Chapter 16

"Wedge, now stretch out with you feelings and tell me what you sense around you?" Luke said and watched his friend.

Wedge Antilles looked around and focussed his mind on his surroundings.

"There are all kind of life forms, master, large ones, herbivores and a few small predators, but also smaller ones, tinier life forms, like spiders, worms, many different insects, and all kinds of plants. They live nearby, up in these trees, even under my feet. I see all kinds of bright colors around the plants in the undergrowth and around the trees. I feel your presence, master, for you're part of all this as well, and so am I. Everything looks to be in connection with each other; we, the trees, the herbivores, the predators, the birds among the leaves, but there also is a connection with stones, rocks and the water in the river. However, I sense decay and death too; rotten leaves and remains of dead animals."

"What you're feeling now is the Living Force. Her power surrounds everything, and penetrates us. We're connected with everything that surrounds us. Not only with other humans, but all life forms. The Force shows us our union with everything that lives, grows and dies. The Force is an eternal circle, that creates life; makes it grow, and in the end the Force deploys the decay of all life it has created. Now, take a seat on that flat rock, close your eyes, listen and become one with everything that surrounds you, become one with the Force."

Wedge sat cross-legged on the flat stone and took a Jedi meditation stance. He closed his eyes and focussed his mind completely on the Force. Luke nodded approvingly. These last ten months, his friend had gained much knowledge about the Force and its influence on him. Wedge's commitment to the Force was unconditional. He controlled the Force and could use her tremendous strength at will.

"Now I want you to slowly lift yourself and as many of the stones around you. See yourself and the stones in your mind, surround them with your thoughts and feel how the Force also surrounds you and the stones and that you can move them any way you want," Luke said with a calm Jedi voice.

Some fifteen stones of different sizes laying in front of Wedge, slowly started to rise and hovered in the air. After he had raised the stones he raised himself about one meter above the flat stone, keeping the stones aloft with the Force.

"Now put the stones on top of each other. Control their movements. Direct the stones with your hands."

Wedge stretched out his hand and the largest stone floated to place in front of him. While he slightly drifted himself to the left, he slowly let it sink on top of another flat rock. Then he reached out to the next stone. For a moment it hovered above the first stone, then it came down on top of it. One by one Wedge directed the fifteen stones in the right position and on top of each other. Finally he surrounded the pile with his Jedi thoughts and kept the stones in a exquisite equilibrium in the air.

"Excellent, Wedge. Your control of the Force is perfect," Luke said with a laugh, "You've been practising a lot, haven't you? Drop the stones and release yourself."

Wedge put down the stones before he came out of his Force trance and looked at his friend and Jedi master.

"I did as you taught me, master, but I'm not yet completely certain about my use of the Force."

"You will become more certain the more you feel you're always part of the Force. You're more and more committing yourself completely to her power," Luke commented. "Let's practise with the training remotes. Ready your lightsaber, Wedge. This time I'm using all seven remotes at the highest intensity, so be prepared."

Wedge took his training lightsaber in his hands, becoming one with the Force. He took on a defensive stance to ward off the small paralyzing laser beams. One by one Luke activated the remotes and threw them in his padawan's direction. The hovering spherical balls encircled the fighter pilot on all side and started to fire. Wedge estimated all the imminent attacks with great accuracy. The barrage of laser beams of the seven remotes lasted only a few seconds. In the blink of an eye Wedge deactivated the remotes which landed inert on the forest floor. Luke smiled at his friend and padawan.

"Well done, Wedge. We're finished for today. Let's go back to Irithim. Drop me off at Leia's office, will you? You'll go back to the space port and ready the Astræga for take off. You and I are going on mission. You have to assign the command of Gold Squadron temporarily to Gold One. If you see General Madine or general Rieekan, tell them you're coming with me."

"Yes, master. May I ask where we're going?" Wedge asked, calmly.

"To Tatooine, Wedge, for your next assignment: assembling your own lightsaber. We will leave after I have seen Leia."

The two friends went over to the speeder. Luke jumped at the passenger's seat and left it to Wedge to drive him back to Irithim.

At the government building Luke requested to see his sister. After having waited for half an hour in the antechamber of Leia's office, his sister and her padawan entered. Leia was still busy having some final talks with some senators. Ian stood patiently at her side. The senators took their leave with a polite greeting and Leia walked over to her brother.

"I'm leaving with Wedge, Leia. Tonight! First I'll go with him to Tatooine and if he has assembled his lightsaber, I'll take him to Dagobah," Luke said.

"I will contact you immediately if Marek Grann hears any news about Liane, Luke. Have you felt some other tremors in the Force, coming through the Jedi-pendant, lately?"

