The Fett Legacy

CHAPTER 26

After a few days on this formidable base, I was able to get permission from Leia to leave. I retrieved my helmet and walked over to Rosemary.

"Mom, come on," Rosemary begged. "Stay here with me and Rayef and Jango."

"Rosemary," I sighed. Her dark brown eyes glimmered in the light. She looked upset, but instead of encouraging her, like a good mother, I just walked away. I couldn't handle it anymore.

"You always do that," I heard her mutter. I stopped walking and turned around.

"What did you say?"

"You just run away from all your problems like that. It's as if-as if you're just a coward." I stared at her in disbelief.

"You think I'm a coward?"

"Well, yah."

"Rosemary, I-I risked everything to take you in!" I shouted, becoming angry. She took a step back in fear. "I protected you when no one cared! And that's how you repay me?"

"Mom, I-" she began. I shook my head.

"No, I get it. You wanna stay here. Which is fine. But whenever you get tired of these 'peace keepers,' don't come running back to me," I said coldly. "I'm going back to the Finalizer. Take care of Jango." I walked back to the Revenant and boarded it.

"Oh, Miss Fett," T3 said. I ignored him and climbed the ladder into the cockpit. As I sat in the pilot's seat, I looked down at the Resistance base. Rosemary and Rayef were talking to each other and looking up at the ship. I slinked down in my seat and put my hand to my helmet.

"You are such an idiot," I said aloud to myself. I removed my helmet and felt my face. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I had just lost Rosemary, probably forever. And I stupidly agreed to allow Jango to stay here. Both of my children, stuck with the enemy. I sighed and lifted the Revenant into space. As I steered away from the base, my only thought was of Rosemary's hurt look when I yelled at her. The tears began to pour even more. When I left the atmosphere, I entered hyperspace. I became lost in the blue light of light speed, reflecting on my life. It seemed to be one nightmare after another. A never ending nightmare. The only time I've ever felt truly happy was the day Jango was born. It pained me to abandon him like this; if Armitage or I died, he'd never know his parents. He'd be told of the horrors of the First Order and how his parents were evil. I tried to brush that thought aside.

Several moments later, I pulled the Revenant out of hyperdrive.

"Ah, Jetta, you're back," I heard Armitage's voice say. "Enter Hangar 69. I'll be waiting, as will General Pryde."

I groaned. He was the last person I wanted to see. This nightmare was only getting worse.

I landed the Revenant in the indicated hangar and put my helmet back on. Lowering the door of the ship, I began to walk out into the hangar of the Star Destroyer Finalizer. As he said, Armitage and Pryde were waiting for me.

"Ah, my favorite bounty hunter," Pryde said with contempt in his voice.

"General Pryde," I responded coldly. Armitage opened his mouth as if to say something, but Pryde spoke first.

"Where were you?"

"Looking for my ship," I answered.

"Where was it?"

"An abandoned First Order supply base," I said, keeping my voice steady.

"Where are your children?" He asked. Armitage shuffled uncomfortably and cleared his throat.

"What?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me, Fett. I know all about you and Hux over here."

I looked over at Armitage, unsure of what to say. He knows. He knows. I am done for.

"Well, where are they?" He asked, grinning widely.

"When I found the ship, it was abandoned. No sign of them anywhere. I searched, but I was unable to locate them," I lied.

"Hmmm," Pryde said, clearly not believing a word I had said. "Very well, then. Kylo would like to speak to you." I nodded and left the hangar with Armitage.

"Is Jango all right?" He asked nervously in the lift.

"Yes, he's fine." He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness. I was worried about you. Things around here have become stiff; I think Pryde knows. On the other hand, Kylo has found a map leading to Palpatine."

"Oh?" I said, trying to fill my mind with something other than my children.

"He's just returned from a trip to Exegol."

"Exegol?" I asked in alarm.

"Yes?"

"Huh, I didn't know that place really existed."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I've heard about Exegol, loads of times. But only in stories. I never knew it was a real place," I said as the lift doors opened into the bridge.

"Jetta. You've returned." Kylo's voice came from the center of the bridge.