Chapter 19

"Hadda kimino teman Jedi Luke sako Aay-Lee twergo," the little shaman said

['You must keep Jedi Luke company, Eilidh']

"Codo haddo noko tikomo simo, Logray," Liane said shaken her head.

['But I would help you to make those ointments, Logray']

"Kato hadda noko maku. Dolo tuna maro dengo Jedi Luke tama sua."

['I don't need your help. You should spend your time with Jedi Luke']

Liane smiled.

"Haddo nokam sua bolo," She said.

['I will help you tomorrow']

"Haddo kuma damo noko Jedi Luke kodo sao mara tuno. Toko muo bola kama sudo. Kato hadda maku. '

['You go many days with Jedi Luke and enjoy. He has come here for you. I don't need help.']

He pushed her in the direction to the guest tree house and wave with his paw to Luke.

Liane made a bow, before she went over to Luke.

"Haddo kama, Logray."

['Thank you, Logray.']

"I don't have to help him, Luke. I may spend time today with you," She said, while adding impatiently, "Will you tell me, how you and Leia communicate through the Force. Can I learn it too?"

"Patience, Liane. There will be many days to come to talk about how a Jedi Knight uses the Force. Maybe, you should tell me first more about your life among the Ewoks and how you became a member of this tribe," Luke said while he took her hand and walked with her to the main spiral stair case.

Liane suddenly felt some reluctance. Would she tell Luke what she had experienced while she was helping wounded Ewoks? What if her old knowledge of the Force had been inspiring that help? Than her help had come forth from the evil knowledge Anakin had taught her. Better not tell Luke about it yet. Luckily there still weren't any severely wounded Ewoks and if the others would come to her with smaller injuries she would sent them to Logray.

She followed Luke the forest floor.

"Shall we walk over to the lake. It's beautiful there. Among the trees and the undergrowth it's getting hot already," She said, looking at him.

Luke smiled and Liane felt surrounded with the warm look in his eyes which showed his friendship for her. Together they walked at a leisure pace among the ferns and the many berry bushes to the clearing near the lake. Near the water edge they sat down on some flat rocks and looked to the other side of lake.

"Five days ago I went to the other side of this lake. I crossed the hills behind the lake," she mused half aloud, but she didn't really talk straight to him, "I heard a voice who called me Liane. I had dozed off and answered with 'father'. On the other side of the lake behind those hills I found much rusty machineries and remnants of white armor that had been scattered all over the forest floor. I now recognize that armor. The imperial stormtroopers used to wear it. When I found an old Imperial laser gun that voice talked about Morantan where he and I had lived. I didn't understand the meaning of what that voice was saying. It bothered me, that this forest which is so full of peace and harmony, has been involved in a heavy battle, as I also found the ruins of a building. Before I found those remnants I felt I was living in a peaceful environment, but there has been a fight here once."

She looked up.

"Were you here during that battle? What happened here, Luke?"

"Not during the actual battle, but one of the last battles against the Empire were fought here. Leia, Han, Chewbacca and me, together with our droid friends Threepio and Artoo, landed on Endor to blow up the shield generator which protected the unfinished second Death Star. The Ewoks captured our group and we were brought to their village," Luke answered, while reminiscing on what had happened then.

"Like they also did with me," Liane said, "they scared me as they dragged me away."

Luke chuckled.

"They were very hostile with us too. They threatened to roast us for their banquet, because they wanted to celebrate a party for their god Threepio."

"They worshipped your droid?"

"For some moments, yes they did, even Leia's intervention, telling the Ewoks that we were her friends didn't change their preparation. I had to use my skills as a Jedi to convince them that their god would become very angry if they wouldn't release us. I have never seen Threepio so scared when I lifted the throne on which they had place him and let it rise and circle above the platform. In retrospect, it was a funny, but just the right way to use the Force, because it worked out well. Immediately the Ewoks released us and after Threepio had told the them about our adventures, our mission and our goal on Endor, we became members of their tribe and our attackers became our allies against the Empire. Overall these little fur ball bears are friendly and hospitable, but they hate intruders and trespassers. How did you become a member, Liane? You said they also captured you."

Liane had listened to Luke's story which had a lot of similarities with her own experience.

"I must have trespassed their territory and they were angry with me. They brought me to the village, where they locked me up, but during the first month they provided me with food and drinks every day. After a month Logray came and I had to help him to take care of wounded Ewoks. My way of help satisfied him, for he took time to teach me their language. Chirpa made me a member of their tribe after I had learned enough of their language to communicate with them. He gave me this necklace," Liane said and showed Luke the necklace with the beads of seeds and dried flower leaves.

