Chapter 84

Wedge Antilles nodded, "As did Yarmod, Luke. He has become a great pilot. Liane and Ian relied on his skills when they left Mas'onom and head for Tatooine."

"Those three runaway Jedi seemed have committed themselves to a common goal," Luke remarked.

Wedge grinned, "It was Liane who prearranged that goal. She convinced our former padawans that they could only follow her if they could defend themselves as a trained Jedi. It's lucky that you told her about the Illum-meditation, Luke."

"I didn't expect her to put what I've told her, in to practise. You did well, Wedge, to complete their initiation. I'm now more assured about the outcome of Liane's plan. Yarmod and Ian will certainly stay with her which will make it easier for me to make a step back for awhile."

Wedge Antilles raised his eyebrows. Luke smiled, "I'll tell you more as soon as we have lifted off, Wedge. We can safely go into orbit around Palomintar Four now that the Basilisaea has left."

"Han told me you've met with a guy called Nori Thai, Luke. Do you know ..."

Luke raised his hand, "In a moment, Wedge, everything will be made clear to you, and I'm sure you will change your point of view about Han's grudges against my imperial friend."

Luke increased the power of the engines and the Astræga left the grassy plain near the mountain ridge. Once outside the gravity field of the planet Luke switched to the sublight engines and brought his ship into orbit at half a planet diameter. He unbuckled the safety belt and rose.

"Let's go to the control room, Wedge. There is more than enough time to tell you about my plan, and to explain my trust in Nori Thai, alias Doran Whain. Come on, my friend, cheer up a bit. I know you're still feeling guilty about leaving Liane and the others on Tyr, but I'm sure Liane will find another way to come to Myr. The more time it takes before she will encounter Trevor, the more time I will have to take some necessary steps to be near her if she meets him."

"You still want to protect her? Aren't you sure about her skills, and her intentions, Luke?"

"I'm very sure about her plan, and I fully agree with her, but I'm not yet sure about the Force skills of our opponent. So far I haven't got a clue about Trevor's knowledge of the Dark Side, and that worries me. Palpatine didn't accept his apprenticeship. He couldn't for my father was his sole apprentice. On Morantan my father disallowed Trevor the Sith use of the Force. My father even forbade Liane to show Trevor what she could do with the Force. If Trevor has gained any knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force; he must have gained that knowledge after the end of the Civil War, and that would mean that there's might be, or might have been another powerful Sith user which has shared his Dark Side knowledge with Trevor. You know that the Dark Side is never completely gone, so we still need to stay alert."

"Liane won't surrender herself to the Dark Side, Luke, if that is what you fear." Wedge commented on his friend's words.

Luke started to laugh.

"The way you defend her, Wedge, tells me that you also fully support her plan to confront Trevor, don't you?"

Wedge nodded, "I do, Luke. If this guy gets a chance to carry out his intentions with this galaxy, the war will start again."

"Did Liane tell you what he wants?"

"Not in so many words, but she wants to thwart his plans to revive the empire under Sith rule, that's why I want to support her. Luke, Liane is the only Jedi who has first-hand knowledge about the Dark Side. She knows the dangers, the evil intentions of the Sith, and she is determined to fight those dangers."

"As every Jedi wants to do, Wedge, but you're absolutely right. Liane is the only one with real knowledge of the Dark Side, and although she abhors the way the Sith use the Force for their selfish behavior; she has chosen to use her skills as a Jedi, but she might find a dangerous opponent in Trevor. That is why I want to be near her, that is why I have looked for a way to get inside Trevor's underground dwelling near Ribana, for I'm sure that Liane wants to be brought before Trevor. She wants to confront him."

"Leia have told me that Liane has met him many times on Morantan," Wedge said.

"That's right. Trevor Matrik has been a member of the Morantan staf at my father's stronghold, despite my father strongly despised Trevor's presence on Morantan."

"You said that you have a plan to get inside the cave network where the guy is hiding himself. You're very elusive about it, I understand, for Leia, nor Han doesn't agree with the details you've told them."

"Leia thinks my plan is dangerous. She even has to participate in it as master of Chati. The role of the young Quelan woman is essential for success."

"Your sister said, that you want to get on board the Tychorion with the droids, and Han would use the Falcon to pick up and bring Liane and her friends to Myr and guide them to Ribana. You want me to join Gold Squadron again to survey Ribana and its surroundings from above, but your sister refused to tell me more."

"I will tell you all the details in a minute, Wedge, but first I tell you about the unexpected encounters I have had with Nori Thai. You wanted to tell me something about him, didn't you?"

