Chapter 92

Darth Golluth noticed her appreciation and started laughing.

"This will be served to you and my loyal advisor, Colonel Doran Whain, every time, as long as you do my bidding," He said.

Liane looked surprised and raised her eyebrows.

"Do your bidding, Trevor? What do you mean by that? What do you suppose you can force me to do?"

"Lady Vader, your father taught you a lot of valuable ideas and features. I want you to share that knowledge with me. If you do you will be greatly rewarded."

"What do you have in mind as a reward?" Liane asked.

"Well, I might allow you to see your dead friend, Jedi master Skywalker, for instance, or I would allow those two droids of yours to enter these caves again as your special servants. "

Liane frowned and looked at her adversary.

"And what if I refused to teach you the evil teachings my foster-father taught me. I'm a servant of the Good Side of the Force, Trevor. It's forbidden for a Jedi Knight who hasn't yet mastered the deeper meaning of the Force."

Darth Golluth gritted his teeth.

"Then I will keep you here until you do my bidding." He snarled.

"I won't teach you anything, Trevor. Never! I can't teach you that dark knowledge."

Outraged Darth Golluth jumped to his feet and grab his pole, but before he could point it at Liane, she raised her hand and the pole flew and landed in her outstretched hand.

"You still don't understand you shouldn't threaten me, Trevor. I'm a Jedi Knight. I'm not allowed to pass on the knowledge of the Dark Side to you or anyone else.

Liane pushed her chair back, rose and kept the Force pike in her hand while she walked over to the door of the main cave.

"Where do you think, you're going, Lady Vader? Hand me back that pole!" Darth Golluth yelled and wanted to rush after her, but he stumbled, had to grab the dinner table, while his majordomos hurried at his master and prevented that Darth Golluth would fall. Liane turned around and hardly couldn't prevent she started to laugh.

"I'm going to have a look around in your lavish underground abode, Trevor, looking for Luke Skywalker, and when I've found him I'm leaving with him and I'm also taking you with me."

"You are taking you with me? Who do you think you are?"

"That, Trevor I already have told you. Master Whain will you please bring me to the cave where Luke is. You probably know how to find your way in this maze of caves."

Liane used Force Push to open the doors and left. Doran Whain looked at Darth Golluth, who seemed overwhelmed by Liane's resistance and could barely maintain his composure.

In the main corridor Doran looked at her.

"Shaayla-Car, don't provoke the guy too much. He has a very dangerous temper."

"I'm familiar with his tantrums, but haven't you noticed how much of the wine he swallowed. He is dead drunk and couldn't keep his balance. He nearly dropped on the floor if that droid wouldn't have prevented his fall. Doran, I know Trevor Matrik better than you do. I've lived with him more than five years on the imperial domains on Morantan. Always bragging, always boasting about what he had achieved and that Emperor Palpatine trusted him. When someone oppose him, he always got very angry, threatening the one who opposed him and seeking ways to revenge himself."

Liane looked at the Force pike in her hand.

"He won't be able to use this dangerous weapon to threaten us," She said. She turned to her companion who still looked very worried.

"Doran," Liane said to reassure him a bit, "Wedge and I showed you the transcription of those two files, so you know who this guy really is and what has happened to him. At a certain moment I will confront him with the consequences of his failure as admiral."

"You seek to revenge?"

"No, justice. Justice for the Quelan people who have suffered and were sent into exile. Justice justice, because Trevor has been a nuisance to my foster-father Anakin Skywalker after he had become a staff member on Morantan. I have come here voluntarily and my mission is to end Trevor's illegal occupation of Palomintar Four and his dangerous plan to found another evil Sith Empire."

"Shaayla-Car, I agree with your mission, but be aware. He might launch an attack with some killer droids again and this time you'll be outnumbered, although master Antilles will certainly come to your aid again. He's probably waiting in that hidden chasm, waiting for me to bring him to my quarters. I promised I would bring him to a safe place inside this cave system."

