Reath couldn’t suppress a shiver as he thought about facing the Drengir again. This time, at least, he wouldn’t be at such a disadvantage: trapped on a world not his own, trying to protect someone injured and unable to defend himself. All they had to do was keep themselves from being killed long enough for the Drengir and the Nihil to collide with each other, at which point the Jedi would fall much farther down each enemy’s list of priorities.

But keeping themselves from getting killed that long, with both groups out for their blood—it wouldn’t be easy. More than that, a sense of dread was creeping in at the edges of Reath’s consciousness. Danger lay ahead, in some way they hadn’t yet fully recognized.

“Did you see Cohmac?” Orla said. “He went after you—”

“He found me, and Dez.” The astonishment and joy on Orla’s face erased Reath’s worries, at least for that moment. “There’s a transport area beneath the station, which is why the Nihil and Drengir are so interested in the first place. Dez was accidentally sent to the Drengir homeworld—at least, maybe it was their homeworld; there were a lot of them there—he was badly injured, out of it, and I’m positive they interrogated him harshly.” What simple words for describing a nightmare. Reath pressed on. “Anyway, Cohmac took Dez back to the Vessel. Do you need him to help remove the Force barrier?”

“Dez needs help more right now, and we’re already here. So let’s see if the two of us can handle it,” Orla said. She sounded more confident than he suspected she felt—certainly more confident than he felt. Already she was putting away her saber, preparing for the journey back to the arboretum. “Are you ready, Reath?”

It hit him, then, what she was truly asking of him: to go with her into the heart of the storm.

“Yes,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Affie’s hands continued to redden and sting as she and Leox made their way back toward the Vessel. “I think that sap is toxic to humans,” she said.

“I think you may be right. Hopefully some sort of salve or unguent aboard the ship will set you right. Until then, let’s keep moving.”

Leox kept hurrying her along, like he thought she remained on the verge of turning back. That annoyed Affie, even though he wasn’t entirely wrong. She wasn’t going to turn back; she just kept wishing she could.

I guess I’ll have to talk to Scover about it directly, she thought. Make her explain exactly what she was thinking and see if—if she actually understands how wrong she’s been.

If she didn’t…no. Affie wouldn’t even imagine that. Scover would get it. She had to.