Chapter 18

After the usual routine he left the space port on his two-man speeder. Immediately he set course for the village of the Ewoks. He had seen Liane at the clearing, so it was very likely that the little bears knew her.

The furry creatures immediately recognized him and gave him a cheering welcome. They quickly brought him to Chirpa's large tree house at the center of their village. Chirpa and Logray welcomed him, invited him inside and ordered drinks and food for their fellow tribe man.

After the ritual of hospitality Luke used his Jedi powers, accompanied with many gestures, to get information from the two chieftains about Liane. He was about to show Chirpa and Logray the holographic image of Liane via his infocom, when Teebo rushed into the tree house.

"Hadda nima tara sudomigo Aay-lee. Kama dogamiko neko maka." He said

['Eilidh is erg ziek. We moeten haar naar het dorp brengen.']

As the little bear saw the holographic image Luke was holding out to Logray and Chirpa and he let out a loud cry.

"Dama kudo toma dima Aay-lee."

['Dat is Eilidh.']

Luke heard a name that sounded like 'Eilidh' and turned to Teebo.

"Eilidh. You call her 'Eilidh'. That's right, that's how she might have called herself."

He pointed at Liane's image.

"Where is she? Is she in the village?"

Teebo grabbed the sleeve of Luke cassock.

"Hadda mido" He said.

['Kom mee!']

Logray and Chirpa stopped Teebo and chattered loud and fast in their language. Teebo answered them in an even louder and angry voice. The little bear stamped impatiently with his foot. Luke who didn't understand their conversation, just got the feeling that Teebo's loud chattering, had clearly something to do with Liane. Again Teebo pointed to the holographic image and rushed outside, beckoning Luke to follow him. Logray and Chirpa pushed Luke to the door, waving their paws to suggest he should follow Teebo. Quickly Luke ran after the little bear. Teebo had already grabbed a vine and swung to the next tree. Immediately Luke moved along with the little bear. After some moments he sensed that the little bear was on his way to the clearing. The clearing, where he has seen Liane after she had called him through the Jedi-pendant.

"Teebo, is Liane still at that clearing? Hasn't she returned to the village?" Luke asked a bit worried.

Teebo looked over his shoulder and pointed ahead of him.

"Yes, I'm still following you."

"Hadda suma dimo herto kito brana Aay-lee!" He said.

['Eilidh is on the forbidden clearing where the pyre was.']

Luke felt a certain rising strain in his body. Teebo was bringing him indeed to the spot he had seen in his Force vision. Liane still seemed to be at the clearing. Why? Why hadn't she returned to the safety of the Ewok village?

Teebo slid down the vine, jumped to the forest floor and waited for Luke to follow him. Down below it was warm and the undergrowth slackened their pace. Near the clearing the little Ewok stopped, he pointed to the rock and pushed Luke forward. For a moment Luke stood in the shadows of the trees, but almost immediately he stepped out into the clearing.

'Liane?!'

Near the large erected rock stood the young woman he had been looking for so long. Through the Force Luke felt her desparation. Carefully he made another step forward.

Liane was leaning with her head against the stone. She felt dead tired, exhausted and a desperate feeling of loneliness surrounded her . Her left hand still clenched the Jedi-pendant. Luke felt how she tried to concentrate her thoughts on him once again.

"Luke, please, hear me!" She whispered. "Talk to me again, please, listen, please, I'm on Endor."

Luke started to walk over to her, but he held back, when he heard a very familiar voice, talking at a comforting, soothing tone to Liane.

'Liane, you're doing very well, my daughter. You did what my old friend Obi-Wan advised you. We're proud of you. You've used the power of the Jedi-pendant. My son's precious gift to you. He knows where you are, my daughter."

Stunned Luke had listened to the soft words and he whispered: 'Anakin, father, you're here and Ben has been with you here too? Have you been looking after...'

But before he could finish his question, Liane gave a loud scream and Luke saw her looking at him in disbelieve. She jumped to her feet, stretched out her hands and started to run towards him. In her eagerness to reach him she didn't notice the tree root in her path. She stumbled and fell. Desperately she tried to get to her feet again, stretching out one hand to him.

"Luke!! Don't go away again. Don't go away again. Talk to me, please!"

Luke reached her in a few steps and knelt.

"Liane, it's alright. Can you stand?"

She had covered her face with her hands and had started weeping again.

Gently Luke helped her to her feet and took her to the fallen tree and gently took the desperate girl in his arms. He pushed her head against his chest, surrounding her with his compassionate feelings, and gingerly caressing her hair. He let her cry for a while, before he bowed his head and softly whispered in her ear.

"Liane, I promised you, I would come. You used the Jedi-pendant to make contact with me, didn't you?"

Liane was still sobbing soundlessly.

"Liane, I'm with you now", Luke whispered again.

Slowly Liane realized what was happening. Luke! Luke Skywalker had come! He was holding her!

Hesitatingly she stretched out the hand in which she still held the Jedi-pendant to grab the sleeve of his Jedi cloak. She didn't notice that the pendant slipped from her hand. Luke caught the chain in his gloved hand.

"Don't go ... away again! Don't ... leave ... me ... again!" She whispered between some sobs.

Her voice trembled as she tried to understand what was going on.

"I won't go away, Liane. You called for help through the Force. You asked me to come to Endor. "

Liane lowered her other hand. Her head was still resting against his chest; her left hand was still clenching his sleeve.

Carefully Luke lifted her chin. Gently he brushed some strands of her hair away.

"Liane, please, look at me," He said, "I'm not a Force apparition now."

Slowly Liane opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"See, Liane, I am really here."

She nodded speechlessly, but Luke saw the frightened look disappear in her eyes.