Liane smiled, but nodded in agreement.

"Then we'd better go there."

Doran took the lead and guided her to another part of the main corridor. He stopped and pointed at a rising rock which seemed to be standing separate from the wall behind it.

"Behind that standing rock begins a series of passageways and caves behind that chasm which lead to the lower cave where I hid the speeder. Shaayla-Car, wouldn't it be better if you join master Antilles again, so the three of us can make a plan to tell Trevor what we know about him."

Liane looked at Doran

"I appreciate your cooperation, Doran, but there are still a lot of things you don't know about the Jedi. Indeed Wedge and I can't fight Trevor's droid army on our own, but Wedge Antilles is no longer here. Nevertheless I am not alone. Three of my other friends are here. Three other Jedi. They are going to help me, but I want you to leave this place, before Trevor will order his droids to attack my friends and me. Use this hidden path and leave as quickly as possible, for the end of Trevor's occupation is coming to an end. You're a good friend and I want you to stay safe for you're not in a position to defend yourselves properly. You have an infocom, haven't you."

"Yes, Luke gave his device?"

"So you can make a connection with the Tychorion, the New Republic frigate which is monitoring Palomintar Four. Send a holo message and ask the leaders of the New Republic and your superiors of the Provisional Council to prepare for landing on Palomintar Four near Ribana. My friends and I will confront Trevor Matrik and will ensure that he will be handed over to your superiors to stand trial for what he had been up to. Desertion, high-treason and murder. Do what I ask you, Doran. Staying here with me will endanger your life when it comes to a fight. "

At that moment Luke, Ian and Yarmod stepped from behind the chasm into the main corridor. Liane immediately walked over to Luke, put her arms around his neck and looked in his eyes.

"Glad to see you in good health, my eternal friend. So you also had instructed someone else to wake you up."

Luke put his arms around her and gave her a heartfelt kiss.

"How did you find us, Shaayla-Car?" He asked teasingly

"Stupid question, master Skywalker?" Liane retorted, "Long before your friend Wedge initiated me and made me a Jedi Knight, I've often sensed your presence when you were near."

Luke laughed. Liane turned to Yarmod and Ian and hugged them.

"I also sensed the two of you, my good friends. It's good to be in your company again."

She turned to Doran Whain who looked at Ian and Yarmod.

"How did the two of you get in here?" He asked a bit suspicious.

"No time to explain, Doran, now. You'd better leave, as I advice you." Liane said and pushed the Force pike in his hand.

"Take this weapon with you and hide it, or better destroy it. Now go and inform our leaders on the Tychorion so they can arrest a renegade admiral with dangerous plans, for he wants to plunge this galaxy into another war again. You can't do no good here. Go, master Whain and warn the Tychorion."

Reluctantly Doran stepped inside, looked at Luke and the other two Jedi. Luke nodded.

"Shaayla-Car is right, Doran. We see you later. Save yourself, before matters will get worse here and I know they will."

Doran wanted to step further inside the chasm, but he came back and handed Luke a small square device.

"Press six-one-seven-four-eight if you encounter surveillance or guarding droids. The sequence will deactivated them."

He stepped inside the chasm, holding the Force pike and vanished. Luke looked at Liane in amazement, before he put the device in a pocket at his belt.

"I never expected to wake up and meet with three full-fledged a Jedi Knights like me."

Liane smiled happily, but immediately started walking to the opposite side of the main corridor.

"Ian, Yarmod and I will tell you later what has happened, Luke, but I first want to tell you what Wedge and I have discovered about Trevor Matrik after we transcribed the content of those files you handed to me. We need to find some deserted caves where we can talk without having an unexpected encounter with Trevor's droids."

Wedge Antilles stopped the speeder at the edge of the deep valley. He jumped out and walked to the middle of the clearing. Chati was following him, wondering where her new master would bring her, when she saw that he raised his hand and in front of them stood a huge space ship.

