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Tessek considered the bomb in Jabba’s skiff. If Jabba wanted to maintain his fullest military presence, the Hutt would bring the skiff along, load it down with henchmen, and use it as a protective outrider in case of a skirmish. Under such conditions, it would not take much for the bomb to go off—a spark from a hot capacitor, a stray shot. It was a big bomb—big enough so that if Jabba’s sail barge were close when it detonated, the bomb might destroy the entire sail barge, too.

Tessek didn’t have time to dismantle the bomb. Indeed, Jabba’s men and droids were probably already scrambling onto the skiff, loading it for the trip.

Tessek had but one recourse. He would have to escape during the chaotic preparations. He packed a small bag with some credit chips and clothing, a few extra weapons. Then he rushed down to the ground floors, dodging other minions.

As he passed Jabba’s throne room, he noticed Yarna, Jabba’s fat dancer, a woman with six large breasts, reach into a secret compartment of Jabba’s throne and stuff some small gems into her bra. She saw him, stopped in the act, and stared.

“Please,” she whispered in Huttese. “It’s not for me. It’s for my cubs. I’m leaving, and I won’t be back.”

For half a moment Tessek halted, thinking that if he turned the woman in, he would appear to be more faithful in Jabba’s eyes.

Instead, he shrugged at the woman, then proceeded to the motor pool.

The great hall was alive with dozens of creatures preparing the weapons, chefs bringing food to the vehicles. Normally, Barada’s droids kept a keen watch on the bay, but it was a madhouse at the moment, lit by the ship’s running lights.

Sauntering over to the swoop bikes under the shadow of Jabba’s sail barge, Tessek knelt to inspect each one. The swoops were little more than heavy repulsorlift engines on a frame just big enough to support some stabilizers. They could travel fast and far, but offered no protection from the elements or offensive weaponry. But at the moment, Tessek wanted only speed.

He found what looked to be the fastest bike, then switched fuel rods so that he had a full supply. He straddled it and looked at the big heavy blast doors. He would need to get them open in order to make an escape, but Jabba would never open the doors until he was ready to go. Opening those wide doors was the surest way to leave the palace exposed to attack. Yet it took a skilled operator sitting in the control room to open the door, someone who knew the proper codes to disengage the locks.

Barada could open them, but if he did, Jabba would have the creature killed. Tessek sat and considered what type of bribes he might offer for such assistance.

“Tessek? Tessek? Where are you?” It was Ortugg, the Gamorrean guard, sent to keep watch on Tessek.

Tessek could not leave, so he hurried the bike under the shadows of the sail barge. Ortugg grunted, and the guard’s mail rattled as he circled the sail barge—by far the biggest vehicle in the motor pool.

“Come now,” Ortugg growled. “You wouldn’t be trying to hide from His Majesty, would you?”

The sounds of droids at work came from inside the sail barge. Tessek looked at one of the side panels behind the barge’s kitchens, noticed that it was unlatched. It gave Tessek an idea. Perhaps he could escape from the barge itself. Certainly, there would be enough of a commotion as the Rebel heroes suffered their torture.

Lifting the swoop, Tessek stuffed it into the hold of the barge. He was just locking the panel down when Ortugg growled at his back. “Aaargh. What are you up to?”

“We’re preparing to leave,” Tessek said, turning to face the Gamorrean. “I came down here to board the barge, but apparently no one else is ready to go yet.”

Ortugg’s red eyes narrowed. “Not go for an hour. You come with me,” Ortugg growled, clutching Tessek’s arm. “Jabba not want you slinking around down here.”

Tessek did not try to shake the guard’s hand off his arm. Ortugg was notorious for his strength, and the big Gamorrean simply pulled hard enough so that Tessek could either follow