"An Enemy Hidden in the Shadows" by JMJ23

[Annie]

"An Enemy Hidden in the Shadows" By JediMasterJordan23

Chapter 1

Anakin felt sick to his stomach. There was a reason he didn’t roll down hills on his side. As he got woozily to his feet, Luke and Leia reached the bottom and jumped right back up. They found the fact that their father didn’t look so well very amusing. “Eight year olds,” Anakin muttered under his breathe while rubbing the feeling back into his knee. He would pay for that later. Luke ran up to him, “Dad can we do it again? Please!” Anakin told them that they were more than welcome, but he was staying right where he was. “Oh come on daddy!” Leia begged. The puppy eyes. How was Anakin supposed to say no to that? “Fine,” he said, “But this is the last time. 7 times is more than enough.” They climbed back up the hill. “On the count of three,” Anakin said, “One, two…..three!” Off they were. This time when Anakin reached the bottom he found himself in a bush. He emerged to find Luke and Leia rolling on the ground in laughter. Padme had apparently walked down from the patio to see if he was okay, and was now laughing so hard that she snorted. “Ha, ha. Laugh it up, Daddy fell in a bush,” he said sarcastically. They laughed harder. He went over to where Luke and Leia were and proceeded to tickle them making them laugh even harder. Finally, when everyone had their fill of making fun of him, Padme said “Dinner is ready.” The kids shot up the hill in an effort to prove who was faster. Padme looked back at Anakin and giggled. “What?” he said, “I didn’t see you roll down the hill.” Padme put her arms around his waist. “Well that landing of yours wasn’t exactly good encouragement to give it a try. Anakin laughed. “I guess not.” She pulled a leaf out of his hair. “You won’t be needing that at dinner.” With that she helped him back up the hill and into the house.
Dinner went by pleasantly with the usual occurrences. Luke spilled his milk, Leia refused her vegetables. After Anakin had put the children to bed, he sat out on the patio, over looking the lake. Padme came out and snuggled close to him. He kissed her hair. “Anakin,” she said tentatively, “Is there something bothering you?” How had he known she would ask? Did he wear a sign on his forehead? But then again, there were few people who knew him as well as she did. “It’s nothing,” he said, “Just something silly.” Tell me,” was her response. He didn’t want to, it would only worry her, and he knew he wouldn’t hear the end of it until he did. “I spoke to Obi-Wan and Yoda today.” “Really?” she sounded interested, “How’s things at the temple?” Did she want him to tell her or not? He wasn’t really frustrated with her; she was just trying to help. “Things…” he started “Are not as well as they should be.” At this is she turned to look at him, but remained quiet, trusting he would tell her. He continued, “Obi-Wan made a startling discovery on one of the moons of Cato Neimodia. A training facility. For what would have been a sith army.” Padme looked at him like he was speaking gibberish. “A sith army? An army of Palpatines?” “Well, sort of,” he said, “From what Obi-Wan said it had been abandon. What is disturbing is that it had been abandoned recently, as in right before Obi-Wan got there.” There was growing concern in Padme’s eyes, but he kept going. “Obi-Wan discovered that once Palpatine had successfully taken over, it was his idea to train a new generation of sith. They would enforce order in the empire, sort of like the Jedi do for the republic. However, Palpatine died before he could complete the first generations training. Not to say that they aren’t trained, Obi-Wan said that at the time of his death they were about 15.”
Padme spoke, “So they would now be 23.” “Yes,” Anakin said before continuing. “It was clear to Obi-Wan that they had managed to complete their training, hiding themselves until the time to strike.” Padme stood up and walked away from him. “Which is no doubt now.” Anakin stayed seated, “Yes. Yoda said that there was a break in at the temple last night. Nothing was stolen, but it was unnerving. They think that there are around 20 of these ‘soldiers’, and each one of them wants revenge.” She turned back to face him, and said “Revenge on those who destroyed their master, meaning you. And Obi-Wan and Yoda no doubt want your help in tracking down each one and killing them before they can execute their revenge. Why is always you?” He stood up and pulled her to him. “I don’t know, I wish I did. But I have to help them, otherwise who knows what could happen?” She accepted this with a slow heavy nod. Her understanding of what he needed to do made him love her more. “When do you leave?” she asked. “Well,” he said, “”Obi-Wan suggested 2 days from now, but that isn’t for sure.” He could feel her grip around his chest tighten. “We will worry about it when it comes. Until the possible becomes actual it is only a distraction.”

She started to laugh, “Did you actually just quote Qui-Gon Jinn in an effort to make me feel better?” Anakin smiled, “Did it work?” She replied, “A little. Now come to bed.”


Chapter 2

Anakin eyes shot open. What was he looking at? He realized that it was the back of Padme’s head; she was wrapped up in his arms. He heard the same sound that had woken him, a crash. Using the force, he called his lightsaber to his hand, but did not ignite it. He shook Padme gently in an effort to wake her up. “Padme. Padme.” Her eyes fluttered open. “Ani, what is it?” she said sleepily. “There is someone in the house,” he said quietly. “I need you to stay close to me, we are going to get the children and get out. Do you understand?” She nodded her reply, but looked genuinely scared out of her nightgown. They got out of bed and he switched his lightsaber to his good hand, but still did not ignite it. She held his hand as he led her through the house and towards the children’s room. When they were right outside the door, they heard a tussle on the other side of the door. Anakin signaled for Padme to be careful. He kicked the door open and found two men in robes, each one of them with a child in hand trying to escape out the window. Leia took note of her kidnapper’s distraction at seeing her father enter, and promptly bit him hard. He yelled in pain and released her and she ran to her mother. Anakin put himself in between the men, who had stopped trying to escape, and Padme and Leia. “I don’t know what you intended to do with my children,” he said, “But it would be in your best interest to let my son go before I force you to.” They smiled, and then let Luke go. He quickly ran to his mother. That was easy. They took off their hoods; Anakin had never seen them before. The one on the left spoke to him, “Skywalker, all we wanted were you children. You weren’t supposed to die yet. But I see that will have to be moved up.” They both withdrew red lightsabers, and it clicked. These were two members of this sith army. Anakin pushed his family out the door and told them to run. He ignited his own lightsaber. With out a word, they struck.
Anakin had to give them credit, they were good. Or maybe it was the fact that the last person Anakin had fought died 8 years ago. But as the battle raged on, he got better. His limp, however, was an advantage that his enemies were exploiting. Finally he managed to kick one of them in the face with his good leg, and while he was down cut off his head. But in order to do this he had turned his back from the other and a swift blow to his injured knee reminded him of that. His lightsaber flew to the ground, and he curled up into a little ball in agony. The sith laughed. “I must have the wrong Skywalker. Surely it was not you who killed my master?! Oh, well, now you die.” But just as he was about to deliver the killing blow, a vase shattered against his head and he fell, revealing Padme, holding a broken vase. Anakin stared at her in amazement as she helped him to his feet. “What?” she said. “Nothing,” Anakin replied, “Thank you.” He bent over and checked the man’s pulse. Dead. Padme didn’t seem phased. “I did what I had to do,” she said, “It was you or him.” Anakin nodded, he took one step towards the door, and fell. Padme ran to his side and helped him back up. “Your knee wasn’t up to the challenge I see.” She put his arm around her and helped him back to the bedroom.
Upon entering their room, Luke and Leia ran to him and threw their arms around his waist. He hopped to the bed. Once sitting, he hugged his children very tightly. “You did well, both of you. Those men won’t bother us again.” Luke sat next to his dad, Leia went to Padme. For awhile they all just sat there. Finally, Anakin said to the children, “I need you to go back into your room. Each of you packs one bag with some toys and some of your clothes. If you’re afraid, I will go with you.” They both nodded. “Okay. Go wait outside the door while I talk to your mother.”

Once they left the room, Padme sat down next to her husband. “He looks terrible,” she thought to herself. He turned to her and said “Why take the children? Why didn’t they come after me?” Padme said nothing. She had never told anyone what Chancellor Palpatine had planned to do with her and the children. She had figured that is was water under the bridge. But it was clear that now would be a good time to bring it up. She didn’t look at him, but looked straight ahead, out the window. “There was a reason that the Chancellor didn’t kill me,” she started. “Is that he wanted our children. To use them as apprentices. I assume that is what those two had in mind. To finish what their master had started.” Anakin didn’t say anything. He put his arm around her. “Well, it spared your life, and that is what’s important. He didn’t succeed, and his apprentices won’t either. We need to leave. There is no doubt that there are more of these sith, and if they do indeed want our children, we aren’t safe here. We will go to the Jedi Temple. We will be safe there. We can figure out a plan.” It sounded like a good idea.

“Okay, go with the children. I will pack your things.” He smiled at her. “That won’t take long, I don’t own much.” With that he followed the children out of the room. Padme was left to her own devices as she hurriedly tried to assemble some clothes for her and Anakin. Anakin was easy enough; he only had 7 sets of the same clothes. Old habits die hard. She was frantically stuffing things into a suitcase when the children and Anakin returned. The kids were both fully dressed and held suitcases. Anakin was still in his shirtless, and in his pajamas. He sat the kids down and walked over to her and put his hand on her lower back. “We aren’t in such a hurry that you need to wrinkle.” This made her laugh. He was so good at making her feel better. He put on a shirt, and his boots. Padme went into the bathroom to change and when she emerged he had somehow managed to shut the suitcase, and they were patiently waiting to depart.