"Luke!" She whispered.

All of a sudden she pressed her face against his tunic again.

"Luke! Please, don't go away again. I know who you are. I know you've been looking for me!"

With a relieved, happy smile Luke wrapped his arms again around her.

"Of course I won't leave again. I will stay with you. Too many months have passed since we talked with each other, haven't we?" He said calmly, covering her with his Jedi cloak, "It's almost three years since our last contact through the Jedi-pendant."

Liane looked up. With the sleeve of her fur coat she tried to dry her last tears. A blush covered her cheeks. Then she averted her eyes, and stammered, "I ... didn't know ... who I was. I didn't ... recognize you, Luke. I'm really sorry... When I touched the pendant ... I saw you ... but I didn't ... know ... it was you ... I didn't know ... what the pendant was for. I only kept it with me, because it looked so beautiful."

She opened her left hand.

"Where is it? Have I lost it again?" She said startled, looking at the forest floor in front of her feet.

"Don't worry, Liane. It's here."

With a smile Luke opened his right hand .

"You told me that you would keep it, for if I had found the girl I was looking for I could give it back to her. I have found that girl . Shall I fasten it around your neck again?"

Liane felt how he fasten the chain at the back of her neck, while he gentle talked to her. Her hand grabbed the pendant.

"I'm glad, that you've adored the pendant's beauty all that time, Liane. You don't have to apologize. I know what has happened to you on Wegoyy," He said with a calm voice.

"You do?" Liane asked astounded, looking up.

Luke nodded.

"Yes, but the commander of the Wegoyy prison tried to fool the government and Mon Mothma, reporting to them you had escaped and had found your way to the space port of Tropass where the Grann brothers took you on board their space ship, when they left Wegoyy," He said, gingerly teasing her with those words. He smiled, as he saw a familiar inquisitive look in her eyes.

"Tropass?" She whispered with a frown, "Where is that, Luke? Is that a city on Wegoyy? I only remember the SL-chamber with its flashing lights and shrieking sounds. When I regained consciousness, I was lying on a rocky plateau between high mountains. I couldn't recall what had happened to me, nor who I was; I even couldn't recall my name."

With great disbelieve in her voice she continued on the same whispered tone, "I can't believe you're really here, Luke. How did you find me? This morning when I realized how to use the Jedi-pendant again, I saw your apparition appear, but you were gone before I could tell you I was on Endor. I must have lost my concentration, because I felt exhausted and I desperately longed to see and talk to you."

"As you used the Jedi-pendant again, the Force brought me to you, like you have always established the contact between the two of us. I'm glad that you haven't forgotten how to use my present, and ... I know this forest glade, Liane. I've been on Endor before."

Liane's eyes wandered in the direction of the stone on the other side of the clearing.

Grabbing the sleeve of his cloak more firmly, while she buried her face against the rough fabric of his Jedi tunic, she murmured almost inaudible, "Yes, you have been here before. I read your name and Leia's on that stone. All the inscriptions were covered with moss. I've scraped it away, so I could read what was written on it. When I read my father's name, all of a sudden all my old memories returned, like in a flood of images, almost overwhelming me, and I understood who I really was."

Luke surrounded her with reassuring thoughts and compassion without commenting on her whispered words. He gave her some time to collect her thoughts. At last Liane let go of his sleeve, sat upright and looked at him.

"Luke, will you tell me the truth? The real truth."

"Of course, I will, Liane, what's troubling you?" Luke said, while he gently took her hands in his.

"The text on that stone ... it tells .... told me, that Darth Vader saved his son's life. Yours. Leia once told me, that the emperor killed Darth Vader, is that true? She also said, that you were on board the Death Star, and that you have witnessed the emperor's death and my father's. You've also promised me that you would tell more about my father's death."

"What Leia has told you, is true, from a certain point of view. The emperor has killed Darth Vader. Emperor Palpatine released his wrath and rage on me, when I refused to surrender myself to the Dark Side. He wanted me to kill my father and become his new apprentice. He used Force Lighting - Dark Side energy - in an attempt to kill me. Although I had severed my father's arm and left him wounded, I begged him to help me. Anakin dragged himself to my attacker, lifted the Emperor and threw him in the core-abyss of the Death Star, but the lighting bolts of the Dark Side engulfed him and entered his life support harness. They disrupted and destroyed the delicate electronic support system that kept him alive. I've tried to bring him to a medical frigate, but he became one with the Force on board the Death Star, leaving his empty harness with me. I could escape the Death Star just before it exploded and I brought my father's harness, mask and cloak to Endor, where I built a funeral pyre in this forest glade to release his Jedi spirit. He lives on in the Force now as the Jedi Knight he had been before."

Luke squeezed her hands.

"So my father's real name is Anakin Skywalker and he is your father and also Leia's. You have carved those words to honor your father and commemorate him, " Liane whispered.

Luke nodded.

"Yes, I did!"

Once again Liane looked back at the stone on the clearing.

"Luke, because Darth ... I mean if Anakin Skywalker is your father ... ," She asked in a whisper and with a trembling voice, "you have ... been looking for me, for I am ... ?" The words got stuck in her mouth.

"No, Liane, you're not my sister," Luke answered her unfinished question.

"I'm not?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

Luke shook his head.

"Anakin is your foster father. He adopted you."

Liane fell silent for a long time.

"He is my ... foster father? So he wasn't my real father? But if Dar ... Anakin Skywalker never was my father then whose daughter am I? Who are my parents? I mean my real mother, my real father. I have no memories of them. Why hasn't your father told me the truth. Why didn't he tell me, that he had adopted me? I thought, that I had found back my past and now your words are telling me something otherwise. My real past is unknown. Now I really don't know who I am... nor where I come from... for my past has disappeared, when my father... eh, your father died," Liane stammered, feeling confused and uncertain. Finally she looked at Luke again.

