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.”