Chapter 100

Mon Mothma looked the Jedi Knights and made a slight nod.

"Thanks to your combined effort you will bring peace back to the comminuty of the Quelans. On behalf of all the members of the High Council I want to thank you for your achievement. You have my approval to continue for as long as needed to help the Quelan people to restore their town and help them to a new form of prosperous living."

The six Jedi and the padawan made a deep bow. Mon Mothma looked at Liane and Luke.

"Shaayla-Car Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, I have received a special request from the leaders of the Provisional Coruscant Council, they would be honored if you would join them on the flight back to the Tychorion. They are awaiting you near their shuttle. Master Nori Thai will also accompany you and get back with you on the return flight."

Mon Mothma made an inviting gesture to the other shuttle. Liane, Luke and Nori walked over and were welcome by the three leaders from Coruscant who went with them on the ramp. Meanwhile the leaders of the New Republic were boarding their shuttle. The ramps closed, the engines started and slowly the two shuttles rose above the western plains. The vessels gained speed and disappeared in the sky above Palomintar Four. The other Jedi, the droids went over to the Millennium Falcon and gathered in the control room.

"Does any of you know, why Shaayla-Car, Luke and Nori joined the delegation from Coruscant," Yarmod asked, looking at the others.

"I heard Nori Thai talking to his uncle and general Madine," Han said, "and I heard Madine say that Nori could take from the storage on the Tychorion any spare parts he needed. Nori himself told me that he wanted me to give him a hand when he will start assembling that com system he has in mind. I can't imagine how I can help him, but I accepted his offer. It's always good if experts exchange their wisdom."

Leia frowned but didn't comment and Han's words.

"What about Shaayla-Car and Luke?" Yarmod asked again.

"Aren't you a bit too curious for a Jedi Knight, Yarmod Martan," Wedge said laughing, knowing how inquisitive his former padawan always was.

Yarmod shrugged his shoulders

"It's nothing out of the ordinary, I think," Ian said. "On board the Tychorion admiral Matrik will be transferred to the detention cell on board the Coruscant space ship. Probably the three leaders want to avoid trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Yarmod asked and looked at his friend. "He has surrendered voluntarily. He handed the grand-admiral his distinctive. He has accepted his downfall."

"He did, but can you be sure that he might not change his mind, Yarmod," Ian answered.

"Maybe the honorable leaders want to reward Shaayla-Car and Ben," Chati said.

"What about us?" Yarmod retorted. "I fought some droids in that maze of caves."

They all began to laugh.

"Yarmod Martan, I wonder why Wedge has given you your initiation to Jedi Knight." Leia said.

"That's easy, Leia. I had to cooperate with his plan to go to Palomintar Four instead of docking the Astræga at the Tychorion which was his order."

Leia shook her head and looked at Wedge who refrained from any comment. It was Chati who looked at Yarmod with a frown.

"So you tricked and cheated master Antilles?" She said. "That means that you're still a padawan learner, Yarmod Martan."

"Little miss Fonaldris, you're Wedge's padawan. He can't have two apprentices. That's forbidden as the Jedi Order stipulated."

"That's a rule from the old Order," Wedge remarked, "Maybe Chati is right. Luke might reverse your intiation, so I could take you back as my padawan learner."

Yarmod Martan silenced and didn't give any further comment. Chewie grunted a long sentence to Threepio.

"No, Chewbacca, master Luke will never undo what master Antilles did. Master Luke fully trusts his friend's judgement, but I agree that it might be an idea if master Luke takes master Martan to Dagobah for some extra trials."

"Chewie, you don't know anything about the Jedi trials on Dagobah," Leia remarked. "Luke certainly will not do what you suggested."

"Oh, but I would like to go to that swamp planet. Would be a great new adventure. Maybe I should ask Luke to take Tama-Hin and me with him."

Leia and Wedge both shook their head.

"Master Luke isn't easy to pleased, master Martan. I have heard that he is very demanding, that's what miss Liane told me when Artoo and I were serving her on Na'ctaMagh'Ba." Threepio said. "She had to practise over and over again with those terrible remote balls until she could beat all four of them."

"Master Skywalker, miss Kenobi, we've invited you to join us on our way back to the Tychorion. Once there we will say goodbye to both of you, but before we will set course to Coruscant again, former admiral Matrik has requested if the two of you are willing to talk with him. In private. None of us will be present at your conversartion with the former admiral, and I assure you that no surveillance cams are activated. Do you accept the former admiral's request?" Jerno said quite formally.

