Chapter 6

Luke and Mara stood there silently. Mara didn't speak at first and went silent. Luke managed to find his voice.

"Master Yoda?"

"My name, that is," the small green master answered. He carried his cane even though he returned at an age he didn't need it. He climbed off one of the chairs and made his way over to the other Jedi.

"Surprised to see me, I see. Yet knew many returned you did." He chuckled softly. "How embarrassing."

Luke couldn't help but smile. "Yes, master. It's great to see you sir."

Master Yoda nodded. "Great to be seen, it is." He took a step forward towards Mara. "Jedi Padawan, Mara Jade, it must be."

Mara's face went hard.

"Uh, no…" Luke interrupted quickly. He could feel the tension growing. "Master, she's not a padawan…"

"No more then yourself, then Skywalker?"

Luke nodded.

"Yes, indeed. A padawan in many ways, you still are."

He blinked. "Master?"

"And to me, my padawan you will always be." Yoda turned to Mara and smiled warmly at her. "Trust your spirit, I do, Jedi Jade. Not all of council, my view will they see."

Mara nodded. "I understand. Thank you, master."

Yoda nodded before he turned and headed towards the hologram machine. "Contact others, we must now."

Luke and Mara glanced at each other and followed him.

-Mustafar-

"Fifty." The dark haired boy glared hard at Anakin. He had olive skin and dark brown eyes. He didn't appear to be from Mustafar, but had probably been there most of his life. His stance was defiant. "No less."

Anakin couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. "Fifty? For this?" He pointed at the run down ship. It looked like a pile of bolts smashed together.

Dooku sneered at it with distaste. "Does it even run?" he asked pointedly.

The boy immediately got defensive. "Yes, it runs!" He crossed his arms haughty. "And it's a good ship. Left here by the Army two months ago; they said they'd be back for it. Never was."

Dooku's eyes narrowed and leaned close to Anakin. "I can see why…"

Anakin continued to stare at the ship. His experienced eye knew what he saw and knew it would not be able to lift off the ground in its current condition. "It would appear to be in need of serious maintenance work."

Their seller wiped his black hair from his face. "Well, that'll cost you extra."

The two men lowered their gaze at him, but he didn't even flinch. Anakin waited to see what was in the boy's eyes. He didn't appear to be making it up, but something about this seemed odd. Even if the boy was only doing his master's will, what sort of salesman would charge so much for a broken down ship. There had to be more to it.

"Forget it, Skywalker." Dooku hissed over at him. "This piece of metal just isn't worth it." He turned to leave.

Suddenly the boy got frantic. "You… You won't find a better ship on this side of Mustafar. You'll have to come back unless you wish to walk…"

"Exercise is good for the soul," Anakin told him.

"And the body," Dooku agreed. Anakin nodded at him and the two made a show of leaving.

"Wait!"

They paused and shot looks at each other. Before putting on surprise faces and turning to the boy.

"I might be able to give it to you for forty-five."

Dooku was disgusted. "You have got to be kidding me, kid."

The boy shuffled uneasily. "I uh…"

"Look, slave-boy," Dooku snapped. "We don't have the time for your stupid little games, so I suggest you—"

Anakin stopped him mid-sentence with an arm across his chest. His eyes were hard and dark. "What did you just call him?"

Dooku frowned and grumbled something about Anakin being rather bias on the subject of slavery, but he stopped. So Anakin turned to the boy.

"How much is your freedom, son?"

The boy's eyes widened and he swallowed hard. "Uh… my freedom?" For a moment he considered denying he was a slave and putting on a show of strength but from his position, it wouldn't do any good. Besides, he got the feeling these two rogues wouldn't buy it.

"Twenty-five," he swallowed hard. "At least."

Anakin nodded and ignored Dooku scoff of impatience. "How much is it worth to you?"

"Worth lying for."

"Worth working for?"

He looked up at Anakin cautiously before he spoke. "Oh, yeah."

"Take me to your master," Anakin told him. He glanced at Dooku. "Take a look at our ship."

Dooku grumbled and took off.

Anakin followed the boy towards town. They walked in silence for a moment before the boy worked up the courage to ask. "What's your name, sir?"

"Anakin Skywalker," Anakin looked down at the boy beside him. "I'm a Jedi."

The kid looked up in surprise. His face lit up in excitement. "A Jedi? A real Jedi?! I thought they didn't exist anymore."

"Yes," he whispered. "They do. I'm not the only one either." He studied the kid. "What's your name?"

"Aric."

"And your last name?"

Aric wouldn't look him in the eye. "Don't have a last name. Not one I can remember anyways."

Anakin nodded. He fixed his eyes on the village ahead of them. "We'll have to change that."