Anakin was amazed that the children had managed to fall back asleep. He carried both of them while Padme had the suitcase. They made they way down to the yacht carefully, they didn’t want to attract any attention. When they were making their way through the kitchen, Anakin nearly had a heart attack. C-3P0 had appeared almost out of no where. He fell in line and soon they were aboard Padme’s ship. While Anakin began the pre-flight analysis, Padme and 3P0 put the children down to rest on one of the beds. By the time they returned to the main cabin Anakin was navigating the ship safely away from Naboo and towards Courasant. The ride there was silent. Padme had fallen asleep in her chair and 3P0 had powered down, leaving Anakin to think.
Since moving to Naboo, Anakin had served on the Queen as Commander of her Palace Guard. This required him to stay in peak physical condition. Not only that but he was responsible for training new recruits. So why had he been so easily defeated? If Padme hadn’t come back… she would have been a widow. His knee had never fully recovered from Grievous’ blow. Oh, who knows? Perhaps he would ask Obi-Wan and Yoda about it when they got there. Obi-Wan. It might be a good idea to call ahead and give him a brief synopsis of the current situation. He hit the autopilot button and sent a call signal to the temple, Obi-Wan’s direct line. After what seemed like forever, Obi-Wan’s tired face appeared on the other end. “Anakin? Good God what time is it?” “Late,” Anakin said, “Sorry to bother you, but someone broke into my house. We are on our way to the temple right now.” Obi-Wan looked shocked. “Someone broke into your house? Who?” “I promise to fill you in when we get there,” Anakin said. “We?” Obi-Wan asked? “Yes,” Anakin replied, “You didn’t expect me to leave Padme and the children behind?” “Certainly not,” Obi-Wan said, “I apologize, I am just waking up. Pull into hangar 931; I will meet you there with Master Yoda.” Anakin nodded his understanding. “We will be there in about 20 minutes. Out.” With that the transmission ended.
Padme woke up in time to see Obi-Wan face disappear from the communicator. She asked Anakin sleepily, “Obi-Wan knows we are coming?” she asked. “Yes,” he said, “Just not the entire why yet.” He looked absolutely distraught. Padme guessed that is was because of what had happened back at the house. “Anakin, don’t worry about it. I am sure you were just a little bit rusty. In time it will return. Or is it that the war hero is embarrassed at being saved by his petite wife?” Anakin laughed. “Oh no. Personally, I would be more afraid of you then I would be me.” She put her hand on top of his and he held it, just staring at it for a moment. “When we get to the temple” he said, “First we will but the children to bed, then I would like to talk to Obi-Wan and Master Yoda. You are welcome to do as you please.” She thought about this for a minute, she was very tired, but it was clear that Anakin needed her. “I will go where you go,” she replied. The rest of the ride was silent, but there was no need for words, Anakin and Padme already knew what the other was thinking.
Upon arriving in hangar 931, Obi-Wan and Master Yoda were already waiting for them. This time Padme carried Leia, and Anakin had Luke and the suitcase. Both of the children were somewhat awake. Obi-Wan smiled as they walked toward him. Anakin smiled too, he missed Obi-Wan. Luke decided that he was too old to be carried and wanted to walk. Anakin let him. “Just like your father,” he thought to himself, “Have to do everything yourself.” Luke may have been tired and scared, but he sure didn’t act like it. He ran to Obi-Wan, “Uncle Ben!” The children hadn’t been able to say Obi-Wan when they were little, so they called him Ben. The name stuck. Obi-Wan lifted Luke up. He had long been attached to Luke. He had asked Anakin on 2 occasions to allow him to take Luke as a padawan. Anakin had refused. It was not the life he wanted for his only son, regardless of his midi-cholrian count.

He had told Obi-Wan that Padme had forbidden it, but it was a lie. Anakin had been so heartbroken when he had left his mother, he didn’t want that for Luke. Anakin had told no one, but he feared that he had formed the same problem as before, his was unable to let go of him. Master Yoda greeted Anakin and his family with is usual nod. Obi-Wan seemed to be quite cheerful for the early hour. “Hello!” He hugged Padme and shook Anakin’s hand. Was this Obi-Wan Kenobi? The man Anakin knew had never been one for loving gestures. Must be the age. He helped Padme and Anakin lay the children in bed with the padawans, and then they strode off together for Master Yoda’s quarters.

Obi-Wan felt like somewhat of a third wheel. Padme and Anakin were holding hands and appeared to be having their own little conversation about the children. Obi-Wan had missed Anakin so much. There was no one who could even try to be like him. It was as if a permanent void was at his side. But this void could be filled, by Luke. If only Anakin would let him take him as a padawan. He was a year younger than when Anakin himself had become a padawan, and his midi-chlorian count was just as high. He was sure that Master Yoda would allow it, as would the other new members of the Jedi Council. He decided to convince Anakin while he was here. He spoke, “It seems like it has been ages since I have seen either of you.” “It has been far too long Obi-Wan,” Padme said. “Yes,” Anakin agreed. “The children look about 10 feet taller than when I saw them last,” Obi-Wan continued. Anakin smiled at this, “They grow like weeds. I keep trying to pound them back into the ground, but it doesn’t seem to be working.” “Yes,” Obi-Wan said, “I know. One day you were at my waist, the next day I found myself looking up at you.” They had just reached Master Yoda’s quarters. They entered to find him meditating. Obi-Wan took his place beside Yoda, Anakin and Padme sat across from them. Yoda broke his focus and turned to the matter at hand. “A break in you had?” he asked. “Yes,” Anakin replied, “You and Obi-Wan spoke to me today about the sith army that Palpatine had been in the process of training. Two of these soldiers broke into my house and tried to steal my children.” Obi-Wan couldn’t believe his ears. “Two of them tried to steal Luke and Leia.” “Unsuccessfully,” Anakin said, “They are both dead now.” Yoda spoke, “See no reason to take the children I do. Come to kill you, there mission must have been.” “No,” Padme said sternly. “They had come for the children. It had been the Chancellor’s intention to take them as apprentices. That was the reason I was still alive when you came to execute him.” Yoda accepted this with a slow, heavy nod. “Track down the remaining 18 we must. A job for Kenobi and Skywalker it sounds like. Obi-Wan had a hard time containing his joy. Together again! And once it was just him and Anakin it would be easier for him to convince Anakin that Luke’s future lay with the Jedi. Anakin looked equally as excited, he had no doubt been dying to get back into action. Padme, however, looked like she could cry. Obi-Wan understood how hard it must be for her to watch him go off to fight a legion of sith. Especially under the circumstances: if they failed, she would be left with out a husband, and her children with out a father. Silence followed. The only sound in the room was the purring of the electro drivers in Obi-Wan’s and Anakin’s prosthetic limbs. Anakin finally broke the silence, “It has been a long day, perhaps we could work out the details in the morning?” “Yes,” Obi-Wan agreed. He was quite tired himself. With that their little meeting adjourned. Anakin and Padme went in the direction of his old quarters, and Obi-Wan went to his.

[Annie]

Chapter 3

Padme awoke the next morning to find Anakin already gone. “And so it begins,” she said to herself. Suddenly Leia’s head popped up from under the bed. “Hi!” Padme almost went into shock, “Leia, what in the universe are you doing under the bed? And how did you get there?” “Daddy came to wake me up this morning,” she said, crawling out from under the bed. “He took Luke with him and Uncle Ben and told me to keep you company.” She thrust a piece of paper at Padme; it was in Anakin’s hand. Sorry to leave, Obi-Wan needed my assistance. Be back later. I love you. Padme wasn’t quite sure what to do. He didn’t expect her to sit here in these cramped quarters and wait for him? She wondered how he had managed to live in this, but then she remembered that he had very rarely spent his nights here. Leia was bouncing up and down in the chair in the corner. There was no way they could stay here, Leia needed to get out. Then it hit her, she could take Leia to the Senate Building, she had been dying to see some of her old friends and Leia would be excited. “Leia,” she asked, “Would you like to see where mommy used to work?” Just as Padme had predicted, Leia was excited at the idea. “Yes!” “Okay,” Padme agreed, “Let me clean up and get dressed and we can go.” After she was dressed she left a note for Anakin, she didn’t think he would be angry. After all, chances are that the senate building was the safest building on Courasant, next to the temple. With out a second thought, she and Leia took off hand in hand for the speeder park.

It had turned out; that what Obi-Wan needed assistance with was the training of the some of the padawans in Form I lightsaber combat. Anakin was happy to oblige, seeing as how he obviously needed to brush up on his own skills. At first, he had Luke sit in the corner, but then realized there was no harm in teaching the boy to defend himself. Although, clearly, he needn’t be taught. He picked up the basics faster than even Anakin had. Within two hours time, he was already successfully sparing with the other padawans, and winning. Obi-Wan was looking at Luke with a watchful eye. Anakin sent him a scowl, but deep down he was really proud of his son. He took more after him then he thought. Obi-Wan spoke to the padawans. “I want you all to get some water and a snack at the dinning hall. You have 30 minutes. When you return we will cover the last part of Form I.” They all left, including Luke, at a run, hunger had set in. It was just Anakin and Obi-Wan in the training room. Anakin could feel what Obi-Wan was getting ready to say even before he said it. “No Obi-Wan. That isn’t what I want for my son.” Obi-Wan looked hurt. “How can you say that? It is what he wants. Look at him Anakin, look how good he is. His destiny lies with the Jedi.” Anakin was a little annoyed. “That is what Qui-Gon said about me, and I am equally as happy at home with my wife!” Obi-Wan had no intention of giving up, “Yes, but before you and Padme married you were just as happy being a Jedi. I have a proposal. Talk to Padme. See if she will allow us to take Luke with us when we leave to find these sith. Consider it a trial, to see if Luke really wants this.” Anakin was shocked Obi-Wan even suggested this. “You want me to ask my wife if I can take her only son to help me track down and kill 18 sith?! You think she will say yes?! She is angry enough at me for having to go, I won’t do that to her. I won’t. And I will not discuss it anymore Obi-Wan.” With that Anakin turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

Anakin was walking at a brisk pace towards his quarters. He needed time to cool off. Talking to Padme would help. However, when he got there he only found a note telling him that she and Leia were at the Senate Building. Anakin flopped into the corner chair. He was being ridiculous. Why was he so hell bent on preventing Luke from becoming a Jedi? It was becoming apparent that was what he was destined to be. After all it isn’t like he would never see him again; padawans were now allowed to visit their families. Besides, Anakin saw Obi-Wan rather frequently. But it wasn’t only his decision; it was Padme’s as well. He wouldn’t ask her until after he and Obi-Wan returned from their mission. He knew for certain that he wasn’t going to allow Luke to come with him; he would serve better as a comfort to his mother. “Well,” he said out loud, “I had better find Obi-Wan and apologize before our meeting with Yoda this evening.” Anakin stood up and walked out of the room and back towards the training room.

Padme was sitting in between Bail Organa and Chancellor Mon Mothma. Leia was quite the entertainer. She was recounting all the events of the previous night with out single mistake, much to her mother’s dismay. “Alright Leia,” Padme said when she had gotten to the part about mommy grabbing a vase and going after daddy, “That is quite enough.” Leia sat down. Bail looked genuinely shocked.

“I never would have imagined that your house would be broken into. Do you have any idea who it was?” Anakin had told her last night that it would be best if the sith army situation was kept under wraps. “No,” she replied. “Very curious,” he continued. “I think it was wise of you to decide to come here.” Mon agreed, “And we have missed you so much Padme, it is wonderful to see you. And your daughter is the spitting image of you, absolutely gorgeous.” Thank you Mon,” she replied, “It is good to see you both again. How have things been in the Senate, I do miss it occasionally? Nothing like a good squabble to get your blood boiling.” They all laughed at this. “Things are as always,” Mon said, “There is talk of a new security act. Some feel that security on Courasant and other planets on the inner rim are dismal. It’s in the early stages. And additional funding is being sent to the outer rim. Some of the planets have yet to recover from the war.” “I see,” said Padme. “Other than that, quiet as a tomb,” Bail said happily, “The way I prefer it!” The rest of the afternoon was spent pleasantly; they talked of this and that, Padme’s life on Naboo, and some of Luke and Leia’s more interesting antics. Bail really got a kick out the learning of Anakin’s roll down the hill. He was nearly in tears. By the time darkness approached, Padme had thanked them for a wonderful time and was on her way back to the temple, Leia in tow.

