“No, my, uh… religion forbids it, yes.”
“Religion, my reptilian foot!” Suddenly two figures were standing in the open door of the Bonny Bounty. “He’s not coming in because he’s a thief!” said one. “And he knows that we know it!” said the other.
On the right was a birdlike humanoid with leathery skin and a broad beak. Boba recognized him as a Diollan. On the left was a green and reptilian Rodian. Boba knew that members of both species often became bounty hunters.
“This man is wanted for picking pockets!” the Diollan said.
“He stole from me, too,” said the Rodian.
They grabbed Aia, each taking one of his skinny arms. “Oh, no, yes, no!” cried Aia, excitedly. He twisted and turned but couldn’t get free.
Boba thought of the black book: A favor is an investment. Maybe if he did Aia a favor, it would pay off. At least he would have a guide. “How much does he owe you?”
“Twenty credits,” said the Diollan. “Same here,” said the Rodian.
“Here.” Boba counted out forty credits, twenty for each. That left him ten. He wondered if it would be enough to buy something to eat.
The Rodian and the Diollan let go of Aia while they counted their money. As soon as his arms were free, Aia opened his black coat like a kite, bent his knees
And jumped. Straight up. He soared up, over the rooftop, and out of sight.
Boba watched, dismayed. There went his investment.
The Rodian and the Diollan barely noticed. They turned and went back inside the tavern. Boba followed them. Surely they owed him something. He had done them a favor, after all, by giving them their money back. “Maybe you can help me,” he said. “Are you bounty hunters?”
“Sure are,” said the Rodian, with a laugh. “Are you bounty?”
“I am Jango Fett’s son,” said Boba. “Perhaps you knew him?”
The Diollan and the Rodian both looked at Boba with new interest. They took him to a table and signaled for the innkeeper, who brought food and tea. The tea was bitter but it made Boba feel less dizzy.
In fact, the more he drank the less dizzy he felt. “We knew your father,” the Rodian said.
“A great bounty hunter and a great man,” said the Diollan.
Boba told them the whole story of how his father had died and everything that had happened since. He hoped he could trust them because they were his dad’s colleagues.
Somehow, talking about his father’s death made Boba feel better. It made it seem less like a tragedy and more like a story. Boba wondered if that was why people told stories - to get over them.
“My father mentioned a client,” Boba said. “I thought I might find him here.”
“His name?”
“Count, uh.. ” Boba suddenly remembered that Tyranus was a name no one was supposed to know. “Count Dooku,” he said, using the name the Count had used on Geonosis.
“Dooku?” said the Diollan.
“Not here!” said the Rodian.
“You must go to - Coruscant!” they both said together.
“Are you sure?” Boba asked, confused. Coruscant was the planet where the Republic and the Jedi had their headquarters. Why would Tyranus be there?
“Yes, yes, absolutely sure!” said the Rodian. “Positively. Go to the Golden Cuff tavern in Lower Coruscant,” said the Diollan.
“Tell the bartender who you are looking for,” they both said together. “He’ll know immediately what to do!”
“Thanks!” said Boba. He tried to pay his bill but the bounty hunters insisted on treating him. Boba thanked them again and headed back to the landing pad where he had left his starship with Honest Gjon.
As soon as he had left, the Diollan and the Rodian turned to each other and grinned.
“That’s the best kind of bounty,” said the one. “The kind that delivers itself and saves us the fuel… and the trouble!” said the other.
The tea was wearing off, Boba could tell, as he headed back for Honest Gjon’s landing pad. He felt dizzy again. Not as dizzy as before, but a little bit
The moons of Bogden were wheeling across the sky. Some were small, some were large; some were dark, and some were bright.
Boba could hardly believe his luck. He had picked the right moon, Bogg 4. He had found the right bounty hunters, the Diollan and the Rodian. And on his very first try, he had located Tyranus. He had even eaten dinner, and it hadn’t cost a credit!
A favor is an investment. He had meant to do the favor for Aia. Instead he had done it for the bounty hunters, and it had paid off.
Now all he had to do was get in his starship and go to Coruscant.
There was only one problem. The landing pad was empty.