Crisis at Crystal Reef

10

Piloted by Cilghal, the waveskimmer roared across the choppy seas toward the polar oceans of Mon Calamari. The sky was steely gray, the water cold. Mountainous icebergs floated in the distance like broken white teeth jutting up from the surface of the waves. The air felt so frigid that it seemed it might break if they tore through it too quickly.

“There, those sparkling colors,” Jacen said, pointing. “Is that Crystal Reef?”

Cilghal nodded. “Crystal Reef is one of the most popular casino-resorts on all of Mon Calamari.”

Protruding from the waves and surrounded by an archipelago of icebergs was an artificial island, a glittering mound of lights and metal that drifted about on the frigid currents. The Crystal Reef casino-resort was incredibly exclusive, isolated, a place for the wealthiest members of any species to go and have fun.

Zekk shivered, even wrapped in his warm cloak. “Why would anyone want to come up here? It’s too cold to relax.”

Tenel Ka, clad only in her lizard-hide armor, seemed unaffected by the drop in temperature or the brisk salty spray that feathered up from the racing waveskimmer.

“Wait until you see Crystal Reef from the inside,” Cilghal said, her voice soft, the words rich. “If I weren’t an ambassador to my people, we would have had to wait a month simply to get docking privileges. I … pulled a great many strings.”

“Then how did Anja Gallandro manage to get here?” Tenel Ka said.

Jacen raised his eyebrows and looked over at her. “You should know by now not to underestimate Anja when she’s determined to do something.”

Cilghal brought the waveskimmer into a crowded VIP docking area that looked like a series of metal-ceilinged caverns at the floating island’s water level. Expertly, she wove her way between other bobbing vessels—many of them jewel-spangled or gaudily painted—and nudged the skimmer into place. Jacen, Tenel Ka, and Zekk scrambled out onto the well-lighted dock, while the Calamarian ambassador filled out the proper forms and punched in her access codes.

Jacen gazed upward, lifting his chin so he could see the pearly metallic ceiling, the curved girders that supported the casino-resort’s organic, flow-form architecture. The style reminded him of the strange coral reef design he’d seen the Mon Calamarians use in the designs of their world’s impressive star cruisers.

A surprising variety of beings bustled about, many of them obviously tourists, others uniformed employees of the Crystal Reef resort. Jacen noticed Mon Calamarians, tentacled Quarren, Bith musicians, walrus-faced Aqualish, horned Devaronians, and ten other races of sentient creatures he could identify, as well as two dozen more he could not.

Layered musical tones filled the air like scents, ranging from rumbling subsonic pulses, through music discernible by human ears, up into high-pitched frequencies that he could detect only as a faint vibration in his teeth.

“Crystal Reef is a large place in which to find a single person,” Tenel Ka said.

Cilghal spoke in her soothing voice. “Fortunately, the resort has no choice but to allow me access to its records.”

“Then we should be able to track Anja through the resort’s own computer systems,” Zekk said, in a determined tone. “She doesn’t seem to be trying as hard to cover her tracks here. We’ll find her—and the Lightning Rod, I hope. I miss my ship.”

Jacen continued to defend her. “I don’t think she’s necessarily been hiding from us. Anja obviously needs to do something quickly, and is trying to do it before anyone gets in the way.”

“She still stole my ship…,” Zekk grumbled. “And she might have guessed we’d come after her.”

“We’ll ask her when we find her,” Cilghal said and led them up into the main levels of the resort. After consulting some maps on the walls, the Mon Calamarian ambassador asked for guidance from uniformed attendants. Even she had not been to this place before. The courteous and helpful attendants answered every question.

On different levels in the floating city, temperatures and atmospheric compositions varied from cold and clammy to hot and dry environments. In some, Jacen could smell acrid sulfurous gases; in others the air seemed so fresh and pristine he wanted to take huge gulps of it and wished he could save some for later.

The support columns in the vaulted rooms were hollow water-filled cylinders made of transparisteel. Seaweeds, water flowers, and brightly colored fishes drifted from level to level through the connecting tubes.