"Yes, I hope, you will understand why his trustworthiness and reliability is doubtful," Wedge said at a warning tone.

Luke leaned back on the couch.

"Tell me, Wedge, I'm listening."

"Luke, you probably know that during Liane's stay in Na'ctaMagh'Ba the New Republic's data center on Quoith has been hacked. A powerful computervirus has allowed an unknown communication system to get access to several files, including some which held the arrests of the High Court, among which were the one of you and Leia, and Liane's verdict. The intruder corrupted those files and added a message in them in which he threatens Mon Mothma and the existence of the New Republic. Luckily our experts located the computer virus and disabled it. In their report to the administration they mentioned the exact location of the intruder: Palomintar Four. Of course our intelligence force has been informed. Together with the experts on Quoith they found the source and creator of the virus: Nori Thai. He has been so arrogant to leave his signature in the coding of the virus software. Luke, Nori Thai is working for some one on Palomintar Four and after what you told me I'm sure that he is cooperating with admiral Trevor Matrik. Our intelligence force has asked Mon Mothma to sign a arrest warrant for Nori Thai, but to their surprise Mon Mothma didn't consent with their wish. She told our intelligence force and the data experts on Quoith that she couldn't issue an arrest warrant based on a single evidence as a name in a data file. Luke, as a high ranking officer, you should arrest Nori Thai and bring him to the Tychorion for questioning."

"I won't, Wedge, not at the moment. I need Nori's cooperation to get me inside Trevor's underground shelter," Luke said.

"If you refuse to do what your duty as an officer requires, you will be brought before the court martial, Luke. Imagine what a great loss that would be for your reputation as a Jedi," Wedge warned, looking very seriously at his friend.

"Thank you, my friend, for your concern. Luckily there will be five other Jedi left, to keep up the commitment of the Jedi Order," Luke said.

"I mean it, Luke," Wedge said with emphasis.

"I know you do, and I appreciate your concern, but tell me; who told you about the hack on Quoith?"

"I heard about it while I was on Dalmaran with Leia during our last consultation with Mon Mothma about sending the Tychorion to Palomintar Four to keep the imperial star destroyer Basilisaea at bay. Several members of Mon Mothma's High Council express their concern about what had happened on Quoith. They also insisted on Nori Thai's arrest, but Mon Mothma postponed their request, telling that further investigation was needed."

"Thanks, Wedge, for this explanation, but after you have heard my point of view on this matter, you will change your opinion. What I'm going to tell you is secret and as long as our problems on Palomintar Four exist it has to remain secret otherwise the life of Nori Thai, alias lieutenant Doran Whain, will be put in jeopardy. I've gotten this information from a high ranking officer in an official private meeting. Leia has confirmed his words and also Nori himself has explained the true nature of his presence on Palomintar Four. As I need your help to carry out my plan, I have to break part of my own promise that I wouldn't reveal anything, but as a Jedi you know you have to commit yourself to absolute secrecy."

"Of course, Luke," Wedge said impressed by the seriousness of Luke's words.

Without going into too much detail, Luke told his friend what he knew about the role of Nori Thai on Palomintar Four. Wedge Antilles listened with great surprise to Luke's explanation. After Luke had finished, he nodded understanding.

"You will meet Nori tonight, Wedge. That's why I needed to share this secret information with you," Luke said.

"I didn't know this case is a matter of the higher echelons of our administration, Luke."

"Neither did I, until I heard about. Even Leia never told me before. We're officers, Wedge. We're the military and have to carry out orders. So it comprehensible that we're not informed about everything what's going on."

"Maybe we should ask Mon Mothma to accept a Jedi Knight as a member of the High Council," Wedge suggested.

Luke laughed.

"The Supreme Chancellor has already one of us as her advisor, Wedge. She nominated Leia as her special advisor, shortly after we've gotten our rehabilitation. But that doesn't mean that Leia will reveal everything to the other Jedi. Even she, as a Jedi, is bound by the oath of secrecy of the members of the High Council."

Wedge laughed too, "I still see your sister as the Rebel senator she once was, Luke."

"She still is a rebel, Wedge, and she won't easily veer off her own opinion, but she also will remain a diplomat and as you and I know politicians, even my sister, never reveal their true intentions."

Luke watched the synchron on the console.

"There is still enough time to tell you the details of my plan, Wedge, before we will get to our meeting with Nori Thai, one of the most sophisticated computer expert in this galaxy, who has been sent on dangerous mission."