Anakin had managed to find Obi-Wan just before he entered Yoda’s room. “Obi-Wan! Where’s Luke?” Obi-Wan looked a little surprised to see him. “Oh, I just sent him back to your quarters. He’ll be alright for awhile by himself.” Obi-Wan went to open the door but Anakin stopped him. “I… Obi-Wan I am sorry. For what I said. Earlier. I have no doubt that you would be a wonderful master to my son, as you were to me. I won’t take him with us. I can’t do that to Padme. But I promise that when we return I will discuss it with her.” Obi-Wan appeared to be on the verge of tears. “You have no idea how much that means to me Anakin. Thank you.” A rather uncomfortable silence passed between them. Anakin cleared his throat, “Um, shall we?” They walked into Yoda’s room to find him deep in meditation. Shaak Ti and Stass Allie, the other senior member of the council were in attendance. It took a few minutes for Yoda to realize that Obi-Wan and Anakin were standing there. “Sit.” He said finally. They both obeyed and sat. He turned to face them. Shakk Ti and Stass Allie nodded their hellos but said nothing. “Start you will at the abandon facility on the moon of Cato Neimodia. There you will find a trail. Destroy the remains of this army, you must. In contact with the temple remain. No doubt I have that you will complete your mission. Young Skywalker, I sense concern for your family. No need. Stay here at the temple they will. A personal Jedi bodyguard I have assigned.” Yoda had read Anakin’s mind. Anakin felt a little bit better about leaving, knowing that Padme and the children will be safe. “In the late morning tomorrow shall you leave. May the force be with you both.” Anakin and Obi-Wan bowed respectfully and left.

Once outside a young man approached them. He greeted Obi-Wan, and turned to face Anakin. “You don’t remember me, do you?” he asked. Anakin gave him a once over and said “No, I can’t say that I do.” “To be expected, we only met once, and you were preoccupied with other matters. My name is Semi.” It took Anakin a moment, but then he remembered. This was the other Jedi that had survived the raid on the temple, who had gone to Kashyyyk with Stass Allie and Shaak Ti. “Oh yes of course,” Anakin said shaking his hand. “Forgive me; I was rather distraught at that time.” Semi smiled. “I have been put in charge of the protection of your family, never fear; they will be safe with me.” Anakin straighten, “I have no doubt. Now, if you will excuse me, speaking of my family, I haven’t seen them all day. I would like to spend some time with them before we depart.” Obi-Wan and Semi said goodbye and Anakin left them.

Padme had returned to Anakin’s old quarters to find Luke asleep on the bed. Still no sign of Anakin however. Padme hoped that she hadn’t missed him, if he had to leave without saying goodbye she would never forgive herself. She woke Luke up gently as Leia sat in the corner. “Mom! You’ll never guess! Uncle Ben and Dad showed me how to use a lightsaber! I got to train with the other Jedi kids. It was so cool!” Leia was immediately jealous, seeing as how all she had done today was listen to her mother discuss senate bills. And the bickering began. Padme sighed deeply. She and Sola had been the same way. “Are you two harassing your mother again?” Padme looked to see Anakin standing in the door way with a lively smile on his lips. “Luke if you would please let go of your sister’s hair.” He dropped it like it was on fire. He came and knelt down in front of Leia.

“When Daddy gets back I promise we will do something just the two of us okay?” So that meant he was leaving soon. Padme’s heart was crushed. Leia smiled and stuck out her tongue at her brother. Anakin grabbed it before she could suck it back in and gave her a scolding look. She retracted it slowly. “Now,” he said, “Dinner will be out in 2 minutes, I don’t think you two are fast enough to get there in time.” With that they both jumped up and bolted out of the room, with their parents laughing behind them.

Anakin stood up and walked over to where Padme was sitting on the bed. He kissed her tenderly. “How’s Bail and the others?” he said not breaking the kiss. “Fine,” she replied. The kiss lasted a little longer but then she pulled away from him. “When do you leave?” Anakin saw no way out of it. “Late tomorrow morning. A Jedi has been assigned to personally protect you and the children while I am gone. I will be in contact with the temple the whole time. I promise nothing will happen to me.” Padme looked as if she was going to argue and then decided better. “Okay, if you promise. And don’t you dare think of leaving me alone with that son of yours, he has more energy that Jar Jar Binks. And what is this lightsaber business?” Anakin laughed and kissed her cheek. “Nothing, perfectly harmless.” Padme looked at him with the same look he had given Leia only moments before. Anakin tried his best to look cute. It worked. “I’m starved. Escort me to dinner, my handsome Jedi?” “Why of course,” he said getting to his feet. He took her hand and led her to the dinning hall.

Anakin’s eyes shot open and he sat straight up. He was breathing so heavy you would think that he had just finished another training session. Padme had been lying across his chest and his sudden movement had put her in an awkward position. Her eyes sleepily opened and she hugged him tight, “It isn’t even light out yet,” she said in a whisper. “I know,” he said uneasily. He disentangled himself from the sheets and got up, walking over to the window he stared out at the early sky. Padme seemed to be more alert now, and sensing something was wrong walked over to him and put her arms around his waist. She kissed his chest, “What is it?” Anakin was silent for a period, thinking of how best to tell her. “Another dream,” he said finally. At this she straightened and looked up into his eyes. “It’s nothing really,” he said, trying to act nonchalant, “I just…you and the children… I have a feeling that something will happen while I am gone.” “Bad?” she asked. He nodded. “I shouldn’t go.” He was sure that the thought of that would delight Padme, and he could see in her eyes that it did. “No,” however, is how she replied. “These sith need to be taken care of. Our family will never be safe until that happens. And as much as I don’t want you to go, you must. Obi-Wan would be lost without you.” Anakin knew it was true, but it didn’t make him not want to leave any less. He kissed her forehead softly, and said “You’re right. I will speak with Semi in the morning before we leave.” She pulled him back towards the bed, “That is the morning, I am concerned with right now.” They fell onto the bed in a passionate kiss.

It was late morning when Anakin had finished ‘saying goodbye’ to Padme. He wanted to see the children before he left. They were outside playing in the courtyard with some of the other children. He assumed it was their mid-morning break. They quit what they were doing and ran to him. “Dad! Have you come to play too?” It broke his heart to tell them no. “No, Dad has to leave for an important mission with Uncle Ben.” “Oh,” Leia said. Luke asked if he could go too. “No, Luke I have a very important job for you and your sister. I need you to take care of your mother. Promise?” They stood at attention like clone troopers and saluted him. “We promise!” they said in unison. “Good, now behave, and if word gets to me that you are acting otherwise things won’t be pretty.” He hugged each of them and watched them run off towards his quarters to fulfill their assignment. He turned just in time to see Semi walking past. Excellent, just the man he wanted to see. “Semi,” he said. Semi stopped and greeted him. “Master Skywalker! I thought you had left already.” “No,” Anakin corrected him, “But I am about to. I need a favor Semi.” “Anything,” Semi replied. “My family is very important to me. If any thing should happen…” “Say no more,” Semi said, “I understand.” “Okay,” Anakin said, “I just have a bad feeling about this whole situation. Take extra care of them.” “I promise,” Semi said. Anakin told him goodbye and headed for the Hangar 931. When he got there Obi-Wan was already there as were their two star fighters. R2D2 had already been loaded into Anakin’s. Obi-Wan was leaning against his fighter. “I was beginning to think you would never come.” Anakin smiled, “I had business to take care of.” Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. “Well now that you have taken care of it, may we leave?"
“Why yes we may,” Anakin climbed into the cockpit and they were off.

[Annie]

Chapter 4

Padme watched two Jedi star fighters take off toward space with a heavy heart. Who knew when the next time she would see him again? Just then Luke and Leia came bursting through the door. Luke tripped over the threshold, and Leia tripped over Luke. Padme laughed. The never ceased to entertain. She helped them both up and hugged them tight feeling a little better. Just then another Jedi appeared at the door. “Hello,” he said cheerfully, “My name is Semi. I am the Jedi in charge of your protection.” “Oh, yes I remember,” she said. “Well, do what you need to do. If you don’t mind I am going to shut the door while I clean up.” “No problem at all. I will be outside if you need me.” He exited and shut the door behind him.

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On the icy planet of Hoth, 18 men were huddled around a communicator in a high tech underground bunker. Just then a blue holoimage appeared. “You had one job, one mission. Kill Skywalker and take the children. And you simple minded fools couldn’t even do that. Now he and Kenobi are on your tail. Make sure they find you. And when they do, dispose of them. I will be joining you shortly. Soon I will have the children and we will be able to begin the life creating process. Do not disappoint me again.” With that the transmission cut out.
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As Anakin got out of his cockpit, the shear size of this facility amazed him. How had they managed to keep this away from the Jedi? Obi-Wan walked to the front entrance. It was a huge door, reinforced with some sort of electrical mechanism. “And just how do you plan to get past that?” Anakin asked sarcastically. “The same way I did last time,” Obi-Wan responded. He punched a code into pad by the door. Anakin was a little shocked. “That’s it?” Obi-Wan smiled, “I don’t think that they expected company. And if you are wondering how I figured out the door code, it was through aggressive negotiations with the guards the last time I was here.” Anakin returned the smile, “Good to see that you haven’t lost your touch.” As they walked through a large empty hallway Obi-Wan filled him in on what he had found out. “Sidious had multiple apprentices. First the Zabrk that I killed on Naboo, then Count Dooku. In the 10 years that passed between Darth Maul’s death and the beginning of the clone wars, Dooku was recruited, and sent here. In moments stolen away from Republic business, Sidious trained him. He required little training; he was already a Jedi Master. All Sidious really did was open his eyes as to how to use the dark side.” Anakin was listening carefully. “Once Dooku was trained enough, Sidious gave him the job of starting to train the new ‘Sith Army’ in the ways of the dark side. Dooku was also beginning to work closely with the separatists at this time. Well, as years passed Dooku was able to spend less and less time here. He picked his most talented student and put him in charge of the group, a sort of Commander, if you will. He was also about 10 years older than the other students. He would receive the lessons for the day via holoimage and then teach them to the other students. Around the time of the assassination attempt on Padme, the ‘Commander’ was sent to Palpatine to serve on his red guard. That way he could finish training his Commander himself. Or so we think.” Anakin spoke, “What about the other students?” “If you would hold onto your trousers I am getting to that.” Obi-Wan said.
“The other students were old enough now to receive their lessons via holoimage. Dooku would record a week’s worth in about an hour and send it to the facility. Once the war broke out, it was harder for Dooku to train them. They were left to their own devices. They had a good enough understanding of the dark side to…take it from there. The commander continued to serve on the Red Guard and learn the nature of the Dark side. I believe, although it is not confirmed, that he died fighting the Jedi during the purge of the temple. Sidious was the only one to return. After his defeat the remaining part of the army continued to train, vowing revenge. And now they have decided to take it.” They reached the end of the hall, Anakin saw a doors leading to sleeping, eating, and training rooms. He also saw a door to the control room. “Obi-Wan,” he asked, “How did you find all of this out?” Obi-Wan sighed. “I have been investigating this case for about 3 years Anakin. At first I believed that they had all died. I decided to contact you when I had finally found the facility because it was apparent that they had not.” Anakin nodded. “Any idea where they ran off to?” Obi-Wan looked around as if expecting to find them in the room. “Not the slightest idea. To the control room?” Anakin followed Obi-Wan into the control room. Obi-Wan walked around the room.

