“The assembler said you were behind the plot to break up the old Bounty Hunters Guild. Is that true?”
“Does it matter?” Xizor looked at him almost pityingly. “If there was something that I wished to achieve through destroying the Guild-and I’ll admit there was-that doesn’t negate its value for you. Let’s face it: many times, in its own crude, bumbling way, the Bounty Hunters Guild got in your way. As an organization it was a rival for those very same pieces of hard merchandise that you wished to procure for their bounties. Now the Guild is no more, and you face any other bounty hunter as an individual, on his own, without anyone to back him up. Thus your work is made that much easier and more profitable.” Xizor’s cruelly smiling gaze seemed to penetrate the visor of Boba Fett’s helmet. “So what is there for you to complain of?”
“Being taken for a fool. That’s what.” Boba Fett used the blaster pistol in his hand to point toward Kud’ar Mub’at. “If there was something you wanted done-by me-then that’s who you should’ve come to. Instead of bringing in a go-between like this.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Xizor gave a judicious nod. “Perhaps I underestimated you, bounty hunter. There might be even more in common between us than I at first suspected. I’ll remember that-for our future business dealings.”
“Assuming you have a future.” The blaster pistol swung back toward the Falleen. “I haven’t decided about that,” said Boba Fett. “If I wasn’t in the loop on this little scheme of yours, there must’ve been a reason. The same reason that you had your ship’s laser cannons fire on Slave I as soon as I came out of hyperspace. You didn’t want me to still be alive after all your plotting and scheming was finished.” Fett raised the blaster higher, sighting down the length of its barrel toward Xizor. “Why is that?”
“Do you want the truth?” Xizor shrugged. “You’re
a
dangerous individual, bounty hunter. You have a habit of coming out on top, no matter what kind of situation you find yourself in. That can be inconvenient for other creatures. And very inconvenient for Black Sun. We’re engaged in our own war with the Empire, regardless of whether that fool Palpatine knows who is on his side and who isn’t. But I intend to win that war, bounty hunter, no matter what.” The Falleen’s voice hardened. “The situation has already been complicated by this doomed Rebellion, even though it’s to Black Sun’s advantage that the Emperor’s attention is diverted by it.” Xizor slowly shook his head. “But there can only be one winner at this game, however many players are sitting at the board.”
“And you thought it would be better for you-and for Black Sun-if there was one less.”
“Precisely,” said Xizor. “I admire the precision of your analysis. And you can believe this, if nothing else that I tell you. If I had continued to want you dead, now that you’ve accomplished the job I had for you-the real one, that of smashing the Bounty Hunters Guild-then all your vaunted survival skills would have done you no good at all. Crashing into the web here was a clever move, but it was the only one left to you. How much time do you think it would have bought you if I hadn’t changed my mind about the desirability of your death?” The corner of Xizor’s mouth curled into a sneer. “The life of some scheming assembler and his assortment of scuttling little subnodes wouldn’t have stopped me from turning my laser cannons on this web and blowing it into tattered shreds drifting in space.”
“Wuh-what…” Xizor’s words brought a startled reaction from Kud’ar Mub’at. Even in its crippled condition, it managed to draw itself up higher in the flaccid nest. “You can’t… mean that…” Then the assembler visibly relaxed, even managing a smile of relief. “Of course … you’re only joking, my dear Xizor … if that were true … then you would have gone ahead … and destroyed my humble… abode …” The narrow triangular head shook back and forth. “But… you didn’t…”
“I didn’t refrain from blowing away this floating garbage pile because of any concern for you.” Xizor turned his head to give the assembler a cold merciless gaze. “Your value to me has long been marginal, Kud’ar Mub’at. And now it’s zero.”
A hissing shriek sounded from the assembler; its forelimbs flailed in rage. “You think so… do you, Xizor…” Rage was enough to bring the larger compound eyes into focus. “After all… I’ve done for you …” Kud’ar Mub’at’s head shook back and forth. “And all… I continue to do … for you and Black Sun …” One claw tip trembled as it pointed at Xizor. “You survive … only as long … as your affairs remain secret…” With the same claw, the assembler pointed at itself. “I am the one … who keeps those secrets for you … I am the one … who acts as your go-between… everywhere in the galaxy…” The narrow face contorted with withering anger. “How will you keep Palpatine in the dark … without me … to do your dirty work for you …”