Chapter 99

"I understand that Luke and Nori Thai have set up this diversion." Sorjon said.

"It's mostly Nori's work. Luke only talked to him and Nori agreed that justice has to be done to Trevor. I have enough confidence that the Council has expressed an explicit wish that Trevor will get a fair trial on Coruscant. " Leia answered.

"There's another topic I want to discuss," Mon Mothma said. "I want the Senate to provide a substantial amount of credits to help the Quelans to rebuild their lives and their town."

"Won't be easy, Mon. The Palomintar System isn't part of the New Republic. They don't have a representative there." Sorjon said.

Leia looked the others.

"Han has heard from Cornell, that the triarchy has promised to give all the help the Quelans need. They will provide any equipment needed and necessary materials. It seems that Nori Thai will stay here as a liaison and provided his uncle and the other Council leader with regular reports."

Mon Mothma looked delighted.

"In that case I can surely convince the Senate to do our share. What about providing the farmers with new and better seeds and plants. Leia, can you coordinate a possible transport of those goods. Perhaps Han Solo is willing to take that task."

"I'm sure Han will do so, Mon, but I also think that the community on Tyr will empty the storage they build during their exile and use it to rebuild their lives on Myr and in Ribana."

Mon Mothma's face became a bit worried.

"I haven't seen Ribana myself, but what I've heard doesn't feel good. Maybe we also should send some extra help in the form of builders or otherwise to help them to restore the town to its former beauty."

"Mon, we should do that if the Quelans ask for it. We certainly shouldn't push any form of assistance they don't want. In my opinion the harvest men will take the main part to help their fellow Quelans with the restoration of the houses," Leia said, "Our group of Jedi have already decided that will stay on Palomintar Four for a while to support the Quelans, at least my brother, Liane, Ian and Yarmod have decided they don't want to leave immediately. In time Wedge will return to Irithim, but he wants Chati to give a helping hand in Ribana. Maybe he will leave her with her parents for some time, before he will return and start her training."

"Leia, is absolutely a good idea that you all will stay here, but what if we have need of some Jedi advice if other problems turn up somewhere else. The galaxy is wide and troubles are everywhere," Madine remarked.

Leia looked at her longtime friend.

"I understand your predicament, Crix, but after Wedge has returned to Irithim with Chati there will be at least one Jedi there to keep contact us."

"Wedge has put in a request to be temporarily relieved of his rank as commander of Gold-Squadron. He want Gold-One to take over the commando as long as he has to give Chati Folnadris her initial training in the Force," Madine said, "Mon, I have advised positively to his request, but he needs your permission as well."

"General, if Wedge will be training Chati, then he will be at Irithim, right?" Leia said.

"No, Leia. Wedge wants to go with her to Corellia, where he possesses a small forest area with his parent's old home. He intends to train Chati Fonaldris there, for it's a quiet place without too many distractions for the young Quelan woman."

"That's wise decision, Crix, and I agree with his relief, but that doesn't solve our communication problem with Palomintar Four." Mon Mothma said.

All three leaders and Leia were silent, but suddenly all of them looked at each other.

"Maybe," Sorjon Tyloban, "we shouldn't worry too much if we don't have a Jedi Knight in Irithim."

"Maybe," Mon Mothma, "we should use the way Nori Thai communicate via Quoith. We could ask Haym Nefloren to send a message to this planet in case we have to consult our Jedi Knights."

"If a communication system could be installed accessing the communication system on Quoith ... " Madine began, but Leia interrupted.

... it would also give Nori Thai an easy way to report to the Provisional Coruscant Council. Mon, Crix, master Tyloban, I suggest we should layout this plan to Nori Thai. He is a highly professional communication expert. "

Mon Mothma nodded.

"Probably he can use the existing agreements we have with Coruscant," She suggested, "Nori Thai in his former disguise as Doran Whain set up a daring plan to give Quoith access to the com system of Trevor Matrik, maybe he can set up a similar system to communicate with the Jedi as long as they will be here."

"Where is he? I haven't seen him joining master Skywalker and his group on the Astræga?"

"He joined his uncle and the two other for a short meeting in their shuttle. Maybe he is still there?"

