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 cocktail 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 nobody 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 assist.
Bralor had one last peek at Venku. “Backpack,” she said. “But under the circumstances, I’d say cheating is fine. Remember, Mando’ade don’t enjoy pain and hardship-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 …”