Finally, after ascending several ramps and sliding stairs, they reached the upper decks of Crystal Reef, high above the glittering, ice-choked water. Out in the frigid air, Jacen watched cold puffs of fog rise up in front of his face each time he exhaled. Chattering Bothans played a game by sliding colorful tiles across a frost-slick surface.

Steaming hot tubs bubbled at the center of the deck, their warm vapors rising a few meters before condensing into icicles on the deck railings and nearby furniture. Inside the tubs lizardlike aliens basked in the incredible liquid heat. Jacen could feel the increased temperature hovering over them like a steamy atmosphere dome.

Meanwhile, Dralls frolicked in the water of the polar ocean below, their dark, short fur protecting them from the freezing temperatures. He watched them splash and play, having the time of their lives in the icy waves.

“Do you think Anja would be on one of the casino decks?” Zekk asked.

Tenel Ka frowned. “We can rule out no possibility.”

Jacen shook his head. He looked behind him at the tall white towers glistening like spikes above the floating city. All legal forms of gambling were practiced on Crystal Reef—from races to simple games to major sabacc tournaments. Jacen wanted none of that, and he had to believe that Anja Gallandro didn’t either.

“I doubt gambling has anything to do with why Anja came here. If she wanted to gamble, she could have done plenty on Cloud City—but she didn’t show any interest then. No, she came to Mon Calamari for some other reason after leaving Kessel. Maybe she was looking for someone she knows. In any case, we’ll just have to find out what she really had in mind.”

“You forget, Jacen, my friend,” Tenel Ka said, “if she is connected with Black Sun, they would wish to control all the gambling here. Therefore, her contacts may be on the gambling levels. This is a fact.”

Jacen had to concede the point, but it still didn’t sound right to him.

Finally, Cilghal found an information kiosk studded with computers and keyboards fitted for various types of tentacles, claws, and manipulative digits. She spoke quickly but politely to the data-hunter at the kiosk, a small-boned creature with ten articulated arms. Cilghal gave her diplomatic credentials and described the person they were seeking.

The data-hunter’s smooth, toothless mouth smiled politely. Its numerous arms and hands moved in a blur, typing in requests, searching records, hunting through databases. “Ah, what excellent luck, Ambassador. Anja Gallandro should be easy to locate in our beautiful city,” the data-hunter said. “The young lady has not yet visited any of our casinos or gaming establishments, though with your good luck, Ambassador, maybe you should.”

Jacen tried unsuccessfully to suppress a chuckle at this blatant sales pitch. When Cilghal did not answer, the data-hunter quickly continued. “In fact, your friend has run up only a minimal bill during her stay here. Perhaps she is on the budget plan?”

“That is a strong possibility,” Tenel Ka confirmed.

“Wouldn’t surprise me a bit,” Zekk muttered.

Impatient to get going, Jacen leaned forward. “So where is she now?”

“Ah.” The data-hunter looked down at the screen, though Jacen could see only a blur of symbols flashing by. “At this moment, Anja Gallandro is visiting in our popular vehicle-rental docks attempting to procure a highly enjoyable underwater mode of transportation. I see … she has been there for some time already. I believe she is engaged in an energetic discussion with our fine entertainment representative.

“Unfortunately, your friend has no reservation or established credit, and we have quite a long and enthusiastic waiting list. Our state-of-the-art minisubmersibles are one of the most sought-after forms of entertainment here on beautiful Crystal Reef. I could book one for you, if you are interested, Ambassador. We have a spectacular brochure….” The data-hunter reached out an articulated hand to offer them a packet of colorful images.

But Cilghal turned away with a polite smile. “Thank you. You’ve been most helpful.” Giving a friendly wave, she ushered her young Jedi friends toward a lift platform behind the information booth. The data-hunter raised all ten arms in a shrug of dismay and waited for another customer from whom it could earn a commission.

