Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [46]
He glanced at Kyp Durron and Ganner Rhysode, then smiled at Karrde. “So why have you come, Talon? And don’t tell me you’re serious about going into the spice trade.”
Karrde looked him in the eye. “I appreciate your frankness, Crev. The fact is the Yuuzhan Vong have changed the way everyone is doing business. Many of the players remain the same, but the field has been rearranged. In the Rim, former Imperials are fighting alongside New Republic forces. Adversaries of long standing are putting aside their differences for a common cause. Even the Hutts have been forced to relinquish part of their space as a means of avoiding all-out war.”
Again, Bombaasa glanced at the Jedi. “Yes, the only good thing to come of the war is that it gave Kyp Durron something else to do besides prey on smugglers.” He paused briefly to glance knowingly at Karrde’s confederates, then sighed. “I thought for certain that would draw a reaction, but I can see that this clearly isn’t a moment for levity.”
“Laugh all you want,” Kyp told him.
“I can laugh all I want,” Bombaasa repeated in monotone, then touched his head theatrically. “Did someone here make me say that?”
Ganner placed a calming hand on Kyp’s arm.
Bombaasa watched the two Jedi, then nodded at Karrde. “You’re right, Talon, the lines have certainly been redrawn. Just where that leaves people like you and me has yet to be determined.”
“Speak for yourself, Crev. I know where I stand.”
Bombaasa took a breath. “I’m a practical man, Talon. I wish only to survive—and under the best possible circumstances I can arrange for myself. You say your stance is decided. Then suppose you tell me what’s on your mind.”
Karrde’s eyes narrowed. “You won’t ship to Tynna, Bothawui, or Corellia.”
Bombaasa linked his hands and rested them atop his prominent belly. “That much is true. And I commend you on your acuity in picking just those systems where we have temporarily suspended operations.”
“The Yuuzhan Vong are in Hutt space,” Karrde continued. “They’ve already hit Gyndine. So one might reasonably assume that you’re merely trying to avoid areas of potential conflict.”
“Once more I commend you. Why risk shipments by sending them into contested space? Transgression might even prove dangerous to the bearers of those shipments.”
“Then either you’re merely being careful, or you’re heeding orders that came down from the Hutts.”
Bombaasa glanced at the ceiling. “Let’s just say that the Hutts, at this juncture, are in a better position to ascertain which areas are dangerous.”
Karrde nodded. “I thought so. And how will you justify this conversation to Borga?”
Bombaasa’s shoulders heaved in a shrug. “I will relate just what happened here. Talon Karrde wanted product delivered into denied areas, so we failed to come to terms.” Irony wrinkled his jowled face. “Borga has been expecting just such an encounter, in any case.”
“Playing both sides, is she?”
“Looking out for number one.”
Karrde could not restrain a smile. “I won’t forget this, Crev.”
Bombaasa steepled his thick fingers and brought them to his double chin. “Then you might mention me to your friends—as affirmation of just whose side I’m on.”
“Count on it,” Karrde said. “Someday we might all be called to work together—smugglers, information brokers, pirates, and mercenaries—and this strikes me as a good start.”
The yammosk vessel Crèche hung in stationary orbit above the planet Ando. In the ship’s grottolike docking bay, Commander Chine-kal and the priest, Moorsh, welcomed Randa Besadii Diori aboard. First to exit the loathsome slipper-shaped Ubrikkian space yacht that had arrived from Ando were the young Hutt’s Twi’lek and Rodian retainers, followed by the tusked humanoid Aqualish who comprised his limited detail of bodyguards. Then, propelled by his muscular tail, the Hutt himself emerged, smiling broadly and instantly at home