She’d need the manual controls, which she spotted near the ceiling. A small service ladder provided a way for Orla to get up there without spending the energy to jump directly; from the looks of things, she needed to reserve her strength. The ladder was close enough to one of the controls for her to reach. Unfortunately, it was also high enough to make her a perfect target for the blasters of the Nihil. Reigniting her saber, she spun its two white blades to create a kind of shield, like a shimmering circle, that deflected the blaster fire. To judge by the yelps and curses she heard, the fire was ricocheting straight back at the Nihil. With her free hand, she reached for the controls—they were just past the tips of her fingers—but it took only the slightest tug with the Force to pull them free.

The walls began to shudder. She cried, “Look out below!”

With a mighty crash, the long-dormant emergency doors shot out and slammed shut. They created a three-meter-tall wall that nearly blocked the entire length and width of the ring; a few holes betrayed time and damage, but they weren’t easily breached. The barrier was hardly impregnable, since the Nihil could go around the long way, but it would slow them down. Maybe it would also make them think twice before escalating the conflict.

Sliding down the ladder got Orla back to the floor before the dust had settled. Cohmac stood there panting, only just beginning to lower his lightsaber, and gave her the shadow of a smile. “You always were excellent at improvisation.”

“It’s my specialty.” Orla put one hand on his shoulder. “Are you all right?”

Cohmac held up a hand as he coughed. “Fine. I inhaled a few particulates. Nothing a kolto rinse can’t fix.”

Next they needed to come up with a plan to not only keep the Nihil out of the station at large but also drive them away completely. Or so Orla thought, before she heard the scream. “Who’s that?” she said. “Not one of the Nihil—”

“It’s Affie,” Cohmac said, his face falling. “She’s in trouble.”

Orla finished for him. “And I just trapped her on the other side.”

The electric-blue swirl of hyperspace visible through the transport pod windows might’ve been comforting if Reath hadn’t known the Drengir were seeing it, too.

At least there’s no debris on this path, he told himself. It wasn’t much of a bright side.

Dez slumped on his shoulder, weak but conscious—more or less. He murmured, “Are they gone?”