[Boba Fett] - 6(7)
The starboard wing was another story. Two of the fins shielding the repulsor grilles had been destroyed. Without them, Slave I was crippled - he could fly, but his nav skills were seriously impaired. Worse, landing the ship would be a real problem
Not that he could even think about landing now!
BAM!
Another hit for Asajj. Boba fired off two missiles, had
the satisfaction of seeing one rip into the side of her starfighter. A starburst of plasma glowed gold and white, then faded.
“No.” Boba scowled. Asajj’s defense shields had absorbed the blow. And Wat Tambor’s transport remained unscathed.
“Time for a new tactic,” Boba muttered.
He punched a series of commands into his console. A grid popped onto a monitor, displaying the coordinates of an asteroid belt not far off. If he could lure Asajj there, he might have a better chance of losing her. Then he could make a swift pass back toward Wat Tambor….
He set Slave I’s thrusters to maximum. The ship veered toward the asteroid field.
And right into Asajj Ventress’s line of fire!
Boba retaliated, trying to dodge Ventress’s attack. But the damage done to Slave I’s starboard wing slowed him too much. As he made one last-ditch attempt to fire, a flaming burst from Ventress’s ion cannon blazed toward him. Desperately, Boba tried to avoid the blast.
BLLAAAAMM!
With a cry Boba yanked at the thruster. But it was no good.
Slave 1 was finished.
CHAPTER SIX
With a screaming roar, Boba’s ship fell into a nosedive. He hit the backup thrusters, momentarily righting Slave then looked up.
He expected to see Asajj’s ship looming before him - or, worse, another blinding blast from her ion cannons..
What he didn’t expect to see was a Jedi starfighter.
“Whoa!” Boba let out a gasp of disbelief. “That’s Anakin Skywalker!”
He had seen the legendary Jedi apprentice twice now, both times from a distance. Most recently, Boba had watched as Skywalker successfully destroyed a Separatist ramship on Xagobah. Skywalker’s combat skill was as keen as his defiance - and both were attributes Boba admired.
“He’s driving off Ventress!” Boba said in disbelief.
Skywalker’s starfighter took after Asajj’s ship like a winged tumnor attacking its prey. As Boba watched, the young Jedi fired a volley of precision blasts, each one finding its target - Asajj Ventress!
The battle was over almost as quickly as it had begun. Asajj’s starship raced away from Skywalker. Boba shook his head in admiration and faint disappointment.
She hardly put up a fight at all!
He craned his neck, following her - and saw why she’d fled so quickly.
Wat Tambor’s transport vessel was glowing, radiant white as though consumed by a sun’s heat. Boba only had time to groan, as the transport seemed to billow and burst…
And made the jump into hyperspace.
It was all a diversion! Boba fumed, furious at himself. Asajj wanted to distract me so that Wat Tambor could escape
“And she succeeded!” he said angrily. “How could I have been so stupid? Well, it’ll never happen again….”
He’d be sure of that! Boba might make mistakes - but he never made the same one twice.
Especially not with Jabba the Hutt wanting results.
Boba’s expression grew somber at the thought of the notorious gangster. Wat Tambor could be anywhere in the galaxy by now. Boba had no way of knowing where. And, with Slave I damaged, no way of following
“IDENTIFY YOURSELF!”
Boba started as a crackle of static came through Slave I’s speakers.
“IDENTIFY YOURSELF OR BE DESTROYED!” Boba stabbed at the console panel. “Identify yourself!” he countered.
“ANAKIN SKYWALKER, OF THE REPUBLIC’S XAGOBAH PEACEKEEPING FORCE. I HAVE ORDERS TO DESTROY ALL SEPARATIST VESSELS WITHIN THIS AIRSPACE. YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF OR RISK DESTRUCTION. TEN. NINE…”
Gotta stall! Boba thought. Identifying himself as a mercenary bounty hunter wouldn’t go over too well with Skywalker.
But the young Jedi was part of the Republic force that had driven Wat Tambor from Xagobah. Maybe he would have some idea as to where the Techno union foreman had fled - information that Boba could use to track Wat Tambor down himself, and still claim Jabba’s bounty…
“.. FOUR. THREE….”
I better be fast, thought Boba. And I better be good!
“Skywalker - this is a request for assistance!” he announced into the comm unit. Boba knew this was the Jedi’s weak spot - they could never resist being the good guys. “My ship was damaged in a firefight with Asajj Ventress - repeat, request assistance immediately….”
Silence. In front of him, Anakin’s starship hovered like a silver flame. As he spoke, Boba punched in a set of coordinates. A navscreen flickered to life - and there was the information Boba needed.