Chapter 28
uke and Liane, with Chewbacca in the lead, had left the cantina in a hurry and were running now through the old center of Mos Eisley to one of the older docking bays. The Wookiee was constantly grunting loud howls, expressing the hope he felt, now that he had found his old friend back. The entrance door of the old docking bay was open and through the dark entrance Liane saw a worn out disk shaped space ship. Its shape resembled the Grannd Traveler with which she had traveled with Yarnick and his brothers. The ramp was down and Luke and Chewbacca hurried inside the ship. Liane followed but slowed down her pace. She suddenly felt how strange feelings of enormous weariness, sadness and remorse began to surround her. Those feelings seemed to penetrate her body and her eyesight became blurry and out of focus. She had to steady herself against one of the ramp's pylons. The feelings seemed to ceased, but she still felt surrounded by an enormous wave of regret. She looked around and stretched out to the Force. Then she heard a whispering voice, "Leia, my sweetheart, please forgive me. Leia were are you?"
Slowly she walked up the ramp and entered the space ship. The weariness returned, as did the feelings of sadness and remorse. It was as if those feelings were engulfing her. She nearly stumbled and covered her face with her hands. Again she heard the whispering voice, "Leia, my sweetheart, please forgive me. Leia were are you?"
Again the feelings ceased. She got back on her feet and heard Luke's voice and Chewbacca's howls and grunts. She walked in the direction of their voices, and got herself in the doorway of a narrow alcove, where on a couch the body of Han Solo lay stretched. She immediately recognized the lean figure of the space captain. Slowly she stepped inside the alcove, watching the series of tubes and small vials that connected the deadly pale figure to the life support system of the Millennium Falcon. Immediately she noticed the helpless expression on Luke's face.
"I can't be help him," She heard him whisper inaudible, "I can't reach him through the Force. I have not enough knowledge to wake him up."
Chewbacca was grunting and howling softer. The big Wookiee had sunk on his knees near the almost motionless body of his friend. Silently Liane stood between Luke and the big Wookiee. The howls and the grunt of the Wookiee were no more than a soft whimper, expressing the pain the big humanoid felt for his lifelong friend.
Luke was watching at the seemingly lifeless body of his old pal and friend. He felt desperate. This pale, almost transparent face didn't resemble Han's cynical features. How could he possibly tell Leia what had become of Han? Helplessly he clenched his fists and looked down at Han once again. He felt dismay and an overwhelming helplessness, despite all his Force knowledge as a Jedi. Suddenly he felt how Liane grabbed his arm. He turned and saw her face had gotten the same pale expression as Han's.
"Liane, What's wrong with you? Liane!"
He grabbed her shoulders to prevent she would pass out. Liane placed her hands around his wrists.
"He is asking Leia to forgive him. He asking where she is," She gasped.
"Liane, what are you talking about? What's the matter with you?"
Worried Luke pulled her tighter to him, but she regained her strength and looked at him.
"Han is looking for Leia. He is calling her name over and over again. He asks her to forgive him. Haven't you heard his pleas, Luke?"
Luke shook his head.
"I didn't hear anything. What happened to you, Liane? You nearly passed out. Are you feeling ill?"
"I feel his pain. He is suffering. I heard him calling out Leia's name, begging her forgiveness. He is looking for her. He wants to get back to her, but he doesn't seem to know anymore where he has to look for her. He feels lost. There's so much sadness and remorse inside his mind. I have to help him, Luke, I can't let him suffer. Let me talk to him, like I did with Teebo."
"Han's a human being. The Ewoks are a much simpler life-form, Liane. I wonder if your Force powers will be sufficient to help him."
"I have to help him, Luke," She said determinedly, "I need to help him my way. I know I can do that. I have helped you, when you didn't know how to cope with the painful losses of your past."
"I allowed you to help me," Luke objected.
"I know, you did, but I can't leave your friend suffering. I felt his pain almost immediately when I entered this ship."
Liane walked over to the top of the couch. Her gaze looked around the room and she saw a high stool in the corner near the entrance.
"Could you bring me that high stool, please. I need something to sit."
Luke brought her the stool. Liane sat down and placed her hands around Han's head in a soft gesture.
The Wookiee looked up and started to howl in protest.
"Please, Luke, will you ask him to be quiet and tell him I won't do any harm to Han. Maybe it's better if you both leave me alone for a while," She said, and bowed her head to Han's face.
Luke beckoned Chewbacca and whispered in a low voice what Liane had requested. The Wookiee looked in Liane's direction and howled again.
"Come with me, Chewbacca. You can trust her. She can use the Force's healing powers in a much greater way than me. Maybe there is a chance that she can help Han."
With a last look at Han Chewbacca followed Luke to the flight control room of the Millennium Falcon. There the Wookiee told his Jedi friend the complete story of the fight and his search for help as Han's recovery didn't show any progress.
"So, they have left together," Leia said, after a long story of chief Chirpa and Threepio's translation.
Chirpa nodded.