"Your help and commitment has earned you their respect, I guess," Luke said.

"They gave me a new way of life, Luke. When I had landed on Endor's space port I still didn't know what had happened to me. I ran away from Rasth to look for my past and to find out who I really was," She answered softly laughing, "Well, now I know and I never could have imagined that I would find my lost memories on this planet. I will love this place forever. It's so serene and peaceful here. I could sit here for hours and listen to all the noises around me."

"Maybe you also should close your eyes and should listen more intensively. You might hear the crawl of many tiny life forms in the undergrowth," Luke said.

To his surprise Liane immediately followed his advice. She sat down on the forest floor with her back against the rock. Her hands rested on her knees and with eyes closed she started to listen. At first she clearly heard the wind rustling among the leaves high above her. Then she heard the singing of some unseen bird. And all of a sudden she heard some crawling sounds in front of her feet. When she wanted to look for the source of the noise, it seemed as if she heard Luke's soft voice in her head .

'Keep your eyes closed, Liane. Now breath in and out slowly, feel what's all around you. There are so many life forms in this forest. It's overwhelming. Many of them are invisible, because they live in the earth under our feet, but still they exist.'

Unwittingly Liane followed his soft voice and began to smile.

"This feels great. I am not alone here, for I feel little beetles, gnawing the tree stems. You are also here, Luke, I even feel your presence. You're also one of these many life forms that exists among the ferns. It feels strange to be aware of all these life forms which are showing themselves, although they are so tiny I can't even see them if I would look for them. I love this feeling, for I feel that you and I also are part of it."

"What you're experiencing is the influence of the Living Force, Liane," Luke said calmly.

"The Living Force? What's that?" Liane said opening her eyes.

"The Force binds all living things together. You, me, the Ewoks, the birds that are living among the foliage, possible predators which roam this forest, but also tiny life forms, like beetles, worms and flies. The Force penetrates all of them and connects them. It makes everything part of the surrounding. If you learn to listen to the Living Force and feel her power, you become aware of all things that live around us. I often connect myself with the Living Force and meditate on its enormous strength with which it create life, makes it grow and preserve it."

"So I have been using the Force without I knew it?" She suddenly said hesitantly.

"You did. Does it scare you, Liane?" Luke asked, sensing her reluctance, "You're very sensitive to the Force, Liane. I can feel that. And years ago Anakin felt it. That's the reason why he took you with him."

"And taught me an evil way to use the Force," Liane said brusque, but she continued on a more friendly tone, "It's a lovely feeling to sense how everything is bound together. It feel good, friendly and it makes me feel happy."

"Whenever you feel the need to recall this feeling you just have to sit, relax, clear your mind of thoughts that might distract you, close your eyes, slowly breath in and out and stretch out to the Force, then it will show you everything that surrounds you, seen and unseen life forms. Didn't Anakin never taught you this way of meditation on Force?"

"No, never. His teachings always were focussed on control and suppression, not on listening to the way other living things are thriving. Who taught you to use the Force this way, Luke?"

"Master Yoda, and I wasn't a very committed padawan learner in the beginning. It took many, many sessions and exercises before I really began to understand what the Force wanted to show me, and how I could make use and command the Force's power."

"And master Yoda never reproached you, or ever told you to leave his place?"

"He often has reproached me my lack of commitment and control, but after I understood I had to commit myself to follow his lead, he never gave up. He expected I would finish the training he gave me. I disappointed him when I decided I had to rescue my friends who had been captured."

"Did you rescue those friends?"

"No, my plan became a terrible disaster. I lost my hand, my lightsaber, my confidence and my expectations after Darth Vader told me, he was my father. After an adventure on Tatooine where I needed to use all the skills master Yoda had taught me, to rescue my best friend, I went back to Dagobah to complete my training. During my extended stay on Tatooine, I first had to assemble a new lightsaber and I became aware of the great importance of patience, the meaning to stay in control of emotional feelings and the great power the Force could give me if I would be willing to commit myself."

"Did the Force ever frighten you, Luke?"

Luke shook his head.

"No, but I understand that it still frightens you, doesn't it, Liane?"

Liane nodded.

