Star Wars_ Boba Fett 06_ Pursuit - Elizabeth Hand [23]
If I follow this passage, it will lead me straight to Mace Windu's chambers. I just have to get there before he leaves for his meeting with Palpatine!
Boba shoved the nav aid back into his utility belt. Then he stealthily began to run, his feet making no sound in the narrow passage.
In a few minutes he had reached the next level, then the next.
Finally he saw another door in the shadows. His footsteps slowed.
"Got to be careful here," he whispered.
This door led to the corridor that went directly to Mace Windu's chambers.
But Boba certainly didn't want to meet Windu where others might see them and come to the Jedi's aid. Very slowly he cracked the door open and peered out.
The corridor was empty. Ruby-colored light slanted down
from viewscreens high overhead. Outside, it was sunset on Coruscant.
Boba looked around carefully. Then he quickly slipped into the central passage. He ran without a sound to where the hallway ended.
There, a single black doorway loomed.
The door to Mace Windu's chambers. The door to Mace Windu's death!
Boba slid his hand over the flechette pistol. He looked over his shoulder to see if anyone had spotted him.
No one was there.
Slowly Boba drew the pistol. He cocked its safety, then crept toward the door. Moments from now, he would confront his enemy.
Mace would be deep in thought, preparing himself for his meeting with the Supreme Chancellor. He would be stunned to see Boba burst into his room. He would have no chance to defend himself. Not even a lightsaber could deflect hundreds of flechettes!
And not even a Jedi could withstand the deadly toxins released by a saberdart.
Boba's hand was on the door. His heart pounded as he took a deep breath.
He thought of his father, Jango, lying decapitated in the arena. He thought of Mace Windu lying dead. He recalled Jango's face breaking into a rare smile as he read to his son in their home on Geonosis
"This is for you, Father," whispered Boba. He raised the flechette pistol.
Then, with all his strength he pushed the door open. Weapon ready to fire, Boba Fett lunged inside the Jedi's chamber, and found himself face- to-face with
Nothing.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It can't be!
Boba looked around in frustrated rage. The chamber was empty. He swiveled, his pistol ready to fire, and looked around.
There was no one. Even without checking the rest of the room, Boba's hyper alert senses registered the truth.
The Jedi Master was gone.
Boba quickly sheathed his weapon. He strode to a round, low cushion of the type favored by high-ranking Jedi, stooped, and laid a hand upon it.
It was still warm. Windu must have left just minutes before.
Boba fought a surge of fury. He'd been so close!
But he wasn't going to let Mace get away so easily. Boba knew where he was bound - to his private meeting with Palpatine in the Senate Building. Boba had no idea where in that vast building he might track down Windu.
But Boba had no doubt that he would succeed in finding him. He turned and started for the door, then stopped.
Too dangerous to go back out there now. Someone might see me and alert Windu....
He drew the door closed. He began a quick search of the chamber, looking for something that might be useful.
A minute later he found it - a small monitor tucked into the wall.
Boba activated it, then brought up the most recently viewed screen.
"Got it!" he crowed.
The screen showed an itinerary, generated by the Supreme Chancellor's office. There was a reminder of the time for Mace Windu's private meeting, just fifteen minutes from now. There was a memo regarding the meeting's topic.
EXTREMELY URGENT was all that Boba bothered to read before scrolling down.
And there was a map of the Senate Building, showing the exact location of Palpatine's antechamber, where