Slave Ship

15

"So how do you think the job went?"

The Trandoshan bounty hunter Bossk stood at the rear of Slave I's cockpit, watching its owner and pilot make adjustments to its course and waiting for an answer. The cockpit's space was so cramped that the upper curve of its bulkheads pressed against Bossk's scale-covered shoulders.

Boba Fett's visored gaze turned round from the ship's controls." I see no need," he said evenly," for any kind of postmortem analysis on this operation. And 'postmortem' is an inaccurate figure of speech. We got the hard merchandise we came for, and" - even hidden by the helmet of the Mandalorian battle armor, Fett's glance seemed to sharpen-" nobody died in the process."

That's a judgment call, thought Bossk grumpily. If neither he nor Boba Fett had been killed while capturing the renegade Imperial stormtrooper Trhin Voss'on't, they had come as close to it as possible without actually winding up as blank-eyed corpses on that crummy mining planet they had just left. After Voss'on't's unconscious body had been dumped in one of the hold

ing cages aboard Slave I's main cargo area, Bossk had gone straight to the ship's medical supplies locker and had started patching himself up. Right now, as he stood there in the cockpit, his breath was a little short, due to the transparent compression bandage he had wrapped around his torso, immobilizing the ribs he had cracked when he had fallen from the crust-piercer machinery. That whole sudden eruption of chaos from beneath the abandoned mining colony's dismal watering hole was going down in Bossk's memory as one of the least pleasant episodes in his bounty hunter career.

While he had been tending to his wounds, Boba Fett had ignored the visibly worse condition he himself had been in-the crust-piercer's immense mass had, after all, landed directly on top of him-and had readied Slave I for takeoff. Bossk had grudgingly admitted to himself that that had been the smart thing to do; there had been no telling what other defensive measures Voss'on't might have had wired into place, any of which could already have been triggered by his capture. Better to get the ship and its merchandise out past the planet's orbit, just to be safe.

Once that had been taken care of, Boba Fett had taken the time to sort himself out, replacing the torn and broken pieces of his armor and operating gear from the stock of spares he kept aboard Slave I. Even his helmet-its dark visor had been cracked by the weight of the crust-piercer, but Fett had restored the optical component, along with the side-mounted comm antenna that had been broken off in the struggle. As Bossk looked at him, the other bounty hunter appeared just as experience-scarred as before, with the colors of the ancient Mandalorian warriors scraped and faded on the dented metal of the helmet-but he didn't look any worse than before.

Bossk wished he could say the same for himself. As far as he was concerned, the only creatures aboard Slave I in worse shape were the battered ex-stormtrooper in the holding cage below, and the dead bounty hunter Zuckuss stretched out in one of the ship's storage lockers. Even if it had been necessary, the unemotional manner in which Boba Fett had put Zuckuss permanently out of the way still struck Bossk as cold. Though that's what you get, he supposed, when you hook up with someone like Fett. It was a lesson he had already taken to heart.

"So that's it?" Bossk watched as Boba Fett turned back toward the cockpit controls." Nothing else?"

"There's no more to be discussed." Boba Fett's shoulders lifted in a slight shrug." All that's left is payday." He leaned forward, the forefinger of one gloved hand punching some new numbers into the navicomputer." If it's important to you, then you could say our partnership-our temporary partnership-has been a success."

"I'm glad you think so." Bossk drew something from his belt and set its point, with a sharp metallic click, against the back of Boba Fett's helmet." Because I'm ending that partnership right now."

Boba Fett turned his head and found himself gazing into the muzzle of Bossk's blaster pistol. The thought of whatever surprised expression might be on his face, behind the helmet's visor, amused Bossk.

"What's this supposed to mean?" Fett's voice betrayed no sign of emotion.

"I'd give you three guesses, if I thought you needed them." Bossk kept the weapon aimed straight into the top-center of the helmet's visor." But you don't. You might have been fool enough to trust me and take me on as a partner, but I'm sure you can figure out what's happening now." One side of Bossk's muzzle curled into a snarling smile." As I said, this partnership's over." He stepped back into the doorway of the cockpit and gestured with the blaster pistol." Stand up."