They descended again to water level, where durasteel arches opened out onto the cold oceans, letting some of the waves drift in, lapping against the supports. The structure of the Crystal Reef casino-resort muffled the water’s extreme choppiness.

A slow moving, treelike Yarin stood at the water’s edge with its root-feet dangling into the water. The Yarin blocked access to all the rows of parked watercraft and minisubs. Anja stood there arguing with him, looking frustrated and weary, as if she’d been through the same phrases time and again. Her body seemed to tremble, but whether it was from tension or fatigue or something else, Jacen couldn’t tell. A line of customers waited behind her, glowering.

Jacen saw her and ran forward, accompanied by Zekk. “Anja! Hey, am I glad to see you!”

“You weren’t too easy to find,” Zekk added.

The young woman whirled and snatched the lightsaber handle from her waist. Her huge eyes opened wide at seeing the young Jedi Knights. Her face flushed, and her hand shook slightly as she released her grip on the lightsaber, but in a moment she recovered her arrogant demeanor. She tossed her head so that her long flowing hair drifted back behind her shoulders. “Good. I’m glad you’re here. Will you tell this … this tree stump here, who seems to have wood for brains, that I need to get a submersible, and I need it now?”

“Perhaps I could be of assistance,” Cilghal said, gliding forward in her rippling blue robes, “if you would explain to us why you need it. But not otherwise.”

Anja crossed her arms over her chest, flashing her dark tattoo. “And who are you? Another one of these Mon Calamarian casino employees trying to push me around?”

“I am Cilghal,” she said, nodding patiently and rolling her round brown eyes. “I am a Jedi Knight, and the ambassador for this planet.”

“Oh,” Anja said, somewhat flustered. “I … I’m pleased to meet you.”

“What purpose will a submersible craft serve?” Tenel Ka asked. “We have already found you here. Do you need to escape again?”

“And where’s my ship?” Zekk asked pointedly. “You’d better have taken care of the Lightning Rod.”

“Not a scratch,” Anja said. “And I would have returned it, if you’d given me time. I just … needed to get some transportation in a hurry.”

“I’m listening,” Zekk said, still skeptical. “But you’re not explaining very much.”

“Why should I have to explain everything to you?” Anja said, her voice uncharacteristically shaky. “I’ve got my own problems.”

“You stole my ship, for one thing,” Zekk retorted. “I’d say that deserves some explanation.”

“Hey, if you want our help,” Jacen said, trying to calm them both down, “maybe a few answers would make things easier. Come on, give us a break, Anja. We’re your friends.”

The young woman sighed, then stalked away from the treelike Yarin, who seemed entirely unfazed by the confrontation. The other customers came forward, relieved to have their turn at last.

A frown wrinkling her brow, Anja sat down on a damp bench and put her chin in her hands. “This is humiliating.” Tears formed in her enormous eves.

but she didn’t let them fall. “I found out that I’ve been a fool.” Jacen blinked in surprise to hear such an unexpected admission from the disturbed young woman. “Your friend Lando Calrissian was right: I … I’m addicted to spice.

“I told you I could quit whenever I chose to. I believed it myself. Then I tried to quit. That was when I learned I’d only been fooling myself. I went to Kessel to get another dose, and it was there that I discovered the extent of my foolishness. I’ve been betrayed.”

“Not by us,” Jacen assured “her, an anxious expression on his face.

“No,” Anja said in a heavy voice.

“Who do you know on Kessel?” Zekk asked. “And why did you go there in the first place?”

“Black Sun has been controlling me,” she said with a bitter laugh. “And I didn’t even know it. Czethros acted as if he was my friend. He helped me when I needed it. He gave me food and supplies and training when I was just a desperate street kid. He gave me all the andris spice I wanted. I wouldn’t have had a career piloting small ships without him.”

“But … Czethros?” Jacen said, aghast. “He’s a criminal, a murderer—”

“Czethros is an evil man,” Tenel Ka said. “He is in hiding and the entire New Republic is searching for him.”

