Chapter 30

Luke was changed his Jedi clothes for the outfit of a space trader.

"Let's hope, we find a suitable droid fast," He said to Chewbacca.

The large Wookiee grunted a confirming answer.

Luke thought that it would have been advantageous, if he had taken Artoo with him after he had left Dalmaran some six months ago.

Slowly they plodded on through the drizzling fog. The lights of the outskirts of Pogyy were already visible through a curtain mist and drizzle. Although night hadn't fallen yet, daylight was already fading. The road was deteriorated and full with rocks, stones and pot-holes; its surface once had been paved, but now it was muddy and slippery.

Finally they reached the first small houses, not more than shacks with only a small front door. They hurried along what seems to be the main street to the city center. Some street lights, scattered all over the place, cast tiny yellow dots on the muddy road.

'What a place,' Luke thought, 'I hope Liane and Han are safe on that junk yard.'

They had left the Millennium Falcon in the neighborhood of an enormous junk yard, after landing the ship behind some natural formed rock formations. Before they had left, Luke had instructed Liane not to leave the ship and use the Jedi-pendant in case of emergency. They had secured the ramp and Luke had noticed that Liane immediately had switched off all the ship's landing lights. Still Luke had an unpleasant feeling about it.

Now that Chewbacca and he neared the city center the buildings and the traffic density grew. They left the main road and entered the smaller back streets and alleys, where the dark and shady bars and shops were standing on top of each other.

Chewbacca grabbed Luke's arm and pointed to one of the doors. Luke nodded.

"Is that the place, Chewie? I hope that your friend Candaluwwa still has that astromech."

Chewbacca readied his cross bow and Luke put his blaster within reach. They pushed the door and entered. A tall Wookiee whirled around aiming his blaster at them, but he held back when he saw his customers.

"Chewbacca!" He grunted in Shyriiwook.

Luke's companion grunted a social answer and pointed at Luke. A long conversation of grunts, howls and grumbling in Shyriiwook followed. Partially Luke understood that Chewie was explaining their situation. The hairy shop owner Candaluwwa was listening and grunted answers in agreement, then he took them both to the back yard of his shop. There he pointed out that he had to leave them for a while.

Luke waited patiently for Chewbacca to explain what his fellow Wookiee had said. When Chewbacca had finished part of his tale Luke sighed.

"Bad luck, that he has sold the astromech. What are we going to do now?"

Chewbacca grumbled an answer.

"He can help us to find a temporary solution. Is that what you're saying?"

The Wookiee nodded.

"Alright than we'll wait until he returns." Luke said, feeling a bit less depressed.

He sat down on a crate and turned inside, reaching out through the Force to try and contact Liane somehow.

'Liane, we have found help. Are you alright? Don't leave the ship.'

He reached out to send this reassuring thoughts. Then he felt a clear disturbance through the Force.

'Luke, is that you?' He heard Liane say, 'I'm alright. Like you told me I've switched off all the lights. I have a small green emergency light in the alcove. I don't need more.'

He felt how she reached out to him with Jedi telepathy. He grinned.

'Alright, Liane. Well, done. Keep in touch with me this way if you need help.'

Chewbacca pushed his elbow and Luke opened his eyes. Candaluwwa, the shop owner stood in front of them. He held out a small device and grunted an answer. Chewbacca repeated the answer, so Luke understood what the Wookiee was saying.

"It's better than nothing. I hope we can replace the ship's memory bank temporarily with this one and have the navi computer back on. What's the price?"

Chewbacca addressed his fellow Wookiee. Candaluwwa grunted a short answer. Luke started to grin.

"Tell him that's a fair price."

He grabbed several notes and coins from his belt and handed them to the shop owner.

"Thank you, Candaluwwa, for your help. We'll owe you."

The Wookiee looked surprised and grunted a long sentence to Chewbacca. Luke's companion growled back and shook his head. Luke nodded.

"That's right, Chewie. We have no time to bargain. We'll take it. Let's get back to the ship. Thanks again, Candaluwwa, may the Force be with you."

Still surprised the Wookiee accompanied them to the door of his shop. He seemed a bit embarrassed by Luke's refusal to negotiate and bargain about the price of the memory bank. At the door he beckoned them to wait and rushed back to the yard. Some moment later he came back with a small worn out looking repair droid. He pushed it in Luke's hands.

"Thank you," Luke said, "this droid will be a great extra help. I'm sure our repair will be easier. When we have finished the job we'll bring it back."

