“So you have a record of the fabricated evidence against Prince Xizor-an incomplete copy, as it were-but not the fabricated evidence itself. That is a pity.” Balancesheet smiled. “Because if you had the actual evidence, the original that was inside the modified cargo droid, then you might be able to examine and analyze it further, for clues that you didn’t have time to find before.”
“As I said,” growled Boba Fett. “The cargo droid is gone. Lost. It might as well not exist, for all the good it does us.”
“Perhaps so. But that doesn’t mean that the original of the fabricated evidence, from which you took the information you possess, is lost.” The jagged smile on the assembler’s triangular face grew wider. “In fact, I know where it is. And it’s not in the hands of the Rebel Alliance.”
For the first time, Neelah saw something take Boba Fett by surprise. The bounty hunter stepped back as if from a blow, then he peered closer and harder at Balancesheet.
“What’re you talking about? It has to be still inside the droid. That’s where I left it.”
“Let me tell you something more,” said the smiling assembler. “You and your associates here are not the only ones who are interested in it. Some very powerful forces are searching for that same fabricated evidence.”
“Who?” Boba Fett’s hand shot toward the smaller creature, as though he were about to seize Balancesheet within his fist. “Who else is looking for it?”
“While you’ve been making your way here, I’ve been in contact with my own information sources; that’s what I do. I hear all sorts of interesting and potentially profitable things. Only this time, I was approached directly by the other party involved; a representative from one of the most powerful men in the galaxy searched me out, to inquire whether I knew the whereabouts of that fabricated evidence against the late Prince Xizor, the same evidence that you found aboard Ree Duptom’s ship Venesectrix.”
“It must have been somebody from Black Sun, then. From whoever took over that organization after Xizor’s death-“
“Not at all.” Balancesheet gave a slow shake of his head. “From what I’ve been able to find out, neither Xizor nor Black Sun ever knew anything about whatever plot had been cooked up with this fabricated evidence. Besides, even if somebody in Black Sun found out about it now, why would they care? Prince Xizor is dead. Tying him to an Imperial stormtrooper raid on the planet Tatooine doesn’t mean anything now.”
“Then who-“
“Oh, but it gets even more interesting.” On the metal
ledge, Balancesheet seemed to vibrate with the pleasure of telling so many secrets. “The person who sent their representative here, looking for information about the fabricated evidence’s whereabouts, seems to bear a considerable hostility toward you, Boba Fett. Or else he simply doesn’t want to risk the possibility of you finding that fabricated evidence before he does. Because he’s the one who ordered the bombing raid on the Dune Sea, back on Tatooine. The bombing raid in which you yourself came very close to being blown to atoms. You managed to escape-obviously-but I wouldn’t say that this very powerful individual has ceased wishing you were dead. And he’d be happy to make that come about, given the opportunity.” Balancesheet, multiple eyes glittering, leaned forward from its perch. “So you should appreciate the fact that I’m betting a lot on our doing business together, Fett. Because I could sell the information about your whereabouts to that other party, for a handsome pile of credits indeed.”
“That’d be more efficient, at least,” Dengar spoke up. “If all Balancesheet wanted was to eliminate us, it’d be easier to do it that way rather than firing off its own laser cannons.” He shrugged. “Maybe the little guy’s got a point.”
“Maybe.” Boba Fett appeared to mull it over for a second. “It all depends upon who this other person is, who not only tried to kill all of us, but is also looking for the same thing we are.”
“Fine,” said Balancesheet. “I’ll tell you, and then you can make your own determination about what to do. The person in question is Kuat of Kuat, the head of Kuat Drive Yards.”
Neelah was unable to stifle a gasp of surprise. I know him-the thought jumped unbidden into her mind, complete with an image of the powerful Kuat. That faded away as quickly as it came; she blinked and saw Boba
Fett glancing in her direction. He said nothing, but turned back toward the assembler on the metal ledge.
“How do you know it was Kuat of Kuat who did all that?” Boba Fett’s voice was tinged with suspicion. “Why would the head of one of the largest engineering firms in the galaxy be interested in fabricated evidence against the late Prince Xizor? And why would he want me dead?”