“I think—” Reath paused, then nodded. “I think I just figured that out.”

By midday, at the spaceport, Republic officials were busily cataloging every Byne Guild ship and interviewing every Byne Guild pilot. As far as Affie could tell, they’d started within minutes of her report to the authorities. She’d assumed it would take the Republic days or weeks to act—time that might’ve given Scover a chance to travel back to the frontier. She had more influence there, and the Republic less; she could’ve remained free.

Instead, officials had arrested Scover right away. Affie had forced herself to watch the arrest footage from the hotel (which had made it available to her, as Scover’s guest). Scover had remained calm and quiet the entire time she was being cuffed and led away.

That calm might shatter when she learned Affie was the one who had reported her, which was news Affie intended to deliver herself. This would be the toughest encounter of Affie’s life, but it was one she could not turn away from. Scover had raised her, cared for her, even loved her. She deserved the chance to ask how her foster daughter could’ve done this to her.

And Affie deserved the chance to explain why.

She stood awkwardly in front of the Vessel, watching the activity throughout the spaceport. The worst part wasn’t the guilt or the uncertainty; it was knowing her entire future was being shaped by forces outside her control, and having absolutely nothing she could do about it.

Footsteps on the boarding ramp made her turn. Leox was strolling out alongside the human Republic official checking the Vessel. The official nodded her head as she checked off items on a datapad. “No irregularities here, so I can clear this ship for takeoff.”

“Most kind of you,” Leox said, “but at the moment we have no place to go.”

“Take whatever work you want.” The Republic official obviously saw herself as their savior, or at least the bearer of very good tidings. “According to Republic law, upon the dissolution of an illegal shipping concern, all ships are considered the individual property of their senior officers. Which means the Vessel is now yours, Captain Gyasi.”

Leox shook his head. “Not so fast. If you’re jotting all this down for the annals of the Republic, be sure you get it right. I’m not the senior officer assigned to the Vessel. That’d be Affie Hollow, standing over there.”

When he pointed at her, Affie managed to close her mouth so she wouldn’t be goggling at them like a fool. “Me?”