Candaluwwa frantically shook his head. Chewbacca grunted to Luke.

"We can keep it and we can bring it back when it suits us. Very well, I won't forget this. Thanks for your help."

They left the shop and went back to the Millenium Falcon.

On board the Millennium Falcon Liane sat in deep concentration in the small medic bay. Again she saw the beautiful images of Han and Leia's wedding. A warm smile enlightened her face, for those images gave her a happy feeling too. Gently she pressed her thumbs on Han's forehead and made small outward rotations. Han's face was relaxed, a faint smile curved his lips. Liane felt that Han was absorbing the images she passed on to him, in his mind

'Hi, Eilidh, she looks so beautiful in that dress, don't you agree?' He asked, being used to Liane's presence in his mind.

'She is, and she wants you to come back to her, to make this happen. How do you feel?' Liane responded.

'Much better, I wished ... '

Han silenced.

'What, Han? Tell me. You know you can trust me.'

'Your words are so full of happiness, Eilidh, but if I look at these wonderful images, I'm feeling so ashamed again. Ashamed and sad. What I see, can't be my future, can it?'

'Why not? What is making you feel ashamed, Han?'

'I've told you. I have been rude and very unkind to her. It can't be that Leia wants me to come back, after what I said to her. '

Liane now felt his great remorse again. It made him restless and uncertain. She began to feel restless too.

'Eilidh, are you still with me?'

'Of course, what's troubling you, Han?' Liane said reassuringly.

'Can you help me to get out of this dark maze? I'd wish I knew how I came here. This darkness is so depressing. I feel like a being blind man, running around in a void. How did you come here?'

'You called out to Leia, Han. I heard your pleas to her.'

A long silence followed. Then Liane suddenly noticed that some tears slipped from under Han's eyelashes. He was crying soundlessly. Now she began to feel the extent of the enormous loneliness he was carrying inside him.

'Why don't you share with me what happened between Leia and you, Han,' She whispered, 'Please do. Share that painful moment with me.'

She felt how tears were welling up in her eyes too. His sadness was so overwhelming that she too couldn't hold back her tears any longer. With a convulsive cry Han started to sob in agony.

'Leia!!'

Liane's mind began to absorb Han's pain and she had to reached out to the Force to keep her composure.

'Share with me what has happened, Han,' She whispered again, 'Don't try to find a solution on your own. Share the sadness you feel with me.'

They were both crying now. Han's body was shaking under the convulsive sobs.

'Leia!!'

Liane bent over and some tears dripped on his face.

'Share that painful moment with me. Let me feel what you feel. Share what you're thinking now with me, Han, share them now' Liane whispered, while she gently was pushing and penetrating in Han's thoughts, so that he would share with her his feelings of shame and she would be a part of his pain.

She had steady herself on her stool, when a huge flow of emotions started to engulf her and a whirl of Han's memories poured into her mind, like a flood breaking through a dam.

'Now I feel what you're going through now, Han,' She whispered, restraining her tears.

Han's memories filled her mind and she recognized Leia, Luke's sister, in a white battle suit. Leia was bickering with Han and denying her feelings for him. She heard Han's cynical response. In fast flow of images Liane saw how Han's and Leia's lives intertwined and how their feelings for each other became mutual. She was back on Endor, and recognized the village where she had lived for more than a year, but now a battle was raging on. Strange walking vehicles were destroying the beautiful trees with laser blasts. Then there was a huge party and Han held Leia in his arms and Liane felt his tremendous happiness. But once again the images changed and she heard him being rude and abusive to Leia who was begging to be let in. Han's pain became almost unbearable now. For a moment she had to release him. Leaning against back the wall of the medic bay she tried to regain her composure. She felt shaken and still heard Han's harsh words. His crude and abusive remarks about her Jedi training had hurt Leia much, because Liane had seen that Leia had started to cry, had fallen to her knees, and had begged Han to listen. After a few minutes she calmed herself and looked down at Han's wet face. She dried his tears with her sleeve. Tenderly and with compassion she placed her hands over his face again. She let the Force bring her back to the place in his mind.

Eilidh, why are you crying to? It was so wrong, what I said to Leia, and now I have made you feel sad too,' She heard him say.

'Han, I'm alright. Relax and stop recalling these painful memories over and over again. It all happened in your past, and the past can't be undone. You must look at your future now. Recall the images of Leia's beautiful wedding dress, for that is what your future will be. You will be together with Leia again, Han. You've seen it, I've shown you those images. Clear your mind and look at the images I've shown you. Relax, let no sadness, no regret, nor remorse disturb your thoughts again. Soon Leia will be with you. I'll stay with you until you have found her. Relax... Clear ... your... mind... Relax... Clear... your... mind. You're... feeling... better.'