"Its use feels evil to me. My fa ... Anakin used the Force to control everything, his men, the droids, and me. I often opposed and argued with him, but most of the time arguing with him was useless. What I saw and what I had to practice frightened me. I didn't want to develop my skills the way he taught me. Especially when my fa ... Anakin began to teach me real Dark Side knowledge and its use. I saw the evil that was done with it and I felt I had to resist what he wanted me to practice, but most of the time my resistance was futile. Luke, I have learned a lot of evil things that can be done using the Force. Using my powers the way I learned is wrong, evil and detestable. It feels not good, but I know that I often fall back on that evil use, when I'm not sure of what's going on or what's happening to me."

Listening to Liane's words Luke felt her immensely strong reticence about how Anakin had taught her to accept and apply his use of the Force. He now better understood Liane's fierce rejection and fright of her own use of the Force. Her point of view wouldn't make it easy for him to convince her to accept use of the Good Side of the Force.

For Liane, using the Force, good or bad, too often amounted to deliberately inflicting injustice, oppression, and suffering on other creatures and life forms; in some cases even resulting in death.

At Irithim Leia looked at a report the Supreme Chancellor had transmitted to her.

"Another," she thought, "he just won't give up. He insists it's his responsibility to go find Liane. He knows Mon won't budge, but he still insists, because he knows his career is at stake. If my brother returns to Irithim with Liane, she will of course tell the High Council what she has been through in recent years. She is dangerous to him, but he is also dangerous to her."

With a sigh she opened the file with the report, but leaned back in her chair to consider the whole situation which seemed to be growing worse every day. Mon Mothma had ordered the commander of the Wegoyy prison to stay at his post, telling him that his commitment was appreciated but not desired. The government of the New Republic had formed a committee to investigate the accusations sergeant Tydon officially had told the members of the High Council under oath, but so far the staff, including commander Dendicott, hadn't truly cooperated with the committee, better to say that they had withheld their cooperation. The High Council had received denies, and vague insinuations about Ian's integrity.

Leia also felt worried about her brother. He was already more than a month on Endor. He hadn't made contact with her again since she had spoken with him, when he had taken Liane to the Endor space port to collect some of her clothes. She understood that his reunion with Liane had brought him great enjoy and relief. For that reason he had asked her not to reveal anything yet, but it became more and more difficult for her, as Mon Mothma special advisor to hide her knowledge.

If one way or the other, the Wegoyy commander would find out where he had to look for Liane, he absolutely would neglect Mon Mothma's strict demands to stay on Wegoyy.

Leia pulled the datapad with the report to her and started reading. Again it contained the many flatteries and praises with which the commander tried to prove his point to Mon Mothma, although he also had accused the government at Irithim to damage his reputation and had required personal excuses of the Supreme Chancellor herself. Mon Mothma never had considered the commander's demands and had flatly discarded any of his wishes. From then on, Commander Dendicott had done everything he could to win over Mon Mothma to his views.

Feeling rising disgust, Leia read on and took notes at her datapad about some assumptions the commander used as a reason to be allowed to take immediate action.

The door of her office slid aside and Ian Tydon enter. Leia look up.

"Master, I have some disturbing news."

"What's the matter, young padawan? You sound upset. You should control your feelings, Ian."

"I know, master, but the Supreme Chancellor asked me to inform you personally that commander Dendicott has contacted her and has asked permission to go to Rasth to interrogate the governor of Rasth, Mr. Grann, about Liane's travels with his sons. The Supreme Chancellor has refused his request, but the commander answered if necessary he will go to Rasth without her permission."

"You were there, young padawan, when this conversation took place?" Leia asked.

Ian nodded.

"The Supreme Chancellor had asked for me and I stood waiting in her office to received her instruction, as the message came through. She ordered me to stay and listen."

"Well, it has taken some time, but clearly Rand Phylotar has managed to inform his commander about the Grann brothers. We have heard that Daino has given him the information. We arrested Daino Phylotar, but we couldn't find a trace of the whereabouts of his brother. Even the Dalmaranian security guards in Mas'onom couldn't find his hiding place. It's even uncertainly if Rand Phylotar hasn't left Dalmaran already. Has Mon Mothma warned Marek Grann, if you know?"

"She said she would, and she also demanded that commander Dendicott had to inform master Luke if he would find Liane."

"He will never do that, Ian, that's for certain." Leia answered.

"Master, is there any word from master Luke? Does he know where Liane might be?"

Leia heard the emotional concern in her padawan's voice. She already had noticed that Ian hardly could hide his emotions if there was talk about Liane and the possible danger she might be in, if the commander of the Wegoyy prison, or Rand Phylotar might find her. Fortunately, Luke had already found Liane, but it was unlikely that he would return to Irithim with her any time soon. He was determined to convince her to become his next padawan. It wouldn't be long before she had to tell Mon that Luke was staying with Liane on Endor.

