Chapter 54

"Inform lord Golluth, that admiral Vestor of the Basilisaea has arrived. He had ordered me to meet him," The highest ranking officer said on a demanding tone, while he looked at the officer who was accompanying him. The latter nodded in agreement.

The droid activated his infocom. A few moments later a protocol droid showed up.

"My master bids you welcome, admiral Vestor. Please, be so kind, to leave any weapon with our guards."

The guarding droids inspected the two officers and nodded to the protocol droid.

"You're clear. Step inside, please, follow me." A protocol droid said.

The two officers were led through a maze of corridors lit with electric torches, until they reached a double door. Two guarding droids opened them and the small group walked on.

"Welcome, admiral, have you found that Jedi Skywalker, or Ian Tydon? Did you bring with you those spare parts I requested to repair my communication system. And this companion of you is the sophisticated technician I need to fix it?" Darth Golluth said on a grumpy tone, turning his chair to face his visitors.

"This is lieutenant Doran Whain, my lord. He is the best technician I have on board the Basilisaea, but he also wants to tell tell you something, that might interest you," Admiral Vestor said and bowed.

"Speak up, lieutenant. What's so interesting?" Darth Golluth grumbled.

"My lord, the girl you're after, resides on Dalmaran," The lieutenant said.

Darth Golluth rose and walked down the three steps of his dais. Slowly he crossed the floor until he stood rigidly upright before the two men.

"Are you sure, about what you're saying?"

"Yes, sir. The New Republic's leader is hiding her in an underground residence."

"Go on."

"It is on the Dalmaranian continent of Na'ctaMagh'Ba. Na'ctaMagh'Ba is prohibited territory for anyone who isn't Dalmarian scientist. The underground residence has been constructed in the cavern network of the continent."

"How do you know all this?"

"Two months ago, the Imperial Intelligence Service ordered me to hack the Quoith computer system of the New Republic. I've infected Quoith's main system with a computer virus. Hacking the system was not easy, but the virus that I've put into Quoith's system won't be easily detected. I have retrieved information about the message logging of lady Mon Mothma, the New Republic's leader. She has communicated with an secret system on Na'ctaMagh'Ba every other day. In one of that messages she is talking to some one she calls Liane. I'm almost certain that she is the girl you're looking for," lieutenant Whain said, but he also thought, 'And so the intelligence service, for she could be a threat to the truce with the New Republic, if the daughter of Darth Vader teams up with this guy.'

"Wonderful, lieutenant. Is that all? I hope, that I'm not disappointing you, but this isn't real news to me. I already know all this. Recently some of my spies on Dalmaran have already tried to set foot on Na'ctaMagh'Ba, but their mission failed as they were intercepted by fourteen Dalmaranian control squads in submarines. Another of my contacts on Dalmaran has tried to login at a communication system which that rebel leader has been using every other day via a highly encrypted communication code. That must have been the system you just mentioned, but that connection turned out to be at Mas'onom space port."

"Impossible, sir. I'm absolutely certain, that lady Mon Mothma communicated with an infocom communication system in her underground residence."

Darth Golluth started to laugh in a nasty way.

"I have another disappointment for you, lieutenant. Quoith's computer experts have already intercepted your undetectable computer virus. I must say, your attempt hasn't been really as successful as you're boasting. Those rebels technicians are more sophisticated than you, for they even succeeded to shut down my entire communication system and erased all the information I needed. The Quoith technician have completely screened, cleaned and blocked my system, so I can't reach my spies on Dalmaran, Palomintar Six, or other places. My droids only managed to set up a short range communication with the Basilisaea. So in fact you're the one who is to blame for this disaster. You have done a miserable job, lieutenant. You're highly incompetent."

"Maybe I can establish access to the Quoith system again," the young lieutenant said submissively.

"With the main part of my communication equipment ruined," Darth Golluth snarled.

"What happened, my lord?" Admiral Vestor interrupted, "In your message you mentioned you needed spare parts to repair your communication system."

Darth Golluth made an irritated gesture.

"My tech droids are working on it, but they told me, that we haven't enough spare parts to get the system up and running again. Perhaps this sophisticated technician of yours can put things in order again. I'm really done with those droids."

