Hey guys and welcome back to my story. Chapter 10 concludes the Mandalorian trilogy but I didn't have enough space in the chapter to setup the next arc, so you will have to wait till chapter 11 for that.
Enjoy
00000
"Tell me again why you had to pull me out of meditation with master Koon?" Ashoka complained as she boarded her master's ship with R2 and T7 behind her. Anakin had commed her while he made his way towards the Jedi hangars and told her she needed to meet up with him ASAP.
"Emergency rescue mission Padawan," Anakin responded as he jumped into the pilot's seat "master Cross send a distress signal from Mandalore, stating she was in big trouble. We are going to help her."
Ashoka nodded gravely to that. Bethany had taken up instructing Ashoka in the art of dual wielding recently and Ashoka's respect for the master duellist had skyrocketed.
Obi-wan suddenly appeared in the cockpit and sat down in the co-pilot seat. "What are you doing here master?" Anakin asked him.
"I'm coming along as well," the bearded Jedi said "it appears I am free at the moment and you need all the help you can get. Besides, unlike you two I have actually fought against Deathwatch."
"That's not true master Kenobi," Ashoka responded "I fought them on Carlac."
Anakin smirked "He just want to be the one to save his girlfriend, Snips." he said.
"Girlfriend?" Ashoka's voice cut through the cockpit.
"The Duchess is not my girlfriend," Obi-wan stated furiously "Satine and I are just friends. Nonetheless I'd hate to find out she got hurt or died when I have the means and time to help her."
"Whatever you say master. Let's just hope Bethany doesn't use her usual nickname for you. That would be- awkward." Anakin laughed.
"By the force Anakin, can we just go?!" Obi-wan exclaimed. Ashoka and Anakin chuckled at the ruffled master and Anakin flew out of the Jedi hangar in into orbit around Coruscant.
"By the way, who is this little fella?" Ashoka asked pointing at T7, who had rolled in after them.
"T7-01 at your service / T7 = Jedi Cross' Astromech." the droid replied.
Ashoka raised an eyebrow "I didn't know master Cross had taken an astromech. Why didn't she get a R4 unit like the rest of us? I don't even recognize this model."
"Tee seven is Bethany's old Astromech Ashoka." Anakin said, winking when he saw Ashoka's eyes widen.
"You mean to tell me this droid is from the old Republic, like Master Cross' ship?" she gasped. Obi-wan sighed and Anakin chuckled again.
T7 beeped in response "Statement correct / T7 = build 58 BTC / T7 = Jedi Cross Astromech 8 ATC / Jedi + T7 unbeatable team!" (*1)
"Where did she even find you again? I'm pretty sure you would have been dismantled by now." Ashoka asked T7.
"After Jedi Cross disappear / T7 join Jedi Carsen / Jedi Carsen = Cross old Padawan / after war T7 wait for Jedi Cross on Tython."
"So she found you again when she went to Tython with Yoda and Obi-wan," Anakin stated "to think you waited all this time for her. You're almost as loyal as Artoo." the newer astromech responded with a droid's equivalent of a blush.
"T7 + Jedi = friends / T7 not believe Jedi dead / T7 wait as long as required" T7 said.
R2 decided to cut the conversation short, stating that the ship was ready for a hyperspace jump.
Anakin nodded "Thanks Artoo, let's get this rescue underway. Tee seven, home into Bethany's communicator and tell Artoo where to plot the ship to."
The two droids set to work and soon the nav-computer showed Anakin the orbital and hyperspace vector for the location of Bethany's communicator.
Anakin glanced at the destination "So she is still on Mandalore," he said "Luckily we're much faster than the Republic cruiser she used to get there. We'll be there in 2 hours."
"Let's hope were fast enough though." Obi-wan stated.
00000
A soft gasp ran through the group of Deathwatch soldiers. They released their triggers and lowered their blasters slightly, all looking towards their leader and waiting for a response to the challenge.