The three days after their arrival had been filled with all kind of celebration festivities with huge bonfires and many stories of the recovered Ewoks. Especially those stories piqued Ian's interest, while Leia concentrated on the second raid at the village. Chirpa and Logray had explained how Liane had left the village unseen and how Luke had join her at the north ridge where they both had said goodbye and went back to the space port. Leia and Ian felt a great relief that Luke had left Endor, taking Liane with him, but Leia also expressed her worries about the twelve armed men who had found the location of the Ewok village.
"What did you do to those men, after my brother had left with Lia...Eilidh?" Leia asked and looked at the group wisest Ewoks.
"Hado kano gizo dana, kuno sino figo Aay-lee?" Threepio said.
The golden droid listened carefully to the story of Wingret. Then he turned to Leia and Ian.
"Wingret and his fellow Ewoks have brought those men deep into the forest at a great distance from the village. Each man separately. Chirpa had disarmed them first and they were blindfolded, so they shouldn't be able to find the village again."
"They seem to have found your hidden entrance and it's worse," Leia said a bit worried, "They have regrouped. Threepio, asked them if they aren't worried that the men will attack the village again."
Threepio addressed Chirpa and the other members of the Ewok council. Again Wingret answered.
"Kano tana moko. Sodi lana kama miko, tune sudo kewi. Lada tima noa. Kiko!"
"Not all the men are still alive, he says. They have found the remains of four of the men. They've fallen victim to the condor dragon."
"What's a condor dragon?" Ian asked.
"A flying lizard about the size of a small space ship, master Ian," Threepio answered immediately, "They are very dangerous predators."
"You seem to have met them, Threepio," Ian said, when he heard the disgust and the fear in the droid's voice.
"Oh, no, master Ian, not me. Good heavens, no. I only heard the Ewoks talk about them. They fear them."
"What about the other men. How many were there?" Leia asked.
Threepio translated.
"Wingret said, there were twelve men."
"So there are eight men left, and four of them are roaming the forest together. Threepio, asked Wingret and Chirpa, if they could recapture those eight men and hold them in captivity." Leia said.
Leia's request released a lot of talking among the council of the wisest. Some of the members were clearly upset.
"Threepio, tell them it will be only for a short time. I will send a detachment to pick them up and bring them to Irithim. Tell them, that I fear for the safety of this village as long as those men are free."
"Haddo kano sano miko. Tedo mika Leia dida lizu edo jino Yeura. Leia miko dano kyno tano!" Threepio said.
"Kano miko sino Leia modo. Kano haddo kana miko." Chirpa answered.
"They thank you, mistress Leia, for your concern and your offer, but they keep a constant watch on those men. They are sure, that they can deal with those men themselves."
"I will warn the government anyway, when I'm back in Irithim," Leia said.
She turned to Ian.
"We know enough, don't you think so, my young padawan."
"Yes, master, I'm glad master Luke and Liane have left together. It's a pity that master Luke hasn't mentioned his destination. Can't you reach him and ask him where he is?"
Leia shook her head
"It's better if I leave it up to Luke to contact me. I think my brother deliberately is keeping his destination secret, my young padawan, or maybe he hasn't made up his mind when he left Endor with Liane. In that case he has chosen his destination after their departure. We must find out who is behind this second attempt to kidnap Liane. Commander Dendicott and his men are in detention, so there is another person who is interested in her. It could be that person you've seen in your Force vision. We need a closer look at this matter and do some more investigation. Let's get back to the space port. I also need to warn Mon Mothma about the situation here. "
While Luke was listening to Chewbacca's story, Liane surrounded Han with her Force healing powers. Gently she used the Force to ease the turmoil of the desperate thoughts that whirled through his mind. Those whirling thoughts began to fill her mind. Images of strange worlds and events flashed along at an incredible speed. the Force showed her many of Han's dangerous adventures and she met some women who had been his companions every now and then. Among this jumble of images she began to hear a loud moaning voice, a voice full of sadness, remorse, weariness and despair. At last the moaning voice completely filled her mind. She began to hear every word of the sentence, she had picked up partially, after she entered the Millennium Falcon.
"Leia, my love! Leia, where are you! Please, forgive me, my love. I was wrong. Leia, please come back! Help me! Help me, Leia, please, I want to have you with me! Help me! Forgive me what I said to you! I didn't want to hurt your feelings. Please, forgive me."
Gently Liane pressed Han's forehead with her thumbs and placed her fingers at his temples She now fully concentrated on the Force and like she had done to help Teebo and the other Ewoks some new images entered her mind. She saw Han carrying a young girl on his arm. The little girl had put her arms around his neck and giggled as he kissed on her nose. The little girl pointed at another person and Liane saw Leia. She was pregnant again, and Han put his free arm around her and drew her close to him. For some minutes Liane watched the images of a happy Han and Leia with their family, then she bowed her head to his face.
"Han Solo, if you can hear me, you should listen to me," She whispered in her soft, low Force voice, "Han, please, listen to me? I have heard the sad words you're constantly moaning and I understand their meaning. I also have felt the pain those words cause. Listen Han, listen to what I'm going to tell you. Leia is waiting for you at Irithim on Dalmaran. She still loves you. She has forgiven you. She wants you to return to her, so she will be reunited with you. Stop blaming yourself for what went wrong, stop seeking the answers for your pain in what has happened in the past. Stop this endless circle of despair."
