Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [19]
Malik Carr and Nom Anor exchanged brief looks of bemusement before the commander replied. “Our goals should not concern you at this point. Furthermore, it would be premature to decide which of us has rights to which worlds when we have yet to see whether our partnership will succeed. That decision, in any event, will ultimately be made by Supreme Overlord Shimrra. In the meantime, I suggest you broach the matter with my direct superior, Supreme Commander Nas Choka, who will certainly wish to meet with you when he arrives in Hutt space, some days from now.”
Borga nodded. “I will gladly grant him audience, and I will do as you suggest and discuss terms with him. I do, however, wish to propose something for your immediate consideration. In addition to other enterprises, we Hutts have both a fondness for and a long history of slave trading. With our expertise and our well-established network of space lanes and hyperspace routes, it occurs to me that we might best serve the interests of the partnership, as you say, by overseeing the transportation of captives, laborers, servants, and fodder for sacrifices—a task for which we are uniquely suited. That way, the Yuuzhan Vong needn’t employ their own ships for the lowly purpose of conveying inferior beings to their well-deserved castigation, enslavement, or immolation.”
“In return for what?” Malik Carr asked mildly.
“Your promise not to interfere with the movement of spice and other proscribed goods.”
“Spice?” Malik Carr asked Nom Anor.
“Recreational euphoriants—some of which are arachnid by-products.”
Borga followed the exchange, then clapped her hands. Human servants appeared bearing trays mounded with crystalline powders, varying in both composition and color.
“Here you see examples of glitterstim and the kor grade of the mineral ryll,” Borga said, indicating one mound after the next. “And there you see carsunum, lumni-spice, gree spice, and andris.” She paused to regard Malik Carr. “If you would care to sample any one of them …”
Malik Carr lifted his hand in a negative gesture.
“Some other time perhaps,” Borga said graciously. “But what of my proposal?”
Nom Anor turned to Malik Carr with purposeful excitement. “It does suit Supreme Commander Nas Choka’s plan to gather resistant populations onto a few select worlds for indoctrination and security, Commander.”
Malik Carr nodded noncommittally, then looked at Borga. “You have no qualms about betraying the sundry species who embrace the tenets of the New Republic?”
Borga loosed a sinister guffaw. “Certainly no more than Pedric Cuf has. After all, Commander, business is business, and if anyone is to profit from the galaxy’s new circumstances, it may as well be the Hutts.”
“So be it,” Malik Carr said with finality.
Borga grinned broadly. “One more small item, Commander. Since it would be to our mutual advantage that Hutt supply ships refrain from unintentionally bumbling into your operations, is it too much to ask that we be advised of any imminent, uh, activities?”
Malik Carr cut his eyes to Nom Anor. “Exactly as you predicted.”
Nom Anor returned a barely perceptible nod. “Negotiation is also part of their tradition.”
“You do have a keen eye, Executor.”
“A practiced one, Commander.”
Borga watched them without comprehending.
“We were just discussing the terms,” Nom Anor explained.
“Consider our request an accommodation,” Borga said offhandedly. “A show of confidence.”
“What you ask seems harmless enough,” Malik Carr allowed. “As you say, Borga, we certainly wouldn’t want your spice vessels inadvertently disrupting our activities.”
“As I say, Commander.”
“Until further notice, then, you may want to consider avoiding the Tynnani, Bothan, and Corellian systems. Tynna, especially so.”
Borga’s broad grin returned with interest. “Tynna,