“Except it is not my line to draw, Captain,” Crayt said. “Not anymore.”

Baz forked one hand through his hair. The other dropped to his empty hip. Had his pistol been there as opposed to in a pile by the door, Leo wasn’t sure what he might have done. Leo watched the Aykari’s face carefully, looking for some sign of hesitation, some flicker of doubt. But of course there was nothing. His blank expression was as fixed as the smiley sticker plastered to Skits’s face.

The sharp edges of his father’s datachip dug into Leo’s sweaty palm. “So that’s it, then? You’re really not going to help? You’re not even going to look at it?”

“I understand this must be difficult for you,” Crayt said. “You still have much at stake. But for me, this war is over.”

In that case I hope they come for your home planet first, Leo thought. Then he remembered something he’d been taught long ago—that the planet Aykar had been without ventasium for centuries. Hence their need to spread out. To find it elsewhere.

To take it wherever they could get it.

Leo felt Boo’s leathery paw on his shoulder. Baz spun in a slow circle. Kat stared daggers at Crayt for a moment, but eventually even she gave up and looked down at her boots. They were all at a loss.

The Aykari gazed out the window, past the mammoth excavation rig with its drill disappearing into the planet’s heart.

“Tomorrow I am to assist the Orin in rebuilding a cistern that has been damaged by the quakes. It is important work. The heavy rains are coming and they will need to store as much water as possible if they wish to survive the dry season that follows. You are all welcome to rest here for the night and I can escort you back to your ship in the morning. Or you may leave now, though I do not recommend it. Slurks are not large, but they are strong, and their teeth are capable of chewing through solid rock. The Orin know how to hunt them, but I fear they may take you by surprise.”

“I think we’ve had enough surprises for one day,” Kat muttered. Leo leaned against Boo, his hot cheek against the Queleti’s robe. Two strong arms hooked around him. Small comfort.

“Suit yourself.” Crayt turned to leave, heading toward the corridor, both robots falling in behind him. He called over his shoulder: “Sleep if you can. I promise you are in no danger here.”

Leo’s eyes darted to the six-legged robot with all of its concealed weaponry, then back to the ceiling and its surprise.

I promise.

He thought of the first time the Aykari made contact with the people of Earth, offering peace, friendship, protection, even though they had warships circling the globe. He thought of his father pushing them into a corner of a bunk room aboard the Beagle, telling them to hide and wait for his return. He pictured Gareth’s face as his brother closed the compartment door on the Icarus, sealing Leo inside, telling him to be brave, insisting they would see each other again. Lately it seemed like only pirates were capable of keeping their promises.