"Wow, every time I see it I'm impressed," Chati said aloud and looked up at the upturned wings of the Astræga

"Is this actually your ship, master?" She asked in admiration.

"No, it's Luke's, Chati. He wanted me to fly it when he asked me to be Liane's guard on Na'ctaMagh'Ba."

"That was her hiding place, because it was dangerous for her to follow Ben."

Wedge nodded and grinned.

"Luke wanted her to stay safe, but Liane and my padawan Yarmod Martan and Leia's padawan Ian Tydon fled with the Astræga. They went to Tatooine. I was ask to pick up the ship, but Liane and her friends had met her old friends, Yarnick Grann and his brothers. By that time Liane was determined to go to Palomintar Four herself. I decided to support her plan. We all met on Tyr, but Luke asked me to come to Myr to support his hibernation plan. After Luke went into hibernation I took care of the Astræga."

"Yes, you came to the campsite of the harvesters and later we went to the plains to meet with Liane, Yarmod and those six brothers and we flew again to Tychorion where I had seen my planet from above on my first visit. Master, it was such a great experience to see how tiny my planet is. It was such an honor of the general to allow me to have a look at Palomintar Four from the bridge of the Tychorion."

"The Supreme Chancellor asked me to bring Liane, now a Jedi Knight and carrying her new name Shaayla-Car Kenobi, to Ribana, as Mon Mothma strong believed in what Shaayla-Car wanted to achieve. I want you to stay with the Astræga now, as it is the best place for you to hide yourself."

"Why do I have to hide, master?"

"Leia fears that Darth Golluth might harm you, if you would be detected inside the caves. She asked me to take care of you."

Chati looked up very seriously.

"And when I protested, you told me that you took me as your padawan learner, master. You said that a padawan always obeys his master's orders. Would you have taken me as your apprentice if I hadn't objected, master."

Wedge put his hand on Chati's shoulder and turned her around so had to look at him.

"Chati, I already decided a long time ago that you would be my next padawan. Do you remember how you greeted me, when Luke had asked me to come to Myr. You treated me as a guest of honor."

Chati nodded.

"You were the guest of honor, master. At least I saw you that way and you showed your respect to me, but does that mean that you thought I was worth it to become your apprentice."

"Never doubt my decision, Chati, for when you served during that dinner, the Force showed that you and I would come along very well. I've sensed your tremendous slumbering Force abilities when you greeted me when Yarmod and I arrived on Tyr and you welcomed us showing your responsibility as the representatives of the Quelan community. Your Force skills are strong. Luke has admitted that to me and I want to guide you and teach you how to develop your skills and get the knowledge of the Jedi Knights. I feel it as a obligation to you to honor your determination to help your people."

Wedge's words convinced Chati that her new Jedi master hadn't made his decision very seriously, relying on his own Force skills to show him what was expected of him.

"Convinced, Chati" Wedge asked.

Chati averted her eyes.

"Thank you, master, for telling me all this. I will do my best to be worth what you expected from me."

"You will. I'm sure of that and we will have a fine time as master and apprentice together."

Both master and apprentice were silent for some time. Wedge gave Chati the opportunity to reflect on what he has told her. Finally Chati looked up and smiled happily. She pointed to the Astræga

"Master Luke's ship has the same feature as Master Solo's," She said and started walking around it.

"Yes, it's called ship's cloaking. Once activated it reflects its surroundings and makes it invisible for spying eyes."

"I showed Ben and master Solo that the Quelans has a natural cloaking themselves. Have you ever seen it, master?"

With jump she vanished among the ferns and undergrowth at the edge of the clearing. Wedge looked around to spot her, before tuned in on the Force and used Altus Supor. He reached out to the Force and noticed Chati's presence at the other end of the clearing. Knowing Chati would spot his presence while he would be one with the Force, he walked around her and gently touched her arm.

"The Quelans have developed a great way to disguise themselves, Chati. Shall we have a look inside the Astræga" He said.

