Chapter 46

Ian woke up with a smile on his face. He stretched and yawned. To his surprise he didn't feel any pain. He sat up and looked at his arms and legs. His skin looked completely normal; no scars or blisters were seen. Carefully he stood up and looked down at his chest. The bacta patch Toallin had applied fell off; the skin underneath had a normal pink color. Ian put his hands at his back and touch his skin. He felt no pain at all.

'This is amazing. It seems that all my wounds have healed during my sleep.'

'Remember what I've showed you, Ian. The Jedi Garden of Force Healing is always at your disposal.'

'Thank you, Severini, thank you for you're help.'

It looked like he heard a soft laugh; the same laugh he had heard in his sleep.

Slowly he rose and stretched again.

'What a great experience I had,' He thought. 'I have overcome my injuries.'

'You've learn to trust your Jedi skills to recover from injuries, like Luke has told you.'

'Yes, Severini, Luke told me about it, but thanks to you I've had this wonderful experience.'

'Don't forget my daughter's help, Ian. Tell her about it, when you meet her again.'

'I will, Severini, and I will remember what I promised you. I promise I will help her to find her way along the Jedi Path.'

He heard a soft woman's voice laughing again. Then his thoughts went to Luke and Leia.

'Master Luke, master Leia, don't worry about me. I'm alright; I'm fine.' He thought, but there wasn't a response from any of the Jedi twins.

Ian smiled.

"I will reach them shortly. I wonder where I am." He murmured and walked over to the door of the cabin.

He opened the door and stepped outside. Slowly he inhaled the fresh air and looked around.

"Wow, what a place! If this is the cabin, Toallin told me about, I can easily live here. This is a hundred times, what do I say, a thousand times better than where I stayed in the Wegoyy desert. What a funny building this is with it domed roof. I've never seen this kind of architecture before. Maybe it's typical for the Quelans."

It was a beautiful morning. The scent of the forest, the herbs in the undergrowth pleased his nose. Slowly he walked around the cabin, then he went inside again and looked for his clothes. He found his pants, his tunic and his belt with his lightsaber in a closet near the couch where he had slept. Quickly he put on his garments and went out again. This time he walked along a small path into the forest. He looked around and enjoyed his union with the trees and the forest that surrounded him. Elated he reached out to the Living Force for a moment. For a while he followed the small path until he came at a stream that crossed his path. The path continued at the other side of the water. There were some huge stepping stones to cross the stream, but Ian remembered the Jedi training Luke had given him. He reached out to the Force and leaped high in the air. With a somersault he landed on the other bank. There the path followed the brook again. Ian walked on until he reached a spot were the stream expanded into a lake. He sat down on a fallen trunk and looked at the surface. With a big smile he recalled his experience in the Jedi garden of healing. He bent and let the water touch his hand. The water felt cool, but not cold.

"Why not have the experience again. This time in reality."

He took off his tunic and pants and stepped into the water. Slowly he lowered himself underwater. Then he rose again and started laughing. Immediately he heard a voice calling

"Ian, son, is that you? Where are you?"

"Over here, Toallin, in the lake." Ian called and looked around.

He didn't notice his protector, until Toallin stepped out of the undergrowth. Surprised Ian looked at the leave-green skin of his friend.

"What happened to you?" He asked, "Your skin has changed it's color. Are you alright?"

"It's a Quelan's adjustment to my surrounding. Our skins adapts to the colors that surrounds us. What are you doing in the water, son. You should stay indoors as long as your wounds aren't healed."

"I'm fine, Toallin. You can change your skin color. Can all Quelans do that?"

"Yes, they can. It's useful sometimes, but you'd better walk back to the ford. You can't cross the lake."

"Can't I?" Ian called defiantly. "You wait and see. I'm a Jedi, Toallin. Well, almost. You should tell me more about your people, Toallin. I didn't notice you. Have you been watching me all that time. Wait, I'm come to your side of the lake."

