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"It says that this fortune was acquired for you by someone named Jango Fett," the Bimm went on. "Your father?"

"Yes," said Boba.

"Is he with you, then? He is the only other person allowed access to this treasure."

Boba shook his head. "N-no," he said. He could not keep the sorrow from creeping into his voice. "He's - he's not with me."

The Bimm looked up at him. His

eyes

were

sympathetic

and understanding. "I see," he said. He seemed to think for a minute, staring first at the card, then at Boba.

At last Nuri said, "This Aurra Sing. She is not someone I would want pursuing me. She has killed many people. Many powerful people. Here on Aargau, we are neutral. But we are not stupid. And we are not without sympathy for those in need."

He smiled at Boba, then held out the card for him to take. "Here, Boba, sir. I will help you retrieve your treasure. There will be a fee for my services, but you do not have to pay me in advance. I will deduct it from your card."

Boba looked at him. "Thank you," he said. He took the card and put it back into his pocket. "Could you tell which bank has the treasure in it?"

"No." Nuri rubbed his chin. "To get that information, you would have to go back to Level One, to the security desk."

Boba's heart sank. He looked at the door that led onto Level Two.

Somewhere out there, Aurra Sing was looking for him.

And, knowing Aurra Sing, she would find a way of obtaining a weapon

- whether it was allowed or not.

Boba turned to Nuri. "Isn't there any other way?" he asked.

"Besides going back up there?"

The little alien smiled. He put a reassuring hand on Boba's arm.

"Boba, sir, I have told you that here on Aargau, some of us have made our own rules. Well, we have made our own place, too. A place where the other rules don't apply - and our rules do.

He turned and gestured toward the dim passage behind them. "I will take you to this place now, if you wish."

Boba looked at the Bimm, and then at the passage. He felt his neck begin to prickle with fear and excitement. "What is this place called?"

he asked.

Nuri gazed down the passage and smiled - a strange, knowing smile.

"It is called," he said, "the Undercity."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"The Undercity?" Boba echoed Nuri's words. "But - "

He stopped, remembering what he had been told on Level One.

You can find some very shady characters in the Undercity, the attendant had warned him. It is terribly dangerous, especially with the recent skirmishes against the Separatists.

And now Nuri wanted to take him there!

Just the thought scared Boba. But then he remembered what his father used to say -

Fear is energy, Jango had taught him. And you can learn to control it. If you concentrate, you can change your energy, from fear to excitement. Then you can use that energy, instead of being used by it.

Boba concentrated now. He closed his eyes. He could feel his heart pounding. He could feel his own fear.

He took a deep breath. He held it while he counted to three, then exhaled slowly.

This is energy, he thought. And l can control it. Breathe. Exhale.

Already he could feel his heart slowing down. Growing more calm.

More in control.

Not afraid, but excited.

"Okay!" he said. He opened his eyes and saw Nuri a few feet ahead of him. "I'm ready! What are we waiting for?"

Nuri smiled. "This way," he said, and pointed down the passage.

Boba followed him. The passage twisted and turned. Tubes of glowing yellow lit their way. Now and then he saw small holosigns, covered with symbols he did not recognize. The images shifted and changed, from red to green to blue to purple. They made his eyes hurt to look at them. After a while he concentrated on staring at Nuri's back and nothing else.

After about five minutes the Bimm stopped. Set into the ground in front of him was a heavy, round, metal door. Nuri stooped and, with an effort, yanked the door open. He straightened, catching his breath, and stared at