Anakin's determination to find his mother overrides any mandate or duty he has to protect the senator. He insists on helping her, his heart torn apart by the pain and suffering he feels from his mother's captivity. With Padme and Raina by his side, they embark on the journey to Tatooine, traversing the harsh desert planet in search of Shmi Skywalker.

As they explore the desolate landscape, Anakin's hope wavers with each passing moment. The vast expanse of sand seems to mock his efforts, stretching endlessly in every direction. Yet, he presses on, driven by an unyielding need to reunite with his mother.

Their quest leads them to a small homestead, where they learn the heartbreaking truth about Shmi's fate. Sold to a man named Lars, she was supposedly freed, but now Anakin discovers she had an entirely different family, including a stepbrother he never knew existed. The revelation hits him like a blow to the chest, shattering his already fragile hopes.

But the worst is yet to come.

They find Shmi, barely clinging to life after enduring unspeakable horrors. Anakin's heart breaks as he holds her in his arms, helpless to ease her suffering. Moments after her release, she breathes her last, leaving Anakin consumed by grief and rage.

Fury boils within him, a tempest of emotions threatening to consume everything in its path. In a moment of pure rage, he unleashes his power upon those responsible, his lightsaber carving through any creature that dares to stand in his way. His vengeance knows no bounds as he seeks retribution for his mother's death.

When he finally returns to the homestead, cradling his mother's lifeless body, his mind is consumed by grief and guilt. He longs to give her a proper farewell, but his instincts drive him to fix anything he can, to bury himself in work and avoid confronting the overwhelming pain that threatens to consume him.

Padme, sensing his suffering, offers a small gesture of comfort, suggesting they make lunch for him. But Raina, her own emotions in turmoil, recoils at the unfamiliar touch, her mind clouded by jealousy and fear of losing her connection with Anakin.

"I won't hurt you," Padme reassures her, extending her hand once more in a gesture of friendship.

Despite Raina's perception of Padme as a threat, the senator sees only a troubled girl in need of support. With a gentle smile, Padme leads Raina into the kitchen, where they prepare a meal for the grieving boy.

As they work side by side, Raina can't help but feel the weight of Anakin's anguish pressing down on her. She senses his heartbreak, his rage, and his desperate desires, each emotion intertwining with her own, threatening to overwhelm her fragile resolve. Yet, she pushes aside her own turmoil, focusing on the task at hand as they prepare to offer what little comfort they can to the broken young Jedi.

" You're not all-powerful."

" Well, I should be!"

She feels his tantrum rage on. She feels him blame Obi-Wan for holding him back... and maybe he's right. Maybe Obi-Wan has been holding them back. Palpatine said so many times... they could be the most powerful Jedi... but how could they get there with one arm constantly being held behind their backs?

" I killed. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them. And not just the men... the women, the children. They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals!"

Raina stifles a gasp.

Her hand covers her mouth as tears well up in her eyes, just at the thought of the horrors Anakin caused and all the lives he took. It sticks with her for far too long, even during his mother's funeral. She wants to help him grieve... but her mind is plagued with the darkness that consumed in.

But if the tables were turned... Raina would not hesitate to slaughter an entire village to avenge her father's death. In fact... she's surprised she never did.

" I wasn't strong enough to save you, mom. But I promise I won't fail again."

And then, R-2 comes to them with a message, a message from their master.

" My long-range transponder has been knocked out. Retransmitt this message to Coruscant. I have tracked the bounty hunter, Jango Fett, to the droid foundries on Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here, and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a-- wait, wait!"

But Obi-Wan's message is left incomplete, for he never got to finish. He was attacked before the words could leave his mouth, and the message comes to a close as Anakin, Raina and Padme watch from inside the ship.

" Anakin, Raina, we will deal with Count Dooku, but the important thing is for you to stay where you are," Master Windu states, " Protect the senator at all costs. That is your first priority."

" Yes, master," Raina nods.

" They'll never get there in time to save him," Padme argues as the hologram disappears, " They have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look," then turns to activate a map on the ship, " Geonosis is less than a parsec away."

" If he's still alive," Anakin adds.

" Ani, are you just gonna sit here and let him die?" The senator asks, " He's your friend, your mentor, he's--"

" He's like my father!" He exclaims, " Like ours... both mine and Raina's. But you heard Master Windu. He gave us strict orders to stay here!"

" He gave you strict orders to protect me," Padme corrects, " And I'm going to help Obi-Wan. If you plan to protect me, you'll just have to come along."

Anakin smiles, then turns his head over to his partner.

" Well?" He asks.

" Where the senator goes, we go," Raina affirms, " So, we're going to Genosis."

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[ it will get better, trust ]