Beth finished welding a joint on a pipe, placed her gloves and goggles on another pipe and began trying to close the valve again. As she struggled, Han moved in close behind her, his big hands closed over her small ones and with two more attempts, the recalcitrant thing unexpectedly clicked home. Beth's hand slipped and caught on an edge, stinging badly.

"Ow." she yelped, then licked the place on her hand, backing into him unexpectly and turning quickly in the close space.

"Here, let me." Han inspected the injury. No skin broken. He massaged the red area on the side of her hand, continuing just a little too long. He was standing too close and she was trapped between him and the wall.

Beth gave an embarrassed smile. "Stop, please."

"Stop what?" Han fought the urge to grin as he continued to hold and massage her hand.

"My hands are dirty. And you shouldn't be doing that." Beth was blushing now, looking away.

"So're mine. And why shouldn't it be me?" He tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes. He found himself staring into them as she said breathlessly

"Han, remember, I'm too young to play with."

The tension grew intolerable, he leaned down as he drew her irresistibly close. Beth kept protesting even as she moved with him. "What abou. ."

"You never were. And it was never play." He whispered over her last protest, their lips touched, he kissed her, she kissed him back. Beth slipped her arms around his neck as he pushed his fingers into her hair, ran the other hand down her torso, and all was good. It seemed an eternity, then 3PO walked in, talking excitedly. He tapped Han on the shoulder.

"Sir!, Sir! I've isolated the reverse power flux coupling."

The embrace broke, Han turned to the droid with a sarcastic "Thank you." The droid trundled back out muttering about the manners of some humans. Han turned back to Beth, who had recovered and had an amused smile on her still pink face. He smiled at her, a little sadly and ran his thumb along her jawbone.

"We're a pair, aren't we. The guy you're in love with is in love with the girl I'm in love with and the girl I'm in love with is in love with the guy you're in love with. Have you ever considered just dumping them out of the equation?"

Beth stared into his blue eyes, trying to figure out the kind of answer he was looking for, her smile slowly fading into a serious expression. Finally she settled on the truth. "Once or twice, but I think we would both regret it. And I think, deep down, you agree with me on that." Then she grinned and a sparkle glinted in her eyes.

"Besides, while you may be a good kisser, you're just not my type."

Han pretended hurt. "I'm not? At least you give me credit for kissing. And what is your type?" He suspected he knew what was coming and he wasn't disappointed.

"I go for the more mature men."

Han winked at her. "I thought you did. So explain his Highness's attraction."

Beth batted at him in mock irritation. "He has extremely good taste, that's why he's attracted to me. Now tell me what we have to do next to get this heap working."

Vader took the call from his master in his private quarters. As he knelt before the holographic image, Vader asked, "What is thy bidding, my master?"

The Emperor intoned. "There is a grave disturbance in the force."

"I have felt it."

"We have new enemies. Leia Skywalker."

"Yes, my master."

"The daughter of Skywalker has found an apprentice. Together they could bring about our destruction." Vader considered his master's orders.

"She is not a Jedi. Obiwan could not have taught her somuch that she could teach another."

"The Force is strong with them. They must be destroyed."

Vader reflected a moment. "If one or both could be turned, they would become powerful allies, my master."

The Emperor considered and nodded. "They would be a great asset, if they could be."

"They will join us or die."

The little red droid stood on tiptoes to look in the round window of the little creature's mud house. This landscape was far too wet for his metallic tastes. Inside the house, his Highness, Prince Luke Organa, was sitting crosslegged on the floor, carefully avoiding knocking his head on the ceiling or upsetting anything in the miniature house as the little wizened figure bustled about the kitchen, throwing herbs in something in a pot.

"Good food, yes." he spoke as he placed platters in front of his guest. "Eat. Then we go."

Luke tasted the concoction on one platter, decided he'd had worse, and held his impatience in check. Quizzing the little mannikin would get him nowhere, he recognized.

The creature placed another bowl on the table, sat down and picked up a spoon. "Why wish you become a Jedi?"

Luke swallowed his mouthful and answered. "My father, Bail Organa of Alderaan, hoped that Obiwan Kenobi would train me. After my father was killed and Vader killed Kenobi, his student Leia Skywalker joined us. I asked her to teach me what she could and she agreed. She said Kenobi visited her and said I needed to come here to be trained by Yoda. So here I am."

"Become Jedi do you others to please?"

"I respect my father enough that if he thought I should do something, I would at least give it very serious thought. I continue because I wish to. Perhaps I can be more effective this way in our fight against the Empire. And Leia believes I have some talent for it."

"And what believe you?"

Luke looked at the little fellow, paused, and took a chance. "I believe that I am talking either to one of Yoda's people, or to Yoda himself."

The mannikin smiled to himself, tucked another spoonful into his wrinkled little mouth and chewed silently. In fact. he didn't say another word until he was done eating. Again, Luke sat on his curiosity and impatience and ate the food, hoping that he would not pay for it later with indigestion.

Yoda finished removing the platters and dishes from his table and sat back down. He pursed his mouth, looked the youth up and down twice and announced.

"Teach him, I will. Long I have watched him, unsure yet I am, but teach him, I will."

A thrill ran up Luke's spine and he tried to hide his excitement. Yoda frowned at him.

"Excitement, adventure. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless. Too much for other's approval you look. And much anger. Like in your father."

Luke stared at him in confusion. but Yoda ignored him and went on. "Unlearn your ways, you must, if Jedi you will be."

Luke shook off the confusion. Yoda was willing to teach him, despite misgivings, even though what the master had said was true. And his father had known ever so many different people. "I will do whatever I have to. I'm not afraid."

A strange smile slowly appeared on the little Jedi Master's green face. "You will be. Oh yes, you will be."