She felt a tremor in his mind and for a short moment the whirl of painful memories stopped. Han seemed to have noticed her soft message.
"Han Solo, you need help to find Leia Organa, don't you? I can help you to find her again."
Once more Han's body trembled, he was definitely listening.
"Leia, is that you? Leia, my love, hear me, darling, forgive me, please. Help me to get out of this dark maze! I have been looking for you everywhere, Leia, where are you? Sometimes I think I see you, but as I reach out to you, your apparition vanishes. Don't go away this time, Leia! Stay with me! I need you, my love, I need you so much!"
Liane tightened the pressure of her fingers around his head. Her body started to ached again as she now clearly became one with the his great pain: his desperate search for Leia Organa, his remorse about what had separated them, and his desperate screams for her love.
Her eyesight became out of focus again. A gulf of nauseating pain made it very difficult to keep her balance on the high stool, but she managed to keep her hands firmly around Han's head. The pain ceased again.
"I want to help you, Han, so you can find Leia again."
She felt Han's pain again, but the Force began to help her to ease his mind with soft penetrating feelings of comfort and compassion which she easily could pass on to him.
"Who are you?" Han suspiciously asked suddenly.
She almost let out a joyful scream. Han was responding to her presence in his mind. Now she could help him to find rest and start his healing process.
"I'm a friend," She whispered, still using her soft Force voice, "I want you to relax and ease your mind. I will support your attempts to relax and help you to ease your mind. I will help you to find Leia."
"Who you are? Go away! All I want is Leia, my only love. Leia, my darling, where are you?" Han moaned half aloud.
Because Han began to resist her soft penetration of his mind, Liane withdrew and only wrapped him in a comforting and relaxing feeling, like she had done while helping Luke. She still saw the images of Han's happy family through the Force, but intuitively she knew that it would be too early to pass these image to him. Han wasn't yet ready to accept a new future, as long as he was wrestling with the dark memories of his past, so she only concentrated on putting his mind at ease.
Over and over again she repeated her words, speaking slower, softer and with more emphasis each time, until her voice was almost inaudible.
"Relax, Han, Feel how my voice is putting your mind at ease, don't linger on old memories. You still love Leia, I can feel that, and you feel remorse about what happened. What has happened between Leia and you, has become a burden of shame. Those feelings of shame, regret, and remorse are blocking the way out of the endless spiral of disturbing thoughts. Stop feeling ashamed about what happened, Han, imagine how happy you would feel if you would be united again with Leia. If you let go of the burden which is troubling you, you will find Leia again. You can make that happen, but only, if you put your mind at ease, if you surrender yourself to my voice, and accept the help I want to give you."
More and more she felt how her strong Force use influenced Han's tenacious and stubborn resistance to her influence on his mind, and it took her quite a while before she felt that he surrendered a little bit to the growing feelings of comfort, compassion and relaxation she passed to his mind. After having repeated her soft message again and again, she opened her eyes, carefully withdrawing her hands, and looking at the face of Luke's friend. Gingerly she brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. The color of Han's face had changed dramatically. The bleak transparent glow had vanished. His breathing was more regularly, quieter, and less superficial. She had been able to bring him in a deep Force healing sleep. He had listen to her voice, and, if she could reach him again, he probably would accept her way of help. She was now certain, that she could help him to wake up, and recover.
"Sleep well, Han, and may the Force be with you," She whispered, before she left the alcove.
For a moment she contemplated on what she had done, then she heard voices; Luke's calm voice and the grunts and howls of the Wookiee. She left the medic bay and walked in the direction of those voices. Suddenly she found herself in the flight control center of the Millennium Falcon. Abruptly the voices stopped and Liane noticed a worried look in Luke's eyes. He rose, took her arm, and carefully brought her to one of the couches.
"Feeling alright, Liane. Sit down."
Thankfully she sank down on the couch. She looked around.
"Can I have a drink?" she asked in a whisper.
"Certainly. Chewbacca, are the fresh water tanks filled? "
Chewbacca grunted an affirmative and jumped to his feet, filling the control room with his enormous body. He hurried away and returned with glasses and carafe filled with crystal clear water. Luke poured a drink and handed it to Liane. With a grateful smile she took the glass in both hands and slowly sipped the drink. Luke and Chewbacca watched her in silence. At last Liane noticed their gazes. She put the glass on the round table and sat upright.
"Han has fallen asleep. At last. He must have been completely exhausted. He probably hasn't slept since he got wounded in that fight. He constantly has been seeking help from the only one he loves: your sister, Luke. Why he is feeling so disillusioned and ashamed, isn't clear to me yet. I want to ask him to tell me more the next time. You can have a look, but be silent and don't disturb him."
"You really have spoken to him?" Luke asked and looked at her in amazement.
Liane nodded.
