“So you’re suggesting we…go rogue? Oppose the Council?”

“The Council has not explicitly forbidden this. Nor would I describe it as a rogue action.” Master Cohmac turned out to have a very sly smile. “I prefer to think of it as ‘showing initiative.’”

Every single second Reath had spent on the Amaxine station had been proof that adventures were not for him. At all.

But he couldn’t leave a task unfinished.

He whispered, “Do we have to come up with a cover story?”

“No. We do not lie. We simply go.”

“What do we need to bring?” Reath tried to think of special devices that might help them capture the Nihil.

Master Cohmac, however, was clearly thinking more about the darkness they would again encounter. “We need the idols.”

That had been mentioned before, but only now did Reath see the full implications. “We’re stealing them?” Okay, cool to spend more time with historical artifacts, not cool that we have to somehow get them out of the Temple without being noticed.

“They are the only objects that we know to be powerful enough to counter that darkness. So, we take up burglary.”

Reath hesitated before saying, “You made a joke.”

“It has been known to occur,” Master Cohmac said, straight-faced. “The Council tasked me with removing the idols from their place in the Temple and finding a more suitable location for them. It just so happens that the most suitable location is back on the Amaxine station.”

Smiling for a change felt good. But Reath’s grin was short-lived. “It’s just us? Nan and Hague didn’t look like deadly warriors, but I’d bet anything they’ve got weaponry aboard that ship.”

“No doubt you are correct.” Master Cohmac became even graver than usual. “Be aware, Padawan Silas, that the journey we are undertaking is extremely dangerous. If—no, when we run into trouble, we will not be able to call upon the Jedi Order or the Republic for help. What we do here, we do alone. Consider this carefully before you accept.”

“I realized that part from the beginning,” Reath said. “I’m in.”

Affie was double-checking the landing gear of the Vessel when she heard footsteps behind her. Scover, she thought, and her gut dropped.

Instead, it turned out to be Reath Silas and Cohmac Vitus, both of them wearing their cloaks with the hoods up like it was windy and rainy instead of a totally beautiful day. Cohmac seemed serene, but Reath’s eyes darted from side to side in a manner she could only call sneaky.

“Ms. Hollow,” said Cohmac, “we wish to hire the Vessel again. Privately, this time. For another trip to the Amaxine station—if you would consider such a thing.”

“More than consider it.” Affie wiped her greasy hands on a rag as she got to her feet. “We’d take that charter in an instant. Problem is, somebody else already hired us.”