Qalu studied him intently, seeming to sense that he was holding back. But she didn’t protest parting ways with the resistance. Relief flickered through him, as part of him had feared that she might enjoy Praxys’s relentless interest. With a measured gesture, she stroked Aevi’s head and the Pherzul whirred with pleasure.

“We’re going home soon?” Aevi asked.

Yes, little one. Soon.

Without realizing it, Qalu spoke the truth. “Not too much longer, I think. Thank you for being patient and brave.” To Helix, she added, “I don’t mind visiting Vaadla. I’ve never been to any orbital station, so that should be interesting. And if we can resolve the situation without anyone getting hurt, so much the better. I do like this plan better than killing Toth Krag. Even if he’s a ruthless hunter, I can’t like the notion of ending someone’s life.”

“I’d rather kill him,” Aevi muttered.

“So fierce.” Qalu scratched the spot about her tail and Aevi twisted with joy.

Our time is running out.

Though he agreed with Nita—this plan offered the best chance of safety and freedom—there were no guarantees. Everything might disintegrate. He could be taken again, and this time, there would be no escape. He had a physical body for them to harm now, harder for him to slip away if he stumbled into a snare like last time.

While Helix’s fears ran in an endless loop, Qalu kept petting the little one, whispering to her and tickling her. He could tell she was trying to cheer the Pherzul up, lessen the tug of her homesickness. Aevi wanted the wide-open spaces with room to run, sunlight on her body, and the freedom to do what she wanted, when she wanted.

Helix devoured them with his eyes, drinking them in and trying to commit everything about them to memory. Soon, it would be all he had left.

Vaadla Station was more chaotic than Qalu had imagined.

For the first time in a while, Aevi perked up, lured by all the fascinating new sights, sounds, and scents. Saying goodbye to the resistance crew had been both quicker and more painful than she’d imagined. She hadn’t particularly bonded with anyone, but they’d offered a sense of safety in a perilous galaxy. Now, after getting something called a “hug” from Bojak and various rituals of leave-taking from the others—Praxys had reiterated that she could join him at any time—she and Helix had disembarked with a cluster of other travelers and they were waiting in queue for their documents to be processed.