"Almost from the moment I entered this space craft his remorseful moans filled my mind. I have listened for awhile to those pleas, and I have seen many images of his turbulent adventurous past. I also have seen some beautiful images of his future, but I haven't passed those images to him yet, for he wouldn't believe that those images the Force has shown me, are what he's dreaming of. For the time being I only will help him to ease his mind and feel more comfortable, like I did when I helped you. Luke, I'm absolutely certain that the images the Force has shown me are Han's future. He will be reunited with Leia, but it will take some time to convince him that there is a future with her for him, so I might show him what I have seen. I have offered him my help, and although I felt his skepticism and resistance, I could bring him in a deep healing sleep influenced by the Force. He sleeps now, and that will be a first beginning of his recovery."
Chewbacca, who had impatiently listened to Liane's explanation, jumped to his feet again and rushed over to the medic bay.
"Be quiet, please," Liane sighed. Luke watched her in admiration, recalling his own moment when she had used the Force to ease the painful memories of his past, like once her mother must have been doing in the Jedi temple on Coruscant to ease the mind of wounded men and women from all over the galaxy.
"You'd better take some rest now, Liane. You've been busy for hours. I'll be right back."
He rose and left the flight control room. He went over to the medic bay, where Chewbacca stood near the couch, watching Han's calm regular breathing. The Wookiee released some soft joyful grunts when he saw Luke. Luke looked at Han's face and saw the tremendous change. Liane was right; Han was asleep! Fast asleep it seemed. What would happen next? Would he wake up after this sleep? Luke placed his fingers over Han's face and turned inward. He felt the strong healing influence of the Force which penetrated his friend's body, helping him to start his recovery. For some moments Luke listened to the unheard and unseen messages that reached him through the Force.
"What do you think, Master Luke?" The soft voice of Liane asked him.
Luke took his hand away and turned around.
"Liane, shouldn't you rest?"
She shook her head.
"I will do that later. What do you think, Luke? You're so much stronger with the Force than I am."
All of a sudden Chewbacca wrapped his hairy arms around Liane. He hugged her, lifting her from the ground in his arms, while he grunted his loud gratitude.
"Hush, don't do this. Put me down, please. Let your friend sleep for as long as possible. I understand you want to thank me, but Han needs a lot more of help. Luke, can we come back here, as long as we have to stay on Tatooine due to those galactic storms, maybe even longer?"
"That's no problem, Liane. Chewie has told me, that he intents to find one of their old trading pals here. The guy's family runs a medic center on one of the planets in the core system of Nosanian, but like us Chewie can't lift off at the moment."
Liane frowned and said a bit snappy, "Tell your friend, that Han's problem can't be cured in any medic center as long as Han hasn't find a way to cope with his overpowering feelings of shame, regret and remorse about what has happened between Leia and him. Those all-dominating emotions are blocking the way to his recovery. I can help Han to relax, put his mind at ease, and if he is willing to trust me I can show him the images of his future which the Force has shown me already. It won't do Han any good, if your friend leaves Tatooine after those galactic storms have ceased, as long as Han hasn't regained his consciousness."
Chewbacca grunted a long sentence and wrapped his arm around Liane's shoulder. A bit annoyed she look up.
"What is he saying, Luke?" She asked still frowning.
"Chewie says, that he will stay on Tatooine as long as you are helping Han, Liane. He says, that he feels that your help will do good to Han. He trust you, and agrees with your way of help," Luke answered.
Liane relaxed and looked at the hairy humanoid who seemed to have strong gentle feelings for his friend.
"Luke, maybe we should take Han to our apartment. It would be much easier for me help him there. It's a beautiful place which probably will help Han's recovery."
For a moment Luke considered Liane's proposal, then he shook his head.
"I agree that it's a wonderful place, but I have to object, Liane."
Again Liane looked annoyed, "What's the problem, Luke? Will that humanoid at the office desk object."
"He might, but that's a minor problem. No, I'm objecting against your plan, because Han is connected now to the life support system of the Falcon. Those tubes and vials you have seen, are supporting his metabolism and condition. Besides I also was thinking of you, Liane. Maybe we should reconsider Chewie's original plan, for that isn't as odd as it seems. If we could transport Han to a medical center the medic droids could take better care of his physical condition. I mean, they also could gives better nourishment of some kind."
"But those medic droids won't accept my way of help," Liane protested.
"They can and they will, Liane, with the use of the Force," Luke said smiling, "It's also advantages that those droids will keep an eye on your health too."
"I can take care of myself," Liane snapped.
"You certainly can, but I have seen on Endor that your way to use the Force as a healer is exhausting you. You need food and drinks at regular interval, and you need to take long moments to rest. Those medic droids take care of Han while you take a nap or having a meal."
Again Liane wanted to make a snappy remark, but Luke raised his hand, before she could say anything more.
"Liane, helping the Ewoks nearly put you on the brink of exhaustion. After we landed on Tatooine you almost needed a standard week to recover. Han is a human being. You've never used the Force as a healer before this way. You've just told us, that Han is resisting your way of help. Be reasonable. You know I'm worried about you and the way you are using the Force as a healer."