Chati stepped inside the clearing again and her skin got her normal olive-green color. She looked at Wedge with a big smile.

"Ben already said, that a Jedi Knight can be fooled, master, and he was right. He taught me to feel the presence of things around me, tiny creepers, bird, insects, but also the presence of the other harvest men, like master Cornell and master Wollin, but this time I didn't sense your presence."

"That's because I used Altus Supor a Force way to blend in to the environment, so I couldn't be detected easily."

"I talked about that special Force way with Ian and Yarmod. They said that if I would become someone padawan learner he would teach me how to become one with the Force."

They walked over to the Astræga and Wedge released the ramp. Chati looked inside the gaping dark entrance, but immediately some floor light started to shine. Wedge noticed Chati reluctance, but also how curious the young woman was.

"Come on, Chati. We shouldn't leave the ship longer visible. There always might be spying eyes."

He and Chati walked up the ramp. Wedge secured the ramp and activated the ship's cloaking.

"Are we now undetectable, master," Chati asked.

"At least not immediately, but the ship is still here and if any droid would bump against the landing gear the ship might still be detected."

They had walked over to control room.

"I have to leave you here, Chati. I expect that you will stay here without making any plans of your own about the liberation of Ribana. I know you're a very curious girl, but I want you to obey my commands, so don't touch anything you do not understand yet."

"I won't, master. I certainly will not try to fly away with it."

Wedge burst out in laughter.

"Chati, I wouldn't be surprised if you would do, but obey my order without questioning it."

"Do I have to wait long, master, before you and I will go to see my hometown."

"I can't tell, Chati. I'm going back now to the cave system, but before I'm leaving I will teach you how to get in contact with the Supreme Chancellor, or her advisors. You can tell them what happened so far. I already told them that Luke is safe which was one of the most important things Shaayla-Car and I wanted to do. "

"Did Ben want his girlfriend to wake him up? Will he blame me that I did it. He asked me to use the same words I once spoke when master Solo had brought him to his ship. Master Solo did understand what had happened to Ben and was very worried and so were Cornell and the other harvest men. When I spoke that special greeting Cornell slapped in my face. He thought I was joking, but I understand that it was frightening for all of them to see Ben in Jedi hibernation."

"Luke certainly won't blame you for waking him up, before Shaayl-Car could do the same, Chati. Luke was only cautious; so he instructed you, because he was sure you could do it, but he also left Shaayla-Car a message which made clear to her how she could wake him up. I'll show how to be in contact with the Tychorion."

Wedge went over to the control room and activated the holo connection with the Tychorion. Step by step he explain what she needed to do and how she could speak with the leaders of the two administration and tell them everything she knew. As soon as the connection had been established Wedge introduce Chati to general Madine who with a broad smile welcomed the holo image of the Quelan woman.

"There you are again, young lady. How are you doing? I understand you're now in the company of Jedi master Wedge Antilles. You must tell us what has happened near your hometown and we also want to know what has happened years ago when your people were sent in exile and found a living on Tyr, the other continent. We already have heard some stories, but the leaders of the Provisional Coruscant Council haven't heard much of it and they are eager to know what their man who is calling himself Darth Golluth has been done to your people. Maybe I should introduce you to them. Grand master Jerno Thai, lieutenant-general Kalip Ru'undo and commodore Vanall Namaran this young lady is Chati Fonaldris, the daughter of Toallin Fonaldris the governor of Ribana. She is an excellent source to answer all the questions you have about what has happened after admiral Trevor Matrik occupied Palomintar Four near Chati's hometown Ribana."

Chati beamed and look up to Wedge who stood behind her.

"Thank you, general Madine. I don't know if my story is interesting enough, but I gladly will tell all of you what my people has been through after they were forced to leave Ribana."

For a moment Wedge to over the conversation and told his general what he knew so far.