Leia activated her infocom and send out a call to Nori's device. To the relief of the three leaders of the New Republic, the holographic image of Nori Thai popped up at once.

"Senator Organa, what can I do for you?"

"Where are you, Nori. We, the other group of leaders, have been thinking of a plan, but we need your advise. Can you come over to the other shuttle?"

"Easy, senator. I already on my way out. See you in a minute or so." Nori said and his holo image vanished. Leia went over to the exit of the shuttle and lowered the ramp. Almost immediately Nori Thai entered.

"I was in the other shuttle, senator?" He said,

"Please, Nori, call me Leia as all the other do. Now come with me Mon Mothma and her two advisors want to present a plan to you. We hope that you think its feasible."

Leia took Nori Thai to the meeting room where he greeted the Supreme Chancellor very politely before he paid his respect to general Madine and Sorjon Tyloban.

"Sit down, master Thai, " Mon Mothma said. "We want to consult you as you're the expert. You have been the communication's officer on the Basilisæa and presented our two governments with your daring plan to infiltrate on admiral Matrik com system on Palomintar Four. Your plan involved the communication system on Quoith, where you had already talked to Haym Nefloren about any details. Master Nefloren has informed me that your plan was absolutely perfect and would give both our governments a perfect way to monitor with whom admiral Matrik communicated. Forgive that I don't understand everything what master Nefloren meant, but his positive advise about your plan gave my agreement the final push. And its result was as expected, wasn't it?"

Surprised Nori looked at Mon Mothma before he started to laugh.

"The result was even more than your men on Quoith and I expected, ma'am, for the admiral became so frustrated that he ruined his own com system completely, which I hadn't foreseen."

"But your plan work, right?" Sorjon Tyloban said.

"Absolutely, master Tyloban."

"And you carried out the inititial plan from the Basilisæa?" general Madine asked.

"Yes, general, that's why I had to cooperate with the com system on Quoith. I had to avoid that admiral Vestor, the commander on the Basilisæa would get suspicious. I was assigned as the first communication officer on his vessel and he didn't know anything about my undercover mission, but tell me, for Leia talked about a plan you have in mind which you want to lay before me."

"Master Thai, now that the illegal occupation on Palomintar has ended, the Quelan community in exile will probably return to Ribana. The town is in ruins, the agricultural area is overgrown with weeds as is the former vineyard and the domesticated flock of nagawas are roaming the wild. We have heard that the government on Coruscant has promised help and the New Republic want to do her share to help the Quelan farmers to cultivate their lands again and provide them with seeds and other plantings. My advisor Leia, who will stay on Palomintar Four with her husband, will be my envoy to coordinate what will be necessary and general Solo will take care of the transport of goods from Irithim and Dalmaran, for I want to ask the Dalmaranian leaders to support us."

"That wonderful to hear, ma'am. Indeed my uncle has promised master Cornell to send him any equipment and materials he and his men might need to start rebuilding the houses in Ribana. He has assigned me as his liaison officer to send him reports and ask for requirements. It's great to know that Leia will have a similar function. I would love to work with her and general Solo together, for possibly the general might be willing to pick transports of goods from Coruscant as well. " Nori said.

Leia extended her hand to Nori.

"Deal, let's work together, Nori. I will talk to Han about what you just came up with. He certainly will agree."

Nori shook hands with Leia, but still look at the other in wonder.

"I still haven't heard what kind of advise I can offer, ma'am," He said.

"Master Thain, not only you and my advisor Leia will stay behind on Palomintar Four, but all the Jedi Knights, except for master Antilles and his new padawan Chati Fonaldris, have indicated that they will stay here for the time being. Several of them have become close friends with the Quelan community and they want to help with the rebuild of Ribana or otherwise. That means that all the Jedi Knights will be here, possibly for a long time, for there a lot of work to be done. And that my dilemma, for in the past the Jedi served in the Old Republic as peace keepers and diplomats. In those ancient times they often supported the Senate in case there's were serious troubles on any system in the galaxy. Master Skywalker and his new team of Jedi Knights will certainly take up similar missions as the Jedi fulfilled in the past. As master Skywalker and the other Jedi Knight will all be staying on Palomitar ... "

... Four, the government at Irithim has a communication problem if the Jedi needs to provide help elsewhere in this galaxy. Sorry, for the interruption, ma'am. I understand what you expect from me. You need a fully equipped communication system so in case of any emergence you can ask one or more Jedi to go on a new mission."

