Knight Errant: Star Wars (Star Wars - Legends) by Miller John Jackson

Author:Miller, John Jackson [Miller, John Jackson]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780307796530
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

Still under construction, Arkadia’s citadel had been built inside a series of connected ice calderas. With the collapsed underground reservoirs’ contents having long since boiled off to space, Arkadia’s builders had simply erected a thatch of ice pillars above, topped with a layer of transparisteel. The result had been a massive airtight compartment inside the ice, far larger than it appeared on the surface and roomy enough for an entire city. A creature hiding under a shell, Kerra thought.

And Calimondretta, as Arkadia called it, was as alive as the surface was dead. Emerging from the cab of the trundle car—the tracked ground transport Arkadia had sent to Diligence—Kerra surveyed the great atrium. Hundreds of workers thundered past, crisscrossing artificial flooring stacked with orderly piles of supplies. With Arkadia’s starships forced to park outside, Patriot Hall served as a massive depot. Several ramps led gradually downward from the main floor to large galleries hewn into the glacier.

Only stars shone through the transparent ceiling; night had fallen for the second time in four hours. Syned was the complete opposite of Darkknell and its endless days and nights. But the place was bright, nonetheless, thanks to long tubes embedded in the ice walls. Effervescent blue liquid coursed through them, giving off a warm light. “Our lifeblood,” Arkadia said, turning over the beralyx to a wary green-skinned handler. “Synedian algae.” The seas under the ice sheets were full of the stuff, she explained, drawing energy from thermal vents. Whole sections of Calimondretta were devoted to cultivating and processing the algae, which provided both fuel and food for the settlement. “We use every molecule of it. Nothing is wasted.”

Kerra observed her own breath. “It still doesn’t keep it very warm here.”

“Some guest you are,” Rusher said, stepping out of the trundle car. “Don’t criticize someone living in an icehouse for not turning on the heat.”

At least he had that overcoat of his, Kerra saw. He hadn’t bothered to find anything more for Kerra to wear, nor had he spoken to her on the ride over. She figured he was still stinging over the cane incident. But at least she hadn’t done that in front of his crew. What was he upset about?

Her eyes darted to the foot traffic, now flowing around their parked vehicle. After the dismal streets of Darkknell and the robotic misery of Byllura, Syned had plenty of energy to it. The citizens in Patriot Hall looked up and around as they walked, not down at the floor. And most of their clothing was brand new: uniforms of varying colors and styles. Those clearly didn’t all come from the algae.

“We have something for you,” Rusher said, slapping the side of the trundle car. Trooper Lubboon emerged from inside, pushing Quillan down the ramp in a brown hoverchair. His hands fastened to the handles of the antiquated model, Quillan appeared nearly catatonic.

Stepping to the foot of the ramp, Arkadia looked down at the teenager. No trace of emotion crossed her face, and Quillan didn’t respond, either—not even when Arkadia knelt beside him, cape flowing on the chilly floor.

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