"I can provided you with anything you need, my lord. Let me inform my men on the Basilisaea. They can send down a pod immediately. I have warned you before, my lord, it wasn't a good idea to use droids only," the admiral commented.

"I know, I know, but storm troopers might betray this hiding place. Follow me. I'll show you."

Darth Golluth strode to the doors. The two imperial officers followed him with a cautious look. After a short walk through the underground corridors they entered a cavern which was designed as a computer center. Admiral Vestor held his breath, and the young lieutenant looked around in dismay. Darth Golluth noticed their embarrassment and started to laugh.

"It's a mess, I know, and the main problem is, I am the cause of it. Those droids promised they will fix it. Lieutenant, maybe you'd better start immediately to fix this mess for me?"

"I'll give your droids a hand, sir," the young lieutenant.

"That's the least you can do. You have to make up for wasting my time with your so called interesting news, and your and your bragging about your incredible expertise. You can use those sophisticated talents of you on the Quoith communication system from here, and afterwards you can continue with your investigations on that Na'ctaMagh'Ba system," Darth Golluth snarled to lieutenant Whain, "Get to work and see to it, that I can use this communication system again."

Lieutenant Whain bowed, but neither Darth Golluth nor the Admiral of the Basilisaea saw the slight glimmer of triumph in his eyes.

Darth Golluth beckoned the admiral to follow him to his audience chamber. Once inside he turned to admiral Vestor with a menacing grin.

"Send for the spare parts I need quickly, admiral. Consider it a gift. A gift from a loyal servant of the empire to the new supreme leader," he snapped, "Your so-called highly sophisticated technician computer expert will stay with me for an indefinite time. It will be much easier for me to communicate with an human, than with those programmed protocol droids and techs. Don't worry, admiral, I will take good care of this young man, for I need his expertise. And now you must go back to Basilisaea and continue your search for those Skywalkers and their padawan Tydon."

"What about Lady Vader, my lord?" admiral Vestor asked.

"As soon as your sophisticated technical computer expert has reassembled my communication system and have it up and running again I will use the information I already have about her whereabouts to inform my spies on Dalmaran again. They will capture her and bring her to Palomintar Four. Lady Vader is no longer your concern. I will deal with her myself. I know now where they are hiding her. You bring me those other Jedi."

Darth Golluth made an dismissive gesture.

"As you wish, my lord," The admiral said and left the cave.

A protocol droid brought him back outside the underground network. It took him less than an hour before he docked the shuttle on board the Basilisaea. Quickly he walked over to the command center.

"Send down a pod to these coordinates and load it these parts," he ordered and handed a deck officer a datapad, then turned to the captain, "As soon as you get confirmation of the pod's launch, you may start the engines, and move the ship out of this planet's gravity field, but stay in orbit."

The orders were carried out immediately and the imperial star destroyer Basilisaea positioned herself at a high orbit at Palomintar Four.

After admiral Vestor had left, Darth Golluth rushed back to his communication center and was delighted to see that already a major part of his communication system had been nearly reassembled.

"Good work, my dear lieutenant, good work. Indeed you seem to have some expertise in this matter. Carry on, carry on, I want my system up and running tonight."

"I do what I can, sir," the young man said and continued to fix some parts in place.

"How long will it take, before I can use it again?" Darth Golluth grumbled.

"I need time to test it, before you will have access to it again."

"Be more precise, lieutenant. Can I use it tonight?"

The young man looked up and shook his head.

"No, as I said I need time to test the system and make sure I can establish an outside connection. I have to infiltrate and connect with the New Republic's computer in Quoith to set up the outside connection. I have to be cautio..."

Darth Golluth pointed his walking stick at the young man and hit him with some heavy electric bolds. The young man cringed.

"You should address me with 'my lord' in every sentence you speak, lieutenant, and I order you to have my communication system fixed tonight. I don't want any further excuses. Understood."

"As you wish, my lord," the lieutenant murmured with some obedience in his voice, but he gritted his teeth.

"Good, I will be back after I have had my dinner. If you fail me again, you will pay the price for your lack of loyalty and commitment, lieutenant."

Darth Golluth left the room. The imperial lieutenant watched him go.

