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rtunately； that had been enough to detonate the missile。 Despite the success； between the shock of that blast and landing hard and fast on the asteroid to plete the ruse； Obi…Wan was relieved to see that his ship had remained intact。
He wanted no further space fights with Jango and his strange； and supremely efficient； ship； though； and so he had sat here as the minutes slipped past。
〃Have you got their last trajectory logged？〃 he asked the droid； then nodded as R4 assured him that he did。 〃Well； I think we've waited long enough。 Let's go。〃 Obi…Wan paused for a moment； trying to digest all the amazing things he had seen on the trail of Jango Fett。 〃This mystery gets more wound up all the time； Arfour。 Think maybe we'll finally get some answers？〃 R4 gave a sound that Obi…Wan could only think of as a verbal shrug。
Following the path taken by Slave /； Obi…Wan was not surprised that it led straight for the red planet； Geonosis。 What did surprise him； though； was that they were not alone up there。
A series of beeps and whistles from R4 alerted him； and Obi…Wan adjusted his scan screen accordingly； locking on to a huge fleet of vessels； settled on the other side of the asteroid belt。
〃Trade Federation ships；〃 he mused aloud as he angled to get a better view。
〃So many？〃 He shook his head in confusion； noting several of the great battleships among the group； their unique design made them hard to miss…a sphere surrounded by a nearly enclosed ring。 If the clone army was for the Republic； missioned by a Jedi Master； and Jango Fett was the basis for the clones； then what ties would Jango have to the Trade Federation？ And if Jango was indeed behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala； the leading voice of opposition to creating a Republic army； then why would the Trade Federation approve？
It occurred to Obi…Wan that he might have misjudged Jango； or misjudged his motivations； at least。 Maybe Jango； like Obi…Wan and Anakin； had been chasing the bounty hunter who had tried to kill Amidala。 Maybe the toxic dart had been fired not to silence the would…be assassin； but as punishment for the attempt on Amidala's life。
The Jedi couldn't convince himself of that； though。 He still believed that Jango was the man behind the assassination attempt； and that he had killed the changeling so that she could not give him up。 But why the clone army？ And why the Trade Federation ties？ There was no apparent logic to it。 He knew that he would get no answers up here； so he took his ship down toward Geonosis； keeping the asteroid belt between him and the Trade Federation fleet。
He went down low as soon as he broke Geonosis' atmosphere； ducking below any tracking systems that might be in place； skimming the red plains and broken stones； weaving around the buttes and mesas。 The whole of the planet seemed a barren and arid red plain； but his scanners did pick up some activity in the distance。 Obi…Wan skimmed that way； climbing one mesa and running low to its far end。 He slid his ship under a rocky overhang and put her down； then climbed out and walked to the mesa edge。 The night air had a curious metallic taste to it； and the temperature was fortable。 A strong breeze blew in Obi…Wan's face； carrying that metallic taste and odor； and the occasional strange cry。
〃I'll be back； Arfour。〃
The droid gave a long 〃ooooo。〃
〃You'll be fine；〃 Obi…Wan assured him。 〃And I won't be long。〃 Glad to be back on the ground once again； Obi…Wan checked his bearings； measured against the area where he had noted the activity； and started off； moving along a rocky trail。
The hours were unbearable for Padme。 Owen and Beru were friendly enough； and Cliegg was obviously glad for the added pany in his time of great concern and profound grief； but she could hardly speak to them； so worried was she for Anakin。 She had never seen him in a mood like the one that had taken him from the moisture farm； his determination so palpable； so consuming； that it seemed almost destructive。 She had felt Anakin's power in that parting； an inner strength beyond anything she had ever known。
If his mother was indeed alive； and she believed that Shmi was； since Anakin had said so； Padme knew that no army would be strong enough to keep the young Jedi from her。
She didn't sleep that night； rising often from her bed and pacing all about the pound。 She wandered into the garage area； alone with her thoughts…or so she believed。
〃Hello； Miss Padme；〃 came a chipper voice； and as soon as Padme got over the initial shock； she recognized the speaker。
〃You can't sleep？〃 C…3PO asked。
〃No； I have too many things on my mind； I guess。〃
〃Are you worried about your work in the Senate？〃
〃No； I'm just concerned about Anakin。 I said things 。 。 。 I'm afraid I might have hurt him。 I don't know。 Maybe I only hurt myself。 For the first time in my life； I'm confused。〃
〃I'm not sure it will make you feel any better； Miss Padme； but I don't think there's been a time in my life when I haven't been confused。〃
〃I want him to know that I care about him； Threepio；〃 Padme said quietly。
〃I do care about him。 And now he's out there； and in danger…〃
〃Don't worry about Master Annie；〃 the droid assured her； moving over to pat her shoulder。 〃He can take care of himself。 Even in this awful place。〃
〃Awful？〃 Padme asked。 〃You're not happy here？〃
C…3PO stepped back and held his hands out wide； showing his battered coverings and the chipped insulation in those areas where some of his wiring showed。 Padme moved forward； bending to see； and noticed sand clinging in many of the droid's joints。
〃Well； this is a very harsh environment； I'm afraid；〃 the droid explained。
〃And when Master Annie made me； he never quite found the time to give me any outer coverings。 Mistress Shmi did well in finishing me； but even with the coverings； the wind and the sand are quite harsh。 It gets in under my coverings； and it's quite 。 。 。 itchy。〃 〃Itchy？〃 Padme echoed with a laugh… a much…needed laugh。
〃I do not know how else to describe it； Miss Padme。 And I fear that the sand is doing damage to my wiring。〃
Padme looked all around； her gaze settling on a chain hoist over an open tub of dark liquid。 〃You need an oil bath；〃 she said。
〃Oh； I would wele a bath！〃
Glad for the distraction； Padme moved to the oil tub and began sorting out the hoist chain。 In a short while she had C…3PO secured and everything in place； and she gently lowered the droid into the oil。
〃Oooh！〃 the droid cried。 〃That tickles！〃
〃Tickles？ You're sure it's not an itch？〃
〃I do know the difference between a tickle and an itch；〃 C…3PO answered。
Padme giggled and forgot； for a while； all of her troubles。
As soon as he came upon the grisly scene； Anakin knew that it was the work of Tuskens。 Three farmers； likely some of those whom Cliegg had been with before being forced to return home； lay dead about a campfire； their bodies battered and torn。 A pair of copies； long…legged dromedaries with big padded feet and equine faces that showed little intelligence； stood tethered nearby； lowing mournfully； and beyond them hung the smoking remains of a speeder。
Anakin ran his fingers through his short hair。 〃Calm down；〃 he told himself。 〃Find her。〃 He fell within himself then； within the Force； and sent his senses out far and wide； needing the confirmation that his mother had not yet met a similar fate。
A stab of pain assaulted him； and a cry that was both hopeful and helpless entered his mind。
〃Mom；〃 he mouthed breathlessly； and he knew that time was running out； that Shmi was in terrible pain and was barely holding on。 He didn't have the time to bury the poor farmers； but he did resolve to e back for them。 He jumped astride the speeder bike and put it flat out； rushing across the dark desert landscape； following Shmi's call。
The trail was narrow and steep； but at least Obi…Wan was back on solid footing。
Or almost solid； he realized； as a shrill shriek split the air； startling him。 His foot slipped。 He nearly tumbled but caught his balance； as a bunch of stones fell loose； bouncing down the side of the mesa。
The Jedi dr