“Obi-Wan did you try looking through the security records?” Anakin asked “When the building’s security is set up, they usually store where the escape pods launch to.” Obi-Wan looked a little sheepish. “Um…No. But is sounds like a wonderful idea.”
Anakin brought it up on the computer screen. “It says here that the escape pods were launched to Cato Neimodia?” Obi-Wan frowned, “That can’t be right, why would they go there?” Anakin thought for a moment. “Maybe they had emergency supplies and ships stowed there. It makes sense, it is near by.” Obi-Wan was concentrating. “Can you tell me where the pods landed?” Anakin looked through the files. “Yes. They all landed in the same place. The lower level of the Palace.” Obi-Wan was stunned. “The Palace? But Cato Neimodia rejoined the Republic! They elected a new Viceroy, Char Diam, and he has done nothing but support the Republic and the rebuilding efforts!” “It looks like he took advantage of the hospitality. He must have known they were here,” Anakin added. “We will be paying a visit to the Palace,” Obi-Wan said turning to leave. Anakin followed him out.
As they entered the atmosphere they were asked their business on Cato Neimodia. Obi-Wan answered, “I am Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and this is my partner is Master Anakin Skywalker. We are here to see Viceroy Char Diam.” The comm responded, “I am afraid he is not expecting you. Perhaps another time?” Obi-Wan’s patience was thin, “You will let us land and you will take us to Viceroy Diam.” “I will let you land and I will take you to Viceroy Diam.” Obi-Wan smiled, easy as always. Upon landing Obi-Wan and Anakin threw up their hoods, it was best to not be recognized. As promised the comm led them right to the Viceroy’s office. He did not look pleased. “Master Jedi, I was not expecting visitors.” He said, sending a foul look at the comm, who was still utterly confused. “Viceroy, would you mind taking us to the lower levels of you palace?” The viceroy was speaking through gritted teeth, “I am sorry, I have business to attend to.” Anakin pulled out his lightsaber and twisted it around his fingers. The Viceroy’s eyes grew wide. “But surely a quick tour will be no problem.” Obi-Wan smiled politely and began to follow Diam out of the office via a secret door. Anakin smiled at him. Obi-Wan returned a sly grin. They followed Diam to the lower level of the Palace, through this secret tunnel. Once there they found it to be empty. “Are you satisfied?” he asked, “Nothing here. Nothing here at all.” Obi-Wan walked around and turned to Anakin. “You’re sure it was here?” Anakin replied, “Yes, It should be…” he walked to the center of the room, “Here. They landed here.” Char Diam was playing the innocent role nicely. “I can assure you there is nothing here.”
Anakin and Obi-Wan didn’t see Char signal to the guards to open fire, but they sure heard it when blaster bolts began to fly in their direction. They immediately pulled out their lightsabers and ignited them, sending the bolts back where they came from. Anakin felt great, he was back on top of his game. His knee wasn’t even bothering him. Out of the corner of his eye his saw Diam retreating back up the stairs. There were about fifty guards in the room and two Jedi. Anakin couldn’t let Diam escape. He reached into the force and pulled him back. Diam came flying back into the room and landed at Anakin’s feet, unconscious. Obi-Wan and Anakin quickly disposed of the remaining guards until it was just the three of them. Anakin slapped Char Diam into consciousness, much to Obi-Wan’s displeasure. Obi-Wan bent down to Char’s level. Anakin smiled within himself, Obi-Wan negotiated, Anakin enforced. Nothing had changed. “Now, how about telling us what happened?” Char spit in Obi-Wan’s face. Anakin tightened his grip on Char’s collar. Obi-Wan calmly removed the spit from his face with his cloak. “Only Obi-Wan could make that look elegant,” Anakin thought. Obi-Wan spoke again, but in a hard voice. “Viceroy, you are not in much of a position to negotiate. You have 3 seconds to start talking or I turn my back and let Anakin do with you as he pleases. And might I add, seeing as how you predecessor attempted to kill his wife, he will not be gentle. Three… Two… O…” “Okay!” Char screamed, “I will tell you what I know, just don’t kill me!” Anakin figured this would happen. Neimodians are a cowardly and selfish species. “Former Viceroy Gunray allowed the training facility to be built there. In case of emergency, the pods would come here, to the lower level. This is a hangar; it is activated by a security key. I have that key. They had ships and supplies here. About a week ago they abandoned the facility and emptied the hangar. I was supposed to tell you nothing or they would kill me.” Obi-Wan smiled, “Thank you. You are under arrest for crimes against the Republic. But I assure you, that is much better than the fate you would have suffered. I need you to hand me the key.”

Diam did it without hesitating, smart. Obi-Wan walked over to a panel that Anakin hadn’t noticed. He stuck the key in and the walls began to spin. When they were done, the hangar was still empty, but there was a large control panel and a few supplies they had left. Anakin bound Char Diam’s hands, feet, and mouth. He walked over to Obi-Wan. “They took the ship that was here and some weapons. Looks like they made a transmission,” he said. “Can we see to where?” Obi-Wan brought up the transmission record. “Somewhere on Naboo, I can’t tell.” Anakin was surprised, “Naboo? Why there?” “I don’t know,” Obi-Wan answered truthfully, “That will be our next stop.”

[Annie]

Chapter 5

Obi-Wan had decided to contact Yoda and let him know what had been found. Anakin brightened at this idea, he had only been away from his family for five days, the trip had taken longer than expected when they had to put a stop to a disturbance on Naos 3, but he missed them already. He might be allowed to speak to them, or at least Padme. Yoda’s familiar face came onto the screen. “Good news I hope you have.” Obi-Wan nodded and filled him in on all they had found out. “Go to Naboo you must. The next clue sure I am you will find it there.” Obi-Wan agreed and was about to end the transmission when Anakin jumped in. “Master Yoda…” “Yes, Young Skywalker,” he replied. “I was wondering if I could speak to Padme.” “Let you I would, but here they are not. With Semi, in the gardens,” he said. “Oh,” Anakin said with a heavy heart, “Just tell them that I miss them and I love them. Please. “Do this, I will.” Yoda said. The transmission cut out.
Padme sat in the garden watching Luke torment Leia by throwing leaves in her hair. Leia returned the favor. Then they both laughed at the sight of each other and continued their game. Padme smiled. Semi stood at attention behind her, so close she could feel his breath. Did he always have to be right there? Every time she turned around, there he was. But he was just doing his duty. Anakin had been gone almost 5 days now and she missed him terribly. It was the most time they had spent apart since those 5 dreadful months during the war. Yoda was suddenly at her side. “Need to worry about him you do not. One of the most powerful Jedi alive he is, take care of himself, he can.” Padme said nothing, what could she say? Yoda continued, “Just spoken to him I have,” at this Padme turned to look at him. “On the trail of these sith they are. No time at all until caught they are.” That was all he had said? Did he not miss her at all? Was he glad to be free of the children? She started to anger and Yoda spoke again. “Miss and Love you he does. His message to you and the children.” Yoda got up and left. Padme felt guilty for her sudden anger. Anakin loved and cared about them deeply. He was only doing his duty.
Landing on Naboo felt a little strange, but Anakin could quite put his finger on it. He and Obi-Wan had searched the records and found that the transmission had been made to a small shop in the commercial district. That was where they were headed now. Anakin enjoyed doing Jedi work again with Obi-Wan, they just understood each other. They compensated for the other’s weaknesses. They entered the shop and removed their hoods. It wasn’t a shop at all, but a local tavern. Clearly Jedi weren’t welcome. Obi-Wan leaned toward Anakin and said, “Seeing as how friendly the people here look, we had best keep a low profile.” “And just how do you suggest we do that? Seeing as how we are here to interrogate the owner of this hole in the wall about 20 sith coming in here.” Anakin returned. “Just follow my lead,” Obi-Wan said as he walked up to the bar, “I always do,” Anakin said to him as he sat down next to him. They ordered two drinks. The barman looked about as friendly as an angry bantha, and just as ugly. Obi-Wan motioned for him to come in closer. “You are going to take me and my comrade here to the owner of this junk pile or you will have a rather large mess on your hands.” The barman straightened. “Listen Jedi scum, I won’t do no such thing. You and your ‘comrade’ can just take your sorry butts out of this here joint. The boss ain’t got no time for you.” He pulled the drinks out of their hands. Anakin was forced to spit on him, as he had been in the process of drinking. It didn’t make him happy. He pulled out a blaster and prepared to end Anakin’s life, but Anakin was after all a Jedi, and it was a mistake that cost the barman his hand and his life. The bar went from an inaudible amount of noise to complete silence. Everyone in the room stared at the yellow alien barman’s lifeless body, then pulled out there own weapons. As Obi-Wan dropped his lightsaber on the ground and raised his hands in the air he growled to Anakin, “You couldn’t have simply taken the gun, you had to kill him?” “What did you expect me to do?” Anakin returned in an angry whisper, “Let him take my head off?”
A huge man appeared before them. Both had to look up. He must have been around 8ft tall. He was olive green, of average weight and looked like he could toss either one of them a few miles. He spoke in a husky voice, “Would you care to explain to me why you two Jedi are in my bar, killing my employees?” Seeing as how talking was Obi-Wan’s area of expertise, he let him handle it. “We need to talk to you in private. This man wouldn’t let us. He angered my young friend and it cost him his life.” The barman laughed. Soon the whole bar joined in. “I ain’t no damn fool. You’re just a Jedi. And I ain’t got time for you, so I guess that means your dead.”

