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  "All right," said Boba Fett with rapid authority, "here's the deal. I can get away with Suhlak, just like we planned, but this freighter won't be able to either outshoot or out­run that KDY ship. But the KDY security forces aboard it undoubtedly are bearing down this way, because they figure I'm aboard here." He pointed to Dengar and Nee­lah. "You two—get back aboard the Hound's Tooth and head out, full thrusters, to open space and prepare for a hyperspace jump to the Oranessan system. They'll as­ sume that it's me aboard the Hound, and they'll follow after you."

  "But then what?" Dengar pointed with his thumb toward the cruiser's image on the screen. "If we go into hyperspace, that KDY ship won't be able to follow us."

  "They will, if they know your destination. Before you make the jump, fire off a comm transmission with a

  minimum encryption level, giving the details of the ren­ dezvous point. Suhlak and I will already be out of range, but the KDY ship will be able to pick it up. When you come out of hyperspace, it'll be right behind you. Then all you'll have to do is stay out of its reach until I'm fin­ ished with my business on Tatooine and can hook up with you again. Then we can lose them for good."

  Dengar shook his head. "I won't be able to elude that KDY ship for very long, out there in the Oranessan sys­ tem. Wouldn't it be simpler to jump there, and then as soon as the KDY ship shows up, make another quick jump to some other point that we can use for a ren­ dezvous? That way, we'd already have lost them."

  "Only for as long as it would take KDY security to tap their information sources and find out just where you were waiting for me. And if I were delayed getting back from Tatooine, you'd still have the same problem of eluding the KDY ship. In the Oranessan system, at least, there'd be a chance of pulling that off." Boba Fett made a quick sharp gesture with the flat of his hand. "Maybe not forever—but then, all you have to do is elude them for long enough. And that way, Suhlak and I would have an even better chance of making it to Tatooine without getting intercepted."

  "Smart." Suhlak nodded in appreciation. "I always like improving my odds."

  "Oh, I approve as well." Balancesheet had scuttled back onto the metal ledge alongside the larger figures. "You can just draw the Kuat Drive Yards ship away from here, and I won't have anyone firing laser cannons at me. Much better."

  "Right—and you won't be tempted to find some way of turning me over to them." Boba Fett gestured toward the transfer hatchway. "Now it's really time to get going."

  Moments later, Neelah and Dengar were back aboard the Hound's Tooth. In the forward viewport of its cockpit, the smaller shape of Suhlak's modified Z-95 Headhunter had already shot away, detection by the approaching KDY

  cruiser blocked by the imposing bulk of Balancesheet's freighter. The flare from the Headhunter's main thruster engines dwindled to a streak of light, then was gone.

  "Hold on—" In the pilot's chair, Dengar grabbed the Hound's thruster controls. "I'm not waiting around, either."

  Neelah braced herself in the corner formed by the cock­ pit's two rear bulkheads. The sudden acceleration, as Den­ gar slammed the controls, forced her spine and the back of her head against the metal behind her. Another burst, from the ship's side jets, threw her against the hatchway.

  "What're you doing?" She had grabbed the back of the pilot's chair to keep from being knocked off her feet. Past Dengar, she could see out the forward viewport; a few remaining scraps of Kud'ar Mub'at's once-living web scattered to either side of the Hound as it gained speed, heading for a larger shape ahead. "You're going straight toward the KDY ship!"

  "If I'm supposed to be chased by something with guns," said Dengar between gritted teeth, "I want to make sure I've got their attention!"

  The combined acceleration of the two ships ate up the distance between them; at the last possible moment, and as the cruiser fired off a bolt from its prow-mounted can­ non, Dengar banked the Hound's Tooth to one side and above the other ship's hull, clearing it by what seemed to Neelah to be less than a few meters.

  Below the Hound, the cruiser's rear thruster exhausts shot past. Dengar kept the ship at full throttle, taking them out into empty space, with nothing but stars ahead of them. Reaching into one of the Trandoshan-sized grooves on the control panel, he toggled onto one of the display screens the image from the stern viewport. Far off in the distance was Balancesheet's untouched freighter; closer was the KDY cruiser, wheeling itself around to fol­ low them.

  "Good." Dengar backed off the thruster controls a fraction of a centimeter. "Now all we have to do is fire off our comm transmission—"

  Neelah watched as he picked up the comm unit mike, then listened as he gave the rendezvous coordinates to the now-vanished Headhunter with Fett and Suhlak aboard. A moment later, the Hound's Tooth was in hyperspace as well.

  "Now we're all set." Dengar leaned back, hands be­ hind his head.

  "You think so, huh?" Neelah had managed to stay on her feet through the Hound's violent maneuvers. Hands braced against the back of the pilot's chair, she leaned down closer to Dengar. "Did you ever stop to think about what happens when we reach the Oranessan sys­tem? And if Boba Fett doesn't show up? Then we're sup­posed to just hang around there and wait, I suppose. Seems to me, that's a perfect opportunity for this KDY cruiser to eventually catch up with us and sort us out into a lot of little pieces."

  Dengar's face fell. "You're right ... I didn't think about that."

