fondly as she gazed up at him.

“Believe in yourself, baby,” Anakin said, smiling brightly at her as he saw her own smile begin to return. “I know I sure do.”

Anakin smiled, as he suddenly remembered what it was she had told him that day on their ship, on Geonosis, just before they went looking for Obi-Wan. “You’re my source of strength, Padmé,” he said, his smile widening as he took her hand in his again and gazed at her fondly. “Let me be yours.”

Padmé smiled up at him, as she heard him repeat what she had told him that day. “I love you,” she said, squeezing his hand tightly in hers, as she felt his reassuring tremor in her heart.

“I love you,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he smiled softly at her. “And I trust you with my life,” he said, lifting her hand to his face and kissing it softly. “It couldn’t be in safer hands.”

Padmé felt the fear, and the doubt, begin to subside, and she took another deep breath, as Anakin reached over and rubbed her shoulder affectionately. “So,” he said, turning a sly grin to her as she looked up at him, “I know this isn’t much of a challenge, for the former queen who successfully repelled the Trade Federation invasion, but are you ready to give it a try?”

“Or would you rather we go find a couple of ascension gun and scale a building somewhere?” he asked, laughing softly as he brushed his hand gently through the hair that hung above her eyes.

“No, I think we’ll just stick with this for tonight,” Padmé laughed softly, glancing up at him with a smile as she reached up and wiped her eyes again. “So what do I do?” she said, taking another deep breath as she reached up and placed her hand on the windscreen’s railing above her.

“Close your eyes,” he said, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly and watching her as she did so. “And just anchor your feet down, flat, in the floorboard there.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding her head slowly as she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, just as he’d shown her earlier in the day at saber practice. “What next?”

Anakin smiled, as he felt her begin to calm down, as she reached into the living Force that flowed through her. “Now just relax,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he watched her breath, very calmly and smoothly. “Just visualize yourself hopping straight up out of the car, just like I did.”

“Remember,” he said, as he continued to rub her shoulder gently, “the Force controls your actions, but it also obeys your commands,” he said, watching her as she nodded her head slowly. “When you’re ready, just reach into the Force, tell it what you want to do, and do it.”

“Just like that, huh?” Padmé smiled, shaking her head slowly as she opened one eye and looked at him.

“Yep,” Anakin grinned. “Remember, you only think it’s hard. The trick is, you have to believe the truth,” he said. “That it’s not.”

“Okay,” Padmé said, nodding her head again, as she closed her eyes and took another long breath. Anakin watched her, as she tightened her grip on the railing above her, and sat there quietly for a long moment, her eyes closed, as she focused her thoughts and attention on the Force that flowed through her.

Anakin smiled, as he felt her come more and more in contact with the living Force; he stepped back from the speeder a bit, very quietly, watching her intently as she sat in the speeder, her eyes closed tightly as she gripped the railing above her head.

Suddenly, with a speed and fluidity not much different from his own, Padmé opened her eyes and tugged on the railing above her, as hard as she could.

The sensation of the power of the Force that flowed through her was amazing; she took a quick, deep breath, as she felt the strange, tingling sensation flow through her body, as the living Force obeyed her command. She suddenly felt as light as a feather, and she looked down, with complete amazement, as she seemed to moved in slow motion into the air above the speeder.

Anakin burst out laughing as she suddenly shot up out of the seat where she had been sitting as quickly as he had from his own; he could see the look of amazement, and trepidation, on her astonished face, as she cleared the side of the speeder by a good meter and a half, and then started back down to the ground toward him.

He leapt forward, watching her wave her arms as she struggled to keep herself upright and, stepping quickly beneath her, he stretched out his arms as she dropped safely into them.

“Gotcha!” he laughed, taking a step back and clutching her close to him as she flung her arms tightly around his neck as he caught her. He looked at her, and he started to laugh even harder as she began to laugh, between short, quick breaths, as she clung to him tightly.

“See?” he laughed, looking at her astonished, but smiling, face, as she hugged him tightly. “Toldya you could do it, didn’t I?”

“I’m… I’m not really sure how… how good that was,” Padmé stammered between breaths, still utterly amazed at the sense of power that had flowed through her as, for that brief moment, she had instructed the Force to do her bidding. “But that… that was… amazing,” she said, looking up at Anakin with a bright, astonished smile as he held her securely in his arms.