He pulled out a gun. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan called their lightsabers to their hands through the force. Obi-Wan took the man’s weapon with out the bloodshed, and Anakin took care of his bodyguards. Anakin found it funny that he should need any. He was now on his knees, Obi-Wan and Anakin stood before him. The man waved off the others in the bar prepared to fire. He got to his feet and motioned for them to follow. They went into his private office. Anakin waved the door shut behind him. The boss laughed. “Another one of your Jedi tricks. The names Webs. What can I do for ya?” Obi-Wan did the talking again. “A few nights ago a transmission was made to this place, from Cato Neimodia. Can you tell us who made this transmission?” Webs looked uncomfortable. “If you made it this far, I assume you already know plenty. A few years back, at the end of the war, this fella’ comes in here, says he’s got a deal for me see? Tells me that if I store some weapons here he’ll pay me well. So he pays me. Bout a weak ago, late at night, twenty of these funny looking guys enter. Says their here for the goods. So I gives it to them just like I said. Then they ask me where he lives.” Obi-Wan looked confused at that last part, “Where who lives?” Webs points at Anakin and says, “That fella’ by the door. Showed me his picture and asked me where he lives. ‘I never seen him before in my life’, which is the honest truth. Then they shows me a picture of that Senator lady. I know where she lives, everyone does. So I tells them. Then they take my personal craft. 2 of em’ head off in the direction of the house. The others leave on my ship.” Anakin was biting down on his temper. It was taking all of his reserve not to kill this buffoon. Obi-Wan remained calm, “Do you have a tracker on your craft? Can you tell me where it went?” Webs looked at him like he was a bumbling idiot. “Course I have a tracker. Where are you from? They went to the Hoth system. Landed on the main planet.” “Thank you.” Obi-Wan said and got up to leave. “Is there a back exit, I would prefer to not have to go through the bar again.” Webs nodded. “To your left, follow the hallway. Can’t miss it.” Obi-Wan practically had to drag Anakin out of the room. Once outside he turned to him. “I know you would very much like to go back in there and show Webs just what you are capable of, but it will do you no good. What’s done is done.” Anakin knew Obi-Wan was right, he just hated to admit it. They walked down the hallway in silence and exited.

Instead of heading for where the fighters were, Obi-Wan entered a hotel. Anakin gave him a questioning look. “We are both tired. Rest will do you some good. It has been 6 days now since you have talked to your family. It will make you feel better. And Master Yoda needs to hear this information.” Anakin couldn’t help but agreed. Once they were in their room Obi-Wan talked to Yoda and told him that in all likely hood, the remaining 18 sith were on Hoth. “Done well you have, Kenobi and Skywalker. Destroying these sith no easy task it will be. No doubt I have that complete your mission you will.” Yoda looked at Anakin. “Safe you family is, in your old quarters they are. To hear from you, great joy it would bring.” Anakin was so excited he was twitching. Yoda ended the transmission and Obi-Wan mumbled something about taking a walk to give him some privacy. Padme’s face appeared she looked absolutely overjoyed to see him in one piece. “Anakin! We have missed you so!” Anakin found himself having a hard time containing his emotions. He could see Luke and Leia playing in the background under Semi’s watchful eye. “Not nearly as much as I have missed you my love,” he said. Luke and Leia looked up and must have seen him they ran over. “Hi Dad!” they greeted him. “Hi, are you fulfilling your secret duty?” “Yes!” they said. “Secret duty, what secret duty?” Padme asked. “Nothing,” Anakin said, the kids both giggled. “Behave and know that I miss you and love you,” he said to the children. “We will dad!” Leia ran off. Luke added, “I have been practicing with the other padawans, Master Yoda said I could. I am getting good as you!” Anakin laughed, “I have no doubt,” he said. Luke ran off after Leia, leaving Anakin and Padme staring at each other. Padme broke the silence, “It has been unbearable without you here, when will you return?” Anakin sighed, “I know. Obi-Wan and I have tracked them to the planet Hoth. It won’t be long now until I am home.” She brightened at this, “I will miss you every moment until then,” she said. “As will I,” Anakin returned, “I love you,” he said, “And I promise to be back soon.” He could see Padme was beginning to tear, “I love you too.” She blew him a kiss that he returned and hung up the transmission. Obi-Wan returned some time later to find Anakin lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. “Nice chat?” Anakin broke his concentration on the water spot he had found on the ceiling.

“Yes,” he said. Obi-Wan turned the lights off and crawled into bed.
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A holoimage appeared in the bunker on Hoth. The men that had been sleeping on the floor huddled around it. “Kenobi and Skywalker have found you. They leave in the morning.” A small buzz began among the crowd but it was quickly stifled. “The children will be mine in a matter of hours. I will join you there before they arrive. This is our time: our final test. I hope you are prepared.” The holoimage disappeared.
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[Annie]

Chapter 6

Padme was asleep with Leia under her arm and Luke behind her. She awoke to a strange sound outside the room. The door kicked in and a masked figured entered. She stared in horror. His entry had woken the children; she pushed them toward the door, telling them to run! They obeyed and managed to slip past the man. He turned to chase after him and Padme attacked him from behind, hitting him with all of her strength. He seemed surprised that she packed such a punch, but he was in the end, far stronger. He flung her off him back and she hit the wall. Everything went dark.
Anakin couldn’t breath. He was clawing at his neck, but he felt like no oxygen was coming. He rolled off the bed with a thump that awoke Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan rushed to his side. He felt through the force where Anakin’s pain was and helped him to banish it. When Anakin had a chance to catch his breath, Obi-Wan was up and dressing himself. “What…What happened? What’s going on? What did you see?” Obi-Wan was struggling with what to say, but decided to just come out and say it. “Anakin, your children are in danger, they have been taken.” Anakin felt his chest rip apart, that was impossible, he had just spoken to them! “But...NO!” He screamed in agony, and the room began to shake, dust falling on top of his head. His hands were in clenched fists as he pounded on the floor. Obi-Wan just stood there. When Anakin had used all of his energy, he spoke softly, like a scared child. “How? Semi was…he was watching them.” The tears were rolling down his face. “What about Padme?” Obi-Wan had no answer for him. The communicator on Obi-Wan’s belt began to ring. It was Yoda. “Return immediately to the temple. Taken the Skywalker children have been. Injured is Lady Skywalker.” Anakin felt as if his whole world was crumbling down around him. But he had to be strong. His children were not dead yet. And if he had anything to say about it, whoever had taken them was about to be in a world of hurt.


Luke was scared, but he pretended otherwise. Leia looked terrified enough for the both of them. Stored in a closet, they were close enough to feel each others heart beat. They were bound and gagged, but Luke didn’t worry. He knew that any moment his father would burst through the door and show that man just who he was dealing with. He hoped that his mother was alright. She had told them to run, and they did, screaming down the hallway. They must have woken everyone in the temple. But it had not been enough. He was faster and caught them, single-handedly fended off the other Jedi and taken them from the temple. If only Luke had a lightsaber, he could get them out of this mess. The closet door opened and the masked man appeared again. He dragged both of them out of the closet. They were on a very cold planet, he didn’t know where. There was a large crowd of men and they passed him and Leia around until they reached the front and they promptly dropped them on their hind quarters. The men had formed a circle around them and the masked man. The masked man spoke, “It won’t be long until the Jedi track us here. Skywalker has a strong connection to his family; he can feel when they are in danger. He is no doubt now aware that his children are missing. I have chosen another planet for us to hide on until the process is complete. I don’t for see them finding us until the deed is done. Grab any supplies and equipment, we leave in 5 minutes.” The men scattered and set about their task. No one seemed to be paying any further attention to him and his sister. Luke didn’t know what he meant by “the process”, and he had no idea where they were going. Leia was pale and stricken. He tried to give her a look to convey what he was thinking: Dad and Uncle Ben will be here soon. Mom is fine. Maybe he could do it through the force. He concentrated on what he wanted to do. It took a few minutes, but Leia looked at him and her eyes smiled. She must have gotten the message. The masked man turned his attention back to them. He must have felt through the force what Luke had done. He slapped him across the face. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll be dead soon.” He took off his mask and Luke let out a gagged scream from shock…


Anakin’s speeder had barely hit the ground before he was out and walking at a brisk pace into the temple. Obi-Wan had to jog to catch up with him. Anakin was more furious than he had ever been. His children were in danger and his wife had been hurt. What had Semi been doing? Security at the temple was tight, it was on lockdown. Anakin blew right past security, as did Obi-Wan; they had no reason to question them. Obi-Wan was practically at a run to keep up. “Anakin, I know you are fuming right now, and you have every reason,” he said, “But you must calm yourself.” Obi-Wan grabbed Anakin’s arm, forcing him to stop. Anakin huffed in impatience. “How is Padme going to feel, seeing you like this?” He continued. Anakin breathed deep. Why did Obi-Wan always have to be right?

“You’re right,” he told Obi-Wan. “I will save my anger for those responsible.” He started off towards Master Yoda’s quarters. He had the feeling that Obi-Wan didn’t want him to be angry at all, but that just wasn’t possible. There were 2 guards outside of Yoda’s room. Anakin motioned to go in, but they stopped him. Anakin gave them a look mean enough to make a youngling wet their pants. Obi-Wan was now behind him. “I am warning you only once. I have no patience right now. My children are in danger and my wife is injured. Unless you let me in their right now, you can’t imagine the pain I can cause.” The guards believed him; after all he was the “Hero with no Fear”. He could feel Obi-Wan’s dismay at what he had just done. As the guards opened the door, Anakin said to him, “It worked, and for your information I had no intention of causing them any harm.”
Once inside, Anakin saw Yoda sitting, appearing to be looking out the window. He rubbed his forehead in concern. Anakin hadn’t had a chance to open his mouth before, “In the infirmary she is. Still unconscious she remains.” Anakin had turned on his heel and was about to go rushing out of the room when he ran smack dab into Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan held Anakin’s arms. Anakin was furious that he was trying to stop him. Anakin was doing his very best not to scream. Obi-Wan said, “Yoda needs to speak with us first.” Anakin pulled his arms out of Obi-Wan’s grasp. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. Yoda turned to face them. “Taken the children have been. To where, not a clue we have. Hoth, our best chance.” Obi-Wan agreed, “We should start there. These sith are now at large, in order to combat them we will need our own army of Jedi.” Yoda contemplated this, and then nodded his agreement. “Go with you I shall, along with the council members. A few Knights we shall take. A total of 20 we should have.” Twenty seemed like an awfully small number to Anakin, but at this point he had faith he could do it by himself if needed. Obi-Wan and Yoda seemed to be done talking, Anakin was just starting. “I want to know what happened. Where in the hell was Semi? Why did no one stop the assailant? I thought my family would be safe here.” Yoda seemed peeved at having to answer. Anakin didn’t care; it wasn’t like the old Jedi Master had any idea what it felt like to be a father. “Try to stop the assailant, many Jedi did. Died, three of them did.” Anakin felt immediately guilty, he should have known that the Jedi had done their best; it just hadn’t been good enough. If only he had been here! “What about Semi? Where is he now?” Yoda took a long time to answer, so long in fact Anakin didn’t think he would. “Take the children Semi did.”
Anakin stared at him in disbelief. Why would Semi do that? He knew that the sith had wanted his children, had they made a deal with Semi? Or had he done it on his own esteem? Obi-Wan looked just as dumbfounded as Anakin felt. Suddenly a light seemed to go on in Obi-Wan head. “The Leader! Semi is the leader of the sith army! He was with Palpatine the night he attacked the temple. He must have been left behind to dispose of the stragglers and he lied to say he was a Jedi! He has been among us for 8 years! How could we not have known?!” This was blankly impossible Anakin thought. Why wouldn’t Semi have warned the Chancellor about Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda? But, then again he didn’t get much of a chance. He was probably confident that his master would easily dispose of the three of them. Besides he probably wanted to get those in hiding on Kashyyyk. And after learning about the Chancellor’s death, he thought it in his best interest to remain hidden. A red haze began to gather in Anakin’s head, the anger, frustration, worry, and everything else he was feeling, clouding his head so badly he couldn’t see past it. Semi…Semi had betrayed his trust, taken his children, and injured his wife. He would pay, he would suffer. Anakin’s fists clenched once more. Yoda and Obi-Wan stared at him; Obi-Wan could feel his anger and his pain. Anakin walked out of the room, toward the infirmary. Obi-Wan followed, Anakin could feel him. “Obi-Wan I don’t need an escort,” he said shortly. Obi-Wan had caught up to him, “Had the thought ever occurred to you that you aren’t the only one who cares about your family’s safety?” Anakin said nothing but kept walking. “I care for those children very much Anakin; I love them as if they were my own. And Padme is a dear friend. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you are the only angry one here. Remember that it is I who have had Semi under my nose the whole time, and didn’t suspect a damn thing. It was I who suggested Semi protect your children because of his skill level. It is my fault, and I intend to do everything in my power to fix it.” Obi-Wan was angry, Anakin heard it in his voice. He stopped walking, and turned away from Anakin. Anakin stopped too. “Obi-Wan this is not your fault. Nothing can be done now, except rescue.
I will not lose my children.” Obi-Wan turned back to face him and nodded. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the infirmary.