Ian swam back to the shore and put on his clothes. With a big grin on his face he jumped on the fallen trunk and looked at the opposite side of the lake. Taken aback Toallin was watching the young man. Ian look up to the tree above him. He jumped and landed on a lower branch. Without hesitation he walked to the end of the branch and somersaulted to one of the branches of the next tree. With tree jumps he reached the other side of the lake and jumped down.

"How did I do it?" He asked Toallin.

His older friend looked at him bewildered.

"What happened to you? Let me check those bacta patches." he said.

"They're no longer attached to my wounds, Toallin. I have no wounds anymore. I'm cured, I'm recovered, I'm healed. Thanks to the Force and the help of a real Jedi healer." Ian said laughing and patted his friend on his shoulder, "Come on, I want to know more about that skin color changing the Quelans can do. I'm very interested in the way other species have found a way of living. Are you using that skill to defend yourselves?"

Toallin shook his head.

"First let me check you, son. Strip off your tunic."

With a loud laugh Ian Tydon undid his tunic and turned around. Amazed Toallin watched the skin of Ian's back and chest.

"I don't believe it. I'm not a medic, but there's nothing left of your wounds. What happened, Ian? You find our skin color changing skills extraordinary, but this is a real wonder. Is it a Jedi's habit?"

"I told you about that dream of Liane yesterday, didn't I. She helped me to start my recovery. Every Jedi has the knowledge to find the spot inside himself from where he can start his recovery in case he is wounded. Because I panicked I forgot how I could use the knowledge my master taught me. With Liane's help I could use the Force again and could start my recovery. I never thought I could do it, but I did. Now I can call my masters to pick me up, but first I hope you have some breakfast. I'm starving again, Toallin."

"Well, son, if someone would have told me what I just saw, I wouldn't have believed him. I'm amazed, but it's undeniable: your wounds are healed. Let's go back to the cabin. I want to inform Mugin and ask him to come back. It's no longer necessary to seek for help."

Luke landed the Astræga near the space port office buildings and asked the duty officer about Mugin. The duty officer brought him to his superior.

"Welcome, sir, what can I do for you," the high-ranking officer said. "You're request is a bit unusual. We put the man, a Quelan, a respectable citizen of Ktafunda, in detention, because he attacked the droid in charge of an investigation group. He still keeps on screaming he is looking for the Jedi friends of a former employee. His statements doesn't make sense. The bar is owned by two Kayvoks. My droid squad had the man stunned and brought to our detention building, where he will await a further treatment to get calm. As long as the investigation is going on about this guy's whereabouts the procedures forbid any visitors."

"The man is speaking the truth," Luke said calmly. "The Kayvoks have recently bought his former property. That former employee he was talking about is my missing friend. Two days ago my friends and i arrived here to find out what happened to him."

The officer rose and held out a welcoming hand.

"Then you must be Jedi master Skywalker. I heard about your arrival. Weren't your sister and general Solo accompanying you?"

Luke nodded.

"That's right, sir. We've got word that our friend was in trouble. In fact he was missing. So my sister, her husband general Solo, his co-pilot Wookiee and I came to Palomintar Six to find out what happened. Several weeks ago my friend and I have stayed in Ktafunda at the lodging house of two Quelans Toallin and Mugin Fonaldris. My friend stayed behind, when my presence was urgently needed on Dalmaran. After our arrival three days ago my sister and and I went back to the tavern to find out what happened. To our surprise it's now owned, as you mentioned, by two Kayvoks. During our visit the bar was raided..."

"Sorry, to interrupt you, commander. You said you were in Toallin's bar during the raid. Can you tell me what happened."

Politely Luke told the officer about the events in the Ktafunda bar. The officer listened attentively. When Luke had finished his story the officer seemed very relieved.

"Thank you, commander. Now I can close this file. There weren't any severe casualties and so this case is closed. Your story saves us a lot of work. I'll order my men to release the Quelan. You can wait here for him."

Immediately the officer called his liaison officer and ordered him to bring Mugin before him.

A couple of minutes later Mugin was brought into the office.