"You are a Jedi, not a Mandalorian. Only a Mandalorian warrior can challenge me to a duel of honour, you have no right to challenge me." Vizsla said.
"I can," Bethany retorted "I maybe a Jedi now, but I was born right here on Mandalore and before I joined the Jedi I underwent my clan's initiation to warrior apprentice."
Vizsla's eyes went wide "You are a descendant of Mandalore? That is not possible; no Mandalorian has become a Jedi in the past thousand years!"
"I was born before that. I'm a descendant of clan Cross." Bethany explained.
"The Cross clan fell in disgrace after a prominent member deserted over three thousand years ago. You mean to tell me you are 3 millennia old?" The female right hand of Vizsla said.
"Spend most of those years in Cryostasis, thanks to some ice meteor in uncharted space." Bethany smirked.
Silence reigned throughout the group. Even Satine and Bail looked at the scene in surprise. It was after a few moments that Vizsla broke the silence again. "Then so be it. I am honour bound to accept this duel. What are your terms?"
"Our freedom," Bethany responded "if I win, I and the three behind me are free to leave Mandalore, unharmed. Your terms I presume are our lives."
"So be it," Pre nodded "hand over her weapons." Another Deathwatch soldier stepped up and threw Bethany's lightsabers and tool belt up to her. Bethany used the Force to call the items to her and secured her belt. She then grabbed her lightsabers and ignited them, stepping into stance.
Vizsla did the same as he drew the Darksaber and stood ready. "May the strongest prevail."
As the two warriors faced each other Bethany considered her options. Normally she would not fret about a fight against a non-Force user but Vizsla was no ordinary soldier. He was trained in the old Mandalorian ways and was a foe to be reckoned with. Add to that the fact that Bethany was not back to full from her ordeal mere hours ago. The chase throughout Sundari had not helped her recuperate. In fact Bethany worried that she could not even fight in her usual intensive Juyo style. The fatigue and her heightened emotions swirling around with all the adrenaline in her body may prove too much.
Vizsla did not allow for extensive strategical planning as he charged her with the Darksaber drawn. Bethany decided on the gamble en fuelled her block with the Force, sinking into Juyo. By crossing her lightsabers she took the strike and then pivoted away from the sword. She swept her blade around her body and into the path towards Vizsla's neck, but the Deathwatch leader ducked under the swing. He retaliated with a swing of his own, aiming under the outstretched arm of Bethany. This strike was parried however by the Jedi's defending lightsaber.
For minutes the two warriors clashed lightsabers. Vizsla used his jetpack to match Bethany's Force enhanced movement. The Mandalorian matched the Jedi blow for blow and occasionally used his flamethrower and blasters to keep the Jedi away from him whenever she advanced too far.
Bethany started feeling the strain from her fighting style and stepped back to allow herself to regain some control. Vizsla didn't wait, drew another blaster pistol and shot at her. The shots were easily deflected but Vizsla had rushed forward while shooting and now swung with his darksaber. Again it was met by a block. Unfortunately, the swing was a distraction, and Vizsla fired a shot with his blaster from near point blank range.
On pure instinct Bethany twisted, catching the blaster shot with her shoulder instead of her chest. The plasteel shoulder guard melted from the laser fire and chunks were blown off.
While the blast was not lethal, Bethany's shoulder took another blow it could not handle and dislocated. The Jedi bit through the pain that shot through her appendage and used the Force dash back.
Vizsla laughed at Bethany who had put down one lightsaber and held her injured shoulder, panting for air and a grimace of pain on her face "It seems that the famous Jedi order is no longer living up to its legacy. " the Deathwatch leader sneered.
Bethany snarled back at the Mandalorian leader, not commenting on his insult. She started to get agitated. Without her arm she would not stand a chance against the man. The pain from her shoulder combined with the fatigue from the day's event was beating down on her. But if she failed here, Mandalore would fall into Civil war again and two of the most outstanding diplomats in the galaxy would die.
