[Boba Fett] - 6(16)

At Boba.

He can’t know it’s me, Boba thought. And even if he does

For an instant Boba remained where he was. The Jedi could not see the hatred in his eyes.

But perhaps he could feel the hatred in Boba’s soul.

“I’ll see you again very soon, Mace Windu,” Boba whispered before turning to continue on his way.

The room that had been made ready for him was spare but comfortable. He had worried that the Jedi were going to put a guard on watch, but clearly they were too occupied to spend effort on an informant whose information they did not know yet to be true. But this played to Boba’s advantage. He wasted little time in his room. He shut the door and activated the room’s communicator. Within seconds, Hat Lo’s sweaty face once more stared out at him.

“Boba!” he said in forced joviality. “I didn’t expect to hear again from you so soon!”

“No? Well, you’re going to see me even sooner. I need to meet with you.”

“Now?” Hat Lo sounded aggrieved.

“As I told you, my business is urgent. Jabba’s business..”

Boba let his voice trail off threateningly.

Hat Lo blanched. “Of course, of course!” he said. “I’ll send a speeder for you immediately! I will meet you within the hour at the Sign of the TriForked Tongue. You will be my most honored guest,” he added, his voice rising with anxiety. “As befits one of Jabba’s most trusted circle - besides myself, of course.”

“Of course,” said Boba. Behind his helmet he smiled unpleasantly. “The Sign of the TriForked Tongue, in one hour. I’ll see you there.”

Hat Lo’s round face blipped from view. For a few minutes Boba sat alone in his room.

“Mace’s lightsaber assaults are legendary,” he said, brooding. “He’s taller than me, too, though not by much. I have my blades, but I’ll need a blaster. And a saberdart would be really good for backup….”

Boba nodded excitedly at the thought of the poisonous Kamino weapon. That would really do the job! Not even a Jedi Master could withstand the venom of a saberdart! Now let’s just hope Hat Lo can put his grimy little hands on one for me.

He hurried off to meet the Coruscant lowlife’s airspeeder.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN,

The bright-red airspeeder was waiting near Slave I on the landing dock. With a pang, Boba immediately recognized the humanoid alien piloting it.

“Oh no!” he groaned. “Not Elan Sleazebaggano!”

“Elan’s the name,” the obnoxious young con man announced as Boba jumped into the seat beside him. His long antennae wriggled with pride. “Flying’s my game! Unless, of course, I could interest you in some Polordion smootdust?”

Elan whipped out a shimmering green parcel and waved it enticingly in Boba’s face. “One hundred percent pure, satisfaction guaranteed - “

Boba grabbed Elan’s shoulder. “I’m not interested in your cheap contraband, Sleazebaggano!” he said. “Take me to the Sign of the TriForked Tongue - fast!”

Elan nodded eagerly. “Sure, sure!” The shimmering green packet disappeared. Elan punched at the control panels. The airspeeder swooped away from the docking platform.

“You look like a discerning bounty hunter,” Elan went on, almost without drawing a breath. “Maybe you’re more interested in a pair of tortapo-shell shades! One-hundred-percent natural, guaranteed to block out dangerous infradig rays - “

“Fast, and silent!” ordered Boba. He tightened his grip on Elan’s shoulder.

“Sure, sure!” gulped Elan. His long fleshy

antennae

twitched nervously. “I live to please. But maybe you’d consider - “

Boba groaned. Elan was relentless!

Where’s my blaster when I need it?

“This better be a short trip,” Boba said menacingly. “Otherwise…”

“Sure, sure!”

The airspeeder raced away from the Jedi Temple. Around them the skyrise caverns of Coruscant shone and glittered. This was where the galaxy’s most wealthy residents lived. Senators, ambassadors, diplomats, guild leaders, merchants - all in those glimmering towers. That was who rode in those sleek speeder limos. That was who ate in those fantastically expensive restaurant terraces, and slept in bedrooms bigger than a Caridan training arena.

Boba tried not to look impressed by it all.

But as they approached the gigantic building that housed the Galactic Senate, he couldn’t help it. His eyes widened slightly, and he edged closer to the side of the airspeeder to get a better look.

“So that’s it,” he murmured. The domed building was immense - it looked as though it could be half the size of the moon where he’d met Anakin. “That’s where Chancellor Palpatine holds court. And tomorrow…”