"And afterwards we're going to the Tychorion?"

"That was my first intention, but maybe I should slightly change my plan. It depends if I can instruct Threepio and Artoo on board the Astræga. The droids are part of plan, like Chati. Threepio and Artoo, come here my friends. I want you to carry out a mission."

Artoo hooted a exciting series of beeps, but as always Threepio expressed some worries. Luke got up and beckoned his friends and the droids to the aft of the ship where a series of four escape pods were thoroughly attached inside the air locks. Luke opened the hatch of one of them and inspected the space inside the pod.

"It's cramped, fellows, but I think the three of us will fit in. Artoo, I want you to make yourself familiar with the controls of this vessel. Threepio, you're accompanying Artoo and me, for you have to inform the imperial officer about Liane. He doesn't know her, so it's up to you to recognize her and help the imperial officer, Doran Whain, to get her inside Trevor's shelter."

"Master Luke, mistress Liane is still on the other continent," Threepio objected, "How could I tell that officer about her."

"She will come to the spot where we will land this pod, Threepio, and if she does you have to warn Doran Whain. Artoo, you have to keep track of the landing coordinates I will enter in the controls. If necessary you have to make some course corrections so the pod will land at the exact location."

Artoo beeped in agreement. Threepio still looked worried.

"What should Artoo and I do after mister Whain has found mistress Liane, master Luke?"

"Get inside the underground network with her and serve her, the way you did on Na'ctaMagh'Ba. Get her food and drinks, and cheer her up, if she seems depressed. And, very important, Threepio, keep your eyes open, and don't let any other droid get access to your mistress, understood."

"We do, don't we, Artoo. Shall we make ourselves familiar with the controls now, master Luke?"

Luke nodded and looked at Wedge who had listened to the conversation between his friend and the two droids.

"What about you, Luke?" He asked.

"I'm going down with the two droids and Nori Thai is going to bring me inside Trevor's shelter immediately after the pod has crash landed."

Wedge frowned, "Crash landed, and I just heard you tell Artoo he had to maintain the controls."

"The crash will only be performed for the last five meters to make it look as if the pod has been ejected during an emergency situation."

Wedge shook his head, "Luke, I have to tell you something. Something very serious. While I was talking to Liane on Tyr, she had a Force vision. I asked her to merge her vision with me, for I felt that the vision frightened her. I told her I saw an escape pod. I saw some one opening the hatch of the pod. The droids came out and the guy dragged you out. You didn't move. Your body seemed stiff. At that moment Liane's vision vanished. She asked me what it meant. I didn't know, but now I understand what I saw. Liane saw the outcome of the plan you have in mind."

"Liane has a special Force gift, Wedge. She has the rare gift to see what's going to happen in the future, and this time she and I will profit from this future Force knowledge. Have you ever heard of Jedi-hibernation?"

Wedge nodded, "I have read about that special form of Jedi Healing meditation, while Yarmod and I were studying some datacrons in the Jedi archive on Na'ctaMagh'Ba. Liane taught us how we had to use the Force to read those ancient texts in Jediese. The text intrigued me, because I see useful opportunities for a Jedi, if in case of an emergency he's in outer space on his own."

"Excellent, Wedge. Are you in for some teachings how to use it?" Luke said, "You're already familiar with Jedi Healing meditation."

Wedge Antilles looked at his former Jedi master, "I do, Luke. Are you telling me I have to use to Force for a Healing meditation?"

"Yes. First concentrate on the time period you want to remain in Jedi hibernation. That's important, because after the time has passed, your body will wake up again. For your first experience I suggest you concentrate on a time period of fifteen minutes. Now make yourself comfortable in your chair and concentrate on the Force Healing. Although it's Force meditation you're going to carry out, you don't have to take the Jedi meditation stance, just relax, but this time concentrate on your breathing and your heartbeat. Slow down your breathing. Your heart rhythm will follow the slowing down of your breathing frequency. Feel that your body begins to feel stiff and cold as also your body temperature adapts itself, but you're comfortable as you are surrounded by the Force to guide you during this Jedi hibernation sleep. Rely on the Force that she will restore your breathing, your heartbeat and your body temperature in time, which means that you will wake up again after fifteen standard minutes; the time period you had set for yourself before you went into Jedi Hibernation. "

Wedge leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and reached out to the Force Healing power. As soon as he felt surrounded by the Force, he concentrated on his breathing and started to breath in and out slowly, making the time between two breathings longer and longer. He noticed that the rhythm of his heartbeat followed the slowing down of his breathing. He stretched his legs and leaned further back in his chair. Completely surrendered to the Force he felt that he couldn't feel his legs and arms any more. His face began to feel cold, but not uncomfortable. Finally his thoughts became blurred and he drifted away in a Force hibernation.