That must not happen! Bail had proven to be a magnificent politician and a good man. Secondly this planet was her home. Satine had worked so hard to turn it from its violent past. Bethany could only admire her conviction. Yet if she did not pull together now, all of that would be lost.
Meanwhile her shoulder only throbbed in pain more and more.
Bethany felt her own Force signature suddenly fluctuating with the pain and emotions she was feeling. She was pissed off about her failure so far. 'I fought and won against the legends of this Galaxy. I will not be defeated by this hotshot warrior wannabe!' shot through her mind.
Panic suddenly grabbed her. Bethany could feel her thoughts and feelings starting to draw on the Dark side. That certain scar on her soul, the taint she carried, placed on her by him was breaking through the shackles she had so painstakingly put on it. 'Calm down, Calm down!' she started chanted in her head but it was to no avail.
Vizsla and those who could see the Jedi's face all swore they saw a flash of yellow in those icy blue eyes.
Suddenly the Force clamped down. Not from the dark side but from the light. 'You must regain balance!' came the urgent whisper through the Force. A whisper Bethany recognized; her master, just like back then, he tried to stop her.
Bethany listened and closed her eyes. She sat down in a meditative position, bowing her head.
"What's this? You're giving up Jedi?" Vizsla laughed in response.
Bethany ignored him and started the familiar chant 'There are no emotions, there is peace' she could feel the presence of her master soothing through the Force.
"I guess you were not worthy after all." Vizsla said gleefully as he took his time to savour his victory over the Jedi.
'There is no ignorance, there is knowledge' followed the first verse and the dark side presence was banished.
"I had hoped for a somewhat of a challenge, it is a shame really." the voice of Vizsla nearly drowned out in the Force around the meditating Jedi.
'There is no passion, there is serenity.' Came next and the fatigue in Bethany's body left and was dispersed into the Force.
"Master Cross!" Bail and Satine shouted in warning as they saw Vizsla step in front of the kneeling Jedi.
'There is no chaos, there is harmony.' The fourth line of the Jedi code was recited and it signalled the return of her strength.
"And now you will die!" Vizsla exclaimed victoriously as he raised his darksaber to kill.
"There is no death, there is the Force!" Bethany stated as her shoulder snapped back into place. Her eyes flew open, icy blue glare whipping up to the Mandalorian.
Bethany moved faster than the blink of an eye and threw her just healed arm up towards Vizsla. The man was flung back by the power of a spaceship ramming into him. The Force pushing him to the other side of the platform where he bounced off a Dura steel beam and slid against a wall. (*2)
Vizsla looked bewildered as he pulled himself up. The Jedi was on her last legs moments ago but now she threw him across the landing platform like it was nothing. Also she had drawn both lightsabers, showing her healed arm as she advanced onto the Deathwatch leader without the strain and fatigue that she was showing moments ago.
But the thing that made Vizsla almost lose all his wits was her stare. He had admitted to that tinge of fear when those eyes flashed yellow minutes ago but this icy blue stare was making him lose all hope of victory. Not that he would admit it in front of his men.
Once Bethany was halfway towards him she used her Force leap to crash down onto the man with a ferocious double lightsaber blow. From that moment on all Vizsla could do was defend. Bethany's strikes were twice as powerful as before and she had him on the ropes.
The roles were reversed now. Vizsla was hurt from the impact of the Force push, and it looked like Bethany was back in top condition. He tried to jetpack away from the whirlwind of lightsabers coming from the Jedi but was caught mid-air by a flying lightsaber cutting through his backpack. For the second time that duel Vizsla crashed down onto the Dura steel and this time he stayed down grabbing his leg in pain. Bethany did not waste any time and used her Force leap one last time. She landed on top of the Mandalorian. Locking his movements and pressing her lightsaber close against his throat.
The two locked eyes for a moment. Icy blue Jedi eyes staring right into the soul of the Mandalorian with grace and determination. Pre Vizsla suddenly felt that fear from earlier crawl up his spine.
