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  species, age, or gender. Though not loquacious, Tenel Ka was also not shy;

  yet somehow, alone I with the impressive Jedi Master in the confines of

  their tiny cockpit, she could find nothing to say.

  She tried to think, but her sluggish mind would not cooperate. Weariness

  clung to her like the sweat-damp clothing she wore. She squirmed in her seat

  and tried to suppress a nervous yawn.

  Luke glanced over at her, a smile at the corners of his mouth. "Tired?"

  "Not much sleep," Tenel Ka answered, embarrassed that he had noticed her

  fatigue. "Bad dreams."

  Luke's blue eyes narrowed for a moment, as if he was searching for a memory,

  but then he shook his head. "I haven't been sleeping well either, but, tired

  or not, we can't afford to make mistakes. Let's go over our cover story

  again. Tell me who you are."

  "We are traders from Randon. We will avoid using names. But, if we must, you

  are Iltar and I am your ward-cousin Beknit. We trade in archaeological

  treasures. We are not above breaking the law to make a profit. We have come

  from a secret archaeological dig on . . ." She paused for a moment,

  searching her brain for the name of the planet.

  "Ossus," Luke supplied.

  "Ah. Aha," Tenel Ka said. "Ossus." She took a deep breath while she etched

  the name into her mind, then she continued. "On Ossus, we discovered a

  treasured vault, secured with an Old Republic seal. The treasure

  chamber is set deep into rock and plated with armor so thick that no blaster

  or laser can pierce it.

  "We dare not blast the surrounding rock for fear of destroying the treasure.

  We've come to Borgo Prime in search of industrial-grade Corusca gems to

  slice through the armor and open the treasure vault. We are ready to pay

  handsomely for the right type of gems."

  Tenel Ka watched with interest as the dull, lumpy asteroid of Borgo Prime

  loomed in their forward viewports. The rock had been hollowed out,

  honeycombed in ages past by generations of asteroid miners who sought one

  type of mineral, then another as market conditions changed. But more than a

  century ago, Borgo Prime had been stripped clean of even the least-desirable

  ore, leaving a sponge-like network of interlocked caves, fully equipped with

  all the life-support systems and transportation airlocks the miners had

  needed. It had been a simple matter to convert the played-out mine into a

  bustling spaceport. Luke transmitted the standard request for clearance to

  land and received it without difficulty.

  "We've been cleared for docking bay ninety-four," Luke said. "Are you ready,

  uh, Beknit?"

  Tenel Ka nodded matter-of-factly. "Of course, Iltar."

  Luke studied her for a moment, earnest concern filling his face. "It could

  be rough down there, you know. You heard what Lando said: Borgo Prime is

  filled with people who have no conscience - thieves, murderers, creatures

  who would just as soon kill you as greet you."

  "Ah. Aha," Tenel Ka said, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like a visit to my

  grandmother's court on Hapes."

  The two Randoni traders, "Iltar" and his wardcousin "Beknit," left their

  blockade runner in the dockyard cavern behind an immense hangar door and

  walked along the causeway that joined Borgo Prime's largest space dock to

  its business district deep in the core of the asteroid.

  In spite of her many rehearsals, Tenel Ka found it difficult to remember

  that she was supposed to be an experienced trader, used to frequenting such

  spaceports. She gawked openly at the tall rows of prefabricated dwellings

  welded up and down the inner walls and all the garish flashing lights of the

  alien businesses in separate atmosphere domes around them.

  This place was so different from the primitive, untamed world of Dathomir.

  Even Hapes with its serene and stately cities-some of them larger than this

  entire asteroid-bore no resemblance to the spaceport's seedy, gaudily lit

  establishments, that hummed with a life of their own. Overhead, through the

  clear arching plasteel that covered a rift in the ceiling, the stars and

  space were all but obscured by Borgo Prime's glaring lights.

  Luke paused beside Tenel Ka, letting her collect her thoughts. "You've never

  been anyplace like this, have you?" he asked.

  She shook her head and started to walk again, searching for words to

  describe the unsettling emotions. "I feel . . . foolish. Out of place." She

  scuffed her toes along a causeway surface that was paved with colorful,

  glowing advertisements.

  She paused to read an ad, then another. The first one announced in

  phosphorescent script that flared into light as she stepped near it,

  BORGO LANDING SPACE DOCKS BY THE HOUR OR BY THE MONTH.

  The next one said simply

  INFO TO GO - DISCREET INQUIRIES OF ALL SORTS - COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL.

  Tenel Ka shook her head. "I do not understand this place," she said. "It

  both revolts and . . .entices me at the same time."

  "You don't have to go through with this, you know," Luke said. "I could

  handle it myself."