"Master Skywalker, you came back to look for Ian. I know where he is?" He said immediately addressing Luke, neglecting the space port official.

Subsequently Mugin looked at the officer.

"Your subordinate told me I'm released. Is that right?" He asked.

"You are. You may thank Jedi master Skywalker for giving us enough background information to confirm your story." The officer said.

"Thank you, sir, for your cooperation," Luke said and rose. "Come on, Mugin, I want to see Ian as soon as possible."

After some formalities Mugin got back his possessions and followed Luke to the exit of the building. Outside Mugin grabbed Luke's sleeve and pointed to the exit of the space port, but Luke held him back.

"What happened to Ian? Can you bring me to him. He needs help desperately I fear," Luke said.

"He tried to safe the lives of my brother Toallin and me when our lodging house and private quarters were blown up by some villains. The building was on fire, and Ian was so stupid to ran back into the building to look for us. He's badly burned."

"Where is he now?" Luke asked with tension in his voice.

"My brother brought him to our cabin in the forest some eighteen hours from Ktafunda. If we leave now," Mugin looked at the chrono, "We can reach the spot by midnight. My speeder is parked at the far side of the space port, where is yours?" He asked.

"We leave your speeder here, if you don't mind, Mugin. My space ship is over there. We can reach your brother's cabin much faster using my shuttle; I only hope there is a proper place to land."

"So much better, but I want contact Toallin and tell him I'm on my way with you?" Mugin asked.

"You can use the infocom on board. Perhaps you also know the coordinates of the place, so I can tell my friend, where he has to land the Falcon."

"You mean that Han Solo and his ship are waiting for you. Wow, that's really great news. He probably has a medic bay, where Ian can get a proper treatment. Toallin and I will be delighted to shake hands with the general."

Luke started laughing.

"Come on then, Mugin. The sooner we are at your home the better." He said.

Luke brought his new companion to the docking bay where he had left the Astræga. Astounded and in full admiration Mugin boarded the ship. Luke asked for clearance and half a standard hour later the Astræga left the space port of Ktafunda and turned her nose to the northern area of Palomintar Six.

In the meantime Leia, Han and Chewbacca made their way through the dense forest. Using her lightsaber Leia worked a passage through the vegetation. Their progress, however, was slow, due to the many fallen branches and protruding roots in their path.

After four hours they decided to take a break and rest for a while. The temperature had risen and the damp from the trees had tired them.

"Are you sure, darling, we should go on like this?" Han asked.

"I still sense some vibrations in the Force, Han, and I think they are getting stronger. Let's rest for half an hour. Can you contact Luke and ask him if he found Mugin?"

Han switched on the infocom and hailed his brother-in-law, but there wasn't any response.

"No luck. I think Luke's at the space port finding that Mugin guy. At least I hope he is."

Chewbacca growled some sounds. Leia grinned.

"Yes, Chewie, those flying insects are a nuisance." She said, while she brushed her hand over her hair. "They annoy me too. Come over here, I take them out of your fur."

The big Wookiee kneeled before and Leia carefully took out the large flying insects that had sought a resting place among the Wookiee's dense coat, trying to suck his blood. During their struggle through the forest Leia had frequently heard the Wookiee's moans and growls.

"I took them off, Chewie. They won't bother you for some time."

Suddenly she look up.

"There it is again. There's absolutely some life form which radiates a lot of vibrations through the Force." She jumped to her feet and beckoned Han to follow her.

At the same moment Han's infocom beeped.

"Han, do you copy," Luke's voice sounded on the speaker.

"Yeah, kid, glad to hear from you." Han said. "What's up?"

"I'm on my way to the place where Ian is. Mugin has given me the coordinates. I've transmitted them to your infocom. Compare the coordinates I have send you with your position. Are you still in the forest?"

"Wait a moment, kid. Your sister has started to run off. I have to follow her. Leia, wait!"

"Han, come over here. There's a much broader trial starting here." Leia shouted. "It's leading straight in the direction where I sensed those Force vibrations."