He realized he had never been a match. His delusion came from her fatigue, not lack of skill. The leader saw no way out and with a snarl on his face he did the most shameful thing in his career
He raised his free hand, two fingers stretched. A sign of yield and request of mercy in the eyes of his warriors.
The entire platform waited withheld breath at what would happen. The Mandalorians were shocked that their leader admitted defeat. Bail, Satine and Armatan took a sigh in relieve at the turn of events.
The two warriors kept their gazes locked for a moment more before Bethany pulled her lightsaber away. She got off Vizsla and stepped away, still looking at him while the man relaxed and let his own fatigue take over. No words were needed; the Jedi had won the duel.
Bethany turned away and tried to make for her Senators when Vizsla scrambled up with some difficulty "This isn't over Jedi." He groaned at the Jedi's back with a strained voice.
"Oh but it is Vizsla, You agreed to the terms of this duel. We are allowed to go free," Bethany responded with a mere glance back at the man "Good luck holding Mandalore for a day or more before we return to restore its true government." Bethany turned away again and walked on towards Bail and Satine.
Vizsla lost his reason at that "NO! I will not let this filthy pacifist back on Mandalore's throne!" He fumbled for the darksaber and charged at Bethany's back, despite his injuries.
Organa responded first "Master Cross watch out!" he shouted.
With inhumane speed Bethany twisted around, brandishing her lightsabers. The two fighters clashed and time froze for a moment. While the stab from the Darksaber went just past the Jedi's neck and singed her scarlet hair, Bethany's orange lightsabers were protruding right out of Vizsla's back. The blades piercing the Mandalorian warrior's chest.
Vizsla spluttered and garbled blood from the blades stuck through his lungs. But the glare on his face did not leave.
"Pre!" the female right hand of Vizsla shouted. She dashed forward towards the locked warriors.
"You are the disgrace to Mandalore, Pre Vizsla." Bethany said with an angered look on her face "You speak of honour, but spit into the face of the most sacred of traditions because you lost. You are even worse than your ancestors who followed the Sith for the sake of mindless war. At least Shae Vizsla admitted to her faults before I killed her (*3). I for one am glad those days are past and that the Duchess will continue to lead our people into an age of peace."
"You know nothing, Jedi. Don't lecture me my culture." Vizsla snarled despite the blood in his mouth. "I curse you and your entire order. This is not over!"
Bethany did not respond but turned her lightsabers off. Vizsla dropped to the ground to draw his final breath. The female lieutenant reached them and crashed down on her knees next to him. She threw of her helmet and held Vizsla in her arms while she looked, first at Pre in sadness and then up at Bethany in anger.
Satine looked even more in shock once she recognized the female "K- Katan?"
Bo-Katan Kryze glanced at the Duchess and sneered "Spare me your tears sister; I made my choice long ago."
"And what choice will you make now?" Bethany asked her "will you do the same thing you accuse the Duchess of and dishonour our traditions by not carrying out our agreement?"
"They are not your traditions Jedi," Katan yelled at her "you are the disgraced daughter of a deserter. I will not acknowledge your victory!"
"I am not!" Bethany replied heatedly "My mother risked everything to not have me fall into the hands of the Sith and still lost me to the Jedi. But judging from your connection to Satine you will never understand such a bond," She raised her lightsabers again "so you will risk the lives of your men again? I have no regret having to kill this man, but I don't want more blood on my hands due to your foolish actions."
"Foolish? What makes you think you alone are a match against all of us?" Bo-Katan said as she hopped back on her feet and snapped her fingers. The rest of the Deathwatch soldiers raised the blasters towards the Jedi.
"Who says she will have to fight alone?" A new voice came from above them. Bethany recognized the voice and saw to her shock Anakin and Ashoka jump down from the storage building to the side with a flip. Anakin landed next to Bethany, his blue lightsaber posed to strike, Ashoka dropped next to Bail, Satine and the Prime minister, ready to defend them from any possible crossfire.
