"Anakin, my long range transmitter has been knocked out." Obi-Wan's hologram informed you and Anakin. Anakin stood next to you in the pilot deck of the ship. You sat down in front of the hologram, glancing over at Anakin.

"Retransmit this message to Coruscant." Obi-Wan ordered. Anakin turned around and watched as you swiftly turned behind you and pressed a button to transmit the message.

"____?" Master Windu answered. Master Yoda, other Jedi Masters, senators, and Chancellor Palpatine were with him in the Chancellor's office.

"Anakin and I have received a message from Obi-Wan and asked us to transmit it to you." You explained. Master Windu nodded and gestured for you to proceed.

"I have tracked the bounty hunter, Jango Fett, to the droid foundries on Geonosis." Obi-Wan explained. "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 Jedi Senator Amidala."

You and Anakin shared a look and you felt Anakin's interest in the message grow. You both were finally getting needed answers on your assassination attempts.

"The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming a- " Obi-Wan further explained before something off to the side caught his attention.

"Wait. Wait." Obi-Wan said as he grabbed his lightsaber and ignited it. You all watched as he fought off attacks. Obi's hologram disappeared as he backed away from a Droideka droid. You and Anakin watched in concern as the message abruptly ended.

"More happening on Geonosis, I feel, than has been revealed." Master Yoda said.

"I agree." Master Windu answered. "Anakin, we will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you is to stay where you are. Protect the Jedi Senator at all costs. That is your first priority."

"Understood, Master." Anakin answered and you looked at him, surprised. You had expected him to argue and want to rush in and help his Master.

"They won't make it in time to save him." you said to him as Master Windu's hologram disappeared. "They have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look."

You pulled up the map and showed him how far they would have to travel. But you both were closer and would get there in time to save Obi-Wan.

"Geonosis is less than a parsec away." you told him. You felt Anakin's emotions unmoved, still very bitter.

"If he's still alive." Anakin replied as he paced to the other side of the pilot deck.

"Ani." you said sternly. "Are you just going to sit here and let him die? He's your friend, your mentor. He's—"

"He's like my father!" Anakin all but shouted at you. He turned to you and you immediately understood. He was torn once again between doing what was ordered of him and doing what he wanted to do.

"But you heard Master Windu. He gave me strict orders to stay here!" Anakin sighed frustratedly.

"He gave you strict orders to protect me." you corrected. Anakin watched you carefully as he felt slight mischievousness from you. A rebellious feeling. "And I'm going to go help Obi-Wan."

You turned around and started up the ship before glancing back at him. "If you plan to protect me, you'll just have to come along." You said with a smirk. Anakin smiled back at you as he took the pilot seat next to you.

"The Jedi Senator's rebellious side makes a return." Anakin teased as you chuckled.

"Only when needed." you replied as you overheard the droids behind you.

" I'm not worried, Artoo. It's just I've never flown before." Threepio said in reply to Artoo's worried beeps.

The ship lifted up before shooting up into the sky. Soon you were back into the galaxy. You typed in the coordinates for Geonosis as Anakin put the ship into hyperdrive.

"Woah!" Threepio panicked from the force of going into hyperdrive. Artoo whistled at Threepio's reaction. "It was just unexpected." Threepio huffed.

You smiled at the droids' interaction when you felt a familiar pull. Anakin was trying to get your attention. You looked over at him curiously as Anakin stares straight ahead, focusing on piloting.

"Thank you, ___." Anakin finally said. "For everything you have done and continued to do. For being here for me. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Oh, Anakin." You said softly as you smiled at him. "You don't need to thank me. I care about you deeply, regardless of everything." you explained, referring to what happened on Naboo.

"I'll always be here for you." you added as Anakin smiled fondly at you.

"And I will always be here for you." Anakin replied. You held out your left hand to him and he happily took it in his right hand.

~

Anakin flew the ship between the reddish brown rocks of the Geonosis desert. You were watching the map as you located where Obi-Wan's transmission came from. You saw oddly placed steam coming from the ground and pointed it out to Ani. They had to be coming from the said droid factories.

"See those columns of steam straight ahead? They're exhaust vents of some type." you said.

"That'll do." Anakin agreed. He steered the ship into the huge puffs of steam and lowered it to the ground. After he landed the ship, you both got up to put on your robes and get your lightsabers.

"Ani," you called out to him. "Please try to follow my lead out there, no matter what happens. I'm sure you're just as not interested in getting into a war. As a member of the senate, I need to do what I can to find a diplomatic solution to this mess." you explained to him as you put on your white robe and he put on his brown robe.

"Don't worry." Anakin said as he handed you your lightsaber. "I've given up trying to argue with you." he said playfully. You rolled your eyes as you grabbed your lightsaber from him and clipped it to your belt. But you were glad he was starting to act a little more like himself. Anakin smirked at your reaction as you both exited the ship.

Artoo whistled a plaintive sigh as Threepio looked at him.

"My obtuse little friend. If they had needed our help, they would have asked for it, hmm?" Threepio said. "You obviously have a great deal to learn about human behavior."

The two droids turned to follow you and Anakin out of the ship.