Chapter 8

The Falcon and the Thadeus made their way down to the surface of the planet. They didn't want to land too close to the prison camp or they would attract attention. Originally only the Imperial shuttle was going to land on the planet and the Falcon would stay in orbit until needed.

They landed a few kilometers away. Anakin could sense a trap being laid out for them because their arrival had been too easy…with no interference or requests for clearance to land. It was decided that Chewie would stay with the Falcon and the Thadeus, while the rest of them made their way through the dense forest towards the prison camp on foot.

When they got near the camp they headed for the weak part of the fence that the undercover agent told them about. This undercover agent was also going to create a diversion to keep the guards busy. It must had been a rather large diversion because the patrols were no where to be found. They ducked through the slit in the fence and, once inside, made their way towards the bunker where their Intel indicated Kirkland's quarters were. Anakin, Luke and Piett entered while Han and Lando stayed outside to keep watch.

As they entered, Kirkland looked up from the holobook he was reading and looked right at his father in shock.

"Father? I-I was told that you had been killed."

"Kirkland, I was told the same about you. I can't believe how much you've grown."

They ran to each other's arms and embraced.

All the sudden they heard laser blast fire outside.

"Piett, Kirkland…Get your son out of here. We'll cover you." Anakin said. "Come on, Luke."

"Father, I take it the trap has been sprung?" Luke asked.

"Yes, the trap has been spung."

Piett and Kirkland did as was requested of them and they ran out the door just behind Luke and Anakin, not looking back. All he heard was the snap, hiss of their lightsabers being ignited and blaster fire. They ran back towards the fence and slipped back through the opening. They started running back in the direction of the starships but met laser fire from storm troops just as they reached the edge of the forest. Piett returned their laser fire with his blaster as they ran deeper into the forest with storm troopers in pursuit.

Meanwhile back at the camp, Anakin and Luke had been stopping laser blasts with their lightsabers while Han and Lando shot at the advancing storm troopers.

"We can't stay like this forever! We need to get out of here!" Han turned on his commlink. "Chewie, get over here!"

They heard Chewie's growling response…He was coming.

They all started to make their way towards the fence but there was a whole battalion of storm troopers there waiting for them. Anakin used the Force to jump and flip over their line and landed behind them, which surprised them. He then returned their attacks as they spun around and tried to attack and capture him. Anakin spun around, swinging his lightsaber with such speed and grace as he relieved them of the blasters and blocked their laser blasts. He was trying to clear a path for the rest of them to go through.

At first the others were so preoccupied with what they were doing they didn't notice what Anakin was doing, but then they watched him with awe. Luke, especially…He'd never seen a lightsaber used like that before…such grace and speed. So that's what it's really supposed to be like.

Han and Lando were also impressed. Anakin had managed to make an escape route for them and they took it. They ran passed him and Anakin and Luke took up the rear, continuing to block the laser blasts. They made it through the fence and started to run towards the forest with the storm troopers not far behind. Then Anakin sensed danger just in front of them and he used the Force to jump over Han and Lando, landing just in time to stop a blast from hitting Han in the head. Han stopped in his tracks with his eyes as big as saucers. The others almost ran right into Han trying to stop. Han let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Thanks, Anakin…I'd say we're even now."

"I'll second that." Lando added.

"Thank me when we get out of this mess." Anakin replied.

Anakin noticed a small, gray creature running away into the forest and turned back to group. They all smiled at each other with relief and then continued to fight their way back towards their ships. They knew the Imperials were trying to surround them…But then…just as they were about to be outflanked, they saw the Falcon coming and Chewie landed in a clearing just ahead of them. The ramp came down and they all ran onboard with Han and Lando firing back at the storm troopers. The ramp came up and the Falcon took off with the storm troopers firing at it as it took off towards space. Piett and Kirkland came out of the cockpit to meet them. Chewie had spotted them first and had picked them up.

