Part 9 (1/2)
”How indeed?” said Yeama, with a knowing smile. ”I advise you to bid fairly, so you can be sure that the winning bid reflects the prize's true worth. ”
Thieves and liars and economic rationalists, thought Ula as Yeama led him to the embarra.s.singly lush hospitality center. To chaos with the lot of them.
a.n.a.lyzing the data took the better part of an hour. The Cinzia shown in recordings taken by Bareesh's pirate had been a light star cruiser of unfamiliar design, but Ula's sharp eye detected hints of an Imperial cha.s.sis under a refurbished hull. It could have been an old S-cla.s.s model, stripped down and rebuilt from the inside out. The drives had a similar signature, although their emissions had been baffled somehow. Fragments of the hull collected after the explosion showed high proportions of rare metals-similar to those of the object sitting in Ta.s.saa Bareesh's vault. Nothing about the s.h.i.+p gave any hint as to its origins.
A world rich in exotic metals would be a prize indeed, Ula thought as he scoured the data for clues. Perhaps his trip hadn't been for nothing after all. Such rare substances were the backbone of many industries, from communications to war. Shortages had delayed many projects crucial to the Empire's expansion already, including some so secret that he heard of them only through reports issued to Supreme Commander Stantorrs by Republic spies. His own side didn't trust him to know.
”It's all a game, ” he muttered to himself, pus.h.i.+ng the holovid away from him in frustration.
”Is anything the matter, Envoy?” asked Potannin, standing to attention by the entrance to their suite.
”Oh, nothing, Sergeant, ” he said. ”I'm just tired. ”
”Would you like to retire? You have a choice of beds...”
”I don't think I'll sleep tonight. ”
”You have received several invitations from other parties in the palace, sir. If any interest you, I could make arrangements. ”
”Would that be safe?”
Potannin's angular face displayed confident a.s.surance. ”I would hazard a guess, sir, that so long as the Hutts propose to profit from us, we're in the safest place in the galaxy. ”
”True. ” Ula thought for a moment. ”All right, then. Let me see the list. ”
He scanned it quickly, glossing over minor amba.s.sadors, ambitious crime bosses, and several beings whose intentions were even less honorable. One name caught his attention.
”Jet Nebula, that pilot with the ridiculous name who has free run of the palace. What does he want from me?”
”I couldn't say, sir. But he's invited you for a drink in a cantina called the Poison Pit. ”
”Sounds unpleasant. ”
”Shall I turn them all down, sir?”
”Yes. No, wait. ” There had been something odd in Jet Nebula's disaffected stance, and in his placement in the welcoming hall. If he was truly so bored, why had he put himself in a position from which he could study everyone in the room?
”Tell Nebula I'll meet him in half an hour. ”
”Yes, sir. ”
Ula picked a refresher at random and changed his robes for something more sensible. The ones Diplomatic Supplies had provided him with made him feel like a clown. And besides, he didn't want to stand out. If he was going to discover who this Jet Nebula really was-or at the very least, what he knew-he would do it dressed properly.
Before he left the refresher, he took the compact holdout blaster he'd packed and slipped it into his breast pocket. Just in case.
The cantina was as bad as he had antic.i.p.ated, with alien and human lowlifes cl.u.s.tered in twos and threes over pots of dense-looking brown beverages. A complex roar of ever-changing frequencies blasted the s.p.a.ce, performed by a quintet of Bith; Ula could only a.s.sume they considered the noise they made to be music.
He exchanged a glance with Potannin, who stationed watches at both entrances and put the three remaining soldiers at strategic points around the cantina. Their presence alone caused some patrons to pick up their drinks and stagger elsewhere.
Jet Nebula occupied a dark corner, sprawled across a low padded lounge with his head tipped back and his battered droid standing protectively at his feet. The gla.s.s in front of him was empty. As Ula approached, Jet's head came up and fixed him with the same stare he had been using earlier that day.
”Nice duds, ” he said.
Ula felt his face turning red. Diplomatic Supplies' idea of ”sensible” amounted to a mock-military uniform in purple, with meaningless epaulets and insignias on every available surface. He had taken off the baubles, but there was nothing he could do about the color except drape a gray cloak across his shoulders and hope for the best.
”You wanted to talk with me, ” he said, cutting right to the chase.
”That depends, mate. Are you buying?”
”Is that all you're after-a free drink?”
”So what if I am? A man's got to take it where he finds it, in my line of work. ”
”Which is?”
”Can't you guess? It takes a faker to know a faker. ”
A cold chill ran down Ula's spine. What was Jet saying? That he knew Ula was an informer? Was he going to blackmail him for money-or worse?
Jet smiled and scratched lazily at his chin. ”All these questions are making me thirsty. How about you send your man to buy us a round of Reactor Cores and we'll talk like proper gentlemen. ”
Ula had no choice but to agree. On the off-chance Jet did know something, he didn't want it revealed in front of his security detail.
Ula gave the orders, and the droid tottered off after Potannin. He sat down, ignoring the sudden weakness in his knees. ”What do you want?”
”I've already told you, and you're already providing. ”
”I'm not talking about alcohol. Be more explicit. ”
”If you can't figure it out, then you're no use to me. ”
”What do you mean?” Ula felt his indignation rising, but before he could lash out in return, something occurred to him. ”Wait a minute. Yeama said you had the favor of Ta.s.saa Bareesh. What are you doing down here cadging drinks off me?”
Jet said nothing.
Ula examined everything he knew about Jet, and found a clutch of previously disconnected facts taking a surprising new configuration in his mind.
”That's your s.h.i.+p in the dock, ” he said, ”the one with the blast damage. You ordered a smuggler's drink. You said faker because of what you do, not me. ”
” 'All politicians are liars, '” he said, ”to quote Chancellor Janarus. ”
Ula didn't laugh at the paradox. ”You're the pirate who found the Cinzia. ”
”I prefer freight captain, ” said Jet, ”but I am that fellow. ” He executed a mock-bow from his slouched position on the lounge. ”The Hutts don't forget who their friends are. ”
”You don't look like you're enjoying yourself. ”
”What's not to like? My s.h.i.+p's impounded, and I can't leave the palace. I'm in paradise. ”