"Luke, you knew from the beginning he wasn't my real father, didn't you? Why haven't you, or Leia ... told me earlier who he was?"

Although Luke's presence was reassuring, Liane's voice expressed her hardly suppressed reproach. She felt a growing grief and bitterness. Luke set himself on the fallen tree stem, pulled her next to him and put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

"Liane, I could never have imagined, nor did I expect, that you would find your way to Endor. I've never thought about the possibility, that you would discover the truth about your past through the words I've carved on that stone," He said, pointing to the stone on the opposite side of the clearing and continued, "It makes me feel guilty and unhappy, because those lines have revealed in an awful way the truth about the man you saw as your father.

It's never been my intention, nor my sister's, to keep our descent secret for you, but we wanted to tell you the truth about Anakin ourselves, and at the right moment. I hope you will forgive us. Maybe you feel less disillusionment and grief, if I tell you the story about Leia and me and our father, Anakin Skywalker."

Silently Liane listened to Luke's story how he had met his first master Ben Kenobi. How he had left Tatooine with the old Jedi to bring two droids to Alderaan. How the hired freighter had been captured and brought on board of the Death Star. How Ben had encountered Darth Vader on the first Death Star, to make sure Leia, Han Solo, the freighter's pilot, and he could flee.

He told her about his first encounter with Darth Vader on Bespin; their first fight, how Darth Vader had severed his hand and Vader's revelation that he was his father. How he had gone back to Dagobah to complete his Jedi training, only to witness how his Jedi master Yoda had become one with the Force, after the little Jedi had confirmed Darth Vader's devastating words. After Yoda's union with the Force he had met Ben's Force ghost on Dagobah and had listened to his old master's confession how Anakin Skywalker, his father and Ben's former Jedi padawan, had been seduced by the Dark Side.

He told Liane, how Ben had revealed to him, that he had a twin sister and how his Force insight had shown him, that Leia was his sister. How his old master had asked him urgently to keep Leia's ancestry hidden from their father and the Emperor.

"Ben persuaded me to confront my father again, but I refused and told him, that I couldn't kill my own father. My feelings were so ambiguous, Liane. I hated Darth Vader, but I also felt compassion for the man who once had been my father. I wanted to know why, to ask him why; why he had been doing this to the galaxy and to Leia and me; but my most important feeling was, that I didn't want to defeat and humiliate my own father.

When he landed on Endor and started looking for me, I realized I had to tell Leia the truth about our family ties. She had to know that we were siblings, even twins and that Darth Vader was our father. After my confession I knew, I couldn't avoid a new confrontation with him. I had to get him back to the Good side of Force. I already had sensed his ambiguity, his conflict, on Bespin, during our first fight. Those feelings convinced me that there was still good in him.

Anakin brought me before the emperor who challenged and provoked me, and tried to seduce me. I could resist those challenges for a while, but finally I gave in to my growing anger and fear for the fate of my friends which the emperor had stoked with his provoking remarks. My father blocked my attack on the emperor and challenged me to a final lightsaber duel. I severed his arm, but when I saw the metal spokes at the stump and looked at my own prosthetic hand, I realized how much my father and I had in common. What happened next I've told you. Moments before he died, Anakin renounced the Dark Side of the Force, confessing I had been right about his conflicting feelings for me and Leia. Even during our last battle I had felt the conflict, the Good side in him, which he still fiercely had denied. There was good in him, Liane, he wasn't that twisted and evil machinery Ben had told me, otherwise he never could have taken you with him, for you were only a little girl, not more than a one year old baby girl, when he found you. "

When Luke had finished his story, Liane looked at his artificial hand in the black glove. The hand he had lost during his first fight with his father on Bespin. She remembered she had seen the artificial tendons and durasteel bones, when Zolgathrii's laser blast had damaged his hand. She wanted to say something to make him understand, that she shared the pain these memories of his father recalled.

On a soothing tone she said in a calm voice, "Luke, on Wegoyy I've told you about those strange emotional feelings I've felt in him. He cared for you, Luke, he cared for you a lot, for his feelings for you were so very ambiguous and extremely strong, if he talked to me about you, but he never has revealed the truth to me. I have always felt those emotions, if he was telling me about you. One way or another he must have found out that you were his son. I'm sure, that deep inside, he was very proud at you, because you had learned the ways of the Force and had become a Jedi Knight. You were his enemy, but you also were his son. Those ambiguous feelings, of hatred and care, of disgust and pride, probably have been the cause of the conflict you have felt in him. It was impossible for him to show how proud he was, because he had a son who was a Jedi Knight. He had to hide and deny his feelings for you, for the emperor certainly would have felt them."

She looked at him.

Luke gently squeezed Liane's shoulder to express his gratitude.

"Thank you for telling me this, Liane. I remember you said more or less the same on Wegoyy. You now know who I am. I am well aware, that it isn't easy for you to accept that Darth Vader is my father and not yours?"

With a pensive look in her eyes Liane shook her head.

"Denying is of no use, Luke, although I find this new truth hard to accept. You are the real son of Darth... Anakin Skywalker, and I'm only his foster daughter. I only wonder why he has adopted me? Why has he always told me, that I was his daughter? Where has he found me? Has he known my mother, or my father? Am I really born on Morantan?

