Then he set about repairing his body armor.
Ygabba and Gab'borah had given it to him back on Tatooine - Jango
Fett's own Mandalorian body armor and combat boots. The armor had been
damaged by General Grievous, but it could be fixed. Boba examined it
carefully, then got out his own repair kit and touch-up paint.
It felt good to be fixing his armor. Somehow, it made it feel more
like it was Boba's own.
It is mine, he thought, smoothing out a jagged spot where Grievous'
energy blast had charred the plasteel. Then he began repainting the armor,
a slightly darker color than that favored by Jango. As he did, he made a
few other adjustments, tightening here, lengthening there.
Boba knew his father would be proud of him. And he also knew that his
father would understand.
Boba was his own man now. He had accepted Jango Fett's legacy. Not
just his helmet and armor, not just the book Jango had left him, but
Jango's wisdom and skill, his discipline and determination. All of these
things had made Boba who he was now
One of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. But Boba wasn't content
with that. As he shrugged into his armor and fastened it across his chest,
he thought of Jabba the Hutt. Jabba paid well - for a Hutt, anyway - but
Boba wanted to strike out on his own.
It's time, he thought, pulling on his helmet. He straightened and
looked at the reflection in a mirror.
A pang shot through him at what he saw there. He felt loss and love
and grief, but also pride.
I look like my father, he thought. I wish... I wish he could see me.
He would be proud of me. I know that.
The mirror showed a tall, broad-shouldered figure, face masked by the
battle helmet; but his bearing and strength plain for anyone to see
Boba Fett.
And he wasn't merely Jabba's prize assassin. Soon, Boba Fett would be
the best bounty hunter the galaxy had known -
Ever.
CHAPTER EIGHT
He strode back outside to check on Skywalker's repairs. In the doorway
he paused again -
That sound, he thought. He listened, all his senses on edge. But the
sound, whatever it was, had once again escaped him. He turned and hurried
down to the moon's surface alongside his ship.
"How's it going?" Boba asked. He stooped to peer at Slave I's wing.
"Just about done." Anakin wiped a spot of grease from his cheek and
took a step back. "What do you think?"
Boba ran his hand across the wing, whistling softly. "Wow. You can
hardly tell it was damaged at all."
"That's right," said Anakin with pride.
But somehow, Skywalker's pride no longer looked so much like
arrogance. It looked more like satisfaction, even happiness. For a moment
he stood and admired his own work. Then he turned to Boba.
Now it was Anakin's turn to be impressed. "Your armor looks good," he
said admiringly. "Your helmet, too."
Boba shrugged. "In my line of work, you need it." "Yeah," said Anakin
with a nod. " I can see that." For a moment the two young men stood in
silence.
At last Boba said, "Thanks for helping me with the repairs on my ship.
But I have an important job to do - "
"So do I." Anakin cut him off. "You violated Republic airspace back
there on Xagobah. All unauthorized personnel automatically become detainees
of the Republic. You're in my charge now."
Boba's hand twitched toward his blaster. Anakin's did the same with
his lightsaber. His steely eyes remained fixed on Boba.
"There's no point in resisting," Skywalker said calmly, though there
was an edge of menace in his voice. "But I'll put in a good word for you -
"
Boba's entire body tensed as he put himself into attack mode. Then he
grimaced.
The injuries he'd sustained from Grievous were too great. Even as he
moved, he could feel blood trickling from his wounded shoulder. The pain
was excruciating - but he wouldn't let Skywalker know that.
" - after I bring you in for questioning," the Jedi finished. "I'm
sure we can find a place for you to work within the Republic."
Boba's grimace deepened, though not from pain. No way! he thought.
Working for the Republic was not an option. Working for anyone, except
himself, was not an option! Jabba the Hutt might pay his bounties, but no
one set limits on Boba Fett.
Not Jabba. Not the Republic.
And definitely not Anakin Skywalker.
But how to get away from the Jedi? Boba looked at the desolate
moonscape surrounding them. Dunes, craters, depthless holes like horrible
empty eyes or mouths on the lunar surface. He would find no refuge there.
No help, either...
He tried desperately to come up with a plan.
If only I hadn't taken such a hit from Grievous! he thought. He
flinched, recalling the encounter that had nearly killed him - that would
have killed him, if Boba hadn't managed to use his wits to escape. He
glanced at Anakin.
I could take him, if I wasn't injured, he thought grimly. And if he
didn't have a Republic army at his beck and call! 1 could still take him...
.
