"Do you hear that?" Watt asked.
"An engine," MacCleod added.
"There," Sutek pointed.
Sutek pointed to the horizon, where five vehicles could be seen coming towards them.
"Landspeeders," said Watt.
As the landspeeders got closer and closer, Watt froze in his tracks.
"No! Not him!"
"Who?" asked MacCleod.
"The driver of the lead landspeeder. We encountered him on our last trip here. It's Boba Fett!"
Worf reached into his jacket and pulled out his phaser.
"Put it away," said Watt. "There's no point in fighting! We're easily outnumbered!"
"That is the coward's way out!" Worf snapped.
"It could be our only way out of here," said Watt.
"Do as he says, Lieutenant!" said MacCleod.
Soon, the landspeeders were before them. Boba Fett jumped out of his transport, and marched right up to Watt.
"My luck has changed! I never expected to see Captain James Watt back here on Tattooine! Jabba will be pleased!"
"I'm sure he will!"
As the others jumped out of their transports, Fett walked over to the others.
"A human, a Vulcan, and a Klingon! You Klingons have been pretty quiet since Salg left us!"
Worf stared down at Fett, and growled.
"And I see that like him, you will be trouble!"
Fett signaled to one of the others.
"Weequay! Put the bonds on these! Jabba will be pleased with our find today!"
A red-skinned humanoid with long flowing hair at the back of his head lurched over and placed restraints over their wrists, while Boba Fett checked the packs they were carrying. Fett then reached down to his wrist and activated his communicator.
"Bring in the skiff!"
Moments later a small desert skiff piloted by another cutthroat appeared on the horizon. The away team were herded aboard like cattle. They then headed towards Jabba's palace.
Sisko was getting impatient, as were the other commanders of the fleet. As he sat in the command chair of the Defiant, he felt like twiddling his thumbs.
"How long overdue are they now, Lieutenant?" he asked.
"Seventy minutes," Dax reported.
"Something's gone wrong!" said Sisko. "Patch me through to the other commanders!"
Moments later, Sisko was involved in a 'video conference' with the other senior officers.
"We've got to do something," said Sisko. "We can't just sit here and do nothing."
"That's all we can do," said Tarrant.
"We can do more," said Sisko. "With your agreement, I think we should give them another two hours at the most. Then we should send a team in."
With the other commanders all in agreement, Sisko finally felt he was doing something useful.
As the wind brushed past his face, Watt found it difficult to focus on the imposing palace of Jabba the Hutt as it appeared on the horizon. He had been a guest of Jabba's before. Now it seemed he would benefit from his hospitality once more.
Soon, the prisoners were herded into Jabba's main throne room. Jabba was having one of his daily parties, and all of his hangers-on roared their approval as the prisoners were brought before the loathsome crime lord.
As usual, Jabba did not let the food in his mouth get in the way of his speaking.
"I see you have finally returned to me, Captain Watt!" he spluttered. "And you have brought three new guests for me!"
Jabba looked down at Worf.
"And another Klingon for me! You have done well, Boba Fett! The bounty I placed on Watt's head shall be yours!"
Jabba motioned to one of his guards. After disappearing for a few moments, the guard emerged with a large sack. Watt was surprised that he was worth that much. The guard handed the sack to Jabba.
"I hope to do business with you again, Lord Jabba!" Fett said, bowing low.
"And I you, bounty hunter! Please stay and enjoy my hospitality!"
Once more Fett bowed low, before moving off into the darkness of the shadows.
Jabba then turned his attention to his new prisoners.
"Fortuna!" Jabba shouted. "Do you still have your Imperial contact?"
"Yes, Lord Jabba!"
"Then contact him! Tell him I have a human, a Vulcan and a Klingon from Starfleet for him!"
"And what about Captain Watt?" asked Fortuna. "Are you not giving him to the Empire as well?"
Jabba stared at Watt whilst he gave Fortuna his answer.
"I have plans for Captain Watt. He will live to regret the day he beat me all those years ago!"
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