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of pain and anger。 He spotted a Tusken woman to the side； in front of another of the tents； carrying a pail of dirty water； and saw a Tusken child in the shadows of another nearby hut； staring at him with an incredulous expression。
Then he was moving； though he was hardly aware of his actions。 His blade flashed and he ran on。 The Tusken woman screamed； and was impaled。
Now all the camp seemed in motion； Tuskens rushing out of every hut； many with weapons in hand。 But Anakin was into the dance of death then； into the energy of the Force。 He leapt far and long； clearing one hut and ing down before another； his blade flashing even before he landed； even before the two Tuskens recognized that he had jumped between them。
A third came at him； thrusting forth a spear； but Anakin lifted an empty hand and set up a wall of Force energy as solid as stone。 Then he shoved out with that hand； and the Tusken spearman flew away； fully thirty meters； smashing through the wall of yet another hut。
Anakin was off and running； off and leaping； his blade spinning left and right in a blur； every stab taking a Tusken down； writhing to the ground； every slash putting a piece of a Tusken on the ground。
Soon none were standing against him； all trying to flee； but Anakin would have none of that。 He saw one group rush into a hut and reached out across the way； to a large boulder in the distance。 It flew to his call； soaring across the sand； smashing one fleeing Tusken down and flying on。
Anakin dropped it on the hut full of Tuskens； crushing them all。
And then he was running； his strides enhanced by the Force； overing the fleeing creatures； slaughtering them； every one。
He didn't feel empty any longer。 He felt a surge of energy and strength beyond anything he had ever known； felt full of the Force； full of power； full of life。
And then it was over； suddenly； it seemed； and Anakin stood among the ruins of the encampment； dozens and dozens of dead Tusken Raiders all about him； and only a single hut still standing。
He put his lightsaber away and walked back to that hut； where he gently and reverently scooped his mother's body into his arms。
Chapter Twenty…One
〃There！〃 Padme announced； as she hoisted C…3PO back out of the oil bath。
She had to fight hard to keep from giggling； for she had inadvertently lowered the droid too far； and now he was waving his arms about crazily； yelling that he was blind。
Padme yanked him over to the side and found a cloth to wipe the excess oil off of his face。 That done； she set the droid down on the floor and unhitched him。
〃Better？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； much better； Miss Padme。〃 C…3PO waved his arms about and seemed quite pleased。
〃No itches？〃 Padme asked； inspecting her work。
〃No itches；〃 C…3PO confirmed。
〃Well； good；〃 she said with a smile。 But her smile faltered as she realized that she was done。 She had used her work with the droid to shield her from her fears over the last hours…she had hardly even realized that the sun had risen…and now those fears for Anakin were already ing back to her。
She was running out of places to hide。 〃Oh； Miss Padme； thank you！ Thank you！〃 said C…3PO。 He came forward； his arms outstretched to hug her； but then he moved back suddenly； seeming to remember himself and his sudden lack of protocol。
〃Thank you；〃 he said again； with a little more dignity。 〃Thank you very much。〃 Owen Lars entered the garage area。 〃Well； there you are；〃 he said to Padme。
〃We've been looking all over for you。〃
〃I was out here all the time； giving Threepio a much…needed bath。〃
〃Well； Padme；〃 Owen said； and when she turned to regard him； Padme saw that he was grinning widely。 〃I'm returning this droid to Anakin。 I know that's what my mom would want。〃
Padme smiled and nodded。
〃He's back！ He's back！〃 came Beru's call from outside the garage。 Smiles gone； Padme and Owen turned and rushed out。
They caught up with Beru outside； and Cliegg soon joined them； his hoverchair banging and clunking against furniture and doorways as he glided out of the house。 〃Where？ 〃Padme asked。 Beru pointed across the desert。 Squinting and shielding her eyes from the glare of the suns； Padme finally marked the black dot that was Anakin； rushing toward them。 As the speck grew into a distinguishable form； she realized that he was not alone； that there was someone tied over the back of the speeder。
〃Oh； Shmi；〃 Cliegg Lars said breathlessly。 He was trembling visibly。 Beru sniffled and struggled to keep from sobbing。 Owen stood beside her； his hand draped across her shoulders； and when Padme looked over at them； she noticed a tear sliding down Owen's cheek。
Anakin crossed into the pound a few moments later； pulling up short of the stunned group。 Without a word； he dismounted and moved to unstrap his dead mother； lifting her and cradling her in his arms。 He walked up to Cliegg and paused there for a bit； two men sharing a moment of grief。
Then； still without speaking； Anakin walked past the man and into the house。
All that time； the thing that struck Padme the most was the look upon Anakin's face； an expression unlike anything she had ever seen on the Padawan： part rage； part grief； part guilt； and part resignation； even defeat。 She knew that Anakin would need her； and soon。
But she had no idea of what she might do for him。
There wasn't much talking in the Lars homestead the rest of that day。 Everyone just went about their chores； any chores； obviously trying to avoid the outpouring of grief that they all knew would inevitably e。
At work preparing a meal for Anakin； Padme was surprised when Beru came up to help her； and even more surprised when the woman started some small talk with her。
〃What's it like there？〃 Beru asked。
Padme looked at her curiously。 〃I'm sorry？〃
〃On Naboo。 What's it like？〃
Padme could hardly even register the question； for her thoughts remained with Anakin。 It took her a long time to respond； but finally she managed to say； 〃Oh； it's very 。 。 。 very green。 You know； with lots of water； and trees and plants everywhere。 It's not like here at all。〃 She turned away as soon as she finished； and knew she was being a bit rude。 But all she wanted was to be with Anakin； and so she started loading the food tray。
〃I think I like it here better；〃 Beru remarked。
〃Maybe you'll e and see it someday；〃 Padme said； more to be polite than anything else。
But Beru answered seriously。 〃I don't think so。 I don't like to travel。〃 Padme picked up the tray and turned to go。 〃Thanks； Beru；〃 she said with as much of a smile as she could muster。
She found Anakin standing at a workbench in the garage； working on a part from the speeder bike。
〃I brought you something to eat。〃
Anakin glanced at her； but immediately went back to his work。 She noted that he was exaggerating every movement； obviously frustrated； obviously distracted from the task at hand。 〃The shifter broke；〃 he explained； too intently。 〃Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things。 I'm good at fixing things。 I always was。 But I。。。〃
Finally he slammed down the wrench he was using and just stood there； head bowed。
Padme recognized that he was on the verge of collapse。
〃Why did she have to die？〃 he mouthed quietly。 Padme slid the tray down on the workbench and moved behind him； putting her arms about his waist and resting her head fortingly on his back。
〃Why couldn't I save her？〃 Anakin asked。 〃I know I could have！〃
〃Annie； you tried。〃 She squeezed him a bit tighter。 〃Sometimes there are things no one can fix。 You're not all…powerful。〃
He stiffened at her words and pulled away from her suddenly…and angrily； she realized。 〃But I should be！〃 he growled； and then he looked at her； his face a mask of grim determination。 〃And someday I will be！〃
〃Anakin； don't say such things；〃 Padme replied fearfully； but he didn't even seem to hear her。
〃I'll be the most powerful Jedi ever！〃 he railed on。 〃I promise you！ I will even learn to stop people from dying！〃
〃Anakin…〃
〃It's all Obi…Wan's fault！〃 He stormed across the room and slammed his