Mon Mothma nodded.

"Can that be done, master Thai?" She asked.

"I'm honored to be of your service, ma'am, although I also have get permission from my uncle, but what you want is easy, for the system as you want already exist."

"What do you mean, master Thai?" Madine asked, looking puzzled.

"General, with permission from the Supreme Chancellor I can ask Haym Nefloren to reactivate the way I communicated with Quoith. Master Nefloren and I communicated via the shielded procon system on a separate partition on the com systems on Quoith. Procon messages are heavily encrypted as you probably know, for only those given access to the system, in this case the shielded partition, will be able to receive and send messages. So what you want can be easily realized. Only the problem of the lack of equipment on Palomintar Four has to be solved, for after the activation of the water flow through the old riverbed the com system admiral Matrik once used is ruined."

"You only need the necessary equipment, master Thai?" Madine asked amazed.

"If necessary I could set up communication using the system of the Millennium Falcon, but as general Solo might not always be on Palomintar Four I won't advise that solution."

"Do you know what you need to set up a very modern com system, master Thai."

Nori Thai began to laugh.

"Now you're tempting me, general. I can provide you with a list of what I need to set up a similar system as admiral Matrik has used. That will do the job perfectly well."

"We want a very reliable, not to say the most sophisticated system you can set up, master Thai." Mon Mothma says, "Maybe, it's an idea to make the future Palomintar Four system just like the Quoith com system."

"Quoith is a very advanced system, ma'am. It's not immediately necessary to build a similar system, but I like your idea to extend the Palomintar system in the future, for that would simplify communication between many different galactic systems."

"Give us a list of what you need, master Thai, to set up at first a very reliable system. At a later stage I would like to make use of your expertise to extend the Palomintar system," Mon Mothma said.

Nori wanted to rise, but Sorjon Tyloban waved his hand.

"Master Thai, The Supreme Chancellor wants you to understand that the new com system on this planet won't be used by the New Republic only. She wants you establish communication with Coruscant as well, for you also have to tell your uncle and his co-leaders what is needed here to undo what admiral Matrik has ruined."

Nori looked at Mon Mothma who nodded in agreement.

"Make sure, master Thai, that you develop a com system that will work for both our governments. "

Nori mad a deep bow.

"Very generous, ma'am. I'm going to work out your plan and will hand over a list of what I need."

"Discuss our plan with the grand-admiral and his men, master Thai. If they have any questions I will gladly try to answer them, but I'm already sure that you will convince your uncle to agree with our plan."

Leia rose to and accompanied Nori to the ramp. She laughed at him.

"Am I right, Nori, that it has been your doing to make sure that admiral Matrik will stand trial on Coruscant."

Nori smiled elusive.

"No, Leia, that was the decision of the other members of the Council. They sent a letter of commitment to the grand-admiral and the others."

Leia smiled as elusive as Nori had done.

"But somehow the Council on Coruscant has been informed that the grand-admiral and his co-leader were on the verge to arrest the former admiral."

"That, Leia Organa, is the deeper insight the Jedi have, right."

They both laugh, before they shook hand.

"Glad to have met you, Nori. I always welcome new friends."

"So do I, Leia. Bye for now."

Nori walked down the ramp, but Leia made him stop

"Nori, oh, ... thanks for taking care of Luke while he was in Jedi hibernation."

Nori nodded.

"My pleasure, Leia."

Leia went back to the meeting room, where Mon Mothma and her direct advisors were still discussing matters that needed to be done. Mon Mothma turned to her third advisor.

"Leia, as soon as grand-admiral Thai has arrested his former admiral Trevor Matrik our two delegation will return to the Tychorion. Their ship awaits them in the Tychorion's docking bay and I assume that they will get back to Coruscant immediately. Before we leave I want to know what your plans are, or better what are your husband's plans."