Several minutes passed in which Luke carefully watched his friend. He wanted to support Wedge this first time - if necessary, but after several minutes Luke noticed the changes that were taken place in his friend's body. He clearly felt Wedge's presence through the Force. Luke put his hand over Wedge's face and reached out to the Force. The slow breathing and lowered heart rhythm became noticeable. Luke rose and went to the aft of the Astræga, where Artoo and Threepio were still busy with the controls of the escape pod. For a moment Luke listened to the familiar bickering between the two mechanical friends. He smiled and walked over to them.

"Artoo come over here, my little friend. I want you to record a message for Liane. You should show her the message once she is insight Trevor's underground shelter. Threepio, you should tell Liane that Artoo has a message from me."

"Yes, master, we will do as you instruct us, won't we, Artoo," the golden droid answered.

Artoo had rolled over and Luke activated the recording system of the little droid. First he told his eternal partner she should her Force insight to tell her about his wellbeing. After that he recorded a cryptic message, so she would be able to seek his support if she would feel frightened by Trevor. He ended his message that she should rely on the Force in whatever would occur and accept Nori Thai as some she could trust. Then he saved and secured the message, so that only Liane would have access to it. He instructed Artoo that the droid shouldn't reveal the message to some one else. After his instructions the droids went back to their chores and Luke returned to the control room. He checks his sychron and noticed that it was almost time that Wedge would wake up. He noticed some slight muscle twitches in Wedge's arms and legs which indicated that the Jedi Knight was slowly releasing himself from his first experience with Jedi hibernation.

Finally Wedge opened his eyes and looked at Luke.

"Strange experience, Luke, but not at all unpleasant, I would say. It's like fallen into a deep sleep, but much deeper and without disturbing thoughts. If in this state longer I expect that I also wouldn't dream. It's a kind of unconsciousness with one big difference. If unconscious breathing and heart rhythm doesn't slow down this far. Who taught you this?"

"Anakin. He appeared to me while I was investigating the underground riverbed. I suggest that in the oncoming period you should practise this new knowledge, so you can get yourself easily in and out of Jedi hibernation whenever you want. That's what Anakin in the beginning also suggested to me. He said, that Ben and he thought that this use of the Force might give me further clues of how to help the people of Ribana and get access to Trevor Matrik."

For a moment Wedge looked at his friend.

"You're going to use Jedi hibernation to get inside Trevor's underground shelter and you want Nori Thai to help you. That's is why in Liane's Force vision Nori dragged your body out of the escape pod, looking stiff and unmovable."

"Excellent, Wedge, indeed that what I want to do. I hope Nori Thai will cooperate with this plan, but I'm sure he will."

"You don't know how long you have to wait before Liane turns up near Ribana. What will happen if you wake up inside Trevor's shelter and she's not yet there."

"I'm going into Jedi hibernation for a indefinite time."

"Indefinite time? When will you be able to release yourself again?"

"With the help of Liane, or Chati. You gave Liane her initiation to Jedi Knight. So she will be able to notice my slow heart rhythm and breathing. Through the Force she also will notice my presence. I have instructed Artoo to tell her how she can help me to start my release from hibernation. I have also instructed Chati Fonaldris how to wake me up in case the situation in Trevor's shelter would require my presence. I have practised with her and she knows exactly what she has to do."

For a moment Wedge looked thoughtful at his friend.

"So it's also possible to get out of Jedi hibernation faster or earlier with the use of an Force-sensitive assistant, a padawan learner, or another Jedi Knight ... and a kind of code word, I guess."

Luke laughed, "Good Force insight, Wedge. Indeed, when going into Jedi hibernation it's not only important to concentrate on the period, but also to have some around who could help to trigger the wake up, like the alarm clocks which woke you up because you have to go to school."

Now they both laughed. Luke shared some more knowledge of Jedi hibernation meditation with his friend and Wedge agreed that it would be a powerful help in case getting severely wounded in a space battle. After a while Luke watched his sychron.

"We're going to meet Nori Thai, Wedge. It's almost two hours past midnight, and I don't want to let him wait. He's taken an awful risk with this nightly meetings."

Before they went back to the cockpit Luke warned to droids they were going to land.

