Chapter 65
"en, I have thought about what you said about a Jedi in hibernation needs a nutri-liquid to survive," Chati said, while they were exploring the dry riverbed again, "I sensed you're a bit worried about surviving in Jedi hibernation, especially when a special trigger word is needed to wake you up."
"That's true, Chati. If not getting a nutri-liquid even a Jedi will die of starvation. I like to hear what you've been thinking." Luke said encouraging.
"Well, Ben. You said the nutri-liquid has to be injected in the bloodstream. You said it can be done with a needle and a dropper bottle, but I think there's another possible way. You know that Cornell and the other harvesters are using those fiber transparafoil fill with liquid to freeze and crumble the rocks in the canal, but they are also using the same foil to stay alive, when they are harvesting the special nuts in those dense forests in Tyr. During the months they are harvesting the nuts, they mostly are staying in the forests, because traveling back to Cantamaga every night is a loss of time. Staying long in those forests is dangerous. There are predator birds living in the canopy. I have seen them. They are defending their nests and the nuts which is their main food supply. I always took nuts with me when I was roaming the forest. Another danger are the gas clouds. They are poisonous and polluting the water pools in the forest. The harvesters made a kind of breast and back pieces of those fiber foil which they wear on their naked skin. They filled them with liquid and so they were assured of staying alive. The contact of the foil with the skin is so intense that the liquid sips through the skin inside their bodies. Maybe you can use those breast and back pieces under your clothes. They are tied with small straps and buckles. You should ask Cornell about those special equipment. He can show its precise working and perhaps it's a way for a Jedi to survive when in hibernation. "
Luke had listened to Chati's story with interest. What the girl was telling him would solve the need for food and liquid while in hibernation. Chati looked up at her companion.
"Do you think it can be of any use to you, Ben?" She asked.
"Absolutely. Thank you, for telling me this and for your concern about the Jedi hibernation meditation. I certainly will ask Cornell about those fiber foil jackets they use. Good thinking, Chati. I'm glad you came with us, even it wasn't part of our plan." Luke said with a laugh.
"So you will still help me to become a Jedi, Ben?" Chati asked. Her voice sounded relieved.
"Did I ever say otherwise?"
"I thought, you wouldn't want me as a Jedi learner, because I disobeyed the task you had given me."
"You did, but with a good purpose in mind. Next time, you should be a bit more careful about those you left behind and are now worrying about your well-being."
"Oh, my brothers will understand and they will assure my mom and dad." Chati said with a laugh.
"Do your brothers know about your Jedi skills?"
"No, Ben. You said I shouldn't talk about it with any one. I didn't, but I have always been very adventurous, more than my brothers. Were you looking for adventures when you were a young boy like me, Ben? What were your brothers thinking about you."
For a moment Luke looked back through the Force at his youth on Tatooine.
"I only have a sister, Leia, Chati, and she is as adventurous as I am. As long as I remember I wanted to see other places. I wanted to become a space pilot. My uncle gave me a space ship, a T-16 skyhopper for my birthday. It could fly at low altitude. My friend Biggs and I love to race with our skyhoppers in the canyons. It was dangerous, but I loved the excitement it gave."
"Where you never afraid you might crash land your space ship. Didn't your sister warn you for those dangerous rides."
Luke roared with laughter.
"My sister and I have been living separated for a long time. I blew the engine of my skyhopper and my uncle grounded me for the rest of the season. I grew up on a moisture farm and I had to help my uncle with the harvest."
"So you're a harvester, like Cornell and his men."
"In a certain way, yes, but being a moisture farmer on Tatooine is less dangerous, than being a harvesters in the nut forests on Tyr, I think."
"We had a vineyard near Ribana, together with uncle Mugin and his family. I loved to help them, bringing the grapes to wine presses and looking at the grape juice in the fermentation kettles. I guess, nothing is left of what my family, my father and his brother, have build up. They have to start all over."
"I can assure you a bit. I have been at the estate of your parents. The house is undamaged. A lot of work has to be done to the vineyard itself, but within a few seasons it will produce its delicious wine again."
"Have you tasted it, Ben?"
"Your uncle Mugin had managed to bring a few bottles with him on Palomintar Six. When my friends and I decided we should help your father and his brother, your uncle opened those bottles and we had a toast on our friendship."
Ben, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, what's on your mind, Chati?"