She had halted and waited for her husband and the Wookiee to catch up with her.

"Look" She said pointing at a broader track running ahead.

"Luke, I have to shut down. Your sister has found something. I'll contact you later," Han said in the infocom and switched off.

"Those Force vibrations come from that direction," Leia said and pointed to the track.

She turned inward and tuned in on the Force.

'Ian, is that you. Answer me.' She said.

Almost immediately her thoughts were answered.

'Master, where are you? I'm doing fine. I'm staying in the cabin of some friends.' Ian's voice vibrated to Leia through the Force.

'We're near, I hope, Ian. Don't loose contact with me. Are you wounded?' Leia asked concerned.

'I was, master, but I'm fine now. I had an amazing experience.' She heard Ian say.

Han tapped her on her shoulder.

"What's going on, darling?" He asked.

For a moment Leia released herself from her Force trance and looked at her husband with a relieved laugh.

"Ian seems to be alright. I think we're near the place where he is. Let's follow this path." She said.

"Can you ask him, if there a communication system where he is. Maybe we can use that to track our route faster," Han said.

'Ian, are you still there. Can you contact Han on his infocom? That's easier for all of us.' Leia asked.

'I'll ask Toallin. He has an infocom set here. What's your frequency?' Ian said.

'Six-five-three-four-nine.' Leia answered. 'You sound alright, Ian'

'I am, master. Contact Toallin and we'll meet soon.' Ian said cheerfully.

Almost immediately Han's infocom began to bleep.

"General Solo, do you copy," A dark voice sounded over the speaker.

"Go ahead," Han said.

"General, is your infocom equipped with a tracking beacon."

"Sure, I'll put it on now."

"I have your infocom on my monitor. Follow the path eastward. It's quite a walk, but but this path leads straight to our cabin. Keep the tracking sound at maximum volume."

"Confirmed."

Han held the infocom in front of him and swayed it to and fro. A red dot began flashing and a beeping sound indicated their direction.

"Come on, Leia. Ian is over there."

Han pointed to the broad track running eastward through the forest.

"He sounded so cheerful, Han. I hardly can't believe what Luke told us about Liane's Force vision." Leia said. "It seems that his injuries weren't that bad at all. What do you think, Han?"

"I can't tell, darling. While we're following that beacon I'll check those coordinates Luke send me, then I'll contact him and tell him your experience, or maybe you'd better tell him yourself." He said with a grin.

Leia pushed him and laughed.

"Let's get to Ian first. I want to know what happened." She said.

In a fast pace they followed the path

"You have been very concerned about that guy, darling, haven't you?" Han said.

"I have and so has my brother. We both expect him to be a great Jedi Knight, for Ian has something very peculiar."

"What do you mean? Ian is a Corellian. Corellians are known to have something peculiar. Look at me, darling. Beside you Jedi have very peculiar powers too," Han said with a laughing twinkle in his eyes, "but I must confess I'm getting more and more used to that strange powers."

They both laughed and Chewbacca let out a growling roar.

"You know, that Luke and I have inherited our Force potential from Anakin, our father," Leia explained, "Anakin had a fabulous midi-chlorian count. Higher even, than master Yoda's. Our midi-chlorian counts are almost just as high."

"What are midi-chlorians. I've never heard about them."

"Midi-chlorians are tiny life forms in our blood. Every one has them. We form a symbiont circle with them. The amount of midi-chlorians indicates a person's Force potential or Force-sensitivity. The higher the amount the more likely it is that a person can learn to use the power of the Force, and learn to become a Jedi."

"Then I must have the lowest count possible, I don't think my midi-chlorians are influencing me," Han said with a lopsided grin. "But you still haven't explained why Ian is so peculiar."

"Luke has tested Ian's midi-chlorian count immediately after Ian arrived on Dalmaran. He did the test thrice, but the outcome was always the same: Ian Tydon has a midi-chlorian count almost as high as ours."

"Which means he's very Force sensitive. So Luke decided to train him as a Jedi."

