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Reluctantly, Sing decided that it was time to break off the confrontation. In the distance she could hear the warning squeal of approaching police skimmers. Although her Imperial ident would extricate her from any confrontation with minor officials, she did not want anything that might be perceived as a failure getting back to Lord Vader.

While she didn’t doubt her ability to take the Twi’lek alive, she had now realized that her antagonist was most likely a member of the Gray Paladins. The blasters were the clue. That meant she was a Jedi, and not likely to be very forthcoming about a fellow Jedi’s whereabouts, even under torture. Add to that the very likely possibility that, if Sing was circumspect enough, she might be able to follow the Paladin back to Pavan without arousing suspicion, and she was left with only one sensible choice.

Gathering herself, Aurra Sing thrust her lightsaber over her head and leapt straight upward, smashing through two floors. She landed on the roof, then leapt again, and again, using the Force to augment the power of her muscles, until she was beyond the fair’s boundaries.

Then she stopped and waited. She could sense the Twi’lek’s Force connection, could tell if it was coming toward her instead of going away. For several minutes the blip on her mental radar stayed mostly in the same area—no doubt because the Paladin was searching the Holo House for her. But then it began to move slowly away from her.

A grim Sing began to follow. This time she would be more circumspect; would bide her time until the situation was less crowded, with more chance of success.

The hunt was rapidly coming to a close.

twenty-three

Jax got the comm call from Laranth just as he, I-Five, and Den were leaving to rendezvous with Dejah Duare. The Twi’lek was typically laconic:

“Someone wants you dead.”

“How?”

“Badly.”

“No, I meant how do you know this?” And whoever it is, Jax added silently, tell ’em to get in line.

“Because I just finished dancing with the assassin who’s looking for you. I could feel her more than a klick away, which is why I went to investigate. Not the best idea I’ve had lately.”

Jax nodded. “I take it that she’s still ambulatory.”

“And lethal. You’re being hunted by the best, Jax, if that’s any consolation. Where are you now?”

“Sari Street, near Caspak Boulevard.”

“Wait for me there,” Laranth said.

As he listened to the Twi’lek elaborate on her adventure, Den realized once again that he was not a happy life-form.

“Aurra Sing?” he asked. “The Aurra Sing?”

A grim-faced Laranth nodded slowly. “Unless you know of another who matches the description.” Her voice was as dry as a year on Tatooine.

“Flattering, in a sense,” I-Five said. “I read up on her while I was uplinked to the police grid. She’s infamous, and she doesn’t come cheaply.”

Jax nodded. He knew that there was no need to wonder who would set a bounty hunter with Sing’s reputation on him. Only one person could have afforded the credits to hire her.

Nice to know I warrant the best, he thought wryly.

Den grabbed his ears in a Sullustan gesture of exasperation. “I think,” he said, “that it’s long past time for us to grab the next freighter to clear its cradle and leave, Jax. I mean, Sweet Sookie’s aunt!” He shook his head. “If Sing’s after you she won’t rest until most, if not all, of us are dead—and don’t ask me to place odds. We have to get off this overpopulated pit of perversion. Not that I have anything in particular against perversion, mind you. It’s just that I take umbrage when part of the perversity is trying to kill me.”

“We gave our word to Dejah Duare.”

“You gave our word, Jax. Sure, her credit is generous and useful, but we can’t spend it if we’re dead. We need to relocate to a new neighborhood. On a new planet. In a new galaxy.”

“Quiet,” Laranth admonished them both. “We have company.” At the same time that she spoke, Jax heard the rising whine of repulsorlifts. A moment later the first of three police skimmers