Chapter 29

"Yes, Your Highness, this must be the person you're looking for, Trevor Matrik, former admiral of the Imperial fleet. After the Battle of Endor and the collapse of the empire admiral Matrik has left Coruscant unexpectedly, although he had been assigned to the group of high-ranking officials who would negotiate with the Alliance about the cease fire and the truce. After the Battle of Jakku nothing has been heard of him. Read the data, we've collected, and look at the picture, Your Highness. We can't be mistaken."

"Thank you, officer. Your research has been a great help. I'll will activate a download to my info system." Leia answered politely.

"You're welcome, Your Highness," the Quoith computer scientist said.

Leia connected a datapad to the info system at her desk and downloaded the different files the Quoith computer expert was transmitting. As she quickly scanned a few files, she handed the datapad to Ian Tydon.

"Look at this picture, Ian. It's not a recent one, but we can be sure now, that admiral Trevor Matrik and Darth Golluth are one and the same person. Yet, we have to do further investigation and collect as many evidence about him and his whereabouts after he has left Coruscant."

Ian looked at the image of a high-ranking officer in an spotless imperial uniform. The haughty and arrogant gaze of the admiral's face showed his deep-rooted aversion to subordinates and ordinary soldiers. It showed the face of an ambitious man who would not shy away from eliminating opponents. His face clearly reminded Ian of commander Dendicott and his rigid regime in the Wegoyy prison.

"Surprised, my young padawan?" Leia asked, looking at her companion, "You were comparing him with commander Dendicott, weren't you?"

"I see similarities, master," Ian said, "but I need more knowledge to be sure if my judgment is correct."

Leia smiled, "You are, my young padawan. Commander Olon Dendicott and the Phylotar brothers once served under admiral Matrik. Please, read on. This data provides us with a lot more information about Liane's adversary.

"This is really incredible, master. Here is some evidence about his assignment on the Coruscantæa. Darth Golluth was once the admiral and commander of that ship, but the Alliance has destroyed it one of the battles after the empire had collapsed."

"His assignment came to late. He probably never served on that destroyer, Ian, because the Coruscantæa was destroyed six months after the Battle of Endor, "Leia said.

"Look here, master," Ian said, looking more and more amazed. "The admiral got his rank from the emperor personally, after a secret meeting him. Isn't that strange? During my education at the Academy, I was told, that the assignment of a promotion is the privilege of the group of highest officers in the space fleet, after consultation with the government."

"During the empire, there wasn't any government, Ian. The emperor's reign was based on oppression and fear. The Senate had been dissolved, and the military staff showed only loyalty to the emperor."

"Could it be possible, master, that the emperor has initiated the admiral as a Sith Lord? You told me it takes years to master the dark side."

"That's right, Ian, but Trevor Matrik started his career at the Imperial Academy at the age of fourteen. He was a brilliant, but very ambitious, young cadet. Already at the beginning of his education at the Imperial Academy he was selected to fulfill a place in a selected group of talented young officers. They got a very special training on Coruscant where the Emperor has personally overseen their progress and training."

"The Emperor was building a special force of Sith Lords, but I've read that there could only be two Siths at the time: a master and an apprentice. By that time emperor Palpatine was master and Darth Vader was his apprentice."

"That's right, but the group of young officers didn't get any knowledge of the Sith. They were trained to be the emperor's guards. They got a special name: the praetorian guards, and were dressed in long crimson robes and masks. They were trained to protect the emperor against assassination, and could wield any weapon needed. Most of the praetorian guards had developed some sensitivity to the Force at a young age and made use that power.

"So, admiral Matrik is sensitive to the Force, too?"

"He is, Ian, and we have to find out the extent of his Force sensivity, and his possible knowledge of the Dark Side."

"Listen, master. This record says the admiral got his promotion at the age of twenty-two. That's hardly unbelievable."

"Yes, and it all happened shortly after he had been selected to join the emperor's praetorian guards. Let's go to Coruscant. We have to check his complete records which are stored in the imperial archive at Coruscant."

"Isn't that data classified, or inaccessible, master?"

"Not for members of the New Republic's government or members of the High Council. We go back to De'olon space port now. The sooner we have a full record of admiral Trevor Matrik the better we will be able to see through his plans with Liane."

Not long after their conversation the senatorial space ship Alderaan, bearing the crescent of the former Royal House of Alderaan, took off from Dalmaran and made the jump into hyperspace, setting course to Coruscant.

Myydkr, the smuggler's moon near the Kessel Trade Route, was covered with dense clouds most of the time. The weather on the moon was often damp and moist, like a giant swamp. Little droplets covered the hairy body of Chewbacca and Luke felt a constant drizzle on his face. They were heading for Pogyy, the only colony and self-appointed capital of the moon. The city lights were shimmering through the mist in front of them.

Luke was had changed his Jedi clothes for the outfit of a space trader.