"We have to go back and pick up the rest of the rebel prisoners." Luke said.

"There are no other rebel prisoners, Luke. Did you see any?" Han answered.

"Han's right…They must have moved the other rebel prisoners to another planet and used Kirkland as bait." Anakin added. "They couldn't chance us getting more of our people back."

All the sudden the Falcon shook and they all almost lost their balance.

"We're not out of this yet." Han exclaimed and ran up to the cockpit…Lando just behind.

"Han, Father and I will get to the gun turrets…come on."

Anakin and Luke got on the ladder leading to the turrets, one going up, the other down.

TIE fighters fired upon the Falcon and they fired back, picking one off at a time.

"WOOHOO!" Luke exclaimed at one blew up the last one.

"Don't get too excited, Luke! There's more coming from 9 O'Clock!" Anakin yelled up to his son.

They turned the turrets in that direction and fired upon the attacking TIEs. Then star destroyers appeared from behind the planet and started to fire upon them as well.

"We need to get out of here now, Han!" Anakin yelled up to Han.

"I hear ya! Just give me a second to program the calculations into the hyper drive computer!"

The stars began to stream and then they boosted into light speed. Everyone onboard let out a sigh of relief. Luke and Anakin took off their headsets and headed back towards the cockpit, passing Piett and Kirkland who were sitting at the holochess table, white as sheets but happy. They both smiled at Anakin and Luke as they passed.

"Thank you." Piett said.

Anakin turned to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "There's no thanks required. It was the least I..we…could do. The only thing I ask is that you consider my debt repaid."

Piett smiled at Anakin and then took his hand and shook it. "Considered it repaid."

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Couresant

The Falcon arrived on Couresant a few days later. Once they had landed…Piett and Kirkland expressed their whole hearted gratitude and then left to find some family members still living on Couresant. While on route there Mon Mothma had called and offered Piett a job in the New Republic starfleet, which he graciously accepted. Although, seeing that father and son wanted to get reacquainted, Mon Mothma immediately granted him two weeks leave.

Padme had managed to get her old apartment back and they were all going to meet there. Leia had arrived early and they were preparing for an evening with family. The apartment hadn't changed all that much…And it brought back so many memories…hopes and dreams Anakin and Padme had shared for their future and their family. And now they were all going to be here together at last. Padme smiled to herself.

The door bell ran and 3PO went over to the door and answered it.

"Master Luke, Master Anakin, Captain Solo…Come in"

Anakin looked around and smiled…Padme was right when she told him that…It did look basically the same.

"Anakin!" Padme ran over to her husband and embraced him and then turned to Luke and hugged him too.

"Don't I get a hug?" Han asked pretending to be miffed.

"Of course, Han." Padme smiled and hugged him too, kissing him on the cheek.

Han smiled. "Now that's much better." Leia came over to kiss him too and they all laughed.

"Where's Lando and Chewie?" Leia asked Han.

"Oh, they decided to go check out the sites. It's the first time either of them have been Couresant and they want to soak it all in."

"In other words, their looking for the nearest Sabacc table…" Leia said with a smirk.

"Basically…yea." Han replied and chuckled.

"Why aren't you with them, Han?" Padme asked.

"I'm hurt…I'm truly hurt." Han was kidding with her. "You said this was a family meeting. Am I not family?"

"Of course you are, Han." Padme laughed. "Come…we have much to discuss."

Husbands and wives then walked arm to arm into the living room. Luke and 3PO took up the rear.

They spent the evening just enjoying each others company. Luke convinced Anakin that he should go with him to the Jedi Temple in the morning to see how the restoration has been coming along. The New Republic Senate was so grateful to Luke for all that he did during the rebellion and eager about the possibility of there being Jedi in the galaxy again…that they passed a bill granting credits to help restore the Temple to its former glory.