"I wonder who's going to pay the highest price in the end?" he murmured between his teeth.

"Did you say something, sir," one of the tech droids asked.

"No, carry on fixing those parts underneath this circuitry. You're a great help. You all are quite skilled bunch."

"Thank you, we're all very glad to help you to get this fixed. We hope that our master won't do any damage to it again. Every time, as he is loosing his temper, the damage gets worse. We hope you will be staying here for a while, sir. Maybe you are able to tell our master to control his outrage."

"I need to get back to my assignment on the Basilisaea, after I have fixed this mess," lieutenant Whain answered.

A protocol droid had entered the communication center and had heard lieutenant Whain's last words.

"I'm sorry, sir, but Darth Golluth has told admiral Vestor that you will stay with us for an indefinite time. Your assignment on the Basilisaea has been canceled. My master has ordered me to put these two droids as your permanent guards."

Lieutenant Whain jumped to his feet and cast an angry look at two armed droids.

"Are you telling me, that that...I am kept here as a hostage? I'm an imperial officer and I take only orders from the admiral on the Basilisaea."

"The admiral has agreed with your stay, sir. You can complain later, if you think you aren't treated fairly."

Lieutenant Whain made an attempt to reach the door, but the two droids blocked his path.

"You'd better get the job done, before our master gets really annoyed with your insubordinate behavior, sir," the protocol droid commented, "You're not leaving this communication center until our master finds this system is working flawlessly again. When you're ready, you can tell your guards."

The protocol droid left and the two droids stationed themselves in front of the door. The imperial lieutenant cast another look at them, still objecting to his situation in a load voice.

"This is outrageous. I want to report this immediately to admiral Vestor. He probably doesn't know anything of what is going on here. Where is my infocom? "

He fumbled in his breast pocket, but to his surprise his infocom was gone, as were some other personal belongings.

"Where is my infocom? I want it back immediately! Do you hear!"

He jumped to his feet again and rushed to the door, but the two droids pointed their weapons at him.

"Get back to work, lieutenant," one of them buzzed angrily.

"Where is my infocom, you mechanical idiots!"

"Confiscated at the entrance, lieutenant. Infocoms and weapons are prohibited. All ways of communication with outside planets are only granted to Darth Golluth."

Perplexed and suppressing his outrage lieutenant Whain slowly returned to work on the communication system.

Leia, Han, Ian and Chewbacca looked at the huge holographic map that popped up from Luke's infocom.

"I've got this map from Cornell. I have been studying it and there are several possible ways to get inside the cave network, Trevor is using as his shelter," Luke pointed at a certain point on the map, "Toallin and Mugin could tell me some extra details about the layout of the different caverns and the connecting corridors they have been working on during their force labor. Pieced together there could be a more than reliable chance that there might exist one or more connections between the old underground riverbed, and the cave network. I'm quite sure it's possible to use one of these connections to get inside, if I want to find a way to face or confront him," Luke said.

"You want to find a way to face, you want to find a way to confront, what about we face or confront," Leia said with some irritation in her voice, "and you are forgetting my padawan? There are three of us, Luke, to confront this Sith lord if necessary."

"No I haven't forgotten, Leia, but I want Han, Ian and Chewbacca to start supporting Cornell and his harvest men. Look, this area is the old dry riverbed behind the vineyard. The underground river once resurfaced through entrance of the underground network. From there the river filled this deep dry valley east of its exit point. This lake overflowed behind these low hills before following the dried riverbed where we landed the first time. Some of the underground caverns probably have been part of the underground river. Chati told me that she and her elder cousins used to play hide and seek in the cave near the entrance, and she also has observed Trevor in a huge cavern which, according to what her father had told her, once had been a cistern. Cornell told me that they are working out and have begun with a plan to change the recent course of the river, and redirect it to its original underground bedding. While Han, Ian and Chewbacca are giving the harvest men a hand with their plan, I want to investigate the underground river bedding track with you, Leia, and see if we can use it to approach Ribana's surroundings, or Trevor's shelter unnoticed."

"And what if that underground track isn't accessible?" Han asked.

"If we can't use the underground bedding we have to find a way through the former river exit."

