Crisis at Crystal Reef

6

Jaina was surprised at how good it felt to be in the pilot’s seat of the Rock Dragon once again, even if they weren’t exactly going on a fun trip. The pleasure of being surrounded by her best friends added fuel to the fire of her excitement as they set out on this new adventure.

“How’s our navigator doing?” she asked, settling herself more comfortably in her seat, anxious to be off.

“Perfect,” Zekk assured her. “Em Teedee’s got the route and the timing to our first stop calculated down to the second.”

“And naturally, I have been very thorough, as I always am when safety is concerned,” Em Teedee preened. “You’ve come to expect only the best of me, and I should hate for your trust to be misplaced.”

Jaina chuckled.

“Just give us the count, Em Teedee,” Jacen urged. “We’ve got to go find Anja.”

The little droid made a sound as if clearing its throat. “Prepare for transition to hyperspace in five, four, three, two …”

“Punch it, Lowie,” Jaina said. Her ginger-furred copilot grumbled with satisfaction as he switched on the hyperdrive engines. Glittering stellar pinpricks exploded into brilliant starlines around them.

Jaina couldn’t keep the smile of exhilaration off her face. “Isn’t this exciting?”

“I’d be a lot more excited if I didn’t feel responsible for the situation Anja’s in,” said Jacen.

Jaina swiveled in the pilot’s seat to give her twin brother a strange look. “Responsible? How? We didn’t have anything to do with Anja getting addicted to spice.”

“Well, if Dad hadn’t killed her father, maybe she’d’ve had parents to teach her right from wrong. She might never have gotten hooked on andris in the first place.”

Jaina bristled. “I don’t believe Dad shot Gallandro in the back, no matter what Anja says. She can’t even be sure what happened. It’s not as if she was there.”

“Neither were we,” Jacen pointed out. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Anyhow, it’s not just Anja I’m worried about. I mean, we’re heading for Kessel. I’ve got kind of a bad feeling about this.”

Lowie smoothed the fur at the back of his neck and gave a thoughtful rumble.

“Have you sensed something through the Force?” Tenel Ka asked.

Jaina glanced back at her brother. He shrugged. “Not exactly, but Dad and Chewie sure had a hard time of it when they crashed on Kessel years ago.”

Jaina turned and looked back out the front viewport. “It was hard for them to get away, but that was back when the spice mines were a slave pit. Dad reminds us whenever he gets a chance that Lando and Uncle Luke had to disguise themselves in order to sneak in and help him and Chewie escape.” She bit her lower lip. “Now that Lando owns the mines, though, we shouldn’t need to worry about anything.”

“It’s still not a place I’d like to go for a vacation,” Zekk muttered.

“Hey, don’t worry about it too much,” Jacen said. “I told you, I didn’t really sense anything through the Force. I’d just be extra careful when we land there.”

Jaina nodded, but a frown of concern still wrinkled her brow.

“Such caution would be sensible,” Tenel Ka agreed.

Once the Rock Dragon had landed near the spice mine’s administrative offices on Kessel, a thin and dour-looking administrator arrived to greet them, introducing himself as Second Administrator Kymn.

“Your clearances are all in order,” he said. “In fact, Master Skywalker himself sent a message asking for our cooperation in your mission—whatever it is. I’m to conduct you directly to the Chief Administrator’s office. Nien Nunb is a very busy man.”

The young Jedi Knights followed the sour-faced man. Jacen looked around at the bleak landscape and felt the barest hint of a tingle along the back of his neck, so faint he didn’t think it could possibly be a warning through the Force. He scratched the back of his neck and tried to divert his thoughts.

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say we’re on a mission,” Jacen told the man. “We’re just looking for someone. We won’t take up much of his time.”

The dour administrator looked suspiciously at him but said nothing as they entered the main administrative buildings. When they were finally led into the Chief Administrator’s underground office, mousy little Nien Nunb got up, came around his low desk, and greeted each of them effusively, although they did not actually know one another. Em Teedee promptly provided translation services, since Nien Nunb’s Basic was difficult to understand.

“Master Nien Nunb would like to thank you all for taking the time for this visit. He deems it a great honor that the relatives of his old friends Han Solo and Chewbacca of Kashyyyk have come to visit, and extends you any help he can offer.”

“Thanks,” Jacen said. “Maybe if we could look at—”

Nien Nunb held up a hand for Jacen to pause, then turned to the sour-faced administrator and said a few short words in his own language. Em Teedee continued translating. “Master Nien Nunb says thank you, Second Administrator Kymn. He will not require your services any further.”

Kymn’s lips pressed into a thin, tight line, but he made no argument as he withdrew. Nien Nunb strode to the doorway, shut the heavy door, and pressed his ear against it for a moment. Then, to all of their surprise, he locked the door.

The Sullustan Chief Administrator spoke rapidly and spread his hands to indicate a cluster of cushioned repulsor benches in a group on one side of his rock-walled office. “Master Nien Nunb urges you to be seated, and he is now anxious to learn the nature of the business that has brought you all here.”

The five young Jedi explained about their search for their friend Anja and how they had hoped to find her here on Kessel. Nien Nunb put a hand to his chin and shook his broad head while he replied. In translation, Em Teedee explained that the Chief Administrator had not seen the Lightning Rod and, since he had known old Peckhum a good many years, he believed he would have recognized the ship had it landed anywhere in the main docking domes. He had been very busy and very concerned, however, so he couldn’t be sure.

“Is it possible that she might have managed to sneak past your security screens?” Jaina asked.

Jacen frowned at his sister for implying that Anja was trying to do something illegal on Kessel, but Nien Nunb was already answering.

“In the past, Master Nien Nunb would have assured you that very little could get past his security screens here on Kessel, and that he knew of all comings and goings on this planet,” Em Teedee said. “But in recent months there have been some small … occurrences that have led him to believe that perhaps all is not as it seems here. Therefore, he has offered to put the full resources of Kessel’s computer records at your disposal. You may also physically search for Mistress Anja if you believe that will be of any use. He only urges you to be extremely cautious.”

Tenel Ka, always slightly suspicious, sat up straighten “May I inquire what the source of your concern is?”

The Chief Administrator opened his small mouth under drooping folds of skin, closed it, opened it, and closed it again, as if he could not decide exactly what to say. Finally the story spilled out, and he described the “accident” from which he had barely escaped with his life, the blasts of carbonite and the suspected sabotage that had cost the life of Torvon, the predecessor to Second Administrator Kymn.

“Master Nien Nunb has ordered immediate inspections and has implemented new safety systems in order to foster the appearance that he has no suspicions of anything at all sinister.” The young Jedi Knights looked at each other, trying to decide how dangerous the spice mines might really be.

Em Teedee went on. “He does not wish anyone to know that he now suspects treachery, and is no longer certain which of his employees he can trust. As of yet, however, he has no solid proof. Therefore, in return for his assistance in helping you with your search for Anja, he requests that you remain alert to any signs of illegal activity, danger, or deceit.”

Tenel Ka gave a curt nod, and her warrior braids swayed around her shoulders. From the corner of his eye, Jacen saw Zekk’s hand go to the hilt of his newly constructed lightsaber.

Jacen nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. “Sure, we can do that.”