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The Trandoshan drifted away, still uneasy. He remained suspicious, but Nolaa did not question him.

Perhaps the scaly predator would find some detail they needed to know.

She decided it would be best to leave him alone.

Nolaa turned to Hovrak. "Get to work on identifying that ship and its history," she said.

"Keep me apprised of your progress.

After Hovrak bowed low, clenching his clawed hands, he rushed off down a corridor to his work.

Several other tunnels and transport trains led to the deep excavation mines, ore shipment centers, and terminus rails. Nolaa glanced at each tunnel, studied the activity in the small-craft bay for a moment, then headed back toward her own private chambers, where she could think, where she could feel safe.

Humans had committed so many crimes against alien species throughout history, she thought bitterly. Even though these tunnels were her place of power, Nolaa Tarkona did not feel absolutely protected anywhere. And the mystery of this unoccupied Hapan ship made her far more nervous than she could allow Hovrak or Corrsk to see.

When she returned to her throne room grotto, Nolaa intended to relax and let waves of contemplation sweep over her. She wanted to sit back under the brilliant scarlet banners of the Diversity Alliance and think of her overall plan, how her group could achieve its magnificent goals.

Her visions of the future inspired her.

But before she had relaxed for even two minutes, a Duros communications specialist swept into her room. The alien's sunken, noseless face and blue skin, his squared-off head and wide, pupilless eyes, gave him the appearance of a mummy. He moved very quickly, as if agitated.

The Duros bowed perfunctorily and said in a watery voice, "Esteemed Tarkona, you have a message from the bounty hunter Boba Fett. He wishes to speak privately with you."

Nolaa was startled. The masked bounty hunter would not call unless he had something important to tell her. She hoped the news was good, but she feared his message was something she would not want to hear.

Nolaa went into her isolated office, stood by the polished black table, and activated the inset holoscreen. Fett's helmeted head appeared.

He nodded slightly as he spoke, but she could see no other indication that anything human or alive hid beneath the slitted Mandalorian visor.

"Nolaa Tarkona," he said, "two of us found Bornan Thul."

Her heart leaped, but Fett's voice did not carry a gloating or triumphant tone. "He escaped usm but not without assistance, and only temporarily.

I am confident I will bring him to you before long."

"You communicate with me simply to report failure?" Nolaa demanded.

"I'm beginning to believe, Boba Fett, that your reputation is undeserved."

"It is deserved well enough," Fett said. His voice remained neutral, as if he was incapable of taking offense. Thul has proved to be considerably more skillful than I had anticipatedrebut I enjoy the challenge."

"Why did you call, then?" Nolaa asked. "I am very busy."

"To inform you of a new enemy, a bounty hunter who helped Thul escape.

Either Dengar or I would have secured the item you seek, had it not been for this traitor's meddling."

"Who?" Nolaa demanded. "Who is this traitor?"

"His name is Zekk," Fett said. "The young man seemed naive. He claimed to be in training as a bounty hunter. But he turned against us and Bornan Thul slipped away."

Nolaa Tarkona seethed. Everything seemed to fall apart and become complicated, when it should have been so simple! Without even answering, she severed the transmission link. She clamped her mouth shut and allowed the anger to bo'd within her. New enemies cropped up everywhere, and the Diversity Alliance's battle grew more and more difficult each day.

But this fury did not drain her; it tempered her, adding endurance.

She had told Corrsk that his anger was a good thing if directed at the proper target--and Nolaa Tarkona had many targets indeed.

Corrsk climbed into the impounded Rock Dragon. His scaled feet clomped on the deck plates. He moved about, sniffing,