As though the young Jedi could read Boba's mind, Anakin said, "Don't
even think of escape, Fett. You're no match for me. Glynn-Beti's troopship
is nearby. I'll bring you there, and she'll decide what's to be done with
you."
"No - " Boba took a step toward Anakin. Sky-walker's hand tightened
around his weapon as Boba said, "I have a better idea."
Anakin regarded him suspiciously. "I warn you, if - "
"'If' nothing!" Boba snapped. "If you don't listen to me now, you're
making a mistake."
Anakin's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
The bounty hunter hesitated. Since his father's death, Boba had been
sustained by two things. One was a burning rage to take vengeance on his
father's murderer, Mace Windu.
The other was a secret that only Boba knew. It was something he had
learned back when he was on the toxic planet, Raxus Prime. He had been
brought there by the bounty hunter Aurra Sing. She had been hired to
capture Boba, by someone known as "the Count."
The Count was in fact the deadly Separatist leader Count Dooku, enemy
of the Republic. He was a former Jedi Master, who, like Boba, now hated the
Jedi. Unlike Boba, Dooku had allied himself with the Separatists.
Yet only Boba knew that Count Dooku was the same person as the
mysterious Tyranus... the same Tyranus who had first approached Jango Fett
to become the source for the Republic's clone army...
The same Tyranus who was therefore also helping the Republic!
Boba had kept this information secret from the Republic and the Jedi -
until now. He had his Mandalorian armor, and his helmet. He had some of the
most sophisticated weapons in the galaxy. And he had Slave I, the best ship
in the galaxy.
But right now, he knew that none of these things was as valuable as
what he knew about the Count. His knowledge of the Count's secret was also
a weapon. And at the moment, it was a weapon more powerful than anything
else Boba possessed. He drew himself up and stared coldly at Anakin
Skywalker.
Knowledge is power, his father had taught him. Knowledge is a weapon -
use it carefully, or pay the price!
As he gazed at the threatening young Jedi before him, Boba hoped his
knowledge wouldn't kill him.
CHAPTER NINE
Boba straightened and met Anakin's gaze.
"I have information vital to the safety of the Republic," Boba said.
Anakin stared at him in cold disbelief. "You what?"
"You heard me." Boba glared back at the Jedi. "What I know could mean
the difference between the Republic's defeat - or ultimate victory."
Anakin's grasp on his weapon loosened, ever so slightly. "How do I
know you're telling the truth?"
Boba shrugged. "You don't. But if I am, the Republic could have the
knowledge it needs to defeat the Separatists. And if you don't make use of
it, the Republic could be destroyed. Are you willing to take that chance?"
Boba watched Anakin carefully. Whatever this Jedi was, he wasn't a
coward. Or stupid. Anakin shook his head.
"Why should I believe you? You're just a worthless bounty hunter!"
"Not just any bounty hunter!" retorted Boba. "Think about it. You said
that Obi-Wan Kenobi had spoken my name to you. Why would he bother telling
you about me, unless I was important?"
Anakin frowned.
Got him there! thought Boba triumphantly. Before the Jedi could say
more, Boba quickly went on.
"I need to go to Coruscant." The words were out almost before he knew
what he was saying. But as soon as he did, he realized that they were
right. "What I know can only be shared with the highest authority. If you
try to stop me, you will be accused of treason."
"Coruscant?" For a second, Boba had the satisfaction of seeing
Anakin's confidence falter. But only for an instant. "There's no place on
Coruscant for a bounty hunter like you! No one will meet with you. No one
important, anyway."
"That's where you're wrong," said Boba. Even as he spoke, he could
feel his mouth go dry. He was taking a gamble, maybe the most perilous risk
he had taken in his entire life. "Someone will meet me there. Someone
important. Someone powerful..."
"Who?" demanded Anakin angrily.
Boba took a deep breath. He knew he was taking more than his luck in
his hands.
He was taking his life.
Anakin took a step closer to Boba. "Tell me!" Boba put his hand on his
blaster, defying Anakin to come nearer.
"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine," he said. Anakin froze. His eyes
widened.
"The Chancellor?!"
Boba nodded. "That's right."
"But - "
Abruptly the world around them seemed to shatter. Rocks and waves of
sand rained down. Boba shouted and dropped, scrambling for his blaster.
Anakin fell, too. He rolled toward Boba, one arm raised protectively above
the two of them.
"It's a space slug!" Anakin yelled. "Stay down!"