"As soon as we've landed you both stay out of sight, Threepio and Artoo. Do not reveal yourself, for you need the exact details of my plan before we proceed."

"Understood, master Luke. We will stay in the aft of the ship."

Wedge had already started the sublight engines and wanted to leave the pilot seat, when Luke entered the cockpit.

"I'll be your co-pilot this time, Wedge. I'll set the coordinates, you'll put her down at the indicated spot."

With his professional precision Wedge took a dive to the planet surface, carefully following the cross hair on the display to reach the coordinated place. The landing site laid on the night side of Palomintar Four at this hours. Without his visual scanning Wedge reached out to the Force to put the Astræga down. Immediately Luke switched off all the internal lights and together they left the ship. Once outside Luke activated the cloaking device to keep the ship out of sight. Near the ship Luke and Wedge waited in deep silence, until Luke ignited his lightsaber for a short moment. In the pitch dark of the landing spot a figure came over in a hurry. He ran over to Luke, but stopped as he noticed Wedge Antilles.

"It's alright, Nori. I want you to meet my friend Wedge Antilles," Luke whispered as he sensed Nori Thai's suspicion.

Nori Thai looked at Wedge and noticed that he was wearing the ceremonial clothes of the Jedi Knight. He started to grin.

"Please to meet you, master Antilles. Never saw a living Jedi in the official Jedi outfit. On Coruscant only some vague remnants of murals among the rubble of the spot where once the Jedi Temple stood, are still showing what the Jedi should look like in their official attire," Nori Thai said and stretched out his hand in a welcoming gesture.

Wedge looked at the honest open face of the young scientist. He shook hands with him.

"Call me, Wedge, professor Thai," He answered.

"I gladly will, if you call me Nori, my title is of no use here," He said, and turned to Luke, "Did you hear from your padawan lady?"

"No longer my padawan, Nori, but a fully fledged Jedi Knight now. She on her way, and I want to discuss my next step with you. I've found a way to get inside the underground shelter, but I need your cooperation."

"If your plan can be carried out without getting the guy suspicious, I'll cooperate."

"He won't, he'll be all to glad that you will bring me before him. You've told me that he is looking for me, or Liane's other friend Ian Tydon. He hopes that once he's got hold of one of us, Liane will come to Palomintar Four and run for help."

"That's right. I already had to prepare a message to the leader of the New Republic once one of you has been captured, but as Liane Solichor is already on her way, that message will be useless. It was meant to lure her to come to Palomintar Four."

"Send that message anyway," Luke said, "Just in case Darth Golluth is checking if you carry out his orders the right way. We have to protect you too, Nori. Wedge will take care that Liane will be dropped off near Ribana some time after you have brought me inside the underground shelter."

Nori grinned, "What's your plan, Luke, or can't you reveal too many details yet?"

Luke moved his hand and the Astræga appeared.

"Welcome on board the Astræga, Nori. Let's talk about my plans inside the ship for safety reasons," Luke said and made an inviting gesture. Once inside Luke pulled up the ramp and activated the cloaking of his ship again.

"Make yourself comfortable, Nori. After I've laid out my plan to you, I'll show you around my ship."

"Did know that you fly a old model imperial vessel, Luke. Whose property was it during the Empire?"

"My father's."

"This has been Darth Vader's private shuttle. That's great, everybody on Coruscant thinks this ship had been blown up together with the second Death Star."

"You know that Luke is Darth Vader's son?" Wedge asked.

"Yes. I poked into the Quoith files after I had been ordered I should install a harmless virus in a certain partition of one of Quoith's datacenter. The guy in the underground shelter got informed via some spies on Quoith who were given the access code to that partition. That's the way he got the information about Darth Vader and his offspring."

"I've heard that the information has been passed deliberately," Wedge said.

"That's right, Wedge, but I can't reveal any more information. I'm not the guy you think I am. I'm working for ..." Nori stopped embarrassed. Luke grinned, "... for the good side, Nori. I have told Wedge what I know about you and the Quoith hack. I didn't know the details, but I'm sure that you've carried out the order without doing harm to other parts of our systems."

"I had to make it look like a serious computer hack, so they could shut down as much of the system on Quoith with was necessary to reveal some of the whereabouts of a certain lady. This had been done on request of the ones I'm working for."

"And your superiors are in the high echelons of the remnants of the empire?" Wedge asked.

"More or less, Wedge, but don't ask further details. I'm still bound by an oath, until the problems here on Palomintar Four are solved. You know that the guy who is hiding himself here is a former imperial admiral?"