'Luke', she thought, 'come back to Irithim with Liane immediately.'

She knew that her brother looked at the situation form a different point of view and he certainly needed time to work out his plan. She would remain silent, for as long as possible.

As the weeks went by Liane more and more began to enjoy Luke's many rewarding teachings, instructions and talks about the Force and how she could make use of it under his supervision. Nevertheless every morning she went over to Logray's tree house to ask her Ewok tutor if he needed her help and every time Logray told her that it was more important that she should spend her time with her Jedi friend.

Luke also enjoyed his regained friendship with Liane, not because he had promised her to help, but also because of the commitment Liane showed to follow his lead now that she began to use her Force skills in a different way.

Meanwhile Liane could perform the high jumps he had shown her, with ease and full dedication.

On afternoon after a long Force meditation and their talks about what she had experienced, Luke took her with him under her tree house.

"Have you already been practicing those high jumps to reach the platform around your house. You said that you would need the rope ladder any longer."

Liane shook her head.

"No I didn't, because in the evening I reach my tree house via the village. Do you want me to jump straight up now?"

Luke nodded encouragingly. Liane looked at her tree house above her. In the blink of an eye she reached out to the Force, jumped high in the air, grabbed the balustrade that surrounded the platform around her tree house and hoisted herself up.

"Splendid, you're doing absolutely great. Did Anakin taught you these high jumps too?" Luke asked looking up to her from the forest floor.

"No, the forest on Morantan is different from Endor in many ways," Liane said a bit sullenly. ""It's much denser, with lots of lianas hanging from the trees entangling the foliage, but as long as I can remember I've been practicing somersaults around the stronghold where the trees were cut down. Already at a young age I had to runs through the forest, avoiding fallen trees without losing speed, or I had to climb the lianas and sway from tree to tree."

"I remember our escape from Ortel's detention level. I was amazed how easily you could climb those cables and jump into that gap on the ground level. Your physical skills are in excellent condition. You also must have practiced a lot here, haven't you?"

Liane shook her head.

"Not while I lived here among the Ewoks. I had other chores. Can I do this jump again, Luke?" Liane asked, neglecting his comments on their improvised escape route through the maintenance shaft.

"Sure. Do that double somersault we practised this morning."

Liane looked down and with a perfect double somersault she landed next to him.

"Fabulous, well done," Luke said.

Once again Liane looked up and jumped. With perfect timing she now landed on terrace. She walked over to the small bench near the entrance of her tree house.

"Come up here too, Luke. It's such a wonderful view from up here."

Luke jumped and landed next to her.

They sat next to each other on the bench for a quite while, looking at the lake and the surrounding area, before Liane suddenly turned to him.

"Luke, have you ever wondered what your life would have been, if Anakin hadn't become Darth Vader?"

"No I haven't, not after I have become a Jedi Knight. As I grew up I often wondered what kind of man my father had been. Uncle Owen told me that he had worked as a navigator on a space freighter. It was Ben Kenobi who told me that my father had been a Jedi Knight," Luke answered.

"So after Ben Kenobi had told you that, you decided you would follow your father footsteps?" Liane asked curiously.

For a moment Luke chuckled, but then he became silent, as some old images of his encounter with Ben Kenobi on Tatooine appeared in his mind. Liane saw and felt how his old memories caused an expression of grief on his face.

"I'm sorry, Luke, I shouldn't have asked you this," She said softly, trying to sooth his feelings of sadness.

Luke felt how she used the Force to comfort him. Once again he wondered if Liane possessed the Force potential to be a Jedi healer.

"Thank you for your concern, Liane," He said, "but to answer your question: no, I didn't want to become a Jedi, after Ben had told me the truth about my father, although Ben urged me to learn the ways of the Force if I would go with him to Alderaan to deliver the droids uncle Owen had bought. I denied Ben's words, for I felt only sadness, because I hadn't known my father. It wasn't until I found out that the imperial stormtroopers had murdered Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru that I asked Ben I wanted to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi Knight like my father. I wanted to avenge the heinous murder of my foster parents who had been my family. Revenge was my only aim at that moment. It is all so long ago. A past which doesn't seem to be mine any more, although I know it is. Master Yoda taught me to let go of my past, for looking back, regretting what has happened and lingering on the past, would distract me from the focus of what I wanted to achieve. Yoda taught me I must always be fully aware of what I'm doing. Reminiscing and remaining focussed on the past, or daydreaming about future ways to revenge myself, will evoke feelings of resentment and recklessness. For the Jedi Knight that I wished to become, those kinds of feelings must be avoided, as they were the expression of my own dark emotions which would lead me to the Dark Side of the Force."

