But as they approached the gigantic building that housed the Galactic Senate, he couldn't help it. His eyes widened slightly, and he edged closer to the side of the airspeeder to get a better look.

"So that's it," he murmured. The domed building was immense - it looked as though it could be half the size of the moon where he'd met Anakin. "That's where Chancellor Palpatine holds court. And tomorrow..."

He couldn't voice the rest of his thought out loud. Tomorrow, Mace Windu would be dead. Boba would be long gone from here. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine would be addressing the Senate in an urgent emergency meeting to share with them the secret that Boba had shared with him - that Dooku and Tyra.n.u.s were the same person.

One who wanted the Republic to fall.

"The Senate Building, that's right," said Elan. He barely gave the huge domed edifice a second look. "That's where all the galaxy's most important official business takes place. But where we're going - "

The airspeeder gave a sudden lurch. Without warning it dived straight down between kilometer-high buildings, as though it was plunging into a shining abyss.

"Watch it!" shouted Boba as another speeder streaked right toward them. He grabbed the controls from Elan. "We're going to crash right into - ".

At the last possible moment, Boba got their speeder to veer sharply to one side. He had a glimpse of the angry, white-faced pilot of the other speeder glaring at Elan's bright-red one.

Then Elan calmly removed Boba's hands from the controls.

"Where we're going," Elan went on as though nothing had happened, "is where the galaxy's most important unofficial business takes place. Coruscant underground!"

"You're talking about the gangland underworld," Boba said. He watched as they sped down, down toward the garishly lit lower levels of Galactic City. "Hat Lo's territory."

"And mine!" Elan said in a wounded tone. "I happen to be the provider of the very finest death sticks in the galaxy, very reasonably priced, very - "

"Stop!" shouted Boba. "Get me to the Tri-Forked Tongue. NOW!"

The rest of their trip pa.s.sed in near silence. Now and then Elan sighed noisily. And his antennae never stopped wriggling, as though they were trying to sell Boba on some highly illegal Nkllonian Lava Extract, one hundred percent pure.

But at last the red airspeeder began to slow. Ahead of them beckoned a brilliant entryway, lit by gaudy purple and green zeon light-tubes. The VR image of a slithering Monga serpent repeatedly rose and seemed to strike, its mouth opening to display three long furling orange tongues.

"The Sign of the Tri-Forked Tongue," Elan announced. He sounded bored. "I don't know why you're bothering with this place. No one goes here anymore."

"Well, I do," snapped Boba.

He extricated himself from the airspeeder. In the shadows, a slavering corridor ghoul crouched, looking for unwary visitors to prey on. A group of sinister-looking, emaciated mutants stood near the club's entrance, playing pillel-dice. It seemed like an unpromising place to obtain illegal weapons.

But Boba had no time to look for a better one. He wanted Mace Windu dead - tonight.

"My card," said Elan. He handed Boba a shining strip of crimson emblazoned with the words ELAN SLEAZEBAGGANO: WHEN ONLY THE BEST AND SLIMIEST WILL DO!.

"In the event that Hat Lo is unable to provide you with what you need, please don't hesitate to call me."

"Unlikely," retorted Boba.

But he took the card.

The airspeeder roared off, careering wildly between alarmed pa.s.sersby. Boba turned and looked at the seedy club before him.

Hat Lo better be there! he thought grimly. I can't afford to waste any more time.

He entered the Sign of the Tri-Forked Tongue. Inside was even dimmer and grimier than the colorful VR sign had promised. Underfoot, something sticky and unpleasant clung to Boba's boots.

"Ugh!" he said, kicking at a small pulsating object - a young granite slug. The slug exploded with a blubbering sound. Bits of goo flecked the walls.

Boba grimaced. "Great. This isn't a very good start."

A few meters farther on, a burly figure blocked a doorway, a six-limbed alien with protruding eyes. Beside it stood a slender Twi'lek, yawning.