She released her hands and saw the slow up and down movement of Han's breast. Again she had brought him into a Force healing sleep. Without a sound she rose and stumbled through the dark passageway, to reach the flight control room. The darkness around her felt depressing. She sank on the floor against one of the couches and buried her face in the cushions. In her mind the images of Han's most painful memory was still whirling through her mind, disturbing her emotional balance. Again the tears started to stream down her face and she whispered, 'Luke!!'

She grabbed the Jedi-pendant and tried to reach him through the power of his gift, but she felt too miserable and too shaken to concentrate. The flight control room seemed to roll and rotate, and the darkness of the room around her became an impenetrable blackness, as she slipped on the floor and lost her consciousness.

It took Luke and Chewbacca four hours to reach the overhanging cave behind the junk yard where they had left the Millennium Falcon. The rain was now pouring down and the two companions were tired and soaking wet. Through the curtain of rain they saw the shape of the outcropping under which Luke had hidden the Falcon. Chewbacca ran over to lower the ramp. Glad to be back on board they entered the relative warmth of the ship. Inside everything was pitch black. Luke switched on his flash light, walked quickly through the passage to the cockpit and flipped several switches. Some of the internal lights went on. Suddenly Chewbacca let out an agonizing cry. Luke rushed over to the flight control room, where the big Wookiee held the seemingly lifeless body of Liane in his hairy arms.

"Liane!!" Luke shouted.

The Wookiee looked desperately around, then turned around and walked through the passageway to the aft of the ship where Han and he had their private quarters. Luke followed his friend. Together they took care of the unconscious girl. Luke used his knowledge to find out what had happened to her. After some moment he looked up at Chewbacca relieved.

"She is alright, pal. If she wakes I'll tell her to stop her way of help. We'd better get to work on the Millennium Falcon and see if we can reactivate the navi-computer. It's important that we get to Rasth as soon as possible. They have a medic center with capable droids to help Han and Liane. It's been a foolish idea to think she could wield the Force to wake up Han. "

The Wookiee grunted sadly. Luke shook his head.

"No, pal. She'll be alright. Maybe her help has been of some use to Han's recovery. Let's see how he is doing."

After he had put a blanket over Liane to keep her warm and comfortable Luke and Chewbacca went to the medic bay of the Falcon. Again Luke used his Jedi knowledge to tune in on the Force to check his friend's condition.

"Han is in a deep sleep without any disturbing dreams. We'll let him rest too. I'm going to change my clothes now and give you a hand."

Luke quickly put on his Jedi clothes and went back to the flight control room.

"Come on, Chewbacca. Let's see if we can get the Falcon operational again. Activate the droid, so we can feed him with the data on this memory bank. "

Chewbacca pressed the activation switch on the droid's head. The limbs began to stretch and two bulbous light began to glow in the head. At the back of the head Luke found the slot to insert the external memory bank. The slot was dirty and frequently used. It took them awhile before the memory bank fitted. Finally the memory bank slit into place and connected with the droid's internal memory.

"Ok, now let's see if you can synchronize the navi-computer with this content. Go to the cockpit and plug yourself in," Luke ordered the droid.

Stumbling and wobbling on its unstable legs the droid staggered to the cockpit supported by Chewbacca. The little device reached out one of his dangling limbs and hooked on to the ship's computer, releasing a series of loud beeps and blips. Chewbacca switched on the ship's display and check the information. He grunted joyfully and and pressed several switches on the console.

"Ok, let's overwrite the old program. You're sure it'll work? How long will it take to replace the code?" Luke asked.

The Wookiee grunted again.

"Fine, I'll leave it to you to monitor the progress. I'm going to see how Liane is doing?"

Luke left the cockpit and walked back to the rear quarters. Liane was still unconscious. Carefully Luke placed his hand over her face and turned inward. After a few minutes, he pulled back his hand reassured. No, harm had been done; she was in a deep sleep. She would be fine after she woke up again. For some minutes Luke watched Liane's regularly breathing. He brushed a few strands of her hair backwards and checked if the blanket would be sufficient to keep her warm. Then he went back to help Chewbacca.

Although the memory bank, Candaluwwa had sold them, turned out to hold the right code; it took Luke and Chewbacca seven long hours to reset the ship's navi-computer. The repair droid was an very old model working very slowly, but finally Chewbacca let out a loud grunt and pointed to the display. Luke sighed relieved. The navi-computer was resetting itself.

