[Boba Fett] - 6(24)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


“Your Eminence,” said Mace Windu. He deactivated his lightsaber and took a respectful step back. “I arrived a few minutes early for our meeting, and found this intruder in your antechamber.”

He gestured at Boba. Palpatine turned. He stared at the bounty hunter. The Supreme Chancellor nodded at Boba, almost imperceptibly.

“This man is not a stranger to me,” said Palpatine. “I was expecting him.”

“Expecting him!” Windu exclaimed. “But - “

Palpatine turned to calmly face the Jedi. No longer was Palpatine the soft-spoken, thoughtful figure who had first come to prominence in the Senate. Now the Chancellor radiated power - and arrogance.

“Do you dare question me?” he asked. “This bounty hunter has important information - information vital to the Republic! And will your bickering interfere with him bringing it to us?”

For a moment the Jedi said nothing. Then he nodded.

“I was unaware of your meeting. My sole concern was for your safety and the safety of the Republic.”

Palpatine waved a hand toward the Red Guards. “As you can see, I am not unprotected. I am, as always, grateful for your support. But now, Master Windu, you may leave.”

Palpatine inclined his head toward the door. Boba blinked. He swiftly replaced his weapons, and waited.

Mace Windu bowed slightly. But his eyes were on Boba. “Yes, your Eminence. The Jedi Council will question this bounty hunter after his meeting with you - “

“Perhaps.”

Mace Windu walked to the door. At the last moment he paused and looked back at Boba. A long, hard look. Then the door closed behind him. Boba was alone with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.

“I seem to be having a problem with people arriving early for their meetings,” the Chancellor said smoothly.

He looked at Boba and smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

Boba nodded. “I regret the inconvenience,” he said.

He took a step forward, wincing at the pain. The Chancellor gestured at Boba’s helmet.

“You may remove that,” he said in his calmly ominous voice. “I know who you are - Boba Fett.”

Boba sucked his breath in sharply. Then he did as the Chancellor had commanded, and held the helmet at his side.

“I know you are the Hutt clan’s foremost bounty hunter,” Palpatine went on. “I also know that you yourself are being hunted - by Count Dooku. And by Durge.”

“I don’t deny it,” Boba replied.

“You say you have news for me. Information.” Palpatine’s eyes glittered. His hands smoothed the folds of his rich, long robes. “I am waiting.”

Boba glanced at the Red Guards, and Palpatine motioned for Boba to follow him into his office. Once they were alone, Boba spoke.

“You are at war against the Separatists,” said Boba. “Count Dooku leads the Separatist cause. He is your most dangerous enemy and has vast droid armies. You have gathered a powerful force of clones. These clones were created by someone named Tyranus. Tyranus is your ally - or so you think.

“But I know the truth, Chancellor.”

Boba stopped.

The time had come for him to reveal what he knew. The secret had given him strength and purpose for years. He would reveal it now, to the Supreme Chancellor.

By aligning himself with Palpatine, Boba would gain more strength. He would be well paid for his information. Then he could leave and return to Tatooine in triumph, even though Wat Tambor had eluded him.

“I am waiting,” said Palpatine in a low voice.

“I learned of this when I was a prisoner of the Count on Raxus Prime. I was a boy then. He thought he had no need to fear me. But he was wrong.”

Boba took a breath. Then he said, “Count Dooku and Tyranus are the same person. Your greatest enemy created your armies. It is a trap.”

Palpatine lifted his head. His greedy, deepset eyes gleamed with avarice and the joy of knowledge. The joy of power.

The joy of triumph.

“I know,” he said.





CHAPTER NINETEEN


Boba hesitated. “You… already know?” Palpatine nodded. His hands slipped inside the folds of his robes.

“There is nothing I do not know,” he said. “Nothing that is worth knowing, anyway.”

“But - but why - “

Palpatine’s hand shot out, ordering silence. “That information is not yours to command, Boba Fett. It is mine alone.”

Palpatine looked closely at Boba, then continued. “I have heard much of your prowess as a tracker and bounty hunter. I know how your father died. I know who killed him - and why. When you arrived here I knew you would hunt down that Jedi Master.”

Boba stood, stunned.

“I have already arranged for your ship to be brought here from the Jedi Temple,” said Palpatine.