Katan drew her blasters "Three Jedi against a squad of elite Mandalorians. You picked the wrong moment to rescue your friend, Jedi."
"I'm afraid you miscounted." Obi-wan stated as he rushed onto the platform as well, lightsaber blazing. Behind him was a large group of liberated palace guards. Obi-wan had snuck into the city while Anakin and Ashoka had searched for Bethany and he arrived at the perfect time.
"I think they call this checkmate. " Anakin smirked.
A look of fury crossed the Deathwatch lieutenant face as she silently dropped her blasters and raised her hands in the air, her soldiers following.
00000
Darth Sidious had been meditating in his office for the past hour, pondering his actions and gauging their consequences in the Force. His ability to see the future was unrivalled even among the Sith legends of old. But right now he was focusing on a most peculiar event he had felt through the Force half an hour ago, in the middle of his meditation. He had felt a tidal wave of Darkness wash over him. Something of this magnitude could only be done by a Sith, and it was not from that weakling Tyranus or his apprentice Ventress. No this was on the scale of the great Sith lords of old from during the Hyperspace wars.
In fact it rivalled his own darkness and the darkness he had been cultivating in his precious Chosen One. Who in this galaxy had the potential to challenge him like that?
The problem was, before Sidious could home in on it, it was gone. Just like that it was released and absorbed into the Force, leaving no trace. The only thing he felt was his own darkness resonating within the Force. No Sith would dispel power like that.
The next half hour was spent in deeper meditation. He discreetly searched out any Force sensitive which would have the potential for such darkness. Master Yoda and Windu were on Coruscant, as happy and disgustingly in the light as ever.
Dear Anakin was on Mandalore, saving that master Cross and-
Jedi Cross? Was she the one? Her name was passed on through the legends of the galaxy, even the Sith. After all, she defeated the last true Emperor and leader of the Sith. A man Sidious considered his greatest example, even more than his own master Plagueis.
Sidious took a little more risk and centred his meditation on the old Republic Jedi. He could feel the intense light radiating from her, sickening the Dark Lord. But deep inside that supernova of Force was a tiny black hole. It was not her Force signature. Rather someone else's which was leeching off her Force connection like a parasite. Who or what was that?
Then Sidious snarled. He witnessed the events on Mandalore. Cross had killed that idiot Vizsla and had pretty much dismantled Deathwatch with the help of Kenobi and Anakin. Many of his designs had to be altered now. He had made far reaching plans to rid the galaxy of the Duchess and cripple the Council of Neutral Systems using Deathwatch. He had to start all over again!
Also he saw no possible future in which he managed to reach out towards that tiny speck of darkness inside Cross and drag her over to him. He pondered the possibilities; he, Skywalker and Cross would be unbeatable for all eternity, cementing an ultimate line of Sith that would last thousands of years!
But the most disturbing thing he saw was the few futures where he would lose everything thanks to this woman. So far all his decisions would lead to the eventual fall of the Chosen One. But now a few timelines were shown to him where Cross would stand in the way of Anakin's fall. And Sidious knew he could not stand against the two of them if they joined forces.
UNACCEPTABLE! Sidious seethed. The Dark Lord dropped out of meditation and made to contact his weakling of an apprentice. He and Tyranus would have the get rid of Cross as soon as possible!
00000
A few days later the four Jedi were inside Anakin's ship on their way back to Coruscant. The four of them had stayed on Mandalore to make sure all of Deathwatch was behind bars and were no longer a threat to Senator Organa and Duchess Satine.
Obi-wan had spent an evening with Satine and a pot of tea. Helping her through the process of accepting her sister's involvement with Deathwatch. Ashoka and Anakin had kept their senses focused on the private quarters of the Duchess, but sadly reported to Bethany that 'nothing was going on'.
