[Bounty Hunter Wars] - 03(90)
“Well, well.” A thin figure had emerged from the transfer hatchway, leaving his smaller craft tethered to the exterior of Balancesheet’s freighter. From a face with youthfulness sharpened by feral cynicism, his gaze met with that of the helmeted bounty hunter. “Balancesheet told me he had a surprise in store. This is a good one.”
“I knew you’d be amused,” replied Balancesheet. “For a lot of reasons.”
With a cocky swagger, the new arrival approached Boba Fett. “The last time we ran into each other, you just about killed me. I’m still wondering why you didn’t.”
Fett gazed back at him coldly. “Don’t make me start wondering, Suhlak.”
“Suhlak?” Dengar studied the youth for a moment, then glanced over at Balancesheet. “As in N’dru Suhlak? You called in a hunt saboteur?”
“Who better?” The assembler’s response was mild and unruffled. “He is uniquely qualified for the task we need performed.”
“Yeah, but …” Dengar’s expression soured as he shook his head in disgust. “I don’t like dealing with this kind of lowlife. It… it just goes against everything I believe in.”
“What?” Neelah turned and looked at the bounty hunter standing next to her. “That’s hard to believe. Since when did people in your line of business start getting moral attitudes?”
Suhlak smiled at her. “You’ll have to excuse him, lady. But once a bounty hunter, always a bounty hunter. That’s his job. And my job is to mess things up for him, and for every other bounty hunter.” He made a small, mocking bow. “That’s just what I do.”
“You see, Neelah …” From the metal ledge, Balancesheet gestured toward Suhlak. “The existence of specialized entities such as bounty hunters has inevitably given rise to other, competing specialities. Such as this young-and very gifted-hunt saboteur. What he does is get
certain individuals from point A to point B as quickly and safely as possible; that in itself is not so special. But Suhlak here performs this service for individuals who have had bounties placed on their heads, and whom bounty hunters such as Dengar and Boba Fett are seeking to capture. He, in essence, spoils their hunt. You can hardly expect bounty hunters to approve of someone like that.”
“Yeah, and like I care.” Suhlak leaned his shoulder against a bulkhead and folded his arms across his chest. “They do what they do for credits, and I do what I do for the same. Which brings up the matter at hand. I take it you called me here for a reason, Balancesheet. That reason better be a nice, high-paying job.”
“I think it’s one for which we can offer you satisfactory terms.” Balancesheet pointed a minuscule claw tip toward Boba Fett. “Our mutual friend here needs to reach Tatooine as quickly-and as unobtrusively-as possible.”
“That’s going to be a little bit difficult for him.” Suhlak aimed a smirk in Boba Fett’s direction, then turned back toward the assembler. “There’s a lot of other creatures out there gunning for him. I mean, he wasn’t too popular before; now that there’s a pile of credits offered in exchange for his hide, his chances have gone way down.”
“We’re aware of the difficulties,” said Balancesheet. “And while of course there’s a certain, shall we say, irony that comes with asking a hunt saboteur to assist in conveying a bounty hunter past other bounty hunters, we still think your services might be useful in that regard.”
“Useful?” Suhlak gave a slow nod. “Yeah-and expensive.”
“There’s a surprise,” said Dengar sourly.
“Shut up.” Neelah hissed the words at him. “This is the only way we’ve got.”
Suhlak pointed toward Balancesheet. “You mentioned a certain sum of credits when you contacted me.”
“Yes-” The assembler nodded. “That was to get your interest.”
“Oh, you got it, all right. But now that I see exactly what you’re talking about…” Suhlak made a show of reluctantly shaking his head. “I’m not sure it’s enough. Given the risks involved, and all. And … certain personal issues that have to be overcome.”
“What sum,” asked Balancesheet, “would take care of those problems for you?”
“The figure you mentioned-up front. And then”- Suhlak’s eyes narrowed to slits-“the same amount again, when the job’s completed.”
It was Balancesheet’s turn to look doubtful. “That’s a considerable amount of credits.”
“Yeah, and it’s a considerable amount of risk. Plus-you don’t have any other options right now. So take it or leave it.”