"Yes, and I also know his name? In name he seems to have been an admiral in the imperial space fleet once, but as far as I know he never commanded the imperial space fleet."

"He did once, Wedge," Nori said, "and as far as I have been told it was a disaster, and he never was in command of even a minor space ship again."

Luke nodded, "I've heard a similar story, Nori, although from another source than yours probably. But let me explain what I have in mind."

Without any further delay Luke explained how he wanted to land near Ribana in an escape pod, and what he hoped that Nori would do next. As Nori objected, Luke explained how Nori could get him inside the underground shelter of Darth Golluth without raising the former admiral's suspicion. After Nori had learned about the exact details of Luke's plan, he nodded.

"This is plausible, Luke, but where do you want me to take your droids. If they are inside they won't be able to intercept Liane Solichor. Wait a minute. I could take them in that former vineyard building where we first met. Wedge could drop off the woman near the building and as soon as she has arrived one of your droids could press the infocom so I would be informed about her arrival, for I understand that Wedge will take off immediately again."

"I will hand over my infocom and leave instructions, telling them that they should constantly stay on the lookout for Liane."

"I probably have to use a droid squad to arrest her and bring her inside. Will she cooperate?"

"Liane is a Jedi Knight, Nori, that means that your droid squad probably won't survive if they attack her, but I've told her about you, and that she might see you as some one who can help her."

Nori looked skeptical, "I'm not looking for a fight with a trained Jedi, Luke. I saw you handling that lightsaber against those droids which were spying on me. I fact I'm still unarmed, so I might be an easy victim for the lady."

"Wedge can tell her what we're discussing here, telling her to do no harm to you," Luke said reassuringly.

"When do you want to bring the plan into action?"

"What is a next suitable moment, Nori?"

For a moment Nori Thai looked at the two Jedi Knights.

"I've told the guy that I wanted to make an investigation round with probe droids tonight, telling him that I had the feeling that some of the old inhabitants of Ribana were spying on us. So I should suggest, right now, tonight. Let's say within an hour or two, just before dawn. Can you make arrangements on this short notice. "

"Fine with me, Nori, and I'm obliged to you," Luke said and stretched out his hand, "So let's proceed. Do you want us to drop you off at a special spot."

Nori Thai rose and shook his head, "I can reach the spot you mentioned where your escape pod will crash during the time you'll make the preparations on your side."

"Once again, Nori, don't be frightened as it looks like I haven't survived the landing."

"You have explained enough, Luke. Let's hope the guy won't detect you're using a kind of Force protection."

The three conspirators left the Astræga, shook hands and wished each other luck. Wedge and Luke saw Nori disappear in the darkness. Luke turned around and walked up the ramp of his ship.

"Let's get to carry out our part, Wedge. We have to get in high orbit around the planet, before the escape pod can be launched. I want you take over the Astræga after the launch and monitor what's going to happen after the pod has landed at the agreed spot. As soon as you have seen that Nori has brought me inside the cave, I want you to get back to Leia and Han, and tell them what I have done, and inform Madine about the message. Tell him to add information about what's going on here."

"I will, Luke, but shouldn't you inform Han and Leia yourself. Your sister will be very worried, if I tell her about these changes." Wedge said.

"I know, Wedge, and I feel sorry for her, for what I'm doing, but this is the best way to get inside and near Trevor."

"Do you want me to pick up Liane and her friends on Tyr immediately?"

"Not immediately. Stay with Leia and Han for some days, before you go back to Tyr. Tell Leia that she has to bring Chati to the end of the underground riverbed and help her to get inside the underground shelter. Leia has my datapad with the map of the underground riverbed. She knows what I mean."

"The end of riverbed is a kind of backdoor to Trevor's shelter."

"Exactly. Now let's go. I have to get inside the escape pod with the droids and bring myself into Jedi hibernation."

They took off and reached a high orbit of two planet diameters. Luke kept the Astræga cloaked in case spying droids would be out around Ribana. Once in orbit Luke went to the aft and ordered the droids to get inside the escape pod. He told Artoo to be ready for the ejection of the pod and squeezed himself inside. The remaining space was cramped, but Luke managed to find the most comfortable position possible. He attached himself to the small life support monitor and told Threepio that as soon as there wasn't anymore read out, the droid had to tell his counterpart to eject the pod. He looked up from inside the pod to Wedge.

"Close the hatch, Wedge. Don't forget to reassure my sister and Han, and especially Liane."