"We do," Luke and Liane said in unison.

"Tell your former admiral that we will glad have a word with him," Luke said, looking at Liane who nodded in agreement.

Valann Namaran rose.

"Very generous, masters Jedi," He said, "I tell Trevor Matrik you will see him at the Tychorion's detention block as we have agreed with general Madine and the Supreme Chancellor."

Within in minutes Valann returned.

"Trevor Matrik is pleased that his request has been granted." He said.

Meanwhile Nori Thai had helped his uncle to put some servings and drinks on the table. The conversation between the three leaders and the Jedi became less formal. Jerno and Valann showed much interest in Liane's way to use the Force as a Jedi healer. Once again Jerno expressed his gratitude for saving the life of his nephew Nori.

"You're a very gifted Jedi Knight, miss Kenobi. Being able to heal someone so severly wounded as my nephew told me."

"It has been mainly my brother, grand-admiral, who allowed the Force to use his Life Force to heal the most damage done. He is as gifted as I am."

"It's so unbelievable that I've have met with the offspring of Severini Solichor, the famous healer of the Jedi Temple" Valann said.

"I was very amazed when you addressed me with my mother's name, commodore."

"I really thought that I finally had found Severini Solichor. Do you know what has happened to her after Emperor Palpatine ordered the elimination of the Jedi Order."

"What I know, commodore, are the writings in my father's dairy and what Luke Skywalker and Jedi master Yoda have told me. My mother was a Jedi healer, but she was also trained as a Jedi Knight. On Morantan she had an encounter with Darth Vader's men and Darth Vader himself. She defended herself and me, her one year old daughter. In her lightsaber with Darth Vader she became one with the Force and left this galaxy."

The three leaders had listened with interest to Liane's sober story about her parents and the death of the mother Severini.

"So Darth Vader is responsible for Severini's death," Kalip remarked.

Liane shook her head.

"No, general, my mother became a Force ghost before Darth Vader could strike her down. It's special knowledge of the Jedi to keep their consciousness self, after they leave their present live. It's one of the creeds of the Force which says that there is no death, there is the Force."

"Your father, general Obi-Wan Kenobi was married to Severine Solichor, right?" Valann asked.

"Yes, he was." Liane answered.

"He was a very famous Jedi Knight and a general during the Clone Wars. As your mother also was a Jedi Knight he must have known about her passing, hasn't he. It surely must have hurt him to know that his wife had gone. Did he also know that you, his daughter, had been born?

"Her unexpected transition has hurt him for the rest of his life. He has blamed himself, because he had left her on her own. To answer your second question: yes, my father has always felt my presence through the Force, but he couldn't risk an encounter with his enemy Darth Vader, for he must keep the existing of the Skywalker twins secret." Liane said and looked at Luke, "Had my father gone to Morantan in an attempt to safe my life, he might have become one with the Force too. On Tatooine my father had to watch Luke Skywalker while he grew up, for it would be his task to make Luke aware of his Force skills and train him as a Jedi. Luke was the new hope to restore the balance in the Force which has been distorted after Darth Sidious made Anakin Skywalker is Sith apprentice Darth Vader.

"And Darth Vader took you to Morantan's mainland to become his Dark Side apprentice?" Jerno asked.

"Darth Vader took me to the imperial domains when I was about seven years old. I have lived among his men until my nineteenth year. During those twelve year he demanded that I should studie the Sith lore which I have hated from the beginning. I have seen a lot of evil done with the Dark Side of the Force."

"You must have felt very relieved when the New Republic invaded Morantan and set you free," Valann said in compassionate voice.

Both Liane and Luke began to laugh.

"Not exactly, commodore. Indeed I should have been more cooperative from the beginning, but I wasn't and I made many wrong decisions before I learned what really mattered: no the use of my Dark Side skills, but learn to become a Force user of the Good Side of the Force: a Jedi Knight. It has been a struggle of years."

"With success, I should say," Jerno said. ;

"Thank you, grand-admiral," Liane said politely.

"Master Skywalker my nephew Nori Thai would like to know, if, in the future, you and the other Jedi Knights are willing to use your extraordinary skills to provide assistance to the government on Coruscant?"