Luke shook his head.

"No, I hope she is still wearing the pendant," He said with a deep sigh.

Leia slid the door of her office aside, took her brother inside, and beckoned her padawan to follow them.

"I'm sure she does, Luke. When will you be back?"

Luke smiled.

"That depends, Leia. I'm convinced, that Wedge is ready for his initiation, but I can't estimate how much time I'll need on Tatooine. Using the Force abilities of a Jedi Knight on Dagobah requires full commitment to the Force and more."

"I'm sure Wedge will enjoys his stay on Tatooine and Dagobah with you, as much as I did, Luke. It's such a tremendous experience."

Luke noticed the interested look at the young padawan's face.

"One day it will be your turn to go with me and Leia to Tatooine and Dagobah, Ian," Luke said.

"Yes, master Luke, but there's still enough for me to learn from master Leia at the moment," Ian said with a thoughtful smile, "Will you give commander Antilles my regards and wish him luck."

Leia frowned.

"For a Jedi there's no such thing as luck, my young padawan. A Jedi always relies on the Force," She said sternly.

"Yes, master. I only expressed some well wishes towards commander Antilles," Ian Tydon said humbly.

"I know what you mean, Ian, and I will tell him you highly support his last assignments. My sister told me, you're also doing fine. Keep on with your training." Luke said.

"I certainly will, master Luke. I didn't expect to become someone's padawan after you showed me what I can do using the Force, let alone that your sister would become my Jedi master."

"There wasn't much choice, Ian. You could only become Leia's padawan or mine. There are only two Jedi Knights at the moment," Luke said with a laugh, "I don't want to push you, Ian, but we certainly want to extend that number of Jedi Knights in the near future. I expect a lot of you."

"I fully commit myself to my training, masters. I feel it as a great honor to become a Jedi Knight. I hope I won't fail you."

"I'm convinced you won't, Ian," Luke said and patted the young padawan at his shoulder.

They all laughed.

Leia, I know Mon Mothma keeps you busy, but I hope you will find ... "

"... enough time to train my padawan. Is that what you want to say, Luke?"

"Of course I can't schedule your time, Leia, and I certainly don't want to push you or Ian."

"You can safely go to Dagobah with Wedge. I'm enjoying the company of Ian as my padawan. His presence is another step in my own Force development. Mon Mothma has already exempt me from most Council meetings. Just like you, she wants me to spend as much time as I need on my padawan's training. She's aware of the importance of our tasks as Jedi Masters."

"I know I can rely that you, my dear sister, will to take proper arrangements. I'm going now. Wedge will have the Astræga ready at the space port."

"I'm sure you both will have a great time. Wedge is your best friend, Luke, and your former wingman. "

After a formal Jedi greeting to his sister and her padawan Luke left the government building and went on his way to the space port. Soon afterwards the Astræga took off and vanished into hyperspace.

"You're a stupid fool." Daino snarled at his brother, "Going to Rasth yourself. You're lucky you could get away, otherwise Skywalker would have known by now, that we're also after his 'girlfriend'. Rand, you have to learn a lot, if you really want to safe your skin. Questioning Marek Grann should have been done by a mercenary. Never do these jobs yourself."

Rand Phylotar silenced. His brother was right. He had acted in blind haste; thought that Marek Grann could be easily intimidated with that old imperial blaster. Better not tell Daino he had lost it. Luckily he had stripped off the number with a laser needle before he went to Rasth.

"Marek Grann denied he knew the girl," He said.

"Of course he denied. Marek Grann is a veteran of the Alliance. A very tough guy with a great number of successes during the Civil War. His last rank was lieutenant-general. You thought that governor would be no match for you and your blaster, that he would confess immediately all he knew. Had you known, what I've been telling you about Marek Grann, you probably would have given your plan a second thought? You're still a hotshot, Rand. You might be promoted colonel, but what you lack are the skills of a captain. What price did you pay to get this rank?"

Rand Phylotar grabbed his brother by the lapels of his uniform jacket.

"Watch you're mouth, my kid brother. You've done no better. You were promoted captain, because you paid some one a good amount of money. My money!"

Daino Phylotar grabbed his blaster. His brother released him and backed off.

"Hold it, Daino. No hard feelings. We both knew that the ways higher up needed some extra pushing."

Rand grinned. Daino put his blaster back.

"What are your further plans?" He asked.

"Can you check out on that Skywalker, Daino? He's the only one who might know where she is."

"Skywalker has left Dalmaran together with commander Antilles. Probably on one of those missions to wipe out further resistance against the New Republic."

