Pursuit

by Elizabeth Hand

  departure.

  "We have a lot in common, Boba Fett," he said as he clambered into his

  starfighter. "Perhaps we'll meet again."

  CHAPTER TEN

  Coruscant!

  Far below Slave I, the glittering planet stretched like a vast

  computer circuit, blinking and glowing with thousands of domes, towers,

  skyscrapers, air-speeders. The high-rises lifted into the sky, their

  brilliant lights blazing gold and silver and scarlet. The hazy atmosphere

  seemed bathed in eternal sunset. It was beautiful and impressive and very,

  very big.

  Boba had never been to Coruscant. He knew that the planet was covered

  by a single vast metropolis, Galactic City. Galactic City housed the

  galactic government, overseen by Chancellor Palpatine. And in the shadow of

  Galactic City's looming towers sprawled the planet's great underworld. This

  was a seedy place where criminals held sway. Boba knew of it from Jabba the

  Hutt. The Hutt clan controlled a good part of Coruscant's black market,

  though a petty crime lord named Hat Lo managed things for them.

  But something else was on Coruscant, too, something even more

  important to Boba

  The Jedi Temple, where the Jedi High Council met - and where Mace

  Windu could be found.

  "Mace is a senior member of the High Council," Boba said to himself.

  "He will have dealings with Palpatine. Somehow I'll use Palpatine to get to

  Mace Windu. And then..."

  Boba thought of his father, slain by Windu. "And then, Father, we will

  be avenged," he said softly. He promised himself this would be the one

  exception to the bounty hunter law he had established for himself. Never

  would he kill on his own time - except this time. For honor's sake.

  He sat at Slave I's console. Not far away, Governor Tarkin's starship

  hovered, awaiting landing clearance. But Boba had already made contact with

  someone who had deeper ties to Coruscant than Anakin Skywalker.

  "Boba Fett!" A voice crackled through the interior of Slave I. Seconds

  later a face filled the ship's viewscreen. It was the oily figure of Hat

  Lo, his pudgy frame encased in heavy protective shielding. "What brings you

  here?"

  "Business," said Boba tersely. Hat Lo liked to think that he was in

  charge of the Coruscant underworld. Boba knew better. Jabba was really in

  charge of things here. Hat Lo was merely his lackey.

  Hat Lo wasn't too smart, either. He'd be easy to exploit - if Boba was

  careful. "I have a few things to tend to," said the bounty hunter.

  "Hunting, eh?" A flicker of unease crossed Hat Lo's overfed face. "Er,

  what kind of things are you tending to?"

  "That's my business. And Jabba's," Boba added pointedly.

  "Jabba! Of course, of course," blathered the man on the viewscreen. "I

  had no idea - "

  Boba watched in satisfaction as Hat Lo's fat face grew a shade paler.

  "I know I can count on you for any assistance I need while I'm here," said

  Boba.

  "Absolutely!" Hat Lo nearly groveled as he spoke. "Anything Jabba

  needs - er, anything you need - "

  "Good. I'll be in touch soon," said Boba shortly, and ended the

  transmission.

  Almost immediately Governor Tarkin's voice echoed through Slave I.

  "We're cleared," he announced in a tone that Boba already felt sounded

  sinister. "We've received permission to land at the Jedi Temple, thanks to

  General Skywalker - that way you won't have to go through Coruscant

  security. Just let me do all the talking - and remember: no weapons."

  "Right," growled Boba. He was glad he was wearing his helmet, so that

  Tarkin wouldn't see his anger at the request once they landed. "No weapons.

  ."

  None when he set foot on Coruscant, anyway. But once Boba was ready to

  leave Coruscant - That would be another story.

  They touched down on the broad, open landing platform of the Jedi

  Temple. Tarkin's vessel landed first, Slave I less than a minute later.

  From inside, Boba watched as a single slender figure clad in the Jedi's

  distinctive robes crossed to greet the governor, who was a rising star, it

  seemed, in the Clone Wars. Boba waited until the two were engaged in

  conversation. Then he quickly readied himself to join them.

  But first he had to remove his weapons.

  "I hate to leave you behind," he said with regret. "But I better not

  take any chances. I'm so close to finding Mace Windu - don't want to blow

  it now."

  He removed the Westar-34 blasters from his weapons belt and his knee

  holsters, and put them safely away. Then he did the same with his missiles

  and dart shooter.

  But he didn't remove the blades in his gauntlets. And he didn't remove

  his jet pack.

  "Not even the Jedi can force me to visit a strange planet with no

  self-defense whatsoever," Boba muttered. "And when I see Hat Lo, I can get

  some new weapons. It's time I upgraded a few items, anyway."

  He made sure his helmet was in place. Then he did a last minute check

  of Slave I.

