Chapter 45

"Luke, I've been visiting Ian in the cabin on Palomintar Six. I've used my healing powers, so he could relax and use the Force to start his own healing process."

When she looked up Luke was sitting next to her.

'That's unbelievable news, my dearest friend. I hope that Leia and I will soon sense his presence. We have been scanning a large area covered with forest. I hope we will find that domed cabin you mentioned earlier. How did you know about the healing powers every Jedi possesses?'

"Severini told me. My mother was with me all the time, Luke. I felt her presence while I helped Ian. She told me, you had taught Ian the way to use those healing powers every Jedi has."

'This is awesome, my dearest friend.' Luke said with admiration.

"I could feel that he was in a lot of pain, Luke. He will recover, won't he?" Liane asked with some uncertainty in her voice.

'I'm sure he will. We will find him soon. I want to tell Leia, for she's very worried about Ian.'

"I understand, Luke. May the Force be with you and Leia."

Liane saw how the apparition of her friend disappeared. Had she really done something awesome, as he said? She rose and walked back to the living. The transparisteel door slid aside when she approached. Deep in thoughts she sat down at the large table and followed the lines of the inlays with her finger. She has heard her mother's voice talked with her. She had felt the Force's power with which Severini had surrounded her. It had felt so wonderful and so exciting. Suddenly Liane started to smile serenely. She felt pleased with the strange experience.

'Ian Tydon, why are your thoughts dwelling on my daughter. You'd better concentrate on the Force to start your healing process,' A soft voice whispered.

"Your daughter?" Ian murmured half aloud in his sleep. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

'I'm here to complete what my daughter has started,' The soft voice continued. Ian heard it was a melodious, friendly woman's voice.

"Who are you?" He asked again.

A soft pleasant laugh sounded in his mind.'Don't you know who I am, Ian.'

Ian Tydon was silent for several moments, then he murmured.

"You just said I was thinking about Liane, you called her your daughter, then you must be Severini, Liane's mother. Liane told me your name. It's on her new ID-card, and she is very happy to know the name of her mother."

'Good guess, Ian. Yes, I am Severini Solichor, and Liane is my daughter.'

"Why are you disturbing my sleep?" Ian asked still skeptically.

'To help you with the rest of your recovery. Don't you think you have done something very foolishly, Ian Tydon, running into that burning house. A Jedi has better ways to rescue lives without putting himself in to danger.'

"Toallin and Mugin have become my friends. I had to safe them. How should I have known they weren't inside?"

'How does a Jedi sense life forms?' Severini asked sternly.

"Master Luke taught me, that all life forms sends vibra... ," Ian stopped in mid sentence and felt embarrassed.

'Correct. Every life form sends vibrations through the Living Force. A Jedi feels those vibrations if he has a peaceful mind. A Jedi reaches out to the Force and asks her for any information he needs. If you had done what Luke Skywalker has taught you, you would have known that your friends weren't inside that burning house. You have paid a heavy price for your reckless and thoughtless behavior. You nearly lost your life.'

"But I will overcome my injuries, Severini. Thanks to Liane's special powers. I feel less pain since she was here," Ian murmured ashamed, "She is such a wonderful girl. Ever since I have seen that frightening vision on Dalmaran, I am afraid that something terrible will happen to her, that someone will exploit what her old knowledge and seduce her to the Dark Side?"

'You shouldn't reflect on those feelings too much, Ian. What have you learned about fear and uncontrolled emotions. Fear leads to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger for her tormentor. Anger leads to hate. Feeling hatred you're walking down the path of the Dark Side. It is to your advantage that you want to protect my daughter against her adversary, but you cannot pave that way for her. Liane has to find her own way along the Jedi path.'

"You mean, she has to find out how to improve her healing powers?" Ian asked surprised.

'Liane has to discover her Jedi skills in her own way, Ian, but you could give her some support along that path,' Severini said.

"Severini, Liane has to find her own way along the Jedi path, but you want me to support her? She has a better teacher to tell her about the ways of the Jedi."

'My daughter is still struggling with the true intentions of Luke Skywalker. She still thinks he wants her to become a Jedi Knight, because he has promised his father Anakin to train her as a Jedi Knight.'