  "Great." Neelah straightened up and shook her head. "Boba Fett's the one with a clear shot right now, and we've got the heavy artillery chasing us. That worked out, all right—for him. Too bad for us if anything hap­ pens to him—or he decides to change his plans again."

  "I guess ..." Dengar had been hit hard by Neelah's words; he spoke slowly, his thoughts obviously turned to the KDY ship, heading for the same destination. "I guess we'll just deal with it when we get there ..."

  13

  "Of course," said the a-foreman of the Kuat Drive Yards' construction docks, "we remain loyal to you per­ sonally. Even beyond our loyalty to the corporation itself."

  "That means a great deal to me." Kuat of Kuat was not surprised to hear the statement, though. He had come down from the office in his private quarters, to which he normally would have summoned the various supervisors one by one, the single alpha and the ranks of beta team supervisors below him. This time—perhaps for the last time, Kuat knew—he preferred to meet with the crew leaders here among the docks, the true heart of the corporation he led. To find a devotion equal to his own was only fitting in such a place. "But you must re­member," continued Kuat, "loyalty to me is the same as loyalty to Kuat Drive Yards. I wouldn't ask you to do anything that would not be best for it, and for all that we've worked so hard to create."

  The men and women assembled in the meeting shed— there were probably close to a hundred of them, repre­senting all of the corporation's divisions—looked back

  at him with complete understanding in their collective gaze. They were as aware as he was of all the enemies arrayed against Kuat Drive Yards, the greedy and am­bitious who desired to consume the corporation whole, bring it entirely under their power, make it a mere part of that greater entity known as ... the Empire. Palpa­tine and the underlings that he had come to dominate with his insatiable will, from Lord Vader down through the ranks of admirals in the Imperial Navy—none of them could abide the thought of any entity, from the last solitary Rebel to one of the most powerful corpo­rations in the galaxy, remaining independent. The faith­ful KDY employees standing before Kuat knew that their only options were to resist the Empire's encroachment with all their possible strength and will—or see them­selves crushed inside Palpatine's fist, as he had crushed worlds with wealth greater than any possessed by the planet Kuat.

  One of the eldest B-supervisors stepped forward. Kuat recognized the man as the leader of the shipbuild­ ing team that laid down the enormous central frames of the ships that took form in the KDY construction docks. The B-supervisor had been a lead opera
tor, back in the days of Kuat's father, of one of the massive cranes span­ ning the docks, each nearly as long—and powerful—as an Imperial battle destroyer. Through the meeting shed's overhead skylights, the outline of one of them could be seen, blotting out an entire swath of stars.

  "You've led this corporation well, Kuat." Though white-haired, the B-supervisor was still a figure of im­ posing musculature, with a razor-sharp gaze in his age- seamed face. "And through times perhaps more difficult than any faced by your predecessors; you've proven your­ self to be the true heir of the Kuat Drive Yards' helm."

  A murmuring chorus of agreement sounded behind the man.

  "Is it your intent, then, to be the final leader that this corporation will ever see?" The B-supervisor peered

  closely at Kuat. "Perhaps you seek to ensure that Kuat Drive Yards will never have a leader greater than yourself."

  "That's not my intent," said Kuat of Kuat. The ranks assembled in the meeting shed fell absolutely silent to hear his softly spoken words. "But if it turns out to be my duty, then I will accept it."

  The grizzled figure standing before him slowly nod­ded. "A fine answer, Kuat. And a worthy decision. I've heard that there are many, on the planet of Kuat that we orbit—" As with most of the KDY workforce, the old man had spent his entire life in the construction docks and the attached dormitory complex. "—and on worlds far from here, who believe that from our work, our lives among the ships we build, we wind up with hearts as cold and precise as machines. So be it; perhaps those other creatures speak truly. But if such is the case, then you should feel certain of the judgment of the living ma­ chines you see before you." The B-supervisor turned and gestured with an outflung arm toward the other KDY workers. "And that judgment is—as you accept your duty, however painful, so do we accept ours."

  The voices behind the man were louder this time, but just as united in their assent.

  Kuat looked away from his followers for a moment, toward the bank of transparisteel panes along the side of the meeting shed. From here he had a closer view than from his personal quarters, high above the construction docks, of the corporation's work. As far as his eye could see, and against a glittering backdrop of stars, the mas­ sive shapes of a completed battle fleet were arrayed one after another. The cranes and other heavy equipment that the shipbuilders used in their intricate craft arched over the ships, as though to protect them from hands that would defile their beauty and power. Kuat's heart, however hard and machinelike it may have become, swelled in his chest. No matter what happened, however dark the fate closing upon Kuat Drive Yards, its accom­ plishments would remain. We built these, thought Kuat

  as he gazed at the ships. They were ours before they be­ came anyone else's. He nodded slowly to himself. What became of them now was a matter for him to decide.

  The B-supervisor had stepped back into the ranks of the others filling the shed. At the front of them was the a-foreman of the Kuat Drive Yards' construction docks, as before. "Are there further instructions," said the a-foreman, "that you wished to give us?"