Liane made an slight attempt to protest, but she considered his words and nodded in agreement.
"I agree, but only if you can convince those medic droids that I only need proper meals and drinks. I don't want to be under any medic surveillance and be controlled by droids day in, day out."
Luke laughed and Chewbacca let out a loud series of howls. Luke laughed louder.
"Chewbacca says, he will handle those medic droids."
Liane gave the Wookiee a slight smile. Luke had been constantly watching Liane during their discussion. He was aware that she was constantly using her Force skills to know if Han was still asleep.
"So I'd better help Han here in this ship and you and your friend are going to inquiry if there is a way to take Han to the Mos Eisley medical center."
"Liane..." Luke hesitated, "There is no medic center in Mos Eisley."
"No medic center. And what about Tatooine's inhabitants, don't they ever need some kind of medical treatment!"
"Of course they do sometimes, but most inhabitants can treat injuries themselves. We are looking for a special equipped medic center with sophisticated medic droids. The nearest planet with the medic center in the Outer Rim region is in Ktafunda in the Palomintar System and you and I certainly shouldn't show up in that system, if you take my meaning."
Luke took Liane back to control room. Chewbacca followed them. After some moments Luke rose and grabbed his cloak.
"Listen. You and Chewbacca stay here in the Falcon with Han. I'm going back to our apartment and get information about all the planets with a well equipped medic center in this part of the galaxy. I'll also check the information about the path of the galactic turbulence and see which of those planets we can reach safely."
Liane nodded. Luke fastened his Jedi cloak and went over to exit of the Millennium Falcon, but he returned, sat himself next to Liane and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes.
"Are you sure you want to help Han your way?" He asked seriously.
"Luke, I've promised Han my help," Liane said determined.
"I understand. May the Force be with you, Liane. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Kalip looked at the incoming message on his display.
"Went into hyperspace about an standard hour ago. Destination: Endor, forest moon. Connection with Quoith is instable. Connection with Basilisæa might fail."
Kalip immediately rose and hurried through the building to Jerno's office. His co-leader was just escorting a delegation of the trade union to the elevator. Kalip made a special gesture with his hand. Jerno nodded.
"I'll escort our visitor back to their ship. I'll be right back."
Kalip entered Jerno's office and walked over the large windows that looked out on the governmental and administrative area of Coruscant which had been restored to its former glory, but Kalip didn't noticed the splendor of the new architecture. His thoughts were occupied with the alarming message he had received via Quoith.
As Jerno came back he silently handed him the data pad with the message.
"Why did the Basilisæa set course to Endor? How much time is needed to reach Endor through hyperspace from the Urervik cluster?" Jerno asked.
"And why did admiral Vestor leave his position in the Outer Rim?" Kalip commented.
"Probably by persuasion of the person admiral Vestor has welcomed on board the Basilisæa?" Jerno mused, reading the alarming message once again.
"If our former admiral Trevor Matrik is residing on Palomintar Four and if it is him who boarded the Basilisæa, then why has admiral Vestor neglected his duties as an officer. He is fully aware of admiral Matrik's desertion. If that person is indeed admiral Trevor Matrik, admiral Vestor should have arrested him the moment he set foot on board the Basilisæa and put him in detention." Kalip said.
"One thing is clear, the persons knows that the daughter of Darth Vader has been spotted on Endor. Olon Dendicott raided the planet, but got caught. Could Rand Phylotar have set up another plan to capture the woman. Our agent on the Basilisæa has mentioned the landing of a space craft which left the planet after a few hours. If Rand Phylotar has discussed a plan with our former admiral on this first visit, then it is likely that after the failure of the second attempt to capture the woman admiral Trevor Matrik probably has held Rand Phylotar accountable. Remember that our agent on Wegoyy has reported that Rand Phylotar's space ship suddenly left Tropass space port. We have to contact Irithim and ask our New Republic contact if Rand Phylotar's ship has been intercepted after our recent warning. However it now looks like that admiral Matrik has made a bold plan to go to Endor and bring the woman to Palomintar Four himself. Question is: what did he tell admiral Vestor to persuade him to make use of the Basilisæa. When will our star destroyer enter Endor's orbit?"
While they were discussing the new situation, Kalip had done some calculations about the possible time of arrival.
"If I fed the right information in our computer system, the Basilisæa will reach Endor in about four days. That will leave us enough time to get information from Irithim about the situation on Endor. Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and the daughter of Darth Vader haven't arrived on De'olon space port yet, otherwise we would have gotten that info from our agents at Irithim. So he still might be on Endor guarding the daughter of Darth Vader."
"We better contact Irithim immediately. They probably have some answers to our questions."
Jerno immediately ask a procon contact with the New Republic agent at Irithim. The connection activated fast and at the holo display the figure of their contact appeared.
"Yes, admiral?" The figure asked.
Quickly Jerno explained what he has heard from the Basilisæa and the assumptions Kalip and he had made about the aim of the Basilisæa's unexpected travel to Endor."
The holo image listened carefully and nodded about Jerno's concern.