"I will go back to the underground caves and gives Shaayla-Car and the others my support. I can't tell what will happen inside. Shaayla-Car and I have had an encounter with some nasty droids earlier, and according to Major Doran Whain there might be more of them still under control of Trevor Matrik. I will inform Chati using my infocom, so she can keep you informed about the situation. Chati, I leave now. I expect you be a nice hostess to my general, the Supreme Chancellor and her advisor Sorjon Tyloban and the members of the Provisional Council on Coruscant. I will activated the ship's cloaking after I have left. You're safe inside the ship."

"Yes, master," Chati answered.

Wedge left the control room. Chati heard how the ramp went down and closed again. Then she heard a soft click and exhaled reassured. She turned to the holo display where Mon Mothma had appeared with a benign smile

"Chati Fonaldris, did I hear it right, did master Antilles take you as a padawan learner."

Immediately Chati's eyes lit up and her whole face blushed.

"Oh, yes, my Lady, he said he wanted me as his next padawan learner, for his former apprentice is a Jedi Knight now."

"You're a very fortunate girl, dear Chati. I'm sure that you and master Antilles will get along pretty well."

"I hope, I won't disappoint him, my Lady. I didn't expect to become some one padawan learner so soon. Ben, I mean, master Skywalker told me, that if I would do my best there would be certainly a Jedi Knight who would take me as his apprentice. It's a great honor to become master Antilles apprentice. I haven't done something special to deserve his attention."

"I'm sure, Chati, that master Antilles has a different opinion about you. Now, please, tell us what has happened and what is possibly going to happen down there. General Madine already introduced you to the leaders of the Provisional Coruscant Council. They are very eager to know what you know and what happened to your people."

Jerno Thai's holo image appeared on the display in the Astræga.

"Miss Fonaldris how old were you when you and your people were driven out of your hometown."

"I was twelve years old, sir"

"And how old are you now?"

"Almost twenty years, sir.

"So you and your people have lived in exile for eight years, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Miss Fonaldris, tell me and my co-leader how your people managed to survived all those years."

"I gladly will, sir. I have been involved in the safety of my people, although not every Quelan men appreciate the help of the twelve year old Quelan girl."

"They probably have changed their mind about you, haven't they?"

"They haven't, sir. They still think I'm a trouble maker."

Chati saw that Jerno Thai started to laugh and she heard the other on the Tychorion laughed too.

"Maybe your own people aren't appreciating you the way the Jedi do, miss, but I sure that their opinion about you will change."

"I hope so, sir, but the traditional views of my people are difficult to change, I fear."

"Well, your future will be a bright and challenging one. We will gladly hear all your stories."

When Doran Whain had reached the lower cave he noticed with dismay that the speeder had gone. Only the two droids were waiting inside the cave.

"Where is the speeder, Threepio. Do you know who took it?"

"Yes, master Whain, master Antilles has taken the speeder to bring someone to a safe place. He will come back to bring us inside so we can serve mistress Liane as is the order we've been given."

"Did he tell how long he would be away?"

"No, sir. Can we help you?"

Doran shook his head. He walked outside and looked for a way to destroy the Force pike. Carefully he followed the overgrown path to the right until he found the path through the shrubs and brambles at the left which led downhill to the plains. He was about to follow the path when he heard the sound of the speeder and Wedge Antilles drove up along the hidden path. Wedge saw him and braked.

"Doran, what are you doing outside? Where is Shaayla-Car?"

Doran exhaled relieved.

"Wedge, I'm glad you be back. The droids told me you had taken the speeder."

"I brought some one to a safe place, Doran. After I had been waiting for some time at the end of that hidden path, I thought it wise to start looking around myself. I assumed that you and Shaayla-Car must have been occupied, keeping Trevor Matrik at bay, for I sensed Shaayla-Car's presence inside several cave. While I roamed around I met two other Jedi and their Quelan friend. She woke up Luke Skywalker. Shaayla-Car is still inside, isn't she? Has she met Luke and the other two Jedi?"

Still flabbergasted Doran looked at Wedge Antilles.

