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“Aunt,” Jabba said, “I have read the newest report from our source in the Besadii accounting office, and their profits are impressive. Even the dissension over Durga’s leadership has not slowed them. Ylesia continues to produce more processed spice with every month that passes. Shiploads of Pilgrims are arriving nearly every week. It is depressing.”

Jiliac turned her massive head to regard her nephew. “Durga has done better than I ever gave him credit for, Jabba. I did not think he could hold onto the leadership. By now I envisioned that Besadii would be ripe for our takeover—but, even though there is muttering and discontent with Durgas leadership, his outspoken opponents are dead, and no one has surfaced to replace them within the clan.”

Jabba blinked at his aunt, and a spark of hope awakened. That speech sounded almost like the old, pre-motherhood Jiliac! “Do you know why they are dead, Aunt?”

“Because Durga was foolish enough to deal with Black Sun,” Jiliac said. “The deaths of his opponents were too blatant to be Hutt doing. Only Black Sun has that many resources. Only Prince Xizor would be so coldly daring as to assassinate them all within days of each other.”

Jabba was getting excited, now. Is she coming out of her maternal mental haze? he wondered.

“Prince Xizor is indeed someone to be reckoned with,” he said. “That is why I have done him favors from time to time. I would prefer to stay on his good side … just in case I ever need a favor in return. As I did that one time on Tatooine. He helped me then, and asked nothing in return, because I have done him favors in the past.”

Jiliac was shaking her head slowly back and forth, a mannerism she’d picked up from humans. “Jabba, you know my thinking on this, I have told you many times. Prince Xizor is not one to be trifled with. Best to stay far away from him, and to have nothing to do with Black Sun. Open the door to them just once, and you risk becoming his vassal.”

“I am cautious, Aunt, I assure you. I would never do as Durga has done.”

“Good. Durga will soon discover that he has opened a door that cannot easily be closed. If he steps through it … he will no longer be his own master.”

“So should we hope he does that, Aunt?”

Jiliac’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Hardly, Nephew. Xizor is not a foe I wish to contend with. He has evidently set his sights on Besadii, but he would willingly take Desilijic, too, of that I have no doubt.”

Jabba silently agreed. Xizor would move in on the whole of Nal Hutta if given the opportunity. “Speaking of Besadii, Aunt,” he said, “what of these Ylesian profits I was reporting on? What can we do to stop Besadii? They now have nine colonies on Ylesia. They are preparing to start another colony on Nyrvona, the other habitable world in the system.”

Jiliac thought for a moment. “Perhaps it is time to utilize Teroenza again,” she said. “Durga apparently has no suspicion that he was responsible for Aruk’s death.”

“Utilize him how?”

“I don’t know yet.…” Jiliac said. “Perhaps we can encourage Teroenza to declare his independence from Durga. If they fought, Besadii profits would be bound to plummet. And then … we could pick up the pieces.”

“Very good, Aunt!” Jabba was happy to hear the old, scheming Jiliac acting like herself again. “Now, if I can just report on these figures here, and get your input on reducing our costs in—”

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

Jabba broke off, interrupted by Jiliac’s deep, maternal coo of affection, and saw the baby Hutt wriggling up to its mother, tiny vestigial arms held up, its bulbous eyes fixed on Jiliac’s face intently. The baby’s mouth opened, and it chirruped inquiringly.

“Look, Nephew!” Jiliac’s voice was warm, indulgent. “My little one knows mama, yes, doesn’t he, precious?”

Jabba rolled his eyes until they nearly emerged from their sockets and splatted onto the floor. Witness the demise of one of the greatest criminal minds of this millennium, he thought, bleakly.

Then, as Jiliac scooped up the baby Hutt and guided it back into her pouch, Jabba glared at the little creature with an expression