They both silenced again. Liane looked to the lake and mused on what Luke has said.

"So you as you grew up you mostly have been thinking about what kinds of person of your father has been. Have you never wondered what kind of woman your mother has been? Did Anakin marry her?" Liane finally asked, using her soothing voice.

"Yes, from their first meeting on Tatooine Anakin was in love with Padmé, who, at that moment, was the elected queen of Naboo. Years later as Anakin had grown up and become Ben's padawan, Padmé fell in love with him too. They secretly married, as the Jedi Council forbids the Jedi Knights to marry. She became pregnant around the time that senator Palpatine's Dark Side power over Anakin grew. His turn to the Dark Side ruined their marriage, but not their love for each other. I once asked Leia to tell me about her mother, because I had no memories of my mother. Leia too couldn't really recall her mother. She was confusing some vague imaged memories with those of her foster mother, Breha Organa, the queen of Alderaan. Later, after the Battle of Endor, on one of my visits to Dagobah, Ben told that our mother had died shortly after she had given birth to Leia and me. So neither Leia, nor me could have had any real memories of our birth mother. Who Padmé Naberrie Skywalker has been and what kind of person she has been we will never know. All we know, at least what Ben has told me, is that until her death she was devoted to Anakin and kept believing in his goodness. She loved him with all her heart. I still want to travel to Naboo and visit the mausoleum that has been erected for her, but there is no need to linger on the past."

After a long pause Liane turned to Luke.

"So, you're saying that I shouldn't be wondering about my real parents?" She mused.

"It would distract you, Liane, if you would be a padawan learner." Luke answered. "At the moment you're just someone who is sensitive to the Force and can feel its presence, but as a padawan learner you have to commit yourself fully to the Force and become a dedicated Force user. I understand that you have many questions about your descent and whose daughter you are. The answers you seek lay in the past, but that doesn't mean that you will never get answers to those questions in the future. What's important is that you won't get obsessed in finding those answers. Be patient and maybe someday you'll learn whose daughter you are."

Liane sighed, but smiled absentmindedly.

"After you told me that Anakin wasn't my real father, that I was his foster daughter, I have been thinking about my real parents. Especially about my real mother. I would love to know her name and what kind of woman she is, or has been. Do you think, Luke, that it's possible that she, and my father, are still living somewhere, wondering what has happened to their daughter, like I'm wondering and thinking about them? Has Anakin ever told you anything about my mother? You told me that he has found me as an abandoned baby girl on Morantan. That is why I think that my parents had to flee and had to escape from some disaster. They couldn't take me with them, for I would be a burden on the flight. That is why they had to leave me behind. I have figured out that at the time that I was born the Empire reigned and many peoples must have feared the emperor and his imperial forces."

Luke thought about what Anakin had told him about how his father had found Liane, but he decided that it would cause her too much sadness and pain, and raise more uncertainties, if he would reveal Anakin's story to her.

"There certainly must have been a lot of fear for the imperial oppression when Anakin became in charge of his stronghold on Morantan. As you said, it's not unlikely that your parents had to leave you behind, because the imperial forces were persecuting them," He said.

Liane looked at him.

"Perhaps they had resisted the Emperor's regime in a way that they were no longer safe on Morantan. Do you think, that's a strange assumption, Luke?"

"Not at all. From the moment the emperor established his reign of terror and oppression, there have been groups of people anywhere in this galaxy who opposed him. In the beginning those group were small, but over the years those pockets of resistance grew and joined and became the Rebel Alliance."

"It still feel odd, that during my youth on Morantan, I have never been aware of the war that was raging through the galaxy. How did you know there was a war going on? Did you know about the rebellion against the empire?"

"Tatooine was too remote and insignificant, but every now and then some news via the Holonet leaked to that far corner of the universe. My friends and I heard the imperial forces drafted young pilots who got their commission at the Academy, to join the imperial Star fleet. On his last visit to Anchorhead my friend Biggs told me that he would join the Rebel Alliance, before he would be drafted in the imperial army."

"My fa ... Anakin never talked to me about the Rebel Alliance, but I once overheard a talk between him and the commander. He hated their insurgence and expressed angrily that he wouldn't rest until he had wiped out all those rebels."

Liane shook her head.