"I can answer some of you questions, Liane. It's almost certain that you were born on Morantan. Around the time of your birth the empire had occupied a large part of Morantan. Anakin sensed your strong Force powers through the Force. When he found you, memories of his wife, my mother, Padmé Amidala flashed through his mind and he decided to take you with him and raise you as his apprentice at the Dark Side of the Force, but he became attached to you. You became more than his apprentice, so after a while he adopted and fostered you as his daughter."

"Is that true, Luke? "

"Yes, I've asked him to tell me more about you, before I visited you the first time on Wegoyy. He affirmed the questions I had."

"You've talked with him before you visited me? But you just said, that he died on that second Death Star!" Liane said, looking at him in wonder, "How is that possible?"

"For the Jedi there is no death. As a Jedi I can be in touch with those who are united with the Force. My former masters, Ben Kenobi and Master Yoda are still my advisors; they support me and so does Anakin. When Anakin died, after he had renounced the Dark Side, he was, like many Jedi Knights, united with the Good Side of the Force. His old training as a padawan may have been hidden deep in side his dark harness, while he was a follower of the Dark Side, but the Jedi Knight he once had been, had never died."

"So Darth Vader really was a Jedi Knight once, but ..."

Suddenly Liane started to smile

"So on Wegoyy you nearly told me the truth about your father."

Bewildered Luke looked at her.

"Don't you remember, Luke. I had been telling you that my ... I mean Anakin, had destroyed the book about the Jedi Path. You answered, that it had been the book he had been studying, when he was a padawan. I commented, that he wasn't a Jedi, for he was a Sith lord, a follower of the Dark Side of the Force. You were suddenly silent, and you didn't seem to know what to say. Now I understand; at that moment you didn't want to tell me, who he really was."

Luke started to laugh too.

"It's a great relief, that you do remember that moment. You are right, Liane, at that moment I made a slip of the tongue. I couldn't tell you the truth, for I knew it wasn't the appropriate moment to tell you. Do you blame me, for covering up the truth?"

Liane shook her head, and chortled softly.

"You made the right decision, Luke. It would have made things more complicated, I guess."

For a moment she looked away, fixed her gaze on the stone for a moment, then looked at him again.

"You just said, Luke, that you can talk to your old masters and your father. What do they look like when you meet them?"

"A Jedi meets the spirits of former Jedi masters. That's how they live on in the Force. My masters and Anakin are surrounded with a transparent radiating flow of blue light. That's the light of the Force. They appear to me as Force ghosts." Luke explained.

"In the same way as I see you, when I use the pendant?"

"Yes, when you use the pendant, I feel your presence through the Force. My mind focuses on you; I concentrate on the Force and I appear before you surrounded by the light of the Force."

"But then, ... Oh, Luke, after I read those lines I've had a strange experience. ... Is it that ... Luke, can it be that I have seen your father... that I have met Anakin here on Endor? I thought I saw you, because his apparition was indeed surrounded by that blue Force light," Liane exclaimed in wonder, "After my old memories had come back to me in a flood of images that was overwhelming me. I felt so shocked and frightened. I didn't know what I had to do. Then I heard a voice calling my real name. That same voice had been speaking to me at earlier moments. I saw two men approaching me, both surrounded by that radiating blue light. One of them must have been your father Anakin. He looked a very friendly man. His eyes were looking at me in the same way as you always do, full of friendliness and compassion. He was in the company of another older grey-haired man with a beard. They both were clad in the same beige tunics and pants and a dark brown robe with a hood, as you are wearing. I recognized them as two Jedi Knights. The older man spoke to me with a very emphatic insistent voice. He encouraged me to use the Jedi-pendant again to restore my contact with you. When he mentioned the Jedi-pendant, I realized the pendant's meaning, and how much time had passed since I had spoken to you."

"Anakin and his friend Obi-Wan, my old master Ben, Kenobi, have probably been looking after you, Liane. I heard Anakin talk to you some moments before you noticed me. He tried to reassure you and put your mind at ease."

Again Luke sensed Liane's curiosity about all this new information.

"They have been looking after me? Why, Luke? Why would they do that?"

"My father deeply regrets what he has done to you, Liane? Anakin Skywalker was once a very compassionate person; someone who cared very much about other people, but he was betrayed by the Emperor who sensed his strong emotions, his worries, his fears and compassion with the people he loved. He seduced him to the Dark Side of the Force with the promise that those dark powers would give him ultimate control of the lives and the problems of his loved ones. It was a trap. A dark trap, that lead my father to the Dark Side of the Force, and so Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. He became a Sith Lord, who, on Morantan, became your foster father "

Liane looked at him.

"What is my fa ... he sorry for?"

"Your lonely youth at his imperial stronghold and the education he has given you on Morantan, all the dark knowledge he has taught you. He knows, it was wrong to raise you with the knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force. I promised him, I would help you to unlearn all that knowledge, and teach you to use the Good Side of the Force."

"How can I unlearn what I know? I'd wish I could."

For a moment Liane looked very helpless.

"I can help you, Liane. That is to say, if you want my help. Let me show you, how I rely on the Good Side of the Force. I can show you what good can be done with her powers. I've made you that offer on the Tychorion. Do you remember your answer?"

Liane nodded.

"You offered your help, so I could keep my promise, that I would never use the Force again in the way I had learned from my ... your father."

"What was your answer to my offer?"

"I asked you, if you trusted me." Liane said and her cheeks slightly reddened, when she remembered their conversation.

"I still do," Luke said with a smile, "Shall we start again and stay together on Endor for some time?"

He held out his hand. Hesitatingly Liane placed her hand in his. For a long moment his eyes met her. Once again she felt his sincerity.

"I will stay with you, Luke, as long as you trust me to be your companion."

"Alright, that's settled then." He gently squeezed her hand and held it tightly in his for some moments.