"So he stopped his traveling in the Outer Rim Territories; could this mean that he's no longer looking for her."

"They probably reminded him, that the New Republic is not giving him a regular paycheck to fly around like a fool."

They both started to laugh. Daino put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Go back to Mas'onom, Rand, wait there for my message to inform you when it's safe to head back to Wegoyy. I'm going to settle everything here. The Supreme Chancellor and Jedi Knight Organa with her padawan are going to pay a visit to the leaders of Tambrin. If it's up to some friends of mine, they will get rid of that defector Tydon, so you and Dendicott doesn't have to fear for your future. Probably the Supreme Chancellor and that Skywalker's sister will fall victim too in my friend's assassination attack and the New Republic has to find itself a new leader, but that's collateral damage," He said with a malignant grin.

Rand looked suspicious, but didn't comment.

"I'll contact you when things are settled." Daino said.

Without any further words they parted. Each went in an opposite direction. Neither of them was aware, that their whole conversation had been recorded in the vidbanks of a small Artoo astromech droid that seemed to have been silently watching them from behind a huge tree, hiding itself among the thick undergrowth of the De'olon forest.

"Don't try to fool us with your lies, captain Phylotar. Our voice recognition system has given us proof of your treacherous behavior," General Crix Madine said sternly

"Proof of what?" Daino Phylotar asked, smiling haughtily, but he felt a nervous twitch in his stomach.

Ten days ago he had heard at the base that Ian Tydon, Leia Organa's new Jedi padawan would accompany the former princess of Alderaan and Lady Mon Mothma on a special trip to Tambrin. That would be the perfect opportunity to eliminate that traitor.

Yesterday evening he had left the base secretly to look for a certain assassin, but he hadn't been able to find his man immediately. He had suspend his plan and had gone to his secret meeting with his brother Rand. Probably he had been followed to their rendezvous point to a clearing in the forested area outside Irithim. Where was Rand now? Had he gone back to Mas'onom, as he had advised him to do? So far neither Rand, nor he hadn't been able to get any real information about the missing girl. Rand was a hotshot, maybe he should asked his assassin friend to go to Rasth first and put that rebel governor under pressure. What had Rand said...?

“Look at these holo vid recs, Captain. I wonder if you still deny you have been passing information to your brother Rand Phylotar; that you are still working for the Empire, and last but not least, that you're planning an assassination attempt on the Supreme Chancellor, and on Jedi Master Leia Skywalker Organa and her padawan Ian Tydon,” General Madine continued.

On a large holo display some diffuse figures popped up and some muffled conversation was heard.

Daino Phylotar relaxed. If this was the evidence they had, then he didn't have to worry. He straightened and looked at the Supreme Chancellor's main advisor of the High Council, Sorjon Tyloban who sat next to general Madine and a new member of the High Council Leia Organa Skywalker.

'One of those Skywalkers again, the sister of that Jedi Knight, the hero of the Rebellion' Daino thought angrily.

"This proofs nothing. The images are blurred and the conversation can't be transcribed, nor can these voices be identified," Daino said was a sardonic smile.

"One of these voices is yours, captain Phylotar. Our computer has recognized it," General Madine said, "You'd better listen again. This time we've enhanced the vid-recs and the audio."

The holo-images reappeared but this time it seemed as if the recording had been taken in broad daylight and the conversation could be heard clearly and the two persons were easily identifiable.

Daino Phylotar froze as he recognized himself. The improved image enhancing system was operational! He had heard about it. This was the evidence of his betrayal they needed. What could he do to save his skin.

"Are you going to tell us the truth, captain, or do I have to inform those present about what you have been thinking. You're probably familiar with the knowledge that a Jedi can intercepted some one's thoughts," Leia Organa said in an icy voice. "How long is this treason already going on. What are you two up to; are you planning a other coup against our government?"

"My brother wants to bring sergeant Tydon who has deserted his assignment as a junior guard, before a court martial. Sergeant Tydon has violated the rules of the Wegoyy prison. Rand also pressed me to give him the information about the escaped prisoner Solichor, Your Highness," Daino said.

"Yes, captain, your brother especially wants to find Liane Solichor. Why? What about your plans to hire an assassin to murder our leader," general Madine said.

"I didn't want to assassin our leader. Rand asked me to get rid of Ian Tydon who is a traitor. He is afraid he will loose his rank, so he needs the girl to proof his innocence, general. Rand advised commander Dendicott to block the girl's mind with a high dose of ...," Daino Phylotar. He was stopped in the middle of the sentence.

