Star Wars_ Tales of the Bounty Hunters - Kevin J. Anderson [64]
She and Chen would gladly cooperate.
“Two-fifty?” Tutti batted one of his huge round ears.
Tinian glanced over her shoulder. Chen gave a low growl. “Two-ten,” she answered Tutti. “Final offer.”
Tutti Snibit held out a long, knobby hand.
“After you introduce us. If we survive.” Tinian smiled without humor.
The Chadra-Fan scurried away.
Tinian straightened. “I don’t know what Boba Fett is paying,” she told Chenlambec, “but that fellow is practically salivating.”
Chen howled softly.
“I’m ready,” she answered. “Are you?”
He crossed his long arms over his bandolier and leaned against a bulkhead, looking perfectly relaxed.
“Of course you are,” she admitted. “You’re always ready.”
She had apprenticed to Chenlambec, hoping to hurt the Empire before it caught her. It had destroyed her life. She’d been an armament heiress. Now she had nothing.
Chenlambec was no conventional bounty hunter, though. Under the cover of dead-or-alive, he had helped several “acquisitions” escape to the Rebel Alliance. He played a dangerous double game, but satisfying … and profitable. This would be her third job as his apprentice.
Tutti Snibit careened around the corner, clasping his hands in front of his dirty brown robe. “He agrees,” burbled the Chadra-Fan. “But be careful! I want you to live to pay me.”
“Naturally.” Tinian tugged on her shipsuit to straighten it. Suits that were long enough in the waist always hung loose on her. She wore no decoration except a diagonal silver hip belt and blaster.
As soon as she walked around the corner, she saw the creature. Bossk had to be at least 1.9 meters tall, very nearly as big as Chenlambec. His prominent scales looked faintly orange on one side, but over the rest of his body, they were greenish brown. He wore an orange flight suit that’d obviously been designed for shorter-legged humans, ending near his knees with a pair of bullet bands. A blast rifle dangled from his neck sling, casually steadied over his left arm.
Tutti Snibit waited a respectful distance from the Trandoshan, flapping his round ears, looking more like a mouse than a lizard. He stood only half Bossk’s height.
Bossk’s data station was at the edge of a large open space, close to the Executor’s launch control center. Approachable from three sides, it was a Hunter’s nightmare. Heavy metal conduits festooned adjacent bulkheads and overheads with massive, military texture.
“M-mighty Bossk,” Tutti stammered, “this is Chenlambec, a Hunter of great reputation. And his apprentice, Tinian.”
Hissing, Bossk thrust his right claws toward his blast rifle.
“Hunter’s Creed!” Tutti squeaked. “No shooting! You three must talk about Chewbacca!”
Bossk snarled. “Chenlambec. You are distinguished, for so cowardly a race.” His Basic sounded to Tinian as if he were trying to gargle while somebody choked him.
Chen struck his deep chest with a fist and growled.
Tinian stepped forward. Both Hunters towered over her. “He says that your reputation also precedes you. You have killed dozens of his people.”
“Hundreds,” Bossk corrected her.
Chenlambec growled again. This time, Tinian opted not to translate.
Tutti Snibit looked all around, probably eyeing bulkheads for hand- and toe-holds. “Anyway,” he exclaimed quickly, “Bossk got the job, but Chenlambec has information on a wonderful inside track. I thought I would do both of you a favor … and introduce you!” He waved both furry arms.
Bossk muttered in a language Tinian didn’t understand.
“Please listen, sir Bossk,” Tutti spoke up. “Chenlambec arrived on board too late to apply for this Hunt—”
“Lord Vader wants this quarry alive,” Bossk interrupted. “No disintegrations. He specified clearly.”
“Yes, yes,” squeaked Tutti, “but listen. Chenlambec will postpone his massacre … once … if you, mighty Bossk, could work with a Wookiee.”
“And a Human.” Bossk lowered his scaly head and hissed. “A small, weak one.”
Chenlambec answered angrily.
Tinian folded her arms. “Chen