Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [8]
“Uh-oh!” Han said. “It’s one of the monks. Who knows what they’re after?” He pointed the blaster directly at the brain jar.
No, came a flat, processed voice—a synthesized word through a tiny speaker mounted on the set of mechanical legs.
Luke held up his other hand. “Wait, Han … I’m sensing only confusion. There’s no threat.”
Are you … friends of Jabba’s? the spider legs asked.
“I’ve got better taste in my friends,” Han said. “Who’re you?”
The spider legs skittered from side to side as if the brain had stopped concentrating and lost control. I am Maizor. I was once a rival of Jabba’s. We had a … confrontation, and I lost.
The synthesized voice paused, as if processing. Jabba ordered the monks to perform their surgery on me and place my brain in this jar.
More thinking, more flat and mechanical words. I use these legs when I wish to move about. It took me a year to stop screaming in silence and become adjusted to my new circumstances. Jabba kept me around his palace as a joke, so he could laugh at how pathetic I had become.
The spider legs skittered, though the voice grew louder, tinged with defiance. But now Jabba is dead. The palace is empty. And I am the last one laughing.
Han and Luke looked at each other. Han gradually lowered his blaster. “Well, any enemy of Jabba’s is a friend of mine,” he said. “In fact, we were there at the Great Pit of Carkoon when Jabba was killed.”
I am greatly in your debt, Maizor said. Blinking lights flashed around the brain jar’s life-support systems.
“Then perhaps you can help us,” Luke said. His voice was calm, filled with Jedi power. “We’re seeking information. We’ve heard rumors. If you have been here in the palace, you might have seen what we need to know.”
Yes, Maizor said. Many strangers have come here recently. Much activity. Very mysterious.
“Can you tell us who they were, what they were looking for?” Han said, amazed at how easy the answer had come. “We need to know what the Hutts are up to.”
Hutts, the mechanical voice said. I despise Hutts. Many Hutts have intruded here. Searching.
“And what were they looking for?” Han persisted.
Information. Jabba’s information. Jabba had much knowledge stored here in secret databanks. He had his spies everywhere, collecting data to use or to sell. Not only was Jabba a crime kingpin, he also knew much about the Rebel Alliance—though the Empire refused to pay him enough to make it worthwhile. Jabba also had many Imperial secrets.
The spider legs bobbed up and down. Imperial secrets. That is what the Hutts were looking for.
“Imperial secrets?” Luke said. “But the Empire has fallen. We haven’t heard anything from them in years. What could the Hutts possibly want with Imperial information?”
Imperial information, Maizor repeated. Imperial Information Center, the great database on Coruscant. Jabba knew secret passwords. He could access the Emperor’s most heavily protected information.
Han was startled. “You mean the Hutts can break into our computers? Impossible! We’ve locked down all of those files.”
Jabba had ways of accessing them, Maizor replied.
“Tell me,” Luke said, “did the Hutts find what they were looking for when they came here?”
Yes, the spider legs said. They intend to create their own bargaining force, an invincible weapon. The Hutt crime syndicate will be more powerful than the Rebels or what’s left of the Empire. Maizor flinched. I hate the Hutts.
Han groaned. “Oh no, not another superweapon!”
“Do you know any details of their plans?” Luke asked, bending closer to the brain in the jar. “Any specifics?”
No, Maizor said. They have the key they sought, and now they will move on to their next step.
Han nodded grimly, looking to Luke. “We have to get back to Coruscant and report to Leia. The New Republic needs to be on their guard.”
Luke switched off his lightsaber, plunging the room into thick, oily shadows, but he reached forward to