“Exactly.” Reath focused on details that had eluded him before. How had he not seen it? “This join, right here? It’s a weird version of an airlock, but if it were customized to work with other ships rather than with a station—”

“Yes, I’ve seen similar on holos of other Nihil ships.” Master Rosason closed her eyes with an expression Reath found hard to read, then realized was relief. “Even if they were only two, you were very fortunate they decided not to pursue aggressive action on the station. We might have lost more than one soul. As it is, it would appear we escaped very lightly.”

This was going to be the hard part. “Um. About that.”

Master Adampo’s fur stood on end. “You don’t mean—do you think the Nihil had something to do with Dez Rydan’s death?”

“No,” Reath said. “I don’t see how they could have.” Nan had been no closer to Dez than Reath had been. “But while we were marooned there, Nan and I had several conversations about, well, the Jedi. And the Republic. And Starlight Beacon. Plus future shipments to the area.” He wanted to somehow travel back in time and shake his former self, so easily flattered and persuaded. Nan had tricked him into betraying the Order at the very moment when, many systems away, Master Jora was dying. “I thought she was just curious. I wanted to represent us well to a new area of the galaxy. Now I realize she was…pumping me for information. Which she got.”

He had expected dark, disapproving stares as the first, and probably lightest, aspect of his punishment. Instead, the Council members only looked resigned. Master Rosason said, “I wouldn’t have suspected them, either, especially with as little information about the Nihil as you had. And you couldn’t have given away any classified material.”

“It’s still useful information the Nihil didn’t have but now do,” Reath said. “It’s my fault. And I want to set it right, if I can.”

The Masters exchanged befuddled looks. “What do you mean?” Master Adampo said.

“Hague and Nan had to stay behind at the Amaxine station. They were still finishing repairs, thanks to help we gave them.” Chagrin brought a flush to Reath’s face, but he didn’t slow down. “She said it would take a while for them to finish. Maybe Nan was lying, but at the time, I didn’t suspect anything, so she didn’t have any reason to deceive me. Deceive me even more, I mean.”

“You wish to confront them,” said Master Rosason. “To what purpose?”

Reath couldn’t believe it wasn’t obvious. “They’re Nihil! They learned intel about us; we could learn about them! We could hold someone accountable for what happened to the Legacy Run! We might even be able to make an arrest, if their ship can be connected to any of the attacks.”