"I know, Severini, and I don't really understand Liane's point of view. Master Luke simply wants her to forget the things his father has taught her."

'That's right, Ian, but Luke Skywalker has a more important reason, why he wants her to follow the Jedi path. Many generations ago the Force has forced a strong eternal bond between Liane and Luke. They are eternal luminous beings and have been Jedi Knights, even Jedi masters, before. Not so long ago Luke had told her about their eternal bond, and although Liane has accepted her bond with Luke, that doesn't mean she is willing to accept him as her Jedi master.'

"They have been Jedi Knights before? Liane and master Luke, they... eternal luminous beings ... I don 't understand! Severini, does that mean that Liane won't marry me?"

'Ian Tydon, I know you have been dreaming about a marriage with with my daughter, that's is why your thoughts shouldn't dwell too much on her. You love my daughter, and I'm glad you do, but you can't take Luke's place in Liane's life.'

"Why are you telling me this?" Ian murmured disappointed and in his sleep he shook his head. He felt a lump in his throat and had to swallow hard to regain his composure.

"I'm sure Liane also loves me. I don't want to give up the future I have been dreaming of," The young padawan murmured stubbornly.

'Ian, listen to me. Listen carefully. I'm very grateful for what you have done for her on Wegoyy, and it makes me very happy that you have become very good friends indeed. The relationship between you and my daughter is very strong. Remember you've heard her voice when she tried to reach Leia and again the two of you reached out to each other through the Force here on Palomintar. Because of your friendship for my daughter, you can be the one to help her find her way along the Jedi path. The friendship between the two of you is exceptional, but it's different from her bond with Luke Skywalker. Liane trusts your judgment without questioning. Remember what you told to her on Endor. She didn't argue when you and Yarmod told her about her Force powers as a healer.

"You mean, she sees me as ... an advi... no, as a kind of older brother, while she sees Luke as someone who is more demanding, like her foster-father Darth Va ... Anakin Skywalker has been," Ian said astonished. He heard the warm laugh again.

'Exactly, you are developing a good insight, young padawan. After all Luke is Anakin's son, and Liane has compared Luke's behavior with that of her foster-father more than once."

"That's unjustifiable, Severini. Master Luke cares more about her than I probably do," Ian commented. 'You and Luke Skywalker both care about my daughter, but in different ways, Ian. You're playing a different role in Liane's life than Luke Skywalker does, but your influence is also a very important one. Now, Ian, become silent and let me help you to complete with your full recovery, so you will be able to contact Luke or Leia, who are looking for you at the moment. They are very concerned about you.'

Ian felt a warm glow pass through him. The glow spread through his body and seemed to radiate from a core deep inside him to all parts of his body.

'Very good, Ian. Concentrate on what you're feeling now. You've found the spot from where every Jedi can start his own healing process. I'm going to help you to keep the concentration you need. '

"This feels the same as Liane let me experience last evening, only stronger, so much stronger."

Ian heard the soft pleasant laugh again.

'I was once a Jedi healer in the Jedi temple on Coruscant. Liane has inherited my healing powers. Last evening I helped her to start your healing process. I could have done that myself, but I wasn't sure if you would trust me. Keep your concentration. I'll bring you to what the Jedi know as the Garden of Force Healing. Seek a place there where you feel comfortable and stay there as long as you want. I'm staying with you, but you should clear your mind of questions now. Relax, Ian, and heal yourself.'

Severini's soft voice reverberated in Ian's mind. He relaxed and quieted the turmoil in his mind. Images of a beautiful sunlit garden emerged. He saw flowers in all colors, grasses, trees, all kind of herbs grew in a surrounding that felt warm and cosy. He could smell the relaxing scent of the vegetation that surrounded and penetrated him. A woman, wearing a ceremonial Jedi suit, appeared, beckoning him to follow her. Together they wandered through the garden to beautiful lake. The woman encouraged him to enter the water and to submerge himself. Ian did as she told him. The water felt warm and pleasant. He took a dive and swam under water to the other side of the lake. When he emerged he felt strong and healthy. He looked at the other side, where the woman stood, patiently waiting for him. Again he submerged himself and swam back. The woman stretched out her hand and took his hand in hers. She led him to another part of the garden, where a wonderful milky white opaque pavilion rose up. He walked through the domed entrance and saw a comfortable lounge with soft cushions. He laid down and closed his eyes. The woman took a seat near his head. He felt how she placed her warm hands over his face, tenderly pressing his temples with her fingers. He surrendered to her delicate touch and drifted away in a sound and healing sleep.