"So far, it went well, pal." He said patting the Wookiee on his broad shoulder.

The resetting procedure took another three hours, but at last they got the message that the computer was operational again. Luke unhooked the droid and took out the memory bank.

"Thank you for your help. We couldn't have done this without you."

The worn out droid beeped. Luke pressed the button on its head and the droid collapsed on the floor of the cockpit.

"I'll put it in the cargo hold. In time we'll return it to Candaluwwa."

He picked up the droid and carried it to the passageway to the aft of the ship's large cargo hold. After fixing the droid in a jacket he hurried back to help the Wookiee.

Chewie was seated in the pilot's chair and had switched on the antigrav engines. The powerfull engines slowly released the Millennium Falcon from Myydkr's surface. Chewie pulled a lever to increase the power and flipped the switches to pull in the landing claws. The ship now hovered some seven hundred meters above the planet's surface.

"Here we go, Chewie," Luke said loud.

He switched over to the ion drive. Simultaneously Chewbacca switched off the antigrav engines. The Millennium Falcon shot away into space.

"We're going to Rasth," Luke said when they had reached Myydkr's orbit at four planet diameters and were outside the planet's gravityfield.

Chewbacca fed the navi computer with coordinates of their destination. Luke watched the computer's calculation cycle waiting for the confirmation to go to hyperspace.

"Standby, Chewie. I'll cut off the sublight engines. Engage the hyperdrive. Activate."

Chewbacca pulled the hyperdrive lever and the Falcon shot away into deep space.

Leia looked at the officer who was in charge of the Imperial archives.

"I want a full copy of Trevor Matrik's personal file."

"The content of personal files is classified, ma'am. I'm not allowed to hand over copies of personal files, unless you have permission from the Provisionary Imperial Government, or a warrant from the Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic."

"I need to inform the Supreme Chancellor about Trevor Matrik, officer."

"If you have a warrant of the Supreme Chancellor I won't object, ma'am."

The officer stretched out his hand. At that moment the entrance door to the archives slit aside and Valann Namaran enter and looked at Leia and Ian.

"Princess Leia Organa, your Highness, what a surprise that we will meet in person. I'm Valann Namaran."

Leis brought a formal Jedi salutation and nodded to Ian.

Valann answered the formal greeting as a former commodore of the imperial fleet.

"I have heard that your brother Luke Skywalker has taught you the ways of the Jedi," He said.

"You're well informed, sir. May I introduce my padawan learner, Ian Tydon."

Valann respectfully greeted Ian.

"It's very good to know that the knowledge of the Force will be revived. Your brother must have a heavy burden to seek a way to found a new Order. But what can I do for you?"

The officer wanted to interrupt, Valann Namaran silenced him.

"This lady can speak for herself, officer," He said sternly.

Leia smiled.

"He was only carrying out the orders he has been given. I asked him to copy admiral Trevor Matrik's personal file for me."

"Admiral Trevor Matrik's file? Why are you interested in him?" Valann asked.

"We have strong suspicions, sir, that admiral Matrik has made several attempts to threaten the wellbeing of my foster-sister?"

Valann looked at the officer who was still standing behind the desk.

"Dismissed, Pelton," He said.

The officer looked a bit surprised but left the anteroom. Valann walked over to the entrance door of the archives and made an inviting gesture to Leia and Ian.

"Be my guest, Your Highness," He said, "We'd better continue our conversation in a more comfortable room."

They walked through a long corridor before Valann slit a door at the end aside.

"It's a bit a mess, for I'm doing research on admiral Trevor Matrik as well."

Leia slightly raised her brows. Valann cleared some comfortable chairs and invited them to sit down.

"Can I offer you some refreshments, Your Highness?" He asked, almost immediately instructing a droid.

While they were waiting for the refreshment, Valann politely informed about Leia's life as a Jedi Knight. She smiled.

"Not much has changed, sir. I'm still working as Mon Mothma's advisor, being a member of the High Council."

"Of course, but you've gained a lot more insight most of us aren't aware of."

"Certainly, but I use my new knowledge together with my diplomatic task. You're good informed about how a Jedi uses the Force, sir."

The droid returned with a tray with drinks and small delicate sandwiches. Valann raise his cup.

"To the prosperous cooperation between the New Republic and the Provisional Coruscant Council."

Leia and Ian agreed with Valann's words.

