Affie didn’t look up. “We also need someone to reset the regulator station, if you think you can manage it.”

Reath grabbed a tool packet and jumped down into the workings beside her. “I can do it. But if you’d rather I held the regulator while you did the repairs—”

“No. If the ship lurches during handoff, we’re done for.” Affie shivered from the cold but kept hanging on. “Just be quick about it, okay?”

He worked as fast as he could, welding the station frame firmly enough that the worst turbulence shouldn’t shake it. The ship continued bucking and shaking, and once Affie seemed on the verge of losing her balance. Reath reached out with the Force to steady her as best he could. He didn’t have the finesse necessary to hold the regulator exactly in place, but he could keep her upright.

“Whoa,” Affie said. “What is that? Do you—is that a third hand or something?”

“It’s the Force.”

“Seriously? You can feel it!” She laughed out loud with surprise, and maybe even delight. “You’re not a monk. You’re a wizard.”

“Yes! Monk-wizards. That’s us.” Reath checked what he’d done; it looked right, but a more experienced eye was called for. “Are you able to see my work? Do we have it?”

Affie glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah. That should do it. Help me lift this.”

Reath put his hands on the regulator, too, and nearly cried out. It was freezing, so much so he could feel stabbing pain in every bone of his arms. Affie had to be in agony. But she did no more than wince as they carefully, carefully pushed it upward. The metallic click of the regulator snapping back into position was one of the best sounds he’d ever heard.

Groaning, Affie stumbled back from the machinery. Her hands remained blue, and blisters had formed on her palms. “A stim stabilizer,” she gasped. “The medpac’s in that orange emergency box—”

Reath had it before she could finish talking. Quickly he pressed it to her neck until he heard the hiss-click of medication being dispensed. In only seconds, her hands began to return to their normal color, and the blisters flaked away.

“Great,” he said. “We made it.”

“We’re not out of this yet,” Affie said. Already shaking off the earlier pain, she climbed the ladder.

“What do you mean? More repairs?” Reath looked around for any sign of further damage, but nothing seemed apparent.

“Please think about this—something in hyperspace hit us. And I thought I saw…” Her voice trailed off, and she dashed back toward the bridge.

“If we had to get hit, I wish it would’ve been by anything else. Any damn rock out there in space,” Leox said. “No offense.”

Geode’s amiable silence indicated that none was taken.

Affie hurried back into the cockpit, breathless. “Are we all right?”