Chapter 104

Luke left the cockpit and sat down on the couch in the control room. He sighed again more morose this time and put his head in his hands. He sought a way to cope with the emotional feelings of which he had once thought they wouldn't worry him anymore.

'It's all so long ago', He thought, 'Why are these thoughts still so disturbing.'

He leaned at backrest of the couch and closed his eyes. Almost immediately the Force was showing him the long time forgotten events that caused the emotional feelings. He saw the face of a woman and realized that it were the thoughts of what she had done that still haunted him, although she was long dead. It was the way she had intentionally caused the death of a baby girl that aroused his emotions so strongly. Her reprehensible behavior was the reason why he had become aware that the disturbing thoughts about what she had done to him were recently surfacing more frequently, ever since he had fallen in love with the young woman he had met on Morantan and who had initially also had hurt his caring feelings of friendship and compassion: Liane Solichor, the daughter of Severini, once the Jedi Healer on Coruscant. Liane Solichor whose eternal partner he was, his Force soul mate with whom he formed a Force dyad, an unbreakable Force connection. Liane Solichor who had accepted his marriage proposal with her eyes full of love.

Luke took a Jedi meditation stance and began to recite the Jedi creeds his old master Yoda once had ingrained.

Although he felt how the Force brought him in control of his emotions, he found no real inner peace. He kept thinking about how injustice that had been done to an innocent newborn child in the past. He repeated the Jedi creeds once again, but that did not bring back the overwhelming, happy feeling he had experienced after Liane accepted his marriage proposal.

Their short stay in the underground residence had been full of mutual happiness, but in the solitude of the space, old questions without true answers had begun to disturb his normal calm Jedi mind, especially when he also realized that Liane had once seen the image of the woman who had deliberately betrayed his faith in her. At the time, he had asked Liane not to worry about the pain he always felt when memories of the woman resurfaced in his thoughts, but that was months ago. Now that Liane was to become his wife, she had the right to know the truth.

Luke opened his eyes and saw how Liane was looking at him, standing in the passage to the cockpit.

"You're awake" He said, but the words sounded somber and absent.

Liane didn't answer, but sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulder.

"You're bringing up old events from your past again, aren't you?" she asked. "And what you saw has thrown you off balance. That woman and what she has done still keeps bothering you, Luke, even though you told me she doesn't exist anymore."

Luke looked up at her and Liane sensed the turmoil in his mind.

"They left her to die of starvation, together with her newborn baby, a little girl, whom I suspect was my daughter," he whispered.

Liane was silent. She gently choose her words carefully, before she continued.

"Have you ever realize that she was a Baroontarian priestess, Luke? I saw her wearing some blue garments or dress which are the hallmark of the female members of a Baroonta clan?"

"She was always wearing blue garments, a wide blouse and pants, when I met her on Hoth. At that time I hadn't ever heard about the Baroonta clans, Liane, I knew nothing about those heinous communities that live on all systems of this galaxy. On Hoth I was still that naive, inexperienced, ignorant farm boy leading a group of freedom fighters as their commander. I wasn't a Jedi yet, although I could sometimes use the Force for simple things, like moving objects. Had I already been a Jedi Knight, I would have seen through her intrigues, seduction, and especially her betrayal to ensnare me in a deliberate, imperial trap. Liane, you grew up in a Baroonta clan; you surely know what kind of women they are?"

Liane nodded.

"I have lived among Eremian and his women until I was about seven years old. When I got older Anakin sometimes brought me back as he thought it necessary that the women should tell me what a young woman needed to know about relationships with men."

A faint smile appeared on Luke's face.

"I guess that Anakin didn't know how to handle that part of your upbringing."

"I think so too, Luke. I always enjoyed my time on the island with Eremian and his group of women. Besides what his women taught me, Eremian taught me the immense value of leaves, plants, and herbs. I found his lessons much more enjoyable and interesting than those of the women, who always gave serious warnings about being alone with young men, but I took their warning to heart when Tijan betrayed my feelings for him."

"You have told me that if Anakin brought you back to the domains, he sometimes took those women with him. Have you ever realized why?"

"Not immediately, Luke. I was about fifteen or sixteen and Anakin carefully kept me away from his men and those female visitors. After my silly love affair with Tijan I understood why Anakins' men always warmly greeted Eremian's women. The Baroontarian priestesses had to fulfill the desires of Anakin's men, their sexual desires, I mean. After some weeks had passed Anakin always brought them back personally."