  It was completely true, Tenel Ka realized-an uncomfortable thought. She

  tossed her head and ran a nervous hand over her hair, which she wore loose,

  in Randoni style, so that it flowed down her back in a cascade of red-gold

  ripples like a sun-dappled stream. She tried to look confident, but icy

  fingers of doubt prodded her mind. "I will do what I must to rescue my

  friends," she said, her voice as brisk and businesslike as she could make

  it. "Where is this nest or hive that Lando told us to find?"

  Luke pointed to another lighted ad at their feet. "I think we just found

  it," he said with a pleased expression.

  SHANKO'S HIVE - FINE DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT - ALL SPECIES, ALL AGES.

  The flat image showed an insectoid barkeeper proffering a dozen drinks with

  its multi-jointed, chitinous arms. A row of blinking beacon lights set into

  the walkway indicated the direction of the "hive."

  A sudden bout of stage fright assailed Tenel Ka, but she knew how important

  it was for them to stay in character. She straightened her clothing, cleared

  her throat, and looked at Luke. "You must be very thirsty after your long

  journey, Iltar," she said.

  "Yes. Thank you, Beknit," he answered smoothly. "I could use a drink." Then

  he leaned toward her and asked in a lower voice, "Are you sure you want to

  do this?"

  Tenel Ka nodded firmly. "I'm ready for anything."

  "I did not expect an establishment quite so large on an asteroid of this

  size," Tenel Ka said, tilting back her head to look at the rounded ripples

  of Shanko's cone-shaped Hive, a gray-green edifice sealed in its own

  atmosphere field. The edifice rose at least a quarter kilometer above the

  inner floor of Borgo Prime. Feathery wings of fear and uncertainty fluttered

  in her stomach, and she paused to draw in a deep breath. To Tenel Ka's great

  chagrin, a subtle spark of amusement danced in Master Skywalker's eyes.

  "You know what waits for us in there, don't you?" he asked.

  "Thieves," she answered.

  "Murderers," he added.

  "Liars, scum, smugglers, traitors Her voi
ce trailed off.

  "Almost like family back on Hapes?" he asked with a gentle, teasing smile.

  As their to the Royal Throne of Hapes, Tenel Ka had faced trained assassins,

  as had her father, Prince Isolder, before her. If she could do that, surely

  she could handle a little spaceport cantina. "Thank you," she said, taking

  the arm he offered. "I am ready now."

  Luke slid a pass chit into a small slot in the door. "Let's try to keep a

  low profile." The door slid open.

  The first thing that caught Tenel Ka's eye when she stepped through the door

  was the insectoid bartender, Shanko, who stood over three meters high. The

  room was filled with indescribable odors she could not begin to identify-not

  actually pleasant, but not quite offensive either. Particulates hung in the

  air from a multitude of burning objects: pipes, candles, incense, chunks of

  peat in blazing bog-pits, even clothing or fur from the occasional customer

  who got too close to one of the fires.

  Without speaking, Luke gestured with his chin toward the bar. Even if he had

  spoken aloud, Tenel Ka could not have heard him above the noise of at least

  half a dozen different bands playing hit tunes from as many different

  systems. Fortunately, they had decided before entering where they should

  start their inquiries. Knowing that on Randon the female ward-cousin was

  highly honored-mainly for her potential inheritance-and was always served

  first, Tenel Ka stepped up to the bar to place her order.

  "Welcome travelersssss," Shanko said, folding three pairs of multi-jointed

  arms and bowing until his antennaed head nearly touched the bar.

  "Your hospitality is as welcome as the prospect of refreshment," Tenel Ka

  replied.

  "Sssso, you have been well ssschooled," Shanko said. "Are you perhapsss a

  sssscholar? A diplomat?"

  "She is my ward-cousin," Luke put in smoothly.

  "Then it iss indeed an honor to ssserve you," Shanko said, raising himself

  to his full three meter height.

  "I would like a Randoni Yellow Plague," Tenel Ka said without hesitation.

  "Chilled. Make it a double."

  "And I would like a Remote Terminator," Luke said.

  The covering membranes of the bartender's multifaceted eyes nictated twice

  in surprise. "Not often requesssted. A ssstrong drink, iss it not?" He

  seemed flustered for a moment, then made a gurgling buzz deep in his thorax

  that Tenel Ka could only interpret as a laugh. "Will that be preprogrammed

  or randomizzzed?"

  "Randomized, of course," Luke replied.

  "Ah, a rissssk taker," Shanko said, tapping two forelegs on the bartop in

  approval.

  Then his arms became a blur of motion as he pulled levers and pushed

  buttons, filling cups and vials, mixing their drinks in less time than it

  had taken to order them.

  "There is no profit without risk," Luke said, accepting his drink from one

  of Shanko's many hands.

  Tenel Ka leaned forward and lowered her voice. "We seek information," she

  said, drawing out a small string of Corusca gems that she had kept hidden

  under the rough material of her robe until then.

  Shanko nodded in understanding. "We have the finessst information brokerss

  in the Sssector.