Luke nodded.

"In the past, grand-admiral, the Jedi Order was independent from the Republic's Senate, although both bodies relied on each others expertise. The Jedi Council decided where the Jedi Knights should be send on a mission. Sometimes the Senate would ask the Jedi Council to assist in matters of injustice. The elimination of the Order and the death of all the Jedi Knights brought a time of repression in this galaxy as Emperor Palpatine plunged the galaxy into darkness. That dark period lays behind us and instead of one government two administrative bodies have been founded who has promised to work together. The recent events on Palomintar Four have shown that cooperation between our two governments is essential to bring peace and prosperity again. As a Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order I assure you that the members of the New Order will again fulfill the same duties the Jedi Knights have done in the past. So I accept Nori's wish to work together, probably not in the same way as he is used to, for the Jedi Knights rely on the Force, but in the future we will cooperate with the government on Irithim and on Coruscant. "

"Don't you have to discuss that with the Supreme Chancellor, master Skywalker? You hold a rank in the New Republic's fleet," Kalip said with concern.

"I have a special mandate, general, to look for possible new Jedi apprentices in this whole galaxy. I is my wish that the New Jedi Order will serve all systems in this galaxy if situations requires the presence of some Jedi Knights," Luke said and laughed, "At the moment I'm happy to know that the New Jedi Order have six Jedi Knights."

"And probably one future Jedi Knight, master Skywalker, for that Quelan woman has become master Antilles' Jedi apprentice, hasn't she?" Kalip asked.

"Yes, I'm glad my friend made that choice, for Chati Fonaldris will certainly become a great Jedi Knight in the future. She and master Antilles are getting along very well."

The pilot's image popped up and the display.

"Your excellencies, we're nearing the Tychorion and will be docking the shuttle within ten standard minutes. I advice you to check your safety webbing."

"Thank you, officer," Kalip said.

All six sat down and strapped themselves in. Nori had taken a seat next to Luke and started to talk to him. Luke looked interested when he heard about how Nori had been able to prepare the electric circuitry system inside Trevor's lair to detonate and collapse after the cave system was flooded.

"Did you know about the harvest men's project, Nori?" Luke asked.

"No, I didn't, but during my stay I saw strange indications about the origin of the caves. The walls were smooth almost up half way, in some cave even up to the ceiling. On one of my explorations I entered what seemed to be the end of the cave system. It was a very low small cave. In one of the walls I noticed deep fissures which I wanted to check when I heard voices. I listened and I recognized your voice, Luke, and that of a woman. You both were talking about tracking signals from outside which were visible on a device you both held. You were talking about the possibility to get water into the underground riverbed, but that it would be necessary to blow up the wall at the end."

"So you knew there were more people on Palomintar Four?"

"It's my habit to be suspicious, Luke. I accepted you wanted to keep your location secret, but after I had heard that conversation I understood what you were up to. Of course I didn't know how that project would turn out, but of the end wall would collapse due to an explosion and water would flood the cave system I had to ensure to everything Trevor had installed would be destroyed. The electric circuitry system he had installed gave me a good opportunity to amend it in such a way that the system would destroy itself and the surrounding area. After I paid a visit to those group of Quelan men on the mountain ridge and saw the whirling of the water flood I knew my deduction was right and it would only be a matter of time when I would feel the outcome of my secret work. Han mentioned that he felt more tremors after the first two big explosion had blown away the wall and flooded the cave system. That was the confirmation I had been waiting for. "

"Your skills are incredible, Nori." Liane commented.

"In a certain way, Shaayla-Car, but I would think again if I would be tempted to reassemble a ruined comsystem in an underground cave system with a former imperial officer with crazy ideas, who had surrounded himself with vicious droids. Oh, Luke, that reminds me, did you use the device I gave you."

Luke took the little square box from the sleeves of his Jedi coat and handed it to Nori. He looked at Liane who smiled.

"It worked perfectly and gave us the opportunity to run for safety. We managed to leave the cave system through the underground riverbed and joined our friends at the other end." Luke said with a grin.

The pilot's image popped up again.

"We've just docked, your excellencies. You may leave the shuttle. My men and General Madine's men will escort your prisoner to the detention block of the Tychorion. General Madine is waiting for you in the docking bay. He will bring you to your quarters."

Cornell, Wollin, Manall, Yarnick and his brothers and the harvest men looked with a satisfying glance at the flowing water on the plateau.

