fringe of a starched carpet.
Anakin was most fascinated by the shapes of these spines. Some were like tiny hooks, others were spatulate, and still others formed tiny thorny balls. Charza Kwinn used them as hundreds of exquisitely capable fingers.
“Welcome to the
Star Sea Flower
,” he greeted them. “Good once more to have Jedi accompany me between the stars.”
For all his dreadful majesty, Charza spoke in a smooth sibilant whisper, making these tones by rubbing bristles together near his spiracles, his breathing vents. That he spoke at all was remarkable. That his speech was clear, and his words disarmingly friendly, was startling.
The darkened and damp interior of Charza’s ship was enlivened by small wriggling things. Larger animals hid in corners and peered out as Charza escorted Obi-Wan and Anakin through his ship. Pumps and filters whined faintly and kept the water as refreshed as could be expected. The scant illumination came from a scattered glow of instruments and thin laser beams stretched at intervals across the corridors. Tiny spotlights tracked the larger creatures, including Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan took all this in stride, though he hoped there were special quarters for passengers less aquatic than Charza.
“It’s an honor to work with you, Charza Kwinn,” Obi-Wan said, and introduced Anakin. Anakin was both wary and fascinated.
Charza issued something like a chuckle. “Jedi young have big eyes when they come aboard the
Star Sea Flower
. Do not mind the fragrances. All will be freshened once we are away, cruising in hyperspace. Until then, energy is conserved, comfort reduced.”
Charza took them down a narrow tunnel toward the center of the fuselage, well away from the drives, and brushed against a large chrome button at the end of thetunnel. The hatch swung outward with a sigh, and warm dry air wafted over them like a draft out of the deep deserts of Tatooine.
Obi-Wan entered their travel quarters and rubbed his hands with satisfaction. “Most excellent, Charza,” he said. Anakin stepped through and wiped his feet on the absorbent mat just below the hatch.
Charza hung back, clearly uncomfortable with the dry air. The small but well-equipped room was bright and warm, furnished with two acceleration couches that doubled as beds. Looking up, Anakin saw they had a direct view of space through a broad circular port, radially ribbed for additional strength.
“We depart in a tenth of a tide … one standard hour,” Charza announced. “There are waterproof shoes, boots, that will adjust to fit, should you decide to keep me company forward, in the pilothouse. That would bring me no end of delight.” Charza backed away, and the hatch closed.
Anakin settled in and dropped his small bag in a closet. “Vergere must have stayed here,” he observed.
“Unless she preferred swimming,” Obi-Wan said.
“What do you think happened to her?”
“I wouldn’t dare hazard a guess. Her skills are exceptional. She is as resourceful as Thracia, and almost as adventurous as you.”
Anakin smiled at this. “But more sensible?”
Obi-Wan inclined his head. “You can be sensible,” he allowed.
“But it’s a sometime thing,” Anakin said. “Now, can you tell me where we’re going?”
Obi-Wan stowed his own travel kit and sat on the end of one couch. He folded his hands and looked steadily at Anakin. “I won’t know all the details until we match our data card with Charza’s. I do know this: The Jedi receivedknowledge of a world in the Gardaji Rift, within the Tingel Arm, far beyond the bounds of Republic rule. There had been intelligence from freelance traders about an outlying community that built exceptional starships, small personal craft, sleek and beautifully made, and rated easily at zero-point-four.”
Anakin’s eyes goggled. He sat across from Obi-Wan, eager to hear more.
“The rumors were associated with a mysterious planet, called Sekot by some, Zonama Sekot by
Anakin was most fascinated by the shapes of these spines. Some were like tiny hooks, others were spatulate, and still others formed tiny thorny balls. Charza Kwinn used them as hundreds of exquisitely capable fingers.
“Welcome to the
Star Sea Flower
,” he greeted them. “Good once more to have Jedi accompany me between the stars.”
For all his dreadful majesty, Charza spoke in a smooth sibilant whisper, making these tones by rubbing bristles together near his spiracles, his breathing vents. That he spoke at all was remarkable. That his speech was clear, and his words disarmingly friendly, was startling.
The darkened and damp interior of Charza’s ship was enlivened by small wriggling things. Larger animals hid in corners and peered out as Charza escorted Obi-Wan and Anakin through his ship. Pumps and filters whined faintly and kept the water as refreshed as could be expected. The scant illumination came from a scattered glow of instruments and thin laser beams stretched at intervals across the corridors. Tiny spotlights tracked the larger creatures, including Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan took all this in stride, though he hoped there were special quarters for passengers less aquatic than Charza.
“It’s an honor to work with you, Charza Kwinn,” Obi-Wan said, and introduced Anakin. Anakin was both wary and fascinated.
Charza issued something like a chuckle. “Jedi young have big eyes when they come aboard the
Star Sea Flower
. Do not mind the fragrances. All will be freshened once we are away, cruising in hyperspace. Until then, energy is conserved, comfort reduced.”
Charza took them down a narrow tunnel toward the center of the fuselage, well away from the drives, and brushed against a large chrome button at the end of thetunnel. The hatch swung outward with a sigh, and warm dry air wafted over them like a draft out of the deep deserts of Tatooine.
Obi-Wan entered their travel quarters and rubbed his hands with satisfaction. “Most excellent, Charza,” he said. Anakin stepped through and wiped his feet on the absorbent mat just below the hatch.
Charza hung back, clearly uncomfortable with the dry air. The small but well-equipped room was bright and warm, furnished with two acceleration couches that doubled as beds. Looking up, Anakin saw they had a direct view of space through a broad circular port, radially ribbed for additional strength.
“We depart in a tenth of a tide … one standard hour,” Charza announced. “There are waterproof shoes, boots, that will adjust to fit, should you decide to keep me company forward, in the pilothouse. That would bring me no end of delight.” Charza backed away, and the hatch closed.
Anakin settled in and dropped his small bag in a closet. “Vergere must have stayed here,” he observed.
“Unless she preferred swimming,” Obi-Wan said.
“What do you think happened to her?”
“I wouldn’t dare hazard a guess. Her skills are exceptional. She is as resourceful as Thracia, and almost as adventurous as you.”
Anakin smiled at this. “But more sensible?”
Obi-Wan inclined his head. “You can be sensible,” he allowed.
“But it’s a sometime thing,” Anakin said. “Now, can you tell me where we’re going?”
Obi-Wan stowed his own travel kit and sat on the end of one couch. He folded his hands and looked steadily at Anakin. “I won’t know all the details until we match our data card with Charza’s. I do know this: The Jedi receivedknowledge of a world in the Gardaji Rift, within the Tingel Arm, far beyond the bounds of Republic rule. There had been intelligence from freelance traders about an outlying community that built exceptional starships, small personal craft, sleek and beautifully made, and rated easily at zero-point-four.”
Anakin’s eyes goggled. He sat across from Obi-Wan, eager to hear more.
“The rumors were associated with a mysterious planet, called Sekot by some, Zonama Sekot by
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