"Very well." Boba Fett swiveled the pilot's chair around." But as an ex-partner, let me give you a bit of advice. This is not a good idea."

"Shut up. Turn around and face the viewport." Bossk had kept a careful eye on the other bounty hunter as he had stood up." Don't try anything. This blaster's got a hair trigger-and so do I." With his free hand, he reached out and grabbed the various larger weapons from where they were slung at Boba Fett's back. He tossed them into the far corner of the cockpit, safely out of reach. Bracing the muzzle of the blaster between the other's shoulder blades, Bossk snapped the control lines for Fett's wrist-and forearm-mounted weapons. All the time he had been aboard Slave I, he had been carefully observing Fett for indications of any hidden gadgets. Now, as he stepped back again from him, Bossk was sure that he was completely disarmed." All right," said Bossk. He drew back into the space outside the cockpit's hatchway, still aiming the blaster at Boba Fett." Time to head below."

Fett was halfway down the ladder's metal treads when he stopped and looked up at Bossk holding the blaster on him." Of course you realize," said Boba Fett mildly," that you're taking some pretty big chances here. This is my ship; it's as much a part of me as any of those weapons you just took from me. Do you really think that I don't have other means of defense close at hand?"

"Not now, you don't." Crouching at the side of the ladder portal, Bossk reached with his free hand into one of his belt pouches. He brought out a fistful of miniaturized power sources, trigger mechanisms, and sensor relays. They glittered brightly and ominously in his grasp." I've kept myself busy while I've been here on Slave I. I've had a good look around, and I came prepared to make a few little changes of my own. Let me tell ya, pal-you don't have any tricks left up your sleeve." Bossk motioned with the barrel of the blaster." Keep going."

When Boba Fett reached the bottom of the ladder and stepped away from it, Bossk didn't bother climbing down after him. He jumped, landing bent-kneed and immediately snapping the blaster's aim at the center of Fett's visored helmet." You see?" He straightened up, smiling." You're not the only person capable of a few surprises."

"Apparently not." Boba Fett folded his arms across his chest." I congratulate you. You must have been planning this for some time."

"You got that right. I was planning it even before I came and had my little talk with you, when you agreed to go in with me on this job." Bossk pointed with a thumb-claw toward the ex-stormtrooper Voss'on't, still lying unconscious on the floor of the holding cage behind Fett." As nice as getting half the bounty for this particular piece of merchandise might've been, there won't be anything nicer than getting all the credits."

"Which is what you wanted from the beginning." Boba Fett slowly shook his head." Not much of a partnership."

"Yeah, right." Bossk sneered at him." It's breaking my heart just to think of betraying your trust and all. But you want to know a couple of things? One, I don't give a womp-rat's hindquarters what you think about it. And two-turnabout's fair play. You trusted me as your partner, the same way the old Bounty Hunters Guild trusted you when you came around

and applied for membership. When all along you were planning on sinking a vibroblade in our collective back."

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody had to tell me, Fett; I could figure it out on my own." Bossk tightened his grip on the blaster pistol." All I needed was some confirmation of my suspicions. And I got that through some contacts inside Black Sun. To make a few credits, they were happy to give me some interesting tidbits about what their boss Prince Xizor was hoping to do to the Guild."

Boba Fett's helmet turned to one side, as if the eyes behind the dark visor were peering harder at Bossk." What's Xizor got to do with all this?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Fett. I don't have time for it." Bossk raised the blaster, bringing it level with the other bounty hunter's helmet." And as a matter of fact-neither do you. You don't have any time left at all."

"What are you planning on doing?"

"The same thing I've wanted to do for a long time. Since the day we first crossed paths, I knew that this moment would come, Fett. And that one of us would be alive afterward, and one of us wouldn't. Guess which one you get to be."

Boba Fett radiated the same eerie calm as before." That's a great deal of talk for someone intent on murder."