"Thank you, captain Phylotar. That's what I wanted to hear from you," A soft but stern voice said and Mon Mothma stepped forward. "So your brother has advised to use the mind drug. The old Imperial drug that has been forbidden for interrogation. You're arrested and charged of spying for the empire, for plotting an assassination attempt on a member of the High Council and her padawan and for passing secret information to your brother who is involved in torture and drugging at the Wegoyy prison. That's high treason, captain, as you probably know."

Daino Phylotar turned pale. They knew, they probably had evidence of everything. Everything. No, not yet. They hadn't arrested Rand, yet. If his brother could stay out of the hands of the federal investigation team, nothing could be proofed. Only that this conversation had taken place. There had been no further witnesses. What had happened at Wegoyy, Rand had told him; Rand would certainly deny his words and tell that no drugging or torture had taken place and that the girl simply had escaped to the space port of Wegoyy, where she has left off planet and still was roaming the galaxy with some obscure freighter pilots.

"I want to speak to a lawyer," He said.

"Guards, bring captain Phylotar to the detention block and put him in isolation. Only his lawyer is allowed to visit him," Sorjon Tyloban said, hardly able to mask his disgust.

Four heavy armed federal guards took Daino Phylotar at an arm. Daino panicked and tried to free himself, but the guards pulled his arms backwards and handcuffed him.

"You're making a big mistake. I have nothing to do with this. It is my brother. It is Rand. He put me under pressure. I'm not guilty. I'm loyal to the Alliance," He yelled. Screaming and denying his involvement Daino was brought out of the investigation room.

Jerno sat in the living of his residence and looked at the man who sat relaxed in one of the other comfortable chairs. He was in his thirties. They had enjoyed an extensive diner together during which they had talked about the difficulties the former empire was facing.

Jerno looked again at his visitor who seemed to enjoy the view through the broad windscreen, before he turned around without speaking and looked at his host with full attention.

"What I'm going to tell you and why I need your help, has to be kept top secret. You understand that, don't you?" Jerno said.

"You certainly didn't contact me just to enjoy a dinner together," came the calm answer.

They both laughed.

"Let me first explain what's going on and why Valann, Kalip and I have been alerted."

Jerno gave a condensed recapitulation of the strange events with the two missing star destroyers, the messages the intelligence force had intercepted and the audio recordings they had recently received with help of the intelligence force on Quoith.

"Their help has been invaluable," Jerno said, "for now we know that one of the commanders of those missing star destroyers surely has survived the disintegration."

"Who's the guy?" the young man asked.

"A deserted admiral."

"The one who strongly objected your consultations with the Alliance after the Battle of Endor?"

Jerno nodded and smiled.

"You're well informed," He said approvingly.

"Of course I am. I have to. It's still part of my profession, leastwise the part of my work in the intelligence force."

"You're still working undercover for our intelligence force?"

"At the moment I'm instructing a small group of technicians specific communication technology at our university, but I still share any results of my researches as a secret agent with the guys at the intelligence desk, but always anonymously. Keeping my identity secret is part of my assignment."

"Good. I want you to take a leave from the university, a long sabbatical leave, for I want you to take on a new identity."

Jerno handed the young man a datapad.

"Keep this datapad and study it thoroughly. There's only one file. It's the personal file of a young lieutenant who died in the Battle of Jakku. He was about your age. His name was Doran Whain. I've arranged a secret training to become familiar with all Doran has done, has been thinking, has done wrong and what ever has ever happened to him. You don't have to worry about any relatives; he's an orphan. Anyone who might have known him, including his parents and other relatives are tortured and killed during the emperor's reign. Your training will be tough, but we have to make sure, that you won't make mistakes which could raise suspicion. "

"I understand. What's next? I mean what will be the mission Doran Whain has to carry out."

"As soon as you have become Doran Whain, you will get an assignment as the chief engineer and officer in charge of the communication department on board the Basilsæa, specialized in interplanetary communication. At the moment the Basilsæa is carrying out a surveillance mission in a special part of the Outer Rim systems."

The young man laughed, "Sounds interesting. So you probably want me to intercept more of those odd communications between a system in the Outer Rim and whatever other systems are seeking to communicate with the Outer Rim. Are you interested in the content of the messages they exchange?

"I leave that up to you. You have an unlimited mandate to do whatever it takes. Our allies on Irithim will allow you to communicate via an encrypted code with their communications technicians on Quoith. Our intelligence force knows how to decrypt those strange messages. The cooperation with communication center on Quoith will transmit to Coruscant. I will personally send you all those findings via a special encrypted secret frequency."

"One way or dual, if necessary?"

"Dual, for I want you to find out more about the technical specification of communication system which is used on the receiving side, it will be an extra proof of our combined investigation. It might be that at a later stage I want you to use your expertise to infiltrate that system."

