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If I can just grab one of those weapons, I can blast him, and the droids! Boba thought. He angled toward an open crate. Then I can claim Jabba's reward!

The crate was just below him. Boba stretched his arm toward it. His fingers grazed a blaster's grip.

Wham!

Violet light jabbed at Boba's eyes. He cried out, then jolted upward. With a thud his head smashed into something.

The ceiling!

With a cry he fell.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

For a second all went black. Then Boba blinked and looked up. Above him a lizard face leered beneath an ornate mitred hat.

"Now what have we here?" Gilramos asked. He licked his thin lips.

"A strong and clever boy. One who would make a fine addition to my army.

After some modifications, of course."

He grabbed Boba's hand. Boba lashed out at him, but the Neimoidian was surprisingly strong.

"This will only take a moment," Gilramos said. Behind him the droids moved into formation, their weapons aimed at Boba. "And then..."

"The Mandalorian is mine!" thundered a voice. Gilramos whirled. So did Boba.

"Durge," he whispered.

The bounty hunter's armored figure filled the entire doorway. In each massive arm he cradled a blaster. One was aimed at Gilramos's head.

The other was aimed at Boba.

"One move and you'll be blasted into the Dune Sea!" Durge gloated.

Boba kicked at Gilramos. Durge took aim.

"Do you doubt me, runt?" Durge's eyes blazed.

He stepped into the room. Boba heard the hiss of the children breathing in sharply. The battle droids swiveled, their weapons pointing from Boba to Durge. Durge lifted his head. He looked around.

He smiled. A wide, horrible smile.

"So this is your army, eh, Gilramos?" He looked dismissively at the droids, then walked over and nudged a small girl with his blaster.

"Thieving children and a handful of droids?"

Boba watched him. If I only had a weapon, he thought. I could free us all!

But could he? He glanced past where Gilramos held tightly to him.

There were crates of weaponry everywhere. One stray blast, and the whole place would become a weapon!

Wait a minute, Boba thought. From the corner of his eye he saw someone move. Not a droid. Not Gilramos, either.

Ygabba. She stood near a pile of crates. Her head turned. She looked desperately at Boba. Immediately he knew what to do.

"Ygabba!" he shouted. "Lead them out! Run - NOW!"

At the same time that Boba yelled, he flattened himself against the floor. With a roar, Durge turned. There was a flare of light from his blaster. Boba kicked at Gilramos. The Neimoidian shrieked, then tried to grab him. The droids surged forward.

Too late! Boba was free!

He slammed himself to the floor. Above him Durge's blast struck Gilramos. The Neimoidian fell. Another blast struck a droid with a muted explosion as the others tried to blast Durge.

"This way!" Ygabba shouted. "Fast!"

Like a flock of birds, the children scattered. Ygabba stood by an opening and yelled at them. Children raced everywhere. They dove through holes in the walls. They clambered through gaps in the ceiling.

Everywhere glowing eyes shimmered and shone as the children yanked one another to safety.

All but Boba.

"Now you!" Durge roared. Another blast roared from his weapon as a droid strode toward him. The droid fell, and Durge laughed. "You're next!" he cried, and aimed at Boba.

Boba glanced back. He saw Gilramos crawling across the floor. His hat was beside him.

Neimoidians place huge value on their hats. Boba knew that. They represent power and prestige. No Neimoidian would ever be without one.

Not unless he was dead.

Boba grabbed the hat. Gilramos gave a desperate cry. "No!"

Boba turned. Another voice rose from the room. "Boba!"

He looked up. All of the children were gone - except for Ygabba.

She stood by the open passage, waving at him. Beside her rose a pile of weapons.

"This way!" she shouted.

Boba clutched Gilramos's