She didn’t have to explain the rest. The Vessel couldn’t remain close to the Journeyman much longer, because the Journeyman would soon explode.

Rescuing a tiny child from a burning ship sounded heroic in the most classical sense. The reality was less dignified.

“Ow. Ow.” Reath winced as he tried to readjust the squirming, hairy infant in his arms. “It’s okay, Wookiee baby. Hang on, Wookiee baby.”

But that was the whole problem—the little Wookiee was hanging on, as all its arboreal instincts demanded in a time of danger, by hooking its claws into the nearest object. Unfortunately, the nearest object was Reath.

Also, even an infant Wookiee was large and heavy. Reath could handle the weight, but it made unwieldy going as he ducked under damaged beams and tried to dodge smoldering debris on the deck.

The Wookiee whined pitifully, and Reath tried to pet its head. “Don’t be scared, little Wookiee ba—gahh!”

As the back of his scalp stung, he saw that the Wookiee had apparently tried to pet his head in return, and in so doing had ripped away Reath’s Padawan braid at the roots. Great, he thought, I have to grow that back, assuming we get out of here at all. At least this had the effect of calming the baby, who promptly put its new acquisition in its mouth.

Reath coughed. The smoke was getting to him. When he’d picked up the little Wookiee, it had been flailing with fright. One of those flails had knocked away his breathmask. At least they didn’t have far to go.

Please let the corridor still be clear, please please please—

He skidded to a halt. The corridor that led to the Vessel’s airlock was on fire.

Quickly Reath considered his options. Getting to another escape pod in time was unlikely. He could look for another, more roundabout way to the airlock, but even if one existed, there was no guarantee he’d find it fast enough to save their lives.

The only chance was something he’d never done before—never even tried—but a sense of sureness swept through him, telling him that this power was his to command.

Balancing the baby Wookiee on one hip, Reath freed one hand, stretched it out, and closed his eyes. With all the might of the Force, he concentrated on the flames, on the molecular movement of the heat itself until his consciousness intertwined with it.

Then he pushed outward with all his strength.

With a great roar, the fire rushed out through the holes in the ceiling, clearing the corridor entirely of flames and smoke for one brief moment. That moment was long enough for Reath to dash through with the Wookiee, leaping through the airlock into the Vessel.