  "No ..." Kuat of Kuat brought himself back from his deep musing. "Proceed with the plans as I've outlined them. Let me know when we've reached operational stage, and then await word from my offices before going any further."

  "As you wish." The a-foreman turned back toward the others and made a single gesture with an upraised arm. "Let's get to work."

  After the workers had filed out, Kuat remained by himself in the meeting shed for a while longer. He stood at the bank of transparisteel windows, looking out at the ships beneath the immense cranes but not really seeing them at all. In the distance, some of the bright points of light above the construction docks weren't stars, but the small, armed craft of the Rebel Alliance that had been assigned to keep an eye on whatever might happen to the new and valuable fleet waiting here. Those Rebel pi­ lots were only doing their own duty; Kuat held no grudge against them. But he couldn't let them stop him from his own.

  He was reluctant to return to his private quarters, and to the ongoing confrontation with the various conspira­ cies encircling Kuat Drive Yards. This conference with the various supervisors from the construction docks had been a momentary break from all those pressures, and one that had been, he knew, somewhat unnecessary. He could have been sure of his followers' loyalty with­ out having to come here in person; some of them had already routed memos to his offices assuring him of that much.

  One takes one's pleasures, mused Kuat of Kuat, where one can find them. Given what he knew about the dark forces moving among the stars, and what he would have to do to keep Kuat Drive Yards from falling into their hands, there were not many pleasures left to him.

  Or time left to enjoy them...

  "We'll soon be out of range," said one of the Kuat Drive Yards' security personnel, "if we wish to contact head­ quarters and inquire as to any changes in our orders."

  Kodir of Kuhlvult, the head of security for the corpo­ration, stood in the command bridge of the cruiser, with her hands clasped in the small of her back. Past the staff manning the cruiser's flight and weaponry controls, the cruiser's forward viewport was visible. Locked in that center of the star-filled image was a brighter flare, that of the main thruster engines of the ship known as the Hound's Tooth. The distance to that target had re­ mained stable for the last several minutes. Stable—and tantalizingly just beyond range of the KDY cruiser's laser cannons.

  "There's no need to contact Kuat, if that's what you mean." Kodir was aware that some of the members of Kuat Drive Yards' security division had yet to accept her leadership as a fact, and her decisions as final. "He's au­ thorized me to act as I see fit in this matter."

  Her words, crisply spoken, had an interesting effect on the underling, drawing his spine up straighter and stiffen "Kuat did more than just 'authorize' your ac­ tions," he replied in measured tones. "He gave all of us the same orders, that we were to fire upon and destroy the ship bearing Boba Fett at the earliest opportunity."

  "So he did." Kodir didn't turn toward the man, but remained gazing toward the viewport. "Your point?"

  upon

  "My point is that we had our weapons systems locked on this ship that we are presently following back when

  it left the sector at which we first intercepted it. We could have eliminated it at that time, if you hadn't directly or­dered our crew to hold their fire."

  Kodir glanced toward the man standing beside her. "Are you questioning my decision?"

  "I fail to see how that decision corresponds with the orders and the mission that were given to us by Kuat of Kuat. His authority outranks yours, whether he is physi­cally present or not; he is, after all, the head of the Kuat Drive Yards, and we all serve under that command."

  "Very well put," replied Kodir. "When I require a lec­ ture on the theory and practice of corporate structure, I'll be sure to remember that you seem to be unusually well versed on the subject. In the meantime, my orders as head of the security division remain as before. We will continue pursuing this ship bearing Boba Fett, and we will forgo contacting Kuat of Kuat at the corporation's headquarters. Is that clear?"

  "Absolutely clear." The man's eyes narrowed to slits as he regarded her. "It is my duty, when we return to Kuat Drive Yards, to make a full report to Kuat regard­ ing your conduct in this regard."

  "That's your decision." She smiled thinly at the man. "But I assure you, the head of the corporation places a great deal of trust in me. That's how I became your superior. If there's anything that you think you might be able to say that would alter Kuat's trust, you're more than free to speak up about it. But be pre­pared for the consequences, if Kuat doesn't agree with you."

  The underling remained silent, still glaring at her.

  "Now that we understand each other," continued Kodir, "you may return to your other duties. As I'll re­ turn to mine."

  With a curt nod the underling turned and strode away.

  Several other faces on the bridge had swiveled
in her direction, watching and listening to the brief altercation. Kodir gestured with one hand. "Carry on," she said. "Un­ less, that is, any of you wish to question my command?"

  A moment passed, then the security staff returned to their various tasks.

  Kodir gazed past the heads bent over the gauges and display screens. Soon, she told herself. A mere matter of time...

  "You know, I'm beginning to think you're just plain bad luck." N'dru Suhlak glanced over his shoulder at the fig­ ure behind him in the Headhunter's cockpit. "Whether I'm going up against you, or whether we're supposed to be on the same side—there's just evil stuff that happens to me when you're around."

  "What's the problem?" Boba Fett grasped the back of the pilot's chair Suhlak sat in and pulled himself for­ward, the better to see what was up ahead of the small craft. "I thought we had just about reached Tatooine."