NOTE: For some reason, the site won't let me access your most recent reviews. I see them in the count and get e-mail notifications, but when I click links in those, I get a 'non-existing message' error. I have not forgotten you, but that's the way things are right now. Hopefully fixed soon.
Chapter 18
"Well, if there's a bright centre to the universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from."
Unknown
To Anakin the burning sunlight was still uncomfortably familiar to him. The walk up to Jabbas Palace was not a path he relished taking again, but at least this time there were no battledroids trying to keep Ahsoka from reaching there too. Olin knew better than to disturb him when he was like this, so when they finally reached the massive metal gate, it was the first time either of them spoke since they had set off from Mos Eisley. Both took a deep drink from their water bottles before Anakin raised his metal hand to knock on the door.
"Let me take the lead, don't look directly at Jabba unless things start to go wrong and for the sake of any god that might exist in this galaxy, ignore everything that goes on around us unless it's a direct threat."
Olin nodded, and Anakin lowered his hand. "Ferrus, I don't like this. I don't like this at all, and I need to depend on you in there."
"I know."
Anakin didn't reply and instead just knocked on the door. The small droid that came out of a small porthole in the massive door exchanged a few words in Huttese with Anakin before retreating.
"Well, at least I got us in." Anakin replied, a slight grin on his face. In days past, Olin would have been angry at him for not being serious about anything, but now he knew better. This was Anakin Skywalker trying to seem relaxed and in control and taking things very seriously indeed.
The cavernous inside of the palace was a dark place, so they both waited near the door until Jabba's Majordomo came to meet them. The Twi'lek motioned for them to follow and eventually they were led into the throne room.
Jabba hadn't changed much from the war, at least to Anakin, and seemed to be taking this meeting very seriously, as evidenced by the fact that neither Jedi had been 'asked' to surrender his weapon. Another sign was that there was no band playing, nor were there more than a handful of the slave girls the crime lord liked so much present.
So when the Majordomo returned to his masters side, Anakin stepped forward and both Jedi bowed as deep as was possible before introducing themselves.
"Almighty Jabba, we are honoured by your decision to receive us. We represent the Galactic Republic and in the name of our leaders, wish to enter into a mutually beneficial and satisfactory business arrangement with you."
Jabba laughed. ((The Republic, you say? Last time I was in the core worlds, the Galactic Empire ruled there.))
"That is true of course, but the Empire does not hold sway everywhere in this galaxy. The exhalted realm of the Hutts is but the most prominent and powerful example."
((The Emperor calls you Rebel Scum, Skywalker, and if that is true, what does your... Republic have to offer me, in return for whatever it is you dare to ask of me?))
"Mighty Jabba, allow me to begin with what the Republic humbly requests of you, then we can discuss what it is you want in compensation. I have it on a holoprojector."
He moved his hand into the pockets of his pants and even though the guards stiffened around him, he just removed a holoprojector from them and activated it. Instantly, a blue-ish and somewhat simplistic wireframe model of Fearless hovered above his hand.
"This is Fearless the flagship of our fleet. She is a Victory-I Class Star Dreadnought and because of that, underpowered. What we desire of you is a yard in which to refit her to our specifications and via your contacts access to the... unofficial market for starship parts, both the Victory Class and others. And of course your silence on these matters towards anyone, especially the Empire."
Silence reigned, and for a moment Anakin feared he had been too forward, but then Jabba began to laugh again.
((You do not think small, you and your Republic! he said, But, for the sake of argument, what would you compensate me with?))
Olin stepped forward now. "To that end we have earmarked hard currency to the countervalue of seventeen million credits, Imperial, as well as freight and the ships they are on, with an additional value of twenty-nine million credits. And change."
((Forty-six million? For that you could almost buy a new ship.))
"True," Anakin replied after once again translating in a low voice, "but we like this one, your eminence, and we have already heavily modified it as far as our limited and humble means allow."
((So why should I help you, and not turn you in to the Empire after I take your money?))
"Because of course there will only be a partial payment before we get our ship back, say, half? And because... well..."
Anakin paused, trying to find words that wouldn't get them both thrown into the droid foundry Jabba was rumoured to have somewhere in this palace.
"Because, almighty and wise Jabba, you owe me one." he said, "Theoretically, your son's return was compensated for by the use of your spacelanes for the Grand Army, yes, but not only is this a personal favour than allowing ships to move through empty space could ever be, but it is also a source of credits that would be entirely free of any sort of... traction problems inside the Imperial banking system, as well as a sum that is too large to pass up. Also, the ever wise Hutts are known to stick to their agreements once made."
