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"Then it's true," he said at last. "You actually saw a Great Arctic Skra'akan and survived to tell of it." His voice held a tone of awe.

"Did you perhaps capture the event with a holocam?"

"Not intentionally," Tenel Ka replied.

"We were all kind of occupied at the time," Jacen added.

"I guess we didn't realize what a big event it was," Anja admitted.

Zekk thought for a moment. "I don't suppose the Elfa's equipped with one of those microholocams that makes a complete record of a trip in case some sort of disaster happens?"

The Yarin's face lit with excitement. "Yes, of course! I use it as a supplementary log. I cannot wait to review the recordings! It is good luck, you know, to see a Great Arctic Skra'akan."

Anja gave him a wry smile. "Well, we're lucky to be alive. Does that count?"

Cilghal looked at her battered companions. Jacen wondered if they would have to edit the images of destroying the spice stockpile, or if the Ambassador would classify the tapes.

"Your... Skra'akan, was it?... got pretty violent there for a while,"

Jacen said.

A look of apprehension dawned in the bulky harbormaster's eyes.

"You didn't..."

"Kill it?" Zekk said. "No. In fact the last time we saw the creature, I have no doubt he was still happily imagining us as his next meal."

The Yarin gave a satisfied sigh. "Then all is well."

Cilghal took a long drink from her mug and said, "There's still the matter of payment for the damage to your vessel."

The harbormaster waved a branchlike arm. "Think nothing of it. If you truly brought back images of a Great Arctic Skra'akan, I believe that the Elfa and those holos may become a permanent tourist exhibit here at Crystal Reef.

"Besides"-he dropped his voice to a tone of confidentiality"the administration of Crystal Reef has promised me that if Jedi Master Skywalker, the Chief of State and her husband, or the rulers of the Hapes cluster make an official visit to Crystal Reef thanks to your efforts here, I will be rewarded with two new minisubmersibles of my choice."

Jacen grinned at him. "Great! We'll just have to see what we can do to arrange that."

After Crystal Reef's medical droids had treated their injuries, the companions thanked the harbormaster again for his assistance.

Promising to meet Jacen and Tenel Ka back on Kessel, Zekk and Anja said their thanks and good-byes to Cilghal and went to retrieve the Lightning Rod from the docking bay where Anja had left it. Zekk was glad to be back behind the controls of his own ship again.

Cilghal took Tenel Ka and Jacen in the waveskimmer and headed back to her floating city, where the Rock Dragon waited for them.

"Jacen, my friend. I have been meaning to ask you something," Tenel Ka said in a serious tone as the waveskimmer carried them across the ocean.

"Would you consent to be my... copilot?"

Jacen's lopsided grin was instant and enthusiastic. "I thought you'd never ask."

The journey back to Kessel passed much too quickly for both of them.

Their conversation was constant and interesting, and Tenel Ka even encouraged Jacen to tell a few jokes. He teased her throughout the trip, and when he called her "Captain," a smile of amusement curved the corners of her mouth.

"Remind me to give you something when we get back to Yavin 4," Jacen said as he and Tenel Ka brought the Rock Dragon down through Kessel's thin atmosphere toward the docking bay that ground control had just approved for them.

She arched an eyebrow at him. "What shall I tell you to give me?"

Jacen felt his face grow warm. "Just something I made for you.

I've kind of been waiting for the right time."

The next few minutes were occupied with landing procedures. Jacen, who hadn't often seen Tenel Ka pilot a ship, was surprised and pleased at how well she handled the Rock Dragon. The landing was smooth, clean, and uneventful.

"Back to boring old Kessel," Jacen said. "I could use a bit of a rest."

The Lightning Rod was berthed next to the Rock Dragon. Between the two ships, Jacen was amazed to see Jaina, Lowie, Zekk, and Anja exchanging