You did great,” Anakin laughed, beaming brightly at her, as he lowered her gently to the ground, steadying her as she regained her balance. “Kind of a rush,” he chuckled, looking at her astonished face as she smiled up at him, her breath still coming in short gasps. “Isn’t it?”

“That was… incredible,” she laughed, looking up at him with a glowing smile as she took his hands and squeezed them tightly. “Does it… does it always feel like that?”

“Pretty much,” Anakin grinned, nodding his head slowly. “Liked that, did you?”

“I want to do that again,” Padmé said, as she started to giggle as the amazing sensation began to slowly fade. “That was absolutely amazing!”

“Okay,” Anakin grinned, squeezing her hand tightly as he leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek. “We can try again, when we get home, if you want.”

“We just need to work on that landing, though,” he said, turning a sly smile to her as they started toward the door of the shop.

“Who cares about landing?” Padmé giggled, wrapping her arm around his as she squeezed his hand tightly. “You can just catch me again.”

“Come on,” Anakin grinned, laughing quietly to himself as he looked down at her beaming face. “Obi-Wan should be calling any minute.”

They made their way through the soft glow of the streetlamp, laughing quietly to themselves, and into their workshop, where Artoo was waiting for them.

------

Anakin looked up, as Padmé tapped him gently on the shoulder; he reached up, taking the cup she offered him from her with a smile, and then turned his attention back to the two holopads in front of them as she sat down quietly next to him again.

“So let me make sure I understand all this,” Anakin said, watching as Obi-Wan and Yoda’s images both flickered on the holopads in front of them. “Andar will be keeping the children, until we can get them to the Jedi that will be resuming their training, correct?”

“That’s correct,” Obi-Wan said, as their image flickered again. “As soon as you believe you’ve located any of the Jedi we’re looking for, you’re to relay that information to Shanda, here, on Tatooine.”

“I’ll be checking in, at least every week, for Shanda’s exercises,” Obi-Wan said; Anakin and Padmé both turned their attention to Shanda for a moment, and they both exchanged a smile as they saw the look of excitement and anticipation on her young face. “I’ll get the information from her, relay it to Andar, and Mon Mothma and Bail will arrange transportation, and a drop off point for each of the children.”

Anakin and Padmé both turned their attention to the adjacent holopad, as they heard Yoda suddenly speak. “Great care we must take, Obi-Wan,” he said, his small, green face bearing a deeply serious countenance. “If detects any of our communication with Anakin and Padmé, Sidious does, then alerted he will be, to their presence,” he said, turning his attention back to the both of them. “And their younglings.”

“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen, Master Yoda,” Anakin said, watching as the tiny Jedi master listened to him intently. “I’ve just send Obi-Wan a new series of encryption keys,” he said, reaching down and tapping the control pad in front of him, pulling up the key codes so he could see them.

Padmé looked at him, smiling proudly, as she watched him explain the keys he had created for them. “Each key has a progressive algorithm,” he said, looking at the display intently as the long, complex codes began to scroll by quickly. “Each key should be good for at least a week, and we’ll recycle the keys and replace them each time we talk,” he said, turning his attention back to Yoda again.

“I had Artoo test the algorithms every way possible,” he said, looking back at his little droid with a grin. “As long as we change them out every week, we shouldn’t run into any problems.”

“Very well,” Yoda said, nodding his head slowly. “Provided these keys to Senator Organa, and Andar Gandh, have you?”

“I have them now, Master,” Obi-Wan replied, his image flickering again as he picked up the small datadisc and showed it to them. “I’ll deliver them first thing in the morning.”

“Very well,” Yoda said again, nodding his head as he rested his hands on his small cane. “Advise Senator Mothma, and Senator Organa, that agree with you, the new Council does,” he said, as he leaned back further in the small chair of the tiny ship he was broadcasting from. “Accept her Alliance, and her proposal, we do.”

Anakin and Padmé both smiled at each other, as they both realized the significance of what was happening; Padmé squeezed his hand tightly, as they suddenly heard Yoda speak again.

“Proceeding with your training, are you, Padmé?” Yoda asked, looking at her with a smile as his image flickered again on the holopad.

