Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [137]
During Keevy’s long recitation of the Elshandruu Pica mission, I keyed in and prepared to shoot to the Errant Venture a report on why we were there and what I wanted out of Booster. I shot it off as we made a slow approach, waited about fifteen minutes for Booster to have read it and set preparations in motion, and then called in for permission to dock on the Venture.
The Tinta Blue obtained immediate clearance to land and I set the shuttle down within a hundred meters of the Headhunter. Booster himself emerged from his office, resplendent in some very flashy and stylish, though hideously bright, clothes. He greeted each of the passengers warmly himself, promising them the finest of accommodations after their frightful ordeal. He had some of his people take the passengers immediately up to the Diamond Level, and Annissya with them, leaving Keevy and me at the shuttle.
Booster introduced himself to Keevy and the younger man’s eyes lit up. “You’re Corran Horn’s father-in-law!”
“He’s married to my daughter, yes.” Booster managed to keep a smile on his face. “I have a report from Idanian here that you know your way around astronavigational equipment. Is that true?”
Keevy blinked once, then nodded. “A ship like this uses the Seinar Starpath system, doesn’t it?”
“It does indeed.” Booster smiled in my direction. “He’s a genius, clearly.”
“I thought you might think so.” I patted Keevy on the shoulder. “Got us out of a nasty scrape with the Invids. I was thinking, if the Tinta Line does not offer him a job, you might have work for him here.”
“Here, on the Errant Venture?! Me? Here? On this ship that won the battle of Thyferra?” Keevy clung by his fingertips to his lower lip. “That wouldn’t be possible, would it? I mean, this ship’s history and its history with Rogue Squadron, and all the things you’ve done with it since then, this would be like being in a museum or a fantasy or both, a fantasy museum.”
Booster’s eyes narrowed, but he kept the smile on his face. “We shall talk about this, but for now, Keevy, you are my guest. Hassla’tak, conduct Keevy Spart here to our Emerald Suite.”
Hassla’tak, a Twi’lek whose lekku were twitching like needle-stuck snakes, waved Keevy toward the turbolifts. I heard Keevy begin to pepper him with questions, but the Twi’lek just answered in his own tongue.
Booster winced. “Haven’t heard Hassla’tak use that kind of language since the last Sullustan gambling junket came through.”
“Keevy can be a bit much. Thanks for not letting him know who I am.”
“You owe me.”
“Put it on my tab.” I jerked a thumb back at the shuttle. “I need your people to pull the scanner memory and see if any of the Invid ships can tip us to where they’re hiding.”
“I’ll have it done, first thing.” Booster regarded me carefully. “Mara Jade is here. She and Calrissian arrived asking questions about Jorj Car’das. Lando is up on the Diamond Level attempting to break the bank.” Irritation underscored his words.
“How close is he?”
Booster shrugged. “Not very, but closer than I’d like. I think, though, I will introduce him to your friend Keevy.”
“Sure, just tell Keevy this is his chance to get Lando’s perspective on having helped Wedge Antilles blow the Death Star at Endor.”
“Oooh, even your father wasn’t that cruel, CorSec.”
“You bring the best out in me, Booster.” I glanced over at the Headhunter. “Is Mara angry about her ship?”
“Doesn’t seem to be, but she does want to speak with you. She seemed to know you were on this shuttle before you sent word.” His eyes narrowed. “She couldn’t be using Jedi stuff to help Lando win, could she?”
“Frankly, I think she’d like to buy Lando for what she thinks he’s worth and sell him for what he thinks he’s worth.” I smiled. “I don’t think she’s helping him.”
Beyond Booster I saw a turbolift open and Mara Jade emerge from it. She headed straight for the two of us with just a hint of stiffness in her gait. That didn’t strike me as odd about her, but her selection of clothes did seem inappropriate. The black slacks and copper tunic seemed