Part 7

Jabba seemed to have accepted Qui-Gon's story that he was the former partner of Si'Haad, the shadow stealer. Jabba took great delight in poking jabs at him about Si'Haad's infamy. He pretended minor outrage but that was all. The evening's entertainment began with a well-tuned fizz band and flash dancers. The girls were pretty but worn from their harsh life.

Intermittant screaming beneath thier feets often caused some amusement from various guests of the Hutts. From overheard conversations, Qui-Gon learned several of today's other visitors to Jabba's Palace did not pass with Jabba's approval and were currently dodging Jabba's pet rancor. Qui-Gon noted to stay on Jabba's good side, if there was one. Fighting a rancor, even with a lightsaber, was dangerous work and he did not have his lightsaber.

"Pax Di'reh." Jabba's summons boomed through the room and over the noise of conversations, loud music and laughter. Things fell quiet, interrupted by muffled whispers, as Qui-Gon stepped forward. The protocol droid walked forward to translates the Hutt's words.

"The great Jabba has confirmed that you are who you say and wishes to apologize for doubting your claim." Qui-Gon doubted Jabba cared either way, but nodded in acquiencense anyway. "He indeed has something to steal that will aid in your revenge against Si'Haad. If you find her hideaway and steal something she is known to have stolen Jabba will personally keep you on retainer and spread your greatness wide. Will this be enough?"

Qui-Gon pretended to consider the offer carefully. "Yes, that will be sufficient. Si'Haad has several places of hiding, but I think I can do this easily enough. What is it the great Hutt wishes me to steal?"

"The Iconastic statue she stole from Jarmma the Hutt on Sola's Planet a couple of weeks ago." Qui-Gon controlled his facial features but inside he started with surprise. He then mentally laughed. That's what she meant by wearing thin her welcome. She'd stolen not only the chip but the statue after all.

"I know it," he replied to the Hutt and his audience. "I can do it. When do you want it?"

Jabba spoke and the droid turned back to Qui-Gon. "When you deliver it, but don't take too long."

Qui-Gon gave a real grin this time. "That will not be a problem."

He made his way back to Shania's asteroid, making several stops along the way to lose Jabba's spies, which was easy enough. Shinoba picked him up at some small floating space port that was ancient beyond belief and brought him to the hideaway.

"Well?" demanded Shania in lui of a greeting.

"I'm supposed to steal something from you first," Qui-Gon told her without preamble.

She grinned. "What?"

"The Iconastic statue from Sola's Planet. You stole it too, didn't you?" His expression was accusing.

"Actually, once you give it to Jabba, that is the statue that I want you to steal back." She grinned. At his incredulous expression. "I failed to mention that?"

"Are you wanting me dead?" he demanded with a huff.

She shrugged. "Typical double-cross technique." Shania gave him a sly glance. "Did the name work?"

He frowned again. "If someone there knew who this Pax Di'reh really was, I could have been killed, Shania. That was foolhardy."

She laughed, a full-blown laugh that lasted a good few minutes. "Trust me," she said with a continuing giggle, "no one there has a clue who Pax was. They just would know the name. Come on, let's get you that statue."

"You set this up," he accused.

"Actually, no, but it works out well in the end. That rival I said that stole the statue before I did? He worked for Jarmma. Jarmma then 'convinced' the real owner to make out a bill of sale, or lose his family. Not the way I would have done it but there's a Hutt for you." She took him down a long hall, made a right turn and then stopped. She punched in a key code and the wall slid open revealing a huge display room full of stolen artifacts and doodads. "I wanted the statue for my own collection. It's ugly but interesting, I think. Needless to say, I was a tad upset. I couldn't figure out how to get it until Jarmma allowed it to be displayed. Jarmma isn't the brightest bird in the tree sometimes."

She led him past various display cases filled with masks, manuscripts, bowls, china, silver and gold objects he couldn't identify, as well as jut worthless looking pieces that had gotten her attention for some reason or another. "These are trophies," Qui-Gon stated with disapproval.

"Some," she admitted with pride. "Many have some lesson attached to them. I come in here to ponder every once in a while the stupidity of my line of work, and then I go out and steal something to prove to myself just how dumb I can be." She flashed him a wry grin and then pointed to a corner display. "Have at it."

He gawked. "I'm supposed to do this after all."

She snorted. "You think I'm going to help you?"

"Shania, let's not make this into some sort of game." Qui-Gon turned to walk away. "This is insane. There has to be another way of doing this."

She sighed. "Spoil sport. Here." She opened the glass case and took the statue from its nesting. He turned as she tossed it. He caught it, closing his eyes in relief when it landed safely in his grasp. "You Jedi are no fun, " she informed him as she swept by. "Come on. To give this added meaning, you can 'steal' one of my transports to get you back. That'll cause an uproar."

Qui-Gon gave a shake of his head in irritation. She was about as predictable as the wind.

Jabba the Hutt was highly amused as he held the ancient icon is his fat fingers. "Most amusing," he said of Qui-Gon's fake accounting of the theft. "Does this satisfy your revenge?"

Qui-Gon pretended to consider the question carefully and then slowly nodded. "I suppose. Do you have another job?"

Jabba gave another booming laugh and gestured to the human before him, speaking grandly. "I am happy to have satisfied you. Now I do indeed have another job for you. I find I cannot cross Si'Haad, for she is a good friend and loyal worker when in my employ. She is also very dangerous. It will be returned to her soon enough, as well as news of your death."

Qui-Gon started in surprise as the protocol droid, a new one of bronze hue and quite a few dents, caught up the translation. The ground beneath Qui-Gon's feet shifted and he was falling. A trap door. Gales of laughter from Jabba's hanger-ons mingled with the Hutt's and Qui-Gon had a bad feeling about the whole thing.

S'Haad watched with dismay as the Jedi fell feet first into the rancor pit. "Damned Hutts," she muttered to herself. "Can't trust them for anything." She was angry at Jabba's presumption of her, and she was irritated that now she had to save the Jedi's butt as well. She would have to, she supposed, she was getting kind of fond of his stuffy attitude. Shinoba caught her eye and nodded imperceptibly.

Things were gonna get hairy from here.