“Yes, Master Yoda,” Padmé replied, nodding her head respectfully as she spoke. “Anakin started me on my weapons training, and a few other things, today,” she said, glancing back at her husband with a smile as he grinned back at her.

“Very good,” Yoda replied, nodding his head firmly as he turned his cane over slowly in his hands. “Instruct you well, he will,” Yoda said, looking at Anakin with a smile, his long ears waving as he turned his head toward him slowly. “Just as Obi-Wan instructed him.”

“Mind your mentor, as well, young Shanda,” Yoda said, turning his attention toward the young girl who sat quietly at Obi-Wan’s side. “Learn much, you can, from Master Obi-Wan,” he said, watching her as she listened intently to him. “Just as Anakin did.”

“I will, Master Yoda,” Shanda replied, nodding her head obediently. “I promise.”

They all watched, as Yoda looked at them thoughtfully for a long moment. “All that remains of the Jedi, we few may be,” he said, his expression growing deeply thoughtful. “Yet, powerful indeed, are those that remain,” he said, looking back up at them all quietly for a moment.

“Hope there is,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he took a deep breath and sighed deeply, looking back at Padmé with a smile. “Learned that much, even at my age, I have.”

“Awaiting your call, I will be, Anakin,” Yoda said, turning his attention toward him again. “See the both of you, I will, as soon as Padmé is ready to face her trial.”

“Yes, Master Yoda,” Anakin replied with a nod. “I’ll contact you as soon as she’s ready,” he said, looking back at Padmé proudly as she sat beside him. “I promise.”

“Very well,” Yoda replied, nodding his head as he reached over toward the console in front of him. “Guard your younglings well, the two of you,” he said. “And each other.”

Anakin looked back at Padmé with a smile, as he suddenly sensed the wave of determination and resolve that flowed through her. “We will, Master Yoda,” she said, nodding her head firmly as she looked up at his image on the holopad. “We will.”

“Long enough, we have talked for one evening, then,” Yoda replied, as his image flicked again. “Risky, it will be, to attempt to much longer.”

“Guard yourselves well,” he said, nodding his head slowly as he reached out toward the console in front of him. “And may the Force be with all of you.”

They all watched, as Yoda’s image suddenly flickered, and disappeared from the tiny holopad.

“I should probably be going too, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, leaning a little closer to the holographic transmitter as he spoke. “I need to get these keys to Bail and Senator Mothma as quickly as possible, and let her know of our decision.”

“Congratulations, by the way,” Obi-Wan said, looking up at his old padawan with a smile. “I believe this officially makes you the youngest member ever to serve on the Council in the history of the Order.”

“Well, there’s only three of us left, Master,” Anakin said, shaking his head slowly as he smiled weakly at him. “Master Yoda didn’t really have a whole of options to choose from.”

“Don’t listen to him, Master Kenobi,” Padmé said, looking at him with a proud smile as she squeezed his arm tightly. “I can’t think of anyone better suited than Anakin.”

“Listen to your wife, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said with grin, as his image flickered again. “She’s always been a good judge of character, better than any I’ve ever known.”

“Good luck, you two,” Obi-Wan said, pausing for a moment as he looked back at the both of them. “Take care of yourselves, and those little ones. Understood?”

“Understood, Master,” Anakin said, nodding his head firmly as he looked at his friend with a smile. “You do the same, and keep in touch.”

“I will,” Obi-Wan nodded. “I’m going to go,” he said, as he reached down and picked up the datadisc with the codes Anakin had given him. “Be careful, Anakin, and may the Force be with you.”

“May the Force be with you, Master,” Anakin said, and he and Padmé both watched as he smiled at them, one last time, and then stood up and walked out of view of the holopad.

Anakin grinned again, as he saw Beru suddenly sit down beside Shanda, in the seat where Obi-Wan had been sitting. “I think I’ll turn this over to you,” Anakin said, looking over at Padmé with a smile as he reached down and handed the small datadisc that lay on the table in front of them to her.

Padmé grinned back at him, as he kissed her gently on the cheek, and she watched him for a moment as he stood up and walked across the shop to where Artoo was working.