The Millennium Falcon will go back to Tyr to inform Toallin and Mugin that Ribana has been liberated. Wedge and Chati will accompany Han and me, for Wedge wants to have a talk with Chati's parents about her Jedi apprenticeship. The Grann brothers too will fly to Tyr and have talk with the governors, for master Manall has offered them a trade deal of the surplus of nut harvest, but during the harvesters work some very special ore has been discovered. Han and Chewie discovered it and lately Han has shown Yarnick Grann a container of this ore. Yarnick wants a trade deal with the Quelans to sell the ore for them and hand them a large part of the profit. If I have to believe my husband all the Quelans will have their house restored with marble slabs, but that sounds a bit exaggerated. Han will also offer the Quelans who want to go back to Myr a flight back with the Falcon."

"Many good plans have already initiated, I hear, Leia." Mon Mothma said. "You all have my support. I'm very confident that Nori Thai will set up a good com system so you all can send me regular reports about what going on.

She looked at her three companions.

"If there's nothing more we need to discuss, I suggest that we go back to the Millennium Falcon and await the outcome of former imperial admiral Matrik's arrest," Mon Mothma said and stood up.

'I will release the ramp and fly as low as possible. Get ready to jump. May the Force be with you' Luke said to his four Jedi friends.

Wedge, Yarmod, Ian and Liane walked over to the exit corridor. The Astræga flew some fifteen meters above the farm lands. Slowly the ramp lowered. The four friends looked at each other, nodded and walk down the steep platform. As they reached the end they used the Force to control their jump. Through the windscreen of the cockpit Luke saw their safe landing. He activated the com system of the Astræga.

"Gentlemen, the four Jedi have landed in the vicinity were we last have seen admiral Trevor Matrik. As we don't want to scare him off we thought it would better to land the Astræga not too close that location. I will land at a certain distance, after which I will lead you to the location."

Jerno, Kalip and Valann looked a bit surprised, but didn't comment on Luke's words. The Astræga gained altitude and flew to the low foothills where the agricultural land around Ribana ended. He landed his ship and invited the three leaders to follow him.

"I understand your concern, master Skywalker, but what task do the Jedi have?" Jernno asked.

"Shaayla-Car will approach Trevor and tell you're on your way to take him back to Coruscant."

"And the other Jedi, master Skywalker?" Valann want to know.

"A precaution, commodore, in case something unexpected might happen," Luke said elusive. "Shall we proceed, for we have to reach Trevor position on foot. As soon as Trevor Matrik has surrender himself. I will go back my ship to transport him to your shuttle at the western plains, where you will get back to the Tychorion for your flight to Coruscant."

Kalip had been looking to the path that lead upward to the mountain. He pointing at the water flow that left through the main cave entrance.

"He livesd there?" He asked disbelievingly. "Incredible."

"Yes, where you see the water leaving that huge opening in the mountain." Luke acknowledged.

"Do I see a lot of debris stacked outside?" Jerno asked.

Luke unhooked his macrobinoculars and handed them to Jerno.

"The debris you see, is what is left of the furniture with which Trevor had furnished his accommodation, admiral. The power of the initial water flow has destroyed part of it."

For a short moment Jerno looked through Luke's binoculars at the stack of broken furniture. He frowned and handed the device to Valann. Next he look at Luke.

"During my walk through Ribana I have entered several of the deteriorated houses."

"And you haven't see some furniture, sir" Luke said.

"That's right. So, Trevor Matrik also looted the town and took the furniture to make himself comfortable inside those caves."

"He did, sir, and he has made good use of it." Luke commented.

Kalip handed Luke the macrobinoculars.

"You have been inside, haven't you?" He asked.

"Yes, I have. I have seen how he lived and I have to admit it made a comfortable impression on me. There was lighting almost everywhere, at least in the caves Trevor Matrik was frequently using. It wasn't dark or gloomy. He even had a kind of guest room which Nori has been using during his stay."

"My nephew was held hostage there," Jerno said sternly.

"In the beginning, yes, Nori was Trevor's hostage, but your nephew managed to make the best of a dangerous situation."

"He told me that you have saved his life, during your fist encounter with him, master Skywalker. You also recognized him on that occasion "

Luke nodded.