"It's gonna take us weeks to scan this planet," Han said over the infocom. "I've never seen so much trees in my life. I'm going to hate that green color down there. Chewie, are there any readings?"

The Wookiee growled a negative answer.

"Kid, how long do you want to continue. Shouldn't it be better to get back to Ktafunda and start our investigations in another way."

"I want to follow the lead Liane mentioned, Han, but I agree with you, that it's ..."

Luke's voice broke off.

"What's the matter, kid."

"I sensed a tremor in the Force down there, I'm going to investigate."

The Astræga took a steep dive and started to fly low above the canopy of trees.

"Chewie, I going to fly as low as possible. Leia, did you sense your brother's 'Force tremors' too. Chewie, amplify all frequencies." Han said and the Millennium Falcon plummeted to the trees.

"Wait, Han!" Leia shouted, but the rogue pilot was already steering his ship to a lower orbit with dazzling speed. They nearly touched the upper layers of the trees.

"Oops, that was too close," Han murmured and pulled the Millennium Falcon up.

"There it is again," Luke's voice sounded over the infocom. "I feel a clear, but weak tremor in the Force. There is something or someone down here who radiates his presence through the Force. Han, stay as low as possible, but don't follow me yet. The vegetation is too dense to risk a flight with the Falcon. Leia, help me to track those Force pulses."

Leia saw how her brother lowered his space ship almost among the trees.

"Careful, Luke!" she whispered, but then she felt the influence of the Force too.

"Chewie, scan this area thoroughly. Luke's right, there is something down there. Give me the coordinates of your read out. Fly low, Han. Maybe we see ... Over there, there's a clearing. Fly closer. Luke, did you see that clearing?"

"Yes, I going to investigate, if you can, follow me."

The Astræga hovered low above the trees, then took a dive to a green spot where the trees seemed less dense.

"I'm going to land, Han. It's grassy clearing, and large enough for the Falcon too. Maybe the cabin where Ian seems to be, is nearby."

"After you, kid."

The two space ships slowly lowered their altitude. Luke examine the spot: a clearing with grassy vegetation. He flew as close as possible to the trees at the end of the clearing, pulled the wings of the Astræa up and put his ship down. Moments later the Millennium Falcon hovered next to the Astræga, and extended the landing claws. Han lowered the ramp and walked outside, looking around, followed by Leia and Chewbacca. Luke walked over to them.

"I sensed those Force tremors in that direction," He said, pointing eastward "but they were very weak; it was only an quick impression. I couldn't pinpoint the location."

"That doesn't help us much, Luke," Han said. "I don't see any paths, if the cabin would be nearby I expect at least a kind of path to this clearing or so, but the undergrowth is as thick as the snow layers on Hoth."

Luke grinned.

"But fortunately less cold," He said. "Let's see if we can track the source of those Force vibrations again. Han, Leia, you two walk this spot counterclockwise. Chewie and I will walk in the opposite direction."

They split up and searched the edge of the clearing. Halfway they met. Han shook his head.

"I haven't seen any path on our side. What about you, Luke?"

Luke looked at his sister, but Leia shook her head too.

"There's nothing to the west of this clearing. What about you? Have you find a path?"

"No a real path, but there are several trails made by animals, I guess, herbivores which use this clearing to forage after sunset."

"Did you sense those Force vibrations you mentioned just before we landed." Han asked.

"No. I told they were very weak. I noticed them when I flew above those tree tops."

They looked at each other. Finally Leia made the decision

"We're going to investigate those trails. If we find nothing in half an hour from now, we return, lift off and continue our fly-by."

"Let's be careful. We don't know if this forest houses any predators which have humans on their menu," Han said.

"You're right, Han, we have to walk single file. The tracks are narrow. I will take the lead with Chewbacca. Han, you and Leia cover the rear."

They walked back to the spot where Luke had found the trails. Han looked skeptical, but followed his friend, when Luke plunged into the undergrowth.