Anakin had been apprehensive about the idea of going to the Temple at first, considering that he was the reason the Temple and Jedi Order are in a state of disrepair that they are. But Luke convinced him that one of his main ongoing missions should be to help restore the Jedi Order, which meant that he would have to visit the Temple at some point. Tomorrow morning is as good a time as any. Anakin thought to himself.

Anakin also had another mission to add to his list. He had recognized the sniper who almost killed Han…or at least the people. It was a Noghri. Their planet, Honoghr, had been ecologically destroyed during an Empire/Rebel battle that occurred over their planet.

As Darth Vader, he had arrived on their planet promoting himself as their savior and blaming the whole thing on, of course, the Rebel Alliance. He provided them with decontamination droids and the planet did start to show some improvement. But, in reality, only 2 of every 3 droids were actually doing anything to improve the planet. The other 3rd of the droids were actually harming the planet further by planting a grass similar to the species that was natural to Honoghr, but this grass was harmful…a weed that spreads like wildfire, smothering out any other vegetation.

If he can convince the Senate to provide him with the resources necessary, he'll go there himself and try to convince the Noghri people of how wronged they have been by the Empire who had enslaved population by making them dependent on the Empire for their survival. Like the Wookies, the Noghri are people of honor and ancient traditions, but also very cunning and skilled warriors. They would become great allies against the Empire if he can win them over; and, in the process, it would eliminate a very skilled and deadly threat against the people of the New Republic.

How to convince the Senate for help with this will be a whole other challenge. None of them knew where he had been all these years and who. They saw him as a hero of the Old Republic and never knew about him being Vader. Eventually, he realized, he would have to reveal this to them. It was only right. But not until he is able to complete some of his missions…or he may not be able to if the Senate decides to try him for his war crimes and imprisons him, or worse executes him.

No, for now it needs to stay a secret among a very few. Piett was so grateful to Anakin and his family for the return of his son that he immediately agreed to keep his knowledge that Anakin had been Vader to himself. Piett knows that Anakin was not Vader anymore. He could see the good Anakin wants to accomplish and doesn't want to do anything to prevent that.

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That night after everyone left, Anakin and Padme got ready for bed. Padme was already in her nightgown and sitting at her vanity brushing her hair when she looked up at her mirror to see Anakin's reflection coming into the room. And, she was admiring the view. He had just returned from the refresher after taking a long awaited shower, wearing only a towel, to retrieve the pajamas Padme had presented to him earlier that night.

"Anakin?"

He couldn't remember where he put the pajamas and was searching through the dresser now. "Have you seen my pajamas?"

"No…but…Anakin…"

"Yeah?"

"How do you feel about having more children?"

Anakin shot a surprised glance at his wife. "Are you…?"

"No…I'm not…It's just a question."

"Oh."

Anakin walked over to the bed and sat down, abandoning his search for the pajamas. Padme turned around to face him…waiting for his answer.

"Well…to tell the truth…I hadn't given much thought to it." He paused a moment thoughtfully. "But I think I would like to have more children…especially if they're as wonderful as Luke and Leia." Anakin smiled at her lovingly.

Padme smiled. "Good…I was hoping you'd say that because I went to the doctor today for one of my routine checkups and they seem to think that the effects of being in stasis haven't made me barren as they first thought."

"I had no idea." Anakin sounded concerned.

Padme stood up and walked over to sit on Anakin's lap. She kissed him and then looked into his eyes. "I didn't want to worry you. You have enough on your mind right now."

They started to kiss again and then Padme pulled her head away. "Did you find your pajamas?"

"What pajamas?" Anakin grinned at her and they continued to kiss. They lost their balance and fell back on the bed, giggling.

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The next morning, Padme kissed Anakin goodbye and then she gave her son, Luke, a kiss on the cheek as well. Luke had arrived to retrieve Anakin, so they could go to the Jedi Temple together.

"We should be back by dinner time." Anakin said and they left.

Padme smiled and then ran off, beaming, to get ready for the day's activities at the Senate. She had become and honorary member of sorts and enjoyed being there, giving advice and being of some help in the formation of the New Republic.

