AN: Yeah, you know the stuff. SW belongs to GL. Thanks 4 the reviews!
One thing that I probably have to tell you, stuff like thisis Chewie speaking. Anything like this is Force conversations.
Beth was proud to see that both Luke and Leia were ready for the trials. There was one more task she had to get them to do before they faced their first assignment as Jedi Knights.
She wasn't going to get them to go through trials, as such, but their task would be classed as the trials. That task was to face their father. It had taken the most of the nine months since her rescue to train the twins, and Beth knew she had to let them work at the rest. This final test was one she had been pondering on for a few months at least.
But now, there was a more pressing matter for her to see to. Picking up the small travel bag that contained just two changes of clothes, Beth knew she had to leave the Rebellion, just for a little while.
Slinging it across her shoulders, she made her way out into the main living room of her quarters.
"Darling, are you sure about this?" Piett questioned, a usual thing to expect for Beth.
"Yes, sweetheart," she returned, walking to him and lightly kissing his lips. "Luke and Leia are coming around for a few instructions while I'm away. Where are those vid-discs?"
"Which vid-discs?"
"The ones that were aboard Luke's X-wing, back on Bespin. I put them in a backpack and had Mia take them."
"Those ones! They're still on the Falcon, I think."
Beth nodded and opened the door before either Luke or Leia could knock. They entered and Beth pointed to the two boxes she had prepared and placed on the table.
Leia peered into one of them and asked, "What do we have to do?"
"That's one of the two tasks I want you to do when I'm away."
"Where are you going?" Luke asked, picking up one of the crystals in his box.
"I have some things to sort out on my own. Your job is to construct your own lightsabers. The other task is to go through the vid-discs you brought back from Dagobah. They contain all the remaining information left of the Jedi Order. I know you won't get through all that information by the time I get back, but I hope it proves useful with constructing lightsabers for yourselves. And I want you to practice everything I have taught you, a little each day." Beth waited for the understanding nod from both Luke and Leia.
"Mommy!" Myrrha came running into the room and threw herself into Beth's arms.
Beth kissed her cheek and placed her on the ground. "Look after Daddy for me," she told the four-year-old. Picking up Mace's lightsaber off the table, she hooked it to her belt. She had yet to construct a new lightsaber for herself. "I will be back, at the very latest, at the end of the month. Don't worry about me, Firmus." Then she left.
Piett lifted Myrrha into his arms. "I do worry about you, Bethia, whether you like it or not."
c d
Beth knew of her destination. Naboo and then Dagobah. There was a certain crystal that she wanted for her new lightsaber that she knew only came from Naboo. And it would take her a few days to find it if the security was high. Sighing, she lifted off in the Flyer and left the Rebel base behind.
c d
Vader looked over the bridge of the Executor. He was waiting as patiently as he could for the information he wanted about the Rebel Base. Nothing had been seen or heard about the Rebellion for many months, and Vader knew that they were planning something big.
And he wanted to know what.
His mind turned to the young Jedi Knight that had revealed herself to him almost a year before. His sister. Bethia, he decided, knew too much information about him and his past. And with her on his most wanted list was his former admiral, too. He was sure that the Knight would have told Piett all that she could about him.
Cursing in Huttese, he wanted the Rebellion found and destroyed.
c d
Beth had spent almost 78 hours on Naboo trying to find the crystals she wanted before leaving the planet's surface. She didn't want to be pointed out to the Imperials by the locals, considering the risk she was taking just being on the planet herself.
Now on Dagobah, she looked around the forest world before stepping off the ramp onto the moist ground. She had many memories of the place, especially with Myrrha. She had left her things on the Flyer, knowing that they would be much safer on the ship than anywhere else and ran to Yoda's hut.
Slow down, young Jedi, a voice from behind her said before she could enter the hut. Turning, Beth wanted to know whom it was who had spoken to her. Two figures, surrounded in shimmering light, stood before her. She smiled as she recognised one of them.
"Master Windu."
Well done, Jedi Master Bethia Lars, Windu said.
"Thank you. It's been a long time since you called me Bethia Lars, Master." Beth studied the other figure. "Master Obi-Wan?"
He smiled at her. You've grown up since I last saw you.
"And you've grown grey," Beth smiled back at Obi-Wan. "Luke and Leia have all the help that I can give them, for now. This last test will be the hardest for them."
You cannot stop them from facing Vader, Beth.
"I know. They have to face him like I did. And they have to accept what their father became."
Turning, she entered Yoda's hut and found the ancient Jedi Master sitting by the fire.
"Master Yoda," she greeted.
"Welcome, Master Beth," Yoda returned. "I have been watching."
"I knew you would."
"And see you as Master, I do." He stood and plodded over to Beth and pulled her braid lightly. "Need this, no longer." He began to undo it. "Master Windu bestowed on me to do this."
"Thank you, Master Yoda. It didn't feel right for me to remove it."
"Right you are. Finish this you must." He released the braid, half undone.
Beth sat cross-legged on the floor and got to work on undoing the rest of the braid. As she did that, she told Yoda of what she had taught Luke and Leia.
c d
Beth stayed on Dagobah for two weeks. In that time, she completed her lightsaber and had spent a lot of time in meditation.
During her meditation, Beth made a discovery, which she decided to keep to herself, but that discovery did not take place until after going into the dark side cave on Yoda's orders. She left her lightsaber and the one belonging to Mace outside the cave, as she knew she didn't need them inside.
In the cave, she saw a battle between Luke and Vader. Not knowing where it was taking place, or when, Beth just watched, sensing Luke's struggle with the dark side.
She looked on and sighed. She knew that everyone struggled with the dark side, herself included, and Luke's testing would be soon. Turning to leave, she was stopped by another vision in front of her eyes. It was, to her, a surprise.
Anakin Skywalker stood in front of her as a young man, not many years older than herself.
"Bethie," he said, breaking the silence.
Beth found movement in her feet and rushed at Anakin to throw her arms around him. "Ani, I've missed you."
"I miss you too, Bethie." He pulled away from her. "How long are you planning to stay here?"
"Not much longer. I need to get back to my family."
Anakin smiled slightly. "Watch out for my children, will you?"
"Yes, Ani, I will. And my own."
"Bethie, don't leave here too soon."
"I won't leave until I feel that I need to. I have to go, now. It's good to see you again."
Beth left the dark side cave and returned to Yoda's hut.