"I'm here to see Hat Lo," Boba announced gruffly. The tan-and-brown- striped Twi'lek blinked, then quietly slipped away. The alien bouncer glanced at a list in one of its hands and waved Boba in.

The Sign of the Tri-Forked Tongue was dim and smoky. It was filled with small tables where Coruscant's riffraff sat, gambling and arranging illegal deals, angrily settling old scores and making new ones.

"There he is," Boba muttered.

He spotted Hat Lo at a table in the corner. The would-be crime boss was surrounded by five Codru-Ji bodyguards. Two of them were adults, in their four-armed, humanoid mode. The remaining three were juveniles, in the Codru-Ji's distinctive four-legged wyrwulf stage.

None of them appeared to be very happy to see Boba approaching their boss's table.

"Hat Lo," Boba said. He glanced disdainfully at the bodyguards. "I need to talk to you - alone."

The crook's round face shone with sweat. He maneuvered awkwardly in his body shielding.

"Make room for Boba Fett," he ordered, gesturing impatiently for the bodyguards to move. "Boba, please - sit."

Boba stood his ground. "Not until they leave." His hand moved threateningly toward where his blaster should be. He was unarmed, but in the darkness, it would be difficult for anyone to know that.

Hat Lo regarded the bounty hunter uneasily. Finally he commanded his bodyguards, "Go! Wait for me by the door!"

The pack of Codru-Ji stood. They strode across the room, the young wyrwulfs casting hungry looks back at Boba.

"Sit, sit," repeated Hat Lo. As if by magic, the slender Twi'lek appeared at his shoulder. She carried two beakers of fizzing liquid. Hat Lo took one. The Twi'lek offered the other to Boba.

"Drink with me!" exclaimed Hat Lo. He raised his beaker and waited for Boba to do the same. "To friendship!"

"No thanks," said Boba. He dumped the beaker's contents onto the floor. An acrid smell rose from the ground, followed by a puff of greenish flame and a sizzling noise. "Dozoisian Snark Venom. Deadly if it pa.s.ses your lips. Nice try, Hat Lo."

Hat Lo feigned surprise.

"I'm shocked, shocked," he said. "It's poisonous?"

He shoved his still-full beaker back at the Twi'lek, glaring at her as she beat a hasty retreat.

Then he turned back to Boba, shrugging as if to say, You can't blame a crook for trying!

"Well then," the two-bit gangster continued. "Now that we've gotten the preliminaries out of the way, what can I do for you?"

"I need to upgrade my armaments," said Boba. He sat opposite Hat Lo, keeping a careful eye out for the bodyguards.

"Of course. And for some reason you can't go through legal channels." Hat Lo leered. "Well, you've come to the right person! May I ask what brings you to Coruscant?"

Boba hesitated. He was reluctant to share the truth with Hat Lo.

But his minions could probably find out any information Hat Lo needed to know.

And Boba didn't want any unnecessary attention being drawn to him in the next few hours....

If he told Hat Lo himself, Boba could control the situation. And Boba liked being in control.

"I have business with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine," he said.

Boba was rewarded by Hat Lo's look of stunned dismay. "Palpatine?

But that's - well, that's extremely interesting." Hat Lo's beady little eyes narrowed. "And you're looking for weapons? Why? Not even Jabba the Hutt can be thinking of a.s.sa.s.sinating the Supreme Chancellor!"

Boba shook his head. "Jabba's plans are no business of yours, Hat Lo. Not unless you want to be implicated in them..."

He let the words hang in the air as a threat. Hat Lo raised his hands defensively. "No, no! Such important matters are far too big for a mere hardworking businessman like myself! I ask only because one hears rumors. Unpleasant rumors. Great changes are afoot, Boba Fett. You should be careful what side you're on, when the changes come."

"I'm on no one's side," said Boba sharply. "I trust no one but myself. And I certainly don't trust you, Hat Lo! So don't try to cheat me, or sell me substandard weapons."

"The thought never crossed my mind," replied Hat Lo. Still, he looked disappointed. "Now, what exactly do you need?"