"I didn't," said Bossk," want to miss my chance to say exactly what I thought of you. But you're right. So I've just run out of words. And now the fun starts." Bossk kept the blaster aimed at the other bounty hunter, and used his free hand to gesture toward the cargo area's exterior airlock." I don't want to hear any more words from you, either. So you're going out

where things don't make any sound. We're surrounded by vacuum now, Fett. Take a deep breath, because it'll be your last." Bossk's fang-lined smile grew wider." I'm going to enjoy turning this ship around to take a look at what's left of you, after your blood's boiled away and your body's exploded from depressurization. I've heard that the process takes just long enough for you to feel it; maybe a second or two. I bet they won't go by fast, either." This time, he motioned with the weapon." Get moving. You know the way out."

"Your thoroughness is commendable." Boba Fett took a step toward the hatchway." I've been cornered inside my own ship before-some of the hard merchandise I've carried has been very resourceful-but I've never had Slave I's internal defense systems disabled before. That's a new one." He stopped and brought his visored helmet's level gaze straight toward Bossk." It's just a shame that you didn't think of everything."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"All it takes is to overlook one small detail." Boba Fett reached up and tapped the side of his helmet." You left my comm system functioning."

Careful, Bossk warned himself. The scum's playing mind games with you." Big deal," he said aloud." Who're you going to call for help? We're alone here, and there's no other ship in this sector of the galaxy. Believe me-I checked that out as well." He pointed over his shoulder with a thumb-claw." And a knocked-out stormtrooper locked in a cage isn't going to come to your rescue anytime soon. So go on. Have enough guts to get into the airlock on your own power. You don't have any other option."

Boba Fett made no reply. Bossk thought he heard a muffled whisper, as though Fett had spoken into the comm mike concealed inside his helmet. A few seconds passed, then Bossk knew for sure that he had heard something. One of the storage lockers behind him had opened, its metal door unsealing and lifting upward.

"Nice try." Bossk didn't bother to turn around and look." If you think a simpleminded trick like that is going to get me to take my eyes and this blaster off you, then I'm really disappointed. I expected better from you than just trying to divert my attention with a little comm-triggered noise."

"Okay. Is this better?"

He was surprised to hear another voice speaking, and from right behind himself. Bossk was even more surprised when he felt the unmistakable cold pressure of a blaster pistol's muzzle placed against the back of his head.

That was when Bossk recognized the other voice." Zuckuss!"

The blaster muzzle didn't move from the base of his skull." That's right," said Zuckuss, still behind him." Now why don't you lower your weapon. I really don't like you pointing it at my partner."

"I'll take it." Boba Fett stepped forward and removed the blaster from Bossk's slackened grip. He gestured with it toward the holding cage." Stand over there."

Bossk muttered a string of guttural Trandoshan curses as he backed toward the vertical durasteel bars." Talk about dirty tricks-" His eyes narrowed into slits as he gazed at Zuckuss." You weren't dead at all."

"I try to avoid it, when I can." The blaster in Zuckuss's hand was reflected in his large, insectlike

eyes." Though for one of my species, it's pretty easy to imitate." He pulled two miniature cylinders of compressed ammonia from the dangling tubes of his breathing apparatus." When you come from a planet like Gand, where we've got both ammonia-breathers and oxygen-breathers, you have to be adaptable. In an oxygen-rich environment, I can shut down all respiration and external vital signs-usually just for a couple of minutes. But with a couple of these" -Zuckuss held up the air units-" I can go for days like that. It's actually kind of relaxing."

"And useful," said Boba Fett." I've discovered that when dealing with Trandoshans, it's good to have another partner on hand."

"You slimy-" Words failed Bossk as his clawed hands squeezed into impotent fists. He didn't know which of the two figures in front of him he despised more." How could you do this?" He snarled at Zuckuss." We've worked together; we've been real partners-"

"Business is business." Zuckuss gave a slight shrug." And Boba Fett here made me an offer I just couldn't refuse. We're talking forty percent of the bounty for the hard merchandise in the cage."

"Forty! I would've given you a straight half!"

"Yeah, but. . ." Zuckuss regretfully shook his head." You're not exactly in a bargaining position right now."

Bossk fell silent, except for the grinding of his fangs and the pulse of blood hammering inside his head. The treachery of sentient creatures was infuriating.

