“All right.” Boba Fett folded his arms across his chest. “So what is it that you do want?”
“Please.” A smile lifted one corner of Kodir’s mouth. “Let’s not make this any more difficult than necessary. You’re aware, I imagine, that Kuat of Kuat seeks certain things-“
“Including my death.”
“Only as an incidental matter. And that merely as a way of preventing a certain item from falling into the wrong hands.” Kodir’s gaze narrowed, the smile turning cruder and more knowing. “Now, if that certain item were to be placed in Kuat’s hands, then I can assure you that he would have no interest in your death at all.”
“And what makes you believe I have this … ‘certain item,’ as you put it?” The gaze from the dark-visored helmet remained level with hers. “If you’re referring to the fabricated evidence purportedly linking the late Prince Xizor with Imperial stormtrooper raids on Tatooine, then I can give you equal assurance that at the time Kuat of Kuat tried to kill me before, it wasn’t in my possession.”
“Ah … but that was then, and this is now. It doesn’t matter what the situation used to be; it only matters if you have that fabricated evidence with you now.” The smile disappeared from Kodir’s face. “And don’t bother saying that you don’t have it. You were brought to this rendezvous point by a ship that was reported having been seen recently at the planet Tatooine; we’ve also just heard that your fellow bounty hunter Bossk was seeking to find a buyer for exactly that item we’ve been seeking. It’d be too much of a coincidence for your journey to Tatooine to be unrelated to what Bossk had for sale. And in fact”- her smile reappeared, more unpleasantly-“I’m somewhat grateful to you for having gone to Tatooine and acquired the item for us; you’ve saved me the journey and the potential unpleasantness of dealing with a creature like Bossk. He doesn’t have the same reputation for being a levelheaded businessman that you do, Boba Fett.”
“I’m enough of a businessman,” replied Fett, “to listen to a good offer.”
“Then I’ll make you an excellent one.” Kodir of Kuhlvult signaled with one hand to her accompanying KDY security operatives; they immediately drew blaster pistols from the holsters on the belts and covered the two bounty hunters and Neelah with them. “And it’s an offer open to everyone: hand over this fabricated evidence and you won’t be killed.” She spread both her hands apart. “What could be a better offer than that?”
Dengar broke the resulting silence. “It’s up in the cockpit. Stashed by the pilot’s chair.”
“You idiot.” Neelah glared at him. “Now we’ll never-
“Don’t be too hard on him,” said Kodir. “Your associate’s acceptance of my offer, while appreciated, merely saves me time and effort. Even if you had gone to some effort to hide the desired item, we would have found it soon enough after you were all… gotten out of the way, so to speak. Even if we’d had to take this ship apart bolt by bolt; I haven’t gone to this much effort not to get my hands on it.”
One of the KDY security operatives had already climbed up the ladder to the cockpit. He returned carrying in one hand the object Boba Fett had brought back from Tatooine. Pulling his blaster from its holster again, the operative resumed his position flanking Kodir.
“Perfect.” Kodir looked at the object that the operative had just given her. She turned it over and examined the code marks on the underside. “Exactly what I came for.” Kodir looked up at Boba Fett. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’m actually going to keep my end of our bargain. After all… you’ve been useful to Kuat Drive Yards in the past; there’s no saying when we might find you handy to have around again. Plus, you’re not going anywhere soon in this ship-are you? So that should keep you from interfering with any of my immediate plans.”
Kodir signaled to the KDY operatives. They began backing toward the transfer hatch, while still keeping their blasters pointed at the Hound’s occupants.
“Sorry things didn’t go as well for you as you might have hoped.” Holding the black data recording unit in the crook of one arm, Kodir smiled even less humorously than before. “But I’ve had a very good day-surprisingly so. I not only got what I originally wanted, but I found an unexpected bonus as well.” She gestured to Neelah. “You-you’re coming with us.”