Liane was silent. She still had her arm around Luke, but felt the many confusing thoughts that whirled through Luke's mind, before he managed to continue

"I met Eminil on Hoth, when the Alliance was establishing a new base in the ice grottos. She was one of a group of seven new women who had joined the Alliance after our leaders had accepted the ice planet as a solid refuse for the time being. They were hard workers and all of us were convinced that they contributed to the immense necessary construction works of the base. I became friends with Eminil and after some weeks of hard work together I had fallen in love with her, despite I also admired Leia, but only from afar. Eminil answered my affection and often invited me in her cabin. After a intimate night with her I almost spent every night with her. The overwhelming expression of her love for me encouraged my feelings for her, as ... as ... as ... as," Luke began to stammer, and Liane felt his familiar vulnerability..

"...as she fulfilled the dormant desires of an inexperience naive farm boy, Luke, that's what you wanted to say, didn't you?" Liane said very calm and gentile, "You probably didn't have many love experiences with girls during your youth on Tatooine."

"Biggs and I sometimes talked about finding our dream girl," Luke recalled, while he leaned against Liane's shoulder, "There were some serious couples between the young ones in Anchorhead. Most of the boys who were working the moisture farms of their parents, like me, hadn't much time to spend any leisure time with the daughters of other moisture farmers. Their parents warned their girl to stay away from me, for they thought I was weird and reckless brat, spending almost all my time racing with my skyhopper through the canyons around Anchorhead and Toshi Station."

"So you never questioned your love affair with Eminil, did you? You weren't suspicious?" Liane asked, "Has she never told you that she was a Baroontarian priestess?"

"Never, Liane. She was merely the bait. Her love was feigned. It was a trap, a malicious plan by Emperor Palpatine to get me in his grip."

"It was a set-up? Why was the emperor was after you?" Liane asked curiously.

"After the first Death Star was blown up, a bounty hunter had revealed the name of Skywalker to Darth Vader. Palpatine knew, of course, that his loyal commander was no other than the fallen Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, and I probably might be no one else but his son. The name of Skywalker could not be a coincidence. Palpatine hatched an evil plan, making use of the priestesses of Baroonta on Coruscant. One of them was supposed to lure me into the trap he had set, but I only discovered the truth after I had become a full-fledged Jedi Knight.Let me tell first tell you what further happened on Hoth.

One day I woke up alone in Eminil's cabin. I thought she had left early to start her work, but she and the six other women were seen nowhere. The generals of the Alliance feared an unknown accident, as no trace of the seven female workers could be found in a wide area around the base. I was shocked and during my many reconnaissance rides I sought every where, hoping that some evidence of their disappearance could be found. Several weeks after their disappearance an imperial probe droid discovered the Alliance's new base, and the Rebel Alliance had to flee again. I went to Dagobah, as the Force spirit of your father had instructed me that I should seek out Yoda, his old master. Master Yoda taught me the ways of the Jedi, the tough training of all the Force influences a Jedi Knight needs to know. During my training on Dagobah, I sometimes wondered where Eminil could be. I am sure that Master Yoda must have sensed those disturbing feelings, because he often reproached me for needing to learn to control all my hidden emotions as well. The Civil War reached its climax in the Battle of Endor. The second Death Star was destroyed, after Anakin had thrown Emperor Palpatine, his master Darth Sidious, into the abyss toward the nuclear core of the Death Star to save my life. The war was over and huge parties were being organized everywhere. Being a Jedi Knight now, time had come I would look everywhere for the woman I thought I still was in love with."

Luke was silent for a long time.

"The outcome of my search shattered my hope of being ever reuniting with her as I became aware of her deception. It began with a message around the time of the Battle of Jakku. The message accused me of being the cause Eminil's death. A group of women wanted to meet me in Mas'onom on Dalmaran. The moment I met them, I recognized the women from Hoth who were now dressed as six Baroontarian priestesses. They told me that they and Eminil had left Hoth head over heels because Eminil had gotten pregnant after her short relationship with me. They had left the base unnoticed to make contact an imperial reconnaissance vessel which had been in orbit around a nearby planet and they were brought back to Coruscant to join the male leader of their clan. I didn't understand what they were talking about, but slowly it began to dawn on me that something had been terribly wrong with my relationship with Eminil from the very beginning. Step by step, now making use of my Jedi skills, I began to suspect that Eminil had deliberately ensured that no precautions were taken to prevent pregnancy, so that she, or in this case the other women of the clan, could accuse me of negligence. On her part, there had clearly been intent involved, and I had fallen for it blindly, but the reason for her deception only became clear to me later.

Liane who had quietly listened to Luke's tale, shook her head determinedly.