"Now tell me, Your Highness, why do you want access to the personal file of admiral Trevor Matrik?"

"Commodore Namaran, very recently the imperial star destroyer Basilisæa suddenly had showed up in the orbit of the Endor Moon. By coincidence I was paying a visit to the tribe of Ewoks at that time. I asked the commander of the ship, why he had landed without permission and what kind of busy he had on Endor. He couldn't give me a satisfying answer, so I denied him permission and ordered him to leave. The commander wasn't alone. There was a unknown person accompanying him who refused to state his name. This is him."

Leia showed Valann one of the pictures she had taken on Endor. Valann nodded.

"That's Trevor Matrik, Your Highness. I can't be mistaken."

Valann rose and rummaged at the info cards on his desk.

"Have a look at this holographic picture, Your Highness. This is the official image of admiral Trevor Matrik, taken, when he had gotten his assignment to command the Coruscantæa. So admiral Trevor Matrik has shown up on Endor. Do you know why?"

"I do, sir. Admiral Matrik is looking for my foster-sister Liane Solichor. You probably know her better as the daughter of Darth Vader. My father has brought up Liane Solichor and taught her his knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force. I know that the triarchy has many doubts about her. "

Valann swallowed slightly a bit embarrassed.

"Your frankness surprised me, Your Highness, but yes, indeed my co-leaders don't want her to team up with the person who lives somewhere in the Outer Rim."

"That person at the Outer Rim, commodore Valann, is none other than admiral Trevor Matrik or Darth Golluth he calls himself now."

"Darth Golluth? We haven't heard that name before. Are you sure, Your Highness."

"I am, sir. My padawan had a so-called Force vision about him. Look at this drawing and compare that with the image of admiral Trevor Matrik. I dare to say that Trevor Matrik and Darth Golluth are one and the same person. He is looking for my foster-sister Liane Solichor, because he wants to get the knowledge my father has taught her. Darth Golluth wants to become a Sith lord and we, the government of the New Republic and your government on Coruscant, have to prevent he will jeopardize the peaceful co-existence of our administrations."

Valann looked at Leia after he had looked at the drawing on the data pad she had handed him.

"Commodore Namaran," Leia continue, "I know that the imperial archive has a lot more information about Trevor Matrik than our intels on Quoith have. They also have recognized the drawing as Trevor Matrik. I came to Coruscant to get the file from your archive to give Mon Mothma all the information there is about your admiral. Commodore, Trevor Matrik is up to something and the Force is telling me that if we don't stop him the peace treaty is in danger."

For a moment Valann sat back in silence.

"We have evidence that he wants to revive the empire, Your Highness."

"That's what the Force is telling us too, sir."

"Will your government protect your foster-sister against his maniacal plans?"

"By all mean. At the moment my brother is accompanying her. He has left Endor with her and I expect that he will inform me that he is on his way to Irithim with her."

"What will happen to her once she has been brought back to Irithim.?"

"That's for Mon Mothma to decide, commodore, but I can assure you that my foster-sister will be protected against any other attempt to bring her to the Outer Rim."

"But she still knows how to use her Sith knowledge, isn't it?"

"Let me tell you this, sir. I personally know how afraid she is of the knowledge she has gained. She believes that what ever she does, it is lead by the evil teachings of my father. My brother has been showing her that not everything she does is evil, but she remains very much afraid of the influence the Force has on her."

After Leia's words about Liane's fear for what she has learned from Darth Vader, Valann was silent for a very long time. Finally he slowly stood up and walked over to his desk. He activated the info com and took a data card from the drawer. Quickly he selected a number of files and copied them to the data card. He took the data card and handed it to Leia.

"Your Highness, thank you for telling me so much more about Liane Solichor. If she is as afraid for the Force as you have told me, I pity her. Here is a copy of Trevor Matrik's personal file. There's only one thing I'm asking you. If you have shared this copy with your leader, ask her if she will send us an official warrant yet. It's just a formality, but I keep track of the information we share with your government. What you have told us I want to share with the other members of the triarchy. I'm still feeling confused about your revelation that Trevor Matrik has a dreadful alias: Darth Golluth."

Ian who has listened with amazement to Leia and Valann, couldn't keep silent any longer.

"Excuse me, sir. You do believe in the Force, don't you?"

Valann laughed.

"You're a good listener. Yes, I do believe in the Force. Before the Jedi became extinct, due to the massacre Palpatine issued, I have met with many Jedi inside the Jedi temple. I'm not a Force user, but I believe in the tremendous unseen power the Jedi can wield. You're a lucky person, Ian Tydon, that one day you will be one of the new legion of Jedi who will protect our galaxy again. Don't disappoint me."