“So,” Beru said, her own face beaming as she watched Padmé turn her smiling face toward her. “Anakin said you had pictures,” she said, reaching down and tapping the control pad in front of her as Shanda leaned forward beside her, watching with a smile.

“I do, indeed,” Padmé said, her own face beaming brightly as she popped the disc into the slot in front of her and quickly keyed the transmitter, turning her smiling face back up toward the holopad in front of her. “And I hear you two have some news to share with us, too, don’t you, Shanda?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Shanda said, looking back at Beru with a bright smile as her image flickered again on the small holopad. “We sure do.”

------

Governor Tarkin turned and watched, as the doors to the Interceptor’s bridge slid open quickly; he felt the lump begin to rise in his throat, the same one he felt every time he saw the dark, terrifying visage that stepped through the door and onto the Imperial flagship’s bridge.

He watched, more than a little nervously, as Darth Vader’s tall, foreboding form strode across the command deck toward them, his long, dark cloak swirling around his boots as they echoed loudly through the command deck.

Darth Sidious turned around slowly, as he stood next to Governor Tarkin near the forward deck’s main viewing platform; he smiled, quite coldly, from beneath his thick, hooded robe, as he watched his dark, sinister apprentice approach them quickly, his own dark cloak swaying around his boots as he walked.

“Ah, Lord Vader,” he said, his smile widening as he watched his apprentice approach, and then bow reverently before him. “You’re right on time.”

“I trust you’ve made progress, in your search for Master Kenobi?” Sidious asked, watching as Vader came and stood close beside him.

“Not as much as I’d hoped,” Vader replied, his tone dark and angry, as he placed his hands on the belt at his waist, his slow, rhythmic breathing echoing through the command deck around them as he spoke. “But he can’t hide, forever,” he said, turning his dark, helmeted face toward his master. “It’s only a matter of time before I find him.”

“Patience, Lord Vader,” Darth Sidious replied, nodding his hooded head slowly, as he turned his gaze back toward the viewing window before them. “You will find him, in time,” he said, reaching into his robes and producing a small, round holographic disc, which he held out in front of them.

“Besides,” Sidious said, laughing coldly under his breath as he turned his evil smile back toward his dark apprentice, “We have more important matters to attend to, at the moment.”

He watched, as Vader and Tarkin both turned their attention to the tiny device as it began to hum; slowly, a bright red, glowing orb began to turn slowly over the small device, the concave dish on one side readily visible on the tiny holographic image.

Darth Vader looked out of the window off the command deck, his slow rhythmic breathing echoing around them, as they watched the construction ships that milled about the massive, round, skeletal structure that hung in space a short distance from the Interceptor’s bow, like angry hornets around a freshly disturbed nest.

“How long until it’s ready for testing?” Vader asked, turning his attention back to his dark master again.

“We estimate that the structure itself should be ready for tests in about twenty four months,” Governor Tarkin replied, looking back out at the massive structure beginning to take shape in space before them. “The weapons systems could require significantly more development time,” he said, turning his eyes back toward Vader and his Emperor again.

“But once it is complete,” he said, looking back out at the structure with a sadistic smile, “it will be the single most powerful, destructive force in the universe.”

They all looked out of the command deck, standing there in silence, as they watched the Death Star begin to take shape. Time, Vader thought to himself, as he felt another wave of hatred beginning to well up inside of him, could not move fast enough.

------

Anakin stood quietly near the garden wall; he looked up, his eyes scanning the dark, brilliant night sky, as he leaned back against the cool, hard stone and stuck his hands deeply in his pockets.

He didn’t know what it was that he sensed, as he scanned the thousands of stars with his eyes; yet, whatever it was, he found himself a little on edge, as he sensed the faint, dark tremor that traveled to him through the Force.

He recognized the tremor, though he tried to put out of his mind what he knew to be true; it was the same, dark tremor he had sensed that night on Polis Massa, when he had been ripped from his peaceful dreams by the dark, terrible wave of rage and despair that reverberated through the living Force. Yet now, as he sensed what he knew to be the nightmare that he had faced onboard the Imperial Hand, he instinctively tried to push it away, to quell the tremor inside him, more out of fear than anything else.