"And you-" Bossk turned his red-tinged gaze toward Boba Fett." This is what you were planning all along. Isn't it?"

"Just as you were making your own plans." Boba Fett tucked into his belt the blaster pistol he had taken

from Bossk. He reached his empty hand over toward Zuckuss standing beside him." Give me your blaster."

"Huh?" Zuckuss's large eyes goggled at him in puzzlement." Why?"

"Just give it to me."

Zuckuss handed the weapon over.

"Thanks." Boba Fett did a quick check of the blaster's power cell, then raised and pointed it at Zuckuss." Now stand over there with him."

"What-what're you doing-"

Boba Fett motioned with the blaster's barrel." You can go over there with Bossk, or I can kill you right where you're standing. Your pick."

"I thought. . ." Zuckuss shook his head in dismay as he joined Bossk at the side of Slave I's cargo area." I thought we were partners. . ."

"You idiot." The disgust that rose inside Bossk was enough that he struck Zuckuss's head with the flat of his palm." You don't ever hand over a weapon to somebody like that."

"How was I supposed to know?" Zuckuss rubbed the side of his head." I trusted him. . ."

"That was your first mistake." Boba Fett kept both of them covered with the blaster pistol in his gloved hand. He turned his gaze toward Bossk." Your mistake was in thinking that I would trust you. I could figure out from the beginning that you were planning on eliminating me as soon as we had the hard merchandise safely in our possession."

"All right." Bossk nodded as he spread his hands apart." That's a fair assessment. You can't blame me for trying. And I did help you catch Voss'on't. So how about if we just forget this part of my plan, and we go ahead and turn him in to Kud'ar Mub'at and split the bounty fifty-fifty, just like we were originally going to do?"

"Hey!" Zuckuss's voice squeaked in protest." What about me? What do I get?"

"Neither one of you is getting anything," said Boba Fett," except a blaster bolt between the eyes. My patience is not unlimited."

"I think Zuckuss has got a point." Having a blaster pointed at him had sent Bossk's thoughts racing." Fair's fair, after all." Bossk stepped behind Zuckuss and placed both his clawed hands on the smaller bounty hunter's shoulders." After all, we weren't trying to do anything different from you. You know-just playing to win."

"You're right." The blaster didn't waver in Boba Fett's grip." You played to win, and I played to win. The difference is. . . I won."

Bossk didn't say anything more. Instead, in one quick move, he lifted Zuckuss bodily from the floor of the cargo area and threw him at Boba Fett. Even before Zuckuss's flailing, panicked form struck Fett, Bossk was heading in a crouched-over sprint for the other side of the ship. A blaster bolt scorched past his shoulder as he dove for his one chance of escape.

He had spotted the auxiliary escape pod's rounded hatch when he had previously checked out Slave I's fixtures. The escape pod must have been original equipment installed by the Kuat Drive Yards when the company had built the ship for Boba Fett-it was hard to believe that Boba Fett would have had much use for the device. Bossk wasn't even sure that the pod was in operational order; its external fascia seal had been unbolted and discarded, as though Boba Fett had already decided to strip out the pod and the connected launching mechanism. But it was still worth a try. Hot sparks lashed across his spine as another bolt hit the bulkhead above him; the escape pod's hatch popped open and he threw himself headfirst into its dark, cramped space.

"You're not going anywhere, Bossk-"

From inside the emergency pod, Bossk peered around the edge of its open hatch. He saw Zuckuss lying flat on the cargo area's floor, covering his head with both forearms. The helmeted figure of Boba Fett stood over him, blaster aimed toward the pod.

"I've already signaled the cockpit and overridden that pod's launch sequence." The blaster in Fett's hand was level with the exact center of the pod's hatch." That's a dead end for you. Literally."

"Maybe so-" Bossk called back out to Boba Fett. Drawing his head back, Bossk quickly searched through the pouches of his belt. He had no weapons, but there was something that could still be of use to him. He found the small object, one of the pieces of equipment that he had extracted from Slave I's circuits when he had disabled Fett's onboard defense systems. When he pushed a button on top of the small cylinder, a row of tiny red lights began flashing down its side. Keeping his thumb on the button, he held it out so that Boba Fett would be able to see it through the open hatch." Let's talk."

