Part 45 (2/2)
”Don't you want to know if he's strong in the Force?”
Skirata trod tactfully. He found he was determined not to think of Venku as a Jedi-in-waiting. That could never be allowed to happen. ”Is he? It's not a given, is it?”
”No, it's not. But he will be a Force-user. It depends on how he's trained to handle it.”
She might have been having second thoughts about his future. All she'd ever known before the war broke out was a Jedi clan for a family; stress could make folks default to what they knew best. ”And who's going to train him?”
”I will. I might regret taking away his choice to be a Jedi, but I'd rather offer him the wider world.”
There were times when she really looked like a Jedi, the same way Jusik did, simultaneously both child and ancient sage, swathed in those dull brown and beige robes. Skirata tried to imagine her like a normal young girl of her age, doing mindless fluffy things like worrying about fas.h.i.+on, and felt agonizing guilt for the harsh things he'd said to her when she told him she was pregnant.
He was glad she did it. Darman had a son. It was going to kill her to stay away from her baby, though, and to cover up the fact that she'd given birth. He'd been so sure it was right for Darman not to know about Venku until he was ready for the news. But now he wasn't so sure.
I took away his chance to name his own son. So where does that leave me?
And Venku was a blend of Force-using Jedi and the perfect soldier, a valuable commodity. Ko Sai's continued cooperation was being bought with a vial of blood and tissue. There was nothing the aiwha-bait could ever do with it, but she wanted it badly. Skirata was going to hand it to her.
”Et'ika, let's pick our moment and tell Darman,” he said. ”Let's see if he's up to it. I'll know.”
”But I'm not sure how I'm going to face him after lying to him like that.”
”I'll tell him the truth. I made you do it.”
”But you were right, Kal. It's already a dangerous situation, whatever I do. There's no way around it.” Etain held her hands out to take Venku again, and settled him in the crook of her arm. ”Once even a few folks know what his parentage is, the trouble starts. Unless both Dar and I desert, that is, and he won't do that.” She wiped the baby's mouth. ”I don't think I can, either. I can't play happy families while this war's going on, not like that, anyway.”
Skirata saw her point, and wondered how he'd react in the same position. ”Fi knows now.”
”Yes. But he's not exactly in a position to blurt it out to anyone.”
”I'd better talk to him.”
”I don't think he understands why I didn't tell Dar.”
”Leave it to me. First things first, though-Ko Sai.”
Skirata hadn't seen her in a while, and when he and Mereel walked into the mobile laboratory unit that she'd finally deigned to use, she reminded him of someone wasting away who'd managed to muster a little strength to greet a friend. But there was nothing friendly about her. She was just anxious to play with that sample.
But she must know she can 't ever make a super-soldier out of it. Imagine being so hungry for knowledge that all you want to do is find out, even if you'll never use it.
Skirata wasn't taking chances. If she escaped from Kamino, then she could try to make a run from here, even now. From the moment she took that sample out of his hands, she was locked in and under surveillance.
”I hear the baby is healthy and well,” she said.
”Yeah.” Skirata held up the vial. ”Now you tell me how healthy.”
”I don't even have to test for abnormal aging, Sergeant,” she said. ”Any engineered genes inherited from his father will be designed to be recessive, and those occurring naturally in the Fett genome have been chemically regulated. Apart from any exotica inherited from his Jedi mother, the baby will grow up normally unless he's been very unlucky in life's lottery.”
”You make it sound so wonderful.” Skirata looked at the vial. ”And you've had a good rummage around Etain's genome, I take it.”
”Yes. Fascinating.”
”So this c.o.c.ktail just tells you how they interact.”
”Not just. This is the most fascinating part of all.”
And Venku didn't need it. Skirata could walk away now, if he believed her. But he had to take her tests on trust, too. He was no geneticist.
Mereel nudged him, ”Ko Sai kept her word before, and it's not as if it can do any harm now.”
Skirata wasn't sure if Mereel was playing nice-policeman-nasty-policeman with the Kaminoan, but he handed over the sample.
”Have fun,” he said, and they left. The bastion was taking shape. Bralor's droids had built a sheltered circular atrium off the main hub, with a roof that slid back on days when n.o.body cared what could be spotted from the air; it was ideal for open-air roasts.
”I say we get started on butchering that shatual if Rav hasn't already prepared it, Mer'ika. Perfect celebratory meal, if we had the whole clan here.”
”You said clan.”
”That's what it is, isn't it?”
”Indeed it is, Buir.” Mereel smiled. ”The war will be over one day.”
”It'll be over for us,” Skirata said. ”And the rest of the galaxy can do what it wants. In the meantime, I need to make friends with someone reliable who's worked at Arkanian Micro.”
”But not before we roast a little shatual, eh?” Mereel smiled. ”I'm an uncle now. I have to do things right.” Uncle. Ba'vodu.
It was a lovely family word. This was where the future all began; these days, Skirata was certain, marked the beginning of hope for his boys-for Mandalore, even.
Yes, Arkanian Micro could wait a few hours longer.
Kyrimorut bastion, northern Mandalore, 545 days after Geonosis ”How do Mandalorian women transport their babies?” Etain asked. ”I'm pretty sure they don't travel with this amount of kit just for a few hours' jaunt down the Hydian Way.”
She couldn't actually manage the bag of diapers, milk, and changes of clothing. To think she'd once carried an LJ-50 conk rifle into battle: now she was drained to empty by simply lifting a travel bag and forced to resort to a repulsor a.s.sist.
Bralor had one last peek at Venku. ”Backpack,” she said. ”But under the circ.u.mstances, I'd say cheating is fine. Re-member, Mando'ade don't enjoy pain and hards.h.i.+p-we're just better at putting up with it than the aruetiise. Be kind to yourself. This isn't an endurance contest.”
”I'll be back as often as I can.”
”Any time, vod'ika. You certain you want to go through with this? Back in barracks?”
”I can always change my mind.”
”Well, trite as it sounds . . . we're here. I just hope Dar-man's ready for the whole thing.” Bralor craned her neck to look through the narrow window slit. ”They're wonderful lads, but they can't help being naive in some areas. Of course, the Nulls got the idea fast, except maybe Ordo ...”
”What are you looking for?”
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