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Don't worry your pretty head, my little velser. Now get back to your work. I have details to attend to. My killers are professionals, who always carry out their orders. Just stay clear of Lando Calrissian and the Solo kids, and you'll be safe."

Czethros switched off the flat screen from his end, and it became a mirror again in Anja's hands. She stared at the polished surface for a long time, seeing only her own reflection... and Anja did not like what she saw there.

When Lando went straight to the Wing Guard on Cloud City and demanded a high-level investigation into the assassination attempt on Jacen, Tenel Ka, and Lowie, he held back his suspicions about Black Sun... for now.

When the appropriate Exex and Wing Guard commanders responded, they summoned the three "alleged victims" to a private debriefing at an unfamiliar address high in Cloud City.

Lando, Jaina, Zekk, and Anja intended to accompany the others to add their observations on the story, but as they prepared to leave their V.I.P rooms in the extravagant Yerith Bespin, Lando received an urgent message. He read the screen, then turned away from the comm system, frowning.

"We've got trouble at the construction site," he said. "There's something strange going on, and I have to attend to it." He looked over at Jacen.

"Do you three think you can handle the interview alone?"

"Hey, no problem," Jacen said. "Blaster bolts, if we lived through the incident itself, I guess we can handle talking about it."

"All right," Lando said, grabbing his burgundy cape and preparing to deal with whatever troubles he might encounter down at SkyCenter Gaileria.

"We'll come with you, Lando," Jaina said. "You might need some...

Jedi backup."

"I know better than to turn down help. Sounds like this is some kind of labor dispute."

Anja looked from one group to the other, and offered to join Jaina, Zekk, and Lando. The four of them ran to a lift tube as Jacen, Tenel Ka, and Lowbacca headed off to their own meeting.

After dropping down several levels, then transiting to the outer walls of the city, Lando took his group to the site of the soon-to-be-completed SkyCenter Galleria. Using his passwords, he escorted them into the barricaded construction area. Jaina stood next to Zekk, looking around.

Anja fidgeted, feeling very out of place. The four of them stayed close together as the sheer silence and oppressive tension in the air struck them.

"What's going on?" Lando said. "There was supposed to be a riot happening here."

"Looks like everybody went home early," Zekk said.

Anja snorted. "False alarm, then."

They moved farther inside, under the tall, skeletal structure of the primary hovercoaster. Bright glowpanels dangled from exposed wires high in the girders and catwalks overhead. The temporary fabric walls blocked most of the high breezes, but still let drafts whistle in.

There were no other sounds. The shadows were thick.

"Hello!" Lando called out. "Uh, what seems to be the problem here?"

His words echoed from the equipment and construction shacks, but no one answered.

"Where is everyone? We've got a completion schedule to meet," he said with a huff, toming to Zekk, Anja, and Jaina. "I promised myself that I wouldn't let Cojahn's work go to waste. We'll open this galleria on time."

Zekk frowned. "Not if all your workers are gone."

"There must be some explanation for this," Lando said. They ventured deeper in. Doors of construction shacks hung open, loose. Computer terminals glowed with inventory records, unattended.

"It's like they all got up and ran away," Jaina said.

"Yeah, maybe somebody sounded an evacuation alarm," Anja suggested.

As the four continued into the construction site, exploring and passing under overhangs, Jaina mumbled, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Suddenly, from under some debris hidden behind stacks of crates, a small brown Ugnaught dashed out. Ducking past the startled Jaina and Lando, he ran, squealing and chittering.

"Hey, wait!" Jaina said.

Zekk leapt to intercept the small creature,