"Your plan holds many uncertainties and unseen dangers. What if Darth Golluth makes use of probe droids, surveillance probes or what ever, and take you prisoner, or worse?" Han retorted.

"Han is right, Luke. What can we expect once we're inside that underground network?" Leia remarked.

"One thing is sure, Leia. We won't encounter any imperial storm troopers. Toallin and Mugin are absolutely convinced that Trevor is only using droids to serve him. I'm sure we can handle them."

Leia sighed. She knew her brother well enough not to object, but still she didn't find his plans convincing.

"Don't go alone, Luke, let's do this together, all of us. We still don't know enough about Trevor's Sith knowledge. What if he is more dangerous than we suppose he is?"

"Leia, there is no if. We have to assume, that he has gained some Sith knowledge. You know that we have to fight the Dark Side in our galaxy and although Palomintar isn't a member of the New Republic we're obliged to use our power as Jedi Knights to avoid the spreading of Sith lore again."

"How will we proceed, kid?" Han asked.

"We'll use the Millennium Falcon to land on Myr. We will take a group of harvest men with us. You have to land the Falcon at this point near the mountain ridge. It's a grassy plain in a deep ravine surrounded with forest and it is as close as I want to approach Ribana. It's also near the spot where Cornell and his men want to continue with their work as part of our plan. Cornell will show us the waterfall and see if the stream can be redirected. If that doesn't work out the way I hope it will, we'll have discuss some other options. Do we agree?"

"I still think your plan has too many uncertainties, but I see no other option, kid. I told you from the beginning that we need more men, or reinforcements from Dalmaran. When are we leaving?"

"Wedge and Yarmod are on their way to Dalmaran to protect Liane. As soon as I've heard from him that he and Yarmod have arrived in Mon Mothma's residence we'll proceed. It will probably take a day, maybe two before we will go to Myr. I will inform Toallin and Mugin about our decision."

"One question, kid. How will we be able to keep in touch with you, if you're inside that underground riverbed on your own?" Han asked.

"Leia and Ian can communicate with in the Jedi way, Han, through the Force."

"Great, what's wrong with an infocom?"

"Might not work, darling," Leia said with a sigh.

Han shrugged his shoulder and looked meaningful at his partner. Chewbacca grumbled a long sentence.

"Chewie says you could pin some kind of homing beacon on your clothes so we can track you. He also suggests, he should accompany you inside the underground riverbed. "

Luke's face brightened.

"Haven't thought of that. I will do so, if I can find a device with a sufficient scope. I let you know. Thank you, Chewie, but I'm afraid the underground riverbed isn't fit for Wookiees, but I appreciate your offer."

The speeder came to an abrupt stop, the engine whined and died out. Wedge Antilles and Yarmod Martan both clad as Jedi Knights jumped out and looked around.

"This must be the spot where we have to find our entrance to the cave where Luke has hidden the Jedi library of Coruscant." Wedge said to Yarmod. "We have to look for a deep cave where we can hide this speeder."

Yarmod Martan started scrambling through the thick undergrowth, pushing aside several thorny bushes with sleeve of his cassock. Thick branches hindered his efforts. Disappointed he had to give up and he returned to the speeder.

In the meantime Wedge Antilles had observed the bushy area quietly.

"Recall the instructions Luke has given us, Yarmod. He said we had to look for a cave at the left side of this dead end gorge. You're looking at the wrong spot, young padawan."

Yarmod's face got red.

"Yes, master," He murmured.

"You're still to eager to look for results, my young friend. You must learn to use any knowledge you've gained and observe your surroundings. I think the cave entrance is behind that high wall with thick green leaves. Let's have a look."

Wedge walked over to some enormous eight meter high bushes that spread their branches in all directions. Carefully he checked the ground underneath. Finally he pushed aside several branches at the right end of the bushes.

"There's a kind of walkway over here, Yarmod. This is probably the entrance to the cave. Stay with the speeder I'll be right back."

Wedge vanished behind the branches, but returned almost immediately.

"Push the speeder slowly forward along the path, Yarmod. The cave entrance is indeed behind these bushes. I will keep the branches aside."