It was the uncertainty that disturbed him so much, as he closed his eyes and pushed the dark tremor away, trying with all of his might to bury that thread of fear and anger that burned inside of him at what Dooku had done to him, with that vial of blood he had taken that day on Geonosis. Even Dooku himself had realized the horrible error of what he had done, and Anakin could still see the look of remorse and regret in his eyes, as he looked up at him, just before the dark creation he had given birth to, with the help of the cloners of Kamino, had struck him down.

It wasn’t a fear for his own safety, or even for Obi-Wan’s; no, what ate at him now, as he struggled to push that fear and anger down inside himself, was the fear that Vader might somehow be able to sense him, as well. It was a fear that unnerved him, like no other ever had, as he turned and looked back at the house, watching the shadows that moved behind the soft light of the windows.

He understood, painfully well, the fear that Padmé had expressed to him tonight, as she sat in that speeder; indeed, he was wrestling with his own demon now, the terrible fear that someday, somehow, some harm might befall her, or Luke, or Leia, because of something he might do, or fail to do.

Anakin opened his eyes again, sighing deeply, as he looked up at the stars above him again. He traced the trail of stars that he knew so well, until he saw the small, brightly shining one just above the eastern horizon. He sighed again, rustling his hands through his pockets, as he looked up at that star; he knew full well, that Master Yoda himself was on that star’s only planet, a small, green world teaming with life, yet he wished, with all of his heart, that he weren’t so far away.

He wished that he could contact Master Yoda, and tell him about what he was feeling, share his worries and fears with him. He knew, though, that that was out of the question; they had risked enough, earlier, when they had put together their impromptu Council meeting to discuss Mon Mothma’s proposal. He couldn’t risk contacting Yoda again. No, he thought to himself, as he sighed deeply; as bad as he hated it, he knew in his heart that he was going to have to figure this one out on his own.

Maybe that was one of the things that troubled him, he thought to himself, as he looked back up at the stars in the heavens again. Things had changed so much, since this ordeal had begun, and he realized, now, that he could no longer rely on his old mentor, or the other members of the Council, like Master Yoda, for advise. Those safety nets were gone now, and he realized, only too well, that for the first time in his life, he was flying solo.

He was a Jedi Knight now, one of the few that might remain throughout the galaxy, and he knew all too well that he, like those that remained, would always be a target of Palpatine’s terrible new regime. He smiled to himself, as he remembered how he had dreamed, when he was a child, of how he would walk through the streets of his home town on Tatooine some day, his weapon displayed at his side, and how proudly he would declare to them that he was, in fact, a Jedi Knight, one of the most feared, and respected, guardians of peace and justice the galaxy had ever known.

Somehow, though, what he had become now meant so much more to him; he knew, in his heart, that he would, quite likely, never be able to openly declare to anyone again that he was a Jedi. It was a title, and a responsibility, that he would now have to bear in secret, as he worked, along with the few that remained, to undo the evil that Palpatine had done.

He walked slowly across the garden, letting his eyes scan the sea of flowers that lay before him, as he made his way closer to the window of their bedroom. He stopped, just as he reached it, and leaned back against the garden wall again; he smiled again, as he heard Padmé’s soft, soothing voice from just beyond the curtains on the other side of the glass. She was singing, very softly, and he knew that she was right where he had left her a few moments before, rocking her newborn son gently in her arms, and that Leia was asleep beside her, safe in her crib, with her mother’s beautiful, loving eyes watching over her.

He took another long, thoughtful breath, as he listened quietly to his wife’s sweet, soothing voice, as she lulled their son to sleep. He knew that, with time and training, Padmé would become all that the Force intended for her to be. What comforted him, as he thought of the challenge and danger that lay ahead for them, was the knowledge that she would reach that goal with his help, just as he had become what the Force truly intended him to be with hers. She was his source of strength, just as he was hers, and it was that knowledge itself that gave him the strength he needed to face the fears that dogged him.

Yet, beneath those fears, lay something that he felt far more comfortable with; he took another deep breath, leaning back a bit farther against the cool, stone wall of his family’s garden, as he looked up at the crystal clear sky.

He smiled, as he watched several wispy, thin clouds streak slowly across the massive, dark expanse above him, shimmering like silver in the light of Naboo’s moon. He closed his eyes for a moment, as he remembered another crystal clear night, just like this one, on the dusty, dry planet he had called home for most of his young life.