“I’m out to get even with him, too,” Anja said. “He lied to me. He said he had my best interests at heart. I trusted him, but now I know that behind my back he was selling those terrible weapons to perpetuate the civil war on Anobis. He’s the one responsible for so many years of hopelessness, so much suffering, so much death. He used me. And I allowed it to happen….”

She shuddered, then looked up at Jacen, Zekk, and Tenel Ka. Her face grew ruddy with anger and embarrassment. “But not anymore. Czethros is involved in spice smuggling, you know. He also controls the gambling in hot spots throughout the galaxy, and he’s engineering a major takeover. He’s got operatives—traitors—in positions of importance everywhere. There’s no way the New Republic can stop him.”

She flashed a humorless smile. “But I know a way to hurt him.” She looked back toward the submersibles. “He has a large stash of andris spice here, under the Calamarian ice caps.”

“Makes sense,” Zekk said. “That would keep the andris cold, and intensify its effects.”

“It’s been delivered from Kessel in small shipments and stored there. Black Sun dealers will start distributing it to some of the high-rolling gambler clientele here soon … unless I can destroy it first.”

Tenel Ka frowned skeptically. “If you are addicted to spice, why should you be eager to destroy it?”

“Because it’ll hurt Czethros.”

“And you’re sure you won’t just save a little for yourself?” Zekk challenged.

“You can come with me if you want,” Anja said defiantly. “In fact, I could use your help to get past that stupid tree-man. I’ve got to rent a minisub. We can go together, find the stash, and destroy it. I guarantee that’ll deflate some of Czethros’s plans.”

“But why do we not take the spice back to doctors and patients who need it?” Tenel Ka asked.

“Because some of Czethros’s men may already be on their way to stop me. If we don’t destroy that spice, I have no doubt Czethros will manage to put his hands on it again before we ever have a chance to get it safely away from Mon Calamari.”

Jacen looked at Zekk and Tenel Ka. “It would be a pretty safe way to strike a blow against him—and with all those credits lost, it would really hurt.” He glanced back at Anja. “Was Czethros behind the troubles we had on Cloud City?”

She hung her head. “Yes … and I didn’t do a thing to stop him. At the time, I still wouldn’t let myself trust you. Even so, I had no idea he would try to have you murdered. Please believe me.”

“Sure, but why didn’t you trust us? We’ve tried to be friends to you in every way,” Jacen said, still surprised.

“Yes, but you’re also the son of Han Solo. I was hoping that you might still prove yourself to be as cowardly and untrustworthy as your father.” Anja’s eyes did not meet his. Despite the cold, perspiration ran in rivulets down her face and neck. Her hands shook.

Jacen drew a deep breath to calm himself. So, Anja still blamed Han Solo for the death of her father, though Han denied the situation vehemently, insisting that she didn’t have the correct story. But now that she had soured on Czethros, Jacen mused, perhaps she would listen to an explanation of events different from the one told by the man who had betrayed her.

Cilghal stood up. Her watery green-blue robes flowed around her. “I wish to rid my world of this illegal spice that you say is stored under the ice caps. We will go with you, Anja Gallandro, and help you destroy it. If you are telling us the truth, we will assist you in every way.”

“If you are telling us the truth,” Tenel Ka added.

“I’m not a liar,” Anja said. Her entire body trembled.

“Well, you didn’t exactly tell us the truth about yourself and who you worked for,” Zekk pointed out. “And you did steal my ship.”

Tenel Ka arched an eyebrow at Anja. “You also said you were not addicted to spice. This was not a fact.”

“And how did you get the Lightning Rod on and off Kessel without any entry in the records—if you didn’t lie to someone?” Jacen challenged.

Anja flushed a deep crimson. “That was different.” All business now, she stood up, brushing everyone’s comments aside. “Okay, I lied. But that was before. Things have changed, and I’m not lying to you now. I want to destroy that spice. Are you going to help me or not?”

They all nodded.

“Good,” Anja said. “I only wish I could be there when Czethros finds out what we’ve done.”