“What do you think, Jaina?” Fett asked. “Come on. Share that Jedi wisdom.”
“I’m just trying to help, “she said, taking a step back, hands spread. “My dad went through this, remember? Mom talked about how bad he was.”
“I do recall, funnily enough.”
“Okay. I’m sorry. I just think someone could help her, at least restore her sight. Give her a chance to start again and not be dependent on…”
“Me?”
“Anyone.”
Beviin stepped in. “At least hear her out. Jaina might be able to find her a Jedi healer. Someone who’s good at it.”
Jaina flinched as if she was expecting Fett to erupt, but maybe she sensed the way his gut twisted at the dilemma. If Sintas got her memories back-if he just filled in the gaps for her-she had terrible things to relive. But how could he not try? What would she be if she was forced to live like this?
It’s early days. She might get better anyway. So why’s it such a big deal for me? Do I want to keep her this way for the rest of her life, like some sick pet?
“It’s me who’s avoiding it, “he said at last. “There’s no easy way. She’s got a family even if I’m not part of it, and she has to have her whole life back, even the painful bits. Get your healer, Jaina.”
Jaina didn’t say anything, and went back into the house. Beviin just waited, hands on hips, looking disappointed.
“You won’t think so highly of your precious Mand’alor when you find out what I did to her, “Fett said.
Beviin shrugged. “You can tell me when you’re ready.”
“I’ve got a job to do, anyway. Tomorrow. Daala called. Needs some backup for Pellaeon at Fondor.”
“Shab.” Beviin looked angry now. It was rare for him to react that way. “She comes out of the woodwork now? Great timing. Go on. We’ll sort out Sintas. Go.”
“Goran, stay with her, will you?”
It was obvious Beviin would rather have gone on the mission. “Okay…”
“I’m not blind. You think I’m running away from it.”
“Does that matter?”
“Yes.” Beviin was about the only man whose respect Fett would regret losing. “Your opinion matters.”
“Okay, then you get back in that room, and you tell Mirta and Sintas that you’re off fighting tomorrow, and you tell Jaina that her brother is in the lineup. Shab, Bob’ika, the Imperials are on Jacen Solo’s team now. The only reason I can think of for fronting up would be if you planned to take a crack at him. Am I right?”
Fett steeled himself to go back into the room. He hadn’t thought it through that far. “I won’t be cheering him on, that’s for sure.”
Mirta’s voice made Fett start. “I heard all that, you shabuir.” She stalked up to him and shoved him hard in the chest. “Don’t you ever learn? And if you’re going after
Jacen Solo, I’m going, too. For my mother. And what about Jaina?”
“You’re best buddies now…”
“She’s been here a few days. We talked this morning, about Mama. About having family members we want to love, but who make it pretty well impossible for us.”
Fett could comm Daala and tell her to forget it. But he’d said he’d do the job; he gave his word. And while he couldn’t change the past, he could see now who he needed to ally with to change the future.
“Maybe the Jedi wants to come too, “he said. “It’ll be good training for when she has to do it for real. You happy, Mirta?” Fett rarely used her name. He wanted to love her, too, but he didn’t know where to start loving anyone. She could at least manage to love Grade. It made him feel relieved that she could, and that might just have been because he cared about her. “You think that’s the best compromise?”
“Just do it, “she said.
Fett walked back into the room. It was going to be a long day, and he’d take it a piece at a time. Now wasn’t the time to tell Sintas he might be in battle against the man who killed her daughter tomorrow. That could wait until he got back, assuming he did. Mirta took Sintas back to her room and Medrit went to sit with her while Fett faced Jaina.
“Okay, Solo, “he said, standing over her at the table. She looked a different woman from the one who had strolled into Keldabe just days ago. Not disoriented or resentful, as he thought she might be by now, but with the expression of someone who was struggling to follow a complex explanation, watching faces intently for clues. “Got a training exercise for you. Tomorrow, we might pay your brother a visit. On the front line.”