Chapter 93

"I will contact master Antilles, Cornell, and ask him if my brother, Chati and the other two Jedi are safe."

"Then we will await his answer, Madam Jedi. I hope that all our plans will work out the way we planned. Thank you all. These last days we all have done a tremendous job, thanks to the good plan of master Solo and master Yarnick. The Wookiee Chewbacca has been a great help make the wall on the plateau much higher and more solid."

"Master Cornell, after the fissures are widened and the water starts to flow, we still have to monitor the water flow closely. There still might be some work to do to keep the flow to continue permanently. If everything looks the way we planned you still have to keep in mind that this is an artificial riverbed which might need maintenance. A maintenance group of harvest men is needed to watch the lake, its water level and the wall on the plateau. It might be that in the dryer season the water flow might not reach the inlet. Then the river on the other side near Ribana might dry up again."

"The harvesters will keep an eye on our work, also in the future, master Yarnick, but thank you for your warning. We will heed your words. Maybe it's an option to a kind of pumping system in the dryer season, but that's for later. First of all me and my men would be happy to see the water flow reach the inlet with enough force to break the wall at the end."

Later that day Leia was sitting with Han and Chewie in the control room of the Millennium Falcon. They looked very concerned at each other.

"Wedge has asked Mon Mothma and Sorjon Tyloban to escort the leaders of the Provisional Coruscant Council to prepare for landing on Palomintar Four. He had devastating news, for Doran Whain has been shot during an encounter with some patrolling droids. Wedge had brought him to the Astræga, where Chati Fonaldris is taking care of Doran."

"Has Luke been out of that foolish hibernation? What did Wedge tell you about Liane?"

"Shaayla-Car has joined Luke, Ian and Yarmod, but the droids Luke had ordered to serve her are now on the Astræga with Chati. Wedge seems to know a way to get inside Trevor's cave system without being noticed. He didn't tell me in which way."

Han sighed, but looked relieved.

"At least Liane and Luke are safe, more or less."

"Yes, but they are still inside Trevor's abode. Wedge assumes that Shaayla-Car will confront Trevor with the knowledge she and Wedge have gained after transcribing some files about the Battle near Solgar."

"The Battle near Solgar. Never heard of it, darling?"

"Neither have I, Han. It must have happened in the beginning of the resistance against the Empire. All I know is that Darth Vader settled the resistance on Solgar somehow. That was on the Holonet years ago. Luke told me that Shaayla-Car overheard a conversation between my father and the commander of the imperial domains on Morantan, talking about Solgar, but she didn't understand the meaning of their talk at that time."

"What's in those files. What have Liane and Wedge learned from the transcription?"

"Wedge is very elusive about their work. All he wanted to tell me is that Trevor isn't a real threat to any of the Jedi who are now in his underground abode."

"Did Wedge tell you, when those from the Tychorion will land on Palomintar Four?"

"No, he even hasn't told me their landing coordinates. Han, I also wonder if Wedge has told them that their agent is wounded."

"Why would he hide the truth from them?"

"Maybe, he want to avoid that the leaders from Coruscant will ask Madine to send a ground force with them. Mon Mothma knows that an armed action could jeopardize the plan Luke has in mind to eliminate Trevor."

Han rose.

"I'm going to contact the Tychorion, Leia. I want to know what appointment Wedge has made and where they will land."

"Don't mentioned Doran Whain, Han. As I said I don't know if Wedge has mentioned that Doran Whain got shot."

Chewie let out a long sentence of Shyrriwook.

"Might be an excellent idea, pal. Leia, Chewie just said that maybe Liane can heal Doran's wound with her special Force skills."

"I don't know if she and Doran were getting along well, Han?"

"Doesn't matter. I wasn't a real friend too in the beginning. I had given a very rude answer when I first met her in Mos Eisley."

Leia started to laugh.

"Never heard to story, my love. What did she ask you?"

"Eh ... well, she asked me to tell her where I could find you."

Leia laughed even louder.

"And you answered that you didn't know me, did you? You felt highly offended, because a young woman who, by that time, didn't know who she was, recalled my name, and you mocked her."

"I did. When I had woken up in the Falcon with her help, she reminded me at what I had said. Nevertheless she didn't hesitate to give me her help. She's a very forgiving person. Can you make contact with her and tell her that the guy who had become Luke's friend and ally in this cause is wounded and needs her help. I'm absolutely sure that she will persuade Wedge to bring her to the Astræga."

"What about her wish to tell Trevor she won't teach him Sith lore. That surely might anger him and he might revenge himself."

"Luke, Ian and Yarmod are capable enough to get rid of Trevor Matrik."

