9
Lando, Jaina, and Zekk worked on the Lady Luck, preparing it for a quick journey to the Bith homeworld of Clak’dor VII. Though Jacen, Lowie, and Tenel Ka would remain on Cloud City to continue the local investigation, they helped with the flight preparations. Anja, however, kept to herself and was nowhere to be found.
“Sorry I can’t take you all with me,” Lando said, wiping a smudge of lubricant off his burgundy cape. “But it’s a long shot tracking down that band. They definitely went to Clak’dor VII, but they’re on the run, and I don’t want to waste precious time in case—”
Jacen said, “Don’t worry about us here, Lando. We’ve got plenty of investigating to do on Cloud City.”
“Can’t wait to compare notes when we get back,” Jaina said.
“Hey, Em Teedee,” Zekk called, tying back his long, dark hair, “did you go over our route to the Bith homeworld? We don’t want to get lost on our way there.”
“Why certainly, Master Zekk,” the little droid said. “I checked and double-checked all of the coordinates and ran an algorithm to ensure that the navicomputer had chosen the proper course, free of any serious natural hazards. The Lady Luck and I are on very cordial terms.”
“Clak’dor VII isn’t a place many people go by choice,” Lando said. “I’ve been to more planets in this galaxy than I can name, but I don’t ever remember setting foot on that world.”
“The musical prowess of Bith band members is renowned throughout the New Republic,” Tenel Ka said. “They travel widely, taking their entertainment talents to numerous venues. There is little reason to travel to Clak’dor VII to hear Bith music, since their bands are easily found in many fine establishments.”
“Not to mention some pretty seedy ones,” Zekk pointed out, remembering the Mos Eisley cantina.
“Well, I think it’s mighty suspicious that they packed up in such a hurry and left Cloud City right after Cojahn vanished. We need to track down Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes and see what they can tell us.”
Wisps of high-flying clouds mixed with pink and tan vapors swirled around the open dock. Holding on to an ornate side strut on the Lady Luck, Jaina gazed out at the broad empty landscape of clouds and sunlight and sky.
Hearing someone approach, she turned around with surprise when her brother said, “Hey, it’s Anja!”
They all glanced up to see the tall, muscular girl lounging against the docking bay door. “Yeah, I wanted to see you before you guys left.” She shrugged her tattooed shoulder. “I didn’t want you all to think I was hot-tempered or anything.”
Recalling the girl’s outburst, Jaina raised her eyebrows. To Jaina’s now-alert eye, the young woman seemed cheerful and energized, her enormous eyes bright, the pupils wide. Lando absorbed all these details with a slight nod, as if it confirmed his suspicions about Anja’s use of andris spice. But he made no comment.
Lowie growled something and Em Teedee translated, completely missing the Wookiee’s sarcasm. “Master Lowbacca wonders whatever could have given us that idea, Mistress Anja.”
“Sometimes my … enthusiasm gets the best of me,” Anja said.
“I think she’s apologizing,” Zekk said in a stage whisper.
Jaina shot a teasing glance at her dark-haired friend. “Let’s not get carried away, now.”
“Don’t push it, kids,” Lando warned. “She’s apologized … in her own way.”
Anja narrowed her huge eyes. “All right. I’m sorry. Is that clear enough?” She crossed her arms over her chest and stood with forced relaxation, though Jaina could see her tensed muscles. A sheen of sweat sparkled on her forehead, darkening the leather headband. Her skin was flushed as if she were overheating, bursting with energy, but Anja kept herself under tight control.
Lando banged on the outer hull of his space yacht. “Ready to head out. Let’s see what we can learn from that Bith band.” He bowed low and gestured up the boarding ramp for Jaina. “My lady Jaina, Master Zekk, if you’d be so kind as to board our conveyance?” He flashed a bright grin at the companions remaining behind. “Next stop, Clak’dor VII.”
As Jaina climbed the steep ramp she turned to Zekk. “Hope you brought your swamp boots along.”
Zekk grinned back at her. “And my bug repellent.”
Lando followed them up and cast a glance over his shoulder to Jacen, Tenel Ka, Lowie, and Anja. “See? The Bith live in a marvelous place. Don’t you guys wish you were coming along?”
“Gracious no! I can assure you that we will do our utmost to put our time here to valuable use,” Em Teedee answered quickly.
“Sure, but I do kind of like Bith music,” Jacen said.
Anja waved a dismissive hand and looked bored. “I prefer Ishi Tib. Besides, you’ve heard one swamp band you’ve heard ’em all.”
Jacen looked up at the clean white trappings of Cloud City, the ornate embellishments even on the docking bay balcony; he thought of the fine towers, the culture, and the beautiful sky rodeo rehearsal they had seen the night before.
“I guess we’ll just have to rough it here,” he said with a feigned sigh.
Clak’dor VII had once been a paradise, perfectly suited for organic carbon-based life and thriving with countless species. But centuries of ecological damage and intercultural warfare among factions of the Bith race had ruined the world.
“Looks like a muddled mess,” Zekk said, looking out the Lady Luck’s front windowport as they approached.
“A long time ago there was a pretty nasty conflict here,” Lando said. “Two rival groups disagreed on the decision of a private arbitrator—that’s the way the Bith solve problems—and both factions unleashed biochemical weapons, strange viruses, and mutation gases that all but ruined this world’s ecosystem. The planet has settled down some, but it’ll be thousands of years more before it completely recovers.”
“I read in the database that most Bith cities are enclosed in sealed domes and the people stay inside,” Jaina said.
“Is that where you think we’ll find Figrin D’an and the band?” Zekk asked. “Inside a dome?”
“Not a chance,” Lando answered. “It wouldn’t be that easy. My sources tell me they’re in complete isolation, outside the protective domes. I’ve already sent tracers out. Remember, the Modal Nodes are scared and on the run. Fortunately for us, they’re not overly bright about hiding their tracks.”
“Huh. I thought Biths were intelligent,” Jaina said, thinking of their enlarged pink heads and their highly developed craniums.
“It varies,” Lando said. “That Figrin D’an is a diehard sabacc player. I should know, since I’ve played against him quite a few times—and so has your father, Han. Figrin recently spent a bunch of hot credits, registered some property, and bought wilderness supplies. It seems he and the rest of the band have gone into hiding on one of the dense bayous.”
“Good thing we brought our swamp boots, huh?” Jaina said with a sidelong glance at Zekk.
“I’ve got the coordinates of where they’ve gone,” Lando said as he arrowed toward the swirling mud-green landmass to the south.
“If they’re so scared and so anxious to hide,” Zekk asked, “how’d you track them down so easily?”
Sitting in the Lady Luck’s padded and ornately carved captain’s chair, Lando smiled. “I happen to know a lot of Figrin’s gambling buddies … and they know me. I called in a few favors.”
“Then it shouldn’t be too hard for someone else to find him and the band, either,” Jaina said with alarm.
“We’d better hurry,” Lando agreed. He brought the ship down low, cruising over a cluster of transparisteel domes protruding like giant bubbles from the middle of a steaming swamp. The domed city was surrounded by covered watercourses and an open-air spaceport. Vines and moss had grown over the bases of some of the hemispheres, and Jaina could see tiny figures and small dwellings stacked in hivelike structures under the protective glass.