Read Online 501st: An Imperial Commando Novel by Karen Traviss - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Traviss
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hope? I’m very
vague.
”
Skirata looked up as if he’d suddenly started paying attention. “Well, I was hoping for some fortune
changing
. Your compatriots designed my boys to live half a life. They age at double the normal human rate. I think that’s unfair, all things considered.”
“I agree. I take no pride in Kamino’s capacity to manufacture slaves, whether they be soldiers or factory hands.”
“I see you’ve
briefed
her, Ny … ,” Skirata muttered. Ny had already worked out why Skirata had agreed tolet the Jedi come here. She had no illusions. He’d made it clear from the start; his boys’ needs came first, and he’d do whatever it took to slow their decline.
“Never said a word, Shortie.” Ny steeled herself to taste the broth. It was much better than it smelled. “The lady thinks for herself.”
“Then we live in an age of miracles.” Skirata sounded as if he’d rehearsed being nice and didn’t want to let the facade slip. “Kina Ha, Dr. Uthan is a geneticist and microbiologist, and maybe some other ologist I don’t know about, and she’s trying to put my boys’ body clocks back to normal. Taking a look at some tissue samples from you might give her a clue about how to undo Ko Sai’s maturation process.”
“You don’t want the secret of eternal life, then.”
“No, I don’t. But you’re not immortal, by the looks of it.”
“Well spotted.” She glanced at Jusik. “And you’re quite capable of taking what you want from me, by the Force or by force.”
“Is that a
no?”
Skirata asked.
“Merely remarking that you asked first, and I think the request is reasonable. It
is
unfair. Beings are not commodities to be designed and marketed.”
Skirata let out a little bark of a laugh. “I bet they loved your freethinking attitude in Tipoca. Shame you weren’t on the Jedi Council, too.” He inclined his head in a bow, and Ny decided it was genuine. “
Vor’e
. Thank you.”
Skirata went on eating, gazing down into his broth as if he was ashamed. He’d managed not to call Kina Ha
aiwha-bait
, or lecture her on the evils of commercial cloning—so far. Ny wondered if he felt he’d betrayed his principles by compromising with both a Jedi and a Kaminoan.
How would I have handled what he saw on Kamino all those years? Look at Ordo, or Mereel. They’ll never be normal. How can I expect Kal to forgive Kaminoans
for that? Or the Jedi, for turning a blind eye to it all? And how can I get him to give these two a chance
?
There were two kinds of bigots: the kind that melted when face-to-face with the individual, and the kind that smiled politely but wouldn’t let their daughter marry one of
those
. Skirata took a Mandalorian approach to it all, that individuals were only judged by what they did, not what they were, so everyone got a chance—just the one—to change his mind. Ny tried to understand how hard it was to suspend ancient hatreds when folks had a joint history like the Mandalorians and Jedi. A four-thousand-year-old enmity was more than she could begin to grasp.
But if she still had things to learn about Mandalorians, then she’d only just started on the reality of living alongside Jedi.
They really weren’t like other beings at all.
Kyrimorut, Mandalore; next morning
Life wasn’t going to return to normal for Ovolot Qail Uthan, and she’d accepted that the moment the cell door had swung shut in the Valorum Center.
But she’d held out for three years, and now she felt she could handle anything life threw at her. It was all a matter of looking at the situation from another angle and deciding to be content with whatever she could wring from it.
There was always something positive to seize upon.
Always
.
At least she had a pleasant room here, plain but comfortable, with a generous mattress—Mandalorians didn’t shun comfort, however ascetic they appeared—and a fine view of the countryside through an arrow-slit of a window. And she could open the door
vague.
”
Skirata looked up as if he’d suddenly started paying attention. “Well, I was hoping for some fortune
changing
. Your compatriots designed my boys to live half a life. They age at double the normal human rate. I think that’s unfair, all things considered.”
“I agree. I take no pride in Kamino’s capacity to manufacture slaves, whether they be soldiers or factory hands.”
“I see you’ve
briefed
her, Ny … ,” Skirata muttered. Ny had already worked out why Skirata had agreed tolet the Jedi come here. She had no illusions. He’d made it clear from the start; his boys’ needs came first, and he’d do whatever it took to slow their decline.
“Never said a word, Shortie.” Ny steeled herself to taste the broth. It was much better than it smelled. “The lady thinks for herself.”
“Then we live in an age of miracles.” Skirata sounded as if he’d rehearsed being nice and didn’t want to let the facade slip. “Kina Ha, Dr. Uthan is a geneticist and microbiologist, and maybe some other ologist I don’t know about, and she’s trying to put my boys’ body clocks back to normal. Taking a look at some tissue samples from you might give her a clue about how to undo Ko Sai’s maturation process.”
“You don’t want the secret of eternal life, then.”
“No, I don’t. But you’re not immortal, by the looks of it.”
“Well spotted.” She glanced at Jusik. “And you’re quite capable of taking what you want from me, by the Force or by force.”
“Is that a
no?”
Skirata asked.
“Merely remarking that you asked first, and I think the request is reasonable. It
is
unfair. Beings are not commodities to be designed and marketed.”
Skirata let out a little bark of a laugh. “I bet they loved your freethinking attitude in Tipoca. Shame you weren’t on the Jedi Council, too.” He inclined his head in a bow, and Ny decided it was genuine. “
Vor’e
. Thank you.”
Skirata went on eating, gazing down into his broth as if he was ashamed. He’d managed not to call Kina Ha
aiwha-bait
, or lecture her on the evils of commercial cloning—so far. Ny wondered if he felt he’d betrayed his principles by compromising with both a Jedi and a Kaminoan.
How would I have handled what he saw on Kamino all those years? Look at Ordo, or Mereel. They’ll never be normal. How can I expect Kal to forgive Kaminoans
for that? Or the Jedi, for turning a blind eye to it all? And how can I get him to give these two a chance
?
There were two kinds of bigots: the kind that melted when face-to-face with the individual, and the kind that smiled politely but wouldn’t let their daughter marry one of
those
. Skirata took a Mandalorian approach to it all, that individuals were only judged by what they did, not what they were, so everyone got a chance—just the one—to change his mind. Ny tried to understand how hard it was to suspend ancient hatreds when folks had a joint history like the Mandalorians and Jedi. A four-thousand-year-old enmity was more than she could begin to grasp.
But if she still had things to learn about Mandalorians, then she’d only just started on the reality of living alongside Jedi.
They really weren’t like other beings at all.
Kyrimorut, Mandalore; next morning
Life wasn’t going to return to normal for Ovolot Qail Uthan, and she’d accepted that the moment the cell door had swung shut in the Valorum Center.
But she’d held out for three years, and now she felt she could handle anything life threw at her. It was all a matter of looking at the situation from another angle and deciding to be content with whatever she could wring from it.
There was always something positive to seize upon.
Always
.
At least she had a pleasant room here, plain but comfortable, with a generous mattress—Mandalorians didn’t shun comfort, however ascetic they appeared—and a fine view of the countryside through an arrow-slit of a window. And she could open the door
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