"I feel you respect my people's dignity. You don't think we, Quelans, are wierd, do you? "
"Absolutely not. The Quelands are one of the millions of species that live in our galaxy. Why did you ask me?"
"My father told us that we had to careful in our relation with humans, because we can change our skin color and because the Quelans look very different with their bold pointed heads. Probably you're the only one in this galaxy who respects us for what we are."
"Let me tell you this, Chati, and this is a very important lesson. Whenever you will become someone's padawan learner, and later when you are a Jedi Knight yourself, you will meet with many individual which look a lot more different from your own species. Every life form has adapted to its most useful development and as a Jedi you will learn to respect any of those life forms," Luke said while he put his hand on the girl's shoulder and looked at her with a friendly smile.
Han Solo looked at the synchro in the control room of the Falcon. The figures on the countdown display steadily found their way to zero, the moment on which he had reached the Palomintar System at five hundred system diameters. He looked at the timer which gave the actual standard time.
"Chewie, we nearing our goal. Immediately cloak the Falcon as soon as we come out of hyperspace," The former roque captain ordered. His co-pilot grunted an affirmative. Han grinned. If he was honest, he had to confess he enjoyed this adventure near the Outer Rim. It remembered him at old times, long ago, when every trip through hyperspace could bring unexpected encounters. Once again he looked at the countdown display. Less than a standard hour to go. Time to get the Falcon ready for sublight speed. Han walked over to the cockpit of the Falcon and looked through the windscreen. Next to him Chewbacca was busy checking the controls of the ship. For a moment Han observed his lifelong friend. Nothing has changed their bond after Leia had become his wife and joined the crew of the Falcon. He grinned again. This time with warm feeling for the woman who he loved above everything in this galaxy. He sat down in his chair and watched the streaks of plasma, caused by the speed through hyperspace, flow left and right along the hull of the Falcon. This ship has been his home for as long as he remembered. He understand her better than the women he had met during his life as a pirate. But that life was gone, gone and lost after he had teamed up with Luke and Ben Kenobi. His life was different now. He was a married man and a general in the New Republic space fleet. He had responsibilities which he hadn't had before, but he also has friends now which he hadn't had before. He looked up from his reverie when Chewie grunted a few words. Immediately he became alert again.
"Ready, Chewie, we're almost there and we're doing the same thing as before."
A loud question in Shyysk was the answer.
"Of course, I know the order, but I'm a general and my best friend is on his own on a planet with a weird person, who had declared himself as a new Sith lord. We're going to land and we're going to support Luke and those harvesters. Sublight engines standby. Here we are: the Palomintar System. Cloacking on."
The Falcon drifted in the void of space and Han and Chewie did a scanning and a visual search for the imperial star destroyer Basilisaea. Chewie pointed at the display, Han nodded and looked out of the windscreen.
"We move closer slowly, Chewie, and see if we can spot those imperials."
The Wookiee grunted a low series of shreaks under his breath.
"Look, there they are. Lock them on the scanner, Chewie and keep a close watch. I'm going to bring the Falcon around. Set course two-seven-four, that will widen the gap between us. We have to avoid another encounter with this ship. Yes, I know we're cloaked, but that doesn't mean we have to become reckless. Even a cloaked vessel can give away it position by waves of gravity and heatrays of the engines. So, be careful and stay out of sight. I want to reach Palomintar Four without being noticed."
They watched the scanner closely for a while, then Han took the pilotstick of the Falcon and carefully widened the gap a bit more increasing the sublight speed. When the Basilisaea had become a tiny spot on the scanner Han increased the speed of the Falcon further. He entered a special course ending with the coordinates of their former landing spot on Myr in the navi-computer and looked at the display
"Chewie, on my mark we going back in hyperspace. We will near Palomintar Four hopping from planet to planet in this system and keeping those planets between us and the Basilisaea. Now, cut sublight engines."
The Falcon soared away and started her cloaked approach of Palomintar Four.
"Welcome, your Highness. We're greatly honored that you wil join our underwater forces and help us to trap those intruders," The Dalmarian leader Ma'duf'ey said with a deep bow.
"Thank you, governor. The honor is all mine. The fame of your underwater fleet is renowed and I'm obliged to you that your men allow me to join them."
"I would like invite you for an official dinner, but I understand that immediate action is required. The protégée of the Supreme Chancellor seems to be in great danger. However I hope you have some moments to bring out a small toast to our alliance." The governor said.