"Do you know, that you are using the Force at the Good Side already, Liane," Luke said, releasing her hand.

Liane looked puzzled.

"You're using the Good side of the Force through the Jedi-pendant."

Liane felt at the chain around her neck and took the pendant in her hand.

"When I woke up on that ridge on Wegoyy, Mintob, one of the Draga, gave me a package and asked me if it was mine. I didn't recognize the pendant, but I loved its beauty, so I kept it. Sometimes I accidentally touched it and then I saw a face. It was you, for sure, Luke, but I never recognized you. I feel so sorry, I really do. Yet I still can't recall how I have lost all my memories all that time. Do you know that, Luke?"

"Liane, in the Wegoyy prison you were mind drugged. Commander Dendicott has blocked your memories for some time, like the memory banks of droids are erased sometimes."

Liane frowned reflectively.

"The commander had accused me of spying. He didn't believe me and said I was a liar, spying for the government. One of his guards slapped my face, when I opposed those accusations. I became angry and paralyzed the guard's movements, using my father's knowledge. The commander order the other guard to stun me. After I had been put in that SL-chamber, a hovering spherical droid equipped with a lot of frightening utensils and needles, sometimes entered, but I was too stunned by those flashing lights and the noise to realize why the thing was being brought into my cell. "

She looked at Luke with a very thoughtful expression on her face.

"Except for the shrieking noises and flashing lights that's all I can remember. Luke, could it be, that the droid has been used to inject me with that mind drug?"

"That's almost certain, Liane."

After Luke's confirmation Liane asked confused, "Luke, Leia told me that torture is forbidden in the New Republic. "

"It is, absolutely. A great injustice has been done to you. When the Draga told me, you even couldn't recall your own name; I knew for sure what the commander had done to you."

"I remember, that Yarnick Grann told his father, I must had been mind drugged. He had seen several prick marks of needles under my hair. His words frightened me. And now it turns out, that he was right."

Still in a pensive mood Liane shook her head in disbelieve.

"All the time with the Draga and while I was traveling with Yarnick and his brothers I didn't remember who I was, because the commander in the Wegoyy prison has wiped out my past. Why has he done that, Luke?"

"The empire used mind drugging during their interrogations to weaken their victims minds, so they would confess secret information about the Alliance. I've been told that several prisoners got an overdose and never recovered. The commander probably wanted to force you to tell him the truth about my visit. It's possible that at a later stage he decided you shouldn't remember his interrogation and the way he had tortured you, because you might tell me about what he has done."

Liane stared to the opposite side of the clearing. Her eyes wandered to the stone, but she started to smile, if she looked at Luke again.

"So I've been lucky, I guess, that I discovered that stone with my f... Anakin's real name on it, otherwise it might have taken much longer before I would have been able to use your precious gift again, Luke."

"That's for certain, Liane, it's a lucky coincidence that you've kept the Jedi-pendant with you all the time. Ian and I have done a lot of traveling, in an vain attempt, to catch up with the Grann brothers, who had taken you onboard of the Grannd Traveler."

"You've traveled with Ian ... Ian Tydon, my guard?" Liane exclaimed excitedly.

"I met Ian at Wegoyy. He hadn't returned to the Wegoyy prison after his furlough. He told me what commander Dendicott had done to you, and took me to the Draga. They told me, that you had left the planet with the Grann brothers. Because Ian had detailed knowledge about what had happened to you, I took him back with me to Irithim, so he could tell the Supreme Chancellor about the torture practises in the Wegoyy prison."

"What happened afterwards to him? Did he have go back to Wegoyy?"

Luke shook his head.

"No, the Supreme Chancellor advised him to stay on Dalmaran for his own safety. He got an assignment to be trained as a pilot and he has kept me company on my many travels through the Outer Rim, looking for the Grann brothers."

Liane nodded relieved.

"Ian took an awful risk in the prison with his secret visits to me during his watch. It's good to know you have become friends with him. He has done so much for me while I was imprisoned."

Luke heard the affectionate tone in her voice as she spoke about her former guard. For some time they both sat next to each other in silence, looking at the dense vegetation that bordered the forest glade. Liane saw how the trees cast long shadows on the grassy open space. They had to get back to the village, but she didn't want to break the enchantment of their reunion.

"We've been sitting here for a long time." She thought.

She looked at Luke who was watching her with a smile.

"It's too late now to go to the space port, but tomorrow I'll show you my space ship, the Astræga, and we'll pick up some clothes of Leia's traveling wardrobe," He said with a teasing tone in his voice. She saw some teasing twinkles in his eyes.

"What do you mean by that, Luke?" She asked suspiciously.

"Leia once told me," He continued on a teasing tone, "that the princess of Morantan escaped the New Republic prison at Irithim as Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Alderaan."

Liane's eyes suddenly turned dark and Luke started to laugh.

"Now you're spoiling this day. I don't want to be remembered of what I did in the past. You mustn't..." She snapped and wanted to jump to her feet, but Luke grabbed her arm and pulled her down again.

"...tease me," He finished her sentence, "because then it will be difficult to keep my promise to stop using Anakin's former teachings. Liane, your annoyance about my teasing words, is the expression of your own dark emotions inside you. You became annoyed, because you dislike those shameful memories of things that happened in your past. The indignation you feel, is focused on yourself. You must learn to cope with what you've done wrong and let it go. A Jedi doesn't give in to these kind of emotions, you have to learn to have a peaceful mind. Don't let dark emotions control your actions. They won't help you. I told you that before, remember?"

Luke let her go. Liane averted her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Luke, but yes, you're right, I'm ashamed of what I did to Leia."