"This makes no sense, Luke. I don't get it at all. So she deliberately made sure she would get pregnant. That is not according to the rules of the Baroonta Order. Eremian has explained a few rules of the Order to me. If one of his priestesses were to become pregnant, he knew how to terminate the pregnancy using specially prepared fluids made from herbs or leaves.

And this Baroontarian priestess intentionally ensured that she would get pregnant? Sounds, very odd. Furthermore, she and the others were only taken to Coruscant by an Imperial ship after she was certain that she was pregnant. Many months, perhaps even years later, these women accused you of negligence because you had not taken the necessary precautions to prevent pregnancy. That sounds very implausible, since Baroonta priestesses themselves always take these precautions."

Liane looked puzzled and with a deep frown, before she contineued.

Luke, you mentioned that it was a malicious plan by Palpatine, but I wonder how they were certain that you were responsible of her pregnancy."

Luke sat upright and met the determined look in Liane's eyes. He began to laugh.

"Just like you, my dearest, I had doubts after their story, but I agreed to listen to them because they also had demanded that I had to pay an enormous amount of credits to buy off their secrecy. I refused, because I absolutely could not pay that amount. After my refusal, they threatened me that I would be held responsible for Eminil's banishment from the Baroonta clan on Coruscant and her death, as well as that of her child. That was the first time I heard that Eminil had given birth to a child."

"So, once back on Coruscant the leader hadn't forced her to have an abortion? Sounds really weird to me, Luke."

"Their story became increasingly dubious, and it took no effort to use Affect Mind to influence the women's thoughts to uncover the truth. The easily influenced woman revealed that she and Eminil had been involved in an Imperial plot and had secretly infiltrated the Rebel Alliance on the Emperor's orders several months before the Imperial invasion of Hoth. Eminil was chosen to seduce me into an intimate relationship so that she would become pregnant by me."

Liane frowned, but kept silent and Luke continued his narrative.

"After the group had returned to Coruscant the leader and his women took good care of Eminil, and when Eminil's child was born, the little girl had my features: my blue eyes and blonde hair. The little girl was presumed to be my offspring. Everything had gone as Emperor Palpatine had planned. Eminil confirmed before an Imperial Commission led by Palpatine that she had only had an intimate relationship with me on Hoth and that I must be the father of her child.. The leader of the clan — who later turned out to be also involved in Palpatine plan — ordered genetic testing to officially identify the girl's parentage. During our relationship, Eminil and the other women had had sufficient time to collect my genetic material, and compared to that of the baby girl, it was abundantly clear that I was the father."

"Luke, why she didn't get an abortion."

"It was all part of Palpatine's plan, Liane. He wanted use my offspring to be sure, that once Anakin would have become to old to be valuable for him, my daughter could become his new Sith apprentice, in case I refused to join him as his apprentice of the Dark Side, for he already suspected that I would eventually get to know the Good Side of the Force after all and become a Jedi Knight.

"So, the emperor took all kind of precautions to avoid that the line of Skywalker would ever embrace the Good Side of the Force again, right?"

"Yes, Anakin was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Chosen One, the Jedi Knight who would bring balance to the Force. From the beginning Palpatine, as Darth Sidious, made sure that Anakin would become interested in the power of the Dark Side. As his son I also was strong in the Force and so would be my offspring.

There was only one thing Palpatine hadn't foreseen. Eminil's child was born about three months before the Battle of Endor. The Alliance was preparing their attack on the second Death Star. Being too occupied with the construction of the second Death Star near Endor Palpatine decided he must oversee the completion of the construction himself. Eminil and her child were ordered to stay with the Baroonta Clan on Coruscant until he would returned. The course of the Battle of Endor was completely different from what Palpatine had envisioned. The Death Star was destroyed, Palpatine died, and Darth Vader, my father, rejected the Dark Side and embraced the Good Side once again. He became one with the Force as Anakin Skywalker, my father. With the death of Palpatine there was no possibility that Eminil's would ever be trained as a Sith Lady.

That's where the terrible tragedy of Eminil's banishment began. The Baroonta clan had taken care of her and her child while Palpatine was overseeing the outcome of his plan with the Alliance near Endor. Now that the empire no longer existed, the leader immediately accused Eminil of having violated the rules of the Order, despite the fact that she had agreed in advance to the plan to seduce me into an intimate relationship with her.

Liane had listened to Luke's story with growing disgust and disbelieve. Luke had put his arm around her to reassure her, because he noticed the impact his story was having. She looked at him with growing horror. He nodded in agreement, for he sensed that Liane by now suspected the consequences the birth of Eminil's child would have, for Eminil himself and for her child.

