[Boba Fett] - 4(32)

“Boba. Boba Fett.”

“Boba Fett!” repeated Jabba.

In the room around Boba, everyone applauded. “Way to go!” said Ygabba. She gave his arm a friendly punch.

“Thank you, 0 Jabba,” said Boba. He bowed. Better not forget that! he thought.

“Arrange for his bounty,” Jabba commanded Bib Fortuna.

The Twi’lek majordomo nodded. He stepped down from the throne platform and walked to Boba. He handed him a gleaming chip.

“Your pay,” he said.

Boba took the chip. He removed his helmet and slung it over his arm. As he stared at the chip his eyes grew wide.

This is enough to outfit Slave I three times over! he thought.

“I have other jobs for you - many of them!” rumbled Jabba the Hutt.

Boba nodded. He took a step backward, Ygabba beside him.

“You think we can eat now?” she whispered. “I sure hope so,” he whispered back.

He looked up once more at Jabba the Hutt. But the gang lord’s attention had already turned to other matters.

“Quick,” said Ygabba, yanking Boba toward the table. “Before he gives you something else to do!”

But as they approached the table, Ygabba’s expression grew sad. Boba looked at her, then at the many plates. They all held desserts - cakes, puddings, viral jellies, wuorl-pies.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he began. “I thought you said - “

Suddenly Ygabba’s face went pale. She stared in front of her. She gasped.

“Father!” she cried.

Boba turned. At the end of the table a frail figure stood. He wore a bright green cook’s robes and hat. In his hand was a jeweled Vortexian cake knife. As he stared at Ygabba, he too went white. He exclaimed, “Daughter!”

Boba watched as the two embraced. Ygabba was crying. So was Gab’borah.

“How can this be?” the old man asked. He looked past her, to where Boba stood. “You - ?”

Ygabba nodded. “It was him, Father. He saved us, all of us. From Gilramos Libkath.”

“Libkath,” murmured Gab’borah. He looked as though he were dreaming. “Five years ago, he kidnapped her. That was before Jabba brought me here, as his chef….”

He reached a thin hand to Boba. “Young man, I owe you my heart,” he said. “And my daughter’s life. Thank you.”

Boba shrugged. Then he smiled. “You’re welcome.”

Gab’borah waved him closer. “Come here!” he said.

He pointed at a cake. It was as tall as Boba, and topped with scry-mint frosting and vannilan pods. At its peak was a Ziziibbon truffle that shone like a gem.

Boba set his helmet on the floor. He slid his credit chip into his pocket, safe beside his father’s book. Behind him a voice boomed.

“Do not get too distracted, young man!” Jabba pointed at him. “Tomorrow morning you begin your new life!”

Boba nodded. He thought of Slave I waiting for him back in the spaceport. Then he watched as Gab’borah plucked the luscious truffle from the cake and handed it to him.

“Eat!” Gab’borah commanded.

Boba took the candy,. grinning.

“Thanks,” he said.

At last! An order he was happy to obey!

He heard Jabba laugh and knew - he’d found his future at last.