Darth Golluth banged his electro pole on the equipment of his communication center, smashing a holo-console and display completely. He let out some outrage screams and continued to cool his anger on the system until it had become a complete mess of wires, plugs and broken parts.

"See to it, that that mess will be repaired. Immediately!" he snarled to a pair of droids which were standing near the door. They snapped to attention when their master stomped away.

"We're going to work on it right away, my lord."

"Fix it! In an hour! I need this communication facility to contact my spies and assistants."

The door slammed shut. The two droids looked at each other.

"Let's start to activate the techs to repair the damage he caused, otherwise he'll punish us severely, for not following orders."

Darth Golluth had crossed the underground corridor to his main chamber. He raised his hand to open the double doors, but the doors kept close. Furious he banged them with his fist. Immediately two droid guards opened the doors.

"Too late," he snarled, "You should open the doors when you heard me coming."

"Yes, my lord," The droids said in unison.

Darth Golluth walked over to his dais and sat down with a gloomy face.

'No trace, nothing at all,' He murmured angrily. 'How is this possible. Has that Skywalker Jedi brought the girl and her friend to a secret hide-out without any of my spies noticing it.'

He violently shook his head.

'Impossible. The guy had been seriously wounded, burned, had to survive in a Bacta tank. He wouldn't have survived transportation. Who is behind all this? Has some of my spies been leaking my plans. No, that out of the question. I selected all of them personally."

"Master, apologies, for disturbing you, but someone has come to Palomintar Four, and wants to speak to you in person," His droid majordomos said humbly, "It's the Y'vanna spy of Ktafunda, Master. He is a very bad shape, but he says he has news."

"Bring him in."

"Yes, master." The droid bowed stiffly. He left and returned with the trembling and severely wounded Y'vanna. Darth Golluth looked with disgust to the jittering humanoid. The Y'vanna fell on his knees.

"Master, I failed you, but the odds were too great."

"What do you mean: the odds were too great. I ordered you to squeeze those new owners of that bar in Ktafunda. I want to know where the other guys went."

"Master, I recruited some twenty rogues to assist me. The bar was almost empty when we entered, but as soon as we started to threaten the customers, two Jedi and a big hairy Wookie and a friend of him came in and started to fight us. They killed all my men. I could hardly escape. One of the Jedi severed my shooting arm. Now I'm a cripple and of no use to any one."

"So, there were only two Jedi in the bar. That must have been Skywalker and his sister. You're right. You're of no use to me any longer. Killer droids!"

Four droids came rushing in.

"Get rid of this useless creature." Darth Golluth snarled.

"Master, don't, please, have mercy. I served you with all my heart. I have a great love for you and the empire."

"Maybe you did, but you disappointed me. Take him away."

The droids took the yelling and screaming Y'vanna and dragged him away.

Darth Golluth leaned back in his chair.

"It's a shame, that I'm unable to kill this kind of scum myself. How did the Emperor and Vader use their power to choke an opponent to death? I need to conquer that knowledge and the only one who has that knowledge is Vader's daughter Liane. As long as I haven't captured her, and brought her here I'm not able to extend my knowledge."

A scornful laugh echoed through the space.

'You'll will never conquer that knowledge, Trevor. I will see to that.'A whispering, but determined voice spoke.

Darth Golluth looked around and frowned.

"Lord Vader, is that you again?"

But nothing more was heard.

"Mistress Liane, please wake up?"

A knock on the door and Threepio's voice awoke Liane from a deep sleep. Startled she sat upright.

"Threepio, what's the matter? What time is it?"

"I'm sorry I had to disturb your sleep at this hour, mistress Liane. It's just after midnight according to the world outside. The communication center on Quoith has set up the communication with Irithim. The Supreme Chancellor wants to speak to you immediately."

"Lady Mon Mothma is calling me at this hour? Must be very urgent, Threepio."

"Could there be something wrong with master Luke or the princess?"

Liane shrugged her shoulders, "Tell the Supreme Chancelor, I'm coming, Threepio." She grabbed her housecoat, then she followed Threepio to the communication console in the library. Mon Mothma's holographic image was already on the display.

"Hello, Liane, sorry to disturb you at this hour."

"Good evening, madam. Threepio said, you had an urgent message for me? Is something wrong with ....?" The words stuck in her mouth.

