Star Wars_ Millennium Falcon - James Luceno [80]
The fastest-selling item at the moment was a scale model of the star witness in a case that had consumed the Holessians' attention for the past several months. The case had been brought by Colla-Arphocc Automata against the Galactic Alliance government for the right to resume production of the battle droids that had earned the carnivorous Colicoids a reputation for barbarity in the years preceding the Clone Wars. Forced to disarm at the conclusion of the war, and in fear of violent reprisals by Imperial forces, the Colicoid Creation Nest had gone into hiding. They had recently emerged, represented by a celebrity attorney from Epica, claiming to be in possession of documents that bore the personal seal of Emperor Palpatine. The alleged documents stated that the ban placed on production of their war droids had expired a year earlier, and the Colicoids were arguing that they should now be free to compete with Roche, the Givin Cartel, Tendrando Arms, and others suppliers of armament and munitions.
The fact that the star witness for Colla-Arphocc Automata was a former member of the think tank known as Colla Designs had given Holessian souvenir makers a real chance to shine. The facsimiles sold in the stands not only looked like a miniature destroyer droid—save for the twin blasters and distinctive defensive bubble—but could also be balled into a near-solid sphere. A seldom-witnessed, uncontrollable startle reflex triggered by encounters with an ancient predator known as a hueche, the transformation owed to the overlapping epidermal scales of horn that were the foundation of the Colicoids' bony shell. Some xenobiologists believed that the Colicoids' commitment to wiping out the hueche was the impetus for their eventual success in the field of weaponry design.
Even from thirty meters up, Jadak and Poste could see that many spectators were having fun with the toy Colicoids, playing catch, juggling them, rolling them along the broad sidewalks, using the foamite models in mock battles with one another.
Closing on the controlled airspace around the Mount, Poste transmitted the entry code they had taken off the advertising execs. Landing on or anywhere near the helical ramp was prohibited, as most participants and all pilgrims made the climb on foot—some on hands and knees. Bordered on both sides by low fences made of duranium, the ramp offered numerous resting areas for the weary, most of which were accessed by gates and decorated with duranium tablets elaborately engraved with laws and edicts.
Granted clearance, Jadak banked for the hover platform that housed the control booth for the mound's colossal holoscreen.
A Holessian sporting a blue tunic was waiting at the platform docking area. “You're the representatives from Desicare Deodorant?”
“Fresh from Coruscant,” Jadak said, climbing from the pilot's seat.
“Bone-dry and fragrant.”
Poste showed the Holessian a blank stare, then grinned. “Hey, you know our slogan.”
“I use your product every day.”
“Our favorite kind of customer,” Jadak said.
“We have laws that govern perspiration,” the Holessian said solemnly.
“Raise your hands,” Poste said.
The Holessian swung to him. “I assure you I'm quite dry—”
At the sight of Poste's blaster he reached for the sky.
“No reason to break a sweat,” Jadak said, drawing his blaster. “Just lead us into the control booth and follow our instructions like they're law.”
Everyone but a lone security guard had their backs to them as they were led into the oval-shaped booth. Sensing that something wasn't right, the guard went for his blaster, but Poste was ready for him. Disarming the guard, Poste repeated the warning Jadak had given their greeter moments earlier. The commotion got the attention