Normally an apprentice was to wait for a Master’s approval before taking any dramatic action.

Nothing about this situation was normal.

Reath went for the comms. “All vessels! Approach the station for immediate docking. You have four minutes to get on the safe side of the station, away from the star. We’ll send boarding orders shortly, after we’ve checked the station out. Just get there now!”

Coordinates came up on Leox’s panel, and he nodded. “Thanks, Geode. Heading in.”

The ship shifted so swiftly the gravity didn’t have time to compensate, sending Reath sliding to the far side of the bridge; apparently the senior Jedi had been caught off guard also, to judge by the thumps and a muttered oof he heard from within the main cabin.

Within seconds, the other ships came into view, all of them headed for the one small sliver of safety to be found behind the station—until one, the smallest one, slowed.

“That’s Nan’s ship, right?” When Affie nodded, Reath took the comm again. “Nan, you guys need to hurry.”

“Our engine’s given out! We need repairs—and there’s no time.”

Reath turned toward Leox. “Does the Vessel have a tractor beam?”

“Negatory.” Leox wore a thoughtful look. “What we do have is a towline.”

“Head for Nan’s ship,” Reath said.

Affie shot him a look, and it occurred to him that while the Jedi were ready to risk their lives for others, civilians weren’t necessarily as committed. Nor was it fair to expect that of them. People had the right to guard their own survival. Before he could speak, though, she’d already flipped the toggle to ready the towline, and Leox turned them sharply toward Nan’s ship.

More thuds sounded from the back, and a harried Orla Jareni appeared in the doorway, bracing herself against the jamb. “What in the seven hells is going on?”

“We’re evading a solar flare,” Reath said. “Another ship needs help to get to safety.”

“Got it.” Orla had instantly snapped out of her mood. “What can I do?”

Leox answered her. “Solar radiation’s about to soak this whole system. For everybody except the Mizi, that station’s the only safe place to be. So we need exosuits at the ready.”

Affie chimed in, “And an order of boarding for all the ships, so not everybody’s trying to hitch themselves to an airlock at once.”

Immediately Orla got to work. Reath could only hang on and watch as they drew nearer to the pitifully small ship belonging to Nan and her guardian. It looked even more slapdash up close, obviously pieced together from other ship fragments. Like a rainy-day craft project for Ugnaughts, Reath thought, then mentally took it back. These people were doing the best they could with what they had. They deserved respect for their ingenuity.

He asked, “How close do we have to get for the towline?”