"By the time I met your nephew he had won a certain trust of Trevor who allowed him to get outside the cave system every now and then. During one of his visits to the vineyard building four droids followed him inside the building. By accident I was present there and it was better to put those heavily armed droids out of order. When your nephew requested further help to reprogram the droids I recognized him as the famous professor Nori Thai. He denied that my recognition and introduced himself as Doran Whain and I didn't further insist."

"Nori told us that the other two Jedi; master Antilles and miss Kenobi have also recognized him." Jerno remarked, "When we send him to the Basilisæa we were sure that his alias would fully protect him."

"Admiral, only the Jedi have seen through his uncover personality. I'm absolutely sure that neither admiral Vestor from the Basilisæa, nor Trevor Matrik have discovered his real identity."

Jerno Thai looked at Luke.

"You just said, that you recognized him when he re-programmed those droids. That was an unlucky coincidence, wasn't it? Do you know how the other two Jedi recognized him, master Skywalker?"

"No, I don't, admiral, but if there were droids involved in that situation, I guess that something similar happened. But, rest assured, the Jedi Knights never have revealed his true identity until he told us himself that we have been right, and I have to say that I'm impressed to meet someone so skilled."

"Thank you for that compliment, master Skywalker. In return I have to express my gratitude that the Jedi Knights have saved his life and healed his wound, even if none of us understand how that was possible."

"The two Kenobi children have done something unimaginable," Valann remarked.

Meanwhile they have started to walk along the road back to the outskirts of Ribana. Luke sensed that the three leaders were enjoying the walk, despite the serious circumstances of the surrounding area.

"This farmlands must have provided all kinds of harvest," Kalip said and pointed to the remnants of the low wall that separated the different planting. The population of Ribana must have been self-sufficient."

The others nodded.

"Do you know, master Skywalker, if the Quelans traded any surplus of goods." Valann asked with interest.

"As far as their governors told me they met with traders who occasionally landed near Ribana, but I also understand that they have always been very reluctant to mingle with strangers. I don't know if you have noticed it when you met the harvest men, but their skin can take the color of their surrounding which makes them almost invisible."

"That explains why we didn't seen those three leaders who welcomed us after we had landed with the Millennium Falcon. That Quelan woman told us they were there." Kalip said.

"Skin color change might have advantages, " Valann admit.

"That's for certain," Jerno added.

Luke pointed to an overgrown path that lead along the outskirts of town.

"We will follow this former road to that farmhouse over there. There we'll have to wait until the other Jedi will inform me that Trevor wants to surrender himself. Did you take the rations and bottle with you I provided?"

Valann began to laugh.

"Well, master Skywalker, you managed to remind me of my youth when my whole family often went to the mountainous area of Naboo to enjoy a meal in the wild."

"You're from Naboo, commodore?" Luke asked surprised.

"We all come originally from different planets, master Skywalker." Jerno remarked, "I'm from Chandrilla, the home planet of the Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic, and Kalip comes from Solgar, but he grew up on Coruscant."

Luke nodded, but thought, that he know clearly understood why Kalip Ru'undo had a grudge against Trevor Matrik, Solgar was the planet Trevor once had attacked and which population has been annihilated by Darth Vader, his father.

"I grew up on Tatooine, gentleman."

"The desert planet," Kalip said.

"Yes, general, sand, rocks and burning heat caused by Tatooine's twin suns."

"Wasn't that planet controlled by criminal Hutt Jabba?" Valann said.

"Yes, but Jabba is long dead and after the Civil War ended the New Republic has invested a lot in the existing towns." Luke commented.

"Do you often go back there, master Skywalker?" Valann asked.

"Sometimes, not often, but I like the peace and quiet surroundings of its desert areas. However most of the times I have settled at Irithim where I own an apartment. Dalmaran is my home planet now."

"As is Coruscant for us," Kalip said.

They had reach the farm house and went inside. To their surprise Jerno, Kalip and Valann noticed some comfortable chairs around a low table. Luke laughed.

"After this long walk it's good relax in a comfortable way. Han Solo and I brought the furniture here to make our resting place a relaxing one."

Valann and Kalip began to laugh.

"This furniture has been borrowed from the other shuttle, isn't it, master Skywalker?"

Luke nodded and grinned before he sat himself in one of the chairs.

"Let's use this place to rest and take some food and drinks, gentleman."