"You suspect that deserted admiral has received those odd messages about Darth Vader daughter, don't you? You think, he is up to something which could endanger our cooperation with the New Republic."

"We do. Here, read this file about admiral Matrik."

For a while both men were silent. The young man paid attention to the content of another data pad Jerno had handed him. When he had finished his reading he looked up. Jerno held out his hand to get the device back.

"You're right. This former imperial admiral could be a threat to the peace treaty. He knows a lot about the emperor's reign and rules. Has been assigned as a praetorian guard after he graduated from the Academy. He got his promotion to admiral within the imperial fleet at the age of twenty-nine and finally the emperor made him a staff member on Morantan to gather information about the activities of the emperor's right hand: Darth Vader. Important question is: Why did the emperor sent him to Morantan? Sounds odd and it feels as a degradation, although he kept his rank. Why did the emperor assigned an admiral of the fleet to spy on Darth Vader?"

"Those questions haven't been answered yet. As you can see there's a gap between his appointment as Admiral of the imperial fleet and the moment he got his assignment as a staff member on Morantan. We're still figuring out what he did in the meantime. As far as is known, he did not directly participate in any battles with the Alliance, with the exception of the battle of Jakku, because, after the Battle of Endor, I assigned him on one of the star destroyers which has disappeared. Any new facts will be shared with you, for you need to know as much as we know about admiral Matrik."

"What's his relation to the daughter of Darth Vader who lived on Morantan during the time when he was a staff member there?"

"He almost certainly has met her, and he knows that she has learned a lot of Sith knowledge from her father. I suspect Admiral Matrik of making plans to revive the old times of the empire with the help of Vader's daughter, but that is just a speculation."

"Not anymore, I think. In the intercepted messages there is much talk of her and her possible kidnapping and transport to the Outer Rim. What's uncertain, is, that no one knows anything about her Sith knowledge. How much does she know? Was she a fully-fledged Sith, when Darth Vader died? That's what has to be find out. If she is a Sith-lady, she might seek out the admiral herself and team up with him."

With admiration Jerno looked at his visitor.

"We came to the same conclusion. In that case our two government have to team up to take her into custody, but at the moment there is no real danger. The New Republic has exiled her to the Wegoyy prison for her share in an uprising against the administration of the New Republic. However, shortly after her arrival on Wegoyy, the commander of the prison has mind-drugged her and she suffering of amnesia, as all her memories are wiped out. They brought her to the Wegoyy desert to perish, but she survived and she has left Wegoyy with the group of traders with whom she had been traveling for some time."

"So that defector commander, Olon Dendicott and his sycophant Rand Phylotar, are still using the imperial torture practises in the Wegoyy prison. This doesn't surprise me, nor does it surprise me that Rand Phylotar's brother Daino is helping them. Keep an eye on them, sir, and inform the leaders of the New Republic of their not so flawless career in the imperial fleet."

Jerno grinned.

"You're not disappointing me. You are the best to fulfill this dangerous task. Do you accept it."

"I do. When do you want me to join the staff crew of the Basilisæa?"

"Your instructors will inform me when they are absolutely convinced that the identity of Doran Whain has become part of yourself. At that moment the Basilisæa will receive the order to replace a part of their staff and crew. We won't meet again in person, but you know how to reach me, don't you?"

The young man grinned, "I know. I'm going to report to my instructors then. From now on I'm Doran Whain, a lieutenant and an expert on interplanetary communication systems. I wish you well, we'll keep in touch."

The young man rose. Jerno accompanied his guest to the door.

"Good luck and take care of yourself," were his final words.

The young man smiled, "I always do, and you know that."

They didn't shake hands. The young man turned around and walked away to the elevators without looking back to his host. Jerno closed the door of his quarters. There was a short glimpse of worry in his eyes.

"Do I like it! Of course, I love it. It's great!" Liane exclaimed in Basic.

She looked around in her new tree house which had been build between the strong branches of the big tree near the lake. A long path connected the house with the Ewok village.

"Hadda nadoma gitto missa!"

['This is such a surprise.'] She said and hugged Teebo and Logray.

She had a new house at the very spot where she had sat before with the little shaman. Logray had urged the Council of the Wisest that she deserved a new house to honor her for her help. And tonight she had moved in.

"Hadda nuda tanda diddo. Sicuna wama kuma nuda."

['Don't stay out alone too long. Go inside and bolt the door.'] Logray warned before he and Teebo left.

Liane sat down on the broad platform that surrounded her tree house and looked at the lake. Now she could clearly see the stars in the sky above the lake. This view was perfect. Here she would stay.

