“What?” Reath had never even considered that the others wouldn’t be able to handle the vines on their own. They were just vines, weren’t they? But when he thought about how long and thick the roots would have to be to burrow through the station itself, he realized the ship might as well have been bolted in. “Is there any way to stop them?”

“Not that I know of, other than brute force. If brute force is to be of any avail, it needs to be applied immediately. This is the best chance we’re ever going to get.”

It wasn’t much of a chance. Reath could hear that in Leox’s voice.

If the Vessel was going to get away, the people on board would need time to cut away the bindings. Time when neither the Nihil nor the Drengir would or could attack them. The current battle had their enemies distracted, but for how long?

He thought of Dez, injured and helpless—the other Jedi on the mission, who’d tried to lead him in Master Jora’s absence—and the crew of the Vessel, who had somehow become his friends. They were all in peril, all grasping at their last chance to survive.

Master Jora’s voice echoed in his mind again. Why can no Jedi cross the Kyber Arch alone? And, finally, Reath knew the answer.

Reath had to save his friends if he could.

Even if the cost was his own life.

25 Years Earlier- Part Six

“If we get through this,” Cassel said to Thandeka, “at least things will be better from now on.”

Thandeka, distracted by her raw, aching wrists and the angry muttering guards near Isamer, took a moment to process what he’d said. “What do you mean? What things?”

He flushed deeper blue again. “I mean, between Eiram and E’ronoh. We can stop all this silly bickering and be allies. Friends, even.”

There were more substantive disputes between their two planets; it wasn’t merely a matter of “bickering.” And friendship took time. But Thandeka had seen the opportunity, too. “We’ll open diplomatic relations. Allow some travel back and forth.”

Cassel looked more cheerful than Thandeka had yet seen him. “Oh, I love diplomatic events. Getting dressed up with the stole and the regalia and all that.”

Thandeka couldn’t help smiling back at him. “I have to admit, Dima loves any chance for us to wear the crown jewels. Sometimes we fight over the best tiaras.”

“Splendid, splendid.” Cassel nodded as though everything was already set. “It’s good to have something to look forward to, isn’t it?”

Thandeka wasn’t sure she believed they would outlive the day. But the Jedi were coming—and there was no point in not having hope. “Yes. Yes, it is.”