"She has, Wedge. After she has raised Trevor's anger, I warned her she should provoke him too much. She had confiscated this Force Pike which he often uses when he can control a situation. Shaayla-Car asked me to get rid of it. I was about to find a rock to crush it. She also asked me to warn the leader of the two governments to prepare their landing near Ribana. Shaayla-Car and Luke are confident they will be able to eliminate Trevor Matrik and hand him over to the leaders of the Provisional Coruscant Council. "

Wedge had jumped out of the speeder and stretched his hand.

"Better give that Force Pike to me, Doran. It's a dangerous weapon. Did Trevor use it on you?"

"Several times. In the beginning. It feels like an electrical charge explodes through my whole body and became paralyzed."

Doran handed Wedge the Force Pike. Wedge walked to the last backseat with the intention to throw the Force Pike behind the backseat. Doran shook his head.

"You can't leave it there, Wedge. Droids might detect it and hand it back to Trevor. Shaayla-Car asked me to get rid of it."

"That isn't easy, Doran. A Force Pike always is surrounded by an invisible vibrating membrane."

Wedge looked around to find another solution, when suddenly he looked up alerted and looked along the path, leading to lower cave and further to the main entrance.

"We're getting company, Doran. A droid squat is coming along this path fast. Can you deactivated them."

"I gave the remote to Luke."

"Then hide. You're no match for fighting droids I fear. I'll cover you."

Thumping thuds of mechanical steps were heart and became louder. Doran ducked behind the speeder and took aim at the first droid, coming in sight. He hit the droid's head. Wedge rushed over and severed the head with one slash of his lightsaber. The three remaining droids released a barrage of laser fire. Wedge repelled the blast and used Force Push to turn two of them into a heap of metal scrap. Doran fired at the remaining droid, but the last droid took aim at him. Doran tried hide and find a better position but a laser blast hit him full at his left side. He let out a nasty scream, staggered and fell to the ground. After having slashing down the last droid Wedge rushed over to Doran. The young man cringed with pain and blood began to seep from his side. Wedge grabbed a bacta patch from his belt and pressed it against Doran's shirt. He wrapped a bandage around the young man's chest, before he used the Force to lift him carefully and laid him on one of the back seats of the speeder. Doran breathed very superficial and moaned. For a moment he came to and wanted to say something.

"You warn them, Wedge.... on the Tychorion."

Then he passed out.

Wedge wanted to get on the driver's seat of the speeder, when Threepio, followed by Artoo came hurrying along the path.

"Master Antilles. I heard heavy laser blasts. Are you hurt?"

Despite the serious situation Wedge had to smile.

"No, Threepio, I'm alright, but master Whain has been hit. He is severely wounded. I can't take you inside those caves now."

Wedge did a quick thinking.

"I need to bring Doran quickly to the Astræga. I'll take you with me, for you can't stay here. Get on the passenger's seat, Threepio."

He lifted Artoo at the last back seat, jumped at the driver's seat and drove at a very high speed through the shrubs and bushes, following the dried riverbed to the hidden valley where the Astræga stood. He de-activated the cloaking of the ship before he halted the speeder, released the ramp and carried the unconscious body of Doran Whain inside. Threepio and Artoo followed Wedge inside the ship. Chati who sat on one of the couches in the control room, looked up when Wedge entered the control room with Doran Whain in his arms, followed by the droids.

"Help me to attach him to the life support system at the medic bay, Chati." Wedge said, walking through the control room to rear of the Astræga. Immediately Chati jumped to her feet and followed her new master. Wedge instructed her what he needed and within a couple of minutes Doran Whain had been securely strapped and attached to several vials and tubes of the life support system of the Astræga.

Chati looked at her master.

"Who is he? What happened to him?"

"We had an encounter with some patrolling droids. He acted very courageously, but a droid has shot him when he couldn't hide quickly enough behind the speeder. The laser blast hit his left side. I could stem the bleeding with a bacta patch. Now that he is connected to this life support system I hope he will survive. Chati, I want you to stay with him and seek a way to stop the bleeding. I need to contact the Tychorion and ask the Supreme Chancellor and her guests to descends to the planet and land near Ribana."