"Good work, son" Manall said and petted his son on his shoulder. "Good work. Ribana has its lake and river back, that's what I've heard from the general."

Cornell looked at Yarnick.

"Master Grann, you and your brother did those first two trials with those hoses and a pumping system. Can I buy it for a fair price?"

Yarnick began to laugh.

"Master Cornell, do you remember those aludium crystals in the rocks you and your men have dug up?"

"Yes, master Solo, told us they are valuable. He showed us how we could separate those rocks from ones without those crystals. What about them, master Yarnick?"

"Han Solo showed them to me. Years ago we've met your governors on Palomintar Six. They offered us a small bag of rocks with aludium crystals. We made a deal with them and they could build a domed house in the forest with the money. The amount of rocks Han offered me is much, much bigger. We wanted to sell it for the Quelans, so they have enough money to restore Ribana to its former beauty and there also will be enough credits left to provide you and your men with a very sophisticated pumping system which could be used in case the water flow would need so support to keep the water reaching Ribana. I understand that my brother and I have to discuss that with your governors, but the harvest men don't have to pay for the equipment you need."

Cornell looked aghast.

"Are those crystals worth that much, master Yarnick? They are just rocks with bright sliver to me and my men."

"There are special companies in this galaxy which pay a fortune for aludium crystals, as they are very rare. The crystals are separated from the rock and formed the main ingredient for transparisteel. Transparisteel is used in all kind of space ship's windscreens as it is resistance to the extreme temperature fluctuations in space and during landing and take off. Sometimes they also use transparisteel in the windows in high rise buildings."

"And you and your brothers want to sell those rocks for the Quelan community, master Yarnick. I remember that master Solo wanted to sell them for us, but lady Jedi Leia didn't agree. He promised us he would find reliable traders to make a deal with us."

Cornell's face got a bright olive-green glance as he reached out his hand to Yarnick.

"The Quelans of Palomintar Four are lucky that by accident you and your brother came and helped us. My men and I will gladly support your offer and convince our governors you should trade these rocks for us. I also have heard that my father has offered you a deal for the surplus of our nut harvest, hasn't he?"

Kieran began to smile.

"They are so delicious, master Cornell. We tasted them when our group were crossing those wild lands to the plains. We ate all our rations, so I fear that those surplus, master Manall has offered us, won't reach any market to sell them."

"You mean, young man, that you and your brothers will use them yourselves," Wollin said and grinned. The other harvest men began to laugh.

"Cornell, we should convince the Urams that we possibly might need much more of their nut harvest."

"They won't allow us. We have to be satisfied which what we may harvest," Manall commented, "but that always have been more than sufficient. Master Yarnick, can you recall what you have given our governors for that small bag with aludium crystals?"

Yarnick looked at Ronann

"Seven hundred thousand credits," Ronan immediately answered.

The harvest men looked dumbfounded at the Grann brothers.

"Seven hundred thousand credits? Are you sure, master Ronann?" Wollin asked.

"Ask your governors to confirm, master Wollin, but that's what we offered and my brothers and I are feeling a bit ashamed that we could have paid more. Your governors didn't haggle and accepted our first offer."

"They were eager to get some credits, master Ronann, and you and your brothers make a living as traders, so you don't have to feel ashamed. But tell me what would you have offered them if they had haggled."

"The value of the bag certainly was worth over one million, maybe one million and a half. We feel sorry we offered them a bad deal. I recall that we sold the small amount of rocks with a good profit." Ronann said.

Cornell began to laugh.

"No hard feelings, masters. You did what you're used to do, but that reminds me that after master Solo showed us those crystal the first times, he said that the houses of Ribana could be rebuild with marble slabs on the wall and the streets. So what we gathered must be worth a real fortune."

"That is correct, Master Cornell, so I will advise your directors to sell the stock in small quantities and over a long period, so that any buyer will not become suspicious and discover where we are getting those stones from."

Manall had been listening to the explanation of the Grann brothers and nodded in agreement.

"Very wise, master Yarnick, very wise indeed. I also will support your request with our governors. I'm sure I can convince them."

Cornell raised his eyebrows, but didn't ask his father what he meant.

Liane looked at the corridor which led to the cells in the detention block of the Tychorion. Some vivid images appeared in her mind.