[Annie]

Chapter 7

Padme woke up and screamed. “NO!” she shouted, she began to flail her arms, “RUN!” she screamed, struggling to free herself. She hit the man square upside the head, and he fell off the bed. Bed? Where was she? Where were the children? “Luke, Leia!” She looked around. She was still in her bed clothes and appeared to be in some sort of medical center room. She rubbed her head, every part of her ached. A hand appeared at the end of the bed, followed by an arm and finally a golden head of hair she new quite well. Anakin stood up and stroked his jaw where she had hit him. Padme’s eyes grew wide and she flung herself into his arms, hugging him tight and sobbing. He pulled her closer to him and sat down, trying his best to comfort her. “Where…What happened, where are the children?” Anakin was clearly struggling with what to say, but he finally decided to come out with it. “Semi took them. He is the leader of the sith army. I don’t know what he plans to do with them. You were knocked unconscious trying to fight him off.” Padme felt as if her lungs had just been punctured. “No, I…I …I,” The tears came even heavier now and she shook uncontrollably against Anakin’s body. He held her and told her that everything would be alright, he promised her that he would get the children back and that no harm would come to them.
When she finally had a reign on her emotions she looked up to see that she and Anakin were not alone. Obi-Wan, Yoda, and two healers were in the room. She guessed they had come running upon hearing her outburst. Obi-Wan smiled at her. “Pleasant nap?” Anakin scowled at him. “To see that you are okay, glad I am,” Yoda said. “Assembled the team is Master Skywalker. Leave now, we must.” Padme instinctively clung on to Anakin even tighter. She had just been re-united with him, he couldn’t leave her now. As if she would sit her in the infirmary and wait to see if maybe her children would come back okay. “I am coming,” she said with firm resolve. Anakin stared at her in disbelief, “You think I will allow you to come with me to face an army of sith? You must have been hit harder on the head then I thought.” Padme’s temper was flaming, “I don’t need your permission Anakin, I am going with or with out it. These are my children too, I will not sit idly by as their lives are in danger!” Obi-Wan and Yoda slipped towards the door, not wanting to witness the ensuing quarrel. Obi-Wan stuck up his hand gesturing that they were leaving in 5 minutes. Anakin was now angry as well, he was up off the bed and pacing in front of her. “Have you given any thought to the scare that you gave me?! That makes twice now that I have almost lost you, you have no idea the pain that it causes me!” Padme rolled her eyes, “I have no idea! Really Anakin! So you honestly think that for three years, while I was separated from you for months at a time I didn’t worry?! You were out doing goodness knows what, goodness knows where, and no one knew whether you were alive or dead. I never knew when you were coming home, or if I would ever see you again. Three years Anakin, three years I felt this way! Don’t tell me that I don’t know what you’re feeling. Now these are our children, and I won’t be able to sleep at night knowing that I wasn’t there in their hour of need!” Anakin had stopped pacing and was simply just standing in front of her. His face was a mixture of emotions, none of which she could decipher. “Alright,” he said quietly, “Alright.” He left the room to get her something to wear and a weapon.
She shouldn’t have let her temper get the best of her, it was clear that she had hurt him. It was just so frustrating that he exerted all of his efforts into protecting her. He had always been so afraid to lose her after what had happened to his mother. He returned to the room, handed her the clothes, and sat in the corner chair without a word. She dressed silently and quickly in the awkward silence. When she was done, he looked up. She offered up a faint smile. He looked at the floor again. It was causing her pain to see him so hurt over what she had done. Why did she have to do that to him when their children were missing? She chided herself for being so inconsiderate of him. He was right in a way; the way he felt when she was almost killed was different from the way she felt. Anakin always blamed himself and felt guilty for things he had no control over. “Anakin,” she said softly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just…I am worried for our children and I didn’t think my heart could take it if you left. I love you too much.” After what seemed like forever, Anakin finally spoke, but didn’t lift his head. “I understand. I am so sorry for saying that you had no idea what it felt like, it was naïve. I know that hiding our marriage during the war and me constantly being gone was incredibly hard for you.” He stood up finally, and took her hand. “I love you more than I could ever tell you; I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

Padme snuggled close to him, “And you won’t, because we are going to find our children, and we are going to rescue them. No army could possibly stand in the way of that.” She put her hand along his jaw line and pulled him down to kiss her. Their kiss was interrupted by Obi-Wan’s intrusion. “Oh,” he said, “Sorry about that. See you two have made up, that’s lovely. It has now been six minutes and Yoda is ready to leave.” Anakin took her hand and led her out of the room.
Anakin looked around the cargo area of the ship. They would be landing on Hoth any minute now. It was a little warm, seeing as how they were all dressed accordingly for the environment. There were exactly twenty of them, well Padme made twenty-one. At first he had argued with her over her coming, but now he was glad she was here. He felt she was safer with him than anyplace else. The transport hit the ground hard, about a half-mile away from where the bunker was supposed to be. Obi-Wan had been able to locate the exact location from the information Webs had given them. Obi-Wan got the attention of everyone in the room and it fell silent. “We will have to walk the remaining distance. I am sure there is no need to tell you the severity of the situation. Right now we have one concern; and that is the rescue of Master Skywalker’s children. Until they are safe, no blood will be shed.” One of the knights flung open the shuttle door and the cold wind struck them hard. Anakin pulled Padme close to him and whispered in her ear, “Please be careful, stick close to me. And, if you find it at all possible: listen to me, don’t argue.” Padme gave him a shy smile, “I promise.” Anakin held her hand and led her to the front of the group along side Master Yoda and Obi-Wan. They began the trek to the bunker.
As they were coming up on the bunker, Obi-Wan felt his heartbeat increase. He hoped it would be warmer inside, his mechanical leg joints were beginning to freeze. Of course his own safety was the least of his worries. He knew Anakin’s knee had been bothering him; he had just refused to say anything. Typical. He was so worried for the children, should anything happen to them he would never forgive himself. It would kill Anakin and Padme; those two children were all they lived for outside of each other. When they reached the bunker doors, he signaled for them to spilt up, half would enter from the back. Anakin, Padme, and eight Jedi stayed behind him, the others followed Yoda. To enter without being detected would be best, but judging by the look of these doors, that wasn’t going to happen. Obi-Wan hand signaled for the others to stand back and he blew the door. He heard the sound of nine lightsabers come to life. They moved quickly into the bunker, it was smaller then they originally thought. It was clear that they were too late. The bunker was empty, no trace of anything ever having been there. The others came in from behind, just as surprised to see it empty. Anakin walked to the center of the room. Obi-Wan had no idea how he was going to take this. Anakin bent over and picked something up, Obi-Wan immediately recognized it as a japor snippet, similar to the one Padme wore around her neck. Anakin had carved matching ones for Luke and Leia, and he also wore one around his own neck. He gripped the snippet so tight Obi-Wan thought it might actually turn into dust right then. “They were here,” Anakin said through gritted teeth. Everyone in the room had their eyes focused on him. “But we were too late.” Anakin was struggling to contain his rage, that much was clear. Padme walked over next to him, tears filling her eyes. “Ani,” she said, “Tell me that it’s okay, tell me that they are alright.” Anakin said nothing; he just stood there, apparently staring into space.


Luke had been shocked to find out Semi was in fact the man who had taken them. He hadn’t liked him to begin with, but after what he had just done to his mother and sister he felt like taking a lightsaber to the man’s private parts. Luke and Leia were no longer gagged, but they were still bound and tied to a pole. They had been forbidden to speak. Semi and the other men were in the next room preparing for the process they had been discussing earlier. Semi had told them that they would live through the night, but come tomorrow morning they would cease to exist. Luke tried to convince Leia that they weren’t going to die, but she would here none of it. She was far too concerned with managing to not pass out from the stress. So Luke sat there in the dark just trying to figure out what in the blazes to do. Was there any way to get them out of this mess? Where was his dad? Just then Luke felt a familiar presence. He looked around, straining to see in the dark, “Dad?” he said quietly, almost to himself. “Yes Luke,” he father responded in his head. “I am not in the room, don’t look around, I don’t want Semi to become suspicious. Is he near you?” “No,” Luke said quietly in the darkness.