"I have been really an ignorant girl who didn't know anything about what was going on. Had I known, I surely would have wanted to join the Rebel Alliance. Even now, after so many year, I feel more sympathy for the side you fought for, than for the empire."

Luke laughed.

"You surely would have been a great asset to their strife against the injustice and the reign of fear the empire caused on so many planet and peoples."

Several days later, they were sitting just after sunset near the lake under the big tree which held Liane's tree house. Luke had lit a small bonfire and together they watched the dancing flames, casting a bright yellow light in the darkening night. Luke had given Liane some time to think about and consider his proposal to become his padawan.

Liane leaned with her head on her knees. Slowly her eyes cast over the lake and her thoughts wandered to the hidden forest glade with the stone. In her mind she could read the lines on it, and she also saw the blackened remnants of the pyre. She turned to Luke, met his gaze and smiled at him.

I'd wish I could sit here forever watching the flames." She said, and turned her gaze back to the water.

'Don't you think it would become boring after some time?' Luke answered through the Force.

'Maybe,'" Liane answered, but immediately she sat upright and look at him.

"Hey, I didn't hear your voice. Did you use Jedi telepathy to answer me?"

"Yes, I used the common Jedi way to answer you. Your Force potential makes it easy for you to hear my voice if I adept to your thought pattern."

Liane frowned.

"Did you put your words inside my mind, like Affect Mind?"

Luke shook his head.

'No, although I focussed on your thought pattern, it was you who picked up the words I spoke to you through the Force.'

Liane started to laugh.

"Now I hear you again. Can I answer you the same way?"

"You only have to concentrate on the Force and tell me your answer," Luke said, "Shall we practise this way of communication between us?"

"No, I don't want to know," Liane said suddenly unwilling, "If necessary I can talk with you through the Jedi-pendant and as long as you're here I can talk to you face to face."

Luke smiled, but didn't insist, feeling her growing resistance against his soft pressure to learn another different Force use, although she had been showing her interest in Jedi telepathy after their return from Endor's space port. Liane turned her gaze to the lake and the stars in the sky above it and dozed off with her eyes half closed. After some minutes she looked at the flames of the small bonfire. The branches had nearly been burned to ashes and only small flames were flickering.

Liane looked at the dying flames again.

"Shouldn't we go back to the village, Luke. All the branches have burned to ashes. Within minutes the fire will be out."

She was about to get up, when she stared in astonishment at some branches which began to levitate and slowly drifted to the fire.

She rubbed her eyes and heard Luke's chuckle.

"A Jedi can also use the Force for many practical purposes," Luke said with a soft laugh, "I don't want to leave yet; I'm too much enjoying your company, Liane. Like you said before, I also would love to sit here with you for hours and I know that those hours together would never be boring."

Liane felt how her face became hot and she quickly focussed their chat on the way he had levitated the branches.

"You used the Force to levitate those branches, didn't you? But branches are dead objects? I thought the Force is only working among living beings."

"The Force is everywhere. Around us, around the trees, around the stones, the leaves and around those branches. She surrounds everything, even all the planets and systems in the galaxy. That's Unifying Force. The only thing a Jedi does, is to control objects with the Force. I used the Force to put some new branches on this fire. It's called Force telekinesis and much easier to learn than Affect Mind which Anakin has taught you."

"This way of using the Force seems a good use to me, as it won't do any harm." Liane said slowly, then she turned to him. "Luke, why do the Jedi use Affect Mind to manipulate people. You used it on Ian, my former guard. I think, it's wrong to use the Force that way. "

"When a Jedi uses the Force to influence people's thoughts, it's only as a last resort. He only may overrule their thoughts temporarily. It's one of a Jedi's options to avoid a dangerous situation."

"Why should a Jedi need to overrule people's mind?"

"To prevent unwanted reactions of an opponent. It certainly isn't a Jedi's habit to overrule everyone's mind. I send Ian away when I visited you on Wegoyy, for I wanted to give you the Jedi-pendant. What do you think, Ian's reaction would have been, when he had seen that I had a present for you?"

"I've told him about your gift, Luke. Ian can be trusted," Liane said stubbornly.

Luke laughed.

"That wasn't my question, Liane. I know Ian is a fine fellow. But we were discussing if a Jedi should or shouldn't use Affect Mind. In your opinion it's is part of the Dark Side of the Force, isn't it?"

Liane nodded.

"My fa... eh, your father always used what you call Affect Mind. He knew everything, his officers were thinking and he severely punished the ones who didn't seem to be loyal to him. He taught me how to use it, but it scared me to put my own words in other people's mind. Why hasn't Anakin taught me to move objects using the Force. That's indeed a practical use of the Force and you don't do any harm with it."