Leia bowed and accepted the outstretched arm of governor Ma'duf'ey who led her to a temporary set-up camp where he introduced her to his full staff. Leia cordially acquainted the members of the Dalmarian government and took some time to exchange some words with each of them. Some of Ma'duf'ey staff looked surprised at her Jedi outfit. The governor noticed the undisguised looks at his guest and apologized.
"Many of my staff remember your father, vice-roy Bail Organa, your Highness. They are surprised to meet you as a Jedi Knight not wearing the distinctives of the Royal House of Alderaan. "
"I'm not visiting you as a representative of my late father, governor. My skills as a Jedi Knight will be more useful on this mission," Leia answered politely.
Ma'duf'ey offered Leia a drink and Leia brought out a toast to the warm friendship and alliance the Dalmarians always had bestowed on the Alliance during the Civil War and their cooperation after the empire had been defeated."
The members of the Dalmarian government nodded in agreement and applauded after Leia's kind words. The short meeting ended and the governor introduced the captain of the Dalmarian underwater army.
"Captain To'lo'imon, may I introduce to you Leia Organa Skywalker Solo, Jedi Knight and princess of the Royal House of Alderaan."
The captain made a deep bow, but Leia stretched out her hand
"I'm looking forward to cooperate in your mission, captain. Please call me Leia and let us dispences with the official titles. There's hardly of any use for them on our mission."
For a moment Ma'duf'ey and To'lo'imon were taken aback, but then their both faces enlightened.
"The Supreme Chancellor already told me, you're not really caring about your official status." Ma'duf'ey said, "The Dalmarian aren't yet used to your free form of attitude. We highly value official approach and protocol."
But captain To'lo'imon shook hands with Leia.
"I welcome you on board my ship, master Jedi. Your special skills are more than welcome as an extra help. This way, please. Our submarines are waiting and we're ready to start our mission. "
Leia turned to the governor and thanked him for his welcome.
"I would love to have a longer meeting with you, after my men and you have settled this problem, your Highness," Ma'duf'ey said, still maintaining the formal approach.
Leia promissed to come back to Vor'izon with the submarine army of the Dalmarians. Then she followed the captain and commander of the mission to the quai were twenty fully armed submarines were waiting to dive and set course to Na'ctaMagh'Ba. To'lo'imon offered Leia his hand and helped her on board the main submarine carrying the official signs of the Dalmarian government. He led her to the section of the ship where the officers were housed and opened the door to one of the main quarters.
"I made room for you in my own quarter, ... Leia, as the governor wanted me to take care of our special visitor during this mission."
Leia paid full attention to the fine furnished cabin, then she turned to her companion.
"And from where are you commanding our mission, captain?" She asked kindly.
"Please call me, Fern'all," captain To'lo'imon said.
"My pleasure, Fern'all, but you didn't answer my question?"
"Most of the time I will be on the bridge of the ship, but I'm using our only guestroom at the aft of the ship as a temporary command post. I brought all the necessary communciation equipment there, and my technicians have thoroughly tested the system. You mustn't forget, Leia, that not you, but the Supreme Chancellor, the lady Mon Mothma, should be my guest."
"I understand, and I won't embarass you not accepting your offer to stay in this luxurious cabin?"
"You are the representative of the New Republic, Leia, and we're honored to have one of the Jedi Knights of the New Republic on board. But if you will excuse me, I want to get on with the preparations for our departure. Make yourself comfortable, and if you want anything, one of my men will take your order. I'll see you later, then I will introduce you to the crew."
"Fine with me, Fern'all," Leia said.
Captain To'lo'imon left the cabin. Leia closed the door, took off her Jedi coat. She prepared herself to do a Force meditation session first and afterwards tell her brother about the new developments.
The Astræa rushed through hyperspace on her course to Tatooine. Liane, Ian and Yarmod and the two droids were passing the time in the control room of the ship, playing some holographic games. Occasionally one of them looked at the synchro to check the course of the ship. Liane felt restless, mainly because she had made the decision about leaving Na'ctaMagh'Ba against Luke's advice. She tried to reassure her feelings with the idea that Ian and Yarmod were still with her, but she wondered if they really would be able to protect her against the spies and minions of Darth Golluth. She'd better rely on her new skills of the Good Side Luke had taught her and the skills of survival and the art of fighting Anakin had taught her on Morantan, for she had become more and more convinced that not all the knowledge she had gained on Morantan was useless, or forbidden for a Jedi Knight, or found its origin in the knowledge of the Dark Side. She rose and started pacing up and down the control room.