"Yes, Liane. The final part is horrific and very painful to remember. The Force showed me the truth about what happened to Eminil and my daughter after the fall of the Empire. When I met those six baronetarian women, the Alliance was fighting the Battle of Jakku, which took place about a standard year after the Battle of Endor. My daughter was, counting from her birth, perhaps slightly older than a year at that time. Instead of paying the requested credits, I offered the women to take on the care of Eminil's child and fund her upbringing. The women laughed at me and said that my offer was impossible. I did not understand why, but the women refused to tell me the truth. Of course, I could have used the Force in a more advanced way, but I felt restraint was a much better option for a Jedi Knight, since Lando and Han had meanwhile started their own investigation into the matter and had confronted the six women with the details of Palpatine's plan, after which they confirmed the plot and Eminil's deception, which ultimately led to her banishment. Han informed Leia first. He asked her to tell me that I would never be able to care for my daughter, because Eminil and her child had been taken to an uninhabited planet in the Unknown Regions after she and her child had accepted their banishment, shortly after Palpatine's death. There she was left behind with her child, without sufficient provisions or food. My daughter starved to death, Liane, because of the monstrous rules of an order I despise.

Luke had pressed his face against Liane's shoulder to seek solace and consolation from her after his last words. Liane used her Force skills as a healer to soothe his pain and comfort him. Grateful, Luke took her head in his hands and gave her a tender kiss.

"Thank you, my most lovely naughty pixie, for your comforting thoughts." He whispered. Liane stretched out her hand and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Eminil has paid the heavy price for her betrayal, Luke. She knew the rules of her Baroonta clan. She must have known that she would be banished, after Palpatine's plan had failed. Baroonta clans have no mercy for a woman and her child born outside the clan, for no wrong blood must ever defile the inheritance of Baroonta clans." Liane whispered gently.

For a while they leaned close together. Liane kept using her healing skills to console Luke and give him time to find his balance in the Force again. Finally, she dared to ask him what was bothering her.

"Have you found that uninhabited planet, Luke?"

Luke shook his head.

"No I haven't. Not yet. I will keep investigating, for I want to find the remains of my daughter, if possible. I want to give her proper place to rest and name her Padmé after her grandmother. So far my search is in vain. Everything has been covered up and those who are responsible have shrouded themselves in silence. Eminil betrayed the love I once felt for her, just like Tijan betrayed your feeling. You once said, my love, that many events of our lives seemed to proceed along similar lines, also in this case."

"You said you're still investigating, right?"

"Yes, but not excessively so. Other things have crossed my path, Liane. You, for example, and my growing love for you. Leia's grief after Han broke off their engagement, and later their marriage. Ian's exceptional recovery and the illegal occupation of Palomintar Four. As the last Jedi, there are many things that require my attention and action. One day, I hope to find enough time to search the Unknown Regions beyond the Outer Ring for an extended period and find a clue as to where to look."

Luke, would it be a good plan to go and search the Unknown Regions after we've got married?" Liane proposed.

"You mean, to go there on our honeymoon, darling? I had other plans in mind. I would like to go back with you to Endor and stay with the Ewoks for while. Perhaps you want to visit Marek and Aalyyah Grann on Rasth, and I want to go to Dagobah and Tatooine together. I don't want to sacrifice that most beautiful journey of our lives, looking for something which might lead to nothing. Our honeymoon must be a journey along the many wonders this galaxy has to offer," Luke said and pulled her close, but he saw the so familiar determined look in Liane's eyes.

"Already preparing our trip to the Unknown Regions, my love?" He said, smiling, before he kissed her again.

"Not preparing, Luke. Just thinking about how we can find Padmé and bring her to rest. Don't you agree that it would resolve your pain if you would have fulfilled your obligation and responsibility to her. This pain you feel about what has happened to her, has also become mine, for the Force has been sharing your pain with me. It must be possible for two Jedi Knights to solve this secret."

The synchro chrono was activated and interrupted their talk. Luke pulled Liane to her feet.

"What ever we are going to do on our honeymoon, Shaayla-Car, we have to postpone all our ideas, until we have fulfilled our obligations to the Quelans of Ribana. We are approaching Palomintar Four, my beloved companion who, as always, is my comfort and encouragement. Let's get the Astræga out of hyperspace and land on Tyr. They are awaiting us. We're not yet a married couple, just eternal comrades in the Force." He laughed, kissed her and took her to the cockpit.

Manall looked at his grandson.

"What did you say, Lorann?" He asked.

"The two missing Jedi Knight are nearing Palomintar Four, grandpa. They came out of hyperspace just a few minutes ago."

"How do you know?"

Lorann shrugged his shoulders.