Ian's cheek became red.

"Thank you, sir, for this compliment. I will do my utmost to follow the lead of master," He said.

"You found yourself a great master, Ian Tydon. Although her royal Highness has been an opponent I have nothing but respect for her dedication to the former Alliance."

Leia rose.

"With these kind compliments for my padawan and me, commodore Namaran, I would like to thank you for your cooperation. We want to leave Coruscant now and head for Irithim to discuss this data card with Mon Mothma."

"I will escort you to your ship, Your Highness. Please send my compliments and respect to Mon Mothma. I'm looking forward meeting her, your brother and you and your padawan again in the future."

They left the archives and Valann ordered a transport to the space port. At the ramp of Leia's private shuttle Valann gently touched Leia's arm.

"May the Force be with you, Your Highness, and with you too, Ian Tydon. It was a great pleasure to share different views. I've learned a lot this afternoon. Have a good trip back to Irithim."

"Thank you, commodore Namaran. The pleasure is all mine."

Leia and Ian boarded the shuttle. Valann walked over to the control room and watched how the shuttle with the crescent of the royal house of Alderaan vanished into space. Thoughtfully he walked back to his transport, thinking about a past that had once looked bright and hopeful for a young cadet who wanted to serve the Republic.

Liane opened her eyes, but immediately closed them again. A light above her head was shining right into her eyes. She raised her hand to shield off the beam. Restlessly she moved on the couch and tried to get up, but some one pushed her back.

"Rest easy, Liane, how do you feel?" A familiar voice said.

Next to the couch stood Luke who was pushing her back on the couch. She saw the concerned glance in his eyes. It took her some moments to control her thoughts, for she felt, as if she had slept for a long time.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"Still on board of the Millennium Falcon on our way to Rasth." Luke said.

Almost immediately Liane pushed his hands away, sat upright, and jumped off the couch.

'Han!' She thought, "How long did I sleep?" She asked.

Luke was looking serious and worried.

"You didn't sleep, you had passed out. Chewie and I found you some twenty hours ago, when we returned from Pogyy. You lay unconscious on the floor of the control room.

"Twenty hours; and no one wake me up."

"Liane, you were exhausted. You needed this long rest."

The images of what had happened during her last Force trance with Han, flashed through her mind again.

"I have to see Han immediately."

"Liane, I don't want you to continue your task. You've done enough. Han's still asleep. We'll arrive on Rasth within ..."

Luke look at his wrist chrono, but Liane pushed him aside.

"You're not telling me what I have to do! " She snarled.

Luke grabbed her arm.

"Han is alright. Let him rest. You can't do no more for him, you've done enough. When we're on Rasth we'll bring Han to the medic center in Bestine. "

Outraged Liane pushed his hand from her arm and rushed through the passages to the medic bay. Halfway she turned and looked at Luke with a furious face.

"It still seems, that you don't understand the way I can help him! I'm the only one who can help him now. I have inherited my mother's healing skills. She was a force-healer. even Ian and Yarmod felt that I used the force to cure the Ewoks, and called me a Jedi-healer. Those medic droids can't feel what I feel. They are numb, stupid mechanics without feelings. They can't intercept his thoughts, nor can they feel what's causing his pain. They can not solace his overpowering feelings of regret and remorse." She shouted furiously.

Luke walked over to her. He gently put his hand on her arm.

"Liane, when will you finally admit that this task is too difficult for you. I know your help is led by the Force, but you should also be aware that you haven't mastered the skills your mother had. You're not a Jedi yet."

"It not necessary to use the force as a Jedi. I can use the Force like my mother could. She was a Force-user, like me, and no Jedi? " Liane yelled, becoming more and more enraged, "What do you think I've learned during my youth on Morantan? I was already feeling and using the power of the force, when you were still an ignorant farm-boy. What do you think your father taught me? He taught me to feel the Force in everything that surr..."

She was interrupted by a sharp voice.

"What the hell is going on here? Who's talking about that Force nonsense! And stop yelling and shouting, will you!"

Very slowly Liane turned on her heels. Dumb struck, Luke stood behind Liane, still holding her arm, as he looked at the man who was standing in the passageway to the medic bay. From afar came the loud howl of Chewbacca who rushed in from flight control room. The large Wookiee looked at the person who was steadying himself against the passage wall in amazement.