"Are you nervous, Liane?" Ian asked looking up from the holographic board.
Liane shook her head.
"No, not nervous. I feel restless, as if something isn't right."
"What do you mean?" Yarmod asked while he glanced at the synchro, "Do you think we took the wrong decision leaving Na'ctaMagh'Ba? "
Liane laughed.
"We, Yarmod? I made the decision to leave. You and Ian just followed me."
"You're wrong, Liane. Do you really believe we wouldn't have stopped you if we had disagreed with your plan. You're underestimating our Jedi skills. Ian and I considered the consequences of your plan and we came to the conclusion, that you were right about the use of our lightsabers. We both believe it's time for us to get a real lightsaber and as you know the place where we can assemble one we follow you, but we have to reconsider the next step, for you want to go Palomintar Four, don't you?" Yarmod said.
Bewildered Liane looked at the young padawan.
"You went with me, because you want to benefit from my plan?" She asked cross.
"Hey don't get angry with us, Liane, we don't want to benefit. It's unfair to accuse us of disloyality." Ian said calmly, "We just follow the order we've been given: protect you and prevent that some one will bring you to Palomintar Four against your will."
"Yarmod just said, he isn't sure he will go to Palomintar Four after we've assembled our own lightsaber," Liane commented still annoyed.
"Yarmod meant that we have to do some serious talking about the Palomintar part of your plan."
"What ever you both will decide, I'm go to Palomintar Four one way or the other. I want to assist Luke. Listen, Ian, ever since Wedge and Leia came to Mon Mothma's residence I had a bad feeling about Luke being left on his own on Palomintar Four. I saw him in a Force vision laying on bier. He didn't breath and his face was ashen-grey. It wasn't the first time I had that vision. Ian, I fear something terrible might happen to him, if I don't go to Palomintar Four and help him."
"I heard you talking to that guy Trevor. You scolded him, for he had been lying to you. You said that master Luke wasn't dead, so there must be a different explanation of your Force vision, Liane, but I agree with you that those images must have scared you." Ian said with some authority in his voice. He felt that Liane slowly accepted his point of view.
"Liane," he continued, "Months ago I had a Force vision too. I saw you running through the streets of a deserted city. There were imperial stormtroopers running after you."
Liane sat down on a taboret opposite the two padawans. She looked at Yarmod who nodded in agreement.
"You never told me about that vision, Ian?" She said looking seriously, "did you tell Yarmod about it."
"I told Yarmod about my vision when you proposed to leave Na'ctaMagh'Ba, because you wanted to go to Palomintar Four. Liane, not only did I saw those deserted street in that vision; the Force also showed me the name of your opponent: Darth Golluth. That's where all the investigations around that guy started. Those deserted streets, Liane, exist. They are on Palomintar Four in Ribana. I have been there with Toallin and Mugin, the guys who looked after me when I was injured. Master Luke, master Leia and her husband and the Wookiee Chewbacca were with me. We have also seen Darth Golluth as he was strolling through the city at leisure."
For a moment they all were silent, after Ian's story.
You also know the guy's real name, don't you?" Liane asked, "Do you also know, I met him more than once on Morantan."
"Master Leia and I did some investigation on Coruscant. His real name is Trevor Matrik," Ian said.
"You said, you met him on Morantan? Did he live there?" Yarmod asked, "How can you be sure Trevor Matrik and Darth Golluth are one and the same person?"
Liane told them about the investigation Han and Leia had done on Morantan. After she had finished her part of the story, they looked at each other.
"It seems," Yarmod concluded, "that the Force is showing us already the path we have to follow. We'd better rely on her guidance to make our choices. I understand, that you not only want to assist master Luke, but you also want to deal with the impact Trevor Matrik still seems to exert on you."
"Luke says, that as long as he lives in this galaxy I can't live my life in freedom, and that's what I want. I have to deal with Trevor Matrik, guys."
"I follow you to Palomintar Four, Liane," Ian said.
"Me too. We can deal with that guy, after what you told us, Liane," Yarmod said, "but we first need to get our own lightsabers."
Liane jumped to her feet and hugged her two companions.
"I'm sorry, guys, that I became a bit cross about your words. Let's stick together and help each other."
"We will, Liane. We're your protectors, as long as you take the lead." Ian said with a laugh.