With the threat of Deathwatch gone Bail dismissed Bethany from her duty as his guardian and told her to go home with the rest of the Jedi while he continued the negotiations with Mandalore.
So now Bethany, Obi-wan, Anakin and Ashoka were in hyperspace enroute to the Jedi temple. Ashoka had left the cockpit, saying she was going to spend some time with T7 and R2 and see if the droids needed some cleaning. Bethany had a strange feeling Anakin had discreetly suggested his Padawan leave the cockpit for a while and she wondered why.
"Master Cross, could you indulge us for a moment?" Obi-wan asked after a minute of silence.
"Sure, what's wrong?" Bethany responded.
"When you were duelling the Deathwatch leader master Kenobi and I were on the planet," Anakin said "while I made my way to you I felt something- err- wrong in the Force. Something centred on you."
Bethany flinched, knowing fully well what he meant. She was raking her brain for an excuse to not having to tell them what happened but Obi-wan beat her to it.
"I felt it as well, and from my experience, it was the dark side." He stated while looking directly into Bethany's eyes. Anakin came to her defence though saying "But it also completely disappeared moments later."
Bethany pondered in silence for a moment "It wasn't me that drew power from the dark side." she eventually murmured while looking down. Shame filled her now at losing her grip on that thing.
"Then what was it?" Obi-wan asked "You must know that Anakin and I are obliged to report what we felt to the council. But I'd like to know what we felt. A dark sider does not draw power from the dark side and then not use it. And I personally don't believe for a moment you are a Sith in disguise."
"It is a long story master Kenobi." Bethany admitted.
"We've got time" Anakin said in response. He was just a curious as his old master.
Bethany sighed. There was no way out. She had to be truthful towards her fellow Jedi. Only two other Jedi had ever known what happened to her. And that was Kira, who was there, and Grandmaster Shan who was the only one Bethany told the whole story to.
Bethany steeled herself and started her explanation "What you felt was not me. Rather it was what was done to me by a certain Sith. The old Emperor was a very strong Force user and his expertise was mind manipulation and mind control. He had large groups of Sith directly under his control; they were called the Children of the Emperor. My old Padawan Kira was one of them before she escaped his clutches and joined the Jedi."
"The Emperor would mind control children?" Anakin asked in disgust.
Bethany nodded "Yes, he would take younglings and implant them with his dark side. They would become total slaves to his will and he could even at any point transfer his Force signature over to them and take direct control over their minds. In a way this made him immortal, because whenever his physical form was defeated he could transfer over to one of his children and continue on his merry way towards galaxy conquest."
Anakin and Obi-wan looked disturbed "How did your Padawan escape him?" Obi-wan asked.
"If a person is strong enough in the light they could resist the Emperor's mind control and break free from his hold. The good thing is that once you managed that your mind had the means towards blocking it so he would not be able to re-establish his hold even if he tried. Kind of like antibodies stopping bacteria and viruses from infecting you again." Bethany explained.
Anakin nodded "And this happened to you as well?"
Bethany looked down again. "I was the one who helped Kira break free from the Emperor's mind control. I thought myself immune to its power since I had managed to help my Padawan break free and I had just defeated Darth Angral, a member of the dark council. I thought myself immune to the Emperor's dark influence."
The female Jedi continued "A year after I was named Hero of Tython the Jedi received important news. Months of spying and intelligence had yielded great result. We knew the location of the Emperor's secret space station where he stayed when he was not needed on Dromund Kaas. The decision was made to form a strike team and take the fight to the Emperor. Defeat him and stop the impending second war from erupting. Kira and I were to be part of this strike team, along with master Tol Braga and knights Sedoru and Narezz. We made it to the space station and fought our way to the throne room with ease. In the throne room Kira and I battled with the Emperor's Wrath, the second in command of the Sith Empire, and beat him. We thought victory was assured but we couldn't be more wrong. The Emperor did not even draw his lightsaber. He overpowered all five of us with Force lighting. I thought it was the end for me and even accepted death. But that bastard had darker plans for us all."