"Take care, Luke. It's risky what you're doing, but I feel it's the only way. I'll take care of the others."

Wedge closed the hatch of the pod and heard how Artoo secured the inside lock. Luke raised a hand as a sign of goodbye and Wedge left the escape pod deck, went back to cockpit and switched on the monitors.

Inside the pod Luke turned inside and reached out to the Force. Easily he brought himself into a Jedi Healing trance. He deepened his concentration and started to control his breathing, his heart beat, his body temperature and his metabolism. Without any disturbance he sank away into Jedi hibernation. Threepio who had been constantly looking at the small life support monitor noticed that his master's heart beat had dropped. He looked worried.

"I hope, that master Luke will be fully functional again soon. He has switched himself off, Artoo. We can go. Eject the pod."

Artoo confirmed and pressed a button. Two doors under the pod opened and the pod tumbled into space. In the cockpit Wedge watched the pod leave the belly of the Astræga, hurling to the planet surface of Palomintar Four. He reached out to the Force, and sighed relieved as he felt the presence of his friend through the Force. The tremors were weak, now that Luke had brought himself into Jedi hibernation.

On Tyr Manall, his grandson Lorann, Liane and her friends and Toallin, Mugin with the members of the village council stood at the quay of the harbor site. Sheltered against the currents of the ocean between the two main continents of Palomintar lay two giant hoverpulse boats behind a small peninsular.

"You're sure about your plan, Manall," Toallin asked.

"I am, governor. Besides it's time for Lorann too, to learn how to handle one of these crafts, and we will rely on the Force with the help of three Jedi Knights. I'm sure we'll manage."

"It's a long walk through the East Lands of Myr, before you reach Ribana, and you haven't yet fully recovered from the Uram attack," Kamalin said, showing his true concern for the old harvest man.

"Thanks for your concern, master Kamalin. I feel much better since the two children of my good friend Obi-Wan have come to help us, and don't forget their friend master Martan, who is a Jedi too. We also have enough help from the other friends of Shaayla-Car. Within some days we all can go back to Ribana, that's for sure."

Mugin shook his head, "You must be careful, Manall. Avoid being seen by the probe droids, stay in the undergrowth, once you're on Myr."

"Come on, everyone, this is what we have been waiting for. Get on board you Jedi with your friends. Lorann start the engines. I come to the wheelhouse as soon as everybody has secured himself. Once we're outside we can do some talking while the ship is on autopilot," Manall ordered.

The three Jedi said goodbye to Toallin and Mugin and the council members. Kamalin took Liane aside for a moment.

"Shaayla-Car, take care of yourself and watch over master Manall. I hope to see both of you back soon. May the Force be with you."

"Thank you, master Kamalin. I will do as you ask, don't worry. We'll be back to celebrate the return of the Quelans to Ribana soon."

The safety doors of the hoverpulse vessel closed. Manall went around to get his passengers in their safety belts and Lorann maneuvered the boat backwards, turned the bow to the bay exist and increased the engines' powers. The bow rose out of the water and the speed of the vessel increased. Outside the protection of the bay Manall took over and ignited the enormous fans that lifted the boat above the waves of the ocean, He ordered his grandson to increase the vessel speed to full power. Manall set the nav-computer on the coordinates of the east harbor on Myr and switched to autopilot, but for a while he stayed on the cockpit bridge to monitor the vessel's movements. Over the PA system he told his passengers they could move freely now. Almost immediately all the nine friends joined him and his grandson on the bridge. Yarmod, Yarnick, Brion and Ian were especially interested in the control panel and the handling of the vessel. Manall clearly enjoyed to explain and if possible show what the boat could do.

"Master Manall," Liane asked politely, "How long will it take to get us to the other continent."

"Some twelve to fourteen hours, depends on the currents of the ocean and the height of the waves. I have checked weather conditions for this part of Palomintar Four at the governors infocom and the forecast looks good. I expect to reach the harbor on Myr early in the evening. We will embark on the next part of your mission after we had a good rest."

Manall took Liane's arm and pulled her to the side of the wheelhouse. The other eight men were too much involved the handling of the vessel. Manall left to Lorann to tell them all about the engines and speed of the boat. He turned to Liane. He saw a concerned look in her eyes.

"Are you sure, you will manage, master Manall?" She asked, "Toallin and Mugin told me it's been a long walk from Ribana to the harbor site, when the Quelans had to flee."