"You can learn to levitate objects using the Force, Liane."

"I don't believe you, I can't use the Force the way you do."

"Liane, I'm sure you can do it. 'Concentrate on that branch over there. The separate one to the left of the pile. Stretch out to that branch with your thoughts and feelings. Use your hand if you want to.'

Completely captivated by Luke's soft Jedi voice, Liane closed her eyes and listened to his words reverberating in her mind. She reached out for the branch.

'Let the image of the branch fill your mind, think of nothing else. Now use the Force to pick it up. Keep this deep concentration, Liane, and control your movements.'

Luke felt how easily Liane surrendered to the Force which also made her susceptible for the Jedi way to communicate.

'Now move the branch to the fire and put it down.' He said, still using the Jedi telepathy.

Slowly the branch drifted through the air, before it came to rest among the dying flames.

"See, I told you, you can do it! " Luke said in his normal voice.

Liane opened her eyes and look at the spot where the branch had laid. She looked at the fire and saw the branch had caught fire. Bewildered she looked at the branch and then she looked at Luke.

"Did I really do ...? No, Luke, don't fool me. You did this. I clearly felt your power when I lifted that branch."

"You did it. All by yourself. It was you who put that branch in the fire; I didn't do anything. The power you felt was the power of the Force."

"I could see that branch so clearly in my mind, Luke, but I also heard your voice, telling me what to do."

"I talked you through, because I knew you could do it. These last weeks I have shown you that the Force can help you in many different ways to use her powers. A Jedi feels the Force and knows how to control her power. If he is in full control, he can use the Force at his will, whenever he wants."

Liane silenced for a long time.

"I'm not sure if I really want to know as much about the Force as you do, but using the Force for practical purposes, like picking up objects without walking over to grab them would be useful," She grinned.

"Alright. Shall I also teach you other practical uses of the Force?"

Liane hesitate, then slowly she nodded.

On the following day Luke took Liane for a long training through the Endor forest again. They both enjoyed the difficult track Luke had chosen. As they had finished their run, they went over to their favorite spot near the edge of the lake. Liane took off her boots and let the cool water of the lake refresh her feet. Luke watched her with a smile. She was doing great. He certainly would manage to convince her to become his padawan. Liane walked over to the rocks and sat down next to him. Contently, she stretched out her feet and looked at the different undergrowth are the lake with its fern and entangled berrie bushes. All of a sudden she turn to Luke.

"Luke, while we visited the space port you talked to Leia, using the Force, but that's already weeks ago. Did you talk to her again the way?"

Luke woke up from a slight Force meditation.

"What did you say?"

Liane repeated her question. Luke shrugged his shoulders.

"No, I told her not to worry," He said, "She surely will contact me, if something happens, and as long as I don't hear from her, I'm going to enjoy my stay here with you."

"Haven't you made a plan to go back to Dalmaran as you said? You can't stay on Endor with me for a long time, can you? You're already here nearly two months. You surely have to report to the Supreme Chancellor you've found me. "

"Not immediately, so I'm in a hurry to get back."

Liane shook her head.

"You said, I have to tell the Supreme Chancellor what happened to me on Wegoyy."

"You do, but going back to Dalmaran now, might be a considerable risk, Liane. The fact that commander Dendicott has tortured you, doesn't mean, that that your conviction is no longer applicable."

"So it's unlikely, that the Supreme Chancellor will pardon me, after what has happened.?"

"I told you, Liane, that's up to the Supreme Chancellor and her advisors, but I absolutely don't want a similar situation as on Ortel, when General Madine ordered me to hand you over to those guards. I have been thinking about a possible solution?"

Liane look questioningly to him.

"A possible other solution? What do you mean, Luke?"

"Well," Luke said hesitatingly, "It highly depends on what you will decide, Liane."

"Me? I don't understand, Luke."

"Liane, I've told you more than once these weeks that I'm amazed of the influence of the Force on you. If you agree to become my padawan learner, I can start your training as a future Jedi Knight here on Endor. The Supreme Chancellor will never send back you to Wegoyy, if you're my padawan learner. That's probably the best way to keep you out of detention again. "

Liane listened completely stunned to this new idea.

"Luke, I don't know, if I want to become a Jedi Knight. I don't know, if I really want to learn to use the Force the way you do. I don't want to become, like my fa ... your father, " She objected against his plan, feeling uneasy.