The leader of the four intruders raised his hand.
"Stop firing, boys. It's no use. Those blast doors are too strong for our blasters. We go back to Mas'onom and get some heavier stuff, but first I'm going to inform that colonel on Palomintar Four. I want to convince him, that we're the guys who deserve the reward for finding the secret residence and the one who's living here."
"Are you telling him the exact coordinates, boss?" One of the men asked.
"Of course not. I'll keep that information to myself, unless that colonel agrees with our conditions and his promise that we're the ones who wil get the reward."
The leader activated the infocom on board the submersible and type the codes to get access to his contact on Palomintar Four. Relaxed he leaned backwards in the chair. His men had done a good job. They would be rich. One million credits was the reward for discovering the hidden hide-out of the girl. Bringing her to Palomintar Four would be a matter of days. He would persuade the colonel to make some payments in advance, so they could buy some heavier weaponry and explosives. The holographic display flickered and the image of lieutenant Whain appeared.
"Full report," Whain ordered looking stern.
"Colonel, those coordinates you gave us were excellent stuff. We've found a secret hide-out under Na'ctaMagh'Ba." The leader said with some pride in his voice.
"Give me the exact coordinates," Whain ordered.
"I'll will give you those figures, if you agree with some conditions my men and I want, colonel."
"You have nothing to demand, you twerp," Whain said surly.
"Colonel, you're on the other side of the galaxy and we're on the spot ..."
At that moment the connection became disrupted and the holographic image of colonel Whain vanished.
"Boss, some ten surveillance submersibles are entering the cave!" One of the men looking at a display yelled.
"Open the valves and let us sink to the bottom of the river. I'm going to get us out upstream. Start the engines."
"Immediately the men closed the hatch and the submersible sank under water. The engine started and the vessel slowly move upstream along the rocky walls.
Outside in the cave the ten surveillance submersible were followed by one of the larger vessel of the Dalmarian fleet. It completely blocked the entrance of the underground river. On board Fern'all To'lo'imon looked satisfied and turned around to his guest.
"Thank you, Leia. Excellent how you pinpointed the existance of that forbidden vessel. We didn't have to do much research. You, Jedi, have very powerful skills which are useful for their allies."
Leia bowed and smiled.
"Thank you, Fern'all, but it's not a complete matter of using my Jedi skills. I have been here a few times to visit Mon Mothma's protégée. I knew the exact location of the underground entrance and I've got a message from my brother that those intruders were firing at the entrance doors. These kind of guys are bounty hunters and won't let their bounty slip through their fingers."
"They can't escape? The commander of the surveillance subs just reported they are moving upstream."
"Upstream the riverbed narrows to a gap under a rocky bridge formation. Their vessel can't pass through that gap." Leia said calmly.
"Splendid. I will asked the commander of the surveillance team to force them to get to the surface."
Fern'all To'lo'imon activated the infocom of his vessel and gave the order to the surveillance subs. Immediately all the ten subs dived. Fern'all opened the main frequency of the infocom to follow the team.
"Unknown vessel get to the surface. You're under arrest. You have been violating a strict order and have entered the forbidden waters around Na'ctaMagh'Ba. If you don't surrender we fire and have you drowned."
"Get a bit faster, guys. We're still ahead of them. If this river makes a bend we can outrun them," the leader said.
"Boss, look! Straight ahead there's only rock. The river is a dead end." His helmsman yelled.
"Impossible. I'm registering a fast flow along the ship. The water is still flowing."
"They are gaining ground on us, boss."
"I'll get a message from the command ship."
"Don't answer. Full speed ahead."
"Impossible! They say they will fire at us if we don't surrender!"
"Get full speed!"
Suddenly the vessel collided with the rocky wall ahead.
"Boss, the ship's been damaged. We have to get to the surface."
"Get the blasters ready. I'm not going to surrender, I'm going to kill those guys." The leader snarled.
The submersible popped up on the surface. The leader opened the hatch and started firing, but to his surprise his blaster whirled off his hand and sailed in the water.
"Get me another one," He yelled and reached out his hand.
One of his men handed him another blaster. The leader pointed the weapon at the nearby surveillance sub, but again the weapon was drawn from his hand and plunged into the water. The hatches of the surveillance subs opened and heavy armed Dalmarian jumped on the intruder vessel and captured the four men.
On board the Dalmarian army submarine Leia grinned and looked at Fern'all who had been looking surprised at the flying weapons.
