He said this last part as if he was commenting on the color of the sky.

Leo wondered how many worlds out there were still full of ventasium. How many had the Aykari and Djarik gotten to already? How many were still being fought over? Hundreds? Thousands? And how many creatures living on those worlds?

How much ventasium was left on Earth? When Leo left there were platforms everywhere, with more drills being built every day.

“So you’re saying such a weapon is possible?”

“It is more than possible,” Crayt said. “Given what I see here, it would not surprise me to know that they have a prototype built already. That is, unless your father managed to stall them as his message suggested.”

Leo’s dad’s voice sounded in his head. I’m afraid we don’t have much time. “And what if he hasn’t? What if he couldn’t? What if you’re right and they’ve already made this thing? How do we stop it?”

“We do not stop it,” Crayt replied curtly. “I already gave you my answer, Leo Fender. It has not changed. If anything, seeing all of this has convinced me that I am safer here than anywhere. Besides, even if I wanted to, I am not sure I could. It would take some time just to process all of the information your father has gathered. Then to come up with some kind of countermeasure to what the Djarik have designed? With the resources at my disposal? Look around you.” Crayt widened his arms to indicate their surroundings: a little communications hub in an abandoned mining facility on a forgotten world where the most advanced species ate worms and built their houses from dried mud. “The Djarik have teams of scientists and engineers developing this weapon. And what do you have?”

What did Leo have? A disk full of files, a band of pirates who were no doubt regretting their initial decision not to jettison their stowaway through the air lock, and some banished Aykari scientist who was determined not to get involved. And yet Leo’s father must have thought there was some chance. Otherwise he wouldn’t have sent his own son all the way out here.

“You know, my dad used to say there’s no enemy that can’t be defeated with enough imagination, the right intentions, and a little hope.”

Crayt blinked at him. Leo guessed it was the Aykari equivalent of rolling one’s eyes. “Those are fine sentiments, but your father is misguided. Good intentions are not going to prevent the Djarik from making this weapon, I am afraid. And hope will not keep them from using it.”

“Then you have to find a way to stop them!” Leo snapped. “I mean, it’s not like I can do it. I don’t even know what I’m looking at here.” He gestured frantically at the diagrams flashing by on the screen. “I’m not some genius scientist or some army commander. I’m just a kid. But you . . . you could do something about it, and you’re just going to sit there?”