[Bounty Hunter Wars] - 03(106)

“Hey-don’t worry about it.” The hunt saboteur Suhlak’s voice broke into the discussion. “I can fix it.”

“You can?” Standing next to Suhlak, Dengar looked at him in surprise.

“Sure.” Before Dengar could react, Suhlak reached over and plucked the blaster pistol out of Dengar’s belt. Suhlak took a quick step backward, covering the others with the weapon raised in his hand. “At least as far as I’m concerned.”

Neelah glanced up from the blaster to Suhlak’s face. “What’re you doing?”

“Figure it out.” Suhlak backed toward the cockpit area’s hatchway. “That KDY cruiser has obviously got some way of keeping this ship stuck here-but it can’t do it to my Headhunted So I’m outta here. And you people can deal with whoever’s aboard the cruiser.” Still keeping the blaster trained on them, Suhlak set his foot on the top tread of the ladder down to the Hound’s cargo area. “Don’t bother to ask if any of you can come along. I’m not going to risk having that cruiser chasing after me.”

Boba Fett watched as the hunt saboteur started down the ladder. “If you think you’re going to get the cut we agreed on, you’re wrong.”

“Chances are good that there won’t be anything to get a share of once that KDY cruiser finishes with you.” Suhlak’s head and the upraised blaster were just visible above the lower rim of the hatchway. “I’d rather cut my losses and keep my skin intact, if you know what I mean.”

A few moments after Suhlak had made his exit, they heard the noises through the hull, of the Headhunter disengaging from the transfer hatch. In the forward viewport, the smaller ship could be seen, speeding away from the Hound’s Tooth and then disappearing among the stars.

“That’s one person who’s managed to save himself.” Dengar slowly shook his head. “Now what happens to the rest of us?”

“We’re about to discover that,” said Boba Fett. “The KDY cruiser has already come within targeting range, and it didn’t fire on us. So they must have something else in mind, other than just blowing us away.”

“Somebody must want to talk, then.” Dengar pointed to the viewport. “We’re moving; they’ve got a tractor beam locked on us.”

A voice came over the comm unit speaker: “This is Kodir of Kuhlvult, head of security for Kuat Drive Yards.” A female’s voice,

crisply articulating. “Am I correct in assuming that the bounty hunter Boba Fett is aboard this ship?”

He hit the transmit button on the panel. “You’re speaking to him now.”

“Then I’ll be transferring over with a couple of my people. I want to have a meeting with you. And I don’t want any funny stuff.”

“What do you think I’m likely to try,” said Fett, “with a cruiser sitting on top of me?”

“Just keep that in mind.” The comm unit connection broke off.

“What do you think she wants?” Neelah glanced from the overhead speaker toward Fett.

“Could be anything. But given that I’ve returned here from Tatooine with exactly what her boss Kuat of Kuat has been looking for, the chances are slim that it has much to do with anything other than that.”

There wasn’t time for Neelah to question Boba Fett about what he’d brought back with him. The hull of the Hound’s Tooth had already come up against the larger ship’s grappling mechanisms and been seized by them. “Let’s get down to the cargo area.” Boba Fett pushed himself up from the pilot’s chair. “We all might as well hear what this person’s got to say.”

Kodir of Kuhlvult, flanked by two KDY security operatives, proved to be an arrogantly impressive figure, with a full cape falling back from her shoulders and brushing the heels of her outspread boots. Neelah found herself gazing intently at the woman’s face, searching for any clue that might be revealed there.

“So you’re the bounty hunter that I’ve heard so much about.” Kodir’s gaze had swept across all three of them and then locked upon Boba Fett’s dark-visored helmet. “You have a considerable reputation for surviving in situations where others would have died. Is that luck or intelligence, Fett?”

“Creatures who depend upon luck,” replied Boba Fett, “don’t survive.”

“Well spoken.” Kodir nodded in appreciation. “Believe me, I bear you no ill intent; I would just as soon have you alive as not. So whether it’s luck or brains, your string doesn’t have to be broken now-if you don’t want it to.”