"Well, does anybody have a proper answer for this way of conduct on board of my ship. Chewie, Lu..." Han asked irritated.

Now the captain of the Millennium Falcon stopped in the middle of his sentence and gasped Luke and Liane.

"Luke! Luke Skywalker! You, kid! How did you get on board of the Falcon?"

The passage of the space ship became the scene of a complete pandemonium.

"Han!!" Liane and Luke yelled in unison. Chewie let out a earsplitting howl, and was trying to wrap his long arms around his life long friend, grunting and growling in Shyriiwook. Han gently pushed him aside and tried to find his way to Luke, grabbing his old pal at his arm, but he stopped and turned his head to his co-pilot.

"Hey, pal, what are you telling me. I was what..."

Chewbacca grunted a very long answer. Han Solo listened with growing amazement. When Chewbacca had finished his story, they all looked at each other in total silence. Han still held Luke's arm. The young Jedi had placed his gloved hand on Han's arm.

"Luke, kid!" Han said, finally breaking the silence, when he suddenly noticed Liane who was looking at him in wide-eyed surprise.

"Hey, sweetheart, so you're not one of my wild phantasies."

He steadied himself on Luke's and Chewie's arms.

"Guys, I feel somewhat dizzy. I have slept too long. Get me to the control room, will you. Where are we heading? Stop looking at me as if you're seeing a ghost, Eilidh Grann," he said mockingly, looking at Liane with a cynical smile.

The two friends brought their old pal to the couches of the flight control room. Completely astonished, Liane followed them. Images of her encounter with Han in the Mos Eisley cantina flashed through her mind. He surely must have already recognized her earlier. She remembered his cynical smile, the curtly sound of his voice and after she had asked him about Leia, his rude answer, but now he had woken up from that strange comatose state. Maybe he wasn't quite his old self yet, but that would be a matter of time.

In the control room Han grabbed Liane's arm and pulled her next to him on the couch. He sighed deeply, before he looked at Luke who had taken a seat on the opposite site. The captain of the Millennium Falcon shook his head in disbelieve.

"I can't believe, but it's you, kid. How did you get on board the Falcon? It's all such a long time ago, pal," He said and his voice suddenly sounded hoarsely, "It seems ages ago since we've spoken each other. How is ...?"

Abrupt he stopped. Luke sensed his friend's sudden confusion and reassured him with compassionate feelings.

"I'm glad I've finally found you, Han," Luke said, "We've all missed you, Han. You've been away too long. Much too long for friends."

Liane wanted to get up, but Han squeezed her arm.

"Sit down, Eilidh Grann, and stay where you are. You've offered me your help, so I want you to keep me company. How are your brothers doing?" He asked with a lopsided grin.

Chewbacca was still grunting for joy, glad to see his friend had woken up and reacted as if nothing had happened to him. Still they all felt too surprised through this unexpected turn of events, but their amazement turned into joy and laughter. Luke watched Liane, sitting next to his old friend. Her Force abilities as a healer had woken up his friend. Luke felt her feelings of joy and relief, mingled with some uncertainty about Han's blunt remarks. He also noticed the growing tension on his old friend's face. Liane must have sensed it too, for she turned to Han and intercepted his stare.

'Ask Luke what you want to know, Han?' Luke heard her say to the freighter pilot.

To Luke's surprised Han seemed to have heard Liane's words, for he blinked and looked at him with a serious expression.

"How is... your sister, how is ... Leia, Luke? Is... she... has... she... found... some one else."

"Leia is waiting for you, Han, when will you come back to her?" Luke asked quietly.

He felt the enormous joy these words brought in the mind of his friend and for a moment he reached out to the Force to inform his sister. She too would be so happy.

"Really, are you sure, kid? She is really still waiting for me?" Han asked. Again his voice became hoarse.

Chewbacca grunt a long sentence. Han raised his hand.

"I know, Chewie, you told me more than once, that we should return to Dalmaran."

"Then why haven't you done so, Han?" Liane asked.

Han looked aside.

"Like Leia, you cried, when you heard what I said to her?" He said snappy.

Liane nodded.

"Yes, you finally shared that painful moment with me. All your thoughts were centered on what you've said to her, before you slammed the door in her face and locked her out. The remorse you felt over those words, has grown in your mind all these years and finally completely blocked all your other thoughts."

"Then you probably understand why I couldn't go back to... Leia. Even if I wanted..."

"You could have forget your hurt pride, go back and apologize, and make it up with Leia. It would have avoided these many lonely years of sadness for you ... and Leia.?"

