Anakin shook his head, then looked Boba up and down as he approached.
“Yeah, that was pretty good,” the Jedi repeated. “Not bad at all, considering.”
“Considering what?” snapped Boba. He
stared
challengingly
at Skywalker. Boba really didn’t want to draw arms against this particular Jedi - but he wouldn’t hesitate if he had to.
“Considering you’re getting ready to set your course for Coruscant,” said Anakin.
“Huh?” It took a moment for the words to sink in. When they did, Boba allowed himself a small smile. Yes!
But Boba was careful not to let his true emotions show outside of his mask. He had another, secret motive for going to Coruscant. And Skywalker could never learn what that was.
“Yes. You can go to Coruscant - under these conditions,” added Anakin. He gave Slave I’s repaired wing one last careful look. Then he headed toward his starfighter.
“I’ll give you the coordinates,” Anakin continued. “And the signal for takeoff. I’m handing you over to Governor Tarkin. He’ll escort you to the Chancellor. If you don’t like those conditions, you’re history. When you enter Coruscant airspace, follow his lead. And your weapons have to remain on your ship.”
Boba bristled. “Why?” he asked angrily. “I’m not your prisoner!”
“No, you’re not. But he knows Coruscant, and you don’t. I know who can be trusted - “
“I trust nobody,” said Boba. Already he had a plan for what he would really do on Coruscant.
His eyes met Anakin’s unflinchingly. “No one but myself.”
Anakin looked at him. Then he nodded, turning to ready his ship for departure.
“We have a lot in common, Boba Fett,” he said as he clambered into his starfighter. “Perhaps we’ll meet again.”
CHAPTER TEN
Coruscant!
Far below Slave I, the glittering planet stretched like a vast computer circuit, blinking and glowing with thousands of domes, towers, skyscrapers, airspeeders. The high-rises lifted into the sky, their brilliant lights blazing gold and silver and scarlet. The hazy atmosphere seemed bathed in eternal sunset. It was beautiful and impressive and very, very big.
Boba had never been to Coruscant. He knew that the planet was covered by a single vast metropolis, Galactic City. Galactic City housed the galactic government, overseen by Chancellor Palpatine. And in the shadow of Galactic City’s looming towers sprawled the planet’s great underworld. This was a seedy place where criminals held sway. Boba knew of it from Jabba the Hutt. The Hutt clan controlled a good part of Coruscant’s black market, though a petty crime lord named Hat Lo managed things for them.
But something else was on Coruscant, too, something even more important to Boba
The Jedi Temple, where the Jedi High Council met - and where Mace Windu could be found.
“Mace is a senior member of the High Council,” Boba said to himself. “He will have dealings with Palpatine. Somehow I’ll use Palpatine to get to Mace Windu. And then…”
Boba thought of his father, slain by Windu. “And then, Father, we will be avenged,” he said softly. He promised himself this would be the one exception to the bounty hunter law he had established for himself. Never would he kill on his own time - except this time. For honor’s sake.
He sat at Slave I’s console. Not far away, Governor Tarkin’s starship hovered, awaiting landing clearance. But Boba had already made contact with someone who had deeper ties to Coruscant than Anakin Skywalker.
“Boba Fett!” A voice crackled through the interior of Slave I. Seconds later a face filled the ship’s viewscreen. It was the oily figure of Hat Lo, his pudgy frame encased in heavy protective shielding. “What brings you here?”
“Business,” said Boba tersely. Hat Lo liked to think that he was in charge of the Coruscant underworld. Boba knew better. Jabba was really in charge of things here. Hat Lo was merely his lackey.
Hat Lo wasn’t too smart, either. He’d be easy to exploit - if Boba was careful. “I have a few things to tend to,” said the bounty hunter.
“Hunting, eh?” A flicker of unease crossed Hat Lo’s overfed face. “Er, what kind of things are you tending to?”
“That’s my business. And Jabba’s,” Boba added pointedly.
“Jabba! Of course, of course,” blathered the man on the viewscreen. “I had no idea - “
Boba watched in satisfaction as Hat Lo’s fat face grew a shade paler. “I know I can count on you for any assistance I need while I’m here,” said Boba.
“Absolutely!” Hat Lo nearly groveled as he spoke. “Anything Jabba needs - er, anything you need - “