Boba rolled off his requests. "A Westar blaster, some missiles, and pulse grenades, to start with."

Hat Lo shook his head. "I have none of those at the moment. If I'd known in advance, perhaps. But at such short notice? No. You understand, my business is supply-driven. Here on Coruscant, we try to settle things more, shall I say, quietly."

"More underhandedly, you mean?" sneered Boba.

"I mean we try not to draw unwanted attention to ourselves by frivolous use of weapons. Not that your weapons could ever be deemed frivolous," Hat Lo added quickly. "Now, what I do have at the moment is a flechette pistol - very nice, never been used, fully loaded. Also some cryo-ban grenades, if you'd like."

Boba looked impressed. "A flechette? Those are hard to come by!"

"I know," Hat Lo said with pride. "Are you familiar with their use?"

Boba snorted. A good bounty hunter made use of whatever weapons came his way and Boba wasn't just a good bounty hunter. He was the best!

"Of course I know how to use it!" The pistol released canisters holding hundreds of tiny, razor-edged blades flechettes. "I'll take them all, and whatever else you have."

A short while later the deal was done. The Twi'lek materialized again, this time accompanied by a shifty-looking Bothan carrying the weapons. Boba examined them all carefully, then nodded.

"These will do."

Hat Lo dismissed his lackeys. Boba began arming himself, being careful to keep the weapons concealed on his body armor. After a few minutes, Hat Lo discreetly cleared his throat.

"Ahem. A small matter, of course - but how do you intend to pay for these?"

Behind his helmet, Boba's eyes glittered dangerously. He looked around at the interior of the seedy club.

"I don't recall seeing the Sign of the Tri-Forked Tongue listed among Jabba's holdings here on Coruscant," he said. "I wonder what Jabba would say if he knew you owned it, and were skimming off the profits, rather than giving them to him?"

Hat Lo began to splutter. "That's - that's not true! This is a mere sideline for me! Something for my old age - "

Boba made as though to leave.

"Wait!" cried Hat Lo. Boba stared at him, then slowly sat back down. "Of course, I had no intention of charging you for these weapons!

Consider them a gift, to you - and to Jabba."

Boba nodded. "Very well."

"And please, tell Jabba where you got them! And a.s.sure him of my devotion, and my undying loyalty!"

"Undying sleaziness is more like it," said Boba.

He got to his feet. This time he really was ready to go. He saw Hat Lo's many-armed bodyguards watching him from across the room. But not even a bunch of angry Codru-Ji would dare mess with Boba Fett, now that he was fully armed.

Which reminded him of something. He turned back to Hat Lo.

"One last thing," Boba said. "Do you know where I could get my hands on a saberdart?"

"A saberdart?" Hat Lo's eyes narrowed. He pursed his lips, then shook his head. "They're outlawed here on Coruscant these days.

Everyone's too worried about attacks on the Senators."

"Right." Boba nodded and turned away. "I'll give Jabba a decent report, Hat Lo - unless you give me reason to do otherwise."

The petty crime boss watched him go. "A pleasure doing business with you, Boba Fett," he croaked, then laughed hoa.r.s.ely. "I'm sure our paths will cross again!"

"Maybe," said Boba under his breath.

He swaggered past the Codru-Ji, back out onto the streets of Coruscant's underworld.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

Boba hadn't thought about how he was going to get back up to the Jedi Temple to track down Mace Windu.

But as soon as he walked out of the Sign of the Tri-Forked Tongue, a familiar sight greeted him.

A shining red airspeeder hovered near the club's entrance.

"Yo! Wa.s.sup!" Elan Sleazebaggano gestured for Boba to hop in beside him. "Come on, I'll take you back!"

Dismayed, Boba looked around. He saw the corridor ghoul nosing at what looked unpleasantly like a body. He saw two Mantellian savrips fighting over what looked like another body. He saw a group of s.p.a.ce pirates exchanging greetings near a darkened doorway.