From a crater behind the Jedi starfighter, a vast shape emerged,
blotting out the sky above them. Its huge, snakelike body shot through the
air, boulders and great rocks flying everywhere in its wake. Its huge mouth
yawned open, showing rows of teethlike blades as it twisted and lunged
Straight toward Boba and Anakin!
Boba ducked, just in time, as a displaced boulder hurtled past him.
The space slug roared.
"This'll slow it!" shouted Anakin. He stood and grabbed for his
lightsaber. But before he could draw it, a man-sized rock came hurtling
toward him.
The rock smashed against Anakin. With a strangled cry, the young Jedi
fell.
"Skywalker!" Boba shouted.
But he had no time to help the wounded Jedi. The space slug was upon
them!
Boba hefted his powerful DC-15 blaster. It lacked the scope of his
bigger weapons, but he was in close range to his target now
Very close!
"WHHHOOOORAAAAAGGGH!" the space slug roared. It was close enough that
Boba could feel its hot breath, stinking of scorched rock and sand. And it
was heading right toward Slave I!
"Get away from my ship!" Boba yelled furiously. He darted to one side
of Slave I, stooping to pick up a rock. He hurled it at the predator.
The rock struck the predatory monster on its most vulnerable part -
its eye. "RRRUAAAGHRRRR!"
With a thunderous growl of pain and rage, the space slug changed its
course in midair. It veered away from Boba's ship - and the fallen Anakin -
and surged in full pursuit of the bounty hunter!
Boba ran toward a small crater. It was way too small to hide Boba for
more than a moment or two.
But that was all the time Boba needed to take aim. He crouched, his
blaster leveled. He got a fix on the space slug's head - which was rapidly
approaching!
"Can't miss!" Boba muttered through gritted teeth. From the corner of
his eye he could see Anakin turn, groaning, and stumble to his feet.
"Otherwise we're both dead - and I've got a score to settle with another
Jedi!"
Once again the space slug's deafening roar rang out. Fragments of rock
fell around Boba as the serpentine creature reared above him.
BAAMMMM!
Boba fired a direct hit - right between the eyes!
"GLOOORB!" The gigantic slug's roar rose to a bubbling shriek of pain.
Its head swayed back and forth, giving Boba another chance to fire - and
another!
"Yes!" Boba crowed.
Two more hits! The space slug writhed in agony.
Its knife-edged teeth clashed as it recoiled from the bounty hunter.
Greenish blood spattered Boba as the space slug retreated with a long,
bubbling cry, sliding back into its hole.
"Yuck!" exclaimed Boba, wiping slug goo from his body armor. "Just
after I got it all cleaned up, too!" He sheathed his weapon then removed
his helmet, checking it for damage. Then he hurried toward his ship.
"That was pretty good."
Boba froze in his tracks. A few feet away Anakin stood, staring at him
intently. Boba knew the Jedi was deciding what to do about him.
But he couldn't know what was going on in Skywalker's head. Did it
matter that he'd just saved the Jedi's life? That this was the second time
he'd saved a Jedi since he'd started the hunt for Wat Tambor?
Anakin shook his head, then looked Boba up and down as he approached.
"Yeah, that was pretty good," the Jedi repeated. "Not bad at all,
considering."
"Considering what?" snapped Boba. He stared challengingly at
Skywalker. Boba really didn't want to draw arms against this particular
Jedi - but he wouldn't hesitate if he had to.
"Considering you're getting ready to set your course for Coruscant,"
said Anakin.
"Huh?" It took a moment for the words to sink in. When they did, Boba
allowed himself a small smile. Yes!
But Boba was careful not to let his true emotions show outside of his
mask. He had another, secret motive for going to Coruscant. And Skywalker
could never learn what that w
as.
"Yes. You can go to Coruscant - under these conditions," added Anakin.
He gave Slave I's repaired wing one last careful look. Then he headed
toward his starfighter.
"I'll give you the coordinates," Anakin continued. "And the signal for
takeoff. I'm handing you over to Governor Tarkin. He'll escort you to the
Chancellor. If you don't like those conditions, you're history. When you
enter Coruscant airspace, follow his lead. And your weapons have to remain
on your ship."
Boba bristled. "Why?" he asked angrily. "I'm not your prisoner!"
"No, you're not. But he knows Coruscant, and you don't. I know who can
be trusted - "
"I trust nobody," said Boba. Already he had a plan for what he would
really do on Coruscant.
His eyes met Anakin's unflinchingly. "No one but myself."
Anakin looked at him. Then he nodded, turning to ready his ship for