He raised his hand using a Force push and the branches bowed upwards, leaving enough space for the speeder to pass underneath. Behind it was a more than man-sized cave entrance, which the bushes covered completely. It was dark inside. After he had driven the speeder through the cave's entrance, Yarmod ignited the speeder's lights. The headlights cast four narrow beams of light on the walls. To the right the cave wall had formed a bend, a well hidden area near the back of the cave.

"Now we have to find the chasm to get inside," Wedge said and activated his infocom a retrieved the map.

"Over there, master, I think," Yarmod said pointing to the small dotted line that seemed to vanish through the rear wall."

"Let's have a look."

They walked to the cave wall and saw a dark chasm that seemed to lead further inside and under the mountain ridge.

Wedge nodded.

"This must be the entrance, Yarmod. I'll contact Luke and tell him we've reached the entrance to the cavern, where we will meet Liane, but before we proceed, we will take a short break and have something to eat. We might not be able to get some rest before we have reached Mon Mothma's underground residence."

"What's hidden in that cavern, master?" Yarmod asked.

"Luke and Leia have rescued a numerous amount of boxes with datacrons from a hidden vault in the former Jedi library under the ruins of the Jedi temple on Coruscant. Luke has plans to build a new Jedi library in Irithim, but he lacks time to start that project, so for the time being those boxes are stored under this mountain ridge. I know that Luke has visited this place a few times to study the Jedi lore and its history. During my final trials, he promised me, that he would show me this spot, but after he had found Liane on Endor, and our mission to Lumeara crossed his intentions."

"Master Luke has spent a lot of his time with Liane Solichor. Do you know why he did, master?"

"I'll first contact Luke. During our break I'll tell you what Luke has told me about Liane." Wedge answered.

Wedge took off his cloak, folded it neatly and sat down, using his folded cloak as a cushion, then he took the common cross-legged meditation stance and concentrated on the Force.

'Luke, Yarmod and I have found the entrance to the Jedi cavern.' He said telepathically.

'Good work, Wedge. As soon as Liane will contact me, I'll will tell her that you're on your way to meet her.'

'We'll take a break at the entrance, before we start our underground walk, Luke. I want Yarmod to rely more his Force awareness. He has to learn to control uncertain feelings on a mission like this. He needs to develop steadfastness to face difficulties. Sometimes he isn't fully one with the Force yet. Besides, do you mind if I tell Yarmod a bit more about your relationship with Liane? He asked me about it.'

'Not at all, Wedge. Take your time, that will also give Liane some respite to reach the cave in case she is currently in the Mon Mothma residence. It's quite a distance to get there, you know.'

'I'll contact you again as we have reached our final destination, Luke.'

'Very well. I'll be waiting for our next contact.'

Wedge released himself from his Jedi trance and looked at Yarmod. He took out some rations from one of the pocket on his utility belt.

"We have a meal and then I will tell you about Liane and the relationship between her and Luke as far as I know the facts."

His young padawan sat himself on the opposite side.

"She is a strange woman, master. On the one hand she is helpful and compassionate, on the other hand she is using her dark power if she becomes outraged, or angered. Her compassionate side I felt, when Ian and I helped her on Endor when she was healing those wounded little tree bears. She used the Force to cure and heal them, but she told us that she feared the influence of the Force on her. She even could use a form of Jedi Battle Meditation, showing the wounded Ewoks their recovery. You've told me that Jedi Battle Meditation can only be mastered through a long training."

"That's true, Yarmod. Liane possesses a great Force potential. Luke has told me that when he met Liane on Morantan the first time the enormous Force flow between them completely overwhelmed him. The way she attacked him using the Force almost flawlessly nearly put him of balance."

"After she had been sentenced and sent to Wegoyy, master Luke went to visit her, didn't he?"

"He did. He visited her for a special reason, my young padawan. You probably have heard who raised her."

"Yes, master, Darth Vader. He fostered her and taught her to use the Dark Side of the Force. That's what she told us on Endor. Master, I felt her Force use of hatred and anger, when she attacked commander Dendicott with Force Stasis. That's the other side of her character."

"That kind of Force use scares her too, my young padawan. She fears the influence of the Dark Side on her actions. That's the reason why Luke still hasn't been able to convince her to follow the Jedi path and become his padawan learner."

