[Boba Fett] - 3(7)

Don’t look back, he kept repeating to himself. Don’t look back!

But more than anything, that was what he was dying to do - look back, and see if Aurra Sing was leaving Slave I.

Any minute now she would return.

He forced himself to keep going. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Boba’s instinct, always, was for action - to run, to fight, to outwit anyone who tried to stop him. But right now, only silence and stealth would save him.

And the ability to blend in. To not draw attention to himself.

Boba stared at the floor beneath him, cold and red and gleaming, clean as everything on Aargau was clean. Maybe twenty meters ahead of him was the wall, and the rows of huge turbolifts. What was it the attendant had said about them? Boba tried to remember.

As first-time visitors to Aargau, you are cleared to visit Levels One through Three. This is where off-world banking accounts and precious metals are stored. Your own credits will be on one of those levels.

Boba’s hand tightened around the shining card he had snatched from the desk. If it gave him access to his father’s credits, he could get it all for himself-and leave Aurra Sing out of the deal completely!

The thought made Boba hopeful. Then, suddenly, from behind him came footsteps.

“Hey,” someone called. “You - !”

Boba’s throat grew tight. His hope faded. He had forgotten one of the first rules of bounty hunters - stealth.

He had let himself be seen.

“You!” the voice came again - a familiar voice. “I said, wait!”

Boba’s heart was hammering inside his chest. He looked straight ahead, to where the wall of turbolifts loomed. They were just a few yards off now. There were a lot of doors, but one of them should open soon. If he sprinted, he might make it - or he might be captured by whoever was behind him.

Boba didn’t look back. His hand clutched the shiny card - the key to what was rightfully his. His heart was pounding so hard his chest hurt. A few steps ahead of him he could hear the grinding sound of more turbolifts moving upward. They slowed to a halt as they approached the Security Level.

“Hey - !”

The voice came again, directly behind him! Run! thought Boba.

He sprinted the last few steps. Immediately before of him, a line of green lights blinked above another turbolift door.

“Approaching Security Level One,” a mechanized voice announced. “Please stand back from the doors.”

Boba jumped forward. In front of him, the green lights turned to red. Someone touched his shoulder. Boba stared straight ahead, his heart thumping. The turbolift doors slid open.

“Security Level One!” the mechanical voice repeated. “Please let passengers out.”

Dozens of people hurried from the turbolift. Boba darted between them, until he was inside. He was breathing hard. But he was alone in the turbolift!

“You!” shouted the same, strangely familiar voice.

Boba whirled.

“Now leaving Security Level One,” said the mechanical announcement.

The doors began to slide shut. There were only inches left before it closed.

Boba let his breath out. He was safe!

With a cry a small figure lunged through the gap. The turbolift doors hissed shut. Quickly, Boba shoved the shining card into his pocket. Then he backed up against the wall and faced his pursuer.

He was trapped!





CHAPTER SIX


Boba had his back to the wall. His hands tensed to fight - -

But fight who? Or what? Boba let his breath out in shock.

Because for a moment, he thought he was staring into mirror. He saw his own face, his own body, his own hands raised protectively. Even the clothes were the same - same gray-blue tunic, same high black boots. The only difference was, that the boy staring at Boba Fett wore a helmet.

But it wasn’t a clone trooper’s helmet, or a Mandalorian helmet. This was a tan helmet with gold plated metal fittings. Boba had seen thousands like it, back on his homeworld of Kamino. It was learning helmet, part of the equipment clone youth wore to enhance their training.

Boba was staring at his clone twin!

The two of them looked warily at each other, keeping their arms raised in a fight posture. After a minute, the clone shook his head. He held his hand out to Boba. For the first time Boba saw that he held something.

“You dropped this,” the clone said. He offered it to Boba. “Up there, by the security desk.”

Boba looked at it in disbelief. It was his book - the book his father had left him. Boba shook his head. Finally he took it from the other boy.

“Thanks,” Boba said. He’d been so busy trying to leave before Aurra Sing returned that he’d forgotten he had the book with him. He looked at the boy and ventured a smile. To his surprise, the boy smiled back.