"Now I used my Jedi skills, Fern'all. Can you get to the surface too? I need to do further investigations at the surface. You'd better get your vessel back to the open water. It's too big to stay inside this cave, if I'm going to open those blast doors."
"Are you sure, Leia?" Fern'all said and Leia felt his serious responsibility for her safety.
"I need to get inside the hidden residence of the Supreme Leader, Fern'all. This cave has sufficient space for a small submersible to maneuver, but not for this big ship you're commanding or ten surveillance subs."
"I want to leave one of the surveillance subs inside this cave to support you."
"That's fine. They can bring me and my friends back to your ship if necessary."
Fern'all To'lo'imon gave the order to withdraw and tow the damaged submersible to the open water around Na'ctaMagh'Ba. The command vessel of the surveillance sub stayed inside the cave. Leia told the commander to retreat to the underground entrance. She tuned in on the Force and slowly the blast doors, the artifial terrace and the jetty emerged from the under the water. She made a high jump to the other side. The commander moored his vessel, jumped on the jetty and looking amazed at the transparasteel door. Behind it Mon Mothma's hidden residence was laying in the dark.
"I have heard about this place, but I couldn't imagine it had been hidden behind those artificial rocks," He commented with great respect in his voice.
"Thanks to your government we could protect one of our citizen against the evil influence of the former empire." Leia answered, "Commander, it might take some time before I return. This place looks gloomy, but after I have activated the controls you and your men can wait for me in a pleasant environment."
The commander frowned, but he followed Leia as she entered the residence which was completely dark. She went over the main control panel and activated all the systems. Flabbergasted the commander looked around at the living, the terrace and the cave garden.
"This is incredible." He said.
"Make yourself comfortable, commander. Behind that door is a pantry stacked with food and drinks. You and you men can take what ever you like. I'm leaving you now to find the Supreme Chancellor protégée and bring her back here."
Leia crossed the terrace and the lawn and entered the passageway to the last storeroom. She put her hand on the control panel and let the Force show her the code Liane had entered. She pressed the buttons and the door slid aside. She locked the door again on the inside and climbed the stack of container, jumped at the other side and entered the secret entrance to Jedi library. All the while she listened and reached out to the Force to feel the presence of the two padawans and Liane. As she had entered the long corridor with the shallow riverbed she reached out again, but she still didn't sense their presence. Quickly she walked on and within two hours she reached the chasm which lead to the Jedi library. The cave was dark and Leia stood surprised at the entrance for a moment.
"Liane, Ian, Yarmod. It's me. I will activate the lighttubes now." She called, but there came no answer and she didn't the presence of the three young people through the Force.
She raised her hand and the lights started to glow. Leia looked around. There was no one.
"Liane! Yarmod! Ian! Where are you?"
Suddenly Leia became very concerned and almost immediately she understood where the three young friends probably had gone. She crossed the cave, opened the secret door on the other side and followed the path to the hidden cave at the surface of Na'ctaMagh'Ba. Before she had stepped through the fissure at the back, she already knew what had happened. She reached out to the Force and used her Force telepathy skills to call her padawan.
'Ian, what are you doing? Where are you? Come back to Na'ctaMagh'Ba,' She called out through the Force, but Ian Tydon didn't respond. She reached out again to Yarmod and finally to Liane, but none of them answered her calls. Finally she reached out to her brother, but he too didn't answer.
As a last resort she used the Force to reach Wedge Antilles and he immediately answered her call.
'What's wrong, Leia, I feel a lot of worries around you.' Wedge said concerned.
'Wedge, I think, they have left Na'ctaMagh'Ba. They are probably on their way to Palomintar Four. Remember the Force vision Liane had when we were with her.'
'See if you can get to Mas'onom, Leia. I left the Astræa at the space port, perhaps they haven't reached Mas'onom yet. I will instruct my men to look out for Luke's space ship in the Palomintar System. Perhaps I can ask Admiral Vestor to do the same. He might be willing to use the tracker beam to intercept the Astræa and hold them on board.'
For a moment Leia silenced.
'Vestor will ask something in return, Wedge.'
'He will, Leia, but maybe we have to cooperate with him now. I know what he wants. One of his men is missing for more than two month. He left a young lieutenant to help Darth Golluth with his broken communciation system, but afterwards he hasn't heard anything of him. He asked me to land some of stormtroopers on the planet surface. According to the Supreme Chancellor's orders I told him to wait until the Tychorion had arrived. I though it would be wise to let any negotiations be done between Madine and this imperial admiral, but the situation has changed. Did you tell Luke about our missing friends.'