Outside the pod, in the center of the ship's cargo area, Zuckuss raised his head." Bossk-" He had spotted the device as well." What're you doing? You'll get us all killed!"

"That's the idea," said Bossk grimly." I'm not going unless I can take everybody else with me." He held the flashing cylinder a little higher." Fett-you know what this is, don't you? You should; it was part of your equipment here."

"Miniature thermal detonator," replied Boba Fett." It's no big deal; I've seen creatures try to cut a deal for themselves using full-sized ones. When they're that small, they're only useful for jettisoning sections of a ship's fuselage that might have gotten damaged in an exchange of laser-cannon fire; that's the only reason there were any aboard Slave I." Fett shook his head." You can blow yourself up with that thing, but it's not powerful enough to take out this entire ship."

"It doesn't have to." Bossk stayed prudently back from the edge of the escape pod's open hatch." All it has to do is blow out a big enough gap in the side of the hull, and you're going to have a hard time making it back to Kud'ar Mub'at's web without laying over for some lengthy repairs. And you and I both know that the word has already gotten out about our having captured Trhin Voss'on't. Do you really want to be sitting out in the middle of empty space in a crippled ship, while every bounty hunter in the galaxy heads this way to try and lift that valuable piece of hard merchandise off you?"

Boba Fett was silent for a few seconds, then he gave a single nod." All right," he said." I'll make a deal with you. I'll activate the pod's launch sequence, and you can go. But when we cross paths again-then you'd better be ready."

"Don't worry. I will be."

"Engage the safety on the detonator and toss it out here."

"You gotta be kidding." Bossk barked out a short laugh." I'll deactivate this thing when I'm safely on my way. And not a second earlier than that."

"As you wish." Boba Fett reached down with his free hand and grabbed Zuckuss under the arm." Come on-you're going traveling, too."

"What-what're you-" Zuckuss sputtered in confusion as Boba Fett dragged him toward the emergency escape pod." But-but you owe me. . ."

"And I'm paying off the debt." Holding the blaster by the side of his helmet, Boba Fett kicked Zuckuss inside the pod with a single boot thrust." I'm letting you live."

The pod's interior was barely big enough for both bounty hunters; Bossk's spine was crammed back against its curved wall, with one of Zuckuss's arms thrust across his face. He shoved Zuckuss aside as the hatch began to seal shut. He had one last glimpse of Boba Fett's cold, visored gaze-then he threw the detonator outside just as the hatch clicked shut.

Launch had already commenced, as though the pod were an archaic metal bullet being fired from some primitive tribe's gunpowder musket. The violent shock wave of the detonator's explosion, back aboard Slave I, tumbled Bossk and Zuckuss inside the pod as it shot away from the ship.

"What did you do that for?" The pod's velocity had taken it past the concussive effects of the explosion. Bleeding from a scrape on his brow, Zuckuss hunched himself over to one side of the cramped space." If that thing had gone off a half second sooner, we wouldn't have gotten away!"

"We wouldn't have gotten away, either, if Boba Fett had been able to turn his ship around and blow us to bits with one of his laser cannons." Bossk leaned forward, wrapping his heavily muscled arms around his knees." I wanted to make sure that he was good and distracted, until we were safely out of firing range."

"Oh. Good thinking." Zuckuss shifted about, trying to make room for himself inside the escape pod." For a change," he said disgustedly," I think I'm going to scout around for a more dependable partner." His large insectoid eyes looked up, as though seeking some indication of the pod's flight through the vacuum of space." Where do you think this thing is going to wind up?"

"Who knows?" Choice of destination, Bossk was well aware, was not a feature of such devices; they were programmed to seek out and head for the nearest habitable planet." We'll find out when we get there."

The only thing he did know-a perfect certainty in the brooding silence that filled his heart and every other space inside him-was that one way or another, sooner or later, he would find his way back to Boba Fett.