'Liane!?' The voice seemed to come from far away.

"Who's there? Why are you also calling me Liane? I'm Eilidh Grann," Liane said suspicious.

'You're not Eilidh Grann. Your real name is Liane Solichor.' The voice said.

Liane frowned.

"Liane Solichor?! How do you know? Who are you any way?"

'You seem to have forgotten what happened in your past, haven't you? Your lost memories are still bothering you, aren't they?'

With a frown Liane took in the soft spoken words.

"Who are you, that you know this about me?"

Nothing more was heard.

"Hey!" Liane said aloud. "Tell me more."

But no further words were spoken.

Liane listened, but she only heard the sounds of the forest. Deep in her heart she hoped she would hear that strange voice again.

Had that young man she saw if she touched her pendant, spoken to her?

She shook her head.

She had heard an older man's voice, not the voice of the young man who had asked her if she recognized him.

Liane stared pensively at the dark sky over the lake. She always saw that young man when she touched the pendant by accident. Would she also see him if she touched the pendant deliberately? Hesitant, she pulled out the chain from under her tunic and held the pendant in her hand. Carefully, she examined it from all sides. It was a very beautiful piece of jewelry with those little green shards in a line above each other. Actually, it looked a bit like a lightsaber the Jedi Knights were wielding. Liane frowned. How did she know anything about the Jedi Knights and how a lightsaber looked like. She examined the pendant more closely. She nodded. It certainly was a lightsaber, but what was its meaning and why had Mintob, the Draga, insisted that the pendant was hers. She turned the pendant over. She knew that on the back was a sentence in a foreign language she did not understand. How had she gotten that pendant? Had that young man given it to her? Why? Was he a friend of her, even though she couldn't remember ever meeting him. She turned the pendant back over and ran her finger over the stones. When she did, she immediately saw the image of the young man appear. He was dressed in a long robe with a belt. Over the long robe, he wore a brown cape with a hood . In his hand he held a lightsaber with a greenish blade. Was he also a Jedi Knight, like the other man, she had seen some weeks ago. The young man turned around and looked at her, as if he was aware that she had touched the pendant.

"Liane? Do you need my help?" She heard him say.

"I'm not the one you're looking for. I wish I could help you. Is Liane a friend of you?" She asked hesitantly.

"You must be mistaken. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but my name is Eilidh Grann," She answered, "I hope you will find your friend Liane one day. If you have found her, tell her that I have the pendant you must have given her. I will keep it for her and take good care of it."

She put the pendant back under her tunic and the image of the young man vanished.

Deep in thoughts she shook her head. All these strange voices were addressing her as Liane. The earlier voice even had said that Liane was her real name. Could that be true? Could it be that she wasn't Eilidh Grann? She got up and went inside her new home. A little nervous she grabbed her old bag and took out her ID-card. Lightning a candle she read the name: Eilidh Grann. It was there, that was her name. Determined she put the card back. She was Eilidh Grann. The girl Liane ought to be some one else.

Wedge Antilles was running through the undergrowth of the swamp; he made a high somersault over a foggy shallow bog and landed on the dry shores, where Luke was watching him.

Wedge nodded imperceptibly. He grabbed a vine and swayed to one of the higher grounds. For a moment Luke watched him go, then he went after his friend, using the Force to keep up pace. Together they completed the three rounds through the Dagobah swamps. At the end of this heavy physical exercise Luke threw a thick branch at his friend. Immediately Wedge ignited his lightsaber and cut the branch in several pieces before it could hit him. Luke lifted several more branches and threw them in a barrage at his friend. Wedge didn't pull back and used Force Push to avoid being injured. He reached the higher ground next to his Jedi master without being touched by a single leaf.

Luke looked pleased. Wedge's enormous progress in the very short time of less than a year was mainly caused by his dedication to the Force and his full commitment to his future task as a Jedi Knight.

After Luke had told him, that he sensed the influence of the Force in his actions as a pilot, Wedge had been surprised. Never had it passed through his mind that a Corellian space jockey could become one of the illustrious members of the Jedi Order. But Luke had shown him real evidence of his abilities and had convinced him about his Force skills. Now Luke and he were on Dagobah for his final trials.

Wedge enjoyed every minute on the swamp planet, from the moment of their landing to the severe trials he had to undergo. He fully surrendered to, and relied on the Force, which enabled him to control and use the Force whenever he needed. More than once, Luke Skywalker, his Jedi master, was stunned about his friend's fast progress.

Luke ignited his light saber and picked up a silvery stick from a box, but all of a sudden he stopped and in a Force trance he walked over to the sandy shore of the bog.

'Liane? Do you need my help?' He asked, reaching out to the Force.