'I once was here detained,' She thought, 'I was interrogated three times and one of the officers scared me so much that I nearly could control my hatred for him.'

She turned to Luke.

"What happened to Daino Phylotar, Luke? He was one of the officers that interrogated me here. The other one was a friendly guy. I don't remember his name."

"Daino Phylotar has been sentenced to a long stay in prison for collaboration with former imperials under which the spies and minions of Trevor Matrik."

"He has been degraded, I assume, right?"

"So after he will be released, he has to find a new way of living. That won't be easy for him. When he interrogated me I sensed his ambition, like I always have sensed Trevor's ambitions."

"He and his brother Rand and Olon Dendicott once served under Trevor Matrik. They defected after the Battle of Endor. They offered their service to Mon Mothma and gave the Rebel Alliance a lot of information about the remnants of the the Imperial fleet."

"Did no one did some research after their motives?" Liane asked surprised.

"I don't know, Shaayla-Car, but the guard is beckoning us to enter Trevor's cell"

They met the guard who was holding a key card in his hand.

"Masters, I have to lock the door once you're inside. Precaution matters."

Luke nodded.

The guard unlocked the door and Luke and Liane entered the cell. To their surprise Trevor was wearing a new uniform. He stood up and walked over to them and made an inviting gesture to two chairs which stood opposite his bunk.

"They allowed me these two chairs to make our conversation easier." He said and Liane noticed that he didn't show any signs of exhaustion any more. It made her feel glad, the shuttle crew was treating him well.

"Shaayla-Car, I want to thank you for coming after me in that shed. You shouldn't have done that, for I've a;ways treated you with disdain. On Morantan I often have tried to overrule you and when I met you again on Palomintar Four I was still convinced that I could persuade you to teach me what I wanted to know. Forgive me."

Liane and Luke sat down.

"Of course I forgive you, Trevor, for you didn't know the consequences of what Emperor Palpatine had ordained with his verdict. The truth I told you, must have been a terrible revelation." Liane said gently.

"It was and it wasn't, Shaayla-Car, for somehow I have had a strange feeling, that after I had been summoned before the Emperor I wasn't my old self anymore. I neglected those feelings, but every time when I tried to influence you on Morantan and you didn't respond, the images of what had happened in the Emperor's audience room flashed through my mind. After I saw how easily Darth Vader and the Emperor could influence you, I wanted to seek a way to revenge myself on you. I have hated you, Shaayla-Car. Every time we met I was confronted with my own failure. I wanted to dominate you and make you more submissive. I offered you to marry me, so I could dominate you, but you probably have seen through my machinations and refuge the offer, humiliating me with your sneering answer."

"My words certainly must have hurt your feelings by that time, Trevor, but I never intended to marry you, for I didn't feel love for you. To me you were a very ambitious staff member, but not a person I could love." Liane said.

"After I settled on Palomintar Four I decided I wanted to punish you for what you had said, and I set my spies on you to bring you to my new abode. I thought I could force you to tell me everything about the Sith and their power, so I would be able to use my former skills again. I now understand those former skills I once possessed are forever out of reach. I'm someone without Force skills, but in your last talk you have given me hope, for you said that once my life will be over I might get my Force skills back, so I would feel again complete again."

"But you have to admit what has gone wrong, Trevor. You have to admit your wrongdoings. Only then the Force will become your ally again." Luke said calmly.

Trevor nodded.

"I will do, what is necessary, master Skywalker. There will be a trial, a court martial, I don't know what the outcome will be, but they will sentence me for a long time. I confess that I've feared that the leaders of the Provisional Council would show no compassion on my arrest."

"The members of the Council have sent the three leaders a letter of commitment after they had been informed about your arrest. The grand-admiral has confirmed the Council's wish. You have failed, you have done wrong and many other things I won't mention, but you are a human being and we want you to find a new future."

Trevor looked at Luke and Liane and was silent for a while.

"Shaayla-Car, master Skywalker, I have one pressing question to both of you? Did you come back to the main cave to warn me for the water that has flooded the caves. I heard your voices, but I didn't see you. I heard what you said, but I didn't heed your words."

"Trevor we didn't want you to drown in the water flood that would be released from the high mountain ridge. We have used our skills as Jedi Knights to confront you with what was coming. You neglected our words, but you have left the caves in time and saved yourself."