"Let's hope, we find a astromech droid fast," He said to Chewbacca.

The large Wookiee grunted a confirming answer.

Luke thought that it would have been advantageous, if he had taken his droid friend Artoo with him after he had left Dalmaran some six months ago.

Slowly they plodded on through the drizzling fog. The lights of the outskirts of Pogyy were already visible through a curtain mist and drizzle. Although night hadn't fallen yet, daylight was already fading. The road was deteriorated and full with rocks, stones and pot-holes; its surface once had been paved, but now it was muddy and slippery.

Finally they reached the first small houses, not more than shacks with only a small front door. They hurried along what seems to be the main street to the city center. Some street lights, scattered all over the place, cast tiny yellow dots on the muddy road.

'What a place,' Luke thought, 'I hope Liane and Han are safe on that junk yard.'

They had left the Millennium Falcon in the neighborhood of an enormous junk yard, after landing the ship behind some natural formed rock formations. Before they had left, Luke had instructed Liane not to leave the ship and use the Jedi-pendant in case of emergency. They had secured the ramp and Luke had noticed that Liane immediately had switched off all the ship's landing lights. Still Luke had an unpleasant feeling about it.

Now that Chewbacca and he neared the city center the buildings and the traffic density grew. They left the main road and entered the smaller back streets and alleys, where the dark and shady bars and shops were standing on top of each other.

Chewbacca grabbed Luke's arm and pointed to one of the doors. Luke nodded.

"Is that the place, Chewie? I hope that your friend Candaluwwa still has that astromech."

Chewbacca readied his cross bow and Luke put his blaster within reach. They pushed the door and entered. A tall Wookiee whirled around aiming his blaster at them, but he held back when he saw his customers.

"Chewbacca!" He grunted in Shyriiwook.

Luke's companion grunted a social answer and pointed at Luke. A long conversation of grunts, howls and grumbling in Shyriiwook followed. Partially Luke understood that Chewie was explaining their situation. The hairy shop owner Candaluwwa was listening and grunted answers in agreement, then he took them both to the back yard of his shop. There he pointed out that he had to leave them for a while.

Luke waited patiently for Chewbacca to explain what his fellow Wookiee had said. When Chewbacca had finished part of his tale Luke sighed.

"Bad luck, that he has sold the astromech. What are we going to do now?"

Chewbacca grumbled an answer.

"He can help us to find a temporary solution. Is that what you're saying?"

The Wookiee nodded.

"Alright than we'll wait until he returns." Luke said, feeling a bit less depressed.

He sat down on a crate and turned inside, reaching out through the Force to try and contact Liane somehow.

'Liane, we have found help. Are you alright? Don't leave the ship.'

He reached out to send this reassuring thoughts. Then he felt a clear disturbance through the Force.

'Luke, is that you?' He heard Liane say, 'I'm alright. Like you told me I've switched off all the lights. I have a small green emergency light in the alcove. I don't need more.'

He felt how she reached out to him with Jedi telepathy. He grinned.

'Alright, Liane. Well, done. Keep in touch with me this way if you need help.'

Chewbacca pushed his elbow and Luke opened his eyes. Candaluwwa, the shop owner stood in front of them. He held out a small device and grunted an answer. Chewbacca repeated the answer, so Luke understood what the Wookiee was saying.

"It's better than nothing. I hope we can replace the ship's memory bank temporarily with this one and have the navi computer back on. What's the price?"

Chewbacca addressed his fellow Wookiee. Candaluwwa grunted a short answer. Luke started to grin.

"Tell him that's a fair price."

He grabbed several notes and coins from his belt and handed them to the shop owner.

"Thank you, Candaluwwa, for your help. We'll owe you."

The Wookiee looked surprised and grunted a long sentence to Chewbacca. Luke's companion growled back and shook his head. Luke nodded.

"That's right, Chewie. We have no time to bargain. We'll take it. Let's get back to the ship. Thanks again, Candaluwwa, may the Force be with you."

Still surprised the Wookiee accompanied them to the door of his shop. He seemed a bit embarrassed by Luke's refusal to negotiate and bargain about the price of the memory bank. At the door he beckoned them to wait and rushed back to the yard. Some moment later he came back with a small worn out looking repair droid. He pushed it in Luke's hands.

"Thank you," Luke said, "this droid will be a great extra help. I'm sure our repair will be easier. When we have finished the job we'll bring it back."

Candaluwwa frantically shook his head. Chewbacca grunted to Luke.

"We can keep it and we can bring it back when it suits us. Very well, I won't forget this. Thanks for your help."

They left the shop and went back to the Millenium Falcon.

On board the Millennium Falcon Liane sat in deep concentration in the small medic bay. Again she saw the beautiful images of Han and Leia's wedding. A warm smile enlightened her face, for those images gave her a happy feeling too. Gently she pressed her thumbs on Han's forehead and made small outward rotations. Han's face was relaxed, a faint smile curved his lips. Liane felt that Han was absorbing the images she passed on to him, in his mind

'Hi, Eilidh, she looks so beautiful in that dress, don't you agree?' He asked, being used to Liane's presence in his mind.