“If you aren’t here, where exactly are you?” “Hoth,” his father answered “I am communicating to you through the force.” Luke was stunned, he didn’t know you could do that, “Dad, how are you doing this?” “Luke that isn’t important at this moment,” he responded, “Are you and your sister okay?” “Yes,” Luke told him. “But they are going to kill us in the morning.” His Dad’s voice sounded hurried, “Do you know where you are? Could you see where you landed?” Luke was happy to answer, “Yes. We are on Geonosis. I remember because of that story you told me of you and Mom fighting in that battle! I looked up the planet to see what it looked like, that is where we are!” His father sounded overjoyed, “Excellent Luke! I am so proud of you! Don’t worry, I will be there soon. Hang on.” His father’s presence left the Luke, but he felt better. He nudged Leia, “Dad’s on his way. He told me through the force.” Leia rolled her eyes at him, but he could tell she believed him. That was all that mattered.
Anakin had been standing in the middle of the bunker now for at least five minutes. He hadn’t even blinked. Padme had done everything but slap him across the face, she didn’t want to do it for the second time today. He suddenly reared back into consciousness. “Geonosis. They are on Geonosis.” Padme wondered if it really was her that had been hit on the head. She stared at her husband in disbelief. “Luke told me. We need to go now.” No one in the room seemed to argue the point; they all filed out into the snow behind Anakin. He was walking at such speed he was practically dragging Padme. They reached the transport quickly and took off even quicker; Anakin was at the helm, with Obi-Wan beside him. Padme stood in back of them. She had decided on the walk back that Anakin was no doubt sure of what he was doing, or at least she hoped he was. “Padme, I spoke to him. He told me where he and Leia were.” Oh how sometimes she did hate the fact he could read her thoughts. “Sorry Anakin, it is a little harder for us non-force sensitive people to understand how that is possible,” she said, “Not that I don’t believe you, because I do One Hundred percent, I am just trying to work out the logistics in my head.” Anakin smiled, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had seen him do that. “Trust me. I have confidence that Luke knows what he’s doing. It won’t be long until we are reunited.” Padme was still worried sick about the children, but while Anakin still appeared to be worried, he seemed confident. They had entered hyperspace; they would be on Geonosis in a matter of hours. She just prayed it wouldn’t be too late.

Chapter 8

Anakin could feel exactly where on Geonosis Luke was, thanks to their new strengthened bond. That didn't stop him from worrying. He switched to autopilot and began to pace around the cabin. He had shed his Hoth attire a long time ago, but he still felt hot. What if they were too late? Dawn was breaking as they entered the atmosphere. Anakin continued his nervous pacing while Obi-Wan talked to Yoda and the others. "As before," he started, "Our main concern is the safety of the children. But understand that this sith threat must be eliminated. We don't know what we could be facing." 'He certainly didn't sound optimistic,' Anakin thought. Padme took Anakin's hand, forcing him to stop pacing. She gave him a warm, knowing smile, as Obi-Wan finished his speech. "This time, we stick together. May the force be with us all." Anakin returned to the cabin and began to land the ship.


Luke was awakened by a hard hit on the head. That was going to hurt later. He and Leia were dragged to their feet and into the next room. He was blown away by what he saw. It was huge! Broken parts and dismantled droids were scattered about every which way. He remembered what his father had said about droid factories on Geonosis, and it was clear that he was in one. But where was his dad? They had spoken hours ago, but he had heard nothing since. He had better hurry, Luke didn't know how much more time they had. As the full room came into view, Luke's eyes grew wide. There were at least 150 people in the room; all of them dressing in long, black coats, standing in formation, at attention. The two men who had dragged them in took Luke and Leia to the front, onto a small stage, before they too stood at attention. Just then Semi entered and a loud cry erupted from the men as they saluted him. He reached the stage area and proceeded to kick Luke and Leia so that they fell to their knees. Leia spit on him. Semi slapped her across the face, and then laughed. "Just like your mother..." he mumbled to her. He then stood in front of them. "BROTHERS!" he yelled, raising his arms in triumph. They cheered louder before falling silent. "For eight years we were forced to hide in the shadows. Forced to hide because of Anakin Skywalker. But that is over now. Do you know why these children are so important?" he asked. No on answered. "Our Master used the force and midi-chlorians to create life. The life of the so-called 'Chosen One', who in turn rejected and killed him." A large boo rose from the crowd. Luke became worried, he didn't like where this was going. "But this chosen one is half of our master. He is also married and has two brats of his own: Luke and Leia." The crowd seemed to be understanding now. "With their sacrifice we can bring our master back! Fulfill his dream for an empire! Destroy the Jedi!" Luke almost couldn't hear himself think; it was that loud. So this is the 'process', this is why they were taken from their loving parents: to be sacrificed. This was the end. Their father would never reach them in time...


Anakin watched from the shadows, his anger growing with each passing second. First Semi had kicked Luke and Leia. But when Leia had fought back he had slapped her. It was taking every inch of his being not to tear him limb for limb. 150 of them at least. How stupid could he be? Of course they had recruited and trained new soldiers; the galaxy was full of gullible idiots. It didn't matter. He would kill all of them if it meant saving his family. He looked at the twenty Jedi behind him. He looked at Yoda, the elfin font of wisdom, the ultimate warrior prepared for the ultimate battle. Obi-Wan was a statue, his face solemn, but in his eyes he saw that determination that made Obi-Wan the Jedi he was. He also, for the first time saw a glint of anger. And Padme. Her beautiful face was adorned with rage. He immediately felt sorry for anyone who crossed her path. They were as ready as they would ever be, and that was enough. Obi-Wan and Anakin would go down first; the others would wait for the right moment. They removed their cloaks and unlatched their lightsabers. Obi-Wan leapt. Anakin mouthed the words "I love you," to Padme before he followed.
Their boots hit the ground in front of Semi with a loud thud! "Hello There!" Obi-Wan said. Anakin just glared. He could feel the force flowing through him, the unsteady beat of his heart. He rocked softly to the low hum of his lightsaber. Semi looked disgusted. "I should have known," he spat at them. Anakin saw the relieved look on his children's faces, and the small bruises on their tiny bodies. He anger jumped another level. "We have come to relieve you of my children," he said with an edge. "If it isn't the chosen one," the crowd jeered. Semi searched behind Anakin, "Where's the wife? It was so cute the way so fought me last time, I'd love a rematch!" Anakin bit down on his temper. "You had best hope to the force that she doesn't get that chance."

Semi laughed and then got right up in Anakin's face, inches from his nose. "You have only brought on your own death. There are two of you, 150 of us. Surely you realize, you are doomed." Anakin didn't flinch. "I don't think so," Obi-Wan responded as he ignited his lightsaber. Semi was distracted and turned from Anakin, and when he turned back his face was introduced to Anakin's metal fist with a loud crack. Semi spun before collapsing on the floor in a mangled heap. Obi-Wan cut Luke and Leia loose and then to Anakin's shock, handed Luke a lightsaber; identical to the one Anakin was holding. Anakin looked at Luke stand bravely in front of his sister as all 150 sith rushed the stage. It felt right. Anakin leapt to meet the first wave of attackers as the other Jedi entered the room and the ensuing battle began.
Every direction he turned there was a sith solider standing there to greet them with their lightsaber. Very few of them were force sensitive, they were fighting only with brute strength; no match for Kenobi and Skywalker. Or shall we say Kenobi and Skywalker2. Luke was holding his own with ease, Anakin was amazed. He was also amazed that his knee had yet to give out on him. The other Jedi were meeting success as well, but he could feel that they had lost a few. In 10 minutes, 150 sith had become around 50. Yoda was going through soldiers faster than Luke and Leia went through presents on their birthday. Soon it was 45, then 40, 35. The sith army would soon be no more, Sidious hadn't trained him as well as he thought. It hit Anakin faster than lightning: Padme, where was she? She was in danger. Anakin found her in the crowd, a sith commander about to deliver the death blow. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Anakin screamed as he leapt, putting himself in between the man's blade and Padme. He landed on top of her and rolled, forcing the commander to miss his mark. Padme ended up on top of Anakin as the man walked toward them with smile; two for one, the chosen one and his beloved. Just as he was about to strike, Anakin threw Padme off of him and stabbed the man as he fell forward on his blade, then kicked him off with his boot. He stood up and helped Padme to her feet, not saying a word. She still had that look of stark determination on her face, as well as that look of pure rage. There was also blood smeared across her face. Anakin wiped it off with his thumb; it seemed a little out of place. Oh how he loved her. Her eyes suddenly grew wide and she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could Anakin turned around and quickly dispersed of the three men behind him. He turned back to her and called her blaster to his hand. As he handed it to her, he mimicked Obi-Wan, "This weapon is your life." She cracked a small smile and he took her hand and led her back to the center of the room. Now there were only a few sith left, most of them had surrendered and those who hadn't were being dealt with. Anakin would have liked to 'deal' with all of them himself. Obi-Wan was having a grand old time tying up the prisoners. "We have made lovely accommodations for all of you. You will be spending the remainder of you worthless lives in the Republic's prison system. Now, I can't guarantee soap for all of you..." Anakin came up behind Obi-Wan, "It's isn't very Jedi to gloat." Obi-Wan smiled, "Not gloating, just celebrating with style." Anakin actually laughed. Once they reached the stage where he had left Luke and Leia, Anakin looked around wildly. "They were right here!" he yelled at Padme. Anakin was panic-stricken, Semi was gone too. Anakin reached deep into the force and by this time Obi-Wan had figured out what had happened. "The Upper Level!" Anakin shouted as he, Obi-Wan and Padme took off at a run.

[Annie]

Chapter 9

They reached the upper level hangar as Semi was preparing to board with Luke and Leia in tow. Semi was covered in blood, his own; it appeared as if he had managed to crack his jaw into place after Anakin's punch. Both Luke and Leia looked angry, it was clear that Semi hadn't gotten a hold of them with ease. Anakin force choked Semi and sent him flying across the room. The children were free, Leia ran into her father's embrace, Luke his mother's. The two of them were nearly squished to death by their parents. Semi was getting to his feet. Anakin turned to Padme, "Take them back into the other room now." Fire engulfed Anakin's eyes, and for once, Padme agreed with out protest.

With Semi now on his feet, and Padme and the children gone, Anakin ignited his lightsaber. Obi-Wan began to do the same but Anakin told him no. Something on Anakin's face said that he had best heed his words. "This is between him and I," Obi-Wan reluctantly followed Padme out of the room. Semi too had produced a lightsaber and ignited it, red as the blood on his cloak. "I have been waiting for this Skywalker," Semi said, "A chance to avenge my master. You were never worthy, so weak, so naive, so unable to grasp unlimited power. Once you are dead, I will kill your children. I will keep you wife around for my pleasure, then kill her too. Nice and slowly. They will suffer for your lack of vision." They were circling each other, and at Semi's last remarks, Anakin's anger was at the boiling point. “I pity you Semi. Because in a few moments you will be nothing but a memory. One that I will look upon with disgust." Semi was outraged. "NOW YOU DIE!!!" he screamed as he launched himself at Anakin.