"I didn't believe what I heard. Yes, I left my lair after I got another warning. Another voice, a female voice, penetrated my mind and urged me leave."

"We're glad you did, Trevor", Luke said.

"Whose female voice did I hear, Shaayla-Car. Who wanted me to survive?"

"We don't know, Trevor, but cherish the privilege that you're still able to be influenced through the Force, not as a Force-user, but as a human being who somehow still deserves the protection of the Jedi of Old." Luke said. "They consider you to be worth their protection also in the years to come. Heed those voices and take their words at heart."

"I will, master Skywalker. Thank you both for listening to me. I will say goodbye now, but I will remember every word of this conversation."

Trevor rose and pressed a button near the door. He walked back to his bank and reached out his hand to his visitors. They both kindly accepted his handshake, before the guard entered and led them outside the cell.

"No, master Yarnick, only my father and my youngest son will join you. I've already send a group of fifty of my men to the western harbor to prepare both hoverboats for departure. Wollin and I will meet them there and we will cross the ocean between Myr and Tyr in about a day. It's still the good season. I appreciate your offer to try and bring us to the western harbor, but there's no place to land your space ship. It's already a great relief that you will bring all our equipment to Tyr. That will make our walk an easy one. We will enjoy walking through the wild land woods without carrying a heavy load." Cornell said.

"How long will it take to reach the western harbor, master Cornell?" Brion asked.

"About a standard seven days, maybe shorter. We will take long walks and few rests. There are four cabins along the path we will follow. There we will rest and find enough rations for the next part of our walk."

Cornell looked around his group of men and beckoning Lorann and Manall.

"Father, you and Lorann will fly with these good guys to the western plains first, where you will join with general Solo and his crew. Together those ship will set course to Tyr. I will let you know when we have reached the western harbor. General Solo has asked me to make sure that both the hoverboats and those two space ships will reach Tyr at the same time. It will be a very joyfull reunion with the rest of our fellow Quelans. I've never thought that our work would be so successful thanks to all our new friends. After what master Yarnick and his brothers told us about those precious rock our future in Ribana will look so much better."

Cornell saw that his father was trying to object.

"No father, we discussed that. You have to stay with Lorann. He will be excited to see our planet from above and so will you. I'm sure master Yarnick will allow to have a look at it from the cockpit of their ship."

Cornell turned to his men.

"Let's get our equipment in the storage room of the ship. We only take our weapons with us, so you also can leave your bags with tools on board. I want to start our first walk this afternoon. We will set up a camp halfway and will reach the first cabin tomorrow before dark."

The remaining forty men took the different boxes with their equipment and walk down the hillside to the clearing where the Grannd Traveler stood. Kieran, Ronan and Bran had already left the harvest men before Cornell last words. They had run down the steep path and their voices sounded joyful among the trees. Once at the clearing they lowered the ramp of their ship and started to prepare space for the Quelans' equipment. As the first harvest men arrived Kieran guided them to the aft of the ship where the most heavy boxes had to be stored. Lighter crates and sacs would find a place in the brothers' quarters. Within a few hours all used tools and garment bags had been loaded. Lorann was running around the ship and asked numerous question at Conor who was checking the Grannd Traveler on the outside. Conor answered all Lorann's question with glee.

"Never flown in a space ship, Lorann?" He asked.

"No, master Conor. The harvest men always travel between the continent with the hoverboats. My grandma has already taught how to handle one. When I'm old enough I will handle them on my own. Is it difficult to fly a space ship this big?"

"Not really, the engines have to be strong enough to lift off, but once in outer space we always fly on auto pilot. Want to have look at the heart of the ship?"

"Can you show me, master Conor. Am I allow to be there?" The excited boy exclaimed.

"As long as we're on the ground there's no danger. Come with me, Lorann."

Conor walked over to aft of the Grannd Traveler and lowered one of the emergency exits. Helping Lorann inside he took the young Quelan boy to the spaces of the different engine types. Lorann didn't know where to look first, but became completely impressed with Conor showed him the hyperdrive.

"This is one of the most important driver engines of the Grannd Traveller. In fact the hyperdrive is the most important piece in every space ship. Without a hyperdrive you wouldn't be able to cross the galaxy from one star system to the other."

"Will master Yarnick use the hyperdrive on our trip to Tyr?"

"Not likely. We can reach Tyr on sublight speed even without activating the ion-drive."