"No, I can assure you, but Quoith's communication center has intercepted a garbled message which was aimed at our new government in Irithim. Our experts checked the source of it and it seems that someone in charge at Ktafunda space port on Palomintar Six has attempted more than once to set up a holo communication thread with Irithim. The source at Ktafunda space port also tried to use our secret procon system several times. Do you know, if Luke and Leia have already found Ian Tydon, for I've got the impression that the message is about him?"

"They are still looking for him, madam. I had another Force vision about Ian yesterday. I have already told Luke. Ian is somewhere in a forest."

"In a forest? Then the message seems to make sense. Listen, Liane, for I want you tell this to Luke as soon as possible. The messages talk about a respected citizen of Ktafunda who keeps telling the officials at the space port detention center that he needs to find some Jedi. His name is Mugin Fonaldris. He has been arrested, because he obstructed the investigation about a fight in a cantina. The guy keeps yelling, that he is the former owner of the cantina and has to find the Jedi, for he knows something about a friend of them. Probably Luke, Leia with Han and Chewbacca have been on Ktafunda's space port recently, for the message also mentions that two space ships with the markings of the New Republic have landed on Palomintar Six two days ago, but that they have left the following morning. I know that you can reach Luke, using the Jedi-pendant he gave you."

Liane blushed and Mon Mothma smiled.

"You know about the Jedi-pendant, madam?"

"Leia told me."

Again Liane blushed and looked shameful at the image of the Supreme Chancellor.

"Although Luke Skywalker violated our prison regulations, I'm all too glad, that there is a quick way now to tell him, where to look for Ian Tydon, so he could be brought safely back to Dalmaran. Liane, promise me, that you will contact Luke right away."

"I will, madam, I'm glad I can make myself useful in this case."

Liane touched the screen and the image of Mon Mothma faded. For a couple of minutes she sat looking at the empty display. Her thoughts wandered to a far off planet, and she saw the images of the forest cabin where she has given Ian her help, while her mother and the Force had guided her. Had her help been enough? Ian had been badly wounded in a fire, she had felt the burning pain all over her body. Would he recover? Has her help really helped him to use his Jedi skills to start his recovery? Would Luke find him in time? She had to tell Luke about that guy Mugin immediately, for he seemed to know where Ian was.

"Mother," she said half loud. "Ian will recover, won't he?"

'Stop worrying about your friend, Liane. He has been given all the help he needed,' A familiar voice said.

Liane looked up, and sighed relieved.

"Glad you're with me, Ben. Are you sure, that Ian will recover?"

The apparition of Ben Kenobi quietly walked over to the communication desk.

'Your mother Severini has told me, what you have achieved, Liane, for Ian means to you and ... to the future of Luke's Jedi Order. You care about Ian, don't you?'

Flabbergasted Liane looked at the bluish image in front of her.

"Yes, I very fond of him, I've told you before, Ben, but why is he also important to the new Jedi Order? Luke has plans to go to Dagobah with Ian. He will become the next fully trained Jedi? Leia is very fond of Ian too. She told me, that Ian has become her trusted companion during the time she missed Han. She says, that he will be a great Jedi Knight."

The apparition of Ben Kenobi smiled serenely at Liane's enthusiastic words about her friend Ian Tydon.

'I'm going to answer your questions, after you have passed on the message of the Supreme Chancellor to Luke. Concentrate on the Jedi-pendant and use the Force to contact my most talented student and your eternal friend.'

Liane recognized the same soft mesmerizing sound in Ben's voice as Luke used when he was telling her to use her Force powers. She reached out to the Force, closing her eyes while she took the pendant in her hands.

"Luke, listen I've received an important message from the Supreme Chancellor. There is a way, or a serious chance that you and Leia will find the place where Ian is easier."

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the middle of a dense forest. She looked around amazed and spotted Luke who was standing near a large tree. He walked over to her.

'Luke, this is the forest where Ian is! I can feel his presence, can't you?' She said.

"You can, for you helped him with your special Jedi skills, my dearest. We're doing everything to find him, but as long as Ian isn't able to use Jedi telepathy to communicate with us, it's hard to find his location. Leia and I have sensed tremors in the Force, but they are very weak. You said, there is an easier way."

