"So. You failed."

"Not I, Omnipotent One." Ogomoor bowed as low as was feasible, given the proximity of Hutt slime. "I hired only the best, those who were recommended to me. The failure was theirs, and that of those who recommended them. These unwor- thies I have already reprimanded. As for myself I was, as always, nothing more than your humble facilitator."

"Hurrp!" Caught directly in the line of fire, with no tactful means of dodging, Ogomoor was compelled to suffer the full force of the bossban's belch. The fetid emission staggered him, but he held his ground bravely. Fortunately, the consequent contortions of his digestive system were not readily visible. "Perhaps it was no one's fault."

So stunning, so atypical was this straightforwardly bland ad mission from Soergg that Ogomoor immediately suspected a trap. Warily, he tried to divine the bossban's true intent. "If there was failure, how can it be no one's fault, O Great One?"

A hand gestured diffidently. "Those fools who failed were told they would be dealing with one Jedi and her Padawan. Not two. Jedi strength multiplies exponentially. Fighting one is like fighting two. Dealing with two more akin to trying to handle eight. Fighting eight…" A quiver sludged in visible ripples the length of the Hutt's flesh. Ogomoor was duly impressed. Though he had never set eyes on one of the legendary Jedi in person, anything that could give Bossban Soergg the shudders was something to be avoided.

"The second pair was not supposed to arrive for another two days yet." Soergg was muttering to himself now, the words rumbling up from that vast abyss of a belly like methane gas bubbling to the surface of a decomposing pond. "One would almost think they had sensed the confrontation to come and accelerated their arrival. This timing change is suspicious, and must be brought to the attention of others."

"What others?" Ogomoor inquired, and was immediately sorry he had done so.

Soergg glared down at him. "Why do you want to know, underling?"

"I don't-not really." Ogomoor tried to shrink down into his boots.

"Better for you, believe me. You would quake at the very mention of certain names, certain organizations. Be content in your ignorance and your minor status."

"Oh, I am, Your Corpulence, I am!" Privately, he wished he knew who or what the bossban was talking about. The expecta tion of possible riches far outweighed any fear he might have felt.

"The situation was made worse," the Hutt was saying, "be cause trained Jedi can oft times sense threatening disturbances in their vicinity. Because of this ability, they are infernally difficult to ambush. Certain individuals will not be pleased by this turn of events. There will be additional expense."

This time Ogomoor kept quiet.

Hutt movements are slow, but their minds are not. "Though your mouth is closed, I see your brain working. The details of this business are for me to know and you to forget." Noting his bossban's irritation, Ogomoor forbore from inquiring how he was supposed to forget something he had never been told.

"It may not matter. The representatives of the Unity grow more displeased by the day with the continuing indecision of

Republic officials regarding the land claims of the nomads. I am informed that as with many current issues, Senate opinion is divided on the issue."

"Yes, yes, I know." Soergg grunted impressively. "It seems that the galaxy is now governed by confusion instead of consensus." A monstrous frown split his leathery face. "Bad for business, chaos is. That is why the Hutts have allied themselves, albeit quietly, with those forces that are working for change. For stability, the capitalist's friend." He wagged a finger at his assistant. "With luck, these Jedi will need time to accomplish anything. It will take more debate before this quarrel between the city folk and the Alwari can be settled. That gives us time, and opportunity, in which to still conclude this business in a satisfactory manner. It must be concluded in a satisfactory manner. The Jedi cannot be allowed to sway the opinion of the Unity representatives. The vote to pull Ansion out of the Republic must proceed!" Slobber trickled down the absent chin as a huge tongue licked thick lips. The custodial droid scuttled swiftly to catch the noxious drool before it could stain the floor.

"You cannot imagine," the Hutt added in dangerously low tones, "the extent of the repercussions if we fail to successfully carry out this contract. Those who have engaged us to carry out their wishes in this matter have a reputation for treating failure harshly, in ways that can only be imagined."

Ogomoor had all too vivid an imagination. "I will do my best, as always, Bossban. Still, four Jedi-"

"Two Jedi and two Padawans," Soergg corrected him. He looked suddenly wistful. Or at least as wistful as a Hutt could look. "Those pathetic malingerers you were forced to hire are all too typical of the quality available on outlying worlds such as Ansion. What is needed for this kind of work is a real, experienced professional. Someone whose work and experience falls outside the boundaries of Republic legalese. A proper bounty hunter, for example. Unfortunately, none such is to be found on Ansion." He sat brooding for a long moment.

"Slatt!" he finally exclaimed. "There is one good thing to come out of this fiasco, anyway. Thanks to the efforts of the Jedi, there are few survivors to claim their pay."

"Then if you are done with me, O Great One, I have much work to do." Ogomoor started to back out of the room. "The shipment of tweare skins from Aviprine is due to arrive-"

"Not so fast." Reluctantly, the majordomo was obliged to pause in his retreat. "I expect you to keep on top of this, Ogomoor. It's a wise merchant who misses no opportunity. Let's see some of that deviousness your tribe is famed for possessing. This business of putting a stop to Jedi interference takes precedence over everything else, including the shipment of tweare skins. I will expect regular reports. Whatever you need, requisition it and I will provide the necessary authorization. These visitors must be stopped, or there will be consequences for all of us! Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Ogomoor bowed low. "Completely."

The Hutt puffed up importantly, like a toad much afflicted with pride. "I always do."

"To the greater edification of those of us who serve you, O Most Great and Wise Patron."

Having finally made good his flight from the room with rank and all body parts intact, Ogomoor resolutely ignored the multi-species giggling that followed him as he headed for his own office. There was nothing to worry about, he told himself. It was no big deal. All he had to do to retain his employer's trust and appreciation was oversee the demise of two Jedi Knights and their wily Padawans. Why, any country ignoramus could perform such a task using only half a brain.