"I know, grandpa," He answered and left the harvester main home, looking to the clouded sky.

Manall followed him.

"Yes, they have started the sublight engine to descend to Tyr. Grandpa, I'm going to warn the other Jedi and tell them that their friends are coming.

"No, Lorann, you're not going to tell them, yet. You may go after we've have seen that beautiful vessel of master Skywalker."

Lorann got a strong frown between his eyes.

"Grandpa, all the other Jedi are wondering where their friends have gone and why they haven't joined us yet."

"Not your concern, Lorann."

Lorann rushed inside the building and came back with the drawing of the Astræga in his hand. He carefully rolled it up and ran away..

"Lorann, were do you think you are going. Come back."

"If I may not warn the other Jedi I'm going to the plains where the other space ships are, and show master Skywalker my drawing, as you said I should do." Lorann yelled from afar.

Manall watched his youngest grandson, leaving the Cantamaga surroundings, heading for the plains which lay in front of the mountain ridge. He sighed and thought of his chat with the son of his old Jedi friend. Could it really be that Lorann possessed similiar skills as Toallin's daughter Chati. Lorann was just a boy, Chati was an adult female Quelan. It would take years before Lorann would become the apprentice of Tama-Hin Kenobi, if he ever would. Maybe that would be right, for the son of old friend had just become a Jedi Knight himself. He probably had to experience a lot of knowledge himself, before he would be allowed to became the master of a padawan. Silently Manall went back inside the harvest building. Within minutes his son put his head around the door.

"Where did Lorann go, father. I saw him running to the outside of the town. What's that boy up to?"

"He asked me if he might have a look at all the space ships there? You know he is very interested in space travel."

"Yes, you told. Those six brothers have let him experience space flight with their ship. I hope, that boy won't get funny idea about traveling with such a ship. Within a few years I will arrange his marriage and then he has to work with the others to earn his living. You're spoiling him, father, with your stories about those old Jedi friends of you and their travels through space."

Cornell leave, still grumbling.

'And you, my good son, are spoiling my grandson's dreams and hopes. Tama-Hin said he would talk to master Skywalker about Lorann, but the Jedi hasn't yet joined us.'

At that moment yarmod and Ian walk up the path to the harvester's community house. They knocked and Manall opened up.

"Master Manall, is Lorann with you?" Ian asked.

"My grandson went to the plains to have a look ... No, Tama-Hin, what I was going to say isn't right. Lorann told me about half a standard hour ago, that master Skywalker's space ship had coming out of hyperspace. It's on its way to Tyr. Lorann has gone to the plains to watched the ship's landing. He has taking the drawing of the ship with him to show it to master Skywalker."

"Thank you, master Manall. We will be joining him and welcome Luke and my sister." Ian said and bowed.

"Tama-Hin!" Manall started to say.

Manll shook his head

"Nothing my friend, go and join my grandson and take him with you to Cantamaga's main plaza. I also will join the crowd."

"We will take care of Lorann," Yarmod said.

"Thank you, masters. I'll see you later.

The two Jedi Knights walked down the path and turned to follow their way to the plains. As they near the broad flat lands behind the mountain ridge they saw Lorann who was watching at the narrow passage through the mountain. He looked back when he seemed to hear them coming. Yarmod and Ian joined him.

"You heard a space ship coming, Lorann?" Ian said.

"Not a space ship, master Kenobi, but this one." Lorann answered and unrolled his drawing. "I want to show it to the Jedi master and ask him if he likes it. They are a bit late, but that's because the female Jedi Knight is steering the ship."

"My sister is steering the Astræga, Lorann. How do you know? Master Luke probably is landing his ship himself."

"No, he is the co-pilot this time, but he is telling her what to do. Oh, there's the ship coming. Wow, she's done it right. She turned up the wings, before entered that narrow passage."

Lorann wanted to rush forward, but Ian took his arm.

"Stay here, Lorann, and wait. You should never get too close to a landing space ship. You may go over when the engines have stopped."

Lorann nodded and looked at his drawing.

"Look, master Kenobi, I made it exactly as it is with the upturned wings. I would love to make another drawing when those wings had taken their horizontal position. That's more impressive."

Ian held his hand firmly on Lorann's shoulder. Together with Yarmod he watched how the Astræga extended the landing pylong and came down. The engines stopped and a few minutes later the front ramp came down. Yarmod and Ian took Lorann up to Luke Skywalker and Ian sister Shaayla-Car who walked down the ramp. As the two young Jedi has reached their fellows they bowed and Luke and Liane answered their greeting politely. Lorann watched the formal Jedi salutations and also bowed.