"Liane, you absolutely won't become like my father. I will train at and show you the Good Side of the Force. I will teach you to become a Jedi Knight, not a Sith Lord. "

"Luke?" Liane said, "You really do believe, I can learn the ways of the Force as you do, don't you?"

"The Force is strong with you. How else could you possible jump this high or run through this forest without exhausting yourself? Our normal physical powers are limited, only relying on the power of the Force makes it possible to extend our skills. Whatever I explain to you, you're able to apply as new knowledge. Think of, how easily you've responded that first night to Jedi telepathy. It amazed you that you could answer me through the Force, but you weren't frightened of what you did. You have learned to feel how you're part of the Living Force and you can meditate on the Force's influence on you. You can be a Jedi Knight, Liane, you only have to accept me as your Jedi master, so I can teach you all I know."

Liane looked at him.

Step by step Luke was showing her, how she could use the Good Side of the Force. She enjoyed the moments they were training together, because she felt his encouragement and compassion for her and the overwhelming Force knowledge, he wanted to share with her. He would never demand to use the Force like his father had done. Luke constantly complimented her with all the progress she made using the Force. Should she decide to accept his proposal and become his padawan learner? Pensively she stared at the far side of the lake and nodded.

"I believe what you're telling me, Luke, but I still have my doubts about the Force."

"I know you do, Liane, but I hope you trust me and what I have been showing you these months."

Liane laughed.

"Of course, I trust you and I love to know more about the Good Side of the Force. The side of the Force the Jedi are using, but I don't know if I want to become your padawan already."

"There is a reliable chance, that I am on the girl's trail, commander," Rand Phylotar said proudly.

"It's about time. I expected your reports much earlier. What kept you busy, where have you been all the time, and what have you found?" Dendicott snarled.

"Well, I'm not yet quite sure, but Skywalker seems to know, were she is. My informant on Irithim space port has seen Skywalker, as he left Dalmaran in his private shuttle. He was talking to his sister about visiting the governor of Rasth, Marek Grann, the father of the guys with whom the girl has been traveling. Afterwards he also intended to go Dagobah and Tatooine. My informant thinks, that it's very likely, that the girl has been in hiding on one of these planets. Another informant reported, that the Supreme Chancellor has expressed her concern in the High Council about your reports, commander. He has told me, that the Supreme Chancellor strongly opposes your idea to start looking for the girl yourself."

Dendicott snorted audible to voice his cynicism. He laughed mockingly.

"So Lady Mon Mothma opposes my plan and assumes, that I will neglect her order," he snapped, "I can tell you, Rand, the Supreme Chancellor is right. Just recently she refused my request to go to Rasth to ask governor Grann what he knows about the girl's whereabouts. I need to find that girl, before some else finds her, and thanks to some old friends I have found out where she is at the moment. Not on one of your planets, Rand, but on Endor, and Skywalker is with her."

"On Endor, commander? How did you ...

"The girl's ID-card, the one with that fake name 'Eilidh Grann', has been scanned at the Endor spaceport about two months ago," Dendicott said ill-tempered, "shortly after Skywalker had scanned his. He is probably making plans to come back with her to Dalmaran at short notice. We have to thwart his plan, and prevent, that the girl can tell the Supreme Chancellor what has happened to her. After her testimony the High Council will certainly ask for more investigations in the Wegoyy prison. If they find out that the girl has spoken the truth, my career will be ruined. I am about to secretly leave Wegoyy shortly, for I'm going to get the girl. I'll make sure, that she can never tell anything to anyone."

"Skywalker has found the girl on the forest moon of the Battle of Endor?"

"Precisely, Rand. The battle, that the elite imperial ground forces lost, thanks to a local primitive tribe of little bears: the Ewoks. It will be a great opportunity to avenge the death of our leader, emperor Palpatine, and the collapse of the empire."

"I can leave Dalmaran tonight. Do you want me to join you somewhere special, commander?" Rand Phylotar said dutiful.

Dendicott snarled in a menacing voice, "Getting afraid about your own career, colonel. My men and I will set course to Rasth, because I might need to interrogate those Granns, but as I now have reliable information about the whereabouts of my runaway convict, the governor's interrogation is of no priority at this moment. However Rasth is a fine base to continue with my plan, for it's on the trajectory to Endor, so come immediately to Rasth. I will be waiting for you in Rawine, the local farmer's space port, and Don't loose more time on your useless researches."

Dendicott's image disappeared, and Rand Phylotar looked confounded at the blank display for several moments.