'I can't reach him. Maybe you can tell him, Wedge. I'll go back to the residence now. I need to find a way to get to Mas'onom and leave Dalmaran to meet with the Falcon. I'll come back to you later.' Leia said.
'I'll be on the look out, Leia. My men and I will prevent the Astræa from landing on Palomintar Four.'
'Thanks, Wedge.'
Leia released herself from the Force and hurried back to the Jedi library. Once there she looked around for clues to find out what plans the three friends had made. There was nothing unusual and Leia went back to the residence. On her way through the passageways she decided she would ask the submersible commander if he could bring her to Mas'onom, otherwise she would ask Fern'all To'lo'imon to take her there.
Luke looked at Chati who was looking up at him. He smiled reassuring at her, who had a worrying frown on her forehead.
"Are you sure, Ben, you want to test the jacket for a week maybe even longer, while you're in a Jedi hibernation meditation?" She asked concerned.
"Yes, Chati, don't be too frightened. I can survive in Jedi hibernation for a week without food or drink without this jacket. I've tested the jacket these last weeks without eating or drinking anything and I feel fine. I will wake up by myself this time, you don't have to call me, but if necessary you have to wake me up." Luke explained.
"I saw you didn't eat anything during our meals."
"I followed Cornell's advice to test the jacket first. I told him I might need it to stay away for some days while I'm following the dry riverbed. He will give you one as well, if you are accompanying me."
"You didn't tell him about Jedi hibernation, Ben?"
Luke shook his head.
"It would take a long explanation, Chati, and probably Cornell wouldn't understand it. Now, listen. Tomorrow I'm leaving alone for further investigation in the dry riverbed, you stay with Cornell and his men. As soon as Cornell and his men are working in the other tunnel I return to this alcove and go into Jedi hibernation. There's is still one task for you, and it's an important task. Keep Cornell away from the alcove. He or one of the others would certainly be frightened if they see me in hibernation status. You can slip in any time you like, and I want you to do so, because being Force-sensitive you're the only one here who can feel my heart-beat and my respiration. Don't be alarmed by my words. It's just a precaution. If by accident one of the harvesters would enter the alcove and alarm Cornell about me, you're the one who can tell them I'm still alive. If a real emergency occurs, you can wake me up by saying: "Mezorahim dejan Forca tusale.". Remember those words, Chati."
"What's the meaning of those words, Ben. I've never heard anyone speaking that language." Chati asked curiously.
"It's in the language of the Jedi. It's simple our greeting: May the Force be with you." Luke said with a smile.
"Mezorahim dejan Forca tusale."Chati repeated slowly, trying to speak the strange words as Luke had done.
"Very well, Chati. I'm proud of you. You're a fine apprentice. It's good to have some one with me who will become one of those luminous beings in the future. You're part of a larger world, my world and those of the other Jedi." Luke complemented her.
Chati's cheek colored.
"Thank you, Ben, for trusting me. I will do as you have ordered me, but I will be very glad, when you will wake up from this hibernation session. Why are you doing this?"
For a moment Luke was silent. In his mind he recalled Liane's frightening Force vision on board the Millennium Falcon.
"I don't have to know, Ben," Chati said noticing Luke's absent mind.
"Let's put it this way, Chati. It might be a very useful skill in the future. How, when, and where, I still don't know, but I want to be prepared."
"Are you doing it to help us, Quelans, to get our former way of living back?" Chati asked.
"That's indeed part of my future plan, but I can't see yet how things will evolve. The future is always unsure and in motion, even for me as a Jedi. That was an important lesson my old master taught me."
"You can't influence the future as a Jedi?"
Luke shook his head.
"Most of the times we can't, but there are Jedi who have the skills to manipulate events. They are skilled in Jedi Battle meditation."
"Another Jedi meditation," Chati exclaimed.
"Yes, and there are many more for you to learn, once you're a padawan learner, my friend."
"You know everything about the Jedi, don't you, Ben?" Chati said in admiration.
Luke laughed.
"I'd wish that was true, Chati, but I still have a long way to go before I will have the knowledge of the Jedi of old, like my old master Yoda. A very long way," Luke added.
He laid his arm around her shoulders and took her with him when he left the alcove.