"Nice of you to welcome us, Lorann."

"I felt how your ship came out of hyperspace, master Skywalker, but it took some time before I saw it coming through the narrow passage. You probably weren't steering the ship yourself, were you, master Skywalker."

"That's right, I wasn't, master Kenobi's sister was handling the Astræga this time. She did well, don't you think so, Lorann?"

"Was it the first time to land on Tyr, ma'am?" Lorann asked Liane.

"Indeed, it was. How did you know?" Liane asked with a smile.

"Because you were very careful and did everything very precise," Lorann said, before he turned to Luke again, "Master Skywalker I ... I ... made a ... drawing ... your ship. Would you mind ... to have a look at it. I hope ... you ... like." Lorann suddenly stammered.

With a trembling hand he reached out the drawing. Luke took it and he and Liane looked at it.

"Lorann, this is great," Liane exclaimed. "It's absolutely the Astræga, don't yuo think so, Luke. Look at those details. Everything is precise as it is in reality. When did you made this, Lorann."

Lorann's olive green face had gotten a slight reddish color.

"There was the other Jedi, master Antilles, he is know the master of Chati Fonaldris, left in the middle of the night. He took those two droids with him. I heard him talking to them and then I heard the sublight engines start at stationary level for a long time. Finally I saw how the ship began to hover above the plains. It was odd, master Skywalker, for the other Jedi didn't start the ion-drive to lift off. I heard the sublight engines for a long while before everything got quiet again. I was a bit angry, because your ship had landed the day before and I already had begun with this drawing, but it was unfinished, so the rest I had to do by heart." Lorann rattled off entire sentences at a rapid pace.

"You have a very good memory, Lorann, for you haven't forgotten any detail. Like Shaayla-Car already said: it's great. It really is."

"I ... made ... it .. for you. master Skywalker. You may have it. I'm glad you like." Lorann said stammering.

"Thank you, Lorann. Come with me and I will show where I will put it, for I think you're also eager to see my ship on the inside. Tama-Hin, Yarmod, join Shaayla-Car and me ." Luke said while he took Lorann's arm and lead the young boy up the cargo ramp.

Leia look at her husband with a smile.

"My brother and Shaayla-Car have just landed on the plains behind Cantamaga, Han." She said.

"Fine, I'm going to ask Liane where they have been and why they haven't joined us immediately."

Chewbacca grumbled a long series of Shyriiwook.

"Why shouldn't ask her where she went with Luke?" Han snapped.

Another long sentence in Chewbacca's native language followed. He started to laugh cynically.

"Of course, it's my concern, Chewie. Liane's wellbeing will always my concern, and yours." Han answered cross.

Now Chewbacca seems to become angry, as he growled furiously at his partner. Han backed off.

"OK, OK. You think, it's better to wait and have her tell us herself." He answered, "but what if she won't."

Still being outraged Chewbacca grumbled, gesticulating with his long arm and vehemently shaking his head. Han looked at Leia. She nodded.

"Chewie is right, Han. Whatever Luke and Shaayla-Car have done, is none of our business. They both are full-fledged Jedi Knights. Not you, or Tama-Hin, her brother, none of us, are entitled to asked them to account for what Luke and Shaayla-Car are doing. We're not Shaayla-Car protector, or guardian any more. She has a better person to rely on: my brother, Jedi master Luke Skywalker."

"So, you're saying that also Tama-Hin is concerned where his sister had gone, and he is her brother, Leia."

"Yes, he is, and on Wegoyy he was her guard and on Na'ctaMagh'Ba her padawan protector, but Shaayla-Car has become a woman and a Jedi Knight who knows her responsibilities, just as Anakin once taught her when he gave her command of the domains on Morantan. She knows what is expected of her."

"Leia, all I want is to be sure that everything is alright with her. The Astræga went into hyperspace and left the Palomintar System. Why?"

"Don't you know? Chewbacca does, darling."

"My brother and Shaayla-Car just wanted to be together for a while. Just the two of them, without any of us disturbing them. "

"Leia are you suggesting, that she and Luke are lovers."

Leia started to laugh and Chewbacca joined her.

"Han, my love. It was you who suggested that my brother proposed to her when he visited us on Na'ctaMagh'Ba."

"She denied what I said, Leia."

"Yes, because by that time she and Luke talked about their strong connection in the Force. Han, Luke and Shaayla-Car have always been partner, sometimes as s ordinary users of the Force, sometimes as Jedi Knights or Jedi Masters. Shaayla-Car and Luke are soulmates. They form a duality within the Force, a Force dyad. Isn't it obvious, my love, that after those long months they have been separated in which Shaayla-Car has had vision of Luke in Jedi hibernation state, they both want to be together again and enjoy their union in the Force."