  "Okay," Boba said to himself. He stood in his ship's doorway and

  looked out. His heart began to pound, not with fear but anticipation. I'm

  on the Jedi's home turf now! Got to be careful. Got to be calm. Got to be

  ready

  To find and defeat Mace Windu!

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  As Boba strode across,the open plaza, the strange Jedi turned to

  appraise the newcomer. Her eyes beneath her somber brown hood were alert

  and questioning.

  "Who is this you have brought here?" she asked Tarkin. "I know that I

  approved your, request to land, but you gave us so few details...."

  The governor waited for Boba to join them, then turned to the older

  Jedi and bowed his head to her respectfully. He looked at Boba and gestured

  at the tall Jedi.

  "This is Luminara Unduli," Tarkin said by way of introduction. "I have

  worked with her before, in various negotiations with the Separatists."

  Luminara Unduli regarded Boba with interest. She had the dark eyes and

  smooth bronze skin and ornate facial tattoos of the desert-dwellers of

  Moral. She had their detached intelligence as well.

  Even inside his helmet, Boba could feel the intensity of her probing

  gaze.

  "So, Governor Tarkin. This is the envoy Skywalker mentioned." Her

  stare grew even more pronounced.

  Boba's hand began to twitch instinctively for his blaster, but he

  checked it in time. Instead he inclined his head to Luminara and said

  nothing.

  "Does the envoy have a name?" Luminara asked pointedly. "I note he

  does not have a face. Not one I can see, anyway."

  "The envoy has news for the Chancellor alone," Tarkin said smoothly.

  He glanced aside, and Boba could swear he winked at him. "He wishes to

  remain anonymous. His mission is extremely perilous. His journey has been

  arduous. And he may have information that will help our cause. The Republic

  has guaranteed him safe passage here - that should be enough to satisfy the

  Jedi High Council."

  "And do you take responsibility for him?" Luminara asked coolly.

  "These are perilous times for all of us."

>   "No doubt," concluded Tarkin. Boba could see the governor's eyes flash

  dangerously. "I have spoken for him. My word shall be enough."

  Luminara's gaze flickered at Tarkin's words; with anger or doubt, Boba

  could not be sure. Finally, she nodded. "Very well. I can see he is

  unarmed. I will trust the Chancellor's judgment, Governor. You may show him

  to his chambers."

  She began to turn to leave. Then she stopped, adding, "The Chancellor

  has acknowledged your request that he meet with this envoy. He has agreed

  to do so tonight. Chancellor Palpatine must meet with Mace Windu in his

  chambers first. You may escort your envoy to his rooms now. Then I need to

  debrief you on the Xagobah situation, Governor."

  Tarkin bowed. Boba inclined his head very slightly as Luminara left.

  He was really glad now that they couldn't see his face.

  Mace Windu!

  Boba would never get another chance like this. Not even the thought of

  Chancellor Palpatine's wrath could curb Boba's fierce joy at the thought of

  destroying his enemy.

  Gotta find Hat Lo first, though, he thought. Gotta get new weapons -

  and shake Tarkin!

  The governor seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. "This way," he

  said. He motioned Boba to follow him. "I'll take you to your quarters. Then

  I must take care of some Senate affairs."

  They walked in silence across the landing plaza. Ahead of them loomed

  the proud spires of the Jedi Temple. As they drew nearer, Boba had to fight

  the urge to draw a nonexistent blaster. He could see dark-robed figures

  moving around the base of the closest tower. A few of them glanced

  curiously at him.

  "They better not give me any trouble," Boba muttered under his breath.

  "They won't," Tarkin said curtly.

  They had reached one of the main entrances to the Temple. Tarkin

  slowed his steps: He looked at the young bounty hunter beside him.

  "I'm taking an awful risk with you, Boba Fett," he said in a low

  voice. "And I'm not even sure why. But I have an enormous amount of

  confidence in young Skywalker."

  Tarkin gestured for Boba to enter the Temple.

  "I hope you prove worth it," Tarkin said. "We are always looking for

  new allies."

  Boba watched as Governor Tarkin walked off into his own future. Then

  Boba turned, and silently entered the stronghold of the Jedi.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Inside the Jedi Temple, all was muted, but not utterly silent. Robed

  Jedi passed, their cloaks sweeping the floor. A small group of very young

  Jedi initiates went by, walking in a straight line. They turned to stare

  with open mouths at the tall, helmeted young man who strode past them.

  "Who is that?" one of the children asked. The Jedi instructor leading

  them paused, staring at Boba curiously.

  "I'm looking for the visitors' quarters," Boba said before she could

  question him. "Anakin Skywalker arranged for me to stay here."

  At mention of Skywalker's name, the Jedi nodded.