'Maybe there is. The Supreme Chancellor just called me and told me that a guy named Mugin Fonaldris, who claims to be the former owner of the tavern where Ian might have worked, is looking for two Jedi. He has been arrested and kept in detention at the space port of Ktafunda, because he didn't cooperate with the officials who were investigating a fight in a local tavern. He probably can guide you to the place where Ian is.'

"Liane, excellent, for we are a bit stuck in this forest. Thank you for telling me. We'll go right back to the space port and pick up Mugin Fonaldris. You're a wonderful girl, my eternal friend, the loveliest girl in this galaxy," Luke said and he added teasingly, "... and my most precious little pixie."

Liane blushed and whispered.

'Go and get back to the space port immediately, Luke, and find that Mugin guy so you can save Ian and bring him to Dalmaran.'

Liane withdrew from her trance and looked up. Ben Kenobi had taken a seat in a chair opposite her, looking at her with a smile and patiently waiting for her to release herself from her Force trance. She carefully put the Jedi-pendant under the collar of her tunic.

"I was on Palomintar Six, Ben," she said still amazed.

'Your Force powers are growing, Liane, that's why the Jedi-pendant begins to work two ways. You can call Luke using the Force, but you also can focus using the Force at the place where Luke is. That's what you did, just before you talked to him. In your mind you saw the forest and the cabin where you have helped Ian. In that case the Force will send your Force spirit to Luke.' Ben said gently.

Liane said nothing for a while, just contemplating on Ben's words. After some moments she looked up at him, "Ben, you said, you're here to support me, but if Ian is of importance, why haven't you been helping him?" She asked.

'I did give your friend my help, Liane!'

"You did. Of course, I forgot, you can be anywhere in this galaxy, because you're united with the Force. There are no boundaries for your presence, you told me," Liane laughed.

'I didn't leave this place; I stayed here with you all the time, while you were in that deep Force trance in the waterfall cave. I supported you and your mother. Liane, Ian needed someone with a great potential of Jedi healing powers. It wouldn't have been of any use if I had gone to Ian. I've never been a Jedi healer. Your help was needed to make him aware again of his own Jedi healing force.'

"You helped me and Severini? Why didn't you talk to me? I love to hear your voice. It's always reassuring, but I only felt Severini's presence all the time. I couldn't have done it without her help, Ben. I don't know what happened to me, but it was like some very powerful force rushed me through space to the place where Ian was."

'Those who have already been united with the Force protected you on your journey through the Unifying Force. Severini helped you to strengthen you healing powers, and Yoda and I and a number of other old Jedi, including my master Qui-Gon Jinn supported you because your Force skills aren't sufficiently developed yet to perform such an enormous task on your own. What you did was well done. Ian has recovered, thanks to you, Liane.'

"Thank you, Ben, but this still doesn't explain why he means so much to the future of Luke Jedi Order. Luke says he's doing great as a padawan learner. Who are the others to whom he is special? His parents, for instance? They surely will be proud to know that he will become a Jedi Knight."

'Liane, Luke has told you about the midi-chlorian count in Ian's blood, hasn't he? It amazed Luke that Ian's midi-chlorian count is at the high end of the chart. It almost ran off the chart.'

Liane nodded.

"I remember Luke told me about Ian's test, when we were on Tatooine. The outcome of the test indeed highly surprised him, because neither Ian's parents nor any of his siblings are possible Force users. That is odd, isn't it, Ben?"

'Is it, Liane?' Ben Kenobi asked.

"I should think so. After Luke had tested my midi-cholorian count, he told me that he was certain that both my parents must have been Force-sensitive, because my midi-cholorian count is running off the chart too. Master Yoda has confirmed the results of my midi-chlorian test. He even told met that my parents have been Jedi Knights. On our former encounter, Ben, you have confirmed master Yoda's words. So, I think, that a high midi-chlorian count has to be hereditary."

'Go on, Liane. What does this conclusion tell you about Ian?' Ben said.

"About Ian? What do you mean, Ben?" Liane said, not understanding, then suddenly she looked at Luke's former master.

"You mean ...?"

'Go on,' Ben encouraged her.

"You mean, that Ian's parents ..." She shook her head, "No, Ben, are you asserting, that Ian's parents have Force potential without Luke noticing it. Are you underestimating Luke's knowledge of the Force?"