Liane's voice remained soft and caring, but very determined. Luke felt how she wrapped his friend in her Force compassion, protecting him against his bitter emotions and painful memories.

Han turned to Liane.

"How do you know that she hurt my pride, for she did, because she had decided to complete her Jedi training without asking me?"

Liane looked straight into his eyes.

"Don't you think, that you reacted disproportionately to her Jedi training, leaving Dalmaran headlong, for after you had left Leia, you began to feel ashamed and lonely. More and more you began to realize, that your words could have hurt Leia too, but your stubbornness prevented you to admit that you should go back and have a word with Leia."

To Luke's surprise Han seemed to accept Liane's reprimanding words, for he looked away without one of his cynical comments.

"Leia hasn't blamed you for what you said to her, Han, she has forgiven you your words immediately," Luke said on a soft tone, to reassure his friend, "Come back, pal. Come back to Irithim. Come with Liane and me to Dalmaran and you ask Leia yourself."

Han stared to the passage way that led to the cockpit. For a moment he leaned thoughtfully against the cushions; then he looked at Luke and Chewbacca with wry smile.

'This is, what you want, Han, isn't it? Why hesitate any longer? It's time to go back to Leia, apologize for what you've said to her, or if you can't admit your fault yet, at least talk and listen to Leia. Haven't you suffered enough? Now you have the opportunity to be united with her again, for you love her, and she loves you too,' A soft female voice resonated in his mind.

Again Han looked into Liane's blue eyes.

"How is it possible that I can hear your voice in my mind, Eilidh Grann, although you're sitting next to me in total silence? Are you sure that those fancy images you've shown me, will come true," He asked with some suspicion in his voice

"I asked you, if you wanted my help, after I had heard your pleas. You've accepted my help, and you've shared your worries and pain with me. You've made me part of the most painful moment in your past which was the main cause of your worries and sadness. When you allowed me to touch and penetrate your mind, I became aware of those painful emotions, but you also allowed me to passed on to you the images of your wedding, because the Force had shown me many images of your future. I still feel your uncertainty about how to carry on, that's why I still want to help you this way. Call it a form of telepathy," Liane answered.

"If the Force has created those images you've shown me, than it's a kind of Jedi Mind trick, isn't it?"

"No, it has nothing to do with Affect Mind," Liane said indignantly and turned her back on him. Luke felt how much Han's words were hurting Liane.

"Liane has been using her very special Force healing powers, Han. She can feel suffering and pain in life-forms using her Force skills."

Han looked annoyed and irritated.

"We'll talk about this later," He said gruffy, "You all want me to come back to Dalmaran, don't you? Chewie?"

Han looked at his lifelong pal. Chewbacca grunted an affirmative.

"You've to make up your mind yourself, Han. It must be your choice." Luke said.

"So it's up to me," Han said and looked once again at Chewbacca and his old friend Luke. Then he got up, steadying against the wall of the control room. Brushing away any help, he walked over to the cockpit of the Falcon.

"Chewie, where are we?" He shouted, looking at the cockpit console

Chewbacca let out a grunt and jumped to his feet. Han had taken a seat in the pilot's seat. Chewbacca sat himself in the co-pilot's place. Luke went over to Liane who still looked disappointed and confused. He gently took her hand.

"You shouldn't take Han's comments too seriously, Liane. Let's join him and Chewbacca. I sure, Han will set course to Dalmaran now."

Reluctantly, still feeling hurt by Han's comments about her use of the Force, Liane got up and walked with Luke to the cockpit. Han was studying the flight console of the Millennium Falcon and grabbed the lever of the hyperdrive.

"Yes, Chewie. We can get the Falcon safely out of hyperspace, pal! "

Han pushed the lever.

"Cut in the sublight engines, Chewie!" He said.

The Wookiee flipped several switches above his head. The sublight engines activated and the streaks of starlight came to a sudden stop, changing them into tiny dots. For a moment the Millennium Falcon drifted in the void of space. Han activated his log and looked at the markers on the map.

"Chewie, set for 7-0-5-1-8-4-0." He said.

The Wookiee fed the instruction into the navi-computer. Some moments later the display mentioned their new destination: Dalmaran.

Han and Chewbacca looked at each other. The Wookiee let out a joyful howl.

"Yes, Chewie, we're are finally going home," Han said as he pulled the hyperdrive lever. The Millennium Falcon shot away. Luke squeezed Liane's hand for a moment. She looked at him with a hesitant smile.