"Do you have more bacta patches, master. Are there more here in the medic bay?"

Wedge looked around and rummaged through some drawers. He shook his head.

"Master, can I go outside for a quick look in the undergrowth. Maybe I can find the leaves of a plant my mother taught me to use to stem the bleeding of wounds."

"Go, Chati, I wait here for you?"

Chati rushed down the ramp and ran over to the edge of the clearing. Agitated she began to look around for the specific plant which leaves she needed. She brushed through the ferns and undergrowth fast, but to her despair she couldn't find the plant. Dismayed she stood still, but suddenly she became aware of a strong power which seems to lead her to a specific place. She walked on and all of a suddenly she let out a relieved sigh. In front of her stood an thick bush of the plant she had been looking for. Quickly she gathered quite an amount of leaves and ran back to the Astræga. She rushed up the ramp and ran to the medic bay.

"Found them, master, and there's lot more of those plants outside. All I need is some liquid to soften the leaves and then I will attach them at the wound. Like bactas, these leaves will stem the bleeding and prevent that wounds will get worse. I will refresh the leaves every hour, until I notice that the leaves have stopped the loss of blood. How long do those bactas work, for the combination of the leaves and the bactas might safe his life. Is he Ben's friend, the one who helped Ben to get inside Darth Golluth's cave."

"He is, Chati. Take care of him and do what you can. I also had to take Threepio and Artoo with me. They have to stay with you. Maybe they can help you. I'm going to contact the Tychorion now."

"Yes, master. Maybe there is better medical aid for him on board that ship."

Wedge looked at the Quelan woman and nodded.

"Quick thinking, Chati, but I won't tell them yet that their agent is wounded. I have to avoid that grand admiral Thai and his co-leaders take some ground force with them. I will activated the cloaking when I leave."

Wedge put his hand on Chati's shoulder.

"You will be a good padawan and a fine comrade, young lady." He said and Chati heard an appreciating tone in his voice.

She watched him go as he went back to control room. From the medic bay she heard him talk with some one at the Tychorion. The connection was shut off and she heard how Wedge walked down the ramp. The ramp closed and Chati heard the soft click of the cloaking activation.

All the time Threepio and Artoo had stood waiting at the entrance of the madic bay. Chati looked at them, looked at the bunch of leaves which floated in a bowl of water. Suddenly she got an idea.

"Have you often flown with this space ship?" She asked.

She looked concerned at the unconscious body of Doran Whain.His shirt was already soaked with blood.

"We have, miss. Why are you asking?"

Chati had taken a pair of scissors to take away some parts of clothes, taking care not to touch the wound. She looked at the wound which seems to have damaged most of the skin and underlaying tissue. Carefully she put as much soaked leaves on and around the wound, before she looked at the droids again.

"Does one of you know how to deactivate the cloaking and release the ramp?"

Artoo began to beeps and long series of binary language.

"Artoo says, he can, but he wants to know why you want to leave the ship. Master Antilles asked you to take care of master Whain, didn't he?"

"I will do what my master has asked me, Threepio, but probably I need much more of these leaves to take care of this guy. I'd wish I could find some spare bacta patches. Master Antilles was in hurry. Maybe I should look at those cupboards more closely."

"Threepio, can you look at those cupboard over there and tell me what's in them."

Threepio walked over to the cupboards, lifted the doors and held out towels, bandages and plaster. Chati want to shake her head, but held out her hand.

"Give me those towels and bandages, Threepio. I might need them. Keep searching those cupboards, maybe you'll find a box of bacta patches."

Meanwhile Artoo had been opening the drawers Wedge had inspected and let out a yelp. He grabbed inside a drawer and draw a small medic kit from the rear.

