New Excerpt from the Solo Novelization- Enfys meets Jyn

absolxguardian:

https://www.starwars.com/news/solo-a-star-wars-story-exclusive-excerpts-2 Read the other two except and this one in full here

“We have our ways,” she said. “You—” A sound came from the shuttle, something clattering to the floor. Gerrera’s head whipped around, anger rising.

He hadn’t come alone. Enfys closed her fist by her side and heard her Cloud-Riders raise their weapons.

“You agreed to come alone,” she snapped.

He held his hands up and backed slowly toward the shuttle. “Put your weapons away. There is no threat. My ward wanted to come with me. She’s young. Curious.”

“Your ward.”

“Yes. She’s eleven. But she needs to learn.”

Enfys heard small feet running on the shuttle.

“Bring her out.”

“Lower your weapons,” he countered.

Enfys nodded once and raised her hand to order her riders to stand down. She heard them relax and lower their weapons. She knew they would stay alert, regardless. She tensed, poised to dodge to the side if any guards came running down the plank, weapons hot.

But a girl did indeed emerge, cautiously, but unafraid. Her skin was paler than Gerrera’s, and her brown hair was loose and hung in sheets down her back. Calculating blue eyes took in Enfys and her team. Enfys liked her at once.

Saw gave her a little push forward. “This is Jyn.”

“Why would you bring your young ward to a dangerous meeting?” Enfys asked curiously.

“She needs to learn,” he repeated. “If she’s going to sur­vive …”

“She’s very young,” Enfys said, repeating things that had been said about her over and over again. She wanted to see how Ger­rera would react.

He frowned. “Many people treat age as if it’s a shield to hide behind, something that protects our children. And sometimes it is. Until someone comes along who doesn’t honor the shield. Then we must decide if we’re going to keep pretending that shield is there. The Empire doesn’t care what age she is. So she must learn about this threat that faces all of us.”

“Is that so?” Enfys took a step forward. “Come here, Jyn.”

The girl took a step forward, unafraid. He let her go, waiting patiently. Enfys looked down at the girl. Even though they came from such different worlds, she still reminded Enfys of herself seven years ago. The luxury of youth banished in the face of tur­moil.

She reached under her mask and pulled it off, shaking her wild hair free. She smiled at Jyn, who still watched her, unmoved by the reveal. “Do you think that your youth protects you?”

“No,” Jyn said flatly.

“You’re right. You’re smart. Still, they’re going to underesti­mate you. Make them regret it.”

The girl’s eyes narrowed as if the threat were right behind them. “They?”

“Everyone,” Enfys said. “Make them regret it.”

Jyn nodded once.

[..]

“He’s going to underestimate you,” she whispered.

Enfys smiled to herself. The girl learned fast. They might be in good hands after all.