"I'm not the one you're looking for. I wish I could help you. Is Liane a friend of you?" He heard her say.

'I'm your friend, Liane. I'm looking for you.' He said as he intensified his connection through the Force to find clues about her whereabouts. He saw her clearly, but he was unable to perceive her environment properly. Behind her he saw a dark rectangular form. It looked like a kind of doorway.

"You must be mistaken. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm Eilidh Grann," She answered him, "I hope you will find your friend Liane one day. If you have found her, tell her that I have her pendant you must have given her. I will keep it for her and take good care of it."

The image of Liane vanished. Luke sighed. Although there had been a more stable connection through the Force this time, he hadn't been able to find out where she could be. He turned to Wedge again.

"Again I saw Liane, Wedge," he said somewhat distracted, "This time she answered me so determinedly as if she has touched the pendant on purpose."

"Did she tell you where she is, master?" His friend asked with compassion in his voice.

"No, she asked me if I was a friend. She didn't recognize me. She said her name was Eilidh Grann. I fear, she's still under the influence of that mind drug. It's odd, Wedge. I almost certain that this time she used the pendant deliberately. That could mean that she is aware how to connect with me. I can only hope that she will use the pendant this way again, for that might give me a possibility to find out where she is", He said with a deep sigh.

Wedge Antilles heard a deep concern in Luke's voice. He saw how Luke used the Force to find a way to reconnect with Liane using the Force, but after some moments he returned to the reality of Dagobah.

"Let's get on with your training. You're doing very well, Wedge."

"Thank you, master. I must admit that I couldn't have fulfilled these exercises, if I couldn't have relied on the Force, master."

"You are constantly one with the Force, Wedge, I can feel you are. You're in full control of the power she gives you. The Force obeyed your commands of Force Push, and you dedicated yourself to her will, that's very good. Now watch me. I want you to do the same."

Luke threw the silvery stick in the air, ignited his lightsaber and chopped the stick in seven pieces in one fluent movement before the stick had fallen to the ground again.

"Wow, master, awesome, can I do it?" Wedge said and readied himself.

"Sure, but I want you to blindfold yourself," Luke said.

He waited until Wedge had fastened a piece of cloth over his eyes, then he took another stick from the box and threw it in the direction of his padawan.

Wedge ignited his lightsaber in a flawless movement. Luke felt how his friend became one with the Force. The movement of the lightsaber was fluent and controlled. The blue blade hit the stick in midair seven times. Luke nodded approvingly. Wedge took off the blindfold and looked at the seven pieces.

"Excellent, Wedge. You let the Force guide your movements. You're doing better and better. One day you will surpass me."

"I don't think I will, master, you've gained so much knowledge from master Yoda."

Luke grinned.

"I didn't show the same full dedication you do, Wedge. More than once master Yoda reprimanded me about my impatience. During my training I've often overestimated my old skills and knowledge, and I often argued with him about the meaning of his teachings. Just like my sister's training, yours is much more in balance. I probably have too much of my father's impatience in me."

Wedge sat down on a tree stump and looked up at his friend.

"You had, I think, but you've learned to control it," He said.

"I've learned to focus on the moment, being mindful of what I'm doing, and to listen to the Force, and carry out her will, although it's still a challenge sometimes to follow her leads," Luke said and sat down next to his friend.

"It was a different time. The Civil War was raging on in the galaxy and Darth Vader was looking for you," Wedge commented.

Luke nodded.

"That's right, but I also wasn't really aware of what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to become a Jedi Knight, for I sought revenge on the Empire, revenge myself for the death of my foster-parents and what had happened to Ben Kenobi. I wanted only one thing, kill Vader. I had to unlearn a lot under master Yoda tough training. A Jedi doesn't seek to revenge himself, a Jedi acts from a peaceful mind and only to defend himself. It wasn't easy to accept master Yoda's teachings and sometimes it still isn't."

Luke sighed and looked away in the distance over the swamps. He rose and beckoned his friend to follow him.

Together they walked along a slippery path along the swamp, where fog patches impeded their view. Luke walked on until he had reached a huge fused tree whose branches were entwined.

"Your next test is the Trial of the Spirit, padawan." Luke said gravely, "You must face the darkness that lives inside you."

Wedge looked startled.

"The darkness inside me? What is the meaning of your words, master."

"That's something, you have to find out yourself. There's cave under that tree. It's an evil place, there is much influence of the Darkness. You have to face that Darkness; your own darkness," Luke said looking very serious.

Wedge hesitated and made a few steps to the dark entrance.

"What will I find, master?" he asked.