Bethany fell silent for a moment "He tortured me for weeks using Sith alchemy and his mind control powers. He forced me to do terrible things; kill younglings who failed their training, train me in the ways of the Sith. His plan was to force me into the dark side until I just accepted it on my own and became his willing servant."
"So you became a Sith?" Obi-wan asked with slight alarm "you fell to the dark side?"
Bethany looked him into the eyes with a flare of determination. "No! I did not fall. Falling requires making a choice. To choose to abandon the light and take on the dark as your guide. He forced it on me. I could not choose otherwise even though I wanted so badly. I admit I came very close to just accepting the dark side after all those weeks," she stated "but I was saved by Master Orgus. He appeared in front of me and reminded me of whom I was, a Jedi. He gave me the strength to overpower the hold Darth Vitiate had on me. From that moment I was once again Jedi Knight Bethany Cross. I managed to escape the station, since the Sith still thought I was under the influence of the Emperor. And I went back to Tython."
Minutes went by "I- I don't know what to say. I'm sorry for what you had to suffer through Bethany." Anakin said breaking the silence. The knight had a look of compassion on his face. "So am I." Obi-wan added.
"I will forever carry the taint of his darkness on me and no amount of meditation or peace will get rid of it. But I have learned to control it. As long as I stay on the light side that darkness will never get the best of me. And it was that darkness you felt trying to break free during my duel with Vizsla." Bethany concluded.
"Why did it break free during the duel?" Anakin asked.
"I was burdened with emotion and pain. Those Deathwatch bastards had me beat up hours before. My duel was not going well with my shoulder dislocated and I made the mistake to fight with my Juyo style, even with knowing it puts a strain on the control of my emotions. It saw an opportunity to break free and tried to take it. Not to mention Vizsla and the darksaber brought up another delightful experience from my past."
"The Darksaber was stolen from the Jedi temple during the sacking of Coruscant was it not?" Obi-wan offered.
"Yes, I was ten years old when the Sith attacked and murdered almost everyone in the temple. Only a handful of Jedi escaped the massacre. That day was when I got this." Bethany said pointing at the scar on her face.
Another silence. Obi-wan and Anakin pondered on the revelations from their female friend. While the code dictates to be highly suspicious of Force sensitive's who came so close to the dark side they could not feel a shred of evil inside Bethany and she had all her mental shields down for them. She could not hide her true intentions from the two. The Force itself urged the two to not condemn her for her past.
It was Anakin who broke the silence again "I have to say Bethany, I'm impressed that despite all you've been through you still remained so firmly in the light." Bethany could see admiration for her strength in his own eyes, Anakin continued "I think many would have given up and fall instead of holding on."
"I agree with my old Padawan. You are a Jedi, Bethany. And I have no doubt you will continue to be. I'm afraid I have to report what you told us to the council and you may have to tell them the story as well. But know I will stand with you." Obi-wan added with a smile.
Bethany sighed and smiled "Thank you that means a lot to me."
00000
*1 According Wookiepedia T7 was build somewhere in 3870 BBY. That would mean he was nearly 300 years old when he joined up with the Hero of Tython. Yeah no.
*2 this as my take on the ability in the SWTOR game called contemplation. In the game you sit down and meditate, restoring health. I found it nice to incorporate abilities from a game in a fictional setting, hope it turned out good.
*3 not entirely cannon, Shae Vizsla walks away from that fight in the game, but I find it odd that a Jedi would let the instigator of the sacking of Coruscant walk scot free.
Also, yes this means the events later in the Clone wars with Deathwatch and Darth Maul will not happen. You can start to see the ripples of change I mention in the stories description. Now that I have established Bethany in the film era, I will start doing more radical changes in the Star Wars lore.
Hey, my name is Loretwister for a reason.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Leave a review if you did, they help me a lot.
Loretwister out.