Star Wars - Eruption by John Ostrander

Hawk Ryo drifted in and out the shadows, a shadow himself. The moon world Zerist was located far from the sun, and most of the available light was reflected off the gas giant, Obri, around which the moon orbited. Kainnan was typically bustling with activity, but the workers’ town was now deserted. Like all the surface towns on Zerist, Kainnan was located near an active volcano for its much needed warmth, despite the risk of occasional eruptions. The authorities usually predicted the eruptions in time and evacuated the threatened areas, just as they had recently done with Kainnan. No one was left in the town except Hawk.
    In theory.
    In reality, the Je’daii Ranger spotted two figures atop the flat-roofed building less than a kilometer away. Only five stories high, it was still the tallest building in the area. They were Twi’leks, like himself. And armed. Hawk opened his comm and called his partner.
    ***
    Her surroundings, Lanoree Brock decided, were beautiful.  Underground seas flowed through large caverns smoothed with high vaulted ceilings, and natural minerals gave off enough light to create a twilight effect. It was no wonder the rich of Zerist chose to live in the warm caverns rather than the cold surface of the moon. It was calm on this island, lending itself to meditation.
    Peaceful.
    The negotiations were not. The management of Dessain Mining and the manual laborers were now simply shouting at one another; ill will was building. Lanoree was finding it difficult to maintain balance between the light and the dark sides of the Force as she was taught.
    Management consisted entirely of the extended Dessain family, which was headed by Eomin Dessain, the tall, pale, patrician head of the clan. The workers, both human and alien, were led by short, weather-beaten Arko Santis, and demanded a voice in how the company was run. They left Zerist to labor at the gas mining operations floating above Obri. The pay was steady, if not generous, but it was a hard life.
    For their part, the Dessains were loath to cede control to anyone who was not family. The solution, it was decided, would be a marriage between Brom Santis, Arko’s oldest son, and Oma Dessain, Eomin’s youngest daughter. Brom would become part of the Dessain family and a voice for the workers. Lanoree had gotten stuck with the role of negotiator, and though it wasn’t the solution she would have suggested, if it satisfied all parties concerned, then it satisfied her.
    That was before Oma Dessain vanished.
    Each side blamed the other for her disappearance. Work at Dessain Mining had ground to a halt. Tempers flared and open class warfare looked not only possible, but likely. Lanoree and Hawk had been sent by the Je’daii Council on Tython to prevent violence and find the girl.
    Lanoree’s comm buzzed. The Ranger swung her long legs out of the chair, turning away from all the shouting. “Please tell me you found the girl.”
    “I may have found her,” Hawk replied. “I went to the spaceport to check who arrived or left around the time of the kidnapping. I discovered a Shikaakwan ship registered to Baron Volnos Ryo.”
    “Your brother.”
    “My brother the crime lord.” Lanoree could picture Hawk’s lips twisting in distaste. “He owns interests in the mining operations on Obri’s two other moons, but he’s never been able to get a foothold with the Dessains. One of the ways to increase the value of his own holdings is to decrease the value of his rival’s holdings. Are you growling?”
    “Maybe. Will Oma still be alive?”
    “Her body hasn’t been found, so it’s likely. If they intend to kill her, it’ll be when the two sides are at each others’ throats.”
    “Which will be soon.”
    “You have to keep them from reaching the boiling point. I think I’ve spotted where Oma is being held, but you can’t say anything until I know for sure. I’ll let you know what I find. Keep the workers and management from killing each other.”
    “Right.