Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 02_ Shadow Academy - Kevin J. Anderson [20]
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 multijointed, 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 voice trailed off.
"Almost like family back on Hapes?" he asked with a gentle, teasing smile.
As heir 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 multijointed 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 Random 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,