Semi was careless in his attacks, a product of his anger; he didn't know how to focus it the way Anakin did. Anakin blocked his attacks with ease and skill. He was faster and stronger and it showed. He rained blows down on Semi until he had him backed into a corner. Semi was panicking; he took a cheap shot at Anakin's bad knee. Anakin doubled over in pain and screamed his lightsaber flying out of his hand. Semi smiled as he prepared to strike. Anakin swiftly kicked Semi's feet out from under him, bringing him to the floor. Anakin rolled on top of him and was choking the life out of him. Semi grabbed a hold of Anakin's next and they stayed in that moment, each one trying to suffocate the other. Anakin tightened his grip with his mechanical hand, Semi began to turn purple and his struggling lessened as a smile crept over Anakin's face. Anakin watched Semi's eyes dart around, frantically looking for a solution. He found one, and again took a cheap shot, this one in between Anakin's legs. Anakin let out a high pitched noise and Semi threw him off. Both Anakin and Semi rubbed the feeling back into their necks as they called their respective lightsabers to their hands. Semi jumped into the air preparing to spear Anakin. Anakin moved to the right and when Semi recovered, Anakin was right on top of him again. But something about the way Semi was fighting had changed, as if he knew he didn't have a chance. Anakin maneuvered around Semi and managed to slice off a piece of the same knee that Semi had kicked Anakin in. Semi was distracted by the pain and when he looked up Anakin was standing right there, fire in his eyes, lightsaber raised. All Semi could do was force push him away, but Anakin had seen this coming and he did the same. They each flew to the opposite side of the room.

Anakin hit the wall hard. He shook his head trying to clear it. Did he hear blaster fire? Anakin vision cleared and he was left speechless at what he saw. Semi was clutching his bleeding chest, staring down the barrel of a blaster belonging to his wife. Padme stood unflinchingly, her eyes wide with shock. Semi stumbled toward her with his lightsaber out reached. Anakin leapt and landed in front of him, slicing off his arm. Next he took the other arm, then his legs. Semi was nothing but a torso. Anakin drove his lightsaber into him so hard; it pierced the floor as well. Anakin fell to his knees. "I told you that you would be sorry," he mumbled to Semi's lifeless, dismembered body. He took Luke's lightsaber off of Semi's belt and got unsteadily to his feet. He turned to look at Padme; her eyes were now brimming with tears that she tried to blink away. The blaster clinked to the floor. Anakin limped to her and wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed uncontrollably on his chest. Obi-Wan re-entered the room, Leia and Luke hot on his heels. Anakin released his grip on Padme slightly, to allow the two kids into their embrace. Each one of them was in tears. Obi-Wan looked at Semi's body, before covering it with a cloak to avoid the children from seeing it. Anakin thanked Obi-Wan with is eyes. He hugged both of his children tightly, and kissed Padme's cheek. He bent down in front of Luke and handed him the lightsaber.

"I believe this is yours. And take it from a former padawan of Obi-Wan's to one soon to be; try not to loose it again." Luke's eyes light up, as did Obi-Wan's. "Really?!" Luke asked. "Yes, if you so choose and your mother agrees, you have my blessing. You have more than proven yourself." Luke looked to his mother, who nodded her approval through her tears, before throwing his arms around his father. Anakin returned the hug. "I will still be able to visit?" Luke asked. "Yes," Obi-Wan said, "Anytime you want." Luke smiled. "Well," Obi-Wan said, I think we have spent enough time in paradise, shall we?" "Yes," Anakin said as he lifted Leia to his shoulders and took Padme's hand. They walked out of the room and towards the shuttle.

Chapter 10

It had taken two months to clean up the mess left behind by the sith army. Once everyone had found out what had happened on Geonosis, the galaxy became panic stricken, afraid that some of them had escaped and had hidden among the people. Eventually the turmoil had died down. The Jedi Order was still recovering from having a traitor in the midst, slightly embarrassed that none of the over a thousand Jedi in the temple had managed to out Semi. No one felt more guilty than Obi-Wan. Anakin had tried on many occasions to get Obi-Wan to talk about it, but he simply wouldn't. Anakin had told him that it wasn't his fault, he didn't blame him, but Obi-Wan would hear none of it. Anakin had felt guilty about how his rage at Semi had clouded his judgment; he had come a little too close to enjoying the end of Semi's life. He had enjoyed it. When he talked to Obi-Wan about it, Obi-Wan told him that he had expected as much. But he wasn't angry at Anakin, surprisingly, but proud that Anakin had managed to control his anger as well as he had. He didn't kill Semi out of cold blood like he did Dooku, but protecting his wife. Obi-Wan did admit that the severing of his limbs and that final stab was a little excessive; when all he had needed to do was end it quickly. Anakin had felt much better after this chat and he wished Obi-Wan would listen to him so he could help his brother feel better too. The clean-up was almost complete and Anakin would be returning to Naboo with Leia and Padme. Padme had refused to leave without him, but he could feel that she was now homesick. She was very irritable and moody, she needed to be home. Anakin too longed to return; to his old job as Commander of the Queen's guard and to their home outside the city. It was so much quieter; Anakin had enough action for awhile. However, Anakin had promised himself not to leave until he talked Obi-Wan out of his funk. He also wanted to see Obi-Wan take Luke as his padawan in the official ceremony. It was uncanny how much Luke and Obi-Wan's relationship mirrored that of Anakin's and Obi-Wan's. Luke was just as impatient and eager as Anakin had been. Leaving Luke was going to be the hardest part of going back to Naboo, but Anakin felt he was ready. He had accepted that Luke's destiny lay with the Jedi, he was too much like he had been, he needed a life full of action. Anakin was sure that he would get it being Obi-Wan's padawan.

Anakin sat across from Obi-Wan in one of the training rooms. It was just him, Obi-Wan, and Luke. Luke was trying, without much success to levitate a small ball. "Use the force Luke, you must believe you can do it before you can achieve it," Obi-Wan said as for a third time the ball had not moved at all. Luke huffed and rolled his eyes. He then closed them and concentrated. The ball moved up into the air about an inch of the floor before falling back down. "Very good!" Obi-Wan said. Anakin smiled at Luke's apparent happiness at having achieved his goal. "Alright, you know what's next, no less than 560 reps, don't slack off. I will be watching," Obi-Wan instructed Luke as he got up and prepared to begin his lightsaber drills. Obi-Wan watched him intently, then his attention drifted back to Anakin who was staring at him. "What?" he asked. "We need to talk," Anakin said. It was Obi-Wan this time who rolled his eyes. "No. I don't want to talk about it." Anakin said to him sternly, "You sound like a padawan. I don't care that you don't want to talk about it; you need to and I won't leave until you do. It wasn't your fault Obi-Wan, not even Master Yoda sensed it. You have to stop blaming your self for everything." Obi-Wan looked straight at Anakin. "I know...I just...I should have seen it. The clues were all their. You trusted me with you family and I broke that trust. The children could have been killed. Then what?" "No, Obi-Wan, I trusted Semi with my family. It was he who betrayed me, the entire Republic for that mattered. What matters is that the children weren't killed, we saved them. I saw that look in your eye Obi-Wan; you would have done anything to save them. I lay no blame with you." Obi-Wan nodded and offered up a faint smile. "I suppose your right," he said as he conceded defeat. "Did I just hear you correctly?" Anakin asked, "May I hear it one more time for prosperity's sake?" Obi-Wan gave him a playful frown and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't get used to it. I don't expect it to become a regular occurrence." Anakin smiled as Luke came back to join them, sweaty and out of breath. "I'm...done...560...reps..." he said proudly. "Certainly you aren't tired Luke? Not too tired to let your old man show you a thing or two? Between you and me, Obi-Wan can be a little boring in his fighting style." Luke straightened. "Yes!" Obi-Wan looked at Anakin, "Was that a challenge?" "It most certainly was," Anakin said back to him. They both took off their cloaks and proceeded to give Luke quite the demonstration.

When all three of them were good and sweaty, Obi-Wan threw in the towel. "I believe you two have worn this master out," he said bent over, breathing heavily. “I do believe I will need a nap before the ceremony." He gave himself a sniff. "And I think a shower might be a good idea as well. Luke, I suggest the same for you." With that the three of them left the room.

Padme was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for Anakin's return from his and Obi-Wan's training session with Luke. She had sent Leia off with 3P0 to get rid of some of her access energy. She hoped she wasn't too much for 3P0 to handle. Padme had no idea as to how she was going to break the news to Anakin; not that she didn't think he wouldn't be excited, it was just unexpected. Anakin entered in a huff, breathless and sweaty. He looked surprised to see her. "Hello," he said as he bent down to kiss her. "I thought you and Leia would have gone for a walk or something." He took off his sweat drenched shirt, making it rather difficult for Padme to concentrate. She mentally slapped herself back into the matter at hand. "We were going to, but she went with 3P0 instead. I needed to talk to you." Anakin quit his undressing process and sat down next to her on the bed, making it a little easier for her to concentrate. "What is it?" he asked as he kissed her neck. “If he was trying on purpose to divert her attention, he was doing it with success. He moved his kiss up to her mouth before she pulled away. "Seriously, Ani," she said staring at the wall in an effort to keep herself from getting off subject again. "Okay," he said hesitantly, "What's up?" She thought of many ways to give him the information, and then just decided to go with the most straightforward answer. "I'm pregnant Anakin." Anakin's eyes grew wide as if he thought she was playing a sort of joke on him. Finally that lively smile of his crossed him lips and he threw his arms around her. "That's wonderful!" he said as he kissed her, "Just wonderful!" She was glad he was so excited. Anakin just stared at her, as if he still didn’t' believe it. "I can't wait to tell everyone!" She smiled at his happiness. "Neither can I, but right now you are in desperate need of a shower." He laughed, "I suppose your right. By the way, you don't smell to good yourself." She laughed and hit him playfully. "Nice try." He lifted her off her feet and carried her towards the shower, "I don't want a smelly wife," he teased her.

Watching Luke stand next to Obi-Wan was the proudest moment of Anakin's life. He knew that Obi-Wan would mold Luke into a great Jedi; he knew he was doing the right thing. The two of them up there together made Anakin long for the good old days. He knew that Luke and Obi-Wan would have an equally good time.

Everyone was excited at the news of Padme's pregnancy; even Yoda had cracked a smile and congratulated the two of them. Padme hugged Luke tightly, "Don't do anything foolish and listen to everything Obi-Wan tells you," she said. "Okay," Luke squeaked. "Mom, you're strangling me." She let go of him, "Sorry." Luke then hugged his father, and much to his surprise, Leia threw her arms around him. "Promise to tell me everything when you visit?!" she said, "Yes," Luke replied. Obi-Wan embraced Anakin and Padme. "Call when the baby arrives and we will be sure to visit," he said. Both Padme and Anakin nodded, "We will," Padme hugged Luke one more time. “Take good care of my son," Anakin said to Obi-Wan as they boarded the ship. "I intend to Anakin," Obi-Wan said. Obi-Wan and Luke watched the yatch as it left the planet, until it was nothing more than a speck.

TO BE CONTINUED! READ WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IN "AN UNSETTLED SCORE"