The Legend of the Crystal Dragon by Bill Parker Page A

could hear
her.
    “He’s up to something,” she whispered to
Jessica. “He has been all smiles all day… and he was busy making
all these private phone calls. He’s asking you out. It’s just gotta
be.”
    Jess smiled. “That would be nice.”
    “Yeah, look at her get all blushy-faced.
‘That would be nice.’ Okay. See you later.” And with that, she
left.
    Hank came in and went right to his office.
Jack arrived about an hour later. Jess was getting the routine down
now. When there were ships in orbit, it was going to be a long
day.
    “Thanks for staying late,” Jack said to her
when things had once more quieted down. “Would you let me take you
out for some dinner? It’s the least we can do for keeping you so
late.”
    “Sure. I would like that.” She smiled at him.
He smiled at her. Then they left for dinner.
    Hank watched them leave.
    When they were gone, Hank unlocked the door
to the private workshop and closed it quietly behind him. Consoles
and equipment led the way to a flat panel display in the corner.
Hank looked at the display very carefully for some time. He
referred to an alien book for some time before turning out the
lights, locking up and heading for home.

Chapter 2
    Jessica and Jack talked mostly about work
things for the short trip to Hagar’s. She had heard of the place
but had never been there. It was very expensive. The view of the
river gorge and waterfall from the dining room was breathtaking.
Their table was right next to the window. Jack really had spent
quite a bit of time and effort setting all of this up. Calamity was
right on. The wine came and they returned to light
conversation.
    “… After college, I just felt that my heart
was with my family and so I came back to Benara-3,” Jess told him
before she realized what had just come out of her mouth. She
couldn’t take it back now.
    “My whole family was captured by the Jags,”
Jack said to her in a low voice meant only for her ears. “We were
herded into a cargo container with four other families. By the time
that Hank’s ship caught up with the Jags, there were only three of
us left alive. I stayed with Hank and we settled here.”
    “Oh my God! I can’t even imagine how horrible
that must have been,” Jessica gasped.
    “What doesn’t kill you makes you strong. I
was pretty messed up at first. Uncle Hank helped me to find my
inner strength and turn my hatred and rage into a positive
force.”
    “Well, you sure seem to have done that with
StarQuake.”
    “Oh yeah, I guess that too,” Jack answered.
“Enough about me, tell me about your family.”
    The food came as Jessica switched into high
gear and began speed-talking about her brothers and sisters. It’s
what she did when she was nervous. Jack just kept smiling at her
the whole time and nodding as he ate. Jessica’s narrative went
speeding through the wonderful qualities of her mother, Alice and
then to her father, Ben.
    “My Dad is a veteran. He fought in the Battle
of the Benaran Nebula. He was a gunner’s mate.”
    She stopped. “I am speed-talking. I am boring
you to death.”
    “Oh No. No, not at all. Please go on. I can’t
remember the last good conversation I’ve had with anyone but Uncle
Hank. I am enjoying this. Go on… please.
    “Well okay, but you have to talk too.”
    “Okay. I’ll do my best.”
    “I really like Uncle Hank,” Jessica began
once more.
    “You say that like maybe you didn’t think you
would.”
    “People did tell me that he was…” Jessica
searched for the right word.
    “Crazy,” Jack filled in for her with a half a
mouth full of steak.
    “Well… yeah. They said he believed in the
Crystal Dragon.”
    “And you don’t?”
    “My Father said that the Crystal Dragon was
just a myth, a legend. It never really existed. It was just a story
that some people told.”
    “And so then, I’ll only be asking you this:
If the Crystal Dragon didn’t save all of those people that terrible
day, then who did?” Jack asked