Book 6 - Pursuit by Elizabeth Hand

Author:Elizabeth Hand [Hand, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Wars
ISBN: 9780439339339
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2004-10-02T07:00:00+00:00

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

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