"We all make mistakes which we regret, Liane. We're human beings who sometimes fail. Learn to listen to the Force, and you will become more aware of the impact of your decisions, emotions and actions. For tonight, let's get back to the Ewok village."

Together they started to walk back to the village. Teebo and Wicket were on the lookout. Their shrill whistle warned the whole tribe. All the Ewoks ran cheerfully up to them. With sparkling eyes Liane told Chirpa and Logray what had happened.

"Haddo jumo. Diddo Jedi Luke suda miko meto." Luke heard her say.

['Isn't wonderful. Luke, my Jedi friend has come to stay with me.']

Surprised he listened to Liane's conversation with the Ewok leaders.

"Diddo haddo jumo? "Logray said.

['You look so happy.']

"Hamma diddo jumo admo." Liane answered and nodded.

['I am more than happy.']

"You speak their language?" Luke asked her.

"Not fluently, but I have learned to make some simple sentences to communicate with them. Learning their language made it possible for me to become a real member of this tribe."

The next morning Luke took Liane to the space port. When Liane held her ID-card in her hand, she looked at him with some reluctance. Luke put his hand on her shoulder and nodded. Still feeling some uneasiness, Liane held her card in front of the scanner. With a relieved smile she noticed that the card was accepted.

"It feels odd, Luke, to get permission to this area under the wrong name," She said.

Luke looked at her encouragingly.

"As long as you don't have an ID-card with your real name on it, you're Eilidh Grann, the shining, beautiful sister of the Grann brothers."

Liane laughed, when Luke mentioned the name, she had used for more than two years.

"You seem to know almost everything about what happened to me. You even know the name Yarnick gave me: Eilidh. It sounded so mysterious. He and his brothers even gave me an ID-card with that name."

"Yarnick and his brothers cared for you, Liane, they felt very much compassion for you."

Liane nodded and said with a warm smile.

"I know they cared for me. I have to apologize to their parents, Marek and Aaliyah. I ran away, because I didn't want to be cause of trouble among their family. I hope, they will forgive me for what I did?"

"They will, Liane. They really wanted to help you. It's very fortunate, that Marek mentioned your new name. Yesterday that little Ewok Teebo recognized your holograph when I arrived in the village. He seemed terribly concerned about you, and started a fierce argue with the Ewok leaders. Finally they insisted I had to follow Teebo."

"I had been exploring an unknown part of the forest outside the village, but I had promised to be back in five days. When I didn't return in time, Teebo probably went looking for me," Liane said, "He thought I was ill, because I was constantly yelling and screaming. I wanted my fa ... your father to answer me, for I didn't know how to cope with my new reality after I had read the words on the stone."

She shook her head and quickly turned her attention to the hassle and bustle on the small space port.

"This all looks so strange to me now. I can hardly believe I have been watching this after my arrival."

Luke started his speeder and drove to a docking bay where the ground personnel had secured the Astræga. As they had reached a docking bay at the far end of the space port Luke brought the speeder to a halt in front of his space ship. While he lowered the ramp, Liane looked impressed at the huge front and the raised wings.

"Are you flying this without a crew?" She asked.

Luke nodded, helped her out of the speeder and took her inside. He proudly showed Liane around and finally he brought her to the cabin Leia used, if they were traveling together.

"Take with you what you like of my sister's clothes. I'm sure she won't mind. Behind that wall," He said and pointed to the right wall of the cabin, "Is her dressing room. The wall will slid aside, if you press the button in that gold plated groove. I'll wait for you in the control room. Push this button to open the door."

Liane entered the cabin and looked around. The high quality of the interior impressed her. The white walls had a soft shimmering surface. Hesitant she sat on a couch and looked around. She saw a holographic image of Luke, smiling from wall. She smiled back and feeling suddenly more at ease she started to investigate the cabin more carefully.

In the right wall her hand slid along a neatly polished shining white golden groove. Her fingers found the hidden button. When she pressed it the whole wall slid aside and she saw a beautiful dressing room with a light shower. At the left side she saw several small doors. She opened them one by one and saw shelves stacked with bath foams, perfumes and make-up boxes. Behind another double door several tunics, overalls and pants lay neatly folded and a dozen of very exclusive dresses hung on a clothes rack. Liane recognized all these clothes directly. They all give forth Leia's elegant taste. Won't her old friend really mind, if she would wear some of her clothes? She took a soft brown yellow overall with a tunic from the shelf and held them up to watch herself in a wall sized mirror. She smiled and nodded happily. She would take on this one. Quickly she took off her clothes and took shower. The warm light comforted her. She combed her hair, weaved a pair of locks at the front to long braids and fastened them at the back of her head. Finally she put on the ocher pants with the tunic. She saw a pair of boots in the same color and tried them on. They fitted. She folded her furry clothes and put them on the couch. For a moment she sat down. What would Luke think? Maybe she had chosen one of Leia's ceremonial clothes. She'd better choose one of those real traveling clothes, one of those darker outfits.

"Liane?"

A voice outside the door woke her up from her reverie.

"I'm coming." She called back.

She walked over to the door and pressed the bottom.

Luke looked at her with admiration.

"Well chosen, Liane. You look fabulous," He said, while he took her to the control room and pulled her next to him on one of the couches.

"Are you sure, Luke, Leia won't mind."

"Absolutely. Leia has more than enough clothes. Nowadays she mostly wears her Jedi outfit. I'm sure, she even won't miss this one, but we'll tell her I told you to make use of her wardrobe when we're back on Dalmaran."

"You're going to take me back to Dalmaran?"

"Not immediately, but sooner or later I have to bring you back to Irithim."

"Why's that?"

