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rom the factory city； and when he had at last found his starfighter； he had thought the adventure over。 But not so。 〃The transmitter is working；〃 he told R4； who tootled his agreement。 〃But we're not receiving a return signal。 Coruscant's too far。〃 He spun to face the droid。 〃Can you boost the power？〃
The beeps that came back at him were not forting。
〃Okay； then we'll have to try something else。〃 Obi…Wan looked around for an answer。 He didn't want to lift off from the planet and risk detection； but so far out and within the heavy and metallic Geonosian atmosphere； he had no chance of reaching distant Coruscant。
〃Naboo is closer；〃 he said suddenly； and R4 beeped。 〃Maybe we can contact Anakin and get the information relayed。〃
R4 replied with enthusiasm and Obi…Wan climbed back out of the cockpit to repeat the message with the changes for Anakin。
A few moments later； though； the droid signaled him that something was wrong。
With a frustrated growl； the Jedi climbed back up into the cockpit。
〃How can he not be on Naboo？〃 he asked； and R4 gave an 〃oooo。〃 Rather than argue with a droid； Obi…Wan checked the instruments himself。 Sure enough； Anakin's signal was not to be found ing from Naboo。
〃Anakin？ Anakin？ Do you copy？ This is Obi…Wan Kenobi？〃 he said； lifting his ship m directly and shooting the call out toward the general area of Naboo。
After several minutes with no response； the Jedi put the m back down and turned to R4。 〃He's not on Naboo； Arfour。 I'm going to try to widen the search。 I hope nothing's happened to him。〃
He sat back as the minutes slipped past。 He knew that he was losing precious time； but his choices were limited。 He couldn't head back to the city and risk capture； not with so much vital news to relay to the Jedi Council； nor did he want to blast away； for the same reasons。 He still had so much to learn here。
So he waited； and finally； some time later； R4 tootled emphatically。 Obi… Wan moved to the controls； his eyes widening as he got the confirmation。
〃That's Anakin's tracking signal all right； but it's ing from Tatooine！ What in the blazes is he doing there？ I told him to stay on Naboo！〃 R4 gave another 〃oooo。〃
〃All right； we're all set…we'll get these answers later。〃 He climbed back out of the cockpit and jumped to the ground。 〃Transmit； Arfour。 We haven't much time。〃
The droid locked on to him immediately。
〃Anakin？〃 Obi…Wan asked。 〃Anakin； do you copy？ This is Obi…Wan Kenobi。〃 R4 relayed the response； a series of beeps and whistles that the R4…P didn't normally use； but ones quite familiar to Obi…Wan。
〃Artoo？ Good； are you reading me clearly？〃
The whistle came back affirmative。
〃Record this message and take it to the Jedi Skywalker；〃 Obi…Wan instructed the distant droid。
Another affirmative beep。
〃Anakin； my long…range transmitter is knocked out。 Retransmit this message to Coruscant。〃
The Jedi began to tell his tale then。 He didn't know that the Geonosians had picked up his signal broadcasts and had triangulated those receptions to locate his starfighter。 Wound up in his tale； he didn't notice the approach of the armed droidekas； rolling up near to him； then unrolling to their attack posture。
Even the two blazing Tatooine suns could not brighten the somber mood； the tangible grayness permeating the air； around the new grave outside the Lars pound。 Two old headstones marked the ground next to the new one； a poignant reminder of the difficulties of life on the harsh world of Tatooine。 The five of them…Cliegg； Anakin； Padme； Owen； and Beru…had gathered； along with C…3PO； to bid farewell to Shmi。
〃I know wherever you are； it's bee a better place；〃 Cliegg Lars said； and he took a handful of sand and tossed it on the new grave。 〃You were the most loving partner a man could ever have。 Good…bye； my darling wife。 And thank you。〃
He glanced briefly at Anakin； then lowered his head and fought back tears。 Anakin stepped forward and knelt before the marker。 He picked up a handful of sand and 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