"Yes, but neither Ian's parents, nor his brothers and sisters have any Force potential, Luke told me,"

"That's indeed odd. Does your brother have a clue?"

"None. It's a riddle. But Ian will be a great Jedi Knight, that's for sure." Leia ended her story. "Are we still going in the right direction, darling?"

"Yeah. The coordinates Luke passed on, match perfectly with the tracking beacon. I think we'll reach our goal with an hour, maybe an hour and a half."

Mon Mothma looked up from her datapad and pressed a button to allow her visitor to enter.

"Yes Sorjon," she said and rose from behind her desk. "What can I do for you."

"I've got an message from Quoith, Mon," Sorjon Tyloban said, "Our opponent in the Outer Rim region, Quoith has been monitoring, has accessed the special shielded partition of our communication system. Some of the files we allowed to be accessed in the partition have been downloaded to a communication system in Outer Rim. Quoith reports that he has definitely read the content of those files, for they report that some new content has been added to the files, and the content of these additions is worrisome. Especially the additions in the file of the trial against Liane Solichor. He threatens that he will find miss Solichor and turn her to the Dark Side. Next he also has made amendments to the file of the trial against commander Skywalker and the princess of Alderaan. A similar threat was added, for the intruder wants the children of Darth Vader to become his apprentices and aid him to revive the Empire. This is an unexpected development, Mon. I suggest that we should contact Coruscant."

"So the former admiral and would-be Sith lord, Darth Golluth as he calls himself has taken the bait and is not only after Liane Solichor as we expected, but after our Jedi Knights too, but we didn't expect him to manipulate the content of those files. Happily we know that the accessed files are forgeries and not the classified ones," Mon Mothma said.

"Nevertheless that he was able to manipulate the files worries me, ma'am, " Sorjon Tyloban.

"Sorjon, we have given permission to that weird plan of our technicians on Quoith in cooperation with Coruscant's undercover agent at the Basilisæa. I expected that our opponent would do more with the permission Quoith would gave him.

We know that, from the moment that Liane Solichor has been transferred to Dalmaran our intelligence force and Coruscant's intels have been tracing odd messages which have been exchanged between communication systems on Dalmaran, Ortel, Coruscant and a planet in the Outer Rim. The shielded partition Quoith technicians have set up is part of a covenant between Irithim and Coruscant in cooperation with Quoith and their under cover agent on board the Basilisæga to find more detailed information of the com system in the Outer Rim. Quoith has lured our former imperial admiral to get access to those forgeries with classified information deliberately and it appears the plan was successful"

"But we didn't expect that he would made an illegal download of those altered copies, nor did we expect that he would ass threatening content to those files."

"I agree with you, that we should contact Coruscant and ask them whether they are already aware of what has happened. They probably are. We also need to inform our Jedi who are on Palomintar Six looking for Leia's padawan Ian Tydon to be aware of any possible danger."

"Does master Skywalker know about the plan?"

"No, before we agreed to Quoith's plan, commodore Skywalker already had volunteered to do his own investigation near the Palomintar System. He and Ian Tydon left about a month after I accompanied miss Solichor to Na'ctaMagh'Ba. After some time I also gave Leia and her husband permission to go to the Palomintar System to look for Ian Tydon, after Luke's sister got disturbing visions about his wellbeing. There was no significant reason to inform them.

Sorjon, I want you to make contact with Coruscant and ask for an update on this matter. What do they known and how do they want to proceed? There also is a way to provide Luke and Leia with information about this new development. I will ask Miss Solichor to help us."

Sorjon Tyloban nodded.

"Mon, although Quoith's technicians told me we shouldn't worry about what our opponent has done I think we must take those threatening content added to those altered file seriously."

"Ask Quoith to send us the exact content of those attachments so we can decide what consequences they apply. What further actions has been taken after Quoith discovered the amendments, Sorjon."

"Several actions, Mon. First of all they shielded off the access to the partition our opponent was allowed to access.