"Do you really believe, master, that she can be a Jedi Knight?"

"Yes I do, my young padawan. Liane has a very compassionate character. She wants to help and take care of people who need her help. You just said, that you have experience her compassion yourself, when she was treating the wounded bears ."

"Why is master Luke so concerned about her, master? Sometime his behavior feels as he is in love with her. Does he hope that she will answer those feelings?"

For a moment Wedge was silent.

"Luke's not in love with her, Yarmod, but he and Liane are twin souls, or soul mates. They are eternal partners, probably ever since the Jedi exist. That sounds incredible, isn't it? You know what the Jedi creed says: There is no death, there is the Force. Luke and Liane are a couple of luminous beings in the Force, who will meet each other over and over again. They are some very special servants of the Force who return to the Force after their existence and physical death in the galaxy. They meet and become partners again in a next Force life. This cycle is repeated over and over again."

After Wedge's words both master and apprentice were silent for a long time. At last Yarmod looked up.

"Does Liane know about this relationship with master Luke, master. Does she accept her bond with him?"

"She does, my young padawan, which is a great relieve to Luke. He already knew it since their first encounter on Morantan. That's the reason why he put so much effort in becoming her friend. In the beginning her negative behavior caused a lot of sorrow on my old master. When Liane had lost her memories due to the treatment they gave her on Wegoyy I've often felt his desperation, because he didn't know where to look for her. During my final trials on Dagobah master Luke saw her a couple of times, but she didn't recognize him, because she couldn't recall her memories. As he saw her image in a flash I sensed his frustration and sadness."

Again they silenced. Each of them was completely preoccupied with their own thoughts.

"I wonder ..." Yarmod started, but he didn't finish his words.

Wedge nodded and a variety of expression flowed over his face.

"We will meet her again soon, my young padawan. Now I want you to focus yourself on the Force and carry out the Jedi meditation I taught you recently. Let the Force show you the answers to all your questions. Feel how she surrounds you, me, the speeder and those bushes outside. Reach out behind this cave wall and you will feel even Liane's presence through the Force, for our ally binds us to everything in this galaxy."

Liane paced excitedly back and forth between the pond and the terrace. She felt so elated that it became very difficult to fully concentrate on the Force so she could use the Jedi-pendant. More than once she took the Jedi-pendant in her hand and turned it over to look at the words in Jediese on the back. As she had done in the Jedi cavern she sought her union with the Force.

"Mezorahimed dejan Forka imajors dejan bacarlam." She read half aloud and lookedat the engravings once again. For a moment the characters became a bit blurred, but all of a sudden the meaning of those words formed itself in her mind.

"May the Force always be with them, she has united forever. Oh, I'd wished I should have understood the meaning of these words earlier, because those words mean that Force unites me with Luke forever as she always has done. He knew their meaning when he engraved them, because he hoped I would understand their meaning too. Luke wants me to be his partner again, to be together forever and ever, like we've always been. Oh, Luke, my eternal comrade, this is all so incredible. You won't believe me if I tell what has happened to me."

'Give it a whirl, my dearest friend.' She heard and looked up.

The apparition of Luke Skwywalker stood near the terrace. In a rush she ran over to him.

"Luke, listen, this is so important for you and me. I know how to read the datacrons which are written in Jediese. Nomi Sunrider taught me how to do it. I am a relative of Nomi Sunrider, Luke. She is my ancestral mother. I belong to the bloodline of Nomi Sunrider. Isn't this wonderful; I never expected this. Did you?" She stumbled over her words.

Luke Skywalker looked at the sparkling eyes of his dearest friend, and laughed.

'So you've met your ancestress, Nomi Sunrider. Ben, Anakin and master Yoda already more or less told me, although they never mentioned her name. But it's good to know, you have found out this yourself, Liane. '

"It was so odd, Luke. I saw her appear and I had a feeling I was looking at my reflection in a mirror. Her eyes and the color of her hair are the same as mine. She has told me all about her and Ulic Qel-Droma. Their daughter Shaayla has passed on their combined Force power to all the next generations and finally to Severini, my mother, and she has passed it on to me. Oh, Luke, do you know what this means."

'This new knowledge can serve a lot of purposes, my lovely pixie.'Luke commented calmly.

