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let it slip through his fingers。
〃I wasn't strong enough to save you； Mom；〃 the young man said； suddenly feeling more like a boy。 His shoulders bobbed once or twice； but he fought to regain control； and took a deep and determined breath。 〃I wasn't strong enough。 But I promise I won't fail again。〃 His breathing came in short rasps as another wave of grief nearly toppled him。 But the young Padawan squared his shoulders and determinedly stood up。 〃I miss you so much。〃
Padme came forward and put her hand on Anakin's shoulder； and all of them stood silent before the grave。
The moment held only briefly； though； broken by a series of urgent beeps and whistles。 They turned as one to see R2…D2 rolling their way。
〃Artoo； what are you doing here？〃 Padme asked。
The droid whistled frantically。
〃It seems that he is carrying a message from someone named Obi…Wan Kenobi；〃
C…3PO quickly translated。 〃Does that mean anything to you； Master Anakin？〃 Anakin squared his shoulders。 〃What is it？〃
R2…D2 beeped and whistled。 〃Retransmit？〃 Anakin asked。 〃Why； what's wrong？〃
〃He says it's quite important；〃 C…3PO observed。
With a look to Cliegg and the other two； silently seeking their permission； Anakin； Padme； and C…3PO followed the excited droid back to the Naboo ship。 As soon as they got inside； R2 beeped and spun； and projected an image of Obi…Wan in front of them。
〃Anakin； my long…range transmitter has been knocked out；〃 the Jedi's hologram explained。 〃Retransmit this message to Coruscant。〃 R2 stopped the message there； with Obi…Wan seeming to freeze in place。
Anakin looked at Padme。 〃Patch it through to the Jedi Council chamber。〃
Padme stepped over and flipped a button； then waited for confirmation that the signal was getting through。 She nodded to Anakin； who turned back to R2。
〃Go ahead； Artoo。〃
The droid gave a beep； and Obi…Wan's hologram began to move once more。 〃I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries of Geonosis。 The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here and it is clear that Viceroy Gun…ray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala。〃
Anakin and Padme exchanged knowing glances； neither of them very surprised by that information。 Padme thought back to her meeting with Typho and Panaka on Naboo； before she had left for Coruscant； secretly escorting the doomed starship。 〃The merce Guild and Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming an…〃
The hologram swung about。 〃Wait！ Wait！〃
Anakin and Padme cringed as droidekas appeared in the hologram along with Obi…Wan； grabbing at him and restraining him。 The hologram flickered； then broke apart。
Anakin jumped up and rushed at R2…D2； but pulled up short； realizing that there was nothing he could do。
Nothing at all。
On distant Coruscant； Yoda and Mace Windu and the other members of the Jedi Council watched the hologram transmission with trepidation and great sadness。
〃He is alive；〃 Yoda announced； after yet another viewing。 〃I feel him in the Force。〃
〃But they have taken him；〃 Mace put in。 〃And the wheels have begun to spin more dangerously。〃
〃More happening on Geonosis； I feel； than has been revealed。〃
〃I agree；〃 Mace said。 〃We must not sit idly by。〃 He looked at Yoda； as did everyone else in the room； and the little Jedi Master closed his eyes； seemingly very weary and very pained by it all。
〃The dark side； I feel；〃 he said。 〃And all is cloudy。〃
Mace nodded and turned a grim expression on the others。
〃Assemble；〃 he ordered； a mand that had not been given to the Jedi Council in many； many years。
〃We will deal with Count Dooku；〃 Mace said through the link to Anakin。
〃The most important thing for you； Anakin； is to stay where you are。 Protect the Senator at all costs。 That is your first priority。〃
〃Understood； Master；〃 Anakin replied。
His tone； so full of resignation and defeat； struck Padme profoundly。 It galled the fiery Senator to think that Anakin would be stuck here looking over her； when his Master was in obvious danger。
As the hologram switched off； she moved to the ship's console and began flicking switches and checking coordinates； confirming what she already knew。 〃They have to e halfway across the galaxy；〃 she said； turning to Anakin； who seemed not to care。 〃They'll never get there in time to save him。〃
Still no response。
〃Look； Geonosis is less than a parsec away！〃 Padme announced； flipping a few more controls to show the flight line on the viewscreen。 〃Anakin？〃
〃You heard him。〃
〃They can't get from Coruscant in time to save him！〃 Padme reiterated； her voice rising。 She started flicking the switches on the panel； preparing the engines for firing； but Anakin gently put his hand over hers； stopping her。
〃If he's still alive；〃 the young Jedi answered somberly。
Padme stared at him hard； and he turned away and walked off。
〃Anakin； are you just going to sit here and let him die？〃 she cried； chasing across the bridge to grab him roughly by the arm。 〃He's your friend！ Your mentor！〃
〃He's like my father！〃 Anakin shot back at her。 〃But you heard Master Windu。 He gave me strict orders to stay here。〃
Padme understood what was happening。 Anakin was doubting himself。 He felt himself a failure because of his inability to save his mother； and； perhaps for the first time in his life； he was truly doubting his inner voice； his instincts。 She had to find a way around that now； for Anakin's sake as much as for Obi…Wan's。 If they stayed here and did nothing； Padme believed that she would lose two friends： Obi…Wan to the Geonosians； and Anakin to his guilt。
〃He gave you strict orders to stay here only so that you could protect me；〃 Padme corrected with a grin； hoping to remind him clearly that his previous orders； which he had ignored； had demanded that he stay on Naboo。 She pulled back away from him； returning to the console； and flicked a few more switches。 The engines roared to life。
〃Padme！〃
〃He gave you strict orders to protect me；〃 she said again。 〃And I'm going to save Obi…Wan。 So if you plan to protect me； you'll have to e along。〃 Anakin stared at her for a few moments； and she held his gaze； her head tilted； hair loose and cascading across half her face； but hardly dimming the brightness of her determination。
Anakin knew that they were acting outside the orders of Mace Windu； whatever Padme's justification。 He knew that this was not what was expected of him as a Jedi Padawan。
When had that ever stopped him？
Matching Padme's determination； he went to the controls； and a few moments later； the Naboo starship roared up into the Tatooine sky。
Chapter Twenty…Two
The calm beauty of the Republic Executive Building on Coruscant； with its streaming fountains and reflecting pools； ridged columns and flowing statues； masked the turmoil within。 The word had passed； from Obi…Wan to Yoda and the Jedi Council； and now from them to the Chancellor and leaders of the Senate； that the Republic was crumbling。 The mood inside Chancellor Palpatine's office was both somber and frantic； everyone overwhelmed by a sense of despair and a need to act； frustrated by the apparent lack of options。
Yoda； Mace Windu； and Ki…Adi…Mundi represented the Jedi； lending an air of calm against the nervous energy of Senators Bail Organa and Ask Aak； and Representative Jar Jar Binks。 Behind his great desk； Palpatine listened to it all with apparent despair； his aide； Mas Amedda； standing beside him； seeming on the verge of tears。
Silence hung in the room for several long moments after Mace Windu had finished his recounting of the message from Geonosis。 Yoda； leaning on his small cane； glanced at Bail Organa； always a reliable and petent man； and gave a slight nod。 Catching the cue； the Senator from Alderaan began the discussion。 〃The merce Guild is preparing for war；〃 he said。 〃Given the report of Jedi Obi…Wan Kenobi； there can be no doubt of that。〃
〃If the report is accurate；〃 the fiery Ask Aak promptly responded。
〃It is； Senator；〃 Mace Windu assured him； and Ask Aak； a Senator of action； a