It was a memory that he had resisted, on so many occasions before; yet now, for some reason that he didn’t really, completely understand, he found that memory strangely comforting, as he allowed himself to relive that moment that he had tried for so long to forget.

The sky had looked much the same, that night, when he and Padmé had gone looking for his mother, though the two worlds were thousands of light years apart. He smiled, as he remembered how his mother used to call him outside, late at night, after the dust filled evening skies had finally cleared.

“Ani,” Shmi called, from her place on the patio behind their modest home, “Put down those tools and come out here for a minute, okay?”

“Awe, Mom,” Anakin said, rolling his bright, young eyes and dropping the tool in his hand onto the small workbench in his room as he flopped back in his chair. “Do I have to?”

“Yes, you do,” Shmi called again. “You need to come out here and see this.”

“Okay,” Anakin groaned, and, sighing deeply, he switched off the light above his small desk, and then shuffled slowly through the house and out on the patio to where his mother waited for him.

“You’ve been in there all evening,” Shmi said with a smile, placing her arm around his shoulders and hugging him tightly as he walked up next to her. “Don’t you get enough of that stuff every day at the shop with Watto?”

“It’s different, here,” Anakin said, looking up at her with a disgusted smile, as she tussled his hair playfully. “I get to do what I want here, instead of what HE wants me to do.”

“Well, you need to learn how to appreciate something besides machines,” she said with a smile, as she looked up and gestured to the beautiful, starlit sky above them. “Isn’t this beautiful?” she said, looking back at him as he looked up at the heavens above them. “I’ve counted four shooting stars, in just the past few minutes.”

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Anakin said, shrugging his shoulders as he looked up at the sky above them.

“Okay?” Shmi said, looking at him with a sarcastic smile. “Ani, it’s beautiful,” she said, turning and picking him up, and sitting him down on the wall in front of her. “Do you realize that some people never get to see a sky like this?”

“I know,” Anakin said, nodding his head slowly and sighing deeply. “I’ve just got so much other stuff I need to do,” he said, looking back at her with an apologetic smile. “I’m busy.”

Shmi shook her head, smiling at him warmly, as she ran her fingers through his hair and caressed his cheek for a quiet moment. “You’re always busy, Ani,” she said softly, as she pinched his cheek playfully. “You need to learn how to slow down, and not be so busy all the time.”

“The world is full of wonderful, beautiful things,” she said, looking back up at the sky with a smile. “Things that you can’t build, or buy in a shop.”

“I don’t want you to miss out on those things, because you’re too busy,” she said, looking back at him with a smile again. “Slow down a little,” she said, nodding her head slowly at him as she watched him sigh again, and then look up at the sky above them. “Learn to appreciate the simpler things in life,” she said, her smile widening as he smiled back at her. “Not just the ones you can work on.”

Anakin smiled, as he folded his arms tightly across his chest and looked at his mother-in-law’s garden around him; even in the soft moonlight, the silent colors of the flowers shone like colorful jewels, waving softly in the evening breeze. He looked up at the sky again, and he closed his eyes as he suddenly heard, for the first time this evening, the soft symphony of the field crickets in the meadow below, as they mingled with the soft sound of the river as it flowed lazily by them.

“I guess I finally learned how to slow down, huh, Mom?” he said quietly, as he opened his eyes and looked up at the stars above him again. “And you were right,” he said, his eyes glistening in the bright moonlight as he smiled up at the brilliant points of light that covered the dark sky. “It really is beautiful.”

He realized, now, for the first time in his life, what it was that caused him to feel so different, what it was that had finally calmed that restless, anxious part of him. He closed his eyes again, as his thoughts drifted back to that night in that tent, when he had held his mother’s dying body in his arms, and of that single, solitary sentence she had uttered, as she looked at him with a contented smile.

Now I am complete.

Anakin shook his head slowly, as he looked up through a haze of tears toward the sky again; he understood, now, for the first time since that terrible night, what his mother had meant, and the simple lesson she had tried to teach him from the day that he was born.

“I know what you meant now, Mom,” Anakin said softly, as he reached up and wiped his eyes with his hand. “For the first time in my life, I know what you meant.”