"Admiral, thank you for contacting us. After your recent warning we have intercepted a space ship as it was nearing Wegoyy. The pilot has been arrested and brought to Irithim for further questioning. The Basilisæa is the concern of the Provisional Coruscant Council. The New Republic has no jurisdiction to intercept your star destroyer and question its commander. I will inform Endor space port that your star destroyer might go into orbit around the planet. I also will inform the Supreme Chancellor about the situation. I can assure you that we won't take this lightly. Endor is a member of the New Republic as you know. I suggest that you contact your star destroyer commander immediately and require a full update on the situation. "
"We certainly will do as you suggested and we're aware the responsibility for this new situation is ours, but could you confirm if Jedi Skywalker and miss Solichor have arrived on Dalmaran yet?"
"He hasn't, sir. His sister princess Leia Organa and her padawan had gotten permission from the Supreme Chancellor to visit the Ewoks. She has gone to Endor a few days ago and probably have reached the forest moon by now."
"Can you contact the princess of Alderaan and inform her about the arrival of the Basilisæa. She is a member of the High Council and your Supreme Chancellor's personal advisor, isn't she? Maybe she could get a temporary mandate to order the commander to leave."
"I certainly would love to do that, admiral, but I can only leave the commander at the space the info I got from you. There is no possibility to transmit a message to the Ewoks village"
"We would be obliged if you could inform someone who might know how to get to her, although we aren't sure that she might be able to change to situation."
The holo graphic image nodded.
"I surely will inform Endor space port and leave a message for the princess of Alderaan. If the message will reach her in time she certainly will know what to do."
"Thank your, sir, we will do our part and contact the commander of the Basilisæa as soon as possible"
The connection broke off. Jerno and Kalip looked at each other with concerned faces.
"Valann has already remarked that admiral Vestor is a very ambitious man, as did our man when he arrived on board. Kalip, see if you can establish a connection with admiral Vestor immediately. We need to know why he has left his mission at the Urervik cluster and order him to return to the Outer Rim at once."
Using the dense undergrowth of the Endor forest to protect themselves against another confrontation with their attackers Leia and Ian returned to the Endor space port. As they were nearing the perimeter of the Endor space port, Ian steered the speeder among the lower bushes and shrubbery, and followed the fence to reach the space port main entrance. Still cautious, they kept hidden between the dense foliage, watching the hustle and bustle of the space port for a while. They enhanced their senses, using the Force, to become more aware of their environment.
Albeit Endor space port seemed a rather small port which was mainly used for for trading local products, there seemed to be some other activities too, for they noticed the landing of a very modern space shuttle which touched down in front of the space port's office buildings, in stead of using one of the docking bay that surrounded the space port.
Amazed Ian parked the space shuttle under a twisted knot of large thorny branches which grew around one of the enormous Endor trees. They jump on its lower branches which gave a wide overview of the space port. Ian had grabbed his microbinoculars
"That shuttle has covered its identification markings, that's odd. Have a look, master," he said and handed Leia his binoculars.
Leia zoomed in on the shuttle. No movement was visible around the shuttle yet. The crew inside hadn't left the ship to report to the space port officials to give a reason for the odd landing spot, but Leia noticed that the ramp was slowly lowering, although still nobody was walking down to the platform.
"This is really odd, Ian," she said aloud, "it's a normal for any landing space ship to ask permission to land in one of the docking bays, otherwise the space port officials may deny the landing."
All of a sudden a strange figure appeared on the ramp. The cowl of his long dark cloak had been folded backwards. Leia zoomed in again and uttered a soft cry of surprise. She looked at her padawan. Ian's facial expression had become tense.
"Who is that=?" He whispered, "Master, why he isn't part of the Living Force. He is there, I see him, but I can't feel his presence through the Force. Everything else I can feel, even the shuttle, but not him."
Leia took a powerful holographic camera from her belt. She set it to maximum zoom and quickly took some images.
"That is our man, the one you have seen in your Force vision, Ian. The one who probably has attempted to kidnap Liane twice," She said.
"What do you mean?" Her padawan said nervously.
"Have a look at these images. I took several pictures of him using the highest possible magnification. Compare these with the drawing you made of the man you've seen in your Force vision."
Leia turned the display to him. Ian backed off.
"You're right, master. It is him! This is Darth Golluth. I have seen this man in that nigh... Force vision as you call it," Ian stared at the sharp outlined face.
Leia nodded and frowned, For a moment she was silent.
"Ian, if he has come to Endor himself, some one must have informed him that Liane has found a place to live on Endor." She mused.
"Commander Dendicott, or Rand Phylotar, master?" Ian suggested.
"They still are both in detention in Irithim. At least they should be, together with Rand's brother Daino," Leia answered.
"So it's this guy who has send those men we've met on our way to the Ewok village?"
"He probably has his spies who keeps him informed. Whoever has told him about Liane's whereabouts, I certainly didn't expect him to show up here personally. This very odd behavior, Ian. This could mean that he desperately is looking for the knowledge Liane has learned from my father. And you're right, my young padawan, the Force has shown us a strange phenomenon, for we can't feel his presence through the Force. It looks like he doesn't exist for the Living Force, as he isn't part of it."