"I can't tell you, Wedge. For each Jedi his own dark emotions are different. It might be fear, anger, hatred, jealousy. You have to face which emotional feelings live inside you and you have to find the right way to cope with those emotions."

For a moment Wedge looked worried, then he firmly stepped forward and walked to the entrance. Luke watched him go.

"Are you sure, Wedge, you need your lightsaber to conquer the Darkness?" He asked.

Wedge didn't seem to hear him and disappeared into the dark cave. Luke sat himself near the tree and thought about his own experience, now years ago. It had been a complete failure, for he had neglected Yoda's warning that weapons weren't of any use to face the Darkness. What would his friend encounter? Strange that Leia also hadn't enter this Tree of Evil without weapons. Would any Jedi be able to face his own darkness without a strife? Luke sighed. He had to wait patiently until Wedge would return and then they had to talk about his padawan's possible dreadful experience. if Wedge would pass this Trial of Spirit, he could return with him to Irithim with peace of mind and see his friend as his equal, as a Jedi Knight.

Meanwhile Wedge had found his way among the roots of the tree to the real entrance of the cave. He still wondered what he had to face. He tried to recall if he had hated some one or something in the past, if he had been jealous, if he had felt anger, or fear. Wedge knew of himself that he wasn't really a courageous fighter pilot. His motivation to join the Alliance and to fight for their cause was due to the fact that he did not want to serve in the imperial army. He didn't hate the empire, but he sought justice and during his education at the Academy he had heard too many stories about the injustice that was done in the name of the Empire. His sense of justice had made him choose the side of the Alliance. There he had met many friends with the same ideals. He had always faced his fights without fear, because he knew he could rely on his skills as a pilot and on the reliability of his fellow pilots. After he had met Luke Skywalker during their encounter with that first Death Star, he intuitively had felt that Luke surpassed him. Luke had been a daredevil, a reckless rookie who nonetheless succeeded in blowing up that horrific space station. From their first raid on the Death Star Wedge had accepted Luke as his commander even though his own experiences as a pilot were much longer.

Wedge looked up. He had heard a sound that distracted his reflections. In front of him appeared an image of a person clad in a imperial uniform. The image seemed to confront and challenge him. For a moment Wedge considered to reach for his lightsaber, but as the person didn't really threaten him, he reached out to the Force to tell him how he had to react. Once again he looked at the image and all of a sudden he understood that he was looking at an mirror image of himself. It was a long forgotten representation of how he once had thought he could have looked as an imperial officer. Wedge remembered that it had been a frightening and fearful nightmare for him in his past. After his graduation at the Imperial Academy he had feared the moment he would be conscripted in one of the imperial garrisons. More and more he had realized that his future could be determined by those who didn't care for other life forms in the galaxy. Secretly he had made inquiries to get in touch with the Alliance. He had realized that his choice to join the Rebel Alliance would not prevent a possible death in a space battle, but his conscience had told him that he should remain faithful to his ideal of justice.

Once again, Wedge became aware of the image in front of him, but its frightening feeling of the first moment has vanished. Wedge stretched out his hand.

"We can be friends, you and I," He said in Jedi telepathy voice.

He hardly had spoken the words or the image vanished in a wisp of smoke. Wedge penetrated further into the cave, constantly alert for what he might encounter, but he only heard a strange buzzing through the Force; a constant background noise that seemed to distract him in an attempt to put him off balance and disturb his Force connection. After having subjected the cave to a final investigation, Wedge decided to return to the entrance and leave the cave. While he climbed several large roots, he got a strong Force feeling that the tree was expelling him as if he wasn't welcome any longer. Quickly he passed the last roots and made a somersault to land on the swampy ground.

Luke looked up and saw the baffling gaze in the eyes of his padawan. He rose and patted his friend on his shoulder.

"Didn't I tell you, you would surpass me one day, Wedge?" He said with a laugh, "You may tell me your experience after we had our meal. You've done extremely well. You've passed this Trial without faltering your trust in the Force. I can't say I didn't so well during my training. Master Yoda was much displeased with my lack of trust and control of the Force. You did much better, than I did."

"Thank you, master. What do you want me to do next?" Wedge asked, a bit confused by Luke's confession.

"This is all for today, Wedge. Let's get back to the Astræga."

In the Astræga they prepared a meal. Afterwards they talked about Wedge's experience in the Tree of Evil, why he had taken the right decision and the Force philosophies behind the encounters in the cave. Wedge listened to the explanation and interpretation of his experience while Luke told him everything about his own failure. It really astounded Wedge that Luke's short training with the old Jedi master Yoda had given the young Jedi Knight all this tremendous wisdom, knowledge and insight.