"Wow, I wish I could see what the hyperdrive is doing. It's a pity that our flight to Tyr will be too short." Lorann said, sounding a bit disappointed, "But I will probably see Myr and Tyr from above, just like Ma... Chati Fonaldris told Cemall and me. Cemall said he is a bit jealous, because grandpa and I may fly to Tyr in board your ship, masater Conor. Cemall has to get to the western harbor and will cross the ocean on one of the hoverboats."

"I like the crossing when your grandfather brought us to Tyr. It was a wonderful experience, Lorann. I've never traveled that way."

Conor guided the young Quelan through the ship where his brother were still busy to stow away the many boxes, crates and bags. He walked over to the cockpit where Yarnick and Brion were preparing and checking the ship to lift off. On a whispering tone he exchanged a few words with his elder brothers who started to laugh and nodded. He looked at Lorann who showed a great interest in the many screens and switches on the cockpit's main panel. Yarnick turned to Lorann and pointed at the seat behind the pilot's seat.

"Strap yourself in, young man. You may sit here behind me during the flight, so you will have a clear view of the planet you're living on."

Lorann hoped on the seat and Brion helped him to secure the webbing. Lorann pointed at the opposite seat.

"Master Yarnick, will grandpa sit in that other seat?"

"I don't know if he want that, Lorann, but I will ask him," Yarnick said.

Conor tapped Lorann on his arm.

"I'm leaving you in the hands of my eldest brothers, Lorann. I going back to my chores outside. See you later, boy?"

Thanks, master Conor, for showing me the ship. The hyperdrive room is the most amazing part I have ever seen. It still a pity that I won't see how it's working."

Conor winked imperceptibly at Yarnick and Brion. All three of them left the cockpit for a moment with a big smile on their faces.

"Stay where you are, Lorann," Yarnick said, "We're back in a moment and than we will fly away. We will join Han Solo and his crew on the western plains, before we head for Tyr."

Lorann sat looking around with big excited eyes. This was really great. He would fly back to Tyr. Surely all of his friends would be jealous, for he would be able to tell how it would have been.

Yarnick came back, followed by Brion. Both pilots sat down in the seats as Kieran entered the cockpit followed by Manall.

"Grandpa! Sit down on that seat! From this place you will see everything from above." Lorann exclaimed.

Kieran helped the older Quelan the fastened the safety straps. Manall thanked him with a gentle polite nod.

"I'm confortable, master Kieran. Time to go, I think."

Kieran left and Lorann heard the voices of the other Grann brothers who were preparing their safety in the seat in the control room. Yarnick started the ion-drive which began to roar and slowly the ship began to rise above the the canopy of the surrounding trees. Lorann didn't have enough eyes to take it all in. Through the windscreen he saw how the trees became smaller and smaller and all of sudden the details of the trees disappeared and the horizon seemed to curb. Lorann held his breath. They were in outer space. Still the Grannd Traveler flew even higher, before Yarnick turned the ship around and Lorann saw a shining globe through the windscreen. Amazed he looked at it.

"Master Yarmick, what is that bol?" He asked

"You're looking at Palomintar Four, Lorann, your homeplanet. Doesn't it look great from above?"

Lorann didn't answered and looked mesmerized at the globe. Brion looked over his shoulder.

"Lorann, are you enjoying yourself."

Numbfounded Lorann nodded.

"Master Manall, do you mind, if you show your grandson a bit more of the Palomintar System?"

"Not at all, master Brion. It's very interesting to see the planet I'm living on. It's an amazing view."

Yarnick increased the ship speed and looked at his co-pilot.

"On my mark, get into hyperspace, Brion. Five, four, three, two, one, zero. Activate the hyperdrive."

Brion pulled the hyperdrive level at the precise moment and the Grannd Travellor shot away. Palomintar Four had vanished and along the windscreen the plasma streak showed the speed with which the ship flew. Lorann sat transfixed on his seat, but began to smile elated. Yarnick and Brion laughed.

"Cut in sublight engine, Brion. Four, three, two, one, zero." Yarnick said.

Brion deactivated the hyperdrive level and the Grannd Traveler drifted in outer space, just outside the Palomintar System. Lorann noticed several different tiny globe through the windscreen. He pointed at them.

"What are those, master Yarnick?"