The blatant lie of the last sentence came easy to Anakin, especially since he knew that Jabba was at least intrigued. Forty-six million Imperial might be chump-change for him in the long run, but it was still a considerable sum that he would be paid for next to no effort of his own. That said...
"Of course, you will of course wonder what else we require of you. Aside from your what has already been mentioned, we require nothing. Republic assets in workers and droids would be used to carry out the work," he said, once more not mentioning that this would be taxing their resources to the breaking point and that everyone was hoping that Jabba's droid workforce would do at least some of the work for them, "we would use our own diplomats and ships to buy the parts from your factors."
((The trade for parts would be going through me?))
"Yes, oh exhalted one. If you so desire, we would buy the parts directly from you or anyone you deem worthy of representing you."
After this, Jabba leaned back, as far as that was possible for his species. ((That is an intriguing offer indeed, Skywalker. I will have to consider it. Until then, consider yourselves my guests.))
Knowing that they were as good as dismissed, both Jedi bowed deeply before being led deeper into the depths of the palace by the same majordomo.
Once they were as alone as could be expected, seated in a very plush set of rooms, certain to be bugged in some fashion, Olin turned to him.
"He'll fleece us dry and he'll dry to cheat us at every turn."
"Of course," Anakin shrugged, "but this is still a deal that will net him a tidy little sum that he can use to annoy the Empire with."
And that was the point, wasn't it. The Empire was starting to really put pressure in the huts, especially when it came to slaves and weapons. Anakin knew that especially the former was the height of hypocrisy, yet he didn't care, as all this was giving the Republic the opening it needed.
"And of course all he has to do is let us have one of his shipyards for a year or so, keep away a few prying eyes for no extra cost in terms of parts or workforce. Let's just hope he hates the Empire enough for that."
"Indeed. And Ferrus, keep in mind that you can't really win with a Hut, only manage how badly you loose. That, and the one thing they hate more than being messed with is being indebted to someone. That's our biggest advantage here."
After a restless night of sleep where Anakin had taken the first watch by unspoken consensus, they were once more standing before the Hutt crime lord. Unusually for him, he spoke before his Majordomo.
((Your offer is an intriguing one, Skywalker. But there is this, what would be my compensation if the Empire were to find out in spite of my efforts and yours?))
"There can be some sort of arrangement of course."
((Yes. And it will be this: I will accept your proposal, and in exchange the Republic will ignore my various business ventures, all of them.))
The two Jedi looked at one another. It was left unsaid, but that would include the slave trade. If they accepted this in the name of the Republic, then sooner or later this would be getting out. Yet they both knew that they didn't have much of a choice. Jabba had to know that the Republic couldn't do much to influence him anyway, and yet the thought behind this was what counted. So Olin just shrugged.
"For a limited period. Allmighty Jabba, we do have interests of our own, and eventually yours and ours will come into conflict again."
((I like your honesty, Skywalker. It is such a rare thing for you humanoids. Jabbe replied, once more roaring with laughter, with his minions dutifully joining in. Twenty years.))
"Seven."
((Fifteen.))
"Ten."
Jabba contemplated their offer. ((Send someone to negotiate the particulars with me. Two weeks.))
"Our representative will contact you here."
((Then consider your proposal accepted.))
After this it took them less than fifteen minutes to be complimented out of the palace. The first thing Olin said when the gate closed behind them was: "That was far too easy."
"Oh I agree. Somewhere along the line we will be paying the price for this, and that goes beyond Imperial credits. It will be a hefty one."
"You're thinking of the slave trade, aren't you."
They began to walk back towards where they had hidden their transportation.
"Yes. The Empire will find out and they will use this for their own advantage. It's not going to be all that successful with the people who hate them already, but in places like Coruscant..."
Olin couldn't help but agree.
"It's not like we have much of a choice, now do we?"
Anakin thought of Fearless, and everything he had experienced on her, from the birth of his children to the first time he'd launched his Z-95 out of her hangar bay. Far too much depended on that ship being there.
"No," he said and shook his head, "we don't really have much of a choice.
tbc
NOTE: For some reason, the site won't let me access your most recent reviews. I see them in the count and get e-mail notifications, but when I click links in those, I get a 'non-existing message' error. I have not forgotten you, but that's the way things are right now. Hopefully fixed soon.