"So-do we have a deal going?" Bossk leaned back against the bulkhead behind the seat." You wouldn't be talking to me, otherwise. Right?" He felt proud of himself for having figured out that much." You and me, we're forming a team, a partnership, to go after this renegade stormtrooper. What's his name. . . Trhin Voss'on't. That's the deal?" Bossk looked hopefully toward the other bounty hunter.
Boba Fett gave a single nod." Strictly a onetime operation. Don't anticipate anything permanent. I've had enough of hooking up with other creatures. That's why it didn't break my heart when the old Bounty Hunters Guild fell apart."
That was another whole issue; Bossk figured it would only blow the working relationship if he brought it up now. Besides-even if Boba Fett had deliberately set out to break up the Guild, did it matter what his reasons might have been? No more than what Voss'on't's reasons for bailing out of the Imperial stormtroopers were. I've already learned something, thought Bossk. This minimalist attitude he'd picked up from Boba Fett simplified things enormously, cutting them down to the essentials like a vibroblade through unprotected flesh.
"Wait a minute." A suspicion had formed inside Bossk's brain." You don't like going in with other bounty hunters-you just said so." He peered closer at Boba Fett." So why team up with me now? Are you that afraid of this Voss'on't barve?"
"Not at all," said Boba Fett." Fear is an emotion that I have a certain appreciation of; I can see it in other creatures. And it's a useful thing to use against them; it muddies their reasoning processes, so they fall prey to panic and random, chaotic behavior patterns. Then you can drive them before you like herd beasts." Fett's voice had lowered in tone, as though he were reading off the tomb inscriptions of his prey. He nodded slowly, then resumed speaking." But other than that, I have no personal awareness of such a thing; it does not exist inside me."
"You didn't answer the question." Bossk wasn't going to let himself be diverted by some elaborate speech." Why are you agreeing to team up with me?"
"The answer is simple." Fett pointed a single gloved finger toward him." You're useful to me right now. This job is at a whole new level; nothing like it has ever come up before. This is hard merchandise that can do much more than just run and hide; it can protect itself. Voss'on't has all the military skills that come with his having been a member of a Strategic Insertion team. He's got the resources-the training, the experience, the weapons-to put up a good fight. He's not some scared little bookkeeper cowering in a hole on some backwater world."
"So you need me." Bossk marveled at the concept-and that the notorious Boba Fett, the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy, would admit such a thing." Huh."
"I didn't say that; I said you're useful to me." Boba Fett drew his hand back, then folded his arms across the chest of his battle armor." I could bring in this Voss'on't by myself; that's not a problem. I might even enjoy it; I don't often get such a challenge presented to me. But it would be easier with a partner. A matter of strategy: wherever Voss'on't is hiding out, he's going to be expecting bounty hunters to be coming after him. He's undoubtedly aware of the price that Palpatine has set on his head. And he'll be expecting that the bounty hunters will form partnerships and teams for this operation." Boba Fett's voice turned quiet again." He'll be expecting that from all the bounty hunters-except one. And that's me."
"So you figure this is the only way to take Voss'on't by surprise?"
"No-" Boba Fett shook his head." There would be other ways. But none that will get him to lower his guard in the same way. He's got to be made to think that he's the one that is running the game, that he's calling the shots. That's his weak point: he's used to being in command. And authority in the Imperial stormtroopers is both an absolute and an addictive matter; the other stormtroopers that Voss'on't gave orders to were expected to give their lives, if necessary. That kind of loyalty from underlings has a corrosive effect on a sentient creature's thinking. It makes him believe-deep down-that the whole universe is his to command. When wise creatures say that absolute power corrupts, they mean more than just a moral issue. It interferes with your intelligence as well."
"Hold on." Bossk frowned, trying to incorporate the other's words into the workings inside his own skull." I thought you said you didn't believe in trying to figure out what went on in the heads of the merchandise you went after."
"I don't," replied Boba Fett." This isn't psychology; this is just hunting. That's all. I don't care why the merchandise does what it does; I just take note of its behavior, how it reacts and moves. I've spent a lot more time at the Imperial court, and at places like Jabba the Hurt's palace, than you have; my skills are appreciated and paid for there." The voice coming from the helmeted figure held a dark, ominous certainty in its tone." I've seen the same thing in the admirals of the Imperial Navy, and in Jabba the Hutt and Emperor Palpatine. What starts out as a tool, a weapon in their hands, winds up as a cancer in their minds. And then. . ." Fett slowly nodded." Then it takes them over. And they become easy prey."
Bossk drew back on the bench, keeping a wary eye on the other bounty hunter. Fear might have been an unknown emotion to Boba Fett, but his words had managed to evoke a disturbing unease inside Bossk.
"Maybe you're right," said Bossk." But I don't think anybody's going to be knocking over Emperor Palpatine anytime soon."
"Is that so?" Boba Fett's voice had returned to its normal inexpressive tone." It's not something I'd make any wagers about, one way or another. The Rebel Alliance has too many hopeless optimists in it to be much of a threat to Palpatine."
"Anyway-maybe that's why Voss'on't went renegade. So the same thing wouldn't happen to him."
"If that's the case," said Boba Fett," then he's smarter-and more dangerous-than I've given him credit for."
"So what's your plan?" All that weird talk had made Bossk nervous; for a moment it had felt as if the bare durasteel bulkheads of Boba Fett's Slave I had been closing in on him." I mean, other than forming a team when he's not expecting you to do that."
"Simple-as all the best plans are. We don't form a team."
"I don't get it." Now Bossk was genuinely confused." What've we been talking about, then?"
"What we're talking about," said Boba Fett," is what we want Voss'on't to think we're doing. Oh, we'll form a team, all right-we're going in together on this job, all right-but the first thing we'll have you do is betray me. When we make contact with Voss'on't, when we find out just where he's hiding, then you'll stab me in the back."
"You're joking." Bossk peered intently at the other bounty hunter." Aren't you?"
"I don't mean literally stab me in the back. I mean you'll communicate with Voss'on't on the sly. And you'll offer to go over to his side, to work for him. It's an old trick among criminal types: the best way to get past your target's defenses is to make him think you're betraying someone else."
Bossk shook his head." I can see some problems with this scheme right from the start." He had expected better; was this the limit of Fett's strategic thinking?" First, how am I going to convince him that I'd even want to work on his side? The last bunch that went along with him all wound up dead. Unless I'm feeling suicidal, I'd have to be an idiot to go in with somebody with a track record like that."
"I'm not saying that you'll tell Voss'on't that you trust him. Of course you don't trust him; why should you?" Boba Fett's voice remained level and patient-to the degree that was possible." He'll know that you'll be watching your back the whole time you're dealing with him. Just as he'll know that you should be able to take care of yourself; you're an experienced bounty hunter and you've been in dangerous situations before. Whereas the crew that helped Voss'on't steal the Imperial destroyer obviously did trust him; that's why he was able to get the drop on them, and they paid the price with their lives. So you and Voss'on't will know where you stand with each other; you'll be able to make deals like actual business creatures."