“And I am, too,” he said, looking back up at the sky with a smile as he stretched out with his feelings toward her. “I hope you know that, and that you’re proud of me,” he said, his voice catching in his throat as he remembered how proudly she had looked at him, the day he had won that pod race on Tatooine, and taken his first step into his future.

He was complete. And he knew, in his heart, what and who it was that truly mattered to him now. He would see that Palpatine’s evil was undone. And they would do it together, hand in hand, just as they had faced every obstacle before.

Anakin looked back over his shoulder toward the house, as he heard the tell-tale squeak of the springs on the kitchen door. He smiled, reaching up and wiping his eyes again, as he heard her soft voice call to him.

“Ani?” Padmé called, as she stepped out onto the stoop, closing the door behind her. “Are you out here?”

“Over here,” Anakin called; the evening air was getting quite cool, and he watched her, as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself and walked slowly toward him.

“What are you doing out here?” Padmé asked, looking up at him with a smile as she came and stood close beside him. “It’s freezing out here.”

“I just came out to think for a minute,” Anakin said, placing his arm over her shoulder and pulling her close to him. “I had a few things on my mind tonight.”

“What were you thinking about?” she asked, as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

“Oh, just about everything that’s happened,” Anakin sighed, looking down at her with a smile.

Padmé’s expression softened a bit, as she saw the tears that stood in his eyes as he looked at her. “What’s wrong, Ani?” she said softly, reaching up and brushing her fingers gently through his long, blonde hair. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Anakin said, as he reached up and wiped his eyes on his sleeve again. “I was just thinking about Mom for a minute,” he said softly, as he looked down at her with a smile again.

Padmé felt her heart begin to ache, as she looked up at him fondly. “You still miss her, don’t you?” Padmé said softly, reaching up and wiping away the small tear that stood on his cheek.

“I always will,” he said, nodding his head slowly. “But it wasn’t really that tonight,” he said, shaking his head slowly as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I just hope she’s proud of me,” he said softly, as he looked back up toward the sky again.

Padmé smiled up at him, as she reached up and gently turned his face back toward her again. “Rest assured, Ani,” she whispered, smiling up at him brightly as she nodded her head slowly. “She knows what you’ve become,” she said, brushing her fingers lightly over his cheek. “And I know she’s very, very proud of you.”

“I hope so,” he said, nodding his head slowly. “And I guess I’m just a little worried, too, about what going to happen next.”

“Everything’s going to be just fine,” Padmé said, looking up at him with a smile as she rested her chin on his chest. “Now don’t you tell me you’re getting scared, now,” she said, grinning up at him slyly. “Not after that pep talk you gave me earlier tonight.”

“Well, maybe just a little,” Anakin sighed again, as he hugged her a little tighter.

“I’m not worried,” Padmé said, looking up at him with a smile as she wrapped her arms around him a little tighter. “Not any more.”

“How come?” Anakin asked, smiling down at her softly as he held her tightly in his arms.

“Because I know that, whatever happens, we’re going to be together,” she said softly, as she rested her cheek gently against his chest. “All of us.”

“Speaking of ‘all of us’,” Anakin grinned, rubbing her shoulders gently as she clung tightly to him, “Are they both asleep?”

“No, they’re not,” Padmé replied, looking up at him with a bright smile. “That’s what I came out here to find you for,” she said with a grin. “I thought you might want to come in and spend some time with your family. Some real, quiet time, for a change.”

Padmé closed her eyes, as Anakin leaned down and kissed her, very tenderly, for a long moment; she took a long, deep breath, sighing deeply, as she opened her eyes slowly and smiled up at him.

“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do,” Anakin said, smiling down at her fondly as he ran his fingers gently through her long, brown hair.

He looked at her, very quietly, for a long moment; it seemed like an eternity since he’d seen her dressed as she was now, her hair falling in loose, thick waves around the shoulders of her soft, blue satin gown.

“What is it?” Padmé asked softly, watching him as he gazed quietly at her in the soft moonlight as he held her close in his arms.

“I don’t know,” Anakin said, smiling at her softly as he held her a little tighter. “I was just looking at how beautiful you are, I guess.”