Perhaps I'll see about running for the Senate when the seat for Naboo becomes vacant again next year.

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Anakin followed Luke out to Luke's speeder and they got in.

"Can we make a stop before going to the Temple, Luke."

"Sure. Where do you want to go?"

"My…Vader's residence."

Luke looked at him with a start.

"Why do you want to go there?" Luke asked.

"There are some items we need to retrieve from there that really belong to the Temple."

"What kind of things?"

"Books, documents, historical records of the Jedi Order really."

Luke looked at his father with shock and happiness. "You had them! I thought they had all been destroyed by the state of the library."

"I'm afraid I wasn't able to save them all…but I saved what I could after the clone troops had trashed the library." Anakin looked down at his feet. "The side of me that knew what I did was VERY wrong in hunting down and killing the Jedi wanted to save what I could of the Order. So I salvaged what I could and stored them in a secret room at my residence. If the Emperor ever knew I had them, he'd had them destroyed for sure."

"Well…I'm glad you had the foresight to save them."

Anakin smiled at his son and they flew off towards Vader's residence.

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Vader's residence

Luke pulled the speeder up just outside the front door and they got out. Anakin entered the security code into the locking panel and the front door opened. But when they got inside they were greeted by a VERY surprised housekeeper holding a blaster on them. Luke and Anakin immediately put their hands up.

"Who are you and how did you get in here?" The middle-aged housekeeper asked.

"Betsy, it's ok…We're not going to harm you." Anakin said.

"Hands up?...How do you know my name?"

"Good question…How would you know the name of a woman you've never met…Anakin?" Luke interjected, letting Anakin know he'd put his foot in it.

Anakin sighed. How was he going to explain this one? I didn't think there would be anyone here. "Good guess?" He grinned sheepishly.

Betsy looked at him suspiciously…She wasn't buying his lame excuse.

"That isn't a valid answer."

Anakin lost the sheepish grin. "Look…We're here to retrieve some things that belong to the Jedi Order. We know Vader had them." Anakin had to at least try that

"You're not coming in here to take anything! You need a warrant to even search the place. So you better leave MY house now before I call the authorities."

Anakin and Luke looked at each other. I forgot about that little stipulation in Vader's will. Anakin thought to himself.

"You're house?" Luke exclaimed.

"Yes, Lord Vader said in his will that, and I quote, 'If, upon my death, Betsy Starling is still housekeeper of my estate, I, therefore, leave it and all its contents to her as I have no family and it's been more her home than it has ever been mine.'"

"Our mistake." Anakin said. "We'll leave now."

"That's the smartest thing I've heard you say." Betsy said while waving the blaster towards the door.

Luke and Anakin slowly backed towards the door, hands still up, opened it and then backed outside. The door slammed down in their faces and they flinched.

"Well…she was friendly." Luke said sarcastically.

"Great! Well...nothing short of us proving that Darth Vader isn't dead, are we going to be able to retrieve those records now." Anakin said with frustration.

Anakin walked over to speeder and got back in. Luke followed.

"It's not that important, Father. The new Jedi Order will survive without them."

"But it is important, Luke! I know I saved them for a purpose!" Anakin paused. "...I'm sorry…I shouldn't be shouting."

"It's ok…really. Look…if we need them, we'll find a way to retrieve them…Ok?"

A light went on Anakin's head. "I know…There are plenty of items in the house that were "stolen" per se by Vader...including the Jedi Records. We just need to file an injunction to declare the records stolen property, so they can be returned to us at the Temple."

"That might be an idea. We can talk to Leia about it later." Luke started up the speeder's engine. "But, first, let's go to the Temple." Luke said.

"Why didn't I think of that before?" Anakin said still thinking about their problem.

"Maybe because you had a blaster waving in your face." Luke grinned.

They laughed and proceeded to the Temple.