Chapter 8

"Ten new signatures, this Force finder found," Yoda told Mara and Luke. "Active, many of them seem to be."

Luke frowned at the finder. "Master Yoda, not all of them are blue and red showing Jedi and Sith. Two are a yellow and another is… white."

Mara nodded. "The yellow must be for the non-force users. Although, I am uncertain who was brought back or even why. If they don't use the force, what use are they to us?"

Luke smiled. "Not all people need the force to do good."

Yoda nodded. "Right he is, Mara Jade. For Evil can also be done without the force."

Mara nodded in agreement. "You're right Master Yoda."

"Master?" Luke asked. "What is the white signature light for?"

"Has to be a force-user," Mara told him. "It's too bright not to be."

For a moment, Yoda didn't answer. "Use your heart, young one. Who do you think it is?"

Luke frowned and then his eyes widened and he smiled. "Father…"

Padme stared at Obi-Wan. She blinked and secretly pinched herself. Had he just said what she thought he had just said? Was it possible?

"Ani?" she whispered. "My Ani's alive?"

Obi-Wan couldn't read the look on her face so he tried his best to explain everything he could as calmly as he could. "Yes, Anakin has returned with us… As a Jedi. He's no longer on the dark side of the force, Padme. He's… back. The real Anakin is back."

Tears welled up in Padme's eyes and she dropped to her knees. Obi-Wan quickly went to her, asking if she was okay, but one look told him everything. He relaxed.

Padme's eyes were crying, but they were also smiling. Her lips quivered but she was beaming. She couldn't speak, but she didn't have to. There were no words to describe what she was feeling.

"Ani…"

Obi-Wan nodded. "Anakin's back." He smiled and glanced over at Han and noticed that the young man was not smiling. His eyes were wide with absolute anger.

"Vader's returned?!"

"No!" Obi-Wan snapped, a little louder then he meant to. "No, not Vader. Anakin Skywalker."

Han rolled his eyes. "Like there's a difference."

"There is."

Han's eyes narrowed and he picked up a very upset Jaina and Jacen. "NO there isn't. Not as far as I am concerned." He pointed his finger at Obi-Wan. "You keep that monster away from my family, you hear me?!"

Leia walked in. "Mother, the senate will…" she froze at the scene. "What's going on?" She looked at Han, whose face gave away almost everything, what it didn't, he said.

"Vader's come back."

She paled. "Oh no…"

"Leia listen to me," Obi-Wan pleaded. "Listen to me, okay? It's not Vader, it's your father."

Leia wasn't listening. She walked over and took Jaina from her father's arms and tried to calm her.

Obi-Wan turned to Han, but knew that was a helpless case. "Han, he's here to help. We need…"

"NO!" Han yelled. "No, we do not need him. My family and I do not need him." He took a deep breath. "You don't understand, Kenobi. You were dead by then. Vader… Anakin tortured us."

Aric couldn't believe his ears. "I'm free?" he looked up at his old master. "I'm free? I'm really free?!"

The Mastafarian nodded. He was up against the wall with his feet off the ground, under Anakin grip, who had, from the moment he had walked in, kept his hood up to hide his face.

"I'm glad you can finally see it my way," Anakin told him. "That ship, the one which crashed not far from here. Is it yours?"

"No," the man gasped. "It's no ones. Take it if you want it."

Anakin nodded and let him go. "I'll do that." He turned to Aric. "Get your things, we're leaving."

Aric bounded away to his bunk and grabbed a small bag. "Always prepared," he beamed.

The two turned to leave.

"What are you?" the master called after them. "You're people will be known as slave stealers!"

Anakin turned to him and let his hood reveal his eyes and face. "I am Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi. And I do not tolerate slavery."