"A medic kit. Good work, Artoo. Hey, the two of you are a great help. I like to work with droids."

She opened the kit and found more bandages and plaster and to her relief also a small package containing some twenty small bacta patches. She exhauled, for now she could use bacta patches at the wound.

"Can we be of more service, miss," Threepio asked.

Chati looked up from the package of bacta patches and began to smile. She nodded. She grabbed some of the leaves she had gathered in the undergrowth.

"Yes, you can, Threepio. I don't want to leave this guy alone, but maybe you and Artoo can go outside and gather as much as you can these special leaves. There is a big bunch of plants in the undergrowth to the left of the ship."

She held out the special leaves to the two droids.

"Can you do that? The more leaves I can attach to the wound the more chance it will be that he will survive. "

Artoo rolled near and scanned the leaves, then he beeped.

"Artoo is sure, that he can recognize the leaves of the Dimajoli plant, miss. He says that mistress Liane also gathered those leaves while we served her on Dalmaran in the Supreme Chancellor's undergound residence."

Chati looked around and took one of the drawers from the closet.

"Here, gather as much as will fit in this box," She said.

She watches as the droids left the medic bay, before she paid attention again to her unconscious patient. She gently touch the leaves she had attached so she could attach the bacta patches. As she touch the skin near the wound. Doran began to move and moaned. He came to and looked at her.

"Lay still, sir. You're wounded, if you move to much the bleeding will get worse. There will be help shortly."

"Where am I? Where is Wedge?"

"My master has gone to Ribana. There he will wait for your people from the Tychorion."

"Who are you?"

"I am Chati Fonaldris, sir. I am master Antilles new padawan learner."

Doran produced a weak smile.

"It must have been you who released Luke from that hibernation state, right?"

"Yes, sir. I did, for Ben, eh ... Luke has told me how I could wake him up. I also handed him back his lightsaber. But you'd better be quiet now and lay still. I have attached bacta patches and special leaves which stem bleeding to your wound."

At that moment Threepio and Artoo entered the medic bay with the small drawer full of leaves. Amazed Doran looked at the two droids.

"What are you two doing here? Shouldn't be waiting for Wedge to bring you inside the caves?"

"Master Antilles said he couldn't, because he needed to bring you to the Astræga real quick, master Whain. He said you are severely wounded."

Doran let his eyes cast over the ceiling and walls of the medic bay.

"I'm in the Astræga?"

"My master brought you on board, sir. He asked me to take care of you, until better help will arrive."

Doran nodded, closed his eyes, when he made a slight move he started the moan. Chati saw how sweat began to appear on his face. With a wet cloth she wiped his face. Doran opened his eyes and tried to smile.

"You're a Quelan girl, aren't you?" He asked.

Chati nodded.

"You're neither dressed as a Jedi apprentice, nor as a Quelan woman. Where did you get this outfit."

Chati looked at her harvesters clothes. She shouldn't reveal that there were Quelans on Myr, working on a daring plan.

"The clothes I wearing are used by the Quelan females and males ever since we went into exile on Tyr, sir."

"Your people have suffered a lot, Chati Fonaldris."

"We did, sir, but we have made ourselves a living on Tyr, since we had to leave Myr and Ribana."

"There's not much left of the town. Will your people come back here, after Darth Golluth will be arrested."

"We probably will, sir. Myr and the surroundings of Ribana are so beautiful. I love it, especially the valley where the vineyard is, but now you must rest. Too much talking is very bad for you health."

"Your people are very courageous, Chati. Will you tell them that my leaders and I admire your people and strongly regret what has happened to them."

"I will, sir, but please be quiet now. You'd better close your eyes and try sleep a bit. I'll do as much as I can to relief the pain you feel."

Doran looked at the Quelan girl without speaking, but at last his eyelids became heavy and the pain became almost unbearable again and he fainted. Chati put another batch of soaked leaves at the wound and sat herself on a stole near the wall. The two droids stood placidly waiting nearby.

To be continued...