Liane hardly listened to his calm comment as she continued excitedly:

"Luke, it means that I have a real past, that I've inherited my Force skills from someone. I am so glad she told me. I still can comprehend it. And then she said I had to use the Force to read her story. I took the box with the datacrons of her story with me to Mon Mothma's residence. You already transcribe a few datacrons into Basic. I will translate and transcribe everything, so you can read her story too."

Luke started to laugh

'My dearest overexcited comrade, calm down for a moment. Have you forgotten that I am a fully trained Jedi Knight. I appreciate your effort, but if you can read those datacrons in Jediese, wouldn't I be able to do the same?'

For a moment Liane look stupefied, then her face got an elated expression.

"Of course and you will do so much better, than I do. I'll tell you how to do it. It's really easy. Nomi is such a wonderful woman, Luke, she told me how she learned to control Jedi Battle Meditation. She said it was very difficult. I want to learn that too, Luke. I want to be a Jedi like Nomi."

'Liane, I understand you want to share all this new knowledge with me, I'm really glad you do, but calm down a bit. I have to tell you something.'

"What's so important, Luke?" Liane asked, but Luke felt that she wasn't paying real attention to his words.

'Liane, I taught you to be mindful of the moment. I want you to concentrate.'

Liane heard the Jedi tone of his voice. She blinked and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry, Luke. What you want to tell me?"

'Wedge and Yarmod are on their way to the Jedi cavern. You don't have to hurry, for they take a break, before they go on.'

Liane nodded.

"I hope they will like it here and won't get bored. This isn't a real exciting place, if you're used to an active life. How are you doing on Palomintar Four? Are Han and Leia with you? Did you make a plan to give the Quelans their hometown back? I hope you will find a way to help them, Luke, so you can come back."

For a moment Luke pondered on her words and realized that she did not mentioned her adversary. He felt no fear or anxieties around her as in her mind she still seemed occupied with her new relationship with Nomi Sunrider. The threat emanating from Darth Golluth did not seem to scare her at the moment. Her concern focused on the well-being of his new friends, the Quelans.

'You know I want to be together again with you, Liane,' He said with a smile, 'but we have to be patient. At least it is be a great relieve to know that a Jedi Knight is protecting you.'

"Stop worrying about my safety, Luke. It appears that additional security measures have been taken to prevent intruders from entering here unexpectedly. The entrance can be sealed off with heavy durasteel blast doors both in and outside. The tech droids have showed me how activate a set of blast door, so the transparisteel entrance will be sealed off. Unfortunately I can't show it to you without losing my connection with the Force."

'Did you activate those doors, my dearest comrade.'

"Should I, Luke. I don't want to look this place as a kind of prison." Liane said reluctantly.

'Activate them, Liane, before you go to the Jedi cavern. Show Wedge how to operate those doors. He can decide whether you should use them as additional protection. I think you should, but I leave it up to him.' Luke said. He immediately noticed that his words evoked Liane's resistance. The look in her eyes had become dark and gloomy. He started laughing. 'Don't get angry with me, my lovely pixie. I know you can decide things yourself. Show it to Wedge, discuss it with him, and please, Liane, rely on his judgement.'

"If he says it's safe to keep the entrance doors unguarded I will certainly keep those blast doors deactivated," Liane said determinedly.

Luke laughed once again.

'In that case you may do as you please.' He said and he softly continued, 'Liane, my dearest friend, I'm only saying this, because I don't want any harm will be done to you. I want you to be safe and protect you as I promised Anakin.'

The expression on Liane's face relaxed. She started laughing too.

"I'd better be going, Luke, otherwise your friend and Yarmod will have found the Jedi cavern before I'll be there. Mezorahimed dejan Forka tusale, my eternal friend, and be careful. I care for you."

'Mezorahimed dejan Forka tusale, my stubborn pixie. I care for you too.'

Luke's Force appearance vanished. Liane quickly walked over to the living. She activated the control panel, dimmed the lights and pressed the red button. Immediately the blast doors were activated and sealed off the entrance to the hidden residence. After having informed Threepio and Artoo about the arrival of Wedge Antilles and Yarmod Martan she set off to meet her new companions.