"It is, but when we fled Ribana we had the women and children to take care off, Shaayla-Car. Now we're a group of warriors. We're going to fight and drive out the guy who is threatening you and my people. I tell him, Shaayla-Car, no one will ever threaten the children of Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Liane started to laugh.

"Your words sounds frightening, master Manall, but Trevor Matrik won't be scared off that easily, I fear."

"You know him?" Manall asked surprised, "Have you met him before?"

"Too often," Liane said and silenced for a while, "Too often, master Manall. His ambition is to revive the empire; an impossible idea which would lead this galaxy into a war again. Where I grew up I've seen what evil can be done with the Force if her power is used to corrupt, manipulate and control people. Trevor Matrik - Darth Golluth as he calls himself now - wants to learn the use of the Dark Side of Force, and he thinks that I am the one who will teach him what I have learned from Darth Vader, my foster father. When my friend Luke Skywalker and his sister Leia found out ..."

"Your friend's surname is Skywalker, Shaayla-Car?" Manall suddenly interrupted her words, "That's is not a common name. I was highly surprised when the governors mention that name in that council meeting."

"Haven't you met Luke in Cantamaga, master Manall?"

"Your friend arrived shortly after the Urams attacked me. My wounds were severe, and Cornell forbade me to leave my home, He told me about the plans the new friends of the governors had made to get us back to Ribana, but he didn't mention any names. It seems that your brother Tama-Hinn was in the company of your friend when they brought back our governors. Great guys Toallin and Mugin Fonaldris, great leaders. We're lucky they have come back safe and sound. So your friend is called Luke Skywalker and he too is a Jedi Knight," Manall asked and looked at Liane.

"I will tell you a bit more about Luke, after I've finished my story about Darth Golluth. Luke, Leia and my brother Tama-Hinn found out that Trevor Matrik, a former imperial admiral, didn't shun any attempt to bring me to Palomintar Four. When they found out what had happened to the Quelans, they decided that it would be their first priority to help them to get back to Ribana and defeat Trevor Matrik who calls himself to be a Sith lord."

Manall looked through the sidescreen of the hoverpulse vessel which was crossing the waves at high speed. Liane sensed that Manall's thoughts still lingered on Luke's surname.

"Shaayla-Car", Manall said thoughtfully, "Your father Obi-Wan always visited me in the company of his best friend, a Jedi called Anakin Skywalker. They were very close, more like a couple of brothers instead of Jedi friends."

"You've told me before, master Manall. You also told us that you doesn't know what has happened to Anakin Skywalker, although for many years you always felt that my father had to be alive."

"Is your friend related to Anakin Skywalker?" Manall asked.

Liane nodded, "Yes, he is Anakin's son, master Manall. Although forbidden for a Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker had secretly married the love of his life. Shortly before his life was corrupted in chaos and turmoil, his wife gave birth to a pair of twins. His son was called Luke and his daughter Leia. Unfortunately their mother died in childbirth."

Manall was silent for a long time.

"Obi Wan and Anakin were true Jedi Knights. Under the reign of the emperor, his assistant and commander Darth Vader has killed many Jedi. I wonder if he has killed Anakin. Must have been, for I've never heard of him again, and I hadn't the same feeling as I have had about your father. It's such a shame, Shaayla-Car. The Jedi Knights were all good men and women whose only aims were to protect this galaxy and bring peace and prosperity. But they failed and instead of peace we've entered in a long war and were lead by an evil emperor and his even more evil assistant Darth Vader. You just said that he was your foster-father."

"I was a very young girl when he settled himself in his stronghold on Morantan. After my mother expected disappearance he took care of me."

"Took care of you. He taught you all the evil teachings of the Sith." Manall said surly.

Liane started to laugh, "He tried, master Manall, but I have always resisted the influence of his dark teachings, and objected against his use of the Force. Luke Skywalker has made me more aware of the true nature of the Force I belong to. He told me about the path the Jedi follow and the way they live at the Good Side of the Force."

"Anakin's son has done a good job, you're lucky you have met him. Well, Shaayla-Car, I hope I will be able to shake hand with the son of Anakin Skywalker and with his twin sister. Is she a Jedi Knight too?"

"She is, and a very good one. My brother Tama-Hinn has been her padawan learner."

Now it was Manall's turn to start laughing, "What a story. The children of my friend Anakin Skywalker have trained the son and daughter of my friend Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's almost unbelievable. Thank you for telling me about your friend Luke, Shaayla-Car."

"Already during our meeting I sensed your curiosity, master Manall. There is much more to tell, but I leave it to Luke to tell you more about his father Anakin."