'She is, and she wants you to come back to her, take make this happen. How do you feel?' Liane responded.

'Much better, I wished ... '

Han silenced.

'What, Han? Tell me. You know you can trust me.'

'Your words are so full of happiness, Eilidh, but if I look at these wonderful images, I'm feeling so ashamed again. Ashamed and sad. What I see, can't be my future, can it?'

'Why not? What is making you feel ashamed, Han?'

'I've told you. I have been rude and very unkind to her. It can't be that Leia wants me to come back, after what I said to her. '

Liane now felt his great remorse again. It made him restless and uncertain. She began to feel restless too.

'Eilidh, are you still with me?'

'Of course, what's troubling you, Han?' Liane said reassuringly.

'Can you help me to get out of this dark maze? I'd wish I knew how I came here. This darkness is so depressing. I feel like a being blind man, running around in a void. How did you come here?'

'You called out to Leia, Han. I heard your pleas to her.'

A long silence followed. Then Liane suddenly noticed that some tears slipped from under Han's eyelashes. He was crying soundlessly. Now she began to feel the extent of the enormous loneliness he was carrying with him.

'Why don't you share with me what happened between Leia and you, Han,' She whispered, 'Please do. Share that painful moment with me.'

She felt how tears were welling up in her eyes too. His sadness was so overwhelming that she too couldn't hold back her tears any longer. With a convulsive cry Han started to sob in agony.

'LEIA!!'

Liane's mind began to absorb Han's pain and she had to reached out to the Force to keep her composure.

'Share with me what has happened, Han,' She whispered again, 'Don't try to find a solution on your own. Share the sadness you feel with me.'

They were both crying now. Han's body was shaking under the convulsive sobs.

'LEIA!!'

Liane bent over and some tears dripped on his face.

'Share that painful moment with me. Let me feel what you feel. Share what you're thinking now with me, Han, share them now' Liane whispered, while she gently was pushing and penetrating in Han's thoughts, so that he would share with her his feelings of shame and she would be a part of his pain.

She had steady herself on her stool, when a huge flow of emotions started to engulf her and a whirl of Han's memories poured into her mind, like a flood breaking through a dam.

'Now I feel what you're going through now, Han,' She whispered, restraining her tears.

Han's memories filled her mind and she recognized Leia, Luke's sister, in a white battle suit. Leia was bickering with Han and denying her feelings for him. She heard Han's cynical response. In fast flow of images Liane saw how Han's and Leia's lives intertwined and how their feelings for each other became mutual. She was back on Endor, and recognized the village where she had lived for more than a year, but now a battle was raging on. Strange walking vehicles were destroying the beautiful trees with laser blasts. Then there was a huge party and Han held Leia in his arms and Liane felt his tremendous happiness. But once again the images changed and she heard him being rude and abusive to Leia who was begging to be let in. Han's pain became almost unbearable now. For a moment she had to release him. Leaning against back the wall of the medic bay she tried to regain her composure. She felt shaken and still heard Han's harsh words. His crude and abusive remarks about her Jedi training had hurt Leia much, because Liane had seen that Leia had started to cry, had fallen to her knees, and had begged Han to listen. After a few minutes she calmed herself and looked down at Han's wet face. She dried his tears with her sleeve. Tenderly and with compassion she placed her hands over his face again. She let the Force bring her back to the place in his mind.

Eilidh, why are you crying to? It was so wrong, what I said to Leia, and now I have made you feel sad too,' She heard him say.

'Han, I'm alright. Relax and stop recalling these painful memories over and over again. It all happened in your past, and the past can't be undone. You must look at your future now. Recall the images of Leia's beautiful wedding dress, for that is what your future will be. You will be together with Leia again, Han. You've seen it, I've shown you those images. Clear your mind and look at the images I've shown you. Relax, let no sadness, no regret, nor remorse disturb your thoughts again. Soon Leia will be with you. I'll stay with you until you have found her. Relax... Clear ... your... mind... Relax... Clear... your... mind. You're... feeling... better.'

She released her hands and saw the slow up and down movement of Han's breast. Again she had brought him into a Force healing sleep. Without a sound she rose and stumbled through the dark passageway, to reach the flight control room. The darkness around her felt depressing. She sank on the floor against one of the couches and buried her face in the cushions. In her mind the images of Han's most painful memory was still whirling through her mind, disturbing her emotional balance. Again the tears started to stream down her face and she whispered, 'LUKE!!'

She grabbed the Jedi-pendant and tried to reach him through the power of his gift, but she felt too miserable and too shaken to concentrate. The flight control room seemed to roll and rotate, and the darkness of the room around her became an impenetrable blackness, as she slipped on the floor and lost her consciousness.