  "Of course," she said. "That way - follow the corridor until it turns

  left. The door of your room will be open."

  "Thanks," said Boba. The children continued to stare at him with such

  huge eyes that he was tempted to laugh.

  But he didn't. Instead he hurried down the corridor the Jedi had

  indicated. It was a wide passage, lit with the bright, soft light the Jedi

  favored for public spaces. In the distance he could see two formidable

  figures walking side by side, deep in discussion. As they drew near, Boba

  stiffened.

  It can't be! he thought. Every hair on his head prickled. Without

  thinking his hand grasped at his utility belt.

  That was when Boba remembered that his weapons were gone.

  And only a handsbreadth away was

  Mace Windu!

  Boba's mouth went dry. The last time he had seen Windu was in the

  Geonosian execution arena. There the Jedi Master had stood unflinching and

  grim above the corpse of Boba's father, Jango, whom he had slain.

  Father! Boba thought, as the anguish of that moment came back to him.

  As though he had spoken the words aloud, Boba saw Windu suddenly

  glance his way.

  Can't let him know it's me! Boba thought desperately. Not now. Not

  when I'm so close!

  Boba hadn't seen Mace Windu in many years. But he knew of the tall

  Jedi Master's incredible skill at fighting - and more. Windu was rumored to

  possess a voice and will so powerful that he seldom needed to use the Force

  on his enemies, let alone a lightsaber.

  And that voice had fallen suddenly, ominously, silent as Boba passed

  in the hallway.

  Don't stare at him, Boba thought. Just keep going. Don't stop, don't -

  But he could feel Mace Windu's gaze boring into him. And he could see

  Windu halt, putting a hand on his companion's arm as he gazed after Boba.

  "Who - ?" Mace Windu began to ask in his deep tones.

  "Master Windu! Master Windu!"

  A child's high voice rang through the passage. The Jedi Master turned,

  his expression changing from suspicion to amusement as one of the tiny Jedi

  younglings ran toward him, the breathless instructor at her heels.

  "Veda!" the instructor called in exasperation. "Get back here

  immediately!"

  "But I want to ask him something!"

  Mace looked at the child. As he laughed, Boba hastened on down the

  passage. Still, as the hall began to turn toward the left, he couldn't

  resist glancing back.

  Mace stood, listening patiently as the child prattled on. But as he

  listened he slowly turned his head, staring directly down the passage.

  At Boba.

  He can't know it's me, Boba thought. And even if he does

  For an instant Boba remained where he was. The Jedi could not see the

  hatred in his eyes.

  But perhaps he could feel the hatred in Boba's soul.

  "I'll see you again very soon, Mace Windu," Boba whispered before

  turning to continue on his way.

  The room that had been made ready for him was spare but comfortable.

  He had worried that the Jedi were going to put a guard on watch, but

  clearly they were too occupied to spend effort on an informant whose

  information they did not know yet to be true. But this played to Boba's

  advantage. He wasted little time in his room. He shut the door and

  activated the room's communicator. Within seconds, Hat Lo's sweaty face

  once more stared out at him.

  "Boba!" he said in forced joviality. "I didn't expect to hear again

  from you so soon!"

  "No? Well, you're going to see me even sooner. I need to meet with

  you."

  "Now?" Hat Lo sounded aggrieved.

  "As I told you, my business is urgent. Jabba's business.."

  Boba let his voice trail off threateningly.

  Hat Lo blanched. "Of course, of course!" he said. "I'll send a speeder

  for you immediately! I will meet you within the hour at the Sign of the

  TriForked Tongue. You will be my most honored guest," he added, his voice

  rising with anxiety. "As befits one of Jabba's most trusted circle -

  besides myself, of course."

  "Of course," said Boba. Behind his helmet he smiled unpleasantly. "The


  Sign of the Tri-Forked Tongue, in one hour. I'll see you there."

  Hat Lo's round face blipped from view. For a few minutes Boba sat

  alone in his room.

  "Mace's lightsaber assaults are legendary," he said, brooding. "He's

  taller than me, too, though not by much. I have my blades, but I'll need a

  blaster. And a saberdart would be really good for backup...."

  Boba nodded excitedly at the thought of the poisonous Kamino weapon.

  That would really do the job! Not even a Jedi Master could withstand the

  venom of a saberdart! Now let's just hope Hat Lo can put his grimy little

  hands on one for me.

  He hurried off to meet the Coruscant lowlife's airspeeder.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN,

  The bright-red airspeeder was waiting near Slave I on the landing

  dock. With a pang, Boba immediately recognized the humanoid alien piloting

  it.

  "Oh no!" he groaned. "Not Elan Sleazebaggano!"

  "Elan's the name," the obnoxious young con man announced as Boba

  jumped into the seat beside him. His long antennae wriggled with pride.