Anakin laughed, as he suddenly felt her shiver, quite violently, in his arms. “Well, let’s go inside, and let you look at me in there,” she said, taking a step or two toward the house and tugging on his arm playfully. “I’m freezing!”

Padmé laughed out loud, as he leaned back and, giving her a good, strong pull, snatched her back into his arms; she closed her eyes, giggling happily, as she felt him press his lips tightly to hers. She sighed, very deeply, as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and she felt her heart begin to pound in her chest, as his lips moved slowly and passionately over her own.

She took another deep breath, opening her eyes slowly as she smiled up at him. “Wow,” she grinned, laughing softly as she looked up into his bright, blue eyes. “That was amazing.”

“So tell me,” he said, looking back at her with a smile as she snuggled down contentedly in his arms. “Remember when you told me you were a little tired, earlier?”

“Yes?” Padmé replied, her eyes twinkling as she smiled mischievously up at him.

“How’re you feeling now?” he asked, grinning slyly at her as he rubbed his hands gently up the small of her back. “If you’re still tired, we can always…”

He stopped mid-sentence as, giggling quietly to herself, she suddenly pulled him close and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she kissed him, as warmly and passionately as she ever had.

“Does that answer your question?” she replied with a smile as their lips parted a second time, looking back up at his stunned, but smiling, face as he took a long, deep breath.

“I’d say it does,” he chuckled, as she tugged his arm playfully and started to lead him toward the house. “I’d say it does, indeed.”

“Come on, baby,” Padmé giggled, as she wrapped her arm tightly around his waist, walking slowly beside him as they made their way through her mother’s garden in the soft moonlight. “No more deep thoughts, not for the rest of the night,” she said, looking up at him fondly as she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

Anakin looked at her, as they stopped for just a moment; he smiled, as she reached up and caressed his cheek gently as she gazed deeply into his eyes for a long moment.

“I love you, Anakin Skywalker,” she said softly, looking up at him with a smile. “So much.”

“I love you,” Anakin smiled, as he leaned down and kissed her tenderly again.

They both looked up, as the kitchen’s screen door suddenly flew open. “Master Ani,” Threepio called, waving his metal arm at them wildly as he pushed the door open and stepped out onto the stoop. “Mistress Sola asked me to tell you that you need to come in at once.”

“What’s wrong, Threepio?” Anakin asked, his expression growing a little more concerned as he and Padmé started toward the house. “What’s going on?”

“Apparently, little Mistress Leia has had a malfunction with her food processing system,” Threepio replied, waving his arms a bit frantically as they both stopped a bit short of the kitchen door and looked at each other. “Mistress Sola says that her system is currently stuck in reverse.”

Anakin and Padmé both looked at each other for a long moment; Threepio cocked his head and looked back at them both, as they suddenly burst out laughing, quite hysterically. “I’ll go,” Padmé laughed, as she leaned up and kissed Anakin gently on the cheek. “Don’t be far behind me, okay?”

“Master Ani, this is hardly a laughing matter,” Threepio chided, stepping to the side and watching Padmé as she stepped past him, still laughing, and made her way into the house. “After all, if little Mistress Leia is suffering some form of malfuction, we need to…”

“Don’t worry, Threepio,” Anakin chuckled, slapping his tall, metal friend soundly on the shoulder as he pulled the door open and nudged him into the kitchen. “Believe it or not,” he said, looking back at him with a grin as they started into the house, “she has these little malfunctions all the time.”

“Oh, my,” Threepio said, looking over his shoulder at Anakin as he shuffled slowly into the house ahead of him. “Is poor Master Luke defective, as well?”

“Yes,” Anakin chuckled, as he closed the door behind him. “But in a little different way.”

“Oh, dear,” Threepio replied, waving his arms forlornly as he and Anakin made their way into the kitchen. “I do hope they can both be repaired.”

“I think time will solve that little problem, Threepio,” Anakin said with a smile, nodding his head slowly as he heard Leia’s angry, upset cry coming from the back of the house. “Everything will be fine, you’ll see,” he said, looking back at his metal friend with a smile. “All we need is a little time.”

------

The End

Star Wars Altered Universe Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith

Our story continues in the next adventure in our Star Wars: Altered Universe series, Episode III.5: Trial By Fire