Boba took the saberdart. He looked at it suspiciously, but it seemed to be genuine.
“How did you - ” he began, but Elan cut him off. “I’d tell you,” he said, “but then you’d have to kill me. Trust me, it’s real.”
In the near distance, the Jedi Temple’s towers loomed. The airspeeder began to slow. Quickly Boba shoved the dart onto his utility belt.
The speeder came to a stop on the docking platform. Boba climbed out.
“Thanks,” he said grudgingly.
“Anytime!” said Elan. He looked up at Boba and wiggled his antennae. “Just remember - tell your friends! Tell your enemies! I stand behind all my products! One-hundred-percent pure, satisfaction guaranteed!”
With a farewell wave of his antennae, Elan powered up his vehicle. The bright-red airspeeder shot into reverse. Then it rocketed off into the haze.
Boba watched it go. Then he turned and hurried toward the Temple entrance.
Got to find Mace Windu, he thought with iron determination. His hands traced over his flechette pistol and his concealed daggers. Last of all he checked that the saberdart was where it could be easily deployed. Got to finish something that Mace Windu started, a long time ago.
And then - then it will be time to start on a new life.
Because once he had avenged his father’s death, Boba knew he would be ready to take Jango’s place in the world. Not as a boy, but as a man.
He saw Slave I waiting in its docking bay.
“I’ll be back soon,” he said, smiling slightly at sight of his ship. As he passed, he reached to touch the wing that Anakin Skywalker had fixed. “When I return, the sky’s the limit.”
Then, silent and unseen, Boba Fett entered the Jedi Temple.
The final hunt for Mace Windu had begun.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It was early evening now. Most of the Jedi were at meals, or tending to private weapons practice, or research in the Archives library. Boba made his way quickly and stealthily through the Temple’s winding passages.
Word must have passed among the Jedi that Boba was here on official business and was not to be detained. The few Jedi he passed scarcely gave him a look.
“Typical Jedi arrogance,” Boba murmured.
He felt almost disappointed that no one confronted him. He’d like to take out a few Jedi on their own turf!
Still, Boba knew he had no time to waste on anyone but Mace Windu.
I’ll have plenty of other chances to take out Jedi scum, he thought. First things first!
It didn’t take him long to figure out where the members of the Jedi Council had their quarters. It took him even less time to find an alcove housing a worn door. He opened the door carefully and peeked inside.
“A service corridor!” said Boba under his breath. “Just what I needed! “
He checked to make sure no one saw him, and slipped inside. The passage was completely empty and smelled of dust. A few dead Coruscant botflies were scattered on the floor, but nothing else. Boba checked the walls, then took a few scans using one of his handheld nav aids.
“Yes!” gloated Boba.
The tiny computer showed a grid of red and green lines: a map of the Council Members level. The secondary passage he stood inside was a disused corridor that ran parallel to the central hallway.
If I follow this passage, it will lead me straight to Mace Windu’s chambers. I just have to get there before he leaves for his meeting with Palpatine!
Boba shoved the nav aid back into his utility belt. Then he stealthily began to run, his feet making no sound in the narrow passage. In a few minutes he had reached the next level, then the next.
Finally he saw another door in the shadows. His footsteps slowed.
“Got to be careful here,” he whispered.
This door led to the corridor that went directly to Mace Windu’s chambers.
But Boba certainly didn’t want to meet Windu where others might see them and come to the Jedi’s aid. Very slowly he cracked the door open and peered out.
The corridor was empty. Ruby-colored light slanted
down
from viewscreens high overhead. Outside, it was sunset on Coruscant.
Boba looked around carefully. Then he quickly slipped into the central passage. He ran without a sound to where the hallway ended. There, a single black doorway loomed.
The door to Mace Windu’s chambers. The door to Mace Windu’s death!
Boba slid his hand over the flechette pistol. He looked over his shoulder to see if anyone had spotted him.
No one was there.
Slowly Boba drew the pistol. He cocked its safety, then crept toward the door. Moments from now, he would confront his enemy.
Mace would be deep in thought, preparing himself for his meeting with the Supreme Chancellor. He would be stunned to see Boba burst into his room. He would have no chance to defend himself. Not even a lightsaber could deflect hundreds of flechettes!