And then, vowed Bossk, that scum is going to pay. . ."

Big time.

The damage wasn't extensive, and was easily contained. There had been a momentary drop in atmospheric pressure aboard Slave I as air had rushed out from the hole created by Bossk's parting gesture with the miniature thermal detonator. But the ship's own homeostatic defense systems had been activated by their sensors registering the explosion; the hull's structure and surface area near the escape pod's launch bay had sealed themselves off like a rapidly mending wound in a living creature's soft tissue.

Even before the ship's internal pressure had been stabilized, Boba Fett had also been at work, minimizing the explosion's effects. The helmet of his Mandalorian battle armor contained its own emergency air supply-only a few minutes worth, but enough for him to have reached another onboard source if necessary. He had been more concerned with the welfare of the hard merchandise inside the cargo area's holding cage; the ex-stormtrooper Trhin Voss'on't was only valuable if he stayed alive. Fett had grabbed an oxygen canister from one of the storage lockers, then reached into the cage and fastened its tethered mask over Voss'on't's gasping face. Voss'on't's eyelids had fluttered for a moment, as though the anoxic shock had been enough to rouse him into consciousness; a quick blow to the side of his head had put him safely under again.

Taking care of the merchandise had prevented Boba Fett from retaliating at the departed Bossk. By the time the damage to Slave I had been contained and all systems stabilized, Boba Fett had gone up to the ship's cockpit and had found no trace of the escape pod on any of the scanners. Just as well, thought Fett. Mere vengeance was rarely a priority with him, and certainly not worth any time pursuing now. If he ran across Bossk again, he could take care of the Trandoshan at that time.

Right now, though, he had business to wrap up. The sooner he had dropped off the hard merchandise he was carrying, and collected the bounty for it, the more at ease he would feel. Bossk had been right about one thing: the longer he stayed out here, the more attention he would attract from other bounty hunters. He could undoubtedly fight them all off, but why go to the effort if it wasn't necessary? Leaning over the cockpit's controls, reading out the damage-assessment gauges, Boba Fett started figuring out what kind of navigable condition Slave I was in.

Less than a Standard Time Part later, he had his answer. It'll make the trip, Boba Fett decided, but it'll be in bad shape when it gets there. He had returned to the cockpit after a thorough check of the damaged hull sections, scoping them with a structural diagnostics kit from the cargo area. The ship's main computer had crunched the numbers he had factored in, and the results were not good. Slave I was in no imminent danger of disintegration, and could even travel for an indeterminate distance-as long as he kept it at sub-light speeds. But the explosion had severely weakened the ship's tight-angle thruster ports and maneuvering capabilities; the stresses of a jump into hyperspace would rip some of the control surfaces completely loose from the hull. Slave I could make it to Kud'ar Mub'at's web, but the ship would be a limping cripple when it arrived.

He had no choice. Staying here in this sector, while making repairs, would make him a sitting target for everyone with an eye out for the hard merchandise he was carrying. The safety that would come with unloading his precious living cargo lay at the other side of the galaxy.

Safety. . . and an extremely large pile of credits.

No choice at all.

Carefully and precisely, he started punching the coordinates into the navicomputer, getting ready for the jump into hyperspace.

"The away scout just reported, sir." With a slight bow of the head, the Black Sun comm specialist reported the information." His message states that Boba Fett's ship has left the sector in which it was last seen."

"Very well." Prince Xizor turned away from the main viewport of his quarters aboard the Virago. At the moment, nothing but stars and emptiness showed beyond." Alert all personnel. It shouldn't be long before he arrives here."

"As you direct, sir."

"Be sure everyone understands." Xizor's gaze stayed for a moment on the underling before he resumed his contemplation of the galaxy's bright pieces." We must be ready to welcome him. In the manner" Xizor smiled to himself-" that he deserves. . ."

The comm specialist gave a quick nod of acknowledgment, then hurried away.

Prince Xizor folded his arms across his chest, letting his eyelids draw half-shut with the pleasure of his meditations.

A quick death, he thought, but a sure one. What could be more appropriate than that, for one such as Boba Fett?