"They are soul mates, a kind of twins in the Force. What about your relationship with her brother. Isn't he your twin brother."

"He is, Han, but our relation stems from Anakin's forbidden marriage with Padmé Naberrie. We're their offspring, their children. Their blood runs in our veins and we're born just after one another. Han, please, leave those two enjoy their union again which has been disturbed for a long time. That my brother choose to use Jedi hibernation to get in Trevor's abode was his option to be with his twin soul once Shaayla-Car decided to confront Trevor herself. "

Han shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

"Do you mind that I don't understand this Force hassle. I never have, and I wonder if I ever will understand. I have enough of a wife who is a Jedi Knight. But I won't ask them anything. If they want to be secretive, it's OK with me. I'm not that curious."

Leia laughed again and kissed her husband.

"You're not a curious person, darling, but you like to know what's going on, right?"

Han grumbled something inaudible and poked the Wookiee's fur.

"Come on, Chewie, let's see if there's something to eat. Maybe I should get myself a bottle of Palomintar wine."

"I'm coming with you, Han, but we've tasted the last bottle of Palomintar Wine on Palomintar Six, remember." Leia said.

"That governor should have saved that bottle for this moment, Leia, although one bottle for a whole community wouldn't make them drunk."

Luke took Lorann to the control room of the Astræga. The young Quelan harvester looked around with wide open eyes, trying to absorb the whole in one glare. Luke had walked over to a frame on the wall above a small side board. He opened the front side and took some small magnets from the frame's inside. Then he lifted Lorann and put him on top the side board.

"Put your drawing against the wall, Lorann. I'll hand you the magnets to fix it."

Together Luke and Lorann fixed the drawing inside the frame. Luke closed the frame and Lorann jumped from the side board. He looked at his drawing with a broad smile. Liane had noticed how good-natured Luke treated Lorann and she thought about Luke's mournful story about the death of the baby girl he had fathered, but never had seen. She smiled as she saw how Luke took Lorann to the pantry and gave him a glass of juice. With the glass in both hands the boy sat down on the couch, immediately looking at the frame on the wall.

"It's beautiful, Lorann. I love it," She said.

"Is this ship also yours, ma'am?" Lorann asked.

"When Luke and I are traveling together it is, but Luke owns it." She said.

"But master Skywalker allowed you to fly it, didn't he? Did you find it difficult to fly it? He has told you how you should land on Tyr, hasn't he?"

"He did. He said I had to rely on the Force to pass through the cloud layer." Liane answered amazed.

"Were you scared to do that, ma'am?"

"Not really, Lorann, for the Force showed me what I had to do. Luke just reassured me I did well. It was my first time I flew his ship and had to land on Tyr. Next time I know what to do and it will be easier."

Again Lorann looked at his drawing.

"I will tell grandpa where I had to fix it. He won't believe me, I think."

"We will invite him inside the Astræga to have a look at it, Lorann," Luke said who had come back from the aft of the ship. "And now, young man, I bring you to Cantamaga with the speeder.

"Wow," Lorann said and put his empty glass on the work table. Before he left the control room Luke turned to Liane.

Shaayla-Car, shall I'll come back to pick you up?"

"Not necessary, Luke. I'll close up and come to Cantamaga with Yarmod and Tama-Hin, unless they want to go with you?"

The two Jedi shook their head. Luke smiled at Liane. She only winked. Together with Lorann Luke left the control room and some moments later Liane heard the noise of the speeder driving from the cargo ramp. She looked up to her brother and his friend. Ian looked at the framed drawing.

"Do you know why that frame has been fixed at the wall?" He asked.

"Once it held a holo image of the Emperor, Luke told me." Liane said, "This was once Anakin's private shuttle."

The two Jedi started to laugh.

"So, when Luke became the new owner he wasn't happy to look at the Sith Lord who had seduced his father?" Yarmod said.

"I guess so. I haven't seen the image, but I can imagine that it must have been scary, very scary. I'm glad it's been removed."

Ian looked at his sister.

"You and Luke left the Palomintar System unexpectedly and went into hyperspace, Shaayla-Car."

"We did, and you want to know why we left, don't you, my dear brother?" Liane answered.

"I was a bit amazed and concerned," Ian answered.

"So was I, for Luke was very aloof why he didn't want to go to Tyr immediately, but we had a wonderful time together, after having been separated ever since I've got that Force vision of you, after you got wounded on Palomintar Six. The next morning when I woke up Luke had left. He had recorded a message in Artoo before he went to Mas'onom to join Han and Leia."

