Reath was uncomforted. He went to the bridge, which at least felt potentially useful, and for one moment was alone with Geode, who still sat—stood?—at the navigator’s station. “Um,” Reath began. “Hi. This is terrible, huh?”

“Please,” Affie whispered as she entered the bridge just after him. “Don’t try to talk to him about it yet. Geode’s incredibly sensitive.”

“Of course,” Reath said. “But—I thought you said he was a wild man?”

Leox, who was passing by, interjected, “His is a capricious nature, one of many moods and climes.” After that, and a fond glance at Geode, he continued on his way. Reath studied Geode for a few seconds, wondering what exactly he was missing, because it was just a big rock sitting there.

Affie settled into the copilot’s seat, apparently to kill time, but then frowned at a blinking sensor. “What’s that?”

“Is it more damage to the ship? Something else we need to repair?” Reath was only beginning to realize how badly he needed something to do, to make him feel less helpless.

Affie shook her head. “It’s a beacon. A signal beacon. Not an actual message, but an indicator from a ship nearby that needs help.”

“Nearby?” Reath asked. “How near does that mean?”

“Within this system, reachable by sublight,” Affie said slowly. “We’re not alone. Somebody’s out there.”

“Don’t answer!” Orla called. She’d been walking by the bridge, apparently, but had halted at their words. “You don’t know who’s out there.” Her gaze had gone distant. “You never know.”

25 Years Earlier- Part One

Padawans Orla Jareni and Cohmac Vitus were steering the T-1 shuttle through hyperspace, and Orla couldn’t believe her luck. To judge by the grin on Cohmac’s face, he was equally pleased.

It was the role of a Padawan to do whatever task a Master required help with. Yes, sometimes this included thrilling acts of heroism, but it could also involve mending robes or cleaning the floors. Piloting a ship counted as a high-quality assignment, particularly when that meant bringing them closer to another, even more exciting task: rescuing two kidnapped rulers from the system of Eiram and E’ronoh.

This system lay far beyond the Republic’s borders, in an area that had long resisted Republic membership or help—which the residents labeled “interference.” While Jedi occasionally traveled into this zone of space, such voyages were rare, and the citizens seemed determined to keep it that way. This was, they proclaimed, independent space.

So the fact that these two worlds had called for the Jedi’s assistance was hugely promising. A successful mission might finally bridge the gap between this area and the Republic.

(Master Laret had pointed out that if these planets were willing to ask for help from within the Republic, the situation was undoubtedly a thorny one. But Orla was undaunted.)