"Because the Supreme Chancellor and the members of the High Council wants to hear from you personally what commander Dendicott and his men have done to you. But for the moment we're staying on Endor."

"Are you sure, you won't get into problems, if you stay with me? Haven't you told them, you went looking for me?" Liane asked.

Luke grinned.

"Don't worry, Liane, the Supreme Chancellor herself has asked me to continue my search for you," He said and took out the holo card with the special mandate, "Look at this."

He activated his infocom and showed her the file with his search warrant. Liane scrolled through the content and found the holographic with her image. For a moment she looked at her face with a thoughtful expression before Luke deactivated his device.

"You're the only official who may arrest me and bring me back to Dalmaran?" She asked.

"After your staged escape, Commander Dendicott organized an superficial search on Wegoyy. His men were given a fake warrant which stated they could arrest you and bring you back to the Wegoyy prison. Later on, the officers at Tropass space port also got the fake instruction to search for you. I've asked general Madine to counterorder all those orders and mandates, and assign me as the only officer to do an investigation of your escape." Luke explained.

"Why did you want to be the only one?" Liane asked with a curious glance in her eyes.

For a short moment Luke was silent, then he put his hand on her arm.

"I made you a promise, Liane. I promised I would help you and be a friend you could trust. When Leia and I got the message on Tambrin that you had escaped, I was so amazed, because during our chats you never mentioned any plan to escape again. I couldn't believe you should do something like that again. Already before I went to Wegoyy to do some investigation on your escape, I felt that the commander's story was a lie. After I'd seen the evidences he provided I was convinced you hadn't escaped. Later Ian told me the full truth."

"It feel so good, Luke, that you and Ian have become friends. I hope that I will meet him again one day, so I can thank him for his friendship," She mused, "unless the leader of the New Republic will order you to .... "

"She didn't finish her sentence and looked frightened.

"... bring you back to Wegoyy? Is that what you were thinking, Liane. That won't happen, Liane, if Leia and I can prevent it," Luke said reassuringly, "Leia has good hope that the Supreme Chancellor will pardoned you, after what has happened to you. As far as Ian is concerned, you will certainly meet him again, if I'll bring you back to Dalmaran. He has become Leia's padawan learner."

"Ian will become a Jedi Knight! A Jedi Knight, like you?" Liane exclaimed, "Oh, Luke, so much happened during that long period, when I couldn't remember my past. Are you sure, that the Supreme Chancellor will pardoned me?"

"I have to leave that to my sister. Leia is a member of the High Council. She is a member of the special committee which is investigating Ian's testimony and the illegal practises in the Wegoyy prison."

Liane was silent and stared to the opposite wall of the control room.

"Have you already send a report to the Supreme Chancellor to let her know that you have found me? Do you have to arrest me and take me with you as your prisoner, if you go back to Dalmaran?" She whispered.

"Only Leia knows that I have found you. Liane, if we're going back to Irithim, you're coming with me as my guest of honor, certainly not as my prisoner." Luke said.

His reassuring words and his friendly calm voice gave Liane a comforting feeling. She looked at him, feeling more at ease.

"Have I reassure you a bit, Liane?" Luke experienced a overwhelming feeling of bliss, when he saw the happy smile that had appeared on Liane's face, "For the time being we'll stay together. I would love to hear from you, how you've become a member of the Ewok tribe. Shall we get back to the village?"

Liane wanted to answer, when Luke suddenly raise his hand to silence her.

"I feel Leia's presence, Liane."

Luke became completely silent and didn't seem to be aware of Liane's presence anymore, for his eyes had gotten an absent stare, as if he had become part of an other reality. Liane was utterly confused about what was happening, but she didn't dare to disturb him.

Luke had reached out through the Force.

'What's the matter, Leia?' He said.

'Did you find Liane, Luke?' His sister asked.

Luke heard a concerned tone in her voice.

'Yes I have. I'm with her on Endor's space port, at the moment. I've told her, she could take some of the clothes from your wardrobe. '

He heard Leia laugh.

'Tell her, she may use all she wants. So, you're planning to come back to Dalmaran with Liane,' Leia said relieved.

'Not yet, Leia. I am going to use the following days, weeks, or, if necessary, months to show Liane how she can make use of the Good Side of the Force. I want her to become my padawan learner.'

'Luke, I knew you would say something like that, but you must come back with Liane to Irithim immediately. Mon Mothma has received solid evidence, that Rand Phylotar has informed Dendicott about the Granns. In that case, Dendicott certainly might go to Rasth. Mon Mothma has already sent a warning to Marek Grann to be on his guard. The other members of the High Council also have expressed their concern. We all think, that Dendicott is making serious plans for his own search for Liane. If he find her ...'

'Leia, I'm the only officer who may bring Liane back to Irithim.' Luke said determinedly.

'Luke, please, listen to me. If somehow Dendicott finds out that Liane is living on Endor, he will come to Endor with a group of his men, and you'll be outnumbered.' Leia said warning her brother.

'How can he possibly know about her whereabouts, Leia. Nobody knew that Liane has fled to Endor. Even the Granns didn't. Stop worrying, Liane is safe with me, as long as we stay on Endor. Don't tell the Supreme Chancellor yet, that I have found her. '

'I won't, Luke, but please, think about what I've told you. Dendicott might be a dangerous opponent.'

'I will, Leia. I'll let you know, if I'll change my plan.' Luke said and came out of his Force trance.

He saw Liane looking at him with a mystified, but also concerned look.

"What happened to you, Luke?" She asked, "Did you really talk to Leia through the Force?"

"A Jedi can reach another Jedi to pass information, using Jedi telepathy, Liane. I will explain this form of Force use later. Let's get back to the Ewok village now."