Next they told me that with help from Coruscant's undercover agent they got access to the communication system in the Outer Rim. I was informed about that and gave my permission to proceed, not knowing what our Quoith technician exactly would do, for they completely shut down the Outer Rim system after they had erased not only the illegal downloads, but any data on the system.'

However, Quoith also took some temporary extra precautions to check our whole system on hazardous programs and possible malevolent viruses. For at least a whole standard months all the ingoing and outgoing connections with Irithim are placed under tight surveillance. Moreover our intelligence force has ordered Quoith to establish a indefinite shut down of the secret connection with your residence under Na'ctaMagh'Ba as an extra precaution. Our intel forces have gotten a serious indication that intruders have tried to intercept the access coordinates of that connection."

'Liane!' Mon Mothma thought, 'I have to find a way to warn her immediately. I didn't expect a shut down of the communication system on Na'ctaMagh'Ba.'

"That's inconvenient, Sorjon, with commander Skywalker and his sister in the Palomintar System, looking for Ian Tydon, it will be really difficult to ask miss Solichor to inform them. "

"I know, Mon, that you had regular contact with miss Solichor on Na'ctaMagh'Ba, but as long as our intelligence force is of the opinion that the underground residence communication system might cause a danger, they will not give their permission to active the system. "

The two leaders of the New Republic looked at each other.

"Mon, could you pay her a personal visit to tell her what's going on?"

"I was just thinking about that, Sorjon." The Supreme Chancellor said as she rose.

"I hereby transfer my responsibilities to you, Sorjon. Inform the other members of the High Council that I am temporarily absent. Given the uncertain situation on Quoith, that is a reliable reason, but do not give any information about the disconnection of the com-link in the underground residence, nor about my departure to Na'ctaMagh'Ba. I will return as soon as possible."

Sorjon Tyloban left. For some moments Mon Mothma sat in thoughts behind her desk, then she activated her infocom and ordered to have the submersible ready as soon as possible. Thereafter she walked over to the wall of her office, pressed a code on a small console and waited. After a couple of minutes the holographic image of the Dalmaranian general governor popped up.

"You want to go to Na'ctaMagh'Ba, Ma'am Chancellor?" The Dalmaranian asked politely.

"Yes governor, I need to go there as soon as possible."

"We will inform our surveillance subs around the continent about your arrival at the underground residence, madam. Will someone accompany you?"

"Only three droids which are responsible for submersible."

"Have a quiet trip, Ma'am Chancellor."

"Thank you for your cooperation, governor, " Mon Mothma said cordially and switched off the display, then she went back to her desk and requested a procon connection with Quoith. Due to the shut down the requested connection took some time, but finally the holographic of Haym Nefloren popped up.

"I expected your call, Ma'am Chancellor."

"Tell me more about what has happened and how serious the damage of the Quoith system is," Mon Mothma said.

Haym Nefloren gave a detailed account of what had happened. Mon Mothma listened intently and asked a few questions.

"Thank you, master Nefloren. Your team has done a fine job. If you contact our friend on the Basilisæa tell he that I held the highest esteem for his expertise, and thank him for his support on this matter. The cooperation between your team and him is invaluable. I give my prior consent to proceed with whatever is necessary."

"That's very generous, Ma'am Chancellor. I understand that the shut down of the connection with your underground residence is highly inconvenient. As soon as we are certain that the Quoith communication system if free of any hazardous data I will inform the intelligence force on Irithim to re-establish the connection with Na'ctaMagh'Ba."

"For the time being, master Nefloren, I want the connection with Na'ctaMagh'Ba should remain in shut down as Irithim's intels asked Quoith to do. I have my reason for it. So you don't have to take any action concerning that special connection. "

"As you wish, Ma'am Chancellor. We will be able to reconnect with Na'ctaMagh'Ba as soon as we hear from you. "

"Thank you for the information you provided, master Nefloren."

"At your service, Ma'am Chancellor, thank you for calling us."

The connection disappeared. Mon Mothma locked her desk and took her private elevator to the underground river where the submersible was waiting for her already.

To be continued...