  There iss even a Hutt." He gestured toward an area to the right of the bar.

  "If you do not find what you ssseek here," he said with obvious pride, "it

  isss not to be found on Borgo Prime. I They thanked Shanko and headed in the

  direction he had indicated. The music of the bands faded slightly as they

  pushed into the milling throng of patrons, each imbibing its favorite form

  of refreshment. The crowd was so thick, Tenel Ka could not see where they

  were going.

  Beside her, Luke paused and closed his eyes. "A Hutt information broker,

  huh?" he mused aloud.

  "They're the best you can get."

  Tenel Ka felt a slight tingle as she watched him reach out with the Force to

  touch the minds around him, searching. She searched, too, but with her gray

  eyes open. A quick glance revealed nothing of interest.

  She looked up the open center of the hive's cone and at the curving

  stairways that climbed its ridged sides, which-judging from the signs on the

  walls-led to gambling rooms and lodgings.

  Luke opened his eyes. "Okay, I have him." He took Tenel Ka's arm and pushed

  his way through the crowd. They passed a bank of stim lights, where a

  cluster of photosensitive customers wriggled and bounded to silent strobing

  "music."

  They found the Huttese information broker ensconced behind a low table near

  the wall of the hive. A small Ranat with gray-brown fur stood at the Hutt's

  elbow, whiskers twitching. The Hutt was thin by Huttese standards and could

  not have had much status on his homeworld. Perhaps that was why he did

  business on Borgo Prime, Tenel Ka thought.

  "We have come for information, and we are prepared to pay for it," Luke said

  without preamble.

  The Hutt picked up a small datapad that lay on the table in front of him and

  punched a few buttons. "What are your names?" he asked.

  "What is your name?" Tenel Ka asked, raising her chin slightly.

  The Hutt's eyes narrowed to slits, and Tenel Ka had the impression that the

  broker was revising his opinion of them. "Of course," he said. "Such things

  are unimportant."

  Luke shrugged. "And all information has its price."

  ''Of course," the Hutt repeated. "Please sit down and tell me what you

  need."

  Luke sat on a repulsorbench, adjusted the height, and motioned for Tenel Ka

  to sit beside him, next to a planter holding a tall, leafy shrub. Luke took

  a long gulp from the drink in his hand, but when Tenel Ka raised her cup to

  her lips, he sent her a warning look. When the Hutt bent to confer with his

  Ranat assistant for a moment, Luke took the opportunity to whisper, "That

  drink could knock you from here to the Outer Rim."

  "Ah," Tenel Ka said. "Aha." She set the drink down with a small thunk.

  When the Ranat scurried off on whatever business the Hutt had assigned it,

  Luke and Tenel Ka began telling their fictional tale, carefully offering

  only as much information as they thought was needed. As they rambled on,

  taking turns embellishing the details, the other patrons in the hive

  supplied the usual chaos of a busy, seedy bar. Several different blaster

  battles rang out from dim areas, while huge armored bouncer droids trundled

  in to bash heads together and eject any customers who did not pay for the

  messes they made.

  A group of smugglers played a reckless game of rocket darts, missing the

  prominent target on the wall and launching one of the small flaming missiles

  into the side of a fluffy, white-furred Talz. The creature roared in pain

  and surprise as his fur ignited, then took out his misery on the drunken

  Ithorian sitting next to him. Large customers tried to eat smaller

  customers, and the bands kept playing, and Shanko kept mixing drinks. The

  Hutt information broker was distracted by none of it.

  As they spoke, Luke continued to sip his drink and Tenel Ka cast about for a

  way to dispose of hers. When the Ranat returned and co
nferred again with the

  Hutt, Tenel Ka reached over to the planter beside her chair and dumped half

  of her drink into it. It was only after the stalk began to shudder violently

  and the leaves curled up that Tenel Ka realized that the shrub was not a

  decoration but a plant-alien customer! She whispered an apology and turned

  back just as the Ranat hurried off with the Hutt's datapad and a new

  assignment.

  The Ranat came back in a moment, followed by a heavily bearded man who

  walked with a limp. "This Ranat here said 'no names,' and that's fine with

  me," the bearded man said, sitting down at the table. "Ranat tells me yer in

  the market for an industrial-grade Corusca gem? Ain't no one else can

  arrange that fer ya. Industrial-grade gems ...sooner er later they hafta

  come through me."

  "Are you the purchasing agent, then?" Tenel Ka said without thinking.

  The bearded man snorted. "How 'bout we jes say I'm a middleman."

  Again, Luke explained as briefly as possible about the treasure vault on

  Ossus, and before long they had struck a deal to purchase one

  industrial-grade Corusca gem. That done, Luke probed the middleman for

  information about who else might have bought industrial-grade gems. The

  man's eyes grew wary and distrustful. "No names - that's the bargain," he

  said stoutly.

  Tenel Ka pulled off another string of the fine Corusca gems that hung around