"Is a Sith Lord able to make himself invisible to the Living Force?" Ian asked and shivered.
"I don't know, Ian. There aren't any tremors in the Force around him. We have to ask my brother, but I think, that Darth Golluth isn't a Sith lord at all. I remember that Luke could feel his father's presence on board the Executor while we were trying to reach Endor unnoticed. A real Sith reveals his presence through the Force too. Come on, I want to know who has been the commander of that shuttle. We'll enter the space port from the rear, before he might become aware of us."
"Can he sense our presence, master?" Ian asked
"I'm not sure. This is very odd, so we have to act very cautiously."
They jumped down and returned to the speeder. Ian started the engine and drove to one of the entrances at the rear of the space port. Leia had already activated her infocom and contacted the space flight tower.
"This is Leia Organa I want to speak to Ramon Lengko, the commander of Endor space port?"
There was a static noise for some moments, but then the holographic image of Ramon Lengko appeared.
"Your Highness, I'm very glad you're contacting us. I've got message from master Tyloban that we might expect the arrival of the Imperial Star Destroyer Basilisæa in Endor's orbit. He asked me to warn you as soon as possible. A shuttle landed without permission. It didn't state its identification and it comes from Basilisæa. The imperial destroyer went indeed into orbit around Endor some ten hours ago. The shuttle is under command of admiral Vestor who also commands that star destroyer. The commander, the pilot and an unknown passenger are the only passengers. The commander has refused to give me the name of the unknown passenger."
"What does the admiral want? Did master Tyloban send you an acknowledgement from Irithim with permission for landing?" Leia asked sharply.
"No, your highness. Master Tyloban's was a warning, not an permit to grant a landing. Admiral Vestor has asked me permission to do some fast investigations in the Endor forest near the Ewok village."
"This planet is part of the federation of the New Republic. If Imperials set foot on it without the explicit permission of the Supreme Chancellor. The Basilisæa violates the treaty between the New Republic and the Provisionary Coruscant Council," Leia said, "Commander Lengko, I want to talk to Admiral Vestor personally. Tell him to report at your command center at once. Raman, can you record my meeting with admiral Vestor?"
"Most certainly, Your Highness," Ramon Lengko said.
Leia broke the connection. Ian looked at her.
"Master, the admiral will recognize you as a Jedi."
Leia shook her head.
"We're going to change clothes. Put on your uniform, Ian. You will escort me as my driver. Our ship is docked in that hidden bay to the left. I'm going to call Mon Mothma. Sorjon Tyloban surely already has informed her by now. "
Ian drove to the docking bay where Leia's private shuttle stood. Leia rushed inside and switched on the holographic infocom of her ship. She made a few attempts to reach Irithim, but there wasn't any answer forthcoming, then she reached out to the Force to Wedge Antilles.
'Leia, what's wrong?'
'Where are you, Wedge?'
'Mon Mothma has sent Yarmod and me on a mission to Lumeara. Where are you'
'On Endor. I've just got a message from Sorjon Tyloban. He has informed the commander of Endor space port about the unexpected arrival of the Imperial star destroyer Basilisæa in Endor's orbit.'
'Is Luke with you?'
"No, he has left Endor some time ago'
'I can't come to Endor, Leia, there a meeting with the Lumearean leaders at hand, but I can warn general Madine. Maybe he can give you support, or contact you via procon.'
'That will take too long, Wedge. I will address the admiral as a member of the Royal House of Alderaan and a member of the High Council. I will order admiral Vestor to leave Endor's orbit at once.' She said.
'I'll warn Irithim after the meeting.'
Their Force connection vanished.
"Could you reach master Antilles on Irithim, master?" Ian asked concerned.
"He and Yarmod are on Lumeara. He will warn the Supreme Chancellor as soon as possible. Ian, we have to avoid that that strange person starts looking for the Ewok village. If he will use some Sith power to extract information about my brother and Liane, the Ewoks won't be able to resist him. I don't know how powerful he is. Our little friends have to be protected. Do as I told you. As soon as I have settled this matter, we will leave."
Several moments later Leia returned from her private cabin in her official ceremonial dress, wearing the the full distinctions and decorations of the Royal House of Alderaan. Ian had changed his padawan outfit for his uniform of a staff sergeant
They both left the shuttle and Ian drove Leia to the command center.
"Do you expect the Basilisæa to invade Endor?"
"They wouldn't dare. That would be an act of war. "
"Be careful, master. May the Force be with you."
"Thank you, Ian. May the Force be with you. Stay with the speeder. This won't take long."
When she entered the control room the admiral of the Basilisæa whirled around. Leia sensed his confusion about her sudden arrival.
"I didn't know you where here, Your Highness."
"Your presence here, admiral, is an infringement. Endor is a member of the New Republic. I order you to leave at once," She said icily and quickly continued," Your shuttle landed without permission of the Endor officials and doesn't carry a proper identification. What's your business here?"
Admiral Vestor looked at Leia with grin.