"I'll think of it, darling. Now call the Tychorion and find out what Mon Mothma and the other are planning."

Wedge had brought the speeder back inside the lower cave and hurried through the hidden caves and passageways to the main corridor. All the way he focussed on the presence of his four Jedi friends and was reassured that the Force told him they still were together. After he had entered the main corridor he used Altus Sopor to avoid that his presence would be revealed to unwanted eyes. He followed the Force lead and stood outside the doors which led to the main cave. He had taken his position barely when the double doors flew open and an enraged Darth Golluth rushed pass him.

"I will keep the four of you my prisoners until that Vader Lady will teach how to become a Sith." He yelled.

Wedge noticed that Luke appeared in the open doors, looking quietly at the enraged imperial admiral who disappeared around a bend in the main corridor. Luke looked aside and grinned.

"Hi, Wedge," He said.

Wedge released himself and looked at the three other Jedi who had joined Luke.

"Well you just saw one of Trevor's famous tantrums," Liane said, "What ever I tell him, he keeps insisting that he wants me to make him a Sith lord and he doesn't seem to realize that none of us can fulfill his wish."

"Did you tell Luke and the others what we have found out about Trevor," He asked Liane.

"Sure, I did, and I think it's time to confront Trevor with that truth. Oh, look there is our polite host," She said and pointed to Darth Golluth who came around the bend. When he saw Wedge he started to laughed menacingly.

"Another Jedi Knight has come to make me a Sith lord," He said still laughing, "but first I need to know where my loyal colonel is. Has any of you seen him or know where he's gone. I don't care, for I already am sure that he is a traitor, but now that I have laid my hands on five Jedi Knight I don't need him any longer. Lady Vader, when will you start with your lessons. I'm eager to know how I can become a Sith lord fast. Your father surely has told you, for I always had the idea that he wanted to overthrow Emperor Palpatine and become emperor himself. Let's get inside again."

The five Jedi looked at each other and stepped aside when Darth Golluth made clear he wanted to enter his main cave again. He walked over to the dais and sat down at his chair.

"Let's start immediately, Lady Vader. The sooner you reveal what I need to know the sooner will I release your friends. Not you, of course, your knowledge is too value for me."

Liane looked at the man on the dias and now realized for the first time what Luke, Ian and Leia had experienced. She saw him, but through the Force she didn't sensed his presence.

'I don't need to tell you how you can to become a Sith' She said in a penetrating Force voice.

"You don't need to tell me how I can become a Sith", Darth Golluth answered.

'That's it Shaayla-Car' Luke whispered through the Force. 'He is susceptible to Affect Mind. We continue together.'

The four Jedi formed a half circle around her.

'You don't want to become a Sith'Wedge continued.

"I don't want to become a Sith", the man on the dais answered.

'You don't want her to teach you Sith lore anymore.'Luke said.

"I don't want her to teach me Sith lore anymore." Darth Golluth said and looked at the five Jedi in front of him.

'You will not imprison any Jedi.' Yarmod emphasized.

"I will not imprison any Jedi." Trevor said as if in trance.

'You will allow the Jedi to leave now. Good day to all of them.'Ian said.

"I will allow the Jedi now. Good day to all of them," The cloaked figure rose and made a dismal gesture.

The five Jedi bowed and left the main chamber. Once outside they looked at each other.

"Let's get to the Doran's quarters. There we can talk about our next step. I didn't expect him to surrender to Affect Mind so easily," Liane said.

She lead the way and the five friends entered the huge cave. Liane activated the lights and the other four looked around in amazement.

"Stolen Quelan property," Liane said, seeing the surprised looked of her friends, "Just like the furniture in the main chamber. I'd wish I had an idea to hand all this back to rightful owners."

"Maybe they wouldn't want it back, Shaayla-Car. It might remind them to what Trevor has done with it. I think that once he is gone the Quelans want to start anew and produce their own new furniture while rebuilding and renovating the house in Ribana."

Liane turned to Wedge.

"I understand that you took Chati Fonaldris with you and brought her to the Astræga"

"On Leia's request, but I have to tell you all some devastating new. When I came back I met Doran Whain. Shaayla-Car you have handed him Trevor's Force Pike. I met him on the path outside the lower cave. Just after he handed me the pike four patrolling droids near and started firing at Doran and me. Doran managed to down one of them. I eliminate two, but the last droid shot Doran before he could hide."

Liane looked at Wedge.

"Is he badly hurt?" She asked, "Where is he?"

"I brought him to the Astræga where Chati is taking care of him now. I couldn't do more, guys. Doran asked me to warn all the leaders on the Tychorion and asked them to prepare for a landing near Ribana."