VADER: MIA

Episode II: Return of the Chosen One

It was a small room used as a makeshift courtroom. Normally it was an officer's mess hall, but this day it was to be the place where one of the most wanted men by the Alliance was to put on trial for his crimes.

Sitting in the witness seat of the make shift courtroom, his hands bound with a pair of stun cuffs, Anakin looked around at each of the people in the room as they gave their reasons for him to be executed immediately. Mon Mothma as the Head of State for the time being, listened to each argument; Princess Leia and Admiral Ackbar sat by as witnesses to the on going proceedings.

Luke sat off to the left side of his father listening and thinking of how he might change their minds and convince them that he was now someone they could trust.

"Mon Mothma," Borsk Ahtob one of the only political people in attendance of the trial, argued, "I need not go into what is already an obvious reason for his immediate execution. You Princess... were there when your own planet was destroyed; my own people have suffered at his hands," he continued to argue, pointing at Anakin, "As well as millions of others; how can we sit in judgment when we all know what needs to be done?"

Borsk Ahtob had risen to rank of Senator because the Empire, for suspicious behaviors, had executed the entire Bothan Political staff; Borsk being next in the chain of command assumed the position of Senator.

"Senator, we are all aware of what Lord Vader is guilty of. Our reasons for this trial are not only to reach a decision of guilt, which he undoubtedly is, but also to come to an understanding as to whether we should believe why he has surrendered himself to us, or... if this is an elaborate plan conceived by the Emperor." Mon Mothma retorted.

"If he's executed now there will be no need for understanding, and if he does have any plans they will die with him." Borsk replied.

"If I may," Luke said standing up, addressing all in the room; "no one here knows the reasons for what my father has done over the years, more than he." Luke said motioning towards his father, "He, himself has admitted to the crimes you now charge him with, before this trial even started; all I ask, is that you give him a chance to speak for himself, and then make you decisions."

Sitting back down Luke looked to Mon Mothma then to each of the other members of the high command hoping that his plea would not fall of deaf ears.

"If there are no further arguments from the floor I believe that Princess Leia and Admiral Ackbar have their own thoughts to add to the record..."

"Hold those thoughts you will," Yoda, said interrupting Mon Mothma, "Something to say have I."

"Master Yoda," Mon Mothma said quite surprised, as were the rest of the people in the room, "h h how is this possible, all reports informed that all Jedi were killed including yourself, during the Jedi purge ordered by the Emperor."

"A deception it was, until ready the time was for my return, and here to stop this decision I will ask." Yoda answered.

"MON MOTHMA! This is an outrage," Senator Ahtob screamed, "I'm sure you will not let this... being interfere with this trial."

"Senator, if anyone can stop this trial, he stands before you, Master Yoda has gained the confidence of myself, and people long before you and I ever came to power, and I'm sure he'll have it long after we are gone." Mon Mothma answered sharply.

Admiral Ackbar pointed to one of the guards, motioning him to stand next to the Senator, The guard moved knowing that any further outbursts were to be controlled by him, nothing physical of course, unless that is, he had no other course of action. All this explained to him and his fellow guards before the trial began.

Anakin stood, drawing attention from all the guards, whose fingers moved closer to the triggers of their blasters. All who were in the room became tense, as to what the intentions Lord Vader had. Walking slowly towards Master Yoda he took a knee in front of him, and spoke softly.

"Master Yoda I have no words to atone for my actions over the years and there is no way that I will ever be forgiven for my crimes, I do respectively ask that I be given the chance to right some of the wrongs I have done. Then should this council see fit to carry out an execution I will abide by their decision."

"A lot to atone for you have Anakin told you I did of the powers of the dark side, but glad I am that back you are." Yoda Answered.

Yoda placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder and motioned him back to his seat.

"Alone I will speak to you three." Yoda respectfully asked, motioning towards Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar and Princess Leia.

Mon Mothma nodded then said, "This court will stand in recess for... One hour?" She asked tentatively, looking at Master Yoda. Yoda nodded I agreement, then turned towards Anakin as the guards started to take him away, he requested.

"Mon Mothma, stay I would like Anakin to, as well as the boy, Skywalker."

Again, Mon Mothma just nodded then motioned for the guards to leave them alone.

"We'll be just out side the door," one of them said as they left the chamber.

As the door closed and locked from the outside Mon Mothma spoke first.

"Master Yoda let me be the first to say that we are extremely pleased that you are here with us, and that the Emperor did not succeed in his attempt to eliminate you."

"Happy am I to still be with you, but sorry am I that hide I did," Yoda answered.

Admiral Ackbar who had remained silent through all of this finally spoke.