"I could ask you the same, your Highness," He said
Leia stood her ground and shot back.
"As a member of the High Council I can visit any planet which is a member of the New Republic's Senate. Admiral, I'm denying your permission to whatever business you had in mind on Endor."
"Your Highness, we only want to do some minor investigation."
"Your men. The one who doesn't have stated his name. Who is he?" Leia asked haughtily.
Suddenly Commander Lengko walked into the room.
"Your Royal Highness, The New Republic frigate is approaching Endor. General Madine want to talk to you."
"Thank you, commander Lengko," Leia answered keeping her official composure, "Could you tell the general to log the position of the imperial star destroyer Basilisæa and transmit the ship's position to Dalmaran. Could you also ask master Tyloban to inform grand admiral Jerno Thai and his co-leaders that the commander of the Basilisæa is trespassing Endor's orbit "
"Your Highness, why are you issuing a formal complaint immediately. Couldn't we discuss this just among the two of us," Admiral Vestor said, sounding a bit nervous
"Leave, admiral, immediately. Your presence her is forbidden. I have to report that," Leia said with a demanding voice.
"I want to talk to my ship," Admiral Vestor snapped, "If they can't confirm the approach of the Tychorion you're bluffing."
The large screen on the opposite wall flickered and Leia saw the command center on the Basilisæa.
"Report the approach of the New Republic's Tychorion, officer," Vestor snapped.
"Nothing to report, sir, but we intercepted an official encrypted order from the ground staff on Endor that no ships are allowed to land or leave Endor. Our communication officer has cracked the code and it seems that the Tychorion indeed is approaching Endor. Could it be, sir, that the Tychorion is using the new technology of cloaked traveling. I guess, ..."
Leia chuckled imperceptibly, but kept her regal composure. Raman Lengko was supporting her action.
"I'm not interested in guesses, officer. Prepare to move the Basilisæa out of orbit the moment the shuttle is back onboard," Vestor snapped.
He turned to Leia.
"I will leave, just as you wanted of me, your Highness. I'm not looking for a confrontation with the New Republic."
The admiral left the building and Leia saw him walking over to shuttle.
"Can you open the frequency with the Basilisæa, Ramon. I want to hear what is being said on board that ship, " She said.
Together with some of commander Lengko's trusted men they tracked the conversation between the shuttle and the officer in command on board of the Basilisæa. Leia saw the shuttle hover and vanish into space. Some minutes later they heard the confirmation of the shuttle's arrival in one of the Basilisæa's docking bays.
"The Basilisæa has started her sublight engines, commander," the officer on duty reported. He looked at the screen, "One, two, ... yes, she's gone into hyperspace."
Leia walked over to commander Lengko.
"Thank you for your excellent support, Raman," She said, sighing relieved, but also grinning.
"You're also still excellent in showing your strength and prerogatives, Your Highness. This time he left, but what about if he will come back?" Raman Lengko answered.
"He won't, Ramon. If I'm right, then the message you got from master Tyloban has been communicated with him via Coruscant. I'll warn Irithim about a group of twelve men who has arrived on Endor while commodore Skywalker was carrying out a mission here? "
"I can't recall the arrival of another group of men, Your Highness. Do you know what kind of business they had?"
"They have trespassed the entrance of the Ewok village, Raman. The Ewok leader told me that they have captured the twelve men. When my staff officer and me visited the Ewoks, we were attacked by a group of four."
"They must have landed somewhere in the forest area. Traffic control can't cover all incoming and outgoing ships yet, Your Highness. We're working on it and the system has already improved much, but there are glitches and dark patches. For instance the forest around the Ewok-villages is difficult to spot."
"Those reinforcements I have asked for, Raman, have to help your men to capture the remaining rogues and put them on transport to Dalmaran."
"We certainly will do. Thank you, Your Highness."
"I want to leave immediately."
"You're all clear. You can take off whenever you want."
Leia wanted to leave, but she turned back.
"Raman, can I have a look at your logs? I want to check the readouts of the ID-cards on the day my brother left."
Raman Lengko went to a console and typed his entrance code.
"Go ahead, Your Highness. If I may ask, what are you looking for?"
"I want to make sure, if my brother really has left Endor alone, as you told me. I'm almost certain that he has taken some one with him."
"I know commodore Skywalker had a special warrant to escort a person by the name of Solichor. He has to bring her to Dalmaran, but when he left, he didn't report to me that he was taking some one with that name with him. I would have known, for he would have needed permission to take some one without an ID-card on board his space ship."
"That's right, Raman. Let me see. Yes, here's my brother entering the platform and here... Thank you, Raman, that's what I need to know," She looked up. "My brother has indeed left Endor, and he has taken my foster-sister with him."
Raman Lengko looked puzzled, but he was so wise not to ask any further questions.
Leia left the command center, went over to her padawan who drove her to the shuttle
"Make her ready for take off,Ian," she said, when they entered the ship. "We're going back to Dalmaran ."
Some twenty minutes later the shuttle with crescent of Alderaan went into hyperspace and headed back to Irithim.