He rose and walked back to Leia's cabin. Liane followed him, mulling over his mysterious behavior. Luke opened the covering panel under the sleeping couch and grabbed a traveling bag.

"Put some more of my sister's clothes in this bag, Liane, Leia says you may use them all, if you want and don't forget your old clothes," He said and slid the closet door aside. Quickly he took some seven overalls, tunic and pants from the closet and put them in the bag. When he also wanted to take one of the dresses, Liane protested and grabbed his arm.

"Leia's dresses are useless in the village, Luke."

"You would look gorgeous in one of Leia's dresses, Liane," He said with an admiring smile.

Liane shook her head and put the dress back.

"Tell me, why did Leia contact you?" She asked concerned, "Has it something to do with me? Tell me, Luke, do you have to bring me back now."

"Yes and no, Liane. Indeed Leia asked me to come back with you to Dalmaran. Our Supreme Chancellor fears that commander Dendicott will go to Rasth to ask Marek Grann about you."

"The commander will go to Rasth. So he has found out, that I traveled with Yarnick and his brothers? Will he harm Marek and Aaliyah and their sons? Luke, I can't let that happen. They have been too kind for me. Can't we go to Rasth and warn Marek and Aaliyah. Beside, if that vicious commander would turn up you could defend them. You're a Jedi, Luke. You can defeat him."

Luke placed a reassuring arm around Liane's shoulders.

"The Supreme Chancellor has warned Marek Grann already, Liane. As a governor Marek is in charge of a contingency of local armed forces. If necessary, he will certainly use them. As to his sons, they are very hard to find, as I know by experience. You're safe, Liane, for nobody knows you've found your way to Endor, even the Granns don't know. Leia will keep me informed."

Liane looked at him with a worried frown.

"How will Leia able to reach you once we're back in the Ewok village?" She asked.

"You still have a lot to learn about the possibilities a Jedi Knight has at his command through the Force. Listen, Leia and I can use our Jedi skills to communicate through the Force. A Jedi doesn't need technology to keep in touch with other members of the Jedi Order. They rely on the Force. Let me explain a bit of it, for I feel you're not satisfied with my former explanation. Any Jedi Knight can attuned on thought patterns through the Force. You can compare it with the way you can communicate with me through the Jedi-pendant. The only difference is that you has to concentrate on me before we can talk through Force. Leia and I have a mutual ability through the Force to communicate. Every Jedi develops this ability as a padawan. I can tell you more, if you want to learn to use it too, but for now we're going back to the Ewok village."

Luke picked up the bag with clothes. Liane followed him down the ramp of the Astræga, still puzzling and thinking about Luke's explanation of the way he and Leia could communicate through the Force.

In the evening Luke lay staring to the leaf covered ceiling of his guest tree house. He pondered on what Leia had told him. His sister was right, of course. If, by accident, Dendicott would find out where Liane was, he certainly would come to Endor, and he wouldn't come alone. If that would happen, it would be very difficult to protect Liane on his own.

His only hope was, that Leia would be able to find out more about Dendicott's plan and inform him in time about further developments. The best way to proceed was to show Liane, that she also was able to use the Good Side of the Force. She had to become fully aware how strongly the Force was influencing her in everything she did, so he could convince her, she had to become his padawan learner.

Finally Luke banned all disturbing thoughts; he let the Force show him all the possible dangers and the dilemmas from different points of view. He wanted to stay on Endor with Liane. The forest of Endor provided an terrific opportunity to start her Jedi training. Except for Dagobah he wouldn't find a better place. Endor was even more perfect, because Dagobah held a dark secret.

He concentrated on the world outside his guest house and let the noises and sounds of the forest penetrate his thoughts. There were cracking branches, rustling leaves and somewhere,far off, an animal howled. A night bird swept among the trees. Luke heard the inaudible rustle of its wings. Even the tiny movements of a moth didn't escape his sophisticated alertness. Then he noticed that in her tree house near the lake Liane was still wide awake. He felt her tremendous joy about their reunion and the puzzling new knowledge he had told her about.

'Liane, you'd better get some sleep. It has been an exciting day for you.' He reached out to her, wondering if she would notice his concern. He wasn't really surprised when he heard her response.

'Will you really teach me how...'

Suddenly her response broke off. Then Luke felt the power of the Jedi-pendant. Surprised, Liane sat upright when his apparition appeared.

"Did I answer you in the Jedi way?" She asked inquisitively.

'Of course, you did.' Luke said with a grin. 'You're constantly surprising me, Liane. You clearly trust the Force to be your ally. No wonder my father took you as his apprentice.'

"It felt strange to answer you using Jedi-telepathy. I heard you say I had to get some sleep. Will you really teach me to communicate with you through the Force this way, or do you want me to teach something else? "

'Patience, Liane. You really have to get some sleep now.' Luke urged her with concern, 'Clear your mind of questions. It's time for you to rest.'

Luke repeated his words a couple of times using his power to ease Liane's thoughts. She obeyed to his strong Jedi influence, but he also felt how she resisted him. She had a very strong will of her own.

'Stop fighting the Force's influence I share with you, Liane. She won't harm you. I only want you to relax.'

Liane began to look sleepy. Luke looked at her with warm feelings of friendship. Again he sensed the overwhelming feeling of happiness as flashes of images he had seen before, entered he mind again. He pondered on Liane's Force skills and the ease with which she seemed to pick up new knowledge. Once again he looked down on the young woman, who finally had accepted him as a friend. Liane's hands slipped of the pendant and Luke felt she had lost her Force concentration.

'Pleasant dreams, Liane, and may the Force be with you.'He murmured as he opened his eyes in his guest tree house.