"I'm entirely confident," purred Kud'ar Mub'at," that it will be taken care of, and in your usual efficacious manner. Of that I have no doubt, my dear Xizor. The only question is when. I prefer to sleep soundly here in my humble web, safe among my treasures, my dreams undisturbed by the awareness of bounty hunters with a grievance against me. My only wish is to coexist with my fellow creatures of the galaxy in as harmonious a manner as possible. The thought of Boba Fett, still on the loose somewhere, and bearing uncharitable thoughts toward me-that would impinge itself most ungraciously upon my slumbers."
"Don't worry," said Xizor grimly. He had already made his decision about that part of the matter as well. When there were messes to be cleaned up, they had to be taken care of, right down to the tiniest detail-or the potentially most valuable. The bounty hunter Boba Fett would undoubtedly have had his uses in the future, for both the Empire and for Black Sun; in some ways, Fett was one of the most irreplaceable creatures in the galaxy, with a necessary function to serve, as long as one had the means to pay for it.
Plus, Xizor had to admit to himself, he felt a certain admiration for the hunter. Boba Fett's efficiency and ruthlessness were truly inspirational qualities, which Xizor had pointed out to his underlings in Black Sun on many occasions as models worthy of their emulation. The galaxy would be a kinder, gentler place with Boba Fett removed from it-the notion filled Prince Xizor with disgust.
How paradoxical, he mused, that ruthlessness requires that the most ruthless be exterminated. Still, if it came down to a choice between his own survival and that of Boba Fett, then the bounty hunter was already history.
"I am," sighed Kud'ar Mub'at," a creature given to worry. It's my nature." The assembler gestured with his forelimbs toward the subnodes clustered around it." I have so many responsibilities. That's why I'm forced to admit that I have grave concerns about your plans for 'taking care' of Boba Fett. Others have tried to 'take care' of him in the past, and things did not turn out well for those improvident creatures."
"That's the difference between them and me.
When I take care of something, it remains that way. Don't forget: I have the resources of not only the Empire, but Black Sun behind me as well. Boba Fett has never come up against a combination such as that. To prevail against a lot of slobbering Hutts and similar creatures, with their shabby, insignificant networks and spheres of influence, is one thing, to survive against the forces I command is quite another."
"Your confidence, my dear Xizor, is so powerful as to evoke awe in one such as myself."
"It should be." The Falleen prince reached over to the edge of his cape and drew it across his chest. He was ready to leave the web now, to make sure of his other preparations." Your only true concern, Kud'ar Mub'at, is playing out your own role in this last stage of our plans."
The assembler drew back on its pneumatic nest." My thespic skills are so dreadfully limited. . ."
"You've done all right so far," said Xizor." It was your expert lying that got Boba Fett involved in the scheme against the Bounty Hunters Guild in the first place. He fell for it then, as he had no reason to disbelieve you. Similarly, he has no reason for distrust now. Fett has in his possession certain hard merchandise, as he and the other bounty hunters like to refer to their captives; namely, one Trhin Voss'on't, assumed to be a renegade Imperial stormtrooper. You, the assembler Kud'ar Mub'at, are holding in escrow the bounty payment for the delivery of that merchandise." Xizor glanced up toward one of the larger subnodes that held on to the fibrous wall near Kud'ar Mub'at." Is that not so?"
"That is a true and verified statement," replied the subnode called Balancesheet," regarding certain credit funds now on deposit in this web. The entire amount of the bounty for the Imperial stormtrooper Voss'on't is at this moment in our possession. Just as you say, Prince Xizor."
"And that is precisely something I'm nervous about." The subnode's creator fidgeted in its nest." That is a considerable amount of credits for me to be sitting on; perhaps the largest amount that's ever been here at one time in my web. I've always considered it to be a prudent policy to shift my financial assets into reputable planetary banking establishments, within the controlled boundaries of the Empire. Otherwise I'm just too much of a target, out here alone in empty space."
"Nobody would ever rob you, Kud'ar Mub'at; your go-between and escrow services are too valuable for too many creatures. Besides, I've stationed my own Virago close at hand, along with several other craft from Black Sun's operational fleet. Their firepower should be more than enough protection for you, until the bounty is safely out of your hands."
"That may be. . ." Kud'ar Mub'at didn't appear entirely satisfied with the answer." But is it enough to protect me from Boba Fett?"
"Leave the bounty hunter to me," said Xizor." All you have to do is play your part. For someone to whom lying comes so easily, it should not be a task to strain your capabilities."
He turned away, having had more than his fill of the assembler's protests. As he headed down the shoulder-cramping space of the web's central corridor, Xizor could hear the assembler sputtering and fussing behind him.
A short time later, another voice spoke to Xizor as he waited in the web's docking area for the small shuttle vessel that would return him to the Virago.
"Excuse me-" The small voice spoke from close by Xizor's head." I wonder if I might have a word with you. Just by ourselves. . ."
Xizor glanced beside himself and spotted the accountant subnode Balancesheet, dangling upside down from the matted ceiling of the area." What do you want?"
"As I said." The subnode's voice was a carefully modulated whisper." A word with you. On subjects that would be of mutual-and profitable-interest to us."
"Profitable to your master Kud'ar Mub'at as well." Xizor shook his head." I'm familiar enough with how the assembler's web is constructed. Everything here is spun directly from Kud'ar Mub'at's own neural tissue." Looking into Balancesheet's bright beadlike eyes, Xizor knew that he might as well be looking straight into the assembler's sharp, avid gaze. Why Kud'ar Mub'at was going through this pretense, sending one of his semi-independent nodes after him like this, was beyond comprehension. Does he think I'm so easily fooled?" I've already said to him all that I care to for the moment."
"I think you have misapprehended the situation," said Balancesheet evenly." As well as exactly whom you're talking to." Upside down, the subnode crept a little closer to Xizor. One of its tiny claws held up a glistening white strand of neurofiber. The strand was broken, connected only to Balancesheet but not to the structure of the web." You see? I'm an independent agent now. When you talk to me, Kud'ar Mub'at knows nothing of it. Unless I want Kud'ar Mub'at to know."
Xizor regarded the subnode with suspicion." You've managed to unplug yourself from the web? That's very ingenious of you-but how is it that
Kud'ar Mub'at is not aware of one of his valuable subnodes having separated itself from the larger organism?"
"Simple." Balancesheet reached over and picked up another, larger strand of fiber that led directly into the intricately knotted structure surrounding them. At this fiber's tip was another subnode, smaller and with claws almost too delicate to be seen." Kud'ar Mub'at is not the only one here who can create subnodes; I have mastered the art as well. This is one of mine." Balancesheet held the tiny, tethered organism out for Xizor's inspection." Its only function is to masquerade as me, to send neuro-signals into the web that falsely indicate that I'm still attached and subservient to Kud'ar Mub'at. Trust me; the old assembler has not the slightest clue as to any of this."