Ben laughed.

'You don't have to defend Luke so vigorously, Liane. I certainly don't underestimate his knowledge.'

Liane didn't respond to Ben's words immediately. She was staring at the communication desk with a frown. Ben was watching her with a smile. Liane remained in deep thoughts for several minutes before she looked up straight at Ben.

"That leaves only one other conclusion, Ben? Are you telling me, that Ian's parents on Corellia, aren't his parents; that they have adopted him, like Anakin has adopted me?"

'See. Your insight has helped you to come to the right conclusion,' Ben calmly said.

"But that means that Ian's real parents possibly had a great Force potential. Maybe they even have been Jedi Knights too, like Severini and my real father," Liane exclaimed astounded. She looked up to the apparition of Luke's former master, but she was only aware of the look in the kind blue eyes of the old Jedi Knight. They were looking at her with compassion and full of kindness. That look. ... Then it was as if she was back in her cell on Wegoyy and Ian, her guard, was standing before her, looking at her with his blue eyes full of friendliness and compassion. Once again she heard him offering her his friendship. Then some other images began to take shape in her mind. She saw a younger Ben Kenobi running through a forest carrying a young boy in his arms. She immediately recognized the boy, as her friend Ian Tydon. She gasped and whispered, "I saw you with Ian, Ben. You were holding him in your arms. You were running as if you were fleeing with him. Ben,...Ian is special for...you, because ... Ben, is Ian ... your son? Are ... you his...father! Has Ian inherited his Force potential from you?"

She now looked up into Ben's eyes and she became aware of a great pain and suffering whirling around the old Jedi's apparition. She stretched out with her own compassionate feelings to comfort the pain she felt in the old Jedi master.

'Liane, I didn't expect you to have already developed such a deep Force insight,' Ben said with a hoarse voice after some moments, 'Yes, your friend Ian is my son. He means a lot to me. It's a long and sad story. One day I will tell you what happened, and why Ian grew up on Corellia. Luke already has come to the same conclusion, but he knows that his padawan is not yet ready to know this truth. I'm asking you to promise me that you will never reveal what the Force has shown you to Ian.'

"But you will you tell him one day, won't you, Ben?"

'It's up to Luke to decide who will tell Ian about his real parents. Probably, when Luke thinks Ian is ready for his final trials. You, Liane, have shown Ian the images of his future, when you used your Jedi Battle Meditation skills. My son, your friend Ian, will indeed become a Jedi Knight, and by that time I'm sure, he will also be ready to know the truth about his birth.'

Liane nodded thoughtfully.

"Ben, I won't tell anyone what Force has shown me, not even to Luke. I feel very proud to share this secret with you and... to know I soon will have another Jedi Knight as my friend."

Ben laughed.

'What about you, Liane. Don't you think it's time for you to make further progress and find your way along the Jedi path and become a servant of the Good Side yourself?'

"I'm happy with the knowledge I gained so far. I'm happy with the possibilities I have here to learn about what really happened during the Empire and the Civil War. This library holds so much knowledge. Luke has also taught me the basic principles of Jedi meditation, so I can use the Force, so I can distinguish what knowledge I gained from Anakin I can keep or need to forget. Maybe the Jedi-pendant will allow me another time to see Luke somewhere in this galaxy, in stead of him visiting me, for it was a wonderful experience to be out there."

'You'd better gain some of the knowledge that is hidden in the old books with Jedi lore Luke has shown you. He has granted you unlimited access to the Jedi cavern, remember.'

Liane looked up.

"I have seen some holographic images of pages in those books, Ben. I would love to read them, but who is going to help me. Luke says, they are written in the old Jedi language and even he doesn't fully understand that old language."

'I suggest, Liane, you should begin to explore the Jedi cavern on your own and have a serious look all that ancient Jedi knowledge. I'm sure you will benefit greatly from those visits. The knowledge hidden in that cave will be greatly rewarding, I assure you. Think about it, Liane, don't spend too much of your time on the history of the old times, or on your past on Morantan. I'm not saying your study here is useless, nor what Luke has taught you of Jedi meditation isn't of great value, but an even greater treasure is awaiting you in those old Jedi books and the Jedi holocrons.'

Ben's apparition faded, leaving Liane with a mind full of questions.