"Where did you go?" Ian asked and Liane saw how Yarmod imperceptible shook his head.

"You're quite inquisitive, don't you think, Tama-Hin? Liane said and her voice got a dismissive tone, "I don't think I'm accountable to you for what Luke and I do, or do you think otherwise?"

Ian blushed.

"I'm your brother, Shaayla-Car, your older brother. I didn't expect you would keep things secret to me."

"Tama-Hin, what's worrying you, for the argument that your my older brother doesn't make sense. Being my older brother doesn't mean that you should also be my guard, like you once were. Speak up, Tama-Him, what's worrying you. It had something to do with Luke, hasn't it?"

"Shaayla-Car, don't get angry with me. I'm just concerned about you. I care for you. I always have and you know I have. I also know that you and Luke have a strong Force bond. You and Luke have always been Force partners, eternal partners for generation. Our mother once has explained that to me, but I hope that that doesn't mean that I may not feel some concern when you are alone with Luke. I mean ..."

Liane started to laugh.

"Tama-Hin, now you sound like those Baroontarian women I grew up with. Over and over again they told how many dangers and consequences there would be if I would be alone with someone of the other sex."

Ian didn't how to answer to Liane's remarks.

"I want to remind you, that on Wegoyy I also have been alone with a man in my cell, sometimes for hours, while we had a lot to talk about. I also was the only woman on board the Grann Traveler, after Yarnick and his brother were so friendly to take me with them when I didn't know who I was. I have been alone with Luke while on Endor and later on Tatooine in our father's former home. Tama-Hin. I appreciate your concern, but you should stop patronizing me. I have been alone among the whole garrison of Anakin's men on Morantan, his ground troopers, his technical personnel, his staff officer and their commander. I have been alone with men all my life as far as I remember and now you're worrying about me leaving the Palomintar System without letting you know with Luke, the Jedi Knight who I met on Morantan, who became my friend after my wrongdoing on Ortel, who gave me the Jedi-pendant so I could always reach him, who immediately came to Endor after I got back my memories, who always has been there whenever I need his help and who is my Force soul mate, my duality in the Force, my Force dyad partner. "

Shameful Ian Tydon looked at his hands.

"I'm sorry, Shaayla-Car. I know Luke is trustworthy. Please, don't take me wrong, it's just that you mean so much to me." He said very quietly.

Liane grabbed the hands of her brother.

"And you mean a lot to mean, but you have to trust my relationship with Luke. You're my brother, my older brother. Luke is my eternal Force comrade. I appreciate you care, but stop meddling in my affairs. It will distract you and disturb your own connection with the Force."

"Shaayla-Car, will you ever tell me ...

... why Luke and I went into hyperspace and left the Outer Rim. I will, but not now. There's lot of work coming our way, guys, and we need to focus on what has to be done. We have to be mindful of the moment, be mindful of the happiness of the Quelan community who will look devastated when they see Ribana. It's our tasks as Jedi Knight to bring relief and hope to restore Ribana into the town it once has been."

Ian looked at his sister. Liane smile as took her Jedi coat.

"I promised Luke to close up here before we head to Cantamaga. Are you willing to lend me a hand, guys, like you both did while I'm was alone with two young men on Tatooine. That's one I almost forgot," She said grinning.

Yarmod looked at her and started grinning to.

"You also have been alone with us, many times, while we were helping you when you were healing Teebo and his fellow Ewoks, Shaayla-Car. And you also were alone with Luke and me when we fled Trevor's cave system through the underground riverbed. Come on, Ian. I told you it wasn't your business, but you're stubborn. You'd better pay attention to Lorann and talk about that boy with Luke, before his father turns him into an unhappy harvest boy with a wife and a few kids."

"So, you two also have sensed Lorann's small Force use?" Liane asked Yarmod.

"Not only we, Shaayla-Car, but his grandfather Manall and Chati also are aware that Lorann is a Force-user. I wonder if Luke also knows."

"Why do you think that he took the boy with him to Cantamaga in the speeder, Yarmod? If I have sensed Lorann's Force skills, slumbering and immature, than Luke certainly has. Now let's get to Cantamaga. I want to see what's left of the festivities."

"Those are still going on, and probably will the oncoming days," Ian said, "In my opinion nobody has had a good sleep for at least two days. There are fireworks almost every evening and I understand that master Kamalin is almost close to despair because none of the young Quelans show up for class."

They left the Astræga. Yarmod closed the ramp. For a moment he seemed tempted to activated the ship's cloaking, but he refrained and joined Liane and her brother.