"Master Yoda, be it known that the attack on the Jedi was a plot from the Emperor to rid the Galaxy of the last major threat to him. But... we have here," motioning towards Anakin, "one of the biggest offenders from the Empire, why should it be that you would ask that he not pay for his crimes."

"Never did I ask for him not to atone for his crimes, a lot of death and destruction has he caused, come back they can not, but his help we will need to defeat the Emperor." Yoda responded.

Princess Leia knowing of Master Yoda from stories her, father Bail Organa had told her during her youth sat up in her seat asking.

"Master Yoda what is it that you are asking?"

"Place him into my custody you will, retrained will he be, to help with ending the Emperors reign," he began explaining, "And if successful we are, then atoned for his crimes he will be," Yoda finished.

"Master Yoda, you ask a lot of us, and we have yet to discern if he is who he says he is." Mon Mothma added.

"Know of the question to which you refer... Luke's father he is." Yoda replied.

The looks that followed were of utter surprise. Then turned to question, as each of the High Command looked first at Anakin then at Luke.

"How can you be so sure of this?" Admiral Ackbar asked.

"Knew of his relationship and marriage to the former Queen of Naboo I did, and at the birth of his son I was." Yoda answered looking at Luke.

Anakin hearing this blurted, "You knew all this and yet you did nothing to stop me?"

"Head strong you were, and much like Qui-Gon you are," Yoda started, "always changing are the things around us and though the way of the Jedi it is not, knew of the outcome I did."

"And you did nothing to stop me," Anakin added.

"Counseled you I did, and hoped that happen this would not," Yoda continued, " always in motion the future is, and never certain can the outcome be when deal with it you do."

Anakin bowed his head remembering that Yoda had said these things, and being impatient and to involved with the lust for power to save Padme the words meant nothing to him then, but had he knew then what he knew now, things and his life could have been very different.

Luke sat watching Anakin, feeling what he determined was sorrow he turned to Yoda and asked.

"Master Yoda? I know nothing of the Force, but yet when... Anakin said he was my father at first I didn't believe him, but something in my heart told me he was, is this what the Force will give me the insight to know things?" Luke asked.

"Many things you will come to know... and do, with the Force as your ally, tell you Obi-Wan did not?" Yoda asked in return.

Ben didn't really teach me very much at all, some lightsaber training and some stories... but that's about all." Luke answered.

"Then much to learn you have young one." Yoda replied.

"Master Yoda a decision has been made," Mon Mothma started, "it is with great reluctance, and a heavy heart that I release Anakin to you."

Yoda nodded in acknowledgement, as Mom Mothma continued.

"The crimes he has committed and the suffering he has caused are to great to over look, but…" Mon Mothma not believing she was doing this, "If it was anyone but you who asked this of me, the answer would have been no."

She went on, glancing quickly at Luke.

"I'm sure we have your assurance gesturing to the Princess then to Admiral Ackbar, "that Anakin will be closely watched, and any suspicious behaviors will be brought to our attention immediately," Mon Mothma finished.

Yoda thought for several seconds,"Out of the back we will go, for this decision I fear, you will hear nothing but grief," Yoda replied.

Turning, he slowly made his way towards the rear exit of the room stopping he said.

"Mon Mothma, one final question for you do I have?" Yoda asked.

"Anything you wish Master Yoda," she answered.

"A ship to carry us to my home I will need."

Turning to Admiral Ackbar, she asked that he take care of this request directly. Standing and walking towards Luke, she said softly.

"Luke I know at the time you spoke you believed him to be your father but given that the Empire is no stranger to trickery, we did not, had it not been for Master Yoda's intervention your father would now be awaiting his execution." She concluded.

"I kind of figured that, but I had hoped you would at least have considered it. Ben told me some stories of Master Yoda, and how he was the best of all the Jedi; but I guess that's something for me to find out, this Force stuff is new to me and yet its not if you know what I mean." Luke replied.

"I don't know much more than you Luke, but what I do know is that properly trained a Jedi can do some amazing things." Mon Mothma added.

Stepping around Luke, she turned to Master Yoda asking, "Can you tell me where you will be going Master Yoda?"

"Inform you I will once on our way we are, now rest I need," Yoda answered.

"Master Yoda before you go I will ask that Anakin have a bio scan to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt of who he is." Mon Mothma expressed.

"Believe me you do not?" Yoda replied.

Mom Mothma hesitant to answer but finally spoke, "Its not that I don't believe you Master Yoda, I, we just want to be sure." she finished gesturing towards the Princess and Admiral Ackbar.

With a somber look, Yoda nodded his head and whispered, "Much damage has the Emperor caused when trusted the Jedi are not."