"That are the planet which are circling around that white shining point in the middle: Palomintar Sun. This system has twelve planet and we are going to pay them all a short visit before we land on the western plains. Moreover before we land there we will make a flight around Palomintar Four and show you Ribana, the mountain ridge, the southern scrub lands, the northern lave area and we will fly over Tyr which is clouded for most part, but there are some high snowcapped mountain which will be visible through the clouds."

For the next three hours Yarnick and Brion flew the Grannd Traveler along the twelve different planets of the Palomintar System. To cross some of the distances they used the hyperdrive again to cover space between some of the planets. Lorann softly cheered every time the ship vanished in hyperspace. Every time they reach another of the twelve planet Brion told Lorann some details of it. Amazed Lorann looked at Palomintar Six from above, while Brion told him that it was the only of the twelve planet with a small space port. Manall too enjoy the flight through space and see the system which was his home from a different point of view. Finally they set course to Palomintar Four and the Grannd Traveler made a long detour around the planet at a low orbit. Enthusiastically Lorann pointed at Ribana when he recognized some of the buildings. Manall looked a bit worried.

"It doesn't look good, master Yarnick, right? Those long years we were on Tyr have ruined the deserted houses."

"You will get help from all of us, Manall, to restore the town to it former glory."

The old harvest man nodded, but didn't comment further.

As they neared the western plains again Yarnick slowed down and landed the Grannd Traveler next to the other two space ship: the Astræga and Han Solo's freighter. It was a joyful meeting between the different crews of the three ships. Before he had left the Grannd Traveler he had ran over to Conor.

"Mater Conor, you asked master Yarnick and master Brion to really show me hyperspace traveling, didn't you?"

"You've enjoyed the ride, right, Lorann?"

"It was great. I wish I had my own space ship to fly around Palomintar Four and the other planet, but I'm a harvest boy, so I don't think will ever be a pilot."

After he had left the ship he saw Chati. He wanted to ran over to her, but stopped and looked at her."

"You weren't daydreaming, Ma...Chati. You're going to be a Jedi Knight. Whose apprentice are you?"

"Master Antilles is my master, Lorann. He will help me to make my dream come true."

"You're very lucky. I never believed your fantasies."

Meanwhile Wedge Antilles had joined his padawan learner. Lorann looked at the Jedi Knight who had been dressed in his ceremonial robe, in awe."

"Do all the Jedi Knight always dress like that?" He asked looking at Chati.

"Only on official occasions, Lorann," Chati said, "and only the Jedi Knights are wearing these robes. Jedi master Luke gave me a padawan's outfit after my master had taken me as his padawan learner."

"Oh, you also have a Jedi's weapon. Will you learn to fight?"

"A Jedi Knight uses his lightsaber for defence, never to attack, Lorann. That's what master Antilles has told me."

"So you will leave Palomintar Four for master Antilles has to go back to his own planet, right."

"He will take me to Irithim on Dalmaran. He is the leader of a group of fighter pilots and he has promised me that he will teach to become a fighter pilot too, but for the time being I will join my parents and family when they will come back to Ribana."

"I have seen it from above. Master Yarnick has flown around the planet. Ribana looks bad. I don't know how we will be able to fix all the houses and the streets. Everything looked ruined and weeds are growing everywhere."

Chati nodded.

"I have also seen it, Lorann. Its view made me cry. It was such a wonderful town." She said and looked sad.

"Come on, Chati. You will find ways to restore our town. You always have good ideas. I will listen to what you say and I will tell the other to listen to you too."

"Thank you, Lorann. I'm glad to know that next to master Kamalin and my parents there will be another Quelan who believes in any of my plans."

"Chati, time to say goodbye to Lorann now. You two can talk after we're back. We need to pick Shaayla-Car, Luke and Nori on the Tychorion," Wedge said and walked back to the Astræga

"Coming, master," Chati said and smiled at Lorann.

"Grandpa says, there is a special greeting among the Jedi" He said and frown, "May the Force be with you, Chati."

"Thank you, Lorann. See you later," Chati said while she followed Wedge Antilles. Lorann watched her go. Ian walked over to the young Quelan boy and Lorann began to smile.

"Master Kenobi, so good to see you again. Grandpa is very happy to meet you here again. He is in a very good health since we went up to the mountains."

"That's good to hear, Lorann. Now come with me and stay with me as long as my sister and Luke Skywalker haven't returned from the Tychorion."