While Luke and the three leaders from Coruscant were walking back to the Ribana outskirt, Liane, Wedge, Yarmod and Ian were nearing the nagawa shelter.

'He is still here' Liane said to her companions.

'I sensed him too, Shaayla-Car.' Yarmod answered.

'I will approach him first, guys. I will call you, if I need help.'

'Be careful, Shaayla-Car.' Wedge warned.

'I will, but he's no longer a threat to me or anyone else. His resistance is broken, for he desperately want something to eat and drink.'

Liane walked over to the entrance of the shed and looked inside. In the far corner to the right she sensed a misery human being who had covered himself with his dirty cloak. She stepped further inside and kneeled next to the person under the cloak.

"Trevor." She called gently.

The dirty coat moved and a head with bloodshot eyes appeared, looking at her. Frantically it began to shake.

"No, no, no," almost unintelligible voice sounded hoarse from a parched throat, "No, no, no, no more phantoms. Leave me all of you. The Empire is dead. Palpatine is dead. Darth Vader is dead. My own plan is dead too. There never be a new emperor."

The bloodshot eyes wandered over Liane's face.

"Liane Vader, why do I see your ghostly appearance here?"

"I'm not a ghost or a phantom, Trevor. I'm here to give you something to drink. I also have brought food with me."

She opened the bottle and poured a part of the content in a mug. She held out the mug to the human being in the corner. A hand appeared from under the cloak and tried to grab the mug, but missed. Liane grabbed Trevor's hand and put it around the mug. The person moved and raised himself. Eagerly he began to drink, gulps of liquid poured down his chin. He emptied the mug and held it out.

"Give me more, please," His voice begged.

Liane filled the mug again.

"Drink slowly this time, Trevor, otherwise you will throw up what you swallowed." She said, while she handed him the mug again. The person seemed to have listened to what she said and drank with little sips this time. Then he began to sit more upright and looked at her.

"Lady Vader," He said.

He stretched out his hand and touched hers.

"You're real, you're the girl from Morantan. The daughter of Darth Vader. The woman who refused to marry me which was obvious, because she can wield a power I will never able to posses anymore. She knew and she told me the truth."

Trevor grabbed Liane's hands.

"You're real, you're not a phantom or a ghost appearance. You're real, you're talking to me. I see and I hear. You're not one of the voice I have heard since I came hear. The voice of your father he always mocked me, always saying that my plans were doomed to fail. He was right, for Liane Vader told me that I have lost my Force skills. I have read Palpatine's verdict. The Wall of Light. It was real and separated me from the Force forever. Then I heard her voice and that of Jedi Skywalker. Their voices warned me to leave my lair. I didn't do what they said, but I heard another voice, the voice of a woman, not Liane Vader's voice, a voice I had never heard. That voice repeated the warning about the water that would come. That voice penetrated my mind and I heeded the words it said."

Liane didn't interrupt Trevor monologue, but gently she put half a slice of nut bread in his hand. He looked at and took a hesitated bite. His eyes lit up and he took another bite.

"Very tasteful, Lady Vader, thank you." He said looking at Liane.

"You did leave the caves, didn't you, Trevor?" Liane asked in her soothing Jedi voice.

Trevor took the other half slice of nut bread and nodded full mouth. He chewed the bread and swallowed it.

"I left, went to the town in the valley. I hate that town. It's so ugly, all those broken windows and swaying curtains as if ghosts were watching me, but I went back to the entrance and saw the water coming out of the cave. My life ruined. My plan ruined. Again a voice and a ghostly appearance. He said he was Anakin Skywalker a former Jedi. Skywalker I know that name: Luke Skywalker, the dead Jedi, who woke up. I don't know any Anakin Skywalker, do you, Lady Vader. He said I had to surrender myself and redeem my faults and all the other deeds I have done. He knew I had stolen two star destroyers. He knew I gave the order to send those simple people who live here into exile. He knew I blew up the last of those stolen star destroyers. He knew everything I've done wrong. Do you think, Lady Vader, I should follow his advise and redeem all my wrong doings, even if I fear I will be sentenced again. Maybe someone will again surround me with that Wall of Light. Maybe that light will kill me. Will it kill me, Lady Vader?"

He looked at Liane and she sensed his great fears. He grabbed her hands again.

