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Half a dozen foam-covered lackeys sprang to do his bidding. Jaina chuckled. It took several minutes for the confusion to die down and the alarms to be turned off, but Jaina and Lowie were ready.

Under Jaina's direction, Em Teedee methodically accessed each of the refresher units-and reversed the sewage containment systems. Jaina and Lowie did not have to wait long for results. In less than two minutes, Second Administrator Kymn, covered in disgusting glop, came running into the office where Czethros and his people were still cleaning up the fire-retardant mess. His eyes looked slightly wild, as if something had just happened to him that lay outside the scope of his imagination.

"Sir, we have a problem," he announced. Around him, other henchmen's noses began wrinkling in distaste. Kymn lowered his voice, leaned toward Czethros, and began whispering, his arms gesticulating to emphasize his point. Czethros grabbed the five men closest to him, rattled off a string of orders, and propelled them bodily from the room along with Administrator Kymn.

Jaina and Lowie shook with laughter. At the moment, Jaina hardly noticed the chill.

By the time Kymn and two of Czethros's mercenaries entered the maintenance turbolift, Em Teedee was ready again. The turbolift moved just a few meters before Em Teedee froze it in place with an urgent clean-and-refurbish authorization code. Despite the gravity of their situation, tears of mirth trickled from the corners of Jaina's eyes.

She and Lowie exchanged a happy hug.

"I think we've made a good start," Jaina said.

Lowie growled a sobering comment.

"You're right, of course," she agreed. "If we're going to stop this coup, we'll have to do everything in our power to bring Czethros down."

Zekk walked beside Ambassador Cilghal as she returned to the long line of vacationers hoping to rent oceangoing vehicles. The Calamarian Jedi did not push herself forward, but waited patiently until the Yarin had finished dealing with his current customer. When the transaction was complete, the Yarin gave Cilghal a small deferential bow.

"And how may I make your stay at Crystal Reef more enjoyable?" the treelike creature asked ponderously, reaching for Cilghal's flippered hand. The Jedi ambassador accepted the question graciously.

At the corner of his vision, Zekk saw Anja roll her eyes; she'd been through this tedious routine herself With her free hand, Cilghal gestured to Jacen. "Please allow me to introduce Jacen Solo... son of the New Republic Chief of State. I'm guiding him as a special favor to his uncle... Master Luke Skywalker." Zekk noticed an instant change of expression on the Yarin's woody face. "And these are his friends, Tenel Ka-princess of the Hapes system-as well as Anja and Zekk. They are all from the Jedi academy," Cilghal continued. "Naturally, I take my duties as special ambassador for Mon Calamari seriously, and I'm afraid my young friend here, Jacen Solo, has his heart set on showing his friends the beauties of the Calamarian oceans."

Zekk admired the older Jedi's melodious voice as she spoke soothingly, persuasively to the Yarin. "I'm sure you can understand how important this could be for the public image of Crystal Reef: Jedi extolling the virtues and beauties of our resorts, the gratitude of the Royal House of Hapes... perhaps even a visit from Han Solo and Chief of State Leia Organa Solo herself."

As if blown by a light breeze, the Yarin began to sway back and forth to the singsong rhythm of Cilghal's words. "Hmmm. Ah yes, I see.

Unfortunately, I have no submersibles left for rent." At Cilghal's expression of disappointment, he hurried on. "But if you would allow me, Ambassador, being harbormaster at Crystal Reef does have its privileges.

I have my own private submersible nearby. I use it mainly for fixing small underwater problems, and for a bit of pottering about, but I would be honored if you would consent to it. It may be a tight fit for five people, but I'm sure-"

"Hey, that's great!" Jacen said.

"It'll do just fine."