'I'd still be out there, only… after I lost my leg… '' Cliegg nearly broke down, and it struck Anakin how much the man loved Shmi.
'I just can't ride anymore,' Cliegg went on. 'Until I heal.'
The proud man drew in a deep breath and forcibly steadied himself, squaring his broad shoulders. 'This isn't the way I wanted to meet you, son,' he said. 'This isn't how your mother and I planned it. I don't want to give up on her, but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long.'
The words hit Anakin like a stinging slap, and he retreated from them, back into himself, back into the Force. He reached out, using his bond with his mother to try to somehow feel her presence in the Force.
Then he shot to his feet.
'Where are you going?' Owen asked.
'To find my mother,' came the grim reply.
'No, Anakin!' Padme cried out, rising to grab his forearm.
'Your mother's dead, Son,' the resigned Cliegg added. 'Accept it.' Anakin glowered at him, at them all. 'I can feel her pain,' he said, his jaw clenched, teeth gritted. 'Continuing pain. And I will find her.'
A moment of silence ensued, and then Owen offered, 'Take my speeder bike.' He jumped up from his seat and strode by Anakin.
'I know she's alive,' Anakin said, turning to face Padme. 'I know it.' Padme winced but said nothing, and she let go of Anakin's arm as he moved to follow Owen.
'I wish he'd have come a bit earlier,' Cliegg lamented. Padme looked over at him, and at Beru, who was standing over the tearful man, hugging him.
Then, having no words to offer, Padme turned and rushed out to join Anakin and Owen. By the time she caught up, Owen was heading back for the house and Anakin was standing near the speeder, staring out over the empty desert.
'You're going to have to stay here,' Anakin said to her as she hurried to his side. 'These are good people. You'll be safe.'
'Anakin…'
'I know she's alive,' he said, still staring out at the dunes. Padme hugged him tightly. 'Find her,' she whispered. 'I won't be long,' he promised. He straddled the speeder bike, kicked it to life, and rocketed away across the dunes.
Chapter Eighteen
When the call beamed into the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, using scramble code 5 and in care of 'the old folks home,' Mace Windu and Yoda knew that it was important. Extremely important.
They took the call in Yoda's apartment, after Mace checked the corridor both ways, then pointedly closed the door.
The hologram of Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared before them. The man was obviously on edge, glancing repeatedly over his shoulder.
'Masters, I have successfully made contact with Lama Su, the Prime Minister of Kamino.'
'Ah, good it is that your planet you have found,' Yoda said.
'Right where your students predicted,' Obi-Wan replied. 'These Kaminoans are cloners-best in the galaxy I've been told, and from what I've seen, I don't doubt the claims.'
Both Jedi Masters frowned.
'They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army.'
'An army?' Mace repeated.
'For the Republic,' came Obi-Wan's startling answer.
'What's more, I have a strong feeling that this bounty hunter is behind the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala.'
'Do you think these cloners are involved in that, as well?'
'No, Master, there appears to be no motive.'
'Do not assume anything, Obi-Wan,' Yoda advised. 'Clear, your mind must be if you are to discover the real villain behind this plot.'
'Yes, Master,' Obi-Wan said. 'Prime Minister Lama Su has informed me that the first battalion of clone troopers are ready for delivery. He also wanted me to remind you that if we require more-and they've another million well on the way to completion-it will take more time to grow them.'
'A million clone warriors?' Mace Windu asked in disbelief.
'Yes, Master. They say Master Sifo-Dyas placed the order for the clone army almost ten years ago. I was under the impression he was killed before that. Did the Council ever authorize the creation of a clone army?'
'No,' Mace answered without hesitation, and without even looking to Yoda for confirmation. 'Whoever placed that order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council.'
'Then how? And why?'
'The mystery deepens,' Mace said. 'And it is one that needs unraveling, for more reasons than the safety of