"Will you give me another drink, Liane Vader, before you leave me again."

With compassion Liane looked at the broken man before her.

"Do you want to redeem your faults, Trevor. Do you want to confess all your wrong doings."

"Should I do that, Liane Vader. Do you want me to do that? Should I do what that ghostly appearance who called himself Anakin Skywalker?"

"It must be your choice, Trevor. I can't advise you on this matter."

"That's what that ghost also said. He had warned me before. Before I heard those Jedi voices who told me about the water that would come. It came and it has ruined my life. There's nothing left of my main cave."

He looked at Liane.

"You have seen my main cave with all those beautiful sideboards, right? You said I have stolen all the furniture, for it had belonged to those town's people. Another fault I made. The list is long and it gets longer. I have to redeem my faults, if I do that, if I go back to Coruscant and surrender myself, maybe they will forgive me. Do you forgive me, Lady Vader, no, I must say it differently: Would you forgive me?"

Liane nodded.

"I would, Trevor, for I also have forgiven Anakin Skywalker all his wrong doings."

"He also made faults, just as bad as mine?"

"Worse, Trevor, Anakin Skywalker was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He felt for the machinations of the Emperor. On Morantan he was my father and taught me his evil. Anakin Skywalker ever was Darth Vader."

There was a long silence in the shed. Liane still remained kneeled before Trevor.

"They have found me, haven't they, Liane Vader. Tell me, before I surrender myself to them. Did Darth Vader redeem his faults before he died on that second Death Star?"

"He renounced the Dark Side and became the Force ghost you have seen and who warned to do as he once did. Trevor, I told you that you're no longer able to feel the Force. The Wall of Light can't be undone. It's a permanent severe punishment. Nevertheless you still hear the voices from the Netherworld were those whose had become one with the Force reside. That's a great privilege and it could mean that if you redeem your fault and discard all ideas of raising a new Empire you will become one of them when your life has end. Trevor, outside this shack my Jedi friends are waiting, shall I ask them to warn the leaders from Coruscant to come, so you can surrender and end your misery."

Trevor Matrik stood up and helped Liane to her feet.

"You will accompany me, won't Liane Vader. You will hand me over to the leaders from Coruscan."

He took her hand and together they walked outside where Wedge and his friends surrounded the odd couple.

'Tell Luke to come, Wedge.' Liane said using Jedi telepathy.

'He's on his way, Shaayla-Car. We will wait for them.'

Liane saw how Trevor's glance went to the western plains. He smiled disappointed.

"I saw them coming. I wanted to get there, but the water has formed a river."

In the distance four hazy figures of human appeared. Trevor watched how their approach. Liane sensed how he had accepted his ordeal. Calm he stood straight next to her. Suddenly he took off the dark dirty cloak he had been wearing and cast it aside. Underneath Trevor wore his crumbled uniform with its distinctive. For a moment he looked at her.

"I am still an admiral in the imperial fleet. Possibly not for long anymore, but I will confront them in my old rank."

He let go of her hand and walked over to the approaching person. Liane, Wedge, Ian and Yarmod stepped back to leave Trevor the honor to surrender himself. When the three leaders stood before him Trevor ripped off the distinctive and handed them to Jerno Thai.

"I surrender, grand-admiral. Here are my distinctive, for I'm aware that I'm no longer entitled to my rank as admiral."

"You're under arrest, Trevor Matrik. We will bring you back to Coruscant where we will bring you before a Court Martial. They will decide your punishment. We guarantee you a safe transport in the detention cell and a fair trial on Corusant."

Jerno turned his head to look for Luke Skywalker, but the young Jedi had already run back to get the Astræga.

"Luke will be here soon, admiral," Wedge said.

In silent the three imperial officers and their prisoner stood together, while the four Jedi formed a protective circle around them. Within minutes the sound of the Astræga could be heard and Luke landed his ship close to the eight people. The ramp came down and Liane and her friends formed a cordon while Jerno, Kalip and Valann accompanied Trevor up the ramp. Inside Luke accompanied them to the detention cell at the aft of his ship. Trevor Matrik entered and nodded, while Luke closed the cell door. Everyone went silently to the control room. Luke lifted off and set course for the western plains.